Cappers Sports Picks

The Bulls will be at full strength but the will be left with a starting QB who was only under center in wildcat situations this season. 

The Virginia Tech running game is going to find success, leading to an open playbook in the second half. Minnesota owns a seven-game bowl win streak. 

At some point, North Texas is going to win a bowl game (0-6), the reality is we just need them to stay within this bloated number. Too much ground game for Texas State to run away. 

It seems like this analysis has been used for so many other plays during bowl season, but when teams have an extended period to prepare, we'll see new offensive wrinkles that aren't on film. 

I'm a firm believer that when teams have extra time to prepare, they have a chance to implement offensive plays that aren't on film, leading to an over.  

Both teams have offensive-minded coaches who are not afraid to push the tempo. Texas, under Steve Sarkisian, has a reputation for producing high-scoring affairs with his ability to dial up creative plays, especially with weeks to prepare.

Similarly, Arizona State has been known to embrace a high-tempo, quick-strike approach that will also benefit from the extended time to prepare. 

The Broncos will not let this game get away from them by controlling the clock with their relentless running game. Even if the Lions take a 2-score lead, Boise will stay true to the ground game. 

To start, I think we're going to see both teams hoping to establish the run game, giving us a good start early on the under. LSU has cashed unders in 8 of 12 games this season.  

Seven of Iowa's last 10 games have hit the over, and with both coaching staffs being highly experienced, you can expect them to ramp up the pace as the game progresses. What we’re hoping for is for one team to get ahead by two scores, forcing the other to become one-dimensional and opening the door for even more scoring opportunities.

The Pirates have a potent offense but this number is too jacked up for my taste. Only two times have the Pirates had a total over 60, splitting each game. Both teams will be missing key offensive weapons. 

I know with UConn Joe Fagnano ending his career at Fenway, it makes for a nice story but I can't trust a signal caller who struggles to complete 55% of his passes to keep pace in a shootout. Instead, expect both teams to be conservative until the game dictates that one opens up the offense. 

Given the Cougars’ defensive struggles, it’s difficult to place confidence in their ability to hold off opponents. They’ve allowed over 30 points in each of their last nine games, including matchups against Hawaii and Wyoming, where they conceded a combined 25 points. This consistent underperformance raises significant concerns about their defensive capabilities.

Six of the Razorbacks' last nine games have cashed under tickets, but make sure to jump on this number quickly because the number has dropped. Both teams are missing key offensive weapons. 

The Falcons may be 7-5 but their non-conference schedule included games against Penn State, Texas A&M, and NIU. I'll take the battle-tested team. 

The Panthers come into this game losers of five straight games, covering just once. When it comes to motivation, that edge is with Toledo. 

The Spartans will have some key pieces missing, especially at wideout where Nich Nash is unavailable. I think the Bulls are building aa special program as they look to win their fourth bowl game in five years. 

Expect the Bulldogs to be extra motivated with this being the last game for head coach Tim Skipper. The Bulldogs have suffered some losses in the portal but their OL remains their strength, which is a massive advantage this time of year. 

The Rebels have won three straight road games in a season for the first time in school history and they can extend that streak and a five-game overall streak with a win. The Rebels are well coached and it shows on the field with the nation's best turnover margin of +12.  

The Iowa State Cyclones have a stable of running backs that can hurt a defense but Carson Hansen has emerged as the leader of the group as he goes for his third straight game of 90 yards rushing or more. This adds to one of the best-receiving duos in the country with Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. 

The Aggies look like their old self against Missouri with Connor Weigman back behind center. If he can throw for 276 yards against Missouri, he certainly can do that and more aginst Mississippi State

The Buffs seem to be getting better every week on both sides of the ball. Colorado has two receivers with at least six touchdowns, only Ohio State can claim that. They rank 7th in red zone defense while QB Shedeur Sanders is the only signal caller in CFB to have 100 touchdowns and 25 picks or less.

The winner gets the top spot in the Sun Belt Esr but this line indicates that JMU is the clear side. Last week against Coastal Carolina was the best I've seen the Dukes play all season. Let's see some more of that potent Duke running game tonight. 

The Warriors dropped a 28-7 decision to Boise State last time out but trailed by just six into the fourth quarter, holding Boise to 22 points less than their seaosn average. Hawaii leads the MWC in total defense. 

Normally, this would be a spot where I would go against ASU after beating #16 Utah at home and then playing an uncharacteristic early game against the Cat two time zones away. The number has reached a peak where I can't ignore the value. 

Nebraska is coming off a bye week but the last time we saw them they were squeezing by Rutgers 14-7.  If they're going to continue struggling on that side of the ball, I'm not sure how they're going to keep pace with an offense that averages almost 48 points a game. 

You have to look at this number and think that the oddsmakers are trying to lure the public into a Missouri wager. Auburn has had two weeks to prepare and has as good of a defense as Missouri and I think Auburn will look to control the ground with Jarquez Hunter getting more of the load.  

It appears that when Fresno State plays the better team, their offense is nonexistent, which brings us to Nevada and how we feel about them.  I think the Pack are better than their record indicates but after a big win against Oregon State, I think we'll find Nevada stale in addition to putting enough pressure on Wolfpack QB Brendan Lewis, as they did last week against WSU, making the senior uncomfortable.

Let's see how FIU rebounds after a 31-24 OT loss to Liberty last week, a game they needed to win considering the road to a bowl game is laid out before them starting with the Miners. Instead, they're 2-4 and must dig themselves out of their hole. UTEP's run game is their strength, meaning plenty of rolling clock. 

Last week Syracuse went to Las Vegas and knocked off the nationally ranked UNLV Rebels. It was one of those games where the Orange put a lot of focus into winning, so that brings up the question of how can they go back out the road and get up for a 3-3 Wolfpack team. I think we catch the 'Cuse sleeping. 

UTSA was 2-3 last season before they ripped off seven wins in their final eight games, so not all has been lost for Jeff Traylor's team. Rice is a game that they must win and win impressively. UTSA has beaten Rice by an average of 33 points in their last three meetings. 

The Mississippi Bulldogs can't be in a good place after dropping four straight games since their opening-week win. Since they are just 1-3 against the spread and now they're being asked to play Texas and Georgia in consecutive weeks. MSU gave everything they had last week and still lost by 22. Georgia rolls in this one. 

This is one of my favorite betting situations. Bowling Green was a massive favorite against Akron last week (-16) but needed the full 60 minutes to push the Zips aside (27-20) after failing to extend a 10-point fourth-quarter lead. The Huskies have lost two of three, including an embarrassing lost to Buffalo as a 13-point favorite. 

The Minutemen's season is over at 1-5 with some suggesting they would treat this as their bowl game.  That never made much sense to me because if they were able to turn it on they would have against Toledo or Eastern Michigan with their bowl hope on the line, but instead, they dropped both of those games by a combined 66-37. I'm not under the impression that they'll dig deep to find this great effort that hasn't been there all season against the nation's 21st-ranked team.  

Northwestern is on the road on a short week playing in what only can be described as a must-win game after dropping back-to-back games against Washington and Indiana where they gave up a combined 65 points. This is a pivotal game if they hope to go bowling in December.

This is a difficult spot for the Hilltoppers with a huge match-up against Sam Houston next week but I think the one thing that will keep them grounded is a loss two weeks again to Boston College after holding a 20-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Hilltoppers are 4-1 ATS with their only non-cover against Alabama to start the season. UTEP s 1-4 ATS. 

The last time we checked in on the Aggies they combined with New Mexico for 90 points 11 days ago. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks are dealing with some key injuries but last week they missed the 90-point total mark with a 63-24 win over Kennesaw State. The Gamecocks are thin at wideout, but that won't keep me from over this total. 

Liberty has started the seaosn 4-0 but because of Hurricane Helene, they haven't played since September 21st. FIU is coming off a bye week but while Liberty was preparing for App State, FIU has been on a normal bye week schedule.  This is a massive revenge spot for FIU after getting handled by Liberty by 32 points last season.