The Bum's October College Football POD's+Trends+Stats+News !

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAF

Saturday, October 5

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Saturday's NCAAF Top 25 betting cheat sheet: Evening action
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Oregon Ducks at Colorado Buffaloes (+38.5, 69)

De'Anthony Thomas, the speedy Ducks junior running back who has six touchdowns while averaging eight yards per carry, is doubtful with an ankle injury. The junior was hurt on the opening kickoff of last week's 55-16 victory over California and did not return, and with No. 18 Washington up next, it would seem Oregon - a 38-point favorite - will not rush him back.

Colorado struggled to contain Oregon State's relentless passing attack in a 44-17 loss last week and is expected to have an even harder time dealing with Ducks dual-threat quarterback Marcus Mariota. The Buffaloes may have found a way to improve on their 103rd-ranked rushing attack as freshman Michael Adkins II rushed for 98 yards against Oregon State in his collegiate debut.

LINE: The Ducks opened -38 and are now -38.5. The total opened at 70 and is down to 69.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-40s with clear skies.

TRENDS:

* Ducks are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 road games.
* Buffaloes are 7-18 ATS in their last 25 games overall.
* Over is 35-17 in Ducks last 52 games overall.


Arkansas Razorbacks at Florida Gators (-11.5, 43)

Arkansas has never had much success against Florida losing eight of their nine previous matchups. Their last game was in 2009 when then-No. 1 Florida needed a field goal with nine seconds left to pull out a 23-20 win. The Razorbacks have dropped two straight after a soft opening schedule, and their powerful rushing game will get a stern test from Florida's top-ranked run defense.

The Gators enter the contest ranked second in the nation total defense but could be without star lineman Dominique Easley and cornerback Marcus Roberson, both of whom are battling knee injuries. Replacing Jeff Driskel, who broke his leg, QB Tyler Murphy completed his first 13 passes last week and finished 15-for-18 for 156 yards.

LINE: The Gators opened at -10 and are currently -11.5. The total opened at 43.

WEATHER: There is a 17 percent chance of rain in the forecast and wind will blow across the field at 6 mph.

TRENDS:

* Razorbacks are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 road games.
* Razorbacks are 1-4 ATS in their last five meetings in Florida.
* Favorite is 6-2 ATS in their last eight meetings.


TCU Horned Frogs at Oklahoma Sooners (-10, 46.5)

The TCU defense has piled up a Big 12-leading 15 sacks and has allowed 59 total rushing yards over the past two games. Sophomore quarterback Trevone Boykin has passed for 625 yards and four touchdowns and has 158 yards on the ground.

The Sooners are allowing 12 points per game – sixth-best nationally – and sophomore middle linebacker Frank Shannon (team-best 27 tackles) and Corey Nelson (21) are leading the charge. Oklahoma leads the series 8-4, including a 24-17 road victory last season.

LINE: Oklahoma opened as a 10.5-point fave and is now -10. The total is 46.5.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-50s with clear skies.

TRENDS:

* Horned Frogs are 1-5 ATS in their last six games overall.
* Sooners are 1-4 ATS in their last five conference games.
* Over is 7-2 in Sooners last nine conference games.


LSU Tigers at Mississippi State Bulldgos (+9.5, 55.5)

The Tigers have recorded more than 400 yards of total offense and scored 30 or more points in each of their first five games for the first time in school history. However, Les Miles’ biggest concern entering this contest has to revolve around a defense that blew a number of coverages due to communication errors on the field and the sideline in the loss to Georgia.

The Bulldogs responded in emphatic fashion to their loss at Auburn on Sept. 14, using a 35-point second quarter to rout Troy 62-7. Mississippi State has outscored its two opponents at home (Alcorn State and Troy) by an 82-7 margin in the first half, including a 58-0 advantage in the second quarter.

LINE: LSU opened as a 10-point road dog and is now -9.5. The total opened at 54.5.

WEATHER: There is a 55 percent chance of rain in the forecast.

TRENDS:

* Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games following a bye week.
* Over is 5-0 in Tigers last five games overall.
* Tigers are 8-1 ATS in their last nine meetings in Mississippi State.


Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+5.5, 62)

Junior quarterback Taylor Kelly has thrown for more than 300 yards in each of the Sun Devils’ first four games, and junior college transfer Jaelen Strong has made an immediate impact with 433 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

The Fighting Irish defense hasn’t been as impressive as last season, but linemen Stephon Tuitt and Louis Nix remain among the best in the country. Linebacker Jarrett Grace has a team-high 37 tackles for Notre Dame, which could struggle to slow down an Arizona State team averaging 44.3 points per game.

LINE: The Irish opened as 5.5-point home dogs. The total opened at 62.

WEATHER: N/A

TRENDS:

* Fighting Irish are 0-5-1 ATS in their last six games overall.
* Over is 5-1 in Sun Devils last six non-conference games.
* Under is 8-2 in Fighting Irish last 10 games following a ATS loss.


Kentucky Wildcats at South Carolina Gamecocks (-21, 54)

Kentucky faces its third straight nationally ranked foe after losses to Louisville and Florida. The Wildcats have been juggling quarterback duties between Maxwell Smith and Jalen Whitlow, with both showing varying degrees of effectiveness. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops would like to go with one signal caller, but is not in a rush to make that call.

South Carolina has only one home game in October, so the No. 12 Gamecocks know they need to get a win over visiting Kentucky on Saturday to make their hopes for a Southeastern Conference Eastern Division crown easier. The Gamecocks struggled a bit against Central Florida last week, thanks in part to a shoulder injury to starting quarterback Connor Shaw, who may be back against the Wildcats.

LINE: The Gamecocks opened as 21-point home faves. The total opened at 55 and is down to 54.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-80s with clear skies.

TRENDS:

* Wildcats are 0-4 ATS in their last four conference games.
* Over is 6-0 in the last six meetings in South Carolina.
* Favorite is 6-2 ATS in their last eight meetings.


West Virginia Mountaineers at Baylor Bears (-28, 69)

West Virginia stumbled out of the gate this season, but turned heads last week when it upset then-No. 11 Oklahoma State at home. Making his first start, Florida State transfer quarterback Clint Trickett threw for 309 yards as the Mountaineers rebounded from an ugly 37-0 loss at Maryland the week before. Trickett, however, injured his shoulder late in the game and is questionable for Saturday.

Baylor averages a gaudy 751.3 yards of offense and 69.7 points, but has played the likes of Wofford, Louisiana-Monroe and Buffalo. The Bears' defense is has allowed just 23 points thus far.

LINE: The Bears opened at -27 and are currently -28. The total opened at 68.5 and is now 69.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-70s and wind will blow across the field at 11 mph.

TRENDS:

* Under is 8-0 in Mountaineers last eight games overall.
* Over is 20-5-1 in Bears last 26 conference games.
* Bears are 15-2 ATS in their last 17 home games.


Ohio State Buckeyes at Northwestern Wildcats (+7, 61)

No. 3 Ohio State attempts to remain undefeated under second-year coach Urban Meyer and stretch the nation’s longest winning streak to 18 games. Ohio State leads the series 59-14-1 and has won the last four meetings.

The two-quarterback system of senior Kain Colter (237 rushing yards, 77.1 percent completion percentage) and junior Trevor Siemian (67.1 completion percentage for 671 yards and four touchdowns) is clicking as the Wildcats are averaging 41.3 points per game.

LINE: The Buckeyes opened as 5.5-point road faves and are now -7. The total opened at 59 and is up to 61.

WEATHER: There is a 56 percent chance of thunderstorms. Wind will blow toward the north endzone at 13 mph.

TRENDS:

* Wildcats are 6-0 ATS in their last six conference games.
* Buckeyes are 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings.
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.


Washington Huskies at Stanford Cardinal (-7.5, 52)

Huskies RB Bishop Sankey ranks first in the nation with 151.8 rushing yards per game and senior quarterback Keith Price ranks 12th in pass efficiency for the Huskies, who haven't trailed all season.

Stanford’s stellar offensive line has helped the Cardinal out rush their last two opponents – Washington State and Arizona State – by a 478-101 margin. The defense is led by linebacker Shayne Skov and linebacker Trent Murphy, who returned an interception for a touchdown last week against the Cougars.

LINE: Stanford opened as a 6.5-point fave and is now -7.5. The total opened at 52.5 and is down to 52.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-70s with clear
skies.

TRENDS:

* Huskies are 1-7 ATS in their last eight road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Under is 7-2 in the last nine meetings.
* Huskies are 1-4 ATS in their last five meetings.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAF

Saturday, October 5

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Washington at Stanford: What bettors need to know
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Washington Huskies at Stanford Cardinal (-7, 52.5)

Stanford aims for its 13th straight win Saturday when the fifth-ranked Cardinal host No. 18 Washington, which is 4-0 for the first time since 2001. The Huskies defeated Stanford 17-13 a year ago in Seattle, but the Cardinal offense has undergone a transformation this season while scoring at least 34 points in each of its first four games. “They’re not nearly as one-dimensional as they were maybe a year ago,” said Washington coach Steve Sarkisian. “We’re going to have to defend everything.”

The Huskies lead the Pac-12 in total defense and will be tested by a Stanford offense that is led by junior quarterback Kevin Hogan, who is 9-0 as a starter. Hogan threw for three touchdowns in last week's 55-17 victory over Washington State and Devon Cajuste added 115 receiving yards, including two long touchdown catches. The Huskies are coming off a 31-13 win over Arizona last Saturday, when junior running back Bishop Sankey had a school-record 40 carries for 161 yards and a score.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE: Stanford opened at -6.5 and has been bet up to -7. Total steady at 52.5.

WEATHER: Temperatures in the mid 70s with clear skies and winds blowing north at 5 mph.

ABOUT WASHINGTON (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12, 3-1 ATS): Sankey ranks first in the nation with 151.8 rushing yards per game and senior quarterback Keith Price ranks 12th in pass efficiency for the Huskies, who haven't trailed all season. While the offense has lived up to expectations, the much-improved defense has been critical to Washington's early success. Safety Sean Parker and linebackers Princeton Fuimaono and Shaq Thompson lead the defense, which is allowing just 3.8 yards per play this season --third-best in the nation.

ABOUT STANFORD (4-0, 2-0, 2-2 ATS): Preseason All-American David Yankey missed last week’s rout of Washington State to attend to a family situation, but he’ll be back at left guard this Saturday. Stanford’s stellar offensive line has helped the Cardinal out rush their last two opponents – Washington State and Arizona State – by a 478-101 margin. The defense is led by linebacker Shayne Skov and linebacker Trent Murphy, who returned an interception for a touchdown last week against the Cougars.

TRENDS:

* Under is 7-2 in the last nine meetings.
* Huskies are 1-3-1 ATS in their last five meetings in Stanford.
* Huskies are 1-4 ATS in their last five meetings.
* Cardinal are 19-6-1 ATS in their last 26 conference games.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. The Cardinal is 32-3 at Stanford Stadium since the final home game of 2007.

2. Washington is outscoring opponents 73-12 in the first half this season.

3. Stanford is 25-1 under coach David Shaw when it gains more rushing yards than its opponent.


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NCAAF

Saturday, October 5

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Arizona State vs. Notre Dame: What bettors need to know
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Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+6, 62)

Arizona State looks to become the first team to defeat USC and Notre Dame in consecutive weeks on Saturday when the 24th-ranked Sun Devils face the Fighting Irish at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Notre Dame likely needs to win its remaining seven contests to reach a BCS bowl, while Arizona State hopes to build on its impressive 62-41 win over the Trojans last Saturday. The Sun Devils generated 612 yards of offense against USC, and they’ll seek to continue that pace against a Notre Dame defense that struggled in losses to Michigan and Oklahoma.

The Sun Devils’ balanced attack is led by senior running back Marion Grice, who leads the FBS in scoring this season with 12 touchdowns and has scored 31 in 17 games. “He’s just phenomenal,” Arizona State coach Todd Graham said. “He has this way of eluding people very smoothly to get to the end zone. He’s a unique back.” In order to keep the Sun Devils’ offense off the field, the Fighting Irish need strong performances from running backs Amir Carlisle, Cam McDaniel and George Atkinson III, who is averaging more than seven yards per carry.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC.

WEATHER: N/A

LINE: Arizona State opened -6.5 and has been bet down as low as -5.5. The total opened 62 and has remained steady.

ABOUT ARIZONA STATE (3-1, 2-2 ATS): Junior quarterback Taylor Kelly has thrown for more than 300 yards in each of the Sun Devils’ first four games, and junior college transfer Jaelen Strong has made an immediate impact with 433 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Safety Alden Darby had two interceptions and seven tackles against USC, but the Sun Devils’ run defense ranks 11th in the Pac-12. All-American defensive lineman Will Sutton, who had 13 sacks last season, is off to a slow start while dealing with constant double-teams.

ABOUT NOTRE DAME (3-2, 0-4-1 ATS): The Fighting Irish defense hasn’t been as impressive as last season, but linemen Stephon Tuitt and Louis Nix remain among the best in the country. Linebacker Jarrett Grace has a team-high 37 tackles for Notre Dame, which could struggle to slow down an Arizona State team averaging 44.3 points per game. The Fighting Irish need a bounce-back effort from quarterback Tommy Rees, who threw two interceptions on his first three passes last week in a 35-21 loss to Oklahoma.

TRENDS:

* Sun Devils are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games overall.
* Fighting Irish are 0-5-1 ATS in their last six games overall.
* Over is 4-0 in Sun Devils' last four neutral site games.
* Under is 19-7 in Fighting Irish's last 26 vs. Pac-12.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Notre Dame is 12-0 under coach Brian Kelly when it does not commit a turnover.

2. Arizona State is 10-0 under Graham when leading at halftime.

3. Notre Dame has won nine of its last 10 regular-season games at an NFL stadium since 1995.

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NCAAF

Saturday, October 5

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Ohio State at Northwestern: What bettors need to know
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Ohio State Buckeyes at Northwestern Wildcats (+7, 61)

No. 3 Ohio State attempts to remain undefeated under second-year coach Urban Meyer and stretch the nation’s longest winning streak to 18 games when it visits No. 15 Northwestern on Saturday night. The Buckeyes have won 28 of the past 29 meetings with the Wildcats, but a rising Northwestern program is a bona fide threat to upset Ohio State. The Wildcats are attempting to start 5-0 for the second straight season and fourth time in six years.

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald is well aware of what’s at stake against the powerful Buckeyes. “When you play a team that’s ranked in the Top 5 that’s playing as well as they are, it’s an incredibly difficult challenge for us,” Fitzgerald said. Ohio State is coming off a 31-24 victory over Wisconsin that featured the return of star quarterback Braxton Miller from a knee injury. The Buckeyes suffered a huge blow against the Badgers by losing standout safety Christian Bryant to a season-ending broken ankle.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ABC.

LINE: Ohio State opened -5.5 and moved to -7. Total opened 59 and moved to 61.

WEATHER: Temperatures in high 60s with 74 percent chance of thunder showers, winds SSW at 12 mph.

ABOUT OHIO STATE (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten Leaders, 3-1-1 ATS): Miller was solid in his return from a Sept. 7 injury by passing for 198 yards and four touchdowns while adding 83 rushing yards against Wisconsin. The offense is averaging 48.2 points per game despite the period without Miller and senior Corey “Philly” Brown (24 receptions, 254 yards) and junior Devin Smith (20 for 331) each have five touchdown receptions, while senior Jordan Hall has rushed for 427 yards and eight scores. Junior outside linebacker Ryan Shazier has a team-leading 37 tackles – including a Big Ten-leading seven tackles for loss – and junior cornerback Bradley Roby has two of the Buckeyes’ six interceptions.

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (4-0, 0-0 Big Ten Legends, 2-2 ATS): The Wildcats expect senior Venric Mark (1,366 yards in 2012) to return from a three-game absence due to a leg injury to team with junior Treyvon Green, who has averaged seven yards per carry while rushing for 404 yards and five touchdowns. The two-quarterback system of senior Kain Colter (237 rushing yards, 77.1 percent completion percentage) and junior Trevor Siemian (67.1 completion percentage for 671 yards and four touchdowns) is clicking as the Wildcats are averaging 41.3 per game. Northwestern has intercepted 10 passes – four returned for touchdowns – with junior safety Ibraheim Campbell having a team-leading three picks and junior outside linebacker Collin Ellis and sophomore defensive end Dean Lowry each having two.

TRENDS:

* Buckeyes are 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings.
* Favorite is 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings.
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Home team is 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Ohio State leads the series 59-14-1 and has won the last four meetings. Northwestern’s last victory over the Buckeyes was in 2004.

2. Northwestern has 19 interceptions over its last seven games.

3. The Buckeyes have been dominant in the first quarter, outscoring opponents 116-21.

[StarDust Bum]

College football weather report: Possible thunderstorms expected

Find out how weather will impact your college football bets for Saturday's matchups:

Maryland Terrapins at Florida State Seminoles (-17, 58)

There is a 17 percent chance of thunderstorms that could hit late in this game.



Penn State Nittany Lions at Indiana Hoosiers (+3, 65.5)

There is a 68 percent chance of thunderstorms for this game.



Louisville Cardinals at Temple Owls (+32, 58)

Forecasts are calling for a 25 percent chance of rain.



Eastern Michigan Eagles at Buffalo Bulls (-12.5, 52)

Forecasts are calling for a 25 percent chance of rain.



Illinois Fighting Illini at Nebraska Cornhuskers (-8.5, 60.5)

Wind will blow across the field upwards of 20 mph.



Michigan State Spartans at Iowa Hawkeyes (-1, 37.5)

Forecasts are calling for a 67 percent chance of rain at Kinnick Stadium.



Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SMU Mustangs (+4.5, 55)

There is a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms in the forecast.



Central Michigan Chippewas at Miami (OH) RedHawks (+3, 47)

Forecasts are calling for a 57 percent chance of thunderstorms.



Ohio Bobcats at Akron Zips (+5, 57)

There is a 39 percent chance of thunderstorms in the forecast for Akron.



Western Michigan Broncos at Toledo Rockets (-21.5, 57.5)

There is a 29 percent chance of thunderstorms and wind will blow toward the north endzone at 7 mph.



Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan Wolverines (-19, 48.5)

There is a 24 percent chance of thunderstorms in the forecast.



Massachusetts Minutemen at Bowling Green Falcons (-26.5, 55)

There is a 34 percent chance of thunderstorms in the forecast.



Northern Illinois Huskies at Kent State Golden Flashes (+9, 64.5)

Forecasts are calling for a 27 percent chance of thunderstorms.



Kansas State Wildcats at Oklahoma State Cowboys (-13.5, 59.5)

Wind will blow toward the east endzone at 13 mph.



FIU Golden Panthers at Southern Miss Golden Eagles (-17, 46)

Forecasts call for a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms.



UCF Knights at Memphis Tigers (+9.5, 48)

Forecasts are calling for a 53 percent chance of thunderstorms.



Texas State Bobcats at UL Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (-11.5, 55)

Forecasts in Lafayette are calling for a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms.



Missouri Tigers at Vanderbilt Commodores (+1, 55.5)

There is a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms in the forecast.



West Virginia Mountaineers at Baylor Bears (-28.5, 69.5)

There is a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms in the forecast with wind blowing across the field at 14 mph.



Ohio State Buckeyes at Northwestern Wildcats (+7, 61)

The forecast in Evanston is calling for a 74 percent chance of thunderstorms. Wind will blow toward the north endzone at 12 mph.

[StarDust Bum]

Big Ten Report - Week 6

October 4, 2013

Only six of the Big Ten schools were in action last weekend and two of the games were non-conference affairs. Illinois defeated Miami Ohio 50-14 in wire-to-wire fashion at home and Purdue was embarrassed at home as a 3 ½-point home underdog to Northern Illinois, 55-24. In conference play, Iowa went on the road and handed Minnesota its first loss of the season with a 23-7 victory and Ohio State held off Wisconsin 31-24, bettors seeing this result end in a push (Buckeyes -7). The total went 2-2 overall.

2013 BIG TEN STANDINGS

Team SU Conference ATS Over/Under

Illinois 3-1 0-0 3-1 3-1

Indiana 2-2 0-0 2-2 3-1

Iowa 4-1 1-0 3-2 3-2

Michigan 4-0 0-0 2-2 2-2

Michigan State 3-1 0-0 1-2-1 1-3

Minnesota 4-1 0-1 3-2 3-2

Nebraska 3-1 0-0 2-2 3-1

Northwestern 4-0 0-0 2-2 2-2

Ohio State 5-0 1-0 3-1-1 3-2

Penn State 3-1 0-0 2-2 2-2

Purdue 1-4 0-1 1-4 3-2

Wisconsin 3-2 1-1 4-0-1 2-3


Ohio State (-7, 59 ½) at Northwestern – 8:00 p.m. ET
Ohio State starting QB Braxton Miller returned to the field with a bang Saturday night, firing four touchdown passes and completing 17-of-25. Most impressive in last week’s seven-point win over Wisconsin was the defense. The Bucks held Wisconsin's power run game to just 104 yards on 3.9 YPC (UW was averaging 349 rush yards per game prior to last week). They must now regroup after that huge win at home as they’ll face another test this week at Northwestern. The Wildcats are off of a bye week. They seemed to sleepwalk through its game against FCS Maine two weeks ago. In that game they did not resemble the same squad that dominated Cal, Syracuse, and Western Michigan the prior three games. Against Maine they were outgained and had fewer first downs. They were never in serious danger of losing the game, but it was an odd sight to see Northwestern look so mediocre. Maybe they were flat or maybe coaches were limiting the playbook as they have this big game against Ohio State on deck. Northwestern knows it must elevate its play significantly against Ohio State in what will be the most anticipated game of the Pat Fitzgerald era. Standout RB Venric Mark will return against the Buckeyes, as Northwestern will need its zone-read game to be in top form to keep pace with Ohio State on the scoreboard. Ohio State is 28-1 all-time against Northwestern. They’re 4-0 SU & ATS the last four meetings; winning by an average score of 51-9 (Northwestern hasn’t topped 10 points in any of those meetings).

Michigan (-19 ½, 50) vs. Minnesota – 3:30 p.m. ET
No team needed the off week more than Michigan, which had plenty to clean up following near disasters against Akron and Connecticut. Michigan won't stay perfect much longer if QB Gardner keeps turning over the ball (he leads the nation with 10 turnovers). In the last game against UConn he completed just 11-of-23 passes for 97 yards with 2 INT. The defense has been great (6th ranked rush defense, 21st in total “D”) and they’ll face a Minnesota offense coming off a dreadful performance. The Gophers managed just 165 yards, 11 first downs, and 7 points in its homecoming loss to Iowa last week. It seems like Minnesota was a product of a weak nonleague schedule, as some of the small problems that surfaced against weaker competition became big problems against Iowa. Quarterback Nelson struggled with just 135 yards (1 TD 2 INT) and he didn't get much help from the run game (30 yards on 27 carries). Backup QB Leidner provided a spark in Week 4 and coach Jerry Kill might make a switch if Nelson continues to struggle. Michigan has won five straight over Minnesota by 28 PPG (5-0 ATS) and won 58-0 the last meeting in the Big House.

Nebraska (-9 ½, 60 ½) vs. Illinois – 12:00 p.m. ET
Nebraska is fresh off of its bye week following a much needed blowout victory over FCS South Dakota State. The defense still needs a lot of improvement. This unit surrendered 465 yards and 25 first downs to the Jackrabbits two weeks ago and the sample size is large enough now to show that this defense hasn’t improved from a year ago. The Huskers rank 109th in total “D” and will now take on a surprisingly efficient Illinois offense. The Illini have been the biggest surprise in the Big Ten. They completed nonleague play at 3-1 (with the lone loss to undefeated Washington) and head to Nebraska with a lot of confidence, particularly on offense. QB Scheelhaase might be the most improved player in the nation as he has 12 TD and just 3 INT on 67% passing after amassing just 4 TD and 8 INT all of last season. He did struggle against Washington though (9-of-25 passing) and will hope to improve against another strong opponent. These two haven’t met yet as Big Ten opponents. Illinois is just 2-17 SU in Big Ten openers and 0-7 SU & 2-5 ATS the last seven games as a Big Ten road underdog. Nebraska is 11-1 SU & 9-3 ATS in its last 12 home games.

Michigan State (-1.5, 38 ½) at Iowa – 12:00 p.m. ET
Iowa has won and covered three straight games and is riding some serious momentum. The Hawks had their third straight dominant performance against Minnesota to ruin its rival's homecoming. QB Jake Rudock has 5 TD and 1 INT over the last three games while RB Weisman gives this offense some serious balance. The defense has been the most impressive aspect of this team. This unit held Minnesota to just 165 yards and 11 first downs last week and now it ranks 6th in total defense and 18th in scoring defense. The only defense in the Big Ten that is arguably playing better will be across the field this weekend. Two weeks ago, Michigan State held ND to just 220 yards and 14 first downs and now ranks 1st in total defense, 3rd against the pass, and 2nd against the rush. This “D” is really, really good. But it won’t matter in the Big Ten race if they can’t get consistent results from its offense. This unit ranks 104th in yards per game and 73rd in points per game. Coach Dantonio spent time during the bye week trying to fix the issues, but there’s more than one week of practice away from solving the problem. MSU is favored at Kinnick Stadium this week despite the fact that the Spartans are 2-7 SU & ATS in the last nine trips. Iowa is 15-4 ATS in the last 19 meetings with MSU and the Hawks are 10-3-2 ATS in their last 15 games as a home underdog.

Penn State (-3 ½, 63 ½) at Indiana – 12:00 p.m. ET
Both squads are off of a bye week. After suffering a home defeat vs. Central Florida on September 14th, Coach Obrien had his troops ready for redemption against Kent State in their last game. Penn State shut out Kent State and held them to 190 yards and nine first downs. Offensively this was one of the first full games that QB Hackenberg really looked like a true freshman. He completed just 13-of-35 passes for 176 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. Obrien spent the bye week working with his young QB to work out the kinks and prepare for Big Ten play and the first road test of the season. On the other side this week is Indiana, off of a much-needed bye week. Indiana was abysmal in its last game loss to Missouri. The Hoosiers fell behind early and never really got things going on offense or defense. QB Sudfeld threw three interceptions and the defense allowed Mizzou to gain 623 total yards and 33 first downs. IU’s spread attack could cause some problems for the Nittany Lions, who haven’t faced an up-tempo spread team yet this year. PSU is a perfect 16-0 SU all-time against Indiana and are 4-2 ATS in the last six trips to Memorial Stadium. The Nittany Lions are 10-1 SU & 9-2 ATS in the last 11 Big Ten road games as a favorite.

Wisconsin - BYE
The Badgers remained close with the Buckeyes, but allowed too many big plays and couldn’t get their running attack going. QB Stave had a big night with 295 passing yards and 2 TD and WR Abbrederis proved he’s one of the top receiving threats in the Big Ten with 207 receiving yards despite going against one of the nation’s top CB’s. The bye week comes at a perfect time after star RB Gordon left in the 2nd half with a knee injury. Wisconsin has now lost 11 games since the start of 2011. All of those losses were by seven points or fewer (4.6 points per loss) and three were in overtime. Wisconsin will have to overcome its deficiencies in close games if it wants another shot at a Big Ten title game (and hope for a couple of OSU losses).

Purdue - BYE
The misery continues for the Boilers. They suffered their third straight defeat of the season and their only victory is an unimpressive six-point win over FCS Indiana State. Last week was an embarrassing 24-55 setback at home against Northern Illinois. It appears the era of Rob Henry at QB is officially over as Purdue will now go with freshman Danny Etling under center. Etling completed 19-of-39 passes for 241 yards with 2 TD and 2 INT against in relief duty for Henry last week. Etling was supposedly in a redshirt season before coach Hazell brought him off the bench last week. He’ll have a bye week to get more acclimated with the offense before Nebraska travels to Purdue next week for the conference home opener.

[StarDust Bum]

ACC Report - Week 6

October 4, 2013

The Atlantic Coast Conference will have one heavyweight battle this weekend, and then a host of other league games which might separate the lower-tier teams from those in the upper tier. We might not be as entertained as some of the other leagues, but this weekend we will learn quite a bit about the ACC from this slate of games.

It appears that the Army-Boston College game will go on as scheduled, as there had been talk that due to the government shutdown, the Black Knights would not travel from West Point to Chestnut Hill. However, it appears that problem has been averted for now. Enjoy the weekend!


2013 ACC STANDINGS

Team SU Conference ATS Over/Under

Boston College 2-2 1-1 2-2 1-3

Clemson 4-0 2-0 2-2 3-1

Duke 3-2 0-2 3-2 2-3

Florida State 4-0 2-0 3-1 4-0

Georgia Tech 3-1 2-1 3-1 1-3

Maryland 4-0 0-0 4-0 2-2

Miami (Fla.) 4-0 0-0 3-1 2-2

North Carolina 1-3 0-1 1-3 1-3

North Carolina State 3-1 0-1 3-1 1-3

Pittsburgh 3-1 2-1 2-2 3-1

Syracuse 2-2 0-0 3-1 3-1

Virginia 2-2 0-1 2-2 2-2

Virginia Tech 4-1 1-0 1-3-1 1-3-1

Wake Forest 2-3 0-2 1-4 1-4


Maryland at Florida State (ESPN - 12:00 p.m. ET)
The Terrapins are certainly not making it easy for their ACC brethren before departing for the Big Ten next season. Maryland is 4-0, and they have been one of the most exciting teams to watch. Maryland has actually covered six straight dating back to last season, and some might be surprised to see them as a 17-point underdog heading into Tallahassee this weekend. However, Florida State QB Jameis Winston has been impressive, and the Seminoles have covered three of their four games overall. FSU is also 5-1 ATS in their past six home games. Maryland is 4-10 ATS in the past 14 ACC games, while FSU has covered just one of their past five conference tilts. FSU has dominated the series at home, covering eight of the past 10 visits by Maryland to Doak Campbell Stadium.

North Carolina at Virginia Tech (12:30 p.m. ET)
The Tar Heels were manhandled at home by East Carolina QB Shane Carden and the Pirates offense last week in Chapel Hill. The Heels have sunk to a new low after the 55-31 shellacking at the hands of ECU. It doesn't look to get any better for the Heels with a trip to Blacksburg. North Carolina is just 1-7 ATS in their past eight road games, 1-4 ATS in their past five games overall, and 2-5 ATS in their past seven ACC contests. One thing going in North Carolina's favor is the fact the road team has covered six of the past seven meetings in this series. Be careful with the total in this game, as it is rather tricky. The total is set at 46, and the 'under' has cashed in five of the past six meetings in this series, and each of the past four in Blacksburg. However, last season, UNC powered past Virginia Tech 48-34, and Carolina hasn't shown much of a defensive effort lately. This could be another high-scoring affair, going against what the trends say.

Georgia Tech at Miami, Fl. (ESPNU, 3:30 p.m. ET)
Two of the hottest ACC teams, at least against the number, do battle in South Florida on Saturday afternoon. This one has the potential to be a very entertaining affair. The Jackets were dumped at home by a 17-10 score against Virginia Tech, but had covered their previous three games. The 'under' has cashed in three in a row for Georgia Tech. The 'over' has come in over the past two games for Miami, but they have played two bad teams in Savannah State and South Florida. Ga. Tech will be a much sterner test. Last season these teams hooked up in a 42-36 overtime thriller in Atlanta. The Jackets will look to return the favor, but are 0-4 ATS in their past four trips to Miami. One other interesting tidbit is that the Hurricanes are one of five FBS teams yet to trail in a game this season.

Clemson at Syracuse (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET)
With Clemson, the first thing to check out is the total. This week the line is set at 65. The 'over' has connected in three of their four games, and all three of their Saturday affairs, with the 'under' coming Sept. 19 in Raleigh in a Thursday game at N.C. State. The 'over' is 3-1 for Syracuse as well, including each of the past three outings. The Tigers have covered 10 of their past 14 games, and 16 of their past 21 conference tilts. They easily knocked off Wake Forest last week with video-game-like offense, winning 56-7. The Orange figure to offer a little more resistance. Syracuse has allowed just 17 points over the past two games, but that's against FCS opponent Wagner and FBS doormat Tulane. When the Orange faced Northwestern Sept. 7 in Evanston, the defense was pummeled for 48 points. Look for more of the same from Tigers QB Tajh Boyd and the Clemson offense under the roof in Syracuse.

Other Games
Ball State at Virginia (12:00pm ET)
Army at Boston College (1:00pm ET)
North Carolina State at Wake Forest (3:30pm ET)

Byes
Duke, Pittsburgh

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Pac-12 Report - Week 6
October 4, 2013

By Joe Williams

The Pac-12 has a couple of national spotlight games this weekend, including Washington-Stanford. That will be an exciting matchup, as we see how good the Huskies really are. Arizona State heads to Dallas to mix it up with Notre Dame, too, although that game has lost a little of its luster with recent losses by both teams. Still, it could be a very entertaining affair in Jerry World.

It is disappointing to see Oregon State off this weekend for a bye. They have been a bettor's friend lately, at least when it comes to the 'over', going over the total in four of their five games with QB Sean Mannion and that high powered offense. It will also be interesting to see if Cal can finally cover a spread. They're a slight dog at home to Washington State, who has covered four of its five games this season.

UCLA kicked off this week's schedule with a 34-27 win at Utah, with the total coming just 'under' 62 1/2. Four Pac-12 teams remain unbeaten, and one will fall by the wayside in Palo Alto in a battle of unbeatens.


2013 PAC-12 STANDINGS

Team SU Conference ATS Over/Under

Arizona 3-1 0-1 2-2 1-3

Arizona State 3-1 1-1 2-2 4-0

California 1-3 0-1 0-4 3-1

Colorado 2-1 0-1 2-1 2-1

Oregon 4-0 1-0 4-0 3-1

Oregon State 4-1 2-0 2-3 4-1

Southern California 3-2 0-2 1-4 1-4

Stanford 4-0 2-0 2-2 3-1

UCLA 4-0 1-0 4-0 2-2

Utah 3-2 0-2 3-2 3-2

Washington 4-0 1-0 3-1 1-3

Washington State 3-2 1-1 4-1 2-3


Washington State at California (FOX Sports 1, 4:00 p.m. ET)
Things haven't turned around completely under Mike Leach on the Palouse, as evidenced by last weekend's drumming at the hands of visiting Stanford (in Seattle). However, the Cougars have at least been respectable in games against non-ranked opponents. Washington State is 5-1 ATS in the past six games, with that lone non-cover coming against Stanford. They are 4-1-1 ATS in the past six road games against a team with a losing home record. Washington State can go a long way toward respectability, and a potential bowl berth, with a win in Berkeley. It has been a disaster in Cal lately. They have failed to cover in the past six home games, they're 0-6 ATS in their past six conference tilts, and they're a dismal 3-14 ATS in the past 17 outings. However, freshman QB Jared Goff looks pretty impressive, and they can score points. The 'over' is 3-1 in Cal's four games this season, and Goff will be a huge factor if they win or lose this game. Lastly, Washington State is 5-1 ATS in the past six trips to Cal, and the road team has covered seven of the past nine meetings in this series.

Oregon at Colorado (Pac-12 Network, 6:00 p.m. ET)
Like Clemson in the ACC, the first thing to look for in upcoming Oregon games is the total. This weekend it is set around 69. Some shops you might be able to get it at 68. Oregon has just been an absolute machine, with the 'over' coming through in 25 of the past 35 Pac-12 battles, and 35 of their past 52 games overall. The 'over' is also 4-1 in their past five road outings. Oregon has killed it against the number, too, going 4-0 ATS in their past four games against teams with a winning record, 10-1 ATS in their past 11 road games, and 7-1 ATS inside the conference. They've covered 11 of their past 12 games overall. The Buffs, on the other hand, have covered just three of the past 12 home games, and seven of their past 25. Colorado is showing some signs of life after a miserable season last year, but despite the heroics of WR Paul Richardson, Colorado isn't quite ready for prime time just yet.

Arizona State at Notre Dame - in Dallas, TX (NBC, 7:30 p.m. ET)
AZ State enters this game as a six-point favorite, and that might raise a few eyebrows east of the Mississippi. However, the Sun Devils are good, and they can score early and often. Just ask Wisconsin. Arizona State has covered five of their past seven games, and the 'over' is a perfect 4-0 in their past four neutral-site games. The 'over' is also 23-8 in their past 31 games, and 16-5 in their past 21 games against an opponent with a winning record. For Notre Dame, they have failed miserably in bigger games. They're 0-3-1 ATS in their past four against teams with a winning mark, 0-5-1 ATS in their past six overall, and 0-5 ATS in their past five on fieldturf. Of course, AZ State is 0-4-1 ATS in their past five on fieldturf, so that's a wash. This one is offense vs. defense, and it will be interesting to see who can come out victorious.

Washington at Stanford (ESPN, 10:30 p.m. ET)
Is Washington all the way back to relevance on the national stage, or just a little bit of the way back? We'll know more after this weekend's trip to Palo Alto. The Cardinal, a seven-point favorite, look for revenge after being stopped 17-13 in Seattle last season in a Thursday game. If Stanford wants to avoid losing two in a row in this series, they'll need to find a way to put the clamps on RB Bishop Sankey, who has galloped for 151.8 yards per game on the ground, tops in the nation. Stanford is looking for its 13th straight win since that aforementioned setback to UW, and they have scored at least 34 points in each of their first four games this season. This one has the potential to be thrilling from an offensive perspective. Washington is just 1-7 ATS in their past eight road games against a team with a winning home mark, but they are 8-2 ATS in their past 10 games overall. Stanford is 19-6-1 ATS in their past 26 conference games, and 7-2 ATS in their past nine against teams with a winning record.

Byes
Arizona, Oregon State, Southern California

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Line Moves - Week 6

October 4, 2013


Week 5 Recap

Favorites: 2-2-1 ATS (4-1 SU)
Underdogs: 2-2 ATS (1-3 SU)
Totals: 4-1

Last week’s line move results were a wash but we did see the underdogs go .500 against the spread, which was an improvement from previous weeks. And for the first time, the totals produced a great return with a 4-1 (80%) record. Not a lot movement off the college football openers this weeks, which tells us that the oddsmakers have done a good job of separating the contenders from pretenders.

Week 6 Line Moves

CRIS, one of the biggest offshore sportsbooks, opened up their college football lines for Week 6 last Sunday morning. We only saw movement on seven games and all them were favorites, who were bet up. Below are all of the moves of at least “Three Points” or more off the opening line from CRIS.

Favorites

Toledo vs. Western Michigan
Open: Rockets -17 ½
Friday: Rockets -23

North Texas at Tulane
Open: PK
Friday: Mean Green -3

Oregon at Colorado
Open: Ducks -35
Friday: Ducks -39

Missouri at Vanderbilt
Open: Tigers +2 ½
Friday: Tigers -1

New Mexico vs. New Mexico State
Open: Lobos -7
Friday: Lobos -11

Bowling Green vs. Massachusetts
Open: Falcons -23
Friday: Falcons -26 ½

Baylor vs. West Virginia
Open: Bears -21
Friday: Bears -27 ½

Week 6 Total Moves

CRIS opened their ‘over/under’ numbers on Monday. Only one game saw significant movement and it’s listed below.

Illinois at Nebraska
Open: 64
Friday: 60 ½

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Top Matchups - Week 6

October 4, 2013


College Football

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (5-0) at NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS (4-0)

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Ohio State -7.5 & 63.5
Opening Line & Total: Buckeyes -7 & 62

Only one of these two undefeated Big Ten schools will leave the field with their record unblemished Saturday night as No. 4 Ohio State is billed as a road favorite over No. 16 Northwestern.

With an undefeated 17-0 SU record under head coach Urban Meyer, the Buckeyes have been a tremendous bet lately, covering eight of their past nine decisions, including 3-1-1 ATS this season with a push last week against Wisconsin. The Wildcats are hot too though, winning seven in a row SU dating back to last season and covering in nine of their past 11 contests. Last season, the Wildcats went a remarkable 7-0 ATS at home en route to a 12-1 ATS record overall. This is their first game this season as an underdog, but since 2009, they are 16-12 ATS when receiving help from the lines. Ohio State has just been generally impressive since 2009, going 36-18 ATS. While these schools are technically conference rivals, they have not met since 2008 when the Buckeyes dismantled the Wildcats 45-10 in Evanston to easily cover a 12.5-point spread. Ohio State has covered and won SU their past four meetings against Northwestern with an average victory total of 40.3 points per game.

The good news for Ohio State is that QB Braxton Miller (knee) returned to action in last week’s victory and showed no signs of his injury, completing 17-of-25 passes for 198 yards and four touchdowns while not throwing a pick against Wisconsin. Overall, he’s completed 69.4% of his passes this year for 406 yards (8.3 YPA) while adding 165 yards on 4.1 YPC with his legs. RB Jordan Hall is part of a deep backfield, leading the unit with eight touchdowns already in 2013 on 69 carries for 427 yards. He has carried the ball only five times total in the last two games since Carlos Hyde (126 rush yds on 5.7 YPC) has returned following a suspension. Hall also has the potential to ground-and-pound all game with two games of more than 150 yards already this season. Overall, the team has 14 rushing TD, two of which are from Ezekiel Elliot (21 carries for 200 yards), who leads the crew with 9.5 YPC. However, more impressive than the Buckeyes' offense has been the defense that is stifling opponents’ rushing attacks with 2.8 YPC allowed.

Northwestern, however, also lives off the ground with three rushers of more than 200 yards. This unit is led by RB Treyvon Green, who is averaging 7.0 YPC with 58 touches for 404 yards and five touchdowns, but top RB Venric Mark (1,366 rush yds, 12 TD in 2012) is expected to return on Saturday after a three-game absence due to an ankle injury. The passing reps have gone to two people: Trevor Siemian (47-for-70, 4 TD, 2 INT) and Kain Colter, who has completed 27-of-35 passes this season for 264 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. The team’s No. 1 receiver has been WR Tony Jones, who has racked up 362 yards on 24 catches for three touchdowns. The Wildcats' rushing defense has been great this season, holding foes to 3.7 YPC, though the pass defense has to improve, giving up 308 passing yards per game so far.


WASHINGTON HUSKIES (4-0) at STANFORD CARDINAL (4-0)

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Stanford -9 & 53
Opening Line & Total: Cardinal -7.5 & 53

No. 15 Washington looks to continue its fast start this season when it visits No. 5 Stanford, which will be looking for some revenge after falling 17-13 to the Huskies last year.

After a disappointing 2012 season, Washington QB Keith Price is back to his 2011 form. When Price is on top of his game, he is one of the most accurate quarterbacks in all of the country. With RB Bishop Sankey ranking fifth in the country with 607 rushing yards, the Huskies have one of the most balanced offenses in the country with the ability to score on anybody. With its 31-13 victory over Arizona last week, Washington is now 4-0 ATS this season. However, the Huskies will be put to the test against the Cardinal, who have one of the best defenses in the country. After allowing Washington State to hang around for the first half in last Saturday’s game, Stanford put on an incredible defensive display, including two interceptions returned for touchdowns in the third quarter. As good as the defense is, it is the play of their quarterback that has Cardinal fans dreaming of a potential national title berth. In his brief career, QB Kevin Hogan has shown the ability to be a big-time college quarterback. He has won all 10 career starts (7-3 ATS), while throwing 19 touchdowns to just six interceptions so far in his career. He is very athletic, but when he scrambles, he does it more to give his wide receivers more time to get open than trying to rush downfield. This game could be decided on which quarterback plays better, which makes for an interesting game. Washington is 18-8 ATS (69%) when the total is between 49.5 and 56 points under head coach Steve Sarkisian, but Stanford is 10-0 ATS after scoring 42+ points in a game under head coach David Shaw.

After a 2011 season that saw him throw for 3,063 yards and 33 touchdowns, Washington QB Keith Price threw for only 19 TD last season, and was a big reason why the Huskies struggled. This year, he is leading an offense that ranks fifth in the country in total offense with 574 yards per game. He has tremendous arm strength, and is extremely accurate, as he is completing 72.3 percent of his passes this season. While Price didn't play very well against Stanford (19-of-37, 177 yards, 4.8 YPA, 1 TD, 1 INT; minus-14 rushing yards), RB Bishop Sankey picked up his slack in a big way. Sankey paced the Washington offense with 144 yards on 20 carries (7.2 YPC), including a 61-yard TD run on the final play of the third quarter. Washington has everything needed to become a powerhouse in the Pac-12, now it’s time for them to put it together and make it happen. The Huskies have not defeated a top-25 team on the road since 2010, when they upset USC 32-31. However, repeating that feat will be no easy task as they go up against a Stanford team that has the second longest winning streak in the country at 12 games.

When Jim Harbaugh left, it was thought that the Stanford success went with him. However, that has proven not to be the case at all, as David Shaw has taken the Cardinal program to the next level in his three years in charge. While people think of the great defense that Stanford has, the offense has an abundance of firepower as well. Junior WR Trent Montgomery is a big-time athlete that is as complete of a wide receiver as there is in the Pac-12. He is a great combination of size and speed, while also having the ability to block downfield in the running game. Speaking of the running game, senior RB Tyler Gaffney is having a huge season with 377 yards (5.2 YPC) and five touchdowns. He is looking to bounce back from a subpar showing in Pullman last week when he gained just 54 yards on 14 carries (3.9 YPC). He has helped Stanford outrush its two Pac-12 opponents this season by a wide 478 to 101 margin.


MARYLAND TERRAPINS (4-0) at FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES (4-0)

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Florida State -15 & 57.5
Opening Line & Total: Seminoles -16 & 57.5

No. 25 Maryland appears to be turning the corner under the watch of head coach Randy Edsall, and his team will get its first real test Saturday when they visit No. 8 Florida State and star QB Jameis Winston.

The Seminoles are coming off a tougher than expected 48-34 victory over 21.5-point underdog Boston College last Saturday, failing to cover the spread for the first time this season. However, Winston once again proved to the country that he is as good of a quarterback as there is, throwing for 330 yards and four touchdowns. Winston has talents that you can’t coach, and is a nightmare for opposing defenses to game plan for. The Terrapins right now are the surprise of the ACC. This is the first time they have been ranked in the AP Poll since the end of 2010. Their 37-0 win over West Virginia looks even more impressive after the Mountaineers defeated then No. 11 Oklahoma State last Saturday. Injuries decimated this team last season, but a healthy C.J. Brown has given Maryland a quarterback of their own that can make plays with both his arm as well as his feet. The Terrapins are a perfect 4-0 ATS this season, but this is the first time they are an underdog as they head to Tallahassee. Last season, FSU dominated this matchup, defeating Maryland 41-14 on the road, but the Terps were using linebacker Shawn Petty as their starting quarterback that day.

Brown has been quite impressive this season, throwing for 1,043 yards and seven touchdowns. He missed last season due to a knee injury, and has come back better than before. He has been helped by the emergence of sophomore WR Stefon Diggs, who has 400 receiving yards and 3 TD in just four games. He is not the biggest receiver (6-foot-0, 195 pounds), but he has the ability to get behind the secondary. If the Terrapins are going to pull off the upset, they will need Diggs to provide the team with a couple of big plays down the field. Last year he was held to three catches in the loss to FSU, but was still able to record a 25-yard reception and 23-yard run. While the Seminoles offense has been rolling this season, the Maryland defense has been very impressive as well. Through four games, the Terrapins have given up only 10.3 PPG, which ranks third in the country. Florida State has one of the best home fields in all of the country, so it is key for Maryland to get off to a fast start and not allow the crowd to get into the game.

There is no denying that Winston is a special player. However, there are many other players that are capable of big plays for the No. 4-ranked scoring offense in the country (51.0 PPG). Senior WR Kenny Shaw is emerging as the go-to guy for Winston, as Winston hit him on a 55-yard bomb at the end of the first half against Boston College. While the passing game of the Seminoles gets most of the talk, Florida State is more than capable of major success on the ground. James Wilder Jr. (5.8 YPC, 2 TD) is one of the most underrated players in all of the country. He is a physical specimen that is able to run through defenders with no problem and he piled up 52 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries (6.5 YPC) versus Maryland last year. However, it is the play of the defense that will need to step up after allowing 34 points and 397 yards against an average Boston College offense. DT Timmy Jernigan has big-time talent and can be unblockable at times, however, he must learn to bring the intensity on every single play. He will be looked upon to get pressure on C.J. Brown, and not allow him to roll out and get on the perimeter.

TCU HORNED FROGS (2-2) at OKLAHOMA SOONERS (4-0)

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Oklahoma -10 & 47.5
Opening Line & Total: Sooners -10.5 & 47.5

No. 11 Oklahoma looks to continue its impressive start to the season hosting a TCU team that was supposed to be one of the best teams in the Big 12.

After losing the starting job, Sooners QB Blake Bell has gained it back and taken complete control of the position with back-to-back terrific performances against Tulsa and Notre Dame. In those games, Bell has thrown for 683 yards and six touchdowns. Last season, he was given the nickname “The Belldozer,” for his role as the Wildcat quarterback. While he is still a dangerous running threat, it is his improvement in the passing game that has the Sooners entering the national title talk. Oklahoma is 3-1 ATS this season, as it was two points shy of covering in a 16-7 victory over West Virginia. Like its opponent, TCU has had a quarterback shuffle as well this season. Despite a great performance last season, QB Trevone Boykin was expected to resume his backup role as Casey Pachall was back from his suspension. However, Pachall got hurt (forearm) early this season, putting Boykin back under center for the Horned Frogs. Boykin gives TCU a big-time playmaker at the quarterback position. Despite being just 2-2, there is still a ton of talent on this team. One of their losses was to LSU, a game in which they were down by only three points late in the fourth quarter. The Horned Frogs have had a problem playing to their potential, as they are only 1-3 ATS this season. They have the talent on both sides of the ball to get the job done, they just have to go out and do that. Oklahoma defeated TCU 24-17 in Fort Worth last season, marking the fifth time in six meetings that the road team prevailed in this series.

Besides Boykin on offense, TCU has talent at both the running back and wide receiver positions. RBs Waymon James and B.J. Catalon are both averaging over five yards per carry this season, forcing defenses to load the box. This allows WR Josh Carter to have single coverage on the outside, where he has the speed to run away from the secondary. If the rushing duo is able to establish the line of scrimmage early, then there may be some openings for Boykin to attack downfield early in the game. Boykin had a decent game versus Oklahoma last year, completing 17-of-31 passes for 231 yards (7.5 YPA), 1 TD (80 yards to Carter) and 0 INT. While there are playmakers on the offense, the Horned Frogs defense (22.8 PPG allowed, 60th in FBS) needs to raise their level of play. Head coach Gary Patterson has had some great defenses during his time at TCU, and this unit has as much talent as any of those defenses. The status for sophomore DE Devonte Fields (foot) is unknown against the Sooners, but he is the type of guy that can change a game. The defending Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year has been hampered this season by injuries and suspensions. If he is unable to go Saturday, that will make things much tougher for TCU. The secondary is one of the very best in the Big 12 with CBs Jason Verrett and Kevin White. Both of them are able to be put on an island and blanket a wide receiver in man coverage for extended periods of times. However, they will be put to the test against an explosive Oklahoma wide receiver group.

Sooners WRs Sterling Shepard and Jalen Saunders have the ability to take it to the house on any given moment. Both of them are very solid route runners that know what to do with the ball after they catch it. The Horned Frogs had no answer for Saunders last year, as he caught seven passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. RBs Brennan Clay and Damien Williams have given the Sooners the rushing attack that QB Blake Bell and the passing game need in order to keep defenses from playing two-safety-deep defenses. Williams, who totaled 154 yards and 2 TD in last year's win at TCU, may be counted upon to carry more of the load, as Clay is currently doubtful for the game after experiencing a head injury in the third quarter of last week’s game. When head coach Bob Stoops was most successful, his Sooners defense was one of the top units in all of the country, and they appear to be back to an elite level on that side of the ball this year. Entering Week 6, the Sooners have given up just 12.0 points per game, ranking sixth in the country. While TCU’s secondary may have better players, Oklahoma CB Aaron Colvin is hands down the best secondary player on either team. He has great range, and is a factor in both stopping the run as well as the pass. While a lot of Big 12 games come down to which offense scores the most, look for this game to be more of a defensive struggle.

GEORGIA BULLDOGS (3-1) at TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS (3-2)

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Georgia -11.5 & 65.5
Opening Line & Total: Bulldogs -11.5 & 65.5

Coming off its second win of the season against a top-10 opponent, No. 6 Georgia hits the road as double-digit favorites against Tennessee.

At 3-1 on the season, the Bulldogs suffered their only loss of the season as 1.5-point favorites in their opening game of the year to currently No. 3 Clemson, their first of three games so far this season against top-10 foes. That was their only road game so far and they are now 1-2-1 ATS and 12-17 ATS on the road since 2008. The Volunteers, meanwhile, are 3-2 SU and 2-3 ATS after snapping a two-game SU losing skid last week with a narrow 31-24 win over South Alabama. The Vols were 16-point favorites in that game, dropping to 1-2 ATS at home and 14-18 ATS at home since 2008. Last season when these two teams met, the Volunteers kept pace with the high-powered Georgia attack and covered the 14-point spread in a wild 51-44 loss in Athens. In the past five meetings between these two teams at Neyland Stadium, Tennessee is 3-2 SU and ATS. In those contests, the team that won the game SU also covered the spread. But the big question entering this game is the health of Bulldogs star RB Todd Gurley, who is day-to-day with a sprained ankle.

Todd Gurley was huge against the Volunteers last year, rushing for 130 yards on 24 carries with three touchdowns. Gurley has been spectacular again this year, with 450 yards on 71 carries even though he carried the ball only eight times before injuring himself in last week’s 44-41 win against LSU. The good news for Georgia is that QB Aaron Murray has the potential to put the team on his back, already throwing for 1,338 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions through four games, completing 68.1% of his passes. He completed 19-of-25 passes for 278 yards and 2 TD last year against the Volunteers. Murray is an expert at evenly distributing the ball as six Bulldogs already have more than 100 receiving yards and four receivers have two touchdown catches. If Gurley is unable to go, RB Keith Marshall (51 carries for 213 yards) will have to pick up the slack. On the other side of the ball, Georgia’s rushing defense has been its strength, limiting opponents to 3.5 YPC. But through the air, they Bulldogs have allowed opponents to gain 277 passing YPG.

The Tennessee offense is built on the ground where it averages 215 rushing yards per game. RB Rajion Neal (468 yards, 5.9 YPC, 5 TD) leads the attack while Marlin Lane (280 yards, 6.2 YPC, 4 TD) provides an effective change of pace. Both backs have broken runs of more than 50 yards already this season while Neal carried the ball 23 times for 104 yards in last season’s meeting between the two teams. Where the Tennessee offense has been inconsistent is through the air, as QB Justin Worley is completing just 56% of his passes. He has thrown for only 725 yards through five games for eight touchdowns while getting intercepted six times. No Volunteers receiver has more than 150 receiving yards with Alton Howard leading the corps at 148 with two touchdowns on 11 receptions. The defense, meanwhile, is giving up 26.8 PPG, and allowing 4.4 YPC on the ground. The Vols have allowed 250 passing YPG, but have already forced 15 turnovers in their five games.

[StarDust Bum]

Ohio State at Northwestern

October 4, 2013


Matchup: Ohio State Buckeyes at Northwestern Wildcats
Venue: Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois (Grass)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013
Time/TV: 8:00 pm. ET - ABC
Line: Ohio State -7, Over/Under 63
Last Meeting: 2008, Ohio State (-12 ½) 45 at Northwestern 10

Ohio State falls into a dangerous letdown situation Saturday night when it ventures into Evanston to take on Northwestern at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. ABC will provide television coverage.

As of early Friday morning, most books had Ohio St. (5-0 straight up, 3-1-1 against the spread) installed as a seven-point favorite with a total of 61. Gamblers can back the home team on the money line for an attractive +240 payout (risk $100 to win $240). For first-half wagers, the Buckeyes are favored by four with a total of 30 ½.

Urban Meyer’s team is coming off a 31-24 win over Wisconsin as a seven-point home ‘chalk.’ Braxton Miller returned to the lineup after missing back-to-back games and showed no signs of rust. Miller threw four touchdown passes without being intercepted and also ran for 83 yards.

The 55 combined points dipped ‘under’ the 56-point total. However, bettors that took the ‘over’ early in the week at 54 ½ were also victorious.

Northwestern (4-0 SU, 2-2 ATS) has had two weeks to prepare for the Buckeyes and it faced a pair of cupcake opponents (Western Michigan and Maine) prior to the open date. The Wildcats will also benefit from the return of star running back and special-teams dynamo Venric Mark.

Mark was a second-team All Big Ten selection as a RB last season and earned first-team All-American honors as a special-teams player. The senior speedster rushed for 1,366 yards and 12 TDs in 2012, averaging 6.0 yards per carry. Mark also returned a pair of punts for TDs. He hasn’t played since spraining his ankle in a 44-30 season-opening win at California.

Pat Fitzgerald’s team has won all four of its game by 14 points or more. NU is led by versatile quarterback Kain Colter, who has completed 27-of-35 passes (77.1%) for 264 yards with a 3/2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Colter has rushed for 237 yards and three TDs, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

QB Trevor Siemian will also get snaps under center. He has actually played more than Colter this season because Colter got injured at Cal. Siemian has connected on 47-of-70 throws (67.1%) for 671 yards with a 4/2 TD-INT ratio.

Whoever is at QB, he will be aiming for leading receiver Tony Jones, who has 24 receptions for 363 yards and three TDs. Also, Christian Jones has 15 catches for 223 yards and two TDs.

With Mark out, Treyvonn Green has carried the bulk of the rushing load. Green has 404 rushing yards and five TDs, averaging 6.8 YPC.

OSU’s Miller is completing 69.4 percent of his passes with 6/1 TD-INT ratio. Miller can also beat opponents with legs as he’s rushed for 165 yards, averaging 4.1 YPC. Jordan Hall has rushed for 427 yards and eight TDs, averaging 6.2 YPC.

The Buckeyes’ top receiving threats are Devin Smith and Philly Brown. Smith has 20 receptions for 331 yards and five TDs, while Brown has hauled in 24 catches for 254 yards and five scores.

As a road favorite under Urban Meyer, Ohio St. has posted a 1-1 spread record. Northwestern owns a 9-9 ATS ledger as a home underdog with Fitzgerald.

The ‘over’ is 3-2 overall for OSU, 1-0 in its lone road assignment. The ‘under’ has cashed at a 2-1 clip for the NU in its home games.

Ohio St. has won four in a row over Northwestern both SU and ATS. However, these Big Ten rivals haven’t faced each since 2008 when the Buckeyes rolled to an easy 45-10 win as a 12 ½-point road favorite.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--UCLA captured a 34-27 win at Utah on Thursday night to remain undefeated. The Bruins took the cash as six-point road favorites. Brett Hundley had a touchdown catch, pass and run against the Utes.

--Bobby Petrino’s Western Kentucky squad went into Monroe and knocked off an injury-riddled ULM team by a 31-10 count. The Hilltoppers covered the number as seven-point road ‘chalk.’

--Texas escaped Ames with a fortunate and controversial 31-30 victory over Iowa St. On the Longhorns’ game-winning drive at crunch time, there were several critical calls by the officials that went against the Cyclones, who nonetheless hooked up their backers as 7 ½-point home underdogs.

--Steve Spurrier announced earlier this week that the suspension that kept leading receiver Shaq Roland out of last week’s win at UCF is a three-game. Roland, a sophomore who was Mr. Football in the state of South Carolina coming out of high school, will miss Saturday’s home game vs. Kentucky and next week’s game at Arkansas. QB Connor Shaw won’t miss this weekend and will get the starting nod against UK. A shoulder injury sustained against UCF was initially diagnosed as one that would keep Shaw out for 2-3 weeks. However, Shaw has a high tolerance for pain and played nearly all of the 2012 campaign with multiple ailments. Back-up RB Brandon Wilds will miss the next 3-4 weeks due to an elbow injury. The Gamecocks are favored by 21 over the ‘Cats.

--For most of the week, Vanderbilt has been favored by 1 ½ or two points for Saturday’s home game vs. Missouri. But that number moved early Friday and now the Tigers are one-point favorites. Vandy could be without its best pass rusher Walker May, who is ‘questionable’ with a leg injury.

--Stanford OG David Yankey rejoined the team Monday. Yankey, an All-American, didn’t make the trip to Seattle for his team’s win over Washington St. to be with his family following the death of his father last week.

--Ga. Tech starting safety Jamal Golden underwent season-ending shoulder surgery earlier this week. The Yellow Jackets were already without their other starting safety, Isaiah Johnson. They are six-point ‘dogs at Miami.

--Paul Pasqualoni and Lame Chafin’ took pink slips last Sunday at UConn and USC, respectively. If Illinois wins at Nebraska, Bo Pelini could join those guys on the unemployment line.

--Oregon RB De’Anthony Thomas is ‘doubtful’ at Colorado after spraining his ankle in last week’s 55-16 win over California. With a trip to Washington on deck next weekend, I don’t expect to see Thomas on the field in Boulder.

--Georgia RB Todd Gurley might be the nation’s best running back. He is ‘questionable’ Saturday at Tennessee due to a sprained ankle. But I don’t’ think handicappers should downgrade UGA on account of Gurley’s potential absence. That’s because there is minimal drop-off from Gurley to back-up Keith Marshall, who actually had a better YPC average (6.5) compared to Gurley (6.3) last season.

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Saturday's six-pack

Some college football trends for this week's games.........

-- Stanford covered twice in its last eight games as a home favorite.

-- Home side covered four of last five Ole Miss-Auburn games.

-- Texas Tech covered its last five games as a road favorite.

-- NC State failed to cover last 12 games as a road favorite.

-- Visitor covered last five New Mexico State-New Mexico games.

-- LSU is 17-4 vs spread in its last 21 games with Mississippi State.


*****

Armadillo: Saturday's List of 13: Notes on the first Saturday in October

13) Dan Uggla makes $13M a year but isn’t on the Braves’ roster for the NLDS. Guess the laser surgery he had in August didn’t fix whatever his hitting problems are.

12) Browns' QB Brian Hoyer tore his ACL Thursday night, which puts #3 QB Jason Campbell in line to back up previously-deposed starter Brandon Weeden- they're apparently not interested in adding Josh Freeman..

11) 49ers’ WR Anquan Boldin has 24 catches for 372 yards and two TDs; the Niners’ other five WRs combined for 13 catches, 112 yards, zero TDs.

10) In their last 260 games, the Dallas Cowboys are 130-130.

9) Guess Louisville’s basketball team didn’t practice too much this week, since Rick Pitino was all over TV, shilling for his new book, the sixth book he’s written. I’ve read a couple of his other ones— they were better than you think they'd be.

8) City of Houston already has nine kids from Class of ’14 committed to play D-I basketball next year. Thing is, all nine are playing out-of-state, which seems odd considering there lot of D-I teams in Texas.

7) 6-6 forward Trevon Bluiett, a 4-star recruit from Indiana, de-committed from UCLA, which hurts Steve Alford’s program; Butler/Xavier/Purdue are said to be the new frontrunners for his services. Guess the kid doesn’t like warm weather.

6) There is a suite at the Palms with two bowling alleys in it and another one with a half court basketball court. Either one would be tremendous.

5) Scapegoats, part 1: Texas Rangers fired their 74-year old bench coach and their first base coach after losing the play-in game to Tampa Bay. Yup, must’ve been their fault.

4) Mets' All-Star pitcher Matt Harvey will have Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2014 season.

3) I’m not a big Jim Boeheim fan, but he’s done great, great things for Syracuse and he makes $2M a year, which he more than earns, considering how much $$$ their basketball program makes; wonder how his proclamation that paying college athletes would be “idiotic” will play with recruits.

If you read his whole statement, he makes perfect sense, but how many kids will look at it that way?

2) I’m a big Dusty Baker fan, since he was nice to me when I met him back when I was 15 years old and he had a broken wrist while playing for the Braves. Sad to see him get fired by Cincinnati; I’m thinking if the Dodgers don’t win the World Series, they’ll give Don Mattingly the boot and Magic Johnson will hire Dusty as manager. The guy is 167 games over .500 in 20 years as a manager, after all. He even got the Cubs to the playoffs.

1) I was having a bad day at work the other day so I took a walk downstairs to get some food; there was guy sitting in the lobby, wearing shorts. I’m wondering why the guy was wearing shorts, when I realized his left leg is artificial. One of those metal prosthetic legs you see guys run races with sometimes. End of complaining for me this week; that guy was out and about with an artificial leg and he was smiling. No reason I couldn’t be, too.
Reply With Quote

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAF Consensus Picks ( As of 7:20 Pacific )


October 5, 2013 »

Sides (ATS)

Time Away Line Picks Pct Home Line Picks Pct Detail Odds

3:30 PM Georgia Tech +6.5 486 22.65% Miami -6.5 1660 77.35% View View

3:30 PM Massachusetts +26.5 464 26.88% Bowling Green -26.5 1262 73.12% View View

7:00 PM Texas Christian +8.5 602 27.48% Oklahoma -8.5 1589 72.52% View View

12:00 PM Eastern Michigan +13 542 28.91% Buffalo -13 1333 71.09% View View

7:00 PM New Mexico State +10.5 482 29.05% New Mexico -10.5 1177 70.95% View View

3:00 PM Florida Atlantic +4 513 30.76% Alabama-Birmingham -4 1155 69.24% View View

2:00 PM Texas-San Antonio +14.5 554 30.83% Marshall -14.5 1243 69.17% View View

1:00 PM South Alabama +3.5 569 30.97% Troy -3.5 1268 69.03% View View

3:30 PM Kansas State +13.5 629 31.00% Oklahoma State -13.5 1400 69.00% View View

1:00 PM Army +11.5 649 33.80% Boston College -11.5 1271 66.20% View View

10:30 PM Washington +8.5 811 34.16% Stanford -8.5 1563 65.84% View View

7:30 PM Kentucky +21.5 685 35.55% South Carolina -21.5 1242 64.45% View View

4:00 PM Florida International +17 584 35.72% Southern Mississippi -17 1051 64.28% View View

3:00 PM Western Michigan +22.5 606 36.57% Toledo -22.5 1051 63.43% View View

12:30 PM North Carolina +7 809 37.59% Virginia Tech -7 1343 62.41% View View

8:00 PM West Virginia +29.5 851 40.35% Baylor -29.5 1258 59.65% View View

12:00 PM Ball State +3.5 909 41.00% Virginia -3.5 1308 59.00% View View

3:30 PM Rice +3 769 42.75% Tulsa -3 1030 57.25% View View

7:00 PM Texas State +11 742 44.92% UL Lafayette -11 910 55.08% View View

7:00 PM Arkansas +12.5 957 45.36% Florida -12.5 1153 54.64% View View

11:30 AM Air Force +12.5 839 45.38% Navy -12.5 1010 54.62% View View

12:00 PM Illinois +7 1089 47.83% Nebraska -7 1188 52.17% View View

3:30 PM Minnesota +18 1034 50.10% Michigan -18 1030 49.90% View View

12:00 PM Maryland +16.5 1309 51.60% Florida State -16.5 1228 48.40% View View

12:00 PM Michigan State +1.5 1200 51.66% Iowa -1.5 1123 48.34% View View

12:21 PM Georgia State +54 682 52.06% Alabama -54 628 47.94% View View

7:30 PM Arizona State -6.5 1175 52.08% Notre Dame +6.5 1081 47.92% View View

7:30 PM Missouri -1.5 1094 53.26% Vanderbilt +1.5 960 46.74% View View

7:30 PM Louisiana Tech -2.5 875 53.75% Texas El Paso +2.5 753 46.25% View View

3:30 PM North Texas -3 1040 58.79% Tulane +3 729 41.21% View View

11:59 PM San Jose State -4.5 1098 59.10% Hawaii +4.5 760 40.90% View View

2:00 PM Ohio -3.5 1099 59.79% Akron +3.5 739 40.21% View View

1:00 PM Central Michigan -3 1031 60.58% Miami (Ohio) +3 671 39.42% View View

7:00 PM Mississippi -3 1264 60.59% Auburn +3 822 39.41% View View

4:00 PM Washington State -1.5 806 62.53% California +1.5 483 37.47% View View

8:00 PM Ohio State -7 1513 63.36% Northwestern +7 875 36.64% View View

12:00 PM Texas Tech -16.5 1268 65.84% Kansas +16.5 658 34.16% View View

5:00 PM Fresno State -27 1185 65.91% Idaho +27 613 34.09% View View

7:00 PM Cincinnati -11 1241 66.83% South Florida +11 616 33.17% View View

12:00 PM Penn State -3 1588 67.00% Indiana +3 782 33.00% View View

3:30 PM East Carolina -7.5 1201 67.09% Middle Tennessee +7.5 589 32.91% View View

12:00 PM Louisville -32.5 1491 67.13% Temple +32.5 730 32.87% View View

12:00 PM Rutgers -4 1438 67.51% Southern Methodist +4 692 32.49% View View

6:00 PM Oregon -40 1495 70.45% Colorado +40 627 29.55% View View

4:30 PM Central Florida -9 1360 70.50% Memphis +9 569 29.50% View View

7:00 PM Louisiana State -8 1473 70.95% Mississippi State +8 603 29.05% View View

3:30 PM North Carolina State -7 1412 71.35% Wake Forest +7 567 28.65% View View

3:30 PM Georgia -11 1709 73.51% Tennessee +11 616 26.49% View View

3:30 PM Clemson -14 1754 75.60% Syracuse +14 566 24.40% View View

3:30 PM Northern Illinois -8.5 1509 76.44% Kent State +8.5 465 23.56% View View



Totals (Over/Under)

Time Away Total Over Pct Home Total Under Pct Detail Odds

12:00 PM Penn State 65 407 37.72% Indiana 65 672 62.28% View View

1:00 PM Army 50.5 377 43.79% Boston College 50.5 484 56.21% View View

7:30 PM Arizona State 63.5 401 43.97% Notre Dame 63.5 511 56.03% View View

7:00 PM Mississippi 57 381 46.07% Auburn 57 446 53.93% View View

7:30 PM Kentucky 55 421 47.14% South Carolina 55 472 52.86% View View

2:00 PM Ohio 57 403 47.86% Akron 57 439 52.14% View View

12:00 PM Michigan State 38 511 49.18% Iowa 38 528 50.82% View View

3:30 PM Massachusetts 51 429 50.18% Bowling Green 51 426 49.82% View View

3:00 PM Florida Atlantic 52.5 393 50.26% Alabama-Birmingham 52.5 389 49.74% View View

7:30 PM Louisiana Tech 60 395 51.43% Texas El Paso 60 373 48.57% View View

12:30 PM North Carolina 45.5 498 52.48% Virginia Tech 45.5 451 47.52% View View

4:00 PM Florida International 46.5 402 52.69% Southern Mississippi 46.5 361 47.31% View View

1:00 PM Central Michigan 47.5 456 52.78% Miami (Ohio) 47.5 408 47.22% View View

7:00 PM Louisiana State 55 451 53.37% Mississippi State 55 394 46.63% View View

7:00 PM Texas State 54.5 395 53.38% UL Lafayette 54.5 345 46.62% View View

3:00 PM Western Michigan 58.5 482 53.38% Toledo 58.5 421 46.62% View View

12:00 PM Eastern Michigan 53 489 53.56% Buffalo 53 424 46.44% View View

12:00 PM Ball State 48 519 53.84% Virginia 48 445 46.16% View View

4:00 PM Washington State 66 477 54.27% California 66 402 45.73% View View

1:00 PM South Alabama 62.5 501 54.28% Troy 62.5 422 45.72% View View

3:30 PM Georgia Tech 55 501 54.46% Miami 55 419 45.54% View View

12:00 PM Rutgers 55 544 54.78% Southern Methodist 55 449 45.22% View View

11:30 AM Air Force 55 565 55.28% Navy 55 457 44.72% View View

4:30 PM Central Florida 48.5 466 55.61% Memphis 48.5 372 44.39% View View

7:00 PM New Mexico State 60 446 55.82% New Mexico 60 353 44.18% View View

2:00 PM Texas-San Antonio 65.5 525 56.76% Marshall 65.5 400 43.24% View View

3:30 PM Northern Illinois 64.5 490 57.44% Kent State 64.5 363 42.56% View View

3:30 PM North Texas 53.5 465 58.05% Tulane 53.5 336 41.95% View View

3:30 PM East Carolina 62.5 506 58.36% Middle Tennessee 62.5 361 41.64% View View

7:00 PM Cincinnati 48 481 58.87% South Florida 48 336 41.13% View View

7:30 PM Missouri 55.5 495 59.35% Vanderbilt 55.5 339 40.65% View View

3:30 PM Clemson 66 592 59.62% Syracuse 66 401 40.38% View View

12:21 PM Georgia State 58 647 60.13% Alabama 58 429 39.87% View View

3:30 PM North Carolina State 47 525 60.69% Wake Forest 47 340 39.31% View View

3:30 PM Georgia 64 605 61.17% Tennessee 64 384 38.83% View View

3:30 PM Rice 54.5 502 61.29% Tulsa 54.5 317 38.71% View View

10:30 PM Washington 52.5 584 61.54% Stanford 52.5 365 38.46% View View

7:00 PM Arkansas 43 541 61.76% Florida 43 335 38.24% View View

12:00 PM Louisville 58.5 637 62.21% Temple 58.5 387 37.79% View View

8:00 PM Ohio State 57.5 618 63.00% Northwestern 57.5 363 37.00% View View

5:00 PM Fresno State 66.5 573 63.88% Idaho 66.5 324 36.12% View View

12:00 PM Maryland 58 699 63.89% Florida State 58 395 36.11% View View

12:00 PM Illinois 61.5 695 65.94% Nebraska 61.5 359 34.06% View View

11:59 PM San Jose State 56.5 572 65.97% Hawaii 56.5 295 34.03% View View

12:00 PM Texas Tech 56.5 700 66.60% Kansas 56.5 351 33.40% View View

3:30 PM Minnesota 48.5 636 67.52% Michigan 48.5 306 32.48% View View

3:30 PM Kansas State 59.5 641 69.90% Oklahoma State 59.5 276 30.10% View View

7:00 PM Texas Christian 46.5 623 71.12% Oklahoma 46.5 253 28.88% View View

8:00 PM West Virginia 70 814 75.44% Baylor 70 265 24.56% View View

6:00 PM Oregon 69 781 76.20% Colorado 69 244 23.80% View View

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAF Consensus Picks ( As of 8:30 Pacific )


October 5, 2013 »

Sides (ATS)

Time Away Line Picks Pct Home Line Picks Pct Detail Odds

3:30 PM Georgia Tech +6.5 530 22.93% Miami -6.5 1781 77.07% View View

3:30 PM Massachusetts +26.5 498 26.86% Bowling Green -26.5 1356 73.14% View View

7:00 PM Texas Christian +8.5 646 27.45% Oklahoma -8.5 1707 72.55% View View

7:00 PM New Mexico State +11 508 28.56% New Mexico -11 1271 71.44% View View

12:00 PM Eastern Michigan +13.5 599 29.33% Buffalo -13.5 1443 70.67% View View

2:00 PM Texas-San Antonio +14.5 588 30.58% Marshall -14.5 1335 69.42% View View

3:00 PM Florida Atlantic +4 555 30.88% Alabama-Birmingham -4 1242 69.12% View View

3:30 PM Kansas State +13.5 673 30.96% Oklahoma State -13.5 1501 69.04% View View

1:00 PM South Alabama +3.5 612 30.97% Troy -3.5 1364 69.03% View View

1:00 PM Army +11.5 688 33.11% Boston College -11.5 1390 66.89% View View

10:30 PM Washington +8.5 873 34.48% Stanford -8.5 1659 65.52% View View

7:30 PM Kentucky +21.5 723 35.15% South Carolina -21.5 1334 64.85% View View

4:00 PM Florida International +17 622 35.54% Southern Mississippi -17 1128 64.46% View View

3:00 PM Western Michigan +22.5 658 36.97% Toledo -22.5 1122 63.03% View View

12:30 PM North Carolina +7 883 37.74% Virginia Tech -7 1457 62.26% View View

8:00 PM West Virginia +29 909 40.42% Baylor -29 1340 59.58% View View

12:00 PM Ball State +3.5 994 41.26% Virginia -3.5 1415 58.74% View View

3:30 PM Rice +3.5 825 42.88% Tulsa -3.5 1099 57.12% View View

7:00 PM Texas State +11 788 44.57% UL Lafayette -11 980 55.43% View View

11:30 AM Air Force +13 918 44.96% Navy -13 1124 55.04% View View

7:00 PM Arkansas +12.5 1022 45.18% Florida -12.5 1240 54.82% View View

12:00 PM Illinois +7.5 1190 47.91% Nebraska -7.5 1294 52.09% View View

3:30 PM Minnesota +18 1099 49.73% Michigan -18 1111 50.27% View View

12:00 PM Maryland +17 1419 51.51% Florida State -17 1336 48.49% View View

12:00 PM Michigan State +1.5 1311 51.76% Iowa -1.5 1222 48.24% View View

7:30 PM Arizona State -7 1251 51.87% Notre Dame +7 1161 48.13% View View

12:21 PM Georgia State +54 765 52.04% Alabama -54 705 47.96% View View

7:30 PM Missouri -1.5 1187 54.03% Vanderbilt +1.5 1010 45.97% View View

7:30 PM Louisiana Tech -2.5 943 54.51% Texas El Paso +2.5 787 45.49% View View

3:30 PM North Texas -3 1117 58.70% Tulane +3 786 41.30% View View

2:00 PM Ohio -3 1178 59.26% Akron +3 810 40.74% View View

11:59 PM San Jose State -4.5 1186 59.90% Hawaii +4.5 794 40.10% View View

7:00 PM Mississippi -3 1342 60.21% Auburn +3 887 39.79% View View

1:00 PM Central Michigan -3 1116 60.75% Miami (Ohio) +3 721 39.25% View View

4:00 PM Washington State -1.5 894 62.30% California +1.5 541 37.70% View View

8:00 PM Ohio State -7 1601 62.81% Northwestern +7 948 37.19% View View

5:00 PM Fresno State -28 1253 65.29% Idaho +28 666 34.71% View View

12:00 PM Texas Tech -16.5 1386 65.87% Kansas +16.5 718 34.13% View View

12:00 PM Penn State -3.5 1724 66.69% Indiana +3.5 861 33.31% View View

3:30 PM East Carolina -7.5 1278 66.74% Middle Tennessee +7.5 637 33.26% View View

7:00 PM Cincinnati -11 1332 66.97% South Florida +11 657 33.03% View View

12:00 PM Rutgers -4 1560 67.36% Southern Methodist +4 756 32.64% View View

12:00 PM Louisville -32.5 1620 67.42% Temple +32.5 783 32.58% View View

6:00 PM Oregon -40 1590 70.07% Colorado +40 679 29.93% View View

7:00 PM Louisiana State -8 1572 70.49% Mississippi State +8 658 29.51% View View

4:30 PM Central Florida -9 1461 70.55% Memphis +9 610 29.45% View View

3:30 PM North Carolina State -7 1521 71.27% Wake Forest +7 613 28.73% View View

3:30 PM Georgia -12.5 1842 73.21% Tennessee +12.5 674 26.79% View View

3:30 PM Clemson -14 1882 75.49% Syracuse +14 611 24.51% View View

3:30 PM Northern Illinois -8.5 1618 76.32% Kent State +8.5 502 23.68% View View



Totals (Over/Under)

Time Away Total Over Pct Home Total Under Pct Detail Odds

12:00 PM Penn State 65.5 466 38.29% Indiana 65.5 751 61.71% View View

1:00 PM Army 50.5 423 44.43% Boston College 50.5 529 55.57% View View

7:30 PM Arizona State 63.5 444 44.71% Notre Dame 63.5 549 55.29% View View

7:00 PM Mississippi 57 423 46.48% Auburn 57 487 53.52% View View

7:30 PM Kentucky 55 460 47.13% South Carolina 55 516 52.87% View View

2:00 PM Ohio 57 449 48.65% Akron 57 474 51.35% View View

12:00 PM Michigan State 38.5 566 48.96% Iowa 38.5 590 51.04% View View

3:30 PM Massachusetts 51 477 50.64% Bowling Green 51 465 49.36% View View

3:00 PM Florida Atlantic 52.5 442 51.28% Alabama-Birmingham 52.5 420 48.72% View View

7:30 PM Louisiana Tech 60 430 51.31% Texas El Paso 60 408 48.69% View View

12:30 PM North Carolina 45.5 552 52.17% Virginia Tech 45.5 506 47.83% View View

4:00 PM Florida International 46.5 441 52.75% Southern Mississippi 46.5 395 47.25% View View

3:00 PM Western Michigan 58.5 534 53.08% Toledo 58.5 472 46.92% View View

7:00 PM Louisiana State 55 492 53.42% Mississippi State 55 429 46.58% View View

1:00 PM Central Michigan 47.5 514 53.82% Miami (Ohio) 47.5 441 46.18% View View

7:00 PM Texas State 54.5 436 53.96% UL Lafayette 54.5 372 46.04% View View

12:00 PM Eastern Michigan 53 553 54.16% Buffalo 53 468 45.84% View View

4:00 PM Washington State 66 522 54.21% California 66 441 45.79% View View

12:00 PM Ball State 47.5 592 54.51% Virginia 47.5 494 45.49% View View

3:30 PM Georgia Tech 55 550 54.67% Miami 55 456 45.33% View View

12:00 PM Rutgers 55.5 606 54.84% Southern Methodist 55.5 499 45.16% View View

1:00 PM South Alabama 62.5 565 55.72% Troy 62.5 449 44.28% View View

11:30 AM Air Force 55 640 55.99% Navy 55 503 44.01% View View

4:30 PM Central Florida 48.5 518 56.06% Memphis 48.5 406 43.94% View View

7:00 PM New Mexico State 60.5 492 56.62% New Mexico 60.5 377 43.38% View View

2:00 PM Texas-San Antonio 65.5 589 57.58% Marshall 65.5 434 42.42% View View

3:30 PM Northern Illinois 64.5 541 57.86% Kent State 64.5 394 42.14% View View

3:30 PM North Texas 53.5 513 58.30% Tulane 53.5 367 41.70% View View

3:30 PM East Carolina 62.5 561 59.05% Middle Tennessee 62.5 389 40.95% View View

7:00 PM Cincinnati 48 528 59.13% South Florida 48 365 40.87% View View

3:30 PM Clemson 66 646 59.38% Syracuse 66 442 40.63% View View

12:21 PM Georgia State 58 721 59.83% Alabama 58 484 40.17% View View

7:30 PM Missouri 55.5 543 60.00% Vanderbilt 55.5 362 40.00% View View

3:30 PM Georgia 64 663 61.05% Tennessee 64 423 38.95% View View

10:30 PM Washington 52.5 635 61.59% Stanford 52.5 396 38.41% View View

7:00 PM Arkansas 43 592 61.60% Florida 43 369 38.40% View View

3:30 PM North Carolina State 47 591 61.63% Wake Forest 47 368 38.37% View View

12:00 PM Louisville 58.5 709 62.25% Temple 58.5 430 37.75% View View

3:30 PM Rice 54.5 564 62.39% Tulsa 54.5 340 37.61% View View

8:00 PM Ohio State 58 677 63.15% Northwestern 58 395 36.85% View View

12:00 PM Maryland 58.5 783 64.29% Florida State 58.5 435 35.71% View View

5:00 PM Fresno State 67 633 64.46% Idaho 67 349 35.54% View View

11:59 PM San Jose State 56.5 615 65.57% Hawaii 56.5 323 34.43% View View

12:00 PM Illinois 62 786 66.55% Nebraska 62 395 33.45% View View

12:00 PM Texas Tech 56.5 780 67.01% Kansas 56.5 384 32.99% View View

3:30 PM Minnesota 48.5 702 67.76% Michigan 48.5 334 32.24% View View

3:30 PM Kansas State 59.5 713 70.38% Oklahoma State 59.5 300 29.62% View View

7:00 PM Texas Christian 46.5 680 70.83% Oklahoma 46.5 280 29.17% View View

8:00 PM West Virginia 70 878 74.79% Baylor 70 296 25.21% View View

6:00 PM Oregon 69 855 76.54% Colorado 69 262 23.46% View View

[StarDust Bum]

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

09/28/13 42-*44-*2 48.84% -*3200 Detail
09/27/13 3-*1-*0 75.00% +*950 Detail
09/26/13 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*100 Detail
09/21/13 46-*52-*0 46.94% -*5600 Detail
09/20/13 1-*1-*0 50.00% -*50 Detail
09/19/13 1-*1-*0 50.00% -*50 Detail
09/14/13 35-*42-*2 45.45% -*5600 Detail
09/13/13 1-*1-*0 50.00% -*50 Detail
09/12/13 2-*3-*1 40.00% -*650 Detail
09/07/13 70-*37-*1 65.42% +*14650 Detail
09/06/13 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*100 Detail
09/05/13 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*100 Detail
09/02/13 1-*1-*0 50.00% -*50 Detail
09/01/13 4-*0-*0 100.00% +*2000 Detail

Totals 212-*189-*6 52.87% +2050

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

10/04/13 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*100 Detail
10/03/13 5-*1-*0 83.33% +*1950 Detail

Totals 7-*3-*0 70.00% +1850



Saturday, October 5

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Air Force - 11:30 AM ET Air Force +12.5 500
Navy - Under 55 500

Maryland- 12:00 PM ET Florida State -16.5 500
Florida State - Under 58 500

Penn State - 12:00 PM ET Indiana +3 500 ( DOUBLE POD )
Indiana - Over 65.5 500

Louisville - 12:00 PM ET Temple +32.5 500
Temple - Over 58.5 500

Ball State - 12:00 PM ET Ball State +4 500
Virginia - Under 48 500

Eastern Michigan - 12:00 PM ET Buffalo -13 500 POD # 2
Buffalo - Under 53 500

Texas Tech - 12:00 PM ET Texas Tech -16.5 500
Kansas - Over 56 500

Rutgers - 12:00 PM ET Rutgers -4.5 500
Southern Methodist - Under 55.5 500

Illinois - 12:00 PM ET Nebraska -8 500
Nebraska - Under 61 500

Michigan State - 12:00 PM ET Iowa -1.5 500
Iowa - Under 38 500

Georgia State - 12:21 PM ET Georgia State +54 500 POD # 3
Alabama - Under 58 500

North Carolina - 12:30 PM ET Virginia Tech -7 500
Virginia Tech - Under 45.5 500

Army - 1:00 PM ET Army +11.5 500 POD # 5
Boston College - Over 51 500

Central Michigan - 1:00 PM ET Miami (Ohio) +3 500
Miami (Ohio) - Over 47.5 500

South Alabama - 1:00 PM ET Troy -3.5 500
Troy - Over 62.5 500 POD # 4

Ohio - 2:00 PM ET Ohio -3.5 500 POD # 6
Akron - Under 57 500

Texas-San Antonio - 2:00 PM ET Texas-San Antonio +14.5 500
Marshall - Under 65.5 500

[Udog]

Wow! A Double POD! I'll go! Good luck, Bum!

[StarDust Bum]

LOL.....your too funny DOG.....Good Luck to us and everyone else on it.............