TRACE ADAMS
2000* - Auburn Tigers
500* - Kentucky Wildcats
Both schools beat up on Little Sisters of the Poor last weekend, as Auburn dumped Furman 63-31, while Georgia blanked Tennessee Tech 38-0. Not sold on Georgia's defense being "fixed" just because they pitched a much-needed shutout, as the Bulldogs have only 8 takeaways this season in their 9 games played.
Auburn is in triple-revenge against Georgia, so they should be extra-motivated for this contest. Plus Coach Chizik's team is playing for their injured CB Zaccheus Etheridge who suffered a serious neck injury at the start of the month.
Georgia has 21 turnovers this season, and are 0-3 against the spread at home this season, and just 1-7 against the spread their last 8 at home! Throw in the fact QB Cox ain't exactly playing stellar football, and the Tigers become a very dangerous dog if you ask me.
Triple-revenge works just fine tonight in Athens.
Take Auburn plus the points.
2000♦ - Auburn Tigers
Early day game will see Kentucky take care of offensively-inept Vanderbilt in Nashville.
Kentucky is a win away from becoming bowl-eligible, and they are seeking revenge for last season's loss to Vandy in Lexington.
The Wildcats have covered 4 in a row away from home, and they have also gone 3-0 against the spread as a road favorite since 2006.
The Commodores have failed 7 straight lined games at home since last season, and having to battle the bruising attacks of Georgia Tech, and Florida the last 2 weeks should have the 'Dores pretty ripe for the picking today by Rich Brooks' team.
Go ahead an lay the small road chalk as Kentucky starts our day with the win and cover.
500♦ - Kentucky Wildcats
Great Lake Sports
4* USC
3* Miss. St.
3* Utah
Scott Spreitzer
Bailout Blowout GOY
I'm laying the points with the Oregon Ducks on Saturday night. I went against the Ducks and cashed with Stanford for my Shocker GOY on these pages last week. The Ducks were not only in a tough spot off the win over USC, but they were playing on the road against a quality opponent. The Ducks are now looking at a Rose Bowl berth, but can't let-up for a second if they wish for the trip to Pasadena to come to fruition. By all indications, including interviews with the coaching staff, the Oregon players are looking forward to getting back on the field...and they have re-instated RB LeGarrette Blount. He may not make a big impact on the field, after all, he's practicing as the team's fifth string RB. But it does put a close to the situation, and QB Jeremiah Masoli has said it's a huge relief for the team. LeMichael James has been outstanding in place of Blount, topping 1,000-yards on the season. The offense put 42 points on the board in last week's loss. They actually out-gained Stanford, 570-505. Masoli was unstoppable, throwing for 334-yards with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions. And the team ran for 6.9-yards per carry. The problems were on defense. Oregon, like most of Stanford's opponents, couldn't slow RB Toby Gerhart. But the Ducks get "just what the doctor ordered," this week. Arizona State is a down football team. The offense has not looked too hot all season, and starting QB Danny Sullivan was benched last week during the USC game. HC Dennis Erickson hasn't named this week's starter, but it doesn't matter to me. Sullivan is mediocre, and possible starter Brock Osweiler is a true freshman, who would be making his first collegiate start in Eugene, Oregon. Talk about a tough place for a debut! The freshman isn't ready for prime time. He's 19-45, 42% this season, getting sacked once every nine pass attempts. The offense has been stuck in neutral for most of the season. After beating out-manned Idaho State and UL-Monroe, ASU has averaged just 18.43 ppg in their last seven contests, going 2-5 SU. The Sun Devil defense has kept them in games, not to mention mediocre opposition like Washington and Washington State. But ASU couldn't even move the ball against a noticeably "hungover" USC team last week, in what was practically a must-win situation for the Sun Devils. ASU has now lost three in a row, gaining just 322-yards per game, including just 97.3-yards rushing per game. They have completed just 48% of their last 110 passes, with as many INTs, (five), as TD passes. A badly struggling offense and a worn out defense is just what the Ducks need to get right back on track. Oregon has been outstanding on offense since the loss to Boise State. They're averaging 5 1/2 yards per carry and over 36 ppg on the season. When Erickson left Idaho for the desert, he told his Vandal players that he wanted one more chance to win a national championship before retiring. Let's just say he has a long way to go. ASU is 0-13 SU, 4-9 ATS as an underdog over the last three seasons. They're 3-12 SU, 5-10 ATS against winning teams. And, the Sun Devils, with Erickson at the helm, are 0-9 ATS in road games after playing a defensive, low scoring game that finished Under the total. Oregon is averaging almost 500-yards per game in conference action with an average final score of 42-18, which is also their average final score in their four straight wins over Arizona State. I expect more of the same Duck Domination on Saturday night. I'm laying the points with Oregon, my Bailout Blowout GOY.
Glenn McGrew
COLLEGE FOOTBALL DOG OF THE YEAR -- Notre Dame...... The Pittsburgh Panthers (8-1, 5-0) take time out from the Big East wars to play host to the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame (6-3) in a nationally-televised Saturday evening contest at Heinz Field. The Panthers own the better defensive stats (21st in nation defensively vs 79th) while the Irish are stronger on the attack (6th nationally vs 38th). But those numbers are skewered by the fact Notre Dame has played the much tougher schedule. Still concerned about the discrepancy on defense between these two clubs? Then check this list out.....Zach Maynard, Ricky Dobbs, Adam Froman, Cody Endres, Tom Savage, BJ Daniels and Greg Paulus. That's a list of quarterbacks this Panther defense has has the luxury of facing this year. In the one instance where they were challenged by a solid signal caller, vs North Carolina St.'s Russell Wilson, the Pittsburgh secondary was shredded for 322 yards and four scores with no interceptions! Despite numbers that suggest differently, the underdog here owns the vastly superior secondary and that means Notre Dame's Heisman hopeful Jimmy Clausen has a much easier task than Pittsburgh's Bill Stull. Also helping the Irish is the fact super receiver Michael Floyd, who suffered a broken collarbone on Sept. 19 and was thought to be out for the rest of the regular season, is back. The 6' 3" sophomore, opened the 2009 campaign by gathering in 11 passes for 320 yards and four scores the first two games before getting sidelined, returned last week and had 10 catches for 141 yards and a score against Navy. Last, but not least, it's important to note this is a much more important contest for the independent Irish who have UConn and Stanford remaining on their schedule while the Panthers, still battling Cincinnati and West Virginia in the tight Big East race, play the Bearcats and Mountaineers in the next few weeks. Look for the Irish to enjoy some major payback for last season's 36-33 OT loss to Pittsburgh. Play Notre Dame
PRIMETIME SPORTS ADVISORS
1* Georgia -4
1* NC State +8
1* Tenn/Miss UNDER 48.5
ANTHONY REDD
50 - Dime Virginia
10 - Dime Duke
10 - Dime Oklahoma
MR EAST
SATURDAY WHITEWASH
W. KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS @ UL MONROE INDIANS
PLAY: UL MONROE INDIANS -21 FOR 5 UNITS
QB Trey Revell returned from injury last week, and LA Monroe will be ready to dominate a Western Kentucky team that is 0-9, and allowing 53ppg over their last 3. The Hilltoppers have found some offense in their last 6 games, as they have gone for 20 or more in each one, but the defense is the worst in football, and the offense simply can't keep up. Warhawks offense struggled without Revell as they scored just 16.7ppg in the 3 he missed, but have piled up 33.3ppg in the 6 he has played, and those numbers are held down by the fact they played Texas, and Arizona St. I expect another 50 points served up by the Hilltopper defense, and for UL Monroe to easily cover the big number here.
SportsBetsNow
2 units Baylor +23.5
2 units Mississippi -6
2 units Penn St. -24.5
2 units Missouri -1.5
2 units Virgina +4.5
2 units California -3
Payne Sports
9 Units Wake Forest -5.5
8 Units USC -10.5
8 Units Ole Miss -5.5
Pat Hawkins
Florida at South Carolina
Pick: South Carolina +16
This could be one of those dangerous road games for the unbeaten Gators. In UF's last real road game, Miss St gave them a run for their money, look for Carolina and the "ole ball coach" to give the Gators all they can handle. Carolina has a good defense so they will slow down the Gator offense that has been out of sync all season. Look for Carolina to mix up their plays setting up the pass thru the run.
WAYNE ROOT
2009 Football Upset Club
4* USC (-10½) over Stanford (Millionaire Play)
6* North Carolina (+3) over Miami Florida (Billionaire Play)
Charlie
500* UL Monroe -21
500* Fresno St @ Nevada Over 69
500* North Texas @ Florida International Over 64'
30* Purdue +3
20* Tennessee +6
20* Oklahoma -20
10* Idaho +31'
Notre Dame +6' Free Play
Scott Ferrall has been touting his picks every night on his radio show as money in the bank.
Does anyone have his picks for this weekend?
Thanks in advance for your help!!
Jr Tipps
10* ND
10* Oregon
5* Iowa
5* NC st
5* Kansas
5* Wash St
NorthCoast Totals
4 SMU Over
3 TCU Un
3 NC St Ov
3 Rice Ov
2 Boise St Ov
2 Okl St Und
2 LSU Und