Saturday’s NCAAF Top 25 betting cheat sheet and odds: Week 10
Both No. 6 Ohio State and No. 10 Nebraska need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive when they meet Saturday at the Horseshoe.
No. 5 Louisville at Boston College (+25, 55.5)
* Lamar Jackson, who has accounted for an FBS-high 38 touchdowns, is four yards away from becoming the first quarterback in school history to run for 1,000 in a season and still leads the nation with 16 rushing scores despite getting held out of the end zone against the Cavaliers. Jamari Staples (29 catches for a team-high 546 yards), James Quick (32 for 523) and Cole Hikutini (33 for 482) each rank inside the top 13 in the conference in receiving yards and have taken turns leading the team in that category in every game this season. Sophomore cornerback Jaire Alexander, who picked off two passes for the second time in four games, was named ACC Defensive Back of the Week and ranks second in the nation with five interceptions.
* The Eagles got unusual contributions from several players versus the Wolfpack, as leading receiver Jeff Smith rushed 60 yards for their first score and running back Davon Jones threw a short scoring pass to tight end Tommy Sweeney for the go-ahead TD with 4:43 remaining. Starting quarterback Patrick Towles (204 passing yards) and top rusher Jon Hilliman (20 carries for 74 yards) each returned from injury and recorded their second and third-best efforts of the season, respectively. Harold Landry continued to wreak havoc on opposing offenses with a sack and forced fumble to earn ACC co-Defensive Lineman of the Week honors; the junior defensive end is tied for national lead in sacks (nine) and forced fumbles (five).
LINE HISTORY: Louisville opened as 25-point road favorites and as of Friday morning that number hasn’t moved. The total opened at 55 and has gone up as high as 57 and since came back to 55.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Cardinals are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games on fieldturf.
* Cardinals are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Over is 7-0 in Cardinals last 7 games in November.
* Over is 4-1 in Eagles last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Vanderbilt at No. 12 Auburn (-26.5, 45)
* Junior Ralph Webb is second in the SEC with 855 rushing yards - Auburn sophomore Kamryn Pettway has 933 - and needs 230 to break the school career record of 3,143 set by Zac Stacy (2009-12). Linebacker Zach Cunningham leads the SEC with 85 tackles and is second with 13.5 for losses, which remarkably do not include a sack. Vanderbilt boasts a special-teams threat in senior Darrius Sims, who is third in nation at 32.1 yards per kickoff return and needs 17 to break the school record of 2,263 set by Mark Johnson (1986-90).
* The Tigers are the only team in the nation to average better than 300 yards rushing and 200 passing, with Kerryon Johnson (580 yards, eight touchdowns) a heavy contributor. Pettway (seven TDs) rushed for a career-high 236 yards and a score in last week's 40-29 victory at Ole Miss and has averaged 199 yards with six TDs in his last three games. Lineman Carl Lawson is third in the SEC and tied for 14th nationally with 7.5 sacks.
LINE HISTORY: Auburn opened as 24.5-point road favorites and as of Thursday night that point spread has risen to 26.5. The total opened at 45 and remains at that number on Thursday evening. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 conference games.
* Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
* Under is 5-1-1 in Commodores last 7 games following a straight up win.
* Under is 9-2-1 in Commodores last 12 road games.
No. 7 Texas A&M at Mississippi State (13.5, 61.5)
* The Aggies lead the nation in tackles for loss with 77 and are tied for 10th in sacks (3.25 per game) behind a defense led by ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall. The two combine for 7.5 sacks, and their consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks helps the Texas A&M defense lead the SEC with 19 takeaways. Sophomore wide receiver Christian Kirk hauled in a TD reception for the third straight game last week and gave the special teams a big boost by running a pair of punts back for touchdowns to push his school-record total to four punt return TDs.
* The Bulldogs won their SEC opener the second week of the season against South Carolina but dropped four of the next five before Nick Fitzgerald worked his way into the record books in a win over Samford last week. Fitzgerald passed for 417 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 119 yards and two scores to join Archie Manning and Johnny Manziel as the only quarterbacks in SEC history to record at least 400 yards through the air and 100 on the ground in the same game. Fitzgerald tying the school record for single-game TDs helped overshadow another struggle for the defense, which surrendered 627 yards to a FCS team.
LINE HISTORY: Texas A&M opened as 13.5-point faves and that number is fine with the betting public and has held all week. The total opened at 60.5 and went up a full point to 61.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Aggies are 5-0 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
* Bulldogs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Under is 8-0 in Aggies last 8 road games.
* Under is 20-5-1 in Bulldogs last 26 games after allowing more than 40 points in their previous game.
No. 8 Wisconsin at Northwestern (7, 41)
* With leading rusher Corey Clement bottled up for most of the day (exactly half of his 82 yards rushing on 19 carries came on one late rush), Dare Ogunbowale erupted for a season-high 120 yards, including the eventual game-winning touchdown in overtime. Ryan Connelly started in place of injured leading tackler Jack Cichy at inside linebacker and earned Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording a career-high 11 tackles (two for loss) and two pass breakups. Wisconsin is one of four FBS teams to boast a pair of players with at least 10 pass breakups (Derrick Tindal has 12 and Sojourn Shelton has 10), helping the Badgers post the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in the country (0.4) and tie LSU for fewest TD passes allowed (four).
* Clayton Thorson ranks third in the league in passing yards (1,942), yards per game (242.8) and touchdowns (15) - the last of which is the most ever by a sophomore quarterback in school history. Favorite target Austin Carr was held out of the end zone for the first time in seven games versus Ohio State, but the senior receiver collected a career-high 158 yards on eight catches and still leads the conference in receptions (58), receiving yards (878), receiving yards per game (109.8) and touchdowns (9). Defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo did not record a sack for the first time in four games, but he remains the Big Ten leader with eight and needs 6.5 more before the end of the season to tie the school record.
LINE HISTORY: Wisconsin opened as 5.5-point faves and throughout the week that line continued to rise and on Friday morning was 7. The total opened at 41, quickly dropped to 40.5, then rose to 42, before settling at 41 as of Friday morning. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Badgers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games
* Badgers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games on grass.
* Under is 6-1 in Badgers last 7 games following a ATS loss.
* Under is 4-1 in Badgers last 5 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
Georgia Tech at No. 17 North Carolina (-10.5, 61.5)
* The Yellow Jackets begin a difficult month in which they will play three of four games on the road, including back-to-back away matchups against ranked teams (North Carolina on Saturday; No. 21 Virginia Tech on Nov. 12). Thomas’ big day, the third-highest single-game yardage total in school history, helped Georgia Tech pile up 605 yards of total offense against Duke. The Yellow Jackets have struggled defensively of late, allowing 35 or more points in three of their past four games.
* The Tar Heels surrendered 31.5 points per game during their first six contests but have improved of late, limiting Virginia to 93 total yards in the second half of a 35-14 victory on Oct. 22. Trubisky passed for 310 yards and three touchdowns against the Cavaliers, and has three of the top 11 single-game passing performances in school history this season. Running back Elijah Hood averages five yards per carry and rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown against Virginia.
LINE HISTORY: The Tar Heels opened as 11-point home favorites and by Thursday evening has dropped to 10.5. The total opened at 58 and jumped as high as 62, before ending up at 61.5 by the end of the week. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Tar Heels are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
* Tar Heels are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
* Over is 4-0 in Yellow Jackets last 4 games overall.
* Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
Syracuse at No. 2 Clemson (-26.5, 66.5)
* The Orange boast one of the nation’s most improved offenses, averaging 487 total yards behind the prolific passing duo of quarterback Eric Dungey and receiver Amba Etta-Tawo. Syracuse averages 45 pass attempts per game, with Dungey completing 65 percent of his passes for an average of 329 yards per game and Etta-Tawo ranking third nationally with 134 receiving yards per contest. The defense has improved recently, allowing 18.5 points per game over the past two contests after giving up an average of 36 in the first six games of the season..
* The Tigers have been somewhat inconsistent in their ability to run the ball, though Wayne Gallman put up 82 yards and two touchdowns in a solid effort at Florida State. Gallman, Watson and Co. should be able to exploit a Syracuse defense that gives up 450.8 yards per game and hasn’t had much success stopping the run or the pass. Clemson’s defense will have its work cut out against the Orange’s up-tempo offense but has been up to the task all season, ranking in the top 15 nationally in total defense and scoring defense.
LINE HISTORY: Clemson opened the week as monster 26 point home favorites and as of Thursday night that spread was up to 26.5. The total opened at 61.5 and exploded to 68 by Friday morning. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Orange are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
* Tigers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
* Under is 4-0 in Orange last 4 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
* Under is 4-0 in Orange last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
No. 21 Virginia Tech at Duke (11.5, 53)
* Evans sprained his ankle in the win over Pittsburgh but has been able to practice fully as he looks to follow up a performance in which he compiled 439 total yards, the most ever for a Hokies quarterback in ACC play. Junior wide receiver Cam Phillips was the team's leading rusher with 43 yards and also hauled in six catches for a career-high 109 yards. Travon McMillian, who was held to minus-3 yards on six carries last week, had a career-high 142 in last year's 45-43 quadruple-overtime loss to the Blue Devils.
* Duncan's injury is the latest blow for a team that also lost quarterback Thomas Sirk to the same injury and top cornerback DeVon Edwards to torn ligaments in his left knee. Junior Shaun Wilson, who had 109 yards on 10 carries versus the Yellow Jackets, is next up in the rushing department, while quarterback Daniel Jones ranks third with 276 yards on 82 carries. Jones became the first Duke freshman with three 300-yard passing games when he had 305 last week.
LINE HISTORY: The Hokies began the betting week at 11.5-point road favorites and by the time this cheat sheet was put together that number was down to 10.5-point faves. The total hit the board at 52.5 and has risen to 53. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Hokies are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on grass.
* Blue Devils are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
* Under is 4-0 in Hokies last 4 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
* Under is 4-0 in Blue Devils last 4 home games.
* Underdog is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
Texas Christian at No. 13 Baylor (7.5, 68.5)
* Starting quarterback Kenny Hill was pulled in favor of sophomore Foster Sawyer during last Saturday's 27-24 double-overtime loss to Texas Tech -- the Horned Frogs' third setback in four games -- after throwing his 10th interception of the season but the Texas A&M transfer is still expected to start this week. Running back Kyle Hicks, who injured his left ankle in the loss to Texas Tech and leads the team with 597 rushing yards and is tied for the team lead with 31 catches, was listed as probable by head coach Gary Patterson. The Horned Frogs are tied with Texas for the Big 12 lead in sacks (31) with end Mat Boesen (6) leading the way while junior linebacker Travis Howard leads the conference in tackles (88).
* Quarterback Seth Russell, who missed the last six games of the 2015 season with a neck injury and took numerous hard hits from the Texas defense, is expected to start but will continue to be monitored for potential concussion-like symptoms throughout the week after feeling nauseous and groggy about 90 minutes after the loss. Russell has thrown 52 touchdown passes and only 11 interceptions while compiling a 14-1 record in 15 career starts with junior wide receiver KD Cannon, who ranks fourth in the Big 12 in both receptions (5.8) and receiving yards (88.5) his No. 1 target. Baylor's defense, which is second in the Big 12 in takeaways (16) and first in passing yards allowed (179.4), is led by returning all-Big 12 linebacker Taylor Young (53 tackles, 4 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss) and junior defensive back Travon Blanchard, a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist who has 34 tackles and four pass breakups.
LINE HISTORY: Baylor opened as 10-point faves and throughout the week that line was dropped like a rock before settling at 7.5. The total opened at 69 and the line went down to 68.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Horned Frogs are 13-6 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Bears are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
* Under is 4-0 in Horned Frogs last 4 road games.
* Horned Frogs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
* Underdog is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
No. 9 Florida at Arkansas (3.5, 47)
* The Gators gave up 38 points in their lone loss to Tennessee and 44 combined during six victories, standing second in the nation in total defense (239.9 yards). Sophomore quarterback Luke Del Rio threw for 131 yards in the 24-10 victory over Georgia last week and has three receivers with at least 25 catches, but junior tight end DeAndre Goolsby (hand) is questionable. Sophomore Jordan Scarlett rushed for 194 yards combined the last two games and the Gators get fellow running back Mark Thompson back after a one-game suspension.
* Allen is third in the SEC in passing yards per game (256) and boasts 18 touchdown passes as opposed to seven interceptions with a trio of talented veteran receivers as weapons. Seniors Drew Morgan (41 catches, 420 yards, two TDs) and Keon Hatcher (28, 435, five), along with junior Jared Cornelius (24, 465, four), are all dangerous through the air. Sophomore Rawleigh Williams III has also had a big year on the ground, totaling 807 yards and five touchdowns, but will have to rebound after registering a season-low 22 yards against Auburn.
LINE HISTORY: The Gators opened as 5.5-points favorites and as of Thursday night it had dropped 2 full points. The total opened at 47 and remains at that number on Thursday. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Gators are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Razorbacks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after accumulating less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
* Under is 4-1 in Razorbacks last 5 home games.
* Favorite is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
No. 22 Oklahoma State at Kansas State (-3, 57)
* Junior quarterback Mason Rudolph has stepped things up over the last month, throwing for 1,273 yards and 11 touchdowns without an interception, including a 273-yard, three-TD outing against the Mountaineers. Wideouts James Washington (43 receptions-857 yards-six TDs) and Jalen McCleskey (49-602-5) are Rudolph’s top targets, but the ground game has struggled to find consistent traction behind leading rusher Justice Hill (128 carries-619 yards-four scores). Defensively, the Cowboys are allowing 26.5 points and 445.2 total yards per game, and their strength is a formidable defensive line, led by defensive tackle Vincent Taylor (4.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss), that has accounted for 18.5 of the team’s 22 sacks.
* Quarterback Jesse Ertz only has thrown for 1,078 yards and seven touchdowns this season but has emerged as a dangerous running threat, capped by last week’s career-high 106 yards on nine carries against Iowa State. Senior tailback Charles Jones ranks second to Ertz on the team with 439 yards and two TDs on 88 attempts, but Snyder will ride the “hot hand” in games, and against Iowa State, sophomores Justin Silmon (9-54-1) and freshman Alex Barnes (5-37-1) stepped forward to complement Ertz. On the other side of the ball, linebacker Elijah Lee (8.6 tackles per game) and defensive end Jordan Willis (Big 12-most eight sacks) anchor a defense which has been the best in the conference against the run (102.9 yards per game) and is allowing only 21.6 points and 363.5 yards per game.
LINE HISTORY: The Cowboys opened the betting week as 1.5-point road favorites and the public decided that wasn’t enough - betting the line up to 3-point faves. The total hit the board at 58.5 and had been bet down to 56. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Cowboys are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games after accumulating less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
* Cowboys are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on fieldturf.
* Over is 9-2 in Cowboys last 11 conference games.
* Over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
Maryland at No. 2 Michigan (-31, 54)
* Ty Johnson racked up 142 yards on 13 carries in the loss to Indiana for his second straight 100-yard game and can become the first running back since Lance Ball in 2005 to reach the century mark in three consecutive contests. Running back Lorenzo Harrison has been a revelation in the backfield for the Terrapins and needs 115 yards to break LaMont Jordan's freshman record (689) set in 1997. Sophomore wide receiver D.J. Moore caught five passes for 81 yards and a touchdown against the Hoosiers - his third straight game with a score - to extend his streak of games with at least one reception to 16.
* Kenny Allen was named the Big Ten's Special Teams Player of the Week after kicking field goals of 23, 23 and a season-long 45 yards in the win over Michigan State. Heisman Trophy candidate Jabrill Peppers, who registered a rushing touchdown, seven tackles and a sack against the Spartans, has been named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award, which is given to the most outstanding player in college football. Nose tackle Bryan Mone limped off with an apparent leg injury but Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh expects him to play on Saturday but Harbaugh was mum when asked about slot receiver Grant Perry, who has missed the last three games for undisclosed reasons.
LINE HISTORY: Michigan opened as 30.5-point home favorites and inched up a half point to 31. The total opened at 54 and has yet to move. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Terrapins are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
* Wolverines are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
* Over is 5-0 in Wolverines last 5 games in November.
* Over is 7-0 in Wolverines last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Arizona at No. 25 Washington State (-17, 65.5)
* With running back Nick Wilson out for several more games, the Wildcats have turned to converted receiver Samajie Grant, who finished with 64 yards on 19 carries in last week’s loss to Stanford. Grant could receive a heavier workload Saturday after Dawkins and Solomon each struggled to establish a rhythm at quarterback last week. Safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles has a team-high 51 tackles while linebackers Paul Magloire Jr., Michael Barton and Jake Matthews combined for 2.5 sacks against Stanford, but Barton could miss this Saturday’s contest with a knee injury.
* The Cougars’ surge has featured a surprisingly balanced offense highlighted by receivers Gabe Marks and River Cracraft along with Falk, who has thrown 16 touchdown passes and three interceptions during the team’s six-game winning streak. Running backs Jamal Morrow, Gerard Wicks and James Williams have scored 23 total touchdowns and averaged 198 all-purpose yards per game. Linebacker Peyton Pelluer has a team-high 49 tackles to lead the defense, which is aiming for a more complete effort after Oregon State’s Ryan Nall rushed for 131 yards and scored three times last week.
LINE HISTORY: Washington State opened the week as 15.5-point home favorites and by Thursday number was up to 17. The total hit the board at 66 and has dropped by a half point to 65.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in November.
* Cougars are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
* Under is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 games after allowing more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
* Under is 4-0 in Cougars last 4 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
No. 19 Florida State at North Carolina State (5.5, 58)
* Junior running back Dalvin Cook hopes to extend his streak of 100-yard rushing games to six and boasts 1,069 overall with 11 touchdowns on the ground. Freshman quarterback Deondre Francois has had a productive year (2,162 yards passing, 11 TD passes, 60.5 completion percentage), but has been sacked 25 times – six last week. Senior receiver Jesus Wilson (foot) is questionable after missing last Saturday’s game and safety Trey Marshall must sit out the first half against N.C. State due to a targeting call last week.
* Sophomore quarterback Ryan Finley threw for a career-high 307 yards last week, but had two interceptions for the third consecutive game. Junior tight end Jaylen Samuels (seven total touchdowns) is the top threat through the air with 34 catches for 325 yards, but was held to one reception last week, and sophomore Stephen Louis has hauled in 21 for 422 yards. Senior Matthew Dayes, who leads the ground attack with 727 yards and four scores, was held to 58 combined by Louisville and Boston College the last two contests.
LINE HISTORY: The Seminoles opened as 7.5-point road favorites and throughout the week that spread was reduced to 5.5. The total opened at 58 and hasn’t moved. View complete line history here.
TRENDS
* Seminoles are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss.
* Seminoles are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in November.
* Under is 8-1 in Seminoles last 9 games in November.
* Home team is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
Kansas at No. 15 West Virginia (34.5, 53.5)
* The Jayhawks look to pin West Virginia with its first home loss in five games this season as they face their third ranked team (Baylor, Oklahoma) on the road in four weeks. Some kind of spark is needed to jump start an offense that averages only 19.4 points for a team tied for last in the Big 12. Running back Ke’aun Kinner (427 rushing yards) leads a ground game that averages only 102.8 yards and scored six touchdowns this season.
* The Mountaineers rank 18th nationally in averaging 497.3 yards per game, but the offense turned the ball over three times inside their own 15-yard line against Oklahoma State. Top rusher Rushel Shell III has gained 503 yards and five touchdowns, but did not return after suffering a leg injury during the second quarter last week. Quarterback Skyler Howard threw for 212 yards last week and has 2,033 yards and 13 touchdowns for the season.
LINE HISTORY: West Virginia opened the betting week as 34.5-point home favorites and the number has remained the same all week. The total opened at 55 and has slowly been dropping all week - all the way down to 53.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Mountaineers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in November.
* Under is 5-0 in Jayhawks last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Under is 7-1 in Jayhawks last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 7-1 in Mountaineers last 8 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
Iowa at No. 23 Penn State (7.5, 53)
* Senior quarterback C.J. Beathard has thrown for 1,380 yards with 11 TDs and four interceptions but his numbers are down across the board from last season when the Hawkeyes opened the season with 11 straight wins. Backs Akrum Wadley (636 yards) and LeShun Daniels Jr. (624), who rank seventh and eighth, respectively, in the Big Ten rushing chase, will look to exploit a run defense that surrenders 183 yards per game. Cornerback Desmond King (the only Big Ten Player in the last 20 years with 12 career interceptions and 1,500 kickoff/punt return yards), linebacker Josey Jewell (16 tackles against Wisconsin) and defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson (tied for fourth in Big Ten with 5.5 sacks) lead a defense that yields 154 yards per game on the ground.
* Barkley has a conference-high 888 yards rushing, averaging six yards per carry, and he leads the Big Ten with 111 rush yards per game to go with 11 total TDs. McSorley (55.2 completion rate, 12 TDs, three interceptions), who threw a career-high three touchdowns last week, is averaging over 15 yards a completion in each of the last four games. The defense, led by safety Marcus Allen as well as linebackers Brandon Bell and Jason Cabinda (both playing their third game back after missing several games with injuries), has allowed just 81 points after halftime and has held two teams scoreless.
LINE HISTORY: Penn State opened as 5.5-home favourite and, despite the spread going as high as 8 at one point on Tuesday, they currently sit as 7-point favorites. The total opened at 53 and went up by half point to 53.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Hawkeyes are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Nittany Lions are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 conference games.
* Over is 5-0-1 in Hawkeyes last 6 games on grass.
* Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Penn State.
No. 10 Nebraska at No. 6 Ohio State (17, 52.5)
* The Cornhuskers overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter last week but ultimately fell in overtime as they were not able to stop the running game all night. Nebraska allowed 5.9 yards per carry and two rushing touchdowns but still has the 18th-ranked defense in the country, allowing 18.4 points entering this weekend's action. Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. became the 11th player in Big Ten history to go over 10,000 career yards and comes into this matchup hoping to take better care of the ball, as he has six interceptions in the last four games after totaling one in the first four games.
* The Buckeyes ran for 208 yards last week in the victory against Northwestern, getting a team-high 87 yards and two TDs from Mike Weber. Malik Hooker had 14 tackles to lead the Ohio State defense, which has given up only three rushing TDs this season and ranks sixth in the nation in yards allowed per game (295.5) and points allowed per game (15.1). Offensively, Weber provides a nice balance to quarterback J.T. Barrett, who has accounted for 90 career touchdowns - tops in Ohio State history - but has thrown only three touchdowns in the last four games after passing for 14 scores in the season's first four outings.
LINE HISTORY: Ohio State opened the betting week as 12.5-home favorites and that number was definitely not enough for the betting public. Plenty of Ohio State money bumped that number up to 17 by Friday morning. The total opened at 52.5 and has stayed there all week. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Cornhuskers are 4-0-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Cornhuskers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
* Under is 6-0 in Cornhuskers last 6 games overall.
* Under is 4-0 in Buckeyes last 4 home games.
No. 4 Washington at California (17, 77.5)
* The Huskies average 46.1 points per game and sophomore quarterback Jake Browning has joined has the Heisman race by throwing 28 touchdowns passes against only three interceptions. Junior wideouts John Ross (11) and Pettis (eight) have combined for 19 touchdown receptions while sophomore running back Myles Gaskin has rushed for 878 yards and seven touchdowns. Washington leads the nation in turnover margin (plus 1.63 per game) and fumble recoveries (12) - junior inside linebacker Keishawn Bierria is the nation's individual leader with five – and ranks seventh in scoring defense at 15.8 points per game.
* The Golden Bears can score rapidly (41.3 average) but give up points just as fast (41.8) and the pass-first offense hinges on senior quarterback Davis Webb, who has passed for 2,914 yards and 29 touchdowns. Senior running back Khalfani Muhammad has a team-best 614 rushing yards while freshman receiver Demetris Robertson is helping make up for the absence of Hansen with six scoring receptions. Cal is a woeful 124th in total defense (505.9 yards per game) despite the opportunistic nature of junior free safety Luke Rubenzer, who has four takeaways (two interceptions, two fumble recoveries).
LINE HISTORY: Washington opened as 15.5-point road favorites and throughout the week that spread grew to 17 Friday morning. The total opened at 78.5 and dropped two full points to 76.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Golden Bears are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS loss.
* Golden Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
* Over is 5-0 in Huskies last 5 road games.
* Huskies are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings in California.
Both No. 6 Ohio State and No. 10 Nebraska need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive when they meet Saturday at the Horseshoe.
No. 5 Louisville at Boston College (+25, 55.5)
* Lamar Jackson, who has accounted for an FBS-high 38 touchdowns, is four yards away from becoming the first quarterback in school history to run for 1,000 in a season and still leads the nation with 16 rushing scores despite getting held out of the end zone against the Cavaliers. Jamari Staples (29 catches for a team-high 546 yards), James Quick (32 for 523) and Cole Hikutini (33 for 482) each rank inside the top 13 in the conference in receiving yards and have taken turns leading the team in that category in every game this season. Sophomore cornerback Jaire Alexander, who picked off two passes for the second time in four games, was named ACC Defensive Back of the Week and ranks second in the nation with five interceptions.
* The Eagles got unusual contributions from several players versus the Wolfpack, as leading receiver Jeff Smith rushed 60 yards for their first score and running back Davon Jones threw a short scoring pass to tight end Tommy Sweeney for the go-ahead TD with 4:43 remaining. Starting quarterback Patrick Towles (204 passing yards) and top rusher Jon Hilliman (20 carries for 74 yards) each returned from injury and recorded their second and third-best efforts of the season, respectively. Harold Landry continued to wreak havoc on opposing offenses with a sack and forced fumble to earn ACC co-Defensive Lineman of the Week honors; the junior defensive end is tied for national lead in sacks (nine) and forced fumbles (five).
LINE HISTORY: Louisville opened as 25-point road favorites and as of Friday morning that number hasn’t moved. The total opened at 55 and has gone up as high as 57 and since came back to 55.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Cardinals are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games on fieldturf.
* Cardinals are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Over is 7-0 in Cardinals last 7 games in November.
* Over is 4-1 in Eagles last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Vanderbilt at No. 12 Auburn (-26.5, 45)
* Junior Ralph Webb is second in the SEC with 855 rushing yards - Auburn sophomore Kamryn Pettway has 933 - and needs 230 to break the school career record of 3,143 set by Zac Stacy (2009-12). Linebacker Zach Cunningham leads the SEC with 85 tackles and is second with 13.5 for losses, which remarkably do not include a sack. Vanderbilt boasts a special-teams threat in senior Darrius Sims, who is third in nation at 32.1 yards per kickoff return and needs 17 to break the school record of 2,263 set by Mark Johnson (1986-90).
* The Tigers are the only team in the nation to average better than 300 yards rushing and 200 passing, with Kerryon Johnson (580 yards, eight touchdowns) a heavy contributor. Pettway (seven TDs) rushed for a career-high 236 yards and a score in last week's 40-29 victory at Ole Miss and has averaged 199 yards with six TDs in his last three games. Lineman Carl Lawson is third in the SEC and tied for 14th nationally with 7.5 sacks.
LINE HISTORY: Auburn opened as 24.5-point road favorites and as of Thursday night that point spread has risen to 26.5. The total opened at 45 and remains at that number on Thursday evening. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 conference games.
* Tigers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
* Under is 5-1-1 in Commodores last 7 games following a straight up win.
* Under is 9-2-1 in Commodores last 12 road games.
No. 7 Texas A&M at Mississippi State (13.5, 61.5)
* The Aggies lead the nation in tackles for loss with 77 and are tied for 10th in sacks (3.25 per game) behind a defense led by ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall. The two combine for 7.5 sacks, and their consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks helps the Texas A&M defense lead the SEC with 19 takeaways. Sophomore wide receiver Christian Kirk hauled in a TD reception for the third straight game last week and gave the special teams a big boost by running a pair of punts back for touchdowns to push his school-record total to four punt return TDs.
* The Bulldogs won their SEC opener the second week of the season against South Carolina but dropped four of the next five before Nick Fitzgerald worked his way into the record books in a win over Samford last week. Fitzgerald passed for 417 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 119 yards and two scores to join Archie Manning and Johnny Manziel as the only quarterbacks in SEC history to record at least 400 yards through the air and 100 on the ground in the same game. Fitzgerald tying the school record for single-game TDs helped overshadow another struggle for the defense, which surrendered 627 yards to a FCS team.
LINE HISTORY: Texas A&M opened as 13.5-point faves and that number is fine with the betting public and has held all week. The total opened at 60.5 and went up a full point to 61.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Aggies are 5-0 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
* Bulldogs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Under is 8-0 in Aggies last 8 road games.
* Under is 20-5-1 in Bulldogs last 26 games after allowing more than 40 points in their previous game.
No. 8 Wisconsin at Northwestern (7, 41)
* With leading rusher Corey Clement bottled up for most of the day (exactly half of his 82 yards rushing on 19 carries came on one late rush), Dare Ogunbowale erupted for a season-high 120 yards, including the eventual game-winning touchdown in overtime. Ryan Connelly started in place of injured leading tackler Jack Cichy at inside linebacker and earned Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording a career-high 11 tackles (two for loss) and two pass breakups. Wisconsin is one of four FBS teams to boast a pair of players with at least 10 pass breakups (Derrick Tindal has 12 and Sojourn Shelton has 10), helping the Badgers post the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in the country (0.4) and tie LSU for fewest TD passes allowed (four).
* Clayton Thorson ranks third in the league in passing yards (1,942), yards per game (242.8) and touchdowns (15) - the last of which is the most ever by a sophomore quarterback in school history. Favorite target Austin Carr was held out of the end zone for the first time in seven games versus Ohio State, but the senior receiver collected a career-high 158 yards on eight catches and still leads the conference in receptions (58), receiving yards (878), receiving yards per game (109.8) and touchdowns (9). Defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo did not record a sack for the first time in four games, but he remains the Big Ten leader with eight and needs 6.5 more before the end of the season to tie the school record.
LINE HISTORY: Wisconsin opened as 5.5-point faves and throughout the week that line continued to rise and on Friday morning was 7. The total opened at 41, quickly dropped to 40.5, then rose to 42, before settling at 41 as of Friday morning. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Badgers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games
* Badgers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games on grass.
* Under is 6-1 in Badgers last 7 games following a ATS loss.
* Under is 4-1 in Badgers last 5 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
Georgia Tech at No. 17 North Carolina (-10.5, 61.5)
* The Yellow Jackets begin a difficult month in which they will play three of four games on the road, including back-to-back away matchups against ranked teams (North Carolina on Saturday; No. 21 Virginia Tech on Nov. 12). Thomas’ big day, the third-highest single-game yardage total in school history, helped Georgia Tech pile up 605 yards of total offense against Duke. The Yellow Jackets have struggled defensively of late, allowing 35 or more points in three of their past four games.
* The Tar Heels surrendered 31.5 points per game during their first six contests but have improved of late, limiting Virginia to 93 total yards in the second half of a 35-14 victory on Oct. 22. Trubisky passed for 310 yards and three touchdowns against the Cavaliers, and has three of the top 11 single-game passing performances in school history this season. Running back Elijah Hood averages five yards per carry and rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown against Virginia.
LINE HISTORY: The Tar Heels opened as 11-point home favorites and by Thursday evening has dropped to 10.5. The total opened at 58 and jumped as high as 62, before ending up at 61.5 by the end of the week. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Tar Heels are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
* Tar Heels are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
* Over is 4-0 in Yellow Jackets last 4 games overall.
* Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
Syracuse at No. 2 Clemson (-26.5, 66.5)
* The Orange boast one of the nation’s most improved offenses, averaging 487 total yards behind the prolific passing duo of quarterback Eric Dungey and receiver Amba Etta-Tawo. Syracuse averages 45 pass attempts per game, with Dungey completing 65 percent of his passes for an average of 329 yards per game and Etta-Tawo ranking third nationally with 134 receiving yards per contest. The defense has improved recently, allowing 18.5 points per game over the past two contests after giving up an average of 36 in the first six games of the season..
* The Tigers have been somewhat inconsistent in their ability to run the ball, though Wayne Gallman put up 82 yards and two touchdowns in a solid effort at Florida State. Gallman, Watson and Co. should be able to exploit a Syracuse defense that gives up 450.8 yards per game and hasn’t had much success stopping the run or the pass. Clemson’s defense will have its work cut out against the Orange’s up-tempo offense but has been up to the task all season, ranking in the top 15 nationally in total defense and scoring defense.
LINE HISTORY: Clemson opened the week as monster 26 point home favorites and as of Thursday night that spread was up to 26.5. The total opened at 61.5 and exploded to 68 by Friday morning. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Orange are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
* Tigers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
* Under is 4-0 in Orange last 4 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
* Under is 4-0 in Orange last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
No. 21 Virginia Tech at Duke (11.5, 53)
* Evans sprained his ankle in the win over Pittsburgh but has been able to practice fully as he looks to follow up a performance in which he compiled 439 total yards, the most ever for a Hokies quarterback in ACC play. Junior wide receiver Cam Phillips was the team's leading rusher with 43 yards and also hauled in six catches for a career-high 109 yards. Travon McMillian, who was held to minus-3 yards on six carries last week, had a career-high 142 in last year's 45-43 quadruple-overtime loss to the Blue Devils.
* Duncan's injury is the latest blow for a team that also lost quarterback Thomas Sirk to the same injury and top cornerback DeVon Edwards to torn ligaments in his left knee. Junior Shaun Wilson, who had 109 yards on 10 carries versus the Yellow Jackets, is next up in the rushing department, while quarterback Daniel Jones ranks third with 276 yards on 82 carries. Jones became the first Duke freshman with three 300-yard passing games when he had 305 last week.
LINE HISTORY: The Hokies began the betting week at 11.5-point road favorites and by the time this cheat sheet was put together that number was down to 10.5-point faves. The total hit the board at 52.5 and has risen to 53. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Hokies are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on grass.
* Blue Devils are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
* Under is 4-0 in Hokies last 4 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
* Under is 4-0 in Blue Devils last 4 home games.
* Underdog is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
Texas Christian at No. 13 Baylor (7.5, 68.5)
* Starting quarterback Kenny Hill was pulled in favor of sophomore Foster Sawyer during last Saturday's 27-24 double-overtime loss to Texas Tech -- the Horned Frogs' third setback in four games -- after throwing his 10th interception of the season but the Texas A&M transfer is still expected to start this week. Running back Kyle Hicks, who injured his left ankle in the loss to Texas Tech and leads the team with 597 rushing yards and is tied for the team lead with 31 catches, was listed as probable by head coach Gary Patterson. The Horned Frogs are tied with Texas for the Big 12 lead in sacks (31) with end Mat Boesen (6) leading the way while junior linebacker Travis Howard leads the conference in tackles (88).
* Quarterback Seth Russell, who missed the last six games of the 2015 season with a neck injury and took numerous hard hits from the Texas defense, is expected to start but will continue to be monitored for potential concussion-like symptoms throughout the week after feeling nauseous and groggy about 90 minutes after the loss. Russell has thrown 52 touchdown passes and only 11 interceptions while compiling a 14-1 record in 15 career starts with junior wide receiver KD Cannon, who ranks fourth in the Big 12 in both receptions (5.8) and receiving yards (88.5) his No. 1 target. Baylor's defense, which is second in the Big 12 in takeaways (16) and first in passing yards allowed (179.4), is led by returning all-Big 12 linebacker Taylor Young (53 tackles, 4 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss) and junior defensive back Travon Blanchard, a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist who has 34 tackles and four pass breakups.
LINE HISTORY: Baylor opened as 10-point faves and throughout the week that line was dropped like a rock before settling at 7.5. The total opened at 69 and the line went down to 68.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Horned Frogs are 13-6 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Bears are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
* Under is 4-0 in Horned Frogs last 4 road games.
* Horned Frogs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
* Underdog is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
No. 9 Florida at Arkansas (3.5, 47)
* The Gators gave up 38 points in their lone loss to Tennessee and 44 combined during six victories, standing second in the nation in total defense (239.9 yards). Sophomore quarterback Luke Del Rio threw for 131 yards in the 24-10 victory over Georgia last week and has three receivers with at least 25 catches, but junior tight end DeAndre Goolsby (hand) is questionable. Sophomore Jordan Scarlett rushed for 194 yards combined the last two games and the Gators get fellow running back Mark Thompson back after a one-game suspension.
* Allen is third in the SEC in passing yards per game (256) and boasts 18 touchdown passes as opposed to seven interceptions with a trio of talented veteran receivers as weapons. Seniors Drew Morgan (41 catches, 420 yards, two TDs) and Keon Hatcher (28, 435, five), along with junior Jared Cornelius (24, 465, four), are all dangerous through the air. Sophomore Rawleigh Williams III has also had a big year on the ground, totaling 807 yards and five touchdowns, but will have to rebound after registering a season-low 22 yards against Auburn.
LINE HISTORY: The Gators opened as 5.5-points favorites and as of Thursday night it had dropped 2 full points. The total opened at 47 and remains at that number on Thursday. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Gators are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Razorbacks are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after accumulating less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
* Under is 4-1 in Razorbacks last 5 home games.
* Favorite is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
No. 22 Oklahoma State at Kansas State (-3, 57)
* Junior quarterback Mason Rudolph has stepped things up over the last month, throwing for 1,273 yards and 11 touchdowns without an interception, including a 273-yard, three-TD outing against the Mountaineers. Wideouts James Washington (43 receptions-857 yards-six TDs) and Jalen McCleskey (49-602-5) are Rudolph’s top targets, but the ground game has struggled to find consistent traction behind leading rusher Justice Hill (128 carries-619 yards-four scores). Defensively, the Cowboys are allowing 26.5 points and 445.2 total yards per game, and their strength is a formidable defensive line, led by defensive tackle Vincent Taylor (4.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss), that has accounted for 18.5 of the team’s 22 sacks.
* Quarterback Jesse Ertz only has thrown for 1,078 yards and seven touchdowns this season but has emerged as a dangerous running threat, capped by last week’s career-high 106 yards on nine carries against Iowa State. Senior tailback Charles Jones ranks second to Ertz on the team with 439 yards and two TDs on 88 attempts, but Snyder will ride the “hot hand” in games, and against Iowa State, sophomores Justin Silmon (9-54-1) and freshman Alex Barnes (5-37-1) stepped forward to complement Ertz. On the other side of the ball, linebacker Elijah Lee (8.6 tackles per game) and defensive end Jordan Willis (Big 12-most eight sacks) anchor a defense which has been the best in the conference against the run (102.9 yards per game) and is allowing only 21.6 points and 363.5 yards per game.
LINE HISTORY: The Cowboys opened the betting week as 1.5-point road favorites and the public decided that wasn’t enough - betting the line up to 3-point faves. The total hit the board at 58.5 and had been bet down to 56. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Cowboys are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games after accumulating less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
* Cowboys are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on fieldturf.
* Over is 9-2 in Cowboys last 11 conference games.
* Over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
Maryland at No. 2 Michigan (-31, 54)
* Ty Johnson racked up 142 yards on 13 carries in the loss to Indiana for his second straight 100-yard game and can become the first running back since Lance Ball in 2005 to reach the century mark in three consecutive contests. Running back Lorenzo Harrison has been a revelation in the backfield for the Terrapins and needs 115 yards to break LaMont Jordan's freshman record (689) set in 1997. Sophomore wide receiver D.J. Moore caught five passes for 81 yards and a touchdown against the Hoosiers - his third straight game with a score - to extend his streak of games with at least one reception to 16.
* Kenny Allen was named the Big Ten's Special Teams Player of the Week after kicking field goals of 23, 23 and a season-long 45 yards in the win over Michigan State. Heisman Trophy candidate Jabrill Peppers, who registered a rushing touchdown, seven tackles and a sack against the Spartans, has been named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award, which is given to the most outstanding player in college football. Nose tackle Bryan Mone limped off with an apparent leg injury but Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh expects him to play on Saturday but Harbaugh was mum when asked about slot receiver Grant Perry, who has missed the last three games for undisclosed reasons.
LINE HISTORY: Michigan opened as 30.5-point home favorites and inched up a half point to 31. The total opened at 54 and has yet to move. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Terrapins are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
* Wolverines are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
* Over is 5-0 in Wolverines last 5 games in November.
* Over is 7-0 in Wolverines last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Arizona at No. 25 Washington State (-17, 65.5)
* With running back Nick Wilson out for several more games, the Wildcats have turned to converted receiver Samajie Grant, who finished with 64 yards on 19 carries in last week’s loss to Stanford. Grant could receive a heavier workload Saturday after Dawkins and Solomon each struggled to establish a rhythm at quarterback last week. Safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles has a team-high 51 tackles while linebackers Paul Magloire Jr., Michael Barton and Jake Matthews combined for 2.5 sacks against Stanford, but Barton could miss this Saturday’s contest with a knee injury.
* The Cougars’ surge has featured a surprisingly balanced offense highlighted by receivers Gabe Marks and River Cracraft along with Falk, who has thrown 16 touchdown passes and three interceptions during the team’s six-game winning streak. Running backs Jamal Morrow, Gerard Wicks and James Williams have scored 23 total touchdowns and averaged 198 all-purpose yards per game. Linebacker Peyton Pelluer has a team-high 49 tackles to lead the defense, which is aiming for a more complete effort after Oregon State’s Ryan Nall rushed for 131 yards and scored three times last week.
LINE HISTORY: Washington State opened the week as 15.5-point home favorites and by Thursday number was up to 17. The total hit the board at 66 and has dropped by a half point to 65.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in November.
* Cougars are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
* Under is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 games after allowing more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
* Under is 4-0 in Cougars last 4 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
No. 19 Florida State at North Carolina State (5.5, 58)
* Junior running back Dalvin Cook hopes to extend his streak of 100-yard rushing games to six and boasts 1,069 overall with 11 touchdowns on the ground. Freshman quarterback Deondre Francois has had a productive year (2,162 yards passing, 11 TD passes, 60.5 completion percentage), but has been sacked 25 times – six last week. Senior receiver Jesus Wilson (foot) is questionable after missing last Saturday’s game and safety Trey Marshall must sit out the first half against N.C. State due to a targeting call last week.
* Sophomore quarterback Ryan Finley threw for a career-high 307 yards last week, but had two interceptions for the third consecutive game. Junior tight end Jaylen Samuels (seven total touchdowns) is the top threat through the air with 34 catches for 325 yards, but was held to one reception last week, and sophomore Stephen Louis has hauled in 21 for 422 yards. Senior Matthew Dayes, who leads the ground attack with 727 yards and four scores, was held to 58 combined by Louisville and Boston College the last two contests.
LINE HISTORY: The Seminoles opened as 7.5-point road favorites and throughout the week that spread was reduced to 5.5. The total opened at 58 and hasn’t moved. View complete line history here.
TRENDS
* Seminoles are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss.
* Seminoles are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in November.
* Under is 8-1 in Seminoles last 9 games in November.
* Home team is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
Kansas at No. 15 West Virginia (34.5, 53.5)
* The Jayhawks look to pin West Virginia with its first home loss in five games this season as they face their third ranked team (Baylor, Oklahoma) on the road in four weeks. Some kind of spark is needed to jump start an offense that averages only 19.4 points for a team tied for last in the Big 12. Running back Ke’aun Kinner (427 rushing yards) leads a ground game that averages only 102.8 yards and scored six touchdowns this season.
* The Mountaineers rank 18th nationally in averaging 497.3 yards per game, but the offense turned the ball over three times inside their own 15-yard line against Oklahoma State. Top rusher Rushel Shell III has gained 503 yards and five touchdowns, but did not return after suffering a leg injury during the second quarter last week. Quarterback Skyler Howard threw for 212 yards last week and has 2,033 yards and 13 touchdowns for the season.
LINE HISTORY: West Virginia opened the betting week as 34.5-point home favorites and the number has remained the same all week. The total opened at 55 and has slowly been dropping all week - all the way down to 53.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Mountaineers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in November.
* Under is 5-0 in Jayhawks last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Under is 7-1 in Jayhawks last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 7-1 in Mountaineers last 8 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
Iowa at No. 23 Penn State (7.5, 53)
* Senior quarterback C.J. Beathard has thrown for 1,380 yards with 11 TDs and four interceptions but his numbers are down across the board from last season when the Hawkeyes opened the season with 11 straight wins. Backs Akrum Wadley (636 yards) and LeShun Daniels Jr. (624), who rank seventh and eighth, respectively, in the Big Ten rushing chase, will look to exploit a run defense that surrenders 183 yards per game. Cornerback Desmond King (the only Big Ten Player in the last 20 years with 12 career interceptions and 1,500 kickoff/punt return yards), linebacker Josey Jewell (16 tackles against Wisconsin) and defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson (tied for fourth in Big Ten with 5.5 sacks) lead a defense that yields 154 yards per game on the ground.
* Barkley has a conference-high 888 yards rushing, averaging six yards per carry, and he leads the Big Ten with 111 rush yards per game to go with 11 total TDs. McSorley (55.2 completion rate, 12 TDs, three interceptions), who threw a career-high three touchdowns last week, is averaging over 15 yards a completion in each of the last four games. The defense, led by safety Marcus Allen as well as linebackers Brandon Bell and Jason Cabinda (both playing their third game back after missing several games with injuries), has allowed just 81 points after halftime and has held two teams scoreless.
LINE HISTORY: Penn State opened as 5.5-home favourite and, despite the spread going as high as 8 at one point on Tuesday, they currently sit as 7-point favorites. The total opened at 53 and went up by half point to 53.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Hawkeyes are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Nittany Lions are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 conference games.
* Over is 5-0-1 in Hawkeyes last 6 games on grass.
* Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Penn State.
No. 10 Nebraska at No. 6 Ohio State (17, 52.5)
* The Cornhuskers overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter last week but ultimately fell in overtime as they were not able to stop the running game all night. Nebraska allowed 5.9 yards per carry and two rushing touchdowns but still has the 18th-ranked defense in the country, allowing 18.4 points entering this weekend's action. Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. became the 11th player in Big Ten history to go over 10,000 career yards and comes into this matchup hoping to take better care of the ball, as he has six interceptions in the last four games after totaling one in the first four games.
* The Buckeyes ran for 208 yards last week in the victory against Northwestern, getting a team-high 87 yards and two TDs from Mike Weber. Malik Hooker had 14 tackles to lead the Ohio State defense, which has given up only three rushing TDs this season and ranks sixth in the nation in yards allowed per game (295.5) and points allowed per game (15.1). Offensively, Weber provides a nice balance to quarterback J.T. Barrett, who has accounted for 90 career touchdowns - tops in Ohio State history - but has thrown only three touchdowns in the last four games after passing for 14 scores in the season's first four outings.
LINE HISTORY: Ohio State opened the betting week as 12.5-home favorites and that number was definitely not enough for the betting public. Plenty of Ohio State money bumped that number up to 17 by Friday morning. The total opened at 52.5 and has stayed there all week. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Cornhuskers are 4-0-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Cornhuskers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
* Under is 6-0 in Cornhuskers last 6 games overall.
* Under is 4-0 in Buckeyes last 4 home games.
No. 4 Washington at California (17, 77.5)
* The Huskies average 46.1 points per game and sophomore quarterback Jake Browning has joined has the Heisman race by throwing 28 touchdowns passes against only three interceptions. Junior wideouts John Ross (11) and Pettis (eight) have combined for 19 touchdown receptions while sophomore running back Myles Gaskin has rushed for 878 yards and seven touchdowns. Washington leads the nation in turnover margin (plus 1.63 per game) and fumble recoveries (12) - junior inside linebacker Keishawn Bierria is the nation's individual leader with five – and ranks seventh in scoring defense at 15.8 points per game.
* The Golden Bears can score rapidly (41.3 average) but give up points just as fast (41.8) and the pass-first offense hinges on senior quarterback Davis Webb, who has passed for 2,914 yards and 29 touchdowns. Senior running back Khalfani Muhammad has a team-best 614 rushing yards while freshman receiver Demetris Robertson is helping make up for the absence of Hansen with six scoring receptions. Cal is a woeful 124th in total defense (505.9 yards per game) despite the opportunistic nature of junior free safety Luke Rubenzer, who has four takeaways (two interceptions, two fumble recoveries).
LINE HISTORY: Washington opened as 15.5-point road favorites and throughout the week that spread grew to 17 Friday morning. The total opened at 78.5 and dropped two full points to 76.5. View complete line history here.
TRENDS:
* Golden Bears are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS loss.
* Golden Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
* Over is 5-0 in Huskies last 5 road games.
* Huskies are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings in California.
