Marshall at VIRGINIA TECH (Thursday night)...Surprisingly, MAC juggernaut Marshall 0-5 as road dog since '99.
Missouri at BOWLING GREEN...This game has special significance for Mizzou's 2nd-year mentor Pinkel, who played (Kent State) and coached (Toledo) in state of Ohio, and for Tiger QB Smith (hails from Youngstown). Revenge-minded Tigers eager to settle score following 20-13 upset loss to Falcs in Columbia LY.
Southern Cal at COLORADO...CU just 8-14 as home chalk since '97, and Buffs just 1-6 laying 10 or fewer pts. over same span; only cover was 10-pt. win over Texas A&M as 9 pt. chalk LY). USC is 4-0 as road dog last 2Ys.
Indiana at KENTUCKY...UK has covered 5 of past 7 in "Border War." But Wildcats were thrilled by Hoosier star QB Randle El (now in a Steeler uniform) after he accounted for 237 yds. & 2 TDs in 26-15 IU win LY.
Tulsa at LOUISIANA TECH...TU now bankroll-bustin' 1-11 vs. spread last 1+ Ys. La. Tech is 67% play as home chalk since '97 (including Shreveport).
Florida State at MARYLAND...FSU fired-up to re-establish ACC dominance after relinquishing league crown for 1st time to upstart Maryland LY. 'Noles roared back from 14-0 deficit in 52-31 win LY, outscoring tired Terps 21-0 in 4th Q in hot & humid Tallahassee. FSU QB Rix was uncanny, throwing for 350 yds. and 5 TDs on just 15 completions in 24 attempts.
Toledo at MINNESOTA...UM had captured 16 in row SU vs. MAC foes until back-to-back losses to Ohio U. and Toledo past 2 yrs. You can bet Gophers emotionally-primed here after falling behind 17-0 in 1st Q of eventual 38-7 loss vs. Rockets LY (worst defeat in last 42 games!).
Baylor at NEW MEXICO...Baylor just 4-10 as road dog last 3+ Ys, while UNM 4-1 as home chalk last 1+. Lobos have 32 native Texans on roster.
Wake Forest at NORTH CAROLINA STATE...WF has hung tough vs. neighboring ACC foe on "Tobacco Road," covering 4 of last 5 (all as dog).
Washington State at OHIO STATE...WSU is 7-1 as road dog last 8 in role.
Idaho at OREGON...Idaho is 10-5 as DD road dog since '97, while U of O only 2-8 last 10 as chalk in noisy Autzen Stadium.
Unlv at OREGON STATE...OSU has been dynamite home chalk lately, recording 12-2 spread mark in role since '97.
Georgia at SOUTH CAROLINA...UGA felt it let one slip away in LY's painful 14-9 home loss to USC. Bulldogs led 9-7 with 3:11 to go when 'Cocks went on tension-filled 67-yd drive to pull out 5-point win. In that final march, USC converted three times on 3rd-and-10 before QB Petty tossed winning 16-yd. TD pass with 1:22 remaining.
Memphis at SOUTHERN MISS...USM all jazzed-up for payback with Memphis. Golden Eagles had dominated Tigers in previous 7 meetings (covered all 7, winning by avg. 26-6 score) until sloppy 22-17 loss to Memphis LY. USM committed 5 TOs (none for Tigers), including momentum-shifting 29-yd int. returned for TD,
San Jose State at STANFORD...Before 41-14 Stanford win LY, SJS had gone 7-0-1 vs. spread previous 8 in series, including 3 straight upsets. Spartans always get sky high for annual battle with hated Cardinal, who they like to call the "rich kids" from Palo Alto.
Miami-Florida at TEMPLE...M-F hasn't had much trouble beating big spreads vs. Temple lately, covering 5 of last 6 as avg. 27-point favorite.
SMU at TCU...TCU has held upper hand vs. old SWC rival SMU recently, covering 3 straight and 5 of last 6. In 38-10 romp LY, Horned Frog "D" outscored Mustang attack, producing TDs on 36-yd. & 1-yd. fumble returns.
Mississippi at TEXAS TECH...Ole Miss' road record SU (9-5) nearly as good as its home mark (13-7) over last 3 seasons.
Northern Illinois at WISCONSIN...UW has been poor chalk at Camp Randall recently, going just 3-9 last 2+ campaigns.
Boise State at WYOMING...Undervalued BSU has been sound investment last 3+ years, compiling a 24-11 spread mark.