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College Football Betting News and Notes Saturday, November 23

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Games to Watch - Week 13
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider.com

Wisconsin at Minnesota

As of early Tuesday, most betting shops had Wisconsin (8-2 straight up, 9-0-1 against the spread) installed as a 16-point favorite. Gary Andersen’s squad has won five straight games both SU and ATS since losing 31-24 at Ohio St. The Badgers have covered the spread in eight consecutive games as double-digit favorites, including six such spots this season. UW beat up on Indiana by a 51-3 count as a 27-point home favorite last Saturday. James White led three Badgers who eclipsed the 100-yard mark by rushing for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Melvin Gordon and White have rushed for 1,306 and 1,156 yards, respectively, and both have run for 12 touchdowns apiece. Since suffering back-to-back losses vs. Iowa and at Michigan, Minnesota (8-2 SU, 7-3 ATS) has won four in a row both SU and ATS. The Gophers have had two weeks to prepare for the Badgers. They beat Penn St. 24-10 as 2.5-point home favorites two weeks ago. Philip Nelson threw for a TD and ran for another, while David Cobb ran 27 times for 139 yards and one TD. Minnesota is 5-6 ATS as a home underdog since Jerry Kill took over for Tim Brewster. The ‘under’ is 7-3 overall for Wisconsin, 2-2 in its road assignments. The ‘over’ is 6-4 overall for the Gophers, 3-3 in their home games. Kickoff is scheduled for noon Eastern on ESPN.

Oklahoma at Kansas State

As of early Tuesday, most books had Kansas St. (6-4 SU, 6-4 ATS) listed as a 3.5-point home favorite. Bill Snyder’s team lost its first three Big 12 games but has bounced back to win four in a row. The Wildcats had covered the spread in five consecutive games before slipping past TCU by a 33-31 count Saturday as 11.5-point home ‘chalk.’ Jack Cantele’s 41-yard field goal with three seconds remaining was the game winner. KSU is led by a pair of outstanding RBs in Daniel Sams and John Hubert. This duo has combined to rush for 1,516 yards and 19 TDs. Oklahoma (8-2 SU, 5-5 ATS) got an outstanding halftime chat from Bob Stoops when it went to intermission tied with Iowa St. at 10-10 Saturday in Norman. Whatever Stoops said, it worked because the Sooners scored all 38 points in the second half en route to a 48-10 triumph as 24-point home favorites. Damien Williams rushed for a team-high 128 yards and two TDs on just 10 carries. OU redshirt freshman QB Trevor Knight got his first significant playing time since Week 2 against the Cyclones. After Blake Bell was injured, Knight came in and rushed 10 times for 123 yards and one TD. Knight completed 8-of-14 throws for 61 yards. There’s no official word out of Norman yet, but I would expect Knight to get his first start Saturday since a 16-7 home win over West Va. on Sept. 7. The ‘over’ is 3-1 in OU’s last four games, but totals have been an overall wash (5-5) for the Sooners and in their road games (2-2). K-St. has seen the ‘under’ go 6-4 overall, 5-2 in its home games. Kickoff is slated for noon Eastern on Fox Sports 1.

Texas A&M at LSU

As of early Tuesday, most books had LSU (7-3 SU, 4-5-1 ATS) favored by three. Les Miles’s team had an open date after dropping a 38-17 decision at Alabama. Texas A&M (8-2 SU, 5-5 ATS) also had a bye week following a 51-41 win over Mississippi St. as a 19-point home ‘chalk.’ Johnny Manziel threw for 446 yards and five TDs against the Bulldogs. Manziel has thrown for 3,313 yards with a 31/11 TD-INT ratio. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner also has 600 rushing yards and eight TDs. Manziel’s favorite target is Mike Evans, who has 57 receptions for 1,263 yards and 12 TDs. LSU sophomore RB Jeremy Hill has rushed for 964 yards and 13 TDs. Zach Mettenberger has a 20/7 TD-INT ratio for the Tigers, who have two of the SEC’s top WRs. Odell Beckham Jr. has made 51 catches for 1,051 yards and eight TDs, while Jarvis Landry has hauled in 63 receptions for 972 yards and eight TDs. When these schools met in College Station last year, Texas A&M raced out to a 12-0 lead before LSU responded with 24 unanswered points. The Tigers held on for a 24-19 triumph as 3.5-point road favorites. Hill ran for 127 yards and one TD on 18 carries, but the defense was the story of the day. This unit limited Manziel to only 27 rushing yards and intercepted him three times. The ‘over’ is 8-2 overall for the Aggies, 2-0 in their road outings. The ‘over’ is 8-2 overall for LSU, 4-1 in its home games. CBS will have the telecast at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

Arizona State at UCLA

This is a crucial game in the Pac-12 South race. As of early Tuesday, most books had Arizona St. (8-2 SU, 5-5 ATS) listed as a two-point road favorite. Todd Graham’s team has won five in a row, but it has failed to cover the number in back-to-back contests. The Sun Devils beat Oregon St. 30-17 as 13.5-point home favorites last weekend, but the Beavers hooked up their supporters with a backdoor cover thanks to a 29-yard TD pass from Sean Mannion to Connor Hamlett with 2:42 remaining. UCLA (8-2 SU, 7-3 ATS) has won all five of its home games while compiling a 4-1 spread record. Jim Mora Jr.’s team suffered its only losses in back-to-back weeks at Stanford and at Oregon. The Bruins beat Washington 41-31 as three-point home favorites last Friday night. Freshman LB/RB Myles Jack ran for 59 yards and four TDs on 13 totes. Brett Hundley threw two TD passes without being intercepted against the Huskies. Hundley has a 20/8 TD-INT ratio and seven rushing scores. UCLA has won three of the last four head-to-head meetings with ASU both SU and ATS, including last year’s 45-43 win in Tempe. The ‘over’ is 7-3 for Arizona St., 3-1 in its road games (if we count a neutral-site game against Notre Dame at Cowboys Stadium as on the road). The ‘under’ is 6-4 overall for UCLA, but the ‘over’ is 4-1 in its five home games. FOX will have television coverage at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

Missouri at Ole Miss

As of early Tuesday, most spots had Missouri (9-1 SU, 8-1-1 ATS) listed as a three-point favorite. There was no total yet, but I gave the game a 62-point tally. Gary Pinkel’s squad will welcome senior QB James Franklin back to the lineup following a four-game absence. Franklin separated his shoulder in a 41-26 win at Georgia on Oct. 12. He could’ve returned as early as a home game vs. Tennessee on Nov. 2, but there was no reason to rush him back. If the Tigers hadn’t taken comfortable leads vs. UT and at Kentucky (Nov. 9), I’m confident Pinkel would’ve turned to Franklin. My point is that he’s actually been ready to play for several weeks despite not seeing any game action. Before the injury, Franklin was completing 67.5 percent of his throws with a 14/3 TD-INT ratio. He had also rushed for 290 yards and three TDs in 5.5 games. Missouri has covered the number in all three of its games as a road favorite this year. The Tigers have to win both of their remaining games (vs. Texas A&M next weekend) to win the SEC East and get to Atlanta. If they fall, South Carolina wins the division. Ole Miss (7-3 SU, 6-4 ATS) has won four in a row and has a 4-1 spread record in its last five games. The Rebels thumped Troy 51-28 as 28-point home favorites last weekend. Bo Wallace threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He also rushed nine times for 66 yards and one score. For the season, Wallace has a 17/5 TD-INT ratio and five rushing TDs. After missing three consecutive games, senior RB Jeff Scott returned to rush for 54 yards on 11 carries against the Trojans. Scott, who has run for a team-high 488 yards while averaging 7.6 YPC, also had two catches for 25 yards. On Hugh Freeze’s watch, Ole Miss owns a 3-1 spread record in four games as a home underdog. The ‘over’ is 6-4 overall for the Rebels, 4-2 in their home games. The ‘over’ is 6-4 overall for the Tigers, 4-0 in their road assignments. ESPN will have the telecast at 7:45 p.m. Eastern.

 
Posted : November 19, 2013 1:03 pm
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College Football: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com

Texas A&M at LSU

Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M coming off a bye travel to Baton Rouge to battle LSU also off a week of rest. The Aggies (8-2, 5-5 ATS) having little trouble in the scoring department racking up 49.2 PPG on 578.0 total yards but their not so sturdy defense surrendering 30.9 PPG on 454.4 yards will be tested against Tigers (7-3, 5-4-1 ATS). Guided by QB Zach Mettenberger tossing 20 TD along with a slew of backs recording 29 majors the Tigers are scoring 37.9 points/game on 460.4 total yards. The Aggies on a 10-0 (6-4 ATS) streak away from College Station have their work cut out. Tigers are always dangerous in their own back-yard posting an 18-1 stretch last nineteen (9-10 ATS). The Cats are also off a loss a situation that has seen the team post an 8-0 (4-4 ATS) mark last eight occurrences.

Baylor at Oklahoma State

Baylor Bears look to extend the undefeated streak to ten-straight games when they travel to Stillwater for a tussle with Pokes. Bears with the nations top offense racking 61.2 points/game on 686.2 total yards could be slowed somewhat this week as Pokes shut down defense surrenders just 19.0 points/game on 373.1 yards. Bears thumping Texas Tech 63-34 this past week are a spread-covering 8-1 against-the-number on the year, 21-5 ATS their last 26 games overall. Pokes dispatching Texas 38-13 as 3 point favorite improved it's ATS mark to a profitable 7-3 on the season, 9-1 ATS last ten on home turf. Baylor Bears have been given the nod by the betting market as they're handing Pokes 10 points despite being 1-6 ATS last seven meetings, 0-7 ATS last seven trips to Stillwater.

Oregon at Arizona

After having its BCS title dreams essentially come to an end with the loss at Stanford the Ducks (9-1, 7-3 ATS) responded with a 44-21 victory over Utes last week but lost the cash as 28.5 point home favorites. Ducks now take their 3rd ranked scoring offense (50.9) lead by Marcus Mariota with an eye-catching 25 majors, 0 Interceptions into Tucson for a tussle with Wildcats (6-4, 4-6 ATS) off back-2-back losses against UCLA and WSU. Oregon's high-powered offense will be tough for Cats to slow-down and if Ducks' terrific defense (18.2) contains Arizona's RB Ka'Deem Carey the Ducks prevail in the desert. Ducks have owned this Oregon-Arizona rivalry of late, winning five in a row by at least 20 points/game including a 49-zip thrashing in last years meeting holding RB Carey to 79 yard. Sifting through the sports betting numbers Oregon shouldn't disappoint backers. The road has been kind to 'Quack Attack' as they've posted a 12-2 ATS mark last fourteen away from Autzen Stadium including 4-1 ATS laying 20 or more points. A final few betting nuggets in favor of Oregon. The Ducks are 9-1 ATS last ten away facing a team with a winning home record, 6-1 ATS on the road vs Pac-12 foes, 4-1 ATS in their last road game of the season.

 
Posted : November 20, 2013 10:24 am
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College Football Betting Tips
By Brad Diamond
Playbook.com

Week #13 Notes

Arkansas State…6-4-1 SU after 38-21 win over Texas State. Red Wolves out scored TSU 17-0 in the 2nd half. ASU 4-1 ATS when they go OVER this season. Georgia State and Western Kentucky wins needed for bowl consideration.

Auburn…Legit shot at ‘Bama after the “Miracle at Jordan-Hare.” TOP…Auburn +10 minutes. Mark November 30th as a must see event. War Eagle 3-1 ATS L4 vs. hated foe in Iron Bowl brawl.

Boise State…Potato Heads now 7-3 overall and 5-1 in the MWC since CRUSHING Wyoming 48-7. Coach Peterson now 18-0 SU after ten+ days of rest, including wins over Utah State and Wyoming. TW…Boise State in major REVENGE after 21-19 loss last season to SDS, BSU had won 7 straight. Just one tech note, Broncos 0-3 ATS after Wyoming.

Duke…Blue Devils football team gaining looks from coach “K” as a major inspiration after their astounding 38-20 win and cover vs. Miami Florida. Now #1 in the ACC Coastal Division with 3-3 record, solid 8-2 SU mark overall…This weekend Duke, 5-1 ATS L7 in the Wake Forest series, looks to be money in the bank. But, Devils are listed as a favorite for the first time this century in this all important cross state rivalry.

Michigan…Big Blue (7-3) off miraculous 3OT win at Northwestern (4-6) no guarantee they can win in 2nd of B2B roadies vs. Iowa (-6 ½). MU 1-3 SU L4 in series. LW…Wildcats ran for 2.8 yards per carry allowing MU defense an added edge. This week’s opponent Iowa (MU) averaging 4.5 yards per?

Missouri…Coming off bye week ranked #9 before the polls were restated. Injured QB James Franklin will return for Ole Miss (7-3) game in Oxford. Tigers (9-1) have authored major splash in the SEC with huge double digit conference wins over Vanderbilt, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky. Only SEC loss 27-24 to South Carolina in Columbia. One ATS trend to think about before leaping on the net or in Vegas, Tigers 1-13 ATS as a chalk off B2B DD wins.

Nebraska…The ‘Huskers hammered by the Spartans 41-28 LW for the first time in all-eight meetings. Still, Michigan State rushing defense allowed 182 yards. This is critical considering ‘Huskers travel to Happy Valley this week. Tempo...might go to visitor!

Notre Dame…Irish (7-3) show after devastating 28-21 loss to the 5-4 Panthers of Pittsburgh. Coach Kelly’s unit was out scored 21-7 in the second-half. The loss broke the ND winning streak 10-straight games with the point differential of 7 or less…QB Rees placed his defense in difficult situations off INTs. No BCS cash for the school this year. This week…BYU in South Bend, but Stanford up next out west. Irish 3-6 ATS next to last regular season game L9.

Ohio State…”Humbug” the Buckeyes cost the Diamond big time last week as usually ruthless Urban Meyer went soft vs. Illini after accruing huge lead, extracting a 60-35 SU win, but non-cover. Bucks still shooting for BCS gold, but need miracle now. Baylor has Oklahoma State, Texas and TCU and leads OSU in a few polls. This week should be quite interesting, but I expect OSU to devalue ‘Hoosiers after sloppy 52-49 win last year in Indiana as a 19-point chalk. Ohio State on 22-0 SU run.

Rutgers…Since 52-17 loss vs. Cincy (8-2) coach Flood (Rutgers) looking for healthy bodies to finish campaign vs. UConn and USF. The Scarlet Knights defense was gashed for 619 yards against Bearcats. This was the second time in Piscataway that RU gave up a season high in total yards. Bowl aspirations obviously waning. Rutgers 1-5 SU L3 seasons final two regular season games. Rutgers 0-4 ATS after playing Cincy.

 
Posted : November 21, 2013 10:33 am
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Big 12 Games to Watch Week 13
By Chuck Edel
Chuckedel.com

Oklahoma at Kansas State

The Sooners have had trouble this year getting going in games. In the first quarter, they’ve touchdowns in the first averaged just 4.1 yards per carry (lowest per quarter average) and are completing just 51.6% of their passes for just about five yards per attempt. Oklahoma has only scored two offensive touchdowns in the first quarter this season. The uncertainty at QB has not helped, but the run game has remained solid for the Sooners, averaging 4.5 yards per carry with 28 TDs and a 61.7% conversion rate on third and short situations. The run game is not explosive though, with only 16.7% of their runs going for more than ten yards. With Blake Bell battling concussion symptoms and Trevor Knight completing just 47.6% of his passes on the season for 4.3 yards per attempt, the run game is going to be extremely important. K State, who’s top two rushers both average over five yards per carry will also be relying on their run game to win. QB Daniel Sams and John Hubert average 5.5 and 5.1 yards per carry respectively. In the month of November the Cats have averaged 5.3 yards per carry, and have found the end zone 10 times, doubling their number for the whole month of October. K State has gone three and out a little too much though, on 30.3% of their drives they’ve given it up after just three plays. The Wildcats though have been slightly better at defending he run, allowing just 3.9 yards per carry to Oklahoma's 4.2. Oklahoma though makes more plays in the backfield, at 8.9% to K States 7.6%. Both give up too many big runs, with more than 11% of the opponent's carries going for more than 10 yards.

Baylor at Oklahoma State

This game has become a de facto Big 12 Championship game and would make or break the BCS chances for both squads. Coach Gundy’s Oklahoma State squad has not put together the offensive fireworks this season we’re used to seeing from them. They’ve gone three and out on 28.6% of their drives and are averaging just 30 yards per drive. However, the offense has been effective enough by reaching the redzone on a third of their drives and coming away with points on 88.5% of those possessions. Clint Chelf has been exceptionally uneven in his games this year, completing just 53% of his passes for 7 yards per attempt. However, last week against Texas he was able to put together his best game, averaging nine yards per attempt on 72.7% passing with a pair of TDs on the ground and another pair on the ground with 95 yards on ten carries. The rest of the run game has struggled for most of the year though, with Desmond Roland averaging just 4.4 yards per carry and posting sub four yard per carry games in six of his last seven games. Its unlikely to get any easier against a Baylor team that has allowed just 17 points a game this year, and just 3 yards per carry and 4.2 yards per play overall. They’ve forced opponents into 71 punts, and have kept teams out of the red zone with just 28 trips all season. 11.1% of opposition plays end in negative yardage, as DE Shawn Oakman has 12 tackles for loss amongst his 26 stops. Leading tackler Bryce Hager has 71 stops, 2.5 of them for loss. His bigger impact though has been terrorizing opposing passers with nine hurries this season. The secondary has done its job as well, defending 15% of their passes and allowing a yards per catch of just 12.4. Only one team has more than 300 yards passing against Baylor, and that was an explosive Texas Tech team. Look for Baylor to stay perfect in Stillwater.

 
Posted : November 21, 2013 1:36 pm
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College Football Betting Preview: Baylor at Oklahoma State
By Ian Cameron
Sportsmemo.com

Baylor at Oklahoma State
Saturday, 5 pm PT - ABC
CRIS Opener: Baylor -10.5 O/U 78
CRIS Current: Baylor -9.5 O/U 78
Rob Veno's Power Rating: Baylor -7.5
Ian Cameron's Recommendation: Oklahoma State

This sets up to be one of the best games of the week with first place in the Big XII – and a lot more for the road side – on the line. You can’t argue the fact Baylor has been dominant en route to its 9-0 SU and 8-1 ATS records. They’ve won all their games by double digits which might make this pointspread look cheap on the surface. But it has to be said that Baylor’s schedule leaves me questioning whether or not this team has been truly tested by a terrific team as of yet. Their most impressive wins to date have come against Kansas State and Oklahoma. I think the Wildcats are a good couple notches down from last season and I don’t hold the Sooners in very high regard because they were annihilated in each of their “step up in class” conference games against Baylor and Texas by a combined score of 77-32. The Sooners’ next best Big XII opponent, Texas Tech, was a 38-30 win at home where OU barely got the pointspread cover. The bottom line is Baylor will be playing a better team than either Kansas State, Oklahoma, or Texas Tech and I’m convinced Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater will be the most difficult test of the season for this juggernaut squad.

I have nothing bad to say about Baylor’s offense. The Bears have had a historic season ranking first in the nation in scoring (61.2 ppg) and yardage (684.8 ypg). Both of those are on track to break the current NCAA records. They are the only team in the country to rank in the top 10 in both passing (384.4) and rushing (300.3) yards per game. Quarterback Bryce Petty has been outstanding completing over 65% of his passes for 2,992 yards with a ridiculous 24-1 TD-INT ratio. The explosive running back duo of Lache Seastrunk and Shock Linwood will likely be down to just one this week as Seastrunk has been downgraded to doubtful for this game with a groin injury. Baylor also has a key receiving weapon out of action for this game with Tevin Reese’s season over due to a wrist injury. On defense, the Bears have been very strong boasting a stop unit that has allowed just 17.4 points per game but note that linebacker Bryce Hager will likely not suit up due to a groin injury. Hager leads the team with 71 tackles and his absence could be bad against a dangerous Oklahoma State offense that will put that defense through their stiffest challenge to date.

Oklahoma State has come on strong in the last few weeks and it all started with head coach Mike Gundy’s decision to go to Clint Chelf at quarterback in place of the struggling J.W. Walsh. The Cowboys are 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games notching wins over Kansas State, TCU, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Kansas and a very impressive 38-13 blowout win on the road against Texas last week. In four games since Chelf has taken over as the starter, the offense's output has shot up to 47.5 points per game. Even though Chelf's passing numbers aren't great (53% completions, 1,222 yards, 11 TDs and 5 INTs, he is a strong running threat (325 rushing yards, 5 rushing TDs) and that creates larger running lanes for his talented backs and keeps opposing defenses honest. Oklahoma State has posted 33, 24, 58, 52, 42 and 38 points during their six-game win streak. Desmond Roland and Jeremy Smith spearhead a solid ground attack that averages 4.5 yards per carry. There is some concern that leading receiver Josh Stewart may not play due to a foot injury which has him listed as questionable but if he doesn’t suit up, the Cowboys have capable targets with Tracy Moore, Jhajuan Seales and Charlie Moore – the latter of that trio had 6 receptions for 83 yards and a TD against Texas last week. The Oklahoma State defense is just about as good as Baylor’s and they are probably the healthier unit at this point. Just like last year OSU has been great at forcing turnovers in bunches which has swung the momentum in their favor in many games. Oklahoma State has forced an FBS leading 19 interceptions and has 26 takeaways – I certainly like that kind of quality out of my near double-digit underdogs.

The series history between Baylor and Oklahoma State has been dominated by the Cowboys with Oklahoma State winning 8 of the last 10 meetings dating back to 2003. Last year, Baylor defeated Oklahoma State at home but only by a TD winning 41-34. Throw out the Oklahoma and Kansas State games for Baylor because those don’t compare to this game in terms of difficulty for the Bears in my opinion. Oklahoma State is playing every bit as good in recent weeks as Baylor as the Cowboys are rounding into form at the right time. I expect Oklahoma State to keep this game close and wouldn’t rule out Baylor going down for the first time this season.

 
Posted : November 21, 2013 1:43 pm
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Saturday's NCAAF Top 25 Betting Cheat Sheet: Afternoon Action
By Covers.com

The Citadel Bulldogs at Clemson Tigers (-40.5, 69.5)

Tajh Boyd’s services might not be required long but the Clemson quarterback plans to play when the No. 6 Tigers host The Citadel on Saturday. Boyd left the Nov. 14 victory over Georgia Tech with a collarbone injury and the senior who is three touchdown passes shy of 100 has pronounced himself fit to play in the final home game of his standout career. The FCS Bulldogs have won three straight games and last beat Clemson in 1931.

The Bulldogs run the ball a lot in their triple-option attack and average 282.1 on the ground with quarterback Ben Dupree (939 yards, 18 touchdowns) and running back Darien Robinson (921 and seven) closing in on 1,000-yard seasons. The passing game is virtually non-existent at an average of 91.4 yards and nobody on the roster has even 200 receiving yards.

LINE: Clemson comes in as a 40.5-point favorite, with the total at 69.5.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-60s with a 47 percent chance of rain.
TRENDS:

* Bulldogs are 2-3 on the road.
* Over is 7-3 in Tigers' last 10 games.
* Clemson is 5-5 ATS.

Michigan State Spartans at Northwestern Wildcats (+7, 41.5)

Michigan State's Aaron Burbridge is healthy but it appears he’ll have to earn his way back into the rotation of what has become a deep group of wide receivers. Burbridge was on the preseason Biletnikoff Award watch list but got off to a slow start and then a hamstring injury Oct. 19 put him on the shelf the last three games. Wide receivers Bennie Fowler and Tony Lippett have stepped up their production and contributed to the winning streak.

A closer look at the six-game losing streak shows that the Wildcats have dropped two contests in overtime and two others by three points. They still have a shot at becoming bowl eligible for a seventh straight season, but need to start with a mistake-free game against the Spartans. Northwestern has been pretty good at taking advantage of opponents’ mistakes, leading the Big Ten in forcing turnovers (22).

LINE: The Spartans opened -7.5, but the line has been bet down a half-point. The total has held at 41.5.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-20s with wind blowing diagonally out of the NW at 19 mph.
TRENDS:

* Spartans are 6-1 ATS in their last seven conference games.
* Wildcats are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games.
* Road team is 11-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings.

Oklahoma Sooners at Kansas State Wildcats (-5, 54)

Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight was solid in relief of Bell (undisclosed injury) last week while sophomore Kendal Thompson saw his first action late in the 48-10 win against Iowa State. Knight, who started the first two games of the season, had 123 rushing yards in the win. The Sooners are second in the Big 12 with 236.4 rushing yards and are ranked No. 13 nationally in total defense, allowing 326.5 yards.

The Wildcats are averaging 39.5 points and are plus-6 in turnovers during their win streak. Quarterbacks Jake Waters (111-of-183 for 1,690 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions) and Daniel Sams (team-high 784 rushing yards and 11 TDs) have both appeared in all 10 games. Kansas State will likely be without senior safety Ty Zimmerman (ankle), who missed the last two games last season with a similar injury.
LINE: The Wildcats are 5-point faves after opening as low as -3. The total has dropped a half-point to 54.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-20s with sunny skies and wind blowing across the length of the field at 12 mph.
TRENDS:

* Sooners are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games following a SU win.
* Wildcats are 5-1 ATS in their last six games.
* Over is 5-1 in Oklahoma's last six November games.

Memphis Tigers at Louisville Cardinals (-23.5, 43)

Among a handful of standout defenders for coach Justin Fuente is cornerback Bobby McCain, who had three interceptions against South Florida to tie a school record and set the AAC mark. Junior defensive lineman Martin Ifedi added a pair of sacks and needs just two more to tie the team's all-time career mark of 21. The Tigers' six losses have come by an average of 8.5 points.

Mentioned in Heisman Award conversations earlier in the year, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater's season has plateaued a bit. He has just one touchdown and one interception in his last two games, during which the junior has averaged 245.5 passing yards, and had his string of 21 straight games with a touchdown pass snapped in the win over Houston.

LINE: Louisville opened as a 24.5-point favorite, but the line has dropped by one. The total is currently 43.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-40s with wind blowing diagonally out of the NW at 13 mph.
TRENDS:

* Tigers are 9-1-2 ATS in their last 12 November games.
* Cardinals are 0-5 ATS in their last five games following a SU win.
* Under is 7-2 in Memphis' last nine games.

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at South Carolina Gamecocks (-34.5, 70)

The Chanticleers average 45.5 points and 512.5 yards and have committed just nine turnovers (six interceptions, three fumbles). Lorenzo Taliaferro is one of the top backs at the FCS level and has rushed for 1,466 yards and 23 touchdowns, while quarterback Alex Ross has thrown for 2,282 yards and 17 touchdowns. Defensively, Coastal Carolina allows 25.5 points and 417.1 yards and is led by linebacker Quinn Backus (108 tackles, three interceptions).

Shon Carson was terrific with a career-best 102 rushing yards against Florida last Saturday and is averaging 4.6 yards on 47 carries. Quarterback Connor Shaw has 19 TD passes against just one interception. Defensive end Kelcy Quarles has posted a team-best seven sacks while the more heralded Jadeveon Clowney has just two sacks and 8.5 tackles for losses after receiving preseason hype as the rare defensive Heisman Trophy candidate.

LINE: South Carolina is a 34.5-point fave with the total set at 70.
WEATHER: Rain is in the forecast with temperatures in the high-60s.
TRENDS:

* Chanticleers are 4-1 on the road.
* Gamecocks are 4-6 ATS.
* Over is 4-2 in South Carolina's last six games.

Chattanooga Mocs at Alabama Crimson Tide (-49, 52.5)

Quarterback Jacob Huesman is a multipurpose threat, passing for 16 touchdowns against five interceptions and adding 894 rushing yards and nine scores. Keon Williams (687 yards) hopes to return from a three-game absence due to an ankle injury to further spruce up a ground game that averages 223.3 yards. The Moccasins have two standout defenders in linebacker Wes Dothard (81 tackles) and defensive end Davis Tull (nine sacks).

Quarterback AJ McCarron threw two of his five interceptions in the contest against Mississippi State but has mostly performed well with 2,228 yards and 21 touchdown passes. T.J. Yeldon rushed for a career-high 160 yards to raise his season output to 1,022 but also coughed up a fumble against the Bulldogs while Kenyan Drake (584 yards, 7.6 average) continues to be a strong complement. The Crimson Tide lead the nation in scoring defense (10.2).

LINE: The Crimson Tide are 49-point faves, with a total of 52.5 listed at some books.
WEATHER: There is a 39 percent chance of showers and wind blowing across the length of the field at 11 mph.
TRENDS:

* Mocs are 3-2 on the road.
* Crimson Tide are 6-4 ATS.
* Under is 1-3-1 in Alabama's last five games.

Idaho Vandals at Florida State Seminoles (-57, 68)

Receiver Dezmon Epps has been the bright spot of another dreary season for the Vandals. The junior has 66 receptions for 811 yards and is coming off a big performance against Old Dominion in which he accumulated a career-high 175 yards on nine receptions. Idaho is often outmatched defensively – allowing 45.7 points and 531.5 yards per game – but the unit has received solid play from defensive tackle QuayShawne Buckley, who has 12 tackles for loss.

The Seminoles are led by Winston but the defense has also been excellent, ranking third nationally in scoring defense (11.1) and fourth in total defense (271.4). Outside linebacker Telvin Smith has a team-leading 68 tackles and has recorded 7.5 stops for losses and cornerback Lamarcus Joyner has 51 tackles, five sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception.

LINE: The Seminoles are a whopping 57-point favorite after opening at -56. The total has dropped from 69.5 to 68.
WEATHER: There's a 22 percent chance of rain with wind blowing across the length of the field at 7 mph.
TRENDS:

* Vandals are 5-17 ATS in their last 22 non-conference games.
* Seminoles are 8-1 ATS in their last nine games on grass.
* Over is 8-0 in Florida State's last eight games following an ATS win.

Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio State Buckeyes (-34.5, 81)

The Hoosiers need to win their final two games against Ohio State and Purdue to become bowl eligible. Indiana, which has scored a school single-season record 52 touchdowns, had scored 28-or-more points in 10 straight games before the streak came to a halt last week at chilly and rainy Wisconsin. Sophomore QB Nate Sudfeld has thrown for 2,281 yards and a Big Ten-best 19 touchdowns.

The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten and rank fourth nationally in rushing with an average of 315.1 yards and are coming off a season-best 441 yards on the ground in a 60-35 victory at Illinois last week. Senior RB Carlos Hyde has rushed for 821 yards and 11 touchdowns over the last five games and needs 53 more yards to hit the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

LINE: After opening as low as -31, the Buckeyes have been bet up to a 34.5-point fave. The total is set at 81.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-30s with wind blowing across the width of the field at 13 mph.
TRENDS:

* Hoosiers are 1-5 ATS in their last six November games.
* Buckeyes are 10-2-1 ATS in their last 13 games following a SU win.
* Favorite is 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings.

Oregon Ducks at Arizona Wildcats (+20.5, 67.5)

Oregon's top six rushers on the season are all averaging at least 6.5 yards per carry and are led by Byron Marshall, who has 152 rushes for 991 yards and 14 scores. Quarterback Marcus Mariota could find his way to the Heisman Trophy ceremony next month, as his ratio of 25 touchdowns to zero interceptions is pretty eye-catching, not to mention his 477 rushing yards and nine scores.

The Wildcats have had a streaky year, winning their first three games followed by a two-game losing streak, a three-game winning streak and now another two-game skid. In addition to standout back Ka'Deem Carey, Arizona also can run the ball with quarterback B.J. Denker, whose 709 rushing yards are a Wildcats single-season record. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Scooby Wright leads the team with 70 tackles.

LINE: Oregon opened as a 17.5-point fave, but the line has since been bet up to 20.5. The total is up a half-point to 67.5.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-50s with a 70 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms.
TRENDS:

* Ducks are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games on grass.
* Wildcats are 5-16 ATS in their last 21 November games.
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.

Wisconsin Badgers at Minnesota Golden Gophers (+16.5, 50)

To say that the Badgers ground game is clicking right now would be a woeful understatement. Three individual rushers topped 100 yards and the team amassed 554 yards on the ground - the second-highest total in team history - in the rout of the Hoosiers. The tandem of Melvin Gordon (1,306 yards) and James White (1,156) gives Wisconsin the status as the only FBS team with multiple players over the 1,000-yard mark.

The Gophers also have utilized the ground game for recent success, climbing to 20th in FBS play in rushing yards per game at 218.5 (Wisconsin is sixth at 307.9). David Cobb's emergence has been the catalyst, as the unheralded running back has recorded four straight 100-yard rushing efforts and has 405 total yards in his last two contests.

LINE: Wisconsin is a 16.5-point fave after opening at -14.5. The total is steady at 50.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-teens with sunny skies and wind blowing diagonally out of the NW at 7 mph.
TRENDS:

* Badgers are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games.
* Gophers are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 November games.
* Under is 4-0-1 in Minnesota's last five games following a bye week.

Texas A&M Aggies at LSU Tigers (-4.5, 71)

The Aggies' offense has been unstoppable, topping 40 points in 13 consecutive games and going over 500 total yards in nine straight. The catalyst, of course, is reigning Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, who leads the nation in completion percentage (73), ranks second in total offense (3,924) and ranks third in passer efficiency (186.86).

The Tigers are far more balanced than the Aggies, if not nearly as explosive. Quarterback Zach Mettenberger (2,733 passing yards, 20 TDs) is nursing a sore ankle but is expected to play and needs 93 passing yards to pass Matt Mauck for third on LSU's single-season list. The defense had its share of struggles early in the season but has rounded into form - especially against the pass - and allows just 14.6 points per game at home.

LINE: LSU is installed as a 4.5-point fave, down from -4. The total is set at 71.
WEATHER: Persistent rain is expected with wind blowing across the length of the field at 12 mph.
TRENDS:

* Aggies are 0-6 ATS in their last six games following a bye week.
* Tigers are 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight conference games.
* Over is 8-2 in LSU's last 10 games.

 
Posted : November 22, 2013 2:33 pm
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Saturday's NCAAF Top 25 Betting Cheat Sheet: Evening Action
By Covers.com

New Mexico Lobos at Fresno State Bulldogs (-31.5, 66)

The Lobos' triple-option offense will be hard-pressed to make up for the loss of Gautsche and Carrier, who have rushed for 777 yards and 1,122 yards, respectively, to key the second-ranked attack in the nation in rushing average at 323.8 yards per game. The Lobos will likely have to rely more on Mitchem's stronger arm - a concern for Fresno State defensive coordinator Nick Toth.

The Bulldogs are off to their best start since 1989 as one of only six FBS teams still unbeaten this season. Fresno State can clinch the West Division of the MVC by beating the Lobos for the fourth year in a row. Expect Carr to again look for sophomore Davante Adams, who has been his favorite receiver this season with 91 catches for 967 yards and 15 touchdowns to lead the nation in scoring receptions.

LINE: Fresno State is a 31.5-point fave after opening -31. The total has risen one point to 66.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-60s with partly cloudy skies.
TRENDS:

* Lobos are 4-1 ATS in their last five games following an ATS loss.
* Bulldogs are 16-34-1 ATS in their last 51 home games.
* Over is 6-1 in Fresno State's last seven games following a bye week.

California Golden Bears at Stanford Cardinal (-31.5, 56)

A crippling loss to USC last week has left No. 12 Stanford reeling as they look to secure a berth in one of the major BCS bowls. That could mean a long Saturday afternoon for the California Golden Bears as they look to end their nine-game losing skid against a Cardinal team that will be out for points in the 116th edition of The Big Game. The Golden Bears have approached 200 rushing yards in consecutive games.

The Cardinal attack centers around senior running back Tyler Gaffney, who was sensational in defeat against USC with 158 rushing yards and a pair of scores. That marked his fifth consecutive 100-yard effort and he has scored on the ground in six straight games. More importantly, his 1,201 yards on the season leave him 194 shy of the single-season school record set in 2009 by Toby Gerhart, now a member of the Minnesota Vikings.

LINE: Stanford is favored by 31.5 after opening at -30.5. The total has held at 56.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-60s under clear skies.
TRENDS:

* Golden Bears are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games following an ATS loss.
* Cardinal are 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight games vs. teams with losing records.
* Road team is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.

Arizona State Sun Devils at UCLA Bruins (+2.5, 61.5)

With two touchdowns in the win over Oregon State, Marion Grice became the 15th player in the conference since 1978 to score at least 20 touchdowns in a season and is two shy of tying the school record of 22. Robert Nelson was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week after collecting two of the Sun Devils’ four interceptions against the Beavers, giving him six for the season.

Linebacker Myles Jack remained a two-way standout in the win, following up his 120-yard debut at running back in a Nov. 9 win against Washington with four rushing touchdowns against Washington to set a Bruins freshman record. In addition to becoming the 13th UCLA player to score at least four rushing TDs in a game, Jack added five tackles against the Huskies.

LINE: Arizona State is installed as a 2.5-point fave, with the total down a half-point to 61.5.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-50s with wind blowing diagonally out of the NE at 6 mph.
TRENDS:

* Sun Devils are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 November games.
* Bruins are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games following a SU win.
* Over is 7-1 in UCLA's last November games.

Missouri Tigers at Mississippi Rebels (+2.5, 58)

Franklin, who was completing 67.7 percent of his passes before the injury, missed four starts with a sprained throwing shoulder. L'Damian Washington and Green-Beckham each have nine touchdown catches after Green-Beckham set a school record with four TDs against Kentucky. Michael Sam has a conference-best 10 sacks and the Tigers, who have forced a turnover in 40 straight games, lead the league with 17 interceptions.

The Rebels' starting corners - 5-9 Senquez Golson and 5-8 Mike Hilton - will have their hands full trying to slow Missouri's big receivers. Running back Jeff Scott (488 yards, two touchdowns) returned last week after missing three games because of a bone spur. Bo Wallace (2,664 passing yards and 232 rushing yards) ranks third in the SEC in total offense (289.6 yards per game) and has 17 passing touchdowns and four on the ground.

LINE: Missouri opened as a 3-point fave, but the line has been bet down a half-point. The total is set at 58.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-40s with wind blowing diagonally out of the N at 7 mph.
TRENDS:

* Tigers are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games.
* Rebels are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 November games.
* Over is 8-2 in Mississippi's last 10 home games.

Baylor Bears at Oklahoma State Cowboys (+9.5, 78)

Despite the absences of their top two running backs on the depth chart (Lache Seastrunk and Glasco Martin) as well as their second-leading receiver (Tevin Reese), the Bears still amassed 63 points and 675 total yards in last Saturday’s 63-34 win over Texas Tech. Baylor, which is averaging 300.3 yards rushing and 384.4 yards passing, could become the first FBS team ever to average over 300 yards in both categories.

One week after collecting the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week award for his 100-yard kickoff return touchdown versus Kansas, Cowboys cornerback Justin Gilbert took home the league’s defensive award after intercepting two passes and returning one for another score against Texas. Gilbert is the conference’s all-time leader in kickoff return touchdowns with six and needs one more to tie the NCAA career record.

LINE: Baylor is a 9.5-point fave, down from a 10.5-point open. The total is holding at 78.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-30s with wind blowing across the width of the field at 6 mph.
TRENDS:

* Bears are 8-0 ATS in their last eight November games.
* Cowboys are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 home games.
* Home team is 9-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings.

USC Trojans at Colorado Buffaloes (+22.5, 54)

The Trojans intercepted two passes in the fourth quarter - including one by Dion Bailey at the USC 6-yard line with the game tied at 17 - while holding Stanford to a season low for points. Sophomore Cody Kessler (64.7 completion rate, 13 touchdowns, six interceptions) has done a solid job managing the offense while throwing only two picks in his last six games.

Freshman quarterback Sefo Liufau had a career day last week with 364 yards and three touchdowns against one of the worst defenses in the country, and was quick to credit Paul Richardson and Nelson Spruce. “Those two are just so good that it definitely makes things easier for me,'' Liafau said of the receiving tandem, which combined for 19 receptions and recorded 140 yards apiece.

LINE: USC is installed as a 22.5-point fave, with the total set at 54.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-20s with partly cloudy skies.
TRENDS:

* Trojans are 5-0 ATS in their last five conference games.
* Buffaloes are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 home games.
* Over is 4-0 in Colorado's last four games vs. teams with winning records.

 
Posted : November 22, 2013 2:35 pm
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Posts: 318493
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Big Ten Report - Week 13
By ASAWins.com

Week 12 watched the favorites go 4-1 straight up and 3-2 against the spread. The lone underdog to win was Michigan, who defeated Northwestern 27-19 in a triple-overtime battle. Despite playing three extra sessions, the combined 46 points fell ‘under’ the closing total of 48 ½ points. The ‘over’ went 3-1 in the other four games.

Ohio State (-34½, 81) vs. Indiana

Ohio State scored 56+ points for the third consecutive week as Urban Meyer's crew continues to try to earn “style points” against porous competition. OSU used an interception return TD and a punt return TD in the 1st half to jump out to a 35-14 first half lead. The Bucks doubled their score in the 2nd half to notch the 60-35 victory. Illinois did cut the deficit to 12-points mid-4th quarter, but OSU was never in serious danger of losing the lead. They ran for 441 yards on 42 carries (10.2 YPC) to make up for a below-average passing day from Braxton Miller (13-of-29 for 150 yards). Defensively this wasn’t OSU’s best performance. Illinois came in to the game averaging 21.2 PPG in Big Ten play, but OSU allowed 420 yards, 24 first downs, and 35 points. OSU will look to add another blowout win to its resume and clinch the Leaders Division title with a win over Indiana on Saturday. The Hoosiers are off of their weakest effort of the season. A normally explosive offense was held in check in terrible weather conditions against a very strong Wisconsin defense. IU came in averaging 527 yards and 43 points per game. The Hoosiers were held to just 224 yards and 3 points against the Badgers. They had two turnovers and were just 3-for-12 on third downs. The defense remains a mess, as Indiana surrendered a record 554 rush yards, including seven gains of 30 yards or more. IU now ranks 124th in total defense and 117th in scoring defense. It will need a miracle against Ohio State on Saturday and another win vs. Purdue next week just to reach bowl eligibility. OSU has won 18 straight over Indiana. IU has covered back-to-back games against OSU including last year’s narrow three-point loss at home. Ohio State is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 games as a 30+ point favorite. IU is 1-4 as an underdog this season.

Wisconsin (-16½, 50) at Minnesota

Wisconsin RB James White ran for a 93-yard touchdown on the Badgers’ first offensive play of the game and UW never looked back as it made Indiana look hapless last week. The Badgers racked up 554 rush yards on 11.1 YPC (2nd highest rush total in team history) as three different players rushed for 100 yards for the third time this season. They were able to churn out 27 first downs and control the ball for +16 minutes TOP. The defense was outstanding. It held Indiana’s high-octane offense to just 224 yards, 14 first downs, and 3 points. Wisconsin’s defense has now held six of its 10 opponents to 10 points or fewer and it ranks 6th in total defense and 5th in scoring defense. This week it’s the annual rivalry game against Minnesota, and this edition figures to be a bit closer than recent years. Motivation won’t be lacking for the Gophers this season as Wisconsin comes to town with the Axe on the line for the biggest home game in recent memory. The Gophers have won four straight games and had last week off to prepare for this game. QB Nelson has 7 TD and 0 INT during the four game win-streak while RB Cobb has over 100 rush yards during the streak. Wisconsin’s defense will be the best defense Minnesota has faced to date and they’ll need Nelson and Cobb to step up yet again. The defense has stepped up nicely and the rankings don’t reflect how well it’s playing at the moment. This stop-unit will have its hands full with Wisconsin’s offense that ranks 12th in yards per game and 19th in points per game. Wisconsin has won nine consecutive games against Minnesota, including three straight by 24 points per game. Bonus: The ‘over’ is 9-1 in the last 10 meetings.

Michigan State (-7½, 41) at Northwestern

The Spartans are a win -- or a Minnesota loss -- from punching their ticket to Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship game. They’ve now won six straight games after finding themselves in a surprisingly high-scoring game Saturday against Nebraska. The Spartans’ defense uncharacteristically allowed chunks of yards and a few big scoring plays to the Huskers, but were able to force five turnovers and control the clock (+17 minutes TOP) to put Nebraska away. QB Cook was a solid game manager (193 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT) and RB Langford rushed for 151 yards and three scores – his fifth consecutive game with 100+ yards on the ground. Sparty has now scored 40+ points in three of its last five games. They won’t be lacking motivation with a Legends Division title on the line as they travel to Northwestern this weekend. The Wildcats won’t be lacking for motivation either. Northwestern’s nightmare streak continued last week as it looked like they had an upset in hand against Michigan. The Wolves were able to rush the field goal squad on the field and kick a game-tying field goal as time expired to send the game into overtime – where they won. The defense was fantastic all game as it held Michigan without a touchdown during regulation. Unfortunately the offense failed to reach the endzone as well. NW managed just 143 rush yards on 2.9 YPC and QB’s Siemian & Colter failed to stretch the field with just 179 pass yards on 23-of-34 passing. Not only are they eager to snap a six-game losing streak, but another loss would officially eliminate them from bowl eligibility. Of their last four losses, two were by three points and the other two were in overtime. Northwestern won in East Lansing last year to snap a four-game losing streak to the Spartans. MSU had +116 yards and +6 first downs, but turned the ball over four times in the three point home loss. Northwestern is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games as a home underdog in the Big Ten.

Iowa (-6, 47½) vs. Michigan

Both teams are already bowl eligible, but both are out of the Legends division race. Iowa comes into the game off of a bye week with a chance to close out the season strong with wins over Michigan & Nebraska. It wouldn’t be all that surprising either, considering that Iowa's four losses all have come against ranked opponents (Wisconsin, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Northern Illinois). In their last game, the Hawkeyes racked up 318 rushing yards, including 165 by Jordan Canzeri. The defense limited Purdue to just 266 total yards, 12 first downs, and 14 points. Iowa’s defense has been underrated all season long and ranks 9th in total defense and 12th in scoring defense. They’ll look to continue their strong defensive play against a Michigan offense that has scored just one regulation touchdown the past three weeks. Michigan was one second away from losing its third consecutive game last week against Northwestern. They were very smooth at getting their kicking squad on the field in under 12 seconds before kicking the game-tying field goal as time expired. The Wolves went on to win in overtime and provided some momentum going forward despite another shaky performance from QB Gardner (24-of-43 passing). Defensively Michigan was outstanding as it held Northwestern to just 322 yards and 2.9 YPC. Iowa is 5-4 SU in the last nine meetings with Michigan, including a 3-1 mark at home (9-3-2 ATS run over the Wolves). Michigan is just 3-10 ATS in its last 13 games as a Big Ten underdog on the road.

Penn State (-2, 50) vs. Nebraska

Penn State has alternated wins and losses since September 7th. The Nittany Lions’ three Big Ten wins have come at home while their three Big Ten losses have come on the road. They won at home against Purdue last week, 45-21. Credit the Lions for not panicking when Purdue cut the lead to seven points after building a 28-7 lead. PSU regrouped and scored the final 17 points to win by 24 points. QB Hackenberg had an efficient day with 212 pass yards on 16-of-23 passing while RB’s Zwinak and Belton combined for 230 rush yards and 4 TD. The defense is still a problem and it did allow more points, 21, to Purdue than any other Big Ten team has allowed to the Boilers (granted one was a special team’s touchdown). They play at home again this weekend for senior night against the Huskers. Nebraska fell victim to the Spartans last week despite a valiant offensive effort against the top defense in the nation. The Huskers put up 392 yards and 28 points (both are most allowed by MSU all season) including three touchdowns of 30 yards or more. The defense also played well (361 yards allowed) but Nebraska lost four fumbles and tossed an interception to finish -5 in the turnover battle. RB Abdullah rushed for over 100 yards for the ninth time this season and Nebraska will try to use him against this PSU “D” that has allowed 172 rush YPG over the past six contests. Nebraska has won the only two meetings as conference foes the past two years (both games were pushes ATS).

Illinois (-6½, 56½) at Purdue

It’s not often that you’ll get a team on a 20-game conference losing streak as a conference road favorite, but enter Illinois vs. Purdue. One of these squads will get its first Big Ten victory of the season. Despite long losing streaks, both teams have been playing better as of late. Illinois has scored 35 points apiece in back-to-back losses. Illini QB Scheelhaase has averaged 353 pass YPG over the last three weeks with five TD passes. Meanwhile, Purdue has scored five touchdowns the past two weeks after only notching one the previous three games. Freshman QB Danny Etling (223 pass yards) had a decent day throwing the ball but remains a major work in progress. The good news for both offenses is that they get to face the opposing defense. Illinois ranks 116th in total defense and 110th in scoring defense. Purdue ranks 102nd in total defense and 113th in scoring defense. Purdue is 7-1 SU against Illinois the last eight meetings. That includes a 4-0 mark at home (3-1 ATS) winning by an average of 21 PPG.

 
Posted : November 22, 2013 9:50 pm
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ACC Report - Week 13
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com

The Atlantic Coast Conference has some real dogs on the schedule this week, and I don't mean underdogs. This weekend's schedule of games looks like what we might see in late August or early September, with lower-tier FBS teams, or FCS teams, playing against the league's powerhouses. In fact, the best game, as far as competitveness, might be Boston College-Maryland or Pittsburgh-Syracuse, and that's not making anyone's toes tingle.

The Florida State Seminoles, currently No. 2 in the BCS rankings, will face the lowly Idaho Vandals in out-of-conference action. For now, QB Jameis Winston is expected to play, although the ever-evolving story about some misdeeds off the field are sure to follow the star quarterback around this week, and until the case's resolution. The Seminoles are favored by 57 points, and with the Vandals 5-17 ATS in their past 22 non-conference tilts, and 0-5 ATS in their past five against winning teams, there might be a lot of takers on Florida State. FSU is 6-1 ATS in their past seven home games, and 9-4 ATS in their past 13 non-conference tilts.

Duke at Wake Forest

The Blue Devils are enjoying their first rankings in The Associated Press Top 25 since 1994. Duke is looking to match the program record with a ninth victory, but Wake Forest will be anything but a pushover. Just ask Miami, who had trouble with Deacs recently. Of course, Miami isn't playing so well, either. Just ask the Blue Devils. Duke is 4-1 ATS in their past five meetings at Wake Forest, and 5-2 ATS in the past seven meetings overall, and that includes a stretch of some lesser Duke teams, and better Wake clubs. The dog is 5-2 ATS in the past seven in this series, but the road team is also 7-3 ATS in the past 10 battles. Most signs appear to point to Duke, especially since Wake is just 4-9 ATS in their past 13 overall, and 3-9 ATS in the past 12 against a team with a winning record. Duke is 5-0 ATS in its past five ACC games, and 6-1-1 ATS in the past eight road games against a team with a losing home record.

Virginia at Miami, Fl.

The Cavaliers and Hurricanes both can use a win. Virginia limps in with just two wins in their first 10 tries, so they need something good heading into the offseason. Miami, who once appeared in the Top 10 of the BCS standings, has dropped three straight after being thrashed at Duke last weekend, 48-30. Miami is simply looking for a season-saving win, and they should get it against UVA. The Hurricanes are a 20-point favorite despite their three-game slide. The Cavaliers head in 5-16-2 ATS in their past 23 on grass, and 5-17-2 ATS in their past 24 games overall. They're also 0-3-1 ATS in their past four ACC contests, and 6-20-1 ATS in their past 27 against a team with a winning record. Miami is 0-5 ATS in their past five games, but 8-3 ATS in their past 11 home contests, 4-1 ATS in their past five against teams wth a losing record, and 4-1 ATS in their past five home games against a team with a losing road record. The way both teams have been playing, though, there isn't a lot of confidence on either side of the betting fence.

East Carolina at North Carolina State

The Pirates stroll into Carter-Finley Stadium looking to show the state of North Carolina that this is THEIR state. A couple of weeks ago, the Wolfpack created quite a stir in the Tar Heel state by feature an outline of North Carolina with the Wolfpack logo. The only problem, ECU has been using this logo for years, but with Pee Dee the Pirate inside the borders. There was plenty of derision from Wolfpack rivals, and Pirate Nation was up in arms about the copycat job. There is no word if the logo returns this weekend, but it will be an interesting side note. ECU enters this game as a six-point favorite, and frankly, it is surprising not to be more. ECU is 4-1 ATS in their past five against teams with a losing record. Perhaps the line is low because the Pirates are 4-9 ATS in the past 13 against ACC opponents, 2-5 ATS in their past seven out of conference, and 1-5 ATS in their past six road games. Of course, they did buck these trends as a 13-point dog earlier this season at North Carolina, winning outright by a 55-31 score. NC State is just 1-5 ATS in the past six overall, but 16-4-1 ATS in their past 21 home games against a team with a winning road record.

Pittsburgh at Syracuse

Call this one the 'Bowl Eligibility Bowl'. The two new kids on the ACC block are battling for their sixth win of the season, and a chance to go bowling. The Panthers come in 1-4 ATS in their past five road games, while the Orange are 7-1-1 ATS in their past nine games. Syracuse is also 10-4 ATS in the past 14 overall. However, in their pre-ACC days, Pittsburgh is 3-0-1 ATS in the past four meetings, and the favorite (presumably Pitt) is 3-0-1 ATS in the past four meetings overall. One historical trend going for 'Cuse is that the home team is 3-1-1 ATS in the past five meetings.

Boston College at Maryland

The Eagles have been one of the bigger surprises in ACC play, led by QB Chase Rettig, RB Andre Williams and WR Alex Amidon. This dynamic trio gives the Eagles a chance more often than not. Boston College is now 4-0 ATS in their past four against a team with a winning record, and 5-1 ATS in their past six conference tilts. The Eagles have covered just once in their past 10 road contests, so it will be interesting to see if they can turn that around. Maryland, on the other hand, is 5-2 ATS in their past seven home games, and 5-1 ATS in their past six against a team with a winning record. Both of these teams get up for clubs on the positive side of the ledger. In head-to-head battles, it is the home team covering five of the past seven meetings. This game is a pick 'em, and rightly so. Even the total trends are all over the board. The under is 36-15-1 in BC's past 52, while the over is 6-2 in Maryland's past eight conference games, and 5-2 in their past seven home games against a team with a winning road record. In other words, this game screams, "Stay away!"

Other Games

Old Dominion at North Carolina (12:00pm ET)
The Citadel at Clemson (12:00pm ET)
Alabama A&M at Georgia Tech (1:30pm ET)
Idaho at Florida State (ESPN U, 3:30pm ET)

 
Posted : November 22, 2013 9:51 pm
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Pac-12 Report - Week 13
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com

These final two weekends in the Pac-12 should be very spirited. All but California has something to play for, as 11 of the league's 12 teams could still qualify for bowl eligibility, even Colorado.

Next week we'll get the USC-UCLA game, the Apple Cup between Washington-Washington State, the Civil War between Oregon-Oregon State and the battle of the Grand Canyon State between Arizona-Arizona State. But this weekend we get a rivalry game, too. While Cal-Stanford certainly loses a lot of fanfare because of Cal's atrocious record, and Stanford's loss to USC last weekend, not one person sees this game on the schedule and doesn't picture a trombone player getting knocked over in the end zone after the most amazing set of laterals ever filmed. If you think of anything else, then something is wrong.

Oregon at Arizona

Oregon was given a gift last weekend from their 'friends' in Southern California, knocking off Stanford and giving the Ducks new hope of an appearance in the Pac-12 Championship Game. The Ducks, 12-2 ATS in their past 14 road games, need to take care of business in Arizona first. The Ducks are 11-3 ATS in their past 14 against a team with a winning record, and 9-1 ATS in their past 10 road games against a team with a winning home record, so things are looking up for UO. The Wildcats, on the other hand, are still a team on the rise, but not quite there. They are just 2-6 ATS in their past eight home games, and 1-6 ATS in their past seven against winning teams. They need a signature win to prove they're back, but will it be this weekend? Stanford certainly hopes so.

California at Stanford

It's the 116th version of 'The Big Game', and with most rivalry games, you can throw trends, past results, etc. right out the window. The line for this game opened at 28, and has already shot up to 31 and 32 at most shops. It will be interesting to see how much pride the Bears, who have been a mess most of the season, can generate to try and stay in this game. The Cardinal will likely be an angry group after having a victory slip away at USC last weekend, and with it their chances at a BCS Bowl and chance at a national title fade in one fell swoop. The point spread is believed to be the largest in the history of this rivalry game, and Stanford very well might cover. Although, keep in mind, Cal is 4-1-1 ATS in the past six meetings in Palo Alto, and the road team has covered four straight in this series. Of course, this is, by far, the worst Cal team during any of that stretch, and maybe ever. The under could be the play, as it has cashed in four straight road games for Cal, and is 6-1-1 in Cal's past eight. The under is 5-0 in Stanford's past five, and 21-6-1 in the past 28 against a team with a losing record. The total sits at 55 currently.

Arizona State at UCLA

The Sun Devils are looking to turn around some ugly trends against the Bruins lately. AZ State is 2-8 ATS in the past 10 meetings in this series, and 0-5 ATS in their past five trips to Pasadena. The Sun Devils are trying to turn around some ugly trends recently, too. They're just 2-5 ATS in their past seven road games, 2-8 ATS in their past 10 contests in the month of November, and 4-9 ATS when following up an ATS loss. The Bruins, on the other hand, have been dominant lately. UCLA has covered four of their past five home games, and seven of their past 10 overall. And they're 5-1 ATS in their past six following a cover in their previous game. UCLA is actually a 2.5-to3-point underdog at home.

Southern California at Colorado

The USC Trojans went from a laughing stock under Lane Kiffin to one of the most feared teams in the nation under Ed Orgeron, leaving many Trojans fans wondering what could have been if Orgeron started the season as the head man. The Trojans have covered five in a row in the conference, four straight overall, and they're 6-1 ATS in their past seven road outings against a team with a losing home record. However, one thing they need to show they can do more consistently is cover on the road. USC is just 2-10 ATS in their past 12 road games. Colorado is 5-11 ATS in their past 16 at home, and 10-22 ATS in their past 32 games overall. The Buffs have covered just nine of their past 32 against a team with a winning record, and eight of their past 29 conference tilts, as well. That 23-point number doesn't look too terribly formidable the way USC has been playing.

Washington at Oregon State

This contest features a couple of teams looking to save their seasons with a seventh win. While both are already bowl eligible, another loss might mean a lesser paying bowl game played in mid-December rather than a more favorable game later in the month with a bigger paycheck. The Huskies are just 4-11 ATS in their past 15 road games, and 1-4 ATS in their past five conference tilts. If they can get RB Bishop Sankey going, and keep him going, they should be tough. However, they lost QB Keith Price (shoulder) in the last game, and QB Cyler Miles might be forced into his first-ever start. The Beavers have dropped three in a row, and their offense has gone south in a hurry. They were a finely tuned machine until USC came to town and trounced them. Ever since, they Beavers have been in a tailspin. Playing a rival with a backup QB could be the thing to snap them out of their funk. The Huskies are 1-4 ATS in their past five trips to Corvallis, and 1-8 ATS in the past nine meetings overall. Due to Price's uncertain status, this game is currently off the board.

Other Games

Utah at Washington State (Pac-12 Network, 3:30pm ET)

 
Posted : November 22, 2013 9:53 pm
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Saturday's Top Action
By Sportsbook.ag

BAYLOR BEARS (9-0) at OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS (9-1)

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Baylor -9.5 & 79.5
Opening Line & Total: Bears -10 & 80

Unbeaten No. 3 Baylor looks to remain in the national title race Saturday night as it travels to Stillwater to take on No. 11 Oklahoma State in a game with huge implications for the Big 12 title.

In their matchup last season, the Bears were able to pull out a tough victory, defeating the Cowboys 41-34. However, this is a very different Baylor offense. In at quarterback is Bryce Petty, who has thrown for 2,992 yards and 24 touchdowns, while only tossing one interception all season. Petty is the leader of a Bears offense that has 34 scoring plays of at least 25 yards. In last Saturday’s 63-34 victory over Texas Tech, freshman RB Shock Linwood filled in for Lache Seastrunk (groin injury, doubtful to play Saturday), and had a terrific game with 187 rushing yards and one touchdown, showcasing electric speed. The Bears offense has been a juggernaut this season, leading the nation with 61.2 PPG and scoring at least 35 points in every game. However, they haven't won in Stillwater since 1939 and will be going up against an Oklahoma State team that is very confident after a big 38-13 road victory in Austin last week. Quarterback Clint Chelf was huge in the win over Texas, finishing the game with 292 total yards (197 passing) and four touchdowns. His touchdown pass to Tracy Moore put the Cowboys up 21-10 with a minute to go in the first half, and then cornerback Justin Gilbert took an interception 43 yards for a touchdown to give the Cowboys a commanding 18-point lead at halftime. The Bears are 8-0 ATS in the past two seasons versus teams averaging at least 34.0 PPG, but OSU is 9-1 ATS coming off a Big 12 win in this same timeframe.

Baylor not only leads FBS in scoring (61.2 PPG), but also ranks third in passing offense (384.4 YPG) and ninth in rushing offense (300.3 YPG). Junior QB Bryce Petty has been the man all season, throwing at least two touchdown passes in every game. His favorite target is WR Antwan Goodley (48 catches, 1,075 yards, 11 TD). While he is not the tallest pass catcher at 5-foot-10, he is a strong receiver at 220 pounds and has game-breaking ability with one catch of at least 25 yards in every single game this season. Senior WR Tevin Reese is out due to a season-ending wrist injury, but Goodley has continued to play well while seeing more double teams. Under head coach Art Briles, the Bears have produced one of the best offenses in all of the country, but now they have a defense that is able to hold up its end of the bargain. The Bears rank 7th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 17.4 PPG. They have been led by S Ahmad Dixon, but CB K.J. Morton has also become a key player on defense. The senior had his first interception of the season last week against Texas Tech, but is huge against the run, tallying 41 tackles this year. The Bears defense, which has forced 20 turnovers this year, will face its toughest test of the season, as OSU QB Clint Chelf has continued to improve throughout the season.

Chelf has thrown for 1,222 yards, 11 TD and 5 INT, but he could be without top WR Josh Stewart (40 catches, 510 yards, 2 TD) who has missed the past two games with an ankle injury. Chelf has also rushed for 325 yards and five touchdowns this year, and has been especially effective on the ground recently, rushing for at least 85 yards in three of the past four games. RB Desmond Roland (565 rush yards, 10 TD) has been the Cowboys' leading rusher this season, but has struggled in the past two games with just 103 yards on 35 carries (2.9 YPC). Roland must have a great game rushing the ball to help the defense out in stopping the Bears' potent offense. Oklahoma State’s defense has been very opportunistic this season with 26 takeaways, and CB Justin Gilbert (2 INT last week) is the key. He will mostly be covering Goodley in what should be an entertaining matchup. Both of these offenses are able to put up serious points, but look for Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy to really emphasize the rushing attack, trying to chew up clock and keep Petty and the Bears offense off the field.

TEXAS A&M AGGIES (8-2) at LSU TIGERS (7-3)

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: LSU -4.5 & 74
Opening Line & Total: Tigers -3.5 & 73

No. 9 Texas A&M looks to stay in contention for a potential BCS bowl game as it travels to Baton Rouge to take on No. 18 LSU on Saturday night.

Last season, these two teams squared off in College Station as LSU held on for the 24-19 victory. The Tigers did a great job of slowing down Aggies star QB Johnny Manziel, intercepting him three times while forcing five total turnovers. The Aggies were up in that game 12-0, before the LSU defense got rolling and RB Jeremy Hill started dominating the game, finishing with 127 yards. For Texas A&M, they will need to get another great game out of Manziel, who has been even better this season than in his Heisman campaign as a freshman. Manziel (3,313 pass yards, 31 TD) has become a much better pocket passer, and has continued to have better command of the offense this season under coach Kevin Sumlin. While the offense has been terrific, the defense has really struggled this season, allowing 30.9 PPG (88th in FBS). Sumlin is 22-6 Over (79%) coming off a home win, and that streak should continue as the Tigers' offense is much better this season. There may be no more improved quarterback in the country than QB Zach Mettenberger (2,733 pass yards, 20 TD, 7 INT). Mettenberger is your prototypical quarterback, standing at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds. He has always had a big arm, but has become much more accurate, seeing his percentage go from 58.8 percent last season, to 65.7 percent this year. The mad scientist Les Miles, has had a lot of great moments at LSU, but hasn’t had great success when playing at home as a favorite by less than seven points (1-9 ATS). But Texas A&M is 0-7 ATS in the past three seasons on the road where the total is at least 63 points. If the Tigers are going to avoid their first four-loss regular season since 2008, the defense is going to have to play well.

Texas A&M comes into the game ranked 5th in the nation in scoring (49.2 PPG) and 6th in passing yards (379.2 YPG). QB Johnny Manziel has been great all season, but the emergence of sophomore WR Mike Evans (57 catches, 1,263 yards, 12 TD) has helped take the Aggies to the next level. At 6-foot-5, Evans has the ability to go up and catch the ball in traffic, something he has done multiple times this season for Manziel. He is a very good route runner as well, and is an absolute nightmare to cover, forcing defenses to double and sometimes triple-team him. This has helped senior RB Ben Malena (98 carries, 476 yards, 9 TD) have the opportunities to be the home-run threat that he is. Head coach Kevin Sumlin can’t be upset with the performance of his offense, but the defense has been a big reason why the Aggies are just 2-4 in conference play. In SEC action, the unit has surrendered 38.3 PPG and 502.2 total YPG, and it gave up 94 total points in losses to Auburn and Alabama. The best player on the unit is junior DB Howard Matthews, who has 73 tackles and three interceptions. Matthews will play a big role in this game, as he is going to be matched up against one of the best receiving duos in the country.

LSU WRs Odell Beckham (51 catches, 1,051 yards, 8 TD) and Jarvis Landry (63 catches, 972 yards, 8 TD) have both had huge seasons. The junior Beckham has five games with at least 100 receiving yards, and has the speed to get behind the defense, making him a threat to take it the distance anytime he touches the ball. The Tigers have been known for terrific defense, but their offense ranks 21st in the country this season with 38.0 PPG. With the vaunted passing attack of the Tigers, this has opened up things on the ground for RB Jeremy Hill. On the season, Hill has rushed for 964 yards and 13 touchdowns, while averaging 6.8 yards per carry. He is a power back that has the ability to run the defender over, while also possessing good enough speed to run away from the defense. The LSU defense gives up an average of 23.5 PPG, which ranks 38th in the nation. The unit has had some struggles this season, but appears to have found a new star in the secondary in freshman CB Tre’Davious White, who has 41 tackles on the season. He has the ability to run with any receiver, but he will also make plays against the run. White teams up with Jalen Mills to form a secondary with big potential, but not a lot of size. The Tigers are going to have problems stopping Evans, and will have to double-team him with safeties over the top.

MISSOURI TIGERS (9-1) at OLE MISS REBELS (7-3)

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Missouri -2.5 & 58.5
Opening Line & Total: Tigers -3 & 58

No. 8 Missouri faces a tough road test in its quest to reach the SEC title game as it visits No. 24 Ole Miss on Saturday night.

The Tigers get a welcome addition to their offense this week as QB James Franklin looks like he’ll return after missing the past four games with a shoulder injury. Officially listed as questionable, he’s expected to start. Missouri’s only loss came without him to South Carolina, though they rebounded with dominant SU and ATS wins against Tennessee and Kentucky. Overall, the Tigers are 8-2 ATS this season and a perfect 4-0 (SU and ATS) on the road. Since a three-point loss to Texas A&M, the Rebels have reeled off four straight wins (3-1 ATS). They are 6-4 ATS this season with a 4-2 ATS mark at home. Last weekend, they covered a 28-point spread with a 51-21 win against Troy. These two teams have met only twice in recent memory, in 2006 and 2007. Missouri won both games SU and ATS. The Tigers are 19-9 ATS (68%) on the road coming off a double-digit conference win under head coach Gary Pinkel, but Ole Miss is 14-4 ATS (78%) in games played on turf in the past two seasons.

Missouri QB James Franklin was amid a tremendous season before he got hurt, completing 67.7% of his passes for 14 TD and only 3 INT. In three games before getting hurt, he threw eight touchdowns and no picks. Franklin also brings a great deal of athleticism to the table, running for 290 yards (4.5 YPC) and 3 TD. The Tigers receiving corps is deep as three players—L’Damian Washington, Dorial Green-Beckham and Marcus Lucas—all have more than 500 receiving yards. Washington and Green-Beckham are the most dangerous of the three, each corralling nine touchdowns through the air. RB Henry Josey is Missouri’s main weapon on the ground, averaging 6.1 YPC for 760 yards and a whopping 10 TD. But don’t forget about RBs Russell Hansbrough and Marcus Murphy, who have 544 and 485 rushing yards, respectively. Murphy has seven rushing touchdowns as part of this high-power offense that averages 41.3 PPG thanks to scoring 26 touchdowns on the ground thus far. The defense isn’t too shabby either, yielding 20.2 PPG, led by a fierce front seven that gives up a pithy 3.3 YPC.

Rebels QB Bo Wallace has been among the most productive throwers in the nation this year, completing 64.7% of his passes for 2,664 yards and 17 TD while only tossing five picks. He’s completed more than 70% of his passes over his past three games, throwing for 8 TD and 2 INT. Wallace is less of a threat on the ground, averaging only 2.3 YPC, but he does have four rushing scores. RB Jeff Scott (488 rush yards, 7.6 YPC, 2 TD), I’Tavius Mathers (429 rush yards, 6.3 YPC, 2 TD) and Jaylen Walton (391 rush yards, 5.1 YPC, 6 TD) take care of most of the work on the ground. Wallace’s favorite target has been WR Donte Montcrief, who has 44 catches for 686 yards and five touchdowns this year. He’s talented, but inconsistent. In his past six games, he has gained more than 100 yards three times, but fewer than 40 yards three times. The Ole Miss defense is giving up only 25.0 PPG this season, with opponents rushing for 4.1 YPC and completing 64.2% of their passes, which could mean an easy transition back to action for Franklin.

ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS (8-2) at UCLA BRUINS (8-2)

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Arizona -1.5 & 62.5
Opening Line & Total: Sun Devils -3 & 62

With a Pac-12 title game berth on the line, No. 19 Arizona State will travel to the Rose Bowl to take on No. 14 UCLA Saturday night.

The Sun Devils are 8-2 and have dropped only one game in the conference, to powerhouse Stanford. They have wins against USC and Washington already, so the Bruins are their final tough test as they have gone 5-5 ATS this year and 4-3 ATS in the Pac-12. Arizona State has lost two in a row ATS however, barely beating Utah 20-19 and just missing out on covering a 13.5-point spread with a 30-17 win against Oregon State last weekend. Since 1992, Arizona State is 8-21 ATS (28%) when playing a team with a winning percentage of higher than 75% like the Bruins. UCLA, meanwhile, has already lost to both Stanford and Oregon, and faces a tough end to the season with the Sun Devils and USC remaining on the schedule. The Bruins are an impressive 7-3 ATS this season, going 4-3 ATS in league action. They have covered twice in a row with an upset win against Arizona and then a 41-31 win against Washington last Friday. With these two offenses averaging nearly 80 PPG combined, a shootout appears likely and could be reminiscent of last season, when the Bruins (6.5-point underdogs) eked out a 45-43 victory on the road on a last-second field goal. UCLA won and covered the last meeting in L.A., winning by one point as an 8.5-point home underdog in 2011.

Arizona State QB Taylor Kelly is a workhorse under center, completing 236-of-378 (62.4%) of his passes this season for 2,838 yards, 24 TD and 10 INT. He was brilliant in last year’s loss to the Bruins, throwing for 315 yards, 4 TD and just 1 INT. His top target is Jaelen Strong (59 catches, 834 yards, 5 TD), though he has a deep arsenal of options with D.J. Foster (523 rec. yards, 3 TD), Chris Coyle (370 rec. yards, 4 TD) and RB Marion Grice, who leads the team with 6 TD receptions. Grice has also been a menace on the ground, rumbling for 901 yards (5.2 YPC) and 14 rushing TD. Kelly can also carry the ball himself, rushing for 312 yards and 7 TD so far this year. Last year though, Grice and Kelly were both limited to less than 4.0 YPC by the Bruins defense. The Arizona State defense is yielding only 3.7 YPC this year, while the secondary has limited opponents to a 53.3% completion rate.

UCLA QB Brett Hundley is an NFL prospect for good reason, completing 68% of his passes this year for 2,384 yards, 20 TD and 8 INT. He was similar to Kelly in last year’s meeting, throwing for 274 yards, 4 TD and 1 INT. He is even more of a threat than Kelly on the ground though, rushing for a team-high 502 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Joining Hundley on the ground is a deep stable of ball carriers, as four other Bruins have at least three rushing touchdowns and 175 yards on the ground. Paul Perkins and Jordon James lead that crew with 476 and 471 rushing yards, respectively, while Myles Jack—who is also a linebacker—is a dangerous red zone threat, scoring four touchdowns last week versus Washington. The biggest weapon in UCLA’s receiving corps is WR Shaquelle Evans, who leads the team with 524 receiving yards on an impressive 14.6 yards per catch, hauling in a team-high seven touchdowns. The Bruins pass defense has struggled this season, allowing foes to complete 62.0% of their passes, while the line has been better, giving up a pedestrian 3.9 YPC.

 
Posted : November 22, 2013 9:54 pm
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Line Moves - Week 13
By Chris David
VegasInsider.com

Week 12 Recap

Favorites: 5-0 (5-0 SU)
Underdogs: 0-2 (0-2 SU)
Totals: 3-2

For the first time all season, gamblers following the line moves saw the favorites go 5-0 both straight up and against the spread last week. For the most part, the victories were never in doubt as Wisconsin, Florida Atlantic, East Carolina, Baylor and Boise State rolled. The underdogs went 0-2 and we feel bad for the professionals who took Northwestern. The Wildcats were in position to snap their five-game losing streak to Michigan but a late field goal forced overtime and head coach Pat Fitzgerald's team came up short once again. Since Northwestern collapsed against Ohio State in early October, it has dropped six straight games and needs to win out to become bowl eligible. The totals went 1-4 last week, a couple of the moves proved to be correct, in particular the Connecticut-SMU and West Virginia-Kansas matchups.

Week 13 Line Moves

CRIS, one of the biggest offshore sportsbooks, opened up their college football lines for Week 13 last Sunday. Below are all of the moves of at least “Three Points” or more off the opening line from CRIS.

Favorites

Ohio State vs. Indiana
Open: Buckeyes -31½
Friday: Buckeyes -34½

Central Michigan vs. Massachusetts
Open: Chippewas -8½
Friday: Chippewas -12

Stanford vs. California
Open: Cardinal -28½
Friday: Cardinal -31½

Boise State at San Diego State
Open: Broncos -7½
Friday: Broncos -4½

Week 13 Total Moves

CRIS opened their ‘over/under’ numbers on Tuesday and there was only one game that saw any significant movement this week.

Texas A&M at LSU
Open: 70
Friday: 73

 
Posted : November 22, 2013 10:08 pm
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Top 13 Games

Nebraska beat Penn State 32-23/17-14 last two years; Cornhuskers won two of three road games, losing at Minnesota- they're 1-1 as a dog after losing 41-28 at home to Michigan State last week. State is 5-1 at home, losing to UCF; they're 1-4 vs spread this season in games where spread was single digits. Big Dozen home favorites are 14-9 vs spread. Penn St is 3-4 as a favorite this year. Six of last nine Penn State tilts went over.

Michigan State won its last six games (5-1 vs spread), with all six wins by 12+ points; Spartans won last four visits here, by 14-8-17-3 points. Underdogs are 8-3 vs spread in this series; road team covered last six in series. Northwestern lost its last six games, but last four were all in OT or by 3 points; they're 1-3 as underdogs. State held three of last four opponents without a TD. Big Dozen home dogs are 4-8 vs the spread.

This is first time Wake Forest has been underdog to Duke since at least 1996; Deacons are 12-1 in last 13 series games, losing 34-27 (-2) LY to Blue Devils. Duke lost seven of last eight visits here, with last five all decided by 7 or less points; dogs covered six of last nine in series. Duke is having magical season; they're 8-2, 3-0 on road; four of their last five wins are by 13+ points. Wake was outscored 72-3 in its last two games.

Houston lost low-scoring games at UCF/Louisville last two weeks, now they go home where they're 2-1, losing only 47-46 to BYU. Cougars are 2-3 in last five games, after a 5-0 start. Cincinnati won its last five games after a horrible loss at USF; Bearcats are 3-2 on road, beating Memphis, Rutgers on road in last three weeks. AAC home favorites are 5-13 vs spread. Four of last five Cincinnati games went over the total.

Tennessee won 14 of last 16 games with Vanderbilt; underdogs are 6-3 vs spread in last nine meetings. Vandy lost six of last seven visits here, losing last three by 6-1-15 points. Vols were outscored 131-36 in losing last three games; they're 3-2 at home, with average total of 63.2 in those five games. Vandy won three of its last four games, is now bowl eligible; they're 2-2 on road, winning at UMass/Florida, 3-2 vs spread as dogs.

Iowa won three of last four games with Michigan; underdogs are 7-2-2 vs spread in last 11 series games; Wolverines lost three of last four visits to Iowa, losing by 8-2-3 points; dogs arer 5-0-1 vs spread in their last six visits here. Michigan is 2-2 on road, splitting pair of OT games, winning 24-21 at UConn, getting crushed by Mich State. Hawkeyes are 5-2 as a fave this year, 2-3 SU last five games. Big Dozen home faves are 14-9.

UCLA beat Arizona State 45-43/29-28 last two years; home teams won 10 of last 13 series games, with average total in last three, 78. ASU won its last five games, scoring 42.4 ppg; they lost by 14 at Stanford in only game as a dog this year. UCLA won its last three games, scoring 39 ppg; Bruins are 4-1 as home favorites- they were held to 10-14 points in only two losses. Pac-12 home favorites are 16-11 against the spread this year.

LSU is +8 in turnovers in two wins vs Texas A&M, 24-19 (-3.5) LY on road, 41-24 (-7) in a bowl in 2010; Tigers were outgained by 94 yards in LY's game, but turnovers were difference. Aggies are 8-2; in their losses, they scored 42-41 points (Bama/Auburn). A&M won its only two away games this season, 45-33 at Arkansas, 41-38 at Ole Miss; they covered vs Bama in only game as a dog. LSU is 3-3 in last six games; they didn't play last week, after loss to Bama. SEC home favorites are 13-13 in '13.

Home teams won last four BYU-Notre Dame games; Irish outgained the Cougars 389-243 in 17-14 (-13) win LY. Irish are 4-1 at home this year, 1-4 vs spread (1-3 as HF) with three of four wins by exactly 4 points- they had last week off after loss at Pitt. BYU is 2-1 as an underdog this year, 2-2 SU on road, losing 19-16 in monsoon at Virginia, 27-17 couple weeks ago at Wisconsin- they scored 16-13-17 points in their 3 losses.

Baylor lost last eight visits to Oklahoma State, last seven by 27+ points; they're banged up for this visit, without starting OT/WR/RB, but they're also 9-0 and scored 58.5 ppg in last four games, so they've got depth to replace injured guys. Favorites covered seven of last eight series games. State lost 41-34 in Waco LY; they've won last six games, last five by 14+ points. Big X home underdogs are 7-7 against spread- this is first time this season Oklahoma State is underdog (pick 'em in win at Tex Tech).

Home side won last four Washington-Oregon State games; Huskies lost last three visits to Corvallis, by 17-27-6 points. Beavers won seven of last nine in series where underdog covered last three meetings. Huskies are 0-3 in true road games (beat Illinois in Chicago), losing by 3-29-10 points; favorites covered five of their last seven games. OSU lost three games, scoring 12-14-17 points. Pac-12 home dogs are 5-11 vs spread.

Oklahoma won eight of last ten games with Kansas State, winning last four visits to Little Apple by 10+ points; underdogs covered six of last nine series games. Sooners are 2-2 away from home, winning by 14-15 points, losing at Baylor and to Texas in Dallas. K-State covered five of last six games, scoring 39.5 during 4-game win streak; Wildcats are 3-1 vs spread as an underdog. Big X home underdogs are 7-6 against spread.

Missouri is 9-1, with only loss in OT to South Carolina, a game Mizzou led 14-0 at half; Tigers are 4-0 on road this year, scoring 46.3 ppg, with wins by 17-23-15-31 points. Ole Miss won last four games, but hard to tell lot, since last three were Troy/Idaho and SEC doormat Arkansas, not tough opponents. Mizzou is expected to get starting QB Franklin back here, but backup Mauk did pretty well. SEC home underdogs are 10-8.

Armadillosports.com

 
Posted : November 23, 2013 7:19 am
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