5 PLAYS on the board for FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL!! Let's roll tonight......
TONIGHT'S ACTION --
(NCAA FB)
RICE OWLS (-7.5)
This one should be exciting, but expect Rice to get the job done on their own home turf in a game that could become a shootout when all is said and done. Rice took an expected blowout loss last week at Marshall, losing 41-14 as the +21 point underdogs, but they had picked up 6 straight wins ML and ATS immediately prior to that. All 6 of those wins had them as the listed favorite, making the Owls 6-1 ATS as the favorite on the 2014 season, with none of those wins coming by a margin less than 10 points. They have also absolutely owned this series, as they come into tonight's meeting having won 3 straight contests between the two schools and have posted a 7-1 ML mark in the L8 meetings. They have also been absolute money for their backers in those meetings, picking up 10 wins ATS in the L11 battles against UTEP, with a perfect 6-0 ATS mark in the L6 games played between them on their home campus. UTEP is hot coming into this one, having won 4 of their L5 meetings overall, with all 5 of those games resulting in them covering the spread. They have done most of their damage at home in 2014, with a less than mediocre 2-3 ML and above mediocre 3-2 ATS in those 5 games. They have covered 2 straight on the road ATS against Western Kentucky as a +9 dog (lost 35-27) and at UTSA as a +14 point dog (win 34-0). Take the RICE OWLS to COVER on their home turf tonight......
SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS (+14.5) AND
OVER 46 SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS @ UTAH STATE AGGIES
Okay so upon first glance the first play to make in this game probably has to be on the Aggies of Utah State on their own campus, especially when you consider their recent performance overall against San Jose State, but we say not so fast here tonight. Not only has San Jose State been a tough team to beat all season long, as they have lost by more than today's spread only 2 times this season, and those two games came way back in weeks 2 and 3 in games played at Minnesota (24-7) and at Auburn (59-13). They haven't been all that great of a road team to lay their money on either, dropping 4 of their 5 games ATS on the road this season, although the last 3 road contests for the Spartans have been a 14 point loss at Fresno State, a 10 point loss at Navy and a 7 point OT win at Wyoming. On the other end of the spectrum, Utah State has struggled when playing as a double-digit favorite this season, posting an 0-4 ATS mark in those 4 games they were laying 10 points or more, with 3 of those 4 ML wins coming by only 14 points or less. The Aggies have struggled covering on their home turf this season as well, posting a 1-4 ATS mark in their 5 games played on their campus, with 3 of their L4 wins there coming by 14 points or less against equal competition in New Mexico (28-20), UNLV (34-20) and Wake Forest (36-24). Utah State has won 5 straight meetings against the Spartans, however, San Jose State lost 34-33 in their last meeting in Utah back in 2011 and 3 of the L4 meetings between the two schools at Utah State have been decided by 7 or less points, with San Jose State even escaping with a win in one of those games. Take SAN JOSE STATE as the big underdog and the OVER in tonight's meeting......
UNDER 49 AIR FORCE FALCONS @ SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS AND
AIR FORCE FALCONS (+5)
For starters, this line really makes me scratch my head. Yes, San Diego State comes into tonight's game with a perfect 4-0 ML mark at home so far in 2014, although those wins came against Idaho (35-21); Hawaii (20-10); UNLV (34-17) and Northern Arizona (38-7) -- not exactly top notch competition. They have been a disappointment for their backers at home though, going 1-2-1 ATS in their 4 games there and not having covered a spread on their home turf since week 1 against the Lumberjacks of NAU. They haven't done nearly as well against the better competition this season, although all of those games came on the road so it is hard to tell. But it is worth noting that Boise State, Nevada, Fresno State, Oregon State and North Carolina all had their way with the Aztecs with little problem. And yes, Air Force will be without their leading rusher tonight it appears as Owens is doubtful for the game, and that will hamper the Falcons offense, but this team has been rolling lately and comes into tonight's battle having won 4 straight games and posted 7 wins in their L8 games overall. They have done that largely dependent on the rushing attack as they have averaged just under 300 YPG on the ground and have out-gained all but two teams in the running game this season. That didn't seem to faze them in those two games, as they won both of those contests against New Mexico and Navy. Air Force is also 2-1 ATS when playing as the underdog this season. These two teams typically match up to the Under when they play, as 5 of their L6 contests have stayed below the total. Both of the last 2 meetings this last 2 seasons have stayed Under the total and 4 of the L6. The Under also happens to be a perfect 5-0 in the L5 meetings between the two schools played at San Diego State, while each of the Aztecs last 4 homes games this season have stayed Under the total. San Diego State has played to a 9-1 mark for the Under in 2014 overall. Roll with the AIR FORCE FALCONS and the UNDER for this showdown.......
There you have it!! That is our action for this FRIDAY night in the NCAA FB, NBA and NCAA BB!!
Best of luck to all tonight!! Let's get that money!!
PORT PORT SPORTS