Kyle Bales
15* Cleveland Cavaliers -11
10* East Carolina +12.5
Marc Lawrence
Miami-Ohio vs. Temple
Play: Miami-Ohio +17
The Miami Ohio RedHawks invade Philadelphia when they take on Temple in a key MAC showdown game at Temple. Aside from this being the first time ever in this series that the owls find themselves favored, we note that college conference favorites off back-to-back SU underdog wins who won 5 or fewer games last season are just 2-17 ATS when off a conference game in which they scored more than 24 points if they are facing a losing opponent since 1980. With Temple just 2-6 ATS as favorite of 8 or more versus an opponent with at least one win on the season, we'll grab the points here tonight. We recommend a 3-unit play on Miami Ohio.
WAYNE ROOT
2009 Football Upset Club
3* East Carolina (+13½) over Virginia Tech
Karl Garrett
30 DIMER - VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES
10 DIMER - TEMPLE OWLS
30 DIMER - VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES
2 straight losses, and the Hokies are certainly not where they thought they would be coming into this Thursday night tussle, but after laying an egg at home under the light last week against North Carolina, look for V-Tech to get their season back on track tonight against East Carolina.
First off, North Carolina's defense is as tough as they come, so Tech should be all set to take advantage of ECU's less-stingy stop-unit. For another thing, East Carolina's QB Pinkney has thrown 8 TD passes this season against 9 interceptions, so chances the Tech defense has a feast this week are pretty strong.
Also consider this is a big revenge spot for the Hokies who were stunned on opening day last season 27-22 at home against the Pirates as the 9-point favorite.
Frank Beamer owns a 7-1 spread mark the last 8 times his Hokies have been in revenge.
Believe me, there is a reason the Pirates who are 20-7 against the spread their last 27 when dressed as the dog are catching this many points at home under the prime time lights. Granted, the points are tempting, but the linesmakers are telling you the play in this game is Virginia Tech. Have to side with the revenging visitors to get the job done tonight.
10 DIMER - TEMPLE OWLS
There is a threat of some nasty weather in Philadelphia for this game, but I think that will only aid the Owls in their quest for win # 7 in a row.
Temple relies on the ground attack, and RB Bernard Pierce is already over 1,000 yards on the ground this season, as he rumbled for well over 200 yards against Navy last week!
Miami-Ohio is off their 1st straight up win of the year, but are only 1-6 against the spread their last 7 away from home.
Lesser Temple teams have beaten the Redhawks both straight up, and against the spread the last 2 season's. Expect this year's Temple team to do the same.
Lay the wood with the Owls!
Anthony Redd
10 Dime Temple (1st Half)
10 Dime Temple
10 Dime Eastern Michigan
Black Widow
6* Widow Wiseguy ESPN Thursday Night GAME OF THE YEAR on East Carolina +13.5
East Carolina is getting no respect from the odds makers tonight, and they really should be. The Pirates have won 4 of their last 5 games, and they always play Virginia Tech tough. They upset the Hokies 27-22 last year as an 8.5-point dog, and lost 7-17 in 2007 as a 28-point dog. They have a lot of core guys back from last year's team with 16 returning starters in all, so there is plenty of talent left on this year's team to pull off the upset. ECU has been off since 10/27 which has given them a couple extra days to prepare for the Hokies, which should be an advantage. VA Tech is just 1-2 in road games this season, giving up 29.2 points/game. This Hokies' defense is human this year, and that's why they have struggled. ECU is 3-0 at home this year, scoring 32.3 points/game and allowing just 17.0 points/game, outscoring their foes by more than 15 points/game. The Hokies are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 non-conference games. The Pirates are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a home underdog of 10.5 or greater. The Pirates are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games as an underdog of 10.5 or greater. Take East Carolina and the points.
JASON SHARPE
Virginia Tech at East Carolina
Pick: Virginia Tech -12.5
There may be no team more upset in all of cfb right now then Va Tech is. Having played probably the toughest schedule in cfb this season, the Hokies hopes of a magical season have been dashed away with two 4th quarter losses in the past two weeks.
East Carolina on the other hand comes in feeling pretty full of themselves after their national TV win last week against Memphis. This is still a very average team at best and one that doesn't matchup to the big play speed the Hokies bring to this one.
Va Tech not only will be playing very upset from their last two weeks of 4th quarter meltdowns, they will also be looking too avenge last years upset loss to E Carolina in week 1, a huge and disappointing loss last season for them.
A big chance for Va Tech to get some much needed frustration out of their system along with some pay backs as well and ECU just happens to be the team standing in their way here.
Dave Malinsky
4* VIRGINIA TECH/EAST CAROLINA UNDER
We cant win a track meet. Were going to have to win a baseball-score type game. That is the way that East Carolina coach Skip Holtz previews this game. And that is how Frank Beamer looks at just about every Virginia tech matchup. So with these two teams playing to an average of 36.5 the past two years, which includes TDs on a fumble return, an interception return, and also a blocked punt, why are we seeing a number in the low-50s Some false perceptions are in play. East Carolina enters this game having scored 49 and 38 in the last two outings, but those were against the awful defenses of Rice and Memphis, and we would attach little merit to those results. The reality is that the Pirates are bereft of a game-breaker on offense, having had 555 snaps this year without a single play of 50 yards. QB Patrick Pinkney has more INTs than TD passes; two of the top three receivers are averaging 9.5 or less per catch; and leading rusher Dominique Lindsay is producing just 71.3 yards per game. As such the national charts show them at #80 in Total Offense, and that is against a less-than-inspiring schedule. This will be by far their biggest challenge, and in their two toughest games outside of Conference USA they managed just 13 first downs and 238 yards vs. West Virginia, and 13 and 247 vs. North Carolina. Now they face the best defense they will see the season, and the comments by Holtz above show us his awareness of the issues. The focus will be on trying to make first downs instead of big plays, and also trying to avoid long-distance situations that can be disastrous, with his offense #84 in the nation in sacks allowed. Virginia Tech will bring plenty of defensive fire, with the Hokies remembering well LYs upset loss on a neutral field in Charlotte. But while the defense can be counted on to shackle a limited attack, the offense has struggled for consistency all season, and will find the going difficult vs. a Pirate defense that brings plenty of speed (over the last five games they have not allowed a run of more than 22 yards). The Hokies rate just 73rd in the nation in Total Offense, and only twice in eight games have they generated more than 17 first downs (and doing that vs. Marshall and Duke means little). Like East Carolina, sacks have been an issue, with an ugly #97 on that table. That means that Beamer is also looking for ball control to avoid tough down-and-distance situations, and it has both coaches looking for the tempo that we would like to see. It also tells us that this Total has been set far too high.
College Bettor
Virginia Tech -13
Eastern Michigan +21
Bob Balfe
Miami Ohio +17 over Temple
Its crazy to see the Owls being such a big favorite. They are good, but I do not think they are ready to be such big favorites no matter who they are playing. One major factor will be the playing surface tonight. Lincoln Financial Field will have a brand new fielding tonight. I can see it being very slick and in need of some serious breaking in. All of the factors lead me to believe Miami will hold on to keep this game close. Again, Temple is going to a bowl game this year and really have turned the corner, but should no way be favorites by this much for a while. Take Miami Ohio.
Spurs -1 over Jazz
ATS Lock Club
4 Units ECU +13.5
Stephen Nover
50-Dime EAST CAROLINA
NOTE - Congratulations to the New York Yankees who proved they are indeed the best team in baseball. I thought the Yankees were way overpriced in Game 6 and had the Phillies on the run line for a 15-dime loser.
I finished the baseball playoffs up 20 dimes. During the regular-season I finished up 141.5 units.
I did win my lone Wednesday NBA play on a free selection with Golden State covering against Memphis. It was my seventh free pick winner in a row.
I've won on my last six NBA selections and today offer a free selection on San Antonio to cover against Utah.
50-Dime EAST CAROLINA - This non-conference matchup finds Virginia Tech on the skids following two straight ACC losses, while East Carolina is playing well and considering this matchup as its game of the year.
The Pirates have made a name knocking off big name programs. They've beaten three of the last four ranked teams they've faced, including Virginia Tech last year when the Hokies were then 17th-ranked and better than they are this season. It wasn't a fluke either. East Carolina outgained the Hokies, 369-243.
Virginia Tech is off disheartening losses to Georgia Tech and North Carolina. The Hokies haven't covered a road game all season, going 0-3 against the spread away from home. The Hokies are surrendering 417.3 yards per game on the road, including 205 yards rushing.
East Carolina is getting healthier. The Pirates have won four of their last five games, holding foes to less than 100 yards rushing in four of those matchups. They have held their last three foes to an average of 20 points and 344 yards per game.
I'm not fond of either team's quarterback, but East Carolina has a big, experienced offensive line and two excellent skill position players in running back Dominique Lindsay (521 yards rushing and a 5.8 yards per carry) and wide receiver Dwayne Harris.
The Pirates have been tremendous in a role of a big 'dog, covering eight of the last nine times they've been an underdog of 10 1/2 points or more. They are 7-3 against the number in their last 10 home contests.
Virginia Tech, on the other hand, is 2-5 against the spread in its last seven road games and has failed to cover in 10 of its last 13 non-conference matchups. The Hokies also are 1-4 against the spread the past five times they've been favored.
DOC'S SPORTS
2 Units San Antonio Spurs
igz1 sports
3* Detroit -135
The Boooj
15 Units Temple (-17) over Miami (Ohio)