College Football Betting News and Notes Week 10

Big Ten Betting News and Notes
By Doc's Sports
Covers.com

Doc's Sports takes a look at the biggest news in the Big Ten, giving you the best betting notes heading into Week 10 of the college football schedule.

November reign

Don’t look now, but Ohio State is playing the best football in the Big Ten. And things are about to get a whole lot easier for the Buckeyes.

They are riding a two-game winning streak and a 10-game November winning streak dating back to 2007.

Maybe no win was as memorable as their 33-29 thriller against the tough-luck Badgers that came complete with Braxton Miller’s late-game heroics.

"This is what Ohio State's about," Buckeye interim-Coach Luke Fickell told reporters. "We don't ever look at ourselves as underdogs. This is a huge win, a signature win. This is for this team, this is for this program. This is what we expect."

Running back Dan Herron is back from a suspension and has already rushed for 274 yards in two wins. Starting left tackle Mike Adams is also back. This has made things easier on Miller, who looks like a completely different football player.

The news gets better for Ohio State as top playmaker DeVier Posey will return from suspension for the Nov. 19 showdown against Penn State. The Buckeyes went 4-0 SU and ATS against their remaining four opponents last season (Indiana, at Purdue, Penn State, at Michigan).

That ATS record is impressive because they were favored between 16.5 to 24.5 points against those four teams last season. Ohio State should not be an underdog until the regular season finale against Michigan, and we know how the Buckeyes play in that rivalry.

If the chips fall the right way, Ohio State (5-3, 2-2) could even backdoor their way to Indianapolis for the Big Ten title game.

Golden contract

Suddenly that seven-year deal the Minnesota Golden Gophers handed to Jerry Kill doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.

After a horrendous 1-6 start, where it lost its three Big Ten games by a total score of 144-31, Minnesota stunned Iowa 22-21 as a 14.5-point underdog at TCF Bank Stadium Saturday.

Kill pulled out all the tricks to help lead Minnesota back from deficits of 7-0, 14-7 and 21-10. Trailing 21-16 after a fourth-quarter touchdown put Minnesota within five, Kill called for an onside kick that Minnesota recovered, drove 59 yards in 12 plays and then scored on a three-yard MarQueis Gray touchdown plunge to go ahead.

"I'm very, very, very happy for our players and our university and the state of Minnesota," Kill told the media. "It was a team effort out there today. I think that our game was a great college atmosphere. I truly believe that the fans and the students and our players played with a lot of emotion today. I think we all should be tired. I know I'm tired."

Defensive conference

Perhaps the best way to describe the Big Ten Conference this season is by looking at the recently announced semifinalists for the Maxwell and Chuck Bednarik Awards.

The Maxwell Award is given annually to the best player in college football (read: best offensive player). The Bednarik trophy goes to the top defensive player in the country.

Only Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson made the Maxwell semifinalist list and you have to think his chances are dashed after back-to-back losses.

But in a conference that has been defined by strong defensive play, four Big Ten players made the cut for the Bednarik trophy. Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus, Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, Nebraska linebacker Lavonte David and Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still made the list of 16 semifinalists.

Happy Valley

In spite of all the facts saying they shouldn’t be, the Penn State Nittany Lions are 8-1 and enjoying a comfortable 2.5-game lead over Wisconsin, Ohio State and Purdue in the Leaders Division.

Penn State escaped again this week with a 10-7 win over Illinois at home. They took their first lead with 1:08 to play and didn’t secure the win until a potential Illinois game-tying field goal clanged off the uprights in wintery conditions at Happy Valley.

"For all the fans out there, thanks for sitting through that today," Joe Paterno said after the game. "You've got to be nuts!"

Penn State is 8-1 SU, but 2-7 ATS - a testament of its inability to win games convincingly even against the likes of Purdue (23-18) or Indiana (16-10) or Temple (14-10).

Pac 12 Notebook
By Matt Fargo
VegasInsider.com

Week 9 Rewind

This is getting pretty old. After every game in the Pac 12 was decided by at least two touchdowns two weeks ago, five of the six games this past week were decided by double-digits.

Washington State played pretty impressively against Oregon as it outgained the Ducks 462-454 but special teams were the difference for Oregon. The Ducks first touchdown came on a blocked punt return and then after the Cougars cut the lead to nine points late in the third quarter, Oregon returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown.

Colorado got dismantled again, losing its sixth straight game and fourth straight by at least four touchdowns. The Buffaloes fell behind 24-0 to Arizona State and there was no chance of recovery as they turned the ball over five times which resulted in 177 empty yards. It was the third time in October that Colorado faced an opponent coming off a bye week.

UCLA got back into the win column to get back to .500 on the season. The Bruins spotted California a 7-0 lead before running off 17 straight points and then scoring the game's final two touchdowns to win with ease. The suspensions to the receivers was felt with just 92 passing yards but UCLA rushed for 294 yards on 52 carries (5.7 ypc).

The Utes got back to .500 and picked up their first ever Pac 12 victory as they jumped out to a 24-0 lead and never looked back. Utah only outgained the Beavers 287-263 but took advantage of their miscues. Oregon State had four turnovers, a missed field goal and two turnovers on downs. The Beavers rushed for only 32 yards on 26 carries (1.2 ypc).

Arizona could not follow up its first Pac 12 win of the year with another as it fell at Washington. The Wildcats had the lead for most of the game and outgained the Huskies 388-310 but the fourth quarter miscues did them in. They had a three-point lead early in the period but turned the ball over on their final three possessions

Game of the Year - Part 1

The best was saved for last as Stanford and USC played an instant classic.

The Cardinal outlasted USC in triple overtime 56-48 in a game that was back and forth. Stanford scored with just under a minute remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. In the third overtime, the Cardinal scored on their possession while getting the two-point conversion and USC fumbled into the endzone to end the game.

Because the game went into three overtimes, Stanford backers were able to hold out hope and get a possible cover with their -7.5 line because two-point attempts are mandatory at that point.

As luck would have it, no pun intended, Stanford covered its eighth consecutive game to open the season.

Could that run come to an end? Stanford has failed to cover the following game after USC in each of the last four years, three resulting in outright losses, and with Oregon on deck in two weeks, it finds itself in a tough sandwich spot.

The Cardinal are 20.5-point favorites at Oregon State.

Quarterback Controversy?

We are not taking about Washington State or California (although one should be brewing in Berkley following Zach Maynard's horrible performance against UCLA). Believe it or not, it is at Oregon.

Ducks quarterback Darron Thomas returned to the lineup against Washington State, going 8-of-13 for 153 yards and a touchdown but also two picks. He was pulled at halftime and redshirt freshman Bryan Bennett led the Ducks to three touchdown drives, going 4-7 for 88 yards and two touchdowns.

Oregon head coach Chip Kelly has not indicated who will start at Washington, stating that, "We base everything on how we practice."

Thomas will likely get the nod as rumors were swirling that he was pulled as to not aggravate his leg injury. Either way, Kelly said that there is no plan for a two-quarterback rotation.

Oregon is a two-touchdown chalk at Washington.

Game of the Week

It may not be the best game on paper but Arizona State travels to UCLA for a key Pac 12 South matchup.

A win by Arizona State pretty much locks up the division but if the Bruins can get the win, they control their own destiny going forward. UCLA has winnable games against Utah and Colorado following this week and then its season finale against rival USC, which cannot go to the Pac 12 Championship.

This very well could be the make or break game for the future of Rick Neuheisel but hasn't this been the case almost every week?

The Bruins are 10-point home underdogs.

Breakdown - LSU at Alabama
By Micah Roberts
VegasInsider.com

The “Game of the Year” in college football that everyone had hoped would come to fruition is finally upon us. Fortunately, No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama have both done their part to make it happen by each coming in with unblemished records. The winner of Saturday's game will have a clear path to the BCS Championship.

Las Vegas sports books have received money on LSU from the very beginning, all the way back in June when the Golden Nugget initially opened Alabama as a 9-point favorite in their first posting of the lines for “Games of Year.” There wasn’t enough action to move the number initially with most people waiting to see what happened early on with LSU against Oregon in a key matchup to kickoff the season.

Despite only having 98 yards passing and 273 yards overall, LSU used four Ducks turnovers to win convincingly, 40-27. Since then, the debate has gone on with who the No. 1 team in the nation really is with a few different teams occupying the top slot. Now, we really get to see who it is with matters settled on the field.

A few weeks ago, several sports books started posting odds on the game with the starting point being Alabama -6½. The number has been pushed down with LSU money coming in to the point where the consensus around town ranges from -4 to -5.

Former Cantor oddsmaker Kenny White made Alabama -7 three weeks ago citing Alabama playing Tuscaloosa is worth at least five points, especially in a big matchup like this. But at what point does the Alabama home-field edge start to decrease when talking about a top-ranked team like LSU visiting as opposed to welcoming the likes of North Texas and Vanderbilt.

It’s very apparent by the line movement that bettors don’t believe Alabama’s home field is worth five, nor would Alabama be favored on a neutral field.

If we look at each team’s body of work, it’s hard to decide who to like more, especially considering bettors have been cashing in on both teams all season. LSU is a perfect 3-0 against the spread on the road, 6-2 ATS overall. Meanwhile, Alabama is 7-1 ATS with its only blemish coming against North Texas as 47-point favorite, a game they won 41-0.

Alabama allows only 44.9 yards rushing per game while LSU allows 76.6 yards. Alabama leads the nation with only 6.9 points scored against per game with LSU not far behind at 11.5 PPG.

They’ve had two common opponents this season, each easily disposing of Florida and Tennessee. LSU has beat five raked opponents to Alabama’s three, suggesting that the Tigers strength of schedule should bode well for them. LSU won impressively in back-to back road games earlier this year at Mississippi State and West Virginia while Alabama beat a punch-less Penn State offense and Florida on the road with a quality win against Arkansas at home.

Then we have the great storyline of current Alabama coach Nick Saban who won a national title for LSU in 2003 before leaving for the NFL. Saban won a title for the Crimson Tide in 2009 and has split the four meetings since coming back.

Current LSU coach Les Myles has done a great job over his tenure despite constant criticism trying to coach in the shadow of what Saban did for them while in charge. It also hasn’t helped that Myles has a few clock management gaffes over his reign to irk many of the Bayou supporters.

Alabama would seem to have a slight edge in coaching, they have home field and also have the best player in the nation with running back Trent Richardson moving the chains for them. First-year starting quarterback A.J. McCarron has done what Saban has asked of him, which is 'just don’t make any mistakes.'

McCarron really hasn’t been put into a spot where he’s been asked to win the game and you’d have to think at some juncture that McCarron is going to have to make some plays in key moments. This should be the major key to the game in deciding who wins and who loses, and for Las Vegas purposes, who gets the money.

I’ll take the coach, his defense, the home field and Richardson in this one and feel comfortable laying the points. And if Stanford loses to Oregon on Nov. 12 and Oklahoma State falls to Oklahoma on Dec. 3, I wouldn't be opposed to seeing these two teams go at it again on a neutral field for the title. Whoever loses this game shouldn't be penalized too much despite the loss coming later than the likes of an Oklahoma or Oregon.

Fearless Prediction: Alabama 27 LSU 16

Big 10 Report - Week 10
ASAWINS.COM

Iowa (+4.5) vs. Michigan

IOWA: 5-3 SU, 3-5 ATS - Last week: at Minnesota, L 21-22
MICH: 7-1 SU, 6-2 ATS - Last week: vs. Purdue, W 36-14

Michigan got back on track after losing its first game of the season to Michigan State with a big 36-14 blowout of Purdue. The Wolverine offense exploded for 535 yards and 25 first downs. Surprisingly it wasn't QB Robinson leading the charge. RB Fitzgerald Toussaint sparked the offense with a career high 170 rush yards with two touchdowns. The defense, which ranks 28th in total defense & 6th scoring defense, performed very well following the bye week as it held Purdue to 311 yards and 16 first downs.

Iowa will look to regroup after an embarrassing loss to Big Ten doormat Minnesota. Iowa had 269 rushing yards (252 by RB Coker), 21 first downs and 446 total yards. Yet the Hawkeyes couldn't beat one-win Minnesota. Iowa could still make a lot of noise in the Big Ten race as three of its final four games are against the top three teams in the Big Ten Legends division (Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska).

Iowa's defense ranks near the bottom of the Big Ten in almost every category and this unit could struggle against Denard Robinson and this Wolverines offense. Iowa beat Michigan by 10 points last October, but was outgained by 134 yards and had eight fewer first downs (+4 turnover margin in the game). Robinson completed 13-of-18 passes with one touchdown and also rushed for 105 yards, despite missing time with an injury.

Something to consider: Iowa is now 0-3 on the road, losing all three games by a total of 14 points and scoring only 19 points per game. The good news for the Hawkeyes is they now return home to Kinnick Stadium where they are 5-0 this year and averaging 39 points per game.

Michigan State (-28) vs. Minnesota

MSU: 6-2 SU, 5-3 ATS - Last week: at Nebraska, L 3-24
MINN: 2-6 SU, 3-5 ATS - Last week: vs. Iowa, W 22-21

Michigan State nearly got through its brutal October schedule unscathed. The Spartans made it through Ohio State, Michigan, and Wisconsin with a 3-0 record before falling to Nebraska last week. They couldn't get anything going on offense. QB Cousins completed 11-of-27 passes for 86 yards with one interception and led this offense to just 187 yards and 3 points. Defensively MSU looked worn down from the difficult schedule, as this unit allowed 190 rush yards to Nebraska. The Spartans have the most advantageous November schedule of any Big Ten Legends contender, starting Saturday when they host Minnesota. Expect an inspired performance here from the Spartans as they try to get back on track.

Minnesota had the league's most surprising win last week with a 22-21 win over Iowa last week as a 14.5 point underdog, ending a four-game skid. The Gophers received terrific performances from QB Gray (193 pass yards, 63 rush yards and two total touchdowns) and RB Bennett (101 rush yards with one score). They are technically still alive for a bowl bid, but it's hard to expect Jerry Kill's crew to match the intensity displayed at home last week against rival Iowa.

Something to consider: In 2010, Michigan State matched up with Minnesota at home a week after its first and only Big Ten loss (just like this year). The Spartans jumped ahead 21-0 at halftime and cruised in the 2nd half, winning by 23 points.

Ohio State (-28) vs. Indiana

OSU: 5-3 SU, 5-3 ATS - Last week: vs. Wisconsin, W 33-29
IND: 1-8 SU, 4-5 ATS - Last week: vs. Northwestern, L 38-59

Ohio State handed Wisconsin its second straight defeat on a Hail Mary as QB Miller found WR Smith with 20 seconds left to get a four-point win. The freshman Miller had easily his best game as a starter, throwing for one touchdown and rushing for two more while committing zero turnovers. The Buckeyes are now in great position in the Big Ten Leaders division after most people wrote them off after an 0-2 start in conference play. Can OSU avoid a letdown performance and cover a huge spread after a monster revenge win last week?

Indiana lost its sixth straight game and fourth straight by 21+ points. This Hoosiers defense has now allowed 51 points per game over the previous four and ranks 112th nationally in total defense for the season. This unit allows over 230 rush yards per game, and will have an extremely difficult time slowing down this Buckeye backfield of Miller and Herron (259 combined rush yards against Wisconsin last week).

The Hoosiers had a nice contribution from QB Robinson and RB Houston, who combined for 272 rush yards and three touchdowns last week against Northwestern. However, don't expect a repeat performance from those two here against this Buckeyes rush defense that allows 113 yards per game (26th nationally). They allowed just 89 rush yards to Wisconsin (UW averages over 230 rush yards per game).

Something to consider: Ohio State has won 10 straight games over Indian by an average score of 36-9. OSU has covered six straight meetings and eight of the last 10 overall (favored by double digits in all 10 games).

Wisconsin (-26) vs. Purdue

WISC: 6-2 SU, 5-3 ATS - Last week: at Ohio State, L 29-33
PUR: 4-4 SU, 4-4 ATS - Last week: at Michigan, L 14-36

Wisconsin finally returns home to Camp Randall Stadium after back-to-back heartbreaking road losses to Michigan State and Ohio State. In both games, Wisconsin scored two unanswered touchdowns in the final minutes to either tie/take a lead. And in both games, the opponent completed a Hail Mary touchdown in the final seconds. What was once a dream season has turned into a nightmare. Will the Badgers respond with an inspired performance here at home to get back on track?

The Badgers allowed 58 total points through its first six games before allowing 70 points the previous two. The Badgers also struggled offensively - by their standards - by only managing 342 yards and 29 points against the Buckeyes last week (came into that game averaging 500+ yards and 50+ points per game). QB Wilson (19 pass touchdowns) and RB Ball (21 touchdowns!) should have a big day against this Purdue defense that struggled against Michigan last week.

Purdue was thoroughly dominated by Michigan last week after a promising win over Illinois the week prior. The Boilers' defense allowed 535 yards and after the offense scored less than two minutes into the game, failed to get much of anything accomplished the final 58 minutes of the game. This defense has to get better fast, as they travel to Madison to face an angry offense that averages over 50 points at home. The Boilers are 0-5 straight up and ATS against the Badgers over the last five meetings.

Something to consider: Wisconsin is 21-1 at home over the previous 22 games. The Badgers have covered seven of last eight home games home games average win margin of 41 points per game.

Nebraska (-17.5) vs. Northwestern

NEB: 7-1 SU, d3-5 ATS - Last week: vs. Michigan State, W 24-3
NW: 3-5 SU, 3-5 ATS - Last week: at Indiana, W 59-38

The Blackshirts are back after Nebraska's defense held Michigan State to just 187 yards and 3 points in the big win last week. The Huskers will have to avoid a letdown performance here as they go against a strong Northwestern offense fresh off of a 59-point performance against Indiana.

Northwestern has a bit of momentum going now after its first Big Ten win of the season. The Wildcats gained 616 yards of total offense (317 rush yards & 299 pass yards) and 30 first downs. QB's Persa and Colter combined to complete 18-of-23 passes with five touchdowns and no interceptions. Persa is completing 76% of his passes with nine touchdowns and just three interceptions since returning from injury. The Wildcats need to win three of its final four games to become Bowl eligible this season.

Northwestern will need a better defensive performance to keep pace with Nebraska. This Wildcat stop-unit ranks 99th nationally in yards allowed and 91st in points allowed. It has been holding them back the entire season and could get run over again by this Nebraska offense that comes in averaging 252 rush yards per game behind RB Burkhead and option QB Martinez.

Something to consider: Northwestern is 12-3 ATS in its last 15 games as a road underdog while the Huskers are just 1-10-1 ATS in their last 12 games as a double-digit home favorite.

Penn State - BYE

PSU: 8-1 SU, 2-7 ATS - Last week: vs. Illinois, W 10-7

Defense continues to win games for this Penn State squad. The Nittany Lions stop-unit allowed just seven points to Illinois last week in the 10-7 victory and is allowing just 12.4 points per game on the season (4th nationally). Penn State is 8-1 (just 2-7 ATS) and controls its own destiny as it stares ahead at a daunting November schedule (Nebraska, Ohio State, Wisconsin).

Illinois - BYE

ILL: 6-3 SU, 4-5 ATS - Last week: at Penn State, L 7-10

Illinois has dropped three straight games after a 6-0 start. Last week they had a lead almost the entire game before allowing a touchdown with less than two minutes remaining. A missed field goal by kicker Dimke as time expired failed to tie the game against PSU. Illinois' offense had been averaging 35 points per game during the 6-0 start, but has managed just 28 TOTAL points the previous three weeks. A bye comes at a good time before Illinois plays two tough home games against Michigan and Wisconsin.

Games to Watch - Week 10
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider.com

Michigan at Iowa

Coming off an open date, Michigan responded to its first loss by spanking Purdue 36-14 as a 14-point home favorite. Fitzgerald Toussaint was the catalyst with 170 rushing yards and two TDs on 20 carries. Denard Robinson has a mediocre TD-INT ratio (11/11), but that doesn't tell the entire story for this dynamic signal caller. Robinson leads Michigan with 825 yards on the ground and 10 rushing TDs. Iowa is coming off an embarrassing 22-21 loss at Minnesota as a 14½-point road favorite. The Hawkeyes wasted an amazing effort from RB Marcus Coker, who ran for 252 yards and a pair of scores. Iowa QB James Vandenberg has filled in just fine for the departed Ricky Stanzi, throwing 17 TD passes compared to only four picks. The Hawks have beaten the Wolverines in the last two meetings and are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 encounters. They won 38-28 at The Big House last year. The 'over' is 5-3 overall for Iowa this season, but the 'under' is 5-3 for Michigan. Most books are listing Brady Hoke's squad as a four-point road favorite with a total of 58.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh

Most books are listing Cincy as a 3½-point favorite with a total of 54. The Bearcats have won five straight games and they're 4-1 ATS since suffering their only loss of the season at Tennessee in Week 2. Senior QB Zach Collaros is enjoying an outstanding campaign, posting a 14/6 touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio. RB Isaiah Pead gives Cincy great balance, rushing for 703 yards and eight TDs while averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Pitt lost its star RB Ray Graham to a season-ending knee injury in last Wednesday's 35-20 home win over Pitt. QB Tino Sunseri has had a disappointing year, throwing as many interceptions (7) as TDs (7). When these teams met at Heinz Field two years ago, Tony Pike rallied Cincy to a 45-44 win in the snow. Pitt avenged that loss with a 28-10 victory last year. The Panthers are 5-1 ATS in the last six head-to-head meetings with the Bearcats.

South Carolina at Arkansas

As of Wednesday night, most books had Arkansas listed as a five-point favorite with a total of 53. Bobby Petrino's team has looked shaky in recent weeks, barely emerging from road games at Ole Miss and at Vandy with outright victories. The Razorbacks failed to cover the number in both spots, rallying from a 17-point deficit to beat Ole Miss. In last week's game in Nashville, the Hogs needed a 94-yard scoop-and-score TD, along with a two-point conversion, and a missed 27-yard field goal by Vandy that would've force overtime on the final play of the game. South Carolina is playing its third consecutive road games. The Gamecocks have won ugly in trips to Starkville and Knoxville, winning by scores of 14-12 and 14-3 over Mississippi St. and Tennessee, respectively. As a road underdog during Steve Spurrier's tenure, South Carolina owns a 12-7-1 spread record. This is the first time Spurrier's squad has been listed as an underdog this year.

Kansas State at Oklahoma State

As of Wednesday evening, most betting shops had Oklahoma St. installed as a 21-point favorite with a total of 69. Mike Gundy's team improved to 31-12 against the spread as a favorite during his seven-year tenure by blasting Baylor by a 59-24 count. The Cowboys led by a 49-3 score late in the third quarter thanks to another stellar effort from QB Brandon Weeden, who has 22 touchdown passes and is the catalyst for an offense that's averaging 49.9 points per game. Kansas St. is coming off its first loss of the season, as Oklahoma came to Manhattan and dealt out woodshed treatment in the form of a 58-17 clubbing. The Wildcats have won outright in a pair of games as road underdogs this year and they're 4-0 ATS in their four such spots. When these Big 12 rivals met last year, Oklahoma St. won a 24-14 decision as a 3½-point road 'chalk.' The 'over' is 4-1 in the last five head-to-head meetings. As for this season, the Cowboys have seen the 'over' go 3-3-2 overall, 2-1-1 in their home games. The 'over' has hit in all three of KSU's road assignments and has cashed in five of its last six regardless of the venue.

Oregon at Washington

With Oregon's trip to Stanford looming next week, this certainly qualifies as a look-ahead situation for the Ducks, who have won seven in a row since losing their season opener against LSU. Most books are listing Chip Kelly's team as a 16½-point favorite with a total of 74. Oregon, which was on a 3-0-1 ATS run until failing to take the cash in last week's 43-28 win over Washington St., is expected to get All-American RB LaMichael James back after a two-game absence (elbow). Washington bounced back from a blowout loss to Stanford to beat Arizona 42-31 last weekend. Chris Polk paced the Huskies with 144 rushing yards and four TDs. Oregon has won seven straight in this rivalry, going 6-0-1 versus the number. The Ducks crushed the Huskies 53-16 in 2010. The 'over' is 5-2-1 overall for UW, 3-1-1 in its home games. The 'over' is 5-3 overall for Oregon, 1-1 in its two true road assignments.

This Week in the ACC
Marc Lawrence
Playbook.com

Weekday Worries

When Florida State travels to Boston College to take on the Eagles Thursday evening the Seminoles will look to shake a 2-5 SU and 1-6 ATS mark in regular season weekday games.

The game represents the team's longest road trip (1,100 miles) of the campaign.

The Seminoles can claim bowl eligibility for the 30th consecutive season with a victory this week and extend the nation's longest active streak of bowl appearances. Nebraska holds the record among FBS schools at 35 consecutive bowl appearances.

Meanwhile the offense must account for Boston College star LB Luke Kuechly in Thursday night's clash. Kuechly averages 16.2 tackles per game and leads all FBS players with 130 tackles.

"He's very instinctive," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. "Just a natural, natural football player."

Blame It On The 'D'

Clemson DC Kevin Steele said the defense was prepared for the Georgia Tech option. It just didn't execute and as a result the Tigers tasted defeat for the first time this season in last week's 31-17 loss at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.

"You can take every single play on that tape and find multiple reps in practice with that play versus that call executed correctly. It breaks down for different reasons. For some people out of nervousness ... eye discipline ... physical discipline," said Steele.

The defense appeared to be making strides in midseason, holding Virginia Tech and Boston College to a combined two plays of 20 yards or more and a Tiger best 258 yards in both contests.

But in the past three weeks Clemson has allowed 15 plays of 20 yards or more and 38 points per game.

Said Steele: "We are a very average defense."

Take A Look At Us Now

Georgia Tech DC Al Groh insists the perception of the Jackets has changed.

"Virginia Tech now views us as the team that beat the No. 5 team in the country, which beat them in their own stadium, so I'd say they certainly see our team as a significant threat and will prepare accordingly. Therefore it's important that we do likewise," contends Groh.

Tech enjoys a Bye Week and it comes at a good time for the Jackets.

"We're beat up," coach Paul Johnson said. "Like I've said the past two, three weeks, mentally and physically, it's been 13 weeks counting camp without a break. That's a long time."

QB Quandary

Maryland coach Randy Edsall said he let preseason hype for QB Danny O'Brien, the reigning ACC Rookie of the Year, get too big.

"This isn't life and death," Edsall said. "It's about enjoying the experience, and playing the game. Sometimes expectations can be too high. Maybe I didn't do a good enough job minimizing expectations for him."

Edsall is taking his time deciding on how to deploy QB's C. J. Brown and O'Brien against Virginia.

"We will develop a plan if we want to go with both of them or just one of them," Edsall said. "We will see how it works out as we go out and practice, and make decisions during the week."

O'Brien isn't worried about his WR's dropping eight passes against Boston College.

"They feel bad enough," he said. "I just tell them, 'I'll come back to you with the same read. Keep your confidence.' "

No Time To Heal

When North Carolina takes on rival NC State this Saturday the Tar Heels will take the field for the 10th straight week without the benefit of a week of rest.

And like most of his teammates, QB Bryn Renner has his share of bumps and bruises. But he said that's expected after playing nine weeks in a row.

"We've been going since August," Renner said. "We just have to keep going."

The Tar Heels don't get a bye until Nov. 12.

Renner is the ACC's most accurate passer, completing tosses at a 72.7 percent clip.

"Watching them on film, they're very fast," Renner said. "We have to find ways to dink and dunk them and see what we can do."

On the other side of the equation, Wolf Pack QB Mike Glennon said he doesn't dwell on bad days like the 34-0 loss at Florida State last week.

"I just try to let it go when things don't go well," said Glennon. "I'm a pretty laid-back kind of guy. I let it roll off and learn from it and just try to forget about it, have a short-term memory and move on."

From The Database

• ACC Head-to-Head: Dog in Boston College/Florida State series is 5-0 ATS… Duke is 4-1 ATS versus Hurricanes… Host in Maryland/Virginia series is 7-3 ATS… NC State is 3-0 SU and ATS last three meetings versus Tar Heels.

• ACC Coaches: Duke's Cutcliffe is 6-1-1 ATS off BB losses versus foe off SU favorite loss… Florida State's Fisher is 5-1 ATS as a favorite off a DD win… Maryland's Edsall is 10-4 ATS as a conference home dog… Miami's Golden is 2-6 ATS as a DD conference favorite…NC State's O'Brien is 18-6-1 ATS at home versus an opponent off a SU and ATS win… Virginia's London is 1-5 ATS as a favorite.

• STAT OF THE WEEK: After going 5-0 ATS in his first five home games, Boston College head coach Frank Spaziani is 1-9 ATS in his last 10 as a host.

College football Top 25 Betting Cheat Sheet: Week 10
By Adam Thompson

Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan State Spartans (-27.5, 47)

Why Minnesota will cover: The underdog is 9-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings. Minnesota is coming off a SU win vs. Iowa. Perhaps the team is figuring things out.

Why Michigan State will cover: The Gophers rank 107th in passing, while the Spartans are No. 1 in pass defense. Once MSU takes a lead, it’s only going to get worse.

Points: The under is 6-2 in MSU’s last eight.

Texas Tech Red Raiders at Texas Longhorns (-12, 60.5)

Why Texas Tech will cover: Texas Tech can score with the best of them and if it can get a lead, the Longhorns aren’t great at rallying. Texas is just 2-7 ATS in its last nine in the Big 12.

Why Texas will cover: The Longhorns are 17th in rushing, and the Raiders are 114th at stopping the run. Texas’ defense remains strong at all levels.

Points: The under is 7-3 in Texas Tech’s last 10 as an underdog.

Louisville Cardinals at West Virginia Mountaineers (-13.5, 51.5)

Why Louisville will cover: The Cardinals are 4-0 ATS in their last four, thanks to a defense that ranks 11th in scoring (16.2 ppg) and 11th in rushing (97.4).

Why West Virginia will cover: No game is out of reach for the Mountaineers and their No. 7 passing offense, as evidenced by last week’s big rally over Rutgers.

Points: The over has hit in WVU’s last seven games, but the under is 7-0-1- for UofL.

Michigan Wolverines at Iowa Hawkeyes (+4, 57)

Why Michigan will cover: Michigan’s defense ranks sixth in points allowed (14.6 ppg), and Iowa’s offense doesn’t have much going on right now. Iowa is just 1-6-1 ATS in its last eight in the Big 10.

Why Iowa will cover: The underdog is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings. Iowa is a perfect 5-0 at home.

Points: As Michigan’s defense has improved, so have the chances for the under.

New Mexico State Aggies at Georgia Bulldogs (-34.5, 57.5)

Why New Mexico State will cover: The Aggies have scored 31 or more points in their last four games. Scoring enough to cover shouldn’t take that many.

Why Georgia will cover: The Bulldogs’ defense ranks in the top 25 in every category, and that’s mainly against SEC competition. How are the Aggies going to put up big numbers?

Points: The over has hit in NMSU’s last five games, but the under is 4-1 in Georgia’s last five.

Northwestern Wildcats at Nebraska Cornhuskers (-17.5, 63.5)

Why Northwestern will cover: The Wildcats’ offense can score in multiple ways. If they can get a lead, Nebraska can’t throw.

Why Nebraska will cover: The Huskers’ defense seems to be figuring things out, allowing just 17 points the last two games. Nebraska has the potential to run away with this one, especially at home.

Points: The over is 5-0 in Northwestern’s last five and Nebraska can hit on a big play at any moment.

Texas A&M Aggies at Oklahoma Sooners (-13.5, 68.5)

Why Texas A&M will cover: Texas A&M’s three losses have come by a combined 12 points - less than the spread of this one. The Aggies have the offense to keep up.

Why Oklahoma will cover: Oklahoma averages 397 ypg through the air (No. 2), Texas A&M allows 318 ypg through the air (No. 120). The home team is 11-2 in the last 13 in this series.

Points: We should see more touchdowns than punts in this one.

Stanford Cardinal at Oregon State Beavers (+20.5, 60.5)

Why Stanford will cover: The Cardinal had a wake-up call last week, and still won at USC in overtime. And still covered (8-0 ATS).

Why Oregon State will cover: The Beavers can move the ball through the air, which could keep them in the game into the fourth quarter.

Points: The over has hit in four of OSU’s last five and in Stanford’s last two.

Purdue Boilermakers at Wisconsin Badgers (-25.5, 57)

Why Purdue will cover: Purdue has a balanced offense and had been playing better before last week’s rough loss to Michigan. The Boilermakers are 3-1 ATS in their last four.

Why Wisconsin will cover: Two losses on two Hail Marys in two weeks? Hard to imagine happening at home against a team ranked 90th in passing. UW is 12-3-1 in last 16 at home and overall.

Points: The Badgers average 45 ppg and should be poised to pour it on. Purdue can also score.

Southern Miss Eagles at East Carolina Pirates (+8.5, 58)

Why Southern Miss will cover: Southern Mississippi is 6-0 ATS in its last six, and is a team on the rise. ECU struggles to run the ball and stop the run.

Why East Carolina will cover: The Pirates, however, can pass the ball and stop the pass. They’ve scored 34, 35 and 38 in their last three.

Points: The under is 6-2 in USM games, but this is an offense that can score in a hurry. So can ECU.

Cincinnati Bearcats at Pittsburgh Panthers (+2.5, 54)

Why Cincinnati will cover: The Bearcats’ offense averages more than 200 yards both rushing and passing and 41 ppg. That’s a small spread for a team that has been scoring at will.

Why Pittsburgh will cover: Cincy is just 3-9 ATS in its last 12 Big East games, while Pitt is 14-5 in its last 19. Cincinnati ranks 109th in pass defense.

Points: If the conditions are right, the over could be hit by halftime.

Houston Cougars at UAB Blazers (+28, 73)

Why Houston will cover: The Cougars are 6-2 ATS thanks to the nation’s best offense, which is tops in scoring (52.2 ppg) and passing (453 ypg). UAB’s defense can’t defend the pass.

Why UAB will cover: The Blazers did cover their previous five before last week’s blowout loss to Marshall.

Points: The under is 7-3 in UAB’s last 10, but the over is 6-2 for Houston this season.

South Carolina Gamecocks at Arkansas Razorbacks (-5, 52.5)

Why South Carolina will cover: The Gamecocks’ strengths (run offense, pass defense) match up well with what the Razorbacks will be looking to do.

Why Arkansas will cover: Arkansas is 8-2 ATS against USC in the last 10 meetings, and 4-1 ATS at home this season.

Points: The under is 5-1 in USC’s last six. This is a game that could go in either direction.

Arizona State Sun Devils at UCLA Bruins (+9.5, 55)

Why Arizona State will cover: Statistically, ASU has the edge in just about every conceivable way. UCLA is a miserable 3-13 ATS in its last 16.

Why UCLA will cover: The Bruins are 6-2 ATS against the Devils in their last eight. Maybe the impressive win at Cal sparks a UCLA team that was expected to be better.

Points: The over is 7-1 in ASU games and could run away with this one, but the under has hit in UCLA’s last three.

LSU Tigers at Alabama Crimson Tide (-5, 41.5)

Why LSU will cover: The Tigers have no weaknesses; they can run, pass (on the rare times they have to), stop the run and stop the pass. LSU has fared well against comparable Alabama opponents.

Why Alabama will cover: Bama’s defense may go down as one of the best of all time. It currently ranks No. 1 nationally in points allowed (6.9 ppg), rushing yards (44.9) and total yards (180.5) and No. 2 in pass yards (135.6). The offense isn’t bad either, in the top 15 in rushing yards and points scored. Plus, getting this showdown at home at night doesn’t hurt.

Points: It’s hard to imagine this game becoming a shootout.

Kansas State Wildcats at Oklahoma State Cowboys (-21, 68)

Why Kansas State will cover: The Wildcats are 6-1 ATS in their last seven, ranking 20th in rushing and 17th in rush defense. OSU’s defense is 84th against the run.

Why Oklahoma State will cover: The only team hotter than KSU is OSU, which is 7-0 ATS in its last seven. The Cowboys rank fourth in passing and second in scoring, while KSU’s defense is 103rd in pass defense.

Points: Both teams have great offenses and so-so defenses. Could make for a big day on both sides.

Boise State Broncos at UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (+41, 59.5)

Why Boise State will cover: The Rebels have little chance of forcing more than 1-2 punts from the Broncos. If Boise State scores TDs and doesn’t settle for FGs — like usual — it might win by 60.

Why UNLV will cover: If UNLV has a strength, it’s running the ball. Keep it on the ground, score twice late, and covering that monstrous spread at home is possible. It does enter on a one-game win streak.

Points: Boise State will do its part to hit the over.

Oregon Ducks at Washington Huskies (+16, 74)

Why Oregon will cover: Washington’s defense has struggled, and Oregon’s offense is No. 4 in scoring and rushing. The favorite is 9-1-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.

Why Washington will cover: The Huskies are 6-1 ATS in their last seven and 7-1-1 in their last nine conference games, and the team’s offense can generate the points to stick around, as it has all season.

Points: The scoreboard will be bright by the end of this one.

NCAAF Week 10

UConn coach Pasqualoni coached at Syracuse for 14 years; his firing was not very popular- his Huskies won their last four games vs Syracuse, all by 17+ points, but this is first time he is facing Orange. UConn is 2-5 vs I-A teams, beating Buffalo/South Florida; they're 1-2 at home, losing to Iowa State/Western Michigan. Over is 5-2 in Syracuse games, 3-1 in last four UConn games. Syracuse is 1-2 on road, winning 37-34 at Tulane, losing by 21 at USC, 17 at Louisville. Big East home teams are 8-4 vs spread in conference play.

Underdogs are 6-2-2 vs spread in last ten Michigan-Iowa games, 4-0-1 in last five visits here, with Wolverines losing two of last three visits to this site. Michigan is 7-1 this year, winning 42-24 (-7) at Northwestern, then losing 28-14 (+2.5) at rival Michigan Statein its only road games. Big 11 home teams are 7-5 against spread in games where spread is less than 8 points. Hawkeyes are 4-0 at home, 0-3 on road; none of the teams they beat are any good.

Underdogs covered six of last nine Texas Tech-Texas games; Red Raiders lost last six visits here by average score of 48-23 (2-4 vs spread). Tech lost last two series games, both by 10 points- they allowed 34+ points in each of last six games overall, getting waxed 41-7 at home by lowly Iowa State last week, after they stunned Oklahoma in Norman. Texas is 2-1 as home favorite this year, 6-11 in last 17 tries overall. Tech is 5-8 in last 13 games as road dog- they won/covered all three road games so far this season, scoring an average of 48.3 ppg.

Texas A&M upset Oklahoma 33-19 LY, snapping 7-game series losing streak, winning for just second time in last 12 series games. A&M is 5-3 this season; they led 20-3/35-17/28-17 at halftime of those three games, so an easy out they ain't. Aggies are 4-7-1 in last 12 games as road dog, but this is first time they're underdog this year. Sooners are 5-4 as double digit series favorites. Oklahoma's last four wins are all by 30+, but they did lose to Texas Tech two weeks ago- they're 22-10-1 in last 33 games as a home favorite.

South Carolina has a great defense, allowing 35 points last seven games, but this is their third straight road game, and Wilson is best QB they've faced since Georgia's Murray eight weeks ago. Faves are 10-4 vs spread in last 14 South Carolina-Arkansas games, as Gamecocks lost five of last six visits here (2-4 vs spread) with losses by 17-12-22-3-34 points. Over is 5-2 in last seven Arkansas games, 1-5 in last six Carolina games. Hogs won four of last five series games, with last three wins all by 12+ points. SEC favorites are 21-9-1 vs spread this season, 11-2 at home.

Underdogs are 11-2 vs spread in last 13 North Carolina-NC State games, with 10 SU wins; Tar Heels lost three of last four visits here, with dogs covering four of last five. Tar Heels are 6-3, allowing 35-30-59 points in three losses- they're 3-3 as a favorite, 1-0 on road (4-6 as road fave since 2006). State is 2-4 vs I-A teams, but they're 7-3 vs spread in their last 10 games as a home dog. ACC home teams are 6-2 vs spread when spread is less than five points. Last three Carolina games went over the total.

Favorites are 5-2-2 in last nine LSU-Alabama games, with Tigers 8-3 in last 11 SU, winning four of last five visits here (Saban did some of that damage when he coached LSU). LSU is 5-8 as underdog under Miles, 4-6 on road, but they haven't been a dog this year, winning all seven games vs I-A opponents by 13+ points, with road wins at Miss State (19-6), West Va (47-21) and Tennessee (38-7). Alabama is 7-1 vs spread, with only non-cover a 41-0 win when they were favored by 46. Over is 3-1-1 in last five LSU games. Tide outscored last four foes 100-0 in 2nd half.

Oregon won its last seven games vs Washington by an average score of 43-16 (7-0 vs spread), winning last two visits here 43-19/55-34. Ducks scored 41+ points in every game since the loss to LSU, winning on road at Arizona (56-31, -16), Colorado (45-2, -31). Washington won four of last five games, covered six of last seven; they're 5-2 vs I-A teams, with losses at Nebraska (51-38, +17), at Stanford (65-21, +20). Huskies beat four cupcakes at home this year; they're 4-3 as home underdogs under Sarkisian. Five of last seven games for both teams went over the total.

Arizona State lost five of last six visits to UCLA, with only win 24-20 in 2007 (-6.5); favorites covered last three series games. ASU is +14 in turnovers its last five games, but they're just 1-2 on road, losing 17-14 at Illinois (+1), 41-27 (,+16) at Oregon, beating Utah (35-14, -4). Bruins are 3-1 at home, losing 49-20 to Texas; they're 15-7 in last 22 games as home underdog, but just 8-7 under Neuheisel. Pac-10 home underdogs are 3-7 vs spread this season, 0-4 if spread is double digits. Last five ASU tilts went over total; four of last five UCLA games stayed under.

Since 2001, Wake Forest is 16-9-1 as a home underdog, 2-1 this season, upsetting NC State/Florida State at home, losing to Va Tech 38-7; Wake is playing fir sixth week in row, while Notre Dame had bye three weeks ago and an easy win over Navy last week. Irish are on road for first time in five weeks; they're 2-2 as road favorite under Kelly, 1-2 this year, as ND lost at Michigan (31-35, -3.5), beat Pitt (15-12, -7), Purdue (38-10, -12). ACC non-conference underdogs are 0-5 this season, 0-2 at home.

Utah-Arizona haven't met since 2005; Wildcats are 1-6 vs I-A teams, the coach has been fired and their season is a disaster, but they did cover the one game they were favored at home, and are 11-6 as home faves since '08. Since 2001, Utah is 15-8 as a road underdog, 2-2 this year, winning at BYU (54-10, +5.5), Pitt (26-14, +7). Five of Arizona's six losses are by 10+ points. Four of last five Arizona games went over total, four of last five Utah games stayed under. Single digit home favorites are 6-2 vs spread in Pac-10 play so far this season.

Baylor (+14) won 40-32 at Missouri LY, its first win in last seven games against the Tigers; Bears were underdog in all seven games. Mizzou won its last three visits here, 31-28/30-10/47-22. The 2011 Bears don't have much defense, allowing 114 points in their last two games, losing 55-28 at A&M (+9.5), 59-24 at Oklahoma State (+14.5)- they're 3-0 at home, scoring 51.7 ppg. Baylor is 7-4 as home favorite under Briles. Missouri is 3-0 as road dog this season, losing 37-30 at Arizona State (+8), 38-28 at Oklahoma (+20), winning 38-31 in OT at A&M (+11.5).

Underdogs covered three of last four Cincinnati-Pitt games; Bearcats are 2-4 in last six series games, winning 45-44 (-2) in last visit here, only win in their last three visits to Pitt. Home underdogs are 4-1 vs spread in Big East games this season. Three of last four Cincinnati games stayed under the total. Bearcats won last five games (4-1 vs spread); they're 2-1 away from home, winning 37-34 at South Florida, 27-0 at Miami O, losing at Tennessee 45-23. Cincy is 4-2 in last six games as road favorite, Pitt lost four of last six games; they're 4-1 in last five games as a home dog.

LSU at Alabama: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com

LSU Tigers at Alabama Crimson Tide (-4.5, 41)

THE STORY: The national championship technically won't be decided until Jan. 9 in New Orleans, but the matchup of No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Ala., might as well serve as a national semifinal. The winner of the SEC West showdown immediately becomes the front-runner to win the BCS crown, while the loser will need plenty of help to get back in the national title picture. The meeting is the first between No. 1 and No. 2 outside the SEC championship game since top-ranked Ohio State beat No. 2 Michigan in 2006. Neither team has really been challenged. The Tigers' closest call was a 19-6 win at Mississippi State on Sept. 15, while the Crimson Tide's narrowest margin was a 27-11 victory at Penn State on Sept. 10. Alabama leads the all-time series 45-24-5 and has won two of the past three meetings.

LINE MOVES: Alabama opened at high as a 6-point favorite but has since been bet down to -4.5. The total opened as high as 43.5 points and has come down to 41.

WEATHER: Clear skies and game-time temperatures in the mid 50s are in the forecast for Tuscaloosa. There will be a light wind blowing east at 3 mph.

ABOUT LSU (8-0, 5-0 SEC West, 6-2 ATS): The Tigers are off to their best start since winning their first nine games in 1973. The effectiveness of LSU's defense, which ranks in the top 10 nationally in four major categories - third in scoring and rush defense, fourth in total defense and fifth in pass efficiency defense - is no surprise. But the offense has been surprisingly potent with the quarterback duo of Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson splitting time, averaging 39.2 points per game, second in the SEC behind Alabama. The Tigers were without three players - defensive backs Tyrann Mathieu and Tharold Simon, and running back Spencer Ware - for their 45-10 victory over Auburn two weeks ago because the trio failed drug tests. Their suspensions were expected to be for one game, but coach Les Miles had not announced their reinstatement as of Wednesday night. Mathieu is the team's top all-around defensive player, and Ware is the leading rusher with 512 yards and six touchdowns.

ABOUT ALABAMA (8-0, 5-0, 7-1 ATS): The Crimson Tide lead the SEC it total offense (457.6 yards per game), total defense (180.5 yards), scoring offense (39.4 points per game) and scoring defense (6.9 points). Led by the trio of running back Trent Richardson (989 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns), quarterback A.J. McCarron (1,664 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, three interceptions) and wide receiver Marquis Maze (39 catches, 482 yards, touchdown), the offense has extended Alabama's school-record streak of consecutive games scoring at least 20 points to 27. Alabama has won 25 of its past 26 games at Bryant-Denny Stadium dating to the start of the 2008 season.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Alabama has won nine straight games by 16 or more points, its longest such streak since 1950. The Crimson Tide have not allowed more than 14 points in any of those nine games. LSU has won its past nine games by at least 13 points and has allowed more than 11 points only three times during that stretch.

2. In 480 minutes this season, LSU has trailed for only 6 minutes, 33 seconds. The Tigers have not trailed since the second quarter of their season-opening 40-27 win over Oregon and have scored first in every game this season.

3. Alabama has outscored its last six opponents 142-7 in the second half and has not allowed a point after halftime in its past four games. The Tide have outscored opponents 69-8 in the fourth quarter this season.

TRENDS:

* Tigers are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven meetings in Alabama.
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Favorite is 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine meetings.
* Road team is 11-3-1 ATS in their last 15 meetings.

PREDICTION: Alabama 27, LSU 19 - Both teams have outstanding defenses, but the Crimson Tide have more weapons on offense and the home-field advantage.

College Football Betting Weather Report: Week 10
By Covers.com

Nothing lasts forever in the cold November rain. Guns and Roses might have been talking about college football – maybe? Either way, the cold winter weather is showing up in Week 10. Find out how it will impact your bets:

Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan State Spartans (-27.5, 47.5)

Winds will pick up in East Lansing, blowing SE at speeds of up to 12 mph. That will drop the temperature on the field to a chilly 45 degrees before kickoff.

Michigan Wolverines at Iowa Hawkeyes (+3.5, 58)

The forecast in Iowa City is calling from winds, blowing south from end to end, at speeds of up to 17 mph.

Texas Tech Red Raiders at Texas Longhorns (-14, 61.5)

Passing could be slowed by the winds in Austin Saturday. The forecast calls for winds, blowing SSE, to pick up speed in the second half, reaching 15 mph.

Vanderbilt Commodores at Florida Gators (-13.5, 44.5)

Winds will reach speeds of 12 mph, blowing NE from corner to corner in Gainesville Saturday.

North Carolina Tar Heels at North Carolina State Wolfpack (+3.5, 55)

The forecast in Raleigh is calling for winds, blowing NE from sideline to sideline, at speeds of up to 13 mph.

Kansas Jayhawks at Iowa State Cyclones (-14, 60.5)

It’s no cyclone, but the wind will blow south from end to end, at speeds of up to 21 mph in Ames Saturday.

TCU Horned Frogs at Wyoming Cowboys (+19.5, 57.5)

The Frogs will be out of their element when they play in the snow at War Memorial Stadium. The forecast is calling for a 59 percent chance of the white stuff, with temperatures dipping into the low 30s. Wind will also play a factor, blowing WNW from sideline to sideline at speeds of up to 22 mph.

Northwestern Wildcats at Nebraska Cornhuskers (-17.5, 64)

Wind will come into play in Lincoln, with gusts expected to get up around 26 mph, blowing south from end to end.

Texas A&M Aggies at Oklahoma Sooners (-13.5, 69)

Strong winds could slow down these Big 12 scoring machines. Winds are expected to blow south at speeds of up to 26 mph in Norman.

Purdue Boilermakers at Wisconsin Badgers (-25.5, 58.5)

The forecast for Madison is calling for 12-mph winds, blowing SSE from end to end.

Army Black Knights at Air Force Falcons (-16.5, 59)

Rain is in the forecast for the Academy, with a 20 percent chance of showers and winds blowing west at 12 mph.

Stanford Cardinal at Oregon State Beavers (+20.5, 60.5)

The undefeated Cardinal will face a hostile crowd and some classic Oregon weather Saturday. The forecast for Corvallis is calling for an 80 percent chance of rain, with winds blowing south from corner to corner at speeds of up to 13 mph. Game-time temperatures will fall into the low 40s.

Arkansas State Red Wolves at Florida Atlantic Owls (+16.5, 47)

Winds will blow NE across the field at speeds of up to 13 mph in Miami Saturday.

Idaho Vandals at San Jose State Spartans (-8, 47)

The forecast in San Jose is calling for a 16 percent chance of rain Saturday.

Washington State Cougars at California Golden Bears (-9.5, 56)

Cal is still calling AT&T Park home and could get hit by thundershowers Saturday. There’s a 23 percent chance of rain and winds blowing at speeds of up to 13 mph in the Bay Area.

South Florida Bulls at Rutgers Scarlet Knights (+2.5, 49)

The Bulls will be playing in some chilly Jersey weather Saturday. Game-time temperatures will fall into the low 40s.

Missouri Tigers at Baylor Bears (-2.5, 73.5)

Winds will blow in Waco, reaching speeds of up to 12 mph and moving SSE from corner to corner at Floyd Casey Stadium.

Kansas State Wildcats at Oklahoma State Cowboys (-21, 69.5)

The forecast in Stillwater is calling for fairly strong winds, blowing SSE at speeds of up to 20 mph from sideline to sideline.

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Fresno State Bulldogs (-3, 58.5)

The battle of the Bulldogs could be a wet one with the forecast calling for a 41 percent chance of showers Saturday.

Utah State Aggies at Hawaii Warriors (-3.5, 59.5)

So much for the classic Hawaiian sun and surf. The forecast is calling for a 55 percent chance of showers and winds reaching speeds of 12 mph at Aloha Stadium.

LSU at Alabama Preview
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider.com

Editor's note: Brian Edwards owns a 40-24 record (63%, +1373) in college football this year, so don't miss out on his pick pack for Saturday that has the side and total for LSU-Alabama. Also, Brian is 29-13 (69%, +1489) in the NFL with these plays posted for Sunday.

Since July when I created my first set of Power Rankings for the 2011 college football season, I’ve had Alabama and LSU at No.’s 1 and 2, respectively. Finally, these powerhouse programs will meet on the field Saturday night in Tuscaloosa at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

As of Friday afternoon, most betting shops had Alabama (8-0 straight up, 7-1 against the spread) listed as a five-point favorite with a total of 41. The number for the side has been 4 ½ or five for the most of the week. A few books were all the way down to four Thursday afternoon, but there were no fours to be found by Friday afternoon.

The total opened at 42 at most spots and went as high as 42½ at a few shops. However, the number was down to 41½ by Thursday and many books adjusted to 41 Friday morning.

LSU (8-0 SU, 6-2 ATS) has won all eight of its games by at least 13 points, including a 45-10 home win over Auburn as a 21-point favorite on Oct. 22. Senior quarterback Jarrett Lee completed 14-of-20 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Kenny Hilliard rushed for a pair of scores.

Lee has enjoyed a stellar campaign, throwing 12 TD passes compared to only one interception. His favorite target has been junior WR Rueben Randle, who has 33 receptions for 638 yards and seven TDs.

The ground game is the strength of this LSU offense, as the team has three quality backs (Spencer Ware, Michael Ford and Alfred Blue) that have combined to rush for 1,205 yards and 16 TDs. Ware is especially fresh after serving a one-game suspension vs. Auburn that preceded the squad’s open date.

Senior QB Jordan Jefferson, who lost the starting job when he was suspended in August for his role in an off-campus fight, can also contribute to LSU’s rushing attack. Jefferson missed four games but has seen playing time in every game since then.

Les Miles’s team has thrived on the road this year. His veteran team opened the year at Cowboys Stadium in a neutral-site showdown vs. Oregon. The Tigers spanked the Ducks by a 40-27 count in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated.

In three true road games, LSU has won at Mississippi State (19-6), at West Virginia (47-21) and at Tennessee (38-7).

Nick Saban’s squad has won every game by 16 points or more, but it hasn’t faced the type of competition that LSU has. With that said, the counter argument to that fact is that the Crimson Tide would’ve most likely enjoyed the same results if it had to navigate the same slate LSU has played.

Alabama’s best wins are at Penn St. (27-11), at Florida (38-10) and vs. Arkansas (38-14). Like LSU, the Tide has had two weeks to prep for this monumental showdown. In its last outing, ‘Bama overcame a 6-6 tie at intermission and scored 31 unanswered points in the second half en route to a 37-6 triumph over Tennessee as a 30-point home ‘chalk.’

The biggest (only?) question mark for Saban’s team coming into the year was inexperience at the QB position. But that situation has turned out just fine, as sophomore signal caller A.J. McCarron has steadily improved each week. McCarron has a 10/3 touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio.

McCarron’s job has been aided by the presence of Heisman Trophy contender Trent Richardson. The junior RB from Pensacola has rushed for 989 yards and 17 TDs while averaging 6.2 yards per carry.

Marquis Maze is the Tide’s leading receiver with 39 catches for 482 yards. Richardson and WR Darius Hanks both have 18 receptions apiece.

"McCarron has done everything Nick has asked of him thus far," VegasInsider.com handicapper Bruce Marshall said on Friday. "But he's mostly been required to just manage games to this point. On Saturday night, he'll have to make some plays for 'Bama to win."

Alabama has only been a single-digit favorite once this year, cruising to victory over the Gators at The Swamp as a four-point road ‘chalk.’ This is LSU’s second underdog spot as it was catching 3 ½ points in the aforementioned win over Oregon.

As a road ‘dog during Miles’s seven-year tenure, LSU owns a 4-6 spread record. On Saban’s watch, ‘Bama is 16-13 ATS in 29 games as a home favorite.

When these teams met last season, LSU captured a 24-21 win as a 6½-point home underdog. In the last meeting in Tuscaloosa, Alabama overcame a 14-10 fourth-quarter deficit to win a 24-15 decision as a 7½-point home favorite.

CBS will provide television coverage at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets

This is the lowest total both teams have seen this season. The previous low for LSU was 42 ½ against Florida. That game went ‘over’ when the Tigers won a 44-11 decision. The lowest previous total for ‘Bama was 42 in its 27-11 win at PSU that saw the ‘under’ prevail.

The ‘over’ is 4-1 in the last five head-to-head meetings between LSU and Alabama.

The ‘over’ is 4-3-1 overall for LSU this year, going 2-1-1 in its four games played outside of Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.

Totals have been an overall wash (4-4) for Alabama with the ‘under’ cashing at a 3-2 clip in its home games.

I polled a few media members for their LSU-Bama predictions and got these responses via e-mail and/or twitter.

Cecil Hurt (Bama beat writer for the Tuscaloosa News since 1982): 16-14, Bama.
Paul Finebaum (national radio host based out of Birmingham) 21-17, Bama.
Rachel Baribeau (Fox Sports): 24-21, Bama
Bo Bounds (Out of Bounds Show in Jackson, MS.): 21-20, LSU.
Chris David (VegasInsider.com): 27-20, Alabama.

There’s another huge SEC game Saturday night that hasn’t been getting much attention due to the LSU-Alabama showdown. That would be South Carolina at Arkansas. The Razorbacks are five-point favorites with the total set at 53, as of early Friday afternoon. The Gamecocks are underdogs for the first time this season. During Steve Spurrier’s seven-year tenure, they own a 12-7-1 spread record as road ‘dogs. With the tiebreaker advantage over Georgia based on a 45-42 win in Athens back in Week 2, South Carolina will return to Atlanta if it wins at Arkansas and vs. Florida next week.

Las Vegas Money Moves
By Micah Roberts
VegasInsider.com

The LSU-Alabama hype has been on overload this week across television, radio, print and especially in Las Vegas sports books. Despite all the action, Alabama has stayed a 4½-point favorite throughout the week with equal action coming in on both sides. Most of the sharp money that wanted LSU took it the week or two prior when books posted Alabama as a 6½-point favorite. Bet they wish they could have had the +9 the Golden Nugget posted on the game in June.

“This is about as big as any regular season college football can get,” says Lucky’s sports book director Jimmy Vaccaro. “It’s right up there with all the classic games in history, whether it was Nebraska-Oklahoma or Ohio State-Michigan at the end of the season when those games meant something.”

Vaccaro has seen great two-way action with both small and large money and thinks 4½ is right number.

“I don’t think you’ll see the game go below -4 or get up to -6.”

While there is no official record of individual game handle like the Nevada Gaming Control Board does for the Super Bowl, Vaccaro believes this game could reach levels never seen before for a regular season college game.

“The big thing for us, besides it being just a game between No. 1 and No. 2 that everyone has waited all season for, is the timing of the date. We have the Breeders’ Cup going on in the race books with lots of additional cash in town which should boost action significantly on the sports side.“

The only movement from the “Game of the Year” this week has been on the total. The Las Vegas Hilton Super Book posted 43 ½ and it’s been down to 41 as of Friday afternoon. When you got two teams that allow less than 17 points per game between them, it’s hard to reason with the logic of taking the UNDER. But doesn’t it always seem like the hyped games, whether it’s in college or the pros, always seem to take an unexpected turn in regards to game flow expectations?

Beyond the Big Game, we also have quite a few little Big Games this week in college football with lots of BCS implications. From a betting perspective, the one that has received the most attention from sharp money has been Oregon’s visit to Washington on Saturday. Oregon opened as a 14½-point favorite and was bet up to -16½ on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the other part of the Pac 12 equation into the BCS, Stanford, hasn’t seen any movement for its game at Oregon State. The Cardinal opened up as 21-point favorites and have stayed there with a few books having variations at -20½. Is it so unreasonable to think that Stanford could win big again? Even the small money with their parlays are feeling somewhat reluctant betting on Stanford, a team that hasn’t lost a spread for them all season (7-0-1 ATS).

Perhaps it’s the feeling that there is no way Stanford can get back to that high they felt last week in beating USC in triple-overtime. This could be a letdown spot, or maybe a game that Stanford doesn’t take seriously enough with a Nov. 12 date circled on their calendar. Next week Oregon visits Palo Alto for a huge game that could put the winner on a path to play Saturday’s LSU-Alabama winner for the BCS title.

The other team in that whole BCS equation, Oklahoma State, gets to play an over achieving Kansas State squad who just had their bubble burst rudely by Oklahoma last week. What’s K-State’s mind set for this one as they head into Stillwater? The public is all over Oklahoma State and have laid -21 all week long in their parlays, but sharp money is either taking a pass or waiting more value with the underdog here. The line hasn’t moved all week.

Regardless of what Oregon and Stanford do next week, Oklahoma State is still in the driver’s seat and controls its own destiny. Vaccaro posted a line on the big Dec. 3 game in Stillwater with the home team being a 3-point favorite over the Sooners.

There’s no line posted on next week’s Stanford-Oregon game, but Stanford -7 looks to be a good number, maybe -6½. In June, The Golden Nugget made Oregon a 1-point road favorite in their GOY lines. The Nugget also made Oklahoma a 2-point road favorite for its big game.

The Sooners take on Texas A&M this week. Oklahoma opened as 14½-point favorites last Sunday at the Wynn Resort and most sports books opened the game -13 ½ on Monday morning where it has stayed untouched all week.

Georgia is taking a week off of SEC action and has a tune-up game against New Mexico State. Georgia opened as a 34-point favorite and is now -32 after a few players were suspended, including RB Isaiah Crowell. It’s hard to get the 2-10 season the Aggies had last year out of our minds when we see this big number, but they are a drastically improved this season. New Mexico State’s offense can actually move the ball and score on teams, and they have been covering spreads all season (6-2 ATS).

Air Force and Army hook up in Colorado Springs this week with their 696 yards of combined rushing offense a game. Air Force opened -14½ at the Hilton and is currently -17.

The Wynn opened Texas -8 for its game in Austin against Texas Tech and by the time most sports books opened the game on Monday, the line was Texas -12½. Since then, the game has jumped to -14.