College Football Saturday Action

This week in college football, a number of teams have different types of motivation, making it interesting for the sports bettors to not only wager on but get emotionally involved. Texas would have played for BCS title if they hadn’t lost to Texas Tech, now they get them in Austin. Teenagers are married with kids the last time Notre Dame won at home against Michigan State (1993). Auburn had West Virginia by the throat at 17-3, but gave 31 consecutive points in loss last season. Miami’s win gives Nebraska hope they can start to return as power with win at Virginia Tech and BYU opens home slate against the ACC’s Florida State. Will Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin’s oratory skills help his team in Florida? It promises to be quite a day. Lines courtesy of Bookmaker.com.

Michigan State (+10, 55.5) at Notre Dame NBC 3:30E

Maybe the only team less intimidated by the Touchdown Jesus surroundings in South Bend is USC, compared to Michigan State. The Spartans are 1-1 after being upset by Central Michigan 29-27 last week as 14.5-point chalk at home and have won six straight at Notre Dame Stadium, five as an underdog. A pair of sophomore quarterbacks will make first trip to northern Indiana. Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol have shown why the coaching staff has had a difficult time in going with one signal caller, as each has played well when called upon. Of course neither has seen the type of blitzing defense Notre Dame brings in defensive coach Jon Tuneta’s scheme and each will have to keep their poise in the face of pressure. The Spartans are 13-2 ATS in road games after playing two straight non-conference games.

The Fighting Irish return home off incredibly disappointing 38-34 loss to Michigan, losing in the last 11 seconds. Notre Dame’s defensive front has not matched up well with the Spartans big offense line and will have to pressure the young Michigan State quarterbacks into miscues. The Irish will have to contend with the Spartans excellent tight ends, the best in the Big Ten. Jimmy Clausen looks ready for big season and why not, throwing to receivers like Michael Floyd and Golden Tate, who are unmatched in going and getting the ball. Notre Dame is 5-2 ATS off a straight defeat.

Motivation is not an issue for the Fighting Irish, but they will have to overcome Michigan State’s confidence playing them, as the Spartans are 9-2-1 ATS vs. Notre Dame and can physically compete no problem. The home team is 1-5-1 ATS in last seven matchups. For sports bettors, this one can be easy, as the straight up winner is sensational 14-1 against the spread.

3DW Line – Notre Dame by 6

Tennessee (+30, 53) at Florida CBS 3:30E

The one word that comes to mind when thinking about the two coaches of this anticipated matchup is “ruthless”. Tennessee’s new head coach Lane Kiffin has shown a proclivity towards wanting his players to be mercenaries, playing hard and enjoying doing things his way. He needs his quarterback Jonathan Crompton to be more poised than what he was last week against UCLA, when he tossed three interceptions. The Vols are 13-4 ATS in road games after a game with a turnover margin of -2 or worse.

Kiffin’s mouth has caused a ranker within the SEC, however, he’s been unafraid to play his freshmen recruits and they are delivering for him thus far. The comforts of Knoxville give way to the alarming craziness of Gainesville, which is about as different as country and western and zydeco music. Tennessee will find a blue-clad bunch that is 11-3 ATS after playing a game at home over the last three seasons.

Under Urban Meyer, Florida football is like a football sized-field, full of live Gators in search of a meal. Led by Tim Tebow, these Gators have an unquenchable hunger for success and don’t like anybody trying to cut in on their action. After dismissing a couple of patsies, Florida is ready for the real thing and is 12-4 and 11-4-1 ATS against Tennessee, including four consecutive triumphs under Meyer (3-1 ATS). Florida has shown their version of hurry-up offense, which makes them that much more difficult to prepare for. The Gators come into this bitter battle 7-0 ATS at home off a non-conference tilt.

Meyer is very comfortable with his position in college football and was not amused with Kiffin’s antics after he became Vols coach. Meyer’s teams in Florida are 31-18-2 ATS overall and they are 17-7-1 ATS as favorites in The Swamp. The Gators are 11-3-1 against the spread run in first SEC game of the season and assuredly will want to send a message to Tennessee. No matter the outcome, don’t expect Kiffin to give an inch and the Volunteers are 19-8 ATS on the road after one or more consecutive straight up losses.

3DW Line – Florida by 18.5

Nebraska (+5, 50) at Virginia Tech ABC 3:30E

Nebraska pauses from its September slate of hosting Sun Belt teams to check out the unfriendly facilities of Virginia Tech. The Cornhuskers have only six starting seniors, three on each side of the ball and they will have to provide leadership in first road test. Nebraska football has made the transition to junior college transfer Zac Lee at quarterback and he’s shown poise and delivers very catchable balls. Running back Roy Helu has played well, knowing any slip up will bring true freshman Rex Burkhead off the bench. The defense is light on experience, but has been tackling much better, per the request of coach Bo Pelini. The Huskers are 5-11 ATS as road underdogs.

Virginia Tech started correcting some of the problems they had in opening game versus Alabama with a resounding victory over Marshall 52-10, rushing for 444 yards. The Hokies offensive line needs to be the strength, as wide receivers and running backs are learning their way in the offense. Tyrod Taylor wants to prove he can pass in the pocket; nevertheless, he’s far more dangerous when running and creating better lanes for himself to pass or run. The defense is skilled, but rather light and can’t stay on the field for extended periods or will wear down like they did against Alabama late in the contest. The Hokies are 9-2-1 ATS as home favorites against ranked opponents.

These teams played in 35-30 shootout last year in Lincoln, with Virginia Tech winning and covering the seven points they received. The Cornhuskers are 5-15 ATS in road games after consecutive wins by 21 or more points The Hokies have covered 60 percent of their games (30-18 ATS) after a win since 2004 and are 9-2 ATS after scoring 40 or more points. They will try to build momentum before hosting Miami in ACC opener next week, however are just 2-8-1 ATS in last 11 regular season non-conference games.

3DW Line – Virginia Tech by 8

Florida State (+8, 54.5) at BYU Versus 7:00E

Florida State sort of cleaned the wounds of Miami loss by scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter against Jacksonville State to win 19-9 and makes the trip to Provo, which appears even more formidable than when the season began. Defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews likes the speed he has on the Florida State defense, but as he professed before Hurricanes epic affair, if his Seminoles players aren’t in the right place to make plays, speed is rendered useless. Miami carved up the Florida State secondary for 386 yards in opener and coming into the season, nobody was confusing the Canes for passing team like BYU. It will be imperative that the Noles to run the ball and quarterback Christian Ponder is on target to keep Cougars offense off the field. Florida State is 15-10 ATS since 2003 in non-conference play.

This will be the home opener for BYU, still in celebratory mood after Oklahoma upset and 52-3 road wipeout at Tulane. Quarterback Max Hall has shown the calm needed from a fifth year senior and has floated the ball around to different receivers expertly, including his favorite target, tight end Dennis Pitta. Defensive coordinator Jaime Hill has put together two exceptional game plans and his team’s toughness and physical play has not always been associated with BYU football. This week brings another stern test and the Cougars are 10-3 and 9-3 ATS in home openers since 1996.

These teams met in the old Pigskin Classics to start the season in 1991 and 2000, with Florida State winning and covering both. The Seminoles are 6-0 against the number off a non-conference tilt vs a foe off win by 10 or more points, while BYU is 0-10 ATS as a home favorite of 14 or less off two road games.

3DW Line – BYU by 10.5

West Virginia (+7, 54) at Auburn ESPN2 7:45E

This is weighty conflict for West Virginia after impressive 35-20 performance against East Carolina. Wins over SEC teams carry a lot of weight, especially when opponents can achieve success in enemy territory. West Virginia has knocked off four SEC teams the last four years; with three covers (two of the wins were over Miss. State). QB Jarrett Brown has been solid, if not spectacular and gotten the ball in the hands of playmakers like Jock Sanders. Scatback Noel Devine has been even better at cutbacks and making tacklers miss and has outrun defenders, when it looks like they have angles to bring his down. The Mountaineers are 24-12-1 ATS on the road the seven seasons.

The hiring of Gene Chizik as Auburn head coach brought more frowns than applause. His offense has been more productive in the hands of quarterback Chris Todd thus far, averaging 43 points and 572 yards per game. The senior took a great deal of heat from Tiger fans and lost his confidence last season. To date, his maturity has been superior, helped immensely by a better offensive line and running back combination of Ben Tate and freshman Ontario McCalebb. Auburn’s defense is fighting thru injuries and won’t be 100 percent to take on West Virginia’s multi-faceted attack. The Tigers are 0-6 ATS after playing a conference game.

These teams met last year in Morgantown, in contest that turned on a dime. Auburn led 17-3, when West Virginia’s offense exploded and scored the next 31 points to win going away 34-17. The Mountaineers are 5-2 ATS as underdogs but 3-7 against the number off a victory. The Tigers are 20-6-1 ATS after rushing for 200 or more yards.

This confrontation may not have national implications, nonetheless, for the respective programs, a definite building block contest towards a successful campaign.

3DW Line – Auburn by 8

Texas Tech (+17.5, 66) at Texas ABC 8:00E

Starting with the 2005 season, Mack Brown made a decision to have a less button-downed approach as a coach and become more demonstrative. Along with a slew of talented players, the Longhorns won a national championship that year and Brown has kept that same personality intact with Texas piling up wins.

Last year’s lone blemish cost Texas a chance to play for BCS championship when Michael Crabtree made a spectacular play with one second on the clock and Texas Tech won 39-33. If ever a moment was created for payback by senior Colt McCoy and his Horns teammates, this is it. Coach Brown won’t have to motivate his players to be ready for this prime time tilt, the Texas players will take care of that themselves. The Longhorns are 17-8 ATS as favorites of 10.5 or more points in Austin.

Junior Taylor Potts has faced North Dakota and Rice at Lubbock in his first two starts as the triggerman in Mike Leach’s aerial assault attack. He’ll be asked to maintain his poise on the road for the first time against a bitter rival. Don’t expect coach Leach to panic, he just reloads with the next capable chucker and always has a flock of talented pass-catchers that thrive in his system. Defense will be the greater concern against Texas, trying to stop McCoy from hogging the pigskin and scoring too many points. The Red Raiders are 12-7 ATS as road underdogs in Leach’s tenure.

As mentioned, this is road opener for Texas Tech and they are 7-6 and 4-8-1 ATS as travelers. The home team has had the better of things of late with 8-3 ATS mark in series which began in 1928. Dating back to 1993, the favorite is a mere 6-10 against the spread; nevertheless, the Longhorns are 8-2 ATS when the total is between 63.5 and 70.

3DW Line – Texas by 11