NCAAF
Saturday, October 12
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Saturday's NCAAF Top 25 betting cheat sheet: Evening action
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Michigan Wolverines at Penn State Nittany Lions (+2.5, 51)
The Wolverines received good news this week when linebacker Jake Ryan was medically cleared to resume play, prompting coach Brady Hoke to say he could "potentially" make an appearance against Penn State. The Wolverines had high hopes for senior running back Fitzgerald Toussaint after he rushed for 100 yards or more in four of the last six games two years ago, but he has surpassed that mark just once in his last 15 contests.
The Nittany Lions welcomed back an important part of their defense last weekend. Mike Hull, a senior linebacker, suffered a right knee injury in the season opener against Syracuse but returned to make 10 tackles versus Indiana. Allen Robinson, a 6-3, 210-pound junior wide receiver who had 12 catches for 173 yards and two scores in a 44-24 loss to Indiana last Saturday.
LINE: Michigan opened -3 and moved to -2.5 Total steady at 51.
WEATHER: Temperatures in low 60s, 31% chance of rain, winds ENE 2 mph.
TRENDS:
* Over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings in Penn State.
* Wolverines are 2-5 ATS in their last seven meetings.
* Wolverines are 12-28 ATS in their last 40 conference games.
Akron Zips at Northern Illinois Huskies (-23.5, 62)
NIU junior Cameron Stingily, who rushed for 266 yards and two touchdowns against Kent State, will play despite a recent arrest stemming from a failure to appear in court. Jordan Lynch has gone over 1,000 yards passing and 500 yards rushing through five games, and the senior has 12 touchdowns against only four interceptions for Northern Illinois.
The Zips have lost four straight, including a near upset of then-ranked No. 11 Michigan. Sophomore quarterback Kyle Pohl has thrown an interception in all but one game this season and has been sacked 11 times. The Zips' defense has six interceptions and is tied for second-best in the MAC with 16 sacks.
LINE: NIU opened -21.5 and moved to -23.5. Total moved from 62.5 to 62.
WEATHER: Temperatures in high 60s, 27% chance of early thundershowers, winds WSW 8 mph.
TRENDS:
* Favorite is 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings.
* Zips are 2-5 ATS in their last seven meetings.
* Under is 9-0 in Zips' last nine conference games.
Stanford Cardinal at Utah Utes (+8, 55)
The Cardinal's success begins with quarterback Kevin Hogan, who is 10-0 in his career as a starter and has thrown 11 touchdowns against four interceptions this season. Stanford has a balanced offensive attack led by running back Tyler Gaffney, who has a team-leading 462 yards and six TDs.
The Utes must get more consistent play from sophomore quarterback Travis Wilson, who threw six interceptions against UCLA.Wilson's top target is Dres Anderson, who leads the team with 24 catches, 510 yards and four receiving touchdowns. Sophomore James Poole has a team-leading 330 yards on the ground while Wilson has rushed for 248 and a team-high five TDs.
LINE: Stanford opened -10 and moved to -8. Total moved from 54.5 to 55.
WEATHER: Temperatures in high 50s, 6% chance of rain, winds SSW 9 mph.
TRENDS:
* Cardinal are 19-6-1 ATS in their last 26 road games.
* Utes are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 conference games.
* Over is 7-3 in Utes' last 10 games overall.
Alabama Crimson Tide at Kentucky Wildcats (+27, 51.5)
Quarterback A.J. McCarron has never been more accurate than in his last four games, connecting on 77.7 percent of his throws for 938 yards and nine touchdowns with two interceptions. The Tide have won 16 straight road games and nine straight overall. Alabama has held four of five opponents this season under 10 points.
The Wildcats rank third in the SEC and 24th nationally in pass defense, while their Air Raid offense is averaging 388.8 yards per game and rushing for 5.1 yards per carry. Kentucky showed its big-play ability by scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter at South Carolina, and the team already has six plays of at least 40 yards.
LINE: Alabama moved from -26.5 to -27. Total moved from 52 to 51.5.
WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 70s, clear skies, winds SSW 1 mph.
TRENDS:
* Crimson Tide are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 road games.
* Wildcats are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games overall.
* Over is 3-0-1 in Crimson Tide's last four road games.
Texas A&M Aggies at Mississippi Rebels (+6, 76)
Texas A&M’s beleaguered defense turned in an encouraging outing against Arkansas, but the unit figures to be tested by an Ole Miss offense that averaged 38 points in its first three wins. Texas A&M has scored first in 17 of 18 games under coach Kevin Sumlin. The Aggies have used a balanced offense to score at least 40 points in each of their first five games for the first time in school history.
Junior quarterback Bo Wallace threw for a season-high 336 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions last week against Auburn, but the Rebels will need a more balanced attack in order to keep Manziel off the field. Ole Miss boasts the SEC’s No. 2 pass defense, but the Rebels’ defensive line has been hit by a wave of injuries in recent weeks.
LINE: Texas A&M opened -5.5 and move to -6. Total opened 75 and moved to 76.
WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 70s, 13% chance of rain, winds SW 1 mph.
TRENDS:
* Aggies are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
* Over is 4-1 in Aggies' last five games overall.
* Over is 4-1 in Rebels last five home games.
California Golden Bears at UCLA Bruins (-25, 73.5)
Injuries have decimated the Golden Bears' defense, with seven projected starters missing last week’s loss. California could use a quick start after allowing a touchdown on the opposing team’s first drive in each of its first five games, forcing Goff (364.2 yards passing per game) into catch-up mode soon after the opening kickoff.
he Bruins were fairly healthy until the Utah game, when tackle Torian White suffered a season-ending right leg injury and running back Jordon James exited with an ankle injury that could force him to miss Saturday's contest. James’ absence would create more opportunities for Steven Manfro, Malcolm Jones and Paul Perkins, who rushed for 92 yards against the Utes.
LINE: UCLA opened -24 and moved to -25. Total opened 73 and moved to 73.5.
WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 60s, clear skies, winds SSW 8 mph.
TRENDS:
* Golden Bears are 3-15 ATS in their last 18 games overall.
* Bruins are 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall.
* Underdog is 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 meetings.
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Saturday, October 12
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Saturday's NCAAF Top 25 betting cheat sheet: Evening action
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Michigan Wolverines at Penn State Nittany Lions (+2.5, 51)
The Wolverines received good news this week when linebacker Jake Ryan was medically cleared to resume play, prompting coach Brady Hoke to say he could "potentially" make an appearance against Penn State. The Wolverines had high hopes for senior running back Fitzgerald Toussaint after he rushed for 100 yards or more in four of the last six games two years ago, but he has surpassed that mark just once in his last 15 contests.
The Nittany Lions welcomed back an important part of their defense last weekend. Mike Hull, a senior linebacker, suffered a right knee injury in the season opener against Syracuse but returned to make 10 tackles versus Indiana. Allen Robinson, a 6-3, 210-pound junior wide receiver who had 12 catches for 173 yards and two scores in a 44-24 loss to Indiana last Saturday.
LINE: Michigan opened -3 and moved to -2.5 Total steady at 51.
WEATHER: Temperatures in low 60s, 31% chance of rain, winds ENE 2 mph.
TRENDS:
* Over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings in Penn State.
* Wolverines are 2-5 ATS in their last seven meetings.
* Wolverines are 12-28 ATS in their last 40 conference games.
Akron Zips at Northern Illinois Huskies (-23.5, 62)
NIU junior Cameron Stingily, who rushed for 266 yards and two touchdowns against Kent State, will play despite a recent arrest stemming from a failure to appear in court. Jordan Lynch has gone over 1,000 yards passing and 500 yards rushing through five games, and the senior has 12 touchdowns against only four interceptions for Northern Illinois.
The Zips have lost four straight, including a near upset of then-ranked No. 11 Michigan. Sophomore quarterback Kyle Pohl has thrown an interception in all but one game this season and has been sacked 11 times. The Zips' defense has six interceptions and is tied for second-best in the MAC with 16 sacks.
LINE: NIU opened -21.5 and moved to -23.5. Total moved from 62.5 to 62.
WEATHER: Temperatures in high 60s, 27% chance of early thundershowers, winds WSW 8 mph.
TRENDS:
* Favorite is 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings.
* Zips are 2-5 ATS in their last seven meetings.
* Under is 9-0 in Zips' last nine conference games.
Stanford Cardinal at Utah Utes (+8, 55)
The Cardinal's success begins with quarterback Kevin Hogan, who is 10-0 in his career as a starter and has thrown 11 touchdowns against four interceptions this season. Stanford has a balanced offensive attack led by running back Tyler Gaffney, who has a team-leading 462 yards and six TDs.
The Utes must get more consistent play from sophomore quarterback Travis Wilson, who threw six interceptions against UCLA.Wilson's top target is Dres Anderson, who leads the team with 24 catches, 510 yards and four receiving touchdowns. Sophomore James Poole has a team-leading 330 yards on the ground while Wilson has rushed for 248 and a team-high five TDs.
LINE: Stanford opened -10 and moved to -8. Total moved from 54.5 to 55.
WEATHER: Temperatures in high 50s, 6% chance of rain, winds SSW 9 mph.
TRENDS:
* Cardinal are 19-6-1 ATS in their last 26 road games.
* Utes are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 conference games.
* Over is 7-3 in Utes' last 10 games overall.
Alabama Crimson Tide at Kentucky Wildcats (+27, 51.5)
Quarterback A.J. McCarron has never been more accurate than in his last four games, connecting on 77.7 percent of his throws for 938 yards and nine touchdowns with two interceptions. The Tide have won 16 straight road games and nine straight overall. Alabama has held four of five opponents this season under 10 points.
The Wildcats rank third in the SEC and 24th nationally in pass defense, while their Air Raid offense is averaging 388.8 yards per game and rushing for 5.1 yards per carry. Kentucky showed its big-play ability by scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter at South Carolina, and the team already has six plays of at least 40 yards.
LINE: Alabama moved from -26.5 to -27. Total moved from 52 to 51.5.
WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 70s, clear skies, winds SSW 1 mph.
TRENDS:
* Crimson Tide are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 road games.
* Wildcats are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games overall.
* Over is 3-0-1 in Crimson Tide's last four road games.
Texas A&M Aggies at Mississippi Rebels (+6, 76)
Texas A&M’s beleaguered defense turned in an encouraging outing against Arkansas, but the unit figures to be tested by an Ole Miss offense that averaged 38 points in its first three wins. Texas A&M has scored first in 17 of 18 games under coach Kevin Sumlin. The Aggies have used a balanced offense to score at least 40 points in each of their first five games for the first time in school history.
Junior quarterback Bo Wallace threw for a season-high 336 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions last week against Auburn, but the Rebels will need a more balanced attack in order to keep Manziel off the field. Ole Miss boasts the SEC’s No. 2 pass defense, but the Rebels’ defensive line has been hit by a wave of injuries in recent weeks.
LINE: Texas A&M opened -5.5 and move to -6. Total opened 75 and moved to 76.
WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 70s, 13% chance of rain, winds SW 1 mph.
TRENDS:
* Aggies are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
* Over is 4-1 in Aggies' last five games overall.
* Over is 4-1 in Rebels last five home games.
California Golden Bears at UCLA Bruins (-25, 73.5)
Injuries have decimated the Golden Bears' defense, with seven projected starters missing last week’s loss. California could use a quick start after allowing a touchdown on the opposing team’s first drive in each of its first five games, forcing Goff (364.2 yards passing per game) into catch-up mode soon after the opening kickoff.
he Bruins were fairly healthy until the Utah game, when tackle Torian White suffered a season-ending right leg injury and running back Jordon James exited with an ankle injury that could force him to miss Saturday's contest. James’ absence would create more opportunities for Steven Manfro, Malcolm Jones and Paul Perkins, who rushed for 92 yards against the Utes.
LINE: UCLA opened -24 and moved to -25. Total opened 73 and moved to 73.5.
WEATHER: Temperatures in mid 60s, clear skies, winds SSW 8 mph.
TRENDS:
* Golden Bears are 3-15 ATS in their last 18 games overall.
* Bruins are 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall.
* Underdog is 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 meetings.
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