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Michigan Wolverines.

National Championship Game Winner.

Game 288.

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

Just like me, I'm going to keep this game analysis very short and extremely sweet (lol). There is no question that both Washington and Michigan deserve to be here. Both completed the entire campaign perfect, at 14-0. Both played and beat the best in their conference title games. I mean the Huskies took down the Longhorns, 37-31 as a 3.5-point underdog. The Wolverines came on strong at the end of the fourth quarter, and then won in overtime against, what many people thought was the best team in the College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide. There are a few major disparities here. With all respect to Washington, and their top-ranked, passing offense, they have not faced a defense as complete as the one they are lining up against here. Not only is Michigan the most ferocious and well-balanced defense they will have faced this season, but they are equally strong in the air and on the ground. The Wolverines stop-unit leads the nation, allowing just 9.5 points per game, ranks second against the pass, six against the rush, second in total yards allowed, and sixth in takeaways. On the opposite side of the ball, let's face it, the Huskies give up a lot of points. That rank 50th nationally, allowing 23.6 points per game. That's bad enough. But the Wolverines offense is so well-balanced and so dangerous it is impossible to shut them down. They have a smart quarterback at the helm. And I believe that's where the big contrast will be. The Huskies rank 122nd, defensively against the pass. Quarterback, JJ McCarthy is smart, capable, and must be salivating, knowing he's going to pass the ball at will here. Remember, if the Huskies key on the pass attack of the Wolverines, Michigan could then fall back on the rushing attack of Blake Corum. A lot of talk is that head coach, Jim Harbaugh is going to be departing for the NFL after this game. Now these are just rumors. But there's a lot of talk surrounding his future just might just be in Las Vegas. And if that does happen, he also just might be taking his starting quarterback with him. He will want to leave Ann Arbor with a National Title. Take Michigan. Thank you.

Alabama Crimson Tide.

Game 279.

2:00 PM PST/5:00 PM EST.

With all respect to Michigan and their 13-0 season, I think we can all agree, they didn't play the toughest schedule out there. And as the season, progressed, and they did play some better teams, they had struggled a bit. Penn State, Maryland, and Ohio State all gave them a tough time. But make no mistake of it, they are going up against the toughest defense they will have had to face this season. Alabama not only owns a stop-unit that allows just 18.4 points per game, but they have gone up against and completely shut down quite a few solid offenses. I think we can all agree that neither in the air or on the ground, the wolverines Are explosive. It is their defense that allows their offense success. I believe their passing a game will be in real trouble here as the Crimson Tides pass defense has improved with each game this season, and is now in my opinion, one of the best in the nation. Offensively, Alabama's quarterback, Jalen Milroe has matured better than any other player in the country. Let's be honest, my friends, when this team dropped their second game of the season in early-September, at the hands of Texas, Nick Saban read them the riot act, and they got on course and were on a mission. They have not dropped the game since, annihilating all opponents. Not only that, but they've covered eight of 10 since that loss. Sabin and his coaching staff have had more than enough time to prepare for the Michigan team. There is no way they're going to drop this game as they want nothing less than another national title. The only thing standing is this week’s opponent. There is one more thing that I think is very significant here, my friends. And that is all the off the field distractions the Wolverines are going through. The entire football team, their athletic department, their head coach, coaching staff, etc. There is a lot of distractions. The rumor has it, Jim Harbaugh, no matter what happens, this season, is going to go onto the NFL. There is also some whispers that he will be in a position to also take his quarterback with him. Trust me when I tell you this is a distraction. The Crimson Tide have no distractions. They have one thing on their minds and that is a national title. They scratched and clawed to get here. I believe Michigan will come in a bit overconfident and get taken by surprise. Take Alabama. Thank you.

Alabama Crimson Tide.

Game 213.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

The only way Alabama will stay in the College Football Playoff hunt is with an annihilation of Auburn this Saturday. You may not realize this, but since their September 9 surprise loss at home against Texas, this team has rattled off nine consecutive straight up victories, going 7-2 ATS. They have gone out of their way to crush every Conference opponent they have gone up against. Let's face it, they have had Auburns number. This is a team that has taken seven of the last nine meetings in this Conference rivalry straight up, covering six of those nine against the spread. This does include three consecutive wins, by an average of 17.6 PPG. The Tigers, at 6-5 are Bowl-eligible and really don't need to keep their foot on the gas here at all. They just want to get away with their lives. The Crimson tide quarterback, Jalen Milroe has matured very nicely this season. He has an arsenal of receivers at his disposal and a solid ground attack as well. He has not made many mistakes at all this season. Thus, why the “O” ranks 16th in scoring, averaging over 36.5 points per game. But it has been their defense that has been solid and stellar all season long, ranking 14th in the nation, allowing a mere 17.4 points per game. If Auburn has a weakness, and trust me, they have more than one weakness, it is going up against aggressive defenses. They don't have a passing game. They solely rely on their ground game. So, Alabama can and will key on this. And I promise you, their linebackers will spend more time in the Auburn backfield, and the Auburn players themselves. The Crimson Tide as I mentioned earlier doesn't just need a win, they need a big win. They will get it. Take Alabama. Thank you.

Georgia Bulldogs.

Game 329.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

 The top-RANKED Georgia Bulldogs cannot take their foot off the gas HERE. With only a few games remaining in the regular season, they have Tennessee up here, then a road game at Georgia Tech, and then finish the season on neutral ground against Alabama in the SEC Title game. There are a few other undefeated teams that round out the top-five in Ohio State, Michigan, Florida State, and Washington. This week a few of those teams have tough conference competition. And next week the No. 2 and No. 3 teams, the Buckeyes, and the Wolverines square off against one another. So, if the Bulldogs keep their foot on the gas, run the gauntlet and stay perfect, they guarantee themselves a spot in the CFP. Even if they drop the game against Alabama and win everything else big time, they should still be in that CFP. The Volunteers just got spanked a week ago at the hands of the Tigers, 36-7. There is no way they could face this weeks opponent on either side of the ball as they are outclassed. Take Georgia. Thank you.

Oklahoma Sooners.

Game 371.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

You know, folks, Oklahoma is not happy about missing the CFP. This is the team that was running perfect through the end of October. Then losses on the road at Kansas and that Oklahoma State snuffed out any chance they had at the CFP. They did follow that up with an annihilation, 59-20 over West Virginia. This is a team that does not take losing lightly. This is a team that had high expectations this season. One thing for sure, they still have a chance at the Conference title. But they must win their last two games.  Please remember they have covered point spreads of 37.0, 16.5, 28.0, 13.5, 20.5, and 13.0. Not only do they have to win, they have to absolutely annihilate the remaining opponents. That starts with BYU this week and finishes with TCU next week. Trust me when I tell you, they will crush both. The Cougars have had a hard time this season. As a matter fact, since the end of September things have gotten very hard for the team. It just so happens that coincided with Conference play. BYU was just 2-5 straight up in Big 12 action. And have only covered three of their 10 outings this season overall. That does include just two games in Big 12 play. Just over the last three outings, they lost by 31 at the hands of the Longhorns, 31 at the hands of the Mountaineers, and 32 at the hands of the Cyclones. Don't think that they have any dreams about even making a bowl. They just want to get this season over and done with. Their offense is atrocious. Their defense is atrocious. They have no team leadership. And let's be honest, their coaching is horrible. On both sides of the ball, they are significantly outclassed. This game will get ugly. Take the sooners. Thank you.

Michigan.

Game 149.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

Yeah, yeah, yeah…we have all read the news about Michigan not having been tested thus far this season. But can you blame them? Just because the opposition has been less than stellar, it doesn’t take away from the fact the Wolverines are the strongest team in the nation. Despite the off-the-field news, they will go out of their way to crush a Nittany Lions foe that gave the Buckeyes all they can handle. Just like Michigan hasn’t faced solid teams, Penn State fell short when they went up against a strong adversary. This is the Wolverines opportunity to make a statement. Take Michigan. Thank you.

Miami-Ohio.

MAC GOM.

Game 362.

1:00 PM PST/4:00 PM EST.

Oddly enough, these two MAC teams haven't met in over a decade. Both teams hold 3-0 records in Conference play as well as 6-1 overall marks. But when it comes to covering the spread, that's where they differ. Toledo is on a 0-5 ATS no cover streak. But checking our stats going a little further, they are also 0-8 ATS when coming off of a win as a favorite as well as 2-11 ATS their last 13 overall as a favorite. Meanwhile, Miami Ohio has not just won their last six games straight up, they've also covered their last six games as well. The Redhawks are a little more well-balanced on both sides of the ball. The wrong team is favored here. Take Miami-Ohio. Thank you.

Oklahoma.

Consensus GOM.

Game 390.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

UCF Head Coach, Gus Malzahn stated starting quarterback, John Rhys Plumlee is close to 100% and is expected to see action here (check status). In my opinion, although the play-caller is talented, it will not matter. His numbers weren’t all that great when he was on the field. The Knights are on a three-game slide, both SU and ATS. They have failed to cover all three of their road games this season. And going back to last season, failed to cover six in a row away from home. Normally, I would look to fade Oklahoma following the Red River Rivalry. But this team is playing on another level. Following their road win and cover as an underdog to Texas, they had a week off to rest, heal, and prepare. They are not just 6-0 straight up this season, they are 6-0 against the spread as well. The Sooners have a real chance to run the gauntlet and go undefeated during the regular season and make a case for the CFP. Oklahoma quarterback, Dillon Gabriel is salivating here. He has a chance to go up against his former team, and show them why he left. The Knights defense has allowed 44, 36, and 51 points in consecutive contests. The Central Florida offense solely relies upon their ability to run the ball. This doesn't bode well as Oklahoma's stop-unit ranks 32nd in the nation against the rush. The Sooners have already covered pointspreads of 13.5 and 20.5 over Conference foes. This game gets ugly. Take Oklahoma. Thank you.

Oregon State.

PAC 12 PAYDAY.

Game 190.

5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST.

All I keep reading is how good the Bruins defense is. However, they stepped up in class once this season and got spanked a few weeks back against Utah. On the other hand, Oregon State has looked strong against solid opposition. They are 5-1 straight up, going 4-2 against the spread. They opened the season against a couple of pushover foes, earning wins and covers. Then they took their foot off the gas winning, big but not covering a huge pointspread against San Diego State. I'll give them a mulligan in their heartbreaking three-point road loss against rival, Washington State a few weeks back. However, they bounced back and took control of their destiny beating Utah at home and Cal on the road, with authority. By the way, they covered both of those outings too. This is a team that gets us sportsbettors paid at home, covering 14 of their last 15 contests at Reser Stadium. Quarterback, DJ Uiagalelei has matured quite nicely, and found a home as the head of this team. They possess a solid ground attack. Defensively they're holding teams to under 20 points per game and I've already snagged four takeaways. I believe they're going to make it a very long day for Dante Moore, UCLA’s freshman quarterback that only has five games under his belt as a starter. With a more experienced quarterback, a significantly stronger rushing attack, a smart head coach, and playing at home, we must take the Beavers. Thank you.

Auburn Tigers.

TD play.

Game 159.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

Whispers around the Las Vegas sportsbooks are that there's going to be some serious money coming in on LSU this Saturday. And why not? They rank 22nd in the nation. And following their road loss to Mississippi, they bounced back last week and took down Missouri as a visitor too. They return home to face an Auburn opponent riding a two-game straight up losing streak. But my friends, sportsbetting is about situations and matchups. And the situation here tells me the Tigers of Auburn are going to catch the Tigers of LSU at the right time. First of all, Auburn has covered the last four meetings in this series, winning two of those matchups straight up. The other two matchups, they lost by three and four points. They play LSU tough, my friends. Guys, Louisiana State was supposed to have an awesome defense this season. But to be quite honest, every halfway decent opponent they went up against, has put up points on them; Florida State 45, Arkansas 31, Mississippi 55, and Missouri 39. They certainly have a very talented quarterback at the helm, and a solid running back in the backfield. But Auburn owns some pretty good statistics as well, ranking 25th in the nation in points allowed, yielding just 18.2 points per game. They're equally strong against the pass as they are against the rush. And offensively they possess one of the most complete rushing units in college football, ranking 19th, and averaging over 200 yards per game on the ground. It is this area that I feel benefits Auburn the most. They will run the ball a lot, wear down the LSU defense, control the clock, and keeping the LSU defense on the field, while keeping their offense off it.  Giving Auburn double-digits as they look to rebound from two straight up losses, and had a week off to rest, heal, and prepare is a mistake. Take Auburn. Thank you.

Maryland Terrapins.

No Limit.

Game 128.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

Facing Maryland, following their first loss of the campaign, will prove to be fatal for Illinois. The Terrapins have too much fire power for the "not so" Fighting Illini. Maryland has played some solid football this season. And as far as covering the spread, following a couple of pushover opponents to start off the season, in which they pulled starters, and took the foot off the gas late in the games, they then covered three straight against the likes of Virginia, Michigan State, and Indiana. To be quite honest, last week’s loss at Ohio State was a lot closer than the score. Speaking of covering the spread, this team is 6-1 ATS their last seven as a home favorite of eight or more points. Meanwhile, Illinois has failed to cover any of their six contests in 2023. As a matter fact, going back a bit, they have failed to cover any outings in the calendar year of 2023, failing to cover seven straight games, going back to last season. Turnovers have been an issue for the Fighting Illini, and facing a Terrapins opponent here that has not turned the ball over offensively, and yet has snagged eight takeaways defensively, will be the nails in the coffin here. I'm both sides of the ball, Maryland outclasses Illinois. Take the Terrapins. Thank you.

Michigan Wolverines.

Oddsmakers mistake.

Game 401.

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

My friends, Michigan is sitting pretty right now. They are a perfect 5-0, ranked second in the nation in the polls, and don't have a very tough opponent for quite a while until November 11, when they face Penn State. Normally you would think that you don't want to lay this type of wood when they have several weeks of pushover opposition upcoming. But they can't let themselves get stale, that's for sure. They also can’t put in a lackluster performance in which a result might be drop in the polls. These days style points mean a lot my friends. They have dominated Minnesota, taking nine of the last 10 meetings straight up, covering eight of those 10, which includes wins and covers in the last two meetings. Speaking of the Golden Gophers, they got their first cover since last December last week, against the Ragin' Cajuns. This is a team that has really not impressed at all. They couldn't cover against Nebraska, Eastern, Michigan, North Carolina, or Northwestern. It was the last two games that I really focused on. Granted, they were on the road in both of those outings, but they got crushed at the hands of the Tar Heels offense, and then against the very mediocre Wildcats, they were just simply outplayed. The Wolverines possess one of the most well-balanced offensive units in college football. They average over 34.4 points per game and they've only committed one turnover. Defensively, they are the top stop-unit in the nation, allowing a mere 6.0 points per game, ranking 11th against the pass and 14th against the rush. By the way, they've already snagged five takeaways, too. This game will get seriously out of hand. But remember it's only the second game back for Coach Harbaugh, and last week against Nebraska on the road, they devoured the Cornhuskers, 45-7. This team will go above and beyond with their coach back on the sidelines to crush the Golden Gophers. As I mentioned earlier, style points mean a lot right now, especially being they’re playing some less than great opposition in the upcoming schedule. Take Michigan. Thank you.

Washington State.

No Limit.

Game 376.

4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST.

Both teams are 3-0 straight up. Both teams are 2-1 against the spread. But that’s where their similarities end. Oregon State has faced the likes of San Jose State, UC Davis, and San Diego State. Meanwhile, Washington State has gone up against Colorado State, Wisconsin, and Northern Colorado. Granted their last opponent leaves a lot to be desired. But they have gone up against some very stiff competition and have played very well. They can counter the Beavers strong rushing attack with an extremely stout run defense. And I just don’t see Oregon State slowing down their explosive passing attack. Prior to last season’s meeting, the Cougars had won eight consecutive matchups in this rivalry straight up, going 6-3 against the spread. They will get revenge from last year’s loss. Take Washington State. Thank you.

Penn State Nittany Lions.

Oddsmakers Mistake.

Game 127.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM PST.

My friends, Penn State should be at least an 18 to 21-point favorite in this matchup. If there is a true mismatch on the board this Saturday in college football, this game is it. My friends, it was just last season that the Illinois defense was making headlines. This season, not so much. They have failed to cover both outings so far, as they eked by Toledo, 30-28 as a 7.5-point favorite and then lost, 34-23 on the road at Kansas, as a 3.5-point underdog. Their defense has sprung a big leak. Granted, Penn State really didn’t have any opposition thus far, winning and covering at home against both West Virginia and Delaware. But don’t forget that this team has been money against the spread, covering nine straight games going back to last season. Might I remind you they’ve been big favorites on more than one occasion during that span. This is their first conference matchup, and the Nittany Lions must make a statement to the rest of the Big Ten. Penn State has gotten the better of Illinois, winning and covering three of the last four overall meetings. Going back a bit, they have covered three of the last four contests played at Illinois as well. Without the defensive mind of Ryan Walters, who departed for Purdue, I just don’t see the Fighting Illini putting up much of a fight against the well-balanced offense of the Nittany Lions. They have a smart coach, a seasoned quarterback, and a seven-game straight up winning streak going back to last year. PSU needs to make a splash in this conference. And what better way than to shred Illinois here. Take Penn State. Thank you.

Florida State Seminoles.

ACC Game of the Month.

Game 117.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

With Clemson already at 1-1 overall, which does include an 0-1 conference record, Florida State has a legitimate shot at taking the ACC crown this season. This team came out of the chute and blasted LSU as a one-point underdog in Week 1, 45-24. If there was going to be a letdown situation, it would’ve been last week when they did cover as a 31-point favorite over Southern Miss at home, 66-13. This is their last game against a pushover before they take on some serious conference opponents. They have Clemson up next. This is their last opportunity to fine tune their offense and defense. And trust me, they are not going let their foot off the gas against an ACC foe. They face a Boston College opponent here that fell way short in their season opener, dropping a 27-24 home game against Northern Illinois as an eight-point favorite. If they were going to show some moxie, they would’ve done it last week when they eked by Holy Cross by only three points as a double-digit favorite. Over the last four seasons, the Seminoles have taken four meetings against the Eagles, both straight up and against the spread. Last year’s matchup saw an absolute beat down as Florida State thumped Boston College, 44-14. Offensively, the Eagles are very little threat as they’re having trouble both on the ground and in the air. Defensively, it’s going to be a long day for their defense, going up against one of the most explosive offenses in the country, that is accounting for over 55.5 points per game. The Seminoles are equally strong on the ground and in the air. They have a very solid, rushing attack to control the tempo and the clock, while their explosive air assault can go down field at well. Take Florida State. Thank you.

Washington Huskies.

HIGH ROLLER.

Game 198.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

My friends, this might be one of the biggest mismatches on the college football board this Saturday. To say that the Pac 12 is in a state of flux, would be an understatement. The USC Trojans were supposed to run away with this conference this season. However, after watching their defense allow San Jose State to put up 28 points on them as they failed to cover last week, we must admit that they might have the same problems they had in recent years. Their defense, their defense, their defense!. Both the Oregon Ducks and the Washington Huskies are touted to vie for the PAC 12 title. And right now, I have to be honest, the Huskies are sitting in the catbird seat. There is no question Boise State is a solid team in the Mountain West. They are supposed to be the top team in the conference this season. If you recall, they went up against Oregon State in Week 1 of last season and got blown up, 34-17. Let’s be honest, they just don’t face the same level of competition as does their opponent here this weekend. Their “all-universe” quarterback, Hank Bachmeier has departed the team and is now wearing a Louisiana Tech uniform. The Broncos are also missing some of their coaching staff, who have also departed for bigger and better. Maybe the writing is on the wall. Guys, there is no way they can keep pace offensively with the high-flying squad headed by Michael Penix Jr. A season ago, the Huskies offense ranked number one in passing yards, number two in total yards, and number four in points scored. Oh, by the way, they also didn’t turn the ball over too much, ranking second in college football in that category. Statistics can be quite deceiving my friends. Last season, Boise State possessed one of the best pass defenses in the land. However, when you go up against run-heavy offenses, like they did (Wyoming, Air Force, San Diego State, UTEP, New Mexico, Oregon State) the statistics are going be padded for sure. This is not just a step up in class for their pass defense. This is a step up, step up, step up, like they’ve never experienced before. This is a true mismatch. Lay the two TDs with the Huskies. Thank you.

TCU Horned Frogs.

National Championship Game Winner.

Game 287.

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

What many sports bettors fall victim to this time of year is overthinking the National Championship Game. Obviously, with nine days between the College Football Playoff and the Title Game, you’re going to read countless articles, columns, trends, streaks, etc. My friends, don’t overthink this matchup. There is no questioning the Georgia Bulldogs have earned the No. 1 spot in the nation and deserve of all their praise and accolades. However, making this team nearly a two-touchdown favorite is a mistake. The odds makers are hoping that you buy into all the media and the hype the last few weeks. Yes, the Bulldogs are 14-0 this season. Yes, the Horned Frogs lost one game, sporting a 13-1 straight up record. I will not argue I feel Georgia is a little stronger in the trenches in this matchup. However, they are also overvalued quite a bit by the oddsmakers only covering one of their last four outings. Their defense, which overall has been very impressive the season, has gotten plowed for 71 combined points over the last two games. And I feel they have significantly more pressure on them to win here on Monday. Not only that guys, but I think we can all agree that perhaps Buckeyes head coach, Ryan Day made a couple of bad in-game decisions last week. Granted, TCU did lose the Conference Championship in overtime to Kansas State a month ago. But it also showed this team and their coaching staff what they need to work on. I also don’t want you to solely judge the Horned Frogs by their decisive win over the Wolverines last week. Yes, Michigan is certainly one of the most complete teams in College Football this year. And TCU handled them pretty well. But looking at this team overall, this season they have knocked off five ranked teams, including three as an underdog. Many were worried that their biggest ball-carrier, Kendre Miller was sidelined. But I think we can all agree, Emari Demercado can fill in on the rushing game without missing a beat. On this platform, mistakes and turnovers usually play a key part in the outcome of the game. And once again, TCU is significantly better on both sides of the ball as they do not commit nearly as many turnovers as Georgia, and while they do snag more takeaways than the Bulldogs. One more item folks…they are money. They are 4-0 ATS the last four nonconference games played and 10-3-1 ATS the last 14 overall games played. Oh, by the way Georgia has failed to cover each of their last four nonconference games folks. I just feel this is way too many points to give a very talented and scrappy bunch like the Horned Frogs led by a quarterback, who perhaps possesses more heart and grit than any other QB in the nation. Take TCU. Thank you.

Michigan Wolverines.

Cash Money Play.

Saturday, December 31, 2022.

Game 276.

5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST.

My friends, for once there is no questioning the Final Four teams that made this year’s College Football Playoffs. Normally, we’re engulfed in controversy about teams that made it and certain teams that should’ve made it. That’s not the case this season. And I expect the Peach Bowl between Ohio State and Georgia is a highly anticipated matchup as well as this game that I’m going to talk about, the Fiesta Bowl between Texas Christian and Michigan. Both teams certainly deserve to be here. The Horned Frogs possess a 12-1 mark, with their only defeat coming in the Big 12 Championship game at the hands of the Wildcats. The Wolverines, at 13-0 have already set a school record for most victories in a season. They’re also looking to finish undefeated for the first time since 1997, when they won a share of the National Championship, back then when it was decided by the polls. Guys, I’m not going to get in to some big debate over my next item, but I don’t think anyone would really question the fact that the Big Ten is a bit stronger than the Big 12. The Big 12 is chock-full of offenses that can light up the scoreboard. However, the Big Ten is made up of good, well-balanced offenses, along with defenses that could shut down opponents’ offenses. Looking at TCU‘s schedule this season, they had quite a bit of problems with opponents like Oklahoma State, Texas, and even Baylor. And as we all saw in the December 3, Big 12 Title game, Kansas State really took it to them as quarterback, Max Duggan and the offense looked very vulnerable. As far as Michigan goes, they didn’t have too many close games this season. As a matter of fact, the only opponent that gave them a tough time the entire campaign was Illinois. But as we came to find out, the Fighting Illini’s defense was the real-deal. Speaking of that loss to the Wildcats, the very smart head coach, Jim Harbaugh and his staff watched the game tapes of that contest and will take a page out of it as to how to slow down the quarterback and the rushing attack. Granted, the Horned Frogs offense is equally good on the ground and in the air, resulting in scoring 40.3 points per game. However, they haven’t faced a defense like they’re going to face here this week. The Wolverine stop-unit ranks fifth nationally, allowing just 13.4-points per game and was equally tough against the rush as well as a pass. They will shut down the ground game of TCU as did Kansas State. Thus, putting more pressure on Duggan, throwing a lot of different schemes at him and a lot of blitzes. Trust me when I tell you they will force him to make mistakes here in this game. Defensively, the Horned Frogs leave a lot to be desired. Overall, they give up 25.0-points per game. They rank 83rd against the pass and 64th against the rush. Well, I’ve got to tell you, the Michigan offense is so deep and so talented, they will keep their opponents “D” off-balanced this entire game and backpedaling. Come the second half, the TCU defense will be gasping for air.  I know Blake Corum is out. But backup running back, Donovan Edwards is outstanding. He tallied 872 yards rushing, averaging 7.5-yards per rush and seven touchdowns. Just against the mighty, Ohio State defense a month ago, the ball-carrier rushed for 216 yards and two touchdowns. He then put up 185 yards on the ground and another touchdown in the Big 12 Championship against Purdue. The Wolverines will exploit the Horned Frogs weaknesses on defense. Furthermore, they will keep that defense on the field and the TCU offense off it, resulting in their “O” not getting into any rhythm at all. And as I mentioned earlier the Horned Frogs have yet to face a defense as complete, as talented, and as ferocious as they will face here against the Wolverines. TCU is 3-7 ATS the last 10 Bowl games and 4-11 ATS the last 15 neutral site games. Michigan is 5-2 ATS the last seven nonconference games and 19-7-1 ATS the last 27 overall games. Take the Wolverines. Thank you.

Alabama Crimson Tide.

Bowl Game of the Season.

Game 272.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

Guys, I’m not going to break this game down like I normally do in detail. I am going to break it down for you in common sense. ‘Bama quarterback, Bryce Young and linebacker, Will Anderson will be playing this game. Many expected both to opt out at this point. But being that they have not, tells me a few things about the Sugar Bowl. Especially because of the 13 Crimson Tide players who entered the transfer portal, only one was a starter. Granted, I know Nick Saban‘s Alabama squad has not been a covering machine when it comes to Bowl games. However, this years squad is a lot different than past squads. First of all, they did not make the College Football Playoff. And anything short of that, Saban feels is a losing season. While they have a 10-win campaign this year, this is a team that following their second loss of the season back in November to LSU, a one-point overtime defeat, has since rattled off three consecutive straight up victories. As a matter fact, both of the Crimson Tides defeats the season came on the final plays of the game against the Volunteers and the Tigers. And both of those opponents were highly-ranked at the time. Saban will go out of his way to have his boys prepared, revved up, motivated, and ready to prove to the pollsters that this year was a fluke. No matter who is under center for the Wildcats, I think we can all agree that Kansas State is not a passing team. Their offense relies upon the rush. They have an excellent RB in Deuce Vaughn. But the ‘Bama defense ranks 30th nationally against the rush. And guys, they have faced some pretty darn good rushing attacks this season. If they can slow down Vaughan, and I believe they will, this leaves whichever quarterback is at the helm, Howard or Martinez, a sitting duck. Alabama‘s pass rush is one of the best in the nation and they rank 16th overall in passing yards allowed. While K State plays in the Big 12 and faces a lot of very high-powered offenses, I just don’t see them slowing down, let alone stopping the well-balanced ‘Bama offensive juggernaut. This is a team that averages over 40.8-points per game, while playing some of the toughest defenses in the nation. That is unfamiliar territory for the Wildcats, guys. Once again, I feel that Nick Saban is going out to prove a point in this matchup, especially because this game goes off before the two CFP contests. He can really make a statement here. The Crimson Tide are 5-1 ATS the last six Bowl games, 10-4 ATS the last 14 nonconference games, and 4-1 ATS the last five games in December. Take Alabama. Thank you.

Kansas State Wildcats.

VEGAS INSIDER MOVE GAME OF THE MONTH.

Game 140.

5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST.

You know guys, when Kansas began the campaign at 5-0, both straight up and against the spread, people were out there talking that this was a Cinderella team and they were making headlines. But I’m here to tell you that the carriage has turned into a pumpkin and their 15 minutes of fame is over. Following their fast start, the Jayhawks have since gone just 1-5 straight up and just 2-4 against the spread. Now, I get it, this is a big rivalry. But, Kansas, let’s face it, they’ve done the bare minimum to become a bowl eligible. Now that’s a pat on the back for a head coach, Lance Leipold. But guys, they don’t need to even try here. Kansas State head coach, Chris Klieman has gone out of his way, taking a lot of pride beating up… nay in crushing their rival since he’s taken charge of the team, winning and covering the last three meetings by 28, 41, and 25-points. A win here gives the Wildcats what they want most, a rematch with the Horned Frogs in next weeks Big 12 Title game. Having a backup like Will Howard has done well for this team. The quarterback has thrown 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions filling in for injured starter, Adrian Martinez. Not only will the Wildcats dissect the Jayhawks 109th pass defense in the air. They will also decimate them on the ground with the 17th ranked rushing attack in the nation on the legs of Deuce Vaughn. The running back averages over 5.2 yards per carry. And has already accumulated over 1,148 rushing yards. He’s also pretty dangerous coming out of the backfield as a receiver, folks. On the flipside of the ball, KU will have a hell of a time trying to move the chains, let alone get in the end zone against the 15th ranked scoring defense of KSU. The Wildcats only allow a mere 18.7-points per game. And they have held some very good defenses in check once again this season. They have momentum, winning and covering their last two, and are riding an 8-3-1 ATS streak the last 12 overall. FYI guys, the Jayhawks are just 3-10 ATS the last 13 meetings in this rivalry. Take the Wildcats to crush here and take your bookmakers money. Thank you.

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.

SUN BELT GAME OF THE MONTH.

Game 175.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

Due to their transition to the FBS level, James Madison is ineligible to participate in the Conference Championship game. In my opinion it wouldn’t matter. No matter what, making the Dukes a 14-point favorite over the 9-1 Chanticleers is a huge mistake made by the odds makers. This astounds me. Coastal Carolina won this conference in 2020, was one-game off the lead last season, and enters this match up with a one-game lead in the Sun Belt East, and is getting two touchdowns. As I said, this astounds me. They enter this matchup coming off a bye week because their game with Virginia was canceled. They are well-rested, healed, and very prepared for this match up with James Madison. Now maybe the line is way off because their starting quarterback, Grayson McCall is out. But the talented Jared Guest is expected to get the start. And if he falls into trouble, five year QB, Bryce Carpenter is ready to take his place. This team is strong enough and well-balanced enough to handle they’re starting quarterback sidelined here. Listen guys, the Dukes aren’t playing for anything. Just maybe some pride. But is pride enough to make this team a two touchdown favorite? I mean they’ve lost three of the last five straight up, failing to cover four of their last five. And to be honest with you, the games they lost weren’t even close. Their defense has been throttled in four of those last five, all ATS losses, allowing 45, 26, 34, and 40-points. This team is tired, overworked, and frustrated that they can’t play in the Championship game. The Chanticleers are 20-9 ATS the last 29 on the road. The Dukes are 1-10 ATS the last 11 versus teams with a winning record. Take Coastal Carolina. Thank you.

Illinois Fighting Illini.

BIG TEN GOM.

Game 174.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

Brett Bielema has reared the Illinois defense into a true force. They rank first nationally in yards allowed, takeaways, and points allowed, second in passing yards allowed, and fourth in rushing yards allowed. This is a unit that yields just 10.4-points per game, yielding a mere 235.2 yards per game. They’ve already snagged 16 takeaways. They have held every single opponent this season to 23-points or less, holding five offenses to single-digits. In this conference that is just astounding. This doesn’t bode too well for Purdue. They score enough points, for sure. However, they rank 98th in rushing. This tells you they solely rely on the pass. And once again the Fighting Illini pass defense ranks second nationally, yielding just 152.6 yards per game. The Boilermakers have won five of the last six meetings in this series straight up. But have failed to cover the last three. I’m here to tell you folks that these are two very different squads this season than in previous seasons. Believe me the worm has turned. Illinois running back Chase Brown leads the nation with 1,344 yards rushing. He eats up a ton of clock, keeping defenses honest and eventually wearing them down. More importantly, because the Fighting Illini dominate the time of possession, they keep their own defense fresh and rested. This team sits in first place in the Big Ten West at 4-2 in conference play. They need victories folks. Iowa, Wisconsin, Purdue, and Minnesota are all sitting just behind them at 3-3. Let’s not forget the Boilermakers have dropped their last two straight up and their last three against the number. Illinois comes in here a bit angry losing their last outing to the Michigan State 23-15 as a 16.5-point favorite. Look for them to bounce back here as they are 6-0-1 ATS the last seven games played following a straight up loss, 8-1-1 ATS the last 10 games played versus teams a winning record, and 9-3 ATS the last 12 games played overall. Take the Fighting Illini. Thank you.

Baylor.

BIG 12 GOM.

Game 359.

12:00 PM PST/3:00 PM EST.

There is no doubt in my mind that the odds makers are looking to trap you in this game. Oklahoma is point spread poison, covering only twice since the beginning of September. On both sides of the ball, they are overmatched, outgunned, and outclassed in this contest. Baylor enters this game possessing one of the most well-balanced scoring offenses in the nation. They are equally good on the ground as they are in the air, accounting for over 38.4 points per game. As you may or may not know, the Sooners possess one of the worst defenses, not just in the conference, but in the nation. They are allowing just short of 30 points per game and rank 114th in total yards allowed and 113th in rushing yards allowed. Oh, by the way they also rank 90th in passing yards allowed. This doesn’t bode well against the explosive Bears offense. Defensively, Baylor can counter the Oklahoma rushing attack with one of the stingiest and nastiest run defenses in the land. They have also covered the last four meetings in the series. And took the last years matchup 27-14. Once again, the Sooners are overvalued. If you go back to the last 11 meetings in Oklahoma, the Bears have covered nine of the those 11. And this is the best Baylor team we’ve seen in years. Take Baylor. Thank you.

Oklahoma State.

NO LIMIT.

Game 179.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

Guys, whether Martinez plays or not for Kansas State, I still don’t see the lackluster Wildcats offense going score-for-score with the explosive Cowboys “O“. Let’s face it, no matter who is at quarterback for the Kansas State, it won’t matter. The Oklahoma State offense ranks fourth nationally in scoring, accounting for over 44.7 points per game. Spencer Sanders will light up the scoreboard here. The quarterback has already amassed over 2,030 yards passing with 15 touchdowns in the air. Let’s not forget he is a dual-threat, adding another 352 yards rushing and eight scores on the ground. This is a very well-balanced unit that can and will keep the K State defense on the field. This is a team that has also taken the last three meetings in this series straight up with the average margin of victory coming by nearly 9-points per game. They are 12-3-1 ATS the last 16 conference games, 18-7-1 ATS the last 26 road games, and 33-16-2 ATS the last 51 overall games. Take Oklahoma State. Thank you.

Take UCLA.

PAC 12 GOM.

Game 375.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

The last two unbeaten teams in conference play in the Pac 12 square off here. After a season opening embarrassing 49-3 loss at the hands of Georgia, Oregon has since run off five consecutive wins. The one thing that does concern me is that they haven’t played the same level of competition as UCLA. The Bruins, over their last two outings, have taken down both the Huskies and the Utes. Mind you they were underdogs in both of those contests. Overall UCLA has a bit stronger of a defense, yielding six points per game less. Both are good at stopping the pass and both are good at stuffing the run. Both offenses are good at passing. And both offenses are very, very, strong at rushing. So, what does that tell you about this game? It tells me it’s going to be a very tight matchup. Throw into the mix that after this week, the Bruins schedule softens a bit. And the fact the last two meetings were both settled by three-points. This adds up to be a very close game. Way closer than the point spread. UCLA is 6-0 ATS the last six games played vs. Pac-12 foes, and 7-1 ATS the last eight games played on the road. Take the Bruins. Thank you.    

Take Syracuse.

OM GOM.

Game 353.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

For quite a while now, the only coach worthwhile up in Syracuse was Jim Boeheim. Well, that isn’t the case anymore. Dino Babers has his team a perfect 6-0. This does include being the only other undefeated team in the ACC Atlantic, other than Clemson. Not only that, but this team has been money to us bettors, going 5-1 against the spread this season. Clemson is a very good team. You may not realize this, but they’ve won 11 straight going back to last season. But I think we would all agree, this is not the same Tigers team we are used to seeing over the last several years. You know what’s funny is the Orange have covered six of the last eight meetings in this rivalry. And the bulk of that was during the Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence eras. Last year with DJ Uiagalelei at the helm, Syracuse came very close to beating them outright, losing a heartbreaker, 17-14. Believe it or not, the Orange enter this matchup with the number six ranked defense in the country, yielding a mere 13.2 points per game. They’re equally strong against the pass and the rush. Clemson‘s defense ranks 26th, allowing 19.7 points per game. But they have gotten shredded in the air. Garrett Shrader has the luxury of having Sean Tucker in his backfield to keep the Tigers defense honest and allow him to open up the passing game. The Orange are 7-0 ATS the last seven games played in the month of October, 5-2 ATS the last seven games played on the road, 9-4 ATS the last 13 games played against conference opponents, and 5-1 ATS the last six games played overall. The Tigers tend to get overvalued, particularly at home where they have only covered three of their last 11 games. Take Syracuse. Thank you.

Alabama Crimson Tide.

NO LIMIT GAME OF THE MONTH.

Game 386.

5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST.

Let’s talk about Texas A&M going to Bryant-Denny Stadium to face Alabama. Obviously, the big news this entire week is if the Crimson Tide quarterback, Bryce Young will play. Well reports over the last day or so are that he has practiced and he has looked pretty strong. Officially we’re not going to know as of posting this release. If he plays great. If he doesn’t, remember one thing. The Crimson Tide is stacked at key positions higher than the pancakes at your favorite breakfast café. Jalen Milroe is a very good quarterback. He’s the back up for the number one team in the nation. He was a great high school football star. The only difference is, he has a little less experience at this level. That’s all. Don’t overthink it. Just between us guys, I’m 53 years old, and although I was an all-state quarterback in high school only 5’6’, I could step in and lead Alabama to a victory here. Over the last several weeks we have seen Georgia leapfrog Alabama in the rankings when they had a better performance on a gameday. Then last week the Crimson Tide had a stronger performance than the Bulldogs and reclaimed the number one spot. Having said that, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban does not want to relinquish the top-spot in the polls. He knows that he’s coming up against some good conference opponents, and he needs to keep his foot on the gas. Offensively, Alabama although has a very strong passing game, strongly depends on their rushing attack. They currently rank seventh in the nation averaging over 250 yards per game on the ground. Not only that, but they don’t make mistakes offensively. They don’t turn the ball over. They’ve had one turnover so far this season. And believe me, if Young does not play, the game plan will be run the ball, and pass off the run. And most importantly tuck the ball or throw it out if you don’t have a play. As we all know Texas A&M was a preseason darkhorse to make the College Football Playoff. After five games they sit at a disappointing 3-2 with a lackluster offense that is accounting for just 21.8 points per game. They rank about 100th or worse in just about every major offensive category. And they have to line up against one of the nastiest and stingiest defenses in the nation. The Tide only allow 11-points per game and rank in the top-10 and every major defensive category. Trust me when I tell you it will be a long, long day for the Aggie‘s. Texas A&M comes off a 42-24 spanking at the hands of Mississippi State a week ago. A game in which they were supposed to be a lot more competitive folks. Now they step up in class again even higher. We all know how much Nick Saban likes beating ex-assistant coaches. And Jimbo Fisher is no different. Don’t overthink this contest guys. Texas A&M doesn’t belong on the same field as Alabama. The Crimson Tide need to keep their foot on the gas to retain their number one ranking. And one more factor that prompts me to side with ‘Bama here. The Aggies bested the Tide last year at home. Saban and his boys did not forget that. They will open up a big can of whoop ass here. Texas A&M is just 1-5 ATS the last six on the road. Alabama is 17-5 against the number the last 22 at home. Don’t be afraid to lay the wood here. Roll Tide. Take Alabama. Thank you.

Wake Forest.

Consensus Game of the Month.

Game 123.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

Don’t put too much stock to the fact that the Seminoles are undefeated and ranked. They played two deplorable opponents. And they also beat two teams that they should’ve beat in LSU in Louisville. Let’s face it, neither the Tigers nor the Cardinals are the teams that people thought they would be this season. On the other hand, Wake Forest is coming off their first defeat of the season. Not only was it a loss, but it was an overtime heartbreaking loss to Clemson. Can you say “bounce back?” Granted, their previous opponents were less than stellar. I’m not going to argue that fact. I look for Sam Hartman to light up the scoreboard here. The quarterback has already amassed 962 yards passing, on a 64% completion rate, with 13 TD’s and just two INT‘s. He has a backfield of two solid ball-carriers in Justice Ellison and Christian Turner. They have rushed for a combined 361 yards on the ground with three TD’s. This well-balanced offense will keep the Florida State defense on the field. The Demon Deacons have won and covered each of the last two meetings in this series. The Seminoles are 11-23-3 ATS the last 37 versus teams with a winning record. Take Wake Forest. Thank you.

Kentucky.

SEC Game of the Month.

Game 175.

9 AM PST/12 PM EST.

My friends, if the line in this game was totally accurate, Mississippi should only be a one or a two-point favorite at most. Throw into the mix that Kentucky will see the return of running back, Chris Rodriguez and they become a small favorite here. That’s right, their best ball-carrier in years will come back after serving a four-game suspension. If you recall a year ago, between the regular and postseasons, the RB accumulated over 1300 yards and 10 TD’s on the ground. And now that the Wildcats have a running game to go with their stellar passing-attack, they are one of the most dangerous teams in the conference. I understand the Rebels have a good defense. But they haven’t faced anybody yet. So far, their opponents have been Troy, Central Arkansas, Georgia Tech, and Tulsa. Not one of those were they not a double-digit favorite. They are in for a rude awakening here stepping up in class big time. On the flipside, Kentucky does have a solid defense. Let’s face it, they kept quite a few offenses in check this season and going back a bit, since last season. I doubt Mississippi will have any luck in the air against the 15th ranked pass defense in the country. The Rebel strength offensively comes through running the ball. And that doesn’t bode well here as the Wildcats only allow 108.3 yards per game on the ground. The wrong team is favored here my friends, trust me. Kentucky is 23-7-2 ATS the last 32 versus teams with a winning record, 7-3-1 ATS The last 11 versus conference opponents, and 5-1-1 ATS the last seven overall.  Take the Wildcats. Thank you.

Georgia Bulldogs.

SEC Game of the Month.

Game 121.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

My friends, the Georgia Bulldogs leapfrogged the Alabama Crimson Tide in the polls this week to take over the No. 1 spot in the nation. Stetson Bennett has matured quite well, growing into an amazing quarterback. So far this season, he has thrown for 688 yards, with a 75.4% completion rate, three TDs and zero INTs. He will dissect the South Carolina Gamecocks defense that allowed Arkansas to light them up for 44-points a week ago. The Gamecocks are dealing with a banged up secondary here. This does not bode well going against the highflying offense of the Bulldogs. Offensively, South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler has been utterly unimpressive, throwing three interceptions against just two touchdowns. More importantly guys, if Georgia doesn’t annihilate South Carolina here knowing that Alabama faces Louisiana Monroe later today, they may lose their top-ranking. Kirby Smart is not going to let that happen. They must keep their foot on the gas here, run the score up, and leave no doubt for pollsters. They took last year’s September meeting by score of 40-13. And this year’s matchup should be even more of a mismatch. The Gamecocks are 3-12 ATS the last 15 versus the SEC and 1-5 ATS the last six versus teams with a winning record. The Bulldogs are 20-6 ATS the last 26 following an ATS loss and 35-16 ATS the last 51 on the road. Take Georgia. Thank you.

San Diego State.

Bookie Buster.

Game 206.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

Let’s go to Snapdragon Stadium where the Arizona Wildcats visit the San Diego Aztecs. My friends, I doubt I will hurt anyone’s feelings if I come out and state that Arizona football absolutely sucks. Let’s face it, this team is on a 1-23 straight up run. On the flipside, San Diego State is a very complete and solid football team. They come off a 12-2 season. Once again, this year they are known to have a phenomenal ground attack, while also possessing a ferocious stop-unit. They now have Braxton Burmeister at the helm to bring a new dynamic to the offense, a passing attack. Not only does this team come in here excited to have a new 35,000-seat stadium, but they will come out here confident, knowing that they went 2-0 against Pac-12 opponents a season ago. One of those wins was a 38-14 victory over Arizona. Overall, this team is 6-2 against ATS the last eight versus this conference, including straight up wins over Utah, UCLA, and Stanford. I just don’t see how the Wildcats can possibly either move the chains on this stingy defense, or slow down this powerful, now double-threat offense. Arizona is 5-12 against the spread the last 17 nonconference games, 8-24 against the spread the last 32 road games, and 0-4 against the spread the last four versus the Mountain West Conference. Under a touchdown here as a gift. Take the Aztecs. Thank you.

Michigan

Consensus GOM.

Game 270.

4:30 pm pst.

The first 12 games of the season Georgia looked unbeatable. They then ran into Alabama in the SEC Title game and got shellacked. Many naysayers out there said it was because they knew they would be in the CFP no matter what. Folks I say that is a bunch of hogwash. The winner has a psychological edge in case of a title game rematch. My friends, Jim Harbaugh is a sharp guy and he will take a page from the SEC Title game scheme. Giving a striding team like Michigan which is riding a five-game win streak (both SU & ATS), more than a touchdown is a gift. The pressure here is all on the Bulldogs. Michigan has the offensive personnel to keep the UGA defense busy and the defense to frustrate the Bulldogs offensively. And Georgia is 1-4 ATS the last five games played following a SU loss. Take Michigan plus the 7.5 here. Thank you.

Utah State.

TEN DIMES PLAY.

Game 216.

4:30 pm pst.

Sports fans, don’t get trapped into thinking that a mid-level Pac-12 team is 7.5 points better than a Mountain West champ. BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT! I’m not looking to take away anything the 13th ranked rushing attack of the Beavers. They will move the chains on the ground. But being that they don’t pass the ball with any real success, it makes it very easy for the Aggies and their very smart coaching staff to figure them out offensively. Butthe real mismatch here is between the nations 15th ranked passing unit of Utah State and the 87th ranked pass defense of Oregon State. QB, Logan Bonner is a stud, with 36 TD’s 3500+ yards passing, he and his talented quartet of receivers will absolutely shred the Beavers secondary. The Aggies are red-hot. They have dropped just one game since mid-October, riding runs of 7-1 SU and 6-1 ATS. They’ve covered their last three in the underdog role, winning all three outright. I like Utah State straight up here but I will take 7.5 points folks. Take the Aggies. Thank you.

Oklahoma State.

Game 308.

9:00 am pst.

Oklahoma State is 5th in the polls. The top-four teams all have tough games this weekend. Two of them (Georgia and Alabama) face one another. Someone has to lose. With a good showing here, the Cowboys can very well move up in the rankings and have a shot at the CFP. Okie State has won and covered the last two meetings in this series including October’s matchup, 24-14. The Cowboys are just a half-point away from covering 10 straight contests. The Bears have trouble with aggressive defenses and are primarily a one-dimensional offense, relying on the run. The Cowboys counter with the nation’s 5th ranked run defense. Overall, Oklahoma State’s “D” leads the country in sacks (49) and tackles for loss (99). They will spend more time in the Baylor backfield than the Baylor players. The Bears are 2-10 ATS the last 12 games played at the Cowboys and 2-5-1 ATS the last eight games played on fieldturf. The Cowboys are 6-1 ATS the last seven games played in the month of December and 20-6-1 ATS the last 37 games played vs. teams with a winning record. Take Oklahoma State. Thank you.

Notre Dame.

TEN DIMES PLAY.

Game 207.

5:00 pm pst.

Notre Dame moved up to #5 in the polls. With Alabama slated to play Georgia in the SEC championship and Michigan facing Ohio State this week and then one of those two teams heading for a meeting with most likely a streaking Wisconsin team, something I preach all season long… style points are huge right now for Notre Dame. Both sides of the line of scrimmage they outclass a Stanford team that has already thrown in the towel, dropping six in a row both SU and ATS. Take the Fighting Irish. Thank you.

Penn State.

CONSENSUS GOM.

Game 223.

12:30 pm pst.

The wheels have completely come off the MSU wagon folks. Now facing a very tough PSU defense (15.5 PPG allowed) their struggling offense is in real trouble. Doesn’t matter who is at the helm for the Nittany Lions, they will devour the Spartans 130th ranked pass defense in the air. Penn State is 5-1 ATS the last six games played on the road, 9-2 ATS the last 11 games played as a favorite, and 11-4 ATS the last 15 games played overall. Take the Nittany lions. Thank you.

Michigan.

Consensus.

Game 343.

12:30 pm pst.

Following their sole defeat, Michigan has won and covered their last two games. Coach Harbaugh knows his team must keep their foot on the gas and get a big win here if they are to have a shot at the CFP. The 9th ranked; one-loss Wolverines have six teams in front of them in the polls that also have one loss. The Michigan defense has been outstanding. DE, Hutchinson and LB Ojabo each have 10 sacks and will get to the mistake-prone Maryland quarterback, Tagovailoa who has been sacked 15 times just over the last five games. But the biggest mismatch is between the 25th ranked scoring machine of the Wolverines offense (34.7 PPG) going up against the 102nd ranked doormat of a Terrapins defense (31.4 PPG allowed). Michigan is 5-0 ATS the last five games played vs. Maryland and 5-1 ATS the last six games played vs. conference foes. Maryland is 0-5 ATS the last five games played as an underdog and 0-6 ATS the last six games played overall. Take the Wolverines. Thank you.

Minnesota.

Big Ten Game of the Month.

Game 357.

12:30 pm pst.

Minnesota has been through quite a bit this season. Their three top running backs all went down, one after the other. And yet, they still rank 22nd in the nation in rushing. After rattling off four consecutive wins and covers, the Golden Gophers have lost and failed to cover their last two outings. Well folks, no need for any concern because pulling in to Memorial Stadium to face the Big Ten’s cellar-dweller, the Indiana Hoosiers, is just what the doctor prescribed to get back on track. Indiana, which is 0-7 in conference play this season, own some of the nation’s poorest offensive numbers. And lining up against college football’s 18th scoring defense here, things will go from bad to worse for the Hoosiers. Defensively, they won’t be able to stop the ball-carrying tandem of Thomas and Irving, who have teamed up for 981 yards rushing and five TD’s in the backup roles. The Golden Gophers are 5-1 ATS the last six games played vs. the Hoosiers, 12-3-1 ATS the last 16 games played on the road, and 7-2-1 ATS the last 10 games played in Big Ten play. Minny wins by double-digits folks. Take the Golden Gophers. Thank you.

Utah State.

MWC GOM.

Game 221.

7:30 pm pst.

The Aggies have owned the Spartans, winning the last eight meetings SU, going 7-1 ATS. Utah State owns the top-spot in the MW Mountain and with the lowly cellar-dwelling Wyoming and New Mexico remaining on their schedule, they must win here to ensure the division crown. They enter this contest on a four-game SU win streak covering their last three outings. SJ State has only covered twice this season in the favorite role and those were against the atrocious, UNLV and Wyoming squads. They just don’t have the personnel to compete offensively here (21.4 PPG). The 1-2 punch of quarterback, Bonner (2,486 yards passing, 61.3% completion rate, 21/9 ratio) and receiver, Thompkins (1,314 yards receiving, eight TD’s) will dissect the SJSU secondary. Take Utah State. Thank you.

Boston College.

Consensus.
Game 131.

12:30 pm pst.

Guys, Boston College’s stats are a bit skewed. Their team leader, Phil Jurkovic missed most of September and all of October. The quarterback returned last week to spark the Eagles to a 17-3 win and cover over the Hokies. He’s back and will start in his own highlight reel here against the Yellow Jackets very weak defense. My friends, Georgia Tech possesses some of college football’s ugliest stats defensively. When they have the ball, they must line up against one of the nation’s toughest stop-units. BC allows a mere, 18.8 PPG. Tech is riding a three-game SU slide, are 1-4 the last five overall, both SU and against the spread. Between Jurkovic and the ferocious and frustrating Boston College defense, I like the Eagles outright but I will take the two points here with a BC team that is 20-9 ATS the last 29 games played as a road ‘dog and 25-12-1 ATS the last 38 games played in conference play. The Eagles soar folks. Take Boston College. Thank you.

Baylor.

BIG 12 GOM.

Game 357.

12:30 pm pst.

If this isn’t one of the biggest mismatches on the board this Saturday, nothing is. The 7-1, 14th ranked Baylor Bears face the unranked, 3-5 TCU Horned frogs. Baylor is 6-2 ATS while TCU is 1-6-1 against the spread in 2021. On both sides of the ball, the Bears totally outclass the Horned frogs. You’ve got a top-10 rushing unit led by Smith and Ebner, which have combined for nearly 1600 yards rushing and 11 TD’s. Then you’ve got the 116th ranked run defense on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Throw in the mix dual-threat QB, Bohannon, wow, what a stud. He’s accounted for nearly 2000 all-purpose yards and 23 TD’s. That would be enough. But the Bears also possess one of the nations toughest and stingiest defenses too. TCU, riding a three-game loss and no cover streak with the average margin of defeat coming by 17.3 PPG. The road team is 5-0 ATS the last five meetings in this series. Take Baylor. Thank you.

Virginia.

ACC GOM.

Game 338.

4:30 pm pst.

Virginia is on a three-game win streak both SU and ATS. The first two games, were as underdogs against Miami Florida and Louisville, both on the road. this says a lot about this team. Then last week’s 48-0 shellacking of Duke at home says even more. The Cavaliers bring into this matchup, one of the nation’s top-offensive units in total yards and passing yards. Guys, the Yellow Jackets are allowing over 382 YPG which includes 228 passing yards per game. WOW! Quarterback Brennan Armstrong is a stud, with 2,824 yards passing, a 64% completion rate, and a 19/6 ratio. With a few more solid performances, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was mentioned in the Heisman watch. Counterpart, Jeff Sims, four picks in his last two starts. There is no way he and his pedestrian Georgia Tech offense will be able to keep pace with Armstrong and the high-flying aerial assault of Virginia. Here’s some against the spread numbers for you…the home team is 7-2-1 the last 10 meetings in this series. The Yellow Jackets are 1-4 the last five on the road and 4-12 the last 16 vs. teams with a winning record. The Cavaliers…7-3 the last 10 in conference play and 10-3 the last 13 overall. Take Virginia here folks and you will take your bookmakers money. Thank you.

Syracuse.

CONSENSUS WINNER.

Game 341.

9:30 am pst.

Syracuse is money, covering five straight and going back a bit, eight of their last nine outings. The team is just a handful of points away from being undefeated instead of 3-4. The Orange defense is solid and will completely shut down the Hokies lackluster, 111th ranked offense. The Syracuse “O” is led by the nation’s No.2 leading rusher, Sean Tucker. The running back has tallied 948 yards rushing and nine TD’s on the ground. Add another 224 yards receiving and another two TD’s coming out of the backfield. The 12 ranked rushing unit in college football will control the clock, move the chains, wear down the 79th ranked run defense of Virginia Tech, and win this game outright. The Orange are 4-1 ATS the last five meetings in this series, 5-0 ATS the last five games vs. conference opponents, and 5-1 ATS the last six game splayed overall. Take Syracuse. Thank you.

Alabama.

SEC GAME OF THE MONTH.

Game 183.

4;00 pm pst.

Taking their first loss in just short of two years is bad enough. But dropping from 1st to 5th in the polls, behind four undefeated teams does not sit well with Nick Saban. Don’t put too much stock in last week’s loss. This is a team that was playing at such a high level for such a long time, they were bound to drop a game sooner or later, guys. When you have a team loaded with talent and a coaching staff as good as Alabama, a loss does two things for the team: No. 1, it takes the pressure off. No. 2, it shows you what you need to work on. For the polls, they can’t afford NOT to blow out Mississippi State here. The Crimson Tide will bounce back and make an example of a Bulldogs team that just won’t be able to score on them or stop Bryce Young and the explosive ‘Bama passing attack. The Tide are 5-1 ATS the last six meetings with the Bulldogs, outscoring them by 25, 48, 24, 31, and 41 points in those five ATS victories. Any point spread under four TD’s is a joke. Take Alabama. Thank you.

Michigan State.

BIG TEN GAME OF THE MONTH.

Game 131.

9:00 am pst.

When your quarterback has thrown for 1,575 yards passing with 14/2, your running back has ran for 913 yards rushing with nine TD’s, and you have two receivers about to each hit 500 yards receiving, it’s no wonder why your offense is posting over 36.7 PPG. Through six games, the Spartans are 6-0 SU and 4-0-2 ATS. They have outright victories over Northwestern and Miami Florida and have thumped Nebraska and Rutgers. That would be enough to back the team here. However, the Michigan State defense has been stellar, yielding only 19.3 PPG. Indiana is a train wreck. The Hoosiers own some of the poorest numbers in the conference, on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they just can’t score against any solid stop-units. And defensively, they are yielding 28.2 PPG and have just two takeaways. At 1-4 ATS this season, they are point spread poison. MSU has taken 10 of the last 12 meetings in this series SU. And this matchup has been circled on the Spartans calendar since last year’s 24-0 embarrassing loss to the Hoosiers as a 16.5-point favorite. These are two entirely different teams this year. With Michigan on deck, and the schedule getting tougher, Michigan State needs wins and needs to tighten the ship here. They are 12-5 ATS the last 17 games played vs. Indiana and 6-0 ATS the last six games played as a road favorite. Indiana is 1-5 ATS the last six games played overall and 3-10-1 ATS the last 14 games played as a home ‘dog. Take the Spartans. Thank you.     

Alabama.

SEC WEST GAME OF THE MONTH.

Game 387.

5:00 PM PST.

Nick Saban seems to go out of his way to shellack his former assistant coaches. He is now 24-0 SU against them. This doesn’t bode well for Texas A&M head coach, Jimbo Fisher. There are a few more angles that support playing the Alabama Crimson Tide this week. For starters, the No.1 team in the nation has Georgia just over their shoulder in the polls and need all the style points they can get before a likely SEC title game meeting down the road. The team can easily run the gauntlet and throttle the rest of their remaining regular-season opponents. The Aggies have now dropped and failed to cover their last two outings. Both against teams they were favored over (Razorbacks and Bulldogs). The team also has injuries to two of their starting cornerbacks (check status) and have to face the stellar passing attack of the Crimson Tide. Offensively, they are having issues at quarterback as starter, Haynes King (check status) has been out with an ankle injury and backup, Zach Calzada’s weaknesses have been exposed (1 TD, 2 INT’s, 286 yards passing) two games as a starter. Neither play-caller has what it takes to line up against this defense. With no ground game to rely on, the offense is way overmatched here facing the might ‘Bama stop-unit. On paper, the Texas A&M defense has good numbers. But they haven’t face anywhere near the caliber of QB in Bryce Young (17 TDs, 2 INT’s, 73% completion rate, 1,365 yards passing) or an offense that accounts for over 45.6 PPG and doesn’t make mistakes (one turnover). The Crimson Tide have taken the last eight meetings in the rivalry SU, going 5-2 ATS the last seven. They are also 8-2 Ats the last 10 games played vs. conference opponents, 4-0 ATS the last four games played in the month of October, and 11-4 ATS the last 15 games played overall. Take Alabama and ROLL TIDE. Thank you.

Notre Dame.

CONSENSUS PLAY.

Game 397.

4:30 pm pst.

Notre Dame comes in here angry and looking for redemption following their first loss of the campaign. But the 14th-ranked Fighting Irish know that if they win out, they have a shot at a major Bowl, and perhaps more. The Hokies come off a bye following a lackluster, 21-10 win and no cover against the Spiders (Richmond). That was their second straight no cover. They don’t have the offense to keep pace with Jack Coan and the Irish “O”. Notre Dame is 8-3 ATS the last 11 games played vs. teams with a winning record and 8-2 ATS the last 10 games played on the road. Virginia Tech is 1-4 ATS the last five games played vs. nonconference foes and 1-4 ATS the last five games played following a bye week. Take the Fighting Irish. Thank you.

Fresno State.

CONSENSUS Play.

Game 223.

8:00 pm pst.

Guys, I’m not usually a fan of laying double-digits on the road in college football. But there are a few situations in the Fresno State/Hawaii matchup that urges me to do just that. This is a team, that once again is getting bettors paid, at 4-1 ATS this season. They crushed UConn, hung in tight with 3rd-ranked Oregon, decimated CP, beat UCLA, and then last week hung on to beat UNLV. Real quick, let’s talk about that game. The Bulldogs off a big high after beating the Bruins and was in “let-down” mode against the Rebels. To quote Forrest Gump, “That’s all I have to say about that.” LOL They come in here looking to make a statement against and overmatched and outclassed Rainbow Warriors team. This is one of the nation’s top passing units facing one of the worst pass defenses. QB, Jake Haener has tallied 15 TD’s, two INT’s, and 1842 yards passing. He will pass at will here and allow RB, Ronnie Rivers to move the chains on the ground. Flipside, Hawaii’s only strength offensively is throwing the ball. But once again, Fresno State’s pass “D” is very tough and very stingy. The Bulldogs have covered five of the last six meetings in this series. Oh, and one more angle guys, revenge. Last season’s meeting was the worst defeat of Fresno’s campaign. They say revenge is a dish best served cold. The Bulldogs are 7-1 ATS their last eight games played at the Rainbow Warriors and 8-3-1 ATS their last 12 games played as a road favorite. The Rainbow Warriors are 10-21 ATS their last 31games played vs. teams with a winning record and 1-5 ATS their last six games played following a SU win. Lay the points here guys. Take Fresno State.  Thank you

USC.

PAC 12 GAME OF THE MONTH.

Game 155.

11:00 am pst.

After last week’s embarrassing loss to Oregon State as a 10-point favorite, expect USC to come out here looking to make a statement against the conference doormat, Colorado, which has covered just one point spread since the beginning of last December. The Buffaloes are accounting for a dismal, 13-8 PPG. The Trojans post 32.5 PPG and will light it up in the air here with the nations 17th-ranked passing unit against the lax, Buffs pass defense (63rd). Colorado is 1-4 ATS their last five games played at home and 1-5 ATS their last six games played overall. Take USC. Thank you.  

Kansas State.

BIG 12 GOM.

Game 369.

4:00 pm pst.

Both teams are 3-0. But that’s where their similarities end. The Oklahoma State offense is a far cry from the squads we have grown accustomed to. They can’t run the ball with any efficiency. And their passing game is the poorest we have seen in years. Now the struggling “O” must face one of the nation’s toughest defenses (15.7 PPG allowed) with a top-10 unit against the rush. Kansas State has faced not one but two good teams (Stanford and Nevada) and have crushed both. Running back, Deuce Vaughn (371 yards rushing 5 TD’s) is a monster. He will shred the Cowboys defense and allow the Wildcats to open up their passing attack. Kansas State is 8-2 ATS the last 10 meetings in this series, 11-4 ATS the last 15 games played as an underdog, 12-4 ATS the last 16 games played against conference opponents, 9-3 ATS the last 12 games played on the road, and 19-9 ATS the last 28 games played overall. Take the Wildcats. Thank you.

Louisville.

CONSENSUS.

Game 367.

12:30 pm pst.

Florida State is a mess. They are 0-3 SU (1-2 ATS). Granted they lost to a ranked Notre Dame team in their opener. But losing to Jacksonville State as a 28-point favorite is something to be concerned about. You would have thought, if they had any pride or talent, they would have bounced back after that loss. But no, they got smoked by Wake Forest, 35-14. Louisville is a solid, well-balanced club. The Cardinals took down the Seminoles last year, 48-14. Malik Cunningham and Jalen Mitchell are an outstanding 1-2 offensive punch. FSU just can’t stop the pass at all. Dual-threat Cunningham will establish the offense in the air and then run off the pass and move the chains. The Cardinals are 4-1 ATS their last five games played in this series. The Seminoles are 4-11 ATS their last 15 games played overall. Take Louisville. Thank you.

San Diego State.

Consensus.

Game 178.

4:00 pm pst.

San Diego State can run the ball successfully against any defense in the nation. They also have one of the best defenses we’ve seen thus far. Utah, on paper, should have beaten BYU last week. But was manhandled, eventually losing 26-17. Sure, they can beat the likes of Weber State. But here they are overmatched. The Aztecs will control the tempo and the clock with their stellar rushing attack, keeping the Utes defense on the field and tired come the second half. Utah’s only weapons are running back’s, Bernard and Thomas. But the San Diego State eight ranked rush defense will contain the pair. The Utes are 2-6 ATS their last eight games played as a favorite, 1-8 ATS their last nine games played in September, and 0-5 ATS their last five nonconference games. Take the Aztecs. Thank you.

Liberty.

Consensus play.

Game 367.

4:00 pm pst.

Just because a game doesn’t consist of Power-5 teams doesn’t mean there isn’t gold in them thar hills. The Liberty Flames weren’t just a good team a season ago, going 10-1 SU including a big Bowl victory, they were also money to us bettors. The Flames went 9-2 ATS in the 2020/2021 campaign, rattling off eight straight covers to finish the season. Quarterback, Malik Wills is a stud. Last year he had a 64% completion rate, 2,040 yards passing, 20 TD’s and only 4 INT’s. Add another 900 plus yards and 14 more scores on the ground and each game Wills can star in his own highlight reel. With him at the helm, opposing defenses stay on the field a long time and come the 2nd half, run out of gas. Troy is a good team. But they are not a great team. Missouri-transfer, QB, Taylor Powell has Trojans fans very excited. However, overall, they just don’t have the personnel to compete in this contest. Particularly on the stop-end of the ball. Liberty is 8-0 ATS their last eight nonconference games, 6-1ATS their last seven games played vs. the Sunbelt conference, and 23-8 ATS their last 31games played on the road. Take the Flames. Thank you.

Alabama.

NCAAF CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WINNER.

Game 500.

5:00 pm pst.

With the National Championship game upon us, for the first time in a long time there are no arguments, no debates, and no protests as to why other teams are more deserving to be here. The last two undefeated ranked teams in the nation square off in the matchup everyone was hoping for.

 I made the line here between -8 and -10 points depending on injury/illness. When it officially came out making Alabama a seven-point favorite, the public immediately bet it up to -8 and it is now floating between -7 and -8.  

 For many years the favorite won and covered in the Title game. Then the tide (no pun intended) flowed in the opposite direction with the underdogs not just covering but winning a few contests outright as well.

 For me personally, I am torn. When I was a kid in the early ‘70’s, my father, a respected horse player and sports bettor, turned on the tube one Saturday morning to watch a game he had wagered on. I took one look at Paul “Bear” Bryant on the sideline, arms folded with that stoic look on his face, and that patented houndstooth fedora and I immediately fell in love with Alabama football. But there are two places your heart doesn’t belong, in love and in sports betting.

 Growing up now, the handicapper in me instantly leaned on the underdog here with all those points. Especially after last week’s dismantling of a Trevor Lawrence-led Clemson team in the Sugar Bowl. Many out there felt (including me) that Ohio State did not belong in the CFP. Prior to last week’s CFP semifinal, I did not feel the Buckeyes would be so dominating on both sides of the ball. They showed how good they are by overcoming a seven-point deficit to then outscore the Tigers 42-14. However, there are no more cards up OSU’s sleeve, the cat is out of the bag now. ‘Bama has seen all they can do. And there are very few coaches as good at preparing a squad for a big game as Nick Saban. And a big no-no in betting is not judging a team solely from their last performance.

 Saban and Alabama does have their work cut out for them. Ohio State has a well-balanced offense and Justin Fields has taken his game to another level. This is a unit that ranks 42nd in passing, 5th in rushing, and 8th in scoring. Take note, that this “O” revolves around Fields and last week he got banged up a bit against Brent Venables “D”. He will play but those ribs might still be tender here and that may be a factor. Speaking of injuries, the Buckeyes injured list is so long it rivals a Bill Belichick Patriots list (check status). Something the Crimson Tide doesn’t have to worry about, being just about full strength.

 Head coach Ryan Day must be concerned with the vastly improved defense of Alabama. Outside of the shootout with Florida in the SEC Title game, Pete Golding’s stop-unit have held every opponent to 24 or less since early-October.

 On the opposite side of the ball, Mac Jones and the explosive Crimson Tide offensive juggernaut, which accounts for 49.7 PPG, the Buckeyes will not have the same success defensively as last week in getting their foe off the field. Bama’s big three, Mac Jones, Najee Harris, and DeVonta Smith will control the clock and keep the OSU defense on the field and more importantly, their offense off of it. Mac Jones is smart and savvy and has the luxury being protected by one of the biggest and stoutest offensive lines in the nation.  

 Ryan Day is a sharp guy and his team is loaded with talent but they are not impervious to perhaps being in a letdown situation here either. That game last week vs. the Tigers was a matchup the Buckeyes were dreaming of since being ousted from last year’s CFP semifinal by Clemson. Maybe the wind just might be out of their sails a bit here.

 Ohio State is 1-4 ATS the last five following an ATS win and 1-4 ATS the last five vs. teams with a winning record. Alabama is 7-1 ATS the last eight following an ATS loss and 7-1 ATS the last eight vs. the Big Ten.

 Being that this line is around a hot number, listen to Smokey Robinson’s mama, and shop around and get the best number you can. Lay the points and roll with the Tide. Take Alabama. Thank you.

Clemson.

BOWL GOY/SUGAR BOWL WINNER.

Game 334.

5:45 pm pst.

Many people in and out of the college football arena feel that Ohio State does not belong in the CFP. I will leave the debating to those who DO NOT bet on games. I say they do belong here for the sole purpose of them being outclassed gets us paid in this matchup. Just over the past month, the Buckeyes have struggled with the Scarlett Knights, Hoosiers, and Wildcats. And folks, you can combine those three teams and still wouldn’t be close to the talent level that Tigers possess. They have gotten burned for 260.3 yards per game in the air in 2020.

I have two words for you, Trevor Lawrence. He is always superb but since returning to action from covid protocol he has been stellar. Don’t forget, he personally took down Ohio State in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl when the Buckeyes were a more talented team than the current squad. Not only will he shred them in the air but the uncharitable Clemson defense (27th vs. the pass, 9th vs. the run, 11th in scoring) will shut them down offensively. The Buckeyes are 1-5 ATS the last six vs. the ACC and 0-4 ATS the last four vs. winners. The Tigers are 10-2 ATS the last 12 Bowls and 17-4 ATS the last 21 on neutral sites. Take Clemson. Thank you.

Nevada.

Game 270.

12:30 pm pst.

Tulane is making a 1,900-mile trip to play in freezing cold weather here. The Green Wave are a one-dimensional offense relying solely upon the run. That’s going to be a problem as the Wolfpack own the nation’s 30th ranked rush defense. On the flipside, Nevada and their seasoned and savvy QB, Carson Strong (2,587 YP, 69.4% CR, 22/4) will carve up the Tulane 115th ranked passing defense with their top-10 passing unit. The Wolfpack are used to playing in this weather and more importantly, in this stadium. Nevada is 5-0 ATS L5 as an underdog, 4-1-1 ATS L6 Bowl games, 7-2-1 ATS L10 in December, and 9-4 ATS L13 overall. Take the Wolfpack. Thank you.

San Jose State.

MWC GOY.

Game 242.

1:15 pm pst.

San Jose State isn’t just undefeated (6-0), they are also one of college football’s best teams against the spread (5-0-1). With all respect to Boise State, I think we would all agree that the Broncos just aren’t the same team when not playing on their blue carpet. Point in fact, they did not cover either of their last two outings, both on the road at Hawaii and Wyoming. Which are two lesser foes.

 Boise State had problems with the BYU defense in their 51-17 drubbing at the hands of the Cougars. Don’t look now but San Jose State owns a very stingy “D” (13th) that yields a mere 17.5 PPG. The Spartans have held both good passing and good rushing units to some of their lowest performances this season. The Broncos are in for a long day.

San Jose State is 12-3-1 ATS the last 16 as a ‘dog, 18-7-3 ATS the last 28 in conference play, and 5-0 ATS the last five in December. Take San Jose State. Thank you.

Virginia.

GI GOY.

Game 421.

5:00 pm pst.

My friends,the odds makers make mistakes too. Trust me when I tell you, they have made a huge error in the line in this matchup. I honestly feel the wrong team is favored. Virginia should be at least a 1.5-2.5 favorite here. The once-feared Virginia Tech defense has fallen from grace to become a doormat, ranking 96th and getting plowed for over 33.8 PPG, resulting in the teams four-game slide both SU and ATS.

 On the other sideline, Virginia is red-hot, winning four in a row SU and their last five ATS. Cavaliers dual-threat quarterback, Brennan Armstrong has matured nicely. He has racked up over 1,858 yards passing and 529 yards rushing. Believe me when I tell you he will star in his own highlight reel here.

 Not only does UVA get bragging rights here but they also get to stop their rival from a Bowl invite for the first time since 1992 and aid in a probable departure for head coach, Justin Fuente.

 The underdog is 6-2 ATS the last eight meetings in this series. The Hokies are 1-4 ATS the last five vs. winners and 1-4 ATS the last five as a fav. The Cavs are 15-5-1 ATS the last 21 on grass and 4-1 ATS the last five as a ‘dog. Don’t be so “Cavalier” and take the underdog all the way to the bank here folks. Take Virginia. Thank you.

Oregon State.

Wiseguy Move.

Game 379.

7:30 pm pst.

Oregon State has four games under their belt this season, going 3-1 ATS. Utah has played only two games in which they got blown out by USC and then gave up a 21-point lead to Washington en route to an 0-2 start. The Beavers have monster playmaker on offense. Tristan Gebbia and Jermar Jefferson are going to light up a Utes “D” that has gotten plowed for over 78 points thus far. Offensively, Utah is missing all their playmakers from the last few seasons. Their two QB’s have tossed a combined 2 TD’s against 5 INT’s. Way too many points here to give a very tough and confident Oregon State squad. The Beavers are 6-0 ATS L6 as an underdog and 8-0 ATS L8 on the road. Take Oregon State. Thank you.

Move over Archie Miller, there’s a new sheriff in town. Tom Allen has his Hoosiers 4-1 and ranked 12th in the nation. After suffering their first defeat of 2020 (6-0 ATS) to Ohio State, Indiana will floor it here against a stale Maryland team that hasn’t played since a November 7 win at a winless Penn State.

 The other Tagovailoa will come in here rusty and overconfident. He is exciting but does not have the experience to compete in this matchup and is certainly not in the class of his counterpart, Penix Jr. The IU quarterback (1,564 yards passing, 14/4) has running back, Scott (373 yards rushing, 5 TD’s) and a quartet of incredible wideouts including superstar, Fryfogle (642 yards receiving, 7 TD’s).

The Terrapins are awful defensively and will have no answer for the Hoosiers either on the ground or in the air. This is a “D” that got burned for over 43 points by the Wildcats and 44 points by the Golden Gophers. This just might be one of the biggest mismatches on the board this week.

 The home team is 4-0 ATS the last four meetings. Maryland is 3-9 ATS the last 12 on the road and 5-11 ATS the last 16 as a ‘dog. Indiana is 5-1 ATS the last six at home, and 6-1 ATS the last seven vs. winners. Take the Hoosiers. Thank you.

Oregon.

10 STAR WINNER

Game 332.

7:30 pm pst.

Chip Kelly returns to the stadium and the team he helped build. As the head coach of the Oregon Ducks, he racked up a 46-7 record, won the Pac-12 a few times, went to two Rose Bowls, a National Championship game, and a Fiesta Bowl. After a short stint in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers, he went back to the college football ranks to coach the UCLA Bruins. The team is just 1-1 this season and if you ask me, the offense relies a bit too much on their mediocre quarterback, Dorian Thompson-Robinson. He’s got some talent but makes a lot of mistakes. It seems that once again, the Bruins can not defend the run at all. Well sports fans, in comes the juggernaut which is the Oregon Ducks ground assault. Through just two outings already, Oregon ranks 6th in the nation in rushing, donning three 100+ yard ballcarriers. Quarterback, Tyler Shough is the next big name in the Pac-12. This kid is a stud, folks. Both in the air and on the ground, this dual-threat play-caller can do it all. He will be his own highlight reel in this matchup. UCLA will not have an answer for him. Oregon has taken the last eight meetings in this series SU, going 5-3 ATS. The Bruins are 2-5 ATS the last seven following a SU loss, 1-4 ATS the last five in conference play, and 1-3-1 ATS the last five on the road. The Ducks are 5-1 ATS the last six following a SU win, 5-2 ATS the last seven in conference play, and 4-1 ATS the last five at home. I figured this game to be around a three touchdown or more blowout guys. My advice is to start working your arms out now because come Saturday you are going to do so many pushups, you won’t be able to count your winnings. QUACK QUACK. Take the Ducks and win. Thank you.

Cincinnati.

EIM.

Game 343.

12:30 pm pst.

This is one of the most exciting games on the board this week and certainly one of the most anticipated in the AAC this season. I have won with the Bearcats four or five times in this column in 2020 and I’m going to ride that train again here.

 Cincy ranks 7th nationally and must stay undefeated to have a chance at the CFP. Not only are they winning games, they are covering too, riding a four game ATS streak.

 Central Florida does score a bit more behind college football’s top-ranked passing units and also owns the top “O” in total yards. Their two losses happened in two shootouts with Tulsa and Memphis. They have yet to face a defense as ferocious and well-balanced as they will here.

 The Bearcats stop-unit allows a mere 12.4 PPG and has snagged 12 turnovers. The defense will contain the UCF offense. Expect Cincinnati havoc-wreaker, DE Myjai Sanders (five sacks) to get to UCF quarterback, Dillon Gabriel and force mistakes.

The Knights are 1-5 ATS the last six in conference play and 1-6 ATS the last seven at home. Under a TD is a gift.Take Cincinnati. Thank you.

Take SMU.

AAC GOM.
Game 207.

4:00 pm pst.

SMU’s sole defeat this season came against the AAC’s top team and the 7th ranked team in the nation, Cincinnati. Yet again this season, the Mustangs own an explosive offense posting over 40.5 PPG. There are NFL teams that would be envious of their backfield. Quarterback, Shane Buechele (2,581 yards passing, 66.8% completion rate, 20/3) and running back Ulysses Bentley IV (774 yards rushing, 10 touchdowns) are one of the most exciting and talented 1-2 punches in college football. That would be impressive enough for anyone to side with them here. But they are also joined by one of college football’s top receiving corps (13th). The quartet of Rice, Granson, Page, and Gray (126 receptions, 1,801 yards receiving, 14 touchdowns combined) will give the Tulsa secondary nightmares for years to come.

The Golden Hurricane is no slouch. But in all reality, they just don’t have the firepower to keep pace offensively here. You can count on Tulsa’s mistake-prone quarterback, Zach Smith to continue his INT streak (he has tossed at least one pick in every game thus far).

The road team is 5-1 ATS the last six meetings in this series. SMU is 5-2 ATS the last seven at Tulsa and 5-2 ATS the last seven overall. Tulsa is 0-4 ATS the last four as a home fav and 4-9 ATS the last 13 overall as a favorite. Take the Mustangs. Thank you.

Take Wake Forest.

EIM.

Game 149.

9:00 am pst.

 You’d be hard-pressed to find a team that is more Jekyll and Hyde than the Tar Heels. Consistency is important in both football and in sports betting. And, one thing for sure, the Demon Deacons have been a consistent moneymaker, covering five of six outings this season. Wake Forest has been competitive in every contest on the campaign, including an opening-season loss, which they covered to Clemson.

 Smart and savvy Wake quarterback, Sam Hartman (1,253 yards passing, 62% completion rate, 4/0) doesn’t make mistakes, nor does the rest of the offensive unit (one turnover through six games). As a matter of fact, the team is +14 in turnover margin. Not bad for a squad that puts up over 37.0 PPG.

Giving a clever head coach like Dave Clawson two touchdowns is a mistake. The Demon Deacons are 11-4 ATS the last 15 as a road ‘dog. The Tar Heels are 2-5 ATS the lasts seven following an ATS win. Take Wake Forest. Thank you.

EMU.

Game 117.

4:00 pm pst.

Too many points to lay for a BSU team that can’t lay wood, especially at home where they are 6-15 ATS the L21 in the role as a home fav. As a matter of fact, the Cardinals are a dismal, 12-25 ATS L27 overall when playing host. EMU is a very game team, covering four of the L5 coming in to this matchup and outside of last season’s six-point loss, they took the previous three meetings in this series both SU and ATS. The Eagles are 5-1 ATS L6 at the Cardinals and 23-7 ATS L30 as an underdog. Take EMU. Thank you.

Take FAU.

This is my BB play.

Game 396.

3:00 pm pst.

Western Kentucky covered just one game by a half-point since last November. The Hilltoppers now rank towards the bottom in every major offensive category (106th total yards, 101st passing yards, 91st rushing yards, 105th scoring, 115th turnovers). Things will go from bad to worse facing an Owls defense that allows a mere, 13.3 PPG. They have also won and covered the last three meetings in this series and are 5-1 ARS L6 at home, 6-2 ATS L8 in November, and 5-1 ATS L6 overall. Take FAU. Thank you.

We cashed in with the Bearcats last week here in the and once again this week, we will do it again. Cincinnati is a perfect, 5-0 in 2020. For the next month, this team faces four AAC creampuffs until their season-finale against the other undefeated conference rep, Tulsa. They must keep their engine revved for both style points and as not to get stale. They catch an overrated Houston team here that has stepped up in class three times this season, and as a result went 0-3 both SU and ATS (Navy, BYU, UCF). The Cougar defense is getting burned for over 34.8 PPG. In comes Desmond Ridder and the high-flying Bearcats “O” (39.6 PPG). That would be enough. But the Houston offense is going to get stuffed by the nation’s 7th raked stop unit of Cincy (12.0 PPG allowed). The Cougars are 1-4 ATS the last five as a ‘dog. Take the Bearcats. Thank you.

Take Cincinnati.

This is my GOM.

Game 138.

9:00 am pst.

Cincinnati has been plowing through opponents en route to a 4-0 start. Granted, they've faced a few powder-puffs, but last Saturday's 42-13 thumping of SMU as a 1-point 'dog has confirmed this team is a force to be reckoned with. This is a very healthy team led by dual-threat quarterback, Desmond Ridder on offense. Defensively, the Bearcats have held their last three foes to a combined, 30 points, containing the Black Knights ground assault and completely shutting down the SMU potent attack.

 Memphis, which has only covered once since last November (1-6 ATS run) is going to sorely miss their most productive and experienced receiver, Damonte Coxie here (left this week to enter the draft). The Tigers "D" is getting burned for over 33.0 PPG this season.

 Memphis is 2-8 ATS the last 10 meetings in this series, 1-4 ATS the last five in conference play, and 0-5 ATS the last five as a road 'dog.Under a TD is a winner.Take Cincinnati. Thank you.

Take Air Force.

MWC GOM.

Game 379.

7:30 pm pst.

Air Force has won and covered the last three meetings in this series by an average of 13.6 PPG. San Jose State will once again have no answer for the potent, Air Force triple-option that will control the clock and keep the Spartans defense on the field and gasping for air come the second half. The Falcons are in top-shape as they showed in their 40-7 dismantling over the Middies on October 3. They come in here rested, healed, and focused. The Falcons are 5-1 ATS L6 in conference play, 4-0 ATS L4 in October, and 4-1 ATS L5 overall. Take Air Force. Thank you.

Take Kentucky.

TEN DIMES.

Game 403.

1:00 pm pst.

The 1-2 Missouri Tigers are in a big letdown situation here after eking out a 4-point win over this seasons train wreck, LSU Tigers. But that game was two weeks ago. This team has been idle and will once again show rust. RS frosh QB, Bazelak is in way over his head here as he lines up against a nasty Kentucky "D" that is allowing a mere, 20.0 PPG and has forced a combined 10 TO's the last two weeks in wins and covers over Mississippi State and Tennessee. The Missouri "D" is getting plowed for over 38.0 PPG. The Wildcats are 4-1 ATS L5 meetings in this series, 8-2 ATS L10 as a favorite, and 7-0 ATS L7 on field turf. The Tigers are 1-4 ATS L5 in October, 2-8 ATS L10 in conference play, and 2-8 ATS L10 overall. Take Kentucky. Thank you.

Take Alabama.

Even a Covid-19 scare couldn't stop Nick Saban from beating and beating up a former assistant last week. As Alabama put up 41 points on the highly-touted Georgia defense, Saban took his record against former assistants to 22-0, taking down Kirby Smart. An ex-defensive coordinator, Jeremy Pruitt is in the crosshairs this week as the Crimson Tide face the Volunteers. Mac Jones and Najee Harris lead the nation's second-ranked scoring offense (48.5 PPG). Very few units in college football can match this team score-for-score. Tennessee is not one of those units. They stepped up in class the last two weeks, and the Vols could only muster a combined 28 points in two losses and two no covers vs. the Bulldogs and Wildcats. UT quarterback, Jarrett Guarantano (four TD's/three INT's) just won't be able to move the ball in the air. Especially without the luxury of a true ground game (57th, 134.8 YPG) to keep the 'Bama "D" honest. Saban has owned any UT head coach he's faced since taking the reins at Alabama, winning 13 consecutive meetings SU, and going 9-4 ATS. The Crimson Tide is 8-1 ATS the last nine at the Vols and 6-2 ATS the last eight in October. The Volunteers are 8-18 ARS the last 26 at home and 1-4-1 ATS the last six overall. Take Alabama. Thank you.

Take West Virginia.

This is my BIG 12 GOM.

Game 128.

9:00 am pst.

The sad-sack, Kansas team is 0-3, both SU and ATS. As a matter of fact, they have crushed bettors, covering just once since last October (1-6 ATS last seven). Averaging a dismal, 14.7 PPG this season, Kansas is stuck in the past. This doesn't bode well here as they line up against a very progressive, West Virginia Mountaineers team. Head coach, Neal Brown brought over some schemes from his days at Troy and they are starting to pay off. West Virginia comes in here brimming with confidence, after last week's overtime win and cover over Baylor. The offense will steam roll here with Bowling Green-transfer, quarterback, Jarret Doege and running back, Leddie Brown, while the defense shuts down the lackluster, Kansas "O". The Jayhawks are 3-13 ATS the last 16 following a bye week and 1-5 ATS the last six in conference play. Take West Virginia. Thank you.

Despite some recent health issues for Notre Dame, this game is set to go. I read an interesting column this week claiming that the Seminoles have out recruited the Fighting Irish over the last several seasons. HMM. But since 2017, they are just 19-23 compared to the Notre Dame record of 35-6. That might further motivate Brian Kelly in this one. Mike Norvell named Jordan Travis the starter here. In his three seasons, the quarterback has completed just 21 passes, with two TD's and two INT's. He doesn't have the experience or the savvy to go up against the ferocious Irish "D". But, the real problem FSU faces is on defense. They were manhandled by both Georgia Tech and Miami-Florida (both SU and ATS losses) and looked confused in their win and no cover last week against nobody, Jacksonville State. This doesn't bode well here as they face a very well-balanced Notre Dame "O". Notre Dame doesn't have a tough opponent until November when they face Clemson. So, they must stay sharp here. The Seminoles are 1-6-1 ATS the last eight on the road and 5-15-1 ATS the last 21 overall. Notre Dame is 8-3 ATS the last 11 at home and 6-1 ATS the last seven overall. Take Notre Dame. Thank you.  

Take Baylor.

This is my BIG 12 GOM.

Game 408.

4:30 pm pst.

Any optimism Kansas had for the 2020 season was quickly snuffed out in their 38-23 loss to Sun Belt rep, Coastal Carolina. Les Miles must think he is still at a top-ranked Louisiana school, where he didn't need to go out and recruit to replace graduates. He is going to need a miracle to improve on last year's, 3-9 squad. We finally get to see Baylor after two cancellations. There is some talk that the Bears might be a step down on the defensive side of the ball. But, considering they return several key role players from a stop-unit that allowed just 19.3 PPG last season, I wouldn't worry too much. Especially with quarterback, Charlie Brewer (7,147 yards passing, 64.8% completion rate, 48/18 TD/INT) back at the helm. Baylor is 10-0 SU the last 10 meetings with Kansas, going 9-1 ATS (eight straight covers by 40.5 PPG). Take the Bears. Thank you.

Take Clemson.

This is my NO LIMIT.

Game 407.

4:30 pm pst.

The preseason, top-ranked, Clemson Tigers are on a mission this season. After going 13-0 in the regular season a year ago, they ousted Ohio State from the Bowl semifinals, only to lose badly to LSU in the Title game. This is an ideal matchup to kick off the campaign and make a statement to the rest of college football. They crushed Wake Forest the last two seasons by a combined, 115-6.  Don't put too much stock into the whispers that the Tigers lost a lot of talent to the NFL again. This team is stacked higher than the pancakes at your favorite breakfast joint. Their entire defensive line returns and will cut through the Demon Deacons OL like butter, get pressure on the quarterback, and force turnovers. On the flipside, Trevor Lawrence, who Wake Forest could not slow down in recent meetings, is back with an all-star cast. Look for Lawrence to make a serious push out of the gate, in the Heisman race. Clemson is 19-7-1 ATS the last 27 games in the conference, 10-1 ATS the last 11 games as a road favorite and 20-7 ATS the last 27 games played overall. Take the Tigers. Thank you.

Take Clemson.

Game 283.

5:00 pm pst.

 Whether you are a novice sports bettor or a seasoned veteran, it is vital to know why a game has been given the number it has. The line on the College Football Playoff Title Game is at 5.5 as of post. LSU has a record of 14-0 playing in the SEC, arguably the toughest conference in college football. Personally, I feel the line should be closer to 6.5 or even 7.0, given that the game is being played in New Orleans, Louisiana. If the location would have been in Dallas, Texas, the line would have been a 3.0. The odds makers know the general public, which are favorite bettors to begin with, are thinking the same thing and will bet this number up. I feel for betting purposes the line is exactly where it should be. I think many out there might be overlooking just how good of a coach and a team, Dabo Swinney and Clemson is. In his 12 years as the head coach of the Tigers, Swinney has compiled a record of 130-30 and two National Championships. The team is 29-0 the last two seasons. Let's not forget their two Nationals Titles have come over Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. As game time approaches, there will be Clemson money coming in. Some by fans and some by the "sharps." Now it's time to touch on the elephant in the room. As a handicapper, I must always look at a team's record, recent performances, and strength of schedule. Yes, LSU faces a tougher slate of opponents. But, we must not overlook the amount of close games they played this season. Texas, Florida (closer than the score), Auburn, and Alabama were all very tight games. At times, their offense needed to score to win, as their defense got beat. In the high-flying ACC, none of Clemson's foes could put up points on their fast and ferocious, defense. So I am not putting too much stock in the disparity between these two teams schedules. Isaiah Simmons is going to be the one you read about the day after the game. The Butkus Award winner is not only an incredible linebacker, but he drops back and acts as a safety. He is a threat to the LSU both behind the line of scrimmage and in front. Quarterback, Joe Burrow has yet to face a player of his ability. Trust me when I say, Burrow will have nightmares about him for years to come. Burrow deservedly won the Heisman. He is an amazing athlete that we have watched mature way beyond his years. He can run and he can throw. More importantly, he thinks well on his feet and reads and reacts to defenses as quick as any quarterback in the nation. All this and yet, many say that Trevor Lawrence, if was eligible this year to enter the draft (not eligible until 2021), would go before Burrow. To be honest, it's would be a good argument. Lawrence has never lost a game he has started at the collegiate level. I like Burrow and think he has a bright future in the NFL. However, Lawrence will have a better game because he faces a defense that leaks at times. He has already faced and conquered solid SEC defenses in the Title game. Because of this, he has confidence entering this Title game. Lawrence can and will exploit the leaks and shine here. I believe this game will be tighter than most think and will come down to the team that makes fewer mistakes. The team that wins this game will be because their defense was able to stop the others quarterback. Burrow and the LSU "O" has not faced a "D" like that of Clemson. Take Clemson. Thank you.    

Take Cincinnati.

Boston College comes into this matchup without several key faces. Head coach, Steve Addazio was fired. Although Ohio State's co-offensive coordinator , Jeff Hafley will take the reins next season, wide receivers coach, Richie Gunnell will serve as interim head coach here. The Eagles rank 107th in passing and are known as a running team. But, workhorse running back, AJ Dillon (1,685 yards rushing, 14 TD's) is sitting this one out to prepare for the upcoming NFL draft. The high-flying Cincy team comes off back-to-back losses to Memphis (both covers), following a nine-game SU win streak, with a lot to prove. Boston College is 2-7 ATS the L7 Bowls and 1-5 ATS the L6 nonconference games. Take the Bearcats. Thank you.  

Take Alabama.

Jim Harbaugh is not a bad coach by any means. He is a pretty sharp guy. He is just not successful when it comes to Bowl games, going 0-3 the last three Bowl contests. Now, he faces the experienced, Nick Saban and an Alabama team that feels playing in anything but a CFP is an insult. Behind arguably the best wide receiving corps in the nation and a bruising running attack, the Crimson Tide has too much offense for the Wolverines to both contend with on defense and keep pace with on offense. Michigan is 1-4 ATS the last five Bowls. Alabama is 6-1 ATS the last seven vs. the Big Ten. Take the Crimson Tide. Thank you.

Take Notre Dame.

Game 238.

9:00 am pst.

This is a very short number to lay with a talented, Notre Dame team that is on a five-game SU streak, covering the last four. The Iowa State defense had major problems this season when facing well-balanced offenses. It doesn't get too much more complete than the Irish "O", which ranks 13th, averaging over 37.1 PPG. The Cyclones own a one-dimensional offense, revolving around quarterback, Brock Purdy and the passing game. Well, he must face the ferocious, third ranked pass "D" in the nation here. ISU is 2-5 ATS the last seven nonconference games, 0-4 ATS the last four neutral site games, and 1-5 ATS the last six December games. Take Notre Dame. Thank you.

Take Boise State.

This is my LAS VEGAS BOWL WINNER.

Game 216.

4:30 pm pst.

 Chris Peterson, who left Boise State after eight seasons for Washington, is coaching his final game for the Huskies. U-Dub is a good team, but at 7-5, fell way short of preseason expectations. Boise State, which won its final six games of the season en route to a 12-1 mark, is in a bowl for the 18th consecutive year. As of posting this, it looks like Jaylon Henderson will continue to quarterback the Broncos, although Hank Bachmeier has been cleared to play.

 Both teams match up well, but playing in Sam Boyd Stadium gives a big edge to Boise State, which has won this event four times since 2011 and is also 3-0 vs. UNLV on this field over that span. On a side note, this team was getting points just once in 2019, when they bested Florida State, 36-31 as a 6.5-point 'dog.

 The Broncos are 7-0 ATS the last seven as an underdog and 7-3 ATS the last 10 bowl games. Take Boise State. Thank you.

Take Ohio State.

This is my BIG TEN GOY.

Game 120.

5:00 pm pst.

Ohio State is the most complete team in college football. Not only that, but they get us bettors paid, going 9-3 ATS this season. This includes a 38-7 shellacking of Wisconsin just six weeks ago. We all know how explosive the Buckeyes are offensively (No. 1, 49.9 PPG). But it is their defense that will shine here (No. 4, 11.8 PPG allowed). You see on a team full of playmakers and future NFL players, the best player on the field, and maybe in the country, is defensive end, Chase Young, who has tallied 16.5 sacks in 10 games (two-game suspension). He will wreak havoc on the 96th ranked passing unit of the Badgers and allow the rest of the Buckeyes "D" to focus on Jonathan Taylor and the ground game. These two Big Ten rivals met three times in recent years in the same situation, with OSU winning and covering all three. Take Ohio State. Thank you.

Take UAB.

This is my CUSA WEST GOY.

Game 421.

1:00 pm pst.

There is no room in sports betting for playing teams you like. But, I have released UAB several times this season and they haven't let us down yet. They are in the running for the CUSA West crown (tied at 5-2 with Louisiana Tech and Southern Mississippi). There is a chance that Tyler Johnston III (questionable, check status) will return to action here. Even if the quarterback remains sidelined, the Blazers are all about the defense (fifth vs. the pass, ninth vs. the rush, 17th in scoring). I don't see how a North Texas team that won't be able to score can compete here. This is a team that suffered outright losses to such nobodies as Houston, Middle Tennessee State, Charlotte, and Rice. Let me repeat that last one again, Rice. The Blazers are 4-0 ATS the last four meetings in this series, 19-6-1 ATS the last 26 vs. the CUSA, and 9-2 ATS the last 11 vs. losers. The Mean Green are 2-6 ATS the last eight at home, 3-13 ATS the last 16 vs. the CUSA, and 7-19 ATS the last 26 overall. Take UAB. Thank you.

Take Clemson.

This is my STL.

Game 369.

9:00 am pst.

The Tigers, which rank third in the polls, must go all out here, as a less than stellar performance can jeopardize their chances of making the final four. Clemson is 8-2 ATS in 2019 when laying 24 or more points. South Carolina is 1-4 SU and ATS their L5 outings and are totally outclassed on both sides of the ball here. The Tigers tank fourth in scoring (45.9 PPG, and second defensively (10.7 PPG allowed). The Gamecocks are 1-4 ATS the L5 vs. winners and 1-4 ATS the L5 non-conference. The Tigers are 4-1 ATS the L5 vs. losers and 9-1 ATS the L10 on the road. Take Clemson. Thank you.

Take San Diego State.

This is my DOW.

Game 215.

8:00 pm pst.

San Diego State, which is 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS as a visitor in 2019, owns a top-10 defense (13.7 PPG allowed) that will completely shut down the one-dimensional offense of Hawaii. The Aztecs are 6-1 ATS the L7 at the Rainbow Warriors. The Rainbow Warriors are 15-35-1 ATS the L51 in the conference. Take SD State. Thank you.

Take Clemson.

This is my ACC-ATL GOM.

Game 338.

12:30 pm pst.

The naysayers will be siding with the 7-2, Wake Forest team getting nearly five TD's here. This will be a fatal mistake. Third ranked Clemson will not give the selection committee any reason to drop them from the top-four. They took last year's meeting, 63-3 and are just as talented this year. Jamie Newman was picked-off twice in last week's, 36-17 loss and no cover at the hands of the Hokies. Well, the second ranked Tigers pass "D" (137.2 yards per game allowed) and third ranked scoring "D" (11.5 PPG allowed) will terrorize the Demon Deacons quarterback and give him nightmares for years to come. Look for Clemson running back, Travis Etienne (1,214 yards rushing, 13 TD's) and quarterback, Trevor Lawrence (67.1 percent completion rate, 2,303 yards passing, 23/8) to remind everyone just who is the defending national champion. The Tigers are 4-1 ATS the last five vs. winners, 5-2 ATS the last seven at home, and 15-5-1 ATS the last 21 in the conference.Take Clemson. Thank you.

Take Alabama.

This is my SEC WEST GOY.

 Game 397.

9:00 am pst.

I am not coming in with 'Bama because they were my only paid game loss in last week's Saturday card, I am coming in with them because they need to win and win big here. They suffered their first defeat of the season last week and dropped to No.4 in the rankings. The top-three teams, LSU, Ohio State, and Clemson are all in action today, but later on in the day. Nick Saban and company does not take losing lightly to begin with, but they must run the score up here. Tua Tagavailoa will use this game to fine tune himself, still hobbled by his ankle injury. This is still the fourth ranked aerial assault in the nation. Mississippi State can not pass the ball at all (103rd). The offense relies upon the running game. Look for Alabama's "D" to make a statement here after getting plowed for 171 yards on the ground in last week's loss to LSU (39 yards over their average). The Bulldogs are 1-4 ATS the last five in conference play. Take Alabama. Thank you.

Take Illinois.

This is my 91% Angle Play.

Game 135.

12:30 pm pst.

The odds makers are giving Michigan State way too much credit here as I feel this line should be single digits. Under Lovie Smith, Illinois has improved by leaps and bounds this season, as they have won three straight, while covering four in a row against such notables as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Purdue. Granted, MSU steps down in class a bit after consecutive losses to Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Penn State, but the Spartans have become point spread poison, riding a four-game no cover streak. Without much of a running game, the offense is left in the hands of erratic quarterback, Brian Lewerke. The potent rushing attack of Reggie Corbin and Dre Brown (1,019 yards rushing, nine TD's combined) will keep the Michigan State "D" honest and keep this game very close. The Fighting Illini are money in conference play going 4-0 ATS the last four vs. Big Ten opponents. The Spartans are 0-4 ATS the last four vs. the Big Ten, 1-6 ATS the last seven at home, and 2-5 ATS the last seven following a bye week. Take Illinois. Thank you.

Take Kansas State.

This is my BIG 12 GOY.

Game 347.

12:30 pm pst.

There are certain angles that many bettors subscribe to, with one of the most popular being the infamous, "let down" spot. There will be many out there believing that Kansas State is in such a situation after beating Oklahoma last week, 48-41, as a 23.5-point 'dog. However, the Jayhawks bested the Horned Frogs two weeks ago, 24-17 as a 4.5-point underdog. The "let down" would have happened a week ago. With back-to-back wins and covers, I feel K State is brimming with confidence and starting to stride. I know Kansas enters this game on a three-game cover streak and has covered the last three in this series, however, there are new coaches involved this season, looking to start new traditions and this team just falls short on talent. The Wildcats are healthy and match up well here. Behind the legs of running backs, Gilbert and Brown, they have a potent rushing attack (165.4 yards per game on the ground). This will allow dual-threat quarterback, Thompson (1,207 yards passing 7/1 in the air, 204 yards rushing, eight TD's on the ground) to work his magic against the nation's 106th ranked defense (32.8 PPG allowed). The Wildcats are 4-1 ATS the last five at the Jayhawks, 7-3 ATS the last 10 on the road, and 7-2 ATS the last nine overall. Take Kansas State. Thank you.

Take Memphis.

This is my AAC GOM.

Game 117.

4:00 pm pst.

Memphis won and covered the last two meetings with Tulsa by a combined, 88-35. The Tigers enter this contest 6-1 overall. However, they are tied for third in the AAC West. They need every conference win they can get right now. They face a Tulsa squad that is 0-3 ATS at home this season. This is a mismatch on both sides of the ball. Look for quarterback, Brady White (1,884 yards passing, 70.3 percent completion rate, 18/4) and running back, Kenneth Gainwell (830 yards rushing, eight TD's) to shred the 97th ranked (31.0 PPG allowed) of the Golden Hurricanes. The road team is 7-1 ATS the last eight meetings in this series. Memphis is 8-2 ATS the last 10 conference games. Tulsa is 3-8 ATS the last 11 home games. Take the Tigers. Thank you.

Take Georgia.

This is my STL play.

Game 376.

3:00 pm pst.

I really do feel bad for Kentucky here. Georgia comes off their first loss of the season, dropping seven spots in the polls. Last week's 20-17 defeat at the hands of South Carolina is going to motivate them this week. They will take out their frustrations and make a statement to the pollsters. The Bulldogs have won nine straight in this series, going 7-2 ATS, covering the last six meetings. The Wildcats are forced to go with Lynn Bowden Jr. (a converted wide receiver) at quarterback, due to injuries. This is not a very good offense (99th, 23.5 PPG) to begin with and now they face the stout, Bulldogs seventh-ranked stop-unit (12.3 PPG allowed). Expect quarterback, Jake Fromm (70.4 percent completion rate, 1,371 yards passing, 9/3) to bounce back in a big way after the worst performance of his collegiate career. The Bulldogs are 6-1 ATS the last seven vs. conference opponents. Take Georgia. Thank you.

Take LSU.

This is my SEC GOM.

Game 379.

12:30 pm pst.

The second-ranked Tigers own the nation's top-scoring offense (52.5 PPG) on the No. 2 passing unit in college football. They must keep their foot on the gas as they have the Aggies up next and the Crimson Tide in two weeks. They will beat up on a 3-3 (2-4 ATS) Mississippi State team that doesn't score too much (26.8 PPG) and just can't seem to stop anyone from reaching the end zone (27.2 PPG allowed). The key mismatch is Joe Burrow (2,157 yards passing, 79.6 percent completion rate, 25/3) and potent aerial attack of the Tigers going up against the 75th ranked pass defense of the Rebels.LSU is 9-3 ATS the last 12 at the Rebels, 4-0 ATS the last four on the road, and 12-4 ATS the last 16 vs. the SEC. Take LSU. Thank you.

Take Navy.

Game 123.

4:30 pm pst.

Navy has taken the last four in this matchup SU, going 3-1 ATS. The average margin of victory coming by 10.25 PPG. The Midshipmen come in here brimming with confidence as they bested Air Force, 34-25, a week ago. Tulsa may not recover after squandering a 30-9 lead in last week's exhausting, triple-OT loss at SMU (43-37). Last year's meetings saw Navy tally 395 yards rushing and now they have the addition of dual-threat quarterback, Malcolm Perry. They possess a monster "D" (24th vs. the pass, 14th vs. the run) that will contain the Tulsa one-dimensional offense. On the  other side of the ball, the Golden Hurricanes 84th ranked run defense is going to be trampled by the nation's #1 rushing attack. The road team is 5-1 ATS the last six meetings in this series. The Midshipmen are 4-1 ATS the last five conference games and 6-1-1 ATS the last eight overall games. The Golden Hurricanes are 2-8 ATS the last 10 games following an ATS win and 3-7 ATS the last 10 home games. Take Navy. Thank you.

Take Duke.

Game 132.

9:30 am pst.

Georgia Tech is point spread poison, failing to cover all five outings this season. As a matter of fact, the Yellow Jackets are riding an eight-game ATS cold streak. This is an offense (or lack thereof) that puts up a mere, 8.0 PPG on the road, where they are outscored by 30.0 PPG. After three consecutive wins and covers, Duke comes off a tough loss at home vs. Pitt. The Blue Devils are looking for a little redemption here for themselves and their fans in Durham against a team they have covered the last five meetings against. Dual-threat quarterback, Quentin Harris (1,007 yards passing, 11/4 in the air, 347 yards rushing, four TD's on the ground) will shred the soft defense of Georgia Tech, while the Blue Devil's stop-unit completely shuts down the Yellow Jackets "O". Georgia Tech is 2-7 ATS the last nine games vs. teams with a winning record and 3-7-1 ATS the last 11 games on the road. Duke is 4-0 ATS the last four games following an ATS loss and 5-2 ATS the last seven games following a SU loss. Take the Blue Devils. Thank you.