College Football Betting Info. Week 8

[TheGame]

College Football Betting Preview: UCLA at Stanford
By Teddy Covers
Sportsmemo.com

UCLA at Stanford
Saturday, 12:30 pm PT - ABC
CRIS Opener: Stanford -7 O/U 55
CRIS Current: Stanford -6 O/U 54
Rob Veno's Power Rating: Stanford -6.5
Teddy Covers' Recommendation: UCLA

The PAC-12 is positively loaded this year, #2 in the country behind only the mighty SEC in conference strength according to my numbers. Saturday’s Stanford vs. UCLA showdown gives us a clear example of how good this conference really is! Remember, neither squad was the preseason favorite to win their respective divisions (USC and Oregon), and the trio of Oregon State, Washington and Arizona State are all capable of beating anyone in the league on any given Saturday. So while Stanford and UCLA provide a battle of Top 15 teams for ABC on Saturday, even the winner of this matchup is not going to have an easy task of holding on to that lofty rankings throughout the course of the season.

From a strict value perspective, the markets are offering somewhat of a buy low opportunity for Stanford after the Cardinal lost last week and failed to cover as ten point favorites against Washington two weeks ago. Then again, it’s not too difficult to make an alternate case – the case that Stanford is a vulnerable favorite and the undefeated Bruins have no business as an underdog in this price range against a team they’re no worse than.

Stanford and UCLA met twice last year, less than a week apart. The first meeting was the regular season finale for both squads, but the Bruins had clinched a trip to the PAC-12 title game by beating USC the previous week, while Stanford needed the win to clinch the PAC-12 North Division. And there was a dramatic difference in the way the two teams approached the game as a result. The Cardinal won 35-17 in a fairly one sided affair.

But Stanford head coach David Shaw knew that the Cardinal didn’t get UCLA’s best shot. Here was his quote about the rematch for the PAC-12 title and a BCS Bowl game the following week: “I expect them to give us everything. I expect this to be a very tough, physical game. It's going to be 10 times harder than this game was. We're going to get their best shot.”

Shaw was right. In the game that mattered for BOTH teams, UCLA outgained the Cardinal by more than 130 yards and led by a TD heading into the fourth quarter. But Stanford rallied back to take a three point lead, and UCLA missed the potential game tying field goal. Stanford got the 27-24 win, but UCLA backers got the money as nine point underdogs right here in Palo Alto.

UCLA is better this year than they were last year. Dual threat QB Brett Hundley is no inexperienced freshman like he was in 2012, and his early season play has been nothing short of stellar: 68% completions, 12 TD’s, 9.2 yards per pass attempt. He’s made big plays on the highway, leading the Bruins to victory on the road at Nebraska and Utah, teams that are a combined 9-1 in all other games (Utah lost by a field goal in OT to Oregon State).

Bruins junior RB Jordon James is averaging 6.3 yards per rush, although his ankle injury doesn’t look good as of this writing. Still, running back depth is not an issue for this team. Nine different receivers have caught at least one touchdown pass. Their defense, while still fairly young, is loaded with NFL caliber talent in the trenches, allowing them to win the rushing battle in every game except last week’s relatively sluggish look-ahead against lowly Cal.

The technical trends point towards the Bruins, in addition to their revenge motif after Stanford denied them a trip to the Rose Bowl last year. UCLA is 5-1 ATS as an underdog in the Jim Mora era, the lone loss coming in that aforementioned ‘meaningless’ regular season finale for the Bruins last year. That includes outright wins as a dog against Nebraska (twice), USC, Arizona State and their cover at Stanford. Meanwhile, the Cardinal just aren’t built to win games by big margins; lacking the requisite offensive explosiveness – hence their 1-5 ATS mark in their last six tries as home chalk in conference. Expect a tight game!

[TheGame]

College Football Betting Preview: Florida State at Clemson
By Rob Veno
Sportsmemo.com

Florida State at Clemson
Saturday, 5 pm PT - ABC
CRIS Opener: Florida State -3 O/U 63
CRIS Current: Florida State -3 O/U 63.5
Rob Veno's Power Rating: Florida State -1
Rob Veno's Recommendation: Clemson

Stakes are high here as ACC Atlantic Division and berth in the ACC Championship Game are both probably on the line. As mentioned in the Sportsmemo blog section earlier this week, Clemson has been a money making machine going 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings. There is a measure of atonement seeking by the Tigers in this one after their total second half collapse last season. Holding a 28-14 lead, Clemson allowed FSU touchdowns on five consecutive drives which resulted in a 35-3 spurt that decided the game. Clemson junior DE Vic Beasely stated "Last year they got us, but I feel like we should have won. We're looking for payback". There’s no doubt that loss sits badly with them so situational revenge can be applied.

For Florida State, the question of having a freshman starting QB on the road in a hostile venue with so much on the line is one that will have an answer after the game. Jameis Winston has certainly performed well in his pair of road starts this season (27-of-29, 377 yards at Pittsburgh and 17-of-27, 330 yards at Boston College) but this could turn out to be a different ordeal for him. Clemson has already had QB Aaron Murray and a healthy Georgia offense in here and won so this will be a tough test. The other side of the coin is Clemson’s defense was torched for 35 points and 545 yards in that game. Florida State’s balance is very similar to that of Georgia’s. FSU has a dynamic three level passing game and a potent ground attack (6.0 ypc) but they possess a dual threat QB which gave Clemson trouble last season in the form of E.J. Manual. The sum of all the offense is 549.0 ypg and 53.6 ppg. It’s hard to take Clemson’s overall defensive numbers as serious improvement when they were lit up by the one elite offense they’ve faced this season. However, Florida State’s offense will have to handle the disguised blitzes and coverages that Tigers’ DC Bret Venables has been successfully dialing up. Clemson is #1 in the nation in tackles for loss and #1 in sacks per game.

The same can be said for the Clemson offense vs. the Florida State defense. FSU has strong defensive numbers but they have played nobody of Clemson’s caliber and mediocre Boston College put up 34 on them. Neither Nevada nor Maryland had their multi-talented starting quarterbacks Cody Fajardo and C.J. Brown available when the Seminoles played them so it’s yet to be seen how they’ll handle Heisman Candidate Tajh Boyd. The height and athletic ability of Clemson’s receivers Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant could be an issue for FSU’s smaller DB’s. The ground game including Boyd is generating enough to keep defenses honest and RB Roderick McDowell will factor in here.

We’re dealing with near mirror images in this contest with only slight differences. Florida State is the better running team and will look to get their ground game going against what may be a vulnerable Clemson run defense. Clemson has the veteran PK which could be the difference. Florida State has had the extra week to prepare while the Tigers clearly were looking ahead to this in last week’s lackluster win against Boston College. Based on class of opponent thus far and revenge motive, I give a nod to Clemson +3.

[TheGame]

College Football Betting Preview: USC at Notre Dame
By Brian Edwards
Sportsmemo.com

USC at Notre Dame
Saturday, 4:30 pm PT - NBC
CRIS Opener: Notre Dame pk O/U 52
CRIS Current: Notre Dame -3 O/U 51
Rob Veno's Power Rating: Notre Dame -4.5
Brian Edwards' Recommendation: Notre Dame

The stakes are usually much higher when Notre Dame and USC collide on the gridiron. When these bitter rivals met last season, the Trojans had a chance to deny the Fighting Irish a trip to the BCS Championship Game.

This time around, however, we have a pair of unranked teams with two losses apiece.

Nevertheless, games all pay the same when it comes to sports wagering. As of late Thursday morning, most books had Notre Dame (4-2 SU, 1-4-1 ATS) favored by three with a total of 50.5.

Gamblers can back the Trojans to win outright for a +130 return (risk $100 to win $130). For first-half bets, Notre Dame is a one-point chalk with a total of 25.

Brian Kelly’s team had an open date following its 37-34 win over Arizona State as a 6.5-point underdog at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Tommy Rees threw for 379 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Irish past the Sun Devils.

For the season, Rees has completed only 51.7 percent of his throws for 1,494 yards with a 13-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. T.J. Jones has been his favorite target, hauling in 33 receptions for 481 yards and four TDs. DaVaris Daniels and Troy Niklas also have four TD catches apiece.

George Atkinson III has rushed for a team-high 323 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He was the lone bright spot in a 35-21 loss to Oklahoma when he ran for a career-high 148 yards.

USC (4-2 SU, 2-4 ATS) suffered a stunning 10-7 home loss to Washington State in Week 2. The setback as a 16-point favorite only added to the temperature on Lane Kiffin’s hot seat.

When the Trojans went down 62-41 at Arizona State on Sept. 28, AD Pat Haden took Kiffin off the team bus at LAX and handed him a pink slip. Ed Orgeron, the former head man at Ole Miss, was given the interim head-coaching gig.

After an open date, USC responded under Orgeron to beat Arizona by a 38-31 count last Thursday as a 5.5-point home favorite. Cody Kessler threw for 297 yards and a pair of TDs without an interception.

Senior RB Silas Redd made his season debut after sitting out the first five games with a knee injury. The Penn St. transfer ran for a team-high 80 rushing yards.

With All-American WR Marquise Lee unable to go with a knee injury, Nelson Agholor stepped up and made seven receptions for 161 yards and one TD. Lee has been upgraded to ‘probable’ this week and will start in South Bend.

On the other hand, pass-rushing specialist Morgan Breslin remains a question mark due to a hip injury. Breslin, a senior OLB who was a second-team All Pac-12 selection in 2012 when he had 13 sacks, missed the win over Arizona as well.

The over is 4-2 overall for Notre Dame this year, but the under is 2-1 in its home games. Meanwhile, Southern Cal has seen the under go 4-2 overall. However, we should note that the over has hit in its last two games and its only road assignment of the season.

When these teams met at The Coliseum last year, Notre Dame collected a 22-13 win as a four-point road favorite. But in the 2011 game in South Bend, USC won a 31-17 decision as a 9.5-point road underdog.

The under has cashed in three straight head-to-head meetings between these storied rivals and in seven of the last nine encounters.

As a home favorite during Kelly’s tenure, Notre Dame has compiled a 7-9-4 spread record (and yes, that’s not a misprint, there have been four pushes).

I haven’t backed either one of these teams this season. I’ve successfully faded the Irish three times with wins on Michigan, Michigan State (I got the Spartans at +7 early in the week) and Oklahoma. I went against USC with Arizona last week and got beat.

So obviously, I’m not a huge fan of either squad. With that said, the Irish showed me something in its win over Arizona State. With Rees coming into this game with confidence after a strong performance against the Sun Devils, I have to recommend Notre Dame laying the short number at home.

[TheGame]

College Football Betting Preview: LSU at Ole Miss
By Alatex Sports
Sportsmemo.com

LSU at Mississippi
Saturday, 4 pm PT - ESPN
CRIS Opener: LSU -9.5 O/U 60
CRIS Current: LSU -10 O/U 60
Rob Veno's Power Rating: LSU -5
Brent Crow's Recommendation: LSU

Last week saw Ole Miss play Texas A&M in one of the best games of the year in the SEC, with the Aggies coming out on top, 41-38. Ole Miss performed admirably in taking the Aggies down to the final horn, but they ran out of manpower in the end, especially on defense. While I watched the game, I noted that the Rebels were losing players left and right on defense, and that plus the physicality of the game would make it tough on them this week. Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze has confirmed what I saw this week in several interviews.

"In the fourth quarter, we had only one personnel grouping that we could get on the field and kind of lost all the things we had planned in our spy techniques - we just didn't have any of those people available in the fourth quarter," Freeze said. "I'm not saying that's the reason we lost the game ... but it did factor into it."

"We're a beat-up football team right now," Freeze said. "You see other teams that go through this, and unfortunately we've joined the ranks with them."

Five Ole Miss defenders were hurt in the Texas A&M game and two more were already out with injuries. Freeze said all those injured defenders are "either definitely out or questionable at best," for this week and while he and his staff considered pulling the redshirts off some freshmen to help, they ultimately decided against it.

"We're going to try to do right by the kid at all times and I just don't think that would be right, expecting that we get most of those guys back the following week - or week or two, he said.

So an Ole Miss defense that isn’t that good to begin with will face an LSU offense that averages 41 ppg this week without half of its starting lineup and just four defensive linemen available. Throw in the fact that the Rebels have lost three straight games and are probably feeling a little down about themselves and it will be tough on them this week against LSU.

LSU is coming off its best defensive performance of the year against Florida, as they allowed just six points and 240 yards to the Gators last week. The LSU defense probably won’t come close to those numbers on the road this week, but they should be able to get enough stops against an Ole Miss offense that is missing its top running back, Jeff Scott and backup/running quarterback Barry Brunetti. I expect the LSU offense to have a field day against the banged up Ole Miss defense, which would have a tough time stopping LSU even if healthy.

Quarterback Zach Mettenberger is having a solid senior season and running back Jeremy Hill is becoming a star under new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. The running game should be huge for LSU in this one, especially late in the game when the Ole Miss defenders that are not used to playing so much are sucking wind. Even if the Rebels are able to keep it close for a couple of quarters, they are not going to be able to shut down LSU’s offense for four quarters.

[TheGame]

Big Ten Report - Week 8
By ASAWins.com

Week 7 of the Big Ten slate watched favorites go 3-1 both straight up and against the spread. The lone underdog to cash was Penn State (+2), who defeated Michigan 43-30 in the fourth overtime. Home teams went 3-1 and three of the margins were decided by double digits. Bettors watched the ‘over/under’ go 2-2.

Ohio State (-17, 55½) vs. Iowa

OSU is off of a well-deserved bye week after back-to-back hard-fought victories over Wisconsin and Northwestern. The Buckeyes return home Saturday as a heavy 2+ touchdown favorite when they take on the Hawkeyes. This is an intriguing matchup considering the Buckeyes have ridden a stout rushing attack the past two weeks (192 yards vs. Wisconsin & 248 yards vs. Northwestern) but now face an Iowa defense that has yet to allow a rushing touchdown and ranks 8th in rush yards allowed per game. OSU’s RB Hyde has now played three games since returning from suspension. He has 294 rushing yards (6.1 YPC average) and four total touchdowns. OSU’s rush defense will again be tested against Iowa’s power rushing scheme, but the Buckeyes have been great against the rush this year. They held Wisconsin and Northwestern – two prolific rushing teams – to just 198 combined rushing yards on 2.8 YPC. All signs indicate that if the Hawkeyes want a shot at winning this game, it will be on QB Rudock to expose this leaky OSU secondary. Rudock has 7 TD and 3 INT in his last four games but is far from elite. Still, the Bucks allowed 295 pass yards to Wisconsin two weeks ago and allowed Northwestern to complete 25-of-30 passes for 343 yards. Rudock and the rest of this offense used the bye week to sharpen things on offense after getting shutdown by Michigan State in their last game (264 total yards and 13 first downs) The Hawkeyes last won in Columbus in 1991 but are 7-2 ATS in their last seven games as a 15+ point underdog. OSU is 18-10 ATS in its last 28 as a favorite of 15+ or more.

Wisconsin (-12½, 55½) at Illinois

The Badgers played arguably their most complete game of the season in last week’s blowout of Northwestern. Granted they got a downtrodden opponent off of its own “Game of the Year” loss a week before, but it’s hard to imagine a more dominant performance by the Badgers. Defensively the Badgers held Northwestern without a touchdown and limited them to just 241 yards, 10 first downs, and 2-of-17 on 3rd down. Wisconsin now ranks 5th nationally in both total defense (267 YPG) and points per game allowed (13.2 PPG). The offense did its thing with 527 total yards including 286 rush yards – 172 from star RB Gordon returning from a minor knee injury. The Illini are off of a bye week after getting blasted by Nebraska two weeks ago. The Illini never really mounted a serious challenge against Nebraska last week. They fell behind 23-5 by halftime and the defense couldn’t come up with a timely stop of Nebraska. The Huskers ran for 335 yards on 50 carries and that prevented Illinois’ offense from ever getting into consistent rhythm. Illinois’ QB Scheelhaase remains a headache with just 136 passing yards (50%) with 0 TD and 1 INT and it seems the Illini will either get “great Scheelhaase” or “terrible Scheelhaase” with no in-between. Wisconsin has won three straight over Illinois each by double digits (12.6 points per game), but the Illini are 4-2 ATS in the last six vs. Wisconsin. Illinois is also 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games as a home underdog of 10+ points.

Michigan State (-26½, 42½) vs. Purdue

Looks like Mark Dantonio has finally found himself an offense to go with the nation’s #1 defense. Sure Indiana’s defense isn’t the greatest barometer, but the Spartans have to be encouraged by what QB Cook and this offensive unit has done lately. MSU racked up 473 yards and 24 first downs in the 42-point outburst against Indiana last week – in an almost perfect balance of 238 rushing yards and 235 passing yards. Cool now has 9 TD and just 2 INT over the last four games and is gaining confidence by the week. Defensively the Spartans played arguably its toughest offensive matchup in Indiana. MSU allowed 28 points, but held IU to just 92 rush yards on 3.4 YPC average and held IU QB’s to 25-of-47 completions. The Spartans have only been a 26+ point Big Ten favorite twice since 1990, so that should tell you how poor Purdue is playing right now. The Boilers’ only win this season was a narrow 6-point escape over FCS Indiana State at home. Purdue has lost to five FBS opponents by an average of 28.2 points per game. Freshman QB Etling completed just 14-of-35 passes and led the team to 11 first downs in the 44-7 blowout loss at home to Nebraska last week. The Boilers' problems on offense clearly go beyond the quarterback position as Purdue didn't cross midfield until the fourth quarter last week against Nebraska. This is a bad football team. It ranks 121st in total offense, 120th in scoring offense, 82nd in total defense, and 116th in scoring defense. Purdue has only been a 26+ point underdog once since 1996 (2011 against Wisconsin – one of the best Big Ten offenses of all-time). Michigan State is 4-0 in the last four meetings with Purdue (2-1-1 ATS), but is just 3-10 ATS in its last 13 games as a 20+ point Big Ten favorite.

Michigan (-7½, 67) vs. Indiana

Michigan and Penn State battled through four overtimes before the winner was decided last week – and it wasn’t the Wolverines. The Wolves nearly pulled off another escape after a strong second half, but breakdowns in all three phases led to a crushing loss. The defense broke down at the end of regulation, the offense couldn't find the end zone in overtime and the normally reliable Brendan Gibbons missed three field goal attempts. Devin Gardner threw two more interceptions and Michigan mustered 149 rushing yards on just 2.8 YPC. The defense held the Nittany Lions to just 85 rush yards on 1.9 YPC, but allowed too many big plays in the passing game. After allowing 43 points to PSU in four overtimes, Michigan will have to bounce back quickly before the Wolves play the high-octane offense of Indiana. The Hoosiers offense saw more success against Michigan State’s vaunted defense than most opponents do, but the defense failed to show up again as the Hoosiers allowed 35+ points for the fourth time this season. The Spartans were able to churn out 238 rush yards on 5.1 YPC while QB Cook passed for 235 and two scores. The Hoosiers' quarterback situation took another turn as Tre Roberson outperformed Nate Sudfeld. Roberson is more of a dual-threat so expect coaches to at least get him a handful of touchdes throughout this game, especially if Sudfeld struggles. Indiana is just 1-32 all-time vs. Michigan and has lost 17 in a row. The Hoosiers have covered the last two meetings, losing by just 10 total points. The Hoosiers are just 2-8 ATS in the last 10 games as a Big Ten road underdog of 7+ points.

Northwestern (-12, 53½) vs. Minnesota

Northwestern clearly had a hangover from the Ohio State game as nothing went right for the Wildcats in Madison last week. Wisconsin held QB’s Siemian & Colter to just 17-of-39 completions and the rushing attack managed just 44 yards on 25 carries. The Wildcats were just 2-of-17 on 3rd downs, had just 10 first downs, and didn’t score a touchdown. Injuries are starting to become a concern for Pat Fitzgerald's crew, as Venric Mark (ankle) barely played and Kain Colter (ankle) didn't do much at quarterback. The good news is that OSU & Wisconsin aren’t in Northwestern’s division, so the Wildcats can still make some noise in the conference – starting with Minnesota this weekend. Adversity continues for the Gophers as head coach Jerry Kill has taken a leave of absence as he tries to get his epilepsy under control. Although Minnesota assistants and players know how to adjust without Kill, it doesn't make the situation much easier. On the field, Minnesota dropped its second consecutive game by double digits in its 29-point blowout loss at Michigan two weeks ago. The Gophers offense has managed just 446 total yards and 20 points over the last two weeks. That includes just 83 rush yards per game on 2.4 YPC. QB’s Philip Nelson and Mitch Leidner have been mediocre all season long. They’ve combined for just 3 TD and 5 INT through six games. The defense isn’t good enough to make up for the ineffectiveness. Minnesota has allowed its last three opponents to average 432.6 YPG and 30 PPG. Offensively Minnesota is averaging just 242 YPG and 10 PPG in Big Ten play. Northwestern has won five of the last six over Minnesota, including the last time in Evanston by 15 points.

Penn State - BYE

It’s hard to get a gauge on Penn State. Two weeks ago the Nittany Lions were blown out by Indiana by 20 points. Last week they outlasted the previously undefeated Michigan Wolverines in four overtimes. Head coach Bill O'Brien played to win while Michigan's coaches went conservative, and freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg rebounded from some mistakes to lead the game-tying touchdown drive at the end of regulation. Penn State gets a well-deserved week off before heading to Ohio State to see if it can pull off some more magic.

Nebraska - BYE

Nebraska handled its business against Purdue and for the third consecutive game won in blowout fashion. Backup quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. threw three interceptions and completed only six passes (thus resolving the “quarterback controversy” between him and the injured Taylor Martinez), but he had plenty of help from the run game that notched 251 yards on 56 carries. The defense once again took a step forward and this unit is gaining more and more confidence each week. The Huskers once again are off this week, which should allow top signal-caller Taylor Martinez to heal from his toe injury.

[TheGame]

ACC Report - Week 8
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com

It will be all eyes on the Atlantic Coast Conference, or at least all eyes on Death Valley in the upstate of South Carolina, as Florida State and Clemson clash in a battle of Top 5 powers. The nation's showcase game features two of the ACC's unbeatens, and the winner will have a very good shot at a national title shot if they can run the table after Saturday's game.

The weekend in the ACC gets started early, as it is 'Zero Dark Thursday' in Chapel Hill. The North Carolina Tar Heels will be wearing a fancy black alternate uniform with matte helmets. It is uncertain if that will make any difference slowing down Miami, but it should be a good look on television. These uniform changes is a glorified fashion show for old-school fans, but students and recruits eat this kind of stuff up.

Miami, Fl. at North Carolina

As mentioned, it's 'Zero Dark Thursday' at Kenan Stadium, but the Tar Heels expected a lot better results by this point of the season for their national showcase game. Now, UNC is fighting just to get bowl eligible. Another loss, and they're really be up against it. The Hurricanes have covered nine of their past 11 games on the road, and they are 19-7 ATS in their past 26 games overall. And Miami is a whopping 14-2 ATS in their past 16 ACC games, and they're 4-0 ATS in their past four forays away from Sun Life Stadium. The Tar Heels are 1-4 SU and ATS, and they have covered just two of their past seven against aa team with a winning record. They are 8-3 ATS in their past 11 games at Kenan, but the last time they appeared on their home field, they were hammered by in-state rival East Carolina. The underdog is 7-1-1 in the past nine meetings in this series, and if UNC can find a way to slow down the 'Canes on defense, they could hang around and cover the eight-point number. But the Tar Heels have displayed very little reason to have any confidence that will happen. The 'over' is 4-0 in the past four meetings in this series.

Syracuse at Georgia Tech

Syracuse had just 74 yards passing, two turnovers and just 15 first downs to 22 for NC State, but Syracuse came away with a 24-10 road victory for its first ACC win ever. The Orange completed five passes to wide receivers in the victory, and that comes one week after managing ZERO completions to wideouts in a loss to Clemson. The Orange offense is a mess, and there is little reason to believe they'll be able to do it with mirrors for a second straight week. Georgia Tech is a much better team than NC State. The Yellow Jackets failed to cover in a 38-20 loss at Brigham Young last week, their third straight non-cover after starting the year 3-0 ATS. However, their past three losses have all been against Virginia Tech, in a hard faught 17-10 game, then a loss at Miami in which they were in it until the very in, and the game in Provo. All quality opponents. Syracuse is a step down, and the Ramblin' Wreck should be able to get back on track.

Maryland at Wake Forest

The Terps scratched out a one-point win at home against Virginia, failing to cover the spread for the second consecutive game. The Deacs bounced NC State 28-13 in their last game Oct. 5, and the 'under' came through for the fifth time in six games. The Terrapins have covered six of their past eight games, but they are just 4-12 ATS in their past 16 ACC games. The Deacs are 1-8 ATS in their past nine games against a team with a winning record, and 2-7 ATS in their past nine games overall, but they are 5-1 ATS in their past six after a bye week, so they have that going for them. The good news for the Terps, and potentially for bettors, will be QB C.J. Brown (concussion) coming back from concussion. Head coach Randy Edsall says Brown is cleared to practice, and 'should' start. Check back just to be sure, as that makes a big difference in the potential result.

Duke at Virginia

The Blue Devils welcome back QB Anthony Boone (collarbone) from a broken collarbone, and he tossed a career-high 295 yards in last week's 35-7 victory against Navy. I can tell you first-hand, as I was at the game, that while Navy isn't particularly good on offense, especially when they get behind and have to go aerial, that the Duke defense looked much improved after a bye. Now, the Blue Devils step back into conference, and they look for their fifth victory in six tries against the Cavaliers. UVA ranks 13th in the ACC in scoring offense with just 22.3 points per game, and QB David Watford hasn't helped his own cause, tossing seven interceptions, which is second-most in the league. The Blue Devils are 6-1-1 ATS in their past eight road games against a team with a losing home record, but they just 2-7 ATS in their past nine on the road overall, and 1-5 ATS in their past six ACC games. The Cavaliers are 2-9-1 ATS in their past 12 at Scott Stadium, and 4-10 ATS in the past 14 games at home against a team with a winning road record.

Florida State at Clemson

The Seminoles and Heisman Trophy hopeful QB Jameis Winston invade Death Valley, and they are a three-point favorite against the Tigers. He'll go head-to-head with QB Tajh Boyd, who needs just 164 passing yards to throw for 10,000 yards in his ACC career. The last time a team won with a freshman quarterback at Clemson was during the 2007 season. The Tigers are 11-5 ATS in their past 16 games overall and 10-3 ATS in their past 13 ACC games, but just 1-4 ATS in their past five against a team with a winning record. The Seminoles have covered just once in the past eight road games (at Pittsburgh earlier this season), and they are 0-5 ATS in their past five road games against a team with a winning home record. That might explain why the public is rolling to Clemson at nearly a two-to-one clip. The Seminoles are also 0-8 ATS in their past eight trips to Clemson and 0-4 ATS in the past four meetings with the Tigers overall. The home team is also 12-3 ATS in the past 15 meetings in this series.

Other Games

Old Dominion at Pittsburgh

Byes

Boston College, North Carolina State, Virginia Tech

[TheGame]

Pac-12 Report - Week 8
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com

The Pac-12 takes a backseat to the ACC in terms of marquee billing and game of the week, but not by much. We get a UCLA-Stanford matchup for the third time since November. This game lost a little bit of its luster when Stanford fell at Utah last weekend, but then again, that might make it that much more interesting, too.

And any college football fan cannot pass up a chance to check in on USC-Notre Dame, at least during commercials of the Florida State- Clemson tilt. The Trojans have turned it around since the firing of Lane Kiffin, and a battle in South Bend is just as intriguing as ever.

UCLA at Stanford

The Bruins find themselves in the Top 10, and they are ranked higher (No. 9) in The Associated Press Top 25 poll than they have been since Oct. 30, 2005. QB Brett Hundley threw for a career-high 410 yards against California last weekend, and he might need a similar effort to take down the Cardinal. Stanford has won five straight games in this series. The Cardinal saw their 13-game winning streak snapped last week in Utah, but they still can protect a 12-game home winning streak this weekend. UCLA is 5-0 ATS in the past five games, and 4-1 ATS in their past five conference tilts. They're also 6-2 ATS in the past eight games against a team with a winning record. The Cardinals is 27-11-1 ATS in their past 39 games overall, and 19-8-1 ATS in the past 28 conference tilts. It's hard to see Stanford losing back-to-back games, but UCLA has looked awfully tough, and if you can get them at seven or more points, they might be a great play even though the Bruins are 2-6 ATS in their past eight trips to Palo Alto.

Washington at Arizona State

The Huskies hung around for a little while last week, but were eventually outclassed by Oregon, 45-24. It was the second straight loss for the Huskies, after losing a close one at Stanford in the previous week. A trip to Tempe is certainly no bargain either. While UW is 6-2 ATS in the past eight games against a team with a winning record, and 6-2 ATS in the past eight conference games, they're just 4-9 ATS in the past 13 road contests, and 2-7 ATS in their past nine road games against a team with a winning home mark. AZ State is 5-1 ATS in the past six home games, and 4-1 ATS in their past five Pac-12 tilts. While they're 3-7 in their past 10 games against a team with a winning record, they are an impressive 5-2-1 ATS in the past eight home games against a team with a winning road record.

Southern California at Notre Dame

While this game doesn't have the same meaning as in years past, a win moves the winner to 5-2. That keeps the winner on track for a major bowl game, while the loser slips to 4-3 and they will struggle to just to turn in a winning season. The good news for USC is that they are expecting CB Anthony Brown (knee) back for the first time since Week 1. The bad news is that the Trojans have been blasted for 975 passing yards over the past two games, and with or without Brown, the Irish should look to exploit that. Neither team has been particularly good against the number, with USC going 3-8 ATS in the past 11 games against a team with winning record, and 0-9 ATS in their past nine road games. The Irish are 2-6-1 ATS in their past nine home games, and 1-3-1 ATS in the past five against winning teams.

Utah at Arizona

Utah stunned Stanford at home, and now for an encore they hit the road for Arizona looking to slay the Wildcats. The key for the Utes will be getting WR Dres Anderson the ball. He has five receptions for 50 or more yards. And watch out for the Utes if they have the lead at halftime. They have won 49 straight games when leading at the break. For the Wildcats, QB B.J. Denker is coming off a strong performance, throwing for 363 yards and four scores against USC. However, the offense starts and stops with RB Ka'Deem Carey, who has eclipsed the century mark in eight straight games. Some might raise an eyebrow seeing the Utes as a four-point dog, but they are 2-5 ATS in their past seven road games, and 1-5 ATS in the past six ACC games. Of course, Arizona is 2-5 ATS in their past seven, and 1-5 ATS in their past six in-conference games. Plus, the Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in the past five home contests. Lastly, the underdog is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings in this series, and the road team is 4-0 ATS in the past four meetings.

Washington State at Oregon

The Cougars hit the road for Autzen Stadium, and they're staring a 39-point spread in the face. Washington State has covered seven of their past nine against teams with a winning record, and they are 5-2-1 ATS in their past eight road battles. Of course, the Ducks are 10-1 ATS in their past 11 against teams with a winning mark, and 6-1 ATS in their past seven in Eugene. And the Ducks are 18-7-3 ATS in the past 28 Pac-12 games, so all of these trends might be a wash. In addition, we have conflicting series trends, too. The home team has covered six of the past eight in this series, but the dog is also 7-3 ATS in the past 10. The 'over' might be the best play, and it usually is with the Ducks against anyone. The 'over' is 8-2 in the past 10 meetings in this series.

Oregon State at California

After opening the season with a loss to FCS opponent Eastern Washington, it looked like doom and gloom in Corvallis. It has been anything but, as the Beavers haven't lost since. The black attack hits the road for Berkeley, and the Beavs are 7-2 ATS in the past nine road outings against a team with a losing home record. OSU is also 20-9-1 ATS in the past 30 road games. Cal has covered just eight of the past 28 games overall, and they are 5-16 ATS in the past 21 games against a team with a winning record. Cal has also failed to cover their past eight conference tilts, and they are 1-10 ATS in their past 11 at home. Oregon State is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings in this series, and 4-1 ATS in their past five trips to Cal. Plus, the home team is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings overall.

Other Games

Charleston Southern at Colorado

[TheGame]

UCF at Louisville: What bettors need to know

Central Florida Knights at Louisville Cardinals (-12, 53)

Louisville didn’t silence the critics of its schedule with a difficult home win in its most recent performance, but will attempt to remain among the 14 unbeaten teams in FBS on Friday when it hosts Central Florida. The sixth-ranked Cardinals are coming off a 24-10 victory against Rutgers, one of the two teams they have faced with a winning record. Louisville’s opponents have combined to go 13-23, while none of the six remaining teams left on the schedule are ranked in the Top 25.

Cardinals quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had an off-day by his lofty standards last Thursday, committing two turnovers while leading the offense to its lowest point total of the season. He may not catch much of a break against the Knights, who allow 16.6 points per game – good for the second-best mark in the American Athletic Conference. Central Florida has its own prolific signal-caller in Blake Bortles, who ranks second in the conference behind Bridgewater in passing efficiency (160.4).

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE: Louisville opened as a 10.5-point fave and is now -12. The total is currently 53.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-50s with partly cloudy skies.

ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (4-1, 1-0 AAC): While they only have one win against a ranked team in school history, the Knights have established themselves as a quality foe (34-31 win at Penn State, 28-25 home loss against South Carolina). Although Central Florida ranks fourth in the conference in passing offense, wide receivers Breshad Perriman (fourth) and Rannell Hall (eighth) are among the top 10 in receiving yards. Perriman and Hall have combined for five of the team’s six 100-yard receiving efforts, the school’s most since 2006.

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (6-0, 2-0): With the Cardinals’ vaunted offense unable to score at least 30 points for the first time this season, the defense collected four interceptions (most in a game since 2000), eight sacks and held Rutgers to 12 yards rushing. Louisville has allowed 12 yards rushing or fewer two times over the last three games and a total of 63 yards on the ground over that same stretch. The Cardinals are yielding an FBS-low 7.3 points and 229.5 total yards per game, good for second in FBS.

TRENDS:

* Knights are 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall.
* Under is 19-7 in Cardinals last 26 games in October.
* Cardinals are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 Friday games.
* Under is 5-1 in Knights last six games overall.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. The Knights (tied for sixth, plus-1.4) and Cardinals (tied for eighth, plus-1.33) each rank in the top 10 in the FBS in turnover margin.

2. Central Florida won its first three road contests for the first time in school history.

3. Louisville WRs DeVante Parker (shoulder) – the team’s top receiver who missed the Rutgers game – and Kai De La Cruz (groin) will be game-time decisions.

[TheGame]

Football lines that make you go hmmm...
by Jason Logan

NCAAF

Indiana Hoosiers at Michigan Wolverines (-7.5, 67)
Any team that gives up 42 points to Michigan State has some defensive issues. The Hoosiers gave up more than 40 to the Spartans last weekend and have watched three opponents top the 40-point plateau on the scoreboard this season.

Indiana is in the Big House this weekend taking on a Michigan team, which does have its flaws. Scoring the football, however, is not one of them. The Wolverines are averaging 39 points per game - 42.5 at home. Edging that near-TD spread doesn't look to be too much of a chore for a Michigan team looking to erase an OT loss in Happy Valley last Saturday.

Michigan is 5-1 ATS in its last six games in Ann Arbor while IU is 1-4 ATS

[TheGame]

College football betting weather report: Saturday's forecasts

Find out how weather will impact your college football bets for Saturday's matchups:

Connecticut Huskies at Cincinnati Bearcats (-14.5, 46)

Temperatures will be in the low-50s with a 74 percent chance of showers. Wind will blow across the field at 9 mph.

Southern Miss Golden Eagles at East Carolina Pirates (-22.5, 53)

Temperatures will be in the high-60s with a 54 percent chance of rain.

Purdue Boilermakers at Michigan State Spartans (-28, 42.5)

Temperatures will be in the high-40s with an 81 percent chance of showers.

Navy Midshipmen at Toledo Rockets (-10, 54.5)

There is a 44 percent chance of rain with wind blowing across the field at 8 mph.

Texas Tech Red Raiders at West Virginia Mountaineers (+5.5, 57)

There is a 42 percent chance of rain in the forecast.

Minnesota Golden Gophers at Northwestern Wildcats (-12, 53.5)

There is a 47 percent chance of rain in the forecast with wind blowing across Ryan Field at 12 mph.

Florida Gators at Missouri Tigers (+3, 44)

There is a 33 percent chance of rain in the forecast.

Ohio Bobcats at Eastern Michigan Eagles (+17, 57)

There is a 40 percent chance of rain in the forecast. Wind will blow across the field at 13 mph.

Akron Zips at Miami (Ohio) Redhawks (+7, 44.5)

There is a 74 percent chance of showers with wind blowing across the field at 11 mph.

Ball State Cardinals at Western Michigan Broncos (+20, 50.5)

There is an 84 percent chance of showers in the forecast.

Colorado State Rams at Wyoming Cowboys (-7, 66.5)

Wind will blow across the field at 15 mph.

Northern Illinois Huskies at Central Michigan Chippewas (+15, 59)

There is a 77 percent chance of rain in the forecast.

Kent State Golden Flashes at South Alabama Jaguars (-6.5, 56)

There is a 50 percent chance of rain in the forecast.

Massachusetts Minutemen at Buffalo Bulls (-20, 45)

There is a 70 percent chance of rain in the forecast and wind will blow across the field at 12 mph.

Indiana Hoosiers at Michigan Wolverines (-9.5, 68.5)

There is a 42 percent chance of rain with wind blowing across the field at 10 mph.

Iowa Hawkeyes at Ohio State Buckeyes (-17.5, 55)

There is a 74 percent chance of rain with wind blowing across Ohio Stadium at 7 mph.

Oklahoma Sooners at Kansas Jayhawks (+22, 49.5)

Wind will blow across the field at 12 mph.

USC Trojans at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-3, 51)

There is a 29 percent chance of rain with wind blowing across the field at 10 mph.

[TheGame]

Line Moves - Week 8
By Chris David
VegasInsider.com

Week 7 Recap

Favorites: 3-7 ATS (8-2 SU)
Underdogs: 3-0 ATS (2-1 SU)
Totals: 1-1

The early bettors got beat up last week with early favorite leans, connecting at a 30 percent clip and two of the ‘chalk’ plays, Ohio and Colorado State, lost outright. While the favorites were subpar, the underdogs produced great results and big upsets. Missouri and Utah were both steamed early and they captured upsets against Georgia and Stanford respectively. The other winning ‘dog ticket was Florida Atlantic, who covered as a 10-point home underdog in its 23-20 loss to Marshall. Make a note that despite a 2-5 straight up (SU) record, the Owls are now 6-1 against the spread (ATS) this season.

Week 8 Line Moves

CRIS, one of the biggest offshore sportsbooks, opened up their college football lines for Week 8 last Sunday. Below are all of the moves of at least “Three Points” or more off the opening line from CRIS.

Favorites

Michigan State vs. Purdue
Open: Spartans -24½
Friday: Spartans -28

Wisconsin at Illinois
Open: Badgers -11½
Friday: Badgers -14½

Fresno State vs. UNLV
Open: Bulldogs -20½
Friday: Bulldogs -25

Underdogs

Central Michigan vs. Northern Illinois
Open: Chippewas +18½
Friday: Chippewas + 14½

West Virginia vs. Texas Tech
Open: Mountaineers +9½
Friday: Mountaineers + 5½

Indiana at Michigan
Open: Hoosiers +12
Friday: Hoosiers +9

Georgia State at Texas State
Open: Panthers +19
Friday: Panthers +16

New Mexico State vs. Rice
Open: Aggies +20
Friday: Aggies +17

Week 8 Total Moves

CRIS opened their ‘over/under’ numbers on Monday. Only two games saw significant movement and they're listed below.

Army at Temple
Open: 56½
Friday: 60½

Georgia State at Texas State
Open: 52
Friday: 48

[TheGame]

Essential Betting Tidbits For Week 8 of College Football
By Covers.com

We dug up these vital betting tidbits for some of Saturday's college football action that will help you make the right call before kickoff.

- The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 7-0 ATS in their last seven meetings in Northwestern. The Wildcats are 12-point home faves Saturday.

- Purdue ranks 119th out of 123 FBS teams in rushing offense, averaging only 77.8 yards.

- The Georgia Bulldogs have won 10 in a row at Vanderbilt Stadium and 17 of the last 18 meetings overall in the series.

- Southern Miss is riding a 17-game losing streak SU. The Golden Eagles are 4-13 ATS over that stretch of games. They are at East Carolina Saturday and are 22.5-point road dogs.

- Fresh off a bye week, TCU is at Oklahoma State Saturday. The Horned Frogs are 8-0 ATS in their last eight games following a bye week. They are 7.5-point road dogs.

- The Texas Tech Red Raiders lead the nation in forcing three-and-outs (7.33 per game) and lead the Big 12 in third-down conversion defense (28.2 percent). Tech is a 5-point road fave at West Virginia Saturday.

- Cincinnati has scored a touchdown on 18-of-25 possessions in the red zone. The Bearcats host Connecticut Saturday. The Huskies are one of six schools to allow opponents to score on 100 percent of trips to the red zone.

- The road team is 12-3-1 ATS in the last 16 meetings between South Carolina and Tennessee. The Gamecocks are 7.5-point road faves at Tennessee Saturday.

- The Under is 10-1 in Navy's last 11 games following a bye week. The Midshipmen are at Toledo with a total of 54.5.

- Southern Methodist is averaging 361.2 yards passing per game, which is seventh-best nationally.

- The Florida Gators lead the SEC in total defense, allowing an average of 235.3 yards. The Gators are 3-point road faves at Mizzou.

- Georgia Tech won the last meeting with Syracuse by a score of 51-14 back in 2004. The Jackets are favored by a touchdown this time around.

- The Akron Zips are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven meetings at Miami (Ohio). The Zips are 7-point faves at the Redhawks Saturday.

- The Over is 6-1 in Eastern Michigan's previous seven home games. The total is 55 for EMU's meeting with Ohio Saturday.

- Temple is 5-0 both SU and ATS versus Army in the last five meetings. The Owls are 2.5-point home faves Saturday.

- The road team has covered in six of the last eight meetings between Ball State and Western Michigan. The Cardinals are 20-point road faves.

- The Colorado State Rams are just 1-4 ATS in their last five meetings at Wyoming. The Rams are 6.5-point road dogs Saturday.

- The Northern Illinois Huskies have reeled off 12-straight victories on the road. Their last loss was to Central Michigan in 2011. The Huskies are 15-road faves at Central Michigan.

- The Kent State Golden Flashes have been ATS road warriors of late, posting a record of 9-2 ATS in their last 11 road games. The Flashes are 7-point underdogs at South Alabama.

- The UCLA Bruins have lost five straight games to Stanford and are 1-4 ATS in those meetings. The Bruines are 4.5-point road dogs at Stanford Saturday.

- The Maryland Terrapins don't fare so well coming off of a bye week. The Terps are 0-6 ATS in their last six games following a bye. They are 5-point road faves at Wake Forest.

- The UMass Minutemen are one of three teams (Ohio, Memphis) to have not played a game over the total this season. The Minutemen are in Buffalo with a total of 47.

- The Oklahoma Sooners are 14-0 under coach Bob Stoops - including a 6-0 mark against the Jayhawks - in the game after Texas with an average margin of 27 points. The Sooners are 22-point road faves at Kansas.

- Auburn has had a 100-yard rusher in five of its six games, including the last three. Texas A&M ranks 91st nationally allowing 193.4 rushing yards per game.

- Saturday marks the first meeting between BYU and Houston, but BYU is 6-1 versus AAC opposition.

- The Duke Blue Devils are 5-1 ATS in their last six meetings against Virginia. Duke are 2.5-point road dogs Saturday.

- The Michigan Wolverines rank eight nationally allowing 89.5 rushing yards per game and has not allowed a 100-yard rusher this season.

- Ohio State has dominated Iowa both SU and ATS recently. The Buckeyes have won three straight meetings and 11 of the last 12 while posting an ATS mark of 7-2-1 in the last 10.

- The North Texas Mean Green are 0-3 SU and ATS away from home this season and are 3.5-point faves at Louisiana Tech.

- Saturday's 67.5-point total in the Washington at Arizona State game marks the fourth time this season the Huskies will see a total of 60 points or higher. The Under is 3-0 in those three games - including last week's 75.5-point total versus Oregon.

- LSU and Ole Miss have played over the total in their last four meetings overall and the last four at Ole Miss. Saturday's total is 60 in this SEC tilt.

- Despite putting up a pedestrian (by their standards) 35 points one week ago at Kansas State, the Baylor Bears are currently seeing a total of 76.5 for their home game versus Iowa State Saturday. The Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings between the two programs.

- Alabama leads the all-time series against Arkansas 13-8, winning 52-0 in Fayetteville, Ark., last year. The Tide are 29-point faves at home this time around.

- At 4-1-1 ATS, Georgia State ranks 11th in ATS standings. The Panthers are 16-point road dogs at Texas State Saturday.

- USC has won five straight matchups at Notre Dame but is 3-2 ATS in those five games. The Irish are favored by a field goal Saturday.

- October is a scary month for Nevada backers. The Wolf Pack are 0-7 ATS in their last seven October games. They are 23-point road dogs at Boise State.

- The Over is 9-1 in the New Mexico State Aggies last 10 games overall. Saturday's total is 57 with Rice in town.

- Wisconsin is one of two teams (Florida State) to rank in the top 10 in total offense and total defense. The Badgers are ninth in total offense, fifth in total defense.

- No visiting team starting a freshman quarterback has won at Clemson since Tyrod Taylor and Virginia Tech in 2007. Florida State and its QB Jameis Winston will try to break that drought as a 3-point road fave.

- The Under is 7-0 in the Utah State Aggies last seven games vs. a team with a losing record. The Aggies face the 2-4 New Mexico Lobos with a total of 52.

- The Fresno State Bulldogs are 13-0 under coach Tim DeRuyter when scoring 30 or more points in a game. They host the UNLV Rebels Saturday night, who rank 117th by allowing 41.8 points per game.

- The Oregon Ducks own the best ATS mark at 6-0 and are favored by 39.5 as they host Washington State.

- The Utah Utes have won 49 consecutive games when leading at halftime.

- The Oregon State Beavers are the top Covers consensus road pick on Saturday at 71 percent. The Beavers are 10.5-point road faves at Cal Saturday night.

[TheGame]

Saturday's NCAAF Top 25 Betting Cheat Sheet: Evening Action
By Covers.com

Washington Huskies at Arizona State Sun Devils (-3, 67)

Huskies RB Bishop Sankey (899 rushing yards, 10 total touchdowns) has rushed for 100 or more yards in nine of his last 11 games after scampering for 167 yards and two scores against Oregon. Senior quarterback Keith Price has passed for 1,576 yards and 12 touchdowns and needs 110 yards to pass Jake Locker (7,639 from 2007-10) for second place on the school’s all-time passing yardage list.

The Sun Devils defense has experienced numerous struggles while allowing 27.2 points per game and senior defensive tackle Will Sutton has just 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack this season after having 23.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks in his monstrous 2012 campaign.

LINE: The Sun Devils opened as -3 faves. The total opened at 65.5 and has gone up to 67.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-80s with clear skies.

TRENDS:

* Favorite is 6-1 ATS in their last seven meetings.
* Huskies are 0-4 ATS in their last four meetings in Arizona State.
* Sun Devils are 5-1 ATS in their last six home games.

LSU Tigers at Mississippi Rebels (+10, 60)

The Tigers had eight defensive players selected in the 2013 NFL draft, but the young unit hasn't yielded a touchdown in six quarters. As the defense continues to gel, the Tigers - led by quarterback Zach Mettenberger (66.7 percent completion rate, 15 touchdowns, two interceptions) - are 15th in the nation in scoring at 41.4 points under offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.

The Rebels will be without several key players including linebacker Serderius Bryant (concussion) and his team-leading 55 tackles, and freshman Robert Nkemdiche (hamstring), who has started every game either at defensive end or defensive tackle. Running back Jeff Scott, a 5-7, 167-pound senior who leads the team with 434 yards, is questionable after leaving the Texas A&M game with a thigh bruise.

LINE: LSU opened -8 and is now -10. The total opened at 60.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-60s. Wind will blow across the field at 5 mph.

TRENDS:

* Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings in Mississippi.
* Tigers are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 meetings.
* Road team is 14-2 ATS in their last 16 meetings.

Iowa State Cyclones at Baylor Bears (-34, 76.5)

The Cyclones might be one of the best 1-4 teams in the country, but face an uphill battle against the high-powered Bears, who have won their first four home games by a combined score of 282-65. Cyclones Junior wide receiver Jarvis West, who caught three touchdown passes in last year’s win over the Bears, had 177 all-purpose yards against Texas Tech last week, including a 95-yard kickoff return for a score.

Baylor looks for its first 6-0 start since 1980. Quarterback Bryce Petty is the national leader in passing efficiency, while running back Lache Seastrunk leads the Big 12 in rushing with 648 yards and eight touchdowns. The Bears haven’t been held to less than 30 points since losing 35-21 to Iowa State last season in Ames.

LINE: Baylor opened as a 31.5-point home fave and is now -34. The total opened at 75.5 and is now 76.5.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-60s with clear skies.

TRENDS:

* Favorite is 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings.
* Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Cyclones are 0-5 ATS in their last five meetings in Baylor.

Arkansas Razorbacks at Alabama Crimson Tide (-28, 48.5)

Arkansas dropped its fourth straight, tying for the longest losing streak of new coach Bret Bielema’s career, with last week’s 52-7 home loss to South Carolina. The Razorbacks are 0-3 in the SEC for the first time since 2007 as they prepare for their fourth consecutive ranked opponent. Making matters worse, they just lost senior defensive tackle Robert Thomas (31 tackles, 3.5 sacks) for the season to a broken leg.

Alabama last week won its 10th straight dating to last season, trampling Kentucky 48-7, and the defense is again playing at a championship level. The unit went 14 quarters without allowing a touchdown until the Wildcats scored and Alabama ranks second nationally in points allowed (11.3) and seventh in rushing defense (87.2 yards per game).

LINE: The Tide opened as 27.5-point home faves and are now -28. The total opened at 48.5.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-70s with clear skies.

TRENDS:

* Favorite is 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
* Over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings in Alabama.
* Over is 9-1-1 in Razorbacks last 11 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

Florida State Seminoles at Clemson Tigers (+3, 64)

Seminoles QB Jameis Winston has been immune to typical freshman mistakes as he ranks second in the nation in passing efficiency and has thrown only two interceptions, helping the Seminoles lead the nation with just three giveaways. Florida State ranks fourth in the country in total offense (549 yards per game) and has racked up 400 or more total yards in 14 of its last 19 contests.

The Tigers' defense has been a surprising strength, though, holding five straight opponents to 14 points or fewer and limiting Boston College star Andre Williams to 70 yards on 24 carries in a 24-14 victory last week.

LINE: The Seminoles opened as 2.5-point road faves and are now -3. The total opened at 64.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-60s with a 21 percent chance of rain.

TRENDS:

* Seminoles are 0-8 ATS in their last eight meetings in Clemson.
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Tigers are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 conference games.

UNLV Rebels at Fresno State Bulldogs (-24.5, 74)

The Rebels deserve credit for turning their season around after opening with losses to Minnesota and Arizona, but their opponents during their win streak have a combined record of 8-18. In order to post their most impressive victory since beating Arizona State in 2008, the Rebels need a series of big plays from the trio of quarterback Caleb Herring, running back Tim Cornett and wide receiver Devante Davis, who is ranked second in the conference in receiving yards at 102.3 per game.

After struggling to establish their running game early on, the Bulldogs have featured a more balanced attack over the past two games, with Marteze Waller rushing for 157 yards and two touchdowns in a 61-14 win over Idaho on Oct. 5.

LINE: The Bulldogs opened as 21-point faves and are now -24.5. The total opened at 72 and is currently 74.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-70s with sunny skies.

TRENDS:

* Over is 4-0 in Bulldogs last four conference games.
* Rebels are 10-39-4 ATS in their last 53 road games.
* Bulldogs are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS win.

Washington State at Oregon Ducks (-38.5, 73)

In the 52-24 loss to Oregon State last week, the Cougars led 24-17 in the third quarter before the Beavers responded with 35 unanswered points. The Cougars will need QB Connor Halliday and top receiver Gabe Marks (46 receptions, 512 yards, four touchdowns) to step up their games as Washington State has the nation's worst rushing attack at 66.4 yards per game.

It would be natural for the Ducks to look ahead with games against No. 10 UCLA and No. 13 Stanford in the next two weeks, but their overpowering offense and opportunistic defense can trump any mental lapses that may occur. While much of the attention is devoted to Marcus Mariota and his unit (56.8 points per game, second in the nation), the defense is also second with a turnover margin of plus-11 and has allowed nine touchdowns - tied for fourth-fewest in the country.

LINE: The Ducks opened as 38.5-point faves. The total opened at 73.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-50s with clear skies.

TRENDS:

* Over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
* Underdog is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 meetings.
* Ducks are 10-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

[TheGame]

Saturday's NCAAF Top 25 Betting Cheat Sheet: Afternoon Action
By Covers.com

TCU Horned Frogs at Oklahoma State Cowboys (-7.5, 50.5)

TCU is coming off a sloppy performance against Kansas in which the team committed five turnovers in a 27-17 victory. In that game, Trevone Boykin rushed for a touchdown and threw for another – a 75-yard strike to David Porter – while the Frogs added 207 yards on the ground.

Well rested following its second bye in four weeks, Oklahoma State looks to push its home winning streak to seven games on Saturday against Texas Christian. The 17th-ranked Cowboys have not played since a 33-29 win over Kansas State on Oct. 5 – a game in which Oklahoma State rallied late in the fourth quarter.

LINE: The Cowboys opened as 7-point faves and are now -7.5. The total is currently 50.5.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-50s with clear skies. Wind will blow toward the E endzone at 8 mph.

TRENDS:

* Horned Frogs are 8-0 ATS in their last eight games following a bye week.
* Cowboys are 7-1 ATS in their last eight home games.
* Over is 14-3 in Horned Frogs last 17 games following a bye week.

Georgia Bulldogs at Vanderbilt Commodores (+7, 62)

No. 16 Georgia will look to bounce back from a tough loss and stay in the hunt to reach the SEC Championship Game when it travels to Vanderbilt on Saturday. The Bulldogs are coming off a 41-25 loss to Missouri that dropped them a game behind the Tigers in the SEC East, but know they still have a shot to reach their third consecutive conference title game if they win out.

Vanderbilt is coming out of its bye week after being outscored 125-88 in its three SEC games. Things likely won't get any better with Georgia in town, as the Bulldogs have won 10 in a row at Vanderbilt Stadium and 17 of the last 18 meetings overall in the series.

LINE: Georgia opened as a 9-point road fave and is now -7. The total opened 61 and is up to 62.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-50s with partly cloudy skies.

TRENDS:

* Bulldogs are 0-6 ATS in their last six games following a double-digit loss at home.
* Commodores are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 home games.
* Over is 8-0 in Bulldogs last eight games overall.

Texas Tech Red Raiders at West Virginia Mountaineers (+5.5, 57)

Tech QB Baker Mayfield, who has 1,488 passing yards and eight touchdowns in five starts, missed the Iowa State game after injuring his knee against Kansas. Davis Webb (965 yards, nine TDs) has appeared in five contests and sophomore Michael Brewer is healthy after missing a month with a back injury.

WVU QB Paul Millard replaced Clint Trickett during a 73-42 loss to Baylor on Oct. 5, when the Mountaineers allowed eight rushing touchdowns and a conference-record 864 total yards. Head coach Dana Holgorsen hopes his familiarity with Kliff Kingsbury and the Texas Tech offense will help the Mountaineer defense - ranked ninth in the Big 12 in points and yards allowed - this week.

LINE: WVU opened as an 8-point home dog and is now +5.5. The total is currently 57.

WEATHER: There is a 40 percent chance of rain in the forecast for Morgantown.

TRENDS:

* Red Raiders are 1-5 ATS in their last six games following a ATS loss.
* Under is 8-1 in Mountaineers last nine games overall.
* Mountaineers are 0-4 ATS in their last four games following a bye week.

South Carolina Gamecocks at Tennessee Volunteers (+7, 54.5)

The Gamecocks dominated the Arkansas Razorbacks in every facet of the game, including time of possession (43:25-16:35) and first downs (32-7) in a 52-7 rout last week. South Carolina’s offense is averaging 486.5 yards, good for 23rd in FBS and easily on pace to break the school record of 428.8 set in 1995.

Rajion Neal has been the focal point of the Volunteers’ offense over the last two games, running for 169 yards and a score in a Sept. 28 win over South Alabama before adding 148 and two touchdowns against Georgia.

LINE: The Gamecocks opened 7-point road faves. The total opened at 54.5.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-50s with wind blowing across the field at 8 mph.

TRENDS:

* Road team is 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 meetings.
* Gamecocks are 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall.
* Over is 8-0 in Gamecocks last eight conference games.

Florida Gators at Missouri Tigers (+3, 44)

Gators Running back Matt Jones is the latest to go down after suffering a season-ending knee injury against LSU and will take his place on the sideline next to quarterback Jeff Driskel, who went down for the season on Sept. 21. Tyler Murphy took over for Driskel and was solid in his first two starts before struggling to 15-for-27 for 115 yards last week.

Missouri shocked the Georgia Bulldogs last week defensively, forcing four turnovers, and needs one more interception to double its total from last season (seven). QB Maty Mauk - who will start after James Franklin picked up an injury last week - was an All-American in high school and also starred in track and field, which should allow the Tigers to keep the running packages that made Franklin dangerous in place.

LINE: The Gators opened as 3-point road faves. The total opened at 44.

WEATHER: Forecasts are calling for a 33 percent chance of rain.

TRENDS:

* Gators are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games following a S.U. loss.
* Tigers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Over is 7-2 in Tigers last nine games overall.

Northern Illinois Huskies at Central Michigan Chippewas (+15, 59)

Northern Illinois goes after its 20th consecutive Mid-American Conference victory against the last program to hand it a league defeat when the No. 23 Huskies visit Central Michigan on Saturday. Huskies star quarterback Jordan Lynch became the 10th player in FBS history to run for more than 3,000 yards and pass for more than 4,000 in his career in last Saturday’s victory over Akron.

The Chippewas hope for the return of star receiver Titus Davis (shoulder), who missed the last game and has recorded 29 catches for 518 yards this season while ranking third in school history with 20 receiving touchdowns. Redshirt freshman quarterback Cooper Rush (nine touchdowns, nine interceptions) is becoming more comfortable with the offense and running back Saylor Lavallii is coming off a career-best 184-yard rushing performance in a win over Ohio University.

LINE: The Chippewas opened as 17-point home dogs and are now +15. The total opened at 59.

WEATHER: Forecasts are calling for a 77 percent possibility of showers.

TRENDS:

* Huskies are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 conference games.
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Central Michigan.
* Huskies are 0-4-1 ATS in their last five meetings in Central Michigan.

UCLA Bruins at Stanford Cardinal (-6, 53.5)

Unbeaten UCLA, ranked 10th nationally, has a chance to get itself into the national championship picture over the next two Saturdays but the visiting Bruins first must defeat No. 13 Stanford on Saturday. Sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley is thriving with 1,469 yards and 12 touchdowns and his 410-yard effort in last week’s victory over California was the third-highest output in school history behind Cade McNown (513 in 1998) and Drew Olson (510 in 2005).

Stanford defeated UCLA twice last season in a seven-day span – winning 35-17 at the Rose Bowl in the regular season before posting a 27-24 home win in the Pac-12 Championship Game. The loss to Utah last week marked the initial defeat in 11 career starts for quarterback Kevin Hogan, who has passed for 1,178 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.

LINE: Stanford opened -6.5 and is now -6. The total is 53.5, down from the opening number 54.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-70s with clear skies.

TRENDS:

* Bruins are 5-0 ATS in their last five games overall.
* Favorite is 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
* Over is 9-2 in Stanford's last 11 games following a S.U. loss.

Indiana Hoosiers at Michigan Wolverines (-8.5, 69)

The Hoosiers lost 42-28 to Michigan State last weekend, but the offense played well in defeat. The 28 points were the most scored against the Spartans in the last two seasons and Indiana’s 351 yards of total offense were much higher than the 203.8 yards Michigan State was allowing entering the game.

In the loss to Penn State, Michigan welcomed back linebacker Jake Ryan, who had been out since March with a torn ACL, but the Wolverines lost All-American tackle Taylor Lewan to a hip injury. Lewan is expected to play against Indiana, and that should benefit Michigan’s running backs, who combined for 27 yards on 27 carries against Penn State.

LINE: Michigan opened as a 10.5-point fave and is now -8.5. The total opened at 67 and is up to 69.

WEATHER: Forecasts are calling for a 54 percent chance of rain with wind blowing across the field at 10 mph.

TRENDS:

* Hoosiers are 1-4 ATS in their last five conference games.
* Over is 6-1 in Wolverines last seven home games.
* Over is 19-7 in Hoosiers last 26 road games.

Iowa Hawkeyes at Ohio State Buckeyes (-17.5, 55.5)

The Hawkeyes used their bye week to get healthy after a punishing 26-14 loss to the Spartans and expect to have both running back Mark Weisman and wide receiver Kevonte Martin-Manley ready to go after the two went down in the loss.

The Buckeyes are winners of 18 straight games since Urban Meyer took over, four shy of the school record, and do not have another currently ranked team on their remaining schedule. Ohio State is winning with offense in 2013 and can change the pace by inserting Kenny Guiton at quarterback if necessary.

LINE: The Buckeyes opened as 17-point faves are are now -17.5. The total opened at 55.5.

WEATHER: There is a 63 percent chance of rain in the forecast. Wind will blow across the field at 6 mph.

TRENDS:

* Favorite is 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings.
* Hawkeyes are 1-5 ATS in their last six meetings in Ohio State.
* Buckeyes are 8-0-1 ATS in their last nine games following a S.U. win.

Oklahoma Sooners at Kansas Jayhawks (+23, 49)

The Sooners defense was exposed in a 36-20 loss to rival Texas, struggling to stop the run and allowing 13-of-20 third-down conversions. Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (back) is the second starter, along with linebacker Corey Nelson (pectoral), to have season-ending surgery this week.

Jayhawks coach Charlie Weis announced Tuesday he will change how the offensive coaching staff operates, hoping to spark an offense that's averaging 15.8 points in its last 11 conference games. Weis will oversee the offense and help coach skill positions but will get more input from quarterbacks coach Ron Powlus (passing game) and tight ends coach Jeff Blasko (running game) as he develops a game plan.

LINE: The Sooners opened as 24-point road faves and are now -23. The total opened at 49.

WEATHER: Wind will blow across the field at 12 mph. Temperatures will be in the low-60s.

TRENDS:

* Sooners are 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings.
* Jayhawks are 0-4 ATS in their last four home games.
* Over is 8-3 in Jayhawks last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

Auburn Tigers at Texas A&M Aggies (-13.5, 73)

The Tigers' return to relevance in the SEC West has hinged on a powerful run game that ranks seventh in the nation at 287 yards per game and totaled 511 yards on the ground last week. That outburst came without dual-threat quarterback Nick Marshall, who is expected to return from a knee injury and start Saturday.

QB Johnny Manziel and the Aggies continue to light up the scoreboard in Sumlin's up-tempo system, ranking third in the nation in total offense and fourth in scoring (47.8). The Aggies have scored 40 or more points in nine straight games - the longest active streak in the FBS - and they've topped 400 total yards in 18 straight contests.

LINE: The Aggies opened -12.5 and are now -13.5. The total opened at 72 and is up to 73.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-60s. Wind will blow toward the SE endzone at 11 mph.

TRENDS:

* Tigers are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 conference games.
* Aggies are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games in October.
* Over is 5-1 in Aggies last six games overall.