The Bum's NCAAF Week 4 (9/23 - 9/25) Best Bets !

[StarDust Bum]

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
09/23/10 0-2-0 0.00% -1100 Detail
09/18/10 44-45-2 49.44% -2750 Detail
09/17/10 1-3-0 25.00% -1150 Detail
09/16/10 2-0-0 100.00% +1000 Detail
09/11/10 38-39-0 49.35% -2450 Detail
09/10/10 1-3-0 25.00% -1150 Detail
09/09/10 2-2-0 50.00% -100 Detail
09/06/10 1-3-0 25.00% -1150 Detail
09/05/10 3-1-0 75.00% +950 Detail
09/04/10 26-27-1 49.06% -1850 Detail
09/03/10 3-1-0 75.00% +950 Detail
09/02/10 6-7-1 46.15% -850 Detail
Totals 127-133-4 48.85% -9650



Friday, September 24Game Score Status Pick Amount

Texas Christian - 8:00 PM ET Southern Methodist +17.5 500*****
Southern Methodist - Under 54 500 *****

[StarDust Bum]

TCU lays 17 points at SMU on Friday

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TCU HORNED FROGS (3-0)
at SMU MUSTANGS (2-1)

Kickoff: Friday, 8:00 p.m. EDT, Line: TCU -17, Total: 55

The Iron Skillet is up for grabs in this Friday night matchup of Dallas-area rivals. TCU, winners of 17 of its past 18 games has won its first three games by an average margin of 33 PPG. SMU defeated Washington State last week to mark its first win over a BCS school since 2000.

TCU is led by QB Andy Dalton, whose 32 career wins are tops among FBS quarterbacks. After a sub-par opener, Dalton has sizzled in his past two games, completing 82 percent of his passes with four touchdowns (3 passing, 1 rushing). Jeremy Kerley and Bart Johnson have 13 catches apiece with three of Kerley’s grabs coming in the end zone. RB Ed Wesley powers the ground game with 384 rushing yards (8.2 YPC) and four scores.

SMU’s success on moving the football against the fourth-ranked defense in the nation (TCU allows 223 YPG) rests on the right arm of Kyle Padron. Similar to Dalton, Padron has been great in his past two games after a poor opener. He threw six touchdowns and ran for a score in SMU’s two wins over UAB and WSU. Three Mustangs players have double-digit catches and multiple touchdowns this year, including Aldrick Robinson who scored three TD in last week’s win.

TCU has won nine of the past 10 meetings and this FoxSheets coaching trends also favors TCU due to Gary Patterson’s ability to keeps his teams focused after big wins:

Patterson is 14-2 ATS (+11.8 Units) after gaining 275 or more rushing yards last game as the coach of TCU. The average score was TCU 38.1, OPPONENT 15.3 - (Rating = 4*).

Sticking with the run defense theme, this highly-rated FoxSheets trend likes the Under.

Play Under - Any team against the total (SMU) - in a game involving two good rushing teams - both outrushing opponents by 50+ YPG, in a non-conference game between two teams from second tier division 1-A conferences. (26-4 over the last 10 seasons.) (86.7%, +21.6 units. Rating = 4*).

[StarDust Bum]

Sooners look for double-digit cover in first road test

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OKLAHOMA SOONERS (3-0)
at CINCINNATI BEARCATS (1-2)

Kickoff: Saturday, 6:00 p.m. EDT, Line: Oklahoma -13.5, Total: 52

Two teams with a lot to prove meet at Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday night. Oklahoma barely beat 16.5-point underdog Air Force 27-24 last week despite leading by 17 points in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati trailed 30-7 in the fourth quarter against NC State before scoring two late touchdowns to make the final margin a respectable 11 points.

The Sooners leave Norman for the first time this season, and are just 2-5 in their past seven games away from home. Oklahoma could not stop the triple-option attack of Air Force, surrendering 351 rushing yards to the Falcons. But the Sooners offense has been pretty potent (35.0 PPG) led by RB DeMarco Murray (369 rush yds, 6 TD) and WR Ryan Broyles (382 rec. yds, 3 TD). Both players had stellar performances when Oklahoma blew out Cincy 52-26 in 2008. Murray had 101 total yards and a TD and Broyles caught seven passes for 141 yards and a score in that game.

Cincinnati QB Zach Collaros has thrown the football very well this year (659 yards, 6 TD, 0 INT), but he has been sacked a nation-leading 15 times. RB Isaiah Pead’s expected return could keep the Sooners pass rush at bay, but Pead has missed two games due to a knee injury. TE Ben Guidugli will not play due to a sprained ankle, but Collaros still has his dynamic WR duo of D.J. Woods (17 rec, 264 yds, 3 TD) and Armon Binns (16 rec, 290 yds, 2 TD).

These schools have only faced each other once in recent years, but Oklahoma no longer has QB Sam Bradford who torched the Bearcats for 395 yards and five touchdowns in that 2008 meeting. This FoxSheets trend shows that home dog Cincinnati should keep the margin in single digits on Saturday night:

CINCINNATI is 28-10 ATS (+17.0 Units) vs. good teams - outscoring opponents by 10+ PPG on the season since 1992. The average score was CINCINNATI 23.3, OPPONENT 28.3 - (Rating = 2*).

FoxSheets is also leaning towards the Under.

Play Under - All teams where the total is between 49.5 and 56 (OKLAHOMA) - with a winning record on the season, in a non-conference game between two teams from major FBS conferences. (109-58 over the last 10 seasons.) (65.3%, +45.2 units. Rating = 2*).

[StarDust Bum]

USC looks for first ATS win at Washington State

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USC TROJANS (3-0)
at WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS (1-2)

Kickoff: Saturday, 3:00 p.m. EDT, Line: USC -21.5, Total: 55.5

USC has another hefty spread to cover as it visits Washington State on Saturday. The Trojans (3-0 SU, 0-2-1 ATS) actually trailed Minnesota in the second half before a kick-return TD propelled them to a 32-21 victory. WSU has dropped 11 straight games to FBS opponents, losing 35-21 at SMU last week.

USC’s offense wasn’t great last week, but senior RB Allen Bradford was the best of the Trojans’ three-back attack, rushing for 131 yards and a TD on just 12 carries. Marc Tyler and Dillon Baxter are also capable featured backs in USC’s offense. QB Matt Barkley was pretty ordinary against Minnesota, throwing for 192 yards, two touchdowns and his first two interceptions of the season.

Washington State has had its share of problems this year, allowing more than 40 points per game and rushing for just 2.8 YPC. Part of that is due to Cougars top RB James Montgomery who was arrested for driving with a suspended license and then two days later was held to 24 yards on eight carries against SMU. QB Jeff Tuel has thrown the football fairly well (700 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT), but he has been sacked 10 times already.

USC has won the past seven meetings between these schools and is 5-2 ATS despite being favored by an average of 27.5 points in those games. But this Trojans team has not been BCS title contender recently, and this FoxSheets trend thinks home dog Washington State can keep the game within three touchdowns:

USC is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) after playing their last game on the road over the last two seasons. The average score was USC 24.0, OPPONENT 23.3 - (Rating = 2*).

[jt4545]

thanks and good luck star

[StarDust Bum]

The Early Day Games:

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
09/24/10 1-1-0 50.00% -50 Detail
09/23/10 0-2-0 0.00% -1100 Detail
09/18/10 44-45-2 49.44% -2750 Detail
09/17/10 1-3-0 25.00% -1150 Detail
09/16/10 2-0-0 100.00% +1000 Detail
09/11/10 38-39-0 49.35% -2450 Detail
09/10/10 1-3-0 25.00% -1150 Detail
09/09/10 2-2-0 50.00% -100 Detail
09/06/10 1-3-0 25.00% -1150 Detail
09/05/10 3-1-0 75.00% +950 Detail
09/04/10 26-27-1 49.06% -1850 Detail
09/03/10 3-1-0 75.00% +950 Detail
09/02/10 6-7-1 46.15% -850 Detail
Totals 128-134-4 48.85% -9700

Saturday, September 25Game Score Status Pick Amount

Buffalo - 12:00 PM ET Connecticut -20 500
Connecticut - Under 48.5 500

North Carolina State - 12:00 PM ET Georgia Tech -8 500
Georgia Tech - Under 58 500

Central Michigan - 12:00 PM ET Northwestern -6.5 500 *****
Northwestern - Under 51 500

Virginia Tech - 12:00 PM ET Virginia Tech -4 500 *****
Boston College - Under 47 500

Florida International - 12:00 PM ET Florida International +12 500 *****
Maryland - Over 45 500

Bowling Green - 12:00 PM ET Bowling Green +25.5 500*****
Michigan - Over 57.5 500

Ball State - 12:00 PM ET Iowa -28 500 *****
Iowa - Over 46 500

Toledo - 12:00 PM ET Toledo +11.5 500 *****
Purdue - Over 50 500

Alabama-Birmingham - 12:20 PM ET Tennessee -14 500
Tennessee - Under 51 500

Central Florida - 12:30 PM ET Kansas State -7 500
Kansas State - Over 45.5 500

Miami (Ohio) - 2:00 PM ET Miami (Ohio) +20 500 *****
Missouri - Over 51.5 500

Air Force - 2:00 PM ET Air Force -13.5 500 *****
Wyoming - Over 50 500

Army - 3:00 PM ET Duke -6.5 500
Duke - Over 55.5 500

Southern California - 3:00 PM ET Washington State +22 500
Washington State - Under 55.5 500

Alabama - 3:30 PM ET Alabama -7 500 *****
Arkansas - Under 56.5 500

Wake Forest - 3:30 PM ET Florida State -20 500 *****
Florida State - Over 62.5 500

North Carolina - 3:30 PM ET North Carolina -2.5 500
Rutgers - Under 44.5 500

Eastern Michigan - 3:30 PM ET Ohio State -44 500
Ohio State - Under 57 500

Temple - 3:30 PM ET Temple +14 500 *****
Penn State - Under 43.5 500

UCLA - 3:30 PM ET UCLA +15.5 500 *****
Texas - Over 43 500

Arkansas State - 3:30 PM ET Troy -10.5 500
Troy - Under 67.5 500

Tulane - 3:30 PM ET Houston -19 500
Houston - Over 56.5 500

Stanford - 3:30 PM ET Notre Dame +4.5 500*****
Notre Dame - Over 59.5 500

Idaho - 4:00 PM ET Idaho -8 500 *****
Colorado State - Under 50.5 500

Oklahoma - 6:00 PM ET Cincinnati +14 500 *****
Cincinnati - Under 52 500

Nevada - 6:00 PM ET Nevada -4 500 *****
Brigham Young - Over 63 500



Good Luck !

Evening games will be posted later..check back.....

[StarDust Bum]

NC State looks to remain unbeaten at Ga. Tech

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NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK (3-0)
at GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (2-1)

Kickoff: Saturday, 12:00 p.m. EDT, Line: Georgia Tech -8.5, Total: 57.5

ACC rivals meet Saturday curiously for the first time since 2006, a Georgia Tech 31-23 win over NC State. The Wolfpack offense was stellar in their 30-19 win over Cincinnati last Thursday, as QB Russell Wilson threw for 333 yards and three scores. Georgia Tech showed off its monster rushing attack (3rd in nation) by gaining 372 yards on the ground in a big 30-24 road win at North Carolina.

Wilson has been excellent this season with 744 passing yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions against three non-conference schools. But now he enters ACC play, where he threw 11 interceptions (and 19 TD) in eight conference games last year. Wilson has done a great job spreading around the offense, considering eight Wolfpack players have caught eight or more passes. Mustafa Greene and Dean Haynes power the running game with a combined 312 yards and five TD this year.

Speaking of running games, not may schools can run the football like Georgia Tech, who is averaging 345 rushing YPG this year. QB Josh Nesbitt has 57 carries for 267 yards and six touchdowns, and nine other Yellow Jackets are averaging at least six yards per carry this year. Georgia Tech doesn’t want to play from behind and be forced to throw the football considering Nesbitt is 9-for-25 with just two TD and one INT through the air this season.

Georgia Tech is 11-3 ATS in the past 14 meetings in this series and FoxSheets expects Georgia Tech to also win and cover on Saturday:

Play Against - Road underdogs (NC STATE) - after allowing 75 or less rushing yards last game against opponent after outrushing opponent by 200 or more yards last game. (66-29 since 1992.) (69.5%, +34.1 units. Rating = 3*).

This FoxSheets trend shows the Yellow Jackets turn on the defense following a close win.

GEORGIA TECH is 8-0 UNDER (+8.0 Units) after a win by 6 or less points over the last 3 seasons. The average score was GEORGIA TECH 20.7, OPPONENT 23.2 - (Rating = 3*).

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAF Odds: Arkansas hopes to stem Tide

Arkansas is 4-0 ATS in its last four games as a home underdog.
Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Ryan Mallett is looking for some redemption Saturday afternoon when he hosts the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.

Most offshore sportsbooks monitored by the Don Best odds product opened No. 10 Arkansas as a seven-point home ‘dog, with a total of 55 points. Arkansas is plus 245 to win the game on the money line.

Mallett is a Heisman favorite along with quarterbacks Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State), Denard Robinson (Michigan) and Kellen Moore (Boise State). Alabama running back Mark Ingram (last year's winner) is the other top candidate.

Mallett, a junior, burst onto the scene last year after transferring from Michigan. He threw for 3,627 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions. However, he struggled against the better teams like Alabama, Florida and LSU (all on the road). The Alabama game (12-of-35, 160 passing yards) was the poorest of the bunch.

Mallett is off to a great start this football betting season, collecting 1,081 passing yards in three games. He had 380 yards last week at Georgia, including a game-winning 40-yard pass to Greg Childs with 15 seconds left. The Razorbacks won 31-24 as 1 ½-point ‘dogs during Mallett's first SEC road win.

Top NCAAF Betting Action at 5Dimes.com

Arkansas is 3-0 straight-up for the first time since 2003. However, the school is 1-2 against the spread after failing to ‘cover' huge numbers in wins over Tennessee Tech (44-3) and the University of Louisiana-Monroe (31-7).

The Razorbacks have plenty of receiving targets with Childs and Joe Adams, plus tight end D.J. Williams. There are several capable backs, although the running game is secondary in this offense.

The Arkansas defense allowed 401.2 YPG last year (89th in the nation). It allowed 392 to Georgia after an average of 187 ½ against its two inferior opponents.

Arkansas is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 home games and 4-0 ATS in its last four as a home ‘dog. The ‘over' is 7-1 in its last eight home games.

Defending champion Alabama (3-0 SU, 3-0 ATS) has certainly lived up to its billing so far, outscoring the opposition 134-19.

Last week's game at Duke was the first road contest after home wins over San Jose State (48-3) and Penn State (24-3). Ingram returned from a knee injury to rush for over 100 yards in the first quarter alone in the 62-13 win. He teams with Trent Richardson to form arguably the best running duo in the country.

Junior quarterback Greg McElroy is a year smarter and a lot more confident with a national title under his belt. He's completed 71.7 percent of his passes and has a quarterback rating over 200. He's only averaging 20 pass attempts with this fearsome rushing attack.

McElroy played very well (291 passing yards, three TDs) against Arkansas last year, while Ingram was kept in check (17 carries, 50 yards). McElroy will be needed again if Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson decides to stuff the box to stop the run.

Top NCAAF Betting Action at 5Dimes.com

The Alabama defense was supposed to be a question mark after losing four players in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. However, its 6.3 PPG allowed ranks second in the country.

Defensive end Marcell Dareus returned last week from suspension and he'll be needed to pressure Mallett. If Arkansas' pass protection can hold up, it should have success throwing the ball down the field against the young Alabama secondary.

The Crimson Tide are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 road games. They're 7-1 ATS in their last eight games as a road favorite. The ‘under' is 11-4-1 in their last 16 conference games.

Alabama won last year's home game, 35-7, as 17 ½-point favorites. The road team ‘covered' the four previous meetings. Arkansas last beat Alabama in 2006 at home, 24-23.

Arkansas running back / kick returner Dennis Johnson (bowel) will miss his second week in a row. Alabama backup cornerback DeMarcus Milliner is questionable with a shoulder injury.

The kickoff is 12:30 p.m. (PT) at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. The weather should be clear with temperatures in the low 70s.

[StarDust Bum]

Notre Dame Odds on Fighting The Dangerous Stanford Defense

The luck of the Irish certainly hasn't been on the side of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and their new Head Coach Brian Kelly this season. They have fallen just short to the magic of Michigan Wolverines QB Denard Robinson and the incredibly gutsy "Little Giants" fake field goal call against the Michigan State Spartans this year. They'll hope to reverse that trend of bad luck at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday against the Stanford Cardinal.


The Cardinal certainly haven't been unlucky, but they haven't needed any luck yet this season. They have absolutely blasted their three foes by the aggregate score of 155-41 this year. The NFL picks schedule hasn't been full of cupcakes either. Anytime you can beat a BCS conference foe (Wake Forest) 68-24 the week after taking care of a conference rivals (UCLA) 35-0 on the road, you've done something special.


This has been a fantastic year so far for QB Andrew Luck. In his first year as a starter, the sophomore threw for 13 TDs against just four picks. In 2010, he has been even better, throwing for 674 yards and 10 TDs without an INT. Last year in this game, Luck went 14-of-20 for 198 yards.

Top NFL Betting Odds at Betonline.


His top target that day was WR Ryan Whalen. The senior only has six catches on the season for 49 yards with a TD, but his arm injury suffered last week against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons is going to keep him sidelined in this one. That means that WR Doug Baldwin is going to have to step up even more than he already has this year. Baldwin leads the team with 10 catches, 194 yards, and three TDs on the year.

The key for Stanford this year hasn't necessarily been offensive efficiency, rather defensive prowess. If the 'D' shows up in force on Saturday, the Irish don't stand a chance. The Cardinal have the No. 1 ranked pass defense in the land at just 90.0 YPG, and the end result has been a scoring defense that ranks No. 16 in the country.

The core numbers for the Fighting Irish suggest that this team should be significantly better than 1-2 SU and 1-2 ATS on the season.

Top NFL Betting Odds at Betonline.


The offense with QB Dayne Crist in charge looks phenomenal thus far in 2010. He has thrown for 851 yards and seven TDs against just two picks. Running Back Armando Allen hasn't been the problem either, as he has done his job by carrying the ball 46 times for 253 yards and a TD. Even the receivers have been great. Tight End Kyle Rudolph could be headed to the first round of the NFL Draft next year. He leads the team with 21 receptions, 287 yards, and a pair of scores on the year. Wide Receiver Michael Floyd is one of the best at his trades as well, and he has 229 yards on 16 catches this year as well.

The problem for Notre Dame has been untimely defensive gaffes. The unit is allowing 443.7 YPG and 24.7 PPG, both numbers of which simply don't cut it on a regular basis.

The Irish have covered three straight and seven out of nine in this series dating back to 2001. However, a seven game winning streak for Notre Dame went by the boards last year with Stanford's 45-38 win at home.

Notre Dame has to recover from a 17-35 ATS mark in its last 52 home games. The Golden Domers are also just 4-10 ATS in their last 14 overall.

It should come as no surprise that the No. 17 ranked team in America is favored by 4 1/2 points on the road in this one. The Irish and Cardinal have a posted 'total' at BoDog.com of 59.

[StarDust Bum]

UCLA Bruins Football gets long odds to beat Texas Longhorns

The Bruins are just 1-2 SU and ATS on the season and legitimately could be in some real trouble this year. The Longhorns are still contenders for the 2011 National Championship and are getting first place votes in the polls. The two teams will meet in front of the huge crowd at Royal Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Would UCLA still be winless if it didn't knock both starting QB Case Keenum and backup QB Cotton Turner for the Houston Cougars out for the season last week? It is certainly debatable, as the schedule for the Bruins has been a real nightmare this year.

The offense has just been flat out terrible, and there are no two ways around it. The unit only ranks No. 99 in the country in total offense at 303. YPG, and QB Kevin Prince is only generating 100.0 YPG through the air. His 43.6 percent completion percentage and 1/4 TD/INT ratio are numbers that would make even the worst of NCAA football betting fans sick. Though some of this can be attributed to back problems that he has been fighting through all season long, there has to be a point that Head Coach Rick Neuheisel has to think about using his backup QB Richard Brehaut.

Top NCAA Betting Odds at Bet Online.

The only bright spot for UCLA has been its ability to move the pigskin on the ground. Prince is the third leading rushing on the team with 92 yards, but both RB Johnathan Franklin and RB Malcolm Jones have been fantastic. Jones is second on the team with 101 yards on an average of 4.6 YPC, but Franklin has been the real deal. He has 50 totes of the rock for 291 yards, an average of 5.8 YPC, and he has three of the team's six offensive scores on the season.

Meanwhile, the only reason the Longhorns are 3-0 on the year is because of their defense. This unit once again ranks first in the country in rush defense at just 44.0 YPG. It is clear that Defensive Coordinator Will Muschamp wants shutouts every single time his squad touches the field and will accept nothing less. That's why UT ranks No. 2 in overall defense at 206.7 YPG allowed and No. 12 in scoring at 12.7 PPG allowed.
If there were ever a game that the Longhorns needed to bust out in offensively, this might be the one. It is crucial to find something positive to talk about on offense before the Big XII schedule starts.

Quarterback Garrett Gilbert just hasn't lived up to his hype yet, as he has just 621 yards, three scores, and three INTs on the season. Unlike QB Colt McCoy, his completion percentage isn't sparkling at just 60.6 percent, and he isn't nearly as mobile. That's dumping more pressure on the running game, which has been okay, but not fantastic on the season. We tend to believe that the trio of backs Whittaker, Cody Johnson and Tre' Newton should have more than 405 yards on the ground on the season.

Top NCAA Betting Odds at Bet Online.

Texas might only be 2-6-1 ATS in its last nine games played at home, but it is 21-8 ATS in its last 29 against teams with a losing record and is coming off of its best performance of the season, a 24-14 win in Lubbock against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

The oddsmakers have lined the 'Horns at minus 16 in Saturday's crucial tilt, while the NCAA football odds feature a posted 'total' of 41.5.

[StarDust Bum]

Owls Look to Upset College Football Odds at Penn State

For years and years, the Penn State Nittany Lions have thrown the hammer down on the Temple Owls. Since 1992, the Nittany Lions have played host to Temple seven times and visited the City of Brotherly Love on three occasions. In those 10 games, Penn State is 10-0 SU and 7-3 ATS. The aggregate score has been Penn State 433 - Temple 72.

This is clearly a Temple team that is getting better and better every week. It narrowly avoided a second straight season of disaster to the FCS powerhouses, the Villanova Wildcats. From that point on, it used overtime to tame the Central Michigan Chippewas and put forth one of its best efforts in recent years, a 30-16 victory at home over the Connecticut Huskies.

This is the first time that the Owls will be flying away from their home nest in 2010, though, and it is their first of three straight road games. Last season in six roadies, Temple went 4-2 SU and a rock solid 5-1 ATS.

Temple doesn't have fantastic numbers for this year offensive, but it is certainly doing enough to find ways to win games. A scoring average of 24.7 PPG isn't all that impressive, but the play of RB Bernard Pierce has been. Pierce is averaging 5.4 yards per carry this year, totaling 301 yards and three scores on the ground. He also has 42 yards on three receptions with a TD in the receiving game as well.

Though QB Chester Stewart has only thrown two touchdowns on the season, his numbers are incredibly efficient. Stewart is 43-of-70 for 510 yards and has not thrown an interception on the short season.

Top NCAAF Betting Action at 5Dimes.com

A Penn State defense which is holding opponents to just 12.7 points per game will try to challenge that, though. The Nittany Lions rank no worse than No. 57 in the country in any major defensive category, numbers which were made significantly better in last week's 24-0 shutout of the Kent State Golden Flashes.

Head Coach Joe Paterno certainly has his work cut out for him this week, as this not only is a potential trap game due to the nature of the names on the fronts of the Owls' jerseys, but it is also a look ahead game with the rematch with the Iowa Hawkeyes coming next weekend.
Offensively speaking, PSU has been a brutal disappointment this year. True freshman QB Robert Bolden became the first frosh in Joe Pa's illustrious coaching career to start the season under center, and he growing pains were expected. Bolden has completed just 58.8 percent of his passes for 600 yards with three scores and five picks in three games.

However, the real troubles have come on the ground. Paterno probably wouldn't have put Bolden in charge of his offense if he had known just how much his rushing game was going to struggle. Running Back Evan Royster has just 110 yards and one TD in three games this year, and he is merely averaging 3.5 YPC. For a man that was expected to contend for the Heisman Trophy this year, this is a horrifying disappointment.

The NCAA football odds are certainly in favor of the Owls on Saturday afternoon. They are 5-1 ATS in their last six non-conference games and have an identical mark in their last six road games as well. They are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 overall but just 1-5 ATS in their last six against the Big Ten.

Penn State might be 7-3 ATS in its last 10 against the MAC, but it is also just 2-5 ATS in its last seven duels played outside of the Big Ten and is 1-7 ATS in its last eight September games overall.

The Nittany Lions are 13 1/2 point choices of the oddsmakers on Saturday, while the 'total' chimes in at 43 1/2.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAF Odds: LSU, W. Virginia in initial match

Those who like to look at history while handicapping games will have to look elsewhere because this will be the first meeting between the LSU Tigers and West Virginia Mountaineers in the 238 years both schools have been fielding a football team.
It's a fitting matchup considering neither team has looked quite like themselves despite the 3-0 starts.

With the Big East looking like a train wreck, this is West Virginia's last chance to make a national statement. Outside of the opener against Coastal Carolina, the school has yet to play a full 60 minutes.

The Mountaineers needed a miracle to beat Marshall and nearly squandered four Geno Smith TD passes against Maryland.

The weapons are there for West Virginia to play with anyone - from Smith to HB Noel Devine to WR Jock Sanders. Moreover, the defensive line has been terrific (making up for a somewhat suspect secondary).

Top CFL Betting Action at 5Dimes.com

Throw in the way the LSU passing game has been operating, DT Scooter Berry and DE Bruce Irvin might single-handedly win the game for West Virginia.

For all the problems the LSU offense is having (dead last in the SEC in passing) its defense off the charts since the UNC opener. The Tigers have allowed 10 points in the last two games. They are solid at all three levels and have the skills, attitude and ability to carry the team until the Jordan Jefferson-led offense comes around.

Smith has shown he can engineer long drives (the two final drives against Marshall were both longer than 90 yards) but night games in Baton Rouge are much different than those in Huntington, West Virginia.

Easy Street Sports has installed LSU as 10-point favorites with a 'total' of 42 1/2. While there has not been a history between the two, or even many common opponents, the ‘under' has proven to be a common theme in LSU home games. The ‘under' is 8-1 in the Tigers' last nine home games.

ESPN2 will televise this contest starting at 6 P.M. Pacific time.

[StarDust Bum]

Alabama at Arkansas

Alabama (3-0 straight up, 3-0 against the spread) hasn’t tasted a defeat in the regular season since the 2007 Iron Bowl. The Crimson Tide has won 27 straight regular-season games going into Saturday’s SEC West showdown against Arkansas.

The Razorbacks have the best team they’ve fielded during the three-year tenure of Bobby Petrino. The hope is that Arkansas (3-0 SU, 1-1 ATS) can produce one of the biggest wins in school history against the Tide.

Although Las Vegas Sports Consultants recommended that ‘Bama be a 4 ½-point favorite Sunday night, most betting shops opened the Tide as a seven-point ‘chalk.’ As of Friday afternoon, this number had not moved much at all with only a few books briefly adjusting by one-half point either way.

Most spots had the total at 55 ½ or 56, while gamblers could back the Hogs to win outright for a plus-230 return (risk $100 to win $230).

BoDog was one of those betting shops that moved to 7 ½ early Wednesday afternoon. BoDog Sportsbook Manager Richard Gardner told VI, “Alabama really stands out as the most one-sided action we’ve taken, forcing us to move off the key number to 7 ½.”

During Thursday’s edition of the Power Hours on VI Radio, Gardner said the Tide were still at 7 ½, but most books in Vegas were stuck on seven.

Nick Saban’s team has been dominant in rolling to blowout wins over San Jose St. (48-3), Penn St. (24-3) and Duke (62-13). Even without reigning Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram for the first two games, the defending national champs showed no signs of slippage.

Trent Richardson filled in just fine, scoring a pair of touchdowns against the Spartans before rushing 22 times for 144 yards and one TD against PSU. For the season, Richardson has 39 carries for 271 yards and four touchdowns for a 6.9 yards-per-carry average.

When Ingram returned last week at Duke, all he did was bust off a 48-yard run on his first touch. Ingram finished with nine carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Blue Devils.

Arkansas beat up on a pair of scrub squads (Tennessee Tech and ULM) at home before going on the road to Athens last week. The Hogs jumped out to a 24-10 lead, only to watch the Dawgs pull even late in the fourth quarter. UGA actually had the ball back with a chance to go ahead before a promising drive stalled near midfield with more than a minute remaining.

As it turned out, that was entirely too much time to leave Ryan Mallett. The Michigan transfer quickly guided his team into UGA territory. Then with 15 seconds left, he found Greg Childs streaking down the left sideline for a 40-yard scoring strike to give Arkansas a 31-24 win as a one-point road underdog.

If Mallett can have a big game and lead a stirring upset over the top-ranked Tide, he will obviously catapult himself to the top of the Heisman candidate list. So far this year, Mallett has completed 70 percent of his passes for 1,081 yards with a 9/2 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Meanwhile, McElroy has connected on 71.7 percent of his attempts for 705 yards with a 6/1 TD-INT ratio.

Both QBs have big-time weapons. In fact, the Hogs’ D.J. Williams might be the nation’s premier tight end. Williams has hauled in 14 catches for 173 yards.

When McElroy wants to stretch the field, he usually looks for junior WR Julio Jones, who has 15 receptions for 248 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Jones averages 16.5 yards per catch.

When these schools met last season at Bryant-Denny Stadium, McElroy threw for a career-high 291 yards and three TDs to lead the Tide to a 35-7 victory as a 17 ½-point home ‘chalk.’

Alabama has won three in a row over the Hogs, who last prevailed in 2006 by capturing a 24-23 decision in double overtime.

On Petrino’s watch, the Hogs own a 4-2 spread record as home underdogs. Meanwhile, ‘Bama is 8-3 ATS in 11 games as a road favorite under Saban.

CBS will provide television coverage at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--Alabama has won 18 straight SEC openers dating back to 1992.

--Florida has won 23 in a row over Kentucky dating back to 1986. The Wildcats haven’t won at The Swamp since 1979. They are 14-point underdogs Saturday night at UF. ESPNU will have the telecast at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

--Cincinnati has failed to cover the number in eight straight games. The Bearcats are 14-point home underdogs Saturday vs. Oklahoma.

--Bowling Green owns a 3-0 spread record to date, taking the cash as an underdog in losses at Troy and at Tulsa before beating Marshall 44-28 last week as a four-point puppy. The Falcons are 25 ½-point underdogs Saturday at Michigan, but they will be without starting QB Matt Schilz, who sustained a shoulder injury against the Thundering Herd. Before the Falcons lost their QB, I was planning on backing them catching this huge number at The Big House. However, I can’t be confident in a back-up QB getting his first start on the road.

--Wake Forest owns a 14-7 spread record in 21 double-digit underdog spots during Jim Grobe’s 10-year tenure. FSU had lost six in a row ATS as a double-digit ‘chalk’ until taking the cash in last week’s win over BYU. When I asked Bruce Marshall about this game earlier this week, he said, “Wake really ran into a buzzsaw last week, but it didn’t show much resistance defensively against Duke, either. Grobe has had some NFL-type talent in recent years, but I’m not so sure that he does this season, so I’m staying away from Wake Forest until further notice. As for FSU, going to Oklahoma was just a little too much, but Jimbo Fisher is starting to establish some balance offensively. I think FSU is the side or pass the game."

--I also asked Marshall about Va. Tech’s trip to BC as a four-point favorite. Marshall said, “I still think Va. Tech is probably the best team in the ACC. The losses to Boise and James Madison could’ve clearly gone either way. I think this week the Hokies take that positive step toward turning this season back around.”

[Kaptain]

Get em bum

The Early Day Games:

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
09/24/10 1-1-0 50.00% -50 Detail
09/23/10 0-2-0 0.00% -1100 Detail
09/18/10 44-45-2 49.44% -2750 Detail
09/17/10 1-3-0 25.00% -1150 Detail
09/16/10 2-0-0 100.00% +1000 Detail
09/11/10 38-39-0 49.35% -2450 Detail
09/10/10 1-3-0 25.00% -1150 Detail
09/09/10 2-2-0 50.00% -100 Detail
09/06/10 1-3-0 25.00% -1150 Detail
09/05/10 3-1-0 75.00% +950 Detail
09/04/10 26-27-1 49.06% -1850 Detail
09/03/10 3-1-0 75.00% +950 Detail
09/02/10 6-7-1 46.15% -850 Detail
Totals 128-134-4 48.85% -9700

Saturday, September 25Game Score Status Pick Amount

Buffalo - 12:00 PM ET Connecticut -20 500
Connecticut - Under 48.5 500

North Carolina State - 12:00 PM ET Georgia Tech -8 500
Georgia Tech - Under 58 500

Central Michigan - 12:00 PM ET Northwestern -6.5 500 *****
Northwestern - Under 51 500

Virginia Tech - 12:00 PM ET Virginia Tech -4 500 *****
Boston College - Under 47 500

Florida International - 12:00 PM ET Florida International +12 500 *****
Maryland - Over 45 500

Bowling Green - 12:00 PM ET Bowling Green +25.5 500*****
Michigan - Over 57.5 500

Ball State - 12:00 PM ET Iowa -28 500 *****
Iowa - Over 46 500

Toledo - 12:00 PM ET Toledo +11.5 500 *****
Purdue - Over 50 500

Alabama-Birmingham - 12:20 PM ET Tennessee -14 500
Tennessee - Under 51 500

Central Florida - 12:30 PM ET Kansas State -7 500
Kansas State - Over 45.5 500

Miami (Ohio) - 2:00 PM ET Miami (Ohio) +20 500 *****
Missouri - Over 51.5 500

Air Force - 2:00 PM ET Air Force -13.5 500 *****
Wyoming - Over 50 500

Army - 3:00 PM ET Duke -6.5 500
Duke - Over 55.5 500

Southern California - 3:00 PM ET Washington State +22 500
Washington State - Under 55.5 500

Alabama - 3:30 PM ET Alabama -7 500 *****
Arkansas - Under 56.5 500

Wake Forest - 3:30 PM ET Florida State -20 500 *****
Florida State - Over 62.5 500

North Carolina - 3:30 PM ET North Carolina -2.5 500
Rutgers - Under 44.5 500

Eastern Michigan - 3:30 PM ET Ohio State -44 500
Ohio State - Under 57 500

Temple - 3:30 PM ET Temple +14 500 *****
Penn State - Under 43.5 500

UCLA - 3:30 PM ET UCLA +15.5 500 *****
Texas - Over 43 500

Arkansas State - 3:30 PM ET Troy -10.5 500
Troy - Under 67.5 500

Tulane - 3:30 PM ET Houston -19 500
Houston - Over 56.5 500

Stanford - 3:30 PM ET Notre Dame +4.5 500*****
Notre Dame - Over 59.5 500

Idaho - 4:00 PM ET Idaho -8 500 *****
Colorado State - Under 50.5 500

Oklahoma - 6:00 PM ET Cincinnati +14 500 *****
Cincinnati - Under 52 500

Nevada - 6:00 PM ET Nevada -4 500 *****
Brigham Young - Over 63 500



Good Luck !

Evening games will be posted later..check back.....

gl BUM....w/ ya on the ones markwed in RED......as always, thanks, and have a good day

[StarDust Bum]

Love to see when we match Kapt.......good luck to us....