NCAAF: COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOUR-PACK
The Red River Rivalry matchup between the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns leads our mini previews of college football Saturday.
Texas Longhorns (+6.5) vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Without a doubt the biggest game this week is a familiar one, having been renamed the Red River Rivalry. Behind Sam Bradford, the Sooners are one of the most prolific scoring teams in the country, averaging 49.6 PPG. Oklahoma is 11-7-1 ATS versus ranked teams in neutral settings.
The Texas defense is showing they are indeed a much more aggressive group under first-year coordinator Will Muschamp. Quarterback Colt McCoy has been a more polished performer as a junior and will start garnering Heisman consideration if he keeps playing this well. Texas is only 2-8 ATS playing Top 10 teams at neutral sites.
However, with Texas the underdog, bettors might take heed the dog is 13-7 ATS when these two collide.
CFB Free Prediction: Play On Texas
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+8.5) at North Carolina Tar Heels
After a couple of decent wins, Notre Dame plays another one of the “swing” games followers talked about for 2008. The Irish do look better this season and make their first visit to Chapel Hill since 1975. Notre Dame is 17-5 ATS in road games in October and is 6-3 ATS as a road dog under gimpy coach Charley Weis.
This is North Carolina’s second straight non-conference tilt after hosting Connecticut last week and they are 7-4 ATS on the back end of such a situation. North Carolina is 8-19 ATS at home in non-ACC affairs. This will be the 18th meeting between these two universities and Notre Dame has lost just once.
CFB Free Prediction: Play On North Carolina
Oklahoma State Cowboys (+14) at Missouri Tigers
Oklahoma State will have their first true road games of the season, traveling to Columbia, MO to face Chase Daniel and the talented Tigers. OSU is an offensive juggernaut, ranked in the Top 6 in the country. The defense struggles to be average and the fault of this year’s group is the inability to rush the passer, which could spell doom against Missouri. The Cowboys are 4-8 ATS as away underdogs under Coach Mike Gundy.
Missouri nailed Nebraska last week 52-17, winning in Lincoln for the first time in 30 years. Chase Daniel is such a special offensive player with the unique ability to make correct decisions time after time. Missouri is .500 ATS at Memorial Stadium as a Big 12 home favorite since 2003. OSU is 11-25 ATS the last nine years as an away dog and 12-22-1 against the number if they are on the road in the conference. Missouri is 8-3 SU and ATS versus the Cowboys.
CFB Free Prediction: Play On Missouri
Penn State Nittany Lions (-6) at Wisconsin Badgers
Penn State is only 5-13 ATS the last three seasons in the Big 10 and will depend on senior signal caller Daryll Clark to lead them. Clark has been masterful in throwing short and deep to receivers who have been around the program for years. Evan Royster has stepped forward as a running back in the Penn State tradition, quick to the hole, powerful, and with great balance.
Wisconsin’s “Murder’s Row” Big 10 schedule continues off Michigan and Ohio State. For the second week in a row, the Badgers couldn’t hold fourth quarter lead. Teams have put eight men in the box, daring Allan Evridge to throw while ganging up on running back P.J. Hill. Wisconsin is 19-7 ATS when they rush for 4.5 to 5 yards per attempt.
The Badgers are 8-5 and 7-4 ATS all-time vs. Penn State, with the home team a perfect 4-0 straight up and ATS in recent get-togethers.
CFB Free Prediction: Play On Wisconsin
—————————————————-
