Kyle Hunter
Texas-San Antonio vs. Arizona
Play: Arizona -24
The Arizona Wildcats is a team that loves to run up the score. Rich Rodriguez isn't going to call off the dogs early in this one. UTSA is still developing as a program, and I don't expect them to be ready for Arizona's powerful rushing attack. Arizona's defense is steadily improving and they should be able to control the line of scrimmage against UTSA. Look for Arizona to get ahead early and pour it on here. Take Arizona.
Lee Williams
Stanford vs. Army
Play: Stanford -30
This game could get ugly quite rapidly as this is one of weakest Army versions we have seen in a while and are completely outmatched on both lines.Stanford also very strong against run, so it is difficult for us to think Army will reach end zone more then once.Stanford is 11-2 ATS last 13 non-conference games. Take Stanford here.
Nick Parsons
Houston Astros +150
The last couple of free plays have featured mid to larger sized favorites (both easy victories). Tonight I'm going to recommend a look at an underdog that I feel offers fantastic value in this particular matchup.
Jered Weaver (9-8, 3.38 ERA)
Weaver gave up three runs off nine hits and two walks over six frames while striking out five. Weaver has now thrown four-straight quality starts, going 2-1 in that span.
Brett Oberholtzer (4-2, 2.65 ERA)
Oberholtzer is coming off a great start, giving up just a single run off seven hits with no walks over six innings in his team's eventual 2-1 loss to the A's on Saturday.
The southpaw has given up only one earned run over his last 15 innings pitched and is a spectacular 2-1 with a tiny 2.36 ERA in five appearances (three starts) in front of the home town crowd.
The Bottom Line
Houston is rolling right now, looking to win a fifth straight after yesterday's 9-7 victory.
One player you'll want to keep your eyes on today is the home sides' Matt Dominguez, who hit a grand slam yesterday and who is 6 for 10 with four extra-base hits and six RBIs over his last three games.
This is a good spot to play on the home side underdog. A red hot lineup backed by a white hot hurler.
I'm jumping on the Astros.
Justin Bay
Stanford vs. Army
Play: Army +30
Army is a team that you can rely on to give you 110% every game no matter who they are playing, what the weather is, or where the game is being held. Just like every year, Army will be running an option offense which melts the clock down very fast especially if they can get a couple first downs. Angel Santiago, Army’s quarterback, only threw 11 times last game with a total of 49 yards and 1 interception.
Stanford has been very solid this year with little mistakes and a very sufficient offense and defense. The Cardinal have a very good running game as Tyler Gaffeny and Anthony Wilkerson take turns with the handoffs. The only thing Stanford has against them is experience, with a lot of young players on the roster.
Stanford will have no problem getting the win in this one but Army should be able to keep the clock moving throughout the game.
Kent State vs. LSU
Play: Under 54
Kent State came into this season with a new head coach Paul Haynes, who was the Arkansas Razorbacks defensive coordinator last season. Hayne’s defense limited the Tiger’s to only 306 total yards in a 20-13 loss last year with the Razorbacks. The Golden Flashes are going to have trouble against LSU, but I think their defense will limit the damage and keep the offense in the game.
LSU has been very impressive this year on the offensive side of the ball. They have averaged 446.5 yards/game while scoring on all nine of their trips inside the red zone. Zach Mettenberger will have some issues against the Kent State defense who forced 37 turnovers in its first 13 games last year.
The UNDER is 3-1 in LSU’s last four home games with the betting total between 52.5 and 56.
Don Best Consensus
Maryland at Connecticut
Pick: Maryland
Maryland (2-0) travels to Connecticut (0-1) Satuday and the Terps are ready to make a statement. Maryland has produced over 500 yards of offense in back-to-back games to open the season; winning 43-10 vs FIU and 48-10 vs ODU. Connecticut opened the season with an embarrassing home loss to divison 2 Towson 33-18; followed by a bye week. In the Towson game, Uconn only managed 84 rushing yards on 28 carries.(3.0ypc) Connecticut will have a hard time running on 1st and 2nd down, forcing QB Whitmer to convert 3rd and long. After two impressive performances, the Maryland offense and defense are both highly ranked nationally. The Terrapin offense is avergaing 45 points a game, which is tied for 24th nationally with Clemson, and is averaging 581.5 yards of total offense, good for 12th. Defensively, the Terps are conceeding just 253.0 yards per contest, which is tied for the 16th, and are tied for 15th in scoring defense having allowed just 10 points in each of their two games. Lay the 6 with the Terps.
Andy Iskoe
Alabama -8.5
This eagerly anticipated game has been on the minds of Alabama coach Saban and his players since the stunning loss suffered last season at home in their first SEC encounter with the Aggies. It was the game that contributed the moniker "Johnny Football" to the sporting lexicon as A&M QB Manziel burst onto the scene with his first half performance vs the Tide that ultimately propelled him to winning the Heisman Trophy. Manziel's much chronicled off season issues may have created a schism in the locker room but, more to the point, seems to suggest that he can be rattled and may not respond well to repeated pressure. 'Bama had a week off to prepare for A&M, whose defense will be far less formidable than the Virginia Tech defense that contained the Crimson Tide in their opener. At the same time, the 'Bama defense, which made nice half time adjustments in last season's loss, will be better prepared for Manziel and the Aggies offense. An above average amount of intangibles come into play for this contest and that gives an added edge to the more talented team.
Charlie Scott
New Mexico vs. Pittsburgh
Play: Pittsburgh -22.5
After opening up Labor Day weekend getting blown out by a talented Florida St Team, Pittsburgh has had a week off to recover and looking for a patsy to take their frustration on,, and New Mexico pops up on the schedule. New Mexico's defense is NOT any good as Pitt will be able to score whenever they want like Florida St did to them. New Mexico seems content with the lucky OT win they got last week @ UTEP. Lay the Big Number
Kyle Hunter
UTSA vs. Arizona
Play: Arizona -24
The Arizona Wildcats is a team that loves to run up the score. Rich Rodriguez isn't going to call off the dogs early in this one. UTSA is still developing as a program, and I don't expect them to be ready for Arizona's powerful rushing attack. Arizona's defense is steadily improving and they should be able to control the line of scrimmage against UTSA. Look for Arizona to get ahead early and pour it on here. Take Arizona.
Dave Essler
Vanderbilt +14
I've deliberated this all week, and it was either going to be a 3* huge bet, or a 1*. I can see several ways this plays out, but the most common one is a lower scoring game with Vanderbilt staying within the number. The Gamecocks, especially defensively, are simply not a good as the world would have you believe, and Vanderbilt may have lost Rodgers and Stacy, but they do not suck and are well coached.
John Ryan
Louisville at Kentucky
Prediction: Kentucky
The simulator shows a high probability that Kentucky will lose this game by 10 or fewer points and has a solid shot at an upset win too. Consider adding an optional 1* amount using the money line to the 5* play using the line. The Kentucky defense can contain this high powered offense by first stopping the run. The SIM shows that Kentucky will allow between 50 and 100 rushing yards. In past games, Kentucky is a resounding 4-0 ATS the past three seasons and 25-6 ATS since 1992 when they have allowed between 50 and 100 rushing yards in a game. They are also 2-0 ATS the past three seasons and 12-3 ATS since 1992 when they have allowed 2.5 to 3.0 rushing yards per attempt. Here is a supporting system that ahs gone 68-31 ATS since 1992. Play against a road team (LOUISVILLE) after gaining 475 or more total yards in their previous game and is now facing an opponent after gaining 6.75 or more yards/play in 2 consecutive games. Take Kentucky.
Paul Desmond
Virginia Tech vs. East Carolina
Play: Over 47.5
We have monitored this line move from a 7 to a 8.5 and we just love a good home dog, especially since The Hokies were 0-4 as a road favorite last yr. ECU has 2 key injuries at the LB position as well with Tudor and Grove espected to miss but we feel one of them will suck it up and suit up for this one. VT will score some points in this one and we expect some over action and we just love a live home dog with a team that can score. [ECU + Over]
Alabama vs. Texas A&M
Play: Texas A&M +9.5
We have watched this line move from a 7 to a 9 indicating that the street is very much in love with the Crimson Tide. Everybody loves a winner...So who is Texas A+M? Losers? They got covered on twice at home last yr as a home dog, in their rookie year as SEC members by The Gators game 1, as a one pt underdog, and they lost by 5 vs LSU as a 3.5 pt underdog. Both top notch teams. Now the All Mighty and His Elephants come storming into College Station to Take on The Heisman Trophy Winner at the home of the 12th Man. Come on. Pat Sumlin is an offensive genious and if you think he doesn't have a few tricks up his sleave for this one you have another thing coming. We respect Alabama more than you know and they can very well win this one but not by more than 7!
Cajun Sports
UTSA vs. Arizona
Play: Arizona -24
The Roadrunners face a BCS team for the first time on the road although their first BCS opponent was last week as they faced the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The RR's got four fourth quarter touchdowns to cut into the Cowboys 42 to 7 lead at the end of three quarters but the outcome was long decided as the Cowboys won 56 to 35. The RR's gave up 605 yards of offense and now face a Wildcats team that is averaging 352 yards rushing per game this season. Our TPR Index projects a point advantage of 30.7-points in favor of the Cats. The Math Model projects a point differential of 5.90-points with a line range of -25 to -26.5. All signs point to a Cats win and cover on Saturday night. One final note we want to Play ON CFB teams off back-to-back wins by 27 or more points facing an opponent who gave up 37 or more points their last time out. These play ON teams have a record of 106-53 ATS for 66 percent winners. Lay the points with the Cats
Joe Gavazzi
Oregon State vs. Utah
Play: Utah +3
It’s not unusual for the Beavers to start slowly under 13th year HC Riley. Last year, was the first time in the last decade that Oregon St. had a greater than .500 ATS record after the first 4 games. This year has reverted to that type of negative start despite 17 RS, 60 lettermen, and a tandem of starting signal callers in Mannion and Vaz. Nonetheless, the Beavs lost opening night as -27 home chalk, 49-46 to E. Wash. who dropped 625 TY on their host. Last week in an obvious bounceback spot on their home field v. outmanned Hawaii , the Beavers could not cover the 26 pt. impost in a 33-14 victory in which they were outrushed 69-57. That’s 1-1 SU, 0-2 ATS with a -37 AFP. This bureau expected positive returns under 9th year Utah HC Whittingham. The Utes suffered a rare losing season, at 5-7 SU, 5-6 ATS LY, when they averaged only 324 YPG and allowed 25 PPG. Enter new OC Erickson, aided by former Ute QB Johnson. They have teamed with QB Wilson for a game 1 comeback victory v. a still quality Utah St. team, and a game 2 no let down win v. Weber St. 70-7 in which the Utes put up 628 yards. That is 2-0 SU ATS with a +43 AFP. Yet, nary a move by the linemaker. Riding the Utes till further notice.
Dave Price
Baltimore Orioles -137
The Orioles are showing value at this price given the edge they have on the mound with Chris Tillman. The right-hander is 16-5 with a 3.66 ERA in 29 starts and has done his best work on the road where he's 8-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 13 outings. The Orioles are 5-0 in Tillman's last 5 starts versus losing teams and 4-0 in his last 4 starts versus the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays have lost their last 5 at home, and will have a tough time ending this skid with Esmil Rogers getting the ball. The Jays are 1-4 in his last 5 at home where he has a 5.78 ERA on the season. Take Baltimore.
Mike Williams
Florida Atlantic vs. South Florida
Play: Florida Atlantic +12
I'm backing the Florida Atlantic Owls on the road vs. the South Florida bulls. Both teams are sitting at 0-2 on the season, the Owls have are the much better 0-2 team. FAU are 2-0 ATS so far this season and lost a tough game on the road to East Carolina last week out gaining ECU in yardage and time of possession. The Bulls have looked down right awful this season they lost to McNeese State by 32 points in week one, the Bulls were a 21 point favorite that game. South Florida players are learning a new system with new head coach Willie Taggart and the struggles with his team to learn are glaring. The Bulls are only scoring an average of 13.5 points per game and give up 37 points. I expect the FAU to keep this game close against a in state foe Saturday. Take FAU Saturday