Zack Cimini
Central Michigan vs. Boston College
Pick: Boston College -10
Boston College has been outclassed three consecutive weeks in embarrassing fashion. Yet they showed strides in playing close against the Tigers for three quarters last Saturday. It should boost their confidence enough to get a sound victory in their last non-conference game Saturday against Central Michigan.
Zack Cimini
Central Michigan vs. Boston College
Pick: Boston College -10
Boston College has been outclassed three consecutive weeks in embarrassing fashion. Yet they showed strides in playing close against the Tigers for three quarters last Saturday. It should boost their confidence enough to get a sound victory in their last non-conference game Saturday against Central Michigan.
Bryan Leonard
Mississippi at Alabama
Play: Alabama -28
Ole Miss has dominated this series ATS as of late but we don't expect that to continue. Alabama struggles with mobile quarterbacks, which is what the Rebels have had the past few years. But that's not the case anymore, so you can throw away the past and look at the present. Nick Saban made refference to teams thinking they had the Tide's number. We believe he will run up the score here if he's able.
The Prez
Oklahoma St at Texas Tech
Play: Texas Tech +10.5
Oklahoma State (-10, 84), and Texas Tech meet in a Big 12 matchup on Saturday with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. The unranked Red Raiders upset the Houston Cougars last week in a 27-24 win. The Cowboys lost their first game of the year this past Saturday to conference foe TCU by a 44-31 margin.
No. 14 Oklahoma State's Heisman Trophy candidate Mason Rudolph threw for 398 yards against the Horned Frogs but was intercepted twice and lost a fumble. The senior came into the game with 11 touchdown passes against just one pick. Wide receiver James Washington and running back Justice Hill in combination with Rudolph form one of the most dangerous offensive trio's in college football.
The Cowboys didn't benefit from a light non-conference schedule. The team defeated Tulsa, South Alabama and Pittsburgh by a combined 110 points. TCU exposed the Cowboys defensive liabilities last Saturday and Texas Tech will attempt to emulate the scheme in this Saturday's contest.
The Red Raiders have a plethora of weapons on offense but the squads improvement defensively is where the team has made hay this season. Tech ranks ninth in FBS scoring (45 points per game) and third in total offense (587 yard per game). The Raiders defense has been consistently good through the first three games of the season holding opponents to just under 27 points per game.
Texas Tech quarterback Nic Shimonek ranks in the FBS top-5 quarterback rankings and came out of the win over Houston with 321 yards and two touchdown passes. Wide receiver Keke Coutee leads the team in receptions while running back Justin Stockton topped the 100 yard mark rushing for the first time this season last Saturday against the Cougars.
The Red Raiders tackled a much tougher non-conference schedule than did the Cowboys. Texas Tech has wins over Arizona State and Houston after a season opening 56-10 victory against underappreciated Eastern Washington.
The closely contested wins the last two weeks have Tech prepared for this home contest against Mason and the Cowboys. Oklahoma State's early September success inflated their market value and to some degree the high price point to support OSU remains this week. The Cowboys are double-digit favorites on Saturday in Lubbock, a number that I will gladly take, while supporting the home team.
Jim Feist
Arizona at Kansas City
Pick: Over
Arizona has a great offense and picks up the DH for this series. The Over is 5-2-1 in the Diamondbacks last 8 interleague road games vs. a team with a losing record. Taijuan Walker allowed seven runs -- three earned -- on six hits and three walks while striking out six batters through just 3.2 innings to take the loss against Miami on Saturday. Walker has surrendered 11 runs in his past two starts. Kansas City is 10-4-1 over the total in interleague games, 13-6 over at home against a team with a winning record.
Tommy Brunson
Good value with the Gamecocks this Saturday night as they play in College Station against conference-rival Texas A&M.
A&M's double-overtime win last week in Arlington over Arkansas was "rousing", and it kept the heat off head coach Kevin Sumlin's ass for a week at least, but I do think the Aggies are going to have a hard time putting South Carolina in their rear-view mirror at home on Saturday night.
Texas A&M is just 6-13-1 against the spread as the home favorite their last 20 under Sumlin, while South Carolina has covered 3 straight on the road under Coach Muschamp, including an outright thrashing at Missouri a few weeks back.
True, South Carolina barely escaped at home last week against an underrated Louisiana Tech team, as the 'Cocks needed a closing seconds score to walk away with the 17-16 win.
Perhaps the Gamecocks were looking ahead a little to this game, which happens to be a "triple-revenge" spot for the visitors. Texas A&M has won the last 3 series meetings, but South Carolina has cashed the ticket in the last pair in the underdog role. I like them to cash again in the dog role, with the outright upset a definite possibility.
Take the points.
3* SOUTH CAROLINA
Jeff Benton
Your Saturday freebie is New Mexico State as the big dog at Arkansas.
Yes, this Aggies-Hogs contest has been bumped up to a noon eastern time start, but I don't think the early kick for the traveling Aggies is going to keep them from staying inside of this roomy impost against an Arkansas team that seems to like to give up the points in droves.
Bret Bielema's job is certainly in jeopardy after yet another loss to Texas A&M - another overtime affair to-boot.
New Mexico State is 2-2 straight up, but against the spread they are a perfect 4-0, and have now covered 11 of their last 15 lined contests. The Ags have also made road stops in the SEC at Kentucky, Florida and Ole Miss in recent seasons, so don't expect them to be cowed by a Razorbacks team that is just 5-8 their last 13 when favored at home.
Arkansas will get by, but I don't see it being by the margin they are being asked to cover.
Live dog play goes out on New Mexico State to make Big Bret Bielema sweat a little more...Pig Soo-eee!
2* NEW MEXICO STATE
Tommy Brunson
Let's get this winner and get back on the plus side.
Think the impost is a little "puffy" on Auburn tonight as they host a Miss State team that got their hats handed to them last weekend in Athens against a sneaky-good Georgia team that held the Bulldogs out of the end-zone.
Auburn tuned up doormat Missouri last week, but I don't expect the sledding to be as easy at home in this one against the prideful Bulldogs.
Miss State saw their 2 game series win streak snapped last season when Auburn blasted them, 38-14 in early October, but State has still covered in 4 of the last 5 in this rivalry.
The Bulldogs are still 9-3 against the spread their last 12 road dog tries, so not ready to jump off the Miss State bandwagon just yet after last week's Georgia debacle.
They may not spring the outright upset, but this game will be a lot closer than expected. Perhaps a field goal decides it late.
Grab the underdog in this SEC battle.
2* MISS STATE
Joey Juice
For Saturday's comp play, take Georgia Tech.
You just have to love that Georgia Tech offense lately, they have scored no less then 35 points in all three games so far, and they recorded 41 points vs a top ranked Tennessee team back in week one. Add to that the fact that this North Carolina defense has really stunk it up this season and that's a combination that will severely benefit Georgia Tech.
Think about it, The UNC rush defense ranks 87th in the Country while and Georgia Tech leads the Country in rushing. GT is currently averaging 393 yards rushing per game. In addition this Georgia Tech defense has been very stingy especially versus the pass and that will spell trouble for North Carolina in this one.
When we look inside the numbers we see a definitive advantage for Georgia Tech. The North Carolina Tar Heels do not play well in conference games, they are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 conference games. They also don't play well in September for that matter, they are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in September.
Most importantly they do not play well at Georgia Tech historically, they are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games at Georgia Tech.
On the other side of the ball the Yellow Jackets are hot, especially versus the money, 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games overall. They also played extremely well at home, 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games. And most importantly they play great when they're on a roll against the spread, and they are definitely on a roll, 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a cover.
Georgia Tech is the play.
4* GEORGIA TECH
Scott Rickenbach
Houston vs. Temple
Play: Over 45½
While it looks like the Cougars much have played good defense last weekend since they held the dangerous Red Raiders offense to just 27 points, the fact is that Texas Tech put up over 500 yards on the Houston defense. As you can see, it was a bit of a statistical anomaly that more points weren't scored in that game because the Cougars also were held to 24 points despite their offense totaling over 400 yards! This has created line value this week because Houston has seen the under go 3-0 in their games so far this season but I feel the breakout game is coming here. It is amazing that the Cougars have had all unders when you consider they're averaging 431.3 yards of offense per game. By the way, Temple has also been an "under team" this season as 3 of their 4 games have stayed under the total despite the fact that the Owls have allowed 468.5 yards per game on defense! I am going to step in and take advantage of the low total here. The Cougars are a long-term 3-1 to the over in road games with a posted total between 45.5 and 49 points. The Owls series with the Cougars has featured 3 straight unders but I look for that to change here as Temple's offense did move the ball quite well in their first 3 games before getting shutdown by South Florida. Couple that with the fact that the Owls defense has struggled badly this season and you have the recipe for an over here.
Doug Upstone
Colorado vs. UCLA
Play: Over 67
The total of Colorado and UCLA has been roaming around like a sleep-walker, going from 66.5 to 69.6 before selling at current level. Colorado was bushwhacked at home by Washington last week 37-10. But seriously the only thing the Huskies and Bruins defense have in common is they play in the Pac-12. The Bruins are giving up 43.2 points a game, which is 125th nationally. At the same time, quarterback Josh Rosen runs the No.10 scoring offense at 45 PPG. To use the phrase from the last decade, "when looking at the bottom line", Colorado is not going to stop Rosen, and, UCLA will not slow the Buffaloes and keep them out of the end zone, making this OVER action.
Teddy Davis
Eastern Michigan vs. Kentucky
Play: Eastern Michigan +14½
This is the classic flat spot for Kentucky here. They are coming off such an emotional loss to Florida in which it was a series they have been dominated in. Given that situation they clearly won't have as much focus here on this game.
Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan would love nothing more than to come into an SEC stadium and escape with a win. EMU is a better than average MAC team and played one of the top tier MAC teams in Ohio very tough last week.
While I realize EMU hasn't played the toughest competition they are still holding their opponents to 4.6 yards per play. The Wildcats don't exactly have an explosive offense by any means. Give the tough situation I think this will be a lot closer than people expect.
John Martin
Mississippi State vs. Auburn
Play: Mississippi State +8
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are still a very good team. They beat LSU 37-7 after all. But it was a bad spot last week off that LSU win, and they proceeded to get blown out by a very good Georgia team 3-31 on the road. I think they'll be playing with a chip on their shoulder now a week later. Look for them to take Auburn down to the wire, an Auburn team that hasn't played anyone outside Clemson, which they lost 6-14 to. Auburn only managed a 24-10 victory as 41-point favorites in their last home game. I think these teams are very equal talent-wise, and so the Bulldogs should not be catching more than a touchdown in this contest. The road team has won each of the last two meetings in the series.
TJ Pemberton
Maryland vs. Minnesota
Play: Minnesota -13
The Minnesota Gophers are 3-0 on the season and 2-0 at TCF Bank Stadium this season. Minnesota beat Maryland 31-10 last season and have covered two of their games this season. The Gophers opened as a -10.5 home favorite in this one and the sharps hit it hard for a good reason.Minnesota has scored over 30 points in two straight games. The Gophers QB Rhoda has just two passing touchdowns on the season but just one interception. Minnesota was lead by McCrary and Smith last week who had over 100 rushing yards each. McCrary had three rushing touchdowns while Douglas had a receiving touchdown.
The Maryland Terrapins took their first loss last week at home against UCF. Maryland was blown up on both sides of the ball and have a very tough road game ahead of them this week in Minnesota. Maryland had two interceptions last week and had a fumble by a WR. The Terrapins have covered the spread in just one of their last seven road games. QB Max Bortenschlager threw the ball 26 times last week with 15 completions. Bortenschlager had one touchdown, two interceptions, and one fumble. Maryland's defense had no sacks last week and no turnovers. Look for the Terrapins to struggle on offense once again with their Freshman QB out. Minnesota looks to remain unbeaten as they host a Maryland team coming off a bad loss. Maryland lost their QB and the offense will suffer this weed on the road. Maryland struggles on the road and look bad in conference games.
Brandon Shively
Washington vs. Oregon State
Pick: Washington -26.5
Washington looks to continue rolling when they take on Oregon State Saturday.
This Washington offense should have a field day with the Beavers defense. The Huskies are putting up ridiculous numbers all around, while Oregon State can barely contain any offense.
Washington is averaging 44.5 points per game and we saw just how many notches they can turn things up when things start clicking after the 2nd half of last week's win against Colorado.
The Huskies are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings. This one should get ugly.