College teams make case for Big Dance

This evening, ranked teams Vanderbilt, UTEP and Ohio State are looking for brownie points in enhance position for NCAA Tournament, but what about their opponents, what kind of noise can they make, since it is because of them you even know the name Joe Lunardi. Here is a look at what the three OTHER teams have to do tonight in the final week of college basketball.

Leave the alligator alone

Florida (20-9, 13-11 ATS) is attempting to reenter the NCAA Tournament after a two-year period making their way thru the minor leagues of the NIT. Depending on one’s point of view, the optimist would see playing ranked teams Vanderbilt (22-6, 13-12 ATS) and Kentucky as a real opportunity to lockdown a bid, while the pessimist would see two more losses coming.
The Gators didn’t help their own confidence, losing at Georgia 78-76 this past Saturday and they are 6-15 ATS off a loss. Nevertheless, the coach believes they will come back.

“This team has played hard all year, and they’ve responded well,” coach Billy Donovan said. “I anticipate that they’ll respond and play as hard as they can. Our guys understand we have to play well to put ourselves in a good position.”

Florida is a three-point home favorite at Bookmaker.com with total of 146.5. The Gators are 6-2 ATS against teams with winning records and are 11-1 and 8-4 ATS at the O'Connell Center against the Commodores. Vandy is only 4-15 ATS after having won four of their last five games over the last three seasons.

Watch out for Thundering Herd

For the last several years, a good trivia question pertaining to college basketball would have been, “In 30 seconds, name the other teams in Conference USA besides Memphis?” With John Calipari taking his recruiting skills and likely probation to Kentucky, like a field filled with small holes, C-USA teams are like prairie dogs popping their heads above ground level and scurrying about. One such team is UTEP (22-5, 11-12 ATS), who is seeking outright title this evening in the state West Virginia and are set to be a treacherous foe for a higher seed in the Big Dance.

Another team trying to get noticed is Marshall (22-7, 14-8 ATS), who is 10-4 and in fourth place in C-USA. Not familiar with the Thundering Herd, than you are missing out. Marshall started the season 15-2, and then lost five in a row, with three of the losses by a total of nine points. This experience made this club tougher and they have reeled off seven wins in a row (4-2 ATS). The Herd holds teams to 38.7 percent shooting, 14th in the country. Marshall has a swatting machine in 6’11 Hassan Whiteside. The freshman leads the country in blocked shots at almost unimaginable 5.5 per game and his 159 rejection notices are 16th all-time in the NCAA with two games to go. For good measure, Whiteside also averages 13.2 points and 9.0 rebounds. Marshall is 11-4 ATS when playing against a team with a winning record this season.

This should be a tremendous matchup, as the Miners also play great defense (38.9 percent shooting allowed) and shoot the ball well (47.8) and create defensive pressure and are 15-6 ATS in road games off a home win over the last three seasons. Marshall is a slim one point favorite, with total having risen to 147.5 and the Herd is 8-1 ATS when the total is 140 to 149.5 this season.

What kind of fight does Illini have?

Illinois’ home loss to Minnesota this past Saturday might be the deciding factor as to why they don’t make the field of 65. Coach Bruce Webber’s team has lost three of four and needs to beat ranked teams Ohio State and Wisconsin this week and probably at least get into Big Ten tourney semifinals to secure a spot. After going thru a period of six games starting in late January where they shot 51.1 percent as team (5-1, 4-2 ATS), Illinois (18-11, 11-15-1 ATS) has gone frigid, shooting 37.3 percent or worse in three of last four contests.

The off-target Illini were 23 for 72 against the Golden Gophers, yet remain hopeful since they are 11-1 ATS in road games after a game where they made 33 percent of their shots or less.
They will take on a motivated Ohio State squad (23-7, 15-15 ATS) who has plenty to play for. This is the Buckeyes last Big Ten game and a victory assures them of finishing no worse than tied for conference crown, with a chance to still win it outright, pending the results of Purdue and Michigan State, who also have four league losses. The Buckeyes have won nine of 10 (5-5 ATS) and are off a non-cover against Michigan, which plays to their favor since they are 27-12 ATS off a home no-cover where the team won straight up as a favorite.

The sixth ranked Buckeyes are led by Evan Turner, whose stellar all-around play (21.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.1 steals) has him as virtual shoo-in for Big Ten player of the year and in a small group for national player of the year. “I wanted to win a Big Ten title, try to get a national championship and try to be one of the best to ever come out of here,” Turner said.

Ohio State is a 9.5-point favorite, however the way the Big Ten season has gone, road teams have enjoyed much success when you least expect it, especially among the top level clubs. Illinois is 7-1 ATS in road games this season, while the grey and scarlet clad Buckeyes are 0-7 ATS in home games after five straight games committing 14 or less turnovers this campaign.

Tuesday's Top Tips

Got clipped for 1-2 day as the LCC members took it in the shorts on West Virginia. Kyle didn’t play that contest and has enjoyed a terrific season and gives out his top play for Free. The Top Trend is in the NBA following a Southeast Division teams and the Best System is a Super Tuesday tilt at 26-5 ATS. Good Luck

What I found today- (As of 11:30 MST) Let’s be honest, last night’s biggest Monday was a big disappointment for viewers, unless you had Villanova and Kansas. Let’s hope that Super Tuesday has more to offer. College basketball bettors are jumping all over Wisconsin at home against Illinois squad off emotional win over Michigan State Saturday night, moving them from opening -7 to -9.5.

Wake Forest is receiving almost the same treatment, being taken from -4 to -6 at home, however Boston College forward Joe Trapani is doubtful.

College hoops bettors also see two totals going higher than opening numbers. The MAC matchup of Akron and Central Michigan has risen from 128 to 130.5 and in the battle of saints; St. Louis and St. Joseph opened at 126.5 and is now 129.

The NBA is relatively quiet, with Memphis moving from one-point home favorite to underdog; however that could well be a Pick by tipoff.

Much more action on the totals side in the NBA, with the Jazz and Clippers pounded hard on the overnight line, taken from 198.5 to 201 this morning and still trending upward to 202. Though many angles support Chicago and Indiana falling below the number, this total has gone from 202 to 205 with heavy wagering. Lastly, Sac-Town and New York began at 212.5 and resides three points higher at present.

Vancouver in the midst of unreal 14 consecutive road games because of the Olympics and are a -145 money line road choice after opening at -130 against Tampa Bay.

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Free Basketball System -1) Play On home teams as a favorite or pick like Vanderbilt off an upset loss by 10 points or more as a favorite against opponent off a home blowout win by 20 points or more. Since 2005 this hoops system is 26-5 ATS, 83.9 percent.

Free Basketball Trend - 2) The Washington Loaded Guns are 2-13 ATS in a road game where the total is between 185 and 189.5 points over the last three seasons losing by better than 15 points per game.

Free Basketball Pick -3) Kyle building a nice bankroll in college hoops, 58.7 percent for the season, up over 175 units and likes Colorado State in the MWC.

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Rivalry Week lives up to billing tonight

For the most part, this made for cable sports broadcasting concept work well putting on a variety of top line games to watch and wager on. The situations are presumed to work and sometimes the schedule and prior events bring added importance to these matchups. It’s a battle of Tennessee when Vandy hosts the Volunteers in Nashville and the Big Ten has four of its top five teams in action in extremely important conference clashes. It promises to be quite a Tuesday for Rivalry Week.

Volunteer State Scuffle

Vanderbilt and Tennessee are positioned one game behind Kentucky in the SEC East and the winner will be no worse off at the completion of this conflict. Vanderbilt (17-5, 10-9 ATS) blew a golden opportunity Saturday to stay tied with the Wildcats falling at last place Georgia 72-58 as 4.5-point favorites. The Commodores shot 32.8 percent from the field (6-23 from 3’s) and did a real poor job defensively as the Bulldogs shot 53.2 percent and had nearly as many assists as baskets. Vandy will have to be much more efficient at home since they are 5-13-1 ATS off a SU loss.

Tennessee (18-4, 9-10 ATS) continues to confound, winners of three in a row after suffering a pair of SEC losses, one of which was to Vanderbilt. Wayne Chism is off a career high 30 points against South Carolina and he needs to be a defensive stalwart on the road. The Vols are just 2-5 ATS in last seven conference games.

The Volunteers are 13-5-1 ATS in last 19 battles, including 7-2 ATS at Vandy and are 3.5-point road underdogs at Bookmaker.com. This contest is on ESPN at 7 Eastern.

State Line Collision

Illinois and Wisconsin really don’t have much of a rivalry except for those that live on either side of the border between the two states. Folks south of the border see Wisconsin as nice quiet place to visit for vacations and those from the Badger State have little use for “those Flat-landers”. The Kohl Center will be no vacation spot for coach Bruce Pearl’s club, who is off its signature win of the season against Michigan State 78-73. The Fighting Illini (16-8, 8-13-1 ATS) has won four in a row and is in three-way tie for second place, one game behind Michigan State, however they are only 2-7-1 ATS off a cover since last season.

The Badgers (18-5, 13-8 ATS) have just taken care of both Michigan schools and return home where they are 13-0 and 8-3 ATS this season. Wisconsin is receiving fine performances Keaton Nankivil and Jordan Taylor, both who have raised their play since Jon Leuer was injured and coach Bo Ryan has developed a little depth with forward Ryan Evans and guard Rob Wilson making solid contributions. Off their win and cover at Ann Arbor, Wisconsin is 10-2 and 7-3 ATS after covering the oddsmakers number.

Wisconsin is a 9.5-point favorite and is 3-0-1 ATS the last four times Illinois has visited and the Under is 4-1 in the Mad City. This encounter is on the Big Ten Network at 7 Eastern.

Spartans in survival mode

Michigan State (19-5, 8-15 ATS) had kept winning, yet aesthetically was far from pleasing in starting Big Ten play 9-0. Among the reasons have been Raymar Morgan hasn’t always played with complete effort and is Casper the Ghost on the floor at times, particularly when foul problems arrive. Sophomore forward Delvon Roe continues to struggle, which is why sixth man Draymond Green continues to see heavy minutes. The Spartans were blasted by the Badgers for their first conference loss and with injured Kalin Lucas on the sidelines, could not match baskets with improbable Illinois club. Lucas’ status is still up in the air for tonight and it is time for these other players to assertive themselves, since Purdue is in town and their mindset is aggressive. Sparty is 33-14 ATS when they grab more than 45 rebounds.

It seems odd a Top 20 team would still be tinkering with main players in February, yet this is exactly what coach Matt Painter has been doing. A few Purdue (19-3, 10-12 ATS) bench players and occasionally starters have been more erratic than the Real Housewives of Orange Country. Nobody would prefer to have certain individuals step up more than Painter, with eight Big Ten games on the docket. Sophomore point guard Lewis Jackson has played 41 total minutes in three games since returning from a broken left foot that sidelined him and some of the rust is starting to come off which would help since the Boilermakers are 4-14 ATS as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points.

First place Michigan State is favored by 2.5points and is 9-1 and 7-3 ATS at the Breslin Center vs. Purdue with 6-2 UNDER mark. Game time will be just after 9 Eastern on ESPN.

Let's make cash Saturday

Had a ton of Super Bowl work to do this week, which is why I haven’t been able to keep up. Found an absolutely beauty of a CBB system this is 89.7 percent. Have a rock solid perfect trend today in college hoops and red hot Paul Buck has a pair of freebies. Good Luck

What I thought today- A lot of cappers will take Vanderbilt with the points, but honestly I think that is a lazy pick with no real opinion on if it is right or wrong. They hope to be right taking road dog to look smart. The battle of Kansas should be outstanding, but another superb game today is Harvard at Cornell in the Ivy League. These are two awfully good teams and if the Big Red wins, they might pop into the Top 25 next week.

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Free Basketball System -1) Play Against home underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points like Central Florida, who are average 3-point shooting team (32-36.5 percent), against a good 3-point defense (32 percent or less), after two straight games making 37 percent of their shots or worse. In the last 13 years this system sparkles like champagne at 26-3 ATS.

Free Basketball Trend -2) Louisiana Tech is 12-0 ATS versus poor defensive teams with shooting pct. defense of 45 percent or worse the last three seasons.

Free Basketball Pick -3) Paul Buck continues to smoke the odds, 14-3 in the NBA and 11-4 in college hoops. He's got two plays he likes equally- USC and Georgia.

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Hump Day Spotlights Ranked Teams

Other than Saturday, Wednesday is the most time-consuming and harried for the sports basketball bettor. Betting college basketball properly involves a great deal of time, as does looking thru a full slate of NBA encounters. Today we’ll focus on the four key games in college hoops pertaining to conference play.

Villanova on historical pace

Last season’s trip to the Final Four helped bring Villanova back into the discussion about the best teams in college basketball. For an encore, coach Jay Wright’s team is trying to better that. The Wildcats 18-1 start (14-4 ATS) matches the record of a Villanova team from 59 years ago and they remain the only unbeaten club in the taxing Big East Conference at 7-0. Their lone defeat (75-65) was to fellow city member Temple back on Dec. 13 and that loss looks far better today with the Owls not having lost in A-10 action.

Villanova has racked up nine consecutive wins since then and is 10-3 ATS after three or more consecutive wins this season. Led by Scottie Reynolds, the Wildcats are tough, have great resolve and are a lot like another Philly icon from the movies, Rocky, who has to be knocked out in order to be defeated. There isn’t much this team doesn’t do right, shooting almost 47 percent, 38.4 percent from downtown and convert better than 75 percent from the charity stripe. When it comes to effort, they hold opposing teams to 39.5 percent shooting and out-rebound them by seven a game. No wonder they are 10-3 ATS off a game where they covered the spread this season.

DiamondSportsbook.com has Nova as 10.5-point home favorites, with total of 167 at the Wachovia Center. This is their second trip this season into this venue and Villanova is 12-4 ATS as a favorite and will have to deal with Luke Harangody of Notre Dame, the Big East’s leading scorer at 24.7 points a game. The Fighting Irish (15-5, 7-6-1 ATS) can match scores with Villanova, however is nowhere near as skilled defensively. Notre Dame is 4-13 ATS in road games versus good teams outscoring their opponents by four or more points a game over the last two seasons. ESPN has coverage at 7 Eastern.

Vandy is dandy

With top-ranked Kentucky suffering their first loss of the season, only one squad remains undefeated in the SEC, which is confounding Vanderbilt (15-3, 9-6 ATS). The Commodores have run off nine straight wins since losing to Illinois and Western Kentucky in the early days of December. Vanderbilt is 5-0 in the SEC for the first time in 44 years and is led by junior center A.J. Ogilvy. Vandy works the ball expertly to find quality shots and makes 49.7 of attempts as a team which explains 6-2 ATS record in this hot streak.

Laying in wait is ambitious in-state rival Tennessee (15-3, 8-7 ATS), who lost their first conference game at Georgia 78-63 this past Saturday. Coach Bruce Pearl knows Vanderbilt will play zone, daring his inconsistent three-point attack to beat them deep. The Tennessee fans will be in full throat as their team is 26-11 ATS at home games playing against a top-level team with a win percentage of 80 percent or higher. The Vols are 6.5-point favorites on ESPNU starting at 7 Eastern and the Vanderbilt guards will have to hold up to the pressure defense better than their predecessors, as they are 10-23 ATS in road games versus teams forcing 18 or more turnovers.

Blue Devils defense looks to respond again

Duke was upset last week at N.C. State 88-74, allowing the Wolfpack to make 58.2 percent of shots. It didn’t matter to coach Mike Krzyzewski if N.C. State was just having a hot shooting night, his team had to defend better and did they ever. At a hostile Clemson environment, they held the revenge-minded Tigers to 47 points on 37.5 percent shooting. Duke (16-3, 12-6 ATS) returns home where they score 91.6 points per game to face a Florida State (15-4, 4-10 ATS) squad that can also D-it up.

Coming into tonight, the Seminoles are the top-rated defense team in the country in field goal percentage at 35.5. Florida State (15-4, 4-10 ATS) is long and athletic, forcing 16.7 turnovers a game and almost seven rejections. What holds the Noles back from being elite team is perimeter shooting, which explains poor spread record this season. This is shown by Florida State having 2-9 ATS mark vs. defensive teams with shooting percentage defense of 42 percent or less this season.

Duke shoots over 50 percent on its home floor and remarkable 43.2 percent from beyond the arc, which in part is why oddsmakers have them as 13-point favorites with total of 140. The Dukies are 13-4 ATS at home when the total is 140 to 149.5; however are just 3-7 ATS in Durham against the Seminoles despite winning nine of 10. Dick Vitale will be singing the praises of Coach K and the Dukies starting at 9 Eastern.

Magical Mountain West matchup

Like the girl in last year’s KFC commercial, nobody saw two ranked teams from the Mountain West Conference squaring off in late January. BYU (20-1, 11-7 ATS) is led by point guard Jimmer Fredette, who continues to play heavy minutes in spite of battling the affects of mononucleosis. Fredette, besides being an excellent shooter is top notch passer to the Cougars big people. This is why they are shooting 50.7 percent from the field, fourth in the country. BYU is the last unbeaten club in the MWC and is 15-3 ATS in road games over the last two seasons.

New Mexico (18-3, 13-7 ATS) was the biggest pleasant surprise in the country this side of Syracuse back in December. Most believed the Lobos suffering back to back losses in the first part of January was the signal this team had overachieved and was headed back to where most expected them to be. However, coach Steve Alford’s squad has again proved the critics wrong with four consecutive W’s and they are 12-3 ATS in home games after three consecutive conference contests since 2006-07 campaign.

The line has jumped around, but presently the Lobos are favored by two-points and are 9-0 ATS after two straight wins by 15 points or more. New Mexico is 4-2 in conference and needs this win to keep title hopes alive. This matchup starts at 10 Eastern and is on the Mountain Network.

Five Bowls Games to Send 2008 out with a Bang

The last day of 2008 offers up five bowls encounters, staggered by times, as an appetizer before New Year’s Eve celebration. It will feature running teams like the Air Force and Georgia Tech, along with teams that love to throw the ball like Houston and Kansas. Other universities will be attempting to end losing streaks like Minnesota and LSU, while a squad like Pittsburgh wants to keep that winning feeling prevailing into next season. On this the 366th day of the leap year, we even get a team that last appeared in a bowl game in 1982 (Vanderbilt), when one of the most popular groups of that year was Culture Club, fronted by Boy George.

Armed Forces Bowl - Air Force vs Houston

This bowl contest is a marvelous matchup in contrast in styles. Air Force uses the option ground game to rack up 268.9 yards per game (5th in the nation) and Houston (7-5, 4-7 ATS) prefers spread attack with the pass in totaling 413.5 yards per game (2nd in the country). This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Falcons, being one of the youngest teams in the country. They exceeded expectations with 8-4 and 7-4 ATS record and are 13-4 ATS in road games with two or more weeks off. Houston’s defense cost them C-USA title shot in 56-42 loss to Rice and they are only 4-13 ATS after allowing 50 or more points. Air Force may be just 8-9-1 in bowls; nevertheless a 10-5 ATS record makes them attractive potential play. Houston is 6-6 ATS in a dozen tries in the postseason.

Why to Watch and Wager

The Mountain West Conference was believed to be stronger than presumed this season and the Air Force could essentially cement that belief with a victory, assuring the league of a winning postseason record with unbeaten Utah still to come. Military schools are normally very good bowl wagers, since they play with the same intensity all the time and are accomplished in running the ball and eating up time, making bowl foes nervous. The Flyboys are 8-1 ATS after gaining 125 or less passing yards in three straight games. Most people didn’t realize these teams met on Sept.13 when the game was moved to Dallas because of Hurricane Ike. Houston was obviously out of sorts having to give up home game and players worried about their family and friends, losing 31-28 as four point favorites. Some might question the Cougars motivation, but after losing chance to play in C-USA championship, losing three straight bowl games and in revenge spot, there is plenty to prove for Houston.

Bookmaker.com Line – Houston -4, 66

Sun Bowl -Oregon State vs Pittsburgh

The Sun Bowl was able to secure two Top 25 teams and has one of the better non-BCS matchups. If freshman Jacquizz Rodgers is healthy for Oregon State (8-4 SU & ATS), this will set up a hookup between two of the nation's most exciting running backs. Pittsburgh’s LeSean McCoy is sensational runner and totaled 21 touchdowns in 2008. Both squads overcame slow starts to finish strong. The Panthers (9-3, 6-6 ATS) closed 4-1 straight up and ATS, but were sloppy with the ball and are 3-16 ATS after consecutive games committing three or more turnovers. The Beavers were a busy 8-2 ATS after losing first two, and are 8-0 ATS after covering the spread in two of last three games. Oregon State is on 4-0 and 3-1 ATS in recent bowls; Pitt plays in the postseason for first time since 2002.

Why to Watch and Wager

Among the bowls before 2009, this has the possibility of being a real head-knocker. Both teams prefer to run the ball and each has an above average passing game. Pittsburgh will have health edge with Jacquizz Rodgers still a little uncertain, but his bother James is definitely out with broken collarbone which he suffered in last game. Though Pittsburgh faired well, they are still coached by Dave Wannstedt, meaning anything is possible, good or bad. Off their 34-10 pasting of Connecticut, the Panthers are 4-11 ATS following a SU win of more than 20 points. Oregon State slid from trip to Pasadena to El Paso, but chances are still realized they lost four games. Coach Mike Riley has normally been sound in bowl preparation, with the Beavers 6-2 ATS in last eight off a loss. Sun Bowl fact- The underdog is 16-4 ATS the last two decades.

Bookmaker.com Line – Oregon State -2, 51.5

Music City Bowl - Boston College vs Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt waited 26 years to play in first bowl game and they don’t even get to leave Nashville, playing in Music City Bowl. The Commodores (6-6, 7-5 ATS) come in among the coldest bowl teams, losing six of last seven encounters. The offense caused this to happen, finishing 117th in total yards. Vandy is 22-7 ATS away from home after playing their last game on the road. Boston College (9-4, 7-5 ATS) suffered a second straight ACC title game defeat and their motivation will come into question. With two defensive teams, this conflict could go Under. Boston College is 22-9 UNDER on the road after a spread loss and Vanderbilt is 17-6 UNDER in all games over the last two seasons. The Eagles are riding eight bowl game winning streak and had reeled off nine bowl covers in a row before losing last two.

Why to Watch and Wager

Let’s start with the fact if your dad or grandfather was a sports bettor and made you watch the bowls when you were around 10 years old, you would be 36 now being able to witness Vanderbilt in a bowl game again. The Commodores haven’t moved the ball against hardly anyone and with the behemoths Boston College has like B.J. Raji, probably aren’t going to be moved by Vandy’s less than dandy O-Line. At least the ‘Dores are 7-2 ATS as underdogs. The Eagles would most likely have played in a better bowl, but B.C. fans are well known for watching bowl games on television, not in the stands. If Boston College could not cover last year against Michigan State in Champs Bowl, they could have equally as difficult a time against Vanderbilt, who has solid defense. The Music City Bowl is notorious for dogs covering with 8-2 ATS mark, with faves losing outright seven times.

Bookmaker.com Line – Boston College -3.5, 40.5

Insight Bowl - Minnesota vs Kansas

Though Minnesota (7-5, 7-4 ATS) finished with four straight losses, this bowl experience should be cherished after 1-11 2007 campaign. The Golden Gophers have real deficiencies in the offensive line and are 3-12 ATS after gaining 125 or less rushing yards in four straight games. Minnesota was 81st in points scored and figures to have to do better against potent Kansas (7-5, 6-5 ATS) offense. Possibly the defense can get after talented Kansas QB Todd Reesing, who was sacked frequently (92nd overall) in 2008.

The Jayhawks schedule was tougher and the talent not quite as good as last year’s Orange Bowl outfit, however the upset of rival Missouri had to be satisfying. Kansas is 17-6 ATS in all lined games over the last two years and 12-3 ATS as chalk. This is the Jayhawks fourth bowl experience in six years and first ever in back-to-back seasons.

Why to Watch and Wager

Which Minnesota team shows up, the won that beat Purdue and Illinois on the road or the one that gained 134 total yards at home against Iowa in season finale 55-0 massacre? On the heels of 1-11 season, seven wins and bowl should look pretty good; however a fifth consecutive loss wipes away that momentum. The Golden Gophers come in 9-3-1 ATS after allowing 40 or more points. You saw how excited Missouri played in Alamo Bowl; will Kansas have the same feeling after Orange Bowl bout from a season ago? The Jayhawks are 21-7 ATS in their last 28 games overall and should be good as long as they don’t turn the ball over excessively. Nevertheless, teams like Minnesota having lost three straight games and catching points cover the spread over 70 percent of the time.

Sportsbook.com Line – Kansas -9, 59

Chick-fil-A Bowl - LSU vs Georgia Tech

Nobody would have expected the final records of these two clubs, heading into this bowl matchup when the 2008 began. The thought of LSU allowing 30 or more points in half their games in ludicrous, yet it occurred. The Tigers (7-5, 2-9 ATS) were the first consensus national champion since Ohio State in 1943 to follow their national championship title with a losing conference record and are 2-10 ATS when playing against a team with a winning record.

The wisdom in hiring Paul Johnson to run option offense with the speed of ACC players was questioned, yet Georgia Tech (9-3, 8-2 ATS) led the league in total offense. The Yellow Jackets were 8-2 ATS this season and are 7-0 ATS off a close road win by three points or less. LSU is 4-1 SU and ATS in last five bowls, with serious questions about their desire after playing in so many big contests.

Why to Watch and Wager

If Georgia Tech can run for almost 1,500 yards in last four games against bowl teams Florida State, North Carolina, Miami-Fl and Georgia, why should LSU be any different? Toss in this angle, the Tigers are 0-10 ATS versus rushing teams averaging 4.75 rushing yards per carry over the last two seasons. The Yellow Jackets will be playing before predominantly home crowd in there own city, though LSU will have plenty of support. What could fire up the Tigers are turnovers. Georgia Tech gave the ball up 24 times and had nearly that many they recovered themselves. If they play dropsies again, LSU still athletes that can be difference makers and cash them in. The Bengal Tigers are 10-1 ATS away from home after two consecutive games where they forced one or less turnovers.

Sportsbook.com Line – Georgia Tech -4, 53

Looking Ahead in Rearview Mirror Betting CFB

Seeing the latest craze in college football by some teams is to change the tempo of the offense and run more plays to keep the defense from changing players to fit situations, I’ll do the same thing this week.

Oklahoma State was expected to be better in 2008, but Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech were all presumed to finish ahead of them in the Big 12 South back in August. Thus far the Cowboys are the only team in college football not to suffer a spread loss at 7-0. You have to wonder if T. Boone Pickens is a betting man (sports’ betting that is), since if he bet his alma mater each game and had “let it ride”, he would be overcoming some of the big financial hits he has taken. It’s becoming more evident coach Mike Gundy can coach and recruit a little. Just asking- If you watched Oklahoma State and USC play on the road last week, whom do you think looked like the better team?

Tulsa is unbeaten and 6-1 ATS and had great second half in covering the spread against Central Florida. They have very good receivers and fascinating way of attacking both on offense and defense. Yet could not help but wonder if they wouldn’t be 6-10 point underdogs to Boise State and TCU on neutral fields, let alone against a top level BCS squad. Big test at Arkansas this week and at Houston on Nov.15.

Minnesota is 7-1 and 6-1 ATS and plays three of final four games at home. The Golden Gophers after a 1-11 campaign caught a scheduling break this season in avoiding Michigan State and Penn State. No doubt Minnesota is much improved, but here is a scary thought. If the Nittany Lions remain unbeaten and Texas or Alabama loses, and Ohio State slips up again, that could mean Minny goes to the Rose Bowl to face possibly face USC. A talented Illinois team was catching 13.5 last year, would the Gophers be on the receiving end of 20?

Though not official yet, Michigan will have 33-year bowl streak broken, still having to play three of last four on the road, including at Ohio State. At 2-6 and 1-7 ATS, the most disconcerting aspect of this Rich Rodriquez coached team is they have not gotten better. Though media-types have continued to say Rodriquez will win in Ann Arbor, watching him and his team on the sidelines is very uncomforting. This isn’t supposed to happen at Michigan. The last Michigan team not to go bowling was the 1974 squad who lost at Ohio State 12-10, ending their perfect 10-0 season, with far fewer bowls back in those days. This won’t have quite the same feel.

Fresno State was supposed to finally win the WAC, but once again the always bold talking Bulldogs are nothing special and causing backer’s lots of cash with 1-6 ATS record. Fresno State’s wins at Rutgers and UCLA are far less impressive today as is the narrow loss at home to Wisconsin. Losing at home to Hawaii is ridiculous and they could hardly have been any luckier in winning at Utah State 30-28 last Saturday as 15-point favorites. Coach Pat Hill has this tough guy persona, but how tough is it to bet against the 105th ranked run defense? Hill reminds me of a golfer who shoots one over par at the hardest course in town and is a 12-handicap at easiest course in the area. Of course all he talks about is his one great round.

Quick notes- What did I say about Pittsburgh last week, NEVER trust a Dave Wannstedt coached-team that is supposed to win.

Just a few of weeks ago it was fun to see the “smart” schools like Vanderbilt and Northwestern doing so well. The Commodores looked like MSNBC poll showing Barack Obama leading the presidential race, with 5-0 record. Three losses later and confronted with Florida and Tennessee at home and at Kentucky and at Wake Forest, the first bowl possibility in 26 years is slipping again. Northwestern not only lost at insipid Indiana, they lost all everything running back Tyrell Sutton.

Florida State is not only 6-1 and 3-2 ATS, they are returning to physical, smarter football.

At the end of September, talked about what a mess the Big East was based on how down the league is this year, it made sense to look at road teams in conference game. Thus far road teams are 6-4 ATS with four outright wins. One aspect not considered was road favorites and they are 1-2 SU and ATS.

After a 5-8-1 start, college football teams off a three exact spread covers are 10-3 ATS the last three weeks. That would mean Arkansas, Florida, Iowa and Louisville are possible play on teams. The opposite would be true for those failing to cover in a trio of tilts. On the season this group is 9-18-1 ATS and Clemson, Iowa State and Kentucky all make this week’s play against watch list.