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College Football Betting Info. Friday / Saturday

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  • College Football Betting Info. Friday / Saturday

    Friday Tip Sheet
    By Brian Edwards
    VegasInsider.com

    Middle Tennessee at Brigham Young

    As of Wednesday afternoon, most books had BYU (1-2 straight up, 1-2 against the spread) listed as a 23-point favorite with a total of 59.5 for 'over/under' wagers. 5Dimes had the Blue Raiders with 11/1 odds to win outright (risk $100 to win $1,100).

    Middle Tennessee (3-1 SU, 1-3 ATS) has won back-to-back games since losing 40-20 at North Carolina in Week 2. The Blue Raiders captured a wild overtime win at Florida Atlantic last week, 42-35. FAU forced OT with a 21-yard touchdown pass with three seconds remaining, but MTSU responded in the extra session with a 19-yard scoring strike from Logan Kilgore to Kyle Griswould. A stop by the defense in OT gave it the victory and its first spread cover of the year as a 3-point favorite.

    Junior RB and special-teams ace Reggie Whatley was the catalyst in the win over FAU. Whatley rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries. He also had 80 yards on just a pair of kick returns for the Blue Raiders. Kilgore threw for 150 yards and a pair of TDs.

    Bronco Mendenhall's squad suffered a 19-16 loss at Virginia in its opener, but it bounced back by trashing Texas 40-21 as a seven-point home underdog. BYU had an open date going into last Saturday's home game vs. Utah. The Cougars trailed throughout and lost a 20-13 decision to their in-state rivals as seven-point home favorites. Taysom Hill threw for 260 yards and ran for 99, but it wasn't enough.

    BYU running back Jamaal Williams is 'out' after sustaining a concussion in the loss vs. Utah. Williams has rushed for 378 yards this season, averaging 5.0 yards per carry.

    Hill has rushed for a team-high 400 yards and four TDs, averaging 8.3 yards per carry. The sophomore signal caller exploded for 259 rushing yards and three TDs in the win over the Longhorns. However, Hill is completing only 35.1 percent of his throws for 564 yards with a 1/3 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

    Middle Tennessee QB Logan Kilgore is connecting on 60.7 percent of his passing attempts for 729 yards with a mediocre 4/5 TD-INT ratio. Kilgore was more effective last season when he had 16 TD passes compared to only six interceptions. Jordan Parker is the Blue Raiders' leading rusher with 435 yards and four TDs.

    BYU owns a 23-19 spread record as a home favorite during Mendenhall's nine-year tenure.

    As a road underdog on Rick Stockstill's watch, Middle Tennessee has compiled a 14-17 spread record.

    Kickoff is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPNU.

    Utah State at San Jose State

    As of Wednesday afternoon, most spots had Utah St. (2-2 SU, 3-1 ATS) installed as a 10-point 'chalk' with a total of 61. The Spartans are +300 on the money line (risk $100 to win $300).

    Utah St. is coming off a 17-14 loss at Southern Cal as a 6.5-point underdog. Junior QB Chuckie Keeton tossed a pair of TD passes and didn't commit a turnover. But the Aggies couldn't answer a field goal from the Trojans early in the fourth quarter and suffered another narrow defeat.

    Matt Wells's team has wins at Air Force (52-20) and vs. Weber St. (70-6), but it lost 30-26 at Utah as a two-point underdog in the season opener. Keeton has been sensational as usual, throwing for 1,102 yards with a remarkable 14/1 TD-INT ratio. Keeton now has a 52/12 TD-INT ratio in 25 career games.

    San Jose St. (1-2 SU, 2-1 ATS) has dropped back-to-back games since beating Sacramento St. 24-0 on Aug. 29. The Spartans lost 34-13 at Stanford but took the money as 24-point underdogs. They came up on the wrong end of a 43-24 game last week at Minnesota, failing to cover as four-point 'dogs.

    SJS has an NFL prospect at QB in David Fales, who threw for 4,193 yards with a 33/9 TD-INT ratio in 2012. This year he has completed 60.9 percent of his throws for 880 yards with a 6/3 TD-INT ratio. Noel Grigsby is Fales's favorite target, but the WR went down with a knee injury at practice last week and is out indefinitely.

    Grigsby had to sit out the loss at Minnesota. In the first two games, the senior wideout caught 10 balls for 106 yards and a pair of scores. Grigsby had a banner 2012 campaign, making 82 receptions for 1,307 yards and nine TDs.

    The 'over' is 3-1 for Utah St. this year, 2-1 in its three road assignments. The 'under' is 2-1 for San Jose St., 1-0 in its lone home game.

    Utah St has won four in a row over SJS, going 3-1 ATS. The Aggies rolled to a 49-27 win as 2.5-point road underdogs last season. Keeton threw for 273 yards and three TDs without an interception. Fales completed 38-of-50 passes for 467 yards and three TDs without being intercepted. Grigsby hauled in 11 receptions for 181 yards and two scores.

    The 'over' has hit in three consecutive head-to-head meetings.

    ESPN will have the telecast at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

    B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets

    Arkansas QB Brandon Allen has been downgraded to 'doubtful' for Saturday's home game vs. Texas A&M. Allen has a 5/1 TD-INT ratio. The Hogs lost 28-24 at Rutgers last week when back-up QB A.J. Derby was under center.

    Florida stud DT Dominique Easley is 'out' at Kentucky and possibly for the season. He suffered a non-contact knee injury at practice on Tuesday. Will Muschamp called it a 'tweak' on Wednesday morning's SEC teleconference. However, Easley sent out a tweet moments later that indicated his career could with UF could be over. The Gators have incredible depth on the defensive line, but this would still be a huge loss. Easley was well on his way to garnering first-team All-American honors. Tyler Murphy will make his first career start at QB following Jeff Driskel's season-ending injury in last week's 31-17 win over Tennessee. Murphy's first start will come at Kentucky, as did Chris Leak's. UF is favored by 13. UK has lost 26 in a row to the Gators.

    Stanford safety Ed Reynolds, a third-team All-American in 2012, will miss the first half of Saturday's game at Washington St. (in Seattle) for violating the NCAA's targeting rule in a win over Arizona St. The Cardinal will be without All-American OG David Yankey for the entire game. Yankey won't make the trip with the team due to a personal matter.

    Arizona St. has lost three defensive players to season-ending injuries, including DE Junior Onyeali and nose tackle Jaxon Hood, who had six and three sacks last year, respectively.

    Vandy owns a 7-2 spread record as a home favorite under James Franklin. The Commdores are favored by 20 Saturday vs. UAB.

  • #2
    NCAAF Week 5

    BYU just finished playing Texas/Utah; as independents, Notre Dame is their only reaally big game left, and thats at end of schedule. Cougars ran ball down Texas' throat for 550 yards in 40-21 win, but scored 16-13 in losing other two games, in monsoon at Virginia and in-state rivalry game last week vs Utah. BYU is 22-17 as home favorite since '06, 8-2 in last twn when laying 10+ points. Middle Tennessee is 14-18 as road dogs in Stockstill era; they gave up 503 yards, 35 points in 42-35 C-USA road win last week. Kilgore is senior QB (19 starts); Blue Raiders lost only six starters from LY; being on national TV probably means more to them than BYU squad that is on TV fairly often.

    Fourth road game in five weeks for Utah State squad that lost to pair of Pac-12 squads (Utah 30-26/USC 17-14) won 52-20 at Air Force. Aggies won last four games vs San Jose, winning 49-27/38-34 in last two visits here. Underdogs are 4-3 vs spread in last seven series games. San Jose is 0-2 vs I-A foes, losing by 21 at San Jose, 19 at Minnesota; they gave up 353 rushing yards to Gophers last week. Spartans were 6-2 as home dog under MacIntyre; this is their first I-A home game with Caragher. Aggies covered three of last four as a road favorite- they outgained Utah by 37 yards, USC 285-282 last week. Keeton is completing 71% of his passes.

    Comment


    • #3
      MIDDLE TENN ST (3 - 1) at BYU (1 - 2) - 9/27/2013, 9:00 PM

      There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

      Head-to-Head Series History
      There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.


      UTAH ST (2 - 2) at SAN JOSE ST (1 - 2) - 9/27/2013, 9:00 PM

      Top Trends for this game.
      SAN JOSE ST is 13-3 ATS (+9.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
      SAN JOSE ST is 13-3 ATS (+9.7 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
      SAN JOSE ST is 12-3 ATS (+8.7 Units) as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
      SAN JOSE ST is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) when playing with 6 or less days rest over the last 2 seasons.
      UTAH ST is 14-2 ATS (+11.8 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
      UTAH ST is 14-2 ATS (+11.8 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
      UTAH ST is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
      UTAH ST is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
      UTAH ST is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in road lined games over the last 2 seasons.
      UTAH ST is 12-2 ATS (+9.8 Units) in games played on turf over the last 2 seasons.
      UTAH ST is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in September games over the last 2 seasons.

      Head-to-Head Series History
      SAN JOSE ST is 1-1 against the spread versus UTAH ST over the last 3 seasons
      UTAH ST is 2-0 straight up against SAN JOSE ST over the last 3 seasons
      2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons


      UTAH STATE vs. SAN JOSE STATE
      Utah State is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games
      Utah State is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
      San Jose State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
      San Jose State is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Utah State

      MIDDLE TENNESSEE vs. BYU
      Middle Tennessee is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
      The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Middle Tennessee's last 7 games
      The total has gone UNDER in 4 of BYU's last 6 games
      BYU is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games


      Middle Tennessee State at BYU
      Mid Tenn State: 6-0 ATS away in the first half of the season
      BYU: 1-10 ATS at home off BB home games

      Utah State at San Jose State
      Utah State: 7-0 ATS off a non-conference game
      San Jose State: 5-18 ATS off BB road losses

      Comment


      • #4
        College Football Betting Preview: SMU at TCU
        By Andrew Lange
        Sportsmemo.com

        SMU at TCU
        Saturday, 9 am PT - FS1
        CRIS Opener: TCU -19.5 O/U 52.5
        CRIS Current: TCU -19 O/U 51.5
        Rob Veno's Power Rating: TCU -14.5
        Andrew Lange's Recommendation: TCU

        If Texas A&M wanted to, it could have hung 60+ on SMU last weekend. Instead, the Aggies backed off late and won 42-13. This week, I don't think TCU has the ability to score at that type of rate but the Horned Frogs could offset that by putting up more resistance defensively.

        TCU is off to a 1-2 start and has lost the services of quarterback Casey Pachall. Trevone Boykin is no doubt a tick down from Pachall but at home, off a bye week, and against a defense that has allowed 315.7 ypg passing, I expect him to have one of his better games.

        Ever since Week 1's dismal showing against Texas Tech at home – in what should have been SMU's Game of the Year – I've been looking to fade this team. You have three key entities in quarterback Garrett Gilbert, head coach Junes Jones, and offensive coordinator Hal Mumme that simply don't bring much to the table these days. Gilbert puts up big numbers but has yet to perform with the game on the line. And I feel like Jones and Mumme, who are 60 and 61 years old respectively, are no longer the "geniuses" they once were.

        Also note that there is a little bit of animosity between the two schools. Patterson and Jones have reportedly "mended fences" after a verbal spat a few years back but Patterson is no longer interested in helping out its crosstown little brother. Like I said, I’m not sure if TCU has the ability to win by 35+ but at 1-2 and off a bye you can bet Patterson is itching for a never-in-doubt type outcome.

        “You’ve got to make sure you understand, [losing] is a disease. It spreads,” Patterson said. “If you’re not careful, you get to where you tolerate it. Losing cannot be tolerated. Even in 2004 (TCU’s only losing season under Patterson) we didn’t tolerate it. That’s why we were able to turn that thing around quickly in 2005.”

        Note that last year's meeting in which TCU won 24-16 was a rain-soaked slopfest in which both teams combined for eight turnovers. The weather this weekend is expected to be clear.

        The markets have adjusted for SMU's shortcomings and this is somewhat of a rivalry but there aren't many aspects of this contest that favor the underdog and I'll continue to bet against the Mustangs until they prove otherwise.

        Comment


        • #5
          College Football Betting Preview: USC at Arizona State
          By Ian Cameron
          Sportsmemo.com

          USC at Arizona State
          Saturday, 7:30 pm PT - ESPN2
          CRIS Opener: Arizona State -5 O/U 49.5
          CRIS Current: Arizona State -5 O/U 50.5
          Rob Veno's Power Rating: Arizona State -5
          Ian Cameron's Recommendation: Arizona State

          This PAC-12 showdown should come down to which team imposes their will and style on the other team. USC will rely on defense and slowing the pace of this game down greatly while Arizona State will look to make this a shootout and use its fast paced, up-tempo offense to wear down the very stout Trojans defense over the course of 60 minutes. I think in this case, Arizona State and their offense will win out and home field advantage will prove to be too much for USC as the Trojans play their first PAC-12 road game of the season.

          The reason why I’m more willing to lay the points with ASU at home is because I simply don’t trust USC’s offense to score enough points on the road to keep this game close for the duration. The Trojans will likely be better off in the long-term having Cody Kessler as their quarterback instead of Max Wittek but Kessler still has plenty of room for improvement. Kessler was only 13-of-27 passing for less than 50% completions last week against Utah State and the Trojans only put up 282 total yards. That was enough to get them a 17-14 win at home against the Aggies but that kind of output on offense this week won’t result in similar success. USC scored only 23 offensive points against lowly Hawaii in its only road game so far and the Trojans struggled mightily in the red zone in that game which is a definite concern facing a much tougher level of competition. Arizona State’s defense wasn’t very good last week as they struggled on the road allowing 38 points in its loss at Stanford and they are a bit banged up on that side of the football too but the Sun Devils should be able to regroup playing at home against a much inferior offense than the one they saw last week.

          The USC defense did a good job limiting the production of Utah State’ Chuckie Keeton and a pretty good Aggies offense but ASU will be looking to speed up this game when they have the football. That will test the physical stamina and durability of this Trojans defense under the most treacherous offensive opponent they’ve played to this point. Taylor Kelly is completing nearly 60% of his passes with a solid 8-3 TD-INT ratio in three games and they have solid balance led by wide receiver Jaelen Strong and running back Marion Grice. Arizona State has scored 30+ points in seven of its eight home games at Sun Devil Stadium since Todd Graham dating back to the start of last year and I think they will be able to score their share of points in this game even against a very tough USC stop unit.

          Arizona State will also be out for blood this week after falling behind 39-7 last week against Stanford before eventually losing 42-28. It’s also a revenge spot for the Sun Devils who lost 38-17 to the Trojans at the Coliseum last season. Arizona State is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings and I expect them to get the cash Saturday night on ESPN2.

          Comment


          • #6
            College Football Betting Preview: Wisconsin at Ohio State
            By Otto Sports
            Sportsmemo.com

            Wisconsin at Ohio State
            Saturday, 5 pm PT - ABC
            CRIS Opener: Ohio State -7.5 O/U 53.5
            CRIS Current: Ohio State -6.5 (-120) O/U 54.5
            Rob Veno's Power Rating: Ohio State -6.5
            Marty Otto's Recommendation: Over

            It will be 8 pm local time in Columbus when the Buckeyes and Badgers play in front of 100,000 screaming fans at “The Shoe” in what shapes up as one of the biggest games of the weekend. ABC will have the coverage as these two Big Ten heavyweights look to take an early stronghold on the Leaders Division.

            Wisconsin’s Gary Andersen is in his first year at the helm having come in from Utah State. His Aggies teams were stellar against the number when installed as road dogs going 14-2 ATS in that role during his tenure. He seems like a great fit here for the Badgers and his blue collar approach and willingness to lean on a three-headed monster of a running game should bring plenty of success.

            Ohio State is in the second year of the Urban Meyer era and has yet to lose a game since he came aboard. The Buckeyes look much more efficient in Meyer’s offense this year and have covered seven of their last eight games dating back to 2012.

            As mentioned earlier, Wisconsin leans heavily on their running game. But it’s not just a “three yards and a cloud of dust” attack despite it being straight forward, power running. The Badgers three main ball carriers – Melvin Gordon, James White and Corey Clement – all average more than 7.0 yards per carry this season and have combined for 14 touchdowns. Gordon in particular is a dynamo averaging more than 11.0 yards per carry this season. With those three humming along, Wisconsin ranks third in the nation in rushing at roughly 350 yards per game. Their offensive line is one of the best units in the country and should be able to have success against an Ohio State defense that has looked every bit inexperienced as it is at times throughout the young season. And they’ll need to have that success running because I’m not convinced in the slightest that quarterback Joel Stave can make many plays to influence the game through the air. He just doesn’t have any weapons outside of wide receiver Jared Abbrederis and injuries have weakened an already paper thin unit.

            OSU quarterback Braxton Miller should make his return this week after brief stint on the sidelines. However we should note that the Buckeyes have listed Miller and backup Kenny Guiton as co-starters so it’s not entirely out of the question that we see both on Saturday night. In any event, Urban Meyer’s signature offense is running on all cylinders right now with Ohio State averaging more than 52 points per game, ranking fourth in the nation. Miller and Guiton both have been stellar throwing the ball so far with Miller looking infinitely more comfortable in the pocket and going through his reads. Deep threat Devin Smith can take the top off a defense in a hurry while Philly Brown serves as a solid possession man. But this team is still going to run the ball and they’re going to run it well. A solid stable of running backs includes Jordan Hall and the recently reactivated Carlos Hyde (suspension). Keep an eye on Dontre Wilson, the electric freshman has proven to be a weapon as a runner, receiver and kick returner.

            My raw numbers suggest this game should see about 49 total points scored but those numbers are not adjusted for strength of schedule. If we examine the toughest games for each of these two teams (Cal for OSU and Arizona State for Wisconsin) we see that both of these defenses can be vulnerable. Both of those games flew over their respective totals and featured close to 2,000 combined yards. It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest to see this one outpace the posted total.

            Comment


            • #7
              College Football Betting Preview: Oklahoma at Notre Dame
              By Teddy Covers
              Sportsmemo.com

              Oklahoma at Notre Dame
              Saturday, 12:30 pm PT - NBC
              CRIS Opener: Oklahoma -2.5 O/U 48.5
              CRIS Current: Oklahoma -3 (-120) O/U 48.5
              Rob Veno's Power Rating: Oklahoma -1.5
              Teddy Covers' Recommendation: Notre Dame

              Last year, Notre Dame’s 30-13 upset win at Oklahoma as 13-point underdogs set the stage for its impressive run through November into the BCS Championship. It was a tight game most of the way, with Notre Dame taking advantage of a pair of Sooner penalties that wiped potential touchdowns off the board. The Fighting Irish defense hung tough in the red zone, forcing field goals as opposed to allowing touchdowns. And Oklahoma suffered a couple of bad snaps from center that killed key drives, not atypical of the miscues that plagued them in both regular season losses.

              Now Oklahoma gets their chance for revenge in South Bend, and the betting markets clearly expect them to accomplish that task. Bob Stoops is a 3.5-point road favorite here. It’s surely worth noting that the Sooners have only enjoyed two winning ATS seasons over the last ten years in the road chalk role. If you take out their 5-0 mark as road chalk with their 2008 team that played Florida in the national title game, Stoops and company are just 11-21 ATS as road favorites over the past ten years.

              Oklahoma has not been tested early. They’ve faced UL-Monroe, West Virginia and Tulsa at home prior to last week’s bye. All three of those squads struggled to compete athletically with the Sooners talent base, but Oklahoma still struggled offensively in two of those three games. The passing game didn’t work in the opener against UL-M. And they managed only a single touchdown in a tight win over West Virginia; a Mountaineers team that lost 37-0 in a neutral site game against Maryland last week.

              After the Sooners early offensive troubles, Stoops made a QB change from frosh Trevor Knight to junior Blake Bell. The Belldozer was unable to beat out his frosh competitor in camp, but he enjoyed a huge game against Tulsa: 27-37 for 413 yards and four touchdowns without an INT. Now, he’ll be making his first career road start against a pretty tough defense; a far cry from the suspect stop unit that Tulsa brought to the table before the bye.

              Oklahoma’s defense has allowed only 27 points through their first three games despite suffering significant graduation losses this past offseason; including the departure of the vast majority of their defensive line and starting secondary. That’s bad news for a Notre Dame offense that has not been lighting up the scoreboard early on.

              That being said, the Irish have faced a much tougher early slate than Oklahoma, including matchups against both Michigan and Michigan State. Tommy Rees has only completed 56% of his passes, but his 8-to-2 TD-to-INT ratio is rock solid and four different Notre Dame receivers have a catch of 40 yards or longer.

              Notre Dame lost four key defenders to the NFL draft last spring, and there’s been a noticeable drop-off for a team that allowed less than 13 points per game in 2012. That being said, they’ve allowed only 19 points in two previous home games, and have a pretty darn good track record defending mobile quarterbacks like Bell. I’m expecting a tight, competitive contest, which means I can only recommend Notre Dame plus the points. That extra half point at the current +3.5 point spread has the real potential to be a difference maker on Saturday.

              Comment


              • #8
                Early Line Moves For Week 5
                By Andrew Lange
                Sportsmemo.com

                Let’s take a look at some of the early line moves for this week’s college football action.

                UConn at Buffalo
                CRIS Opener: UConn -2.5
                CRIS Current: Buffalo -1
                Comment: Buffalo comes in off of a bye week. UConn hung tough against Michigan but a lot of it had to do with the Wolverines committing four turnovers.

                UAB at Vanderbilt
                CRIS Opener: Vanderbilt -23
                CRIS Current: Vanderbilt -19.5
                Comment: Oddsmakers and bettors don't seem to be on the same page when it comes to the Commodores. Last week against UMass, Vandy opened -36, closed -29 and the Minutemen covered rather easily.

                Iowa at Minnesota
                CRIS Opener: Minnesota -3.5
                CRIS Current: Iowa -1
                Comment: Gophers off to a strong 4-0 start but have yet to be tested. If Minny goes off as the favorite it will mark the first time doing so vs. a Big Ten opponent since 2009.

                Arizona at Washington
                CRIS Opener: Washington -7
                CRIS Current: Washington -10
                Comment: Arizona comes in off a bye week but has played arguably the softest schedule in the country: Northern Arizona, UNLV, and UT-San Antonio.

                Navy at Western Kentucky
                CRIS Opener: Western Kentucky pk
                CRIS Current: Navy -2.5 (-3 everywhere else)
                Comment: Conflicting reports about how much time and effort WKU has put in on prepping for the option. Petrino said he's not worried about the opponent but with Army also on the schedule, some option work has reportedly taken place dating back to the spring.

                UNLV at New Mexico
                CRIS Opener: New Mexico pk
                CRIS Current: UNLV -3
                Comment: UNLV hasn't won a road game since 2009, so there's that to consider.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Games to Watch - Week 5
                  By Brian Edwards
                  VegasInsider.com

                  Ohio State at Wisconsin

                  As of Monday afternoon, most books had Ohio State (4-0 straight up, 3-1 against the spread) installed as a 7½-point home favorite. During Urban Meyer’s two-year tenure, the Buckeyes are 6-5 against the spread as home favorites. After missing back-to-back games with a sprained knee, junior quarterback Braxton Miller is considered ‘probable.’ In his absence, Kenny Guiton has thrown for 664 yards and rushed for 186. Guiton has a 13/2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Wisconsin (3-1 SU, 4-0 ATS) bounced back from its heartbreaking defeat at Arizona State by demolishing Purdue 41-10 as a 22-point home ‘chalk.’ Sophomore RB Melvin Gordon leads the country with 624 rushing yards and seven TDs. Gordon is averaging 11.8 yards per carry and has the potential to take it to the house on any given touch. When these schools met at Camp Randall last year, Ohio State won 21-14 in overtime as a 2½-point road underdog. The Bucks have won five of the last six head-to-head meetings both SU and ATS. The ‘over’ is 3-1 for Ohio State this year, 2-2 for Wisconsin. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

                  Ole Miss at Alabama

                  Most spots have top-ranked Alabama (3-0 SU, 1-2 ATS) favored by 16 ½ points. The Crimson Tide has an 18-21 spread record as a home favorite under Nick Saban. QB A.J. McCarron has 702 passing yards with a 6/2 TD-INT ratio for Alabama. As a road underdog on Hugh Freeze’s watch, Ole Miss (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS) owns a 4-1 spread record. The Rebels are 7-1 ATS in their eight games away from Oxford (7 road, 1 neutral) under Freeze. Ole Miss’s leading returning tackler Denzel Nkemdiche (knee) was injured in the opener against Vandy and has missed the last two games. But Freeze told the media Monday afternoon that Nkemdiche would practice on Tuesday and be evaluated later in the week. He and CB Charles Sawyer are both listed as ‘questionable.’ Sawyer was suspended for the 44-23 win at Texas after his arrest on DUI charges the previous weekend. WR Vince Sanders (collarbone) is expected to play. Rebs’ QB Bo Wallace has completed 64.4 percent of his passes for 648 yards with a 4/0 TD-INT ratio. He has also run for 120 yards and three TDs. Jeff Scott has rushed for 330 yards and three TDs, averaging 9.4 YPC. He also has a punt return for a score. ESPN will have the telecast at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

                  Oklahoma at Notre Dame

                  Oklahoma (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS) will be seeking revenge for last season’s 30-13 home loss to Notre Dame in Norman. The oddsmakers have made the Sooners 3½-point favorites. They had an open date following their 51-20 victory over Tulsa. Blake Bell took control of the starting QB job with his 413 passing yards and four TDs without an interception against the Golden Hurricane. OU is 12-10 ATS in its last 22 games as a road favorite. Notre Dame (3-1 SU, 0-3-1 ATS) has only been a home underdog twice under Brian Kelly, going 1-1 both SU and ATS. The Fighting Irish won a 17-13 decision over Michigan State this past weekend as a four-point home favorite. The 30 combined points stayed ‘under’ the 42-point total. NBC will provide television coverage at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

                  Arizona at Washington

                  Most books are listing Washington (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS) as an eight-point favorite. During Steve Sarkisian’s five-year tenure, the Huskies are 9-5 ATS as home favorites. UW has won all three of its games by double-digit margins, including victories over Boise State (38-6) vs. Illinois (34-24 in Chicago). Senior QB Keith Price has completed 77.0 percent of his passes for 877 yards with a 7/1 TD-INT ratio. RB Bishop Sankey has run for 446 yards and four TDs, averaging 7.0 YPC. Arizona (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS) has a 2-2 spread record in four games as a road underdog since Rich Rodriguez took over. AU’s new starting QB B.J. Denker has played well through 12 quarters. Denker has rushed for 221 yards and five TDs, in addition to a pair of TD passes without being intercepted. The Wildcats’ star is RB Ka’Deem Carey, who has 299 yards rushing and four TDs. He has a 7.0 YPC average. The ‘under’ is 2-1 for both schools. The ‘over’ has hit in six consecutive head-to-head meetings. When these Pac-12 rivals met last season, Arizona ran away with a 52-17 win as an 8½-point home ‘chalk.’ Carey ran for 172 yards and one TD, while AU’s defense intercepted Price twice. AU has had two weeks to prepare for the Huskies, who spanked Idaho St. 56-0 this past weekend. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. Eastern on FOX.

                  Texas A&M at Arkansas

                  As of Monday afternoon, there was no line due to the uncertain status of Arkansas QB Brandon Allen, who missed Saturday’s 28-24 loss at Rutgers with a bruised shoulder suffered in a win over Souther Mississippi on Sept. 14. The Razorbacks allowed a 24-7 third-quarter lead to get away in the loss to the Scarlet Knights. Back-up QB A.J. Derby completed 14-of-26 passes for 137 yards and one TD without an interception. Arkansas (3-1 SU, 1-3 ATS) won the turnover battle 3-0 but couldn’t run the ball effectively like it had done in winning its first three games. Texas A&M (3-1 SU, 3-1 ATS) has covered the number in three straight outings, including Saturday’s 42-13 win over SMU as a 28½-point favorite. The ‘over’ hit in the first three games for the Aggies, but the 55 combined points against the Mustangs dipped well ‘under’ the 80-point total. Johnny Manziel threw for 244 yards and one TD, while also rushing for a team-high 102 yards and two TDs. For the season, Manziel has 1,205 passing yards with a 12/4 TD-INT ratio. He has rushed for 255 yards and three TDs. WR Mike Evans is second in the nation with 575 receiving yards. When these schools met in College Station last year, Texas A&M cruised to a 58-10 win as a 13-point home favorite. ESPN2 will have the telecast at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Saturday's NCAAF Top 25 Betting Cheat Sheet

                    Afternoon Action

                    Miami Hurricanes at South Florida Bulls (+19, 47)

                    Miami Senior quarterback Stephen Morris suffered an ankle injury last week, but is expected to play. The Hurricanes have allowed only 29 points in three games, keyed by junior linebacker Denzel Perryman’s 20 tackles.

                    South Florida’s quarterbacks are struggling and five defensive touchdowns have been scored against the Bulls. Sophomore Steven Bench, a transfer from Penn State, is expected to be the third different starter at quarterback after completing 8-of-23 passes for 128 yards in the 28-10 loss to Florida Atlantic on Sept. 14. The Bulls have turned the ball over eight times.

                    LINE: Miami opened -20.5 and has moved as low as -18. Total moved from 48.5 to 47.

                    WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 80s, 20 percent chance of thunderstorms, winds NE 7 mph.

                    TRENDS:
                    * Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
                    * Road team is 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
                    * Bulls are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. ACC.

                    Oklahoma State Cowboys at West Virginia Mountaineers (+19, 57)

                    Oklahoma State tallied 115 points in its last two games and is tied for 10th in the country in scoring at 45.3 points per game coming out of an early bye week. Senior Jeremy Smith leads the team with six rushing touchdowns, including three first-half scores in the Cowboys’ 59-3 win against Lamar last week. Oklahoma State racked up 426 total yards in that victory.

                    West Virginia redshirt freshman Ford Childress is expected to start his third consecutive game despite floundering against the Terrapins last week. West Virginia has scored seven total points in its two losses. Coming off a 37-0 shutout to Maryland, the Mountaineers will look to stay above .500 under third-year coach Dana Holgorsen, who served as Oklahoma State’s offensive coordinator in 2010.

                    LINE: OSU opened -20.5 and has moved to -19. Total moved between 57 and 58.

                    WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 60s, clear skies, winds 5 mph SE

                    TRENDS:
                    * Cowboys are 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games.
                    * Mountaineers are 2-6 ATS in their last eight home games.
                    * Under is 7-0 in Mountaineers last seven games overall.

                    South Carolina Gamecocks at UCF Knights (+7, 53)

                    The Gamecocks, whose only loss was at Georgia, 41-30, are coming off a bye following a 35-25 home win over Vanderbilt. Senior quarterback Connor Shaw is completing 64.9 percent of his passes and has thrown six touchdowns without an interception.

                    Central Florida enters Saturday's game unbeaten and with arguably the more impressive win. The Knights (3-0), who have scored at least 30 points in their first three games of a season for the first time in school history, are coming off a 34-31 upset of Penn State in Happy Valley.

                    LINE: UCF opened +7.5 and moved to +7. Total steady at 53.

                    WEATHER: Temperatures in low 80s, 19 percent chance of rain, winds NE 12 mph

                    TRENDS:
                    * Gamecocks are 6-2 ATS in their last eight non-conference games.
                    * Knights are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games.
                    * Over is 5-1 in Gamecocks last six road games.

                    Oklahoma Sooners at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+3.5, 50)

                    The Irish used their passing game to stretch Michigan State and put pressure on the cornerbacks last week, drawing several penalties that kept drives alive and helped lead to a 17-13 triumph. Notre Dame is looking for its 11th straight home win.

                    Oklahoma is getting its biggest test of the first month and had an off week to prepare for the Fighting Irish after trouncing Tulsa on Sept. 14. The Sooners are bringing a different starting quarterback into this matchup, with junior Blake Bell proving himself after passing for 413 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Tulsa.

                    LINE: Notre Dame opened -1 and moved to +3.5. Total moved from 48.5 to 50.

                    WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 70s, clear skies, winds south 12 mph

                    TRENDS:
                    * Sooners are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 non-conference games.
                    * Fighting Irish are 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven home games.
                    * Under is 25-9-1 in Fighting Irish's last 35 non-conference games.

                    LSU Tigers at Georgia Bulldogs (-3, 62)

                    The Tigers have outscored opponents 173-88 and have not trailed at any point, but they also haven't yet played in a hostile environment like they'll face between the hedges. LSU's offense has taken flight under new coordinator Cam Cameron, as the Tigers have topped 30 points in their first four games for only the third time in history - and the first since 1928.

                    The Bulldogs put a 14-game home winning streak on the line and are after their second home win over a top-10 opponent after a 41-30 victory over South Carolina two weeks ago. Georgia's offense has been dynamic with quarterback Aaron Murray and running back Todd Gurley - the SEC's leading rusher at 125.7 yards per game.

                    LINE: Georgia opened -4.5 and moved to -3. Total steady at 62.

                    WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 70s, clear skies, winds ENE 6 mph

                    TRENDS:
                    * Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
                    * Tigers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 conference games.
                    * Bulldogs are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall.

                    Florida State Seminoles at Boston College Eagles (+23.5)

                    Spurred by the country’s 19th-ranked running game, the Seminoles look to extend a seven-game win streak in ACC play. The Seminoles have been remarkably efficient on offense, averaging 8.8 yards per play - the third-best mark in the nation. However, the defense has created only four turnovers and allowed 43 more rushing yards per game than it did a season ago.

                    Boston College, which had the FBS' 10th-worst run defense in 2012, appeared to be making strides in that area until it surrendered 257 yards in a 35-7 loss at Southern California last Saturday. However, the Eagles’ best chance at winning this game may come behind running back Andre Williams, who leads the conference in rushing.

                    LINE: FSU opened -22.5 and moved to -23.5. Total moved 52 to 54.

                    WEATHER: Temperatures in low 60s, clear skies, winds east 6 mph

                    TRENDS:
                    * Underdog is 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings.
                    * Road team is 6-2 ATS in their last eight meetings.
                    * Over is 6-2-1 in Seminoles last nine games overall.

                    Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Clemson Tigers (-28.5, 58.5)

                    The Demon Deacons have lost 32 straight games against teams ranked in the Top 5 dating back to a victory over Tennessee in 1946. Wake Forest is 9-73 all-time in road games against ranked programs.

                    Clemson QB Tajh Boyd had a field day against Wake Forest last season, throwing for five touchdowns and setting a school record with 428 yards. coach Dabo Swinney said that WR Martavis Bryant will have his playing time reduced against Wake Forest for making a throat-slashing gesture after one of the scores.

                    LINE: Clemson opened -27.5 and moved to -29. Total steady at 58.5.

                    WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 70s, clear skies, winds ENE 5 mph.

                    TRENDS:
                    * Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
                    * Under is 17-8 in Tigers last 25 conference games.
                    * Tigers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games overall.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Essential Betting Tidbits for Week 5 of College Football
                      By Covers.com

                      We dug up these vital betting tidbits for some of Saturday's college football action that will help you make the right call before kickoff.

                      - The South Florida Bulls are have just a 20 percent conversion rate on third downs. Only Florida International and Miami (OH) are worse. The Bulls are 19-point home dogs with the Miami Hurricanes in town.

                      - The West Virginia Mountaineers had six turnovers last week versus Maryland and are averaging 3.7 giveaways per game. Only Hawaii, Southern Mississippi and Western Kentucky are worse.

                      - Oklahoma State is tied for 10th in the nation in scoring with 45.3 ppg. The Cowboys are 19-point road faves at West Virginia Saturday.

                      - The worst offensive unit in the country? That would be the Miami (OH) Red Hawks who have just 448 total net yards through three games. Florida International is next-to-last with 603 total yards. The Red Hawks are 25-point road dogs at Illinois.

                      - Central Florida is a 7-point home dog with South Carolina visiting. The Knights will have to put their unblemished 3-0 ATS mark on the line without starting LB Willie Mitchell who will miss his second straight game following his DUI arrest on Sept. 7.

                      - The SMU Mustangs are 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings with TCU. The Horned Frogs are 19.5-point home faves Saturday.

                      - Northern Illinois and Purdue have met once before. NIU won 28-21 and covered as 9.5-point dogs back in 2009. The Huskies are 3.5-point road faves Saturday.

                      - The Tennessee Volunteers host the South Alabama Jaguars Saturday. Tennessee is 8-0 all time against teams from the Sun Belt Conference and is an 18.5-point fave.

                      - Pitt is a 5.5-point home fave with the Virginia Cavaliers visiting on Saturday.

                      - Virginia is ranked No. 2 nationally in pass efficiency defense, which could bode well against pass-happy Pitt this weekend

                      - The UNC Tar Heels are 12-point home faves versus East Carolina. The Heels are 6-0 ATS in the past six meetings with the Pirates.

                      - Navy is the No. 1 rushing team in the nation with 398 yards per game. Western Kentucky's defense allows 200 rushing yards per game which ranks them 89th in the country. The Midshipmen are 3-point road faves.

                      - The favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings between Bowling Green and Akron. The Falcons are 14-point favorites at home.

                      - The Colorado Buffaloes have not played a game since Sept. 7. Their game versus Fresno State was postponed due to weather. The Buffaloes are 11-point dogs at Oregon State.

                      - The Duke Blue Devils are coming off a 58-55 loss to Pitt in the second-highest scoring game in ACC history. The host the Troy Trojans with a total of 68.5.

                      - The road team is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings between Toledo and Ball State. The Cardinals are 2-point home faves Saturday.

                      - Buffalo hosts UConn with the game currently a pick. The Huskies are 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings with the Bulls.

                      - Clemson hosts Wake Forest with the total currently sitting at 58.5. The Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings between these two teams.

                      - The Colorado State Rams lead the all-time series with UTEP 24-10. The Rams are favored by two touchdowns at home Saturday.

                      - The Oklahoma Sooners haven't lost a regular season game since losing to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 30-13 in Week 9 last season. The Sooners are 3.5-road dogs at South Bend.

                      - The Iowa Hawkeyes are one of four teams with an Over/Under record of 4-0 (LSU, New Mexico State, Troy). The Hawkeyes are on the road to face Minnesota with a total of 46 Saturday.

                      - The North Carolina State Wolpack have played under the total in eight straight home games. They've allowed an average of 16.6 points in those eight home games. The Wolfpack host Central Michigan and the total is currently 52.

                      - Florida State QB Jameis Winston leads the nation with a 78.1 completion percentage and is second with a 210.5 QB rating. Winston will look to build on those numbers in Boston as the Noles are 23-point road faves at Boston College.

                      - A pair of SEC heavyweights face off as Georgia hosts LSU Saturday. The over is 5-1 in the last six meetings and Saturday's total is currently 62.

                      - Army and Louisiana Tech play in Dallas Saturday. The Under is 4-0 in Army's last four neutral site games. Total is 52.5.

                      - The UTSA Road Runners are one of five teams to start the season 4-0 ATS. Dating back to last season, the Road Runners are 8-0 ATS in their last eight games overall. UTSA is a 2.5-point home dog with the Houston Cougars in town Saturday.

                      - The Temple Owls are one of 10 squads that have failed to successfully kick a field goal. They are 0-4 this season. Temple is a 7-point road fave against Idaho with a total of 55.5.

                      - One of the most anticipated matchups of the weekend is Ole Miss at Bama. The Rebels are 14-point dogs, but are 4-0 ATS in their last four games at Alabama.

                      - The Over is 6-0 in the last six meetings between Arizona and Washington. Saturday's total is currently 61.

                      - A pair of anemic offenses take the field as Kent State visit Western Michigan. The Golden Flashes are ranked 120 on offense and the Broncos are ranked 115 on offense. The Broncos are 2.5-point home faves with a total of 49.5.

                      - The Florida Gators are 6-0 ATS in their last six games versus the Kentucky Wildcats. The Gators are 12-point road faves Saturday.

                      - Texas A&M, a 14-point road fave at Arkansas Saturday, has scored 40 points in its first four games of the season for the first time in school history.

                      - Florida Atlantic are 14-point underdogs at Rice Saturday, but are 9-0 ATS in their last nine road games.

                      - Wyoming is currently the top consensus pick (75%) as a 12-point road fave at Texas State Saturday.

                      - Louisiana-Monroe was a 63-10 winner at Tulane in Week 5 last year. The Warhawks are 12.5-point home faves in this weekend's matchup.

                      - The Missouri Tigers are 2-0 against Arkansas State, winning in 2004 and 2005 by a combined score of 96-37. Mizzou is favored by 21.5 at home against the Red Wolves.

                      - Vanderbilt WR Jordan Matthews needs one TD reception to become the school's all-time leader. He'll look get that against UAB who come in as a 19.5-point road dog at Vandy.

                      - Air Force will begin life without starting QB Jeleel Awini versus Nevada Saturday. The sophomore is "no longer a cadet in good standing and not eligible to represent the academy in any outside activities." Awini replaced No. 1 QB Kale Pearson who is out for the season with a knee injury. The Falcons have just two QBs left on the roster and are 11.5-point road dogs at Nevada.

                      - A pair of winless programs go face-to-face as San Diego state plays New Mexico State. The Aggies are 17.5-point home dogs and are 0-8 in their last eight games overall.

                      - UNLV and New Mexico have played under in the last four meetings in New Mexico. The total for Saturday is currently 54.

                      - An interesting Big Ten matchup has Wisconsin at Ohio State. The underdog is 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings and the Badgers are 6.5-point road dogs.

                      - The Stanford Cardinal are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games at Washington State. Stanford is a 9.5-point road fave Saturday night.

                      - Southern Miss has played Over in nine of its last 11 road games. The Golden Eagles are on the road at Boise State with a total of 49.5.

                      - The total for the Cal versus Oregon game currently sits at 82. Since 1985, there have been 11 games with totals of at least 80 points. Six of them have gone under.

                      - USC and Arizona State square off in a Pac-12 battle Saturday Night at Sun Devil Stadium. The Trojans are 3.5-point road dogs and are 0-8 ATS in their last eight games overall.

                      - Fresno State is 4-0 ATS in the last four games in Hawaii. The Bulldogs are big 17.5-point road dogs in the Aloha State.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Line Moves - Week 5
                        By Chris David
                        VegasInsider.com

                        Week 4 Recap

                        Favorites: 3-0 ATS (3-0 SU)
                        Underdogs: 1-2 ATS (0-3 SU)
                        Totals: 3-3

                        For the third consecutive week, bettors riding the ‘chalk’ were able to find themselves a few easy tickets. At the same time, the underdogs failed to show up again in Week 4. Massachusetts was the only ‘dog to keep it close in its home matchup against Vanderbilt while both Hawaii and Idaho were pasted on the road. The early action on the totals resulted in a stalemate. Through three weeks of monitoring the total moves have resulted in a 7-9 record.

                        Week 5 Line Moves

                        CRIS, one of the biggest offshore sportsbooks, opened up their college football lines around 12:00 p.m. ET last Sunday. Normally, we inform you of major moves of “Four Points” or more but this week’s installment will feature moves of at least “Three Points” or more off the opening line from CRIS.

                        Favorites

                        North Carolina vs. East Carolina
                        Open: Tar Heels -10
                        Friday: Tar Heels -13

                        Iowa at Minnesota
                        Open: Hawkeyes +3½
                        Friday: Hawkeyes -2½

                        Oregon vs. California
                        Open: Ducks -31
                        Friday: Ducks -37

                        Nevada vs. Air Force
                        Open: Wolf Pack -7
                        Friday: Wolf Pack -11

                        UNLV at New Mexico
                        Open: PK
                        Friday: Rebels -2

                        Underdogs

                        UAB at Vanderbilt
                        Open: Blazers +23
                        Friday: Blazers +19½

                        South Alabama at Tennessee
                        Open: Jaguars +21
                        Friday: Jaguars +17½

                        South Florida vs. Miami, Fl.
                        Open: Bulls +20
                        Friday: Bulls +16

                        Idaho vs. Temple
                        Open: Vandals +10½
                        Friday: Vandals +7½

                        Week 5 Total Moves

                        CRIS opened their ‘over/under’ numbers on Monday evening. Similar to the sides, there hasn’t been a lot of movement this week with the college football totals so we’re listing all of the moves of just “2 ½ Points” or more off the opening line. As mentioned above in the Recap, the total results have been hovering a tad under .500 through three weeks of monitoring.

                        East Carolina at North Carolina
                        Open: 58½
                        Friday: 61

                        UAB at Vanderbilt
                        Open: 55
                        Friday: 58

                        Iowa at Minnesota
                        Open: 48
                        Friday: 45½

                        Temple at Idaho
                        Open: 52½
                        Friday: 55

                        Stanford at Washington State
                        Open: 50
                        Friday: 47½

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Big Ten Report - Week 5
                          By ASAWins.com

                          In Week 4, the 12 schools in the Big Ten went 8-3 straight up and 5-5-1 against the spread. Wisconsin took care of Purdue in the first conference game of the season while Ohio State, Nebraska, Penn State, and Iowa all cruised to non-conference home blowout. The 'over' went 5-5 last weekend.

                          Ohio State (-7, 54.5) vs. Wisconsin

                          With Penn State banned and Illinois, Indiana, and Purdue looking like also-rans in the Big Ten, this is arguably the Leaders Division championship between the Buckeyes and Badgers. Ohio State will get QB Braxton Miller back for its Big Ten opener against Wisconsin, but we're not so sure they aren't better off starting backup Kenny Guiton, who has 664 passing yards and 13 TD in Millers absence in less than three full games. If anything it proves that OSU's offense is much more than a one-man show this year as there its lots of talent at the RB & WR spots to help lead the team this season. Defensively the Buckeyes have been great (13th in total "D"), but they will face its toughest test this week. More specifically, that 9th ranked rush defense will be tested against Wisconsin's 3rd ranked rushing offense. The Badgers average 349.8 rush yards per game this season and UW RB Gordon leads the nation with 624 yards on a ridiculous 11.8 YPC average. Wisconsin notched 206 rushing yards against the Bucks last year and has averaged 155.6 YPG over the last five meetings (only once were they held below 118 yards). Wisconsin bounced back nicely last week against Purdue after that controversial loss at Arizona State the week prior. The Badgers had +366 yards and +10 first downs over the Boilers. They rushed for 388 yards (8.1 YPC) and five touchdowns in the 31-point victory. Defensively UW is playing at a high level. The Badgers rank 6th in total defense, 6th against the rush, and 10th in points allowed. The most concerning aspect for the Badgers heading into Ohio State is QB Stave, who has been suspect at best this season. UW has always favored rushing over passing and that's no different this season (174 rush attempts to 99 pass attempts). But if the Badgers rushing attack is stifled, Stave hasn't proven that he can be depended on. Stave has had four uneven performances with 63.2% completions and 6 TD & 3 INT through four games. OSU is 5-1 SU & ATS in the last six meetings with Wisconsin and they are 3-0 SU & ATS the last three games at the Horseshoe.

                          Minnesota (+1, 47) vs. Iowa

                          Minnesota had its biggest win of the year to date in a 43-24 win over a quality San Jose State squad. Credit the Gophers for overcoming a big game from SJSU's QB and NFL prospect Fales. Fales had 439 passing yards and three scores, but the Goph's were able to pick him off twice and limit the Spartans to just 11% conversions on 3rd down. Minnesota used its running game to keep Fales off the field. The Gophers only passed the ball 12 times compared to 67 rush attempts. QB Leidner and RB Cobb combined to rush for 276 yards and six touchdowns. That helped Minny hold onto the ball for 41 minutes (compared to just 19 for SJSU). Minnesota opens Big Ten play this week as Iowa travels to Minneapolis for the Floyd of Rosedale trophy. Kirk Ferentz's team is on the rise after its most complete performance of the season. Iowa had four offensive touchdowns, two defensive touchdowns, and two special teams' touchdowns in its 59-3 blowout over Western Michigan. The Hawks "D" held WMU to just 209 total yards and nine first downs while forcing four turnovers. Many were skeptical that Iowa would have a letdown game after its win over in-state rival Iowa State, but the Hawks silenced critics with a momentum building win. Iowa is 9-3 SU in the last 12 meetings with the Gophers, but Minnesota is 5-2 ATS in the last seven and that includes a 3-1 ATS mark at home.

                          Illinois (-24.5, 50.5) vs. Miami (OH)

                          The Illini host Miami of Ohio this Saturday in their final non-conference game. Illinois will be playing its fourth straight home game (September 14th game was at Soldier Field in Chicago against Washington, so basically a home game). They are off of a bye and hungry for redemption after suffering their first loss of the season in their last game. Illinois has been much better offensively this season than they were a year ago. QB Scheelhaase is finally starting to realize his potential and is completing 64% of his passes with 7 TD and just 2 INT. They've already scored 111 points this season, more than half of what they scored through 12 games a season ago. Defensively they still need work, but Miami won't present much of a challenge here. The Redhawks had just 87 total yards in last week's loss to Cincinnati. They've scored just 21 points through three games and rank near the bottom in every major offensive statistical category. They're getting outgained by an average of 395 yards per game and outscored by 28 points per game this season. QB Boucher is completing just 40.4% and their leading rusher has 59 yards. This offense is on pace to be historically bad. Illinois is 0-9 SU following its bye since 2004 and they are just 3-8 ATS over the previous 11 as a 20+ point favorite.

                          Purdue (+3.5, 58) vs. Northern Illinois

                          Road trips to Madison to take on Wisconsin have not been kind to Purdue recently, and last week was no exception. The Boilers gained just 180 yards and tallied 12 first downs offensively. QB Henry completed just 18-of-36 attempts with 1 INT and they notched just 45 rushing yards on 2.1 YPC. The defense was arguably worse. PU allowed 546 total yards, including 388 on the ground en route to a 41-point output from Wisconsin. It was a discouraging result after such an encouraging performance against Notre Dame the week before. Purdue has problems across the board right now as they rank 123rd nationally in total offense (out of 126 teams) and 80th in total defense. The schedule doesn't do the Boilers any favors as 2012 BCS Busters Northern Illinois and star QB Jordan Lynch come to town. NIU is 3-0 and has already beaten Big Ten Iowa. QB Lynch has 662 passing yards, 404 rushing yards, and 9 total touchdowns. The Huskies have scored 30 points or more in each of their three games while the Boilers have yet to surpass 24 points. If anything the Boilers should see some success against this NIU "D" that ranks 115th in total defense and 101st in scoring defense. This is only the fifth time since 1997 that the Boilers are home 'dogs against a non-conference opponent. They are 3-1 ATS in the previous four occurrences.

                          Northwestern - BYE

                          Northwestern seemed to sleepwalk through its game against FCS Maine last week. The Wildcats of last week did not resemble the same squad that dominated Cal, Syracuse, and Western Michigan the prior three games. Against Maine they were outgained and had fewer first downs. They were never in serious danger of losing the game, but it was an odd sight to see Northwestern look so mediocre. Maybe they were flat or maybe coaches were limiting the playbook as they have a big game against Ohio State on deck. When OSU comes to town it will be a ruckus crowd that greets them for an early season statement game. RB Venric Mark is expected back for that contest.

                          Michigan - BYE

                          Almost losing to Akron at home could've been dismissed as a letdown from a big win over Notre Dame the week prior. A near defeat at UConn last week is cause for concern for the Wolverines. Michigan won't stay perfect much longer if QB Gardner keeps turning over the ball (he leads the nation with 10 turnovers). Last week he completed just 11-of-23 passes for 97 yards with 2 INT. The defense is there, but Coach Brady Hoke and his staff have plenty of issues to address this week before the Jug game against Minnesota.

                          Nebraska - BYE

                          Following a turbulent week that featured a bad home loss to UCLA and release of a recording of coach Pelini blasting the Husker faithful, Nebraska got a much needed blowout victory over FCS South Dakota State. QB Martinez did not play but the offense still racked up 645 yards and 59 points - eclipsing 300 pass yards and 300 rush yards. The defense still needs a lot of improvement. This unit surrendered 465 yards and 25 first downs to the Jackrabbits. The sample size is large enough now to show that this defense hasn't improved from a year ago. Illinois visits Lincoln next week.

                          Michigan State - BYE

                          The Spartans suffered their first defeat of the season at Notre Dame last week. They arguably outplayed the Irish, but couldn't put points on the board when it mattered in the 13-17 loss. Defensively there aren't many teams stronger than MSU. Sparty held ND to just 220 yards and 14 first downs and now ranks 1st in total defense, 3rd against the pass, and 2nd against the rush. The Big Ten legends race is wide-open, but MSU won't make much noise until they get consistent QB play and results from the offense. Next up is a road trip to Iowa.

                          Penn State - BYE
                          After suffering a home defeat vs. Central Florida two weeks ago, Coach Obrien had his troops ready for redemption against Kent State last week. Penn State shut out KSU and held them to 190 yards and nine first downs. Offensively this was one of the first full games that QB Hackenberg really looked like a true freshman. He completed just 13-of-35 passes for 176 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. The offense rode the running game that tallied 287 yards on 5.4 YPC. Next up for the Nittany Lions is a road trip to Indiana.

                          Indiana - BYE

                          Indiana was abysmal in last week's 17-point loss to Missouri. The Hoosiers fell behind early and never really got things going on offense or defense. QB Sudfeld threw three interceptions and IU mustered just 98 rushing yards on 3.8 YPC. Defensively they allowed Mizzou to gain 623 total yards and 33 first downs (the 623 yards was a record for opponent yards given up at Memorial Stadiium). There's a lot to fix in the open week before Penn State comes to town for the Big Ten opener.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Saturday's NCAAF Top 25 Betting Cheat Sheet: Evening Action
                            By Covers.com

                            Mississippi Rebels at Alabama Crimson Tide (-14, 55)

                            The Rebels are after their first 4-0 start since 1970, but haven't beaten Alabama since 2003 and have only one victory in 25 trips to Tuscaloosa, Ala. he Rebels also have an explosive star in running back Jeff Scott, who set career highs in rushing yards (164) and all-purpose yards (243) against Texas.

                            The Crimson Tide's offense has been inconsistent and struggled to get going in last week's win over Colorado State. The defense has not been as dominant as in years past, but Vinnie Sunseri has a pair of interception returns for touchdowns to contribute to five non-offensive touchdowns in three games.

                            LINE: Alabama opened -16.5 and has moved to -14. Total movef from 56.5 to 55.

                            WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 70s, clear skies, winds east 4 mph.

                            TRENDS:

                            * Rebels are 6-2 ATS in their last eight meetings.
                            * Underdog is 6-2 ATS in their last eight meetings.
                            * Road team is 5-0 ATS in their last five meetings.

                            Arizona Wildcats at Washington Huskies (-10, 62)

                            While the defense has spearheaded the strong start, the Wildcats are averaging 43.7 points behind a rushing attack – led by junior Ka’Deem Carey – that ranks fifth nationally with 322.3 yards per game. Carey has 299 yards despite missing the opener due to a suspension and has rushed for 100 or more yards in each of his last six games.

                            The No. 20 Huskies have topped 500 total yards in each of their first three games. Junior middle linebacker and defensive leader John Timu (18 tackles) is back after missing a game with a shoulder injury and still hasn’t forgotten the painful feeling from when Arizona racked up 277 rushing yards and 533 overall in last season’s meeting.

                            LINE: Washington opened -7 and moved to -10. Total moved from 63.5 to 62.

                            WEATHER: Temperatures in low 60s with 100 percent chance of rain, winds SSW 11 mph.

                            TRENDS:

                            * Over is 6-0 in the last six meetings.
                            * Favorite is 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
                            * Wildcats are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 meetings.

                            Texas A&M Aggies at Arkansas Razorbacks (+14, 62)

                            Texas A&M scored at least 40 points in its first four games for the first time in school history. QB Johnny Manziel has accounted for 15 touchdowns while averaging 370.8 yards of total offense per game and completing 70 percent of his passes.

                            The Razorbacks are starting the toughest stretch of their schedule with their meeting against Texas A&M, followed by a game at Florida, a home contest against South Carolina and a visit to Alabama. After rushing for 883 yards in its first three games, Arkansas was held to 101 yards against Rutgers.

                            LINE: Texas A&M opened -14 and is as high as -15. Total moved from 62.5 to 62.

                            WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 70s, 74 percent chance of thunderstorms, winds south 7 mph.

                            TRENDS:

                            * Aggies are 4-0 ATS in their last four road games.
                            * Razorbacks are 19-8 ATS in their last 27 home games.
                            * Under is 6-2 in Aggies last eight road games.

                            Florida Gators at Kentucky Wildcats (+12, 47)

                            Tyler Murphy, a junior, was the choice for the Gators after junior Jeff Driskel suffered a season-ending broken right leg during the first quarter of last week’s league opener against Tennessee. Murphy finished with 218 total yards while running for one touchdown and passing for another in the 31-17 victory, good enough to earn another shot against the Wildcats.

                            Kentucky also lost starting quarterback Maxwell Smith to a right shoulder injury during its most recent game, but he was back at practice this week and the Wildcats are anticipating he'll be in the starting lineup for their conference opener against the Gators.

                            LINE: Florida opened -14 and moved to -12. Total moved from 45.5 to 47.

                            WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 70s, partly cloudy skies, winds SW 5 mph.

                            TRENDS:

                            * Gators are 6-0 ATS in their last six meetings.
                            * Favorite is 6-0 ATS in their last six meetings.
                            * Gators are 7-2 ATS in their last nine meetings in Kentucky.

                            Wisconsin Badgers at Ohio State Buckeyes (-6, 55.5)

                            Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon – the conference’s Offensive Co-Player of the Week – leads the nation with 624 yards on the ground while his seven rushing touchdowns rank third in the country. He is joined by senior running back James White – who is the FBS' active career leader in rushing yards (3,013).

                            Although backup Kenny Guiton has thrown for a school-record 12 touchdowns over the past three weeks in place of QB Braxton Miller (sprained left MCL), coach Urban Meyer will likely turn back to his regular starter. Gordon led the Buckeyes to an average of 64 points in his two starts.

                            LINE: OSU opened -9.5 and moved to -6. Total moved from 54 to 55.5.

                            WEATHER: Temperatures in low 70s, clear skies, winds SSE 5 mph.

                            TRENDS:

                            * Under is 3-1-1 in the last five meetings.
                            * Underdog is 10-3 ATS in their last 13 meetings.
                            * Badgers are 1-5 ATS in their last six meetings.

                            Stanford Cardinal at Washington State Cougars (+9.5, 47.5)

                            The Cardinal will be without star safety Ed Reynolds for the first half, a result of a hit to the helmet last week. Stanford enters the game winners of 11 straight, the second-longest streak in the nation. Stanford G David Yankey will miss the game because of an unspecified "family situation".

                            The Cougars, ranked 10th in the nation in total defense, have won three straight for the first time since 2006 and are allowing 12 points per contest. Leach's offense still remains formidable as quarterback Connor Halliday has already thrown for more than 300 yards three times.

                            LINE: Stanford has remained steady at -9.5. Total moved from 48 to 47.5.

                            WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 50s, 100 percent chance of rain, winds SSW 11 mph.

                            TRENDS:

                            * Under is 8-2-1 in the last 11 meetings.
                            * Favorite is 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings.
                            * Road team is 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings.

                            California Golden Bears at Oregon Ducks (-36, 84)


                            Golden Bears freshman quarterback Jared Goff leads the nation in passing at 435.3 yards per game, and he’ll need another strong effort to keep pace with the explosive Ducks. Cal has yet to hold an opponent to less than 30 points and ranks 119th among the 123 FBS teams in points allowed per game at 42.

                            The Ducks are holding opponents to an average of nine points and are ranked second in the country in turnover margin at plus-2.3. Oregon has outscored its opponents 184-27 and has won four straight in the series.

                            LINE: Oregon opened -34.5 and moved to -36. Total moved from 84.5 to 84.

                            WEATHER: Temperatues in the mid 60s, 100 percent chance of rain, winds SSW 12 mph.

                            TRENDS:

                            * Under is 6-0 in the last six meetings in Oregon.
                            * Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
                            * Home team is 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.

                            Fresno State Bulldogs at Hawaii Warriors (+18.5, 58.5)


                            After snapping a seven-game losing streak against Boise State last week, No. 23 Fresno State looks to avoid a letdown. QB Derek Carr has been nearly unstoppable in the Bulldogs’ up-tempo offense, and sophomore Davante Adams has caught a touchdown pass in 11 straight games.

                            Hawaii starting quarterback Taylor Graham suffered an injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder in the first half of last week’s 31-9 loss at Nevada, and is listed as day-to-day. The Rainbow Warriors used three quarterbacks after Graham left the game, and they combined to commit six turnovers, including four interceptions.

                            LINE: FSU has been steady at -18.5. The total moved from 58 to 58.5.

                            WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 70s, 30 percent chance of rain, winds NNE 9 mph.

                            TRENDS:

                            * Under is 4-0 in the last four meetings in Hawaii.
                            * Bulldogs are 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings in Hawaii.
                            * Road team is 7-1 ATS in their last eight meetings.

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                            • #15
                              Saturday's NCAAF Top 25 Betting Cheat Sheet: Afternoon Action
                              By Covers.com

                              Miami Hurricanes at South Florida Bulls (+19, 47)

                              Miami Senior quarterback Stephen Morris suffered an ankle injury last week, but is expected to play. The Hurricanes have allowed only 29 points in three games, keyed by junior linebacker Denzel Perryman’s 20 tackles.

                              South Florida’s quarterbacks are struggling and five defensive touchdowns have been scored against the Bulls. Sophomore Steven Bench, a transfer from Penn State, is expected to be the third different starter at quarterback after completing 8-of-23 passes for 128 yards in the 28-10 loss to Florida Atlantic on Sept. 14. The Bulls have turned the ball over eight times.

                              LINE: Miami opened -20.5 and has moved as low as -18. Total moved from 48.5 to 47.

                              WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 80s, 20 percent chance of thunderstorms, winds NE 7 mph.

                              TRENDS:

                              * Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
                              * Road team is 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
                              * Bulls are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. ACC.

                              Oklahoma State Cowboys at West Virginia Mountaineers (+19, 57)

                              Oklahoma State tallied 115 points in its last two games and is tied for 10th in the country in scoring at 45.3 points per game coming out of an early bye week. Senior Jeremy Smith leads the team with six rushing touchdowns, including three first-half scores in the Cowboys’ 59-3 win against Lamar last week. Oklahoma State racked up 426 total yards in that victory.

                              West Virginia redshirt freshman Ford Childress is expected to start his third consecutive game despite floundering against the Terrapins last week. West Virginia has scored seven total points in its two losses. Coming off a 37-0 shutout to Maryland, the Mountaineers will look to stay above .500 under third-year coach Dana Holgorsen, who served as Oklahoma State’s offensive coordinator in 2010.

                              LINE: OSU opened -20.5 and has moved to -19. Total moved between 57 and 58.

                              WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 60s, clear skies, winds 5 mph SE

                              TRENDS:

                              * Cowboys are 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games.
                              * Mountaineers are 2-6 ATS in their last eight home games.
                              * Under is 7-0 in Mountaineers last seven games overall.

                              South Carolina Gamecocks at UCF Knights (+7, 53)

                              The Gamecocks, whose only loss was at Georgia, 41-30, are coming off a bye following a 35-25 home win over Vanderbilt. Senior quarterback Connor Shaw is completing 64.9 percent of his passes and has thrown six touchdowns without an interception.

                              Central Florida enters Saturday's game unbeaten and with arguably the more impressive win. The Knights (3-0), who have scored at least 30 points in their first three games of a season for the first time in school history, are coming off a 34-31 upset of Penn State in Happy Valley.

                              LINE: UCF opened +7.5 and moved to +7. Total steady at 53.

                              WEATHER: Temperatures in low 80s, 19 percent chance of rain, winds NE 12 mph

                              TRENDS:

                              * Gamecocks are 6-2 ATS in their last eight non-conference games.
                              * Knights are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games.
                              * Over is 5-1 in Gamecocks last six road games.

                              Oklahoma Sooners at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+3.5, 50)

                              The Irish used their passing game to stretch Michigan State and put pressure on the cornerbacks last week, drawing several penalties that kept drives alive and helped lead to a 17-13 triumph. Notre Dame is looking for its 11th straight home win.

                              Oklahoma is getting its biggest test of the first month and had an off week to prepare for the Fighting Irish after trouncing Tulsa on Sept. 14. The Sooners are bringing a different starting quarterback into this matchup, with junior Blake Bell proving himself after passing for 413 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Tulsa.

                              LINE: Notre Dame opened -1 and moved to +3.5. Total moved from 48.5 to 50.

                              WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 70s, clear skies, winds south 12 mph

                              TRENDS:

                              * Sooners are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 non-conference games.
                              * Fighting Irish are 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven home games.
                              * Under is 25-9-1 in Fighting Irish's last 35 non-conference games.

                              LSU Tigers at Georgia Bulldogs (-3, 62)

                              The Tigers have outscored opponents 173-88 and have not trailed at any point, but they also haven't yet played in a hostile environment like they'll face between the hedges. LSU's offense has taken flight under new coordinator Cam Cameron, as the Tigers have topped 30 points in their first four games for only the third time in history - and the first since 1928.

                              The Bulldogs put a 14-game home winning streak on the line and are after their second home win over a top-10 opponent after a 41-30 victory over South Carolina two weeks ago. Georgia's offense has been dynamic with quarterback Aaron Murray and running back Todd Gurley - the SEC's leading rusher at 125.7 yards per game.

                              LINE: Georgia opened -4.5 and moved to -3. Total steady at 62.

                              WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 70s, clear skies, winds ENE 6 mph

                              TRENDS:

                              * Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
                              * Tigers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 conference games.
                              * Bulldogs are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall.

                              Florida State Seminoles at Boston College Eagles (+23.5)

                              Spurred by the country’s 19th-ranked running game, the Seminoles look to extend a seven-game win streak in ACC play. The Seminoles have been remarkably efficient on offense, averaging 8.8 yards per play - the third-best mark in the nation. However, the defense has created only four turnovers and allowed 43 more rushing yards per game than it did a season ago.

                              Boston College, which had the FBS' 10th-worst run defense in 2012, appeared to be making strides in that area until it surrendered 257 yards in a 35-7 loss at Southern California last Saturday. However, the Eagles’ best chance at winning this game may come behind running back Andre Williams, who leads the conference in rushing.

                              LINE: FSU opened -22.5 and moved to -23.5. Total moved 52 to 54.

                              WEATHER: Temperatures in low 60s, clear skies, winds east 6 mph

                              TRENDS:

                              * Underdog is 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings.
                              * Road team is 6-2 ATS in their last eight meetings.
                              * Over is 6-2-1 in Seminoles last nine games overall.

                              Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Clemson Tigers (-28.5, 58.5)


                              The Demon Deacons have lost 32 straight games against teams ranked in the Top 5 dating back to a victory over Tennessee in 1946. Wake Forest is 9-73 all-time in road games against ranked programs.

                              Clemson QB Tajh Boyd had a field day against Wake Forest last season, throwing for five touchdowns and setting a school record with 428 yards. coach Dabo Swinney said that WR Martavis Bryant will have his playing time reduced against Wake Forest for making a throat-slashing gesture after one of the scores.

                              LINE: Clemson opened -27.5 and moved to -29. Total steady at 58.5.

                              WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 70s, clear skies, winds ENE 5 mph

                              TRENDS:

                              * Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
                              * Under is 17-8 in Tigers last 25 conference games.
                              * Tigers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games overall.

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