WAYNE ROOT
MILL--LSU -
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No Limit--UNLV +
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Perfect Play--Missouri -
If you are 0-5 in conference play and the worst team in the SEC, why are you a 3 point favorite against Vanderbilt? Hummmm. Maybe the Vegas oddsmakers know something. Missouri hasn’t had a problem putting up points in the last several games and Vanderbilt doesn’t have a particularly potent offense. Missouri may have a better chance in this game because Drew Lock threw for more than 300 yards last weekend and now has three straight good passing games as they build some momentum for their rookie coach. No team wants to have a winless season on their resume. This is a winnable game for the Tigers, but they must not have already given up. That is a test for Barry Odom. He has good control of this team. Practices and the last three game finally are starting to pay dividends offensively but defensively is the challenge. But Vandy isn't known as an offensive juggernaut. Scoring a bonus for the Tigers is the bright spot for the year with the play of quarterback Drew Lock who has now thrown for 2,517 games with 19 touchdowns. His ability to get scores will be able to outperform any offensive threat that Vanderbilt will offer. The Vandy offense has been bad– averaging 20.2 points per game (119th) and 312.2 yards per game (125th). The Tigers have been solid on offense, averaging 487.3 yards per game (25th) and 295.9 passing yards per game (22nd). Maybe the Vegas Oddsmakers has this one right with the Tigers being the favorite.
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Inner Circle--Oregon +
Things are not going well for either of these two teams. For the level they are accustomed to play this is a season to throw out the game film. The Cardinal offense still doesn’t have a passing game, and if Christian McCaffrey isn’t rolling, nothing really works. And Stanford needs scoring which las to be more than enough to overcome their mediocre secondary. It’s the Ducks’ final home game of the year, and they’re going to empty the drawer to try closing with something positive. Watch for Justin Hebert to light it up for the Ducks against the Cardinal safeties. The record for the Ducks is ugly, but the team has been playing much better ever since Mark Helfrich turned to true freshman Justin Herbert. This may shock you, but Herbert is a better quarterback than both Chryst and Ryan Burns. And while McCaffrey is a stud, but the Ducks have two solid tailbacks in Brooks-James and Freeman. These games usually matchup as close games. Oregon clearly wins in that department where the offense of either side gets stopped and the field goal team comes on the field. Oregon's Aidan Schneider has connected on 33-of-34 extra points and 7-of-8 field goals. His only missed field goal came from more than 40 yards out. Herbert has been really impressive as true freshman, and he’s going to have another great game against the Cardinal. He’ll toss a few touchdowns and throw for at least 250 yards. He’ll find Brooks-James out of the backfield for one of those touchdowns, and Freeman will tack on one in the running game. Stanford will be all McCaffrey, all the time, but it won’t be enough to take this game in Eugene.
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Pinnacle--USC + PAC 12 Upset of Year
The playoff committee put the hex on the Huskies as they put them in the top four best in the country. We won't have to wait long to see the Huskies tested, as they host a USC team that's played well over the last month and come in ranked #20. Wins against Oregon and Stanford would normally get the oddsmakers attention but this year, those two teams are "weak". For USC, things have picked up since their slow start, as the Trojans have won five in a row, including a win over division-leading Colorado. The winning may continue today. The Huskies lost linebacker Joe Mathis for the rest of the season. He has been the most disruptive force on that Washington defense. This will expose them to other defensive leaks that they have. USC's offense has been improving as the season continues, thanks to Sam Darnold at quarterback, and a rushing attack that's proven to be very effective. Darnold will lead the Trojans on a key drive late in the game to pick up the win for USC, effectively dampening the Huskies’ shot at the College Football Playoff. Sam Darnold is the Pac-12’s newest really, really big thing, throwing for 231 yards or more with 18 touchdowns and just three picks in the last six games since taking over full-time, and he’s still a dangerous runner and a terrific baller. Justin Davis appears to be back from an ankle injury to combine with Ronald Jones II to help balance out the attack. Each team will have its chance for a major statement Saturday in Seattle with USC getting the win and cover. The hex or jinx continues as ESPN's College GameDay will be there to preview this matchup for the national audience. These teams are so loaded that they combine for 12 of the top 136 prospects for the 2017 NFL Draft. The So Cal offensive line is one of the best and will set the tone for the entire game. This game will go down to the wire so the 30% on the ML and 70% to cover the points should work for this potential upset.