For any resources you could need like sports handicapping odds, handicapping stats, schedules, or handicappers free picks and tips please click on any of the links on the right hand side of this page.
CLICK A CAPPERS NAME TO SEE THEIR PREMIUM DAILY EXPERT PLAYS + PREDICTIONS!
Schedule: NFL | CFB | MLB | NBA | CBB | NHL
WANT FREE SPORTS PICKS to your inbox? | Newsletter Sign-UP!
Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
01-13-20 | Clemson +6 v. LSU | Top | 25-42 | Loss | -105 | 7 h 35 m | Show |
LSU 34 – Clemson 30 This could be one of the all time greats if the Title game lives up to the high expectations. I say it does with QB Joe Burrow and the Tigers from LSU getting the close win but no cover in an all time classic. |
|||||||
12-26-19 | Miami-FL v. Louisiana Tech +7 | Top | 0-14 | Win | 100 | 3 h 20 m | Show |
Louisiana Tech Miami (Fla.) stumbled to the finish line of the regular season, closing out a disappointing campaign with consecutive ugly defeats at local rival and non-power 5 school Florida International (30-24) and ACC foe Duke (27-17), which had come into the game with just two conference victories. As a result, Miami is fighting just to finish the season above .500 and avoid losing to a Group of Five team for the second time in three games. Recent history is not on Miami's side as the Hurricanes enter their Independence Bowl matchup with Louisiana Tech on Dec. 26 in Shreveport, La. sporting a dismal 1-8 mark in their past nine bowl games after last year's 35-3 debacle against Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl. Miami's bowl woes may be compounded by Louisiana Tech's expected home-field advantage since the game will be played in its home state. The Bulldogs, in Skip Holtz's seventh season as head coach, are in position to record the school's first 10-win season since 1984 and they have won five bowls in a row - tied with Wisconsin for the longest active streak in the nation - averaging 42.4 points and 471 yards in those contests. The erratic play at quarterback certainly hampered the Hurricanes all season, but so did a weak offensive line along with a ground game that ranks dead last in the ACC (116.5 yards per game), and it will be without injured starter and leading rusher DeeJay Dallas (693 yards). Defense has long been a cornerstone for the Hurricanes but, despite ranking 13th in the country (307.6 yards against), the unit was far from dominant - too often failing to get critical stops late in games and surrendering 57 points in the final two contests. Bulldogs are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 bowl games. Hurricanes are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games in December and are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 bowl games. Back the points with Louisiana Tech in a game they can win outright. |
|||||||
12-07-19 | Wisconsin v. Ohio State -15.5 | Top | 21-34 | Loss | -109 | 23 h 7 m | Show |
Ohio State Second-ranked Ohio State, which is atop the College Football Playoff rankings, looks to remain perfect when it faces No. 10 Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game on Saturday in Indianapolis. The Buckeyes capped a dominant regular season with a 56-27 rout of 18th-ranked Michigan to extend their winning streak against the Wolverines to eight games, which is the longest in the rivalry, and they hope to clinch a spot in the CFP by knocking off the Badgers (No. 8 CFP) for the second time, following a 38-17 victory on Oct. 26. Wisconsin fell two games behind No.15 Minnesota following its loss to the Buckeyes before reeling off four consecutive wins, including a 38-17 victory over the Golden Gophers in the regular-season finale, to book their ticket to the conference championship game. Wisconsin fell two games behind No.15 Minnesota following its loss to the Buckeyes before reeling off four consecutive wins, including a 38-17 victory over the Golden Gophers in the regular-season finale, to book their ticket to the conference championship game. The Badgers are making their sixth Big Ten title game appearance, but have lost their previous three trips to Indianapolis, and hope to avenge a 27-21 loss to Ohio State in 2017. Jack Coan completed 15-of-22 passes for 280 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win against Minnesota to help the Badgers capture their fourth Big Ten West Division title in the last six years. Jonathan Taylor accounted for 115 yards and three touchdowns against the Golden Gophers to move within 68 yards of becoming the seventh player in FBS history to reach 6,000 rushing yards (including bowl games). Wide receiver A.J. Taylor (leg), cornerback Rachad Wildgoose (lower body), and offensive lineman David Moorman (leg) are all questionable for Saturday's clash. Heisman hopeful Justin Fields threw for 302 yards and a career-high four touchdowns as the Buckeyes won their fourth consecutive game in Ann Arbor for the first time in program history. J.K. Dobbins was named the Big Ten Player of the Week after rushing for a career-high 211 yards and four touchdowns against the Wolverines. Buckeyes are 10-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Badgers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game. Buckeyes are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings. Big number to lay but I’m willing to do so with Ohio State. |
|||||||
12-07-19 | Georgia v. LSU -6.5 | Top | 10-37 | Win | 100 | 19 h 4 m | Show |
LSU Georgia’s defense has answered just about every challenge it has faced this season, but the Bulldogs' playoff hopes hinge on conquering LSU’s high-powered offense in Saturday’s SEC championship game in Atlanta. Who wins out when the Tigers have the ball likely will determine who wins the conference title, considering No. 1 LSU is second in the nation in scoring offense at 48.7 points while the No. 4 Bulldogs rank second in scoring defense at 10.4 points. The LSU offense centers around senior quarterback Joe Burrow, who is the first player in SEC history to pass for 4,000 yards (setting a conference record with 4,366 yards) and at least 40 touchdowns (44). The Bulldogs are one of two teams in the nation (Clemson) to not allow more than 20 points in a game this season, ranking second nationally in rushing defense (71 yards per game) Linebacker Monty Rice leads the Bulldogs with 79 tackles while LeCounte owns 53 stops (4.5 for loss) and two interceptions, and Georgia has only surrendered 11 passing touchdowns in 11 games. Junior running back D’Andre Swift ranks fourth in the SEC in rushing yards (1,203) with seven touchdowns, and his 100.3 average rushing yards is fifth in the league, but he left last week’s 52-7 rout of Georgia Tech with a left shoulder injury. Junior quarterback Jake Fromm has passed for 2,385 yards and 21 touchdowns against only three interceptions, but will be without receiver Lawrence Cager (ankle surgery) while leading receiver freshman George Pickens is suspended for the first half Saturday. Burrow passed for 352 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 50-7 rout of Texas A&M, and he ranks second nationally in passing yards, touchdowns, passing yards per game (363.8) and passing efficiency (203). Sophomore receiver Ja’Marr Chase leads the country with 17 touchdown receptions and is second with 1,457 yards, while junior receiver Justin Jefferson is 16th with 1,092 yards and tied for fifth with 13 touchdown receptions. The Tigers defense comes in off its best performance of the season, holding Texas A&M to 169 yards of total offense while recording six sacks and a safety. Burrow passed for 200 yards and a touchdown while Edwards-Helaire rushed for 145 yards as the Tigers beat Georgia 36-16 last season. LSU has scored 74 offensive touchdowns this season, 57 coming on drives of three minutes or fewer. Bulldogs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game. Tigers are 6-2 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Bulldogs are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 meetings. Look for LSU to win this game by 10 or more and move on to the playoffs. |
|||||||
12-07-19 | Miami-OH v. Central Michigan -6 | Top | 26-21 | Loss | -116 | 15 h 56 m | Show |
Central Michigan It's a surprise matchup for the conference title when the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks face the Central Michigan Chippewas in the 2019 MAC Championship Game on Saturday. Neither team has made the title game since 2010, when the RedHawks won it all. Both teams went 6-2 in the conference this season, with Miami (Ohio) losing 41-27 to Ball State last week after having already clinched the East Division. Central Michigan defeated Toledo last week and has won six of its last seven games. CMU's offense has seen a stunning turnaround from last season, when the unit ranked 128th in the nation in total offense. The Chippewas rank 26th, averaging 453.2 yards per game, and score 32.8 points per contest. They are 8-0 against the spread in their last eight games after scoring more than 40 in their previous game, and the offense can generate points on the ground or through the air. Chippewas are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall and are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as a favorite of 3.5-10.0. |
|||||||
12-07-19 | Baylor +9.5 v. Oklahoma | Top | 23-30 | Win | 100 | 15 h 55 m | Show |
Baylor Baylor had a chance to halt Oklahoma's run of conference dominance and continue its unlikely path to the College Football Playoff three weeks ago until the Sooners broke their hearts with a historic comeback. The eighth-ranked Bears hope to exact a measure of revenge and end No. 6 Oklahoma's bid to make a fourth CFP appearance in five years Saturday when the teams meet in the Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The race to the regular-season conference title appeared to be all but over less than 20 minutes into the teams' Nov. 16 meeting in Waco as Baylor raced out a 28-3 lead and took a 21-point advantage into intermission, but Oklahoma outscored the Bears 24-0 in the second half to stage the largest comeback victory in school history. Baylor, which is positioned seventh in the most recent CFP rankings, wrapped up its regular season last weekend with a 61-6 thumping of Kansas as the defense forced six turnovers. The CFP No. 6-ranked Sooners ended a stretch of four consecutive one-score games with a 34-16 win over archrival Oklahoma State last weekend and likely needs losses from Georgia and Utah as well as a convincing victory this weekend in order to make the playoff. Junior Charlie Brewer, who threw for two scores and ran for two more in the first meeting against the Sooners, is one of five quarterbacks nationally with at least 20 passing TDs and 10 rushing TDs and trails only Oklahoma's Jalen Hurts (202.26) among Big 12 signal-callers in passer rating (153.38). Hurts, who ranks third in FBS in total offense (380.3) and second among quarterbacks in rushing yards (1,217), joined Tommy McDonald in 1956 as the only players in school history to record a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game versus the Cowboys. The Bears rank ninth in FBS with a Big 12-high 40 sacks and need one more for the most in a single season in program history. Bears are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games in December. Sooners are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 neutral site games as a favorite of 3.5-10.0. Bears are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 meetings in Oklahoma. This game stays close with Baylor having a shot at the outright win. |
|||||||
11-30-19 | Oklahoma v. Oklahoma State +14 | Top | 34-16 | Loss | -113 | 32 h 31 m | Show |
Oklahoma State Oklahoma already knows it has a spot locked up in the Big 12 Championship game, but there are no shortage of reasons why extending its dominance over Oklahoma State one more year is important to this season. The seventh-ranked Sooners attempt to keep their relatively slim chances of making the College Football Playoff alive Saturday when they visit the 21st-ranked Cowboys in the 114th edition of "Bedlam." ABOUT OKLAHOMA (10-1, 7-1 Big 12): Jalen Hurts ran for 173 yards versus the Horned Frogs to boost his season total to 1,156, moving him past Kyler Murray (1,001 yards in 2018) for second place in school history for the most rushing yards by quarterback. Sophomore Kennedy Brooks piled up a season-high 149 yards on 25 carries against TCU and enjoyed perhaps his finest game as a collegian in last year's matchup with the Cowboys, running for 165 yards and three touchdowns on 15 attempts. ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (8-3, 5-3): After entering the game with 11 receptions for 82 yards for the season, Hubbard set career highs with seven catches and 88 receiving yards against the Mountaineers while adding 106 yards on the ground to top 100 yards rushing for the ninth consecutive game. With starting quarterback Spencer Sanders (thumb) out for the remainder of the regular season, Dru Brown, a graduate transfer from Hawaii, finished 22-of-29 for 196 yards and two touchdowns in his first start for the Cowboys. Safety Kolby Harvell-Peel has broken up 10 passes in the last four contests and ranks third in FBS in passes defended (13); he has also recorded four of his five interceptions (fifth best in FBS) over the last three games. The Sooners failed to score 34 points for the first time in 21 games last weekend, falling two games shy of matching Oregon's 23-game run from 2011-12. Sooners are 0-6-1 ATS in their last 7 games in November. Cowboys are 9-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Take the points with Oklahoma State. |
|||||||
11-30-19 | Oregon State +20 v. Oregon | Top | 10-24 | Win | 100 | 27 h 27 m | Show |
Oregon State Oregon has won 10 of the past 11 Civil War meetings with Oregon State heading into Saturday afternoon's showdown in Eugene. With their hopes of making the College Football Playoff dashed by last Saturday's 31-28 upset loss at Arizona State, the Ducks, who have already clinched the Pac-12 North Division title, can focus on trying to keep their in-state rivals from becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2013. ABOUT OREGON STATE (5-6, 4-4 Pac-12): Senior quarterback Jake Luton completed 22-of-40 passes for a career-best 408 yards and tied his career high with five TD passes in the loss to the Cougars and ranks fifth in the Pac-12 with an average of 246.7 passing yards per game while having thrown 28 TDs and just three interceptions. Junior wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins, a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist, ranks second in the Pac-12 in receptions per game (7.1) and has caught 78 passes for 1,086 yards and 13 TDs while tight end Noah Togiai had five receptions for 67 yards and a score at Washington State while becoming the sixth tight end in OSU history to reach 1,000 career receiving yards. Junior outside linebacker Hamilcar Rashed Jr. leads the defense with 22.5 tackles for loss, which leads the nation, and 14 sacks, which ranks No. 2 nationally. Oregon State is first in the nation with only five turnovers lost this season. Beavers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games. Ducks are 5-13 ATS in their last 18 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game. Beavers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings in Oregon and I’ll back them plus the big number. |
|||||||
11-30-19 | Alabama -3 v. Auburn | Top | 45-48 | Loss | -133 | 27 h 5 m | Show |
Alabama Fifth-ranked Alabama has one final chance to boost its postseason aspirations when it visits No. 16 Auburn in the 84th edition of the Iron Bowl on Saturday. The Crimson Tide are ranked fifth in the College Football Playoff poll and need a win over the Tigers and help from others to land one of the four spots. Auburn is 2-3 against ranked teams this season and coach Gus Malzahn said the contests typically come down to a few plays. ABOUT ALABAMA (10-1, 6-1 SEC): Sophomore quarterback Mac Jones has taken over for injured Tua Tagovailoa (hip) and passed for 275 yards and three touchdowns in last week's 66-3 win over Western Carolina in his second career start. "He's played well when he's had the opportunity to play, and I think the team has confidence in him," Saban said. Senior safety Jared Mayden has a team-leading four interceptions while senior cornerback Trevon Diggs and junior safety Xavier McKinney each have three, with McKinney returning one 81 yards for a score against Western Carolina. ABOUT AUBURN (8-3, 4-3): Quarterback Bo Nix has 14 touchdown passes to tie the school freshman record set by Stan White in 1990 and is just 50 yards from topping White's yardage mark of 2,442. The Tigers allow an average of 16.2 points per game and are receiving solid seasons from senior defensive tackle Marlon Davidson (7.5 sacks) and senior defensive end Derrick Brown (30 career tackles for loss). Alabama has won eight of the past 11 meetings and holds a 46-36-1 series edge. Crimson Tide are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games in November. Tigers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game. Look for Alabama to get the best of Auburn with a win and cover. |
|||||||
11-30-19 | Wisconsin -1 v. Minnesota | Top | 38-17 | Win | 100 | 27 h 50 m | Show |
Wisconsin No. 9 Minnesota can clinch its first Big Ten West Division title when it hosts 14th-ranked Wisconsin in the battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe on Saturday. The Golden Gophers beat Northwestern 38-22 in Week 13 to maintain their one-game lead at the top of the division standings and hope to book their first trip to the conference championship game while keeping their College Playoff Football hopes alive by knocking off the Badgers in back-to-back years. Wisconsin cruised past Purdue 45-24 to set up a winner-take-all clash in one of the most important editions of the rivalry to date. The Badgers have won three consecutive games since dropping back-to-back contests against No. 1 Ohio State and Illinois, and hope to avenge a 37-15 loss to the Golden Gophers last season, which snapped their 14-game winning streak in the rivalry while booking a rematch with the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship game on Dec. ABOUT WISCONSIN (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten): Jack Coan completed 15-of-19 passes for 203 yards and a pair of touchdowns to help the Badgers finish with 606 yards of offense, which is the most since amassing 627 against Nebraska in 2014. Jonathan Taylor racked up 222 yards on the ground to go along with a touchdown in the win over the Boilermakers to finish with 200 or more rushing yards for the 12th time in his career. Taylor has rushed for over 200 yards in three consecutive outings. ABOUT MINNESOTA (10-1, 7-1): Tanner Morgan showed no ill effects from the concussion he suffered in the previous week as he threw for 211 yards and four TD passes in the win over Northwestern to give him 26, which broke the program's single-season passing touchdown record previously held by Adam Weber (24). Badgers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Road team is 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings. I’ll back Wisconsin behind their top running game. |
|||||||
11-30-19 | Ohio State -8 v. Michigan | Top | 56-27 | Win | 100 | 23 h 25 m | Show |
Ohio State Second-ranked Ohio State goes into its rivalry game against No. 11 Michigan having already clinched the Big Ten East Division title and a berth in the conference championship game the following week, but that doesn't mean Saturday's annual border battle in Ann Arbor, Mich., lacks significance. The Buckeyes, who are No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings, are out to not only continue their recent dominance in the series but remain in prime position to win a national title. ABOUT MICHIGAN (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten): Defense (fourth nationally, allowing 267 yards per game) and the passing game will be key factors for the Wolverines in their bid for an upset. Quarterback Shea Patterson ranks third in the Big Ten with 229.4 passing yards per game and has some skilled receivers at his disposal. ABOUT OHIO STATE (11-0, 8-0): The Buckeyes are loaded with talent across the board, but defensive end Chase Young, quarterback Justin Fields and running back J.K. Dobbins command most of the attention. Young, who leads the country in sacks, returned after missing two games because of a suspension to wreak havoc against Penn State with three sacks, four tackles for loss, nine total tackles and a forced fumble. Fields ranks third nationally in points responsible for with 258 and is tied for third with 33 touchdowns passes, and Dobbins moved into third on Ohio State's career rushing list with 3,902 yards after running for 157 and two touchdowns on 36 carries against Penn State. Ohio State leads the country in points per game (49.4), first downs (28.5), third-down conversions (58.1 percent), fewest points allowed (10.5), total defense (217.4 yards per game), passing yards allowed (126.2) and is second in sacks per game (4.27). I’m more then willing to lay the points with Ohio State. |
|||||||
11-30-19 | Indiana -6.5 v. Purdue | Top | 44-41 | Loss | -115 | 23 h 21 m | Show |
Indiana Indiana has already clinched a bowl berth and Purdue is out of the postseason picture, but winning the annual rivalry game to end the season always holds a prominent position on each team's bucket list. The Hoosiers will be trying to end a two-game losing streak in the series when they travel to Purdue on Saturday. ABOUT INDIANA (7-4, 4-4 Big Ten): The Hoosiers have lost two straight games to top 15 opponents and don't want to end the season on a three-game skid after sitting at 7-2 three weeks ago and breaking into the Top 25. Quarterback Peyton Ramsey (70.9 percent completion rate, 1,890 yards, 10 touchdowns, four interceptions) was banged up in last week's 39-14 loss at home to No. 11 Michigan but will be "good to go" against Purdue, Allen said. Indiana leads the Big Ten in pass offense (306.1 yards per game) and has scored 30 or more points in eight of 11 games. ABOUT PURDUE (4-7, 3-5): The injury-plagued Boilermakers had won two in a row before falling 45-24 last week at No. 14 Wisconsin. Third-string quarterback Aidan O'Connell, a walk-on, has connected on 65.2 percent of his passes for 693 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions. Indiana WR Whop Philyor (61 receptions, 863 yards, three touchdowns) will return Saturday after sitting out the loss to Michigan with a concussion suffered on a helmet-to-helmet hit a week earlier in the setback at No. 12 Penn State. Hoosiers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following an ATS loss. Favorite is 5-1-2 ATS in their last 8 meetings. Back the much better team in Indiana. |
|||||||
11-30-19 | Georgia -28 v. Georgia Tech | Top | 52-7 | Win | 100 | 23 h 19 m | Show |
Georgia Fourth-ranked Georgia already has a spot in the SEC championship game and remains in the running for a playoff spot, but first is a chance to continue its in-state dominance as the Bulldogs travel to Georgia Tech on Saturday. The Bulldogs defeated the Yellow Jackets in 18 of the past 24 meetings while winning nine in a row at Georgia Tech, and enter the matchup allowing the second-least points per game in the nation (10.7) - including 44 points total in the past five games. “What they’ve done well is a lot of things,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart told reporters Monday in describing the defense but emphasizing the need to force more turnovers. While the Yellow Jackets have struggled offensively under first-year coach Geoff Collins - ranking 122nd nationally in scoring offense at 17.5 points - they scored 28 for the second time in their past three games in last week’s 28-26 victory over North Carolina State. ABOUT GEORGIA (10-1): Junior linebacker Monty Rice leads the defense with 71 tackles and senior linebacker Tae Crowder has 52 stops, leading a defense that is second in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game (68.5) and fifth in total defense (267.7 yards per contest). Junior quarterback Jake Fromm completed just 11 passes last week against Texas A&M for 163 yards, but has only thrown three interceptions on the season (all three in Georgia’s lone loss, against South Carolina). Junior running back D’Andre Swift is third in the SEC in rushing yards (1,130) and yards per game (102.7). ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (3-8): Redshirt freshman quarterback James Graham earned ACC rookie of the week after passing for 129 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 112 yards and a score last week. The Yellow Jackets are allowing 30.6 points per game. A victory Saturday assures Georgia its third consecutive season with at least 11 wins. Look for Georgia to make a big statement in a rout. |
|||||||
11-23-19 | TCU +18 v. Oklahoma | Top | 24-28 | Win | 100 | 28 h 8 m | Show |
TCU Oklahoma put its hopes at making the College Football Playoff at risk with a shocking late October loss at Kansas State and on life support with two poor halves of play in its most recent contests, but Lincoln Riley's team is back in charge of its own destiny in the Big 12. Following their historic comeback last weekend to knock off undefeated Baylor, the seventh-ranked Sooners look to move one step closer to another regular-season conference title Saturday when they host TCU. Following a 48-41 setback to the Wildcats late last month, Oklahoma held on to beat Iowa State 42-41 after surrendering a 21-point fourth-quarter advantage on Nov. 9 before setting a school record by overcoming a 25-point deficit in last weekend's thrilling 34-31 road victory over the Bears. The Horned Frogs moved one step closer toward becoming bowl-eligible for a sixth straight season following last weekend's 33-31 win at Texas Tech, taking advantage of Jonathan Song's fourth and final field goal of the day with 5:38 remaining to end a two-game skid. TCU was unable to hold an early 21-point lead against the Red Raiders, but the defense forced two three-and-outs and a fumble on Texas Tech's final two possessions to survive. ABOUT TCU (5-5, 3-4 Big 12): Freshman quarterback Max Duggan set season highs virtually across the board as a passer last weekend, finishing 25-of-43 for 323 yards and two touchdowns, and added 75 yards and another score as a runner. ABOUT OKLAHOMA (9-1, 6-1): Making the Sooners' comeback all the more impressive was that it occurred without CeeDee Lamb, who is tied for second in the country with 13 receiving touchdowns but was held out against Baylor due to a "medical decision," according to Riley; Lamb's status for Saturday is unclear. The Horned Frogs amassed 549 yards of total offense against Texas Tech - their second-best mark of the season - and held a 43:26 to 16:34 advantage in time of possession. I look for TCU to stay inside the number. |
|||||||
11-23-19 | Texas +6 v. Baylor | Top | 10-24 | Loss | -110 | 24 h 39 m | Show |
Texas With its bid for a perfect season derailed following an epic collapse last weekend, Baylor must regroup and resume its pursuit for a Big 12 title and a spot in the conference title game. The 13th-ranked Bears need one win in their final two games to play for the league championship and can clinch that spot by beating visiting Texas on Saturday afternoon. Baylor appeared well on its way to win No. 10 and sole possession of first place in the Big 12 before blowing a 25-point lead in a stunning 34-31 loss to Oklahoma. While the Bears remain in charge of their destiny entering their home finale, Texas also is coming off a crushing defeat - its third in five games - after falling at Iowa State 23-21 on a last-second field goal. The Longhorns, who still have a faint chance of reaching the league title game, made it four straight wins over Baylor with a 23-17 victory last year. ABOUT TEXAS (6-4, 4-3 Big 12): Sam Ehlinger rallied the Longhorns with a pair of scoring strikes in the fourth quarter last week and broke the school single-season record held by Colt McCoy with his sixth game with at least three touchdown passes. Devin Duvernay went over 1,000 receiving yards for the season and had his fourth consecutive 100-yard game with nine receptions for 107 yards, pushing his total to 87 catches. ABOUT BAYLOR (9-1, 6-1): Charlie Brewer ran for two touchdowns and threw for a pair of scoring passes as the Bears bolted to a 31-10 halftime lead over Oklahoma, but they were held off the scoreboard after intermission and ran only 15 plays on their last four possessions. Texas has won eight of 11 at Baylor since the schools joined the Big 12. Take Texas plus the points. |
|||||||
11-23-19 | Michigan v. Indiana +10 | Top | 39-14 | Loss | -115 | 24 h 35 m | Show |
Indiana No. 12 Michigan looks to continue its late-season surge when it visits Indiana on Saturday. The Wolverines' offense has come to life in the last month after a slow start under new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, as they have averaged 42 points in wins against 15th-ranked Notre Dame (45-14), Maryland (38-7), and Michigan State (44-10), and hope to keep rolling by knocking off the Hoosiers for the 24th consecutive time in the rivalry. Indiana made its first appearance in the Top 25 since 1994 before suffering a 34-27 loss to No. 9 Penn State in Week 12. The Hoosiers went toe-to-toe with the Nittany Lions on the road, but couldn't deliver the knockout blow in their bid to upset a Top 10 team. ABOUT MICHIGAN (8-2, 5-2 Big Ten): Shea Patterson was named the Big Ten Co-Player of the Week after throwing for a career-high 384 yards and four touchdowns in the win against Michigan State to improve to 13-0 at Michigan Stadium. ABOUT INDIANA (7-3, 4-3): Peyton Ramsey did an admirable job filling in for the injured Michael Penix Jr. as he threw for a career-high 371 yards and a touchdown to go along with a pair of rushing scores in the loss to Penn State. Wolverines are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning home record and are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 road games. Hoosiers are 6-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. I’ll take the points with the home underdog. |
|||||||
11-23-19 | Penn State +19 v. Ohio State | Top | 17-28 | Win | 100 | 20 h 11 m | Show |
Penn State Second-ranked Ohio State welcomes back defensive stalwart Chase Young from a two-game suspension and his presence solidifies the Buckeyes as a decisive favorite for Saturday's key Big Ten clash at home with No. 9 Penn State. The unbeaten Buckeyes carry a 16-game winning streak into the game and their national championship aspirations hinge on the outcome. A potential matchup of two undefeated teams was spoiled two weeks ago when Penn State lost at Minnesota, but the Nittany Lions can still secure at least a share of the Big Ten East Division title with two more wins and a berth in the conference championship game. Ohio State's road to the postseason is simple: Win this week, and the following week at No. 12 Michigan and in the Big Ten championship game to reach the College Football Playoff semifinals. ABOUT PENN STATE (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten): The Nittany Lions bounced back from its first loss with a 34-27 victory at home last week over feisty Indiana, but their pass defense has faltered in the past two games and allowed a combined 711 yards. On offense, Penn State possesses the skill to challenge Ohio State with quarterback Sean Clifford, receiver KJ Hamler (injured last week but expected to play), tight end Pat Freierrmuth and running back Journey Brown as the key players. ABOUT OHIO STATE (10-0, 7-0): After manhandling Maryland and Rutgers the past two weeks by a combined score of 129-35, Ohio State faces their first significant opponent since they disposed of No. 14 Wisconsin on Oct. 26. Here is a look at the past three years: 2018: Ohio State won 27-26 Penn State stays within the number so take the points as my top pick of the week. |
|||||||
11-23-19 | Illinois +15.5 v. Iowa | Top | 10-19 | Win | 100 | 20 h 7 m | Show |
Illinois Illinois, the hottest team in the Big Ten West Division, has not fared well against No. 20 Iowa in recent years, but the resurgent Fighting Illini bring plenty of confidence and a four-game winning streak to Iowa City for Saturday's matchup. The Illini have lost six straight games in the series dating to 2008 and were blown out 63-0 last year by the Hawkeyes. But this Illinois team has taken a step forward in coach Lovie Smith's fourth season. The Illini, coming off a bye week, put them in position entering the final two weeks of the regular season to have a long-shot chance to win the division and make it to the Big Ten championship game. For that to happen, though, they would need to win out; No. 11 Minnesota and No. 14 Wisconsin lose this weekend, and Wisconsin to beat Minnesota next week. ABOUT ILLINOIS (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten): There were questions about whether Smith would keep his job after the Illini lost four consecutive games in September and early October, but they've reeled off four wins in a row since - two of them with miraculous comebacks against Wisconsin and Michigan State. They've done it by outscoring opponents 79-22 in the second half (44-12 in the fourth quarter) and with a defense that has forced an average of three turnovers per game during the streak. ABOUT IOWA (7-3, 4-3): The Hawkeyes had lost three games to ranked opponents (No. 9 Penn State, No. 12 Michigan, Wisconsin) by a total of 14 points before upending Minnesota for their biggest win of the season. Illinois leads FBS in defensive touchdowns (six), turnovers gained (26), forced fumbles (17), fumble recoveries (16) and turnover margin (plus-1.4). We will gladly take the points in a close game. |
|||||||
11-23-19 | Central Florida v. Tulane +6 | Top | 34-31 | Win | 100 | 20 h 1 m | Show |
TULANE It's been a step back for Central Florida this season, though it will still finish up as one of the top teams in the American Athletic Conference. The Knights will try to bounce back from a rare loss when they visit Tulane on Saturday. UCF totaled one loss in 2017 and 2018 - none in AAC play - but fell for the third time in 2019 when it went scoreless in the fourth quarter and gave up the lead in a 34-31 setback at Tulsa last week. The Green Wave let a promising season and a chance at a spot in the AAC championship slip away with losses in three of the last four games and are coming off a 27-21 setback at Temple last week. ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (7-3, 4-2 AAC): The Knights committed 15 penalties leading to 120 lost yards in the loss to Tulsa, and eliminating mistakes was a focus of practice this week. ABOUT TULANE (6-4, 3-3): Quarterback Justin McMillan owns five touchdown passes and eight interceptions in the last four games and struggled with his accuracy at Temple, completing 11-of-27 passes for 103 yards in the loss. McMillan threw eight TD passes and two interceptions during Tulane's 5-1 start. Tulane is trying to finish undefeated at home for the first time since 1998. Knights are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall. Green Wave are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games and are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games on field turf. Back the home underdog in Tulane.
|
|||||||
11-16-19 | UCLA +21.5 v. Utah | Top | 3-49 | Loss | -110 | 20 h 29 m | Show |
UCLA Thanksgiving is still two weeks away, but No. 9 Utah has much on the table entering its final three games of the regular season. That vital homestretch starts Saturday night when the Utes host UCLA in a key Pac-12 South Division matchup. With five straight wins, Utah has a half-game lead over USC atop the South with the Bruins lurking another half-game behind. Then there’s the matter of the College Football Playoff rankings, where the Utes debuted at No. 8 a week ago in the inaugural ranks and moved up a spot to seventh on Tuesday, but winning the South and the ensuing Pac-12 Championship Game remain absolute musts for Utah to have any shot at making the CFP final four. UCLA, meanwhile, has won three straight after a 1-5 start, and with Utah and USC next on the schedule, coach Chip Kelly’s Bruins control their own South Division destiny as well. ABOUT UCLA (4-5, 4-2 Pac-12): Like the Utes, the Bruins are coming off a bye last week, and will be looking to continue their offensive roll as they lead the conference in points (37.0) and rushing yards (217.2) per game in Pac-12 play. Senior tailback Joshua Kelley leads the conference in rushing with 107.6 yards per outing and has totaled 466 yards and seven touchdowns during the Bruins’ three-game win streak. Dual-threat sophomore quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson has averaged 237.7 yards of total offense has accounted for seven TDs during the team’s current run, and the Bruins’ defense has been better of late despite ranking in the conference’s lower half in points (32.0) and total yards (431.6) allowed per game. ABOUT UTAH (8-1, 5-1): The Utes were expected to field one of the nation’s top defenses, and it’s most definitely lived up to the billing with Utah ranking in the FBS top six in points allowed (12.2 per game), total yards allowed (246.3), rushing defense (56.0) and opponents’ third-down conversion percentage (27.9). Linebacker Devin Lloyd leads the team with 58 total tackles while defensive end Bradlee Anae has nine tackles-for-loss, including eight sacks. Offensively, senior quarterback Tyler Huntley leads the conference in passing efficiency (182.46 rating) with 11 TDs and only one interception while pairing with talented tailback Zack Moss to power the Pac-12’s leading rushing attack at 207.8 yards per game. The key matchup will feature Kelley and the Bruins trying to solve the Utes’ top-ranked national run defense, which has held seven of its nine opponents to 67 yards or fewer on the season. While Utah clearly has the edge in this one, I look for UCLA to keep it somewhat close. Take the points. |
|||||||
11-16-19 | Oklahoma v. Baylor +10.5 | Top | 34-31 | Win | 100 | 20 h 55 m | Show |
Baylor Matt Rhule wasn't able to get his first win at Baylor until early November when he first took over the program in 2017, but a November victory this weekend may be all his team needs to put an end to Oklahoma's recent Big 12 dominance. The 10th-ranked Bears attempt to continue their dream season and basically assure themselves a regular-season conference title Saturday night when they host the eighth-ranked Sooners. Oklahoma nearly blew a 21-point lead last weekend and needed to intercept a two-point conversion pass with 24 seconds remaining to hold on to a 42-41 victory over Iowa State. ABOUT OKLAHOMA (8-1, 5-1 Big 12): Junior wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season after tying a school record with his fifth career game of at least 160 yards receiving, finishing with 167 to go along with two touchdowns against the Cyclones. Sophomore Kennedy Brooks ran for a season-high 132 yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts to become the third Sooner to hit the century mark on the ground in 2019. The increased reliance on Brooks was likely the product of losing Trey Sermon to a left knee injury on his first carry; both he and defensive lineman Kenneth Mann (undisclosed) are expected to miss the rest of the season. ABOUT BAYLOR (9-0, 6-0): The Bears scored all three of their touchdowns versus the Horned Frogs after regulation, including a pair of athletic grabs from Denzel Mims, who accounted for three of his six catches and 36 of his 57 yards during the overtime periods. Sophomore linebacker Terrel Bernard had a career-high 19 tackles - the most by a Baylor player since safety Sam Holl's 21 stops against Kansas in 2011 - and his first interception of the season to earn Big 12 Player of the Week honors. Freshman kicker John Mayers was named the conference's special teams player of the week after accounting for all of his team's points during regulation, including a career-long 51-yard field goal with 36 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime. Oklahoma has surrendered at least 41 points in back-to-back contests after holding opponents to an average of 19.4 points in its first seven games. The Bears boast a Big 12-best 29 sacks this season. Sooners are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game and are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in November. Bears are 6-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. I think the points are a gift here as Baylor has a shot at the outright win. |
|||||||
11-16-19 | Minnesota v. Iowa -3 | Top | 19-23 | Win | 100 | 17 h 31 m | Show |
Iowa Seventh-ranked Minnesota looks to keep its perfect record intact when it visits No. 22 Iowa on Saturday in the battle for the Floyd of Rosedale. The Golden Gophers upset then No. 4 Penn State 31-26 in Week 11 to climb nine spots to No. 8 in the College Football Playoff rankings after improving to 9-0 for the first time since since 1904, and they hope to take a big step towards their first Big Ten West Division title by ending a four-game skid in the rivalry with the Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes had a chance to tie the game, but came up short on a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter to fall three games behind Minnesota with three contests remaining, but can play the role of spoiler, as they search for their ninth straight win over the Gophers in Iowa City. ABOUT MINNESOTA (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten): Tanner Morgan had one of the best games of his career as he completed 18-of-20 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns in the win against Penn State to improve to 13-2 as the starting quarterback. Bateman hauled in seven passes for a career-high 203 yards and a touchdown against the Nittany Lions. ABOUT IOWA (6-3, 3-3): Nate Stanley threw for 208 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the loss to Wisconsin to overtake Ricky Stanzi (7,377) for third place on the program's all-time passing yards list with 7,509. Tyrone Tracy Jr. caught five passes for a career-high 130 yards and a touchdown while Keith Duncan made three field goals to set a new single-season Iowa record with 22. Iowa has won six of the last seven overall meetings with the Golden Gophers and they get the home victory! |
|||||||
11-16-19 | Georgia -3 v. Auburn | Top | 21-14 | Win | 101 | 16 h 58 m | Show |
Georgia Fifth-ranked Georgia is one victory from clinching the SEC East and reaching the conference championship game, but that path will not be easy starting with Saturday’s trip to No. 13 Auburn. The Bulldogs have allowed just 17 points with two shutouts during a three-game winning streak but will face an offense averaging 32.7 points and 425.1 yards, and whose only two losses have come against teams ranked in the top 10 at the time (LSU, Florida). The Tigers will have to contend with a Georgia defense that leads the SEC and is second nationally in points allowed per game (10.1), fourth in the country in rushing defense (74.6 yards) and fifth in FBS in total defense (260.3 yards). While the Bulldogs have yet to surrender a rushing touchdown this season, Auburn is tied for 18th in the country in rushing touchdowns (23) and 19th in the nation in average rushing yards (219.3). ABOUT GEORGIA (8-1, 5-1 SEC): The Bulldogs have three shutouts this season for the first time since 1981, one off the school record in a 12-game regular season, and limited Missouri to only 198 yards of total offense (50 rushing) in last week’s 27-0 home victory. Junior defensive back Richard LeCounte returned an interception 71 yards and registered four tackles last week, while senior linebacker Tae Crowder led Georgia with seven stops. It was another efficient day for junior quarterback Jake Fromm (13-of-29, 173 yards, two touchdowns) and junior running back D’Andre Swift (83 yards on 12 carries). ABOUT AUBURN (7-2, 4-2): The Tigers were off last week after a 20-14 home victory over Ole Miss on Nov. 2, as freshman quarterback Bo Nix completed 30-of-44 passes for a career-best 340 yards and rushed for a touchdown, while freshman running back D.J. Williams rushed for 93 yards and a score on 24 carries. Nix has passed for 1,798 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, while sophomore receiver Seth Williams leads Auburn in receptions (35) and yards (569). Sophomore defensive back Christian Tutt intercepted a pass on the game’s final play after Ole Miss drove to the Auburn 35-yard line. Bulldogs are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games in November and are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 conference games. Bulldogs are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings. Lay the small number with Georgia on the road. |
|||||||
11-16-19 | Texas +7 v. Iowa State | Top | 21-23 | Win | 100 | 16 h 57 m | Show |
Texas No. 23 Texas is still very much in the hunt for a return trip to the Big 12 Championship Game as it enters the final quarter of its regular season. That stretch begins Saturday afternoon as the Longhorns visit Iowa State. Baylor (6-0) and Oklahoma (5-1) currently hold down the top two spots in the conference, and they square off Saturday night in Waco. Texas (4-2), which lost to Oklahoma earlier in the season, will visit Baylor the following week as the trio jockey for a top-two regular season finish and spots in the Dec. 7 conference title game in Arlington, Texas. The Longhorns fell to the Sooners in the 2018 Big 12 Championship Game. Iowa State was in strong position to contend three weeks ago but has since suffered back-to-back narrow losses to Oklahoma State (34-27) and Oklahoma (42-41) to fall to 3-3 and into a three-way tie for fourth place in the conference. ABOUT TEXAS (6-3, 4-2 Big 12): The Longhorns have had to scratch and claw to get to third place, needing final-play field goals from Cameron Dicker to win two of their last three games. Senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger has directed the game-winning drives in each contest and is tied for the Big 12 lead in touchdowns passes (24) and ranks sixth nationally in total offense per game (338.0 yards). Ehlinger got a big assist from tailback Keaontay Ingram (career-best 139 rushing yards and two TDs) in last Saturday’s 27-24 win over Kansas State, while Texas’ struggling defense (seventh in the conference surrendering 30.7 points and 447.6 total yards per contest) limited the Wildcats to only three offensive points over the final three quarters. ABOUT IOWA STATE (5-4, 3-3): The Cyclones will have to find a way to rebound from Saturday’s heart-breaking one-point loss in Norman, Okla., as the Sooners intercepted quarterback Brock Purdy’s potential game-winning two-point conversion pass with 24 seconds remaining. Purdy, a sophomore, accounted for six TDs in the game, including five passing, and ranks fifth nationally (one spot ahead of Ehlinger) with 344.4 yards of total offense per game while accounting for 27 total TDs on the season. Texas has dominated the series 14-2, including a 6-1 mark in Ames. The Longhorns have won three straight overall following last season’s 24-10 victory in Austin. Coach Tom Herman is 14-4 as a dog since 2015 at Houston and Texas. Back Texas as a nice underdog. |
|||||||
11-16-19 | Wisconsin -14 v. Nebraska | Top | 37-21 | Win | 100 | 13 h 32 m | Show |
Wisconsin Wisconsin still has an outside shot of catching Minnesota atop the Big Ten West, but the Badgers must take care of business over the next two weeks if they have any intention of playing for something meaningful when they meet the Golden Gophers in their season finale. After ending a two-game losing streak by knocking off a Top 25 opponent last week, No. 15 Wisconsin faces the first of two sub-.500 teams on Saturday when it visits Nebraska. ABOUT WISCONSIN (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten): Taylor ranks third in the country with 1,259 rushing yards and is tied for fifth with 15 rushing touchdowns - both Big Ten-best marks - and needs only 167 more rushing yards over the remainder of the season to pass Herschel Walker (5,596) for the most in FBS history by a player through his junior season. The New Jersey native had been held to 80 rushing yards or fewer in two of his previous three contests before posting his 29th career 100-yard rushing effort - four behind school-record holder Ron Dayne. Senior linebackers Chris Orr (nine sacks - second in the conference) and Zach Baun (7.5, fifth) are the only teammates who rank inside the top five in the conference in sacks. ABOUT NEBRASKA (4-5, 2-4): Despite missing two games and part of another with a knee injury, sophomore quarterback Adrian Martinez paces the Cornhuskers in rushing (399 yards) and passing (1,492), making him only one of three players from a Power Five conference to lead his team in both categories. Junior receiver JD Spielman amassed 123 receiving yards on six catches against Purdue, including a 42-yard grab that was his seventh reception of at least 40 yards a season - good for the fourth most in FBS. Wisconsin has rushed for at least 353 yards four times during its six-game winning streak in this series. Badgers are 23-10-1 ATS in their last 34 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game. Cornhuskers are 5-17-2 ATS in their last 24 home games. Take Wisconsin in a rout. |
|||||||
11-14-19 | North Carolina +4.5 v. Pittsburgh | Top | 27-34 | Loss | -110 | 31 h 11 m | Show |
North Carolina If Pittsburgh is going to keep alive any hopes of winning the ACC Coastal Division for a second straight season, they'll have to find a way to solve the host North Carolina on Thursday. The Tar Heels have won the last six matchups against the Panthers by a combined 26 points, including 38-35 last season. "(North Carolina) is probably the best 4-5 team in the country coming off of five losses, total of 19 points, and beat a South Carolina team, beat a Miami team that we had not beat and then lost to Clemson by one point Pittsburgh is tied atop the Coastal standings in the loss column with Virginia and Virginia Tech, and play the Hokies next week but have already been beaten by the Cavaliers. The Panthers have had a week off to reconnect after the defense held Georgia Tech to 194 yards and used a goal-line stand to help post a 20-10 victory Nov. 2. North Carolina continued alternating losses and wins for a fifth straight week in its 38-31 setback to Virginia on Nov. 2 despite 353 yards and four TDs from freshman Sam Howell. ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (4-5, 3-3 ACC): Howell won his fourth ACC Rookie of the Week Award with 350 yards of total offense - the most by a Tar Heels quarterback against Virginia - and with four TD passes coming from at least 34 yards out. Howell's 26 touchdown passes tie former Miami star Brad Kaaya for third-most in ACC history by a freshman in a season, and Howell is the only quarterback in the FBS that has thrown multiple touchdown passes in nine consecutive games. ABOUT PITTSBURGH (6-3, 3-2): The Panthers overcame three first-half turnovers (two interceptions) and a blocked punt as Kenny Pickett threw for 204 yards and a touchdown and Vincent Davis took a wildcat snap 61 yards for a score. North Carolina leads the series 10-3. Take the points with the better QB on the road in the Tar Heels.
|
|||||||
11-09-19 | Iowa State +15 v. Oklahoma | Top | 41-42 | Win | 100 | 32 h 16 m | Show |
Iowa State It took nearly two months to happen, but an Oklahoma defense that was quickly becoming a strength of the team finally sprung a leak, and it may have cost Lincoln Riley's squad a shot at the College Football Playoff. After watching the nation's longest road winning streak come to an end a week ago, the eighth-ranked Sooners hope to avoid watching their 14-game home winning streak get snapped Saturday when they host Iowa State. The Sooners will try to avoid dropping back-to-back games in the same season for the first time since 2014 when they meet the last opponent to beat them at home in the Cyclones, who pulled off a 38-31 upset in Norman in 2017. Iowa State was on the verge of becoming a ranked team before heading into its bye, but lost at home to Oklahoma State on Oct. 26, ending a three-game winning streak. ABOUT IOWA STATE (5-3, 3-2 Big 12): The Cyclones are averaging 479.5 yards of total offense - nearly 40 yards more than the school-record pace set in 1976 - and are led by sophomore quarterback Brock Purdy, who is ranked third in the nation in passing (Big 12-best 320.9 yards). Sophomore Charlie Kolar ranks fourth among FBS tight ends in receiving yards per game (60.8) and is tied for eighth at the position in touchdown catches (five) - all of which have come in the last five contests. Breece Hall has taken over in the backfield over the last three games, averaging 130.3 yards rushing while scoring all seven of his touchdowns in that span; the seven TDs are tied for the most by a freshman in school history. ABOUT OKLAHOMA (7-1, 4-1): Jalen Hurts accounted for 491 yards of total offense against the Wildcats to raise his season average to 408.8 yards - a mark that is higher than that of 64 FBS teams. The Houston native also ran a season-high 19 times for 96 yards and three touchdowns last weekend; he has rushed 103 times for 801 yards and 13 TDs, giving him 50 more carries, 418 more yards and eight more rushing touchdowns than anyone else on the roster. Junior CeeDee Lamb ranks 10th in the country with 816 receiving yards, third with a Big 12-best 11 receiving touchdowns and fourth in yards per catch (22.7); The Sooners haven't forced a turnover in the last four games. Cyclones are 15-5-2 ATS in their last 22 conference games. Sooners are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games in November. I’ll take the points and back Iowa State to be in this game. |
|||||||
11-09-19 | Iowa +9.5 v. Wisconsin | Top | 22-24 | Win | 100 | 28 h 20 m | Show |
Iowa No. 16 Wisconsin looks to stay in contention for the Big Ten West Division title when it hosts 18th-ranked Iowa on Saturday in the battle for the Heartland Trophy. The Badgers cruised to six consecutive victories by an average margin of 38 points before suffering back-to-back road losses, including a shocking 24-23 setback to Illinois, which was a 30-point underdog, and they hope to bounce back from a 38-7 drubbing to No. 4 Ohio State by improving to 7-0 at home in 2019. ABOUT IOWA (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten): Nate Stanley completed 12-of-26 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown in the homecoming win against Northwestern to overtake Drew Tate (61) for second place on the program's all-time TD passes list with 62. Tyrone Tracy Jr. caught a pair of passes for 88 yards and a touchdown, while Ihmir Smith-Marsette finished with three receptions for 20 yards to become the 42nd player in Iowa history to reach 1,000 career receiving yards with 1,011. Linebacker Kristian Welch has missed the last two games with a leg injury and is questionable for Saturday's clash while All-Big Ten offensive lineman Alaric Jackson could miss due to a knee problem. The Hawkeyes are ranked third nationally in scoring defense (10.1 points). Hawkeyes are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game. Badgers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 conference games. Hawkeyes are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings in Wisconsin and I’ll gladly back them plus the points. |
|||||||
11-09-19 | LSU +6 v. Alabama | Top | 46-41 | Win | 100 | 28 h 57 m | Show |
LSU The big-time SEC showdown arrives when top-ranked Alabama hosts second-ranked LSU on Saturday. But the "Game of the Century" tag might need a little tweaking after Ohio State earned the No. 1 spot in the initial College Football Playoff poll with LSU second and Alabama third. Tagovailoa has passed for 2,166 yards, 27 touchdowns and two interceptions. "His mobility will be the big question, but every day that's improved dramatically." LSU senior quarterback Joe Burrow also is a Heisman contender while passing for 2,805 yards, 30 touchdowns and four interceptions and energizing the team's attack. "We get the best players in space to the guy we want to put them against," Burrow told reporters. "We don't do a lot of things. But we do it out of a lot of different formations." ABOUT LSU (8-0, 4-0 SEC): Burrow is fueling an attack averaging 46.8 points per game and has completed more than 70 percent of his passes in each game and thrown four or more touchdown passes on five occasions. The Tigers have solid receivers with junior Justin Jefferson (55 receptions, 819 yards and nine scores), sophomore Ja'Marr Chase (43 for 749, nine TDs) and sophomore Terrace Marshall Jr. (22 for 333, seven) combining for 25 scoring catches. Freshman cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. has a team-best four interceptions and junior linebacker Jacob Phillips has recorded a team-high 64 tackles for a unit allowing 20 points per game. ABOUT ALABAMA (8-0, 5-0): Sophomore Mac Jones filled in for Tagovailoa two Saturdays ago against Arkansas and completed 18-of-22 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns. The Crimson Tide continue to make good use of their three star junior wideouts -- Jerry Jeudy has 52 receptions for 682 yards and eight touchdowns, DeVonta Smith has 43 catches for 721 yards and nine scores, and Henry Ruggs III has 26 for 513 and six touchdowns. Junior safety Xavier McKinney (team-high 56 tackles), senior linebacker Anfernee Jennings (48 tackles, four sacks) and junior linebacker Terrell Lewis (team-best six sacks) are leading a defense allowing 15.3 points per game. Tigers are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Crimson Tide are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. In what should be a close game take the points with LSU. |
|||||||
11-09-19 | Illinois +14.5 v. Michigan State | Top | 37-34 | Win | 100 | 28 h 49 m | Show |
Illinois Michigan State looks to snap a three-game losing streak when it hosts Big Ten rival Illinois on Saturday. The Spartans have played three straight teams that were ranked in the Top 10 at the time, losing by a combined 100-17, while the Illini come into the contest on a three-game winning streak. ABOUT ILLINOIS (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten): Illinois senior linebacker Dele Harding seems to be flying under the radar this season, despite being one of the top tacklers in the country. Coach Lovie Smith was noticeably upset when it was announced that Harding, who is fourth in the country with 106 tackles, didn't make the Butkus Award semifinalist list, yet teammate Jake Hansen did. Hansen, a junior, has 72 tackles and a national-best seven forced fumbles and was part of a contingent of five Big Ten linebackers who were semifinalists for the award. ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (4-4, 2-3): The Spartans have been known for their running game for a number of years, but Michigan State is 13th in the Big Ten, averaging 112.9 yards per game on the ground. Redshirt freshman Elijah Collins leads the way with 545 yards but he's dealt with a couple of nagging injuries, and the Spartans' backfield depth took a major hit with Connor Heyward and La'Darius Jefferson entering the transfer portal last month. Against Penn State two weeks ago, Collins was sidelined for a couple series, and Michigan State was forced to go with freshmen Brandon Wright and Anthony Williams to replace him. Illinois WR Josh Imatorbhebhe has seven touchdown receptions this season, ranking him tied for third in the Big Ten and tied for 24th nationally. Illini DE Oluwole Betiku Jr. ranks fifth in the nation in sacks per game with 1.14 and ninth in tackles for loss at 1.6. Fighting Illini are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 conference games. Spartans are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points and are 0-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Illinois has the horses to hang all day with this average Michigan State team. Take the points with Illinois. |
|||||||
11-09-19 | Kansas State +7 v. Texas | Top | 24-27 | Win | 100 | 28 h 45 m | Show |
Kansas State Kansas State got more respect from the College Football Playoff committee than it did from the coaches this week, coming in at No. 16 in the first CFP rankings released on Tuesday while sitting at No. 22 in the Coaches Poll. Unranked in both was Texas, which will be trying to bounce back from another tough loss when it hosts the Wildcats on Saturday. The Longhorns got last week off to assess what went wrong in the last three games, which includes a pair of losses sandwiched around a 50-48 home win over Kansas. Texas allowed an average of 505 yards in the three games. ABOUT KANSAS STATE (6-2, 3-2 Big 12): The Wildcats rushed for 342 yards in last week's 38-10 drubbing of Kansas, with quarterback Skylar Thompson's 127 yards and three TDs on the ground leading the way. Thompson owns eight rushing scores during the three-game winning streak, but Kansas State isn't counting on the rushing yards coming as easily this weekend. "We'll have our hands full making sure that we protect Skylar (Thompson)," Klieman told reporters. "We have to be able to run the football some. Are they going to allow us to rush the football like we did last week? Probably not. So, we have to find some ways to be creative and be efficient in the passing game." ABOUT TEXAS (5-3, 3-2): Keeping the Longhorns in games while the defense struggles is the offense led by quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who was named a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, which is given annually to the player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. Ehlinger's achievements on the field include 23 touchdowns and seven interceptions, though four of those picks came in last week's 37-27 setback at TCU. Ehlinger could have another weapon available on offense in freshman running back Jordan Whittington, who suffered a groin injury in the season opener but is back at practice and probable for Saturday. Wildcats are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall and are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win. Longhorns are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 conference games. Wildcats are 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 meetings and I’ll back them plus the points on the road. |
|||||||
11-09-19 | Florida State v. Boston College -2.5 | Top | 38-31 | Loss | -109 | 24 h 21 m | Show |
Boston College Florida State endured a lopsided loss and a coaching change ahead of its trip to Boston College for an ACC matchup Saturday afternoon. The once-mighty Seminoles fell to 9-12 under Willie Taggart following a 27-10 loss to in-state rival Miami last week, and Taggart was let go as the team tries to salvage something of a third straight subpar campaign. While the Seminoles are at a crossroads, the Eagles are coming into the matchup with some momentum following a 58-27 runaway win in a record-setting performance at Syracuse last weekend. Boston College set a school mark with 691 yards on offense and its 496 yards on the ground were just shy of a 46-year-old program record. ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (4-5, 3-4 ACC): The Seminoles' quarterback situation continues to be as undefined as the program itself, with both senior Alex Hornibrook and sophomore James Blackman seeing snaps against Miami. Hornibrook has been the primary passer in the last two weeks and has a completion percentage of 68.9 on the season with only two interceptions in 122 attempts. Junior running back Cam Akers, who leads the ACC with 16 total touchdowns, needs 17 rushing yards to record the second 1,000-yard campaign of his career. ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (5-4, 3-3): Junior star AJ Dillon led the dominant effort at Syracuse with 242 yards and three TDs on 35 carries. "I always want to be the guy, not in a cocky way or in an ego way," Dillon told the media after the game. "But I feel comfortable with my teammates and my coaches knowing that if we need to get a score you can put the ball in my hands, and I'll do everything I can to get that." The nation's second-leading rusher with 1,286 yards, Dillon needs 17 more to become the first player in school history with 4,000 for a career. The Seminoles have allowed 35 sacks, tied for the fourth-highest total among FBS teams. Seminoles are 1-8-3 ATS in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Eagles are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall and are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Boston College enjoys the home cooking with a big win. |
|||||||
11-09-19 | Penn State v. Minnesota +7 | Top | 26-31 | Win | 100 | 24 h 19 m | Show |
Minnesota No. 13 Minnesota has not started a season 9-0 in 115 years, and it would need to knock off fellow unbeaten and fifth-ranked Penn State in a mammoth Big Ten matchup Saturday at home to achieve that goal. "This is what college football is all about," Golden Gophers coach P.J. Fleck told reporters. "You've got two 8-0 football teams, two top-13 teams playing at TCF Bank Stadium ... this is what it's all about." ABOUT PENN STATE (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten): Sophomore quarterback Sean Clifford is second in the Big Ten in passing yards (1,931) and touchdowns (20), four of which came in the win over the Spartans. Freshman Noah Cain leads a fleet of running backs with 350 yards on the ground and six scores, and Franklin indicated Cain should be good to go after suffering an apparent injury versus Michigan State. The nation's second-ranked scoring defense (9.6 points allowed per game) continues to be led by sophomore linebacker Micah Parsons with 57 tackles, while defensive ends Yetur Gross-Matos and Shaka Toney both have a team-high 5.5 sacks. Golden Gophers sophomore defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. is tied for second among FBS players with five interceptions - three over the last two games. Nittany Lions are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games following an ATS win. Golden Gophers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 conference games and are 5-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Back the points with Minnesota at home. |
|||||||
11-09-19 | Baylor -2.5 v. TCU | Top | 29-23 | Win | 100 | 24 h 18 m | Show |
Baylor Baylor is the lone undefeated team left in the Big 12 after surviving a scare from West Virginia but is looking at a rough finishing stretch that includes a visit from Oklahoma on Nov. 16 and a date with Texas the following weekend. Another big test is Saturday, when the 10th-ranked Bears visit a TCU team looking for a signature win. Baylor was ranked 12th in the initial College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday, behind a pair of two-loss SEC teams and one-loss Oklahoma, and coach Matt Rhule is trying to keep his players away from any talk about the playoffs. The Horned Frogs are the last team to beat the Bears - a 16-9 triumph at Baylor on Nov. 17, 2018 - and remain capable of beating a team like Texas at home but losing at Oklahoma State. ABOUT BAYLOR (8-0, 5-0 Big 12): The Bears are averaging 36.1 points but showed they can win with their defense after holding West Virginia to 219 yards - 64 in the first half - in last week's 17-14 triumph. Baylor's offense was less impressive against the Mountaineers, but quarterback Charlie Brewer threw for a pair of TDs and is up to 14 touchdowns and three interceptions on the season, with each of the three picks coming in an overtime victory over Texas Tech on Oct. 12. ABOUT TCU (4-4, 2-3): The Horned Frogs go into the weekend with some uncertainty at quarterback after starter Max Duggan was knocked out in the fourth quarter of last week's loss with a finger injury and backup Mike Collins (abdomen) was injured on the final play of the game. Duggan threw three of his four interceptions last week but is a big part of the ground game as well and led the team in rushing in each of the last three contests. Baylor special teams recorded nine blocked kicks in the last 13 games. Bears are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss and are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games. Horned Frogs are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 conference games and are 7-20 ATS in their last 27 home games. Baylor takes this one on the road to stay undefeated. |
|||||||
11-02-19 | Pittsburgh -7.5 v. Georgia Tech | Top | 20-10 | Win | 100 | 17 h 31 m | Show |
Pittsburgh First-year Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins was quite relieved after his team stunned Miami (Fla.) two weeks ago for his first Atlantic Coast Conference win, but there were no smiles in Pittsburgh after the Panthers blew a golden opportunity to take over first place in the Coastal division last week when the Hurricanes shut them down. The Panthers attempt to rebound Saturday when they visit the Yellow Jackets. Jordan Mason capped a 141-yard rushing day with a 1-yard touchdown dive in overtime and Tariq Carpenter made the lead stand up with a fourth-down tackle that sealed Georgia Tech’s 28-21 win over Miami (Fla.) on Oct. 19. Georgia Tech scored on a fumble recovery and a fake punt in the first half, then largely turned the game over to Mason, who ran for 91 yards after halftime. Pitt remained one-half game behind both Virginia and North Carolina (3-2) after settling for four field goals by Alex Kessman in a 16-12 home loss to the Hurricanes last weekend - the sixth consecutive game the Panthers have played that has been decided by one score. ABOUT PITTSBURGH (5-3, 2-2 ACC): The Pitt defense, which ranks among the nation's top 25 units in no fewer than seven defensive categories, was stellar once again holding the Hurricanes to 208 yards. ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (2-5, 1-3): Mason has recorded back-to-back 100-yard rushing games (106 against Duke) after not surpassing the 100-yard mark in the first 18 games of his career. The Yellow Jackets season-high point total against Miami pushed their scoring average to 18.1 - 119th among 130 FBS schools - and they average a mere 315 yards per game - good for 118th in FBS. Pitt gets the road cover. |
|||||||
11-02-19 | Utah -3 v. Washington | Top | 33-28 | Win | 100 | 16 h 29 m | Show |
Utah No. 10 Utah is enjoying a dominating defensive stretch as it visits Washington on Saturday in Pac-12 play. The Utes haven't allowed a touchdown in their last two games and have outscored opponents by an impressive 146-23 during a four-game winning streak. Utah outgained California 473-83 in last Saturday's 35-0 victory for its second shutout of the campaign and coach Kyle Whittingham admits he is impressed with the defense unit. ABOUT UTAH (7-1, 3-1 Pac-12): Senior Tyler Huntley is completing a stellar 73.1 percent of his passes for 1,778 yards and 10 touchdowns against just one interception and he is the fifth quarterback in program history to top 6,000 career yards with his total sitting at 6,037. Senior running back Zack Moss (728 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns) set records for career rushing touchdowns (33) and career 100-yard games (15) against Cal and he also holds the career rushing yardage mark of 3,379. The defense is allowing just 10.2 points per game. ABOUT WASHINGTON (5-3, 2-3): Junior quarterback Jacob Eason has thrown three or more touchdown passes in four different games and has passed for 1,981 yards, 16 touchdowns and three interceptions. But I look for him to have problems here vs. this defense. Utah gets the big Pac-12 win. |
|||||||
11-02-19 | Georgia v. Florida +6 | Top | 24-17 | Loss | -105 | 16 h 5 m | Show |
Florida The inside track to the SEC East Division title is at stake when No. 6 Florida and No. 7 Georgia meet on Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla., and if recent series history is a guide, the team that rushes for the most yards will win the rivalry contest. The team that has won the rushing battle has won this matchup each of the past 13 years, which could be good news for a Georgia squad that has relied on the SEC’s top running game to overcome a slumping passing attack. Both teams were off last week, and the Gators looked to get healthy as graduate transfer linebacker Jon Greenard and senior defensive end Jabari Zuniga are expected to return from ankle injuries. Florida has excelled on offense through eight games, averaging 419.6 total yards while scoring 32.5 points per game. ABOUT GEORGIA (6-1, 3-1 SEC): Junior running back D’Andre Swift fronts the ground attack, leading the conference in rushing yards per game (107.7) and on the season has 752 yards with seven touchdowns. ABOUT FLORIDA (7-1, 4-1 SEC): Since taking over at quarterback for the injured Feleipe Franks, junior Kyle Trask has passed for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns - four in a Oct. 19 victory over South Carolina - while completing 67.1 percent of his passes. This game stays close so take the points with Florida. |
|||||||
11-02-19 | Troy -108 v. Coastal Carolina | Top | 35-36 | Loss | -108 | 16 h 32 m | Show |
Troy The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are ranked 80 on offense, averaging 395.6 yards per game. The Chanticleers are averaging 195.9 yards rushing and 199.7 yards passing so far this season. The Troy Trojans are ranked 28 on offense, averaging 458.9 yards per game. The Trojans are averaging 151.6 yards rushing and 307.3 yards passing so far this season. Troy is 8-2 following a loss and C.C. is 0-6 vs. the line at home vs. FBS teams. Look for the Troy defense to lead the way to a win. |
|||||||
11-02-19 | NC State v. Wake Forest -7.5 | Top | 10-44 | Win | 100 | 13 h 34 m | Show |
Wake Forest No. 22 Wake Forest continues a lengthy stay at home when it takes on visiting North Carolina State on Saturday in an ACC matchup. The Demon Deacons will be playing their third straight game at their home in BB&T Field and are coming off a bye week, making for a stretch that sees them go more than 40 days between road games. They bounced back from their first loss of the season with a 22-20 win over Florida State on Oct. 19, as Nick Sciba's fifth field goal with 4:18 left proved to be the difference. Sophomore quarterback Sam Hartman stepped in for an injured Jamie Newman (shoulder) and threw for 308 yards in the win, and the backup could see some action again in this one, although Newman has been throwing. The Wolfpack is also rested following a bye week of its own, which came on the heels of a 45-24 loss at Boston College. Wake Forest won the last two meetings, including a 27-23 triumph at N.C. State last year in which Newman threw a game-winning TD with 30 seconds left. Lay the points with Wake Forest at home. |
|||||||
11-02-19 | Michigan -21 v. Maryland | Top | 38-7 | Win | 100 | 13 h 30 m | Show |
Michigan No. 15 Michigan looks to build on its biggest win of the season when it visits Maryland on Saturday in Big Ten play. The Wolverines rolled up 303 rushing yards en route to an emphatic 45-14 win over then-No. 7 Notre Dame 45-14 to end an eight-game losing skid against Top 10 teams and hope for another offensive explosion against the Terrapins, who they have outscored 164-34 over their last four meetings. Maryland's season took another turn for the worse following a 52-10 loss to No. 13 Minnesota. The Terrapins, who have dropped five of their last six games since entering the national rankings after a 63-20 win against Syracuse, hope to turn their fortunes around by knocking off the Wolverines for the first time since a 23-16 victory in 2014. ABOUT MICHIGAN (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten): Shea Patterson picked up where he left off in the second half of the Penn State game as he threw for 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Notre Dame in the driving rain. Sophomore Hassan Haskins led the ground attack with a career-high 149 yards on 20 carries, while Zach Charbonnet added 74 and a pair of touchdowns - his ninth of the season - to equal the program record for most rushing TDs by a freshman. ABOUT MARYLAND (3-5, 1-4): Tyrrell Pigrome went 6-of-9 for 43 yards before suffering a left knee injury in the loss to Minnesota and is questionable for Saturday's clash. Michigan has held four of its last five opponents to fewer than 65 rushing yards. Michigan gets it in a rout. |
|||||||
10-26-19 | Notre Dame v. Michigan +1.5 | Top | 14-45 | Win | 100 | 45 h 35 m | Show |
Michigan Seventh-ranked Notre Dame looks to stay in the hunt for a College Football Playoff spot when it visits No. 20 Michigan on Saturday. The Fighting Irish bounced back from their 23-17 loss to ninth-ranked Georgia with three consecutive wins, including a 30-27 victory over USC on Oct. 12, to stay in the mix for their second consecutive playoff appearance, and they hope to add a road victory over a ranked opponent to their resume by taking down the Wolverines for the third straight time in the storied rivalry. Michigan fell behind by 21 points to No. 6 Penn State before mounting a comeback that ultimately fell short when Ronnie Bell dropped a pass in the end zone on 4th-and-goal with 2:01 remaining, which would have potentially sent the game to overtime. The Wolverines are 1-12 against top 10 teams under coach Jim Harbaugh, and hope to make a breakthrough after an encouraging second half against the Nittany Lions by knocking off Notre Dame for the first time since 2013. Shea Patterson had his best game of the season as the senior quarterback completed 24-of-41 passes for 276 yards and rushed for a touchdown, as the Wolverines finished with 417 total yards in the 28-21 loss to Penn State. I’ll look for Michigan to keep the offense going after last week’s 2nd half. Michigan has won 12 consecutive home games and I’ll back them here. |
|||||||
10-26-19 | Arizona State -3 v. UCLA | Top | 32-42 | Loss | -110 | 44 h 22 m | Show |
Arizona State Arizona State looks to bounce back from its worst offensive output in 11 years on Saturday when the 24th-ranked Sun Devils visit UCLA. Utah ended Arizona State's streak of 125 games with more than 10 points in last Saturday’s 21-3 victory, while UCLA snapped an 11-year drought against Stanford by cruising to a 34-16 win. The next chapter begins against a UCLA team that recorded its best defensive effort of the season in last week’s win over Stanford. The Bruins snapped a two-game losing skid by recording seven sacks and holding the Cardinal to 55 rushing yards. Arizona State is one of just seven teams in the country to not allow a 50-plus yard play from scrimmage this season. Sun Devils are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up loss. Bruins are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game. Road team is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings. I’ll take Arizona State to bounce back this week. |
|||||||
10-26-19 | Penn State v. Michigan State +6 | Top | 28-7 | Loss | -110 | 40 h 26 m | Show |
Michigan Seventh-ranked Notre Dame looks to stay in the hunt for a College Football Playoff spot when it visits No. 20 Michigan on Saturday. The Fighting Irish bounced back from their 23-17 loss to ninth-ranked Georgia with three consecutive wins, including a 30-27 victory over USC on Oct. 12, to stay in the mix for their second consecutive playoff appearance, and they hope to add a road victory over a ranked opponent to their resume by taking down the Wolverines for the third straight time in the storied rivalry. Michigan fell behind by 21 points to No. 6 Penn State before mounting a comeback that ultimately fell short when Ronnie Bell dropped a pass in the end zone on 4th-and-goal with 2:01 remaining, which would have potentially sent the game to overtime. The Wolverines are 1-12 against top 10 teams under coach Jim Harbaugh, and hope to make a breakthrough after an encouraging second half against the Nittany Lions by knocking off Notre Dame for the first time since 2013. Shea Patterson had his best game of the season as the senior quarterback completed 24-of-41 passes for 276 yards and rushed for a touchdown, as the Wolverines finished with 417 total yards in the 28-21 loss to Penn State. I’ll look for Michigan to keep the offense going after last week’s 2nd half. Michigan has won 12 consecutive home games and I’ll back them here. |
|||||||
10-26-19 | Oklahoma State v. Iowa State -10.5 | Top | 34-27 | Loss | -109 | 40 h 25 m | Show |
Iowa State Iowa State aims for its fourth straight win while trying to avoid looking too far ahead when it hosts Oklahoma State for a Big 12 clash Saturday afternoon. The Cyclones have surged toward the top of the conference standings with consecutive victories over TCU, West Virginia and Texas Tech. Once the Cowboys leave town, Iowa State faces a visit to Oklahoma - one of two unbeatens in the league - and a home game with Texas, and it has a great chance to enter the critical stretch on a good note if it can maintain its momentum. While Iowa State is looking to secure bowl eligibility for the third straight season, the Cowboys are in danger of falling to .500 after consecutive losses to Texas Tech and Baylor. They've given up 90 points in the back-to-back defeats and will be tested by a Cyclones attack that has averaged 40.3 during the team's three-game winning streak. Iowa State snapped a six-game losing streak in the series with a 48-42 win at Oklahoma State last year. Lay the points with Iowa State. |
|||||||
10-26-19 | Texas v. TCU | Top | 27-37 | Loss | -110 | 40 h 23 m | Show |
Texas No. 15 Texas received quite a scare in its last outing and looks to put together a stronger effort when it visits TCU in Big 12 play on Saturday. The Longhorns needed a 33-yard field goal by sophomore Cameron Dicker as time expired to escape with a 50-48 home win against Kansas to remain alive in the conference race. Texas totaled 638 yards against Kansas but also allowed 569 in the shootout win that left coach Tom Herman with mixed feelings. I’ll look for the defense to rebound here. TCU has dropped back-to-back games after falling 24-17 at Kansas State last Saturday. Texas Junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger accounted for 490 total yards (399 passing, 91 rushing) against Kansas and has passed for 2,057 yards and 21 touchdowns while being intercepted just three times. Texas recorded a 31-16 victory last season after TCU won the previous four matchups. Texas wins a tight one on the road. |
|||||||
10-26-19 | Iowa v. Northwestern +10 | Top | 20-0 | Loss | -105 | 37 h 59 m | Show |
Northwestern Iowa bounced back from a pair of losses against ranked opponents by finding just enough from its offense to escape with a home win over Purdue. The No. 19 Hawkeyes will try to find points on the road when they visit Northwestern on Saturday. It will be tough vs. this NW defense. Iowa totaled 21 points in its two true road games this season - an 18-17 victory at Iowa State and a 10-3 setback at Michigan - and is looking for more out of a rushing attack averaging 57.7 yards on the ground over the last three games. The Wildcats were run over 52-3 at home by Ohio State last week and look like a different team than the one that went to the Big Ten Championship Game last season. But they are still a solid team that will stay in this game. Hawkeyes are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games on grass. Wildcats are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games after scoring less than 20 points in their previous game and are 11-3-1 ATS in their last 15 games in October. The Wildcats took the last three meetings and get the cover here at home. |
|||||||
10-19-19 | Florida State +1.5 v. Wake Forest | Top | 20-22 | Loss | -109 | 31 h 46 m | Show |
Florida State Wake Forest's run as a ranked, undefeated team came to an end last weekend, but its status as an offensive force remains intact. The Demon Deacons will try to bounce back from their first loss when they host Florida State on Saturday. Wake Forest worked its way up to No. 17 prior to last week but had a fourth-quarter comeback fall short in a 62-59 loss at home to Louisville that came on the heels of a bye week. Answering that bell means preparing for a Seminoles squad that fell to No. 2 Clemson 45-14 last week but believes it can make a run over the second half of the season with a more favorable schedule. Florida State owns a turnover margin of plus-4 - the best mark in the ACC. The Seminoles own a 30-6-1 lead in the series and have taken each of the last seven meetings. They win again on the road. |
|||||||
10-19-19 | Oregon -2.5 v. Washington | Top | 35-31 | Win | 100 | 27 h 45 m | Show |
Oregon Oregon became a trend-setter with their explosive and wide-open passing offenses under Chip Kelly and Mike Bellotti. But its the defense for the 12th-ranked Ducks that is getting national attention these days as they head into their game with bitter Pacific Northwest rival Washington, ranked 23rd, on Saturday afternoon in Seattle. Since losing their season opener to 11th-ranked Auburn, 27-21, in Arlington, Tex., the Ducks have rolled off five consecutive victories in convincing fashion including a 45-3 win over Colorado last Friday. Oregon has outscored its opponents, 195-25, during that span while allowing just one touchdown, and for the first time since 1958 has held five consecutive teams to single-digit points. ABOUT OREGON (5-1, 3-0 Pac-12 North): Strong-armed senior quarterback Justin Herbert, a likely top-five NFL draft pick, has thrown a TD pass in 34 consecutive games, the longest streak in the nation, and is one of just five quarterbacks to have thrown five touchdown passes in two games this season. He's protected by a veteran offensive line led by senior left guard Shane Lemieux, who has started 44 straight games and is regarded as one of the top three NFL guard prospects. ABOUT WASHINGTON (5-2, 2-2 Pac-12 North): Junior quarterback Jacob Eason, the 2016 National Gatorade Player of the Year who began his career at Georgia, has completed 134-of-203 passes for 1,692 yards and 13 TDs while throwing three interceptions. Oregon has allowed just one TD over its opponents' last 63 drives while also forcing 21 three-and-outs during that span. Take the Ducks. |
|||||||
10-12-19 | Utah -14.5 v. Oregon State | Top | 52-7 | Win | 100 | 10 h 35 m | Show |
Utah No. 15 Utah returns from a bye and now faces seven straight weeks of Pac-12 games to finish the season. That stretch begins Saturday night when the Utes visit Oregon State for the Beavers’ homecoming game. Oregon State, meanwhile, started the season 0-2 but has since won two of three, including a 48-31 road victory at UCLA last Saturday. The Utes rebounded from their first loss of the season – a 30-23 setback at USC on Sept. 20 – with an impressive 38-13 rout of visiting Washington State on Sept. 28. Dual-threat quarterback Tyler Huntley shook off a reported foot injury suffered versus USC to throw for a season-high 334 yards and account for four total touchdowns against the Cougars and ranks sixth in the conference in total offense at 267.2 yards per game. Linebackers Devin Lloyd and Francis Bernard average a combined 15 tackles per game for the Utes’ defense, which ranks second in the Pac-12 in both points (14.4) and total yards (282.4) allowed per contest. Utah has won four of the six games versus Oregon State as Pac-12 members, including a 19-14 road win in their last meeting in 2016. Take Utah on the road. |
|||||||
10-12-19 | Penn State v. Iowa +3.5 | Top | 17-12 | Loss | -109 | 9 h 4 m | Show |
Iowa No. 9 Penn State's vaunted defense will try to maintain its dominant run against a team that failed to find the end zone last week in the 18th-ranked Iowa, which hosts the Nittany Lions in a key Big Ten affair Saturday night. Penn State entered the week second among FBS teams in scoring defense (7.4 points allowed per game), third in run defense (50.6 yards per game) and first in sacks per game (five) after recording 10 in last week's 35-7 win over Purdue. Hawkeyes senior quarterback Nate Stanley, who was sacked eight times and threw three interceptions in a 10-3 loss at Michigan last Saturday will have a better game. Iowa turned the ball over four times overall, committed eight penalties. Iowa keeps this game close at home. |
|||||||
10-05-19 | Iowa +4 v. Michigan | Top | 3-10 | Loss | -105 | 3 h 31 m | Show |
Iowa No. 14 Iowa looks for its first 5-0 start since 2014 when it travels to Ann Arbor on Saturday to face 18th-ranked Michigan in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes have won their first four games by an average margin of 25 points, including a 48-3 rout of Middle Tennessee State in Week 5, to continue their climb up the national rankings and hope to pass their first test in conference play by knocking off the Wolverines for the third consecutive time. Michigan bounced back from its disappointing 35-14 loss to ninth-ranked Wisconsin by blanking Rutgers 52-0. ABOUT IOWA (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten): Nate Stanley completed 17-of-25 passes for 276 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win against Middle Tennessee State to move within two TD passes of leapfrogging Drew Tate (61) for second place on Iowa's all-time list. Toren Young rushed for a career-high 131 yards while Brandon Smith caught six passes for 71 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Hawkeyes racked up 644 yards of offense, which is the most in the Ferentz era which spans 20 years. All-Big Ten left tackle Alaric Jackson could return after missing the last three games with a bone bruise on his right knee, while defensive back Kaevon Merriweather is expected to play following a two-game absence due to a foot problem. ABOUT MICHIGAN (3-1, 1-1 Big Ten): Shea Patterson had his best game of the season as he completed 17-of-23 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown while rushing for three scores in the win against Rutgers. Ronnie Bell caught six passes for a career-high 83 yards and Nico Collins finished with 59 yards and a touchdown as the Wolverines surpassed the 50-point plateau for the sixth time under Harbaugh. Linebacker Josh Ross (foot) and tight end Sean McKeon (knee) will miss their second consecutive game through injury while backup quarterback Dylan McCaffrey is questionable as he continues to recover from a concussion. Iowa has won five of the last six meetings with Michigan and I’ll back them getting the points! |
|||||||
09-28-19 | Kansas State +5 v. Oklahoma State | Top | 13-26 | Loss | -110 | 45 h 40 m | Show |
Kansas State Kansas State and new head coach Chris Klieman have won over some preseason skeptics with a 3-0 start. But the true tests still wait, starting Saturday night when the 22nd-ranked Wildcats kick off Big 12 play at Oklahoma State. Klieman’s crew was picked to finish ninth in the 10-team Big 12 preseason media poll but opened the season with routs of Nicholls (49-14) and Bowling Green (52-0), followed by an impressive 31-24 road win at then No. 23 Mississippi State. Oklahoma State also started 3-0 before dropping a tight 36-30 road decision against No. 12 Texas on Saturday. The Cowboys are among the teams receiving votes in the coaches poll for the fifth straight week and are looking for their fourth consecutive 4-1 start. I see this one being close with Kansas State having a shot to win outright. But take the points! |
|||||||
09-28-19 | Virginia +12.5 v. Notre Dame | Top | 20-35 | Loss | -103 | 41 h 7 m | Show |
Virginia No. 10 Notre Dame looks to shake off a disappointing loss and begin its quest to climb back into playoff contention when 18th-ranked Virginia pays a visit on Saturday afternoon for a non-conference contest. The Fighting Irish had the ball in Georgia territory in the final minute before giving it up on downs and falling 23-17 in a game between a pair of top 10 teams with playoff expectations. Irish coach Brian Kelly is wary of a Virginia team that can get to 5-0 for the first time since 2004 with a victory when he said at his weekly press conference that the Cavaliers have elite players at every level of their defense and are a confident team. ABOUT VIRGINIA (4-0): Senior quarterback Bryce Perkins has thrown four interceptions along with six touchdown passes, but completed 65.3 percent of his passes overall and is 361 from becoming the eighth player in school history with 5,000 yards of total offense. Senior Jordan Mack leads all linebackers in the nation with five sacks and junior linebacker Charles Snowden was named Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week after totaling 15 tackles and two sacks against ODU. ABOUT NOTRE DAME (2-1): Senior quarterback Ian Book threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia, but suffered his first two interceptions of the season as the Irish lost in the regular season for the first time Nov. 25, 2017. I’ll back the points with Virginia! |
|||||||
09-28-19 | Iowa State -3 v. Baylor | Top | 21-23 | Loss | -101 | 41 h 6 m | Show |
Iowa State Baylor has won five games in a row dating to last season, the school's longest winning streak since starting 6-0 in 2016. Two years removed from a disastrous 1-11 season, the high-scoring Bears brace for a difficult test when Iowa State pays a visit to Waco for a nationally televised clash in the Big 12 opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon. Baylor steamrolled Stephen F. Austin and Texas-San Antonio in its first two games, amassing 119 points, but it had to hold off a late comeback by winless Rice in a 21-13 victory last week. Conversely, the Cyclones struggled in their first two games, squeezing by Northern Iowa in triple overtime and dropping a one-point decision to No. 19 Iowa before erupting in a 72-20 mauling of Louisiana-Monroe a week ago. ABOUT IOWA STATE (2-1): The Cyclones piled up a school-record 714 yards in the team's highest point total since 1906 behind quarterback Brock Purdy, who accounted for six touchdowns and became the first player in program history to eclipse 500 yards of total offense. ABOUT BAYLOR (3-0): Brewer, who threw for 288 yards and two TDs in a loss at Iowa State last year, has seven scoring passes versus zero interceptions but sports modest yardage numbers overall because the Bears have outscored their opponents 91-10 in the first half vs. weak teams. Cyclones are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 road games and are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in September. Bears are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 home games. Lay the small number with Iowa State! |
|||||||
09-27-19 | Penn State -6.5 v. Maryland | Top | 59-0 | Win | 100 | 22 h 38 m | Show |
Penn State Penn State moved up in the national rankings on a bye week, but has plenty of questions to answer and a significant challenge to begin Big Ten play when it visits Maryland on Friday night. The No. 11 Nittany Lions are 3-0 for the third straight year but trailed at halftime at home against Buffalo on Sept. 7 and needed a goal-line stand to survive a 17-10 victory over Pittsburgh on Sept. 14. The Terrapins broke into the Top 25 by scoring 142 points in a 2-0 start before they were stymied offensively in a 20-17 loss at Temple on Sept. 14. Penn State has taken four straight meetings, including wins in the last two years by a combined 104-6. ABOUT PENN STATE (3-0): After completing 66.7 percent of his passes with six touchdowns through the first two games, sophomore quarterback Sean Clifford was 14-for-30 for 222 yards and zero TDs versus Pitt. The Lions were given a boost by sophomore running back Journey Brown, who emerged from a committee attack to run 10 times for a career-high 109 yards, earning a spot atop the depth chart entering this one. Speedster KJ Hamler leads the receiving corps with 245 yards through the air while fellow sophomore Pat Freiermuth has matched him with a team-high 10 grabs from the tight end position. ABOUT MARYLAND (2-1): The Terrapins continue to lean on standout running back Anthony McFarland Jr. (225 yards, five touchdowns), but they hope for a better showing from junior quarterback Josh Jackson, who was 15-for-38 passing with an interception and four sacks against Temple. Nittany Lions are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss and are 23-6-1 ATS in their last 30 games following a straight up win. Terrapins are 6-15 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. I will lay the number with Penn State on the road! |
|||||||
09-14-19 | Florida -8.5 v. Kentucky | Top | 29-21 | Loss | -110 | 2 h 1 m | Show |
#175 Florida Kentucky stunned Florida in Gainesville last September, halting a 31-game series losing streak with an impressive 27-16 victory. But the Wildcats may be hard pressed to make it two in a row over the eighth-ranked Gators, who come in off a 45-0 blanking of UT Martin, as they open their SEC campaign at home Saturday without their starting quarterback after Terry Wilson suffered a season-ending knee injury in last week's 38-17 win over Eastern Michigan. The Gators will feature a quarterback quite familiar with this SEC rivalry - and one with something to prove - as Feleipe Franks did not have a performance to remember in last year's meeting. ABOUT FLORIDA (2-0, 0-0 SEC): Franks was razor sharp in the win over UT Martin, connecting on 25-of-27 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns as he broke Tim Tebow's single-game school record for completion percentage. The offense rolled up 543 yards in the win, giving the Gators at least 500 yards of total offense in four of the last six games. The defense has been getting to quarterbacks with 15 sacks in the first two games, including 10 in the opener versus Miami. ABOUT KENTUCKY (2-0, 0-0): Smith is no stranger to collegiate action, hitting 144-of-229 passes for 1,669 yards and 14 TDs while leading Troy to the Dollar General Bowl last year, but the Gators defense will no doubt provide a far more formidable challenge. Take Florida on the road. |
|||||||
09-14-19 | Iowa -117 v. Iowa State | Top | 18-17 | Win | 100 | 30 h 54 m | Show |
#153 Iowa Iowa State struggled in its season opener against Northern Iowa but got an extra week to prepare for its biggest nonconference rival while sitting out Week 2. The Cyclones will try to notch a signature win of the first month when they host No. 18 Iowa on Saturday. Iowa State needed three overtimes to earn a 29-26 victory over Northern Iowa and was happy for the extra week off to make necessary adjustments after the lackluster debut. ABOUT IOWA (2-0): Hawkeyes quarterback Nate Stanley came into the season with high expectations and is living up to the hype with 488 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions through the first two games. Stanley, a senior, is trying to go out 4-0 against the Cyclones after coming in as a backup his freshman year and starting the rivalry game the last two campaigns. ABOUT IOWA STATE (1-0): The Cyclones managed to survive Northern Iowa in Week 1 thanks in large part to the connection between quarterback Brock Purdy and wide receiver Deshaunte Jones, who finished with career highs of 14 catches for 126 yards. Iowa will slow them down. Hawkeyes are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games. Cyclones are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games. Back Iowa. |
|||||||
09-14-19 | Alabama -25 v. South Carolina | Top | 47-23 | Loss | -110 | 29 h 23 m | Show |
#137 Alabama Alabama and South Carolina haven't played since 2010, and the last meeting wasn't the least bit fun for the Crimson Tide. The Gamecocks defeated then-No. 1 Alabama 35-21 nine years ago, and they look to post another upset when the No. 2 Crimson Tide visit town on Saturday. ABOUT ALABAMA (2-0, 1-0 SEC): Junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has completed 76.4 percent of his passes for 563 yards and seven touchdowns and hasn't been intercepted in 55 attempts. Junior wideout Jerry Jeudy is off to a ferocious start with 18 receptions for 240 yards and four touchdowns, and he moved into second place on the school's all-time list with 20 scoring receptions, trailing only Amari Cooper (31 from 2012-14). Junior safety Xavier McKinney has a team-best 14 tackles for a unit allowing averages of 6.5 points and 233 yards per game. ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (1-1, 0-0): Senior quarterback Jake Bentley (foot) suffered a season-ending injury but freshman Ryan Hilinski looked sharp in his first career start by completing 24-of-30 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns in last Saturday's 72-10 drubbing of Charleston Southern. He will not look good vs. this Alabama defense. Gamecocks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points. Crimson Tide are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 conference games. Lay the large number with Alabama in a rout. |
|||||||
09-14-19 | Kansas State +7.5 v. Mississippi State | Top | 31-24 | Win | 100 | 26 h 45 m | Show |
#111 Kansas State A pair of impressive wins and a strong start from the new quarterback pushed Mississippi State into the Top 25 for the first time this season. The 23rd-ranked Bulldogs will try to prove they belong when they face their stiffest challenge of the nonconference slate when Kansas State visits on Saturday. ABOUT KANSAS STATE (2-0): The Wildcats are in their first season under Klieman after the retirement of school icon Bill Snyder but are not taking any steps back on the field after beating Nicholls and Bowling Green by a combined score of 101-14. Kansas State piled up a total of 694 rushing yards in those two contests with senior running back James Gilbert (218 yards and three touchdowns) and quarterback Skylar Thompson helping to give the defense plenty of breathing room. ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (2-0): Stevens threw a pair of touchdown passes in last week’s 38-15 triumph over Southern Miss before leaving with an upper-body injury and is questionable for Saturday. Running back Kylin Hill took over more responsibility on offense with Stevens out, pushing his totals to 320 yards and two TDs through two games, and is prepared for a bigger role if Stevens is limited. Take the points in a game that Kansas State can win outright. |
|||||||
09-07-19 | LSU v. Texas +7 | Top | 45-38 | Push | 0 | 9 h 31 m | Show |
Texas Texas thinks it's ready to jump back into the conversation for a Big 12 title and a spot in the College Football Playoff, and LSU is in a similar position. One team will take a big step toward proving it belongs at the top of the NCAA rankings when the sixth-ranked Tigers visit the ninth-ranked Longhorns on Saturday. LSU unveiled a new spread offense in the opener against Georgia Southern to go with its customary fearsome defense and will attack Texas with a unit that piled up 472 yards in a 55-3 drubbing. ABOUT LSU (1-0): Burrow went 23-of-27 passing for 278 yards and five TDs and 14 different players recorded at least one catch in Week 1, and spreading the ball around is key to the offensive system the team is implementing. ABOUT TEXAS (1-0): Ehlinger completed 28-of-38 passes for 276 yards and four touchdowns without an interception in the opener but knows he is facing a Tigers secondary on Saturday that might be one of the best in the country. Texas is the play plus the points. |
|||||||
09-07-19 | Nebraska -4 v. Colorado | Top | 31-34 | Loss | -109 | 5 h 33 m | Show |
Nebraska Season-opening college football games can often drive coaches crazy even when their teams win by reasonably comfortable margins, and such was the case this week for Nebraska's Scott Frost and Colorado's Mel Tucker. The 25th-ranked Cornhuskers hope to avenge last year's painful season-opening loss to the Buffaloes on Saturday when they visit Colorado in a battle of former Big 12 arch-rivals. Nebraska entered the second year of the Frost era with huge expectations thanks to potential Heisman Trophy candidate Adrian Martinez. Colorado’s defense is reeling after Colorado State had 505 yards of total offense to the Rams in the highest-scoring contest between the teams in the rivalry's 91-game history. ABOUT NEBRASKA (1-0): The Cornhuskers' defense forced five turnovers and combined with the special teams to score three times in the first 15-plus minutes of the second half, including a 38-yard interception return from Eric Lee Jr. ABOUT COLORADO (1-0): Sophomore Alex Fontenot carried 19 times for 125 yards and three TDs against Colorado State, becoming only the fourth running back in school history to score at least three touchdowns in his first start. Nebraska outgained the Buffaloes 565-395 last season, but three turnovers and 11 penalties - including a late personal foul on third-and-24 with about a minute remaining - led to Shenault's 40-yard TD catch on the next play led to Colorado's 33-28 victory. Nebraska gets revenge here. |
|||||||
09-07-19 | Texas A&M +17 v. Clemson | Top | 10-24 | Win | 100 | 5 h 32 m | Show |
Texas A&M Top-ranked Clemson faces what figures to be one of its biggest challenges of the season when No. 11 Texas A&M visits Death Valley on Saturday afternoon. Clemson is looking for its third straight win over the Aggies, including a thrilling 28-26 win last year at Texas A&M. The Aggies had little trouble dispatching Texas State in their season opener, blasting the Bobcats 41-7 at home, but now they have to go on the road to one of the toughest places to play in the nation. The Tigers rolled to a 52-14 win over Georgia Tech last week. ABOUT TEXAS A&M (1-0): The Aggies showed off a potentially explosive — and balanced — offense last week, as Kellen Mond passed for 194 yards with three touchdowns and one interception and both Isaiah Spiller and Jashaun Corbin went over 100 yards rushing. Fisher hopes to establish the run in order to prevent Clemson’s talented defensive line from “pinning back their ears” and wreaking havoc in the pass rush. ABOUT CLEMSON (1-0): The Tigers racked up 632 yards of total offense against Georgia Tech despite a subpar game from Lawrence, who was 13-of-23 for 168 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Texas A&M has compiled at least 400 total yards in six consecutive games and 11 of 14 under Fisher. Texas A&M gets the cover at Clemson. |
|||||||
08-31-19 | Virginia -2.5 v. Pittsburgh | Top | 30-14 | Win | 100 | 8 h 12 m | Show |
Virginia Virginia was picked to finish last in the Atlantic Coast Coastal division in each of the previous five seasons, but a surprising 2018 campaign, the development of quarterback Bryce Perkins and a stacked defense has the Cavaliers the favorite to win the division this season. However, a stern test right of the gate awaits in the opener Saturday when Virginia visits defending division champ Pittsburgh. ABOUT VIRGINIA (2019: 8-5): The offense averaged 28.5 points last season - most since 2004 - and 385 yards - most since 397 in 2012 - but must replace running back Jordan Ellis (1,026 yards, 10 touchdowns) and receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (93 receptions, 1,058 yards); junior PK Kier (82 yards) and Hasise Dubois (52 catches) are the top returning run and catch threats. Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall inherited a team that surrendered 32.2 points and 412 yards per game in 2015, but he has eight starters returning to a team that yielded just 20.1 points - 21st in FBS - and 331 yards per game. ABOUT PITTSBURGH (2019: 7-7): Pickett, who will take orders from new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple this season, completed 58.1 percent of his passes but his 180 completions were good for only 1,969 yards, and he was 4-of-16 for eight yards in the ACC Championship game against Clemson. This is the first time since the ACC went to two divisions in 2005 that the Cavaliers have been the media's preseason pick to win the division. Play Virginia on the road. |
|||||||
08-30-19 | Utah State v. Wake Forest -3.5 | Top | 35-38 | Loss | -115 | 9 h 6 m | Show |
Wake Forest Wake Forest surged to a winning season and a bowl victory with Jamie Newman playing quarterback down the stretch in 2018, and the junior will begin this season as the starter for the Demon Deacons in Friday’s opener at home against Utah State. Newman stepped in when Sam Hartman was lost to a leg injury and directed the Demon Deacons to victories in three of the final four games, winning MVP honors in the Birmingham Bowl after accounting for four touchdowns. The Demon Deacons will have the luxury of Cade Carney returning at running back after rushing for 1,005 yards a season ago. ABOUT UTAH STATE (2018: 11-2): The Aggies return nine starters on offense but none are more valuable than Love, who passed for 3,567 yards and 32 touchdowns last season while winning Mountain West offensive player of the week five times. Senior Gerold Bright returns after rushing for 888 yards and 10 touchdowns a season ago. ABOUT WAKE FOREST (2018: 7-6): Newman finished with 1,083 yards passing and nine touchdowns in six games a season ago, adding four rushing touchdowns and 247 yards on the ground. Sophomore receiver Sage Surratt (14.2 years per catch, four touchdowns) leads the returners at receiver. Wake Forest used 588 yards of total offense to beat Utah State 46-10 at home in 2017. Wake Forest gets the win and cover at home. |
|||||||
08-24-19 | Florida -7 v. Miami-FL | Top | 24-20 | Loss | -105 | 32 h 13 m | Show |
Florida Football fans in Florida are all abuzz with the renewal of the Miami-Florida rivalry, which kicks off the college football season Saturday night at Camping World Stadium in neutral Orlando. But fans in that state won't be the only ones watching as the matchup between programs trying to claw their way back into championship contention will be on the national stage as they introduce the 150th college campaign. Miami is also quite familiar with the glare of the spotlight and the Hurricanes are desperate for a turnaround of their own with former defensive coordinator Manny Diaz taking over the helm following a forgettable season that ended with the abrupt retirement of coach Mark Richt. Diaz's first order of business was settling on a quarterback after years of turmoil at the position and redshirt freshman Jarren Williams surprisingly emerged as the starter ahead of Ohio State transfer Tate Martell and last year's sometimes starter N'Kosi Perry. The Gators' resurgence was largely because of Mullen's success resurrecting a lifeless offense, beginning with the development of young quarterback Feleipe Franks, who took control of the starting job as a redshirt sophomore and threw for 2,457 yards and 24 touchdowns with only six interceptions. The Gators wound up totaling at least 400 yards in their final four games and scoring 40-plus points in their final three. Lay the number with Florida. |
|||||||
01-07-19 | Alabama v. Clemson OVER 58.5 | Top | 16-44 | Win | 100 | 56 h 12 m | Show |
Clemson/Alabama over he Crimson Tide have evolved from the team that was content to run the ball and slug out a low-scoring win, as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (3,671 passing yards, 41 TDs, four interceptions) leads a high-powered offense. Alabama’s best shot at attacking the Tigers is through the air as five receivers have made at least six touchdown receptions, with Jerry Jeudy (1,176 receiving yards, 13 TDs) leading the way. Alabama’s defense might be the most susceptible unit on the field, having given up 454 and 507 total yards, respectively, in its last two games, so getting stops in the red zone and forcing turnovers will be key against Clemson's explosive offense. Both teams rank in the top five nationally in total offense, scoring offense and scoring defense, while Clemson is fifth Alabama 13th in total defense. I’m on over the total. |
|||||||
01-07-19 | Alabama v. Clemson +6 | Top | 16-44 | Win | 100 | 56 h 11 m | Show |
Clemson Two stalwarts of the College Football Playoff era square off for a fourth consecutive year when No. 2 Clemson takes on top-ranked Alabama for the national title Monday in Santa Clara, California. After splitting a pair of championship-game matchups following the 2015 and 2016 seasons, the Crimson Tide dispatched the Tigers 24-6 in the semifinals last year, and both emerged as early favorites to reach the title game. The first two meetings - Alabama’s 45-40 win in January 2016 and Clemson’s 35-31 triumph in January 2017 - were classics that went down to the wire, and both coaches expect a similar outcome between two evenly matched teams on Monday. Swinney made the bold decision to go with Trevor Lawrence as his starting quarterback four games into the season, and the move has paid off as the freshman has piled up 2,933 passing yards with 27 touchdowns and four interceptions. Lawrence’s big arm gives the Tigers a downfield threat on every play, but running back Travis Etienne (1,572 yards, 22 TDs) is the workhorse on offense. I love the points with Clemson. |
|||||||
12-29-18 | Oklahoma v. Alabama OVER 76.5 | Top | 34-45 | Win | 100 | 26 h 50 m | Show |
Oklahoma/Alabama over Top-seeded Alabama begins pursuit of a second straight College Football Playoff title and third in five seasons when it matches up with fourth-seeded Oklahoma in a semifinal game at the Orange Bowl in Miami. The Crimson Tide sailed through the regular season without a close call before notching a 35-28 victory over Georgia in the SEC championship game. The Sooners engaged in several shootouts during a one-loss campaign and are back in the CFP for the third time in the past four seasons. Oklahoma junior Kyler Murray won the Heisman Trophy over Alabama sophomore Tua Tagovailoa and both quarterbacks put up superb statistics. Murray passed for 4,053 yards and 40 touchdowns against seven interceptions and also rushed for 892 yards and 11 scores, while Tagovailoa threw for 3,353 yards and 37 touchdowns and was only picked off four times. While they are the top two scoring teams in the nation - Oklahoma at 49.5 points per game, Alabama at 47.9 - the Crimson Tide have a huge edge when it comes to defensive performance. Alabama ranks fourth in scoring defense (14.8) and held eight opponents to 17 or fewer points while the Sooners (32.4 per game) gave up 40 or more five times, including in four straight November games. Oklahoma's lone blemish is a 48-45 loss to Texas on Oct. 6 and the unit faces a huge challenge in slowing down an Alabama attack that rolled up 45 or more points on nine occasions. I’m looking for an old fashion shootout, so back the over. Over is 11-1 in Sooners last 12 games on grass and is 13-3 in Sooners last 16 games overall. Over is 20-5-2 in Crimson Tide last 27 neutral site games and is 11-4 in Crimson Tide last 15 bowl games. |
|||||||
12-29-18 | Notre Dame v. Clemson -12 | Top | 3-30 | Win | 100 | 22 h 49 m | Show |
Clemson Clemson will play in the College Football Playoff for the fourth consecutive season when the second-seeded Tigers face No. 3 Notre Dame in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Dec. 29 in Arlington, Texas. The Tigers are 3-2 in the College Football Playoff over the past three years, including a national title in 2016 and a 24-6 loss to Alabama in last year’s semifinal. The Fighting Irish are making their first appearance in the four-team playoff, which was instituted in 2014. Clemson’s offense thrives on big plays, while Notre Dame’s defense has been one of the nation’s best at preventing them. The Tigers rank in the top five nationally in plays of 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 yards, including 90 plays of 20 yards or more and 19 of 50 yards or more. The Fighting Irish rank in the top 10 defensively in all those categories and have given up only nine plays of 60 yards or more, the fewest in the nation. Two of the country’s top running backs will be on display with Clemson’s Travis Etienne and Notre Dame’s Dexter Williams. Etienne (1,434 yards, 21 touchdowns) averages 8.31 yards per carry and has topped 150 yards in six games this season. Williams was suspended for the first four games of the season but has averaged 117.6 rushing yards in eight games since while scoring 12 of his 13 touchdowns on the ground. The Fighting Irish survived the regular season unscathed, but had five games decided by eight points or fewer and played only three ranked teams in the latest Top 25. The Tigers might be the most well-rounded team in the country, as they rank fifth nationally in total offense and scoring, second in scoring defense, and sixth in total defense. Etienne and freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence (2,606 passing yards, 24 TDs, 4 INTs) have put up big numbers, and 10 players have caught a touchdown pass. Clemson’s defense has been a wrecking crew, racking up 121 tackles for loss and 46 sacks with end Clelin Ferrell (17 tackles for loss, 10 1/2 sacks) leading the way. Clemson wins a blowout. |
|||||||
12-29-18 | Arkansas State v. Nevada -115 | Top | 13-16 | Win | 100 | 19 h 3 m | Show |
Nevada Arkansas State and Nevada, who briefly were conference-mates in the Big West Conference in the mid-90's, get together for the first time since 1999 when they meet in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl on Dec. 29 at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. Nevada holds a 4-2 edge in the series. Arkansas State brings a four-game winning streak into the contest and won five of its last six games with the lone loss to Louisiana 47-43, a defeat that cost the Red Wolves the West Division title and a spot in the Sun Belt Conference championship game. Nevada finished tied for second in the West Division of the Mountain West Conference and had a four-game winning streak snapped in stunning fashion in their regular-season finale by in-state rival UNLV, blowing a 23-0 first half lead in a 34-29 loss in the annual Battle for the Fremont Cannon. The Red Wolves also played UNLV this season, using a 39-yard fourth quarter touchdown run by Marcel Murray to pull out a 27-20 victory. This is Nevada's second trip to the Arizona Bowl. The Wolf Pack won the inaugural game in 2015 when they were matched up against a fellow Mountain West school in Colorado State. Quarterback Ty Gangi didn't garner any all-conference honors but ranks 11th nationally in total offense (298.2 yards per game) and completed 250-of-409 passes for 3,131 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Toa Taua leads the ground game with 816 yards and six touchdowns on 156 carries and was named the league's Freshman of the Year. Linebacker Malik Reed, who had 72 tackles including 15.5 for loss to go with eight sacks and four forced fumbles, and defensive end Korey Rush, who had 11.5 tackles for loss and six sacks, lead the defense and were both first team all-Mountain West picks. I’m backing Nevada in this early bowl game. |
|||||||
12-29-18 | Florida +6 v. Michigan | Top | 41-15 | Win | 100 | 18 h 48 m | Show |
Florida Seventh-ranked Michigan and No. 10 Florida are set to renew hostilities when they meet in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 29 in Atlanta. The Wolverines harbored serious College Football Playoff hopes heading into their final regular season game against sixth-ranked Ohio State, but suffered a devastating 62-39 loss to the Buckeyes to fall out of the playoff picture and aim to overcome the disappointment by achieving 11 wins in a season for just the 10th time in program history. The Dan Mullen era in Gainesville began with a bang as the Gators raced out to a 6-1 record before dropping back-to-back contests against No. 5 Georgia (36-17) and Missouri (38-17), but won three straight games to close out the regular season and hope to put an exclamation point on a promising campaign by knocking off the Wolverines for the first time in program history. Michigan looks to avoid a bad case of Florida fatigue as they get set to face the Gators for the third time since 2016. The Wolverines routed Florida 41-7 in the 2016 Citrus Bowl before taking down the Gators 33-17 in the 2017 season opener in Arlington, TX to improve to 4-0 all time in the series and hope a historic defeat to their bitter rivals doesn't carry over into the postseason, where they have dropped four of their last five bowl games, including a 26-19 setback to South Carolina in the 2018 Outback Bowl. Mullen has restored Florida's swagger as he orchestrated victories over No. 11 Louisiana State and 18th-ranked Mississippi State to leave him in position to win 10 games in his first season in Gainesville - a feat which eluded Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer. Mullen has resuscitated a moribund offense that was 109th in yards per game (335.9) last season as Florida has generated over 500 yards in three consecutive contests heading into the Peach Bowl and hopes to keep firing on all cylinders against Michigan. Gators are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games. Wolverines are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games. I’m looking for a very close game so take the Gators plus the points. |
|||||||
12-22-18 | Wake Forest +3.5 v. Memphis | Top | 37-34 | Win | 100 | 20 h 31 m | Show |
Saturday, DEC 22 Wake Forest Memphis and Wake Forest will meet for the first time since 1967 when they face off in the Jared Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 22 in Birmingham, Ala. The Tigers finished first in the West Division of the American Athletic Conference but fell in the title game 56-41 to unbeaten UCF. The Demon Deacons were tied for fifth in the ACC Atlantic Division and became bowl-eligible with a 59-7 win over Duke in their regular-season finale. Wake Forest will be without its top quarterback as freshman Sam Hartman has been declared out. Hartman, who injured his leg in early November against Syracuse, missed the final three regular-season games with sophomore Jamie Newman taking his place. Newman isn’t the downfield passing threat Hartman is but did a nice job and finished the season with 755 passing yards on 101 attempts and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 8:3. The Demon Deacons are in a bowl game for the third year in a row and it took their best performance of the season to get them there in the rout of the Blue Devils on Nov. 24. Wake Forest just only 3-6 as dog this season but Coach Clawson was 10-2-1 in role entering this season. Deacs 4-1 SU, 4-0-1 vs. line last five bowls including wins past two seasons. Memphis no wins or covers last three years in bowls, only 2-4 vs. points away from home this season. Tigers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games in December and are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Bowl games. Demon Deacons are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games in December and are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game. I got Wake Forest to get the job done here in a close game coming down to the wire.
|
|||||||
12-20-18 | Marshall -3.5 v. South Florida | Top | 38-20 | Win | 100 | 9 h 50 m | Show |
Marshall South Florida hopes to soothe the sting of a five-game losing streak that ended the regular season when it takes on Marshall in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl on Dec. 21 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The Bulls, who face the Thundering Herd for the first time, started the season with seven consecutive victories and had visions of a major bowl game before injury issues and a leaky defense (39.6 points per game allowed in losses) led to five double-digit setbacks. Marshall won three straight games to seal its fifth bowl appearance in six years before ending the regular season with a 41-20 loss at Virginia Tech. South Florida hopes to have a healthier offense after a four-week break following the 38-10 loss to No. 7 Central Florida on Nov. 23 and the Bulls, who averaged 35.6 points during their 7-0 start, will face a defense that allowed 22 points per game and tied for sixth in the nation with 39 sacks. USF did not have No. 1 quarterback Blake Barnett in two of its last three games because of a shoulder injury and he may return, but the Bulls will have a new play caller after offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert was hired as McNeese State’s new coach after the regular season. This is a home game for the Bulls, but while a home game in general is usually a good thing, some of these teams look forward to enjoying the bowl experience in a different place. So, motivation could actually be missing in this case. Not that home field did much for the Bulls anyway this season, where they went just 1-5 ATS. USF needs to run the ball well to be successful and that seems like a tall order against a Marshall run defense that allows a miniscule 2.9 yards per carry on the season. If the Herd can get the Bulls in third and long scenarios it could be a long night for USF. Additionally, the Herd are 5-0 SU/ATS under head coach Doc Holliday in bowl games. I like Marshall to win by 10 or more… |
|||||||
12-15-18 | Arizona State v. Fresno State -4 | Top | 20-31 | Win | 100 | 23 h 6 m | Show |
Fresno State Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin should receive ample opportunities to break the single-season school rushing record when the Sun Devils meet Fresno State in the Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 15 at Sam Boyd Stadium. Benjamin is 42 yards short of breaking the 46-year-old Arizona State record (1,565) set by Woody Green, and the Sun Devils will be without No. 1 receiver N'Keal Harry, which should allow even more carries for Benjamin. Harry, who had 73 catches for 1,088 yards and nine touchdowns this season, has decided to skip the bowl game and begin preparing for the NFL Draft. Fresno State should be plenty motivated in its first meeting against Arizona State since 1941. The Bulldogs earned this bowl bid with a dramatic 19-16 overtime win at Boise State on Dec. 1, putting themselves in position to win 12 games in a season for the first time in program history. Fresno State, which finished the regular season ranked No. 21 in the coaches' poll, will also be looking to win bowl games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since winning three in a row from 2002-04. Fresno State quarterback Marcus McMaryion took his play to another level this season, completing nearly 70 percent of his passes, throwing 25 touchdowns and getting intercepted just three times - none in the past four games. Sun Devils are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 vs. MWC. Bulldogs are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 non-conference games and are 15-4 ATS in their last 19 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game. Lay the points with the Bulldogs in Vegas. |
|||||||
12-01-18 | Georgia v. Alabama -13 | Top | 28-35 | Loss | -115 | 52 h 37 m | Show |
Alabama Top-ranked Alabama will undoubtedly be part of the four-team College Football Playoff but fourth-ranked Georgia isn't a lock as the two squads prepare for Saturday's SEC championship game at Atlanta. The Bulldogs can clinch a CFP spot by beating the Crimson Tide but risk being bypassed for the playoff if they should lose the contest. The two squads met in last season's national title game with Alabama prevailing 26-23 in overtime in what was the coming out party for Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who came off the bench to throw three touchdown passes. Alabama has been dominant all season but coach Nick Saban is very wary of Smart - his former defensive coordinator - and the Bulldogs. Tagovailoa has thrown a school-record 36 touchdown passes against two interceptions and the sophomore fuels an offense averaging 49 points per game. Jerry Jeudy is enjoying a standout season with 56 receptions for 1,079 and 11 touchdowns while fellow sophomore receiver DeVonta Smith (27 receptions) will forever be remembered in Alabama lore for catching the game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass in the national championship game. The Crimson Tide give up an average of 13.8 points with sophomore nose guard Quinnen Williams recording a team-leading 16 tackles for loss and senior defensive end Isaiah Buggs notching a team-best 9.5 sacks. Crimson Tide are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 conference games. Look for Alabama to pull away in the second half and get the cover. |
|||||||
12-01-18 | Memphis v. Central Florida -3 | Top | 41-56 | Win | 100 | 51 h 13 m | Show |
Central Florida Seventh-ranked Central Florida attempts to finish the job after an emotional week and earn a second straight American Athletic Conference title when it hosts surging Memphis in the championship game Saturday. The Knights extended their national-best winning streak to 24 games with a resounding 38-10 victory at South Florida last Friday, but the triumph came at a cost as star quarterback McKenzie Milton was lost to a severe right knee injury. UCF is eighth in the College Football Playoff rankings. Freshman quarterback Darriel Mack Jr. gets the job of trying to lead the Knights to another title. Memphis comes to Orlando, Fla. with one of the nation’s best running backs in junior Darrell Henderson, a four-game winning streak and the confidence of two near misses against UCF during the Knights' winning streak - but a 1-12 all-time record against the Knights. The Knights will lean more toward the ground attack with the 6-3, 230-pound Mack at the helm as he has run for 281 yards (7.0 per carry) and completed just 48.8 percent of his passes in a limited role. UCF’s rushing attack has gotten better each game and sophomore Greg McCrae (895 yards, eight TDs on the ground) took the leading role at the end of October while junior Adrian Killins Jr. (1,023 yards rushing and receiving) is always a threat. The Knights’ defense, led by sophomore defensive back Richie Grant (team highs of 98 tackles, five interceptions) and senior lineman Titus Davis (six sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss), must step up again versus the talented Tigers. Tigers are 5-16-1 ATS in their last 22 games on grass and are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games in December. Knights are 6-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Tigers are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 meetings in Central Florida. Central Florida gets the job done here to take the title. |
|||||||
12-01-18 | Texas +8 v. Oklahoma | Top | 27-39 | Loss | -105 | 49 h 43 m | Show |
Texas Lincoln Riley's dynamic offense at Oklahoma has consistently been explosive enough this season to make up for one of the worst defenses in the country, but Texas knows all about the one time it wasn't. The fifth-ranked Sooners hope to avenge their only loss of the season and impress the College Football Playoff committee enough to move up from the No. 5 spot in the CFP rankings when they meet No. 9 Texas on Saturday in the Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Oklahoma, which leads FBS in scoring (50.3 points) and total offense (583.8 yards), finished the regular season on a six-game winning streak despite surrendering 47.3 points per game in its last four contests - and at least 40 points in each contest - by averaging 53.3. The Sooners have failed to score at least 48 points in only three games, the last of which came on Oct. 6 when Oklahoma needed less than six minutes in the fourth quarter to erase a 21-point deficit before the Longhorns got a game-winning 40-yard field goal from freshman Cameron Dicker as time expired for a 48-45 victory. Texas has been living on the edge for most of the season, playing all but one of its last eight opponents within one score and winning six of them. The Longhorns are making their sixth Big 12 Championship appearance and first since 2009, while the Sooners are seeking their fourth consecutive conference crown and a ninth championship win in 18 league title games. The Longhorns, who are the only school in the Big 12 with a winning record against the Sooners (62-46-5), are 6-3 in one-possession games this season. Take the points with Texas in a close game that comes down to the wire. |
|||||||
11-30-18 | Utah v. Washington -5 | Top | 3-10 | Win | 100 | 33 h 59 m | Show |
Washington Sans decorated quarterbacks Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen and Luke Falk, the Pac-12 took on a more defensive tone in 2018. And that’s certainly reflected in Friday night’s conference championship game which pits No. 17 Utah against No. 11 Washington in Santa Clara, Calif. Both teams boast top-20 FBS total and scoring defenses with the Huskies allowing 311.3 yards and 16.5 points and the Utes permitting 315.8 yards and 19.3 points per game. Washington will be playing in its second Pac-12 title game in three years while Utah is making its first appearance since joining the conference in 2011. Unlike Utah, the Huskies have the advantage of health and experience in the backfield with the senior duo of Jake Browning and tailback Myles Gaskin. Browning, despite averaging a career-low 224.3 aerial yards this season, is the school’s career passing yards leader and Pac-12’s all-time winningest quarterback, while Gaskin is averaging 107.6 yards on the ground and is the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdowns. Senior linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven is tied for the lead nationally with 155 tackles and paces a defense which ranks second in the conference against the run (121.8 yards allowed) and pass (189.4 yards). With a 21-7 road win at Utah on Sept. 15, Washington has won five of the six meetings since Utah entered the Pac-12. In the September contest, Gaskin rushed for 143 yards and a TD on 30 carries while the Huskies’ defense forced three turnovers and had a trio of fourth-down stops. Lay the points here with Washington to capture the PAC-12 Title. |
|||||||
11-24-18 | Notre Dame -11 v. USC | Top | 24-17 | Loss | -109 | 7 h 32 m | Show |
Notre Dame Notre Dame needs one more win for its first undefeated regular season since 2012 and a likely first-ever trip to the College Football Playoff. All that stands in its way is USC as the long-time rivals go head-to-head in primetime from L.A. on Saturday evening. The third-ranked Fighting Irish passed their latest test in dominant fashion last Saturday, getting past then-No. 12 Syracuse with ease in a 36-3 win at Yankee Stadium. Ian Book threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns in his return to the lineup after missing one game with a rib injury, while Dexter Williams added 74 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. USC has lost four of its last five after starting the season 4-2 and needs an upset win over the Irish to become bowl eligible. The Trojans’ latest setback came at the hands of crosstown-rival UCLA as the Bruins managed a 34-27 win at the Rose Bowl last weekend. The offense did its job but it was Notre Dame’s defense that was the story of the game as it recorded three interceptions and six sacks against an Orange offense that was averaging 44.4 points per game coming in. I expect the same here vs. USC. The Trojans allowed Bruins running back Joshua Kelley to run for 289 yards (third-most in UCLA history) and two touchdowns on 40 carries and the USC defense will have its hands full in trying to contain Williams. The Fighting Irish have outgained seven of their last eight opponents by 100 yards or more.
|
|||||||
11-24-18 | LSU v. Texas A&M -2.5 | Top | 72-74 | Loss | -120 | 6 h 3 m | Show |
Texas A&M The biggest questions for LSU were about the effectiveness of the offense after it was held scoreless by Alabama and struggled in a win over Arkansas. The eighth-ranked Tigers finally opened things up last weekend, just in time to take on their final SEC challenge against host Texas A&M on Saturday. The Aggies moved back into the top 25 in the College Football Playoff rankings at No. 22 after knocking off UAB 41-20 last week. The Aggies needed only 54 offensive plays to score 41 points against UAB and were led by running back Trayveon Williams, who churned out 167 yards on 20 carries while scoring a pair of touchdowns. Aggies are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 home games. Favorite is 7-0-1 ATS in their last 8 meetings. |
|||||||
11-23-18 | Washington v. Washington State -2 | Top | 28-15 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 4 m | Show |
Washington State There is more than Apple Cup bragging rights on the line when seventh-ranked Washington State hosts No. 16 Washington in Friday's Pac-12 showdown. The Cougars are ranked No. 8 in the College Football Playoff rankings and need two more victories, some help from opponents and some help from the selection panel to crack the final four. The winner advances to play Utah in the Pac-12 title game, and Huskies coach Chris Petersen knows his defense faces a challenge in Washington State senior quarterback Gardner Minshew II, who leads the nation with 36 touchdown passes. The Cougars have won seven consecutive games behind the stellar play of Minshew, the East Carolina transfer who has topped 300 yards a school-record 11 times while passing for 4,325, fourth-most in school history. Minshew fired a school-record seven touchdown passes in last weekend's 69-28 blistering of Arizona as 11 different players caught passes and six had scoring receptions. The defense allows an average of 22.6 points per game and features a force in senior linebacker Peyton Pelluer (team-high 76 tackles) and also is receiving strong play from sophomore linebacker Jahad Woods (68 tackles, four forced fumbles). Huskies are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 conference games. Cougars are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up win. |
|||||||
11-23-18 | Oklahoma v. West Virginia +3 | Top | 59-56 | Push | 0 | 8 h 35 m | Show |
West Virginia Less than one week after losing whatever chance it had to make the College Football Playoff, West Virginia can strike a similar blow to Oklahoma by beating the Sooners for the first time since becoming conference rivals in 2012. The 12th-ranked Mountaineers will attempt to end their recent struggles against No. 6 Oklahoma when the two meet in Morgantown, W. Va. on Friday in what likely amounts to a Big 12 Championship play-in game. Oklahoma is coming off an uninspiring 55-40 home victory over the three-win Jayhawks, allowing 524 yards to an offense that had not gained more than 368 during conference play. Heisman Trophy candidate Will Grier threw for 364 yards versus the Cowboys to post his school-record 18th career 300-yard passing game and boosted his career completion total to 484, passing Oliver Luck (1978-81) for fifth place in program history. Look for W.V. to outscore Oklahoma. |
|||||||
11-10-18 | Colorado State v. Nevada -14 | Top | 10-49 | Win | 100 | 12 h 26 m | Show |
Nevada Colorado State continues its tough season when they visit MacKay Stadium in Reno, Nevada to take on the Wolf Pack. The Nevada Wolf Pack are 3-2 at home this season, 3-2 against conference opponents. At home the Wolf Pack are averaging 33.4 scoring and holding teams to 26.0 points scored on defense. The Colorado State Rams are 1-2 while on the road this season, 2-3 against conference opponents. On the road, the Rams are averaging 26.7 scoring, and holding teams to 44.7 points scored on defense. Rams are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games overall and are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games following an ATS loss. Nevada’s offense will have solid success here and they get the win and late cover. |
|||||||
11-10-18 | Northwestern +11 v. Iowa | Top | 14-10 | Win | 100 | 42 h 10 m | Show |
Northwestern Northwestern looks to take a big step towards its first appearance in the Big Ten Championship game when it visits Iowa on Saturday. The Wildcats control their own destiny with a one-game lead over Wisconsin and Purdue, including the head-to-head tiebreaker over both teams, and hope to stay on course for their first Big Ten West Division title by extending their conference winning streak to five games. Northwestern has won nine straight contests against West Division rivals and can clinch the title as early as Saturday if they beat the Hawkeyes while Purdue and Wisconsin both fall. Iowa suffered a 38-36 setback to Purdue in Week 10 to fall into fourth place in the West Division. The Hawkeyes were flying high after a 6-1 start but have been reduced to the role of spoiler after dropping two straight games by a combined eight points. They hope to get back on track by beating Northwestern for the first time since 2015. Northwestern has won 12 of its last 13 Big Ten games dating back to last season and have won six straight conference road games. Wildcats are 21-4-1 ATS in their last 26 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game and are 20-5-1 ATS in their last 26 conference games. Hawkeyes are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game. Back Northwestern plus the points as my top game of the week! |
|||||||
11-09-18 | Fresno State -2.5 v. Boise State | Top | 17-24 | Loss | -110 | 26 h 44 m | Show |
Fresno State Boise State’s blue turf has not been kind to No. 17 Fresno State, which is winless in its last nine games against the Broncos at Albertsons Stadium. The surging Bulldogs, who are 23rd in the College Football Playoff rankings, look to end the streak Friday in a critical Mountain West showdown against the Broncos, who have won four in a row following a loss to San Diego State. Fresno State is riding a seven-game winning streak and boasts a stellar defense that has allowed an average of 7.2 points in five conference contests. Defensive backs Mike Bell and Tank Kelly have three interceptions apiece but figure to be tested by Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien, who needs 36 yards to become the Mountain West’s all-time passing yardage leader. The game features a pair of senior signal-callers in Rypien and the Bulldogs’ Marcus McMaryion, who threw for 274 yards and two scores in last week’s 48-3 win over UNLV. The Bulldogs closed last year’s regular season with a 28-17 home victory over Boise State before the Broncos answered with a 17-14 win in the Mountain West championship game in Boise. Fresno State is 7-0 on the road under Tedford in Mountain West regular-season games. Bulldogs are 14-2 ATS in their last 16 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game and are 13-2-1 ATS in their last 16 road games. Broncos are 1-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. In a hard-fought battle Fresno State comes out on top. |
|||||||
11-03-18 | Missouri v. Florida -6 | Top | 38-17 | Loss | -110 | 4 h 27 m | Show |
Florida No. 14 Florida’s SEC East title hopes dissipated last week, but it will try to get back on track when it hosts Missouri on Saturday. The Tigers remain winless in SEC play, but three of their four losses were against teams in the top nine in the initial College Football Playoff rankings and two setbacks have come on the final play of the game. Florida coach Dan Mullen was still at Mississippi State when the Gators were routed 45-16 at Missouri a year ago, but he knows his players haven’t forgotten. The Gators also will be motivated to bounce back from last week’s 36-17 loss to Georgia, which effectively erased them from the SEC East title picture. The Tigers could have been in the running if not for a pair of last-second defeats, including last week’s 15-14 setback against Kentucky, which scored the winning touchdown on an untimed down after a controversial pass-interference call in the end zone. The Gators are coming off their worst offensive output of the season after totaling just 275 total yards and 105 through the air - both season lows - against Georgia. It was a step back for both an offense that has improved greatly and quarterback Feleipe Franks, whose 1,511 passing yards already have surpassed last season’s total. The 429 total yards allowed against the Bulldogs marked the second-highest total of the year for the Gators, who have been especially tough versus the pass. Florida is tied for eighth in the nation with 18 takeaways and has converted them into 50 points. Tigers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games and are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating less than 275 total yards in their previous game. Gators are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall. Look for the Gators to get inside the number and win by at least a touchdown. |
|||||||
11-03-18 | Georgia v. Kentucky +10 | Top | 34-17 | Loss | -115 | 4 h 3 m | Show |
Kentucky Fifth-ranked Georgia is used to playing showdown games in November with SEC and national title aspirations at stake, but No. 12 Kentucky finds itself in that unfamiliar spot when it hosts their matchup on Saturday. The Wildcats defeated Missouri 15-14 last week, scoring on the final play of the game, and are off to their best eight-game start since 1977 behind a defense that is allowing a nation-low average of 13 points. Kentucky, which has improved its win total in each of Stoops' six seasons, were ninth in the College Football Playoff rankings that were released on Tuesday - three spots behind Georgia, which whipped Florida 36-17 last week. Quarterback Jake Fromm rebounded from a sub-par showing in a loss at LSU to throw three touchdown passes against the Gators and now faces a defense led by standout linebacker Josh Allen, who ranks in the top three nationally in tackles for loss (14.5) and sacks (10). Kentucky Quarterback Terry Wilson completed 22-of-31 passes for 267 yards last week and wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. made 13 catches for 166 yards while also returning a punt 67 yards for a touchdown. Running back Benny Snell Jr. was held to 67 yards on 19 carries but leads the SEC and ranks 10th nationally in rushing yards per game (116.9). The defense gets plenty of attention, but the Wildcats are third in the conference in rushing offense (214 yards). Kentucky is the only FBS team yet to allow more than 20 points in a game this season. Wildcats are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game. Back Kentucky as a home underdog. |
|||||||
10-27-18 | Texas -3 v. Oklahoma State | Top | 35-38 | Loss | -115 | 9 h 16 m | Show |
Texas There is uncertainty over the status of sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger as No. 7 Texas prepares to visit Oklahoma State in Big 12 play on Saturday. Ehlinger suffered a sprained passing shoulder against Baylor on Oct. 13 and his availability won't be determined until late in the week. My sources tell me he will get the start. Oklahoma State has dropped three of its past four games and coach Mike Gundy is perplexed over his team's inconsistent nature. Texas Junior Shane Buechele will also be prepared to play just in case the right-handed Ehlinger's shoulder doesn't appear ready for the contest. Buechele was 20-of-34 passing for 184 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the narrow 23-17 victory over Baylor and has started 19 games during his college career. Senior defensive end Charles Omenihu for Texas leads the team with six sacks and freshman safety Caden Sterns has a team-best four interceptions for a unit that has held four teams to 17 or fewer points. Longhorns are 11-4-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Cowboys are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 conference games. Favorite is 8-1 ATS in their last 9 meetings. Longhorns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Oklahoma State. Texas keeps it rolling with a win and cover. |
|||||||
10-27-18 | Georgia v. Florida +7 | Top | 36-17 | Loss | -116 | 5 h 39 m | Show |
Florida Florida and Georgia square off in this year's edition of the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” on Saturday in Jacksonville, with both teams highly ranked in the national polls. Both are fresh off their bye week, but the 11th-ranked Gators posted their fifth victory in a row last time out, while the sixth-ranked Bulldogs suffered their first loss of the season at LSU. Florida was in a classic letdown situation when it stepped on the field at Vanderbilt, having just knocked off then-No. 6 LSU. The Gators came out flat in the first half and trailed by as many as 18 points, but a 48-yard touchdown run by Jordan Scarlett to start the fourth quarter helped them match the largest road comeback in school history in the 37-27 win. Georgia, meanwhile, used its bye week to reflect on a 36-16 loss in which its usually prolific offense was held to just 322 total yards. Florida’s offense was nearly unstoppable against the Commodores with 576 total yards and a time of possession of 36 minutes, 14 seconds, but three turnovers - two by quarterback Feleipe Franks - led to 17 points for Vanderbilt. The defense didn’t have its best performance of the season in Nashville, but it might be the key to upsetting the Bulldogs as the Gators feature the NCAA’s sixth-ranked passing defense and a line that has registered 21 sacks - good for third in the SEC. Georgia Sophomore quarterback Jake Fromm was particularly bad against the Tigers, completing just 16-of-34 passes for 209 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, while the running game was held to just 113 yards - well below its prior season average of just under 245. Look for the Florida defense to hold the Bulldogs down again this week. Gators are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall. Bulldogs are 3-11 ATS in their last 14 games following a bye week. I’ll back the underdog Gators at the Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. |
|||||||
10-27-18 | Iowa +5.5 v. Penn State | Top | 24-30 | Loss | -102 | 5 h 37 m | Show |
Iowa Iowa saw an upset bid against Penn State last year disappear on the final play of the game, a damaging blow that kicked off a 3-5 stretch. The 18th-ranked Hawkeyes seek a measure of revenge when they visit the 16th-ranked Nittany Lions on Saturday for a key Big Ten battle. Trace McSorley's touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson with no time on the clock lifted Penn State to a dramatic 21-19 victory at Iowa in 2017, the Lions' fourth consecutive win in the series and one that has the Hawkeyes looking for a more complete effort this time around. Iowa has won three in a row, including last week's 23-0 triumph over Maryland and a 42-16 victory at Indiana the previous Saturday. Penn State narrowly avoided a third straight loss by surviving 33-28 at the Hoosiers last week despite being outgained by 137 yards and recording 12 fewer first downs. Stanley threw for just 86 yards last week, but his team barely needed anything from the junior's arm, as the defense held Maryland to only 115 total yards. Iowa is 7-6 all time in State College. Hawkeyes are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games and are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall. Take the points with Iowa in a lower scoring battle that will be close. |
|||||||
10-20-18 | Vanderbilt v. Kentucky -11 | Top | 7-14 | Loss | -110 | 46 h 29 m | Show |
Kentucky The season is only half over but the offensive line of No. 17 Kentucky, which returns Saturday in an SEC contest against visiting Vanderbilt after a week off, is already being recognized for its play. Bunchy Stallings and the rest of the unit have paved the way for one of the top rushing attacks in the nation for the Wildcats, who have won two straight over the Commodores. The Commodores and senior quarterback Kyle Shurmur have lost two straight and four out of their last five games, including three defeats to ranked teams, and now face the first of three straight road games. ABOUT VANDERBILT (3-4, 0-3 SEC): After being held in check by No. 6 Georgia and Florida, wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb will try to make his mark against Kentucky's smothering pass defense. The junior, who posted four straight games with at least nine catches prior to being held to six receptions for 80 yards in the last two games. ABOUT KENTUCKY (5-1, 3-1): The run game, led by junior Benny Snell, Jr., ranks 26th nationally with 223.5 yards per game even after being limited to 70 yards and 2.3 yards per carry against Texas A&M on Oct. 6. Snell needs 713 yards to become Kentucky's all-time leading rusher. The Commodores are 2-9 in their last 11 games against ranked teams with wins over No. 24 Tennessee in 2016 and No. 18 Kansas State in 2017. The Wildcats are 14-6 in their last 20 regular-season games, their best mark since producing the same record from 1984 to 1985. Commodores are 1-9-1 ATS in their last 11 conference games. Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss. Favorite is 7-2 ATS in their last 9 meetings. |
|||||||
10-20-18 | Oregon +135 v. Washington State | Top | 20-34 | Loss | -100 | 46 h 28 m | Show |
Oregon The two highest-scoring teams in the Pac-12 will go head-to-head Saturday afternoon when No. 23 Washington State hosts No. 11 Oregon. The Cougars average 41.8 points per game and Oregon averages 43, while also earning the distinction of being one of three teams in the nation that has scored at least 30 points in every game this season. Both teams are led by top quarterbacks who have been able to move the ball with ease this season. Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew II threw for 430 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in a 56-37 win at Oregon State on Oct. 6, giving the graduate transfer from East Carolina 300 passing yards in every game this season - upping his nation-leading average to 403.7 yards per contest. Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert has also thrown five touchdown passes in a game this year and owns at least one passing touchdown in 21 consecutive games - the second-longest active streak in the country. Herbert is supported by a more productive run game led by freshman running back CJ Verdell, who has three consecutive 100-yard efforts coming into this matchup. ABOUT OREGON (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12): Dillon Mitchell missed the 33-10 loss to Washington State last season because of injury and didn't catch a pass against the Cougars as a freshman, but the junior wide receiver should be a difference maker in this contest. He has three consecutive 100-yard receiving performances coming into this game, and his 154.3 receiving yards per game in Pac-12 play is the highest average in any conference this season. The Ducks also have a dependable tight end in Jacob Breeland and two other skilled sophomore receivers in Johnny Johnson III and Jaylon Redd. The Ducks are the least penalized team in the Pac-12 with 32. Ducks are 18-8-1 ATS in their last 27 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Underdog is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 meetings. |
|||||||
10-13-18 | Colorado +7 v. USC | Top | 20-31 | Loss | -120 | 13 h 47 m | Show |
Colorado No. 18 Colorado is commanding its share of national attention as one of 11 FBS unbeatens and the only one located west of the Mississippi River. The Buffaloes, though, are bracing for their first Pac-12 road test, which comes Saturday night at USC. The spotlight has shone the brightest on CU sophomore receiver Laviska Shenault, who’s become the first wideout to garner two Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week awards in the same season. Shenault scored all four of the Buffaloes’ TDs, including two on the ground, a week ago in a hard-fought 28-21 win over visiting Arizona State while catching a career-high 13 passes for 127 yards. USC, meanwhile, has rebounded from a 1-2 start with narrow Pac-12 wins over Washington State (39-36) and Arizona (24-20) and is only a half-game behind Colorado in the South Division standings. Shenault’s sensational start has overshadowed the strong play of several other Buffs, most notably junior quarterback Steven Montez, who ranks second in the conference in overall passing (284.0 yards), passing efficiency (174.24 rating) and total offense (309.0 yards). Montez has had a hand in 14 total TDs, including three rushing, while completing 75.2 percent of his passes and throwing only two interceptions in 153 attempts. Buffaloes are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games in October.Trojans are 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 games overall.Buffaloes are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings. Take the points in a game Colorado can win outright. |
|||||||
10-13-18 | Baylor v. Texas -14 | Top | 17-23 | Loss | -105 | 6 h 44 m | Show |
Texas The hype surrounding the Texas football program is bigger than it has been in years thanks to a dramatic win over rival Oklahoma last week and steady improvement under head coach Tom Herman. The 14th-ranked Longhorns will try to avoid a letdown and stay on pace for a Big 12 title when they host Baylor on Saturday. Herman is trying to rebuild Texas into a national championship contender and has the team on a five-game winning streak following a season-opening loss to Maryland, and the 48-45 triumph over Oklahoma last week is just another step. The Bears are trying to rebuild themselves into a contender as well and responded to a loss at the Sooners by holding off Kansas State 37-34 last week - providing a little momentum going into a two-game stretch at Texas and No. 6 West Virginia. The Bears were ripped 66-33 at Oklahoma in Week 5, and bouncing back with the win over Kansas State the following week marked a step in the right direction but they still have a lot of work to do to restore the program. The Longhorns' ascent has coincided with the rise of quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who put his name in the Heisman Trophy conversation with his five touchdowns - three rushing - in the win over Oklahoma.Ehlinger is enjoying a school-record streak of 163 consecutive pass attempts without an interception. Bears are 3-14-1 ATS in their last 18 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.Longhorns are 8-2-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. The Longhorns earned a 38-7 win at the Bears last season in the first Big 12 meeting between Herman and Rhule. No let down here for Texas as they roll Baylor here at home. |
|||||||
10-06-18 | Notre Dame -6.5 v. Virginia Tech | Top | 45-23 | Win | 100 | 10 h 50 m | Show |
Notre Dame After a perfect September that included wins over two ranked teams, life doesn’t get any easier for No. 7 Notre Dame as it visits No. 23 Virginia Tech on Saturday evening. The Hokies, who fell out of the rankings after their shocking loss to Old Dominion two weeks ago, got back into the Top 25 with a win at previously undefeated Duke last weekend. Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly continues to look smart for moving quarterback Ian Book into the starting lineup two weeks ago, as the junior threw for 278 yards and four touchdowns in the 38-17 win over Stanford last weekend. For N.D. no one is happier to have Book at the helm than senior wide receiver Myles Boykin (20 catches for 311 yards) as the two hooked up 11 times for 144 yards and a touchdown against Stanford. The Irish also got a huge offensive boost from senior running back Dexter Williams, who ran for 161 yards and a touchdown in his first game of the season after missing the first four for disciplinary reasons. This game could come down to which Virginia Tech defense shows up - the one that allowed 600 yards and seven touchdowns to Old Dominion two weeks ago or the one that limited Duke to 327 yards and 4-of-16 on third down conversions last week. I see the bad defense showing up vs. this stout N.D. offense. Notre Dame piled up 550 yards of total offense against Stanford while limiting the Cardinal to 31 total yards in the second half. Fighting Irish are 39-18-2 ATS in their last 59 games in October. |
|||||||
10-06-18 | Arizona State v. Colorado -2.5 | Top | 21-28 | Win | 100 | 5 h 29 m | Show |
Colorado Colorado is the only undefeated team remaining in the Pac-12 Conference and has climbed back into the national rankings at No. 22. But the Buffaloes’ schedule has been down-pillow soft so far – their four opponents (Colorado State, Nebraska, New Hampshire and UCLA) are a combined 1-16 – and now they will step up in class Saturday afternoon with 3-2 Arizona State visiting Boulder. The No. 22 ranking is Colorado’s first since 2016 when they finished 10-4 and won the Pac-12 South Division title. The Buffaloes are atop the South again at 1-0 in the conference with USC (2-1), Arizona (1-1) and Arizona State (1-1) right behind, but head coach Mike MacIntyre stresses that the current rankings and standings matter little in the big picture. Coach Herm Edwards’ Arizona State squad also was ranked three weeks ago after upending visiting Michigan State 16-13 on Sept. 8 but road losses against San Diego State (28-21) and Washington (27-20) followed before last Saturday’s rebound, 52-24 rout of Oregon State. Against the visiting Beavers, the Sun Devils fed sophomore tailback Eno Benjamin who delivered a school-record 312 rushing yards and four total touchdowns to earn Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors. The Buffaloes’ attack ranks second in the Pac-12 in scoring (40.2 points) and has been powered by the triplets of quarterback Steven Montez, wide receiver Laviska Shenault and tailback Travon McMillian. Montez has completed 75.8 percent of his passes and ranks second in the conference in passing efficiency (173.7) and third in total offense (300.0 yards) while the sophomore Shenault leads the FBS with 9.5 receptions and 145.3 receiving yards per contest while scoring six TDs, including a pair on rushes as he’s been employed in multiple ways in offensive formations. McMillian, meanwhile, is a Virginia Tech transfer who ranks fourth in Pac-12 rushing (98.0 yards) and has topped 100 yards in three of four games so far. Sun Devils are 19-40-2 ATS in their last 61 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Buffaloes are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points. Home team is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings. |
|||||||
10-06-18 | LSU v. Florida +3 | Top | 19-27 | Win | 100 | 5 h 1 m | Show |
Florida LSU is clicking on both sides of the ball but faces a tough task Saturday when it visits Florida in SEC action. The sixth-ranked Tigers are 5-0, but the Gators have won three straight including a pair of road wins to open conference play. LSU has been held below 31 points only once and has not given up more than 21 points in any outing as the team is off to its best start in three years. The Gators should be up for the task of slowing down LSU after suffocating Mississippi State in last week's 13-6 win. The Gators rank ninth nationally in points allowed (14.0) and have given up more than 10 points only twice this season. "This is going to be the best defense we faced so far this year," LSU coach Ed Orgeron said. "They're very aggressive. He won't give you the same look many times. Their movement is very precise." Feleipe Franks had thrown multiple TD passes in each of the first four games before failing to throw a touchdown - or any completion over 20 yards, for that matter - in the ugly win against Mississippi State. After hovering around 50 percent completions in each of his previous three games, Franks completed a season-high 71 percent of his attempts last week. Gators are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. Home team is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings. |
|||||||
10-06-18 | Syracuse -3 v. Pittsburgh | Top | 37-44 | Loss | -110 | 2 h 52 m | Show |
Syracuse Syracuse was 13 minutes away from upending No. 4 Clemson last week for a second consecutive season and entering the top-25 rankings for the first time since 2001 before the Tigers rallied for two touchdowns and a 27-23 victory. Orange coach Dino Babers said his team needs to take a page from the Clemson playbook and battle through adversity this Saturday when it visits a struggling Pittsburgh team. Pitt was reminded last week how far it sits from the top-25 in coach Pat Narduzzi’s fourth season when it got clobbered 45-14 by No. 13 Central Florida after an earlier 51-6 loss to No. 11 Penn State. Syracuse’s Dungey completed 26-of-41 passes for 250 yards and scored two rushing TDs against Clemson, and the senior has accounted for 15 TDs (nine passing, two interceptions) while compiling 1,378 yards of total offense this season. The Orange defense tallied four quarterback sacks against the Tigers and are averaging 4.7 over their last three contests. For Pitt, Narduzzi is known for his tenacious defenses at Michigan State, has not been able to duplicate that in the Steel City (457.5 total yards per game in last four FBS contests), but he’s as equally frustrated by increased penalties, including 11 last week. The Panthers also felt they had their quarterback issues resolved with Kenny Pickett, but the sophomore hasn’t thrown for 200 yards in any of his six career starts and 58 of his 163 yards passing last week came on a short pass at the line of scrimmage. Syracuse K Andre Szmyt has converted multiple field goals in all five games this season, making 13-of-14 while drilling all 26 extra points. He ranks first in the ACC and third in the FBS in scoring (13 points per game) while leading FBS with 2.6 field goals per game. Orange are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 road games and are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games in October. Panthers are 7-17 ATS in their last 24 home games and are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall. |
|||||||
10-06-18 | Oklahoma v. Texas +7.5 | Top | 45-48 | Win | 100 | 1 h 28 m | Show |
Texas Even though the Red River Showdown has not meant as much in terms of deciding the Big 12 champion lately as it did a few years ago, the rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma has not lacked in terms of producing thrilling games. Second-year coach Tom Herman appears to be working his magic with the 20th-ranked Longhorns this year, and they'll try to prove their resurgence is for real Saturday when they meet the fifth-ranked Sooners at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. After wallowing in mediocrity for the better part of the last decade, Texas has knocked off ranked teams in USC and TCU during a four-game winning streak on the strength of the conference's second-best scoring defense (19.8 points per game). The Longhorns are coming off a 19-14 victory at Kansas State last week despite committing 10 penalties for 104 yards - an area they'll need to clean up against the Big 12's highest-scoring offense (48.6). Oklahoma moved to 5-0 for the first time since 2013 last weekend, scoring at least 14 points in every quarter while routing Baylor 66-33. Despite the Sooners' recent run of dominance inside the conference, each of the archrivals' last four meetings has been decided by seven points or fewer. Texas Sophomore Sam Ehlinger established a personal best by completing 80.6 percent of his passes at Kansas State and has thrown 128 consecutive passes without an interception, good for the third-longest streak in school history. Lil'Jordan Humphrey ranks seventh in the conference in receptions (26) and receiving yards (402), while fellow junior Collin Johnson is tied for eighth and ranks 11th in those respective categories (24, 350). Senior defensive end Charles Omenihu had five tackles - three for loss and two sacks - last weekend, while receiver/defensive back D'Shawn Jamison earned Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday after becoming the first Longhorn true freshman with a punt return for a touchdown since Selvin Young in 2002. Saturday will mark the first time since 2012 both schools enter this game inside the top 25. Longhorns are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games in October and are 7-2-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Sooners are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 neutral site games and are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win. Longhorns are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings. |
|||||||
09-29-18 | Ohio State v. Penn State +4 | Top | 27-26 | Win | 100 | 9 h 41 m | Show |
Penn State The winner of the Ohio State-Penn State game has gone on to win the Big Ten championship each of the last two years, and this Saturday's clash hosted by the Nittany Lions will again give one team a big leg up in that race. The fourth-ranked Buckeyes, who put forth a stirring rally to steal a 39-38 win over Penn State a year ago, have barely been challenged in a 4-0 start, including a 49-6 win over Tulane last week in head coach Urban Meyer's return from suspension. Meyer's team dropped a 24-21 decision in its last visit to Happy Valley in 2016 and knows it will be tested by another "White Out" at Beaver Stadium. No. 9 Penn State has rebounded from an early slugfest with Appalachian State to defeat its last three opponents by a combined 177-40 margin, although it trailed early in the second half at Illinois last week before erupting in the fourth quarter. ABOUT OHIO STATE (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten): The big story this week in Columbus is the absence of star defensive end Nick Bosa, who will miss this contest and perhaps several more after undergoing core muscle surgery. However, fellow junior Robert Landers returns from an undisclosed injury to help bolster the defensive line and running back Mike Weber - who had 186 yards rushing and four total touchdowns in the season opener against Oregon State - will play after leaving the Tulane win with a sprained foot. Dwayne Haskins ranks second among FBS passers with both 16 touchdowns - against one interception - and a completion percentage of 75.7. ABOUT PENN STATE (4-0, 1-0): McSorley has completed just 53.8 percent of his passes and has a pick in each of the last two games, but he is doing significant damage on the ground with 235 yards - on 5.7 per carry - and six scores through the first four games. Miles Sanders had 200 of the Nittany Lions' 387 rushing yards last week and he added three TDs after failing to reach the end zone in routs of Pittsburgh and Kent State. |
- Early Lines
- High Limits
- NEW VIP Rewards
- VIP Program
- Mobile Betting
- Crypto
- VIP Program
- Crypto
- Live & Mobile Betting!
- Crypto
- Live & Mobile Betting
- 48 Hour Payouts
- 35% Crypto Bonus
- Live Betting
- Mobile Friendly
Guaranteed Winners or your money back and Free Picks in the NFL football, NBA basketball, MLB baseball, NCAA college football and basketball, Nascar Racing, Arena Football nhl hockey leagues and more.
We are part of the internets Premier Sports Handicappers League with full documentation of all members on this sports betting news and info portal. Free Membership, Join Today and start Winning!
For any resources you could need like sports handicapping odds, handicapping stats, schedules, or handicappers free picks and tips please click on any of the links on the right hand side of this page.