|
Udog
|
 |
« Reply #5 on: October 26, 2009, 06:41:01 PM » |
|
NCAAF ADDITIONAL
Week 9
Refer to "Trend Sheets Summary" for Matchup Links to more trends/stats *
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, October 27
8:00 PM
EAST CAROLINA vs. MEMPHIS
East Carolina is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Memphis
East Carolina is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games when playing Memphis
Memphis is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games
Memphis is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing East Carolina
Thursday, October 29
7:30 PM
NORTH CAROLINA vs. VIRGINIA TECH
North Carolina is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Virginia Tech
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of North Carolina's last 5 games when playing Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Virginia Tech is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games at home
Friday, October 30
8:00 PM
WEST VIRGINIA vs. SOUTH FLORIDA
West Virginia is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
West Virginia is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
South Florida is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
South Florida is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
Saturday, October 31
12:00 PM
AKRON vs. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Akron is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Akron is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Northern Illinois is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games at home
Northern Illinois is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
12:00 PM
RUTGERS vs. CONNECTICUT
Rutgers is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Rutgers is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Connecticut is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Rutgers
Connecticut is 14-3 SU in its last 17 games at home
12:00 PM
LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE vs. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL
Louisiana-Lafayette is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Louisiana-Lafayette's last 5 games
Florida International is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Louisiana-Lafayette
Florida International is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Louisiana-Lafayette
12:00 PM
NORTH CAROLINA STATE vs. FLORIDA STATE
North Carolina State is 4-15 SU in its last 19 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of North Carolina State's last 6 games on the road
Florida State is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Florida State's last 5 games
12:00 PM
NEW MEXICO STATE vs. OHIO STATE
New Mexico State is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
New Mexico State is 4-21 SU in its last 25 games on the road
Ohio State is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Ohio State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
12:00 PM
CINCINNATI vs. SYRACUSE
Cincinnati is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Cincinnati is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Syracuse is 6-17 SU in its last 23 games
Syracuse is 6-13 SU in its last 19 games at home
12:00 PM
INDIANA vs. IOWA
Indiana is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Iowa
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Indiana's last 6 games when playing Iowa
Iowa is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Iowa is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
12:00 PM
PURDUE vs. WISCONSIN
Purdue is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Wisconsin
Purdue is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Wisconsin
Wisconsin is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games
Wisconsin is 22-3 SU in its last 25 games at home
12:00 PM
OHIO vs. BALL STATE
Ohio is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Ohio is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
Ball State is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games
Ball State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games at home
12:21 PM
MISSISSIPPI vs. AUBURN
Mississippi is 9-2 ATS in its last 11 games on the road
Mississippi is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Auburn is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Auburn is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
12:30 PM
NEBRASKA vs. BAYLOR
Nebraska is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Nebraska is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games on the road
Baylor is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games
Baylor is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Nebraska
1:00 PM
SOUTHERN MISS vs. HOUSTON
Southern Miss is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Southern Miss's last 5 games
Houston is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Southern Miss
Houston is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing Southern Miss
1:30 PM
MISSOURI vs. COLORADO
Missouri is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Colorado
Missouri is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Colorado
Colorado is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Colorado is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games
1:30 PM
COASTAL CAROLINA vs. CLEMSON
No trends available
Clemson is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Clemson's last 5 games
2:00 PM
SOUTHERN METHODIST vs. TULSA
Southern Methodist is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Southern Methodist is 4-21 SU in its last 25 games
Tulsa is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Southern Methodist
Tulsa is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Southern Methodist
2:00 PM
WESTERN MICHIGAN vs. KENT STATE
Western Michigan is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Western Michigan is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Kent State is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Western Michigan
Kent State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Western Michigan
3:00 PM
WESTERN KENTUCKY vs. NORTH TEXAS
Western Kentucky is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
Western Kentucky is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
North Texas is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
North Texas is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
3:00 PM
UAB vs. TEXAS EL PASO
UAB is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
UAB is 2-23 SU in its last 25 games on the road
Texas El Paso is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas El Paso's last 5 games at home
3:00 PM
SAN JOSE STATE vs. BOISE STATE
San Jose State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Boise State
San Jose State is 0-4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Boise State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Boise State is 22-2 SU in its last 24 games at home
3:30 PM
CALIFORNIA vs. ARIZONA STATE
California is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Arizona State
California is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Arizona State
Arizona State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Arizona State's last 5 games
3:30 PM
MIAMI vs. WAKE FOREST
Miami is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
Miami is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games on the road
Wake Forest is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
Wake Forest is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games
3:30 PM
ARKANSAS STATE vs. LOUISVILLE
Arkansas State is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Arkansas State is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Louisville is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games at home
Louisville is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
3:30 PM
TOLEDO vs. MIAMI (OHIO)
Toledo is 6-13 ATS in its last 19 games on the road
Toledo is 5-15 SU in its last 20 games on the road
Miami (Ohio) is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games
Miami (Ohio) is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
3:30 PM
GEORGIA vs. FLORIDA
Georgia is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games
Georgia is 19-6 SU in its last 25 games
Florida is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing Georgia
Florida is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Georgia
3:30 PM
TEMPLE vs. NAVY
Temple is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Navy
Temple is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Navy
Navy is 1-3-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Navy is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
3:30 PM
MICHIGAN vs. ILLINOIS
Michigan is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Illinois
Michigan is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Illinois
Illinois is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Illinois is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
3:30 PM
DUKE vs. VIRGINIA
Duke is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Duke is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games
Virginia is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Duke
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Virginia's last 5 games when playing Duke
3:30 PM
CENTRAL MICHIGAN vs. BOSTON COLLEGE
Central Michigan is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Central Michigan is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Boston College is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Boston College is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games
3:30 PM
IOWA STATE vs. TEXAS A&M
Iowa State is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Iowa State is 2-19 SU in its last 21 games on the road
Texas A&M is 4-8-1 ATS in its last 13 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas A&M's last 6 games at home
3:30 PM
KANSAS vs. TEXAS TECH
Kansas is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Kansas is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
Texas Tech is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Kansas
Texas Tech is 18-5 SU in its last 23 games
4:00 PM
UCLA vs. OREGON STATE
UCLA is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
UCLA is 2-10 SU in its last 12 games on the road
Oregon State is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against UCLA
Oregon State is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing UCLA
4:00 PM
AIR FORCE vs. COLORADO STATE
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Air Force's last 5 games
Air Force is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Colorado State
Colorado State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Air Force
Colorado State is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Air Force
4:00 PM
UNLV vs. TCU
UNLV is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing TCU
UNLV is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing TCU
TCU is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
TCU is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
4:00 PM
MIDDLE TENNESSEE vs. FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Middle Tennessee is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Middle Tennessee's last 9 games on the road
Florida Atlantic is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Florida Atlantic is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
4:05 PM
HAWAII vs. NEVADA
Hawaii is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Hawaii is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
Nevada is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Hawaii
Nevada is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Hawaii
4:30 PM
PENN STATE vs. NORTHWESTERN
Penn State is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Penn State is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games on the road
Northwestern is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
Northwestern is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
5:00 PM
LOUISIANA TECH vs. IDAHO
Louisiana Tech is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Louisiana Tech is 2-10 SU in its last 12 games on the road
Idaho is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Idaho is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
5:00 PM
UTAH STATE vs. FRESNO STATE
Utah State is 5-14 SU in its last 19 games
Utah State is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Fresno State
Fresno State is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Utah State
Fresno State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Utah State
7:00 PM
MISSISSIPPI STATE vs. KENTUCKY
Mississippi State is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Mississippi State is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Kentucky is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Mississippi State
Kentucky is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Mississippi State
7:00 PM
KANSAS STATE vs. OKLAHOMA
Kansas State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Kansas State is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Oklahoma is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Kansas State
Oklahoma is 17-4 SU in its last 21 games at home
7:00 PM
LOUISIANA-MONROE vs. TROY
Louisiana-Monroe is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Louisiana-Monroe is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Troy
Troy is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Louisiana-Monroe
Troy is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Louisiana-Monroe
7:00 PM
EASTERN MICHIGAN vs. ARKANSAS
Eastern Michigan is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Eastern Michigan is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
Arkansas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Arkansas is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
7:30 PM
NEW MEXICO vs. SAN DIEGO STATE
New Mexico is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games
New Mexico is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
San Diego State is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against New Mexico
San Diego State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against New Mexico
7:30 PM
WASHINGTON STATE vs. NOTRE DAME
Washington State is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Washington State is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games
Notre Dame is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Notre Dame is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
7:30 PM
GEORGIA TECH vs. VANDERBILT
Georgia Tech is 9-2 ATS in its last 11 games on the road
Georgia Tech is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Vanderbilt is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Vanderbilt is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
7:45 PM
SOUTH CAROLINA vs. TENNESSEE
South Carolina is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
South Carolina is 3-4-2 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Tennessee
Tennessee is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing South Carolina
Tennessee is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games when playing South Carolina
8:00 PM
TEXAS vs. OKLAHOMA STATE
Texas is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games when playing Oklahoma State
Texas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Oklahoma State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
8:00 PM
MICHIGAN STATE vs. MINNESOTA
Michigan State is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Minnesota
Michigan State is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Minnesota
Minnesota is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Minnesota is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home
8:00 PM
TULANE vs. LSU
Tulane is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Tulane is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games on the road
LSU is 4-9-1 ATS in its last 14 games
LSU is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
8:00 PM
WYOMING vs. UTAH
Wyoming is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Wyoming is 8-15 SU in its last 23 games
Utah is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Wyoming
Utah is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Wyoming
8:00 PM
SOUTHERN CAL vs. OREGON
Southern Cal is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Southern Cal is 16-1 SU in its last 17 games
Oregon is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Southern Cal
Oregon is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Southern Cal
Sunday, November 1
8:15 PM
MARSHALL vs. CENTRAL FLORIDA
Marshall is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Marshall is 8-15-2 ATS in its last 25 games on the road
Central Florida is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Marshall
Central Florida is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Marshall
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tips and Trends
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, October 27
East Carolina at Memphis [ESPN2 | 8:00 PM ET]
East Carolina (-4, O/U 49): East Carolina is allowing just 319 yards per game in Conference USA, holding foes to 18 points in those games. The Pirates are 3-1 in league and 4-3 overall. However, the Pirates are 2-4 against the spread on the season and have failed to cover eight of the past nine times they’ve been a road favorite. They are 4-10 against the spread in their last 14 games as a favorite. Senior quarterback Patrick Pinkney has completed 57 percent of his throws for 1,299 yards. He’s thrown at least one interception in every game except one. Dwayne Harris is Pinkney’s go-to-guy with 42 receptions for 465 yards. Tailback Dominique Lindsay has rushed for 431 yards despite missing two games, while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Lindsay can hurt a Memphis team that ranks 102nd against the run if he can recover from an ankle injury.
The Under has cashed in 9 of the Pirates’ last 11 Conference USA games.
East Carolina has covered in 10 of its last 11 games versus Memphis.
Key Injuries - Tailback Dominique Lindsay (ankle) is questionable.
PROJECTED SCORE: 27
Memphis: Memphis has been a big disappointment going 2-5 straight-up and 1-5 against the spread. Quarterback injuries have contributed to an inefficient offense that has failed to produce more than 16 points in five of its seven games. Junior Will Hudgens, the Tigers’ third quarterback, has played the past two games throwing four touchdown passes and being picked off three times. Wide receiver Duke Calhoun leads Conference USA with 40 catches for 673 yards. Calhoun is averaging 16.7 yards per reception and has scored five times. Running back Curtis Steele has rushed 95 times for 511 yards and five scores. Steele is averaging 5.4 yards per rush. Memphis has lost and failed to cover against East Carolina during each of the past three seasons, losing by an average of 17 points. Memphis is 12-4 against the spread in its last 16 games versus a team with a winning road record.
Memphis is 10-3 ATS following a bye week.
The Tigers are 4-9-3 ATS in October.
Key Injuries - None
PROJECTED SCORE: 23 (OVER - Total of the Day)
Thursday, October 29
North Carolina at Virginia Tech [ESPN | 7:45 PM ET]
North Carolina: North Carolina is seeking to beat a Top 25 team on the road for the first time since 2001. The Tar Heels have lost three of their last four games despite having the No. 7 ranked defense in the nation. The problem for North Carolina is an offense that ranks 114th. The Tar Heels averaged only 164 yards and managed just a combined 10 points during Atlantic Coast Conference losses to Georgia Tech and Virginia. They bounced back from those losses to post a 42-12 non-conference victory against Georgia Southern, but then fell to Florida State, 30-27, last week blowing an 18-point second-half lead. The Tar Heels did rush for 238 yards in that loss. North Carolina has covered seven of the past 10 times it has been an underdog under coach Butch Davis. The Tar Heels, though, are 1-5 against the spread in their past six ACC matchups.
The Under is 7-2 in North Carolina’s last nine road contests versus a team with a winning home mark.
North Carolina is 1-4 ATS in its last five road games.
Key Injuries - Linebacker Ryan Taylor (knee) is questionable.
Wide receiver Joshua Adams (shoulder) is questionable.
PROJECTED SCORE: 13
Virginia Tech (-16.5, O/U 43): After losing its season opener to Alabama, Virginia Tech won five in a row until losing its last game at Georgia Tech, 28-23. The Hokies had trouble with the Yellow Jackets’ spread-option offense surrendering 309 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. However, in their previous three games the Hokies had allowed 142 yards rushing. Tyrod Taylor is averaging 204 yards throwing in his last three games while connecting for five touchdowns. Freshman tailback Ryan Williams has rushed for 100 yards or more in five of the Hokies’ past six games. The Hokies are 5-0 against North Carolina since joining the ACC. They’ve held the Tar Heels to an average of 12.8 points and 274.6 yards. Virginia Tech just nipped North Carolina, 20-17, last year at Chapel Hill. The Hokies have covered in seven of their last nine games when facing a team with a winning record.
Virginia Tech is 29-13 ATS in its last 42 ACC matchups.
The Hokies are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games as a favorite.
Key Injuries - Guard Sergio Render (pectoral) is questionable.
Defensive lineman John Graves (ankle) is questionable.
PROJECTED SCORE: 30 (Side of the Day)
Friday, October 30
West Virginia at South Florida [ESPN2 | 8:05 PM ET]
West Virginia (-3, O/U 47.5): Spearheaded by tailback Noel Devine, 20th-ranked West Virginia has won four in a row. Devine is averaging 148 yards rushing during the winning streak. The junior ranks seventh nationally in rushing. The Mountaineers got past Connecticut last week, 28-24, when Devine broke off a 56-yard touchdown run with 2:10 left. West Virginia’s strengths are its ninth-ranked run defense and the dangerous Devin. South Florida defeated then fifth-ranked West Virginia when the teams last met in Tampa two years ago, 21-13. The Mountaineers have averaged only 15 points versus South Florida in their last three meetings, while losing two of three. West Virginia beat the Bulls, 13-7, at home last season although being out-gained, 326-280. West Virginia has failed to cover in seven of its last 10 Big East Conference games. The Mountaineers also haven’t covered during six of the last eight times they’ve been chalk.
The Mountaineers are 1-7 ATS versus a team with a winning record.
The Under has cashed the past 4 times these teams have played each other.
Key Injuries - Linebacker Reed Williams (shoulder) is questionable.
PROJECTED SCORE: 25
South Florida: The Bulls have failed to step up against top caliber Big East competition in their last two games. South Florida gave up 189 rushing yards in a 34-17 home loss to Cincinnati two weeks ago. The Bulls allowed 214 yards on the ground to Pittsburgh in a 41-14 road defeat last week. All-American defensive end George Selvie only had one tackle in the loss. South Florida was hurt by penalties and freshman quarterback B.J. Daniels throwing two interceptions against the Panthers. Daniels is replacing injured senior quarterback Matt Grothe. The Bulls have held ground-oriented West Virginia to 153 yards per game the last three years. South Florida has won 21 of 27 home games since 2005. The Bulls have covered 13 of their last 19 home contests. The Bulls, though, have failed to cover 11 of the last 14 times they’ve met a team with a winning record.
The Over has cashed in 9 of South Florida’s last 12 home games.
The Under is 6-2 in the Bulls’ last eight games versus a team with a winning mark.
Key Injuries - Quarterback Matt Grothe (knee) is out.
PROJECTED SCORE: 22 (UNDER - Total of the Day)
Saturday, October 31
USC at Oregon [ABC | 8:00 PM ET]
USC (-3, O/U 47): USC has lost its last three games in the state of Oregon, one in Eugene against Oregon and twice in Corvallis, home of Oregon State. The Trojans rolled past Oregon, 44-10, last season. However, they lost in their last trip to Autzen Stadium two years ago, 24-17. That’s the only time the Ducks have beaten the Trojans during the past five meetings. USC allowed an average of 8.6 points and 238.6 yards during its first five games this season. In their last two games, though, against Oregon State and Notre Dame, the Trojans have surrendered a combined 63 points and 849 yards. Freshman USC quarterback Matt Barkley has thrown at least one interception in each of his last three games. Oregon is tied for the Pac-10 lead in turnovers with 19. The Trojans are 1-6 against the spread the past seven times they’ve been road chalk.
The Under is 21-9-1 in the Trojans’ last 31 games.
The Under is 25-11-1 in USC’s last 37 games as a favorite.
Key Injuries - Tight end Anthony McCoy (knee) is questionable.
Fullback Stanley Havili (shoulder) is questionable.
Running back Stafon Johnson (throat) is out.
PROJECTED SCORE: 25
Oregon: The 10th-ranked Ducks are riding a six-game winning streak following an opening-game home loss to Boise State. Oregon’s defense has held three of its last four opponents to 211 yards or fewer. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli returned last week after missing the Oct. 10 win against UCLA and led the Ducks to a 43-19 victory over Washington. Masoli threw for 157 yards, rushed for 54 yards and accounted for three touchdowns. Oregon is averaging 45.7 points and 484.7 yards in the last three games Masoli has played. LaMichael James has rushed for 657 yards and scored six touchdowns in his last five games. James totaled 154 yards and two touchdowns in the victory against Washington. The Ducks have covered in their last five games. They are 9-3 against the spread as a home underdog. Oregon has covered in its last six Pac-10 Conference matchups.
The Over is 7-1-1 in Oregon’s last nine home contests.
The last 4 in this series have gone Under the total.
Key Injuries - None.
PROJECTED SCORE: 22 (UNDER - Total of the Day)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What bettors need to know
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, October 27
East Carolina Pirates at Memphis Tigers (+4, 48.5)
The Conference-USA moves back to prime time Tuesday night when East Carolina (4-3, 3-1) visits Memphis (2-5, 1-3) at the Liberty Bowl Stadium in a game televised on ESPN2.
The Pirates opened a 4.5-point favorite and the line has moved to -4.
Weather update
Expect cloudy and cool weather with temperatures in the mid to low 50s. There is a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms.
Pirate points
With its 49-13 win over Rice 10 days ago, ECU sits atop the C-USA East Division at 3-1, in a three-way tie with Marshall and Southern Mississippi.
Eleven players caught at least one pass last week against Rice, including five with catches of 20 or more yards. WR Jamar Bryant has at least one reception in 25 straight games.
The Pirates have won seven of their last 10 conference road games, including six of their last eight against C-USA East division foes.
QB Patrick Pinkney notched his 12th career 200-yard passing performance and matched his personal best with three touchdown passes against the Owls.
JR WR Dwayne Harris was named the C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a kickoff for a touchdown for the second straight week with a 92-yarder versus Rice. He had a career-high 264 all-purpose yards and three TDs against the Owls.
DT Linval Joseph made his offensive debut at Marshall this year, serving as lead blocker in short-yardage situations that resulted in a pair of TDs and a fourth-down conversion. He also has 11.5 tackles for loss in his last eight games.
RB Dominique Lindsay, the Pirates' leading rusher with 431 yards on 77 carries, is day-to-day with a sprained ankle he suffered against Rice.
"I don't know how long it's going to be at this point," head coach Skip Holtz said. "It might be three or four days or two weeks. It's a shame because he's playing with a lot of confidence."
East Carolina has held its last two opponents to 106 total rushing yards. The Pirates will look to shut down Curtis Steele, who has rushed for 376 yards in the Tigers' last two games, and force Memphis to attack through the air. ECU is second in the league with 10 interceptions and Tigers quarterbacks have thrown 11 INTs, second-most in C-USA.
Memphis musings
Senior QB Will Hudgens is back for a sixth year of eligibility. Hudgens replaced QB Tyler Bass, who had season-ending surgery Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder. The sophomore appeared in four games this year with two starts, completing 53-of-81 passes for 673 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions.
RB Curtis Steele has rushing touchdowns in eight of his last 11 games - 11 total - and has moved into the Top 10 in career rushing yardage at Memphis with 1,740. He needs 25 yards to pass Jeff Womack for ninth place and 260 yards to become the seventh Tiger to reach 2,000.
Senior WR Duke Calhoun has caught at least one pass in 44 consecutive games – including a strike from Hudgens in the Tigers 36-16 loss to Southern Miss 10 days ago. Calhoun is ranked sixth among all active FBS receivers with 2,724 career receiving yards. He ranks third in East Carolina history with 19 career touchdown catches.
Along with companion WR Carlos Singleton, they are the country's third most prolific scoring tandem with 40 combined touchdown catches.
The offensive line has allowed just seven sacks, which ranks second in C-USA and 16th nationally. Memphis also protects the ball well, having lost only four fumbles this year, two on punt returns and two by quarterbacks.
Still head coach Tommy west is concerned about the health of his squad.
"We're banged up at certain positions right now. We have three safeties playing right now at two positions. Seven straight weeks of playing will do that to you. Having a little bit of extra time for this game and having a weekend after this game should help us out,” said West.
West also indicated changes could be made on special teams in lieu of last week's erratic performance at Southern Miss, where the Tigers surrendered 33.0 yards per kick return and 26.5 yards per punt return with a touchdown.
Face time
The ESPN2 broadcast crew for East Carolina's game at Memphis includes play-by-play man Reese Davis and analysts Mark May and Lou Holtz, the father of Pirates head coach Skip Holtz.
"We have a real unique situation because we're playing Tuesday, Thursday and then Sunday. But our next three games are also going to be on national television on ESPN. That's an exposure that you can't get on Saturday. There are certainly tradeoffs for it,” said East Carolina coach Holtz.
History says
East Carolina has won its last three meetings against Memphis (by an average 17 PPG) and is 7-0 ATS the last seven games in this series.
Last season, in a 30-10 win over Memphis, the Pirates scored 23 unanswered points in the second half. The Tigers gained just 49 yards after intermission.
Memphis is 3-6 all-time in games played on Tuesdays.
Interesting tidbit: teams off a SU and ATS loss are 19-8-3 ATS in regular season games on Tuesdays. The Tigers fit that bill.
Friday, October 30
West Virginia Mountaineers at South Florida Bulls (+3, 47.5)
The skinny
For the third straight season, South Florida started the season at least 5-0 before suffering a midseason losing streak. The Bulls lost two straight games to ranked Big East opponents and now face a do-or-die situation against WVU before they close their season with a difficult stretch of games.
West Virginia is heading in a completely different direction. After an 11-point loss at Auburn on Sept. 19 (a game in which WVU out-yarded the Tigers 519-400), WVU has won four straight by an average of 13.7 PPG.
The Mountaineers enter this game after an emotional comeback victory over UConn while the Bulls enter it after a 27-point shellacking at the hands of Pittsburgh. Both teams could really use a victory to gain a little credibility in the Big East.
QB problems
After USF Senior QB Matt Grothe was lost for the year with a torn ACL, redshirt freshmen BJ Daniels stepped in and led the Bulls to two straight wins and it looked as if South Florida was going to be alright.
But Daniels has regressed in the last two games, completing just 47 percent of his passes for 131 yards per game and throwing four interceptions and one touchdown.
Daniels was benched in the Bulls’ blowout loss to Cincinnati a week ago and now he faces a West Virginia defense that has allowed just 52 percent completions and forced nine interceptions the past four weeks.
Mountaineer QB Jarrett Brown is also suffering through a cold streak. He was knocked out of the game against Marshall and has thrown for a meager five touchdowns and five interceptions the past five games.
“Devine” Mountaineer
West Virginia running back Noel Devine has had quite an October. He has rushed for 592 yards on a 6.8 YPC average with six total touchdowns with a chance to add to those numbers Friday night. In the second half of last week’s game against UConn, Devine had 14 carries for 171 yards and the game including a winning 56-yard touchdown run.
South Florida has allowed 403 rushing yards in its last two games on a 5.1 YPC average. Last week, Pitt running back Dion Lewis racked up 111 yards and two touchdowns.
They have had good success against WVU however, holding the potent Mountaineer rushing attack to just 153 YPG the past three years.
Line movement
This line opened with West Virginia as a 3-point road favorite. It moved to -3.5 at a few spots, however, the consensus has kept the Mountaineers as field-goal chalk. The total on this game opened at 47.5.
Trends
West Virginia is just 3-7 ATS in its last 10 conference games, 2-6 ATS in its last eight games as a favorite and 1-4 ATS in its last five games overall. The Bulls are 5-2 ATS in its last seven games as an underdog and 13-6 ATS in its last 19 home games.
WVU has finished over the total in five of the last seven games overall and USF is 4-1 over/under in its last five games. The Bulls are also 9-3 over/under in last 12 home games but the last four meetings between these two teams have stayed under.
West Virginia has been favored every time it’s faced the Bulls but it has only covered once since 2005. It’s split 2-2 SU with the average of just 35 total PPG.
Weather
The high in Tampa on Friday will be very hot at close to 90 degrees. By game time it will still be in the 80's with very little chance of any precipitation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Game of the day:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, October 29
North Carolina Tar Heels at Virginia Tech Hokies (-17, 42)
Line movement
The Hokies opened up as 16.5-point favorites and that number can be had in most places still. Some shops have jumped the number up to -17 and there is a good possibility most will hot that number by game time.
The early total opened at 44 and was quickly bet down to 42 and that is where most other books opened their total at as well.
Injuries
There are no significant injuries on the either side.
Weather
The weather should not be a factor as there is a slight chance of rain with a temperature reaching a low of 55 degrees.
Thursday house of horrors
Playing in Blacksburg is always a challenge for the visiting team. Virginia Tech has won 12 consecutive home games with its last home loss coming October 25, 2007 against Boston College. Since 2003, the Hokies are 40-5 straight up and 23-16-1 ATS in lined games.
Playing in this spot has been solid as Virginia Tech is 9-2 all-time on Thursday night ESPN broadcasts at Lane Stadium.
In their five Thursday night home games since joining the ACC, the Hokies are 4-1 and the defense has put together some incredible efforts. In those five games, they have allowed 183 rushing yards on 115 carries for a gaudy average of 36.6 yards per game and 1.6 yards per carry.
Defensive collapse
The Tar Heels looked like the defense was going to be the deciding factor last week against Florida State. They played well against the run but they were prone to big pass plays in the second half, when they weren't able to get pressure on the quarterback.
After holding the Seminoles to 77 yards of offense through seven possessions, quarterback Christian Ponder directed the offense on four straight scoring drives (three touchdowns, one field goal) that totaled 290 yards with a 9.7 yards per pass. He completed his last 16 passes.
The Tar Heels are still ranked first in the ACC in total defense but a meltdown like last week is something that might take a while to go away.
Defensive déjà vu?
The Virginia Tech defense in 2009 looks awfully familiar to that of the 2008 version.
Virginia Tech's defense ranked no better than 33rd in every major category after seven games last year. The Hokies then pulled it together, closed the season with a smothering run, won the ACC Championship and the Orange Bowl and ended up seventh in the country in total defense.
Fast forward to 2009, and the Hokies are 31st nationally in total defense, having mixed in a few defensive duds with a couple great performances.
The defense has allowed 12 rushes of 20 yards or longer. In twice as many games last season, it allowed only 14. In order for the Hokies to even sniff the possibility of the ACC Championship, a defensive resurgence will need to take place once again.
Rushing numbers don’t lie
The team that wins the rushing battle will likely win this matchup and there are some interesting statistics heading into this game.
The Tar Heels defense is ranked second in the ACC in rushing, allowing 102.6 yards per game on 2.1 yards per carry. But send them on the road and the numbers skyrocket to 194.5 yards per game on 3.7 yards per carry. The Hokies meanwhile are averaging 203.7 yards per game on 4.8 yards per carry on the year including 259.2 yards per game on 5.3 yards per carry at home.
Last week against the Seminoles, the Tar Heels ran for 238 yards on 5.8 yards per carry but that may have been an aberration. North Carolina is now averaging 98.0 yards per game on 3.6 yards per carry in conference games which shows how bad it was coming in.
Since the start of the 1999 season, Virginia Tech is 95-10 when outrushing its opponent.
Carolina road woes
Since ACC expansion in 2004, the Tar Heels are 1-13 in ACC road games outside of the state of North Carolina and that includes a 0-1 record this season after a 24-7 loss at Georgia Tech.
North Carolina hasn't beaten a ranked opponent on the road since a 38-3 win at Clemson on October 20, 2001 a span of 16 games. Those losses have come by an average of 22.6 ppg.
Virginia Tech is 5-0 against North Carolina since joining the ACC in 2004, and the five-game winning streak matches the longest by either team in the series. The average margin of victory in those five games is 13 ppg but three of those have been decided by a touchdown or less.
Bottom Line
Virginia Tech is 16-6 ATS it its last 22 Thursday games and it is 7-2 ATS against a team with a winning record.
Meanwhile the Tar Heels are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
As for the total, North Carolina is 12-2 to the under against teams averaging 8.5 or more yards per attempt since 1992 while the Hokies are 6-0 to the under in home games against passing teams with a completion rate of 58 percent or more over the last three seasons.
Saturday, October 31
USC Trojans at Oregon Ducks (+3, 47)
Bettors are in for a treat when the No. 4 USC Trojans (6-1 2-5 ATS) visit the No. 12 Oregon Ducks (6-1 5-2 ATS) on Halloween night.
Lesser teams might have faltered with the early horrors experienced by both teams. Oregon's season, of course, began with a knockout punch and USC slipped to a mediocre Washington squad.
Since then, they have stayed clear of the loss column, making their matchup in Eugene one of the most important games of the year .
From LeGarrette to LaMichael
Before the season, big things were expected from SR RB LeGarrette Blount. His antics at the end of the Boise State loss and eventual suspension were not part of these expectations.
Fortunately for Oregon, LaMichael James came to the rescue. The redshirt freshman has fit in nicely in the starting role having rushed for 150 plus yards in three games this year. In his last two games, James rushed for a total of 306 yards averaging 8.7 yards per carry against UCLA and Washington.
This will be the most talented defense that James has encountered this year, with USC ranked fifth in the nation in rush defense, allowing only 79.9 yards per game.
Second-half slide
No one doubts the talent of the Trojans’ defense but some weaknesses were exposed in their last two games. Against Notre Dame, they allowed 27 points and last week versus Oregon State they gave up 36. What is more telling, however, is the fact that 48 of these points came in the second half.
The Irish and Beavers seemed to adjust at the half to USC's defensive gameplan, which kept both games closer than they should have been. Sophomore linebacker Chris Galippo admitted that "tackling was a big deal against Oregon State" and that the team will be going "back to the basics this week".
After dealing with a pro-style offense the last two weeks, the Trojans will change up their gameplan for Oregon's spread. Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli poses a threat on the ground having already rushed for seven TDs this year. But the Trojan D has done well this year against fleet-footed QBs as illustrated in their game versus Ohio State.
The Trojans’ linebacker corps will be busy and need to limit the impact of James. A close eye will also have to be kept on Masoli's favorite target, tight end Ed Dickson. Dickson's season is highlighted by a 148-yard, three-TD performances against Cal.
Barkley vs. Autzen
One has to either hate or love the laidback attitude of Matt Barkley who said that "the energy is going to be awesome(in Eugene) and it's going to be a cool atmosphere, especially on Halloween night."
But regardless of what he or anyone says, the freshman QB has lived up to the hype. He is off to a 6-0 record as a starter with two of those wins on the road against Ohio State and Notre Dame.
Tradition aside, Autzen is a different entity from the Horseshoe or Notre Dame Stadium. During the Trojan's last visit in 2007, the Ducks won 24-17 and the crowd noise level was recorded at 127.2 decibels.
Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates is fully aware of the difficulty of playing in Autzen and if Barkley runs into early trouble, the emphasis will be on the run.
Joe McKnight and Allen Bradford are not quite LenDale White and Reggie Bush, but they do present a big problem to this Oregon defense, which has overachieved this year.
Bradford had a breakthrough game last week rushing for 147 yards and two TDs.
Ducks defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti has done a great job with his defense allowing only 16.7 points per game and this comes after losing a couple of key players in their secondary due to injury.
The Ducks have had success at pressuring the QB but have done so mostly on plays where they sent five or six guys on the rush, trusting their secondary in single-man coverage.
But with a talented offensive line and NFL caliber threats in both the air and the ground, Aliotti will have to adjust his defensive gameplan and think of more creative ways for the front four to get to Barkley.
Quick notes
- Oregon QB Masoli is still hampered a bit by a knee injury. “I’m giving myself a B for the knee,” Masoli said. The injured knee, however, did not impact his performance in the Duck's 43-19 victory over Washington
- USC TE Anthony McCoy is not expected to play (ankle sprain)
- USC FB Stanley Havili is not expect to play either, D.J. Shoemate will start in his place
- ESPN Gameday crew will be on site in Eugene
The line
The spread has remained steady all week at -3 in favor of the visiting Trojans. The favorite has won and covered in the last four games in this series.
Last year, USC was a 16-point favorite at home and it easily covered, winning 44-10. The last the time these two played in Eugene, the Ducks were 2-point favorites and they won 24-17. The game came down to a last-second interception thrown by a then-inexperienced Mark Sanchez.
At 2-5 ATS USC hasn't been the greatest cover team, but this is the lowest number that they have dealt with in the last two years. The lowest number prior to this was earlier this year against Cal. The Trojans were -4.5 favorites and blew out the Golden Bears 30-3 on prime time TV
The Ducks are 5-2 ATS and have won straight up, the last four of six against USC at Autzen. With the spread so low, Oregon backers may find value in the moneyline which sits at +140. Also with USC's current slide in the second half, bettors may want to look into a second-half bet if the number is high enough.
The total for the game sits at 47 and has experienced only slight half point movements both ways. The previous four games in this series have gone under the total, but last year's total was sharp with the 44-10 game only going under the line of 56 by only two points.
USC is 3-4 over/under this year, with its last two games against Notre Dame and Oregon State going over by a combined average of 18.5 points.
USC has always come up big against elite non-conference teams, but it’s when the Trojans encounter a tough conference foe on the road where trouble begins. Last year it was Oregon State and two years ago it was Ducks in Eugene, but this is a USC team that hasn't been to a national title in a couple years and it will be ready for the Halloween night crowd.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
College football Top 25 cheat sheet: Week 9
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Georgia vs. No. 1 Florida (-15, 48; in Jacksonville)
The Dawgs had an extra week to prepare for this one. The Georgia defense has had its problems, but UF’s offense has scored touchdowns in just two of its past 15 trips to the redzone.
Hard to imagine that Tim Tebow, who has thrown more than one TD pass just once this year, doesn’t have a great performance, as it’s the final college game in Jacksonville for the native of that area. The Gators have won 16 of the past 19 in this series.
No. 3 Texas at No. 13 Oklahoma State (+8.5, 52)
The Horns are 11-0 in this series under coach Mack Brown. UT is second nationally in defense and won’t have to worry about suspended star Cowboys WR Dez Bryant, who had six catches in last year’s 28-24 Texas win.
The Cowboys have led Texas by margins 21, 19 and nine points in the past three meetings in Stillwater, only to lose them all. OSU should have back star RB Kendall Hunter, albeit on a limited basis.
No. 4 Southern Cal at No. 12 Oregon (+3, 47)
USC’s offense seems to be finding itself, having gained more than 400 yards in four consecutive games and topping 30 points in each of the past three. The Trojans have won four of the past five against the Ducks.
Oregon’s offense is nearly unstoppable, and USC has allowed 63 total points in the past two games. And the Trojans have lost in the state of Oregon at least once in the past three seasons.
San Jose State at No. 5 Boise State (-35, 56)
The Spartans are the only FBS team to be 100 percent in redzone efficiency this season at 13-for-13. They lead the WAC with an 84.6 percent redzone TD rate and had an off week to prepare.
Boise State is 9-0 all-time in this series, winning 33-16 last year. QB Kellen Moore, the nation’s top passer, should have a field day against a defense that’s in the bottom 20 in FBS in yards and points allowed.
UNLV at No. 6 TCU (-35, 57.5)
The Rebels have never beaten TCU since the Frogs joined the Mountain West, going 0-4. UNLV is coming off a road win at New Mexico, which ended the school’s 20-game MWC road losing streak.
This game is during the day, which bodes well for the Frogs. They are 21-1 in day games under Gary Patterson. TCU also has won its past 10 on Homecoming, which Saturday is.
No. 7 Cincinnati at Syracuse (+15, 51)
Star QB Tony Pike is likely to miss a second game in a row with an arm injury. Since Pike has been out, backup Zach Collaros has completed 19-of-24 passes for 325 yards and has run for 184 yards.
The Orange’s best player will be on the field. WR Mike Williams, who was suspended for last week’s game vs. Akron, ranks fifth in the nation in receiving yards per game and seventh in catches per game.
Indiana at No. 8 Iowa (-17.5, 47.5)
The Hoosiers have won two of the past three in the series (and five of the past nine), including in Iowa City two years ago. And the Hawkeyes haven’t come close to covering in their past two home games.
The Hawkeyes suffered two potentially critical injuries in last week’s win against Michigan State, losing top rusher Adam Robinson and top offensive lineman Dace Richardson.
Tulane at No. 9 LSU (-35.5, 36.5)
It will be tough for LSU not to be looking ahead to the Alabama game next week. Tulane is due to beat a ranked team, considering it hasn’t done so in 27 years.
LSU has the longest non-conference win streak in the country at 21 games (winning by an average margin of nearly 27 points), and it has won 23 in a row against in-state teams, which includes 17 in a row in this series.
No. 10 Penn State at Northwestern (+14.5, 47)
This is a classic “sandwich” game. The Wildcats get PSU the week after the Lions played Michigan and the week before they host Ohio State. NU is 2-4 all-time in Evanston in this series, with four of the losses by five points or less.
PSU, which leads the all-time series 9-3, is playing back-to-back road conference games on back-to-back weeks for the 13th time since joining the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions, who won at Michigan last week, have swept the back-to-backs just four times.
No. 11 Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt (+11.5, 47)
The Jackets are on their longest winning streak since 2006, lead the ACC in scoring and are second in the nation in rushing.
Vandy could catch Tech napping in this tricky non-conference game. The Commodore defense is fairly solid, but the offense hasn’t scored more than 17 points but once this year.
New Mexico State at No. 15 Ohio State (-44, 48.5)
The Aggies are the nation’s worst offensive team, but they certainly could see Ohio State substitute their starters out early with a key game against Penn State next week.
Coach Jim Tressel has warned his team about taking New Mexico lightly in the wake of OSU’s upset at Purdue a few weeks ago. Ohio State’s only two non-conference home losses under Tressel are to Texas and USC.
Southern Miss at No. 16 Houston (-6.5, 62.5)
Southern Mississippi has lost nine straight games against ranked opponents and is 0-3 on the road this season. If the Golden Eagles reach 200 yards rushing, they win: 4-0 this season.
The Cougars are 20-2 at home since 2006 with an average margin of victory approaching 23 points. Houston leads the nation in total offense, averaging 30 yards more than any other team.
No. 18 Miami at Wake Forest (+7.5, 51.5)
Miami now needs a miracle to reach the ACC title game after losing to Clemson, so the Canes could be a bit flat to start this one. But UM is 3-0 all-time at Wake and has won five in a row in this series.
The Deacons have scored just 13 total points in the past two games but are 4-1 at home this year. Wake won’t see Miami’s best defensive player LB Sean Spence, who will miss the game with a knee injury.
Wyoming at No. 19 Utah (-17, 43.5)
The Cowboys have historically been a very solid team coming off a bye, as they have won 25 of 40 games on that occasion. But they haven’t beaten Utah since 2006.
The Utes have won four in a row in this series in Salt Lake City. Utah had no right beating Air Force last week but now has had eight of its past nine games decided by a touchdown or less.
No. 20 West Virginia at South Florida (+3, 47.5; Friday)
Noel Devine saved WVU from an upset to UConn last week and the Mountaineers are 11-2 all-time when Devine rushes for at least 100 yards in a game.
The Bulls are on their typical late-season fade. They were held to 212 total yards of offense in last week’s loss to Pittsburgh, the fewest for USF since 2005.
No. 21 South Carolina at Tennessee (-5.5, 40)
South Carolina dominated in last year’s 27-6 home victory. Some Gamecocks are using a comment by UT Lane Kiffin as motivation. Kiffin reportedly told a South Carolina recruit, current freshman Alshon Jeffery, last winter that the player would wind up “pumping gas” if he signed with USC.
The Vols are 13-1 all-time against South Carolina in Knoxville. The UT defense hasn’t allowed an offensive touchdown in the past two games – a total streak of 133 minutes.
No. 22 Mississippi at Auburn (+4, 50)
While the Ole Miss defense remains among the best in the nation, the offense has taken off, averaging 527.0 total yards over the last two games. All-purpose threat Dexter McCluster is coming off his best game of the year.
The Tigers have won 22 of the past 26 in this series and are 11-2 against the Rebels at home. Auburn has dropped three in a row this season, and QB Chris Todd has thrown two interceptions and no touchdown passes in his last three outings and has been sacked seven times.
Kansas State at No. 23 Oklahoma (-28, 48.5)
The Wildcats, not that anyone has noticed, are leading the Big 12 North. But they haven’t won in Norman since 1997. KSU has rushed for more than 200 yards in the past two games and is second in the conference in rushing.
OU’s defense is second in the nation in scoring and third in rushing defense. The Wildcats’ pass offense is just 104th in the country, so if they can’t run on the Sooner D this one may not be close.
Washington State vs. No. 25 Notre Dame (-28, 60.5; in San Antonio)
At least the Cougars don’t have to travel to South Bend and worry about weather in this Notre Dame home game in the Alamodome. Wazzu, which leads the Pac-10 in turnovers forced, is basically treating this as its bowl game this year.
Irish QB Jimmy Clausen should feast on a WSU defense ranked 119th in the nation overall. Notre Dame is ranked again this week, and the previous two times the Irish took the field as a Top-25 team they lost.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
WAGER INFORMATION
