The College Football Playoff semifinal between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns is set for Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This matchup features two storied programs vying for a spot in the National Championship against Notre Dame. Ohio State Buckeyes (12-2): After a 10-2 regular season, with losses to Oregon and Michigan, the Buckeyes have been dominant in the playoffs. They secured convincing victories over Tennessee (42-17) and top-seeded Oregon (41-21) to reach the semifinals. Their offense, led by quarterback Will Howard and standout freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, has been explosive, averaging 36.4 points per game. Defensively, Ohio State ranks first nationally in total defense, scoring defense, and passing defense, and fifth in rush defense. Texas Longhorns (13-2): The Longhorns finished the regular season at 11-1, with their sole loss to Georgia. They fell to Georgia again in the SEC Championship but rebounded in the playoffs with wins over Clemson (38-24) and a double-overtime thriller against Arizona State (39-31), which many thought they should have lost. Texas boasts one of the nation's top defenses, ranking third in total defense, fourth in scoring defense, third in passing defense, and 14th in rush defense. Offensively, quarterback Quinn Ewers leads a unit that is eighth in SP+ and third in explosive play rate (9.6%). I really like the Ohio State defense. They shut down a powerful Oregon team and will do the same here today to Texas. Play Ohio State.

The College Football Playoff semifinal between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Penn State Nittany Lions is set for Thursday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. This Orange Bowl matchup features two storied programs vying for a spot in the national championship game. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (13-1) is under head coach Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame has showcased a balanced attack, averaging 38.8 points per game while allowing just 13.8 points per game, ranking them second in scoring defense nationally. Quarterback Riley Leonard's dual-threat capability has been pivotal, complemented by a strong running game led by Jeremiyah Love, who has amassed 1,057 rushing yards this season. The defense, coordinated by Al Golden-a Penn State alumnus-has been formidable, particularly in pass defense, allowing only 167.4 passing yards per game. Penn State Nittany Lions (13-2) under head coach James Franklin has been impressive, scoring 33.7 points per game and conceding 15.8 points per game. Quarterback Drew Allar leads the offense, supported by a potent rushing duo: Kaytron Allen (1,026 rushing yards) and Nicholas Singleton. Tight end Tyler Warren has been a key receiving target, with 1,158 receiving yards. Defensively, the Nittany Lions excel in creating pressure and have been effective in limiting opponents' rushing attacks. This game marks the 20th meeting between the two programs, with the series tied at 9-9-1. Their most recent encounter was in 2007, where Penn State secured a 31-10 victory. Notably, this Orange Bowl is the first College Football Playoff semifinal to feature two Black head coaches, adding a historic dimension to the matchup. I look for a tough battle here on Thursday with the defenses being the prime units on display. I'm taking the UNDER.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-5) are set to face the Virginia Tech Hokies (6-6) in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on Friday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Quarterback Max Brosmer leads the Gophers with 2,617 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions this season. Running back Darius Taylor has contributed 873 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns, while wide receiver Daniel Jackson has 75 receptions for 863 yards and 4 touchdowns. Minnesota's defense ranks sixth nationally, allowing an average of 290.9 yards per game. They have been particularly effective against the pass, conceding only 178.3 passing yards per game, which ranks 15th in the FBS. Va Tech's Quarterback Kyron Drones has accumulated 1,562 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. Running back Bhayshul Tuten leads the rushing attack with 1,159 yards and 15 touchdowns, while wide receiver Stephen Gosnell has 27 receptions for 497 yards and 1 touchdown. The Hokies' defense allows an average of 359.7 yards per game, ranking 56th nationally. They have been relatively balanced, giving up 214.3 passing yards and 145.4 rushing yards per game. Minnesota enters the game with a strong defense and a balanced offensive attack, while Virginia Tech looks to leverage its rushing game led by Bhayshul Tuten. I like the defensive team in this matchup. I'll be on Minnesota.

: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-1) are set to face the Georgia Bulldogs (11-2) in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, a College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinal, on January 1, 2025, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Quarterback Riley Leonard leads the Irish with over 1,900 passing yards and 700 rushing yards this season, making him one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation. His 15 rushing touchdowns rank fifth among quarterbacks nationally. Notre Dame's defense has been formidable, allowing just 17.5 points per game. The unit excels in limiting opponents' passing efficiency and has been effective in generating turnovers. The Bulldogs average 33.1 points per game, accumulating over 415 total yards per contest. With starting quarterback Carson Beck sidelined due to injury, backup Gunner Stockton is expected to make his first career start in the Sugar Bowl. Georgia's defense allows 20.3 points per game, showcasing strength in both pass and rush defense. The unit has been adept at pressuring quarterbacks and disrupting offensive rhythms. With limited collegiate experience, Stockton faces a stern test against a disciplined Notre Dame defense. His performance under pressure will be pivotal for Georgia's offensive success. This Sugar Bowl matchup features two storied programs with rich histories. Notre Dame enters the game with momentum, riding an 11-game winning streak and led by Dodd Coach of the Year, Marcus Freeman. Georgia, despite the setback of losing their starting quarterback, boasts a resilient defense and a strong running game. I don't see this game scoring a lot of points with Beck out for Georgia and an unexperienced QB making his first start. I look for this game to go UNDER.

The South Florida Bulls (6-6) are set to face the San Jose State Spartans (7-5) in the Hawai'i Bowl on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu. South Florida finished the regular season at 6-6, securing bowl eligibility. The Bulls won four of their last six games but fell to Rice in their final regular-season matchup. San Jose State concluded the season with a 7-5 record, highlighted by a victory over Stanford. This marks their second consecutive appearance in the Hawai'i Bowl, following a loss to Coastal Carolina last year. Kelley Joiner (Running Back) led South Florida accumulating 766 yards on the ground, averaging 7 yards per carry, and scoring 11 touchdowns this season. The Spartans are led by Nick Nash (Wide Receiver): who leads the nation in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, making him a pivotal component of the Spartans' high-powered passing offense. The Bulls averages 31.4 points per game, ranking 35th nationally. Their rushing attack is particularly strong, averaging 191.8 yards per game, placing them 29th in the FBS. San Jose State has a prolific passing game, averaging 325.3 passing yards per game, which ranks fifth in college football. I look for both teams to be able to score a lot of points here today. But I also look for San Jose to come out on top as the better team. I'll lay the points with San Jose State on Tuesday. 

The Temple Owls are set to face the UTSA Roadrunners on Friday at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas in a American Athletic Conference (AAC) matchup. The Owls hold a 3-7 overall record and are 2-4 in AAC play. They recently secured an 18-15 overtime victory against Florida Atlantic, snapping a two-game losing streak. This win came shortly after the dismissal of head coach Stan Drayton, with defensive coordinator Everett Withers stepping in as interim head coach. The Roadrunners stand at 5-5 overall and 3-3 in AAC play. They are on a two-game winning streak, including a 48-27 victory over North Texas. UTSA's offense has been prolific, scoring over 40 points in three consecutive games. UTSA's recent offensive surge, averaging over 40 points per game in the last three outings, will challenge Temple's defense. Temple's recent coaching change introduces variables in team dynamics and strategy. The impact of interim head coach Everett Withers on the team's performance remains to be fully seen. I don't see Temple being able to stop this UTSA offense which has been on a roll of late. Add to that the change in head coach at Temple and the Owls are a team in transition. Play UTSA.

The upcoming college football game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Utah Utes is scheduled for Saturday at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado is already bowl eligible but have aspirations of a conference championship game and possibly getting to the College football playoffs. The Colorado Buffaloes are under the leadership of head coach Deion Sanders. The Buffaloes have achieved a 7-2 overall record, including a 5-1 mark in Big 12 Conference play. They are currently ranked 21st in the AP poll. Their offense has been prolific, averaging 32.4 points per game, while their defense allows 22.6 points per game. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders has been instrumental, consistently delivering strong performances. The Utah Utes have faced challenges this season, holding a 4-5 overall record and a 1-5 record in Big 12 play. They have lost their last five games, including a narrow 22-21 defeat to BYU in which they lead all the way until the end when the Cougars kicked a game winning field goal with seconds left in the game. Have to think that was the season for Utah against their rivals from Provo. Losing that game in the last seconds could have taken all the air out of Utah's balloon for final games. Colorado enters the game with momentum and home-field advantage, making them tough to beat. Their high-powered offense, led by Shedeur Sanders, is expected to challenge Utah's defense. Colorado won't be taking their foot off the accelerator as they want that Big 12 Championship and their sights set on that Playoff Championship. Look for a Colorado blowout here on Saturday. 

A pair of Bee Hive State rivals meet once again here on Saturday night, this time as Big 12 conference foes. The BYU Cougars and the Utah Utes mark a renewal of the storied "Holy War" rivalry, now as a Big 12 Conference game. The game is scheduled to kick off at 8:15 p.m. MT at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. The BYU Cougars (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) have had an impressive season, remaining undefeated and currently ranked No. 9 in the College Football Playoff rankings-the highest in program history. Their recent victories include a 37-24 win over UCF and a 38-35 triumph against Oklahoma State. The Utah Utes (4-4, 2-3 Big 12) have faced challenges this season, holding a .500 record. They are coming off a four-game losing streak, including a recent loss to Arizona. BYU's offense, led by quarterback Jake Retzlaff, has been effective, with Retzlaff having a breakout year. Running back LJ Martin has also been a critical contributor, significantly enhancing the team's offensive capabilities. This game marks the first meeting between BYU and Utah as Big 12 Conference opponents, adding a new dimension to their historic rivalry. While BYU looks to be the much better team on paper, rivalry games often defy expectations, and Utah, playing at home, will be motivated to disrupt BYU's perfect season. This game could be Utah's season for them and they want nothing more than to put a loss on BYU's perfect record. Play Utah.

We get a top 20 matchup here in the ACC today as the No. 18 Pittsburgh Panthers and the No. 20 SMU Mustangs face off at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. Pittsburgh is undefeated at 7-0 overall and 4-0 in ACC play, the Panthers are ranked 18th nationally. Their most recent victory was a decisive 41-13 win over Syracuse on October 24. SMU is 7-1 overall and 3-1 in the ACC, with the Mustangs ranked 20th nationally. They are coming off a narrow 28-27 victory over Duke on October 26. The Panthers have averaged 40.3 points per game, ranking 11th nationally. Quarterback Eli Holstein has been instrumental, though the offensive line has faced challenges, particularly with injuries affecting key positions. Pitt allows just 11.9 points per game, with their defense ranked 4th nationally, demonstrating a robust ability to limit opponents' scoring opportunities. The Mustangs have averaged 36.5 points per game, with quarterback Kevin Jennings leading the charge. Jennings has thrown for 2,145 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. SMU's defense has been solid, allowing 20.5 points per game. They have been effective in containing the run but have shown vulnerabilities against the pass. This matchup features Pittsburgh's potent offense against SMU's disciplined defense. SMU is a 7.5 point favorite and I actually look for the Panthers to have a shot at winning this game outright. But I'll take the points. Play Pittsburgh.

Late action on the College football slate has Boise State and Hawaii kicking off at 11 pm ET on Saturday. This matchup showcases a contest between two teams with contrasting trajectories this season. Boise State, ranked #17, comes into the game with a strong 4-1 record, having averaged an impressive 50.6 points per game, leading the nation in scoring. A key factor for Boise State has been running back Ashton Jeanty, who has already amassed 1,031 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, dominating defenses all year. The Broncos have consistently scored over 45 points in four of their five games this season, showcasing their offensive firepower. Hawaii, on the other hand, has struggled with a 2-3 record, largely relying on their passing game. Quarterback Brayden Schager leads the team with 1,328 passing yards and 11 touchdowns, but their offense has been one-dimensional, averaging just 93.6 rushing yards per game. Despite a valiant effort in their last game, a 27-24 loss to San Diego State, Hawaii has yet to face a team as strong as Boise State this season. Boise State's powerful offense, led by Jeanty, and Hawaii's struggles in defending against elite teams make the Broncos clear favorites. Expect a blowout win by Boise State here on Saturday.

The college football contest between Indiana and Northwestern on Saturday, October 5, 2024, appears to be heavily in favor of the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers (5-0). Indiana is ranked No. 23 and comes into the game as a 13.5-point favorite. The Hoosiers have been dominant offensively, averaging 48.8 points per game, and have scored over 40 points in each of their last four games, including a 42-28 win over Maryland. Northwestern (2-2), on the other hand, has struggled to find consistency, particularly on offense, where they average just 17.3 points per game. Their most recent performance, a 24-5 loss to Washington, highlighted their offensive issues, as they managed only 112 total yards. Defensively, Northwestern has been solid, allowing just 15.8 points per game, but their inability to score puts them at a significant disadvantage against Indiana's high-powered offense. Indiana's quarterback, Kurtis Rourke, has been efficient, throwing for over 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, and their running game, led by Justice Ellison, has been productive. Meanwhile, Northwestern's offense has yet to show signs of life, and unless they can significantly improve, this game could be one-sided blowout by Indiana. Indiana just has way too much offense for this Northwestern team to keep pace with here on Saturday. I look for an easy win, likely double what the Hoosiers are laying with the line.

The college football game between the Houston Cougars and TCU Horned Frogs on Friday, October 4, 2024, is set to be a challenging matchup, especially for Houston. TCU, with a 3-2 record, comes into the game as a strong favorite, featuring a dynamic offense that averages 38.6 points per game, ranking 13th nationally. Quarterback Josh Hoover has been particularly effective, throwing for 1,774 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. His top target, Jack Bech, has accumulated 647 yards and six touchdowns, making TCU a potent offensive force. In contrast, Houston has struggled this season with a 1-4 record. Their offense ranks near the bottom of the FBS, averaging only 10.4 points per game. Quarterback Donovan Smith has had difficulty with turnovers, throwing five interceptions alongside just two touchdowns. Although Houston's defense has been relatively solid, allowing 20.8 points per game, their inconsistent offense will likely make it hard to keep pace with TCU's high-powered attack. TCU's offensive efficiency gives them a strong edge heading into this Big 12 matchup. I'll take the Horned Frogs here on Friday.

 Saturday Big 12 college football clash has Colorado and Prime Time heading to Central Florida. UCF is a good sized favorite, currently around 14 points. UCF comes into the game with a perfect 3-0 record, averaging an impressive 45.7 points per game, which ranks 14th nationally. Their offense, generating over 570 yards per game, is led by a dominant rushing attack, accumulating 289 yards in their previous game against TCU. Defensively, UCF has been solid, allowing only 17 points per game and ranking among the top teams in limiting rushing yards. Colorado, on the other hand, holds a 3-1 record, fresh off a thrilling 38-31 overtime victory against Baylor. Despite their success, the Buffaloes' rushing game has been lackluster, averaging just 68.8 yards per game, one of the lowest in the nation. Their defense has been vulnerable, especially against the run, allowing 150.8 rushing yards per game, which could be a critical weakness against UCF's powerful ground attack. With UCF playing at home and Colorado struggling on both sides of the ball, especially in the trenches, I expect UCF to dominate this matchup in a blowout win. Play Central Florida.

The matchup between East Carolina (ECU) and Liberty on Saturday, September 21, 2024, offers an intriguing contrast of playing styles that could make for a competitive game. Both teams have strengths and weaknesses that will factor into the outcome. Liberty's up-tempo, spread offense is designed to score quickly and create mismatches, and quarterback Kaidon Salter is critical to this approach. His ability to extend plays, execute RPOs, and make deep throws will challenge ECU's defense, which has struggled in past seasons against dynamic, fast-paced offenses. ECU will counter with a physical run game, led by Rahjai Harris, aiming to control the clock and limit Liberty's possessions. This strategy has been effective in past games for ECU. The Pirates are 2-1 on the season after a tough loss last week at home by just two-points to App State. ECU led 16-0 after the first quarter only to allow the next 21 points. The Pirates are 31st in the FBS in passing offense this season. If Salter can break through like he was doing last season, then ECU should be in this game until the end. I'll take the points with the ECU Pirates.

 Oregon State travels South to face the San Diego State Aztecs in this last Saturday night contest. Oregon State has emerged as a solid offensive unit under head coach Trent Bray. The Beavers are known for their physical rushing attack, featuring a talented stable of running backs behind a seasoned offensive line. On the defensive side, Oregon State has a strong front seven that focuses on stopping the run and creating pressure. Their ability to neutralize San Diego State's ground game will be pivotal. Their secondary, while solid, could be tested if the Aztecs take to the air more than usual. San Diego State has long been a program defined by a tough, run-heavy offense. With a physical offensive line and talented backs, their goal will be to control the clock, limit turnovers, and wear down the Beavers' defense. If they can establish their ground game early, they have a chance to dictate the pace of the game. The Aztecs boast a stout defense, especially in their front seven. They will need to focus on stopping Oregon State's run game, which is the heart of their offense. The battle in the trenches will likely determine the outcome. Oregon State's offense thrives on establishing the run, and San Diego State's defense is built to stop it. If the Aztecs can force the Beavers into long third-down situations, they’ll have a better chance to slow them down. If the Beavers can get their ground game going, their play-action passing attack could open up big plays downfield, putting the Aztecs' secondary in tough situations. Oregon has the more balanced offensive attack and a strong defense. However, San Diego State's disciplined defense and ability to grind down the clock with their running game could keep the game close. Expect Oregon State to take control late in the game and cover the spread. Take Oregon State.

The First full Saturday of College football is here as Penn State takes on West Virginia. Penn State comes into this contest around a 8 1/2 point favorite. So how can West Virginia get the cover here on Saturday. First, they need to control the clock with the Running Game. West Virginia's best chance to keep the game close lies in their ability to control the tempo and dominate time of possession. If they can establish a consistent running game, led by their top backs, they can keep Penn State's explosive offense off the field. This not only limits the opportunities for Penn State to score but also keeps the Mountaineers' defense fresh. Next, the Mountaineers have to limit turnovers and capitalize on opportunities. West Virginia must play a clean game with minimal mistakes. Turnovers can quickly shift momentum in Penn State's favor, leading to a deficit that might be difficult to overcome. They will also have to exploit Penn State's Defensive Weaknesses. While Penn State has a strong defense, no unit is without its vulnerabilities. If West Virginia's coaching staff can identify and exploit any weaknesses in Penn State's secondary or front seven, they can find success in moving the ball. And finally, it will take Special Teams. Field position will be crucial in this game. West Virginia can use special teams to their advantage by pinning Penn State deep in their own territory and forcing them to drive the length of the field. Additionally, a big play on special teams—such as a punt or kickoff return—could provide the spark needed to swing momentum and keep the game within reach. While Penn State is the clear favorite, West Virginia can cover the spread by controlling the tempo, avoiding costly mistakes, capitalizing on opportunities, and exploiting any defensive weaknesses. If the Mountaineers execute these strategies effectively, they can keep the game competitive and cover the spread as a nice home dog with the home crown behind them. Take West Virginia.

We have to look at the players that are in the portal or opting out for the NFL draft. These players change the way the team looks from how they did before they got here. That's really important in this game today between North Carolina and West Virginia in the Mayo Bowl from Charlotte, NC. I'm not even going to look at the stats these teams put up during the regular season. Instead lets see who's sitting out. Tar Heals hit hard in this area. TE Kamari Morales, WR Tychaun Chapman, WR Andre Greene, CB Tayon Holloway, DT Kedrick Bingley-Jones, and LB Sebastian Cheeks transferred. QB Drake Maye, LB Cedric Gray, C Corey Gaynor, and WR Tez Walker will sit out the bowl game to prepare for the draft. The big one is QB Maye and Walker. That completely shifts the dynamics of this game. The Mountaineers should run crazy over the this 89th ranked Tar Heel run defense. Plus they will miss all those players, especially Maye. I'm taking West Virginia here on Wednesday.

ACC Championship game from Charlotte, NC has Louisville taking on Florida State. Florida State will be without it's leader in this one as QB Jordan Travis will be out for the rest of the season with a leg injury. He missed last week's rivalry game with Florida, but that didn't really come into playa as the Seminoles beat their rivals, 24-15, covering the 6-point favorite line. Still, they had just 90 yards rushing and 134 yards passing in the win. This was a team averaging 38.7 ppg on the season and 432 yards. Florida State will have its perfect 12-0 record on the line here today. Louisville finished 2nd in the ACC with a 10-2 record. This team average 33 ppg while allowing just 20 ppg. They also averaged 440.1 ypg while allowing just 317.2 ypg. Louisville is coming off a loss to their rivals, Kentucky, last week, 31-38, as a 7.5-point favorite. Louisville's defense much better than Florida's and this Seminole team had issues moving the ball last week. I'm taking Louisville to win this game without the QB for Florida State in the lineup.

 New Mexico State and Liberty face off here on Friday for the Conference USA Championship. The New Mexico State Aggies were 10-3 S/U and 7-1 in conference this season. Liberty Flames were perfect with a 12-0 overall and 8-0 conference records. New Mexico State is coming off a 20-17 win over Jacksonville state as a 2.5-point dog. Liberty is coming off a 42-28 win over UTEP as a 18-point favorite. The one time these teams met was back on Sept 9 with Liberty winning, 33-17, as a 9.5-point favorite. New Mexico State brings a 8-game win streak into today's contest. They will try and hand Liberty it's only defeat to date. The Aggies average 28.2 ppg and have a very well balanced offense that averages 217 rushing yards and 205 passing yards per game. They also play well defensively, allowing 19.7 ppg on the season. Liberty averages 40.1 ppg and they also have a well balanced offense that averages 203 rushing and 295 passing yards per game. They allow 21.7 ppg. Liberty has a slight edge on offense but New Mexico State gives up a bit less on defense. Getting all these points today is difficult to pass on. I'll take New Mexico State.

 One of the best rivalries here on Rivalry Saturday has No 8 Alabama taking on Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Alabama has won nine straight games and is 10-1 overall and 7-0 in the SEC with playoff aspirations. Auburn is 6-5 overall and 3-4 in the SEC and looks to spoil Alabama's playoff run. Alabama's only loss of the season came way back on Sept 9th to Texas,24-34. Alabama will win the SEC West, but really needs an impressive win here today and some losses by PAC-12 teams to sneak into the playoff picture. Alabama's defense is once again very good, 17th in yards and 29th in points allowed. Auburn still trying to overcome that embarrassing home loss to New Mexico State, 10-31. It was the Aggies first ever SEC win and what hurts even more is that Auburn paid almost $2 million dollars for N.Mex State to come out and play the game. Auburn had just 213 total yards and 11 first downs vs the Aggies. Auburn is a strange team and they have the ability to stay in this game, but not if they are the team that lost last week to New Mexico State. I'm taking Alabama here to win and make a bid for one of the playoff spots.

It's not very often this can be said, but UNLV controls its own destiny. It can win the Mountain West on its own without any other help. But standing in the Rebels way is Air Force. Air Force is tie with UNLV and Fresno State in the conference at 8-2. However, the Falcons have lost two games in a row to a pair of teams they were 18 and 20 point favorites to. They lost at home to Army, 3-23, as a 18-point favorite then lost at Hawaii, 13-27, as a 20-point favorite. The Falcons score nearly 29 ppg and totaled just 16 points in the two losses. UNLV having its best season in recent memory. The Rebels will go to a bowl game but they want to win the conference. They have won two straight games since their loss to Fresno State. They beat New Mexico 56-14 and then last week beat Wyoming, 34-14. The Rebels offense has been great with 36.4 ppg and 423 ypg this season. This will be a great game, but I will take the points with the Rebels. Play UNLV.

USC having a fine season, but they have struggled against the best teams. The Trojans are 7-3 S/U and 2-8 ATS and score 45.5 ppg with 485.5 yards per game. The problem is the defense, which allows 34.5 ppg and 436.5 yards. That was apparent again last week as their offense tried to stay with Washington, but couldn't keep them from scoring in a Huskies 52-42 win. The Trojans have now allowed a whopping 101 points in their last two games. It won't get any easier this week at they travel to Eugene to face the high scoring Oregon Ducks. The Ducks are 8-1 in and in 2nd place in the PAC 12 behind 9-0 Washington. Oregon averages 47.4 ppg and 540.1 yards. They are coming off a blowout win over Cal last week, 63-19, as a 27-point favorite. The Ducks should have little trouble scoring on this USC defense today. The Oregon defense is much better than USC, as they allow just 16 ppg and 301 yards. USC likely will get their points in this one, but they won't be able to match this Oregon offense. Play Oregon.

A couple of former Big East schools meet here today as Syracuse hosts Boston College. BC coming off a win over U Conn last week, 21-14, but failing to cover the 14.5-point spread. Syracuse coming off a loss at Virginia Tech, 10-38. The BC Eagles started the season at 1-3 but have since won four straight. Syracuse started the season 4-0 and have since dropped four straight games to even their record at 4-4. The have been outscored in those four games 34-150. They have also dropped all four vs the spread. Momentum seems to be all on the side of Boston College as we come into this contest. I'll take BC here plus the points.

Big 10 West clash as Minnesota take on 24th ranked Iowa from Ames. Iowa is 6-1 S/U and 4-2-1 ATS on the season. Minnesota coming off a bye week after losing to Michigan, 10-52 as a 18.5-point dog. Iowa is coming off a win over Wisconsin, 15-6. Minnesota will rely on the ground game, ranking 5th in the Big 10 in rushing with 180.5 yards per game. The defense ranks 10th in the Big 10 allowing 21.7 ppg. Iowa lost it's high profile transfer QB, Cade McNamara to a torn ACL. Deacon Hill has had to step into the starting position. Hill has averaged just 87.3 ypg passing thus far. The Hawkeyes rank 11th in the Big 10 in scoring with 20.9 ppg. They are last in passing with 116.6 ypg through the air. Hard to lay points with a Iowa team that will struggle to put TD's on the scoreboard. I'll take the points here with Minnesota.

Conference USA clash this week between Middle Tennessee State and Liberty. Mid Tenn State Blue Raiders are just 2-5 S/U and 1-4 ATS. They are coming off their first cover of the season vs Louisiana Tech, 31-23, as a 3-point favorite. Now they face their biggest challenge of the season in undefeated Liberty Flames. The Flames are also 5-1 ATS. They are coming off a win over Jacksonville State, 31-13, as a 7-point favorite. The Flames average 35.3 ppg while allowing 17.2 ppg. They average 479.3 yards while allowing 315.3 yards per game. Mid Tenn gets outscored 31.9 to 22.1 on the season. The Blue Raiders offense is not that good, ranking 75th in total offense and 112th in rushing. The defense ranks 95th in the country and they give up the yards through the air as they rank 112th. They have to face Liberty's 12th ranked offense and a viscous ground game that is 3rd in the country. Also don't expect many turnover from this Liberty team as they protect the ball well, ranking 5th in the country in turnover differential. I fully expect Liberty to extend to 7-0 tonight and to easily cover this spread. Take Liberty as your Conference USA Game of the Year!

The Louisville Cardinals improved to 6-0 S/U and 3-3 ATS with a big win and statement last week at home over Notre Dame, 33-20, as a 6-5-point dog. The Cardinals rushed for 185 yards and passed for another 145 yards in the win. They held the Irish to just 44 rushing yards. Louisville now averages 193 yards on the ground this year and 36.3 ppg. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has bad a rough go thus far at 1-4 both S/U and ATS. The Panthers coming off a loss two weeks ago at Virginia Tech, 21-38, as a 2.5-point favorite. They got the week off to rest and prepare for this week's game. Pitt averages 23.4 ppg while allowing 26 ppg. They have also averaged 308.8 ypg and allowed 303.8 ypg. Pitt has played better then its record shows. Pitt getting around or just over a TD at home. With the week off and getting the points, I'll take a shot with the Panthers here on Saturday and look for Louisville to have a letdown after that big win last week. Play Pittsburgh.

Mountain West clash here today has Wyoming hosting Fresno State from Laramie, WY. The Fresno State Bulldogs come into this game 24th in the nation at 5-0 and will face a 4-1 Cowboys squad. Fresno has beaten Wyoming in four straight games, including last year in a 30-0 shutout. Fresno coming off a tough outing last week vs Nevada, failing to cover the 25.5-point favorite spread in a 27-9 win. Still, the Dogs average 36.4 ppgs this season, ranking them 26th in the nation. They average 304.8 ypg passing (14th in nation) and 120.2 yards rushing (108th). Their defense is very good, allowing just 17 ppg (23rd in country) and allowing just 282 yards per game (14th). Wyoming coming off a fine start to the season at 4-1, with their only loss coming against Texas, 10-31. They won their first conference game last week against New Mexico, 35-26, failing to cover the 14.5-point line. Wyoming averages 26.6 ppg (84th) and 324.6 ypg (115th). The Wyoming offense will have troubles against this very good Fresno defense. I'll take Fresno and lay the points in this one.

Conference USA matchup here on Thursday night has Louisiana Tech hosting Western Kentucky from Joe Aillet Stadium. The La Tech Bulldogs are 3-3 S/U and 2-0 in conference play. The W.Ky Hilltoppers are 3-2 and 1-0 in conference play. W.Ky rebounded from a loss the week before with a win over Middle Tennessee State, 31-10 last week. They average 31.6 ppg this year, ranking 55th in the nation. They do allow 29.2 ppg, which is 98th in the nation. La Tech also won last week, snapping a 2-game losing skid by beating conference opponent UTEP, 24-10. The Dogs average 27 ppgs, good for 81st in the country. They allow 25.7 ppg, 76th in the country. QB Hank Bachmeier (shoulder) is listed as questionable here tonight. Western Ky is a 6-point road favorite. I'll take the points in this one. Play La Tech.

 One of the marque games on the schedule for Saturday has Notre Dame taking on Duke. The Notre Dame Irish are 4-1 on the season after a tough game at home last week vs Ohio State, 14-17, pushing the 3-point dog line. The Irish are now 3-1-1 vs the number. Notre Dame had 176 yards rushing and 175 yards passing vs Ohio State for 351 yards. They held the Buckeyes to 366 yards. Their rushing attack ranks 30th in the nation this year. Duke was 9-4 last year and returned 18 starters this year. It's no wonder they have looked very good as they start 4-0. They are also 3-1 vs the spread with their only loss coming against Lafayette as they failed to cover a 43-point line. They have held three of their first four opponents to just seven points each and 14 to Northwestern. The defense allows just 276 total yards per game while the offense is averaging 424 yards. The offense ranks 49th in the nation and 26th in rushing. QB Riley Leonard has 778 yards with Two TD's and no INT's. He can also run the ball as he has 238 yards and four TD's on the ground. Duke a nice home dog here on Saturday. I have to wonder if that late loss to Oklahoma last week by the Irish will have any carry over effects this week. I'll take the points with Duke in this one.

Big 12 action here today has Baylor hosting Texas. Texas comes into this game 3-0 S/U and 1-2 ATS. Baylor looking for its first win at 0-2 S/U and 0-1-1 ATS. Texas opened the season with a win over Rice, 37-10 as a 35.5-point favorite, then pulled the big shocker win with a 34-23 win at Alabama as a 7-point dog. They had a bit of a letdown last week in a much closer game then it should have been, win over Wyoming, 31-10. They failed to cover the 30.5-point spread vs the Cowboys. Texas is outscoring their opponents 34-14.7 this season. They are out gaining their opponents 409.3 to 276.3 ypg. The Longhorns defense is holding opponent rushing to just 2.9 ypa. Baylor opened the season with a loss to Texas State, 31-42 as a 26.5-point favorite. Then two weeks ago they lost to Utah, 13-20, as a 7-point dog, pushing the line. The Bears had last week off to prepare for today. The Bears are outgaining opponents 431.5 to 409 ypg but getting outscored 22 to 31 ppg. The Bears better hope they found a better offense and defense after with their week off. I really don't expect that but do expect the Longhorns to roll here on Saturday. Play Texas.

SEC matchup here on Saturday has Mississippi State hosting LSU. Miss State Bulldogs are off to a 2-0 start under new HC Zach Arnett. They have wins over Southeastern Louisiana and Arizona thus far. This will be their biggest test of the young season. LSU comes in here winning four of the last five in this series. LSU lost its opener this season to Florida State, which makes this SEC contest even bigger for the Tigers. They are led by Jayden Daniels who has 708 of LSU's 1081 total yards this season. This is almost a must win spot for LSU and against 1st year coach Arnett I give a big edge to the Tigers here today. I look for LSU to win and cover this game against a Mississippi State still learning the ropes under a new head coach. Take LSU

Ole Miss travels to Tulane here on Saturday to face the Green Wave from Yulman Stadium. These teams last met two years ago with Ole Miss taking that one, 61-21. The Rebels closed out last season by losing their last four games of the year and five of the last six. The Rebs did open with a win in their opener, scoring 70 points in the process, but that was against Mercer. Today will be a much tougher test for this team. They do have an explosive offense though with one of the best QB's in Jaxson Dart. Quinshon Judkins looks to carry the load running the ball. Tulane is coming off that bowl win vs USC last season. They dominated South Alabama at home last week with a 20-point win. Now comes an SEC team to town, which is going to be a early test for this Tulane squad. Michael Pratt will be at QB after a 14-of-15 performance last week for four TD's. The Rebels will be out to get that bad taste from the end of last year from their mouths. I don't see them overlooking this Tulane team. I'll lay the points with Ole Miss.

Big 10 action already on tap here on Sunday as Rutgers hosts Northwestern. The Northwestern Wildcats had one of their worst years in history, finishing 1-11 on the season. They return a couple of QB's who will battle for the starting job. Rutgers looks for a winning season after losing since 2014. They had a 4-8 campaign last season. The QB job is wide open this season with a trio of players competing for the job. The defense should be solid this year, led by the pass rush and a good secondary. Both teams looking to get off to that winning start. For me I'll take Rutgers here at home.

 The Rose Bowl has the PAC-12 Champion Utah taking on Penn State from the Big 10. The Utah Utes are 10-3 on the season and look to win their first ever Rose Bowl here on Monday. They won the PAC-12 in back-to-back seasons. They rank in the top 20 in both the offense and defense. Penn State will be making its fifth trip to the Rose Bowl and its first win since 1995. Penn State was third in a very good Big 10 in both scoring 35.8 ppg and total offense. Utah though will be hampered a bit here on Monday as both their top rusher and receiver from the regular season will not play here today. Will we see the same Utah team that took down USC in the PAC-12 Championship? I see this Penn State team as being very well balanced and with those two key players missing on Utah, I'll take the Nittany Lions here today. Play Penn State.

The Iowa Hawkeyes and Kentucky WildCats will meet here in the Music City Bow, their second straight postseason meeting. The same teams met last year in the Citrus Bowl with Kentucky coming out on top 20-17. Iowa started the season slow, going 3-4 after being pummeled by Ohio State, 54-10. However, after Mark Stoops turned down the Iowa job that seemed to revitalize the team as they went 4-1 the rest of the way with big wins over Purdue, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Kentucky started the season 4-0 and then went 3-5 the rest of the to finish 7-5. Look for a low scoring bowl game here with the impressive Iowa defense on the field. The Iowa offense ranks near the bottom of the nation, scoring just 17.9 points per game. Now add to that the loss of QB Spencer Petras and those numbers likely will be even less here today. QB Alex Padilla would have started, but he entered the transfer portal so the duties fall to third stringer, Joe Labas. No one knows much about Labas so the WildCats can't really prepare for him. Kentucky will also be without their top QB, as Will Levis has opted out of today's game. So has RB Christopher Rodriquez Jr, who led the team in rushing. The Cats also fired OC Rich Scangarello. Hard to play any game under this posted total, but will either team score here today? This will be very low scoring and I'll take a shot under this low posted total. Play UNDER.

The Pittsburgh Panthers and UCLA Bruins meet for the first time in football in 50 years as they play in the Sun Bowl from El Paso Texas. The No 18 Bruins had a fine season under Chip Kelly, finishing the regular season at 9-3. If not for a pair of late season losses, the Bruins might have made the NCAA playoff picture. The Bruins should be at full strength despite many players declaring for the NFL Draft or entering the transfer portal. THe Panther on the other hand will be missing seven key players due to the draft and transfers. Pitt finished 8-4 on the season. The big player here today will be UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and RB Zach Charbonnet - both of which will play in this Bowl. This UCLA offense is as good as any in the country, especially with DTR and Charbonnet leading the way. Pitt will have trouble staying with this UCLA team with so many good players missing today. I'm taking UCLA.

Alamo Bowl here on Thursday has Washington taking on Texas. Texas finished the regular season at 8-4 after back-to-back wins in the final two games. The Huskies finished with six straight wins. The Longhorns will miss one of their best running backs in Bijan Robinson (6.1 ypc and 18 TD's). Robinson decided to sit out the bowl game as he prepares for the NFL draft. This will put more pressure on QB Quinn Ewers. Washington had 10 wins under one-year coach Kalen DeBoer. And Washington has been playing as good as any team in the country. They have one of the best offenses in the country and an improving defense. The offense is 2nd in the nation in total offense and first in passing offense. Neither team will have much rushing, so the passing edges goes to Washington here today. I think it's a gift getting points with the Huskies today. Take Washington.

Armed Forces Bowl here today is the lone college game on the slate. Air Force takes on Baylor. The AF Falcons bring a four-game win streak into this game and are 9-3 S/U and 6-6 ATS on the season. The Falcons averaged 27.7 ppg while holding opponents to just 13.2 ppg. Air Force coming off that fine defensive effort in their win over Navy, 13-3, as a 2.50 point favorite. They held Navy to -1 yard rushing and just 188 yards passing. They will face a Baylor Bear team that had a down season at just 6-6 S/U and 7-5 ATS. The Bears averaged 33.6 ppg while allowing 26.6 ppg. The Bears tied for 6th in the Big 12 standings with just two teams having a worse record. The Bears bring a 3-game losing streak into today's contest, coming off a loss at Texas, 27-38, as a 10-point dog. These teams haven't met since 1977. Air Force is led by RB Brad Roberts, who had 1612 rushing yards and 15TD's this season. Motivation is a key in these bowl games and Acacdemy's usually have plenty of that because their seniors will likely be the last time they wear the football uniform. Plus getting points with a team that can win 10 games is more than enough for me. I'll take Air Force here today.

Lots on the line for this PAC-12 Championship game from Allegiant field in Las Vegas. The USC Trojans have their eye set on a playoff bid and they need to get by last year's PAC-12 Champion Utah Utes here tonight. Also, USC QB Caleb Williams has a great shot at the Heisman Trophy award and another great performance here tonight could really help that cause too. This is a rematch of the game from October 15th when the Utes came from behind at home to beat USC, 42-43 as a 3-point dog. The USC offense is ranked 5th overall in the country and they have a 80% red zone efficiency mark with 51 Touchdowns in 67 redzone trips, tops in the nation. Utah isn't too far back, ranked 20th in offense and a rezone efficiency of 76.6%. On the defensive side of the ball Utah much better with the 17th ranked unit compared to the Trojans' 90th ranked defense. USC hasn't won a PAC-12 Championship since 2017, but I think this is the year. The price is right on this game as USC lays 2 1/2 points. Take the Trojans here today.

This is a MAC makeup game after last week's game was cancelled in Buffalo due to the snow storms. Kent State will finish their season here on Saturday as they are just 4-7 and won't be going to a bowl. Buffalo is 5-5 and needs a win to get bowl eligible. Have to wonder what motivation Kent State has here today with nothing on the line. Kent State should have been done last week, but Mother Nature made them go this week instead. The Golden Flashes have not been good on the road, going 5-11 ATS their last 16 games. They are also 1-6 ATS their last seven overall games and 1-7 ATS in their last eight conference games. Buffalo put in this must win situation because they have lost two straight games to Ohio and Central Michigan. This is senior day at Buffalo who sport the 48th ranked offense and 57th best defense. This game is all about motivation, Buffalo has it all today and Kent State just looking to go home and begin their vacation. Take Buffalo. 

Big 12 action here on Saturday has Texas (6-4, 4-3) taking on Kansas (6-4, 3-4). TCU has the conference wrapped-up at 7-0, but after that only one game separates the next four teams. Texas coming off a loss at home to TCU last week, 10-17, as a 7-point favorite. The Longhorns finish up at home next week vs Baylor. Kansas lost at Texas Tech last week, 28-43 as a 4-point dog. The Jayhawks will finish up at Kansas State next week. Texas just 4-10 ATS their last 14 games in the Big 12. They are also 2-5 ATS their last seven road games. Kansas 5-0-1 ATS their last six home games and 10-2-1 ATS their last 13 overall games. Kansas has also covered the last five vs Texas. The dog is also 5-0 ATS the last five meetings. Kansas getting almost 10 points looks like a gift to me. I'll take Kansas plus the points.

 East Carolina looks for the upset here on Friday night and also to extend their win streak to five games. ECU Pirates are 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the AAC. They had last week off after beating BYU the previous week, 27-24. Cincinnati struggled against Navy last week but came away with the 20-10 win, improving their record to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in conference. The Pirates looking for a good bowl game berth has been competitive all season long, even in their losses. The Bearcats of Cincinnati has the 64th ranked rushing attack with 141 yards per game. I'm looking for the upset here tonight with Cincinnati.

 Ball State and Toledo are 1-2 in the MAC West as they battle it out for the right to go to the MAC Championship. Ball State is one game back of Toledo and a win here tonight by the Cardinals would put them in a tie for the MAC West. Ball State beat Kent State last week, 27-20 as a 7-point road dog. Ball State has the nation's 67th ranked offense and the 87th ranked defense. The Cardinals are now 10-4 ATS their last 14 games on the road vs a team with a winning home record. Toledo is coming off a road win two weeks at Eastern Michigan, 27-24, as a 7.5-point favorite. After Ball State tonight, the Rockets have a home game vs Bowling Green and then close out the regular season vs Western Michigan. The Rockets had last week off and they are 5-17 ATS their last 22 times they are coming off a bye week. Ball State has covered seven of the last eight meetings in Toledo and the road team has covered 11 of the last 14 overall meetings. I'll take Ball State here tonight.

BYU looked pretty good as the season got underway, starting out at 4-1. However, a week six loss to Notre Dame, 20-28, seemed to start a downhill slide that has seen the Cougars lose four straight games to now be 4-5 and possibly losing a bowl bid. They only have three games left and two are tough road games at Boise today and their final at Stanford. They do have a softball against Dixie State in between. The Cougars rank 64th on offense and 103rd on defense. Meanwhile, Boise State is 6-2 S/U and 5-2 ATS on the season. The Broncos have won four straight games and covered those four also. They are coming off a big win over Colorado State, 49-10. The offense ranks 94th while the defense is 2nd in the nation. I don't see this lackluster BYU offense being able to put up much against the Boise State 2nd ranked defense today. BYU hasn't covered any of their last seven games and 0-5 ATS their last five non-conference games. I'll take Boise here today to hand BYU their bowl berth death sentence. Take Boise State.

Who has the best defensive overall unit in the FBS? If you said Illinois you would be correct. The Illini allow a paltry 221 total yards per game and have an outstanding red zone efficiency rating of just 42.9% on the season. In fact, the Big 10 is the defensive conference this year with four teams in the top six defensive units in the country. Alas, Nebraska is not one of them as the Huskers rank 122nd in the nation. Illinois had last week off to rest up for today's contest. The Illini coming off a 26-14 win over Minnesota, covering the 7-point dog line. They have now allowed 14 points or fewer in all but one game this season and that was their only loss of the year back on Sept 2 at Indiana, 20-23. Nebraska has struggled to a 4-4 record but can still go to a bowl if they can get by the Big 10's best teams in the coming five weeks. The problem is this team's defense that gives up a lot of yards and points. Illinois has won and covered the last two seasons vs Nebraska, including last year's 30-22 win at home as a 6.5-point dog. Illinois is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games and 5-1 ATS in their last six road games. Nebraska is 2-6 ATS in their last eight games. Illinois has covered five of the last seven in this series and I fully expect their defense to shut down Nebraska today and get the cover.

UCLA and Oregon face off today in Eugene for the PAC 12. UCLA is 3-0 in conference play and 6-0 overall. Oregon is 3-0 in conference play and 5-1 overall. UCLA had last week off to prepare for today's contest. They are coming off a home win over Utah, 42-32. The Bruins have scored at least 32 in all six games and 40 or more in five games. Oregon also had last week off after demolishing Arizona the previous week, 49-22. The Ducks have scored 41 or more points in every game since their opening week loss at Georgia where they scored just three points. Oregon has the 7th ranked offense in the country and UCLA has the 11th ranked offense. UCLA's defense ranks 33rd overall while Oregon comes in at 60th. UCLA has now covered seven of their last eight road games and are 7-2 ATS overall their last nine games. Oregon is 3-8 ATS their last 11 games following a ATS win. UCLA around a 6-point dog here today. I won't be surprised one bit with a UCLA straight up win. I'll take the points.

Conference USA matchup here on Thursday has the 4-2 UAB Blazers taking on the 4-3 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Both teams are 2-1 in the conference and trail both North Texas and UTSA who are 3-0. UAB is coming off a home win over Charlotte last week, 34-20, though they failed to cover the 23-point spread. The Blazers piled-up 510 yards of offense in the game. Western Kentucky won on the road at Middle Tennessee State last week, 35-17, cover the 7-point favorite line. They held Mid-Tenn to just 291 yards while gaining 443 yards. These teams have met just twice in the last five years with UAB taking the game in 2020, 37-14 and W.Ky taking the 2019 contest, 20-13. Western has the 15th ranked offense in the country with 144 yards rushing and 344 yards passing. UAB comes in at 34th. UAB has the slightly better defense as they are 19th in the nation with Western at 52nd. Western has covered seven of their last 10 home games and are 8-1 ATS in their last nine conference games. I'll take the home team here tonight. Play Western Kentucky.

Temple looking to get back to 3-3 today with a win at UCF. The Owls are 2-3 after losing two weeks ago at Memphis, 3-24, as a 20-point dog. Temple has a good defense, 11th in the country. However, you have to take that with a grain of salt when you realize they have played Lafayette, Rutgers, U Mass and Duke, none of which are offensive powerhouses. The offense is not good, ranking 124th in the country. They were shutout by Duke and scored just three points against Memphis. Meanwhile, Central Florida looks to improve to 5-1 with a win tonight. UCF only loss coming against Louisville, 14-20 back on Sept 9th. They are coming off a win over SMU back on Oct 5, 41-19. The UCF offense ranks 17th in the nation with the defense at 40th. Temple is 3-13 ATS in their last 16 conference games and 0-6 ATS in their last six road games. UCF has covered four of the last five in this series and the favorite is 4-1 ATS the last five meetings. UCF has too much offense and defense for the Owls here tonight. Lay the points with Central Florida.

 Big 10 action here today as Illinois hosts Iowa. Iowa fell behind early last week at home against Michigan and couldn't quite rebound in their loss to the Wolverines, 14-27, as a 10.5-point dog. The Iowa offense just not good enough to come from behind like that. Iowa has the 129th ranked offense in the country and really has to rely on their 6th ranked defense to keep them in games. Illinois went to Wisconsin last week and put a big-time whipping on the Badgers, 34-10, as a 7-point dog. Take makes the Illini 4-1 S/U and 3-1 ATS on the season. Illinois has the nation's 54th ranked offense and 2nd ranked defense. Iowa is now 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 October games. Illinois is 7-1 ATS int heir last eight overall games and 4-1 ATS in their last five conference games. Despite both teams have top 10 defenses, I give the nod here to Illinois. And with the Illini offense much better than Iowa, I'll be on the home team here today. Play Illinois.

 A pair of top 25 SEC teams battle today as No 10 Arkansas takes on No 23 Texas A&M from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tx. Arkansas will be looking for its second straight 4-0 start to the season today. Arkansas moved into the FCS last week to take on Missouri State and came away with the win, 38-27. That makes wins over Cincinnati, South Carolina and Missouri State to start the season. Texas A&M beat Miami Florida last week, 17-9. The Aggies were 5-point favorites and were outgained in total yards, 264-393 by the Hurricanes. A&M also had only 16 First downs to 27 by Miami. Arkansas is ranked 18th overall in offense with A&M coming in at 109th. A&M does hold the defensive edge, coming in at 30th with Arkansas at 103rd. Arkansas is 5-1-1 ATS their last seven games and 4-0 ATS in their last four in neutral site. Arkansas has covered the last four in this series and I look for the hogs to do just that again here today. Take Arkansas.

BYU was in a battle last week with Baylor, but came out on top in the end, 26-20, as a 3.5-point home favorite. The Cougars and Bears were pretty even statistically and neither team had a turnover. BYU had 283 yards passing compared to just 137 by Baylor. Oregon got thumped in week one at Georgia, 3-49 as a 16-point road dog. They licked their wounds last week with a win over FCS team Eastern Washington, 70-14. But really what does that tell us? Nothing. They beat up on a team they should have. That beating though by Georgia does loom big to me. Now they are hosting a very good BYU squad. Until I see more out of Oregon I'll have to be on the BYU side here on Saturday.

It's always a great game when these two intrastate rivals clash. Both teams opened with wins in week one. Iowa State Cyclones had little issue at home with SE Missouri State, 42-10. They accumulated 569 total yards with 293 of those through the air. Iowa struggled though in week one, just getting by South Dakota State at home, 7-3. They had a measly 166 totals yards and held SDST to just 120 yards in what surely was a exciting game. The Cyclones have had their way in this series, covering seven of the last 10 in Iowa. I'm taking the visitor as I need to see more out of Iowa before I can lay points with them. Play Iowa State.

Marquee matchup here on the Week 1 Saturday college football schedule. Notre Dame's head coach Marcus Freeman is a alum of Ohio State so he will have his own sort of homecoming here tonight. Freeman took over for Brian Kelly last season and took them to the Feista Bowl last season where they lost to Oklahoma State, 35-37. Ohio State was 11-2 last season and won the Rose Bowl. Was this a down season for them? For many, yes it was. They had high expectations of making the playoff four, but missed out. They also lost to rivals Michigan and lost in the Big 10 Championship. However, this year should be different with 11 starters returning. This game today has No 2 Ohio State and No 5 Notre Dame. However, with the oddsmaker posting a 17-point line on the underdog Irish we have to wonder if they are telling us right off the bat that this Irish team isn't a No 5 ranked club. These teams have met six times with Ohio State holding a 4-2 edge. Moreover, all four OSU wins have come by at least 13-points. I believe that OSU has too much firepower for this Notre Dame. In my rankings I have Notre Dame closer to No 20 and not No 5. There is a huge difference between these teams and it will show here on Saturday. I'm taking Ohio State in a blowout win.

Florida Atlantic plays their second game of the young season here today after a thorough trouncing of Charlotte last week, 43-13, as a 7-point favorite. FAU had 223 yards rushing and 264 yards passing while holding Charlotte to just 283 total yards. Ohio plays its first game of the season today and looks to improve on a poor 22.6 ppg average last season. The defense is not good, allowing 30 ppg and 431 yards last season. Ohio is just 3-11 ATS in their last 14 home games and 0-6 ATS in their last six non-conference games. With FAU having that game under their belt, I like their offense to get plenty of points here today. Ill take Florida Atlantic.

Two Bowl teams from the 2021 season meet here tonight. And, both teams have very high aspirations for this season. Penn State started last year 5-0, but struggled down the stretch finishing at 7-6 overall. Purdue won more games last year then they had since 2003 with their 9-4 record. They beat Tennessee in the Music City Bowl, 48-45. Both teams lost some players to the NFL and it's not an easy site to play at Ross-Ade Stadium. I look for a close game, but in this one I'll be taking the UNDER.

Lets face it, you can make a argument for either side here in this Championship game. Both teams demolished their opening round opponents with Alabama crushing Cincinnati and Georgia easily handling Michigan. Both sides are loaded with great players and both teams have potent offenses and great defenses. Alabama leads this all-time series with Georgia and has won the last seven times against the Bulldogs. Yet, here we are the Tide are a small dog tonight. These teams met for the National Championship back in 2017 with Alabama winning 26-23 in a come from behind victory. Alabama won last year's championship by easily defeating Ohio State, 52-24. Alabama HC Nick Sabin has won seven national championships while Georgia hasn't won since 1980. This one is all about the Georgia defense vs the Alabama offense. I'm sticking with the team that has history on its side. Take Alabama.

Next to last Bowl game of the season here on Tuesday in the Texas Bowl as LSU takes on Kansas State. In some of these games you can throw away numbers and look for motivation as your deciding factor. LSU became bowl eligible by winning it's last two games of the season over Texas A&M and UL Monroe. LSU has a myriad of issues as their coach Ed Orgeron was fired, they have transfer issues, injury issues and this team right now has only 40 scholarship players. This was a LSU defense that struggled at full strength at the beginning of the season let alone all the issues they have now. Kansas State returns QB Skylar Thompson who last played on Nov 20 and suffered an ankle injury. I don't see this LSU roster of straglers doing much here today and really looks only for the Bowl payday and lets go home. Take Kansas State.

Ohio State has had some time now to stew about their big loss to Michigan on Nov 27th, 27-42. The Buckeyes finished the season at 10-2 S/ and 7-5 ATS. Meanwhile, Utah brings a six game win streak into today's Rose Bowl at Pasadena. The Utes also won the PAC-12 Championship with a decisive win over Oregon. Have to believe the Buckeyes might not have their heads in this game. If they had beaten Michigan they would have likely played in the National Championship final four. Instead, they play Utah in the Rose Bowl. This game means a lot more to this Utah team. They can beat a big time football powerhouse in this storied event. For Utah, this is their game to show they belong and their own National Championship. Throw out any numbers in this one, I'm looking for motivation and for me it all falls to Utah.

Peach Bowl from Atlanta Georgia has Pittsburgh taking on Michigan State. The Pitt Panthers come into today's contest with a 11-2 overall record and 10-3 ATS spread mark. The Panthers bring a five game win streak into the game and have covered four of their last five games. The Panthers will be without their starting QB in Kenny Pickett who is out with personal issues. QB Nick Patti looks to start here today with just 14 attempts on the season. This will be a big blow to the Panthers team that afveraged over 350 yards through the air this year. Michigan State finished 2nd in the Big 10 East with a 10-2 S/U and 9-3 ATS record. I'm going to take Michigan State here today as I don't see Pitt doing a lot with their backup QB at the helm. Play Michigan State

Texas Tech just did become Bowl eligible at 6-6 S/U and they were 6-5-1 vs the spread. The Red Raiders were outscored on the season 30-32.1 and finished 6th in the Big 12. The Raiders limped into the postseason, losing two straight games and f0our of their last five games. Their only win coming against Iowa State, 41-38. They were 2-3 S/U and 3-2 ATS on the road, outscored by a 28.8 to 36.5 ppg average. The Mississippi State Bulldogs are 7-5 S/U and ATS on the season. They outscored opponents by a 30.9 to 25.2 margin this year. The Dogs did lose their final game of the regular season to Ole Miss, 21-31 as a 2-point favorite. However, they did cover five of their last six overall. Miss State the better team here and has been playing better football down the stretch. Play Mississippi Sate.

 Quick Lane Bowl here today from Detoit, MI has Western Michigan takin on Nevada. Have to believe Nevada has no interest in playing in this game. Their three best players, including QB Carson Strong, have opted out to get ready for the NFL draft. Plus at least 15 players have entered the transfer portal to follow their coach Jay Norvell to his new job at Colorado State. That's all bad news for the Nevada team that will be very short handed. Add to that the Wolves make the long trip from West to East and W.Michigan playing in their own backyard and this looks to be a Western Michigan blowout today. Play Western Michigan.

Armed forces bowl has Missouri taking on Army. Missouri just did get bowl eligible at 6-6 S/U on the season. They were just 3-9 ATS overall this year. They are coming off a loss at Arkansas, 17-34 as a 14.5-point dog. The Tigers were outscored overall on the season 29.7 ppg to 34.7 ppg. Now they face an Army team that averaged 302 yards per game on the ground this year. Why is that significant? Missouri has the 110th ranked defense and they allowed 229 yards per game on the ground. Looks to be a long day here for the Tigers who will be fed a steady streak of Army rushing. Play Army.

The Toledo Rockets enter today's Bahamas Bowl with a 7-5 S/U and ATS record. The Rockets averaged a nice 34.2 ppg this year while allowing just 21.0 ppg. They come in with a 3-game win streak both S/U and ATS. Their last game coming on Nov 27 at home against Akron in a big win, 49-14, as a 28.5 point favorite. The Rockets have scored at least 34 points in each of their last five games. Mid Tennessee State Blue Raiders just did get to bowl eligible with a 6-6 S/U and ATS records. The Raiders averaged 29.7 ppg while allowing 25.8 ppg. The finished third overall in the Conference USA standings. The Raiders won their last game at Florida Atlantic, 27-17 as a 3.5 point dog. They have split their last four games both S/U and ATS. I like the Rockets in this game as they have a much better offense. Play Toledo.

Two of the top four teams in the nation meet today in the SEC Championship as Georgia takes on Alabama. One of these teams could see itself drop out of the top four with a loss here today. Alabama could be without RB Brian Robinson Jr here today who is questionable with a hamstring injury. Alabama is 11-1 S/U and 6-6 ATS on the season. The Tide got lucky last week in a come-from behind win at Auburn, 24-22 to keep it's place in the top four. They have covered just one of their last three games however. Alabama still has the 7th ranked offense and the 7th ranked defense. They will however face the nation's top ranked defense today in Georgia. The Bulldogs have held opponents to just 230 yards per game and a very good 39% defensive red zone efficiency. They have allowed only six red zone TD's all season, best in the nation. The Dogs are 12-0 S/U and 8-4 and have scored an average of 40.7 ppg while holding opponents to a nations' best 6.9 ppg. Can't say enough about this Georgia defense and I look for them to give Alabama's offense all it can handle today. Take Georgia.

Conference USA East Champion Western Kentucky brings a 8-4 S/U and 9-3 ATS record into today's conference championship game. The Hilltoppers have been a passing team first, averageing 421.6 yards per game through the air this year and just 103.5 on the ground. They have also average 43.2 ppg and allowed 27 ppg this year. Western Kentucky snuck into the 2nd overall ranking position in the country in offense. The Hilltopers have covered five straight games. Their contest against UTSA resulted in a 46-52 loss and one of their few failures to cover this year. UTSA Roadrunners average 433.5 yards per game and 36.9 ppg while allowing 22.2 ppg. The Roadrunners coming off a loss at North Texas, 23-45 and have failed to cover their last three games. I see a repeat of the first meeting here tonight with lots of points being scored. Play OVER.

 Two teams that combined have just two wins will meet here today. The Florida Intl Golden Panthers are 0-10 and in serious jeopardy of finishing the season without a win. They have also been bad to bettors, going 2-8 ATS. The defense is ranked 128th in the country and the team has been outscored by an average 17.9 to 42.9 ppg. They have also been outscored in their last three games, 41-146. Southern Miss Golden Eagles might look like a team that FIU could get a win against. The Eagles are just 2-9 S/U and 3-8 ATS on the season. The Eagles put together their best game of the season last week at La Tech, winning 35-19 as a 15-point dog. The Southern Miss defense is actually pretty good, ranked 46th overall in the country. That defense is what will get them the win and cover here today. Play Southern Miss.

Utah State finishes the regular season here at New Mexico. The Aggies are 7-4 S/U and ATS on the season as they forward to a bowl game. The Aggies would like to go into the bowl season with some momentum after losing last week at home to Wyoming, 17-44. Utah State has an excellent offense, ranked 16th overall in the country. The defense is ranked 91st overall. Meanwhile, New Mexico is 3-8 S/U and 1-10 ATS on the season. Their only cover came at Wyoming back on October 23, 14-3. The defense isn't bad, ranked 47th overall in the nation. The offense, well that's another store. They are ranked 130th in the nation and average just 239 yards per game. They have a horrible red zone efficiency of just 48.2%. This looks to be a blowout win today for Utah State.

 PAC-12 Action here on Saturday has two of the conferences best teams facing off as Utah hosts Oregon. Oregon is 9-1 S/U on the season, but only 5-5 vs the number. Both teams average right at 35 ppg and both teams allow similar points with Oregon allowing 22.6 and Utah allowing 23.8 ppg. Oregon is coming off a win over Washington State, 38-24 as a 13-point favorite. They have covered two of their last four games. Utah is coming off a road win at Arizona, 38-29 as a 23.5-point favorite. The Utes have yet to lose at home in four games, but only covered two of those four. Utah a very good home team and laying a small number here today. I'll take the host. Play Utah.

Northern Illinois coming off a last second field goal to beat Ball State last week, 30-29. The game was back and forth and with the Huskies trailing 27-29 with just seconds left they hit the winning field goal. That make the Huskies 7-3 S/U and 6-4 ATS on the season. NIU has a one-game lead in their MAC Western division over Central Michigan. This is a huge game tonight for the Huskies as a win puts them in the MAC Championship game on Dec 4th. Buffalo, 4-6 overall, needs to win out if they hope to make a bowl game. The Bulls are coming two straight losses, including last week at Miami Ohio, 18-45. NIU is 19-9-1 ATS in their last 29 as a road favorite. NIU has also won 12 of the last 14 meetings with Buffalo. I look for NIU to be highly motivated tonight to secure their spot in the MAC Championship. Play Northern Illinois.

Boston College has had an up and down season. They started nicely enough, winning their first four games and covering three. Since then, they are just 1-4 S/U and 2-3 ATS. They are coming off a win over Virginia Tech last week, 17-3 as a 3-point dog. Georgia Tech has lost two straight games, including last week at Miami Florida, 30-33. They are 3-6 S/U and 5-4 ATS on the season. Boston College has the 99th ranked offense and the 28th ranked defense. BC getting a point or two here on Saturday. I look for them to win outright so won't need the points. Take Boston College.

Akron has just two wins on the season as they head to Western Michigan tonight. The Zips have lost three straight after losing to Ball State last Tuesday, 25-31. The team's only wins have come against FBC Bryant and Bowling Green. Western opened the year with impressive wins over Buffalo and Pittsburgh en route to a 4-1 start. However, the Broncos have dropped three of the last four games. They did win big over Kent State, 64-31. The team's offense is good, ranked 42nd overall with a 432.8 yards per game average. Akron has gone to a freshman QB which has helped a lot of late and made this team better. Add to that fact that Western has covered the spread just one time in their last eight MAC games and I'll take a shot plus the points here tonight.

Alabama has rebounded nicely from its loss to Texas A&M back on October 9th, 38-41. They have rebounded with wins at Mississippi State, 49-9 and then last week at home over Tennessee, 52-24. That is four covers in their last five games. LSU will have its hands full here today after losing last week at Ole Miss, 17-31. That makes three losses both S/U and ATS in their last four games for the Tigers. Not sure how LSU will stop or stay with this Alabama team here on Saturday. I look for a big Alabama blowout win. Play the Tide.

Northern Illinois is coming off a close win at Central Michigan, 39-38 as a 6-point dog. The Huskies have won five games in a row since their loss to Michigan back on Sept 18th. They are now 6-2 and 4-0 in the MAC. The Huskies are ranked 66th in offense and 96th in defense. They will take on Kent State tonight. Kent is coming off a win at Ohio, 34-27 as a 5-point favorite. Kent is 4-4 overall on the season and 3-1 in the MAC. Kent is ranked 28th in offense, but 123rd in defense. The Huskies are coming off a week off where they have done well, going 7-0 ATS the last seven times after a bye week. They are also 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 games as a road dog and 40-18-2 their last 60 on the road overall. The Golden Flashes are just 1-4 ATS their last five games vs a team with a winning record and 2-5-1 ATS at home their last eight vs a winning team. I'm going to take the visitor here plus the points. Take Northern Illinois.

Big 12 Battle here on Sunday has Texas Tech taking on No 4 Oklahoma in Norman. Texas Tech is coming off a loss at home to Kansas State, 24-25. The Red Raiders are now 5-3 S/U and 4-4 ATS on the year. OU is 7-0 S/U and 3-4 ATS on the season. They are coming off a win at Kansas last week, 35-23, but failed to cover the 38-point line. The Sooners are ranked 17th in offense, while Texas Tech is ranked 37th. On defense, Tech is 70th overall while the Sooners are 69th. Feeling here is that Oklahoma will be able to name their score in this one against a poor Tech defense. Take the host here. Play Oklahoma.

Huge game for both these Big 12 teams if one of them wants to win the conference title. Oklahoma State is 6-0 S/U and 3-0 in conference play. The Pokes have covered their last four games, including last week's win at Texas, 32-24 as a 5.5-point dog. This club has the 19th ranked defense in the FBS and the 81st ranked offense. Iowa State is coming off a win last week at Kansas State, 33-20 as a 6.5-point favorite. They have covered three of their last four games and are 4-2 S/U and 3-3 ATS on the season. Tough game to call here today, but getting a touchdown with a 6-0 team that has a very good defense is enough for me. Play Oklahoma State.

App State would like to forget last week, as they were pummeled at UL Lafayette, 13-41. That snapped their three game win streak in which they scored at least 31 points in each game. App State's offense was non-existent last week with just 211 total yards to 455 by the Rajun Cajuns. App State also had four turnovers in that game. The Mountaineers will need to be much better tonight as they take on 6-0 Coastal Carolina. Carolina has scored 49 points or more in 5-games. Carolina has the nation's #2 ranked offense with 554 yards per game. Only Ohio State is better. These teams have split the last four meetings with the home team winning. Should be another shootout here today, but I believe App State is better then they showed last week. Play App State plus the points.

Not sure if Texas will be able to get that staggering loss to Oklahoma out of its mouth for this week's contest. Texas comes into this game 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12. Oklahoma had last week off to prepare for this game and comes in 5-0 overall and 2-0 in conference. Ok State has the nation's 85th ranked offense while Texas is 18th. Problem for Texas is the defense, which ranks 107th overall. They will have to deal with an Ok State team that is 19th overall on offense. With Ok State being rested and Texas maybe not in the right frame of mind, I'll take the undefeated Pokes in this one. Play Oklahoma State and look for an outright win.

Army comes into today's contest a perfect 4-0 S/U and 2-2 ATS. They are coming off a win over Miami Ohio, 23-10 as a 7.5-point favorite. Can't say the same for Ball State who after winning their opening season game vs Western Illinois, they have since lost three straight games. The Cardinals are also 0-4 ATS on the season and have scored more than 13 points just once and that was the opener. Ball State is ranked 107th defensively in the country while Army is ranked 15th. Army ranks 60th on offense and averages a nation leading 345 yards per game on the ground. Ball State is 117th on offense. Ball State won't have an answer for the Army rushing game here on Saturday. Look for Army to control the game on the ground and win this one going away. Play Army.

Toledo came within one minute last week of shocking the football world with the near upset of Notre Dame in South Bend. It took an Irish TD with just one minute to play to avoid the shocking loss to the Rockets. Today they face a winless Colorado State team. The Rams lost at home last week to Vanderbil, 21-24. Toledo is 1-1 and look to bring a winning record in MAC play next week. Colorado is allowing 33 points per game thus far and 404 yards of offense. That will not bode well today against this very good Toledo team. I'll take Toledo here in what I see as a big blowout.

Maryland (2-0) takes on Illinois (1-2) from Champaign in this Big 10 matchup here on Friday. The Fighting Illini opened its season against Big 10 Nebraska and upsetting the 7-point Huskers. However, it's been downhill since then, losing to Texas San Antonio and then to Virginia last week. The defense has gotten shredded in those two losses, allowing 1,053 total yards. Won't get any easier against a offensive Maryland team here tonight. Maryland is 2-0 and has won it's first two games by a combined 92-24 score. Maryland is led by Junior QB Taulia Tagovailoa who is leading the Big 10 in completion percentage (76.2) and in passer rating (188.4). Illinois will welcome back QB Brandon Peters who was injured against Nebraska and hasn't played since. Not sure how Illinois will stop this Maryland offense tonight. And, I don't think they have the offense themselves to keep pace in a shootout. Take Maryland.

an Diego State didn't have quite the cakewalk they expected in week 1 against New Mexico State. The Aztecs could only win 28-10 against arguably the worst team in college FBS football. Meanwhile, Arizona played against a very good BYU team last week in Las Vegas. The Wildcats covered the spread but came up short in the outright win, 16-24. San Diego State travels to Tucson here today to face Arizona. The Wildcats look to put an end to their 13-game losing streak here tonight. They had 425 yards of offense vs BYU, but missed a pair of field goals and turned the ball over in the red zone. San Diego State somehow trailed NM State at the half 0-10 and didn't have a single point in the first half. Arizona has won 10 of the 15 games in this series. This should be a good defensive game. The Cats held BYU to under 30 points and the SD St offense isn't near as good. Arizona only a 1 to 2 point favorite here at home. I look for them to finally snap that losing streak. Play Arizona.

You couldn't find a more exciting match for the lone game here on this Labor Day Monday as Louisville visits Mercedes-Bens Stadium in Atlanta, GA to take on Ole Miss. Surprisingly, this is the first time these teams have ever met on the football field. Louisville is coming off a poor 4-7 campaign last season, though they do return a solid QB in Malik Cunningham who threw for 2,617 yards and 20 TD's last season. The ground game will miss the return of Javian Hawkins. This team averaged 5.2 yards per run last year. The question with the Cardinals is youth, they have one of the youngest teams in college football this year with 70 freshmen. Ole Miss has QB Matt Corral back this year to a team that broke the SEC record for total offense at 562 yards pr game average. Corral will have lots of experience back around him both in the backfield and at receivers. You would think over with these teams. However, the oddsmaker put up a whopping 75 point over/under and that's just too much in my opinion. Take the UNDER.

Reason: Conference play starts right away for the Big 10 and today Northwestern hosts Michigan State. Northwester had a fine year last season at 7-2 despite the Covid schedule. They lost in the Big 10 Championship to Ohio State despite leading 10-6 at the half. Meanwhile, Michigan State has something to prove under second year head coach Mel Tucker after finishing last in the Big Ten East with a 2-5 record. Michigan State still is looking for a QB to take over the starting spot vacated by Rocky Lombardi, who transferred to Northern Illinois. Northwestern has had a great defense, but they will be without their coordinator Mike Hankwitz who retired. Michigan State has done well in this series, with the Spartans winning the last two meetings. Both teams have a lot of holes to fill especially for Northwestern that returns only five defensive starters. I look for this game to be very close and with that I'll take the points here today. Play Michigan State.

Week 0 had a few teams playing last week, but the full schedule gets underway here in week one. South Florida visits Raleigh here tonight to play NC State in both team's opening game of the season. NC State had a nice 8-4 record last year, though they lost to Kentucky in the Gator Bowl. South Florida had a horrid season at 1-8 as Jeff Scott's took over the helm in his first year last season. USF QB Cade Fortin should be familiar with NC State as he transferred from North Carolina where he faced the Wolfpack. NC State QB is Devin Leary, a fourth-year sophomore who started three games last year. This Wolfpack team should be even better then their eight wins last year and that means problems here tonight for South Florida. Take NC State in what should be a Wolfpack blowout.

College Football playoffs begin here with No 4 Notre Dame taking on No 1 Alabama. Alabama laying a lot of wood in this game, currently around 19-20 points. This is the Rose Bowl, but not your normal Rose Bowl as it's been moved to Arlington, Texas from Pasadena due to Covid restrictions in California. Alabama makes it's sixth appearance in the NCAA FB playoffs in its seven year history. Alabama is an offensive juggernaut with Mac Jones at QB, Najee Harris at RB and WR DeVonta Smith that give this team a three-headed monster for defenses. The Tide have scored at least 52 points in four of their last five games and only one decided by less than 15 points. The only chance for Notre Dame here is to win the battle in the trenches and keep the ball out of Alabama's hands. If Notre Dame can't get a running game going, this will be a long day for the Irish. After what Clemson did to Notre Dame last time out I don't see how Alabama will be kept in check here today. I look for an Alabama blowout win.

SEC Championship game from Atlanta, GA here on Saturday has No 1 Alabama taking on No 7 Florida. Alabama looks to keep its perfect record in tact here on a top seed in the NCAA playoffs on New Year's day. Florida lost a shocker last week to LSU at home. LSU has had a horrible season with multiple injuries and COVID tests, but somehow pulled the biggest upset of the season. The Crimson Tide are almost a perfect team, difficult to find any weakness on this club. With QB Mac Jones, RB Najee Harris and WR DaVonta Smith they have three legitimate Heisman candidates. Alabama has won all year and won BIG! They are sending a statement the the NCAA that they are the team to beat this year and I have to agree with that. Even with Florida's excellent QB in Trask, I look for a Alabama blowout here on Saturday. I don't even know if Florida can recover from that LSU loss, let alone do so against the best team in the country. Play Alabama here on Saturday.

Conference USA Championship game here on Friday has the 5-3 UAB Blazers vs the 7-1 Marshall Thundering Herd. Marshall hasn't won in more than a month as they enter play here tonight. Marshall had their final game against Charlotte cancelled. Their only loss of the season coming at the hands of Rice where they gained just 245 total yards and QB Wells threw five interceptions. Marshall leads the FBS in points allowed, just 11.4 per game. Marshall has the 2nd best rushing defense, allowing just 73.0 yards per game. This Marshall defense will be a huge task for UAB to overcome here today. UAB hasn't won a game this year in which they have allowed more than 16 points, except their opening game against Central Arkansas. I look for Marshall to rebound from that Rice loss and use it's vaunted defense to shut down UAB. Play Marshall.

The annual USC vs UCLA rivalry game will lose some luster this week without the usual full Rose Bowl of rabid fans. USC has just four games this year after beating Washington State 38-13 and improving to 4-0 on the season. UCLA is 3-2 on the season after beating Arizona State, 25-18 on December 5. It's hard to figure who is more interested, but that appears to be USC with their perfect 4-0 record and top 20 ranking. Without the fans I have to be on the USC side in this one.

Northwestern showed just why they are one of the best teams in the Big 10 as they totally shut down Wisconsin last week, 17-7. The Northwestern defense we knew was good, but they were outstanding last week. They Cats have now covered all five games this year as they head to Michigan State today. The Michigan State Spartans were shut out two weeks ago by Indiana, 24-0. The Spartans have scored seven points combined in their last two games. Not good for now having to play the 15th ranked defense in the country. I look for another Northwestern win and possible shutout here on Saturday. Play Northwestern.

Top 25 matchup here on Friday has No 2 Notre Dame taking on No 25 North Carolina. This game looks to be the most difficult thus far for the Irish. Yes they played Clemson, but QB Lawrence missed that game with Covid. The Irish are a perfect 8-0 on the season while North Carolina is 6-2 with losses coming to Florida State and Virginia. The Tar Heels are coming off a shootout two weeks ago against Wake Forest, which they won in a come-from-behind fashion, 59-53. It follows that the Tar Heels would have the 4th ranked offense in the country. Notre Dame comes in at 24th. The Irish have a much better defense though, ranked 9th overall compared to the 68th ranked defense of NCU. These teams have met just once in the last five years and that was in 2017 with the Irish winning at Chapel Hill, 33-10. I like the Irish as it appears they are destined for a New Year's day playoff spot. They can' afford to look past any opponent, especially the Tar Heels here today. Play Notre Dame.

New Mexico is literally playing every game on the road this year. Due to Covid restrictions, they aren't allowed to play in their home stadium, so all their home games are in Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. In reality, this team has no home. And, they are still looking for that first win of the season. They played at Air Force last week and were able to hold the high flying Falcons to just 28 points, but alas, the Lobos were shutout. They also held a very potent Nevada offense to just 27 points the week before, but again lost, scoring just 20. Utah State has yet to win a game in four tries. In fact, they haven't scored more than 16 points in any game. The result was firing of their head coach. Still, same result last week in a 16-35 loss at home to Fresno. So tonight one of these teams will get their first win of the season. For me, I'm taking the UNDER here. Neither team has much offense to present. Utah State is 126th in offense, only U Mass is worse this year. New Mexico is better at 64th. I look for a low scoring game here today. Play UNDER.

Looks like early week is MAC week as MAC play enters its 3rd week, at least for most teams. Some have had Covid issues and games PPD. Tonight Akron travels to play at Kent State. Kent is one of the better teams in the MAC at 2-0 on Season. They opened with a win over Eastern Michigan, 27-23, but failed to cover 5-point line. Then they went to Bowling Green where they cruised to a 62-24 win and cover. Now they host a poor Akron as they should go 3-0 tonight. Akron is 0-2 after losing to Western Michigan 13-58 and then last week at Ohio, 10-24, covering the 26-point line. Akron out gained Ohio last week 434 to 307 yards. It was the three turnovers that hurt the Zips. Kent State rolled-up 667 yards at Bowling Green last week and had 30 more offensive plays. Kent is now 6th in the country in total yards. Kent held Akron to just 3 points last year in this matchup. I'm going to lay the points with a very good Kent team tonight. Play Kent.

No 9 Miami Florida hits the road today for a conference game at Virginia Tech. The Hurricanes are 6-1 on the season and while they likely won't make a CFB Playoff, they are in line for a good bowl game. The Canes lost last year at Virginia Tech, 35-42, but outgained Tech 563-337. It was a five turnover day that did in the Canes. Miami beat North Carolina State last week, 44-141 as a 11-point favorite. The Canes had 620 total yards and no turnovers in the win. Virginia Tech lost at home to a nationally ranked Liberty team, 35-38 as a 16.5 point favorite. Liberty ran 80 plays to just 58 for Tech. Virginia Tech could be without their top RB here today in Khalil Herbert. Herbert is nursing a hamstring injury and is questionable. Herbert has 804 yards on the season with seven TD's. I like Miami here as a small dog. Points likely won't come into play here, so I looking at a Miami straight up win. Play Miami Florida.

Central Michigan won a shootout last week at home over Ohio, 30-27. The Chippewas gained 427 yards to Ohio's 345 yards. In addition, they have 30 more offensive plays then did the Bobcats. Northern Illinois lost at home last week to Buffalo, 30-49. The Huskies had 29 more offensive plays, but just 40 yards more and yet were still outscored by 19 points thanks in part to a -3 turnover ratio. When these teams met last year that game was also in Nothern Illinois as Central won easily, 48-10 as a small dog. Central Michigan has really owned this NIU team, covering the last five years. I expect that again here tonight. I'm taking the road team in this one. Play Central Michigan.

The MAC finally got underway last week and Kent State was in a dog fight with Eastern Michigan. Kent pulled out the win and cover, 28-20. Kent had 431 yards of offense to just 302 by Eastern. In addition, they had a very balanced offense with 212 yards on the ground and 219 yards through the air. Bowling Green is one of the worst teams in the nation and it showed last week at Toledo. BG lost 3-38 as a 18-point dog and was almost doubled in yardage, 267-524. In addition, BG turned the ball over three times. Last year's meeting between these teams was not pretty for BG, as they lost at Kent, 20-62 and gave up 750 yards of offense! Kent has covered the last two in this series and that's just wahat I expect here tonight in another Kent rout. Play Kent State.

Cincinnati is flexing its muscles in the AAC conference after dismantling Memphis last week, 49-10 as a 6.5 point favorite. The Bearcats had 513 yards to just 321 by Memphis. That included 242 yards rushing. Cincy improved to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play. Houston comes into today's contest at 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the AAC. Houston will have its hands full this week with a 15th ranked Cincinnati defense and top defense in the AAC. Cincinnati hitting on all cylinders right now and that's what I like. They have their sights set on a New Year's day bowl game and I expect another Bearcats blowout here today. Take Cincinnati.

Tennessee was manhandled last week on their home turf by Kentucky, 7-34. That was the second loss in a row for the Vols. Meanwhile, Alabama came off a huge win last week over Georgia, 41-24. Even with the loss of QB Tua Tagovailoa and WR Henry Ruggs, the offense has been clicking under QB Mac Jones. Jones ranks first nationally in QB rating and completed 78.3% of his passes with 12 TD's and just two INT's. Tennessee will need better production from its QB's. Jarrett Guarantano has started all four games, but tossed two pick-six INT's last week vs Kentucky. Don't expect a letdown here today by the Tide, Saban always has his teams prepared. Tide will roll here today. Play Alabama.

No 11 Texas A&M is 2-1 on the season and has been a scoring machine through the air.  Mike Leach's Mississippi State Bulldogs are just 1-2 and under performed thus far this season. The Aggies had a big come-from-behind last week for one of their biggest victories when they defeated Florida, 41-38. The Aggies trailed 17-28  in the third quarter. The Bulldogs have to curtail their turnovers if they hope to have a chance here today. Costello threw four Interceptions against Kentucky. His backup, Rogers, came in and threw two more. Arkansas showed how to beat MSU and I believe Leach will take a page out of that playbook this week. I like A&M laying less than a TD here on the road today. Play Texas A&M. 

A pair of undefeated college football teams meet here on Wednesday night as Louisiana Ragin Cajuns take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in a Sun Belt conference matchup. Coastal opened the season with a win at Kansas followed by wins over Campbell and then last week against Arkansas State, 52-32. Louisiana was a program best 11-3 in 2019 and have won back-to-back Sun Best West divisions. Coastal has the conference's best offense so far this season, averaging 44.3 ppg and 6.9 yards per play. The Louisiana defense is holding teams to 5.2 yards per play. Louisiana is led by their offensive line and running attack, which Coastal will have to contend with tonight. Elijah Mitchell leads the team with 210 rushing yards and that is even after missing the Georgia Southern game. Big game for both teams as Coastal wants to prove they can play with Louisiana. Meanwhile, Louisiana can likely crack the top 25 with a good showing here tonight. Getting 7.5 points looks good with such a good offensive team as Carolina is tonight. Play Coastal Carolina.

 ESPN game here as Florida takes on Texas A&M. The Florida Gators are 2-0 on the season with A&M Aggies coming in a 1-1. The Aggies lost last week to Alabama, 24-52. Won't get any easier this week as they play an explosive Florida team. The offense is averaging 44.5 ppg so far and 7.8 yards per play. TE Kyle Pitts will pose a huge problem for A&M here. Pitts has has been a TD machine thus far and he's big and fast and it looks like the Aggies don't have an answer to covering him here today. The A&M secondary was destroyed last week by Alabama for 435 yards and four TD's. I don't see that getting any easier today against an equally explosive Florida offense. Take Florida in a blowout.