LSU vs. Texas A&M
LSU is set to travel to College Station for the first time since 1995, coming off a 23-21 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks as three-point home favorites, while going OVER the total for the first time in its last three opportunities. The Tigers will definitely be challenged in facing the SEC’s top offense in terms of total yards. “I hope we can contain Manziel,” stated Tigers head coach Les Miles about the challenge ahead. Defensively, the team ranks second in the conference in allowing just 219.6 yards per game. LSU is 2-0 ATS as a road favorite of 3.5 to 7 points, which is important to factor in when making your Week 8 college football picks.
The Tigers held the Gamecocks to season lows for total yards and rushing yards, as their defensive unit has allowed only 13 touchdowns and 16 field goals in their last 13 SEC games. LSU holds a 27-20-3 all-time advantage in this series, which includes a 41-24 win by Saturday’s host in the 2011 Cotton Bowl. It’s important to note that the Tigers are 1-7-1 in their nine trips to this location.
Texas A&M has won five consecutive games since its 20-17 season-opening loss to the Florida Gators, including a 59-57 win over the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs as 9.5-point road favorites last week. The Aggies were led by star quarterback Johnny Manziel, who gained an SEC-record 576 yards last week, while he’s accounted for 2,356 yards of total offense on the season. The program will be challenged in a major way this weekend, considering its 22-63 record against top-10 teams. Texas A&M is 2-1 ATS as a home underdog over the last two-plus years, with the UNDER going 3-0 in that situation.
The Aggies have scored 282 points in the first six games of the 2012 campaign, which is the most in school history in that particular span. Texas A&M ranks fifth nationally in averaging 47.0 points per game. Live bettors will want to pay close attention to the flow of this high-profile affair, considering the Aggies have outscored opponents by a 169-49 margin in the second and third quarters.
-Aggies are 18-7-1 ATS as home underdogs in conference play
Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Clemson Tigers
Virginia Tech was able to snap its two-game losing streak by capturing a 41-20 victory over the Duke Blue Devils as 9.5-point home favorites, while going OVER the total for the third consecutive game. The Hokies will be looking for major payback in this affair, as they lost both meetings with Clemson in 2011, which was the first time in school history the lost to the same team twice in one season. Virginia Tech is 0-2-1 ATS as an underdog the last two-plus years, losing all three contests in straight-up fashion.
The Hokies have won three of their last four trips to Memorial Stadium, while they’ve compiled an impressive 27-6 record in ACC road games since joining the league in 2004. Virginia Tech has gone 64-30-1 under head coach Frank Beamer when playing in the month of October. Running back J.C. Coleman will look to build off his performance last week, gaining 183 yards versus the Blue Devils,as they face a defense that ranks 99th in the country in trying to stop the run.
Clemson has won and covered its two games since suffering its only defeat against Florida State last month, as it gets ready to come off its bye week. The Tigers ended the Hokies five-game win streak in the series with a 23-3 win last October, which led to the school becoming the first in ACC history to beat three straight AP-ranked opponents in consecutive games. A much-maligned defense this year actually held Saturday’s opponent to 258 total yards in that contest. Clemson is 2-0 ATS as a home favorite of 7.5 to 14 points the last two-plus seasons, with both going OVER the total.
The Tigers will attempt to tie the school record for consecutive wins at this venue, as they’ve won 10 in a row dating back to a victory over Troy to open up the 2011 season. Clemson has scored at least 31 points in all 10 of those previous games, averaging 41.7 points and surrendering just 24.5 points, which comes out to an average margin of 17.2 points per game.
-Hokies been favored in their last 38 regular season games
-Hokies are 11-3 ATS with conference revenge
-Tigers are 0-4 ATS at home with conference revenge
BYU vs. Notre Dame
BYU is 2-4 all-time in this particular series, including a 1-3 mark when playing inside Notre Dame Stadium, as the squad looks to bounce back from a disappointing 42-24 setback to the Oregon State Beavers as six-point home favorites. Cougars quarterback Riley Nelson has failed to put things together this year, throwing three interceptions last week, but head coach Bronco Mendenhall really has no other options with true freshman signal-caller Taysom Hill out for the year. BYU is 3-0 ATS off an upset loss as a favorite the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 3-0 in that situation.
The Cougars have won four games against top-five opponents in school history, with the last victory coming over the Oklahoma Sooners in 2009. BYU had its 12-game streak of holding opponents under 300 yards snapped against the Beavers, while Nelson completed 28 of 51 passes for 305 yards. Heading into this particular week, the defense still ranks fifth nationally for the third consecutive week, allowing just 260.9 yards per game.
Notre Dame earned a 20-13 overtime win over the Stanford Cardinal as 7.5-point home favorites last week, while going UNDER the total for the fifth consecutive game. The Fighting Irish have limited each of their past five opponents to under 300 total yards, which is the first time that’s happened since the 1989 season. Three of the team’s six wins have been over opponents ranked in the AP Top 25 poll. Notre Dame is 4-7 ATS as a home favorite over the last two-plus years, with the UNDER going 11-3 in that situation.
The Fighting Irish defense has allowed zero touchdowns over the last four games, which is the school’s longest streak since 1980. Notre Dame will be searching to improve its record to 7-0 for the first time since 2002, while improving upon its 233-49-4 all-time record at home in October. Part of the team’s success this year can be attributed to its fast start, considering it has blanked five of its six opponents in the first quarter this season.
-Cougars are 5-1 ATS as underdogs of seven or more points
-HC Bronco Mendenhall 3-0 ATS as an underdog off a SU favorite loss
Kansas State vs. West Virginia
-Wildcats are 6-1 ATS as underdogs in the second of BB road games
-Mountaineers QB Geno Smith has 25 TDs, 0 INTs
-Since 2000, WVU is 80-3 when scoring 30 or more points
-Out-gained 672-408 in last week’s 49-14 loss to the Red Raiders
-Won their last four games against ranked opponents
Florida State vs. Miami
Seminoles have out-gained all seven of their opponents
Florida State bounced back from its first loss of the season by capturing a 51-7 blowout win over the Boston College Eagles as 29-point home favorites, while going OVER the total for the first time in three contests. The Seminoles eclipsed 600 yards of total offense in that affair, with quarterback EJ Manuel throwing for a career-high 439 yards and four touchdowns. Offensively, the team has out-gained six of its seven opponents by a triple-digit margin statistically, with an 18-yard advantage in its one-point loss to NC State two weeks ago.
Hurricanes have lost back-to-back games
Miami has been outscored by a 59-17 margin in dropping its last two games to the North Carolina Tar Heels and Notre Dame Fighting Irish, as the defense continues to struggle. The Hurricanes rank last in the conference in giving up 506.6 yards per game, while they’ve lost the rushing battle in their last six games. Sports bettors shouldn’t be surprised at the amount of points this team is receiving at home on the college football odds page.
Gaining yards on the ground
The Seminoles are averaging 6.3 yards per carry this season, with Chris Thompson leading the way in gaining 640 rushing yards on 84 carries. He leads the conference in that particular category. Florida State should be motivated to win the ground battle in this affair, considering it was held to just 63 rushing yards in its 23-19 win in last year’s meeting as 11-point home favorites. Since 1988, the team that wins the rushing battle in this rivalry has won 18 of the last 25 times.
Morris will need to be terrific
Stephen Morris ranks 26th in total offense this year, but just 77th in pass efficiency with a rating of 126.47. Miami’s offensive line has done a great job in protecting its signal-caller over the last five games, allowing just three sacks over that period of time. Morris has completed 57.5 percent of his passes for 1,991 yards, while throwing for nine touchdowns and six interceptions.
Fisher King
Since taking control of the offense in Tallahassee during the 2007 campaign, Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher has watched the unit average 34.4 points over the last five meetings in this series. It’s a significant increase from the 12.2 points the team averaged in the previous five games before he stepped on campus. Total players will want to account for this statistic when looking at the betting odds this weekend.
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South Carolina vs. Florida
South Carolina travels to Gainesville to face Florida in an SEC Eastern Division contest, as it also marks the program’s third straight Top-10 opponent. The Gamecocks have gone 6-0 against the spread this year, but suffered a 23-21 setback to the LSU Tigers as three-point road underdogs last week, as they were out-gained by a sizable 195-yard margin. That particular loss snapped the school’s 10-game win streak, which was the longest in its history. South Carolina is 3-0 ATS off a road loss against a conference rival the last two-plus years, something to consider when making your Week 8 college football predictions.
The Gamecocks would match their best road victory in school history with a win in this matchup, as they’ve won just two games versus Top-10 teams away from Columbia. South Carolina owns a 6-23-3 all-time record in this particular series, including a 1-12 mark when playing inside this venue. Running back Marcus Lattimore rushed a career-high 40 times for a career-high 212 yards and three touchdowns in the 2010 meeting, which served as the program’s first win on the road in the series.
Florida will be making its 35th appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay, a figure that leads the nation. The Gators have started a season with a 6-0 record for the eighth time in school history, as they picked up their 22nd consecutive victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores last weekend. Jeff Driskel rushed for 177 yards, the most in school history by a Florida quarterback. The team finished with 326 of its 406 yards of total offense coming on the ground. Florida is 0-2 ATS as a home favorite of seven or fewer points.
The Gators have managed to gain just 487 combined yards in losing their last two games against the Gamecocks, including a 17-12 setback as 2.5-point road underdogs last year. Florida has scored on 19-of-20 red zone chances this year, which ranks seventh nationally, while turning the ball over just four times. It’s important to note that the offense averaged 9.3 yards per rush against the Commodores, which happens to be the highest in an SEC game since Sept. 20, 2008.
-Spurrier is 27-14-1 ATS versus an undefeated conference opponent
Alabama vs. Tennessee
Roll Tide
Alabama moved its record to 6-0 with a convincing 42-10 victory over the Missouri Tigers as 21-point road favorites last week, which allowed the team to grab the No. 1 spot in the first installment of the BCS standings. The Crimson Tide will be playing back-to-back road games for the first time during the 2012 college football season, which could represent a challenge, especially with an upcoming schedule that features Mississippi State and LSU.
Volunteers continue to put up point
Sports bettors are certainly going to notice that the Volunteers have gone OVER the total in all five opportunities this year, which is important to note when looking at the Week 8 college football odds. Tennessee dropped both games of its recent road trip to Mississippi State and Georgia, but lost the statistical battle by just 171 combined yards. For the first time in school history, the team has scored 31 or more points in each of its first six games of a season.
Turnovers lead to points for the visitor
It’s very hard not to back the top-ranked Crimson Tide in any situation, considering they’ve converted 18 opponents’ miscues into 98 points, while not allowing a single point off its own five turnovers. Alabama enters this SEC rivalry tied for first nationally with a turnover margin of plus-2.17. Over the last eight games dating back to the 2011 Auburn game, Nick Saban’s squad has compiled a 22-6 edge in this battle.
Neal’s absence could be too much to overcome
Rajion Neal ranks seventh in the conference in averaging 83.3 rushing yards per game, but he’s been ruled doubtful for this contest with an ankle injury. Tennessee made the rushing game a focal point during the offseason, which has paid dividends in the early going, enjoying an increase of 93.2 yards per game more that last year’s final total of 90.1 rushing yards per game. It will be difficult to reach any of those numbers versus a defense that’s allowed a total of 920 rushing yards over its last 19 games.
Crimson Tide will need to pressure Bray
Alabama will need to get pressure on Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray, which is certainly possible with the defense tallying 26 sacks over its last eight games dating back to last year. Bray is piloting a unit that ranks third in the SEC and 22nd nationally in total offense, while his 16 touchdown passes are tied for eighth among all players in the NCAA.
-Crimson Tide are 7-1 ATS as road favorites of 14 or more points
-Volunteers are 0-4 ATS in their last four games as double-digit HDs
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Michigan vs. Michigan State
-The winner of 39 of the past 42 meetings has won the rushing battle
-Played in 40-50 mph winds last year
-Michigan State has won the last four meetings, averaged 271 yards passing in previous three before last year
-Outrushed the Wolverines by 470 rushing yards during that stretch
-QB Andrew Maxwell completing 54.3 percent of his passes (6 TDs, 4 INTs)
-Haven’t lost consecutive Big Ten games in the same season since October 2009
-Listed as an underdog for the first time this year
-In their last five Big Ten road losses as an underdog, gone 0-5 ATS, failing to cover by 14.7 points per game (lost the time-of-possession battle in each of those games)
-Never lost more than four straight games in this series
-QB Denard Robinson has never beaten Michigan State
-Offense has gained 200 or more yards rushing in four of the last five games (161 vs. ND)
Michigan State has alternated wins and losses over its last six games, coming off a 19-16 overtime loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes as 8.5-point home favorites, while going UNDER the total for the fourth time in five games. “It’s gut-check time,” commented Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio. The Spartans have gone 4-1 in this series under Dantonio’s direction, as they look to win five straight over the Wolverines for the first time in school history. Michigan State is 0-2 ATS off an upset loss as a home favorite over the last two-plus years, which is something to focus in on when making your college football picks.
The Spartans will need to rely heavily on running back Le’Veon Bell if they plan on pulling off an upset, as he ranks second nationally with 200 carries, while sitting 17th in averaging 152.3 all-purpose yards per game. Since 2008, Michigan State has won more Big Ten games than any other school, while posting a 37-9 record when outrushing its opponent. It’s important to also note that the program hasn’t lost consecutive conference games in the same season since October 2009.
Michigan has won 11 straight games inside Michigan Stadium, including a 45-0 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini as 24-point favorites last week, as it won the statistical battle by a 393-yard margin. “This is a big win for us,” stated Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson. The dual-threat star will now focus on winning his first game in this rivalry, as the offense gained just 250 total yards in last year’s 28-14 loss as three-point road underdogs. Don’t place too much value in that result, as the game was played in 40-50 mph winds throughout. Michigan is 4-0 ATS after allowing 14 points or less in two straight games since 2010.
The Wolverines certainly know the ground battle will tell the story in this contest, as the winner of 39 of the past 42 meetings has ended up with more rushing yards. Michigan has compiled a 15-0 record under head coach Brady Hoke when scoring 20 or more points, while going 0-4 when scoring less than that figure. Offensively, the team has totaled over 200 yards rushing in four of its last five games, including a season-best 353 against the Fighting Illini.
Utah vs. Oregon State
Utes are still searching for their first conference victory
Utah is off to an 0-3 Pac-12 start with losses to Arizona State, USC and UCLA. The Utes were out-gained in all three of those contests, but did manage to cover the spread in the final two. Last year, the program opened up conference play with an 0-4 record before winning its next four games in that situation. Sports bettors will find that the team is 10-10 against the spread (ATS) in its last 20 conference tilts.
Beavers continue to be undervalued in the betting market
Oregon State is off to a perfect 5-0 start to the 2012 college football season, which has led to a 4-1 ATS mark in those contests. The Beavers’ lone spread loss came in a 19-6 win over the Washington State Cougars, which also served as the team’s only game as a favorite to this point (-15.5). In looking at the college football odds page, it’s going to be very hard to support a double-digit favorite that’s failed to cover the spread in seven of its last nine games in this particular role.
White is the key
Utes running back John White rushed for a career-high 205 yards on 35 carries in last year’s 27-8 win over the Beavers as 5.5-point home favorites, while the result went under the posted total of 48.5. Utah will need another major performance out of its top offensive threat, considering it has started three quarterbacks in a season for the first time since 2000. The program is 9-0 in games that White is able to reach the century mark in rushing.
Vaz will rely on a true freshman to protect him
College football handicappers need to be aware that quarterback Cody Vaz will be lining up behind true freshman center Isaac Seumalo, who will be in charge of blocking Utah’s best defensive player. The Utes are third in the conference and 35th in the country in allowing 350.7 yards per game, as they are led by defensive tackle Star Lotulelei. He has a team-leading six tackles for loss despite being double or triple-teamed on every down.
6-0 start is rare in these parts
Oregon State is focused on winning its first six games in a season for the first time since 1907, while also becoming bowl eligible at the earliest time in school history. The Beavers rely heavily on a rush defense that ranks fourth nationally in allowing just 70 yards per game, trailing only the Alabama Crimson Tide, Rutgers Scarlet Knights and BYU Cougars in that category.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Temple Owls
Rutgers looks to remain undefeated as it renews its rivalry with Temple inside Lincoln Financial Field, as it comes off a 23-15 win over the Syracuse Orange as seven-point home favorites. “For us the motivation is winning a Big East Championship,” stated Scarlet Knights first-year head coach Kyle Flood. A total of 21 players on the team’s current roster hail from the Philadelphia area, which will supply plenty of motivation for this contest. Rutgers is 3-0 ATS versus conference opponents this year, with the UNDER going 3-0 in that situation.
The Scarlet Knights have won two straight in this series, including a 16-6 win as 13.5-point home favorites on Oct. 16, 2004. Rutgers is attempting to go 7-0 for the third time since 1976, while Flood would become the first coach in school history to start his coaching career with a perfect record through seven games. Defensively, the team ranks second nationally in allowing just 60.8 yards per game, while sitting third with 12 interceptions. Running back Jawan Jamison is the player to watch offensively, averaging 110.8 rushing yards per game, which leads the Big East in that category.
Temple has come away with two straight victories, including a 17-14 overtime win against the Connecticut Huskies as four-point road underdogs. “This has been very positive for us,” stated Owls head coach Steve Addazio. “It’s one more stop on the maturity train.” The Owls have lost the statistical in all five of their games, which is significant when making your college football predictions this weekend. Temple is 3-0 ATS as a home underdog of 3.5 to 7 points the last two-plus seasons.
The Owls are led offensively by quarterback Chris Coyer, who leads the team with 71 carries for 302 yards, while throwing for 662 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions. Temple has won 17 of its last 21 games inside this venue, as it looks for its first upset of a nationally ranked opponent since 1998. Running back Montel Harris is another player to watch closely, with 310 yards and three touchdowns on 69 carries.
South Florida vs. Louisville
South Florida returns to action following a bye week as it takes on Louisville inside Papa John’s Stadium, as the team looks to snap a four-game losing streak. The Bulls are also out to avenge last year’s 34-24 loss to the Cardinals as 5.5-point home favorites. The team has struggled on the defensive end this year, allowing a Big East Conference-worst 27.5 points per game, while surrendering an average of 438.6 total yards. South Florida is 4-2 ATS as a road underdog the last two-plus years, with the UNDER going 4-2 in that situation.
The Bulls will need quarterback B.J. Daniels to play a superb game in order to pull off the upset, as he has thrown for 1,504 yards and 10 touchdowns. The dual-threat signal-caller has also managed to rush for 277 yards and four scores. The program owns a 5-4 all-time lead in this series, but has dropped three of four meetings on the road.
Louisville improved its record to 6-0 with a 45-35 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers as 2.5-point favorites, as it served as the final game of a three-game road trip. The Cardinals won those three contests by an average of 7.0 points, as they now look to improve upon their 3-0 mark at home. It’s been 35 days since the team played in front of its home fans. Louisville is 4-3 ATS as a home favorite of seven or fewer points the last two-plus years, while the UNDER is 6-1 in that situation.
The Cardinals have scored more than 30 points in all three home games this year, while averaging 467.7 yards per game in that situation. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has thrown for 855 yards and five scores, while completing 81.8 percent of his throws inside this venue. Louisville will be trying to go 2-0 in Big East play for just the second time in school history.
Auburn vs. Vanderbilt
Auburn has suffered three straight losses heading into this Southeastern Conference affair, including a 41-20 setback to the Mississippi Rebels as four-point road underdogs, while going OVER the total for the first time in three games. The Tigers are 20-20-1 all-time in this particular series, but have won 13 of the last 14 meetings. Head coach Gene Chizik is certainly on the hot seat, while the program is 10-7 under his direction during the month of October. Auburn is 0-3 ATS on the road with a total between 42.5 and 49, with the OVER going 2-1 in that situation.
The Tigers will definitely be shooting for 30-points offensively in this affair, as they’ve won 75 consecutive games when doing so, which includes its lone victory against Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 15. Auburn’s struggles begin and end under center, with its quarterbacks combining for three touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season. The offense is the only unit in the SEC averaging fewer than 300 yards per game.
Vanderbilt will be playing in front of a sellout crowd in consecutive games for the first time since 1996, coming off a 31-17 setback to the Florida Gators as 9.5-point home underdogs. The Commodores were out-gained on the ground by a 200-yard margin in that particular contest, while they’ve lost that battle in five of six games on the year. It’s rather surprising when you consider the team has one of the better backs in the conference, with Zac Stacy ranking second on the school’s career list with 2,501 rushing yards. Vanderbilt is 2-0 at home with a total between 42.5 and 45 since 2010.
The Commodores will look for quarterback Jordan Rodgers to lead the program to a second consecutive bowl appearance, as the senior has passed for 1,068 yards and three touchdowns this year. Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd rank as the conference’s top receiving duo, as they’ve combined for 170.3 receiving yards per game. It’s not a surprising result due to head coach James Franklin being a former offensive coordinator.
Kansas vs. Oklahoma
Kansas is still in search of its first Big 12 Conference win of the 2012 college football season, as it also looks to snap a five-game losing streak. The Jayhawks suffered a 20-14 loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys as 26.5-point home underdogs last week, while going UNDER the total for the fourth time in their last five opportunities. The program has lost seven consecutive games in this series, including a 47-17 setback as 37-point home underdogs last year. Kansas is 1-4 ATS as a road underdog of 21.5 or more points, while the OVER is 3-2 in that situation.
The Jayhawks have been a disciplined team under first-year head coach Charlie Weis, ranking sixth nationally in fewest yards penalized at 30.83 yards per game. Kansas has had all kinds of trouble under center, with original starter Dayne Crist throwing just three touchdowns with seven interceptions this year. A double-digit loss in this affair is certainly expected, considering the program has lost the last seven by an average of 22.7 points per game.
Oklahoma tallied a dominating 63-21 win over Texas as three-point neutral-site favorites last week, finishing the game with a 388-yard advantage in terms of total yards. The Sooners currently occupy the No. 9 spot in the BCS standings, which has been made possible by possessing an offense that averages 43.2 points per game. During the Bob Stoops era, the program has outscored Saturday’s opponent by a 259-100 margin, while posting a plus-10 turnover differential in those seven games. Oklahoma is 8-6 ATS as a home favorite, while the UNDER is 4-9-1 in that situation.
The Sooners have won 18 of 19 home games under Stoops in the month of October, while outscoring the Jayhawks by a 120-47 margin in their last three home games in this series. Oklahoma has done a great job in stopping the run in its last two victories, which improved the team’s record to 51-1 in its last 52 games when holding opponents under 100 rushing yards. Quarterback Landry Jones has a tremendous opportunity to improve his career record to 34-9 as a starter.
Colorado vs. USC
Colorado hits the road after losing back-to-back Pac-12 Conference home games against the Arizona State Sun Devils and UCLA Bruins, as the program was out-gained by a triple-digit margin in each contest. The Buffaloes only win came on the road against the Washington State Cougars as 18.5-point underdogs, which also served as the only statistical win on the year. Colorado is 0-3 ATS after two straight losses by 28 or more points, with the OVER going 2-1 in those affairs.
The Buffaloes are allowing a conference-worst 494.2 yards per game, which could be a problem with Saturday’s opponent racking up 561 yards of total offense in last year’s 42-17 win as 20-point road favorites. Colorado allowed 281 yards on the ground, and 332 through the air in last week’s 51-17 setback to the Sun Devils in a mid-week primetime event.
USC returns to the Los Angeles Coliseum after playing four of its last five games away from home, as it will play in front of its own fans in four of the final six contests. The Trojans have won all six meetings against the Buffaloes, including all three when serving as host. Quarterback Matt Barkley should be excited for this matchup, considering he threw for a career high-tying six touchdowns last year. He is averaging nearly 50 fewer yards passing through six games, but the rushing attack has been tremendous in averaging 209.7 yards in the team’s last three victories since a loss at Stanford. USC is 0-2 ATS after a two-game road trip.
The Trojans came away with a 24-14 victory over the Washington Huskies last week, as they held onto a 24-7 halftime lead by winning the statistical battle by a 233-87 margin in the opening 30 minutes. Running back Silas Redd was certainly the main storyline offensively in that affair, gaining 155 yards and scoring a touchdown inside CenturyLink Field. On the defensive end, USC has limited its last three opponents to just 284.3 yards of offense.
Baylor vs. Texas
Baylor has won back-to-back games in this series, but has never won three straight against Texas in this in-state rivalry. The Bears have suffered consecutive losses to the TCU Horned Frogs and West Virginia Mountaineers, while going OVER in all four opportunities this year. The Bears’ highest-octane offense leads the nation in averaging 398.4 passing yards per game, as they’ve managed to score 30-plus points in 10 of their last 11 games. Baylor is 0-2 ATS off a home loss against a conference rival the last two-plus seasons.
The Bears have tallied a plus-six turnover margin in their four wins, but have lost the battle by seven miscues in their two setbacks. Baylor is in the midst of a six-week stretch that includes one home game and four road contests. Quarterback Nick Florence has filled in admirably for Robert Griffin III, as he’ll likely target wide receiver Terrance Williams, who leads the nation with 830 receiving yards. Prior to being held to 432 total yards against TCU, the team had posted more than 500 yards of total offense in 10 consecutive games.
Texas suffered it second-straight loss in embarrassing fashion last week, as it was out-gained by a 388-yard margin in a 63-21 setback to the Oklahoma Sooners as three-point neutral-site underdogs. The Longhorns have been absolutely dreadful defensively in all facets, which includes ranking 111th nationally in allowing opponents to rush for 5.14 yards per carry. It’s still important to note that three of the team’s last four opponents had an offense among the top 10 nationally. Texas is 2-0 ATS after allowing 35 points or more in two consecutive losses against conference teams.
The Longhorns have totaled at least 400 total yards against the Bears in 18 of the last 19 meetings, including 557 in last year’s 48-24 defeat as 1.5-point road underdogs. Texas is 41-10 at this particular venue against Big 12 opponents during the Mack Brown era, which happens to be the second-most victories at home in that situation among conference teams over the last 15 years.
LSU is set to travel to College Station for the first time since 1995, coming off a 23-21 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks as three-point home favorites, while going OVER the total for the first time in its last three opportunities. The Tigers will definitely be challenged in facing the SEC’s top offense in terms of total yards. “I hope we can contain Manziel,” stated Tigers head coach Les Miles about the challenge ahead. Defensively, the team ranks second in the conference in allowing just 219.6 yards per game. LSU is 2-0 ATS as a road favorite of 3.5 to 7 points, which is important to factor in when making your Week 8 college football picks.
The Tigers held the Gamecocks to season lows for total yards and rushing yards, as their defensive unit has allowed only 13 touchdowns and 16 field goals in their last 13 SEC games. LSU holds a 27-20-3 all-time advantage in this series, which includes a 41-24 win by Saturday’s host in the 2011 Cotton Bowl. It’s important to note that the Tigers are 1-7-1 in their nine trips to this location.
Texas A&M has won five consecutive games since its 20-17 season-opening loss to the Florida Gators, including a 59-57 win over the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs as 9.5-point road favorites last week. The Aggies were led by star quarterback Johnny Manziel, who gained an SEC-record 576 yards last week, while he’s accounted for 2,356 yards of total offense on the season. The program will be challenged in a major way this weekend, considering its 22-63 record against top-10 teams. Texas A&M is 2-1 ATS as a home underdog over the last two-plus years, with the UNDER going 3-0 in that situation.
The Aggies have scored 282 points in the first six games of the 2012 campaign, which is the most in school history in that particular span. Texas A&M ranks fifth nationally in averaging 47.0 points per game. Live bettors will want to pay close attention to the flow of this high-profile affair, considering the Aggies have outscored opponents by a 169-49 margin in the second and third quarters.
-Aggies are 18-7-1 ATS as home underdogs in conference play
Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Clemson Tigers
Virginia Tech was able to snap its two-game losing streak by capturing a 41-20 victory over the Duke Blue Devils as 9.5-point home favorites, while going OVER the total for the third consecutive game. The Hokies will be looking for major payback in this affair, as they lost both meetings with Clemson in 2011, which was the first time in school history the lost to the same team twice in one season. Virginia Tech is 0-2-1 ATS as an underdog the last two-plus years, losing all three contests in straight-up fashion.
The Hokies have won three of their last four trips to Memorial Stadium, while they’ve compiled an impressive 27-6 record in ACC road games since joining the league in 2004. Virginia Tech has gone 64-30-1 under head coach Frank Beamer when playing in the month of October. Running back J.C. Coleman will look to build off his performance last week, gaining 183 yards versus the Blue Devils,as they face a defense that ranks 99th in the country in trying to stop the run.
Clemson has won and covered its two games since suffering its only defeat against Florida State last month, as it gets ready to come off its bye week. The Tigers ended the Hokies five-game win streak in the series with a 23-3 win last October, which led to the school becoming the first in ACC history to beat three straight AP-ranked opponents in consecutive games. A much-maligned defense this year actually held Saturday’s opponent to 258 total yards in that contest. Clemson is 2-0 ATS as a home favorite of 7.5 to 14 points the last two-plus seasons, with both going OVER the total.
The Tigers will attempt to tie the school record for consecutive wins at this venue, as they’ve won 10 in a row dating back to a victory over Troy to open up the 2011 season. Clemson has scored at least 31 points in all 10 of those previous games, averaging 41.7 points and surrendering just 24.5 points, which comes out to an average margin of 17.2 points per game.
-Hokies been favored in their last 38 regular season games
-Hokies are 11-3 ATS with conference revenge
-Tigers are 0-4 ATS at home with conference revenge
BYU vs. Notre Dame
BYU is 2-4 all-time in this particular series, including a 1-3 mark when playing inside Notre Dame Stadium, as the squad looks to bounce back from a disappointing 42-24 setback to the Oregon State Beavers as six-point home favorites. Cougars quarterback Riley Nelson has failed to put things together this year, throwing three interceptions last week, but head coach Bronco Mendenhall really has no other options with true freshman signal-caller Taysom Hill out for the year. BYU is 3-0 ATS off an upset loss as a favorite the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 3-0 in that situation.
The Cougars have won four games against top-five opponents in school history, with the last victory coming over the Oklahoma Sooners in 2009. BYU had its 12-game streak of holding opponents under 300 yards snapped against the Beavers, while Nelson completed 28 of 51 passes for 305 yards. Heading into this particular week, the defense still ranks fifth nationally for the third consecutive week, allowing just 260.9 yards per game.
Notre Dame earned a 20-13 overtime win over the Stanford Cardinal as 7.5-point home favorites last week, while going UNDER the total for the fifth consecutive game. The Fighting Irish have limited each of their past five opponents to under 300 total yards, which is the first time that’s happened since the 1989 season. Three of the team’s six wins have been over opponents ranked in the AP Top 25 poll. Notre Dame is 4-7 ATS as a home favorite over the last two-plus years, with the UNDER going 11-3 in that situation.
The Fighting Irish defense has allowed zero touchdowns over the last four games, which is the school’s longest streak since 1980. Notre Dame will be searching to improve its record to 7-0 for the first time since 2002, while improving upon its 233-49-4 all-time record at home in October. Part of the team’s success this year can be attributed to its fast start, considering it has blanked five of its six opponents in the first quarter this season.
-Cougars are 5-1 ATS as underdogs of seven or more points
-HC Bronco Mendenhall 3-0 ATS as an underdog off a SU favorite loss
Kansas State vs. West Virginia
-Wildcats are 6-1 ATS as underdogs in the second of BB road games
-Mountaineers QB Geno Smith has 25 TDs, 0 INTs
-Since 2000, WVU is 80-3 when scoring 30 or more points
-Out-gained 672-408 in last week’s 49-14 loss to the Red Raiders
-Won their last four games against ranked opponents
Florida State vs. Miami
Seminoles have out-gained all seven of their opponents
Florida State bounced back from its first loss of the season by capturing a 51-7 blowout win over the Boston College Eagles as 29-point home favorites, while going OVER the total for the first time in three contests. The Seminoles eclipsed 600 yards of total offense in that affair, with quarterback EJ Manuel throwing for a career-high 439 yards and four touchdowns. Offensively, the team has out-gained six of its seven opponents by a triple-digit margin statistically, with an 18-yard advantage in its one-point loss to NC State two weeks ago.
Hurricanes have lost back-to-back games
Miami has been outscored by a 59-17 margin in dropping its last two games to the North Carolina Tar Heels and Notre Dame Fighting Irish, as the defense continues to struggle. The Hurricanes rank last in the conference in giving up 506.6 yards per game, while they’ve lost the rushing battle in their last six games. Sports bettors shouldn’t be surprised at the amount of points this team is receiving at home on the college football odds page.
Gaining yards on the ground
The Seminoles are averaging 6.3 yards per carry this season, with Chris Thompson leading the way in gaining 640 rushing yards on 84 carries. He leads the conference in that particular category. Florida State should be motivated to win the ground battle in this affair, considering it was held to just 63 rushing yards in its 23-19 win in last year’s meeting as 11-point home favorites. Since 1988, the team that wins the rushing battle in this rivalry has won 18 of the last 25 times.
Morris will need to be terrific
Stephen Morris ranks 26th in total offense this year, but just 77th in pass efficiency with a rating of 126.47. Miami’s offensive line has done a great job in protecting its signal-caller over the last five games, allowing just three sacks over that period of time. Morris has completed 57.5 percent of his passes for 1,991 yards, while throwing for nine touchdowns and six interceptions.
Fisher King
Since taking control of the offense in Tallahassee during the 2007 campaign, Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher has watched the unit average 34.4 points over the last five meetings in this series. It’s a significant increase from the 12.2 points the team averaged in the previous five games before he stepped on campus. Total players will want to account for this statistic when looking at the betting odds this weekend.
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South Carolina vs. Florida
South Carolina travels to Gainesville to face Florida in an SEC Eastern Division contest, as it also marks the program’s third straight Top-10 opponent. The Gamecocks have gone 6-0 against the spread this year, but suffered a 23-21 setback to the LSU Tigers as three-point road underdogs last week, as they were out-gained by a sizable 195-yard margin. That particular loss snapped the school’s 10-game win streak, which was the longest in its history. South Carolina is 3-0 ATS off a road loss against a conference rival the last two-plus years, something to consider when making your Week 8 college football predictions.
The Gamecocks would match their best road victory in school history with a win in this matchup, as they’ve won just two games versus Top-10 teams away from Columbia. South Carolina owns a 6-23-3 all-time record in this particular series, including a 1-12 mark when playing inside this venue. Running back Marcus Lattimore rushed a career-high 40 times for a career-high 212 yards and three touchdowns in the 2010 meeting, which served as the program’s first win on the road in the series.
Florida will be making its 35th appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay, a figure that leads the nation. The Gators have started a season with a 6-0 record for the eighth time in school history, as they picked up their 22nd consecutive victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores last weekend. Jeff Driskel rushed for 177 yards, the most in school history by a Florida quarterback. The team finished with 326 of its 406 yards of total offense coming on the ground. Florida is 0-2 ATS as a home favorite of seven or fewer points.
The Gators have managed to gain just 487 combined yards in losing their last two games against the Gamecocks, including a 17-12 setback as 2.5-point road underdogs last year. Florida has scored on 19-of-20 red zone chances this year, which ranks seventh nationally, while turning the ball over just four times. It’s important to note that the offense averaged 9.3 yards per rush against the Commodores, which happens to be the highest in an SEC game since Sept. 20, 2008.
-Spurrier is 27-14-1 ATS versus an undefeated conference opponent
Alabama vs. Tennessee
Roll Tide
Alabama moved its record to 6-0 with a convincing 42-10 victory over the Missouri Tigers as 21-point road favorites last week, which allowed the team to grab the No. 1 spot in the first installment of the BCS standings. The Crimson Tide will be playing back-to-back road games for the first time during the 2012 college football season, which could represent a challenge, especially with an upcoming schedule that features Mississippi State and LSU.
Volunteers continue to put up point
Sports bettors are certainly going to notice that the Volunteers have gone OVER the total in all five opportunities this year, which is important to note when looking at the Week 8 college football odds. Tennessee dropped both games of its recent road trip to Mississippi State and Georgia, but lost the statistical battle by just 171 combined yards. For the first time in school history, the team has scored 31 or more points in each of its first six games of a season.
Turnovers lead to points for the visitor
It’s very hard not to back the top-ranked Crimson Tide in any situation, considering they’ve converted 18 opponents’ miscues into 98 points, while not allowing a single point off its own five turnovers. Alabama enters this SEC rivalry tied for first nationally with a turnover margin of plus-2.17. Over the last eight games dating back to the 2011 Auburn game, Nick Saban’s squad has compiled a 22-6 edge in this battle.
Neal’s absence could be too much to overcome
Rajion Neal ranks seventh in the conference in averaging 83.3 rushing yards per game, but he’s been ruled doubtful for this contest with an ankle injury. Tennessee made the rushing game a focal point during the offseason, which has paid dividends in the early going, enjoying an increase of 93.2 yards per game more that last year’s final total of 90.1 rushing yards per game. It will be difficult to reach any of those numbers versus a defense that’s allowed a total of 920 rushing yards over its last 19 games.
Crimson Tide will need to pressure Bray
Alabama will need to get pressure on Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray, which is certainly possible with the defense tallying 26 sacks over its last eight games dating back to last year. Bray is piloting a unit that ranks third in the SEC and 22nd nationally in total offense, while his 16 touchdown passes are tied for eighth among all players in the NCAA.
-Crimson Tide are 7-1 ATS as road favorites of 14 or more points
-Volunteers are 0-4 ATS in their last four games as double-digit HDs
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Michigan vs. Michigan State
-The winner of 39 of the past 42 meetings has won the rushing battle
-Played in 40-50 mph winds last year
-Michigan State has won the last four meetings, averaged 271 yards passing in previous three before last year
-Outrushed the Wolverines by 470 rushing yards during that stretch
-QB Andrew Maxwell completing 54.3 percent of his passes (6 TDs, 4 INTs)
-Haven’t lost consecutive Big Ten games in the same season since October 2009
-Listed as an underdog for the first time this year
-In their last five Big Ten road losses as an underdog, gone 0-5 ATS, failing to cover by 14.7 points per game (lost the time-of-possession battle in each of those games)
-Never lost more than four straight games in this series
-QB Denard Robinson has never beaten Michigan State
-Offense has gained 200 or more yards rushing in four of the last five games (161 vs. ND)
Michigan State has alternated wins and losses over its last six games, coming off a 19-16 overtime loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes as 8.5-point home favorites, while going UNDER the total for the fourth time in five games. “It’s gut-check time,” commented Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio. The Spartans have gone 4-1 in this series under Dantonio’s direction, as they look to win five straight over the Wolverines for the first time in school history. Michigan State is 0-2 ATS off an upset loss as a home favorite over the last two-plus years, which is something to focus in on when making your college football picks.
The Spartans will need to rely heavily on running back Le’Veon Bell if they plan on pulling off an upset, as he ranks second nationally with 200 carries, while sitting 17th in averaging 152.3 all-purpose yards per game. Since 2008, Michigan State has won more Big Ten games than any other school, while posting a 37-9 record when outrushing its opponent. It’s important to also note that the program hasn’t lost consecutive conference games in the same season since October 2009.
Michigan has won 11 straight games inside Michigan Stadium, including a 45-0 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini as 24-point favorites last week, as it won the statistical battle by a 393-yard margin. “This is a big win for us,” stated Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson. The dual-threat star will now focus on winning his first game in this rivalry, as the offense gained just 250 total yards in last year’s 28-14 loss as three-point road underdogs. Don’t place too much value in that result, as the game was played in 40-50 mph winds throughout. Michigan is 4-0 ATS after allowing 14 points or less in two straight games since 2010.
The Wolverines certainly know the ground battle will tell the story in this contest, as the winner of 39 of the past 42 meetings has ended up with more rushing yards. Michigan has compiled a 15-0 record under head coach Brady Hoke when scoring 20 or more points, while going 0-4 when scoring less than that figure. Offensively, the team has totaled over 200 yards rushing in four of its last five games, including a season-best 353 against the Fighting Illini.
Utah vs. Oregon State
Utes are still searching for their first conference victory
Utah is off to an 0-3 Pac-12 start with losses to Arizona State, USC and UCLA. The Utes were out-gained in all three of those contests, but did manage to cover the spread in the final two. Last year, the program opened up conference play with an 0-4 record before winning its next four games in that situation. Sports bettors will find that the team is 10-10 against the spread (ATS) in its last 20 conference tilts.
Beavers continue to be undervalued in the betting market
Oregon State is off to a perfect 5-0 start to the 2012 college football season, which has led to a 4-1 ATS mark in those contests. The Beavers’ lone spread loss came in a 19-6 win over the Washington State Cougars, which also served as the team’s only game as a favorite to this point (-15.5). In looking at the college football odds page, it’s going to be very hard to support a double-digit favorite that’s failed to cover the spread in seven of its last nine games in this particular role.
White is the key
Utes running back John White rushed for a career-high 205 yards on 35 carries in last year’s 27-8 win over the Beavers as 5.5-point home favorites, while the result went under the posted total of 48.5. Utah will need another major performance out of its top offensive threat, considering it has started three quarterbacks in a season for the first time since 2000. The program is 9-0 in games that White is able to reach the century mark in rushing.
Vaz will rely on a true freshman to protect him
College football handicappers need to be aware that quarterback Cody Vaz will be lining up behind true freshman center Isaac Seumalo, who will be in charge of blocking Utah’s best defensive player. The Utes are third in the conference and 35th in the country in allowing 350.7 yards per game, as they are led by defensive tackle Star Lotulelei. He has a team-leading six tackles for loss despite being double or triple-teamed on every down.
6-0 start is rare in these parts
Oregon State is focused on winning its first six games in a season for the first time since 1907, while also becoming bowl eligible at the earliest time in school history. The Beavers rely heavily on a rush defense that ranks fourth nationally in allowing just 70 yards per game, trailing only the Alabama Crimson Tide, Rutgers Scarlet Knights and BYU Cougars in that category.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Temple Owls
Rutgers looks to remain undefeated as it renews its rivalry with Temple inside Lincoln Financial Field, as it comes off a 23-15 win over the Syracuse Orange as seven-point home favorites. “For us the motivation is winning a Big East Championship,” stated Scarlet Knights first-year head coach Kyle Flood. A total of 21 players on the team’s current roster hail from the Philadelphia area, which will supply plenty of motivation for this contest. Rutgers is 3-0 ATS versus conference opponents this year, with the UNDER going 3-0 in that situation.
The Scarlet Knights have won two straight in this series, including a 16-6 win as 13.5-point home favorites on Oct. 16, 2004. Rutgers is attempting to go 7-0 for the third time since 1976, while Flood would become the first coach in school history to start his coaching career with a perfect record through seven games. Defensively, the team ranks second nationally in allowing just 60.8 yards per game, while sitting third with 12 interceptions. Running back Jawan Jamison is the player to watch offensively, averaging 110.8 rushing yards per game, which leads the Big East in that category.
Temple has come away with two straight victories, including a 17-14 overtime win against the Connecticut Huskies as four-point road underdogs. “This has been very positive for us,” stated Owls head coach Steve Addazio. “It’s one more stop on the maturity train.” The Owls have lost the statistical in all five of their games, which is significant when making your college football predictions this weekend. Temple is 3-0 ATS as a home underdog of 3.5 to 7 points the last two-plus seasons.
The Owls are led offensively by quarterback Chris Coyer, who leads the team with 71 carries for 302 yards, while throwing for 662 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions. Temple has won 17 of its last 21 games inside this venue, as it looks for its first upset of a nationally ranked opponent since 1998. Running back Montel Harris is another player to watch closely, with 310 yards and three touchdowns on 69 carries.
South Florida vs. Louisville
South Florida returns to action following a bye week as it takes on Louisville inside Papa John’s Stadium, as the team looks to snap a four-game losing streak. The Bulls are also out to avenge last year’s 34-24 loss to the Cardinals as 5.5-point home favorites. The team has struggled on the defensive end this year, allowing a Big East Conference-worst 27.5 points per game, while surrendering an average of 438.6 total yards. South Florida is 4-2 ATS as a road underdog the last two-plus years, with the UNDER going 4-2 in that situation.
The Bulls will need quarterback B.J. Daniels to play a superb game in order to pull off the upset, as he has thrown for 1,504 yards and 10 touchdowns. The dual-threat signal-caller has also managed to rush for 277 yards and four scores. The program owns a 5-4 all-time lead in this series, but has dropped three of four meetings on the road.
Louisville improved its record to 6-0 with a 45-35 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers as 2.5-point favorites, as it served as the final game of a three-game road trip. The Cardinals won those three contests by an average of 7.0 points, as they now look to improve upon their 3-0 mark at home. It’s been 35 days since the team played in front of its home fans. Louisville is 4-3 ATS as a home favorite of seven or fewer points the last two-plus years, while the UNDER is 6-1 in that situation.
The Cardinals have scored more than 30 points in all three home games this year, while averaging 467.7 yards per game in that situation. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has thrown for 855 yards and five scores, while completing 81.8 percent of his throws inside this venue. Louisville will be trying to go 2-0 in Big East play for just the second time in school history.
Auburn vs. Vanderbilt
Auburn has suffered three straight losses heading into this Southeastern Conference affair, including a 41-20 setback to the Mississippi Rebels as four-point road underdogs, while going OVER the total for the first time in three games. The Tigers are 20-20-1 all-time in this particular series, but have won 13 of the last 14 meetings. Head coach Gene Chizik is certainly on the hot seat, while the program is 10-7 under his direction during the month of October. Auburn is 0-3 ATS on the road with a total between 42.5 and 49, with the OVER going 2-1 in that situation.
The Tigers will definitely be shooting for 30-points offensively in this affair, as they’ve won 75 consecutive games when doing so, which includes its lone victory against Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 15. Auburn’s struggles begin and end under center, with its quarterbacks combining for three touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season. The offense is the only unit in the SEC averaging fewer than 300 yards per game.
Vanderbilt will be playing in front of a sellout crowd in consecutive games for the first time since 1996, coming off a 31-17 setback to the Florida Gators as 9.5-point home underdogs. The Commodores were out-gained on the ground by a 200-yard margin in that particular contest, while they’ve lost that battle in five of six games on the year. It’s rather surprising when you consider the team has one of the better backs in the conference, with Zac Stacy ranking second on the school’s career list with 2,501 rushing yards. Vanderbilt is 2-0 at home with a total between 42.5 and 45 since 2010.
The Commodores will look for quarterback Jordan Rodgers to lead the program to a second consecutive bowl appearance, as the senior has passed for 1,068 yards and three touchdowns this year. Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd rank as the conference’s top receiving duo, as they’ve combined for 170.3 receiving yards per game. It’s not a surprising result due to head coach James Franklin being a former offensive coordinator.
Kansas vs. Oklahoma
Kansas is still in search of its first Big 12 Conference win of the 2012 college football season, as it also looks to snap a five-game losing streak. The Jayhawks suffered a 20-14 loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys as 26.5-point home underdogs last week, while going UNDER the total for the fourth time in their last five opportunities. The program has lost seven consecutive games in this series, including a 47-17 setback as 37-point home underdogs last year. Kansas is 1-4 ATS as a road underdog of 21.5 or more points, while the OVER is 3-2 in that situation.
The Jayhawks have been a disciplined team under first-year head coach Charlie Weis, ranking sixth nationally in fewest yards penalized at 30.83 yards per game. Kansas has had all kinds of trouble under center, with original starter Dayne Crist throwing just three touchdowns with seven interceptions this year. A double-digit loss in this affair is certainly expected, considering the program has lost the last seven by an average of 22.7 points per game.
Oklahoma tallied a dominating 63-21 win over Texas as three-point neutral-site favorites last week, finishing the game with a 388-yard advantage in terms of total yards. The Sooners currently occupy the No. 9 spot in the BCS standings, which has been made possible by possessing an offense that averages 43.2 points per game. During the Bob Stoops era, the program has outscored Saturday’s opponent by a 259-100 margin, while posting a plus-10 turnover differential in those seven games. Oklahoma is 8-6 ATS as a home favorite, while the UNDER is 4-9-1 in that situation.
The Sooners have won 18 of 19 home games under Stoops in the month of October, while outscoring the Jayhawks by a 120-47 margin in their last three home games in this series. Oklahoma has done a great job in stopping the run in its last two victories, which improved the team’s record to 51-1 in its last 52 games when holding opponents under 100 rushing yards. Quarterback Landry Jones has a tremendous opportunity to improve his career record to 34-9 as a starter.
Colorado vs. USC
Colorado hits the road after losing back-to-back Pac-12 Conference home games against the Arizona State Sun Devils and UCLA Bruins, as the program was out-gained by a triple-digit margin in each contest. The Buffaloes only win came on the road against the Washington State Cougars as 18.5-point underdogs, which also served as the only statistical win on the year. Colorado is 0-3 ATS after two straight losses by 28 or more points, with the OVER going 2-1 in those affairs.
The Buffaloes are allowing a conference-worst 494.2 yards per game, which could be a problem with Saturday’s opponent racking up 561 yards of total offense in last year’s 42-17 win as 20-point road favorites. Colorado allowed 281 yards on the ground, and 332 through the air in last week’s 51-17 setback to the Sun Devils in a mid-week primetime event.
USC returns to the Los Angeles Coliseum after playing four of its last five games away from home, as it will play in front of its own fans in four of the final six contests. The Trojans have won all six meetings against the Buffaloes, including all three when serving as host. Quarterback Matt Barkley should be excited for this matchup, considering he threw for a career high-tying six touchdowns last year. He is averaging nearly 50 fewer yards passing through six games, but the rushing attack has been tremendous in averaging 209.7 yards in the team’s last three victories since a loss at Stanford. USC is 0-2 ATS after a two-game road trip.
The Trojans came away with a 24-14 victory over the Washington Huskies last week, as they held onto a 24-7 halftime lead by winning the statistical battle by a 233-87 margin in the opening 30 minutes. Running back Silas Redd was certainly the main storyline offensively in that affair, gaining 155 yards and scoring a touchdown inside CenturyLink Field. On the defensive end, USC has limited its last three opponents to just 284.3 yards of offense.
Baylor vs. Texas
Baylor has won back-to-back games in this series, but has never won three straight against Texas in this in-state rivalry. The Bears have suffered consecutive losses to the TCU Horned Frogs and West Virginia Mountaineers, while going OVER in all four opportunities this year. The Bears’ highest-octane offense leads the nation in averaging 398.4 passing yards per game, as they’ve managed to score 30-plus points in 10 of their last 11 games. Baylor is 0-2 ATS off a home loss against a conference rival the last two-plus seasons.
The Bears have tallied a plus-six turnover margin in their four wins, but have lost the battle by seven miscues in their two setbacks. Baylor is in the midst of a six-week stretch that includes one home game and four road contests. Quarterback Nick Florence has filled in admirably for Robert Griffin III, as he’ll likely target wide receiver Terrance Williams, who leads the nation with 830 receiving yards. Prior to being held to 432 total yards against TCU, the team had posted more than 500 yards of total offense in 10 consecutive games.
Texas suffered it second-straight loss in embarrassing fashion last week, as it was out-gained by a 388-yard margin in a 63-21 setback to the Oklahoma Sooners as three-point neutral-site underdogs. The Longhorns have been absolutely dreadful defensively in all facets, which includes ranking 111th nationally in allowing opponents to rush for 5.14 yards per carry. It’s still important to note that three of the team’s last four opponents had an offense among the top 10 nationally. Texas is 2-0 ATS after allowing 35 points or more in two consecutive losses against conference teams.
The Longhorns have totaled at least 400 total yards against the Bears in 18 of the last 19 meetings, including 557 in last year’s 48-24 defeat as 1.5-point road underdogs. Texas is 41-10 at this particular venue against Big 12 opponents during the Mack Brown era, which happens to be the second-most victories at home in that situation among conference teams over the last 15 years.
