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December 5th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Coming into Week 13, the New York Jets and New England Patriots were tied for the best record in the NFL at 9-2, and they are the only two in the AFC with these marks. They'll meet on Monday Night Football in one of the most highly anticipated clashes of the entire regular season. The winner will have the inside track to the No. 1 seed in the playoffs in the AFC, while the loser knows that there is a lot of work and help that needs to be done and had to avoid having to play three road games to get to the Super Bowl this winter.

Matchup: New York Jets @ New England Patriots
Date: Monday, December 6th, 8:30 ET
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA
Game Line: New England -3.5
Over/Under 45


Jets Notes: New York could argue that it has the upper hand in this game due to the fact that it has already proven that it is good enough to beat up the Pats at home this year. The 28-14 win was a thing of beauty, especially for QB Mark Sanchez, who threw for 220 yards and three TDs, but more importantly, no picks. Those INTs have really come back to bite him in the rear in recent weeks, as all eight of his mistakes have come in that stretch, but the Jets have been able to survive that with just one defeat. "The Sanchise" has guided the men in green to five wins without a defeat on the road this year, and his numbers are significantly better in Year No. 2 than they were when he was a rookie last campaign. Sanchez has completed 55.2 percent of his pass attempts for 2,459 yards and 16 scores against eight INTs. He also has significantly more weapons to work with this year. WR Braylon Edwards had a full year of camp to work with Sanchez this year, and he has 35 receptions for 618 yards and a team high six scores to show for it, while second year TE Dustin Keller is really emerging as a sophomore in the ranks of the NFL as well with 39 catches for 528 yards and five TDs. WR Santonio Holmes has at least five catches in five straight games, while WR Jerricho Cotchery should be back in the fold this week after sitting out the last two with an injured groin. Add into the mix the fact that RB LaDainian Tomlinson has 45 catches for 316 yards, and it is clear that Sanchez has a ton to work with. Tomlinson is also the team's leader on the ground with 733 yards and five scores, but he hasn't averaged even four yards per carry on the ground for a game since Week 5 in the season. RB Shonn Greene has been a big disappointment this year at just 575 yards and one TD.

Patriots Notes: Just as the Jets have been perfect on the road this year, so too, have the Pats been perfect at home. New England is 5-0 at Gillette Stadium this season, including tough home wins against the Indianapolis Colts and the Baltimore Ravens. Statistically, Head Coach Bill Belichick knows that he has been fortunate this year, as his team continues to find ways to win games in spite of the fact that his defense ranks No. 31 overall at 399.1 yards per game and dead last against the pass at 288.5 yards per game. The offense is uncharacteristically getting outdone by 50 yards per game, and there isn't a category on this side of the ball in which this team has been dominating… except where it really counts. On the scoreboard, New England has put up 30.4 points per game, easily tops in the league. QB Tom Brady is putting up numbers making him worthy of MVP consideration this season. He has completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 2,703 yards with 23 scores against just four INTs. Half of those four picks came in Week 2 though, against these very same Jets. Brady has done a great job spreading the football around, as he has six different receivers on his team that have at least 230 yards and 18 receptions this year. As always, his leading target is WR Wes Welker, who has 65 catches for 592 yards and six scores. TE Rob Gronkowski is starting to get involved a lot more of late, as he has really replaced TE Aaron Hernandez as the top rookie tight end man for Brady to find, especially near the end zone. On the ground, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis leads the team with 627 yards and a team best nine scores, but don't be shocked if RB Danny Woodhead gets called upon a lot in this one. Woodhead was a Jet through Week 2 this year, and he was picked up due to all of the running back injuries that the team incurred over the course of the first few weeks. He has rushed for 344 yards and caught 24 passes for 230 yards, and especially since he was let go by New York, you know that Belichick would love to let Woodhead get some sweet revenge on Monday Night Football.

The Final Word: The Patriots might be the perfect team at home in this one, but that doesn't mean that the Jets aren't going to have the last say when it is said and done. Sanchez and the Jets just keep finding ways to win games, and when it all really boils down, we expect to see that the New York defense is going to outperform the New England defense. If the Jets can force a few turnovers and get into the face of Brady, this one could be the slugfest that they really, truly want. If that's the case, Head Coach Rex Ryan will find a way to get his team to come out of this one with a season changing victory.

Free Pro Football Picks: New York +3.5
Prediction: New York 23 – New England 20

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December 4th, 2010 By GridironGreat

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There is no greater time to try to get into this competition than right now, as every week you beat me gives you another opportunity at that big cash prize at the end of the year. Let's get started right now with my Week 13 picks…

Buffalo Bills @ Minnesota Vikings (-5.5) – I know that the Vikes might be playing this one without RB Adrian Peterson, but how can I back a team that is allowing the most rushing yards in the NFL on the road against a great ground game? RB Toby Gerhart has all of the tools to be a special back in this league, and he'll make good on his start if he gets the opportunity. I know that the Bills haven't lost a game by more than three points in a month and a half, but all of that is going to change on Sunday, as the Leslie Frazier led Vikes are going to be able to take this one by two scores at home to at least keep a false sense of hope alive for a playoff bid. Rock and roll with Minnesota -5.5.

Cleveland Browns (+4.5) @ Miami Dolphins – I'm not so sure why I'm taking Cleveland +4.5 in this one, but I'll call it a gut shot. The Browns are a gritty, gritty team, and though they haven't been able to figure out how to string many wins (or covers, for that matter) together, they can certainly play on the road and win this game outright. I tend to get the feeling that QB Chad Henne is going to do just enough to win this game, and if that's the case, perhaps the Dolphins are going to win by exactly three points. You heard it here first.

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs (-9) – I hate laying this many points with a Kansas City team that I'm not so convinced is all that good, but I am convinced that this is that bad of a matchup for the Broncos. This was a different scenario a few weeks ago when these two teams met at the Mile High Stadium, as there was a big heaping of revenge that needed to be served up for Denver on the Chiefs. Now, it's payback for the payback. Having already seen this passing game once, Kansas City probably won't be all that fooled, and as long as RB Jamaal Charles and RB Thomas Jones can keep the ball moving on the ground, there is no reason why QB Kyle Orton and company are on the field long enough to do that much damage. Lay the points and go with KC -9.

Washington Redskins (+7) @ New York Giants – Can someone please explain to me why on earth the Giants are in a position where they are always laying a TD at home against a reasonable team? I mean really, let's think this one out logically here. There are just too many injuries for New York to contend with right now, and it was very, very lucky to have beaten the Jacksonville Jaguars last weekend at home when it was, you guessed it, a seven point favorite. Now, I have a stingy Washington team that has proven it can win games in division, even on the road. Yep, I'll take the points and go with Washington +7 in a heartbeat.

San Francisco 49ers (+9.5) @ Green Bay Packers – The Packers are coming off of a fairly awful game against the Atlanta Falcons in which they just couldn't seal the deal. Now, they're coming home in a game that legitimately could be a postseason preview. The 49ers are still probably the best team in the NFC West, and they badly need to take a game like this to get some momentum going for the rest of the year to get to the head of the class. Green Bay isn't going to lose this one, but to win it by double digits seems like an awfully large task. Take the points and back San Fran +9.5.

New Orleans Saints (-7) @ Cincinnati Bengals – I can already hear your whining now. "But Gridiron Great," how are you going to lay seven points on the road with a team that hasn't played that well on the road against a team that really usually plays well at home?" Easy. Watch me. QB Drew Brees is going to rip this Cincinnati defense apart, and covering a TD is going to be as easy as holding the Bungals to about 20 points or so. No problemo. New Orleans -7

Atlanta Falcons (-3) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – I know that the Bucs have shown some fight in recent weeks, and I know that they really had a chance to win this fixture up in the Georgia Dome. And yes, I even know that the season is on the line for Tampa Bay and that it is probably going to be an incredibly sharp play. But here's what else I see. I see an Atlanta team that usually gets beaten by passing games, not running games, and I see a Bucs team that really just wants to use that short passing attack to avoid making mistakes. You're not going to beat QB Matt Ryan by just trying to avoid mistakes. There really are no other options here for me but to lay the points and go with Atlanta -3.

Oakland Raiders @ San Diego Chargers (-13) – Simply put, I'm not so sure that there is any team in the NFL right now that would be derailing the train that is that of the San Diego Chargers. This is just a well tuned machine that just continues to rip apart everything in its path. The Raiders could compete in this one, but I just don't see it happening. Somehow, QB Philip Rivers will find a way to throw for 300+ yards, and if that happens, RB Mike Tolbert will get his yards as well, and there's no way that Oakland is sticking within two TDs of a team that is coming up with 400 yards.

Carolina Panthers (+6) @ Seattle Seahawks – Gag me with a spoon, please… This the biggest dog game of the day, and it is one that is surely going to stink up the joint… especially if what I think is going to happen comes true. The first team to six in this game wins… and it might just be the Panthers! Go with Carolina +6.

Dallas Cowboys @ Indianapolis Colts (-5.5) – My gut feeling suggests that the carriage for the Cowboys is about to turn into a pumpkin and that the pumpkin for Colts is about to turn back into a carriage again. I don't care what form either team is in right now. QB Peyton Manning is only laying 5.5 points at home against QB Jon Kitna. Someone please tell me what I'm missing here… Indianapolis -5.5.

St. Louis Rams (-3.5) @ Arizona Cardinals – Only in the NFC West can you have one team go on the road and be laying points at the start of the season, cover the spread, and then come back home without any notable injuries three months later to be a 3.5 point underdog… Yet somehow, I have this strange trust in the Rams that we cannot ignore. QB Sam Bradford impresses me quite a bit, as I think the kid should be a Pro Bowler for the way that he has played in the second half of the season. Hey Derek Anderson, this is no laughing matter. Your team is going to get its butt kicked again. St. Louis -3.5.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens (-3) – Remember to make your tiebreaker picks in this game!!! This is a tough game that is going to be very difficult to make a call on. I'm just happy that I don't have to publically make a pick for the New England Patriots/New York Jets game (though for the record, I'd go with New York +3.5)… These two AFC North rivals are really just matched up dead evenly, just as they are seemingly each and every campaign. The confidence has to be brimming from the Ravens though, as they already have that last second win in Pittsburgh to bank on. Sure, QB Ben Roethlisberger is playing in this one and he was out of that one, but this game isn't in the Steel City either. Baltimore -3.

Official Week 13 NFL Lines Courtesy of Oddsmaker Sportsbook
Buffalo Bills @ Minnesota Vikings (-5.5)
Cleveland Browns @ Miami Dolphins (-4.5)
Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs (-9)
Washington Redskins @ New York Giants (-7)
San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers (-9.5)
New Orleans Saints (-7) @ Cincinnati Bengals
Atlanta Falcons (-3) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Oakland Raiders @ San Diego Chargers (-13)
Carolina Panthers @ Seattle Seahawks (-6)
Dallas Cowboys @ Indianapolis Colts (-5.5)
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens (-3)

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December 3rd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Two and a half months ago, the South Carolina Gamecocks could have ended the perfect season and most likely the BCS Championship dreams of the Auburn Tigers if they were able to finish off their game at Jordan Hare Stadium. Instead, Auburn found a way to come all the way back and win. Now, playing in the team's first SEC Championship Game, the Gamecocks are the only team standing between Auburn and a date with destiny in the BCS Championship Game.

Matchup: Auburn Tigers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Date: Saturday, December 4th, 4:00 ET
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
Game Line: Auburn -5.5
Over/Under 61.5

Tigers Notes: Is it just us, or do the Tigers seem to have the look of a team that is just touched and is destined to find its way to the National Championship this year? These Tigers have certainly had nine lives, as they have found ways to put away games in which they looked to be dead in the water. Up until last week against the Alabama Crimson Tide though, it appeared as though all of those games were happening at home. Now, the biggest test in Tuscaloosa against the defending National Champions has been passed, and my, how was it passed! The Tide had a 24-0 lead in the second quarter and watched it evaporate, as Auburn stormed back and won the game 28-27 for arguably the biggest win in the school's history and certainly the biggest ever for HC Gene Chizik. QB Cameron Newton also seems to be an untouchable force this year. The NCAA has tried its best, but it can't find anything to suspend him for at this point that would make him ineligible for this game or for the rest of the season, and as long as that remains the case, he is clearly the odds on choice for the Heisman Trophy, if he isn't a lock for the honor already. Newton has rushed for 1,336 yards and thrown for 2,254 more, and between his passing TDs and rushing TDs (and his one receiving TD!), he has visiting the end zone 43 times, by far the most in college football. This isn't just a one man team, though. On the ground, both RB Michael Dyer and RB Onterio McCalebb are capable of taking games over in a heartbeat. Dyer has rushed for 886 yards, while McCalebb is at 733 for the campaign, and the two have 14 scores combined. There's a reason that Auburn is averaging 292.5 yards per game on the ground and is scoring 41.6 points per game, one of the top marks in the entire country. The key this week though, is going to be the defense. This unit has some great numbers on the year, but it just doesn't pass the eye test. There are too many mental lapses, like allowing over 300 yards in the first half through the air to QB Greg McElroy or the 43 points conceded, mostly to a backup quarterback for the Arkansas Razorbacks. If this unit falters, title dreams could be smashed to smithereens.

Gamecocks Notes: The Ol' Ball Coach, HC Steve Spurrier, has been waiting for this moment at South Carolina for a long, long time. It has clearly been a special season for the Gamecocks, as they have embarked upon a number of firsts. It was the first time that they have been in the SEC Championship Game, the first time in which they beat the Florida Gators in the Swamp, and is probably the first time that the offense has been this good in school history. RB Marcus Lattimore has arguably been the best freshman in the entire country this year, and the argument could certainly be made that if he isn't the best, he is the most valuable. Lattimore has come up huge with three straight games in triple digits in rushing yards, and he now has 1,114 yards and 19 TDs on the season. He was held in check against Auburn the first time around, but we must remember that that was really his first true road game in his career. Now, he has significantly more experience and is ready to rock and roll on the SEC's biggest stage to try to pull off this upset. QB Stephen Garcia feels like he has been the butt of every joke in Columbia for years, but he is the last one laughing now. Garcia has thrown for 2,646 yards and 18 TDs on the season, and he has only been picked off nine times, something that Spurrier has been begging him for years about. However, it really helps when you have a 6'5" 240+ pounder that has springs for legs like WR Alshon Jeffrey to throw the ball to. There is no doubt that this young man will be playing on Sundays soon enough, as he is arguably the top receiver in the SEC, which is saying something considering that he shares a division with WR AJ Green of the Georgia Bulldogs. Jeffrey has 75 receptions for 1,351 yards and eight scores this year. Just like Auburn though, we're more worried about the South Carolina defense. This unit did not play well at Jordan Hare Stadium, allowing over 330 rushing yards on the day to the Tigers. Still, this is a team that has held a number of great offenses in check this year, and it has held foes to just 91.6 yards per game on the ground. If you take out that huge performance for Auburn, others have only averaged right around 70 yards per game, and if that's where SC can keep the Tigers, it has a chance for the upset.

The Final Word: Say goodbye to your National Championship dreams, Auburn. If there is justice in this world, the Tigers are going to get beat, as it seems like it is only a matter of time before the NCAA drops the hammer on the program and wipes this season clean regardless. South Carolina looks like the team full of good ol' boys right now, led by a good ol' coach who knows how to get the job done in games like this. There is absolutely no pressure whatsoever on the Gamecocks on Saturday afternoon, and we love them for it. Their rush defense is the difference on Saturday. Jeffrey and Lattimore both have huge games, while Newton, Dyer, and company just don't get anything going. Not only is South Carolina winning this game. It's winning it in a huge way.

SEC Championship Game Picks: South Carolina +5.5
Prediction: South Carolina 41 – Auburn 17

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December 3rd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers truly hate each other, and they will engage in the Civil War on Saturday afternoon with all to play for on both sidelines. Should the Ducks prove to be victorious, they will have their ticket stamped to the BCS Championship Game in Glendale in January. Oregon State needs this 'W' to qualify for a bowl game in December after playing the nation's most brutal schedule. Which one will get the job done? We have our Civil War picks right here at Cappers Info!

Matchup: Oregon Ducks vs. Oregon State Beavers
Date: Saturday, December 4th, 3:30 ET
Location: Reser Stadium, Corvallis, OR
Game Line: Oregon -16.5
Over/Under 64.5

Ducks Notes: Is there a team out there in the country that can stop the Quack Attack? The Ducks are on a roll right now, having won all 11 games this season by posting 42+ points in all but one of the 11. The bad news for those backing them on the college football odds is that they are only 0-2-1 ATS in their last three games, but that isn't going to bother HC Chip Kelly one bit. Kelly made a huge stand at the outset of the season by suspending his top rusher RB LaMichael James for one game for some off the field issues, but he made even bigger waves by kicking his quarterback, Heisman Trophy contending QB Jeremiah Masoli off of the team. With QB Nathan Costa being injured for most of the year, the pressure has fallen onto the shoulders of QB Darren Thomas. Talk about answering the bell! Thomas has rushed for 496 yards and five scores and has thrown for 2,355 yards and 26 TDs against just seven INTs on the campaign. As for James, he didn't turn out all that bad either. The sophomore has rushed for 1,568 yards, received for 169 yards, and has 20 total TDs on the campaign. Not too shabby for a man that was suspended for a game in which his team racked up 720 yards, eh? James is probably a Heisman Trophy finalist, as he is averaging well over 150 yards per game on the ground this year and is virtually impossible to keep out of the end zone. As always, keep an eye on WR Jeffrey Maehl as well. Maehl has 61 catches for 857 yards and 12 scores on the year, and he leads the team in all three categories. The only question is whether or not this defense is going to be able to slow down the Beavers. There is no doubt that the averages for the U of O are great, as allowing 328.5 yards and 18.3 points per game is nothing to sweat about, especially if you have an offense like this that is averaging over 50 points and nearly 550 yards per game, but this is a unit that has allowed at least 29 points three times this year and can be had.

Beavers Notes: The poor Beavers are probably the fourth best team or so in the Pac-10, and they are certainly deserving of going to a bowl game, but the fact that this is the fourth team this year that they are going to play that will be ranked in the final Top 10 in the country in nauseating. The averages for this team are terrible this year, as 330.2 yards and 24.8 points per game are not nearly what a HC Mike Riley team should be putting on the board on a regular basis. Nor should the defense be allowing 401.0 yards per game. Part of the problem has been that WR James Rodgers has been out for the majority of the season, which has really left QB Ryan Katz out to dry. Katz has thrown for 2,159 yards and 16 scores this year, but his eight picks have hurt, especially for a man that turns around and hands the ball off more often than he drops back to throw. And why wouldn't you want to turn around and give the pigskin to RB Jacquizz Rodgers? Many thought that Rodgers could be a dark horse for the Heisman Trophy this year, and though that hasn't panned out, he is clearly the man that the Ducks are most afraid of on Saturday. Rodgers has rushed for 1,100 yards and 14 scores and has caught 38 passes for 274 yards and two TDs. No one else has really been able to step into the shoes of the elder Rodgers brother though, as Markus Wheaton is the team's leading receiver with just 44 receptions, 523 yards, and three scores.

The Final Word: Though we know that taking points in rivalry games is usually a great idea, especially when you're talking about a ton of points for a team that is playing at home, we just can't do it on Saturday. The Beavers just appear to be snake bitten right now, and the fact that they were just shut out by the Stanford Cardinal last week isn't exactly appealing to us. There's just too much James, too much Maehl, and too much Thomas for OSU to stop. It will be a long, long night in Corvallis for the hosts, as they are going to end up waiting another year to return to a bowl game. The Ducks are heading to the BCS Championship Game with ease.

MAC Championship Game Picks: Oregon -16.5
Prediction: Oregon 52 – Oregon State 23

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December 2nd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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There was never much of a doubt this season that the Northern Illinois Huskies were going to be playing in the MAC Championship Game this December, but who their opponent would be was very much so up in the air. In a vicious three team battle that came down to the very last second of the very last game, the Miami Redhawks got the job done and are here in Motown ready to pull off what would be a shocking upset of a team that just finally cracked into the Top 25.

Matchup: Miami Redhawks vs. Northern Illinois Huskies
Date: Friday, December 3rd, 7:00 ET
Location: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Game Line: Northern Illinois -18
Over/Under 54.5

Redhawks Notes: Things aren't going all that well for the Redhawks right now, as they know that they have a huge mountain to climb in this game. They did finish up the regular season with four straight wins both SU and ATS and took a year in which might not have ended in a bowl game and made it a guarantee. It's unfortunately that QB Zac Dysert won't be here to join in the celebration of winning the East Division of the MAC, as he has a ruptured spleen that will keep him out of the fold until the bowl game, only if it is played late in December or in January. Dysert threw for 2,406 yards and 13 TDs this year against a dozen INTs, and he was a tremendous asset to a team that went just 1-11 last year. Now, the ball belongs to QB Austin Boucher, who has thrown for 498 yards and has led the team to two wins in its final two games this year. RB Thomas Merriweather has come quite some way as well. The senior was thrown out of the first game of the year against the Florida Gators, and he fell out of favor for quite some time with his team. However, over the last three games, he has been the brightest star on the team. The Redhawks' back has rumbled for at least 80 yards in three straight, and at least 140 in his last two since Dysert has been out of the lineup. Merriweather has also scored in four consecutive games, and one would like to think that that number needs to reach five for the Redhawks to have a chance of pulling off this upset. Don't rest on this 'D' either. Miami has a defense that has allowed just 339.1 yards per game on the season, one of the best totals in the MAC and ranking No. 39 in the country.

Huskies Notes: Then there are the Huskies, who have not just been beating teams this year, but they have been beating them down as well. If not for a push against the Western Michigan Broncos, this would be a team with ten covers on the campaign, and ten straight at that. Since losing to the Illinois Fighting Illini in Champaign back in September, the Huskies have rolled off ten straight wins. The last three victories have come with at least 59 points hitting the scoreboard. Northern Illinois has outscored its foes by almost three full TDs this year. The 'O' ranks No. 17 in the country at 454.0 yards per game, while the 'D' is conceding just 18.5 points and 319.6 yards per game. All of those numbers are tops for teams in the MAC. QB Chandler Harnish has had a fantastic season this year, and he is taking care of the pigskin. Harnish has completed 66.0 percent of his passes for 1,949 yards with 17 scores and just five INTs. On the ground, there are few like RB Chad Spann in the country. Spann will absolutely earn a bunch of All-MAC honors for his 2010 campaign in which he rushed for 1,239 yards and a whopping 20 TDs. Over his last five games, Spann has rushed for at least 70 yards in all five and has scored a total of 12 times. Harnish has also added 761 yards on the ground for a team that is averaging just over 280 rushing yards per game. NIU has always been one of the better teams that this conference has to offer, but when push really came to shove over the last four seasons, QB Dan LeFevour and the Central Michigan Chippewas often ruled the day. Now's the time for the Huskies to shine.

The Final Word: Though NIU isn't going let that opportunity go, we still have to realize that this is a conference championship game between two teams that are awfully solid. No, the Redhawks aren't going to be the victorious team in this one, and it probably wouldn't have mattered whether Dysert played or not. The Huskies dumped the rest of the contenders in the MAC in the regular season, but they hasn't gotten their hands on Miami yet. The Redhawks will represent well, but come up short by a comfortable margin to give NIU the league title.

MAC Championship Game Picks: Miami +18
Prediction: Northern Illinois 37 – Miami 24

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December 2nd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Matchup: Illinois Fighting Illini @ Fresno State Bulldogs
Date: Friday, December 3, 10:15 ET
Location: Bulldog Stadium, Fresno, CA
Game Line: Illinois -5.5
Over/Under 57.5

Pat Hill’s 7-4 Fresno State Bulldogs will look to add another BCS conference scalp on its mantle Friday night when it takes on the 6-5 Illinois Fighting Illini Friday night. Illinois became bowl eligible last week with a big 48-27 win over Northwestern on Saturday. The win may have solidified Zook’s job after a disastrous last two seasons in Champaign. Zook has a 27-44 record in his time at Illinois and this season will mark only the second time in six seasons he has been to a bowl game. Against Northwestern, the story was all about RB Mikel LeShoure, who put together one of the best games we’ve seen in all of college football this season. LeShoure carried the rock 33 times for an incredible 330 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Illini offense. All told, Illinois carried the ball 70 times for 519 yards and five touchdowns against the Wildcats defense. Priority one for the Bulldogs to win this game, will be to stop the Illinois running game. Fresno State bounced back after an embarrassing loss to Boise State and a heartbreaking loss to Nevada to beat Idaho 23-20 last week. Fresno State was ahead most of the game, but a late Idaho rally left them needing a 1-yard touchdown plunge from A.J. Ellis with 14 seconds left to get the victory. Fresno State dominated Idaho on the stat sheet, putting up 371 yards against Idaho’s 210 total yards, but four lost fumbles and an Idaho kickoff return for a touchdown kept the Vandals in the game throughout. Last year, Fresno State and Illinois played a thrilling game in Champaign. The Bulldogs scored a touchdown with two seconds left to make the score 52-51 Illinois and opted to go for two instead of the tie. On the two-point conversion, QB Ryan Colburn heaved a desperation pass in the air while being brought down by an Illinois defensive lineman that somehow found its way into the hands of G Devan Cunningham for the score and the win.

Free College Football Picks: Fresno State +5.5
Prediction: Fresno State 35 Illinois 32

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December 1st, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles both hope that the playoffs in their future, but only one of these teams is going to take a big time step in the right direction to start unlucky Week 13 in NFL betting action.

Matchup: Houston Texans @ Philadelphia Eagles
Date: Thursday, December 2nd, 8:20 ET
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Game Line: Philadelphia -9
Over/Under 51.5

Texans Notes: It feels like we're saying that this is a do or die game every single week for the Texans, but this one really might not be an exception. Houston is just a game back of the lead in the AFC South, but it is going to be in tiebreaker Hell in all likelihood by season's end. The Texans have to feel fortunate that they didn't lose WR Andre Johnson this week, as he probably deserved to be suspended for his fist fight with DB Cortland Finnegan on the field last Sunday. He could be in for a really big game against the Philadelphia defense, and if he has that big time effort, he could make it to the 1,000 yard mark. QB Matt Schaub is probably going to become a 3,000 yard passer, as he already has 2,751 yards on the campaign. He has 15 TDs against seven picks on the year and would be well on his way to some MVP consideration if the Texans were in the playoff picture. RB Arian Foster is the best running back in the league this year, and that's shocking for a man that really needed to fight for his job in the preseason. The former Tennessee Volunteer already has 1,147 yards and a dozen TDs on the ground, but his real contributions are in the passing game, where he is the second biggest target on the squad with 48 catches, 453 yards, and a score. And then, there's the defense… This unit is coming off of a shutout against the Tennessee Titans in which DB Glover Quin picked off three passes. However, beating up a division rival with its third quarterback making his first career starts doesn't seem to strike the same type of cord as it would this week. Every other foe this year has scored at least 24 points on the campaign against the Texans, and six in a row before Tennessee had scored 29 or more points.

Eagles Notes: Fly Eagles, fly! Philadelphia might be coming off of a loss to the Chicago Bears, but it is still in first place in the NFC East in a tie with the New York Giants. QB Michael Vick threw his first interception last week, but the best remedy for throwing a pick is playing against the Houston defense! The former Atlanta Falcon really has to be salivating about this matchup on Thursday night, as it gives him a chance to shine against a bad defense and to showcase his skills on national television. Vick has thrown for 1,941 yards and 13 scores and has rushed for 419 yards and five more TDs. There are some potentially big time games out of both WR Jeremy Maclin and WR DeSean Jackson coming. Maclin leads the team with 752 yards and 51 receptions with eight TDs, while Jackson is averaging 19.4 yards per reception this year, one of the biggest averages on the campaign. The former Cal Golden Bear has caught 35 passes for 678 yards and five scores. WR Jason Avant is coming on strong right now, as he has 41 receptions for 479 yards and a TD. RB LeSean McCoy has caught 59 passes for 448 yards and a TD, and he has rushed for 779 yards and six trips to the end zone. Defensively, there are some superstars to watch out for. DE Trent Cole has seven sacks on the season, while DB Asante Samuel has seven picks. Both Nate Allen and Dimitri Patterson have three INTs as well, while Quintin Mikell has three forced turnovers to boot.

The Final Word: Here we go again for the Texans. They just continue to feel like they find ways to lose games, and now that they are playing a Major League team once again and not a bunch of has beens, they have a big time issue. Houston is every bit as good as Philly is, but with this game being on the road off of an Eagles loss, it's hard to see how the hosts are going to lose this one. The Texans will cover, but they'll find a way to get beaten in the end once again.

Free Pro Football Picks: Houston +9
Prediction: Philadelphia 31 – Houston 30

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December 1st, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Matchup: Arizona State Sun Devils @ Arizona Wildcats
Date: Thursday, December 2, 8:00 ET
Location: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ
Game Line: Arizona -6
Over/Under 54.5

For the first half of its game against Oregon last week, it looked like the 7-4 Arizona Wildcats could pull off one of the biggest upsets in college football this season and knock off the mighty Ducks. However, Oregon showed why they are poised for a BCS Title berth, by pulling away in the second half for a 48-29 victory over the Wildcats. Arizona will try to bounce back against in-state rival 5-6 Arizona State this week in Thursday night college football betting action. The Wildcats started the season hot with four straight wins and a huge victory against Iowa, but have cooled off considerably since, losing three straight. QB Nick Foles had an outstanding game against the Ducks, scorching the Oregon secondary for 448 yards and three touchdowns against just one interception. Foles was able to pilot the offense to over 500 yards but that wasn’t enough to topple the high-powered offense of the Ducks. As for Arizona State, the Sun Devils will try to become bowl eligible with a win against their arch rival on Thursday night. Last week against UCLA, Arizona State struggled in the first half against the lowly Bruins, but put up 34 points in the second half to cruise to a victory. QB Brock Osweiler put together a very good game after starting QB Steven Threet went down early. Osweiler completed 27 of 36 passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns on the day and also ran for 35 yards and a score. Threet is expected to start against the Wildcats but Osweiler may be seen on a few series.

Free College Football Picks: Arizona -6
Prediction: Arizona 31 Arizona State 20

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