NCAAF: BLACK FRIDAY’S BEST BETS
With 12 games on the schedule, the Statfox Forecaster was put to work for a special Black Friday edition of college football.
Forget hitting the malls and hit Sportsbook.com for a complete list of odds on the Live Odds page and catch action on the tube all day long.
Here’s a quick look at a few of the games on tap for Friday.
West Virginia Mountaineers @ Pittsburgh Panthers (12 PM ET – ABC)
The “Backyard Brawl” may not have the shocking results of Pittsburgh ending West Virginia’s national title hopes last season, nevertheless, the Big East title and BCS bid are available.
Pittsburgh will go bowling this season, ending a four-year drought. However, they are just 2-11 against the spread (ATS) when favored at home by 22 or less points, including 1-4 ATS in 2008.
For West Virginia, redemption is among the many reasons they want to beat the rival Panthers and they are 7-1 ATS in the second of two road games and 11-3 straight up and ATS in November/December road games since the 2001 season.
The straight up winner has posted a 14-0 ATS record in this series.
Free Selection: West Virginia 26, Pittsburgh 25
LSU Tigers @ Arkansas Razorbacks (2:30 PM ET – CBS)
Who can forget the annual installment of this fierce rivalry a year ago, when Arkansas RB Darren McFadden single-handedly nearly killed LSU’s national title hopes.
Somehow, the Tigers survived four TDs by McFadden and a 50-48 setback to still play in the BCS championship game and win.
For the ’08 game, the stakes aren’t nearly as high with LSU coming in at a disappointing 7-4 and Arkansas 4-7. With the game being played in Little Rock, head coach Les Miles’ Tigers are a 4 ½-point road favorite.
They’ll be looking to improve their 2-8 ATS mark this season, and 3-11 ATS record vs. SEC foes over the L3 seasons. For Arkansas, head coach Bobby Petrino’s teams are 12-2 ATS in the second half of the season at home.
Free Selection: LSU 33, Arkansas 24
Fresno State Bulldogs @ Boise State Broncos (6 PM ET, ESPN2)
Fresno State had hoped this would be a meaningful game for WAC honors, but with one of the worst run defenses in the country allowing over 192 yards a game, there hopes ended quickly.
Besides trying to take down 11-0 Boise State, the Bulldogs have to come to grips with 1-7 straight up and ATS record versus the Broncos, losing by an average of 14 points per game.
Boise State has plenty to play for, seeking its second perfect regular season in three years and another BCS bowl berth. The Broncos are 9-1 straight up and 8-2 ATS in last home games and a fantastic 20-4 ATS as conference home favorites by 28 or less.
Free Selection: Boise State 33, Fresno State 23
