2* Tennessee Volunteers +3 -110
Tennessee will not be bowl eligible this year so you really have to factor in motivation for the Vols here. Fulmer is a lame duck coach, but these players love him and he is a long time coach that deserves to go out the right way. Still another game vs. UK next week, but I like this spot vs. the in-state conference foe. With their SEC schedule winding down, this is their last game vs. in-state "rival" Vanderbilt that they have been beating up on for many years in a big-brother type fashion.
Vols have been putrid this year, and that is why this is not a 4*+. Bad team and I dont put good money on bad teams.
But it's hard not to like their spot in this situation.
Vols are off a bye week to get together and get situated, Vandy clinched bowl eligiblity last week, which was a longshot goal for them this year and should be a great accomplishment for them in the SEC.
Always that chance that the Vols can come out and stink up the joint, but I'm going to guess that with the in-state rivalry, an SEC game, Fulmer's tenure winding down off a bye week, vs. a beatable opponent and getting points with the public piled up on the other side (Vandy)....this is too good to pass up.
Vols 24
Dores 19
Tennessee will not be bowl eligible this year so you really have to factor in motivation for the Vols here. Fulmer is a lame duck coach, but these players love him and he is a long time coach that deserves to go out the right way. Still another game vs. UK next week, but I like this spot vs. the in-state conference foe. With their SEC schedule winding down, this is their last game vs. in-state "rival" Vanderbilt that they have been beating up on for many years in a big-brother type fashion.
Vols have been putrid this year, and that is why this is not a 4*+. Bad team and I dont put good money on bad teams.
But it's hard not to like their spot in this situation.
Vols are off a bye week to get together and get situated, Vandy clinched bowl eligiblity last week, which was a longshot goal for them this year and should be a great accomplishment for them in the SEC.
Always that chance that the Vols can come out and stink up the joint, but I'm going to guess that with the in-state rivalry, an SEC game, Fulmer's tenure winding down off a bye week, vs. a beatable opponent and getting points with the public piled up on the other side (Vandy)....this is too good to pass up.
Vols 24
Dores 19
I originally played Tennessee when the line opened last Sunday. However I spoke with a few people who alerted me not to expect much of an effort from them today. The team doesn't give a shit about this game. I ended up going strong on Vandy in the 1st Q as I think they will cover that easily.
4* Arkansas Razorbacks -2 -110
Arkansas was a team written off very early by a lot of people. No D-Mac, no Felix Jones, no Wildcat....new coach...a lot of attention was paid to Arkansas early in the season by bettors so they can gauge exactly how good or bad this team was with all of the new moving parts.
This team got clobbered early, and was written off ever since as one of the worst teams in the SEC.
Fast forward to now. The back-to-back-to-back 3 game stretch that resulted in 3 straight losses (half their losses) early in the season included 3 straight games vs. FLORIDA, ALABAMA, and TEXAS. You wont find a team in the country who played 3 more difficult games in a row during a transition period, a coach trying to install a new system, get a feel for his players, etc.
Bottom line Arkansas is not as bad as they seem.
Their numbers offensively, and defensively blow Miss State out of the water in every single category known to man that is important to winning football games, and that is vs. a much tougher schedule.
Bobby Petrino is a new coach, with that new coach mentality of trying to build on each and every win, building for the future, and wants to get off on the right track with his new team and new fan base.
Meanwhile, Sylvester Croom is hanging on by a thread, and in times of desperation like this, these old tired, wounded techniques start to grow olw and wary on your team. Theyve heard these speeches in the past and they havent worked. So why would they work now? They probably heard every speech in the book last week vs. Bama, Croom's alma mater a special game for him. Now he plays Arkansas in a let down spot emotionally and mentally.
I also like that Croom has never faced this Petrino offense before and Croom is the one who will be on the defensive trying to adjust against it, and react to the offense, and Petrino will be the aggressor in this game.
Miss State is fresh in the publics mind. "They didnt play too bad vs. Bama" in that big Saturday Night spot. Now they are at home getting points. Not so fast.
With Bama last game and the big annual in-state showdown with Ole Miss on the horizon, this is a sandwich game of sorts for Miss State.
Meanwhile, Petrino will scrape and claw to get any win he can at his new program so his team can build off of it. He will not overlook the Bulldogs here.
Motivation, talent, coaching, and major numbers mismatch. And an awesome spread where you should essentially be picking a winner and you are not relying on Arkansas to have to go out and cover some big number and get backdoored.
A hidden gem here.
Arkansas 27
Miss State 17
Arkansas was a team written off very early by a lot of people. No D-Mac, no Felix Jones, no Wildcat....new coach...a lot of attention was paid to Arkansas early in the season by bettors so they can gauge exactly how good or bad this team was with all of the new moving parts.
This team got clobbered early, and was written off ever since as one of the worst teams in the SEC.
Fast forward to now. The back-to-back-to-back 3 game stretch that resulted in 3 straight losses (half their losses) early in the season included 3 straight games vs. FLORIDA, ALABAMA, and TEXAS. You wont find a team in the country who played 3 more difficult games in a row during a transition period, a coach trying to install a new system, get a feel for his players, etc.
Bottom line Arkansas is not as bad as they seem.
Their numbers offensively, and defensively blow Miss State out of the water in every single category known to man that is important to winning football games, and that is vs. a much tougher schedule.
Bobby Petrino is a new coach, with that new coach mentality of trying to build on each and every win, building for the future, and wants to get off on the right track with his new team and new fan base.
Meanwhile, Sylvester Croom is hanging on by a thread, and in times of desperation like this, these old tired, wounded techniques start to grow olw and wary on your team. Theyve heard these speeches in the past and they havent worked. So why would they work now? They probably heard every speech in the book last week vs. Bama, Croom's alma mater a special game for him. Now he plays Arkansas in a let down spot emotionally and mentally.
I also like that Croom has never faced this Petrino offense before and Croom is the one who will be on the defensive trying to adjust against it, and react to the offense, and Petrino will be the aggressor in this game.
Miss State is fresh in the publics mind. "They didnt play too bad vs. Bama" in that big Saturday Night spot. Now they are at home getting points. Not so fast.
With Bama last game and the big annual in-state showdown with Ole Miss on the horizon, this is a sandwich game of sorts for Miss State.
Meanwhile, Petrino will scrape and claw to get any win he can at his new program so his team can build off of it. He will not overlook the Bulldogs here.
Motivation, talent, coaching, and major numbers mismatch. And an awesome spread where you should essentially be picking a winner and you are not relying on Arkansas to have to go out and cover some big number and get backdoored.
A hidden gem here.
Arkansas 27
Miss State 17
1* Ole Miss Rebels +3.5 -110
LSU is not a very good team this year, and the only good teams they have played, they have basically lost to.
Ole Miss is a good team. One of the biggest misconceptions is looking at this team because of their logo....meaning their history, their past.
They have a new coach, who can be very hot or very cold. He is hot right now.
They have innovative offensive ideas. They have something very big to play for here. And once again, 4 potential top 3 round draft picks in the trenches, 1 1st rounder on the line (and potential #1 pick) and 1 potential 1st rounder on the D-Line.
LSU loves to win with smashmouth and "outphysicaling" you and that wont work vs. Ole Miss. Ole Miss' win vs. Florida was no fluke. I dont mean that Ole Miss is better than Florida, just that they have a lot of talent, and a new coach that they believe in.
They went into Gainesville, FL at the Swamp and won. They have confidence going into this game that they can do the same.
They do it behind a very underrated QB Jevan Snead, who was recruited by all of the big schools, landed at Texas, and transferred out. He is smart, accurate and he helps give Houston Nutt's rushing attack and Wild Rebel formation some balance. They are tough in the trenches, they are good vs. the pass, and they match up well here with motivation in their favor as well.
Numbers advantage also to Ole Miss. My line Ole Miss -4.
Ole Miss 24
LSU 20
LSU is not a very good team this year, and the only good teams they have played, they have basically lost to.
Ole Miss is a good team. One of the biggest misconceptions is looking at this team because of their logo....meaning their history, their past.
They have a new coach, who can be very hot or very cold. He is hot right now.
They have innovative offensive ideas. They have something very big to play for here. And once again, 4 potential top 3 round draft picks in the trenches, 1 1st rounder on the line (and potential #1 pick) and 1 potential 1st rounder on the D-Line.
LSU loves to win with smashmouth and "outphysicaling" you and that wont work vs. Ole Miss. Ole Miss' win vs. Florida was no fluke. I dont mean that Ole Miss is better than Florida, just that they have a lot of talent, and a new coach that they believe in.
They went into Gainesville, FL at the Swamp and won. They have confidence going into this game that they can do the same.
They do it behind a very underrated QB Jevan Snead, who was recruited by all of the big schools, landed at Texas, and transferred out. He is smart, accurate and he helps give Houston Nutt's rushing attack and Wild Rebel formation some balance. They are tough in the trenches, they are good vs. the pass, and they match up well here with motivation in their favor as well.
Numbers advantage also to Ole Miss. My line Ole Miss -4.
Ole Miss 24
LSU 20
1* Boston College Eagles -1 -110
Not a ton to say here. I thought BC would have a let down last week after the win over Notre Dame then traveling to FSU. They passed a big test in my eyes going down to Tallahassee and taking care of FSU. Its safe to say this team is playing good football right now, and that is what you have to do if you want to beat Wake because they wont beat themselves. Coach Jags has his team on the right track, Wake is overvalued from the previous 2 years performance and they have a hard time scoring points this year. Vs. this BC defense, the end zone and Wake shouldnt have much interaction.
Small play here as Wake is solid at home.
But a 1-point spread is pick your winner and with no road chalk needing to be laid, I feel good enough to make a play on this small.
BC 27
Wake 16
Not a ton to say here. I thought BC would have a let down last week after the win over Notre Dame then traveling to FSU. They passed a big test in my eyes going down to Tallahassee and taking care of FSU. Its safe to say this team is playing good football right now, and that is what you have to do if you want to beat Wake because they wont beat themselves. Coach Jags has his team on the right track, Wake is overvalued from the previous 2 years performance and they have a hard time scoring points this year. Vs. this BC defense, the end zone and Wake shouldnt have much interaction.
Small play here as Wake is solid at home.
But a 1-point spread is pick your winner and with no road chalk needing to be laid, I feel good enough to make a play on this small.
BC 27
Wake 16
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1* Duke Blue Devils +14.5 -110
Just way too many points here, I dont care who is out for Duke.
Va Tech is not built to blow people out, and they arent firing on all cylinders right now losing 3 of their last 4 straight up. Their highest margin of victory all year was 17 points to Furman all the way back in week 2 of the season. Other than that they havent eclipsed the 14 point margin of victory at all all season.
Va Tech is overrated at home during day games, and after their big deflating showdown with Miami last week, I dont think we see full focus from the Hokies today.
Va Tech 20
Duke 13
Just way too many points here, I dont care who is out for Duke.
Va Tech is not built to blow people out, and they arent firing on all cylinders right now losing 3 of their last 4 straight up. Their highest margin of victory all year was 17 points to Furman all the way back in week 2 of the season. Other than that they havent eclipsed the 14 point margin of victory at all all season.
Va Tech is overrated at home during day games, and after their big deflating showdown with Miami last week, I dont think we see full focus from the Hokies today.
Va Tech 20
Duke 13
2* BYU Cougars +7 -120
Love BYU getting a full TD here as I think they are the better team all around. Keeping the play at 2* because of them being on "the road". Tons of pressure on Utah to maintain that perfect record, and I think BYU comes out as the loose team with nothing to lose, and Utah everything to lose - a BCS Bowl Berth, bragging rights, an undefeated season and more. Very hard to believe that they come out and just put a beat down on BYU and win by 2 scores when I feel BYU is the better team.
BYU 31
Utah 27
Love BYU getting a full TD here as I think they are the better team all around. Keeping the play at 2* because of them being on "the road". Tons of pressure on Utah to maintain that perfect record, and I think BYU comes out as the loose team with nothing to lose, and Utah everything to lose - a BCS Bowl Berth, bragging rights, an undefeated season and more. Very hard to believe that they come out and just put a beat down on BYU and win by 2 scores when I feel BYU is the better team.
BYU 31
Utah 27
