Don Anthony
Tulane vs. Oklahoma
Play: Tulane +35½
This is situational handicapping 101. Oklahoma comes off the monumental road victory against Ohio State. I expect a bit of a letdown. It's hard to imagine this team being excited for Tulane. Yes, Oklahoma will still roll, but over 5 touchdowns might be tough given the fact the Tulane runs the triple option. This will create longer possessions for Tulane and shorten the game. It's tough to prepare for the triple option in one week, especially when motivation is low. I expect Oklahoma to just coast in the 4th quarter which should allow the Green Wave to sneak inside this number.
Alex Smart
Costal Carolina -120
This Saturday I'm betting on a tough head coach Joe Moglia (Coastal Carolina) who owns a magnificent 52-15 SU record in five years , including a 10-2 record last season – with both losses coming by a single point! The CC offense has averaged at least 34 PPG every season under Moglia and are expected to be offensively efficient this season, and scored 38 points in their first game. UAB can put points up in bunches but it will a their defense that will be their downfall today as was the case last week when they allowed a retooling Ball State program to put a whopping 51 points on the board. UAB is 2-13 ATS L/15 after scoring 31 points or more in 2 straight games. CFB Home teams where the line is +3 to -3 like UAB - after gaining 275 or more rushing yards last game against opponent after gaining 5.5 or more rushing yards/attempt last game are just 8-30 ATS L/38 games for a go against conversion rate of 79% for bettors.
Cappers Club
Central Michigan vs. Syracuse
Play: Central Michigan +10
Central Michigan takes a trip to Syracuse on Sunday and giving the Chippewas points in this game really gives them a lot of value.
The Chippewas really opened up a lot of eyes last Saturday against the Kansas Jayhawks.
They really played well and not only did they win, but they won big taking the second victory of the season by a final score of 45-27.
The Orange on the other hand come into this game off a really bad loss. The offense and defense both really struggled on the way to a 30-23 defeat at the hands of a Middle Tennessee State.
I think the Chippewas will be able to score at ease in this game, and that will allow them to keep it close.
Doug Upstone
Tulsa vs. Toledo
Play: Over 68
Tulsa and Toledo both have high octane offenses that score points. The Golden Hurricane are averaging 45 points per game and Rockets are at 42 PPG. The total has actually come down on this encounter to present level of 67.5 and that is because the Toledo defense is doing solid work thus far in holding opponents to 18 PPG. However, the Golden Hurricane run like the wind and strive to have a least 90 snaps per game and play at extremely fast pace, which could make the Rockets weary, where they could make mistakes leading to more Tulsa scoring. I would be shocked not see at least 70 points.
Stephen Nover
Georgia State vs. Penn State
Play: Georgia State +37½
I vividly recall Week 3 of last season when Georgia State played at Wisconsin and nearly upset the Badgers, losing 23-17. Panthers quarterback Conner Manning connected on 20 of 29 passes for 269 yards in that game. Manning and many of the other Georgia State starters are back. They're in position to hang close against another strong Big Ten team, Penn State. The Nittany Lions are 2-0 having rolled past Akron and Pittsburgh. Those two teams aren't very good and Penn State opens Big Ten play next week on the road against Iowa. That's the matchup the Nittany Lions are looking ahead to and focusing on. Georgia State has had two weeks to stew and be embarrassed about being upset 17-10 by Tennessee State in its only game this season. That was the opening of the Panthers' new stadium. The Panthers allowed the fewest yards per play in the Sun Belt Conference last year. They have four key defensive starters back from that unit. This is a flat spot for Penn State and the Panthers are better than what they showed against Tennessee State. Georgia State has been outstanding in this role covering 19 of the last 24 times as a road underdog.
Freddy Wills
Clemson vs. Louisville
Play: Clemson -3
I like Clemson in this spot even after a big game. I still think this team is playing with a chip on their shoulder as defending champions. They sport the best defense in the country with the best defensive line. Who better to stop Lousiville's Lamar Jackson? I expect Jackson to really struggle in this game, and I expect Clemson's offense to look a lot better than they did against Auburn. I understand why a lot of sharps are liking Louisville here. Afterall they nearly beat Clemson on the road last year and if it wasn't for WR James Quick (gone) running out of bounds short of the marker. If you forgot. Here is the play:
Louisville is a different team than a season ago and so is Clemson. Obviously Clemson lost a ton on offense, but this is a team that perennially has a top 10 recruiting class. Clemson is also starting a Jr. QB in Kelly Bryant who is a dual threat himself and I think Louisville's defense is much more vulnerable. Louisville's defense has allowed 677 passing yards, 7 TD's and 3 INT's so there are clearly holes that Clemson can take advantage of. Louisville's offense returned just 4 starters and lost 3 starters on the offensive line that has looked bad at times in two games. Keep in mind that everyone is considering Louisville the same team as last year. They faced Purdue and North Carolina. Purdue's defense is definitely improved under Jeff Brohm, but by how much? They ranked 106th a year ago in yards per play and allowed 38ppg. North Carolina on the other hand ranked 42nd, but seem to be far worse this year through two games. The Tarheels allowed 100+ yards rushing, and 363 passing yards against Cal, who brought in a defensive coach and had to come play an early game on the east coast to start the year. Cal also only had 6 returners on offense with a new QB. My point is we really don't know what Louisville's offense is yet. On the other hand we do know what Clemson's defense is.
Clemson held Auburn to under 200 yards and under 2 yards per play in a very misleading final as they were +167 yards in that game, but only won by 8 which was a bit misleading for how they dominated the game after a couple early drives by Auburn. Holding Auburn to 6 points and the way they did it was truly impressive.
Marc Lawrence
Air Force vs. Michigan
Play: Air Force +23½
Edges - Falcons: 4-0 ATS as road dogs of 17 or more points; and 9-3 ATS in games after scoring 45 or more points; and 3-1 ATS with rest… Wolverines:0-4 ATS Game Three the last four years; and 2-5 ATS the last seven games against Mountain West Conference foes…. With military dogs a sparkling 75-36-4 ATS as dogs of 20 or more points, we recommend a 1* play on Air Force.
Teddy Davis
Oklahoma State vs. Pittsburgh
Play: Pittsburgh +14½
We all know about the high powered offense that the Cowboys bring to the table. Pitt as we know plays a way different style of football. This is the type of style that generally the Big 12 struggles with because they don't have the big physical lineman. Pitt prefers the ground and pound and just like last year they took the Cowboys down to the wire. So last week this Pitt team if you look at the box score actually out played Penn St. They out gained them by 30 yards had 10 more first downs but had 3 major turnovers. I think they are catching Oklahoma St at the right time here as they have a huge game with TCU on deck next weekend. Plus we know the betting public will be all over the Pokes here after covering their first two games with ease. Odds makers know that and have inflated this line big time
Chase Diamond
Tennessee vs. Florida
Play: Florida -4½
This game features the 2-0 Tennessee at the 0-1 Florida. Florida comes in well rested and ready to go the Vols have played the last two weeks and really should be 1-1 as they got lucky versus G-Tech. Florida has won 11 of the last 12 SU in this series and is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 times these two teams have played. Public is backing the Vols big here at close to 70% of the bets I love the sharp side lay the points and take Florida to roll Tennessee.
Matt Fargo
Troy vs. New Mexico St
Play: Troy -7
New Mexico St. has not won more than three games in a season since 2011 when it won four games and this is now the final season in the Sun Belt Conference. The Aggies have looked good through two games as they lost at Arizona St. by six points as a 26.5-point underdog and then defeated rival New Mexico last week by two points, narrowly avoiding a huge comeback by the Lobos. While it looks as though the offense will be fine, the defense was atrocious last season as it came in No. 121 overall and in scoring and has a lot of ground to make up. New Mexico St. allowed 35 or more points in eight games last season and even if the offense can boost its scoring, giving up so many points will make for another long season. Troy lost its season opener at Boise St. as the offense could get nothing going which was surprising considering how potent it was last season and had eight starters returning including every playmaker possible. The Trojans looked better last week against Alabama St. in a vanilla 34-7 win where they generated 605 total yards. Troy probably has the best shot of unseating the Mountaineers as it brings back 15 starters, the most of any contender in the Sun Belt, from a three-loss team including a defeat at Clemson by just six points. It all starts here in the conference opener and the Trojans have dominated this series with wins by 45 and 46 points the last two years. With Akron on deck, there will be no lookahead and the goal here will be for the offense to continue rolling where they should be able to name the score.
Jimmy Boyd
Clemson vs. Louisville
Play: Clemson -3
After really studying the tape and breaking down the matchups, I like Clemson to go on the road and defeat a good Louisville team that arguably has the most skilled player in the country in Lamar Jackson.
Only because they haven't done it before, a lot of people aren't buying the fact that Clemson can lose a player of Deshaun Watson's ability and be as good as they were the year before. Only the elite programs like Alabama and Ohio State get that respect. The thing is, people have been saying this about the Tigers for several years now. I feel they have just as much impact players that they have sent to the NFL as both the Crimson Tide and Buckeyes. On top of that the first two games this season have shown they are right there with the past few seasons.
How many teams in this spot that do suffer a decline come out in their opener against a FBS opponent and win 56-3 with a 665-120 edge in total yards with a huge game on deck against Auburn, who they beat 14-6. An Auburn team that many believe to be a better team than the one they beat last year 19-13. Last year they were +137 in total yards and this year they were +164.
The only reason Louisville is even getting respect here is Jackson. If he doesn't play well, this thing is going to get ugly in a hurry, because their defense has been picked apart. Worth noting that they lost highly respected DC Todd Grantham to Mississippi State and given how good the Bulldogs D has looked, I think he's greatly missed. Jackson will likely get his, but I believe that dominant defensive line of Clemson will get some revenge against the Heisman winner and allow the offense to pull away.
Jack Jones
Purdue vs. Missouri
Play: Purdue +7½
Nobody wants to give Purdue the credit they deserve. This is a program that went 9-39 in four seasons under Darrell Hazell. So nobody was giving them respect coming into the season, and even after two impressive performances, the Boilermakers are still catching too many points here as 7.5-point road dogs against Missouri.
Jeff Brohm was one of the most underrated coaching hirings in the country this offseason. He guided Western Kentucky to a combined 23-5 record over the last two seasons. Now he's already putting his stamp on this Purdue program. The Boilermakers gave Louisville all they wanted in Week 1 in a 28-35 loss as 25.5-point dogs, then throttled a good Ohio team from the MAC 44-21 as 3-point favorites in Week 2.
Brohm is known as an offensive guru, and through two games that is proving to be true in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers are averaging 36.0 points and 451 yards per game this season. Junior QB David Blough is having as much fun as he has ever had playing football. He is completing 74.4 percent of his passes with a 5-to-2 TD/INT ratio through two games. The running game has produced 151 yards per game and 4.8 per carry as well.
It's amazing how Missouri used to be one of the best defensive teams in the country. Former defensive coordinator Barry Odom was hired as head coach two years ago, and the defense has been god awful since. The Tigers gave up 31.5 points and 480 yards per game last season. They haven't been any better through two games in 2017, yielding 37.0 points and 425 yards per game to Missouri State and South Carolina. Those aren't exactly two offensive juggernauts, and they certainly aren't as good as Purdue on that side of the ball.
Of course the Tigers only returned five starters on defense this season. And they are now without two starting defensive linemen in NG A.J. Logan (suspension) and DE Nate Howard (dismissed). Missouri does have an improved offense this season, but I don't know how you can lay 7.5 points with a team that cannot get stops. This is a game that the Tigers could easily lose outright.
Purdue is 9-1 ATS in Saturday road games over the past three seasons. The Boilermakers have consistently been undervalued on the road even when they've been poor the last few seasons. The Tigers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
Bryan Leonard
Oklahoma State vs. Pittsburgh
Play: Pittsburgh +13
This line has moved just like we expected but it's still 5 points too high based on our numbers. The Cowboys are a high flying offensive machine that has gotten national exposure. So you know it will be an overpriced commodity. Pitt pushed around a much better Penn State defense a week ago limiting the Nittany Lions offensive plays. We expect the same here as the Panthers look to run the ball and shorten the game.
Kyle Hunter
Stanford vs. San Diego St
Play: Under 49
Stanford is coming off a rare thrashing by USC. The Cardinal allowed USC to pile up 623 yards of total offense. David Shaw's teams pride themselves on being strong in the trenches, running the football, and playing good defense. I fully expect this defense to be much more prepared for this game. It doesn't hurt that San Diego State isn't nearly as talented on offense as USC either.
San Diego State doesn't have much of a passing game at all. The Aztecs can run it down most Mountain West teams throats and not even need balance on offense, but I don't think they'll be able to do that against Stanford.
The San Diego State 4-2-5 defense is hard to prepare for, and they are very strong on the defensive line. Stanford's offense won't have an easy time going up against them.
Also very important here is both team's pace of play. These are two teams who run the ball a bunch and use up the play clock. With a ticking clock, there won't be as many possessions in this game.
Chip Chirimbes
Notre Dame vs. Boston College
Play: Boston College +14
These two Catholic schools have been at it for a while and sometimes with very interesting results. Notre Dame has won the last three but the Eagles stolen the cash as underdogs each time. Even though BC lost to Wake Forest at home 34-10 when they led the stat board. But, remember stats are for losers just win baby. Huge trends support Eagles as they are 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings as a dog and the Irish are 4-20 ATS as a road favorite before Game 4 the past decade.