1. Florida State at NC State
Florda State, coming off a game where they gave up 39 points to Miami, still is only allowing their opponents to score, on average, 15.8 points. Wake Forest needed to force 7 turnovers in order to score 12 points and win. The Seminole offense has scored at least 35 points in every game excluding that loss.
NC state has allowed all of their opponents to score at least 24 points, and failed to score more than 10 points against South Florida, South Carolina, or Clemson.
Florida State has not won in Raleigh since 2005 and needs this win if they hope to keep pace with Wake and have a shot at the ACC title game. NC state, fired up on a Thursday night will overachieve at home early and stay close but the Seminole's defense and possible rain showers will allow Florida State to pull away in the second half.
PICK: Florida State -11
2. BYU at TCU
Undefeated BYU, giving up just 10.2 points per game faces off with TCU who has given up a meager 11.4 ppg themselves and would have a much lower average if not for the 35 points they allowed Oklahoma, the same amount of points the Sooners scored against Texas.
Working in favor BYU, whose offense is passing oriented, the TCU strong suit is rushing defense. Unfortunately for BYU, if they cannot establish the run the TCU defense is good enough to stop any one dimensional offense.
While BYU only beat lowly Washington in week 2 of the season by a single point, it was still a tough win on the road against a PAC-10 team and was followed by a dominating win over then-ranked UCLA. Their most recent win, an easy victory over New Mexico brings them into Fort Worth confidant and motivated to repeat what Fresno State was able to do a year ago.
TCU on the other hand, rebounded after the pounding they received in Oklahoma by trouncing a 1-5 San Diego State, but only a few days ago beat Colorado State by merely 6 points.
Both teams have scoring averages in the mid 30s, but neither have faced a defense like they will on Thursday night. Expect a lot of three and outs and drives that stall short of the red zone. Couple these defenses with winds that are expected to be around 11 mph, and field goal kickers will be leaving points on the field.
PICK: BYU +1 / Under 45 pts.
Florda State, coming off a game where they gave up 39 points to Miami, still is only allowing their opponents to score, on average, 15.8 points. Wake Forest needed to force 7 turnovers in order to score 12 points and win. The Seminole offense has scored at least 35 points in every game excluding that loss.
NC state has allowed all of their opponents to score at least 24 points, and failed to score more than 10 points against South Florida, South Carolina, or Clemson.
Florida State has not won in Raleigh since 2005 and needs this win if they hope to keep pace with Wake and have a shot at the ACC title game. NC state, fired up on a Thursday night will overachieve at home early and stay close but the Seminole's defense and possible rain showers will allow Florida State to pull away in the second half.
PICK: Florida State -11
2. BYU at TCU
Undefeated BYU, giving up just 10.2 points per game faces off with TCU who has given up a meager 11.4 ppg themselves and would have a much lower average if not for the 35 points they allowed Oklahoma, the same amount of points the Sooners scored against Texas.
Working in favor BYU, whose offense is passing oriented, the TCU strong suit is rushing defense. Unfortunately for BYU, if they cannot establish the run the TCU defense is good enough to stop any one dimensional offense.
While BYU only beat lowly Washington in week 2 of the season by a single point, it was still a tough win on the road against a PAC-10 team and was followed by a dominating win over then-ranked UCLA. Their most recent win, an easy victory over New Mexico brings them into Fort Worth confidant and motivated to repeat what Fresno State was able to do a year ago.
TCU on the other hand, rebounded after the pounding they received in Oklahoma by trouncing a 1-5 San Diego State, but only a few days ago beat Colorado State by merely 6 points.
Both teams have scoring averages in the mid 30s, but neither have faced a defense like they will on Thursday night. Expect a lot of three and outs and drives that stall short of the red zone. Couple these defenses with winds that are expected to be around 11 mph, and field goal kickers will be leaving points on the field.
PICK: BYU +1 / Under 45 pts.
