The Bum's 2016 College Football Best Bets,Trends,Stat, News !!

[StarDust Bum]

Clemson at Georgia Tech
September 20, 2016

Louisville grabbed headlines last week with a dominant win and next week’s showdown with Clemson will be one of the biggest games of the season. Clemson must first fend off a surging Georgia Tech team in Thursday’s battle of 3-0 squads. Here is a look at the Thursday night ACC matchup to start the fourth week of the college season.

Match-up: Clemson Tigers at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Venue: Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
Time/TV: Thursday, Sep. 22, 7:30 PM ET
Line: Clemson -9½, Over/Under 57
Last Meeting: 2015, at Clemson (-7½) 43, Georgia Tech 24

The ACC went 12 years without a BCS Championship participant until Florida State won the final BCS Championship game after the 2013 season. Clemson made it to College Football Playoff game last season and the conference is growing in stature with Louisville’s statement win last week drawing a lot of attention. Clemson will take on the Cardinals next week at home setting the stage as potentially a deciding game in the ACC Atlantic and possibly the College Football Playoff bid pictures. That is assuming the Clemson can get by a Georgia Tech team that has shown clear improvement so far in 2016.

Coming off last season’s 14-1 campaign that ended with a five-point loss in the College Football Playoff Championship, Clemson entered this season as one of the favorites in the national picture. Junior quarterback Deshaun Watson entered the season as a clear Heisman Trophy contender and the expectations for the offense were very high with the bulk of the key players returning from a squad that posted over 38 points and 515 yards per game last season.

Clemson has reached 3-0 including a road win at Auburn but the scoring has been limited, managing just 19 points in the opener and then barely sneaking by Troy in the home opener with a 30-24 win. Against FCS South Carolina State last Saturday the Tigers scored 31 points in the first quarter en route to a 59-0 win, but the statistics for Watson have been disappointing with three interceptions already this season and just a 57 percent completion rate.

Wayne Gallman rushed for over 1,500 yards last season yet he hasn’t topped 200 yards through three weeks as the Tigers have only gained 4.2 yards per rush this season after averaging 4.9 last season. After missing last season due to injury, junior Mike Williams leads the Tigers with 15 receptions, but he is yet to find the end zone this year while 2015’s leading receiver Artavis Scott has had a quiet start with only 129 receiving yards while also being without a touchdown.

While the offense has perhaps underachieved so far this season the defense that entered the season with some question marks has impressed. Clemson only returned a couple of starters from last season’s ACC Championship team and lost five of last season’s top six leading tacklers. Clemson is 11th in the nation in scoring defense led by an impressive showing in the opener at Auburn holding a formidable offensive team to just 13 points and 262 total yards.

With a 3-0 start, Georgia Tech has already matched the program’s win count from last season’s ugly 3-9 campaign. After winning the ACC Coastal and giving undefeated Florida State a great battle in the 2014 ACC Championship, the Yellow Jackets had a disastrous follow-up season despite opening the year as a top 20 team on the heels of an Orange Bowl victory the previous winter.

After posting 69 and 65 in a 2-0 start last season, Georgia Tech lost nine of the final 10 games while going 1-7 in ACC play. The lone win in that run was a big one, however, beating then #9 and undefeated Florida State at home and six of the losses came by a single-score. This year’s team opened the season in Ireland, scoring a comeback win over Boston College. A modest 35-10 win over FCS Mercer followed and last week Georgia Tech gained some notice with a thoroughly dominant 38-7 win over Vanderbilt.

As usual, the Georgia Tech triple-option has produced some of the best rushing numbers in the nation with the Yellow Jackets compiling 257 rushing yards per game despite facing two games vs. formidable defensive teams. It has been Georgia Tech’s improved defensive numbers that will be worth watching, currently surrendering just 10 points per game while routinely allowing 25+ points per game on average in most of the Paul Johnson era. Clemson should be by far the best offense that Georgia Tech has faced this season and last season the Tigers posted big numbers in a 43-24 win in this matchup.

That game was the fourth straight loss for Georgia Tech and the yardage totals painted an even more dominant result than the score as Clemson had a 537-230 advantage with the Yellow Jackets held to a season low 71 yards rushing. Clemson rose to #5 in the nation after that win and never looked back, falling just short of a perfect season.

When these teams last met in Atlanta in 2014, Georgia Tech won 28-6 with Clemson’s offense shut down for just 190 total yards. Watson was hurt early in that game as Cole Stoudt was ineffective for the Tigers, but it was the second most lopsided defeat in a 49-8 S/U run for Dabo Swinney since the start of the 2012 season. Two Georgia Tech touchdowns came on interception returns of 85 and 62 yards, but Georgia Tech did put up 353 yards of offense against one of the nation’s best defensive teams in that game. The Tigers allowed just 261 yards per game on average in 2014, actually featuring far better defensive numbers than last season’s near championship squad.

Historical Trends: Clemson is 15-8 ATS vs. Georgia Tech sine 1994 though they are just 11-12 S/U in that run. Since 2008 when both Swinney and Johnson took over their respective programs, the series is knotted at 4-4 S/U with Georgia Tech holding a 5-3 ATS edge and the win in the biggest meeting, the 2009 ACC Championship game. Clemson is 26-42-2 ATS as a road favorite since 1990 including going 10-14 ATS under Swinney. The Tigers are 2-7 ATS as a road favorite since the start of the 2014 season but they lost S/U just once in that run, at Georgia Tech.

Georgia Tech is on a 6-11 ATS run as a home underdog going back to late in the 2003 season, but they have won outright in two of three instances the past two seasons. This spread projects to be the biggest home underdog spread for the Yellow Jackets since hosting Miami in 2004. Swinney is 15-0 S/U on the road since the start of the 2014 season, while Johnson is 39-16 S/U in Atlanta. Swinney’s first game as the head coach of Clemson was a 21-17 defeat at home vs. Georgia Tech in the middle of the 2008 season.

[StarDust Bum]

Tigers, Yellow Jackets battle
September 20, 2016

Clemson Tigers (3-0 SU; 1-2 ATS) vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-0 SU; 1-0-1 ATS)

Sportsbook.ag Lines: Clemson (-10)

Two ACC rivals get Week 4 of the college football season, as national championship contenders Clemson go out on the road for their first conference tilt and look to shut down Georgia Tech's triple-option attack. Both teams have yet to lose this year, but any loss at this point by Clemson would definitely shake up the entire college football landscape as the fifth ranked team in the land has strong aspirations of getting back to the National Championship game.

Dabo Swinney's Clemson Tigers have not looked like the team that narrowly missed out on being National Champions a year ago, leaving some to wonder if last year's loss in the title game has had a hangover effect on 2016. Yes, the Tigers are coming off a 59-0 win last week, but that came against FCS South Carolina State. That game was never going to be much of a test for Clemson, but Tigers fans are hoping a cupcake opponent like that was exactly what Clemson's offense needed to get in gear. They've looked shaky and inconsistent to say the least in a pair of 6-point victories against their FBS opponents (Auburn and Troy) prior to last week's win, and Georgia Tech presents another tough task.

Not only does Clemson have to deal with Georgia Tech's triple-option attack this week, but they do so on short rest with a huge game against #3 Louisville on deck. As far as scheduling spots go, this is one of the toughest you'll see out there for any team. It's nearly impossible for these 18-22 year old Clemson players not to be peaking at what lies ahead for them at home vs. Louisville next week, but overlooking a dangerous Georgia Tech team would be a huge mistake. Clemson hasn't won at Georgia Tech since 2003, and the home team in this rivalry is a perfect 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings. Those numbers put any bettor expecting a huge performance from Clemson this week in a very tough spot.

The toughest part about facing the triple-option in college football is when teams don't see it often or aren't that familiar with it. You'll see ever year that teams that run the triple-option like Georgia Tech and the Service Academies (Navy, Army, Air Force) will catch at least one opponent completely unprepared on how to stop them and keep themselves in a game. The good news on that front for Clemson is the fact that they do see Georgia Tech every year so unfamiliarity won't be an issue. But the Tigers are still 2-7 ATS in their last nine on the road and just 4-10 ATS in their last 14 conference games.

Georgia Tech is more of an after-thought to many entering this game because of all the potential drama surrounding Clemson and their potential outcomes. But the Yellow Jackets are undefeated themselves and while the level of opponent they've seen isn't near Clemson's standards, the fact that Georgia Tech's defense has only allowed 31 points in their three games can't be ignored. The guys on this Georgia Tech team that were here a season ago remember how quickly last year's game in Clemson got out of hand and do not want to make the same mistake again this year. The 1-for-12 on third down in last year's meeting was simply atrocious for an option-running team, so look for that to improv e dramatically on Thursday night. The more Georgia Tech's offense can move the chains and stay on the field, the less time Clemson's QB Deshaun Watson has out there to impact the game.

With such a strong home field advantage in this rivalry the past decade or so, look for Georgia Tech to be quite efficient offensively and take their chances that way. Everyone is waiting for Clemson to break out and show their 2015 form that was so dominant, but it's very possible that the 2016 version just isn't as good. With a huge game looming on deck against Louisville, I'm not sure how anyone could seriously consider laying 10 points on the road with Clemson in this spot.

Take Georgia Tech +10

[StarDust Bum]

McIlwain emerges as Gamecocks QB
September 20, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Freshman Brandon McIlwain made a fast impression on his South Carolina teammates last January. McIlwain's impact has continued, so far, on the football field his first season.

The young quarterback led the Gamecocks (2-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) to a 20-15 victory over pesky East Carolina last week in his first start and will look to equal South Carolina's victory total from last year when he opens at Kentucky (1-2, 0-1) on Saturday.

McIlwain was one of new coach Will Muschamp's top recruits last season, turning down offers from Miami, Ohio State and Tennessee among others. He graduated high school a semester early and enrolled at South Carolina in January.

''He came in worked hard,'' center Alan Knott said. ''He busted his butt in the weight room. He busted his butt in the film room and that showed a big thing for us.''

McIlwain split first-team reps with returning starter Perry Orth throughout spring and summer workouts. The 6-foot, 205-pound McIlwain looked lost two weeks ago at Vanderbilt, with Orth getting the call in the second half and rallying the Gamecocks from a 10-point deficit to a 13-10 victory.

The next week, it was McIlwain's turn to attempt to lead the Gamecocks out of a 24-0 hole at Mississippi State. While South Carolina did not win, McIlwain led the team on two touchdown drives in the 27-14 defeat and earned the chance to start against East Carolina.

McIlwain played solidly and without mistakes, completing 16 of 28 passes for 195 yards and zero interceptions. He had scoring runs of 9 and 10 yards as South Carolina took a 14-0 lead and held on against the Pirates, who had entered with wins in six of their previous games with Power Five schools.

Knott, a junior, said McIlwain has commanded the offense so far with his poise and leadership.

''I think he's handled it tremendously well and I think he's got a big future in front of him,'' Knott said.

McIlwain has his mistakes to clean up, Muschamp said. The coach, though, is pleased with McIlwain's throws and his knowledge of the offense.

''It is no different than any other player or positon,'' Muschamp said. ''Just continue taking the reps, taking the coaching and doing the things you need to do to be successful.''

Part of that process, for Muschamp, is keeping McIlwain's head focused on the field. Muschamp does not permit freshmen to talk with media, although the coach said the possibility of that changing is ''day to day.''

Co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks Kurt Roper also has not spoken to reporters since the season began.

''Right now I just think (McIlwain) has a lot on his plate. He needs to worry about being the quarterback at South Carolina,'' Muschamp said. ''That's the most important thing, along with him playing well for his teammates.''

McIlwain's teammates are excited about what the young quarterback brings to the offense.

South Carolina tight end K.C. Crosby said McIlwain's accuracy and strong throws were evident in the spring and throughout summer drills. Each series McIlwain seems to gain a better grasp of the Gamecocks attack.

''That's just Brandon. He's going to make sure he takes authority of the situation and take his next game to the next level,'' Crosby said

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops sees South Carolina improving the more McIlwain plays.,

''I can tell they're gaining a little confidence and continuity in what they're doing with him and some of the problems that he presents and some of his strengths,'' Stoops said. ''They're going to get nothing but better offensively.''

Crosby believes McIlwain's running skills and ability to lead a fast-paced offense will lead to good things for the Gamecocks.

The Gamecocks tight end said, ''We're not where we want to be, but we're making steps to where we need to be.''


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PSU LB Wartman-White out for season
September 20, 2016

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) Linebacker Nyeem Wartman-White will miss the remainder of the season with a right knee injury, Penn State coach James Franklin announced Tuesday.

The senior was hurt midway through Penn State's 34-27 win against Temple on Saturday. Although he was able to hop up, take a few high steps and walk off the field on his own, he did not return to the game and was spotted later with a full brace on his right leg.

It is the second-straight season-ending knee injury for Wartman-White who missed all but three series last season with a torn left ACL.

The Philadelphia native suffered both injuries against the Owls on similar plays, while on the field for punt return.

''He handled the setback last year really well,'' Franklin said. ''This year, we were still kind of working through his physical and mental confidence and it was growing and growing each week. We thought at first that he was more or less kind of scared that something happened and it actually didn't. We thought he was OK and it didn't play out that way obviously.''

Wartman-White missed all but two games during the 2012 season with an injury and was granted a medical redshirt.

In addition to Wartman-White, Penn State (2-1) will likely play without its other two starting linebackers and Brandon Bell (left leg) and Jason Cabinda (left hand) are nursing injuries as well.

[StarDust Bum]

COLLEGE FOOTBALL TRENDS

ATS

8:00 pm 9/24/2016
(403) STANFORD @(404) UCLA
Play AGAINST UCLA against the spread in All games in games played on a grass field.
The record is 4 Wins and 16 Losses for the last three seasons (-13.6 units)
BET NOW!

8:00 pm 9/24/2016
(403) STANFORD @(404) UCLA
Play AGAINST UCLA against the spread in All games in games played on a grass field.
The record is 1 Wins and 10 Losses for the last two seasons (-10 units)
BET NOW!

6:00 pm 9/24/2016
(337) NORTH TEXAS @(338) RICE
Play ON RICE against the spread in Home games against conference opponents.
The record is 60 Wins and 26 Losses since 1992 (+31.4 units)
BET NOW!

6:00 pm 9/24/2016
(337) NORTH TEXAS @(338) RICE
Play AGAINST NORTH TEXAS against the spread in Road games in games played on turf.
The record is 1 Wins and 11 Losses for the last three seasons (-11.1 units)
BET NOW!

1:00 pm 9/24/2016
(321) SYRACUSE @(322) CONNECTICUT
Play AGAINST CONNECTICUT against the spread in All games when playing on a Saturday.
The record is 4 Wins and 17 Losses for the last three seasons (-14.7 units)
BET NOW!

12:30 pm 9/24/2016
(311) C MICHIGAN @(312) VIRGINIA
Play ON VIRGINIA against the spread in All games as an underdog.
The record is 15 Wins and 3 Losses for the last three seasons (+11.7 units)
BET NOW!

12:30 pm 9/24/2016
(311) C MICHIGAN @(312) VIRGINIA
Play ON VIRGINIA against the spread in All games as an underdog.
The record is 10 Wins and 1 Losses for the last two seasons (+8.9 units)
BET NOW!

12:00 pm 9/24/2016
(329) SAN JOSE ST @(330) IOWA ST
Play AGAINST SAN JOSE ST against the spread in All games as an underdog of 3.5 to 10 points.
The record is 0 Wins and 8 Losses for the last three seasons (-8.8 units)
BET NOW!

12:00 pm 9/24/2016
(329) SAN JOSE ST @(330) IOWA ST
Play AGAINST SAN JOSE ST against the spread in All games as an underdog.
The record is 2 Wins and 13 Losses for the last three seasons (-12.3 units)
BET NOW!

12:00 pm 9/24/2016
(387) FLORIDA ST @(388) S FLORIDA
Play ON S FLORIDA against the spread in All games in games played on a grass field.
The record is 11 Wins and 1 Losses for the last two seasons (+9.9 units)
BET NOW!

[StarDust Bum]

COLLEGE FOOTBALL TRENDS

Half Time


9:00 pm 9/24/2016
(363) ARKANSAS @(364) TEXAS A&M
Play ON ARKANSAS in the first half in Road games when playing on a Saturday.
The record is 10 Wins and 0 Losses for the last three seasons (+10 units)
BET NOW!

8:00 pm 9/24/2016
(351) LOUISVILLE @(352) MARSHALL
Play ON LOUISVILLE in the first half in All games as a favorite of 12 to 17.5 vs. the first half line.
The record is 21 Wins and 5 Losses since 1992 (+15.5 units)
BET NOW!

7:00 pm 9/24/2016
(317) ARMY @(318) BUFFALO
Play AGAINST BUFFALO in the first half in All games versus the first half line in all games.
The record is 2 Wins and 12 Losses for the last two seasons (-11.2 units)
BET NOW!

4:30 pm 9/24/2016
(359) VANDERBILT @(360) W KENTUCKY
Play ON W KENTUCKY in the first half in All games versus the first half line in all games.
The record is 22 Wins and 6 Losses for the last three seasons (+15.4 units)
BET NOW!

4:30 pm 9/24/2016
(359) VANDERBILT @(360) W KENTUCKY
Play ON W KENTUCKY in the first half in All games versus the first half line in all games.
The record is 22 Wins and 6 Losses for the last three seasons (+15.4 units)
BET NOW!

3:30 pm 9/24/2016
(395) BOISE ST @(396) OREGON ST
Play AGAINST OREGON ST in the first half in All games when playing on a Saturday.
The record is 3 Wins and 18 Losses for the last three seasons (-16.8 units)
BET NOW!

3:30 pm 9/24/2016
(355) DUKE @(356) NOTRE DAME
Play ON DUKE in the first half in All games in non-conference games.
The record is 10 Wins and 0 Losses for the last three seasons (+10 units)
BET NOW!

12:00 pm 9/24/2016
(325) IOWA @(326) RUTGERS
Play ON IOWA in the first half in All games in games played on turf.
The record is 12 Wins and 2 Losses for the last two seasons (+9.8 units)
BET NOW!

12:00 pm 9/24/2016
(387) FLORIDA ST @(388) S FLORIDA
Play ON S FLORIDA in the first half in All games versus the first half line in all games.
The record is 13 Wins and 1 Losses for the last two seasons (+11.9 units)
BET NOW!

12:00 pm 9/24/2016
(387) FLORIDA ST @(388) S FLORIDA
Play ON S FLORIDA in the first half in All games versus the first half line in all games.
The record is 13 Wins and 1 Losses for the last two seasons (+11.9 units)
BET NOW!

[StarDust Bum]

COLLEGE FOOTBALL TRENDS

Money Line


8:00 pm 9/24/2016
(367) LA LAFAYETTE @(368) TULANE
Play ON LA LAFAYETTE using the money line in Road games in games played on turf.
The record is 28 Wins and 18 Losses since 1992 (+33.8 units)
BET NOW!

8:00 pm 9/24/2016
(351) LOUISVILLE @(352) MARSHALL
Play AGAINST MARSHALL using the money line in Home games in non-conference games.
The record is 4 Wins and 6 Losses since 1992 (-21.65 units)
BET NOW!

7:00 pm 9/24/2016
(317) ARMY @(318) BUFFALO
Play AGAINST ARMY using the money line in All games in September games.
The record is 18 Wins and 44 Losses since 1992 (-45.05 units)
BET NOW!

6:00 pm 9/24/2016
(337) NORTH TEXAS @(338) RICE
Play AGAINST RICE using the money line in Home games in September games.
The record is 11 Wins and 13 Losses since 1992 (-29.3 units)
BET NOW!

6:00 pm 9/24/2016
(313) BALL ST @(314) FLA ATLANTIC
Play ON BALL ST using the money line in All games in a road game where the total is between 49.5 and 56.
The record is 11 Wins and 6 Losses since 1992 (+21.4 units)
BET NOW!

12:30 pm 9/24/2016
(319) E CAROLINA @(320) VIRGINIA TECH
Play ON VIRGINIA TECH using the money line in All games in a home game where the total is between 49.5 and 56.
The record is 9 Wins and 8 Losses since 1992 (-30.35 units)
BET NOW!

9:00 pm 9/23/2016
(309) USC @(310) UTAH
Play ON USC using the money line in All games after playing a conference game.
The record is 10 Wins and 9 Losses for the last three seasons (-29.3 units)
BET NOW!

9:00 pm 9/23/2016
(309) USC @(310) UTAH
Play AGAINST USC using the money line in Road games in September games.
The record is 15 Wins and 15 Losses since 1992 (-35.75 units)
BET NOW!

7:30 pm 9/22/2016
(303) CLEMSON @(304) GEORGIA TECH
Play ON CLEMSON using the money line in All games in all games.
The record is 11 Wins and 1 Losses for the last two seasons (+10.65 units)
BET NOW!

7:30 pm 9/22/2016
(303) CLEMSON @(304) GEORGIA TECH
Play ON CLEMSON using the money line in All games as a favorite vs. the money line.
The record is 16 Wins and 1 Losses for the last three seasons (+14.7 units)
BET NOW!

[StarDust Bum]

COLLEGE FOOTBALL TRENDS

Over


7:00 pm 9/24/2016
(357) NEW MEXICO ST @(358) TROY
Play OVER NEW MEXICO ST on the total in All games in September games.
The record is 10 Overs and 0 Unders for the last three seasons (+10 units)
BET NOW!

7:00 pm 9/24/2016
(357) NEW MEXICO ST @(358) TROY
Play OVER NEW MEXICO ST on the total in All games when playing on a Saturday.
The record is 20 Overs and 5 Unders for the last three seasons (+14.5 units)
BET NOW!

4:30 pm 9/24/2016
(405) TULSA @(406) FRESNO ST
Play OVER FRESNO ST on the total in All games as an underdog of 10.5 to 21 points.
The record is 8 Overs and 0 Unders for the last three seasons (+8 units)
BET NOW!


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COLLEGE FOOTBALL TRENDS

Under


7:30 pm 9/24/2016
(389) NEBRASKA @(390) NORTHWESTERN
Play UNDER NORTHWESTERN on the total in All games in September games.
The record is 0 Overs and 7 Unders for the last two seasons (+7 units)
BET NOW!

7:30 pm 9/24/2016
(389) NEBRASKA @(390) NORTHWESTERN
Play UNDER NORTHWESTERN on the total in All games in September games.
The record is 0 Overs and 9 Unders for the last three seasons (+9 units)
BET NOW!

7:00 pm 9/24/2016
(315) UCF @(316) FLA INTERNATIONAL
Play UNDER UCF on the total in All games in September games.
The record is 9 Overs and 29 Unders since 1992 (+19.1 units)
BET NOW!

4:30 pm 9/24/2016
(359) VANDERBILT @(360) W KENTUCKY
Play UNDER VANDERBILT on the total in All games in all games.
The record is 2 Overs and 11 Unders for the last two seasons (+8.8 units)
BET NOW!

4:30 pm 9/24/2016
(359) VANDERBILT @(360) W KENTUCKY
Play UNDER VANDERBILT on the total in All games as an underdog of 3.5 to 10 points.
The record is 7 Overs and 23 Unders since 1992 (+15.3 units)
BET NOW!

3:30 pm 9/24/2016
(355) DUKE @(356) NOTRE DAME
Play UNDER DUKE on the total in All games in September games.
The record is 0 Overs and 7 Unders for the last two seasons (+7 units)
BET NOW!

3:30 pm 9/24/2016
(355) DUKE @(356) NOTRE DAME
Play UNDER DUKE on the total in All games in September games.
The record is 1 Overs and 10 Unders for the last three seasons (+8.9 units)
BET NOW!

12:30 pm 9/24/2016
(311) C MICHIGAN @(312) VIRGINIA
Play UNDER VIRGINIA on the total in All games as an underdog of 3.5 to 10 points.
The record is 0 Overs and 8 Unders for the last three seasons (+8 units)
BET NOW!

12:00 pm 9/24/2016
(373) GEORGIA @(374) OLE MISS
Play UNDER OLE MISS on the total in All games as a favorite.
The record is 4 Overs and 16 Unders for the last three seasons (+11.6 units)
BET NOW!

12:00 pm 9/24/2016
(373) GEORGIA @(374) OLE MISS
Play UNDER OLE MISS on the total in All games when playing against a team with a winning record.
The record is 1 Overs and 13 Unders for the last three seasons (+11.9 units)
BET NOW!

[StarDust Bum]

FOOTBALL POWER LINES

12:00 pm 9/24/2016
(365) NEVADA @(366) PURDUE
Play Line: NEVADA 6
BTB PowerLine: NEVADA -1
Edge On: NEVADA 7

12:00 pm 9/24/2016
(343) CHARLOTTE @(344) TEMPLE
Play Line: TEMPLE -27
BTB PowerLine: TEMPLE -37
Edge On: TEMPLE 10

12:00 pm 9/24/2016
(353) KENT ST @(354) ALABAMA
Play Line: ALABAMA -44
BTB PowerLine: ALABAMA -59
Edge On: ALABAMA 15

3:30 pm 9/24/2016
(345) PITTSBURGH @(346) N CAROLINA
Play Line: N CAROLINA -7
BTB PowerLine: N CAROLINA -15
Edge On: N CAROLINA 8

4:30 pm 9/24/2016
(359) VANDERBILT @(360) W KENTUCKY
Play Line: W KENTUCKY -7.5
BTB PowerLine: W KENTUCKY -15
Edge On: W KENTUCKY 7.5

7:00 pm 9/24/2016
(315) UCF @(316) FLA INTERNATIONAL
Play Line: FLA INTERNATIONAL 6.5
BTB PowerLine: FLA INTERNATIONAL -1
Edge On: FLA INTERNATIONAL 7.5

7:00 pm 9/24/2016
(317) ARMY @(318) BUFFALO
Play Line: BUFFALO 14
BTB PowerLine: BUFFALO +7
Edge On: BUFFALO 7

7:30 pm 9/24/2016
(381) S CAROLINA @(382) KENTUCKY
Play Line: S CAROLINA 2.5
BTB PowerLine: S CAROLINA -5
Edge On: S CAROLINA 7.5

8:00 pm 9/24/2016
(347) SOUTHERN MISS @(348) UTEP
Play Line: SOUTHERN MISS -10
BTB PowerLine: SOUTHERN MISS -22
Edge On: SOUTHERN MISS 12

8:00 pm 9/24/2016
(351) LOUISVILLE @(352) MARSHALL
Play Line: MARSHALL 26
BTB PowerLine: MARSHALL +10
Edge On: MARSHALL 16

[StarDust Bum]

COLLEGE FOOTBALL FREE PICK, ODDS, & PREDICTION: STANFORD AT UCLA

19th Sep 2016 | By: Adam Burke

Matchup: Stanford Cardinal at UCLA Bruins
Date/Time: September 24, 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
College Football Betting Odds From BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread: Stanford -3.5
Total: 48

Fresh off of another comfortable win against USC, the Stanford Cardinal are laying more than a field goal against the UCLA Bruins. This number opened short of the key number of three, but sharp money throughout the day on Monday pushed the price up to -3 and past it at some books early in the week. It’s a pretty interesting position from certain sportsbooks to go to 3.5 early in the week and it’s a sign of some very sharp action. On the other hand, we could be seeing a set up from some groups to come back on the hook at higher limits later in the week. Expect Stanford to get the public money in a game that will draw a big betting handle for Week 4.

This is one of those games that we love as handicappers. Winning money is obviously the end game, but for those that do this as a hobby or as a supplement, the competitiveness of playing against the books and against other players, be they public or sharp, fuels the fire and keeps us going. This is a game where the line will be very fun to watch throughout the week. David Shaw was 5-0 ATS laying points on the road in his first year. Since then, however, he’s only 8-9 in that situation. UCLA is just 2-3 as a home dog under Jim Mora Jr., a role that they haven’t covered in since 2012, when they beat USC as a four-point pup.

It probably won’t be under consideration in this game, but Stanford needs to find somebody to help out Christian McCaffrey. Of the 101 completions/carries for the Stanford offense, McCaffrey has had 63 of them. There are only so many hits that a player can take. He’ll take a lot more hits in this game. He’s already racked up 404 all-purpose yards on offense. Bryce Love should be the player to help out McCaffrey. He’s a big-play, outside-the-tackles runner with a career average of over seven yards per carry. Michael Rector has five catches and nobody else has more than three, so the task at hand in subsequent weeks is to help McCaffrey. Ryan Burns has completed 70 percent of his passes as a game manager for the Christian McCaffrey show.

On defense, Stanford always fields a solid unit. Truth be told, it’s fairly easy to play defense for Stanford because the ball control offense keeps the defense off the field and keeps the defense from being tired. Three of the top four tacklers, including Blake Martinez, moved on to the next level, but the Cardinal always fashion a solid unit without the ball. This is a fairly young defense, though, and this is the first road game of the season for the Cardinal. UCLA racked up over 500 yards when these two teams met last season, so maybe some people are taking this game for granted a little bit.
Of course, for that to happen, UCLA’s offense needs to be a lot better. Through three games, Josh Rosen has only completed 60.5 percent of his passes with a 4/4 TD/INT ratio in Kennedy Polamalu’s offense. The pro-style attack is something that NFL scouts wanted to see and, so far, Rosen has had some issues wit it. Soso Jamabo hasn’t, with 5.3 yards per carry and three scores. In Rosen’s defense, he’s faced two good defenses in a road start at Texas A&M and a road start at BYU. However, he’s facing another good defense here, so that’s a concern. It may not have been the best year for this switch with Jordan Payton and Thomas Duarte both leaving from last season’s team with 131 of the 297 completions. Somebody has to get open for this team this week or it could be a long day.

The UCLA defense is banged up once again and a physical game at BYU certainly didn’t help last week. Deon Hollins is still dealing with some concussion symptoms and Takkarist McKinley didn’t play against UNLV two weeks ago, but he did play against BYU, as did Eddie Vanderdoes. McKinley’s groin injury is still a problem, though. There are a lot of hobbled Bruins in the front seven and that’s the last thing any coach wants going into a game against a power rushing attack. There’s a lot of experience on the UCLA defense, but also a lot of medical files. The Bruins have had issues with physical teams in recent years and this is a big reason why. It’s also a big reason why there’s concern for them this week.

College Football Free Pick: UCLA +3.5

The all-important hook is the key here. If that’s available, even at extra juice, it’s a really key half-point to get. If not, this game becomes an even tougher handicap. Stanford has some tricks in the bag for UCLA, as they’ve shown in recent years, but the Bruins are going to just have to load the box and hope not to get beat over the top. Josh Rosen will have to figure out some throwing lanes in this pro-style offense, but UCLA is pretty battle-tested already and they can hang around within this number.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL FREE PICK, ODDS, & PREDICTION: ARKANSAS AT TEXAS A&M

19th Sep 2016 | By: Adam Burke

Matchup: Arkansas Razorbacks at Texas A&M Aggies
Date/Time: September 24, 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
College Football Betting Odds From BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread: Texas A&M -6.5
Total: 50.5

It is conceivable that the best game of Week 4 is this one right here between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Texas A&M Aggies. This SEC West battle has a lot of really fascinating implications already, even though we are just three weeks into the season. Both teams are off to 3-0 starts, although only one has a conference win thus far. The Aggies have gotten the early-week action, moving from the dead number of 5.5 up through to 6.5 and it will be very interesting to see how the number moves around if it hits that magical seven. For now, we’ll have to look at this one with Texas A&M favored by just shy of a touchdown for a night game at Kyle Field.

There didn’t seem to be a whole lot of love for either of these teams from the preseason publications. All of the sudden, this is a game that could showcase the closest competition to Alabama for the SEC West crown. That may be hyperbole at this stage, since LSU is quite talented and the Iron Bowl is generally a good game, but these are two of the better defenses in the conference. There were some skeptics, author included, about how Bret Bielema would fare in the SEC, but he’s gone 21-20 and the Razorbacks are 24-16-1 against the spread on his watch. Kevin Sumlin is up to 39-16 at Texas A&M, but the Aggies have not been a good bet. They were just 21-30-1 prior to this season. They are 3-0 ATS this year.

The sky was falling in Fayetteville after a 21-20 win over a Louisiana Tech team that didn’t have a quarterback. Since then, the Razorbacks have scored 83 points and also scored a big outright upset win in Fort Worth against TCU. Last week could have been a terrible sandwich spot for Woo Pig Sooie, but they trucked Texas State while laying a hefty number. Rawleigh Williams III has followed in the footsteps of both Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams. He’s averaging five yards per carry on his 71 touches and he’s found paydirt three times. Austin Allen, who took over for Brandon Allen, is having a terrific start to the season with a 67 percent completion rate and a 7/2 TD/INT ratio. There’s a lot to like about the balance of this Arkansas offense, particularly if Allen can take care of the football.

On the defensive side of the ball, Arkansas had some issues with TCU, the only strong offense the team has faced this season. TCU ran up 572 yards in the double overtime game and converted 12-of-19 third downs. That is a bit of a concern heading into this one against a Texas A&M team that has a lot of skill position threats. Arkansas went from 19.2 points per game in 2014 to 27.4 points per game in 2015. With nine starters back and third-year defensive coordinator Robb Smith recruiting to his scheme, the hope was for a bounce back season. We’ll have to see if that’s the case. Thus far, it’s tough to say, because the Razorbacks failed their only test of the season, even though they played very well until the fourth quarter. Defending the pass has been a concern and that’s the focus this week as well.

This isn’t the Texas A&M that we’re used to seeing. Trevor Knight has been pretty pedestrian at quarterback through two games and the defense currently outshines the offense. It has been a recipe for success so far and it could continue to be. Knight has completed just 52.9 percent of his passes, but there are some big plays in there. The Aggies are averaging 12.8 yards per catch. It’s actually been the running game and the dual-threat nature of Knight that has been the catalyst for this Noel Mazzone offense. Trayveon Williams has run for 8.4 yards per carry as a true freshman, though 89 came on one carry. Keith Ford, the Oklahoma transfer, has run for 4.8 per touch and Knight had run for 5.4 per carry. The Aggies are now a ball control offense with the run. It’s a big departure from what we used to see.

This Aggies defense is quite stout. It helps to have one of the best players in the country in Myles Garrett. The junior is a stud defensive end and will make a lot of money in the NFL Draft next year. Armani Watts is another big-time player in the secondary, after recording 126 tackles last year. Daeshon Hall doesn’t get the love that Garrett does, but he’s taken advantage of the double and triple teams on his teammate. John Chavis has morphed this defense into a spectacular unit and one that is truly a force. The Aggies gave up 22 points per game last season and have given up 40 points in three games this season, including a road game at Auburn and a home game against UCLA.

College Football Free Pick: Texas A&M -6.5

A night game at Kyle Field will be quite a sight. The stadium holds one of the biggest crowds in college football and it will have all day to get drunk. The Aggies defense has a terrific defensive line, which should hold the power rushing attack of Arkansas at bay. The Razorbacks defense, while solid, does seem to have some holes early in the season here. As long as Trevor Knight takes care of the football, the Aggies are the better team.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL FREE PICK, ODDS, & PREDICTION: WISCONSIN AT MICHIGAN STATE

19th Sep 2016 | By: Adam Burke

Matchup: Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan State Spartans
Date/Time: September 24, 12:00 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
College Football Betting Odds From BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread: Michigan State -5.5
Total: 43

Betting on sports is hard. You’re constantly trying to make adjustments, all while trying to keep a level head about the importance or significance of one game. For the Wisconsin Badgers, last week’s close call against Georgia State was embarrassing. Meanwhile, the Michigan State Spartans, who nobody really knew anything about coming into the season, basically dominated Notre Dame in South Bend. For this week’s contest, the Badgers hit the road for the first time to meet the Spartans in East Lansing. Sparty is laying 5.5 here, as we’ve seen a little bit of a sharp position early in the week on the road dog.

Remember when everybody got all excited about Wisconsin’s win on a neutral* (Lambeau Field) site over LSU? All of the sudden, that win looks a lot less impressive with LSU struggling against Jacksonville State and Mississippi State. That’s the thing that you are up against when betting college football. It’s hard to rely on 18 to 24-year-old kids to play with consistency. Sorting through all the noise, the bad performances, the good performances, and any and all outliers is hard to do. That seems especially true of this game.

It was bad enough that the Badgers only won by six as a 35-point favorite against Georgia State, but they also created a quarterback controversy in the process. Senior Bart Houston was benched for redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook, who led a comeback victory over the Panthers. Again, the Badgers were trailing in the fourth quarter. Hornibrook wasn’t exactly great, going 8-of-12 for 122 yards, a touchdown, and a pick, but the offense seemed far more explosive. The bigger worry is that the Badgers ran for 3.8 yards per carry on 49 attempts. To be fair, Corey Clement sat out with an injury and he’s clearly the most talented back on the roster, but this is still Wisconsin’s offensive line against Georgia State’s defense. The offense took a big step back with Paul Chryst and the loss of Melvin Gordon last season, so maybe this isn’t that surprising. Three running backs, Corey Clement, Taiwan Deal, and Bradrick Shaw were all listed as questionable early in the week.

The game against Georgia State shed some light on Wisconsin’s defensive weakness. LSU couldn’t exploit the pass defense of Wisconsin, but Georgia State did. Conner Manning was 20-of-29 for 269 yards and a touchdown, as the Badgers held the Panthers rushing attack to 1.4 yards per carry. There was only one starter back in the secondary for Justin Wilcox’s defense and it showed in that game. On the other hand, Akron, who hung a 50 burger on Marshall, threw for 136 yards on 14-of-25 passing the previous week. Was this simply a massive look-ahead spot for the Badgers? Should we eliminate this game from consideration based on that? That’s what makes winning at this so hard. There is so much to consider week-to-week and you have to sort through the noise. In each of the last two seasons, Wisconsin’s pass defense has held the opposition under a 50 percent completion percentage. Do you take the larger sample or overreact to one game?

Michigan State struggled with Furman in Week 1. They only had one more first down than the Paladins and only managed 361 yards. It was a lackluster performance to say the least. Two weeks later, Mark Dantonio’s team heads out on the road and looks nearly flawless in a 36-28 win over Notre Dame. Two late touchdowns put some cosmetic touches on the board as Michigan State sat back and tried to weather the desperate storm. After looking pedestrian on offense against Furman, Michigan State racked up over 500 yards, including 260 on the ground, against Notre Dame. Gerald Holmes cracked the century mark and LJ Scott was close. Tyler O’Connor looked solid yet again. The ups and downs of the college football season are fascinating, but something that cannot be denied is how good of a coach Mark Dantonio is.
The Spartans finally had an offseason where they didn’t suffer too many huge defensive losses. Shilique Calhoun was a really notable name, but the Spartans have lost guys in the back seven just about every year and also lost defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi two years ago. This group is solid year in and year out. Notre Dame had 401 yards, but 214 of them came on two touchdown drives in a 36-7, 36-14, and then 36-21 game. This is a good example of why box score study matters. That game was definitely not as close as the one-possession score would indicate. The Spartans certainly have a great group on defense once again and that could be the deciding factor here.

College Football Free Pick: Wisconsin Badgers +5.5

I’m going to flip flop a bit here after suggesting Michigan State in the Pick Six segment of Monday’s segment of *********** Radio with Kyle Hunter. There’s been a bit of sharp interest in the underdog here, likely because of the overreaction to both of last week’s results. If Wisconsin blows out Georgia State and Michigan State wins in less impressive fashion or loses close, this number is more like MSU -4 or maybe even 3.5. Do we want to overreact to that? There are a lot of compelling reasons to take Sparty, like Mark Dantonio and the absence of a QB controversy. On the other hand, this profiles as a low scoring game and points should be at a premium for the early kick. Therefore, a small lean to Wisconsin, with better options on the betting card. Keep an eye on that injury report. This is a game to wait until Saturday on because it would be surprising to lose betting value on the number either way.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL HANDICAPPING: WEEK 3 MISLEADING SCORES

19th Sep 2016 | By: Kyle Hunter

Week three was a great weekend of college football. The marquee matchups did not disappoint! There were also a bunch of misleading finals, so we have plenty to cover this week.

Each week this season, I'll have a misleading scores article here at ***********. The goal of this article is to search for final scores from the previous week that don't match the overall statistics from the game. This is something to remember when handicapping future games for these teams.

1. South Carolina 20 East Carolina 15 This might be the craziest box score of the season thus far. East Carolina had 34 first downs to only 13 for South Carolina. It should be noted that East Carolina ran 91 plays and South Carolina only 53. The Pirates turned it over near the goal line three times. Overall, South Carolina was plus four on turnovers. It's pretty amazing that South Carolina could win a game where they went 3/12 on third down and only picked up 13 first downs, but East Carolina's sloppy play let it happen here.

2. USF 45 Syracuse 20 Syracuse outgained USF 549-454, but the Orange had three turnovers and USF had zero. Marlon Mack played and did have a big game for USF, but Quinten Flowers didn't go off on this Syracuse defense like you would expect (or at least the way I expected). Both Syracuse plus the points and the over were bad beats in this one. Syracuse had 30 first downs compared to 20 for USF. The Bulls also benefited from a punt return touchdown.

3. UConn 13 Virginia 10 Virginia outgained UConn by 104 yards, won the turnover battle (plus one), and still managed to lose the game. That's difficult to do, but the Cavs pulled it off. Virginia's ten penalties were certain killer. UConn only had three penalties. Virginia was only 5/17 on third down, and UConn was 3/13 on third down. Virginia missed a chip shot field goal as time expired that would have sent the game into overtime.

4. Rutgers 37 New Mexico 28 New Mexico actually jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter of this one. Rutgers then scored 31 straight points. New Mexico outgained Rutgers 462-350 in this one. The Lobos averaged 5.2 yards per carry here. They had the ball for 38:17 compared to only 21:43 for Rutgers. New Mexico missed a field goal, turned it over twice in Rutgers territory, and allowed a punt return touchdown. The Lobos were a miserable 3/15 on third down conversion attempts.

5. Western Kentucky 31 Miami 24 The Miami Redhawks have outgained their opposition in all three games this year, but they have yet to get a win. This one was a really strange box score. Western Kentucky was 1/11 on third down and 0/1 on fourth down, but they still picked up the win. Additionally, Western Kentucky had three turnovers compared to only one for Miami. A punt return touchdown from Western Kentucky proved to be the difference. While Miami still isn't a good team, it's important to note that they have been better than expected so far this year.

6. Troy 37 Southern Miss 31 These two teams combined for only 730 yards of offense, but they put up 68 points. Turnovers led to short fields multiple times in this one. Southern Miss turned it over three times and Troy turned it over only once. Also of note, Southern Miss committed a whopping 15 penalties for 135 yards. Southern Miss outgained Troy 421 to 309 yards here. Troy's Brandon Silvers was just 10 for 28 passing. If you had the under, this was a bad beat.

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ACC Report - Week 4
September 21, 2016



2016 ACC STANDINGS

Team SU Conference ATS Over/Under

Boston College 1-2 0-2 1-1-1 1-2

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

Duke 1-2 0-1 1-2 0-3

Florida State 2-1 0-1 1-1 2-0

Georgia Tech 3-0 1-0 1-0-1 0-1-1

Louisville 3-0 2-0 3-0 3-0

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

North Carolina 2-1 0-0 2-1 2-1

North Carolina State 2-1 0-0 2-1 2-0-1

Pittsburgh 2-1 0-0 0-3 2-1

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

Virginia 0-3 0-0 1-1-1 0-2-1

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

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

Clemson at Georgia Tech (Thurs. - ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET)

Clemson finally jump-started its flagging offense in a 59-0 whitewash of FCS South Carolina State, gaining confidence ahead of its first league game against the Yellow Jackets. The Tigers head to Bobby Dodd Stadium as 10-point favorites looking to end a 6-0 ATS run by home teams in this series. The favorite is 5-2 ATS in the past seven meetings. Neither side has a very good mark against the number lately, as the Tigers are 4-10 ATS in their past 14 ACC games, and 2-7 ATS in their past nine road outings. The Ramblin' Wreck are 2-9-1 ATS in their past 12 games overall, 1-7 ATS in their past eight against teams with a winning record and 0-3-1 ATS in their past four ACC outings. The under is 4-1-1 in the past six meetings in this series in Atlanta.

Florida State at South Florida (ABC, 12:00 p.m. ET)

The Seminoles left Louisville last weekend with their tails between their legs after being socked with a rolled up newspaper, 63-20. It was the most points scored against FSU ever, as the Cardinals served notice to the league and the rest of the country that they are for real. Is FSU for real? We saw them fall behind by three scores against Ole Miss in their opener before coming back, they beat up FCS Charleston Southern and then were pounded by the Cards. FSU is a hard team to figure right now. Now, they face a South Florida team which is hitting on all cylinders. The Bulls are 3-0 SU/ATS with wins against Towson, Northern Illinois and at Syracuse. While that isn't exactly facing a murderer's row, they have scored at least 45 in each of their three games, winning by an average of 34.0 points per game (PPG). Despite getting whaled on last week, the 'Noles are still 6-2 ATS in their past eight, and they're 5-1 ATS in their past six following a straight-up loss. They head to the Ray Jay as six-point favorites.

Central Michigan at Virginia (ACC Network, 12:30 p.m. ET)

Central Michigan hits the road for Charlottesville looking to keep Virginia down. The Chippewas are 3-0 SU/ATS, including a signature win and cover at Oklahoma State, albeit controversial. The Cavaliers have had quite the opposite road, going 0-3 SU and 1-1-1 ATS. Virginia has been improving since being shellacked in their opener by FCS Richmond. The Cavaliers led 10-3 late at Connecticut before falling 13-10. The 'under' is 2-0-1 for UVA so far, while the 'over' is 2-1 for the Chips. CMU is 10-2 ATS in the past 12 road games, but 1-6 ATS in their past seven against ACC foes. UVA is 7-1-1 ATS in their past nine, but 1-3-1 ATS in their past five non-conference tilts.

East Carolina at Virginia Tech (ACC Network, 12:30 p.m.)

East Carolina heads to Blacksburg looking to keep their impressive win streak against ACC teams alive. The Pirates have won six straight wins against ACC foes, covering each of the past five. The Pirates are 11-point underdogs, and they have won five straight against the ACC as underdogs. They're also an impressive 7-0 ATS in their past seven against ACC foes, including a win against North Carolina State at home earlier in the month. The Pirates have covered each of their past four meetings aginst the Hokies, and the underdog is 4-0 ATS in the past four in this series. Virginia Tech enters 7-18-2 ATS in their past 27 non-conference tilts.

Syracuse at Connecticut (CBS Sports Network, 1:00 p.m.)

The Orange step outside of the conference, giving UConn a second straight ACC foe to face at home. Last week UConn picked up a 13-10 win, coming back late. The Orange haven't been very good on the road, going 2-5 ATS in their past seven tries away from the Carrier Dome. The Huskies haven't had a lot of success at home, going 4-10-1 ATS in their past 15, 6-17-3 ATS in their past 26 non-confernce tilts and 4-15-3 ATS in their past 22 against teams with a losing overall record. These teams have met rather frequently over the years, with the favorite 8-1 ATS in the past nine meetings, and the home team 7-2 ATS in the past nine. Syracuse is 1-5 ATS in the past six in this series, and 0-4 ATS in their past four trips to Storrs.

Duke at Notre Dame (NBC, 3:30 p.m.)

Is the feel-good story for Duke over? Well, it certainly seems that way, as they lost at home to Wake Forest and at Northwestern in back-to-back games. Of course, the good feelings are over at Notre Dame, too, as they opened with a loss at Texas, and took it on the chin against Michigan State last weekend. Still, the Irish enter as a near three-touchdown favorite in this one. The Blue Devils have been successful on the road in recent seasons during the impressive run, going 7-3 ATS in the past 10 away from Wallace Wade. They're also 18-7-1 ATS in their past 26 against non-conference foes. The Irish have covered just two of the past seven against non-conference foes, and they're 1-5 ATS in their past six at home against teams with a losing road record.

Pittsburgh at North Carolina (ESPNU, 3:30 p.m.)

Pittsburgh and North Carolina get together in a battle of teams which have been struggling defensively. The Tar Heels cannot stop anyone on the ground, which bodes well for Pittsburgh and their strong run game. And the Panthers cannot stop anyone through the air, which bodes well for Mitch Trubisky and the Air Raid Tar Heels offense. The Panthers have failed to cover in each of their past five outings, and they're 2-5 ATS in their past seven against teams with a winning overall record. The Tar Heels are 8-2 ATS in the past 10 against winning teams, and 21-6 ATS in their past 27 at home against teams with a winning road record. The over is 9-3 in Pitt's past 12 against teams with a winning record, while UNC has hit the over in seven in a row against teams with a winning overall record. The over is also 4-1 in UNC's past five league games. The total is set at 68.

Wake Forest at Indiana (Big Ten Network, 3:30 p.m.)

Of all the matchups in Week 4, how many pegged Wake-IU as a battle of unbeatens? Wake is already halfway to bowl eligibility, but they'll need to try to win Saturday without QB Kendall Hinton (knee) and RB Cade Carney (knee), two vital cogs who are OUT. Indiana is favored by 7 1/2 as of Wednesday morning, looking to improve to 13-4-1 ATS in their past 18 at 'The Rock' against a team with a winning road record. The Hoosiers are 1-5 ATS in their past six overall against teams with a winning record, however. The 'under' is 3-1-1 in Wake's past five non-conference tilts, and 5-1 in their past six road outings. The 'over is 6-2 in IU's past eight home games, and 5-2-1 in their past eight non-conference battles.

Louisville at Marshall (CBS Sports Network, 8:00 p.m.)

Louisville gutted the second-ranked team in the nation last week, now they hit the road for Marshall as 25-point favorites. The Cardinals are 4-0 ATS in their past four non-conference games, and 5-0 ATS in their past five overall. The Cardinals used to play in Conference USA and ran that league. They're 16-5 ATS in their past 21 against C-USA teams, and 28-11 ATS in their past 39 road outings overall. Marshall certainly has been no slouch over the years, especially in Huntington. However, perhaps they were caught looking ahead to this marquee game, as Akron came in last week and humbled them 65-38. They're still 16-6 ATS in their past 22 at home. However, they're just 1-6 ATS in their past seven following a double-digit loss at home.

Other Games
Wagner at Boston College (ACC Network, 1:00 p.m.)

Bye Weeks
Miami-Florida, North Carolina State

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Big 12 Report - Week 4
September 21, 2016

2016 BIG 12 STANDINGS

Team SU Conference ATS Over/Under

Baylor 3-0 0-0 0-3 0-3

Iowa State 0-3 0-1 1-2 1-2

Kansas 1-2 0-0 1-2 1-2

Kansas State 1-1 0-0 1-1 1-1

Oklahoma 1-2 0-0 0-3 2-1

Oklahoma State 2-1 0-0 2-1 2-1

Texas 2-1 0-0 2-1 2-1

Texas Christian 2-1 1-0 0-3 3-0

Texas Tech 2-1 0-0 2-1 2-1

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


Texas Christian at Southern Methodist (Fri. ESPN, 8:00 p.m. ET)

TCU heads to Dallas on Friday night looking to build upon last weekend's 41-20 league opener win against Iowa State. For the third consecutive game, however, they failed to cover while the 'over' cashed for a third straight game. TCU's offense has been hot, scoring at least 38 points in each of their three games, while allowing 34.0 points per game (PPG). SMU picked up a cover for a third straight game last weekend against FCS Liberty, but it took an improbable pick-six in the final minute to make it happen. Still, they're 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS with the 'under' hitting in each of their three games. SMU's offense hasn't been firing on all cylinders, but they could fare well against a TCU defense which has struggled in each of their three games, including allowing 20 to an awful Iowa State team a week ago.

San Jose State at Iowa State (NO TV, 12:00 p.m.)

Iowa State hosts San Jose State, as the Cyclones look for their first victory in four tries. They lost against FCS Northern Iowa in their opener, and then went to Iowa to get battered 42-3. The Cyclones looked their best last week in a 41-20 loss at TCU, but that's not saying much. The Spartans of SJSU were bombed 45-10 in their opener at Tulsa, and rebounded with a 66-35 win over FCS Portland State. They were doubled up 34-17 against Utah last weekend, as their defense continues to be an issue. They have allowed 38.0 PPG through three contests, while scoring 17 or fewer in their two games against FBS foes. Iowa State is winless, but they're installed as a touchdown favorite.

Brigham Young vs. West Virginia (ESPN2, 3:30 p.m. ET)

BYU's most difficult schedule continues this weekend in Landover, Md. in a neutral-site game against the Mountaineers. The Cougars will be happy not to see another Pac-12 foe this week, after opening 1-2 SU. They dropped a heartbreaker in the Holy War at Utah Sept. 10, losing 20-19. In that game they went for two in the closing moments instead of an extra point to lose. Last weekend they were dumped 17-14 at home against UCLA, barely covering as 3 1/2-point 'dogs at home. BYU has managed to stay perfect at 3-0 ATS, and the 'under' is also a perfect 3-0. West Virginia is unbeaten through two games, and they have had two weeks to prepare for BYU after a bye last weekend. The Mountaineers have averaged 32.0 PPG while allowing 16.0 PPG. WVU is 1-5 ATS in their past six neutral-site games, while the Cougs are 5-1 ATS in their past six non-conference battles, but 1-4 ATS in their past five neutral-site games.

Oklahoma State at Baylor (FOX, 7:30 p.m. ET)

OK State bounced back rather nicely last weekend after their stunning and controversial loss to Central Michigan two weeks ago. The Cowboys powered past a solid Pitt team by a 45-38 score, now try to keep it going in Waco against a good Baylor team. It's OK State's first trip of the season. They're 8-2 ATS in the past 10 meetings in this series, although the favorite is 13-4 ATS in the past 17 meetings and the home team has covered 10 of the past 14. Baylor has failed to cover in three straight outings to open the season, and they're 1-5 ATS in their past six conference games dating back to last season. A lot of bettors might look to the 'over' in this one, and the trends suggest that's a good idea. The over is 8-2 in OK State's past 10, and 6-0 in their past six Big 12 battles. The over is also 28-11-1 in Baylor's past 40 against teams with a winning overall record, and 17-5 in their past 22 home games against a team with a winning road record. Last season it was Baylor winning 45-35 in Stillwater. The total for Saturday night's marquee matchup is 74.

Other Games
Missouri State at Kansas State (NO TV, 7:10 p.m.)

Teams on a bye
Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday’s games

Home team won last seven Clemson-Georgia Tech games; Tigers lost last five visits here, with last win at Tech in 2003. Jackets had only 71 rushing yards in LY’s loss at Clemson, after having 242+ in previous seven series games. Clemson won its two I-A games this year by 6 points each, with 19-13 win at Auburn; they’re 2-7 in last nine games as a road favorite. Tech ran for 289 yards in big win over Vanderbilt LW after struggling to beat BC in Ireland. Jackets are 6-6 as home underdogs under Johnson.


Friday’s games

TCU won nine of its last 10 games with SMU (4-3 vs spread in last seven); Horned Frogs won last four series games by average of 46-17. Mustangs are 2-8 in last 10 games as home underdog; they lost 40-13 at Baylor two weeks ago, its only game this year vs a good team. TCU plays Oklahoma next; they’re 3-4 vs spread when laying 20+ to SMU- this is local rivalry. Frogs are 4-12 vs spread in last 16 games as a road favorite

Eastern Michigan is 2-1 this year after going 7-41 the last four years; EMU (+13) went to Laramie, upset Wyoming 48-29 in LY’s meeting; Eagles had 352 TY at half, lading 38-14 Cowboys allowed 741 passing yards in its two games against I-A teams; they’re favoried on road for first time in three years (3-6 as road fave since 2007). EMU is 6-12 in last 18 games as a home underdog.

USC is 1-2 and switching to freshman QB Darnold, who makes his first start here. Trojans won four of last five games vs Utah, going 1-1 in last two visits here; favorites covered four of last five series games. USC is 2-8 in its last ten games as a road underdog. Utah beat rival BYU 20-19 despite being -2 in turnovers; Utes lost two good players LW, still won easily at San Jose. Utes are 2-6 in last eight games as a home favorite.