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**StarDust Bum** · 12-01-2010, 07:53 PM

NCAAF Odds: Nebraska, Oklahoma meet one more time

The Nebraska Cornhuskers and Oklahoma Sooners have provided a lot of footage for highlight reels over the years going back to their great matchups in the old Big Eight Conference. The annual rivalry faded some when the Big 12 formed in 1996, leaving the two schools to meet just twice every four seasons.

The sheen will be back when the rivalry is renewed once more Saturday night in Arlington, Texas where the two schools collide in the Big 12 Championship matchup at Cowboys Stadium. It's Nebraska's final game as a member of the Big 12 before the 'Huskers join the Big Ten in 2011. Given the acrimonious atmosphere surrounding their departure, they'd like nothing more than to exit the conference as champions and punch a ticket to the Fiesta Bowl in January.

If Nebraska is going out a winner, it will have to do so against the college football odds. Oklahoma is listed as a 3½-point favorite at most offshore outlets with Saturday's total set at 54 points.

Nebraska capped a 10-2 season with a 45-17 win versus Colorado last week to sew up the Big 12 North title. The Cornhuskers easily covered the 18-point spread with a dominating performance in which they controlled the clock by nearly a 2:1 margin against the Buffaloes, converting 11-of-17 third down plays on offense.

Sophomore Rex Burkhead starred for the 'Huskers in the victory, rushing for 101 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and adding two touchdown passes, one of the half-back option variety and the other as the pivot out of the wildcat formation.

The triumph stopped a three-game losing streak for Nebraska at the window, leaving the Cornhuskers with a 5-7 record against the spread. Bo Pelini's troops were without freshman Taylor Martinez for the game, with the quarterback nursing an ankle injury that was aggravated in a 9-6 loss at Texas A&M two weeks ago.

Oklahoma (10-2 SU, 7-5 ATS) arrives at Cowboys Stadium by virtue of their win over the Cowboys last week, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, that is. The Sooners broke a 24-all tie entering the fourth quarter with 23 points in the final stanza via two bombs and three field goals for the 47-41 win over OSU who was favored by 2½. Oklahoma rolled up 588 yards of offense in the wild affair, 468 coming through the air with Landry Jones completing 37-of-62 passes and overcoming three picks with four TD passes.

The Sooners' win forced a three-way tie in the Big 12 South with Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. Oklahoma earned the right to represent the division by virtue of its higher BCS ranking where the Sooners sit ninth entering this week. The Cowboys are 14th with the Aggies 18th while Nebraska is listed in the No. 13 slot heading into the conference championship.

This will be the second time OU and Nebraska have met for the Big 12 title. The Sooners topped the 'Huskers in the 2006 game, 21-7, as 3½-point favorites with the contest at Arrowhead Stadium in KC staying well below the 45-point game total. The old rivals split their eight regular season meetings as Big 12 opponents with the 'under' 4-2 in the last six meetings, including that '06 championship.

One of those 'unders' came in the most recent meeting at Nebraska in Nov. 2009. The Cornhuskers slipped past Oklahoma, 10-3, in a defensive struggle that closed with the Sooners 4½-point chalk.

Oklahoma is appearing in the Big 12 championship for a seventh time with Nebraska making its sixth trip to the game.

The Cornhuskers, heavy 14-point underdogs, lost a controversial 13-12 decision last December to Texas in the '09 Big 12 Championship. You can bet the referees will be the focus for Husker Nation in this one after that contest was fueled by more controversy surrounding the men in the striped shirts calling Nebraska games this season.

Kickoff is 5 p.m. PT with ABC providing the pictures. Weather should be fine with mostly clear skies and a temperature in the low-to-mid 60s for the start of the game.

As the owner of a Cornhuskers futures odds ticket to win the conference, there's no reason to back off that now. Gimme' Nebraska and the hooked field goal for Saturday.

**StarDust Bum** · 12-01-2010, 07:55 PM

College Football Odds: USC at UCLA

The Southern California Trojans and UCLA Bruins each have 1-4 spread records in their last five contests. Saturday night’s college football slate has the Pacific-10 Conference rivals squaring off at Rose Bowl Stadium, where UCLA returns home after dropping two straight road spankings.

Sports books opened Southern Cal as a nine-point road favorite, with early Bruins action driving the number south to 6 ½. Betting shops first set the ‘total’ at 54, with initial wagers mixed.

The Trojans blew a late lead in last Saturday’s 20-16 defeat as 4 ½-point home favorites against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. USC allowed Notre Dame’s Robert Hughes to run in a five-yard score with 2:23 remaining after the Trojans’ Joe Houston hit a 37-yard field goal to give his squad a 16-13 advantage.

Southern Cal’s Mitch Mustain passed for 177 yards, completing 20-of-37 attempts. The senior quarterback tossed his first interception in his first start of the season replacing the injured Matt Barkley.

The Trojans’ defense allowed 296 yards, with 149 coming through the air. USC’s linebacker duo of Devon Kennard and Chris Galippo grabbed one interception each, while safety Marshall Jones recorded the team’s third.

The tight battle’s combined 36 points plunged ‘under’ the ‘total’ of 51. Southern Cal was penalized eight times for 47 yards, while the Fighting Irish were flagged only once.

USC is 4-2 ATS in its first six road games, with the ‘total’ going an even 3-3. Lane Kiffin’s crew has notched 32.8 PPG in that stretch, while allowing 404.7 YPG.

UCLA’s latest defeat came in last Friday’s 55-34 setback as a 13-point road dog against the Arizona State Sun Devils. The Bruins saw their 17-0 lead in the first quarter get erased by halftime, going on to trail by as many as 28 points.

Bruins quarterback Richard Brehaut connected on 33-of-56 passes for 321 yards. The sophomore notched a season-high four touchdowns, finishing with three through the air while carrying in one.

UCLA’s Johnathan Frankin logged 73 yards of rushing on 14 carries. The Los Angeles native failed to reach the end zone for the first time in three games.

The Bruins’ defense gave up a sizable 595 yards, while allowing Arizona State to move the chains on 8-of-16 third down spots. Linebacker Sean Westgate notched his squad’s sole sack, setting up a fourth-and-long situation which resulted in a blocked punt.

The shootout’s combined 89 points soared above the ‘total’ of 49, ending a 2-0 ‘under’ streak from the Bruins’ prior two games. UCLA’s offense notched 30 first downs in its 32 minutes of possession.

The Bruins are 2-3 ATS in their first five home dates, with the ‘over’ also going 2-3. Rick Neuheisel’s squad has rushed for 227.2 YPG in that span, while giving up 23.8 PPG.

UCLA is 4-2 ATS in its last six meetings against the Trojans, with the ‘under’ cashing at 5-1. The Bruins have mustered only seven points in each of the most recent three matchups, including last November’s 28-7 loss as 13-point road dogs.

Barkley (ankle) is questionable for this contest as are four USC defensive backs–Brian Baucham, T.J. McDonald, Tyron Smith and Torin Harris. Two UCLA defensive lineman, Cassius Marsh and Andrew Abbott, are questionable with concussions.

Saturday’s kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (PT). The weather forecast in Pasadena calls for a low of 46 degrees, with calm winds and a 30-percent chance of showers.

Southern Cal will await its postseason fate amongst a tight conference race, presently tied with Arizona, Oregon State and Washington for third place at 4-4. UCLA enters the rivalry game without bowl eligibility, currently clinging to the group’s ninth position with a 2-6 mark.

**StarDust Bum** · 12-01-2010, 07:56 PM

NCAA football betting action rocks BCS

With just one week to go in the college football betting campaign, it appears as though everything is fairly set...for now.

What we learned in unlucky Week 13 this year first and foremost was that the Boise State Broncos did not really belong in the BCS picture. The Broncos are unlikely to hear their names called by a BCS bowl game this year due to the fact that they could not put the Nevada Wolf Pack away in a nationally televised showdown on Friday night. Many loved Boise State laying two touchdowns on the college football odds, but QB Kellen Moore and company just couldn't figure out how to lay waste to Nevada.

To make matters worse for the men from the Smurf Turf, they didn't even win the WAC crown this year. The Wolf Pack clinched the conference title on Friday.

The other major lesson that we learned was that the Auburn Tigers and QB Cam Newton are both as good as advertised. The Tigers could have easily just folded up tent Friday afternoon at Bryant Denny Stadium after they fell behind 24-0 in a dominating first 20 minutes of football by 'Bama. But Newton would not let his troops die easily.

Auburn kept chipping away at the lead before finally making the big breakthrough at the end, a Newton TD pass with less than 12 minutes to play that put the Tigers ahead for good.

The upset in Tuscaloosa over the Alabama Crimson Tide was easily the biggest win for any team this season, and it probably was the game that sewed up the Heisman Trophy for Newton.

Conference crowns and berths in BCS conference title games were flying all over the place in Week 13 as well. The Florida State Seminoles might have had the greatest day of any team in the country on Saturday, as they beat the Florida Gators after six consecutive defeats, while the Maryland Terrapins knocked off the NC State Wolfpack. The Noles won the ACC Atlantic Division as a result of the Maryland 'W.'

The Oklahoma Sooners might have had a tumultuous season, but they are likely to be the favorites to win the Big XII after they have disposed of the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Bedlam. Presumably, the Sooners are going to be the highest ranked Big 12 South team in the BCS rankings when they come out later on Sunday, and if that is the case, they'll go the Big XII Championship Game to face longtime rivals Nebraska.

The Wisconsin Badgers, Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan State Spartans all finished up 11-1 seasons this year as well, but only two of the three are going to be able to go to the BCS. In all likelihood, the Badgers are going to Pasadena as the Big Ten champ, while the Buckeyes will be heading to another BCS bowl game.

Michigan State, Nevada and Boise State will be the only one loss teams that don't end up in a major bowl game this year as a result.

The LSU Tigers had their chance to join this fray, but they were beaten in the battle for the Golden Boot on Saturday afternoon by the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Hogs are now huge fans of Auburn next week, as in all likelihood, they will be going to the BCS if the Tigers take care of the South Carolina Gamecocks in the BCS Championship Game.

Next week is Championship Week, and it is always the big one that help separates the haves and the have nots in college football. We've already discussed the SEC Championship Game between Auburn and South Carolina, and we already know that the Virginia Tech Hokies will take on the Florida State Seminoles. The Sooners should be battling the Nebraska Cornhuskers as long as the computers don't play some tricks on us.

Don't forget about the Civil War though, as this year's edition has some huge implications. The Oregon Ducks are the No. 1 team in the land and are one win away from going to the National Championship Game. Standing in their way is a trip to Corvallis against the Oregon State Beavers, who know that they must win this game to go to a bowl game in December.

**StarDust Bum** · 12-01-2010, 07:58 PM

College Football Betting: Wildcats host Sun Devils

The Pac-10 starts the college football week in fine fashion Thursday night when the Arizona Wildcats host their in-state rival Arizona State Sun Devils.

Bookmaker.com has Arizona as six-point home ‘chalk’ with a lofty total of 54 ½-points. The ‘over’ is 7-4 for both teams this year.

The Wildcats (7-4 straight-up, 6-5 against the spread) are on a three-game losing streak. A 42-17 debacle at Stanford was followed by a 24-21 home loss to USC. They did have a week off to regroup before another very tough game at Oregon last Friday night.

The final score was 48-29, but the game was closer than the score indicates. Arizona led 19-14 at the half and it was a five-point deficit (27-22) late in the third quarter. The Wildcats did get the ‘cover’ as 20 ½-point ‘dogs.

One bright spot against Oregon was quarterback Nick Foles. He was 29-of-54 (53.7 percent) for a career-high 448 yards. He also had three TDs versus just one interception, giving him six TDs and one pick in the last two games.

Arizona is 0-3 SU since Foles returned from missing two games with a knee injury. Running back Nic Grigsby had 16 carries last week for 44 yards after missing the USC game with an ankle injury.

Grigsby forms a solid tandem on paper with the diminutive Keola Antolin, but team was badly out-gained in rushing against Oregon (389-58) and USC (205-51). A heavy passing day could be in order again as Arizona State ranks 17th nationally in run defense (119.2 YPG).

Arizona’s defense is allowing just 20.8 PPG this season (32nd nationally), but that numbers skyrockets to 38 PPG in the last three. Part of the problem was better competition, but the ‘D’ also needs to regain its swagger.

This game has big bowl implications for the Wildcats. A win likely puts them in the Alamo Bowl. A loss will likely send them to the Holiday Bowl.

Arizona State (5-6 SU, 7-2-2 ATS) is eliminated from bowl contention because two of its wins (Portland State, Northern Arizona) are from Division I-AA.

Despite their bowl situation, the Sun Devils have made things very uncomfortable for their opponents. Four of their losses are by four points or less, including BCS No.4 Stanford and No. 5 Wisconsin. The 20-19 Wisconsin loss came in Madison, a very tough place to play.

Arizona State’s last game was a 55-34 home win over UCLA last Friday as 13-point favorites. Sophomore quarterback Brock Osweiler came in with Steven Threet (concussion) injured and his team trailing 10-0. All he did was throw for 380 yards, four TDs and no picks.

The 6-foot-8 Osweiler will get the start against Arizona even if Threet is healthy. Threet, a Michigan transfer, has had a decent year with 2,534 passing yards, but has been plagued with interceptions (16).

ASU’s rushing game hasn’t been great at 140.8 YPG (79th nationally), but Cameron Marshall (724 yards) has broken a couple of long runs the last two weeks. Still, this game looks to be decided on quarterback play.

Arizona State’s 7-2-2 ATS mark is one of the best in the country. That includes a 3-1-1 road mark despite being 1-4 SU.

In addition to the Threet injury, Arizona State starting guard Andrew Sampson is questionable with a groin injury.

Arizona has won this matchup (the Territorial Cup) the last two years. The last home game was a 31-10 win in 2008 as 11 ½-point favorites. The ‘under’ is 5-0 in the last five meetings.

ABC will have the kickoff from Arizona Stadium at 5 p.m. (PT). Weather should be clear and in the 60s.

**StarDust Bum** · 12-01-2010, 09:54 PM

NEW TGS COVER STORY...CONFERENCE TITLE GAME NOTEBOOK

by Bruce Marshall, Goldsheet.com Editor

For those who suggest the BCS and the bowl system are good for college football simply because they get the masses talking about the sport, well, in a convoluted way, they might be right. Media chatter this week is going to be all about who might end up in the BCS title game, although it appears as if only one (the SEC) of the conference championship clashes this week will have any bearing whatsoever on the final matchup, to be played Monday, January 10 at Glendale, AZ. Of course, to suggest that folks wouldn't be talking more about college football if a true playoff were on the horizon is a different matter entirely, but for now, the BCS (and the conference title games) will have to do.

Our apologies for rehashing the BCS debate, which we reluctantly reintroduced to these pages last week when reviewing the new book by Yahoo Sports' Dan Wetzel, Jeff Passan, and Josh Peter entitled Death to the BCS. But the response to our review has caught us a bit by surprise; we heard more comments (all positive, by the way) about our review than we have for any story we've written in recent years. Our review was even referenced in other media sources, including Matt Youmans' feature story in last Friday's Las Vegas Review-Journal. The masses apparently aren't tired of hearing about why the BCS is so flawed, and we know of several orders for the new book penned by Wetzel, et al. based upon our review. Don't worry, we're not in line for any royalties, but the response indicates to us that occasional mention of the BCS folly will be fair game in the coming weeks, especially as we relate it to the new book by Wetzel & friends. And the conference title games themselves are a curious byproduct of the system as it now exists, and a part of the broader discussion Death to the BCS has brought to the forefront.

Before we go any further, a bit of background on the conference title games is in order. Historically, they're a rather new addition to the college football calendar. Indeed, prior to 1992, they didn't exist at all. It was the SEC that first got the conference championship ball rolling, breaking rank with the rest of the college football world and introducing what was a revolutionary concept 18 years ago, taking advantage of a loophole in NCAA bylaws that permitted conferences with 12 teams or more (of which the SEC was the first) to conduct league championship games. The rest of the college football world watched the 1992 SEC "experiment" closely, and its subsequent success served as the impetus for many of the changes we've seen in the college landscape since. It's a fact that the commercial success of the SEC title game was the main trigger in the creation of expanded "mega-conferences" (such as the Big XII and ACC) and certainly blazed a trail for other leagues to conduct their own championship extravaganzas.

Now, for the sixth straight year, five conference title games will be contested, although changes are on the horizon. Next year, both the Big Ten (with twelve teams, thanks to the addition of Nebraska) and the newly-minted Pac-12 (which adds Utah and Colorado) will add their names to leagues conducting such special championship affairs. There will also be a casualty next season when the Big XII temporarily ceases to be the Big XII (in number of teams, that is) and will suspend its championship game, ostensibly until two new members are added. Although predicting the future composition and existence of leagues can be risky business these days; witness the wild negotiations of this past spring and summer, when, among other developments, the Pac-10's hostile takeover bid of the Big XII (and its most-plum nuggets) was thwarted at the last moment. For the record, the Big Ten, Pac-10, SEC, Mountain West, and Big East have yet to dismiss further expansion plans. There's a possibility of more conference shuffling and that more leagues beyond the Pac-12 and Big Ten will be lining up conference championship games in the near future. Stay tuned for further developments.

Meanwhile, what we find ironic about the conference title games is how they effectively repudiate one of the main anti-playoff arguments often expounded by supporters of the status quo, that being student-athletes missing additional class time. As Wetzel & Co. pointed out in their book, the chancellor at Nebraska, Harvey Perlman, recently commented on the matter, adding that not only might student-athletes miss more academic work, but a playoff would "...interfere with the academic calendar or impinge upon the academic missions of our universities." As Wetzel & Co. note, as we have in the past, lower division schools participate in football playoffs every year and don't seem to think a few extra games impinge upon the "academic mission" of the institutions of learning. Moreover, as Wetzel & Co. remind their readers, Perlman and other university presidents are happy to cash checks from college basketball and its well-formulated Big Dance, itself an extended playoff. And if Perlman and his counterparts were really serious about limiting the dates on the football calendar, why add the conference title games, or allow the regular season to be expanded to 12 games, yet remain so opposed to any playoff idea?

The answer is pretty simple, as the conference title games are like extra bowls that allow the conferences to keep the revenues in house, rather than involving the outside interests that run the bowls. Although their popularity remains a bit hard to quantify. Outside of the SEC event, which usually has a bearing on the eventual BCS title game, other conference championships have not necessarily been big ticket-sellers, save for certain matchups in the Big XII. The ACC has struggled with the live gate at its title games since they began in 2005, and the MAC certainly doesn't fill Detroit's Ford Field for its annual event, either. Interestingly, the Pac-12 has announced that its first title game in 2011 will follow the Conference USA formula, with campus sites hosting the game based upon regular-season performance.

Handicapping-wise, there have, however, been some interesting conference-specific pointspread and "totals"-related trends that merit some extra attention. The most noteworthy of those are highlighted in the following league-by-league title game histories. Included are results since 2003.

SEC...Eighteen games since 1992, with favorites 14-4 straight up, but only 8-10 vs. the pointspread. The first two (1992 & '93) were held at Birmingham's Legion Field; since '94, all have been played at Atlanta's Georgia Dome. It's about time we get some new blood in the SEC title game; East Division champ South Carolina will make its first-ever appearance in the big shebang at the Georgia Dome when it tries to wreck Auburn's BCS title game chances on Saturday. As for the Tigers, they'll be making their first trip to the title game since 2004. It will also be refreshing to not have to deal with another dose of Florida vs. Alabama, which has been the matchup a whopping seven times in the past. 2009-Alabama 32 - Florida (-5) 13 ("over" 41); 2008-Florida (-10) 31 - Alabama 20 ("under" 521/2); 2007-LSU (-71/2) 21 - Tennessee 14 ("under" 60); 2006-Florida (-21/2) 38 - Arkansas 28 ("over" 441/2); 2005-Georgia (+ 11/2) 34- LSU 14 ("over" 401/2); 2004-Auburn (-141/2) 38 - Tennessee 28 ("over" 471/2); 2003-LSU (-3) 34 - Georgia 13 ("over" 42).

BIG XII...Fourteen games since 1996, with favorites winning twn of those and covering nine. First game held at St. Louis' Edward Jones Dome (1996), then next four at San Antonio's Alamodome (1997-2000), which also hosted the 2007 game. The 2001 renewal was at Texas Stadium, Irving; 2002 & 2005 at Houston's Reliant Stadium; 2003, '04, '06, and '08 at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City. Last year and this year at Jerry Jones' new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. In its early years, the Big XII title game was famous for its upsets; both Nebraska (vs. Texas in the first title game back in 1996) and Kansas State (vs. Texas A&M in 1998) blew chances at Bowl Alliance/BCS title games when shocked as double-digit chalk, respectively, in the conference championship tilt. K-State returned the upset favor in '03 when it blasted 14-point favorite Oklahoma, although the Sooners still qualified for that year's BCS title game. Prior to Texas' hair-raising 13-12 win over Nebraska last December, Big XII title games were noted for their blowouts, with six of the previous seven (including that K-State romp in '03) decided by 21 or more, and the other (Oklahoma over Nebraska in 2006) decided by 14. Until last year's aforementioned nailbiter between Texas and Nebraska, favorites had won and covered five straight since that Kansas State upset over the Sooners in '03. 2009-Texas (-14) 13 - Nebraska 12 ("under 461/2); 2008-Oklahoma (-161/2) 62 - Missouri 21 ("over" 79); 2007-Oklahoma (-3) 38 - Missouri 17 ("under" 65); 2006-Oklahoma (-31/2) 21 - Nebraska 7 ("under" 451/2); 2005-Texas (-261/2) 70 - Colorado 3 ("over" 601/2); 2004-Oklahoma (-22) 42 - Colorado 3 ("under" 541/2); 2003-Kansas State (+14) 35 - Oklahoma 7 ("under" 54).

MAC...Thirteen games since 1997, with favorites 8-5 straight up and 6-7 vs. the pointspread. Prior to 2004 (when the game was moved indoors to Detroit's Ford Field), MAC championships had been contested at campus sites. Marshall participated in the first five MAC championship battles (Randy Moss played in the first one!), winning four of them. 2009-Central Michigan (-131/2) 20 - Ohio 10 ("under" 54); 2008-Buffalo (+151/2) 42 - Ball State 24 ("over" 63); 2007-Central Michigan (-3) 35 - Miami Ohio 10 ("under" 631/2); 2006-Central Michigan (-31/2) 31 - Ohio 10 ("under' 451/2); 2005-Akron (+13) 31 - Northern Illinois 30 ("over" 52); 2004-Toledo (+11/2) 35 - Miami-Ohio 27 ("under" 64); 2003 - Miami-Ohio (-7) 49 - Bowling Green 27 ("over" 581/2).

ACC... Five games since 2005, with favorites 3-2 straight up and vs. the pointspread. First three games held at Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium; 2008 and 2009 games held at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa; this year at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte. 2009-Georgia Tech (-1) 39 - Clemson 34 ("over" 561/2); 2008-Virginia Tech (+11/2) 30 - Boston College 12 ("over" 43); 2007-Virginia Tech (-41/2) 30 - Boston College 16 ("under" 47); 2006-Wake Forest (-2) 9 - Georgia Tech 6 ("under" 40); 2005-Florida State (+14) 27 - Virginia Tech 22 ("over" 441/2).

CONFERENCE USA...Like the ACC, began in 2005, with five games since; favorites (and home teams) 3-2 straight up and vs. the pointspread. C-USA title games have been held at campus sites, with the home team noted by an *. 2009-East Carolina* 38 - Houston (-2) 33 ("over" 69); 2008-East Carolina (+121/2) 27 - Tulsa* 24 ("under" 651/2); 2007-UCF* (-71/2) 44 - Tulsa 27 ("under" 74); 2006-Houston* (-5) 34 - Southern Miss 20 ("over" 531/2); 2005-Tulsa (-2) 44 - UCF* 27 ("over" 561/2).

WAC...Three title games at Las Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadium between 1996-98, with favorites winning all 3, and covering 2.

Next week: Bowl Look-Ahead.

**StarDust Bum** · 12-01-2010, 09:56 PM

TGS COLLEGE FOOTBALL UPDATE...LOOKING FOR AN ANGLE?

by Gary Olshan, Senior Analyst

Arizona State at ARIZONA (Thursday)...No place like the road in this rivalry for the Territorial Cup, as visitor 13-4-1 vs. spread (9-9 SU) since 1991. In 20-17 Wildcat victory LY, U of A kicked game-winning 32-yd. FG on final play after ASU had muffed punt on its own 22-yd. line in previous series. U of A has won back-to-back games in series for 1st time since 1997-98. Nine of last 10 in series have gone "under."

Utah State at BOISE STATE...BSU is 39-18 as blue-carpet chalk since 2000, and Broncos are 5-0-2 vs. spread last 7 vs. Utah State.

Southern Cal at UCLA...Bruins have dropped 10 of last 11 SU in series, but UCLA had covered 3 straight vs. hated crosstown rival USC before LY's 28-7 setback in Coliseum. Bruins had nearly as many yards as Trojans (322-336), but had 3 more giveaways, including momentum-swinging 62-yd int. return for TD in 1st Q. Recall the bench-clearing near melee that erupted in the final minute after then-SC HC Pete Carroll called for a long bomb pass (rather than take a knee) that resulted in a TD with Trojans already up 21-7. Last 4 in series "under."

Pitt at CINCINNATI...In the long-standing River City Rivalry (1st meeting in 1921), Cincy overcame 31-10 deficit in 45-44 squeaker at Pitt LY, securing its 2nd straight Big East title.

Unlv at HAWAII...UH is 6-0 vs. spread in Honolulu TY, while Rebels 0-5 as an away dog in '10. Warriors out to avenge 34-33 loss in Las Vegas LY, giving up winning TD with :36 left.

Nevada at LOUISIANA TECH...Nevada has won 5 straight in series (4-1 vs. spread) by an avg. margin of 24 points.

Oregon at OREGON STATE...OSU has had its Rose Bowl dreams abruptly dashed in the "Civil War" past 2 seasons. Instead, Ducks won trip to Pasadena in LY's 36-33 victory in Eugene, thanks to RB L. James, who scampered for 166 yds. & 3 TDs. Last 8 in series have gone "over."

Connecticut at SOUTH FLORIDA...Four of last 5 in series decided by total of just 18 pts. In LY's 29-27 barnburner, UConn kicked winning 42-yd FG with :00 on clock, after USF had scored go-ahead TD with :40 left. Husky QB Frazer was en fuego, hitting 20 of 30 for 225 yds. & 2 TDs, despite only 73 YR (on 16 carries) from star RB Todman.

Washington at WASHINGTON STATE...Wazzu had sprung back-to-back upsets in Apple Cup rivalry before getting its comeuppance in 30-0 whitewash in Seattle LY. Previous 5 in series had been fiercely-competitive (decided by cumulative 20 pts.!) until '09. Huskies 4-7 vs. spread TY, while overachieving Cougs 5-1 vs. spread last 6 as avg. 25-pt. dog.

Rutgers at WEST VIRGINIA...Rutgers is on 15-game series losing streak, and Knights on pointspread downturn, going 2-9 vs. spread TY.

**xstac2169** · 12-01-2010, 10:40 PM

Absolutely love the write-ups and insights... good luck this week!!

**StarDust Bum** · 12-01-2010, 10:43 PM

X.....I try to get as much information as i can for us.......the more i can find the better chance we have......and sometimes to much infor can be confusing also...............

Just use all of this information to your advantage......

Good Luck All !!

**Udog** · 12-02-2010, 01:31 PM

Originally posted by StarDust Bum View Post

BIG XII... Prior to Texas' hair-raising 13-12 win over Nebraska last December, Big XII title games were noted for their blowouts, with six of the previous seven (including that K-State romp in '03) decided by 21 or more, and the other (Oklahoma over Nebraska in 2006) decided by 14.

This is a very interesting point. This game has generally been a snoozer. I would expect a good contest this year except for one thing. Landry Jones is very easily rattled. Once that happens, opposing defenses have a field day.

He did hold it together fairly well against Oklahoma State but it could very easily have gone bad early in the third quarter. He got a couple of lucky breaks at just the right time.

Nebraska's defensive line is a good deal better than OSU's, though. If the kid gets shaky handed early, and the Cornhusker's defense scores once or twice, it will be another blowout.

Now, with that said, I'll say I SURE HOPE I'M WRONG! BOOMER SOONER!!!

**shoeman530** · 12-02-2010, 03:17 PM

Thanks for the write-ups SDB!

**StarDust Bum** · 12-03-2010, 05:08 PM

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
12/02/10 2-0-0 100.00% +1000 Detail
Totals 2-0-0 100.00% +1000

Friday, December 3Game Score Status Pick Amount

Northern Illinois - 7:00 PM ET Northern Illinois -17.5 500
Miami (Ohio) - Over 54 500

Illinois - 10:15 PM ET Illinois -5 500
Fresno State - Over 57.5 500

**StarDust Bum** · 12-03-2010, 06:36 PM

Friday Night Lights
December 3, 2010

Editor's note: Since Nov. 11, Brian Edwards owns a 17-8-1 record (68%, +825) in college football. Don't miss out on his pay-if-it-wins-only selection for tonight!

Gamblers have a pair of games on the docket in college football tonight. First, the MAC Championship Game will be played at Ford Field in Detroit, where Northern Illinois will take on Miami (OH.). Then during the feel-good hours, Illinois will be looking for a little revenge out West against Fresno State. Let’s take a look at both of these contests.

**Northern Illinois vs. Miami (OH.)**

--Most betting shops have installed Northern Illinois (10-2 straight up, 9-1-1 against the spread) as a 17 ½-point favorite with the total in the 54-55 range. Bettors can take the RedHawks to win outright for a plus-800 payout at the Las Vegas Hilton (risk $100 to win $800).

--Jerry Kill’s team has enjoyed a fabulous season with its only losses coming on the road to BCS teams. The Huskies lost their opener by a 27-10 count at Iowa St. and also dropped a 28-22 decision at Illinois. Since the loss to the Illini, NIU has won nine straight games while posting an 8-0-1 spread record.

--NIU breezed through its MAC opponents with seven wins by 14 points or more. The Huskies are coming off a 71-3 win at Eastern Michigan as 25-point road favorites. Jordan Lynch had 142 rushing yards and scored touchdowns on both of his carries, while DeMarcus Grady also found paydirt on both of his rushing attempts that went for 91 yards. QB Chander Harnish, who has a 17/5 touchdown-to-interception ratio for the season, had a pair of scoring strikes last week.

--Miami (OH.) opened its season at The Swamp in Gainesville and gave fits to the Gators for the first three quarters. UF eventually pulled away to win 34-12, but the RedHawks hooked up their backers as 38-point road underdogs. Since then, they have been double-digit underdogs three more times, going 1-2 both SU and ATS.

--Mike Haywood’s team went 1-11 during his first season at the school in 2009. However, the RedHawks brought back 19 starters and finished the regular season with four consecutive wins to get to Motown.

--Miami (OH.) won the MAC East by thumping Temple 23-3 as an 8 ½-point home underdog on Nov. 23. With starting QB Zac Dysert sidelined with an injury to his spleen, back-up signal caller Austin Boucher stepped in and threw for 155 yards and two touchdown passes. But the catalyst for the RedHawks was senior RB Thomas Merriweather, who exploded for 182 rushing yards on 22 carries. Merriweather’s 96-yard TD scamper early in the fourth quarter put the game on ice.

--The ‘under’ has cashed in seven straight games for the RedHawks, who have seen the ‘under’ go 10-2 overall this year. On the flip side, the ‘over’ is 8-3 overall for NIU, cashing in its last three outings.

--When these schools collided on Oct. 24 of 2009, NIU captured a 27-22 win as a 10-point road favorite. The result (NIU outright win, Miami (OH.) cover) has been a familiar theme in this rivalry recently. Although the Huskies have beaten Miami five straight times, it’s the RedHawks that are 7-2 ATS in the last nine head-to-head meetings.

--ESPN2 will have television coverage at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

**Illinois at Fresno State**

--Most books are listing Illinois (6-5 SU, 7-3 ATS) as a 5 ½-point favorite with a total of 58. Bettors can take the Bulldogs on the money line for a plus-180 return (risk $100 to win $180).

--Like Ralph Friedgen at Maryland, Ron Zook has saved his job this year. Check that, he’ll save his job with a win in this spot and may have already done so. In fact, a win in this game could set up Zooker’s team with a bowl-game matchup against his former squad, Florida.

--Fresno State (7-4 SU, 4-6 ATS) had to rally in the fourth quarter last week to beat Idaho 23-20 as a 10 ½-point home favorite. A.J. Ellis scored on a one-yard touchdown run with 14 ticks left to propel the Bulldogs into the win column. The 43 combined points dipped well ‘under’ the 59-point total.

--Fresno State’s go-to RB Ryan Rouse is “doubtful” tonight with bruised ribs. Rouse has enjoyed an excellent sophomore campaign, rushing for 1,097 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has a pair of TD catches and averages 5.7 yards per carry.

--Rouse’s injury isn’t the only one bettors should be concerned with if considering a wager on Fresno St. Three offensive linemen are “questionable,” including OG Andrew Jackson, who was a fourth-team All-American and first-team All-WAC selection last year. Jackson and starting center Joe Bernardi, a second-team All-WAC pick in 2009, missed last week’s win over Idaho with ankle sprains. Last but not least, starting senior cornerback Desia Dunn is “doubtful” with a groin injury.

--Illinois has covered the number in six of its last eight games, including a 48-27 win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field in Chicago two weeks ago. The Illini cruised to the easy victory as a 7 ½-point ‘chalk.’ Mikel LeShoure erupted for a career-high 330 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries. Jason Ford added 86 rushing yards and three TDs on 17 totes. The 75 combined points easily went ‘over’ the 49 ½-point tally.

--Fresno St. has only been a home underdog once this season, dropping a 35-34 decision to Nevada on Nov. 13. The Bulldogs took the cash as 7 ½-point home puppies. Since 2000, Fresno owns a 5-7 spread record in 12 games as a home ‘dog.

--During Zook’s six-year tenure, Illinois has compiled a 3-5 spread record in eight games as a road favorite.

--The ‘over’ has hit in five consecutive games for Illinois. The ‘over’ is 7-3 overall for the Illini, 2-1 in its true road assignments.

--The ‘over’ is 6-4 overall for FSU, but the ‘under’ is 3-2 in its home games with a total.

--When these schools squared off in Champaign-Urbana last year, Pat Hill’s team won a 53-52 thriller as a two-point road underdog. Ryan Mathews, who dons a San Diego Chargers uniform these days, had 173 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Current FSU quarterback Ryan Colburn threw a pair of TD passes and also rushed for 51 yards and one score on just four carries. The two offenses combined for 964 yards of total offense. Obviously, the 'over' was an easy winner.

--Kick-off is slated for 10:15 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.

**StarDust Bum** · 12-03-2010, 06:38 PM

CUSA Championship
December 3, 2010

Saturday’s college football card offers up four championship games and the first battle takes place from Orlando, Florida with the Conference USA title game between SMU (7-5 straight up, 6-6 against the spread) and Central Florida (9-3 SU, 9-3 ATS).

CUSA isn’t a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) conference, which means no big bowl bid to the winner but a likely trip to the Liberty Bowl is on the line.

The Knights locked up the East Division a few weeks ago and they also clinched the opportunity to host the championship from Bright House Networks Stadium. Head coach June Jones and the Mustangs didn’t have an easy path to the title game but they claimed the West Division in their final regular season game.

Last Saturday, SMU stopped East Carolina 45-38 in overtime in a game they almost blew. The Mustangs led 38-24 in the fourth before the Pirates forced overtime with 12 seconds left on a late touchdown. Fortunately, SMU scored first in the extra session and it ended the game by picking off ECU on its first possession.

Offense has never been an issue for Jones, who put up huge numbers during his coaching tenure at Hawaii and nothing has changed in Dallas. We’re not seeing Colt Brennan or Timmy Change-type statistics, but this SMU has shown the ability to score (28.3 PPG). The Mustangs quarterback Kyle Padron (59%, 3,306 yards, 28 TDs) is a nice fit even though his interceptions (10) and sacks (24) have been drive killers. Running back Zach Line (1,297 yards, 10 TDs) has taken the pressure off the passing game but make no mistake that this offense likes to pass first. Padron has four receivers with 30-plus catches or more, led by deep threat Aldrick Robinson (1,182 yards, 12 TDs).

SMU could have trouble putting up points on Saturday since UCF’s defense is the best in the conference. The Knights are allowing 18.9 points per game and 318 yards per game and that says a lot since CUSA has a lot of offensive styles that like to run ‘n shoot.

One of those offenses happens to be Central Florida, which averaged 35 PPG this season. And what’s more impressive is the Knights did it with a freshman quarterback. Since taking over full-time for the injured Rob Calabrese, Jeff Godfrey has shown poise in the pocket (67.4%) plus he can run (529 yards, 10 TDs) out of the spread as well. Running back Ronnie Weaver (855 yards, 11 TDs) has been a workhorse, plus wide receivers Jamar Newsome (567 yards) and Brian Watters (560 yards) have shown consistency on the outside.

Playing this game at home is big boost for Head coach George O’Leary and UCF, but gamblers should be aware that the team is just 4-2 SU and 3-2 ATS in Orlando this season. The losses came to N.C. State (21-28) and Southern Miss (21-31) and the Knights were haunted by turnovers in both affairs. Even though SMU won at ECU last weekend, the Mustangs are just 3-3 both SU and ATS on the road and the two other wins came against a pair of 4-8 schools in Tulane and Rice.

Will UCF limit the mistakes this week and overpower SMU with its ground game? The oddmakers opened the Knights as 9 ½-point favorites and the number hasn’t moved much.

VegasInsider.com handicapper Doug Upstone has found some nice betting angles on this contest and it could surprise you. He said, “Interesting to note Central Florida is only 7-6 ATS at home when favored by 10 1/2 points or less during O’Leary’s tenure and the Ponies are 9-2 ATS as underdogs since last season, losing by just 2 1/2 points a contest.” These two schools didn’t meet this season but UCF has won the last two meetings in 2007 and 2008, both coming in double-digit fashion (49-20, 31-17). The ‘under’ cashed in both these affairs and this week’s total is hovering around 55 points.

Folks looking at the History of the CUSA Championship can point toward the visitor, which has won three of the five title games.

Kickoff for this battle is set for 12:00 p.m. EST, with ESPN2 providing national coverage.

**StarDust Bum** · 12-03-2010, 06:39 PM

SEC Championship Game
December 3, 2010

As usual, there are national-title implications for this year’s SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. In 1992, this event began with a thriller at Legion Field in Tuscaloosa, where Alabama’s Antonio Langham’s interception of a Shane Matthews pass was returned for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to lift the Tide to a 28-21 win over Florida.

Gene Stallings’ team would win the national title in New Orleans less than a month later. Likewise, from 2006-2009, the winner of this game has gone on to win the BCS Championship Game.

Auburn (12-0 straight up, 8-3 against the spread) is in position to make it five straight national champs from out of the SEC, but only if it can get past South Carolina (and another foe in Phoenix) on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.

Most books were listing Gene Chizik’s team as a favorite of either 4 ½ or five points on Wednesday morning, but then a little national news caused the line to be moved. Around lunchtime on the East coast Wednesday, the NCAA released a statement saying that Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was eligible despite the fact that his father had indeed brokered a pay-for-play scheme that Cam and AU were unaware of. (Oh, that won’t open up a can of worms for every middle man in America moving forward.)

With all doubt of a possible Newton suspension removed, most books moved Auburn to a six-point favorite within an hour. As of Thursday morning, however, most spots had the Tigers at 5 ½, while a few others were at five or six. The total was 61, while the Gamecocks were plus-180 to win outright (risk $100 to win $180).

As of Friday afternoon, most books were at 5 ½ and the total was up to 61 ½.

Auburn is coming off an epic comeback win over arch-rival Alabama in Tuscaloosa. In last Friday afternoon’s Iron Bowl, the Crimson Tide raced out to a 24-0 lead and led by a 24-7 score at halftime.

But Newton maintained his composure and led the Tigers back for a 28-27 win as 4 ½-point road underdogs. His third touchdown pass of the game, a seven-yard strike to tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen, put AU ahead for good early in the fourth quarter.

Newton, the SEC’s leading rusher, was limited to 39 yards on the ground, but he did run for his 18th touchdown of the year. The junior signal caller, who appears to be a lock to win the Heisman Trophy if he doesn’t completely implode in Atlanta, has a 24/6 touchdown-to-interception ratio for the season.

Newton has been the perfect fit for Gus Malzahn’s offense and the surrounding cast has also been outstanding. For the most part, Auburn has overcome an average defense and has simply outscored opponents on days that the ‘D’ hasn’t been able to get stops.

Consider this: AU has given up 26 points or more in seven of its 12 games. The Tigers gave up 43 to Arkansas, yet won by more than three touchdowns. They’ve trailed by double digits in four different games, yet remain unbeaten.

South Carolina (9-3 SU, 7-4 ATS) has won three in a row both SU and ATS, including last week’s 29-7 win at Clemson as a 2 ½-point favorite. Stephen Garcia threw for 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns without being intercepted, while Alshon Jeffery hauled in five receptions for 141 yards and one TD.

But Garcia sustained a pair of injuries in the win over Clemson – one to his non-throwing shoulder and another to his right thumb. These dings caused Garcia to miss practice on both Monday and Tuesday before returning to the Proving Ground on Wednesday.

"He threw it around and took most of the reps," SC quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus told GameCockCentral.com on Wednesday night. "He wore a little harness or brace on his shoulder just for tonight to see how it felt. He did all right. He threw the ball around. It feels good and feels much better today. He'll be fine. It was precautionary. He's a tough kid. Tomorrow (Thursday), he'll go out there and let it go."

These teams met back in Week 4 on The Plains, where Auburn rallied from a 20-7 deficit to capture a 35-27 win as a three-point home favorite. Newton threw a pair of TD passes and rushed for 176 yards and three more scores.

Garcia had three TD passes at Auburn, but he was benched by Steve Spurrier when he coughed up two fumbles in the second half. Jeffery had a big game with eight receptions for 192 yards, but Marcus Lattimore was limited to only 33 yards on 14 carries.

Lattimore, the true freshman RB from the Palmetto State, has been the player that’s lifted Spurrier’s program to the next level in the legendary coach’s sixth year at the helm. Lattimore has 1,114 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. He’s also a threat in the passing attack, making 23 catches for 328 yards and two more TDs.

VegasInsider.com handicapper Andy Iskoe is going with the underdog. In a phone conversation earlier this week, Iskoe said, “South Carolina played an excellent game at Auburn early in the year, one the Gamecocks certainly could’ve won if not for several second-half turnovers.

“I don’t give South Carolina a huge coaching advantage because Gene Chizik has done a really good job this season. But there’s no denying that Steve Spurrier has been there and done that in terms of SEC Championship Games, and I do take into account a coaching advantage for the Gamecocks.

Auburn has a 6-2 spread record as a single-digit favorite this year, while South Carolina is 2-1 both SU and ATS as an underdog.

The ‘over’ is 7-4 overall for USC this year, while the ‘over’ has hit at a 6-5 clip in AU’s 11 games with a total.

Kick-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Eastern on CBS.

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