Bobby Maxwell
Saturday's winners...
500-Unit SEC Super Lock - GEORGIA BULLDOGS
Talk about momentum, this is a matchup of two SEC teams that definitely have some as both are coming off big wins last week. But all the confidence right now resides with the Georgia offense and I’m looking for them to come out and deliver another big performance and get the win and cover against the Wildcats tonight.
Ever since Georgia got its star WR A.J. Green back in the lineup, it has looked like a completely different team. The offense has actually been on fire and will continue that trend tonight. He’s been back three games and they have scored 27 points or more in all three after failing to get more than 24 in the previous three losses. Over the last two weeks, Georgia has outscored the opposition 84-14, winning and covering against Tennessee and Vanderbilt.
There’s also some payback on the minds of the Bulldogs who fell at home to the Wildcats last year, 34-27 as 10-point home favorites. Georgia has won seven of the last 10 meetings with Kentucky and scored a 42-38 victory in Kentucky back in 2008.
The Bulldogs’ defense has also come alive, giving up just 14.3 points and just 267.3 yards per game over its last three games.
Kentucky upset South Carolina 31-28 last week, cashing as 5 ½-point home ‘dogs. They needed an interception on the final play of the game to preserve the victory in an emotionally charged game. Kentucky was outgained on the ground and through the air and they’ve been outgained overall in three of their last four games.
That was a huge emotional win for the Wildcats last week and there has got to be some letdown for them as they get ready to face their third straight tough SEC opponent at home after losing to Auburn, upsetting South Carolina and now this.
Georgia hasn’t turned the ball over in two games and the Bulldogs will put up some points against Kentucky defense that gives up 29.9 a game and is 11th in the SEC.
I’ll lay the points and go with the red-hot Bulldogs. Play Georgia in this one.
200-Unit College FB Marquee Matchup - OKLAHOMA SOONERS
Two undefeated teams will be battling it out in front of a national TV audience tonight, but if there has been any consistent in this Oklahoma-Missouri rivalry, it’s been that Oklahoma plays with a lot of confidence, having won seven straight and nine of 10 since 1994.
It seems like every time these teams have met lately, it’s been significant and a “spotlight” game only to have Oklahoma come out and completely dominate from the opening kickoff. Take 2008 and 2007 when these teams met in the Big 12 title game only to have the Sooners deliver beatings, 62-21 in 2008 as a 16-point favorite, and 38-17 in 2007 as a three-point favorite.
The Sooners have won seven straight against the Tigers dating back to 1998 and 19 of 20 in the series. They have cashed in three of their last four overall, including the last two meetings in Missouri.
Oklahoma’s Landry Jones threw for 334 yards and three TDs against Iowa State last weekend, winning 52-0 as 23-point favorites. And also look for big things from RB DeMarco Murray who has the Oklahoma record for touchdowns after topping 57 last week when he ran for 112 yards and two scores.
Missouri is getting a lot of credit for its defense this season, but the Tigers two toughest home games, against rival Illinois and against a good San Diego State team, they failed to cover the number as close to two TD favorites in both outings. A home shutout over lowly Colorado is nothing to brag about!
The Sooners’ offense has managed at least 27 points against every opponent this season, so points aren’t going to be hard to get tonight. Their most impressive performance was when they went to the Cotton Bowl and beat Texas 28-20.
Football players go to Oklahoma expecting to play in marquee games like this one. At Missouri, it’s a rare event when something like this happens. The Sooners are on ATS surges of 3-1-1 in October, 4-1 in Big 12 games and 4-1 as a road favorite of up to three points.
Missouri is on ATS skids of 4-11 at home, 4-10 against winning teams, 3-10 after a spread-cover, 1-4 as a home ‘dog and 0-5 at home against teams with winning road records.
History tells us Oklahoma wins this one as Missouri fails to show up in a marquee game. I’m not bucking history tonight. Load up and cash in with Oklahoma.