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After a huge week 5 in the college ranks my swagger
seems to be back in action, at least that's what the
wifey tells me. Swagger or not, another 8 win week would
suit me just nice. Follow along as I give my NCAA rundown
for this weeks best bets.
Florida
State Seminoles @ North Carolina State Wolfpack (+10.5):
I'll be stunned if this game isn't closer than a touchdown.
Neither team shows much in the offensive category, and
both teams have shown solid defenses. FSU isn't the
Seminole team we used to know, and although NC State
started off the season pretty rough, they looked a lot
tougher at home against Boston College last week. Staying
at home for the second game in a row should help NC
State stay on track.
Arkansas
Razorbacks (+16) @ Auburn Tigers: Auburn holds a
Top 3 ranking in every major poll, but they have struggled
lately, two close games in a row, and the Razorbacks
are getting better and better every week. It wouldn't
surprise me if the Tigers pulled out another win at
home, but the Razorbacks will put up a fight. For a
team struggling with scoring, 16 points is just too
much. Take them hogs and more than 2 touchdowns.
Penn
State Nittany Lions @ Minnesota Golden Gophers (+3):
Minnesota is a pretty good football team to be an underdog
at home to the Lions. Honestly, I think these two teams
are even right down the line, which is why I've got
to go with the Gophers at home, especially with the
points. Now, a field goal is next to nothing, but home
field advantage, and a very solid rushing attack, add
on two tough losses back to back, and Minnesota has
to win this game to keep their bowl hopes alive. Bryan
Cupito will give the Rodents just enough arm to take
down the Lions.
Clemson
Tigers @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons (+17): Call
me crazy, but I think 5-0 means something. I think playing
at home helps a great deal, and the fact that Wake won
this match-up last season just pushes me right over
the edge. Did I say anything about 17 points? That's
a big deal too. Clemson is damn good, but Wake has been
winning with defense and big plays. Defense and big
plays will keep you in almost any game. Don't count
out Wake just because the big bad Clemson Tigers are
coming to town. It's tough to bet against a team getting
17 points when they haven't allowed more than 14 all
season long.
Vanderbilt
Commodores (-1.5) @ Mississippi Rebels: When it
comes right down to it, I think the Commodores are the
better football team. Mississippi has lost 4 straight
after a lucky win against Memphis to start the season.
In fact, until they had another lucky week against Georgia
last week, they hadn't been closer than 17 points to
Missouri, Kentucky, or Wake Forest. Its always tough
to play really well against a good team and lose, which
is exactly what happened to Miss last week. That being
said, Vanderbilt is on a winning streak, and since the
Michigan game, they've played very well, Look for the
streak, and he good play to continue against the Rebels.
Kent
State Golden Flashes (-23.5) @ Temple Owls: Since
the opening game of the season, the Owls haven't finished
a game within 4 touchdowns of their opponents. The Golden
Flashes aren't the top shop on the block, but they'll
easily handle the 24 point spread needed to cover in
this one. Call it a hunch, but the Owls won't score
more than once. That means field goals, touchdowns,
with underclass coeds. Not more than once. And that
will be a courtesy job for sure.
Stanford
Cardinal @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-31): IF
there was ever a day that Brady Quinn would pad his
Heisman stats, it's this week at home against the Cardinal.
Stanford is bad. Lets put it this way, Duke and North
Carolina would handle Stanford, and Temple would give
them a run. Icky football. This spread seems like nothing
to me right now, absolutely nothing. I'd take Notre
Dame's red-shirts over Stanford.
Washington
Huskies (+20.5) @ USC: Hell, I'll stick with the
Dawgs that have been playing well of late. Now UW is
4-1, and don't get me wrong, those 4 wins over San Jose
State, Fresno State, UCLA and Arizona aren't the same
as a win over USC would be, but at least they've been
impressive. USC hasn't really looked good at all. They're
undefeated, and there's something to be said for that,
but I haven't seen much. Sure, everyone wants to say
how they're just young, but if you watch them, you can't
really see the Trojan trot of old. Washington won't
likely pull a stunner here, but keeping it close is
as good as gold.
West
Virginia Mountaineers (-23) @ Mississippi State
Bulldogs: I think West Virginia is at least as good
as LSU and Auburn. Both of which absolutely handled
the Bulldogs. In fact, I'm willing to say that WVU will
do their best to upstage both Auburn and LSU so they
can start to get some credit from the BCS. For a great
team with a poor schedule, and they are that, the only
thing they can do to make themselves look like National
Champs is do better than other great teams against the
same competition. A win is not just a win for the Mounts,
a huge win counts more for them.
Oklahoma
Sooners @ Texas Longhorns (-3.5): Is it just
me or does it seem like Texas has fallen off the face
of the earth since they lost to Ohio State? They've
killed each of their lesser opponents since then, but
this will be their next real test, in fact, probably
the best team they'll play the rest of the season. I
hate to agree with the betting public, because the sports
books have to make money right? But I think the Longhorns
are too talented for the Sooners. Sure, OK has the stud
of the bunch, Adrian Peterson, but overall Texas is
far and above the Sooners. Colt McCoy will play better
in this one than he did against Ohio State. I promise.
Stick with the horns.
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