Cincinnati -15
Playing on the road at Syracuse shouldn’t be a problem for the Bearcats. Coming off of a couple of Big East wins against Louisville and USF, I think Cincy keeps on rolling this week. Cincinnati dominated USF on the road even without Tony Pike, so being without him this week should be much of an issue. Syracuse has had trouble taking care of the ball while Cincinnati has posted a positive turnover margin in each of their last 5 games. Syracuse has been horrid against the pass even allowing 340 passing yards against Maine. Cincy has been moving the ball well in their last 3 games posting 160+ rushing yards in each of their last 3 outings. In the 2 games that Syracuse has lost out of their last 5, they have allowed over a 100 yards rushing; in their last 3 victories, less than 100. Cincy has had the Orange’s number beating them 4 consecutive times proving that the coaching staff, should have the opposition figured out.
Duke +7
Since David Cutcliffe has taken over the Dukie’s, the Blue Devils have become a respectable football team. Their strength comes from their passing game where they are averaging 322 passing yards per game. Their air attack shouldn’t be any surprise seeing how Cutcliffe was the QB at Tennessee when Peyton Manning was there, and was Eli Manning’s head coach at Ole Miss. I think this will be a close game, however I really feel that UVA will have no answer for the passing game but UVA may be able to control the clock with their running game.
Iowa St. +7
The cyclones get back starting QB Austin Arnaud and starting RB Alexander Robinson, whom they were without in last week’s victory at Nebraska. All year Iowa St. has made a living off of takeaways posting a positive turnover margin in each of their last 5 outings, including a staggering 8 last week. A&M is coming off a big win against rival Texas Tech however the week before, they were -5 in Turnovers against Kansas St where they lost 62-14. Iowa St. is running their new offense extremely well and playing with great chemistry and intensity. A&M won last week because of Turnovers and being able to gain 300+ yards on the ground, neither of which I expect them to be able to do against ISU.
Ole Miss -4
Auburn’s defense is a hologram. Combine that with the fact that they can’t take care of the ball and they are coming off of 3 straight losses. Auburn will undoubtedly win the ground game, but that’s where it stops. Ole Miss has been effective both through the air and on the ground, not to mention that earlier this year Snead was being mentioned in the Heisman race. Ole Miss should have a field day against this Auburn team. I wouldn’t be surprised if this one was a shootout seeing how both teams can put up points in a hurry. Just FYI, last week Ole Miss played Arkansas and allowed 45 rushing yards, 3 weeks ago Auburn played Arkansas and allowed 221 rushing yards. Defensive advantage (if there is any) goes to Ole Miss.
California -6
ASU is going to be without their starting (and leading) RB Dimitri Nance. Last week against Stanford, ASU allowed 237 rushing yards. Expect Jahvid Best (possibly the best RB in the nation) to have a field day against ASU. With the exception of the lost @ Oregon, Cal has moved the ball well on the ground on the road putting up 289 yards against UCLA and 163 against Minnesota. Also, Cal has won the Turnover battle in each of their last 3 road games. Cal may have their hands full with ASU’s passing game considering they allowed an average of 300 passing yards per game in each of their last 5. Cal should counter ASU’s passing by running the ball and controlling the clock. If they can keep ASU’s offense off the field they shouldn’t have any problem winning this by a TD or more.
Michigan -8
In case you have watched Illinois this year, they’ve been playing awful. One week Juice Williams is benched, the next week he’s starting again, Illinois is just trying to find some sort of solution. Michigan has had this game circled on their calendar all season after last year’s embarrassing loss at home 45-20. The Wolverines were actually booed off their own field. You don’t just forget about stuff like that. Neither team has been particularly good at taking care of the ball but if you look at the actual play of the two teams defenses, Michigan has to have the advantage. Take PSU for example, Michigan allowed more than 100 yards less than Illinois allowed. PSU put up 338 rushing yards against Illinois and Michigan only allowed 166. Michigan’s backfield is healthy and that should make a difference this week seeing how Illinois hasn’t had much of an answer to strong ground games.
Colorado +4
I love Colorado at home getting points. The previous two times they were home dogs, they won the game outright, beating Kansas 34-30 and Wyoming 24-0. Missouri’s QB Blaine Gabbert is banged up (again) and they’re back up just doesn’t do the same job. Missouri hasn’t been able to stop passing offenses nor have they really been able to stop rushing offenses. Colorado’s starting RB Darell Scott is out which may hurt them a bit, but they get good protection and are able to play a pretty balanced offense. Tyler Hansen will get the start again this week, which is a bonus for their air attack. Colorado has done a better job of taking care of the ball this season and you should know by now, I’m big on Turnovers. Missouri shut out Colorado 58-0 last year. This year, Colorado may actually have the better team and they are going to be out for revenge.
Air Force -6
Although I don’t feel as confident about this play considering Tim Jefferson is starting, I was still confident enough to wager on it. CSU will be going up against one of the best defenses in the nation. Air Force has posted a positive Turnover margin in each of their last 5 games. CSU has proven they will give up yards on the ground, allowing 275 against TCU and 209 against Utah. Air Force only gave up 195 rushing yards against TCU and 100 rushing yards against Utah last week. Both teams have faced SD St and AF allowed 284 passing yards, where as CSU allowed 459 passing yards. Air Force has had the advantage the last 3 years and I’d expect that streak to continue with the defense they’ve been playing lately.
Utah St. +17
Fresno St has been able to move the ball well on the ground and in 4 of their last 5 games, they’ve rushed for more yards than they were able to pass for. Utah St is coming off of victory against La Tech and almost pulled off an upset against Nevada (lost 32-35). This is Gary Anderson’s first year at Utah State and I think they are playing with a lot of confidence. USU has been able to move the ball through the air which is going to be important facing the Fresno St. defense. Fresno St is giving up an average of 206 passing yards per game and USU is going to have to try and take advantage of that. USU probably won’t win this, but they should keep it closer than 17.
Houston -6
Houston at home is usually a play. The spread offense should be too much for So. Miss to stop. So. Miss has steadily declined as the season has progressed with their last two victories coming against Tulane and Memphis. So. Miss wasn’t able to stop the pass against a poor Memphis team , they allowed 262 passing yards. Against Louisville, So. Miss allowed 259 passing yards. So. Miss also lost their last 3 road games to teams such as, Louisville, UAB, and Kansas. Houston will struggle to stop the run game of So. Miss but that shouldn’t make much of a difference seeing how they don’t need a lot of time to put up a lot of points.
Playing on the road at Syracuse shouldn’t be a problem for the Bearcats. Coming off of a couple of Big East wins against Louisville and USF, I think Cincy keeps on rolling this week. Cincinnati dominated USF on the road even without Tony Pike, so being without him this week should be much of an issue. Syracuse has had trouble taking care of the ball while Cincinnati has posted a positive turnover margin in each of their last 5 games. Syracuse has been horrid against the pass even allowing 340 passing yards against Maine. Cincy has been moving the ball well in their last 3 games posting 160+ rushing yards in each of their last 3 outings. In the 2 games that Syracuse has lost out of their last 5, they have allowed over a 100 yards rushing; in their last 3 victories, less than 100. Cincy has had the Orange’s number beating them 4 consecutive times proving that the coaching staff, should have the opposition figured out.
Duke +7
Since David Cutcliffe has taken over the Dukie’s, the Blue Devils have become a respectable football team. Their strength comes from their passing game where they are averaging 322 passing yards per game. Their air attack shouldn’t be any surprise seeing how Cutcliffe was the QB at Tennessee when Peyton Manning was there, and was Eli Manning’s head coach at Ole Miss. I think this will be a close game, however I really feel that UVA will have no answer for the passing game but UVA may be able to control the clock with their running game.
Iowa St. +7
The cyclones get back starting QB Austin Arnaud and starting RB Alexander Robinson, whom they were without in last week’s victory at Nebraska. All year Iowa St. has made a living off of takeaways posting a positive turnover margin in each of their last 5 outings, including a staggering 8 last week. A&M is coming off a big win against rival Texas Tech however the week before, they were -5 in Turnovers against Kansas St where they lost 62-14. Iowa St. is running their new offense extremely well and playing with great chemistry and intensity. A&M won last week because of Turnovers and being able to gain 300+ yards on the ground, neither of which I expect them to be able to do against ISU.
Ole Miss -4
Auburn’s defense is a hologram. Combine that with the fact that they can’t take care of the ball and they are coming off of 3 straight losses. Auburn will undoubtedly win the ground game, but that’s where it stops. Ole Miss has been effective both through the air and on the ground, not to mention that earlier this year Snead was being mentioned in the Heisman race. Ole Miss should have a field day against this Auburn team. I wouldn’t be surprised if this one was a shootout seeing how both teams can put up points in a hurry. Just FYI, last week Ole Miss played Arkansas and allowed 45 rushing yards, 3 weeks ago Auburn played Arkansas and allowed 221 rushing yards. Defensive advantage (if there is any) goes to Ole Miss.
California -6
ASU is going to be without their starting (and leading) RB Dimitri Nance. Last week against Stanford, ASU allowed 237 rushing yards. Expect Jahvid Best (possibly the best RB in the nation) to have a field day against ASU. With the exception of the lost @ Oregon, Cal has moved the ball well on the ground on the road putting up 289 yards against UCLA and 163 against Minnesota. Also, Cal has won the Turnover battle in each of their last 3 road games. Cal may have their hands full with ASU’s passing game considering they allowed an average of 300 passing yards per game in each of their last 5. Cal should counter ASU’s passing by running the ball and controlling the clock. If they can keep ASU’s offense off the field they shouldn’t have any problem winning this by a TD or more.
Michigan -8
In case you have watched Illinois this year, they’ve been playing awful. One week Juice Williams is benched, the next week he’s starting again, Illinois is just trying to find some sort of solution. Michigan has had this game circled on their calendar all season after last year’s embarrassing loss at home 45-20. The Wolverines were actually booed off their own field. You don’t just forget about stuff like that. Neither team has been particularly good at taking care of the ball but if you look at the actual play of the two teams defenses, Michigan has to have the advantage. Take PSU for example, Michigan allowed more than 100 yards less than Illinois allowed. PSU put up 338 rushing yards against Illinois and Michigan only allowed 166. Michigan’s backfield is healthy and that should make a difference this week seeing how Illinois hasn’t had much of an answer to strong ground games.
Colorado +4
I love Colorado at home getting points. The previous two times they were home dogs, they won the game outright, beating Kansas 34-30 and Wyoming 24-0. Missouri’s QB Blaine Gabbert is banged up (again) and they’re back up just doesn’t do the same job. Missouri hasn’t been able to stop passing offenses nor have they really been able to stop rushing offenses. Colorado’s starting RB Darell Scott is out which may hurt them a bit, but they get good protection and are able to play a pretty balanced offense. Tyler Hansen will get the start again this week, which is a bonus for their air attack. Colorado has done a better job of taking care of the ball this season and you should know by now, I’m big on Turnovers. Missouri shut out Colorado 58-0 last year. This year, Colorado may actually have the better team and they are going to be out for revenge.
Air Force -6
Although I don’t feel as confident about this play considering Tim Jefferson is starting, I was still confident enough to wager on it. CSU will be going up against one of the best defenses in the nation. Air Force has posted a positive Turnover margin in each of their last 5 games. CSU has proven they will give up yards on the ground, allowing 275 against TCU and 209 against Utah. Air Force only gave up 195 rushing yards against TCU and 100 rushing yards against Utah last week. Both teams have faced SD St and AF allowed 284 passing yards, where as CSU allowed 459 passing yards. Air Force has had the advantage the last 3 years and I’d expect that streak to continue with the defense they’ve been playing lately.
Utah St. +17
Fresno St has been able to move the ball well on the ground and in 4 of their last 5 games, they’ve rushed for more yards than they were able to pass for. Utah St is coming off of victory against La Tech and almost pulled off an upset against Nevada (lost 32-35). This is Gary Anderson’s first year at Utah State and I think they are playing with a lot of confidence. USU has been able to move the ball through the air which is going to be important facing the Fresno St. defense. Fresno St is giving up an average of 206 passing yards per game and USU is going to have to try and take advantage of that. USU probably won’t win this, but they should keep it closer than 17.
Houston -6
Houston at home is usually a play. The spread offense should be too much for So. Miss to stop. So. Miss has steadily declined as the season has progressed with their last two victories coming against Tulane and Memphis. So. Miss wasn’t able to stop the pass against a poor Memphis team , they allowed 262 passing yards. Against Louisville, So. Miss allowed 259 passing yards. So. Miss also lost their last 3 road games to teams such as, Louisville, UAB, and Kansas. Houston will struggle to stop the run game of So. Miss but that shouldn’t make much of a difference seeing how they don’t need a lot of time to put up a lot of points.
