FSU Showed you can run on Clemson After last weekends great slate of games, this week is the pause before the big weekend. Not only are scUM on a bye before squaring off next week but next weekend is GO JUMBO!
So it’s time to get your last practice bets in.
Here’s mine:
Syracuse +14.0 @ Clemson – This game should decide the ACC Coastal.
The improved play of Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei’s means that Clemson has an offense again to go along with their defense. It’s why they are ranked 5th and a likely contestant in the CFP if they win out.
But don’t underestimate Syracuse. The Orange defense has been incredible so far this year. The newly installed 3-3-5 is having great success. Only 17 opponent drives have crossed Syracuse’s 40-yard line, resulting in just 2.6 points per opportunity. Of its opponents’ 12 red zone drives, only six have turned into touchdowns.
Compare that to Clemson which has allowed scores on 18 of 22 red zone drives. The Noles demonstrated that Clemson can be run on. They averaged 6.1 YPC last week.
I know, you are not supposed to use the associative property when handicapping but both teams played NC State at home. Clemson won by 10 while Syracuse won by 15. Are they really two TDs different.
I’ll take Syracuse to cover but no quatloos.. Plus, this is Syracuse’s first real road game (UConn doesn’t count). Playing in death valley can have an affect on teams.
So it’s time to get your last practice bets in.
Here’s mine:
Syracuse +14.0 @ Clemson – This game should decide the ACC Coastal.
The improved play of Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei’s means that Clemson has an offense again to go along with their defense. It’s why they are ranked 5th and a likely contestant in the CFP if they win out.
But don’t underestimate Syracuse. The Orange defense has been incredible so far this year. The newly installed 3-3-5 is having great success. Only 17 opponent drives have crossed Syracuse’s 40-yard line, resulting in just 2.6 points per opportunity. Of its opponents’ 12 red zone drives, only six have turned into touchdowns.
Compare that to Clemson which has allowed scores on 18 of 22 red zone drives. The Noles demonstrated that Clemson can be run on. They averaged 6.1 YPC last week.
I know, you are not supposed to use the associative property when handicapping but both teams played NC State at home. Clemson won by 10 while Syracuse won by 15. Are they really two TDs different.
I’ll take Syracuse to cover but no quatloos.. Plus, this is Syracuse’s first real road game (UConn doesn’t count). Playing in death valley can have an affect on teams.
Who do you trust more - Bijan or q banged up Spencer (if he plays) Oklahoma State +6.0 vs Texas - Oklahoma State blew it last weekend. The Cowboys were leading by 14 points with less than 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, then let Horned Frogs roar back to tie it with under two minutes to play. TCU went on to win in double OT.
The defense was again the issue. Oklahoma State was known for their defense last year but this year they have one of the worst pass defenses in college football, allowing 331.4 YPG through the air, and they are surrendering almost 480 yards per game.
Word that OSU QB Spencer Sanders may not play caused the opening line to move from Texas -1 to Texas -6.0. A very healthy move. Now, the lower ranked team is favored by nearly a TD on the road.
And Texas has not won a true road game this year. The beat down of Oklahoma was in the Cotton Bowl. In their only true road test the Horn lost to Texas Tech.
It comes down to – who will play better, Bijan Robinson or a banged up Spencer Sanders? I’ll go against the easy answer and take the Pokes and the points. The underdog has won 5 straight. No quatloos though.
The defense was again the issue. Oklahoma State was known for their defense last year but this year they have one of the worst pass defenses in college football, allowing 331.4 YPG through the air, and they are surrendering almost 480 yards per game.
Word that OSU QB Spencer Sanders may not play caused the opening line to move from Texas -1 to Texas -6.0. A very healthy move. Now, the lower ranked team is favored by nearly a TD on the road.
And Texas has not won a true road game this year. The beat down of Oklahoma was in the Cotton Bowl. In their only true road test the Horn lost to Texas Tech.
It comes down to – who will play better, Bijan Robinson or a banged up Spencer Sanders? I’ll go against the easy answer and take the Pokes and the points. The underdog has won 5 straight. No quatloos though.
UCLA is the Rodney Dangerfields of college football UCLA ML @ Oregon – The Bruins are the Rodney Dangerfields of college football. I mean, what else do they need to do to get your respect. They are 6-0 with consecutive thumpings over Washington and Utah.
OK, so five of those six games were at home and now UCLA must head to raucous Autzen Stadium. But back in 2020, UCLA lost by three in their last trip to Eugene, which included a pick-six by its backup quarterback.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson missed that game, but he will be on the field this Saturday and is playing at the highest level of his career.
Thompson-Robinson leads the Pac 12 in both completion percentage (74.8) and passer efficiency (180.6). He has a 15:2 touchdown to pick ratio and has 231 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Oregon has picked itself off the mat since its 49-3 loss to Georgia in the season opener. The Ducks have still allowed 20 points in every game against Div 1A opponents. They rank 82nd in scoring defense, 113th in passing yards allowed per game and 78th in yards allowed per play.
I’ll put a quatloo on the Fighting Rodneys to win out right at very nice +190.
OK, so five of those six games were at home and now UCLA must head to raucous Autzen Stadium. But back in 2020, UCLA lost by three in their last trip to Eugene, which included a pick-six by its backup quarterback.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson missed that game, but he will be on the field this Saturday and is playing at the highest level of his career.
Thompson-Robinson leads the Pac 12 in both completion percentage (74.8) and passer efficiency (180.6). He has a 15:2 touchdown to pick ratio and has 231 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Oregon has picked itself off the mat since its 49-3 loss to Georgia in the season opener. The Ducks have still allowed 20 points in every game against Div 1A opponents. They rank 82nd in scoring defense, 113th in passing yards allowed per game and 78th in yards allowed per play.
I’ll put a quatloo on the Fighting Rodneys to win out right at very nice +190.
LSU can stop the run LSU -1.5 vs Ole Miss – At irst, you take a look at the spread and wonder how can a 7th ranked and undefeated Mississippi be an underdog to a 5-2 LSU. Just take the money line for an easy win right.
Dig deeper and its all about the schedules. The Rebs have played a whole lot of nothing. Who is their best win – Kentucky?, Auburn? Both at home by the way.
LSU has the 7th strongest SOS with the losses to Florida State and Tennessee. The Rebel offense relies on a heavy rushing attack, and LSU has excelled in stopping the run all season.
Normally, I would take the ML on this game but I will fight my instincts and take LSU to cover. No quatloos though.
Dig deeper and its all about the schedules. The Rebs have played a whole lot of nothing. Who is their best win – Kentucky?, Auburn? Both at home by the way.
LSU has the 7th strongest SOS with the losses to Florida State and Tennessee. The Rebel offense relies on a heavy rushing attack, and LSU has excelled in stopping the run all season.
Normally, I would take the ML on this game but I will fight my instincts and take LSU to cover. No quatloos though.
Bama will pound away at the Bulldog DL Mississippi State +21.0 @ Alabama – The Bulldogs passing attack will stress the Alabama secondary that has struggled all year. And Saban must be beside himself, the Tide is #1 in penalties with 66 so far this year including a whopping 17 last week.
He will be able to pound the ball on the outmanned Bulldog DL. Kentucky, Arkansas and LSU were all able to rumble for over 200 yards on the other MSU’s defense.
I’ll go with a low scoring game with Bama grinding it out and then stopping with a penalty. Mississippi State should cover the big spread. No quatloos though.
Normally, following a Bama loss, sympathies would go out to their next opponent. In this case, however, emotions could favor the Bulldogs. Mississippi State comes in playing for the memory of a fallen teammate.
He will be able to pound the ball on the outmanned Bulldog DL. Kentucky, Arkansas and LSU were all able to rumble for over 200 yards on the other MSU’s defense.
I’ll go with a low scoring game with Bama grinding it out and then stopping with a penalty. Mississippi State should cover the big spread. No quatloos though.
Normally, following a Bama loss, sympathies would go out to their next opponent. In this case, however, emotions could favor the Bulldogs. Mississippi State comes in playing for the memory of a fallen teammate.
Both Rice and La Tech can put up the points Rice @ La Tech over 57.0 - Rice comes into this game having gone 5-1 over so far this season. The Owls had gone over in nine straight games before going under in a loss to Florida Atlantic last week.
Louisiana Tech has a similar 5-1 over record so far this year. The Bulldogs have also gone over their last six conference games and over 14-3 in their last 17 home games.
In addition, the over has hit in seven of the last 10 meetings between these teams.
With Louisiana Tech being one of the worst defenses in the country, coupled with a prolific offense, I’ll take the over for a quatloo
Louisiana Tech has a similar 5-1 over record so far this year. The Bulldogs have also gone over their last six conference games and over 14-3 in their last 17 home games.
In addition, the over has hit in seven of the last 10 meetings between these teams.
With Louisiana Tech being one of the worst defenses in the country, coupled with a prolific offense, I’ll take the over for a quatloo
Cal sucks against 0-5 teams but bounces back big Cal +7.5 vs Washington – The Sheriff will like this one. When Cal lost to Colorado last weekend, it marked the third time in the past five years that Cal lost to a team that started 0-5 or worse.
How did they respond? 2018: won at Oregon State by 42, 2021: won at Stanford by 30.
Cal HC Justin Wilcox is an amazing 16-3 ATS as a home dog of 7+ points. I’ll take the Bears but no quatloos.
Rutgers -3.0 vs Indiana – Indiana is in a look ahead scenario with Penn State and Ohio State on deck. Rutgers is coming of a bye where Greg Schiano shines. He’s 10-3 ATS (76.9%) with more than 10 days between games against FBS opponents, covering by 11 points per game on average. That includes a road victory as a short favorite at Illinois last season.
Meanwhile Indiana is a meager 27-42-3 ATS (39.1%) in road conference games since 2005. Only UConn, UNLV and Colorado have been worse. I’ll put a quatloo on Rutgers to cover.
How did they respond? 2018: won at Oregon State by 42, 2021: won at Stanford by 30.
Cal HC Justin Wilcox is an amazing 16-3 ATS as a home dog of 7+ points. I’ll take the Bears but no quatloos.
Rutgers -3.0 vs Indiana – Indiana is in a look ahead scenario with Penn State and Ohio State on deck. Rutgers is coming of a bye where Greg Schiano shines. He’s 10-3 ATS (76.9%) with more than 10 days between games against FBS opponents, covering by 11 points per game on average. That includes a road victory as a short favorite at Illinois last season.
Meanwhile Indiana is a meager 27-42-3 ATS (39.1%) in road conference games since 2005. Only UConn, UNLV and Colorado have been worse. I’ll put a quatloo on Rutgers to cover.
Hawaii is playing much better with Schager under center Hawaii +5.0 @ Colorado State - The Rainbow offense has looked significantly better since they replace QB Joey Yellen with Brayden Schager. Since the replacement Hawaii lost to San Diego State at the last second and beat Nevada.
Colorado State’s offense sucks. They may have won last week’s 17-13 win over Utah State but they needed two defensive TDs to do it. Utah State was playing their 4th string QB.
I’ll put a quatloo on Hawaii to cover.
Some other games I will be investing in:
Maryland -14.0 vs Northwestern - Northwestern continues to be awful. Who gives up 322 passing yards and six touchdowns to Wisconsin?
Not only is the Wildcat defense is among the worst in the country, the offense hasn’t scored more than 14 points in a game over the last month, and no one in the Big Ten turns it over more.
Colorado State’s offense sucks. They may have won last week’s 17-13 win over Utah State but they needed two defensive TDs to do it. Utah State was playing their 4th string QB.
I’ll put a quatloo on Hawaii to cover.
Some other games I will be investing in:
Maryland -14.0 vs Northwestern - Northwestern continues to be awful. Who gives up 322 passing yards and six touchdowns to Wisconsin?
Not only is the Wildcat defense is among the worst in the country, the offense hasn’t scored more than 14 points in a game over the last month, and no one in the Big Ten turns it over more.
Purdue can stop the run. That's all Wiscy has Washington vs Cal over 54.0 - The Huskies have scored over 40 points in four games already this season. In addition, they have allowed 28 or more points in four games this season.
The Cal offense will be able to move the ball though the air against a Washington secondary is suspect.
Washington has played to the over in every game this season and will rack up enough points to get the over.
Purdue ML @ Wisconsin - Purdue’s run defense has been fantastic, allowing just 100 yards per game.
The Boilermakers are two plays away from being unbeaten. The passing attack has been terrific over the last two weeks, and the defense that has problems against the pass doesn’t have anything to worry about versus the Badgers.
I’ll put a quatloo on the money line at +105
And for all the games, spreads picks and much much more here is the 2022 Week 8 bettors guide
The Cal offense will be able to move the ball though the air against a Washington secondary is suspect.
Washington has played to the over in every game this season and will rack up enough points to get the over.
Purdue ML @ Wisconsin - Purdue’s run defense has been fantastic, allowing just 100 yards per game.
The Boilermakers are two plays away from being unbeaten. The passing attack has been terrific over the last two weeks, and the defense that has problems against the pass doesn’t have anything to worry about versus the Badgers.
I’ll put a quatloo on the money line at +105
And for all the games, spreads picks and much much more here is the 2022 Week 8 bettors guide
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GO JUMBO is next weekend at the Westgate SuperBook!
