Big Programs Battle
Notre Dame at Michigan
Both Notre Dame & Michigan come off impressive opening week wins, and each will be looking to keep the momentum going when they go head-to-head on Saturday at the “Big House” in Ann Arbor. The game should make for great TV, and hence great betting action. The Irish are a 3-point favorite at Sportsbook.com and will be looking to buck a prolific underdog covering trend in the series.
If adversity builds character, then Rich Rodriguez and Charley Weis are two men well-versed in character issues to sell their respective teams on. No coach in America is looking forward to game day more than Rich Rod, as controversy follows him around like a shadow. Rodriguez primarily stayed with Tate Forcier as his quarterback last week against Western Michigan and the results were impressive in Michigan’s 31-7 victory. The offense showed more continuity than at any time last year. The Wolverines were also nastier on defense with coordinator Greg Robinson in charge of that side of the ball. Nevertheless, he installed a new 3-4 concept, which means a learning curve for a team that is 14-21-1 ATS at the Big House since 2004.
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Notre Dame gave a stunning performance at home against a pretty good Nevada club, winning 35-0. Weis’ Fighting Irish will take this act on the road for the first time in 2009. Offensively, Notre Dame is expected to be score points all season with junior Jimmy Clausen in command, throwing to a receiver contingent as good as any in the country. On the opposite side of the ball, from an athletic perspective, this is best defense in South Bend in years. The Irish are just 3-6 SU and 2-7 ATS in their last nine road openers though.
This is one of those crazy college football series’, with the underdog 12-2 ATS, which has included five upsets in last seven meetings. How Forcier handles the Irish onslaught of pressure will go a long way in determining outcome. If he can make big plays, the Wolverines have a shot, if not, Notre Dame should win. In watching both teams, the most striking aspect is RichRod’s team should be where Weis’ squad is next season. Michigan is 0-7 ATS after playing a game at home, the Fighting Irish are 10-1 UNDER in road games over the last three seasons.
Some systems believe Michigan should actually be favored by 1. IS the wrong team favored? If so, take advantage by putting down an ATS or Money Line wager on the home dogs at Sportsbook.com.
USC at Ohio State
Without a doubt, one game on the college football landscape for Saturday has been stealing the headlines, USC at Ohio State. These are two of the most dominant programs of the decade, but they couldn’t be any different. The Trojans are from the West Coast, the Buckeyes from the Midwest’s Big Ten Conference. Can USC (-7) and its freshman quarterback come into Columbus and dominate the Buckeyes? Is this a spot where a home underdog holds the ultimate value? Either way you decide, be sure to get in on the action for this heavyweight tilt at Sportsbook.com. Then settle in front of the TV for a great night of college football.
Though it will be downplayed as such, every Big Ten fan (except possibly in Ann Arbor) would relish an Ohio State victory, even if they hate the Buckeyes. The Big Ten could be a running joke on the new Jay Leno nightly show if they are clobbered again by the Trojans. What’s unfortunate is Jim Tressel’s teams just haven’t been able to beat Florida and USC in the last several seasons in the biggest games and now they are looked upon as outcasts. Overall, the Buckeyes have had success against Pac-10 teams, but not against USC (0-4 ATS).
Does any team relish the spotlight more than Pete Carroll’s squad? When the lights come, USC is usually at its best. The Trojans are also 11-1 SU and ATS in their initial road game of the L12 seasons. Freshman QB Matt Barkley comes off a solid effort in the 55-3 rout of San Jose State last week, and looks to be the next great Trojans field general. The defense lost a ton of NFL talent, however no one is thinking the replacements won’t be top level.
Statement games are a USC specialty and they are 13-3 and 12-4 ATS against Top 10 teams since 2001. The Ohio State defense must finds ways to rattle the youngster Barkley and possibly create turnovers that lead to points. The Trojans are 36-18 ATS after scoring 42 points or more last game and 8-1 ATS in non-conference games. Unless Buckeyes come up big, it will be the same old “overrated” mantra about the Big Ten.
Sportsbook only has the game at 7. This might be the only time this season you can bet the Trojans as a single-digit favorite.
