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Posts Tagged ‘Kansas State Wildcats’

December 29th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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For the first time in the history of New Yankee Stadium, a bowl game will head to the Big Apple! On Thursday, in the second college football betting battle in the Bronx this year, the Syracuse Orange will take on the Kansas State Wildcats in what should be a hot and heavy duel at the Pinstripe Bowl. Our Pinstripe Bowl picks are hot off the presses in time for Thursday afternoon's clash, and you certainly won't want to miss them!

Pinstripe Bowl Matchup: Kansas State Wildcats vs. Syracuse Orange
Date: Thursday, December 30th, 3:20 ET
Location: New Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Pinstripe Bowl Line: Syracuse -1
Over/Under 48

Wildcats Notes: The Wildcats know that they could be up against it in this game if their defense doesn't prove to stand the test of the Syracuse rushing game. We do have to give KSU some credit for this being a very tough schedule played this year, but when push really comes to shove, we know that these guys allowed the fifth most rushing yards in the land at 219.5 yards per game. That's nearly as many as the Orange are giving up in total! There is still a question as to whether Head Coach Bill Snyder really wants to use QB Carson Coffman or QB Collin Klein under center, but one thing is for certain, and that's that he really doesn't want to let either man throw the ball all that much. KSU once threw just two passes in a game this year, and it was a team that had a run/pass ratio of almost 2:1. RB Daniel Thomas actually ran the ball by himself more times (276) than the Wildcats threw in passes (267) all year. Thomas made the most of those carries, rushing for 1,495 yards and 16 TDs to cap a fabulous two years on the offensive side of the ball. WR Aubrey Quarles was the team's leading receiver with 690 yards on 48 catches, and he was the only man that had more than 25 catches this year that didn't come out of the backfield.

Orange Notes: The first thing that we have to remember when analyzing the Pinstripe Bowl betting odds in this one is that the Orange really did play a soft schedule that included arguably the worst team in major college football (Akron) and the two teams from the FCS (Maine and Colgate). That being said, this was a defense that really was no joke this year. Allowing 270.0 yards per game is probably inflated by about 30 yards, but when push comes to shove, even allowing 300 yards per game is fantastic, especially in major college football, even if the Big East was down just a tad this year. The offense though, was absolutely horrifying. Averaging 309.4 yards per game leaves the 'Cuse ranked dead last amongst the 70 bowl teams this year, and it was only good enough to rank No. 106 in the nation. Now, the team's leading receiver, WR Van Chew, could miss the game as well with a groin injury. If he is out of the lineup, there isn't a player available that caught more than 32 passes or one that had even 400 yards in receiving. QB Ryan Nassib has a lot of pressure on his back, but he did a good job of holding onto the football this year, throwing just eight picks against 16 TDs with 2,095 yards. The key to this offense is on the ground though, where RB Delone Carter rushed for 1,035 yards and seven TDs and RB Antwon Bailey had 504 yards and two scores on 107 carries.

The Final Word: If not for the fact that the Wildcats were just so darn bad against the rush, we would back them in this game. There is a serious motivation factor here as well, as the Wildcats probably aren't going to be so thrilled to be here, especially after a relatively horrible stretch at the end of the year that only featured one win, a narrow escape from the lowly North Texas Mean Green. This should feel like a home game for the 'Cuse, and we tend to believe that they're going to capitalize with an ugly victory.

Pinstripe Bowl Free Pick: Syracuse -1
Pinstripe Bowl Prediction: Syracuse 17 – Kansas State 13

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November 12th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Matchup: Iowa Hawkeyes @ Northwestern Wildcats
Date: Saturday, November 13th, 12:00 ET
Location: Ryan Field, Evanston, IN
Game Line: Northwestern +10
Over/Under 50.5

The Wildcats really need another win just to make sure that there is no way that they could be left out of the bowl season this year, but this is going to be an incredibly difficult task. The four teams sitting atop the Big Ten all think that they are the one going to the Rose Bowl, and none of them can afford a slip. Iowa knows that this is a tricky spot with the Ohio State Buckeyes coming up in the near future, but it can't forget that this was the team that knocked it off last year to end its undefeated season. You can bet that QB Ricky Stanzi, who was hurt in that game, has a very, very long memory, and isn't going to be afraid to go after this 'D'. Still, the Wildcats are catching a ton of points in this game, and we aren't afraid to take them.

Free College Football Picks: Northwestern +10
Prediction: Iowa 27 – Northwestern 21

Matchup: Indiana Hoosiers @ Wisconsin Badgers
Date: Saturday, November 13th, 12:00 ET
Location: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI
Game Line: Wisconsin -21.5
Over/Under 58

QB Scott Tolzien and company were really given more of a hassle than they should have been by the Purdue Boilermakers last week, and we have no doubt that this is really still just a case of a good team playing to the level of its opponents. The Badgers know that they can still win the National Championship this year, but it isn't going to come without some luck. They have to take care of business in this game. However, QB Ben Chappell has the ability to do some real damage with the Indiana offense, and though he isn't nearly going to be able to win this game in Camp Randall, we tend to think that the NCAA football odds are more focused on Wisconsin's ranking and less focused on the fact that these two teams really aren't three TDs apart from each other.

Free College Football Picks: Indiana +21.5
Prediction: Wisconsin 34 – Indiana 17

Matchup: Miami Hurricanes @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Date: Saturday, November 13th, 12:00 ET
Location: Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Game Line: Georgia Tech +3
Over/Under 49.5

Are we missing something here? We know that the Ramblin' Wreck really haven't had that great of a season, but this is slightly ridiculous to make them home dogs against a divisional rival not named the Virginia Tech Hokies. Without QB Josh Nesbitt, we get out first real look at QB Tevin Washington for G-Tech, and he is capable of doing the exact same thing that Nesbit is. If not for a special teams blunder, the Yellow Jackets might have won last week in Blacksburg, something that Miami probably won't be able to say. We admire the fact that QB Jacory Harris keeps finding ways to get back into the game and play for the Canes, but is he really ready to go after his concussion? With QB AJ Highsmith potentially on the shelf as well, Miami could be in a heck of a lot of trouble if this one gets physical. Remember that Miami hasn't won a game here in Atlanta since 2004, and that's going to make for one heck of a tussle on Saturday.

Free College Football Picks: Georgia Tech +3
Prediction: Georgia Tech 24 – Miami 17

Matchup: Mississippi Rebels @ Tennessee Volunteers
Date: Saturday, November 13th, 12:20 ET
Location: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
Game Line: Tennessee -2
Over/Under 55.5

It isn't really often that we care about two teams that are under .500 and quite possibly not going to bowl games, but this is the SEC, and this is about as big of a game as it gets at the bottom of any conference. The Rebels are getting their acts together and are two wins away from bowl eligibility, and this is a must win game if they hope to get the job done. Unfortunately for HC Houston Nutt and company, the Vols are virtually thinking the exact same thing. The Tennessee offense continues to do just enough to push games past the 'total', but there really haven't been any big home wins all season long. Here's a great opportunity to erase the memories of losses against teams like Oregon, Florida, and Alabama. Rocky Top will take one step closer to a bowl game this weekend.

Free College Football Picks: Tennessee -2.5
Prediction: Tennessee 38 – Ole Miss 27

Matchup: Kansas State Wildcats @ Missouri Tigers
Date: Saturday, November 13th, 12:30 ET
Location: Faurot Stadium, Columbia, MO
Game Line: Missouri -13
Over/Under 54.5

Last week, the Wildcats decided to employee the strategy of, "We aren't throwing the football under any circumstance," and it worked, as they destroyed the Texas Longhorns on the ground. QB Carson Coffman has to be wondering what he really did wrong to get benched, but he isn't as mobile as backup QB Collin Klein. If the intent is to just run the football to try to beat these Tigers though, that's not going to go all that well. It's not that Mizzou is a fantastic team against ground games, because it isn't (see: Roy Helu running for over 300 yards against it a few weeks back). If the Tigers take the lead though, something is going to have to change. Is Coffman going to be willing to come in off the bench cold and try to lead a comeback against a relentless team that just keeps finding ways to score? We think not. The Tigers get back on track and end this little two game skid with ease.

Free College Football Picks: Missouri -13
Prediction: Missouri 34 – Kansas State 16

Matchup: Utah Utes @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Date: Saturday, November 13th, 2:30 ET
Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
Game Line: Notre Dame +5.5
Over/Under 54.5

The Golden Domers are ready to pack it in for the season, and we tend to believe, even off of a bye week, that that's exactly what's going to happen. HC Kyle Whittingham is one of the best in the biz at Utah, and he knows that his team can still make it to the BCS with some luck, but it can only do so by being impressive for the rest of the season. The Utes need to stay in the Top 14 to have a chance, and even if they don't go to the BCS, finishing in the Top 10 in the country would be a tremendous achievement. Without TE Kyle Rudolph, QB Dayne Crist, RB Armando Allen, and potentially even WR Theo Riddick, Notre Dame doesn't stand a chance to move the ball against this stout defense, though we do love what QB Tommy Rees did two weeks ago against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Still, if teams like Tulsa are coming into South Bend and winning, what is Utah going to do? Our guess is that it's certainly not going to be a thing of beauty for the hosts in their first ever tussle with the Utes.

Free College Football Picks: Utah -5.5
Prediction: Utah 38 – Notre Dame 13

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October 27th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Matchup: Oklahoma State Cowboys @ Kansas State Wildcats
Date: Saturday, October 30th, 12:00 ET
Location: Bill Snyder Family Field, Manhattan, KS
Game Line: Kansas State +5
Over/Under 66

Had the Pokes won last weekend, we would be a lot more inclined to think that the Wildcats would be able to wake up just a tad and beat one of the top teams in the country. Now, we're not so sure, though. The Oklahoma State offense is a finely tuned machine, and the fact that WR Justin Blackmon is out of the lineup in this one isn't going to be a killer. Yes, Blackmon is the best receiver in the entire country, and yes, a DUI is going to prove to be costly, but QB Brandon Weeden has plenty of other options to throw the ball to. K-State is still a one man band with RB Daniel Thomas, if the Cowboys can just remotely contain him, the offense should prove to be good enough to score enough to win this one by at least a somewhat comfortable margin. If Okie State can score 41 on the Nebraska Cornhuskers with Blackmon, it can surely find a way to score at least in the 30s against Kansas State without him.

Free College Football Picks: Oklahoma State -5
Prediction: Oklahoma State 38 – Kansas State 30

Matchup: Miami Hurricanes @ Virginia Cavaliers
Date: Saturday, October 30th, 12:00 ET
Location: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA
Game Line: Virginia +15
Over/Under 51

The Hoos have three wins this year, but those three wins have come against the Eastern Michigan Eagles and a pair of teams from the FCS. We were fooled last week by the Canes, who came out and absolutely dominated the North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, we aren't so sure which Miami team is going to show up on Saturday. We know that the last time "The U" played on the road, it struggled mightily with the Duke Blue Devils for the full 60 minutes and only won by two scores. QB Marc Verica really isn't taking too many strides in the right direction, but we do believe that this Virginia team is good enough to get its act together and at least make this one respectable at home on Saturday afternoon, especially if the defense can find a way to put at least a tad bit of pressure on QB Jacory Harris.

Free College Football Picks: Virginia +15
Prediction: Miami 30 – Virginia 17

Matchup: Louisville Cardinals @ Pittsburgh Panthers
Date: Saturday, October 30th, 12:00 ET
Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
Game Line: Pittsburgh -10
Over/Under 56

We've already talked about just how good RB Bilal Powell is turning out to be, as he is probably the best back in the Big East. We have totally forgotten about the Panthers, as they are probably the best of the worst in a very questionable conference. However, we just aren't so sure that QB Tino Sunseri and the U-Pitt offense are good enough to keep up with Powell and the gang, especially if the Redbirds keep pushing like this. The Panthers have proven nothing quite yet, and though this one won't necessarily showcase anything one way or the other, we do tend to believe that Louisville is taking one giant step towards a bowl game in HC Charlie Strong's first season on the job.

Free College Football Picks: Louisville +10
Prediction: Louisville 28 – Pittsburgh 24

Matchup: Northwestern Wildcats @ Indiana Hoosiers
Date: Saturday, October 30th, 12:00 ET
Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN
Game Line: Indiana +3.5
Over/Under 58.5

It's hard to think that this could be one of the best games of the day. Both of these teams love running up and down the field, and neither one can really play defense that well when push comes to shove. Indiana's QB Ben Chappell could be in for a huge day against his instate rivals, and if that's the case, the Hoosiers are going to be tough to beat. There's something about the way that the Wildcats lost last week to the Michigan State Spartans that scares the wits out of us. We'll give Northwestern the slight nod here, because QB Dan Persa can take care of the football quite well, but we'll go with the fact that it should be decided at the gun. This arguably the toughest game on the entire board to try to handicap.

Free College Football Picks: Indiana +3.5
Prediction: Northwestern 41 – Indiana 39

Matchup: Tennessee Volunteers @ South Carolina Gamecocks
Date: Saturday, October 30th, 12:20 ET
Location: Williams Bryce Stadium, Columbia, SC
Game Line: South Carolina -18
Over/Under 48.5

We got burned by the Vols last week, as they really had no answers for WR Julio Jones and the offense of the Alabama Crimson Tide. That game at home might have finally been the backbreaker for this Tennessee team that we have been riding all season long. They're good enough to stick around in this game, but the combination of QB Stephen Garcia and WR Alshon Jeffrey are just going to be too tough to take out. Jeffrey is every bit as good as Jones is, and you can bet that HC Steve Spurrier was sitting back and watching this game last weekend and smirking. The SEC East is still wide open, but South Carolina is going to finally put away the Volunteers once and for all with a big time beat down to send a message to the rest of the teams in this conference.

Free College Football Picks: South Carolina -18
Prediction: South Carolina 35 – Tennessee 10

Matchup: Tulsa Golden Hurricane @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Date: Saturday, October 30th, 2:30 ET
Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
Game Line: Notre Dame -8.5
Over/Under 63

The Irish are in dire need of a win here, especially with four losses already to their name and games against the USC Trojans and Utah Utes sitting there on the schedule for the rest of the season. Still, this doesn't appear to be the first year in South Bend that HC Brian Kelly really envisioned, and the prospects of missing a bowl game are starting to look more and more real. There are just too many injuries on the offense to account for in South Bend, especially if WR Michael Floyd can't play as well. WR Theo Riddick and TE Kyle Rudolph, two of the top targets in America, are already both on the sidelines in this one. Tulsa has had a week to prepare for its first ever trip to South Bend, and QB GJ Kinne and the crew are licking their chops at going against this defense, which several teams have torched this year, even on the road. Tulsa is ready to pounce, and there's no reason that it should be such a sizeable underdog in this game.

Free College Football Picks: Tulsa +8.5
Prediction: Tulsa 33 – Notre Dame 20

Matchup: Florida Gators vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Date: Saturday, October 30th, 3:30 ET
Location: Ever Life Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
Game Line: Georgia -3
Over/Under 47

This is another game that we have already called the outright upset for, and there is no reason to believe that this won't be a game that goes in the way of the "visitors." First off, remember that Jacksonville is always the home of more Gator fans than Bulldog fans when these teams meet in the World's Largest Cocktail Party, and this season will be no exception even though Florida is down this year. Perception on the Gators took a total flop when they lost to the Mississippi State Bulldogs two weeks ago, but this team is still one of the best 25 in America, and we have no reservations about saying that. Bad coaching has kept this team down all season long, something that is uncharacteristic for an Urban Meyer coached team. Florida's game plan in this one is simple: Stop WR AJ Green. If you can take Green out of the game, you can stop the Bulldogs. Yes, RB Washaun Ealey has the ability to crack the century mark on the ground in this one, but we don't see it happening. Florida has the better defense, and it has the better talent level on offense. It won't take a ton from the 'O' to win this one outright, and we think that the 'D' will come up with just enough to put together the upset.

Free College Football Picks: Florida +3
Prediction: Florida 23 – Georgia 17

Matchup: Michigan State Spartans @ Iowa Hawkeyes
Date: Saturday, October 30th, 3:30 ET
Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Game Line: Iowa -6.5
Over/Under 50.5

They're calling this day "Roadblock Saturday," right? For whatever reason, we just aren't so sure that this game is going to be a "roadblock" for Michigan State after all. We have no choice but to believe in the Spartans at this point. They've won every game on their schedule, and regardless of how weak that slate is, they are still one of just seven clubs in the country with donuts in their loss column. Don't count this team out. Kinnick is an absolutely bear to play in, but the Wisconsin Badgers proved last week that it was doable to win there, even against QB Ricky Stanzi, who had never lost a game he both started and finished there in his career. The Spartans are a trendy pick to go down and go down in a big way on Saturday, but we aren't so sure that that's the case. The combination of QB Kirk Cousins throwing the ball with RB Le'Veon Bell and RB Edwin Baker running it is just enough for the Spartans to overcome a defense that has been shoddy every step of the way this year. Just don't count these guys out. Don't be shocked to see another Sparty upset, and you might even see MSU at No. 1 in the country by the time this week is said and done!

Free College Football Picks: Michigan State +6.5
Prediction: Michigan State 30 – Iowa 27

Matchup: East Carolina Pirates @ UCF Knights
Date: Saturday, October 30th, 3:30 ET
Location: Bright House Stadium, Orlando, FL
Game Line: UCF -7.5
Over/Under 53

Conference USA isn't a place that we take a look at games often, but this one has too much importance to let go. The Knights are already eyeing a trip to the Liberty Bowl this year to take on the Florida Gators in a game that could shift the balance of power of programs in the Sunshine State, but that can't happen unless they take care of business in games like this one against ECU. The Pirates have the best offense that UCF has run into all season long, but the same could be said about the ECU offense running into the Knights' 'D'. Bright House should be rocking on Saturday, and take it from this Orlando boy. The Knights are not getting beaten at home in this type of an environment by anyone in Conference USA on Saturday afternoon. Back UCF with confidence to shut down QB Dominique Davis and the Pirates.

Free College Football Picks: UCF -7.5
Prediction: UCF 28 – East Carolina 14

Matchup: Texas Tech Red Raiders @ Texas A&M Aggies
Date: Saturday, October 30th, 3:30 ET
Location: Memorial Stadium, College Station, TX
Game Line: Texas A&M -7
Over/Under 59.5

The Red Raiders and Aggies don't have the greatest teams this year, but both of these squads still feel as though they at least have a remote chance of winning the Big XII this season. HC Tommy Tuberville would just be content getting to a bowl game in his first season to help take the pressure off of him after replacing the loved HC Mike Leach. QB Jerrod Johnson is totally a hit or miss guy for the Aggies this year, and if he's on, there isn't a team in the country that he can't single handedly beat. QB Taylor Potts has a great arm as well, and in the gimmicky "Air Raid" offense, he is destined to put up some huge numbers. Seven is a lot of points to be giving in a rivalry game, especially to a Texas Tech team that was upset as whopping 22 point favorites last year in Lubbock. We're not so sure that Tech is going to win outright, but it should keep A&M within this number.

Free College Football Picks: Texas Tech +7
Prediction: Texas A&M 31 – Texas Tech 30

Matchup: Cal Golden Bears @ Oregon State Beavers
Date: Saturday, October 30th, 3:30 ET
Location: Reser Stadium, Corvallis, OR
Game Line: Oregon State -2.5
Over/Under 53

Don't kid yourself about the Beavers. These guys are the best 3-3 team in the country, and they know it. QB Ryan Katz is starting to get his feet underneath him after replacing the departed QB Sean Canfield, and even though WR James Rodgers is out for the season, we still think that his brother, RB Jacquizz Rodgers, is set for a breakout game. The Golden Bears have lost all three times that they have gone on the road this year, including getting crippled by both the USC Trojans and the Nevada Wolf Pack. Oregon State is every bit as good as both of these teams are, and Reser Stadium is one of the most devastating places to travel in the country. A converted two point conversion two weeks ago against the Washington Huskies would probably have OSU favored by a touchdown in this game, as the Pac-10 title would still reasonably be a possibility. The Beavers have had two weeks to prepare and haven't had a home game since October 2nd. You'd better believe that they're bringing their 'A' game on Saturday.

Free College Football Picks: Oregon State -2.5
Prediction: Oregon State 34 – Cal 24

Matchup: Missouri Tigers @ Nebraska Cornhuskers
Date: Saturday, October 30th, 3:30 ET
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE
Game Line: Nebraska -7.5
Over/Under 55.5

Here's another case of one of those teams that could be facing a "roadblock" on Saturday… The difference here is that the Tigers are going to get tamed. There's just no way that QB Taylor Martinez is going to let his Huskers lose this game, even if he is just a freshman. This young man has already done some truly remarkable things as a freshman, and he will likely become one of the handful of 1,000 yard rushers on the season this week with a good game against a suspect Missouri defense. We're sorry, Mizzou, but we just don't buy you yet. We know that you can play in Columbia, but struggling with the San Diego State Aztecs and Illinois Fighting Illini just doesn't do it for us. Big Red knows that this is the last shot to win the Big XII before heading on to the Big Ten next season. There's no way that they lose this opportunity and relegate themselves to a lesser bowl game this year.

Free College Football Picks: Nebraska -7.5
Prediction: Nebraska 38 – Missouri 24

Matchup: Arizona Wildcats @ UCLA Bruins
Date: Saturday, October 30th, 3:30 ET
Location: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA
Game Line: UCLA +9
Over/Under 49.5

We could really care less whether or not QB Nick Foles plays in this game or not. QB Matt Scott proved to be a viable replacement last week against the Washington Huskies, and he really surprised us by outdueling QB Jake Locker and company. The bottom line is that this is a bet against UCLA, not a bet on Arizona. The Bruins have failed to cover five straight in conference dating back to last year, and the only two covers that they have this season have come via sheer luck, not total skill. As long as Foles and Scott don't get hurt, we don't see any way that there is enough offense with QB Richard Brehaut at quarterback for the Bruins to make it out of this one alive. There should be a big claw mark from the scratch that Arizona is going to leave UCLA when this one is over with.

Free College Football Picks: Arizona -9
Prediction: Arizona 28 – UCLA 6

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October 22nd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Matchup: Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Navy Midshipmen
Date: Saturday, October 23rd, 12:00 ET
Location: New Meadowlands Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Game Line: Notre Dame -6.5
Over/Under 49.5

The Middies are still struggling, though they're finding ways to scratch wins together of late. The Irish, on the other hand, have been dominating games lately, going 1-0-2 ATS and 3-0 SU in their L/3. QB Dayne Crist hasn't missed a beat without TE Kyle Rudolph in the lineup, and the offense blew up last week for 44 points in spite of the fact that WR Theo Riddick was largely missing in action. WR Michael Floyd is going to be the most dangerous weapon on the field for the Middies to try to defend. This is a game that is historically owned by the Fighting Irish, though Navy has taken the L/2 meetings in South Bend. You have to go back five decades to find the last victory that didn't occur in front of the watchful eyes of Touchdown Jesus, though. This will be a legitimate neutral site game, which probably favors the Fighting Irish just a tad. Go with the Golden Domers to take care of this one on the "road," as it appears as though HC Brian Kelly finally has enough going to get a real winning streak in the works.

Free College Football Picks: Notre Dame -6.5
Prediction: Notre Dame 27 – Navy 19

Matchup: Syracuse Orange @ West Virginia Mountaineers
Date: Saturday, October 23rd, 12:00 ET
Location: Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV
Game Line: West Virginia -13.5
Over/Under 43.5

Don't let the 4-2 mark beside the name "Syracuse" fool you. Instead, remember that this program is still just that… "Syracuse." The Orange probably aren't going bowling this year, though in the pathetic Big East, you never really know what's going to happen from Saturday to Saturday. However, one thing that we do know is that West Virginia is the only team in this conference that would stand a chance of even remotely competing in the other divisions in college football. WVU is clearly head and shoulders the better team here, and QB Geno Smith and one of the best defenses in the country is probably going to prove it. The 'Neers are 7-2 ATS in their L/9 against the Orange, and in spite of the fact that those two duds came in the L/2 meetings in Morgantown, we aren't afraid of just a two score NCAA football spread.

Free College Football Picks: West Virginia -13.5
Prediction: West Virginia 31 – Syracuse 10

Matchup: Purdue Boilermakers @ Ohio State Buckeyes
Date: Saturday, October 23rd, 12:00 ET
Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
Game Line: Ohio State -24
Over/Under 47.5

The Buckeyes have quite a lot to be angry about in this game. They lost last week to the Wisconsin Badgers in a game in which they were totally dominated until about halftime when they decided to finally wake up and play some football. HC Jim Tressel can also point to the fact that this is one of the last Big Ten teams standing without a conference loss. Oh yes, this was also the same Purdue team that spoiled any hopes of OSU winning the National Championship last year… You think this one is going to be ugly? The Boilers have just had the Buckeyes' numbers in recent years, as they have pulled some upsets and done a lot of good work against the college football odds as well. However, this one just won't be the same. Without QB Robert Marve and RB Ralph Bolden in the fold, Purdue is just dead in the water. There's no semblance of an offense that can do any sort of damage against this potent 'D' that has to still be angry about the huge number that Wisky dropped on the board last weekend in Camp Randall. In the end, too much QB Terrelle Pryor, too much OSU defense, and not nearly enough Purdue offense. This should be a laugher.

Free College Football Picks: Ohio State -24
Prediction: Ohio State 41 – Purdue 6

Matchup: Michigan State Spartans @ Northwestern Wildcats
Date: Saturday, October 23rd, 12:00 ET
Location: Ryan Field, Evanston, IN
Game Line: Michigan State -6
Over/Under 53

Northwestern was upset by the Purdue Boilermakers last week at home in what clearly amounted to be the worst game of the season. The Cats were scratched in a big way, but they are clearly rabid right now. Remember that this was the same team that ended the perfect campaign of the Iowa Hawkeyes last season. Michigan State needs to watch out and watch out in a big time way. The rush defense for the Wildcats is going to be tested by RBs Edwin Baker and Le'Veon Bell. We're not so sure that QB Dan Persa really has what it takes to beat this team, but this is a passing attack that ranks No. 20 in the nation against one of the country's worst secondaries. At some point, Sparty is going to get picked off, and it might get picked off a few times. This could just be the beginning of the end.

Free College Football Picks: Northwestern +6
Prediction: Northwestern 26 – Michigan State 24

Matchup: Mississippi Rebels @ Arkansas Razorbacks
Date: Saturday, October 23rd, 12:20 ET
Location: Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, AR
Game Line: Arkansas -9.5
Over/Under 58

Last week, we warned that this Ole Miss team was good enough to pull some big time upsets, even in the SEC West this year, and we at least got a close game against the Alabama Crimson Tide to show for it. QB Jeremiah Masoli has all the talent in the world, and if the defense for the Rebs can start to show up like it has in recent weeks, this could be a very interesting ball game. Who knows how much QB Ryan Mallett is going to be affected by that concussion he suffered last weekend? One thing we do know is that the running quarterback, QB Cameron Newton, absolutely destroyed this defense for the Hogs. Masoli is built in the exact same mold, and he just had to be loving watching that game tape this week. Arkansas can be had. This is a team that might just be poised to fall flat. If the Rebs want to go bowling this year, this is the type of game that they are going to have to win at some point. There's no better time that the present to pick of a wounded Arkansas team that has played in three straight very tight ball games against good teams and could really use a breather. They're not getting one.

Free College Football Picks: Ole Miss +9.5
Prediction: Mississippi 41 – Arkansas 31

Matchup: Wisconsin Badgers @ Iowa Hawkeyes
Date: Saturday, October 23rd, 3:30 ET
Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Game Line: Iowa -6
Over/Under 48

If you look up the definition of an awful scheduling spot, you're going to see Bucky the Badger's face plastered right there in the dictionary. Wisconsin is just in so much trouble in this game, it's not even funny. This team is clearly high on life after beating the Ohio State Buckeyes last week at home. Fantastic. Now, the test is certainly more difficult. The Hawkeyes might not only be just as good, if not better than the Buckeyes, but they are also going to be playing at home as well. Iowa has absolutely owned the Badgers in recent years, and we don't expect that to change any. HC Kirk Ferentz really used last year's win at Camp Randall as the boosting point for the fantastic season that ended with an Orange Bowl victory. This could be the start of a National Championship run if the Hawkeyes get some lucky bounces from other teams along the way. There's too much on the line for Iowa to get beaten at home. This game will look a lot like the game against the hapless Penn State Nittany Lions for Iowa.

Free College Football Picks: Iowa -6
Prediction: Iowa 30 – Wisconsin 10

Matchup: Kansas State Wildcats @ Baylor Bears
Date: Saturday, October 23rd, 3:30 ET
Location: Floyd Casey Stadium, Waco, TX
Game Line: Baylor -6.5
Over/Under 56.5

Would you even imagine that Baylor would be favored over Kansas State by basically a full touchdown in a game? All of a sudden the Bears, the program that became the whipping boy for so many other teams in the Big XII over the years, have figured out how to make the most out of their QB Robert Griffin. This offense is absolutely tearing through teams this season. K-State is a very one dimensional team, as it is RB Daniel Thomas or bust. If that doesn't work, its defense is going to be in a ton of trouble. You'd better believe that this game is the equivalent of the Super Bowl in Waco, as a win for the Bears would ensure a bowl game for the first time in eons. Remember, this team has won games this year 34-3, 34-6, and 55-7 at home and hasn't played any other games there… Yet, it is still 5-2 on the season. You'd better believe that the crowd will be out in full force. The Wildcats won't know what hit them in this one, as this could be on the more entertaining displays to watch on Saturday.

Free College Football Picks: Baylor -6.5
Prediction: Baylor 34 – Kansas State 17

Matchup: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets @ Clemson Tigers
Date: Saturday, October 23rd, 3:30 ET
Location: Clemson Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC
Game Line: Clemson -5.5
Over/Under 52

Death Valley is a horrifying place for opponents to go into, as it is one of the loudest venues in the nation. However, we still just aren't so sold on QB Kyle Parker and the men in orange. Georgia Tech hasn't really had much in the way of success defensively this season, but that doesn't mean that it can't muster up just a tad in this one. QB Josh Nesbitt's triple option attack absolutely blew up this Clemson defense last year twice, and if Nesbitt can get out in some open space, he can really hush the crowd in Death Valley once, and potentially for all. The Ramblin' Wreck have something to prove with the ACC Coastal Division title once again within reach. Winning out will take care of that. For Clemson, the only goal is a bowl game. The wrong team is favored in this one.

Free College Football Picks: Georgia Tech +5.5
Prediction: Georgia Tech 28 – Clemson 20

Matchup: LSU Tigers @ Auburn Tigers
Date: Saturday, October 23rd, 3:30 ET
Location: Jordan Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
Game Line: Auburn -5.5
Over/Under 51.5

We've already discussed this game just a tad, and we are going dig just a bit deeper right now. The Bayou Bengals have all of the tools that it takes to stop this Auburn offense, so the only question in our mind on this side of the ball is whether the combined rushing force of RB Michael Dyer, RB Onterio McCalebb, and QB Cam Newton is going to be able to do enough to penetrate this defense. So far, no one has really been tremendously successful. If you take away one bad quarter, the LSU defense has looked phenomenal, even on the road against the Florida Gators. Last week, know that Auburn's secondary got exposed by a backup quarterback, and if that's the case, perhaps the combination of QB Jarret Lee and QB Jordon Jefferson actually has a chance of making some headway. We'll say this… If the LSU offense can get anywhere near the 30 point barrier, this game is as good as over. HC Les Miles and his team know what it takes to win big games like this one. HC Gene Chizik and his Tigers aren't anywhere near that level yet. One of these teams is a legitimate contender for the National Championship. The other one, we believe to be fool's gold.

Free College Football Picks: LSU +5.5
Prediction: LSU 27 – Auburn 21

Matchup: Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Oklahoma State Cowboys
Date: Saturday, October 23rd, 3:30 ET
Location: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK
Game Line: Nebraska -6
Over/Under 60

If the Pokes find a way to really start torching the Nebraska defense, this could be one heck of a rodeo in Stillwater. Nebraska has the offensive weapons to get through a defense that really hasn't had much success stopping anyone this year. You can bet that QB Taylor Martinez is going to want to make amends for failing last week against the Texas Longhorns. This is also a very, very dangerous game for the Huskers because a second loss in Big XII play parlayed with a win by the Missouri Tigers over the Oklahoma Sooners later that night takes the Big XII North race out of their hands. They'll need the 'Zou to come back to the pack to be able to head back to the Big XII Championship for another go around. The matchup to watch is the hookup of QB Brandon Weeden to WR Justin Blackmon against the Nebraska defense. Blackmon might be the best receiver in college football, and he certainly has the stats that back that claim up. If he gets going, watch out! This should be a great one, but we tend to think that there's too much defense for Big Red to get beaten here even though Stillwater is one hellacious place to go place college football.

Free College Football Picks: Oklahoma State +6
Prediction: Nebraska 34 – Oklahoma State 31

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

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Miami (OH) Redhawks @ Florida Gators (-37.5)
Saturday, September 2nd
12:00 ET, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL

The Gators are probably going to end up dominating this game. They are out to make a real statement now that QB Tim Tebow is gone. QB John Brantley is going to be getting a good test to begin his career as a starter. Many feel as though he might be better than Tebow as a passer, though he clearly doesn't have the mobility or the inherent leadership abilities of the departed No. 15. Still, this is going to be one of the best rushing games in the country still with RBs Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey. As for the Redhawks, they are coming off of an absolutely terrible season in which they only won one game. It is fairly clear that they aren't going to win this game, but they did a decent job last year sticking inside of college football betting lines. Unfortunately for Miami, this probably won't be a day in which it does that. If the Gators have a desire to win by at least six scores, they will. Brantley might cover the Redhawks all by himself.

Prediction: Florida 59 – Miami 7
Western Michigan Broncos (+23.5) @ Michigan State Spartans
Saturday, September 2nd
12:00 ET, Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI

Michigan State seems to start every single season with unrealistic expectations. This year is probably no exception even though HC Mark Dantonio is clearly on the hot seat and is probably going to have to win at least seven or eight games to save his job. The good news is that QB Kirk Cousins is back after having a very respectable first season as a starter. He threw for 2,680 yards and 19 TDs against just nine picks, and there are high hopes for him this season. Unfortunately for the Broncos, they can't say the same thing. QB Tim Hiller was one of the best that this program has ever seen. With him gone, QB Alex Carder is going to take over. Carder only threw seven passes last year backing up Hiller, but he is going to be thrown into the fire right away in East Lansing as a sophomore. Still, this is a hefty point total for Sparty to be laying against a team that could reasonably still be one of the best in the MAC if Carder can keep his head on straight. Expect WMU to beat the college football odds in this one.

Prediction: Michigan State 34 – Western Michigan 21
Texas Longhorns (-31) vs. Rice Owls
Saturday, September 2nd
3:30 ET, Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX

The QB Garrett Gilbert is going to get the first start of his career this week in Houston against the Owls, which should be a nice little warm up for the real big boys coming up in the weeks to come for the Longhorns. There are a number of returners for this team even though there were a number of players that were drafted in the first two days of the NFL Draft this year off of the squad in burnt orange. The Owls are playing this close to the vest, as they haven't even announced a starting quarterback yet. The good news for the Longhorns is that they are 8-2 ATS in their L/10 games against Conference USA opponents. The bad news for Rice is that they are just 1-7 ATS in their L/8 against the Big XII. The even better news for Texas and worse news for Rice is that the Horns have outscored the Owls by an average score of 49-10 since 2003. That sounds about right for Saturday afternoon.

Prediction: Texas 49 – Rice 10
Purdue Boilermakers (+10.5) @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Saturday, September 2nd
3:30 ET, Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN

For HC Brian Kelly, this will be his debut in South Bend and could be the most important game of his coaching career. Coaches that get off to a bad start at Notre Dame generally don't end up lasting very long, and Kelly is going to want to make sure that he doesn't blow this in a year of high expectations, especially against a team that is probably not going bowling this year. The Boilers were destroyed by RB Ralph Bolden's knee injury that is going to keep him out for the season. Meanwhile, Notre Dame is going to be breaking in a new quarterback in the form of QB Dayne Crist. TE Kyle Rudolph is questionable with a hamstring injury, and if he doesn't end up playing, Crist is going to be relying heavily on WR Michael Floyd, who could be one of the best receivers in the nation. Still, Purdue hung last year with the Irish, losing 24-21 at home. With QB Robert Marve eager to make a good debut for the black and gold, the Boilers have the potential to hang in this game, though the Boilermakers probably won't win it.

Prediction: Notre Dame 31 – Purdue 28
Kentucky Wildcats (-3) @ Louisville Cardinals
Saturday, September 2nd
3:30 ET, Papa John's Stadium, Louisville, KY

It's the battle to determine whether the Bluegrass State will be blue or red on Saturday, and the annual Kentucky/Louisville battle has even higher stakes this season. Both teams will be entering this game with new head coaches, as Joker Phillips (Kentucky) and Charlie Strong (Louisville) are both making their head coaching debuts. QB Mike Hartline is going to have a lot of experience under his belt in this one even though he is a much maligned signal caller. Louisville is changing its offense to a spread attack, which is a drastic change from the offense that Steve Kragthorpe tried running over the last few years. The winning mentality isn't quite there yet for the Cardinals, which have fallen a long way in a short period of time. Kentucky is hoping to head to another bowl game this year, and it is the significantly better team, at least this early in the year. Take the Blue State in this NCAA football betting affair.

Prediction: Kentucky 27 – Louisville 20
Connecticut Huskies (+3) @ Michigan Wolverines
Saturday, September 2nd
3:30 ET, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI

If the maize and blue don't win this game to start off the 2010 season, the Big House might be burning. HC Rich Rodriguez knows that this is his last chance to try to impress the Ann Arbor faithful before he ends up on the unemployment lines, and this game against Connecticut is a very important one to start the season. Unfortunately for Big Blue, this won't be their day. The Huskies are one of the best teams in a conference that is relatively strong this season, and RB Jordan Todman might have a field day against a defense which struggled against the rush last season. Rodriguez still hasn't settled on a quarterback either, though QB Tate Forcier sounds like he is getting the nod. We are puzzled as to why the Wolverines are favored in this one, as we aren't buying into their hype as a team that is that much improved from the one that went 5-7 last year. The Huskies are going to be dogs that are barking very, very loudly.

Prediction: Connecticut 28 – Michigan 24
UCLA Bruins @ Kansas State Wildcats (-2)
Saturday, September 2nd
3:30 ET, Bill Snyder Family Field, Manhattan, KS

The biggest question that we have in this game is whether or not QB Kevin Prince is really going to be able to play for the full 60 minutes with his back injury or not. If he can't go, UCLA is in a heck of a lot of trouble in this one. Trying to stop RB Daniel Thomas is going to be virtually impossible for a defensive line that has been beat up all offseason long for the second straight year with injuries. HC Rick Neuheisel has his work cut out for him this year. The Bruins only made the Eagle Bank Bowl on the back of their non-conference slate, as a 3-6 record in conference left little to the imagination. This year is going to be a tough grind for the blue and gold, and it is going to start with K-State getting some big time payback for last season's 23-9 loss in LA.

Prediction: Kansas State 30 – UCLA 10
Oregon State Beavers (+13) vs. TCU Horned Frogs
Saturday, September 2nd
7:45 ET, Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX

Though this is technically a neutral site game, we know that Oregon State is going to clearly be the road team in this duel. The Horned Frogs are going to try to make a huge statement for the rest of college football, proving that they deserve to be considered for the BCS Championship, not just for a regular BCS bowl game like last year in the Fiesta Bowl. A slew of returning starters on both sides of the ball are going to help that cause out dramatically. QB Andy Dalton is going to have to lead the way against a very talented Oregon State defense. The offense for the Beavers is going to once again feature both the Rodgers brothers, as Jacquizz and James are virtually impossible to stop. Though the secondary is entirely intact from last year for TCU, the front seven has two major holes to fill in the form of DE Jerry Hughes and LB Daryl Washington. We give Oregon State a lot of credit for scheduling this game, and though the ultimate reward of an upset won't be the end result, we wouldn't be surprised to see HC Mike Riley's club hang around and make things quite uncomfortable for the de facto hosts.

Prediction: TCU 33 – Oregon State 28
LSU Tigers (-7.5) vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
Saturday, September 2nd
8:00 ET, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA

Suspensions have absolutely destroyed North Carolina's chances of accomplishing just about anything this year. Their offseason probe is going to end up seeing 13 players suspended for this opening game against the Bayou Bengals, including four of which were all projected NFL stars and were first team All-ACC members in the preseason. HC Les Miles now knows that this has gone from a game that would be a huge boost to win, to one that might ultimately decide whether he gets to stay in Baton Rouge or not next year. LSU needs to pick it up in a big way in order to make it back to the big time in the SEC, and winning a game like this against a quality ACC opponent would go a long way. Speaking of going a long way, if QB TJ Yates can find a way to pull this one off, he would suddenly go from being a zero in Chapel Hill to a hero. QB Jordon Jefferson hopes to just not see his name as a gigantic screw up in his '10 debut with the purple and gold. It's hard to see how North Carolina is doing enough damage on either side of the ball, and in spite of the fact that this is a hefty line that is only rising, we don't see how LSU can do anything but smash it.

Prediction: LSU 24 – North Carolina 13
Cincinnati Bearcats (+3) @ Fresno State Bulldogs
Saturday, September 2nd
10:00 ET, Bulldog Stadium, Fresno, CA

Is the wrong team really favored in this game? The Bearcats are getting absolutely no respect this year after going undefeated in the regular season in 2009. Yes, it's true that HC Brian Kelly has jumped to Notre Dame and both QB Tony Pike and WR Mardy Gilyard have moved on to the NFL, but there are a number of quality replacements set to step up. The oddsmakers were burned last year when QB Zach Collaros stepped into the starting lineup in place of Pike and looked like Joe Montana. Collaros is only a sophomore now, but he clearly has the tools to bring Cincinnati back to the BCS. Fresno State still has a lot of questions, none bigger than who is going to replace the departed RB Ryan Mathews, who at times last year, single handedly carried it to victory. Remember that Cincinnati traveled up to Reser Stadium last year and knocked off Oregon State in a very similar position. Expect the same on Saturday night.

Prediction: Cincinnati 41 – Fresno State 28
Wisconsin Badgers (-19.5) @ UNLV Runnin' Rebels
Saturday, September 2nd
11:00 ET, Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV

New Rebs HC Bobby Hauck made the first huge decision of his head coaching career when he named QB Mike Clausen his starter for this crucial, potentially program changing duel with the Badgers. Unfortunately for Hauck and UNLV, this is still a team that doesn't have the horses defensively to stop Wisky. Most years, the Badgers have a subpar offense and a stellar defense, but QB Scott Tolzien might be the best signal caller this team has had in well over a decade. This is also the first game of the potential Heisman Trophy campaign for RB John Clay. With Alabama's Mark Ingram sidelined, Clay might be the best running back in the nation that no one is talking about. This is a bunch of Badgers that might be severely underrated. This game is going to be the first of a slew of huge wins for a team that we think could be a big time sleeper in the Big Ten. The Badgers will round out Saturday night's slate with a monstrous victory over a hapless and unsuspecting foe.

Prediction: Wisconsin 51 – UNLV 20

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March 13th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

Teams that are already in the NCAA Tournament…

Cornell Big Red (27-4, Ivy League), Winthrop Eagles (19-13, Big South), Murray State Racers (30-4, Ohio Valley), East Tennessee State Buccaneers (20-14, Atlantic Sun), Northern Iowa Panthers (28-4, Missouri Valley), St. Mary's Gaels (26-5, West Coast), Siena Saints (27-6, Metro Atlantic), Old Dominion Monarchs (26-8, Colonial), Wofford Terriers (26-8, Southern), Oakland Golden Grizzlies (26-8, Summit), Butler Bulldogs (28-4, Horizon), North Texas Mean Green (24-8, Sun Belt), Robert Morris Colonials (23-11, Northeast), Montana Grizzlies (22-9, Big Sky)

Teams that clinched automatic bids on Friday…

Lehigh Mountain Hawks (22-10, Patriot): The Mountain Hawks reached March Madness for the fourth time in school history when they took out Lafayette without any real consequence on Friday afternoon. This is a team that can rain down three pointers like it's no one's business (40.2% on the season), but unless there is an upset of absolutely epic proportions, this team won't make it to see the weekend. Expect to see Lehigh either as a #16 seed or in the play-in game.

Teams vying for automatic bids on Saturday…

Boston Terriers (19-12, America East): The Terriers were slight favorites against the top team in this conference, Stony Brook, in the America East League semifinals, and they didn't disappoint. Now, leading scorer, F John Holland (19.3 PPG) will look to lead the way for BU to make it to its first NCAA Tournament since 2001. This will be the Terriers' first appearance in the America East finale since 2003.

Vermont Catamounts (24-9, America East): Vermont has one of the most well-rounded players in the entire nation in F Marqus Blakely. Not only is Blakely leading the team in scoring (17.2 points per game), but he is also one of the best defensive players in the conference, as he is averaging 9.1 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game, all team highs. The Catamounts haven't been dancing since HC Tom Brennan was on the sidelines, but they're the clear choices to go to March Madness this year.

UTEP Miners (26-5, Conference USA): UTEP already knows that it's got its spot to the NCAA Tournament on lock down, as it is probably going to be a middle seed in the dance thanks to a great season in C-USA play. G Randy Culpepper is one of the elite scorers in the entire nation, and he has the ability to take over an entire game very, very quickly. He put up 21 points as his team bounced Tulsa from the conference tournament on Friday, and his scoring average over the L/8 games is a solid 22.4 points per game.

Houston Cougars (18-15, Conference USA): G Aubrey Coleman put on a heck of a show in the Conference USA semifinal against Southern Miss on Friday, scoring 27 points. He's the conference's leading scorer at 25.9 points per game. No one expected the Cougs to reach this point in the season, but after pulling off the upset of Memphis and taking down Southern Miss, they'll have an improbable chance of making the NCAA Tournament.

Sam Houston State Bearkats (24-7, Southland): The Bearkats are going to have their hands full in the Southland final. SHSU has limped to a pair of victories in the conference tournament, which is uncharacteristic for a team that is now 16-2 against divisional foes. F Gilbert Clavell will have to do a better job staying out of foul trouble than he did in the Southland semis. Even though he only played 24 minutes though, the team's leading scorer (17.6 points per game) still managed 16 points.

Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (23-8, Southland): Playing second fiddle to a crosstown rival never sits well, but that's where Stephen F. Austin found itself all season in relation to the Bearkats. The Lumberjacks will get their chance to use their fantastic defense to make their way to the NCAA Tournament out of the Southland Conference. Four of the team's L/5 foes have been held under 55 points. With another effort like that, SFA will be dancing next week.

Akron Zips (24-9, MAC): There aren't any real prolific scorers on this team, but what the Zips do well is spread the scoring options around. Eight scorers are putting up at least five points per game. Now that Kent State is out of the MAC Tournament, there's no reason for Akron, who was clearly one of the top two teams in this conference all season long, to not grab the automatic bid from this conference.

Ohio Bobcats (20-14, MAC): At the beginning of the MAC Tournament, you probably didn't have the Bobcats in the finals. Alas, after going just 7-9 in conference play this year, Ohio is here, just one step away from dancing. The Bobcats picked a great time to have their best defensive half of the season, as they held the Redhawks to just 12 points in the first frame in Friday's semifinal. It's going to take another Herculean effort to take care of the Zips to go to March Madness.

Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions (16-15, SWAC): This hasn't been a great year for SWAC basketball, but the Golden Lions did go 14-2 in conference and are deservedly playing for a right to play in the play-in game in the NCAA Tournament. Senior F Terrance Calvin put up a double-double with a dozen points and a dozen rebounds in the semifinals. The team's leading scorer is averaging 10.6 points per game this season.

Texas Southern Tigers (17-15, SWAC): If the Tigers are going to find a way to make it to March Madness, they're going to need a great game out of their big three. G Deandre Hall, G Whitworth Treasure, and F Travele Jones combine to average a whopping 44.5 of the team's 69.1 points per game. Texas Southern caught a major break when Jackson State was bounced out of this tournament, as eliminating Grambling was significantly easier than beating a team that went 17-1 in conference would've been.

Morgan State Bears (26-9, MEAC): The Bears have been the best team in the MEAC all season long, and anything less than a conference crown and a ticket to the NCAA Tournament would be brutally disappointing. G Reggie Holmes has been off of his game in this tournament, scoring just 28 points in two conference tournament contests, which would be great if not for the fact that he averaged 22.1 points per game during the regular season. He'll need to pick it up to the get the conference's automatic ticket.

South Carolina State Bulldogs (18-13, MEAC): Whatever has gotten into the Bulldogs' defense had better keep up for one more game to get SCSU into the NCAA Tournament. The Dogs would've kept five straight foes under 65 points, if not for the fact that they had to play overtime against Delaware State to reach this point of the MEAC Tournament. This is a miserable three-point shooting team though, as 30.4% just isn't going to cut it for a team that is hoping to make it to the dance.

Georgetown Hoyas (23-9, Big East): Many were down on the Hoyas coming into the Big East Tournament, but if there were any doubts about how good this team is, those were erased over the past few days. Blowing out South Florida and Marquette and sandwiching a win over Syracuse between them took this team from a potential #5 seed up to possibly a #2 with a win at MSG in the finale of this tournament on Saturday night.

West Virginia Mountaineers (26-6, Big East): Could West Virginia earn a #1 seed to the NCAA Tournament with a win on Saturday night? It's not likely, but it's certainly a possibility. The Mountaineers have stormed through the Big East tourney at Madison Square Garden thanks in large part to the play of leading scorer F Da'Sean Butler. WVU's star scored 24 in the semifinal against the Fighting Irish, and he'll look to carry that momentum into Saturday's finale.

Kansas Jayhawks (31-2, Big XII): The #1 team in the country continues to get up off the mat when it is down. On both Thursday and Friday, Rock Chalk not only stormed back from a deficit, but they ultimately put away their foes by double digits. Now, HC Bill Self's team has its sights set on another conference title, but the top seed in the Midwest Region has virtually already been wrapped up.

Kansas State Wildcats (26-6, Big XII): Kansas State is one of at least seven or eight teams that believes that it can be a #1 seed when Sunday rolls around. The Wildcats have looked awfully impressive on the offensive side of the court in this tournament, rolling up 80+ points against both Baylor and Oklahoma State. It's going to take a very similar performance to be able to stick with the Jayhawks on Saturday night in Kansas City.

San Diego State Aztecs (24-8, Mountain West): The Aztecs were one of the teams that was sitting firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble before conference tournaments started, but when other teams fell flat, they excelled. The win against New Mexico absolutely sealed the deal. There's going to be a question about motivation for this team, but it's hard to go against a team that just stopped the squad with the longest winning streak in the MWC.

UNLV Rebels (25-7, Mountain West): UNLV has seemingly been the forgotten team in the MWC all season long, but it has a chance to take down the conference crown after both New Mexico and BYU bit the dust in the league semifinals. No one has crossed 70 points on this team since February 10th. Considering the fact that this is the host team for this tournament, the Rebels are going to be hard to take out, no matter how hot the Aztecs are.

Utah State Aggies (27-6, WAC): All of the carnage around the bubble has probably made the Aggies a tournament team for certain, but don't tell that to them! Utah State came out and absolutely annihilated Louisiana Tech on Friday night, which sets the stage for it to take the league's automatic bid to the tournament and save a slot on the bubble for someone else. The Aggies ride into Saturday night on a 17-game winning streak and don't look to be stopped.

New Mexico State Aggies (21-11, WAC): The odds were stacked up against the Aggies in the WAC semifinals on Friday night, as they had to play in Reno against the host school, Nevada. However, a gritty performance down the stretch led New Mexico State to the conference final with an 80-78 victory. The question is going to be whether or not a team that largely relies on just six players can find a way to win the battle of the Aggies in the WAC Championship.

California Golden Bears (23-9, Pac-10): For the duration of the season, the Golden Bears have looked like the only team that really could make the NCAA Tournament without the league's automatic bid. However, the Pac-10 crown is up for grabs at this point, and Cal is the favorite for the title. After a pair of double digit victories in the conference tourney, is anyone going to pick against this team? Leading scorer G Jerome Randle has had a great tourney, scoring 20+ points in both games.

Washington Huskies (23-9, Pac-10): The Huskies did what the Sun Devils couldn't do: Get rid of Stanford. There's still a big question whether or not U-Dub really needs to win the Pac-10 to make the NCAA Tournament. If the bubble shrinks any more, it's plausible to think that the Huskies could get left home if they get blown out by Cal. Still, this team has too good of a resume to ignore right now. Washington has won six straight games and takes one of the highest scoring marks in the land into the Pac-10 finale (79.8 points per game).

Santa Barbara Gauchos (19-9, Big West): The Gauchos took advantage of a first round bye in the Big West Tournament and bounced UC-Davis with ease on Friday night to get within one step of the NCAA Tournament. This can be a lethal three-point shooting team, as it is shooting 37.9% from downtown this year. Leading scorer G Orlando Johnson is the main candidate for long balls, as he shot a shade under 40% from beyond the arc. That's why he's averaging 18.0 points per game.

Long Beach State 49ers (17-15, Big West): No one really saw the 49ers making it to the finals of the Big West Tournament, but they stepped on the gas pedal right from the get go and dismissed the top seeded Tigers on Friday night. Now, after going just 8-8 in conference play this year, leading scorer and rebounder F TJ Robinson (15.7 points, 10.2 rebounds per game) will lead Long Beach State into battle in the Big West Championship.

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

For just the second time this season, two teams in the college basketball betting world lock horns that are ranked in the Top-5 in the nation when the Kansas State Wildcats (24-4, 16-6-1 ATS) meet the Kansas Jayhawks (27-2, 10-15-1 ATS) in Allen Fieldhouse.

What's At Stake: It's possible to believe that the Wildcats could run down the Jayhawks for a tie for first place in the Big XII in the regular season. KSU would have to win this game and beat Iowa State over the weekend and hope that Kansas gets beaten by Missouri for that to happen though. The more important theme for this game is fact that both of these teams could still grab #1 seeds to the NCAA Tournament. It doesn't feel like the Jayhawks need to do too much more to get the job done, while the Wildcats will need a victory in this game and a deep run into the Big XII Tournament or the tourney championship to steal a slot on the top line a week from Sunday.

College Basketball Odds: Kansas -9 at 5Dimes Sportsbook

Kansas State Notes: KSU has the third highest scoring team in the Big XII at 80.4 points per game, while playing suitable defense at 68.3 points per game. The team has rolled off SU victories in all seven games since suffering that loss at home to Kansas, while it is also 7-2 ATS in its L/9 games overall. Four of those wins came away from Manhattan, but victories against Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Iowa State, and Nebraska wouldn't even nearly compare to pulling off the upset in Lawrence.

Kansas Notes: For weeks, it appeared as though Kansas was just itching for an upset. The team continued playing with fire game after game, and it finally caught up in the defeat last Saturday in Stillwater. In this stretch of nine games in which the Jayhawks are just 1-8 ATS, they've played two overtime games and one game right down to the wire against Texas A&M to go with the 'L' to Okie State. Their L/4 home wins have all come by double digits, but none of those were good enough for covers. KU is tops in the Big XII and fourth in the nation in scoring at 82.4 points per game on the season, which is making it hard for opposing teams to keep up considering that they are only shooting 37.6% for the season against the Jayhawks.

Players to Watch

Jacob Pullen, Kansas State Wildcats: Not only does Pullen lead the team in scoring at 18.5 points per game, but he also has already proven that he can play with these Jayhawks. In the overtime defeat at home, Pullen put up 22 points, a game-high. For the season, the junior has 11 games in which he has scored at least 20 points.

Cole Aldrich, Kansas Jayhawks: Aldrich is perhaps HC Bill Self's best all-around player. The offense probably doesn't rotate through the big man often enough, as he is third on the team in scoring at 11.4 points per game. However, he's the squad's leading rebounder at 10.0 per game, making him one of the few players in the nation to average a double-double. One of those double-doubles came against these Wildcats, as Aldrich scored 18 points and yanked down 11 boards in the 'W'.

Trends of Note

-Kansas State is 12-3-1 ATS in its L/16 games against teams with winning percentage above .600
-Kansas State is 15-5-1 ATS in its L/21 games overall
-Kansas is 5-0-1 ATS in its L/6 games following an SU defeat
-Kansas is 22-9-1 ATS in its L/32 games against teams with a winning percentage above .600
-Kansas is 9-19 ATS in its L/28 home games against teams with a winning road record
-Kansas is 17-6 ATS in its L/23 clashes with the Wildcats

Final Analysis: Kansas has a great history of playing at Allen Fieldhouse, which makes it scary to bet against, but when push really comes to shove, this is a ton of points to be issuing a Top-5 team in the nation. The Wildcats have already proven that they have the ability to beat this team outright, and this is the equivalent of their Super Bowl. Kansas will probably find a way to eke out a victory based on talent alone, but taking those nine points is far too inviting to leave on the table.

Selection: Kansas State +9

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February 14th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

Cappersinfo.com begins its new weekly installment of the Top 10 Teams to bet on across all of sports that you should be betting on religiously this season.  We breakdown the top teams ATS, combine all sports, and rank them. Teams ranked by Score Coefficient Ranking (SCR), which takes the amount of money earned over the course of the season and divides it by the number of games played in relation to games that will be played. Must have 18 games played to qualify.

1: Oregon State Beavers (College Basketball) (14-5 ATS, +$850) (SCR: 34.0) The Beavers continued to roll for college basketball betting fans by taking a 63-55 SU win at Arizona on Saturday and covering ASU by the hook on Thursday.

2: Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (College Basketball) (14-5 ATS, +$850) (SCR: 34.0) Watch out for Southern Miss! The Golden Eagles have covered eight out of nine, including roadies at UTEP, UAB, Houston, and now Tulsa. A 66-50 win against Rice was more than enough to beat the spread on Saturday.

3: North Texas Mean Green (College Basketball) (13-5-1 ATS, +$750) (SCR: 33.9) North Texas' win over Denver on Saturday helped keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive. A 68-46 win at New Orleans on Thursday was far more impressive.

4: Syracuse Orange (College Basketball) (15-6 ATS, +$840) (SCR: 31.2) Any time you can say that you've won ten straight Big East games and are 7-3 ATS in those games, you've done something special. Syracuse gets a pass for "only" beating Connecticut by five as ten-point favorites.

5: Kansas State Wildcats (College Basketball) (13-5-1 ATS, +$750) (SCR: 30.0) KSU's romp over Colorado erased the memory of a close call against Iowa State of two weeks ago. That's four out of five for what may be the Big XII's second best squad.

6: Villanova Wildcats (College Basketball) (16-7 ATS, +$830) (SCR: 28.5) The Cats won't mind not covering Providence this week, especially after going into Morgantown and absolutely demolishing the Mountaineers.

7: Northwestern Wildcats (College Basketball) (14-6 ATS, +$740) (SCR: 28.5) A loss to Iowa midweek probably signaled the end of the season for the Wildcats. More defeats like that one will send Northwestern off of this list as well.

8: New Mexico Lobos (College Basketball) (16-7-2 ATS, +$830) (SCR: 27.6) Here's a team on the rise. The Lobos spanked UNLV midweek to assert itself as the top team in the MWC. They nearly blew it against Utah on Saturday, but a 68-65 win at least salvaged an ATS push.

9: Washington Capitals (Hockey) (33-29 ATS, +$2,000) (SCR: 24.3) The Caps slumped to three straight losses after posting 14 straight victories. Still, as long as the offense is averaging 3.9 goals per game and has scored at least three in 21 straight, the Caps are probably going to hang on to a spot on this list.

10: San Jose Sharks (Hockey) (31-31 ATS, +$1,908) (SCR: 23.3) San Jose only covered twice in this wicked five-game road trip right before the NHL's sabbatical for the Winter Olympics. The Sharks have a slew of home games coming up, and a lot of those will need to be multi-goal victories to move up on the power polls.

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