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Saturday's NCAAF Top 25 betting cheat sheet and odds: Week 7
The ninth-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers come off a bye week aiming for their first 6-0 start since 2001.
We're on to Week 7 of the college football season and the full slate of games can be tough to navigate for bettors. So we bring you our Top 25 betting cheat sheet to handicap the best games of the day.
North Carolina State Wolfpack at No. 3 Clemson Tigers (-17.5, 63)
* The Wolfpack offense has put up big numbers — including 500 or more total yards in three of five games — but its totals are skewed by last week’s paltry 198 total yards in driving rain and heavy winds. Running back Matthew Dayes was about the only offensive player who had success in the difficult conditions, as he rushed for 126 yards on 23 carries, though quarterback Ryan Finley continues to take care of the ball — he has not thrown an interception or lost a fumble this season. N.C. State boasts the ACC’s best run defense, holding opponents to 91 yards per game on the ground.
* The Tigers have rolled up more than 500 total yards of offense in two straight games, and running back Wayne Gallman has found some running room with back-to-back 100-yard performances. Getting Gallman going has helped open up the passing game for Deshaun Watson, who has tossed nine touchdown passes in the past two games but continues to struggle with turnovers — having committed nine giveaways through six games. Clemson’s defense has been dominant against the pass, holding opponents to 149 yards per game, but has been slightly more susceptible against the run, giving up an average of 133.2 yards on the ground.
LINE HISTORY: Clemson opened the college betting week at -17 but by Monday morning that line had gone up slightly to the current number of -17.5. The total hit the board at 56.5 and has skyrocketed all week and, as of Friday afternoon, sits at 63. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Wolfpack are 1-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
* Over is 6-1-1 in Wolfpack last 8 games overall.
* Over is 6-0 in Tigers last 6 games in October.
Kansas State Wildcats at No. 20 Oklahoma Sooners (-13, 58)
* The Wildcats bounced back from the one-point defeat to the Mountaineers with a 44-38 home win over Texas Tech last week. Quarterback Jesse Ertz has thrown for five touchdowns and has added three more on the ground as the team’s second-leading rusher with 50.6 yards per game. Kansas State’s calling card, though, has been a defense led by linebacker Elijah Lee (team-most 8.2 tackles per game) and defensive end Jordan Willis (Big 12-most six sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss) which is pacing the conference in fewest points (17.6) and total yards (310.2) allowed per outing.
* Quarterback Baker Mayfield is coming off his best outing of the season, throwing for 390 yards and connecting with wideout Dede Westbrook on a trio of touchdown passes in last week’s 45-40 win over Texas in Dallas. Westbrook finished with 10 receptions and a school single-game record 232 receiving yards. Linebacker Jordan Evans leads Oklahoma with 8.8 tackles per game, but Oklahoma ranks in the Big 12’s bottom half in both scoring (36.2 points) and total (428.4 yards) defense.
LINE HISTORY: The home favorite Oklahoma Sooners opened at -10 and that line was not even close to high enough for the betting public. The favorites were bet heavily all week and the line rose right along with the action. As of Friday afternoon the Sooners were sitting at -13. The total opened at 63.5 and action on the Under took that number all of the way down to 58 by Friday. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games on grass.
* Sooners are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
* Under is 6-1 in Wildcats last 7 games after accumulating less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
* Over is 7-1 in Sooners last 8 home games.
* Over is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings.
No. 18 West Virginia Mountaineers at Texas Tech Red Raiders (+1.5, 84)
* The Mountaineers have their own standout quarterback in Skyler Howard, who has completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 1,272 yards and seven touchdowns. Offensive line protection is led by Tyler Orlosky and Adam Pankey, who have combined to line up for 5,184 plays during their careers. Kicker Josh Lambert, who returned last week after missing three games because of suspension, is no longer with the team, but Mike Molina has been 14-for-14 on extra points and 5-for-6 on field goals in his absence.
* Mahomes leads an offense that averages 649.8 yards in total offense (second in the nation), ranks first nationally in first downs and is second in third down conversion success (53 percent). Mahomes threw for 2,274 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, relying on top targets Jonathan Giles (614 yards, seven TDs), Cameron Batson (341, five) and Dylan Cantrell (319, four). The Red Raiders have to establish some kind of running game, hoping that Demarcus Felton (270 yards, three TDs) can keep the West Virginia defense off balance.
LINE HISTORY: Texas Teck opened the week as 1.5-point home favorites. On Monday afternoon this line jumped the fence and flipped to West Virginia as one-point faves. The spread crept back toward a pick 'em on Thursday but on Friday it jumped back up in West Virginia's direction at 1.5. The total opened at 83 and was steady all week until it took a jump up to 84 on Friday. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Mountaineers are 1-10 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Red Raiders are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 conference games.
* Under is 18-4 in Mountaineers last 22 games on fieldturf.
* Over is 11-1 in Red Raiders last 12 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
No. 23 Western Michigan Broncos at Akron Zips (+12, 73.5)
* The Broncos are piling up the points in part because quarterback Zach Terrell has completed 70.6 percent of his passes and has yet to be intercepted. The senior, who has also rushed for three scores, has thrown 15 TD passes, with eight of those scores going to senior wide receiver Corey Davis. Western Michigan's ground game is just as strong and averages 231.7 yards, led by Jamauri Bogan (530 yards, 5 TDs) and Jarvion Franklin (514 yards, 5 TDs).
* Zips starting quarterback Thomas Woodson suffered a shoulder injury in a 45-38 home loss to Appalachian State that dropped the team to 2-2, and junior Tra'Von Chapman has stepped up with two straight strong games in his place. Chapman did just enough in a 31-27 win at Kent State on Oct. 1 and improved last weekend, throwing for 174 yards and three TDs without an interception and rushing for 80 yards and a score. Akron allowed an average of 40.3 points in its first four games but cut that number down to 20 through two games in MAC play.
LINE HISTORY: Western Michigan opened as 10.5-point road favorites and by the end of the week that number was up to 12 points. The total hit the board at 68.5 and went through the roof all week to clock in at 73.5 on Friday afternoon. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Broncos are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 road games.
* Zips are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 conference games.
* Over is 9-1-1 in Broncos last 11 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
* Broncos are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers (+12.5, 57.5)
* Freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts continues to impress and has accounted for 14 touchdowns (nine passing, five rushing) while being intercepted just twice. Sophomore running Damien Harris (team-leading 478 rushing yards, 8.7 yards per carry) and freshman running back Joshua Jacobs (307 yards, 8.3 average) are running through big holes, while sophomore receiver Calvin Ridley is getting open often with 34 receptions for 412 yards and four touchdowns. Senior strong-side linebacker Ryan Anderson (team-best 4 1/2 sacks) and senior defensive end Jonathan Allen (four sacks) are enjoying stellar campaigns and senior weak-side linebacker Reuben Foster has a team-best 37 tackles for a unit that leads the nation in rushing defense at 69.2 yards per game.
* The terrific performance from Kamara (292 rushing yards, team-best 20 receptions) came with junior leading rusher Jalen Hurd (407 yards) sidelined with undisclosed injuries and coach Butch Jones said that Hurd will play versus Alabama. Senior quarterback Joshua Dobbs has passed for 1,433 yards and accounted for 19 touchdowns (14 passing, five rushing) but his penchant for ill-advised throws - he has tossed eight interceptions - could be a problem against the opportunistic Crimson Tide. Junior strong safety Todd Kelly has a team-leading two interceptions and is tied with junior middle linebacker Colton Jumper for the team lead of 39 tackles, while junior defensive end Derek Barnett has been dominant on the line with team-leading totals of five sacks and nine tackles for losses.
LINE HISTORY: Alabama opened the week as 11.5-point road favorites over a very good Tennessee squad. By mid-week the line was all of the way up to 13 and by Friday it had settled back down slightly to 12.5. The total opened at 58 and dropped slightly to 57.5 by Friday afternoon. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Crimson Tide are 9-2 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Volunteers are 7-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 5-1 in Crimson Tide last 6 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.
* Crimson Tide are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings in Tennessee.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons at No. 16 Florida State Seminoles (-21, 53)
* Freshman running back Cade Carney has rushed for 100 yards twice in the three games he was not sidelined by knee injury, including 104 last Saturday versus Syracuse, to support sophomore Matt Colburn (361 yards). Wolford has thrown for 826 yards, completing 57.2 percent of his passes, and rushed for another 276 – 94 in the win against the Orange. The defense is led by senior safety Ryan Janvion (309 career tackles) and senior linebacker Marquel Lee, who registered a career-high 15 tackles with two sacks last time out.
* Cook got off to a slow start, but has worked his way to first in the nation with 1,130 yards from scrimmage -- 785 and seven touchdowns on the ground. Freshman quarterback Deondre Francois continues to impress while taking punishment, completing 63 percent of his passes for nine scores with two interceptions and running for 150 yards. Senior end DeMarcus Walker continues to lead the defense with eight tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, but the Seminoles have lost senior safety Nate Andrews for the season due to a torn pectoral.
LINE HISTORY: Florida State opened as 22.5-point faves and by Friday afternoon the spread was down to -21. The total opened at 53, went up to 54 during the week, and dropped back to the opening number of 53 on Friday. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Demon Deacons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
* Seminoles are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games on grass.
* Under is 13-3 in Demon Deacons last 16 games in October.
* Home team is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
No. 9 Nebraska Cornhuskers at Indiana Hoosiers (+3, 56)
* The Cornhuskers expect to be without their best receiver in Jordan Westerkamp (back), top tight end Cethan Carter (elbow) and second-leading rusher Devine Ozigbo (ankle), while quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. (ankle) spent last week in a walking boot and could be limited as a runner. Nebraska did get some good news on the injury front, however, as leading receiver Alonzo Moore recovered more quickly than expected from a shoulder injury and is expected to play after sitting out in the team's Oct. 1 win over Illinois. Terrell Newby put the Cornhuskers on his back late in that same game, touching the ball on 18 of the team's final 21 plays and piling up 118 of his season-high 140 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
* Richard Lagow leads the Big Ten in yards per completion (15.7, sixth nationally), yards per attempt (9.4, seventh), passing yards per game (292, 21st) and passing yards (1,460, 26th), although he has thrown for as many touchdowns as interceptions (seven) over his last three games. Devine Redding has yet to score a touchdown despite logging 105 carries, but the junior running back and 1,000-yard rusher from a season ago ranks fourth in the conference in rushing (491). Big-play sophomore wideout Nick Westbrook, who leads the team with 20 catches, 437 yards receiving and four touchdowns, is the only player in the Big Ten and one of eight players in the nation with at least two receptions of 70-plus yards.
LINE HISTORY: Nebraska opened as 6.5-point road favorites and the public was on Indiana all week. Books adjusted the line down all week and on Friday afternoon the Huskers were down to 3-point faves. The total began the week at 55.5 and by Friday was stiing at 56. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Cornhuskers are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 road games.
* Hoosiers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 conference games.
* Under is 5-1 in Cornhuskers last 6 games on fieldturf.
* Over is 10-1 in Hoosiers last 11 games after accumulating less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
North Carolina Tar Heels at No. 17 Miami Hurricanes (-7, 64.5)
* While Fedora didn't use the weather as an excuse, the conditions were far from ideal for an attack that is still averaging 299.8 yards passing despite Trubisky managing only 58 yards against the Hokies. The junior has no shortage of productive receivers, led by Ryan Switzer (49 catches, 98.2 yards per game, 1 touchdown), Austin Proehl (20, 46.0 yards, 1 TD) and Bug Howard (19, 45.3 yards, 3 TDs); he should also benefit from the return of tailback Elijah Hood (338 yards, 4 TDs) and guard Caleb Patterson. The defense has received solid play from safety Donnie Miles, linebacker Andrew Smith and Malik Carney up front, but injuries are an issue for a unit that is ranked 88th in total defense (421.6 yards per game) and has zero interceptions.
* Quarterback Brad Kaaya (229.8 yards per game, 10 TDs) threw a pair of touchdown passes against FSU to senior wide receiver Stacy Coley (22 receptions, 13.2 yards, 6 TDs) - including a clutch fourth-down connection prior to the botched extra point - but the junior also threw a costly interception in the end zone that turned the game's momentum. The offensive line needs to bounce back from a poor game in which it allowed three sacks and didn't fare well in opening holes for Walton (448 yards, 8 TDs) and Joe Yearby (363 yards, 5 TDs). Led by freshman linebackers Michael Pinckney and Shaquille Quarterman, the defense showed toughness despite giving up 20 points to FSU and still ranks near the top nationally in numerous defensive categories.
LINE HISTORY: Miami opened the betting week as seven-point favorites and on Friday afternoon they were still at -7...but the week was anything but quiet. On Monday the spread dropped to -6.5, Tuesday morning it jumped up to -7.5, Wednesday morning Miami peaked at -8.5, and for the rest of the week there was a slow tumble back to -7. The total hit the betting board at 64.5 and didn't move all week. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Tar Heels are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
* Hurricanes are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games on grass.
* Under is 9-1 in Tar Heels last 10 games after accumulating less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
* Home team is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
Kansas Jayhawks at No. 8 Baylor Bears (-34.5, 67)
* The loss to TCU was the 14th consecutive conference defeat for the Jayhawks who held the normally potent Horned Frogs offense to just 366 yards while forcing four turnovers, including three interceptions. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Willis, who came off the bench in the first four games behind junior Montell Cozart, made his first start of the season against TCU and completed 31-of-45 passes for 348 yards and also ran 21 yards for a touchdown but was intercepted three times. The Jayhawks had two wide receivers go over the 100-yard mark, LaQuvionte Gonzalez (8 catches for 131 yards) and Steven Sims Jr. (9 catches for 101 yards) while sophomore running back Taylor Martin added 62 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
* While not putting up the record-breaking numbers of the past three season, the Bears have nothing to apologize for offensively, rushing for 469 yards in the win at Iowa State -- fifth best for a game in program history -- and ranking 13th in the FBS in scoring with an average of 42.6 points. Quarterback Seth Russell has completed 92-of-155 passes for 1,326 yards and 14 touchdowns while running back Shock Linwood, who had 237 yards and a TD at Iowa State, needs only 84 yards to become the seventh Big 12 rusher with 4,000 career rushing yards. The defense is led by junior defensive end K.J. Smith (28 tackles, 2.5 sacks), linebacker Taylor Young (40 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss) and strong safety Orion Stewart, who had six tackles and a pass breakup at Iowa State.
LINE HISTORY: Baylor opened as massive 34-point home favorites and by the end of the week that line crept even higher up to -34.5. The total opened at 67 and didn't move all week. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Jayhawks are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games following a bye week.
* Bears are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win.
* Under is 6-1 in Jayhawks last 7 games on grass.
* Over is 8-2-1 in Bears last 11 games following a bye week.
No. 19 Virginia Tech Hokies at Syracuse Orange (+19.5, 68)
* The Hokies' pass defense is one of their strengths as the unit ranks second in the nation in yards allowed per game (132.2). Virginia Tech's defense has allowed a point in only three of the last 12 quarters and is giving up 237.6 yards per game, good for third best in the nation. Evans enters the weekend with 15 touchdowns and one interception - the best ratio among FBS quarterbacks - and also is the team's second-leading rusher with 258 yards on the ground.
* The Orange have received solid play from Eric Dungey, who ranks second in the league in passing yards per game (314.3), and wideout Amba Etta-Tawo, who leads the conference in receptions (51). On the other hand, Syracuse ranks last in the league in both scoring defense (36 points) and total defense (475.2 yards). Dungey has five of the team's seven rushing touchdowns, while Dontae Strickland (343 yards) is the Orange's top threat in the running game.
LINE HISTORY: Virginia Tech opened the week as 18.5-point road favorites and, although they peaked at 20.5 on Thursday, they are listed as 19.5-point faves on Friday afternoon. The total started off at 65 and spiked to 68 by the end of the week. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Hokies are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
* Orange are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games on fieldturf.
* Under is 5-0 in Hokies last 5 road games
* Under is 4-0 in Orange last 4 games following a straight up loss.
Missouri Tigers at No. 14 Florida Gators (-13.5, 50.5)
* The Tigers boast the SEC’s top passing offense at 350.6 yards per game, as quarterback Drew Lock and receiver J’Mon Moore have developed into one the conference’s most prolific duos. Missouri’s ground game leaves much to be desired, though, and the Tigers will have to prove they can run the ball to keep Florida’s strong pass rush honest. Missouri’s defense has not been as effective as a year ago, but the Tigers have a number of playmakers on that side of the ball, including star defensive end Charles Harris.
* The Gators lean on the SEC’s top scoring defense, as they’ve allowed just 11.6 points per game while proving particularly stingy against the pass (139.8 yards per game). Cornerback Jalen Tabor has accounted for three of Florida’s conference-best eight interceptions. The offense has been inconsistent, but the Gators hope getting quarterback Luke Del Rio back from a knee injury will help solidify the passing game.
LINE HISTORY: The Gators opened at -14.5 before dropping to the current number of -13.5 early in the betting week. The total opened at 48 and currently sits at 50.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Tigers are 27-4 ATS in their last 31 games after allowing more than 40 points in their previous game.
* Gators are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home games.
* Under is 7-0 in Tigers last 7 road games.
* Under is 4-1 in Gators last 5 vs. a team with a losing record.
No. 21 Utah Utes at Oregon State Beavers (+7, 40.5)
* The return of Williams, who had 75 yards on 22 carries before quitting after a 20-19 win over BYU in Week 2, could be huge for the Utes who also may get back running back Zack Moss (309 rushing yards). That should ease the pressure on junior quarterback Troy Williams, who has not thrown an interception in three Pac-12 games and has passed for 1,504 yards and seven TDs this season. The defense is led by potential NFL first round pick Lowell Lotulelei at tackle, end Hunter Dimick (5 sacks) and defensive back Marcus Williams (31 tackles, 3 interceptions).
* The Beavers rushed for 474 yards last week en route to a 47-44 overtime upset of Cal which snapped a 12-game conference losing streak. Running back Ryan Nall led the way, rushing for 221 yards on just 14 carries, just the eighth player in school history to rush for more than 200 yards in a game, while quarterback Darell Garretson, who began his career at Utah State, completed 13-of-24 passes for 85 yards and was intercepted twice. The defense held Cal quarterback Davis Webb to only 113 passing yards -- 315.6 yards below his average coming in -- and was led by cornerback Xavier Crawford (10 tackles, 3 pass breakups) and linebacker Caleb Saulo (13 tackles).
LINE HISTORY: Utah opened the betting week as 12-point road favorites and the public wanted nothing to do with that nonsense. Oregon State was bet early on often, forcing the books to steadily move that 12 down all week long - finally settling in at 7 by Friday afternoon. The total opened at 50.5 and dropped a full 10 points to 40.5 by the end of the week. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Utes are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 road games.
* Beavers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 6-1 in Utes last 7 road games.
* Over is 6-0 in Beavers last 6 games after accumulating less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
No. 13 Mississippi Rebels at No. 22 Arkansas Razorbacks (+7.5, 67)
* Kelly has passed for 1,596 yards and 13 touchdowns and has connected with standout senior tight end Evan Engram 30 times for 479 yards and four touchdowns. The status of junior outside linebacker DeMarquis Gates (team-best 30 tackles) remains uncertain after he was suspended for a game against Memphis for a violation of team rules and Freeze said earlier this week that "it is totally up to him. He knows exactly what he has to do to be ready to play." Sophomore free safety Zedrick Woods has 29 tackles and a team-best two interceptions while junior defensive end Marquis Haynes has a team-leading three sacks.
* Allen's yardage against Alabama tied for ninth most in Razorbacks history and he has passed for 1,632 yards and a SEC-leading 15 touchdowns against just three interceptions. Sophomore running back Rawleigh Williams III has fueled the rushing attack with 605 yards and five touchdowns while junior wideout Jared Cornelius (19 receptions for a team-best 408 yards) is the third player in school history to string together three consecutive 100-yard receiving outings. Sophomore weak-side linebacker Dre Greenlaw (35 tackles) broke his right foot against Alabama and will be sidelined for more than a month and that leaves senior middle linebacker Brooks Ellis (team-leading 42 tackles) and senior defensive end Deatrich Wise (three sacks) as the top cogs on the defensive unit.
LINE HISTORY: Ole Miss opened the week as seven-point road favorites and by Friday the point spread was up to 7.5. The total hit the board at 65.5 and was bet up to 67 by the end of the week. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Rebels are 6-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Razorbacks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
* Under is 9-1 in Rebels last 10 games in October.
* Under is 7-1 in Razorbacks last 8 games following a straight up loss.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane at No. 12 Houston Cougars (-21, 73)
* Brewer has rushed for 434 yards in the past two contests - including a career-best 252 against Fresno State - to raise his season total to 716 yards, while Flanders has rushed for 390 yards and four touchdowns. Senior quarterback Dane Evans has passed for 1,135 yards and nine touchdowns but has been intercepted seven times and has two solid targets in Lucas (36 receptions for 508 yards and five touchdowns) and Atkinson (32 catches for 354 yards and two scores). The defense has been shaky by allowing 81 points over the last two games - both decided in overtime - and the top two players are senior middle linebacker Trent Martin (team-best 35 tackles) and junior linebacker Petera Wilson Jr. (team-leading 3 1/2 sacks).
* Junior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. has passed for 1,684 yards and 11 touchdowns against four interceptions and has produced another 272 yards and six touchdowns on the ground but he accounted for three turnovers - two interceptions and a lost fumble - in the loss to Navy. Ward has two dependable targets in junior receivers Linell Bonner (42 receptions, 556 yards, two TDs) and Steven Dunbar (30, 438, three). The Cougars allowed 306 rushing yards in the loss to Navy after holding their previous seven opponents under 100 and expect to have senior linebacker Steven Taylor (team-leading 5 1/2 sacks) back on the field after he was suspended for the Navy game due to a violation of team policy.
LINE HISTORY: The Houston Cougars opened as 20-point home favorites over the over-matched Tulsa Golden Hurricane. The spread crept up to -21 by the middle of the week and held steady at that number until Friday afternoon. The total opened at 70 and currently sits at 73. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Golden Hurricane are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games.
* Cougars are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
* Over is 21-5 in Golden Hurricane last 26 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
* Road team is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles at No. 25 Louisiana State Tigers (-24.5, 58)
* The Golden Eagles went into last weekend with one of the top defenses in Conference USA but allowed UTSA to pile up 532 yards, including 339 on the ground. Quarterback Nick Mullens, who threw for 591 yards in a win over Rice on Oct. 1, tried to keep Southern Miss in the game with three TD passes but was also intercepted at the goal line and lost a fumble in last week's setback. One player the Golden Eagles can count on is kicker Parker Shaunfield, who is a perfect 29-of-29 on extra points and 10-of-10 on field-goal attempts.
* The Tigers would have been without star running back Leonard Fournette had the Florida game been played, and he remains questionable with a sprained ankle. The offense looked just fine without Fournette against Missouri on Oct. 1 as Ensminger oversaw an offense that piled up 634 yards - the most ever for the Tigers against an SEC foe. Derrius Guice and Darrel Williams each rushed for three scores in the win and LSU totaled 418 yards on the ground to take some of the pressure off quarterback Danny Etling.
LINE HISTORY: LSU hit the board as 24-point favorites and by Friday afternoon that number was up to -24.5. The total started off at 57 and entered the weekend at 58. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Golden Eagles are 12-1 ATS in their last 13 games after allowing more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
* Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in October.
* Over is 4-1 in Golden Eagles last 5 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
* Under is 5-0 in Tigers last 5 home games.
No. 24 Arizona State Sun Devils at Colorado Buffaloes (-12, 62)
* The Sun Devils bounced back from a 41-20 loss to USC to knock off visiting UCLA 23-20 last week behind a stifling run defense (the Bruins finished with a minus-1 yard rushing). White and Sterling-Cole, however, combined for only 182 yards of total offense and tossed an interception apiece in the contest, so the return of the dual-threat Wilkins (1,233 passing yards, 254 rushing on the season) would obviously be a huge boon. Defensively, Arizona State ranks fifth nationally with 89.3 rushing yards allowed per game, but despite the presence of Pac-12 sacks leader Koron Crump (5.0), the Sun Devils own the FBS’ worst passing defense with 404.3 yards surrendered per outing.
* Despite forcing four turnovers, the Buffaloes fell late to USC (21-17) last week and made their first stay in the top-25 rankings a short one. After accumulating 789 yards of total offense and accounting for seven TDs in back-to-back wins over Oregon and Oregon State, Montez was limited to 223 yards and one score in the game as Colorado was held under 28 points for the first time this season. The Buffaloes, though, have taken great strides on both sides of the ball and rank in the top 25 nationally in both total offense (17th with 504.4 yards per game) and defense (23rd with 331.8 yards).
LINE HISTORY: The unranked Colorado Buffaloes opened as 13-point home faves against the No. 24 Arizona State Sun Devils and on Thursday the books adjusted that number down to -12. The total opened at 62, dropped as low as 60, and returned to the opening number of 62 on Friday afternoon. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Sun Devils are 6-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Buffaloes are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
* Over is 7-1 in Sun Devils last 8 games following a straight up win.
* Sun Devils are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers (+10.5, 44)
* Defense is the calling card for the Badgers, who led the nation in points allowed last season (13.7) and have improved that mark to 12.2 in 2016. They have allowed only five offensive touchdowns in five games, thanks in large part to linebacker T.J. Watt (5.5 sacks) and cornerback Derrick Tindal (three interceptions, five pass breakups). Among the issues for Wisconsin in the loss to Michigan was the play of quarterback Alex Hornibrook (9-of-25, 88 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions) and a rushing attack that averaged 2.5 yards per attempt.
* Where to begin with the Buckeyes, who rank second in the nation in scoring defense (10.8) and third in points per game (53.2). Offensively, quarterback J.T. Barrett enters this one having accounted for 86 career touchdowns - two shy of the school record, held by Braxton Miller - and Mike Weber owns a league-best rushing average of 113.2 yards per game. On the defensive side, Ohio State has not given up a rushing touchdown and has forced 12 turnovers, including 10 interceptions.
LINE HISTORY: The Buckeyes opened the betting week as 10.5-point road favorites and on Friday afternoon that number was the same as the opening figure. The total hit the betting board at 45 and dropped slightly to 44 by the end of the week. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Buckeyes are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
* Badgers are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 games following a bye week.
* Under is 7-1 in Buckeyes last 8 conference games.
* Under is 7-1 in Badgers last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 6-0-1 in the last 7 meetings in Wisconsin.
Colorado State Rams at No. 15 Boise State Broncos (-28.5, 58.5)
* Junior Nick Stevens has regained the starting quarterback position he lost after a poor season-opening performance but he was solid last season when he passed for 2,679 yards and 21 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. Junior receiver Michael Gallup has 26 catches for 394 yards and three scores while junior running back Dalyn Dawkins has a team-leading 328 rushing yards after rushing for 125 against Utah State. The defense is led by senior weak-side linebacker Kevin Davis, who has a team-leading 58 tackles and was named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week after recovering a fumble and recording the game-clinching interception against Utah State.
* Rypien has passed for 1,415 yards and 11 touchdowns and junior running back Jeremy McNichols has also stood out with a team-best 558 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns (nine rushing, three receiving). Sperbeck has 33 receptions for 629 touchdowns and five touchdowns and he has 2,958 career receiving yards, third in school history behind Titus Young (3,063 from 2007-10) and Matt Miller (3,049 from 2011-14). Senior defensive end Sam McCaskill leads the Broncos with 9 1/2 tackles for losses and stands second with five sacks while sophomore nose tackle David Moa also has been superb with a team-best 5 1/2 sacks.
LINE HISTORY: Boise State opened at -29, immediately jumped up to -31, but settled back down to -28.5 by Friday afternoon. The total opened at 58.5 and closed out the week at 58.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Rams are 4-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Broncos are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 home games.
* Under is 4-0 in Rams last 4 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
* Under is 8-1 in Broncos last 9 home games.
The ninth-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers come off a bye week aiming for their first 6-0 start since 2001.
We're on to Week 7 of the college football season and the full slate of games can be tough to navigate for bettors. So we bring you our Top 25 betting cheat sheet to handicap the best games of the day.
North Carolina State Wolfpack at No. 3 Clemson Tigers (-17.5, 63)
* The Wolfpack offense has put up big numbers — including 500 or more total yards in three of five games — but its totals are skewed by last week’s paltry 198 total yards in driving rain and heavy winds. Running back Matthew Dayes was about the only offensive player who had success in the difficult conditions, as he rushed for 126 yards on 23 carries, though quarterback Ryan Finley continues to take care of the ball — he has not thrown an interception or lost a fumble this season. N.C. State boasts the ACC’s best run defense, holding opponents to 91 yards per game on the ground.
* The Tigers have rolled up more than 500 total yards of offense in two straight games, and running back Wayne Gallman has found some running room with back-to-back 100-yard performances. Getting Gallman going has helped open up the passing game for Deshaun Watson, who has tossed nine touchdown passes in the past two games but continues to struggle with turnovers — having committed nine giveaways through six games. Clemson’s defense has been dominant against the pass, holding opponents to 149 yards per game, but has been slightly more susceptible against the run, giving up an average of 133.2 yards on the ground.
LINE HISTORY: Clemson opened the college betting week at -17 but by Monday morning that line had gone up slightly to the current number of -17.5. The total hit the board at 56.5 and has skyrocketed all week and, as of Friday afternoon, sits at 63. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Wolfpack are 1-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
* Over is 6-1-1 in Wolfpack last 8 games overall.
* Over is 6-0 in Tigers last 6 games in October.
Kansas State Wildcats at No. 20 Oklahoma Sooners (-13, 58)
* The Wildcats bounced back from the one-point defeat to the Mountaineers with a 44-38 home win over Texas Tech last week. Quarterback Jesse Ertz has thrown for five touchdowns and has added three more on the ground as the team’s second-leading rusher with 50.6 yards per game. Kansas State’s calling card, though, has been a defense led by linebacker Elijah Lee (team-most 8.2 tackles per game) and defensive end Jordan Willis (Big 12-most six sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss) which is pacing the conference in fewest points (17.6) and total yards (310.2) allowed per outing.
* Quarterback Baker Mayfield is coming off his best outing of the season, throwing for 390 yards and connecting with wideout Dede Westbrook on a trio of touchdown passes in last week’s 45-40 win over Texas in Dallas. Westbrook finished with 10 receptions and a school single-game record 232 receiving yards. Linebacker Jordan Evans leads Oklahoma with 8.8 tackles per game, but Oklahoma ranks in the Big 12’s bottom half in both scoring (36.2 points) and total (428.4 yards) defense.
LINE HISTORY: The home favorite Oklahoma Sooners opened at -10 and that line was not even close to high enough for the betting public. The favorites were bet heavily all week and the line rose right along with the action. As of Friday afternoon the Sooners were sitting at -13. The total opened at 63.5 and action on the Under took that number all of the way down to 58 by Friday. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games on grass.
* Sooners are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
* Under is 6-1 in Wildcats last 7 games after accumulating less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
* Over is 7-1 in Sooners last 8 home games.
* Over is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings.
No. 18 West Virginia Mountaineers at Texas Tech Red Raiders (+1.5, 84)
* The Mountaineers have their own standout quarterback in Skyler Howard, who has completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 1,272 yards and seven touchdowns. Offensive line protection is led by Tyler Orlosky and Adam Pankey, who have combined to line up for 5,184 plays during their careers. Kicker Josh Lambert, who returned last week after missing three games because of suspension, is no longer with the team, but Mike Molina has been 14-for-14 on extra points and 5-for-6 on field goals in his absence.
* Mahomes leads an offense that averages 649.8 yards in total offense (second in the nation), ranks first nationally in first downs and is second in third down conversion success (53 percent). Mahomes threw for 2,274 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, relying on top targets Jonathan Giles (614 yards, seven TDs), Cameron Batson (341, five) and Dylan Cantrell (319, four). The Red Raiders have to establish some kind of running game, hoping that Demarcus Felton (270 yards, three TDs) can keep the West Virginia defense off balance.
LINE HISTORY: Texas Teck opened the week as 1.5-point home favorites. On Monday afternoon this line jumped the fence and flipped to West Virginia as one-point faves. The spread crept back toward a pick 'em on Thursday but on Friday it jumped back up in West Virginia's direction at 1.5. The total opened at 83 and was steady all week until it took a jump up to 84 on Friday. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Mountaineers are 1-10 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Red Raiders are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 conference games.
* Under is 18-4 in Mountaineers last 22 games on fieldturf.
* Over is 11-1 in Red Raiders last 12 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
No. 23 Western Michigan Broncos at Akron Zips (+12, 73.5)
* The Broncos are piling up the points in part because quarterback Zach Terrell has completed 70.6 percent of his passes and has yet to be intercepted. The senior, who has also rushed for three scores, has thrown 15 TD passes, with eight of those scores going to senior wide receiver Corey Davis. Western Michigan's ground game is just as strong and averages 231.7 yards, led by Jamauri Bogan (530 yards, 5 TDs) and Jarvion Franklin (514 yards, 5 TDs).
* Zips starting quarterback Thomas Woodson suffered a shoulder injury in a 45-38 home loss to Appalachian State that dropped the team to 2-2, and junior Tra'Von Chapman has stepped up with two straight strong games in his place. Chapman did just enough in a 31-27 win at Kent State on Oct. 1 and improved last weekend, throwing for 174 yards and three TDs without an interception and rushing for 80 yards and a score. Akron allowed an average of 40.3 points in its first four games but cut that number down to 20 through two games in MAC play.
LINE HISTORY: Western Michigan opened as 10.5-point road favorites and by the end of the week that number was up to 12 points. The total hit the board at 68.5 and went through the roof all week to clock in at 73.5 on Friday afternoon. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Broncos are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 road games.
* Zips are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 conference games.
* Over is 9-1-1 in Broncos last 11 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
* Broncos are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers (+12.5, 57.5)
* Freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts continues to impress and has accounted for 14 touchdowns (nine passing, five rushing) while being intercepted just twice. Sophomore running Damien Harris (team-leading 478 rushing yards, 8.7 yards per carry) and freshman running back Joshua Jacobs (307 yards, 8.3 average) are running through big holes, while sophomore receiver Calvin Ridley is getting open often with 34 receptions for 412 yards and four touchdowns. Senior strong-side linebacker Ryan Anderson (team-best 4 1/2 sacks) and senior defensive end Jonathan Allen (four sacks) are enjoying stellar campaigns and senior weak-side linebacker Reuben Foster has a team-best 37 tackles for a unit that leads the nation in rushing defense at 69.2 yards per game.
* The terrific performance from Kamara (292 rushing yards, team-best 20 receptions) came with junior leading rusher Jalen Hurd (407 yards) sidelined with undisclosed injuries and coach Butch Jones said that Hurd will play versus Alabama. Senior quarterback Joshua Dobbs has passed for 1,433 yards and accounted for 19 touchdowns (14 passing, five rushing) but his penchant for ill-advised throws - he has tossed eight interceptions - could be a problem against the opportunistic Crimson Tide. Junior strong safety Todd Kelly has a team-leading two interceptions and is tied with junior middle linebacker Colton Jumper for the team lead of 39 tackles, while junior defensive end Derek Barnett has been dominant on the line with team-leading totals of five sacks and nine tackles for losses.
LINE HISTORY: Alabama opened the week as 11.5-point road favorites over a very good Tennessee squad. By mid-week the line was all of the way up to 13 and by Friday it had settled back down slightly to 12.5. The total opened at 58 and dropped slightly to 57.5 by Friday afternoon. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Crimson Tide are 9-2 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Volunteers are 7-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 5-1 in Crimson Tide last 6 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.
* Crimson Tide are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings in Tennessee.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons at No. 16 Florida State Seminoles (-21, 53)
* Freshman running back Cade Carney has rushed for 100 yards twice in the three games he was not sidelined by knee injury, including 104 last Saturday versus Syracuse, to support sophomore Matt Colburn (361 yards). Wolford has thrown for 826 yards, completing 57.2 percent of his passes, and rushed for another 276 – 94 in the win against the Orange. The defense is led by senior safety Ryan Janvion (309 career tackles) and senior linebacker Marquel Lee, who registered a career-high 15 tackles with two sacks last time out.
* Cook got off to a slow start, but has worked his way to first in the nation with 1,130 yards from scrimmage -- 785 and seven touchdowns on the ground. Freshman quarterback Deondre Francois continues to impress while taking punishment, completing 63 percent of his passes for nine scores with two interceptions and running for 150 yards. Senior end DeMarcus Walker continues to lead the defense with eight tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, but the Seminoles have lost senior safety Nate Andrews for the season due to a torn pectoral.
LINE HISTORY: Florida State opened as 22.5-point faves and by Friday afternoon the spread was down to -21. The total opened at 53, went up to 54 during the week, and dropped back to the opening number of 53 on Friday. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Demon Deacons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
* Seminoles are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games on grass.
* Under is 13-3 in Demon Deacons last 16 games in October.
* Home team is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
No. 9 Nebraska Cornhuskers at Indiana Hoosiers (+3, 56)
* The Cornhuskers expect to be without their best receiver in Jordan Westerkamp (back), top tight end Cethan Carter (elbow) and second-leading rusher Devine Ozigbo (ankle), while quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. (ankle) spent last week in a walking boot and could be limited as a runner. Nebraska did get some good news on the injury front, however, as leading receiver Alonzo Moore recovered more quickly than expected from a shoulder injury and is expected to play after sitting out in the team's Oct. 1 win over Illinois. Terrell Newby put the Cornhuskers on his back late in that same game, touching the ball on 18 of the team's final 21 plays and piling up 118 of his season-high 140 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
* Richard Lagow leads the Big Ten in yards per completion (15.7, sixth nationally), yards per attempt (9.4, seventh), passing yards per game (292, 21st) and passing yards (1,460, 26th), although he has thrown for as many touchdowns as interceptions (seven) over his last three games. Devine Redding has yet to score a touchdown despite logging 105 carries, but the junior running back and 1,000-yard rusher from a season ago ranks fourth in the conference in rushing (491). Big-play sophomore wideout Nick Westbrook, who leads the team with 20 catches, 437 yards receiving and four touchdowns, is the only player in the Big Ten and one of eight players in the nation with at least two receptions of 70-plus yards.
LINE HISTORY: Nebraska opened as 6.5-point road favorites and the public was on Indiana all week. Books adjusted the line down all week and on Friday afternoon the Huskers were down to 3-point faves. The total began the week at 55.5 and by Friday was stiing at 56. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Cornhuskers are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 road games.
* Hoosiers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 conference games.
* Under is 5-1 in Cornhuskers last 6 games on fieldturf.
* Over is 10-1 in Hoosiers last 11 games after accumulating less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
North Carolina Tar Heels at No. 17 Miami Hurricanes (-7, 64.5)
* While Fedora didn't use the weather as an excuse, the conditions were far from ideal for an attack that is still averaging 299.8 yards passing despite Trubisky managing only 58 yards against the Hokies. The junior has no shortage of productive receivers, led by Ryan Switzer (49 catches, 98.2 yards per game, 1 touchdown), Austin Proehl (20, 46.0 yards, 1 TD) and Bug Howard (19, 45.3 yards, 3 TDs); he should also benefit from the return of tailback Elijah Hood (338 yards, 4 TDs) and guard Caleb Patterson. The defense has received solid play from safety Donnie Miles, linebacker Andrew Smith and Malik Carney up front, but injuries are an issue for a unit that is ranked 88th in total defense (421.6 yards per game) and has zero interceptions.
* Quarterback Brad Kaaya (229.8 yards per game, 10 TDs) threw a pair of touchdown passes against FSU to senior wide receiver Stacy Coley (22 receptions, 13.2 yards, 6 TDs) - including a clutch fourth-down connection prior to the botched extra point - but the junior also threw a costly interception in the end zone that turned the game's momentum. The offensive line needs to bounce back from a poor game in which it allowed three sacks and didn't fare well in opening holes for Walton (448 yards, 8 TDs) and Joe Yearby (363 yards, 5 TDs). Led by freshman linebackers Michael Pinckney and Shaquille Quarterman, the defense showed toughness despite giving up 20 points to FSU and still ranks near the top nationally in numerous defensive categories.
LINE HISTORY: Miami opened the betting week as seven-point favorites and on Friday afternoon they were still at -7...but the week was anything but quiet. On Monday the spread dropped to -6.5, Tuesday morning it jumped up to -7.5, Wednesday morning Miami peaked at -8.5, and for the rest of the week there was a slow tumble back to -7. The total hit the betting board at 64.5 and didn't move all week. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Tar Heels are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
* Hurricanes are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games on grass.
* Under is 9-1 in Tar Heels last 10 games after accumulating less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
* Home team is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
Kansas Jayhawks at No. 8 Baylor Bears (-34.5, 67)
* The loss to TCU was the 14th consecutive conference defeat for the Jayhawks who held the normally potent Horned Frogs offense to just 366 yards while forcing four turnovers, including three interceptions. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Willis, who came off the bench in the first four games behind junior Montell Cozart, made his first start of the season against TCU and completed 31-of-45 passes for 348 yards and also ran 21 yards for a touchdown but was intercepted three times. The Jayhawks had two wide receivers go over the 100-yard mark, LaQuvionte Gonzalez (8 catches for 131 yards) and Steven Sims Jr. (9 catches for 101 yards) while sophomore running back Taylor Martin added 62 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
* While not putting up the record-breaking numbers of the past three season, the Bears have nothing to apologize for offensively, rushing for 469 yards in the win at Iowa State -- fifth best for a game in program history -- and ranking 13th in the FBS in scoring with an average of 42.6 points. Quarterback Seth Russell has completed 92-of-155 passes for 1,326 yards and 14 touchdowns while running back Shock Linwood, who had 237 yards and a TD at Iowa State, needs only 84 yards to become the seventh Big 12 rusher with 4,000 career rushing yards. The defense is led by junior defensive end K.J. Smith (28 tackles, 2.5 sacks), linebacker Taylor Young (40 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss) and strong safety Orion Stewart, who had six tackles and a pass breakup at Iowa State.
LINE HISTORY: Baylor opened as massive 34-point home favorites and by the end of the week that line crept even higher up to -34.5. The total opened at 67 and didn't move all week. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Jayhawks are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games following a bye week.
* Bears are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win.
* Under is 6-1 in Jayhawks last 7 games on grass.
* Over is 8-2-1 in Bears last 11 games following a bye week.
No. 19 Virginia Tech Hokies at Syracuse Orange (+19.5, 68)
* The Hokies' pass defense is one of their strengths as the unit ranks second in the nation in yards allowed per game (132.2). Virginia Tech's defense has allowed a point in only three of the last 12 quarters and is giving up 237.6 yards per game, good for third best in the nation. Evans enters the weekend with 15 touchdowns and one interception - the best ratio among FBS quarterbacks - and also is the team's second-leading rusher with 258 yards on the ground.
* The Orange have received solid play from Eric Dungey, who ranks second in the league in passing yards per game (314.3), and wideout Amba Etta-Tawo, who leads the conference in receptions (51). On the other hand, Syracuse ranks last in the league in both scoring defense (36 points) and total defense (475.2 yards). Dungey has five of the team's seven rushing touchdowns, while Dontae Strickland (343 yards) is the Orange's top threat in the running game.
LINE HISTORY: Virginia Tech opened the week as 18.5-point road favorites and, although they peaked at 20.5 on Thursday, they are listed as 19.5-point faves on Friday afternoon. The total started off at 65 and spiked to 68 by the end of the week. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Hokies are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
* Orange are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games on fieldturf.
* Under is 5-0 in Hokies last 5 road games
* Under is 4-0 in Orange last 4 games following a straight up loss.
Missouri Tigers at No. 14 Florida Gators (-13.5, 50.5)
* The Tigers boast the SEC’s top passing offense at 350.6 yards per game, as quarterback Drew Lock and receiver J’Mon Moore have developed into one the conference’s most prolific duos. Missouri’s ground game leaves much to be desired, though, and the Tigers will have to prove they can run the ball to keep Florida’s strong pass rush honest. Missouri’s defense has not been as effective as a year ago, but the Tigers have a number of playmakers on that side of the ball, including star defensive end Charles Harris.
* The Gators lean on the SEC’s top scoring defense, as they’ve allowed just 11.6 points per game while proving particularly stingy against the pass (139.8 yards per game). Cornerback Jalen Tabor has accounted for three of Florida’s conference-best eight interceptions. The offense has been inconsistent, but the Gators hope getting quarterback Luke Del Rio back from a knee injury will help solidify the passing game.
LINE HISTORY: The Gators opened at -14.5 before dropping to the current number of -13.5 early in the betting week. The total opened at 48 and currently sits at 50.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Tigers are 27-4 ATS in their last 31 games after allowing more than 40 points in their previous game.
* Gators are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home games.
* Under is 7-0 in Tigers last 7 road games.
* Under is 4-1 in Gators last 5 vs. a team with a losing record.
No. 21 Utah Utes at Oregon State Beavers (+7, 40.5)
* The return of Williams, who had 75 yards on 22 carries before quitting after a 20-19 win over BYU in Week 2, could be huge for the Utes who also may get back running back Zack Moss (309 rushing yards). That should ease the pressure on junior quarterback Troy Williams, who has not thrown an interception in three Pac-12 games and has passed for 1,504 yards and seven TDs this season. The defense is led by potential NFL first round pick Lowell Lotulelei at tackle, end Hunter Dimick (5 sacks) and defensive back Marcus Williams (31 tackles, 3 interceptions).
* The Beavers rushed for 474 yards last week en route to a 47-44 overtime upset of Cal which snapped a 12-game conference losing streak. Running back Ryan Nall led the way, rushing for 221 yards on just 14 carries, just the eighth player in school history to rush for more than 200 yards in a game, while quarterback Darell Garretson, who began his career at Utah State, completed 13-of-24 passes for 85 yards and was intercepted twice. The defense held Cal quarterback Davis Webb to only 113 passing yards -- 315.6 yards below his average coming in -- and was led by cornerback Xavier Crawford (10 tackles, 3 pass breakups) and linebacker Caleb Saulo (13 tackles).
LINE HISTORY: Utah opened the betting week as 12-point road favorites and the public wanted nothing to do with that nonsense. Oregon State was bet early on often, forcing the books to steadily move that 12 down all week long - finally settling in at 7 by Friday afternoon. The total opened at 50.5 and dropped a full 10 points to 40.5 by the end of the week. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Utes are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 road games.
* Beavers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 6-1 in Utes last 7 road games.
* Over is 6-0 in Beavers last 6 games after accumulating less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
No. 13 Mississippi Rebels at No. 22 Arkansas Razorbacks (+7.5, 67)
* Kelly has passed for 1,596 yards and 13 touchdowns and has connected with standout senior tight end Evan Engram 30 times for 479 yards and four touchdowns. The status of junior outside linebacker DeMarquis Gates (team-best 30 tackles) remains uncertain after he was suspended for a game against Memphis for a violation of team rules and Freeze said earlier this week that "it is totally up to him. He knows exactly what he has to do to be ready to play." Sophomore free safety Zedrick Woods has 29 tackles and a team-best two interceptions while junior defensive end Marquis Haynes has a team-leading three sacks.
* Allen's yardage against Alabama tied for ninth most in Razorbacks history and he has passed for 1,632 yards and a SEC-leading 15 touchdowns against just three interceptions. Sophomore running back Rawleigh Williams III has fueled the rushing attack with 605 yards and five touchdowns while junior wideout Jared Cornelius (19 receptions for a team-best 408 yards) is the third player in school history to string together three consecutive 100-yard receiving outings. Sophomore weak-side linebacker Dre Greenlaw (35 tackles) broke his right foot against Alabama and will be sidelined for more than a month and that leaves senior middle linebacker Brooks Ellis (team-leading 42 tackles) and senior defensive end Deatrich Wise (three sacks) as the top cogs on the defensive unit.
LINE HISTORY: Ole Miss opened the week as seven-point road favorites and by Friday the point spread was up to 7.5. The total hit the board at 65.5 and was bet up to 67 by the end of the week. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Rebels are 6-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Razorbacks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
* Under is 9-1 in Rebels last 10 games in October.
* Under is 7-1 in Razorbacks last 8 games following a straight up loss.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane at No. 12 Houston Cougars (-21, 73)
* Brewer has rushed for 434 yards in the past two contests - including a career-best 252 against Fresno State - to raise his season total to 716 yards, while Flanders has rushed for 390 yards and four touchdowns. Senior quarterback Dane Evans has passed for 1,135 yards and nine touchdowns but has been intercepted seven times and has two solid targets in Lucas (36 receptions for 508 yards and five touchdowns) and Atkinson (32 catches for 354 yards and two scores). The defense has been shaky by allowing 81 points over the last two games - both decided in overtime - and the top two players are senior middle linebacker Trent Martin (team-best 35 tackles) and junior linebacker Petera Wilson Jr. (team-leading 3 1/2 sacks).
* Junior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. has passed for 1,684 yards and 11 touchdowns against four interceptions and has produced another 272 yards and six touchdowns on the ground but he accounted for three turnovers - two interceptions and a lost fumble - in the loss to Navy. Ward has two dependable targets in junior receivers Linell Bonner (42 receptions, 556 yards, two TDs) and Steven Dunbar (30, 438, three). The Cougars allowed 306 rushing yards in the loss to Navy after holding their previous seven opponents under 100 and expect to have senior linebacker Steven Taylor (team-leading 5 1/2 sacks) back on the field after he was suspended for the Navy game due to a violation of team policy.
LINE HISTORY: The Houston Cougars opened as 20-point home favorites over the over-matched Tulsa Golden Hurricane. The spread crept up to -21 by the middle of the week and held steady at that number until Friday afternoon. The total opened at 70 and currently sits at 73. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Golden Hurricane are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games.
* Cougars are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
* Over is 21-5 in Golden Hurricane last 26 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
* Road team is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles at No. 25 Louisiana State Tigers (-24.5, 58)
* The Golden Eagles went into last weekend with one of the top defenses in Conference USA but allowed UTSA to pile up 532 yards, including 339 on the ground. Quarterback Nick Mullens, who threw for 591 yards in a win over Rice on Oct. 1, tried to keep Southern Miss in the game with three TD passes but was also intercepted at the goal line and lost a fumble in last week's setback. One player the Golden Eagles can count on is kicker Parker Shaunfield, who is a perfect 29-of-29 on extra points and 10-of-10 on field-goal attempts.
* The Tigers would have been without star running back Leonard Fournette had the Florida game been played, and he remains questionable with a sprained ankle. The offense looked just fine without Fournette against Missouri on Oct. 1 as Ensminger oversaw an offense that piled up 634 yards - the most ever for the Tigers against an SEC foe. Derrius Guice and Darrel Williams each rushed for three scores in the win and LSU totaled 418 yards on the ground to take some of the pressure off quarterback Danny Etling.
LINE HISTORY: LSU hit the board as 24-point favorites and by Friday afternoon that number was up to -24.5. The total started off at 57 and entered the weekend at 58. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Golden Eagles are 12-1 ATS in their last 13 games after allowing more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
* Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in October.
* Over is 4-1 in Golden Eagles last 5 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
* Under is 5-0 in Tigers last 5 home games.
No. 24 Arizona State Sun Devils at Colorado Buffaloes (-12, 62)
* The Sun Devils bounced back from a 41-20 loss to USC to knock off visiting UCLA 23-20 last week behind a stifling run defense (the Bruins finished with a minus-1 yard rushing). White and Sterling-Cole, however, combined for only 182 yards of total offense and tossed an interception apiece in the contest, so the return of the dual-threat Wilkins (1,233 passing yards, 254 rushing on the season) would obviously be a huge boon. Defensively, Arizona State ranks fifth nationally with 89.3 rushing yards allowed per game, but despite the presence of Pac-12 sacks leader Koron Crump (5.0), the Sun Devils own the FBS’ worst passing defense with 404.3 yards surrendered per outing.
* Despite forcing four turnovers, the Buffaloes fell late to USC (21-17) last week and made their first stay in the top-25 rankings a short one. After accumulating 789 yards of total offense and accounting for seven TDs in back-to-back wins over Oregon and Oregon State, Montez was limited to 223 yards and one score in the game as Colorado was held under 28 points for the first time this season. The Buffaloes, though, have taken great strides on both sides of the ball and rank in the top 25 nationally in both total offense (17th with 504.4 yards per game) and defense (23rd with 331.8 yards).
LINE HISTORY: The unranked Colorado Buffaloes opened as 13-point home faves against the No. 24 Arizona State Sun Devils and on Thursday the books adjusted that number down to -12. The total opened at 62, dropped as low as 60, and returned to the opening number of 62 on Friday afternoon. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Sun Devils are 6-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Buffaloes are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
* Over is 7-1 in Sun Devils last 8 games following a straight up win.
* Sun Devils are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers (+10.5, 44)
* Defense is the calling card for the Badgers, who led the nation in points allowed last season (13.7) and have improved that mark to 12.2 in 2016. They have allowed only five offensive touchdowns in five games, thanks in large part to linebacker T.J. Watt (5.5 sacks) and cornerback Derrick Tindal (three interceptions, five pass breakups). Among the issues for Wisconsin in the loss to Michigan was the play of quarterback Alex Hornibrook (9-of-25, 88 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions) and a rushing attack that averaged 2.5 yards per attempt.
* Where to begin with the Buckeyes, who rank second in the nation in scoring defense (10.8) and third in points per game (53.2). Offensively, quarterback J.T. Barrett enters this one having accounted for 86 career touchdowns - two shy of the school record, held by Braxton Miller - and Mike Weber owns a league-best rushing average of 113.2 yards per game. On the defensive side, Ohio State has not given up a rushing touchdown and has forced 12 turnovers, including 10 interceptions.
LINE HISTORY: The Buckeyes opened the betting week as 10.5-point road favorites and on Friday afternoon that number was the same as the opening figure. The total hit the betting board at 45 and dropped slightly to 44 by the end of the week. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Buckeyes are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
* Badgers are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 games following a bye week.
* Under is 7-1 in Buckeyes last 8 conference games.
* Under is 7-1 in Badgers last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 6-0-1 in the last 7 meetings in Wisconsin.
Colorado State Rams at No. 15 Boise State Broncos (-28.5, 58.5)
* Junior Nick Stevens has regained the starting quarterback position he lost after a poor season-opening performance but he was solid last season when he passed for 2,679 yards and 21 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. Junior receiver Michael Gallup has 26 catches for 394 yards and three scores while junior running back Dalyn Dawkins has a team-leading 328 rushing yards after rushing for 125 against Utah State. The defense is led by senior weak-side linebacker Kevin Davis, who has a team-leading 58 tackles and was named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week after recovering a fumble and recording the game-clinching interception against Utah State.
* Rypien has passed for 1,415 yards and 11 touchdowns and junior running back Jeremy McNichols has also stood out with a team-best 558 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns (nine rushing, three receiving). Sperbeck has 33 receptions for 629 touchdowns and five touchdowns and he has 2,958 career receiving yards, third in school history behind Titus Young (3,063 from 2007-10) and Matt Miller (3,049 from 2011-14). Senior defensive end Sam McCaskill leads the Broncos with 9 1/2 tackles for losses and stands second with five sacks while sophomore nose tackle David Moa also has been superb with a team-best 5 1/2 sacks.
LINE HISTORY: Boise State opened at -29, immediately jumped up to -31, but settled back down to -28.5 by Friday afternoon. The total opened at 58.5 and closed out the week at 58.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Rams are 4-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Broncos are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 home games.
* Under is 4-0 in Rams last 4 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
* Under is 8-1 in Broncos last 9 home games.
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