NCAAF: Potential Traps

Potential Traps
By The Prez

Last week we correctly selected Arkansas +24.5 at Florida and South Carolina +17.5 at Alabama. We missed on UAB covering against Ole Miss and Colorado State covering against TCU.

Here’s who we think are set up for trap games this week:

Oklahoma State (-9.5) at Baylor: The Cowboys don’t seem to have missed either Dez Bryant or Kendall Hunter too much yet as they look to start 3-0 in Big 12 play for just the third time. Backup WR Hubert Anyiam and RB Keith Toston both had huge games last week in a win against A&M. It doesn’t appear either starter will be back this week, although Hunter is practicing. Still, OSU plays Texas next week and probably can’t help but overlook a Baylor team that has lost 19 in a row to ranked teams and 12 of the past 13 in this series. I’m actually surprised the line isn’t much larger.

Oregon (-10) at Washington: This game also ties in to the one immediately below. The Ducks have saved their season since being embarrassed by Boise State. So the last thing they better do is overlook the Huskies the week before playing Southern Cal for the Pac-10 title. The good news, perhaps, for Oregon is that it is well aware that USC went to Seattle and was upset by these Huskies, so focus shouldn’t be a problem. It does appear that Jeremiah Masoli will be back at QB for the Ducks, but UW’s Jake Locker presents problems that OU hasn’t yet seen this year.

Southern Cal (-20.5) vs. Oregon State: The Trojans probably have payback on their minds for the Beavers’ upset early last season. So maybe they won’t be looking ahead to next week’s huge game with Oregon. But doesn’t this set up just like one of those Pete Carroll would lose? Remember too that the Trojans come off an emotional win at Notre Dame. Did I also mention the Beavers had a week off to prepare for USC? This line is about 10 points too high, in my opinion.

Cincinnati (-18) vs. Louisville: I can’t see a bad Louisville team winning this game straight up, but I can see the Cards hanging within a touchdown. Cincy comes off a big win at South Florida last Thursday but may not have QB Tony Pike this week after he had arm surgery. Cards QB Adam Froman has been getting better each week and comes off a game where he completed 24 of 31 for 295 yards against UConn.

Florida (-23) at Mississippi State: I don’t really expect the Gators to win by just a field goal for the second straight week, but I do expect MSU to give UF fits for a while as the Bulldogs’ head coach is former UF offensive coordinator Dan Mullen. There’s probably no opposing coach in the country that knows more about the Gators than Mullen does. And believe it or not, Florida has lost four in a row in Starkville. Could a Mississippi team get the Gators for a second year in a row?