Scott Spreitzer
REVENGE GOY
North Carolina
Thankyou for the John Ryan picks. Have not seen his 10* and 7* in forever. Thanks
SIXTH SENSE
2% NORTH CAROLINA -4
2% NC STATE +3.5
2% S. CAROLINA –13.5
2% ARMY +9.5
2% CLEMSON +4
2% E. CAROLINA –8
2% KANSAS +1.5
2% LSU +3.5
2% WASHINGTON +14.5
2% USC –22
2% SAN JOSE STATE –7
2% NEW MEXICO –5
Nathan Armstrong
Highprofitsports
5* Okie State
4* Indiana
3* Syracuse
3* Oklahoma
3* Tennessee
3* Utah State
$$$$ 6-1 Last Saturday $$$$
Fairway Jay
20* Big 12 GOY Baylor Bears
Stephen Nover
SEC Game of the Year
There's tremendous hype surrounding the coaches, especially Nick Saban returning to his former coaching ground. But this matchup will be won in the trenches - and that's where Saban's Crimson Tide holds a decisive edge.
The Crimson Tide can run the ball better and stop the run better. They've won nine straight with only Mississippi topping 92 yards rushing versus them. Alabama is surrendering an average of just 2.6 yards per rush and 65.6 yards rushing per game.
They are going to load up the box daring LSU to throw. The Tigers need an effective ground game to win. But the Tide, featuring 380-pound nose tackle Terrance Cody, won't allow it.
For LSU to win, redshirt freshman quarterback Jarrett Lee will need to step up. His inexperience, this is just his sixth start, and history in big games doesn't suggest that. LSU was crushed by Florida and Georgia when stepping up in competition.
Lee has just a 12-to-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Opponents have returned half of Lee's interceptions for touchdowns. Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson plays his best in big games. He's the more steadier quarterback.
Wilson has thrown only four interceptions and the Tigers have an SEC-low eight takeaways. The Tide takes the pressure off Wilson, rushing for an average of 202 yards per game.
Emotionally, Alabama is in a revenge situation and wants to prove it is deserving of the No. 1 ranking. The Tide has covered eight of the past 10 times when playing on the road against a team with a winning record.
LSU, by contrast, is 3-9-1 against the spread in its past 13 conference matchups. The Tigers have failed to cover in their past four home contests.
This is a five-unit play for me.
Scott Rickenbach
2* (Top Play) Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+) @ Boston College
The Eagles are struggling badly and their swoon is quite likely to continue here. Boston College has lost their game each of the last two weeks and is now just 2-3 in ACC action. Also, with a 5-3 record on the season, there suddenly is real concern in Chestnut Hill about the Eagles even getting their sixth win to be bowl eligible. Remaining games, after hosting Notre Dame, include two ranked teams and two road games for Boston College. The Eagles have road games at Florida State and Wake Forest and then host Maryland in their season finale. As you can see there is tremendous pressure on the Eagles to get that sixth win this week and pressure is the last thing that QB Chris Crane needs! The Boston College quarterback is struggling badly. They tried to go with a more conservative attack against Clemson last week but that back-fired as they looked very poor offensively against the Tigers. However, if they open up the playbook again Crane is likely to struggle with turnovers. Notre Dame has proven to be a very opportunistic team this season and Crane has 12 interceptions and only 8 touchdowns. More concerning than the overall stats is that Crane threw three interceptions in back to back weeks before the Eagles “limited the playbook” last week. He didn’t throw any picks last week but the Boston College QB averaged just 3 yards per pass attempt and the Eagles weakness at QB is a major concern this week.
Unlike the Eagles, Notre Dame is getting improved play from the quarterback start as the season has gone on. QB Jimmy Clausen has 18 touchdowns against 9 interceptions on the season but what has been especially impressive is that he’s got 12 touchdowns against just 3 interceptions in the last five weeks. The Fighting Irish are coming off of a tough overtime loss versus Pittsburgh as it was a game that Notre Dame never trailed in during regulation. However, there is no concern about an inability to bounce back here because the Irish certainly won’t be flat for this game. The Eagles and the Irish are the only two big Catholic schools playing college football as a major program. As a result, this series carries extra meaning and the Irish are determined to win at Chestnut Hill for the first time since 1998. The series actually ends after next season’s game and that game will be at Notre Dame so the Fighting Irish know that it’s now or “who knows when” in terms of coming up with another win at Chestnut Hill. The Irish would love nothing more than to take down the Eagles in their own stadium and they will do just that.
Not only does Notre Dame have a big edge at quarterback, we also feel that Boston College’s indefinite suspension of their kicker Billy Bennett is very significant because the punter will be handling kickoff duties this week and, also, the Eagles missed two field goals in last week’s game versus Clemson. Taking a look at the game, Boston College got down big 17-0 and only got back in the game because of a blocked punt and thanks to some interceptions. In other words, that had a chance to be a home blowout loss and it shows you just how susceptible the Eagles are right now. No longer having Matt Ryan at quarterback is a huge difference and after dominating the Irish in South Bend last season, it will be payback for Notre Dame this time around. This Eagles team is simply not what anywhere close to the team that the Irish played last season and Boston College’s defense was supposed to be it’s strength this season but they’ve allowed 31.5 points per game the last four weeks. Don’t be fooled by their full season stats as that included some very weak offenses. The Eagles defense is struggling and they’re very shaky at quarterback. The Irish will take advantage and win this “statement” game on national TV as they are in much better position, unlike Boston College, to secure their sixth win for bowl eligibility. Play Notre Dame plus the points as a Top Play selection.
Kelso
100 unit play for Saturday.
Houston (-16) over Tulane
Houston (4-4) is catching Tulane (2-6) at just the right time for a blowout win. Tulane has had more injuries in the last 3-4 weeks than any 10 teams in college football and it has really impacted what was once a high-powered offense. The Green Way have been able to muster just 27 points in it last two games and is now facing a Houston team that can run it up. Houston also has to be in a bounce-back mode after a 37-23 loss at Marshall and comes into this game off a bye week. Meantime, Tulane had to play at LSU last week and lost 35-10 in a game in which the Tigers called off the big dogs in an act of mercy. It also is of note this is homecoming at Houston and the Cougars love to win these games. My figures say it will never be close.
5 Units Oregon State/UCLA Points
Oregon State by 17-21
For openers Oregon State is a dramatically superior football team and has so much more quickness and speed that this game could end up being a blowout. Oregon State (5-3) is young and somewhat inexperienced but one would never know it by watching the Beavers play. They have an explosive offense and a lockdown defense and it must be noted that two of its three losses this season came at Penn State (9-0) 45-14 and at Utah (10-0), 31-28. The figures say there is no way UCLA can keep it close.
5 Units Ohio State (-11) over Northwestern
Ohio State by 17-20
It may well turn out to be a snowing day in Evanston but I don’t think it will have much impact on Ohio State, a 7-2 team coming off a bye week and a 13-6 loss to Penn State. Count on the Buckeyes being in a comeback mode and dominating a Northwestern (7-2) team that has injuries to several key people on offense. Of note is the fact OSU has won the last three games 56-7, 54-10 and 48-7.
4 Units Arkansas/So Carolina Points
South Carolina by 3-4
Arkansas (4-5) is one of the most improved teams in college football and stands a very impressive 2-2 in its last 4 games, with the two wins coming over Auburn and previously unbeaten Tulsa and the losses coming by 2 points to Mississippi and by 1 point to Kentucky. The charts say the Razorbacks are ready to fire their best shot and that should keep them in this one all the way. South Carolina (6-3) has a decent defense but is an unimpressive football team.
3 Units Oklahoma State/Texas Tech Points
Oklahoma State by 3-4
Texas Tech (9-0) is in a very tough spot in this Big 12 showdown. The Red Raiders come into this off a very draining last-second 39-33 win over previous number one ranked and undefeated Texas, and there is no way they can be ready to play at the 100% level. Oklahoma State (8-1) is every bit as good as Texas and is even quicker and with a betting running game. The only loss OSU has had this season was a 28-24 decision in Austin to Texas and my figures say they pull he ambush in Lubbock and get the outright win.
Chris Jordan
BLANK CHECK ALABAMA - I see the line on this game is -3 and -3-1/2 everywhere. I want you to buy the 1/2-point down and lay only -3 points. This is extremely important with a game like this, as we will not get beat by the hook in the event of a 3-point game
1,000♦ MINNESOTA
Wizard of Odds Guaranteed Selections
COLLEGE FOOTBALL LATE STEAM PLAY OF THE YEAR
Florida -23.5
Oscarxena Sports
Wake Forest -3 1/2 (3 Unit Play)
Clemson/Florida State Under 44 (3 Unit Play)
Florida Atlantic -22 1/2 (3 Unit Play)
Iron Horse
10* College Blowout of the Year
Oregon St.
Bill Bravenec
Air Force - 10 vs. Colorado State
This pick is based on Air Force’s better defense and a mismatch between Air Force’s rushing offense and Colorado State’s rushing defense. Air Force’s defense allows 298 yards (#22) and 17.3 points (#17) per game, while Colorado State’s defense allows 409 yards (#99) and 32.7 points (#106) per game. Air Force rushes for 274 yards (#4) per game and 4.3 yards per carry, and Colorado State’s defense allows 181 rushing yards (#95) per game and 5.3 yards per carry. Air Force should be able to run all day. Colorado State’s strength is their passing game (#30), but Air Force is #6 against the pass, allowing only 158 passing yards per game and 5.9 yards per pass attempt.
Minnesota - 8 vs. Michigan
This pick is based on Minnesota’s better defense and a mismatch between Minnesota’s passing offense and Michigan’s passing defense. Minnesota’s defense allows 363 yards (#65) but only 17.9 points (#20) per game, while Michigan’s defense allows 394 yards (#91) and 30.9 points (#97) per game. Minnesota passes for 240 yards (#36) per game and 7.3 yards per attempt, and Michigan’s defense allows 253 passing yards (#102) per game and 7.5 yards per pass attempt. Minnesota has a +15 turnover margin and Michigan has a -9 turnover margin.
New Mexico - 3 1/2 at UNLV
This pick is based on New Mexico’s better defense and a mismatch between New Mexico’s rushing offense and UNLV’s rushing defense. New Mexico’s defense allows 334 yards (#42) and 22.6 points (#49) per game, while UNLV’s defense allows 437 yards (#108) and 35.0 points (#110) per game. New Mexico rushes for 212 yards (#15) per game and 5.4 yards per carry, and UNLV’s defense allows 232 rushing yards (#116) per game and 5.2 yards per carry. Like Air Force, New Mexico should be able to run the ball at will. UNLV’s QB Omar Clayton, who is also the team’s 2nd leading rusher, is out with an injury so they will play sophomore Mike Clausen, who is only 11-of-21 for 110 yards with 0 TD’s and 0 INT’s. Clausen does have 2 rushing TDs but only has -6 rushing yards in 17 attempts.
Jim Feist
Blowout GOM Minnesota
Rainman
5* Alabama - Colorado - San Jose St
3* Oklahoma St - BYU
1* W Michigan