Temple Owls (3-5) at Navy Midshipmen (5-3)
Navy' ground attack ranked second nationally in rushing offense,
averaging 310 yards per game should be enough to control and outscore
the Owls ineffective offense in Annapolis
Oregon at California
The Ducks fly into Berkeley after downing the struggling Arizona State
Sun Devils last week 54-20. QB Jeremiah Masoli was 17-of-26 for 147
yards and a TD. He also rushed for 85 yards on 8 carries. Both running
backs, Jeremiah Johnson and LeGarrette Blount rushed for two touchdowns
each. Johnson set the pace by darting for a 43-yard TD run on the Ducks
first possession of the game. The Ducks dominated the Sun Devils from
the start as they had a 141-10 advantage in yards during the first
quarter.
Ducks previous starting QB Justin Roper saw action in the fourth
quarter as he connected with Chris Harper for a 62-yard touchdown pass
with less than 6-minutes to play.
Both of these teams will put up some points, but it will be the team
with the least amount of mistakes that may be left standing in the end.
California's defense is playing well, which is great timing as the
Ducks offense seems to be ironing out the kinks and producing more each
week.
California is favored at home but I like Oregon's chances to steal a
win on the road. The Ducks lost at home last year to the Bears 31-24
and I bet they are looking for revenge.
I like the setting for this game as both teams are similar by the
numbers but I must stick with the Pacific Northwest here and give a
Quack out to the Ducks. The Ducks get even after last year's loss and
win by a TD 35-28.
call:Navy-1/Oregon+9 (tease)
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(19) Tulsa (8-0) at Arkansas (3-5)
Arkansas has been successful on the ground, but will face Conference
USA second-ranked rush defense. Look for Tulsa's explosive offense led
by Quarterback David Johnson to overwhelm the Razorbacks.
Northwestern at Minnesota
Minnesota has won three of the last four meetings in this rivalry, both
SU and ATS, but dropped a 49-48 overtime decision at Northwestern last
season, cashing as a 6-point pup. The Gophers are 7-2
ATS in the last nine meetings, including a 43-17 win as 13-point
favorites the last time Northwestern came into the Metrodome in 2004.
Finally, the dog has cashed in eight of the last nine series battles.
The Wildcats are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 after a straight-up loss and 5-1 ATS in their last six after a non-cover. But Northwestern is on slides of 1-4 ATS on the highway and 5-13 ATS in road games against teams with a winning home record. Meanwhile, in addition to its current 6-0 ATS run, Minnesota is on positive pointspread streaks of 6-0 in Big Ten play, 5-1 in November and 4-0 against winning teams.
Northwestern playing with a banged up QB and Minnesota has the offense clicking and always tough at home.
call:Tulsa-1/Minnesota-1 1/2 (tease)
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Florida St at Ga Tech
Florida State?s defense has been a premier defense in college football
this year holding teams to 247 yards per game ranking them 3rd best in
the nation. The State rush defense has been sound as well holding teams
to 74 yards per game resulting in the No. 7 ranked rush defense in
America. Offensively, Florida State has been efficient in moving the
football. Florida St. has racked up 390 yards per game, while 193 yards
per game have come from the rushing game. The main success the
Seminoles have had is putting the ball in the end zone where they have
averaged 36 points this season ranking them as a top 20 scoring offense.
Georgia Tech defense has been strong all year holding teams to 272
yards per game, resulting in the No. 12 ranked defenses in terms of
total yards. Georgia Tech's defense has been outstanding keeping
opponents off the scoreboard only allowing 13 points per game. That No.
7 ranked scoring defense has been the main reason Georgia Tech has had
so much success this season.
Florida has owned this SEC showdown, with 15-3 record and 11-6-1 ATS mark. Watch out for the favorite, who is just 1-5-1 ATS in the last seven years. For those that already know who the winner is, back them, since the straight up victor is 22-3-1 ATS.
Sometimes history is hard to change and I think that will be the case
again this weekend. Bobby Bowden stays perfect against Georgia Tech.
Iowa+2.5 at Illinois
This isn't a terrible line, but I do think Iowa is the better team, and I think they pull out a close one here.
call:Florida St+8.5/Iowa+8.5 (tease)
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Miami at Virginia
Virginia crushed Miami in South Beach a year ago, winning 48-0 as a
four-point underdog to deal the Hurricanes their worst shutout loss in
Orange Bowl history on the final game in the old stadium. It was the
second straight year the Cavs beat the Canes and their third straight
spread-cover in the rivalry. The last time the two met in
Charlottesville was 2006 when Virginia got a 17-7 win as a three-point pup.
The Hurricanes are 4-0 ATS in their last four roadies, but otherwise they're on ATS slides of 6-15-1
in ACC contests, 7-33 following a spread-cover and 3-7 in November
contests. Virginia is 28-12 in its last 40 games in Charlottesville (4-1
last five), and all four of its victories and covers during its current
winning steak have come against teams with a winning record.
There's something to be said for being the hot team, and right now
Vegas hasn't really caught up with the Cavs huge streak. Miami is
capable of winning, but UVA is the better team, and they're at home,
which makes a line less than a field goal too low.
call:Virginia-2
Duke at Wake Forest
Duke continues to be under rated and provided solid value. Wake Forest
tough at home but may let down here a bit and that's a mistake against
a much improved Duke squad.
call:Duke+8