NSA
20* Tennessee -1
20* Kentucky +9.5
10* Arkansas +2.5
10* Miss St -2.5
10* UCLA +3.5
Trace Adams
1500* - Connecticut
500* - Boston College
500* - Wisconsin
I've been waiting for a Dave Wannstedt game to go the other way, and today is that day! Idle and rested last week, Connecticut has had 2 weeks to prepare for this game, while Pitt comes in off of back-to-back road games, and Navy in their last 3 games!
Defense prevails in this matchup. UConn is stout against the run, giving up just 86 yds per game ranking 5th in the Nation. That includes wins at Baylor against NCAA ranked #5 RB Jarred Slubi (8.1 yds per carry) and North Carolina's star RB Shaun Draughn. And, the Huskies rank in the top 20 nationally in pass defense as well which could spell trouble for over-confident Bill Stull, who has played well on the road, but was booed at home on his 2nd play from scrimage earlier in the year. If Connecticut stops him early and the crowd gets on him again, things could get dicey.
Pitt cannot stop the run, ranking 5th in the Big East. While UConn brings the # 3 and # 4 ranked RBs in the conferences (Todman and Dixon). Pitt's freshman RB Dion Lewis has done well to replace LeSean McCoy, but he's only faced soft rush defenses (Youngstown State-1AA; Buffalo-ranked 101; Navy-ranked 61; Louisville-ranked 43).
The Huskies have won 3 of the last 5 games in this series, and is seeking revenge after the loss last year.
1500♦ - Connecticut Huskies - 12:00 pm
Another dog that steps up, and gets it done today is Boston College. BC's lone road game thus far was that debacle at Clemson, so you can expect a fully focused effort today against an opponent that has beaten them in the ACC title game the past 2 seasons. I understand the Eagles offense is not spectacular, but then again, neither is Virginia Tech's, and the Hokies have had trouble delivering the knock-out punch when it comes to covering games in Blacksburg.
Tech is just 1-2 against the spread this year laying the wood, and are 4-9 against the spread as a home favorite their last 13. The Hokies grab the outright, but this one stays closer than expected. Take the visitor plus the points.
500♦ - Boston College Eagles
Looks like another dog play for me here at the Horseshoe, as the Badgers come in to town at 5-0 straight up, and come in to this game off a near-miss last season at Camp Randall 20-17 in a game that went off pretty much as a pick. Sure, Ohio State should prevail, as their defense is staunch enough to get the job done, but I have my questions about the Buckeyes offense and whether or not they can distance themselves from this team? I don't think they can. The Badgers are getting some solid play from QB Scott Tolzien, and RB John Clay, and that pop will be enough to keep Wisconsin from being routed this afternoon.
Remember, Ohio State is just 2-5 against the spread their last 7 as a home favorite, and 1-4 against the spread the last 5 times the Madison Boys have come calling wearing their road unis.
Take the points!
500♦ - Wisconsin Badgers
PPP
5% Ohio, Fresno St
4% Miami OH, Marshall, WY
3% Army, GA, Auburn, Wisky,UTEP
C-Star Sports
1000 Units Auburn/Arkansas Under 64.5
1000 Units Eastern Michigan/Central Michigan over 54 points
1000 Units Michigan at Iowa under 47 points
ATS
8 Units Iowa -8
7 Units Florida -8
6 Units Ohio -3
6 Units Minn-3
5 Units Syracuse +10
5 Units Marshall -3.5
Al DeMarco
5 Dime - Pitt
Pitt rolled at U.Conn last year, winning 34-10 as a 2 1/2-point underdog, a game in which it managed just 228 total yards in offense but benefited from five Connecticut turnovers. That means the Huskies are in revenge this year, and although the dog has covered the last three in the series, I don't foresee that trend holding true in this rematch.
The Panthers return home after a 1-1 road trip that began with a 38-31 loss at N.C. State in a non-conference tilt against a offensively-talented Wolfpack club. But, Pitt rebounded after a sluggish first half to down Louisville last Friday on the road, beating the Cardinals 35-10.
Pittsburgh has received outstanding offensive balance this year thanks to surprising development of senior quarterback Bill Stull, who is coming off a 16-for-23 effort at Louisville good for 242 yards and 3 TD. Stull, who was booed in the season's first home game for his inconsistent play in recent years, has 11 touchdown passes this season versus one interception. He's also benefited from having freshman Dion Lewis in the backfield. Lewis, replacing LeSean McCoy - now in the pros with the Eagles - has averaged 116 yards per game and 5.4 yards per carry in his first season.
Connecticut lost its top running back, Donald Brown, to the NFL as well, but the Huskies have reloaded with Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon combining for 764 yards and nine touchdowns through four games. But their quarterback play has been spotty as starter Zach Frazer, who might be available as a back-up for this contest, has missed the past two games with a knee injury. In his place, Cody Endres guided the team to victories at Baylor and home versus Rhode Island.
Connecticut enters with the nation's # 4 ranked total defense (232 yards per game yield), but its competition has been suspect at best. A 23-16 road win over a bad Ohio team opened the season. Next up was a 12-10 home loss to North Carolina - a team that's shown little offensive firepower this season in consecutive losses the past two weeks to G-Tech and Virginia - in a game in which the Huskies led 10-0 in the fourth quarter. U.Conn rebounded with a 30-22 road upset of Baylor, and then pummeled overmatched and outclassed Rhode Island 52-10.
John Ryan
15* Iowa -8
Wayne Root
10* Perfect Air Force
6* UCLA
7* Mississippi
ROCKETMAN
5* FLORIDA -7
5* FLORIDA ST -2.5
3* TOLEDO +9
3* INDIANA +7
AAA SPORTS
3 Units - Florida State
Northcoast
4* SMU
4* UCLA
4* Pitt
3* W Virg
3* Fla St
Mean Green Profit Machine
Florida -8
Oklahoma St/Texas A&M Over 58.5
Army +10
Georgia Tech +3
Rice +11
New Mexico St +10.5
Memphis +2
Northwestern -10 1ST HLF
Central Michigan -13.5 1ST HLF
UTEP -1/2 1ST HLF
Boston College/Virginia Tech Over 23 1ST HLF
Alabama/Mississippi Under 22.5 1ST HLF
Savannah Sports
3* E Michigan +23
3* Georgia +1
3* New Mexico +10
3* Colorado +32.5
Eric Degarde
3* Duke +15.5
3* Iowa State +19
3* Ball State +14.5
Scott Rickenbach
10* Iowa
Marc Lawrence
3 Units Oklahoma
3 Units Mississippi
3 Units LSU