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March 4th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Matchup: Missouri Tigers @ Kansas Jayhawks
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 12:00 ET
Location: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, MO
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB

If the Jayhawks think that they are going to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, they badly need to collect this win on the road. That would take a lot of pressure off for winning the Big XII Tournament, as there are a ton of teams that are going to be gunning for that crown that need wins in big time ways over teams like these. Mizzou really hasn’t played spectacular ball of late, and it really could use a boost just to get some momentum going and to avoid falling into that seemingly inevitably dreaded 8/9 matchup in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Kansas is a far superior team in terms of talent, and it really showed the first time around when these two met at Allen Fieldhouse. Sure, the intensity really kicks up a notch when you’re playing on the road, especially in a game that is this big, but the Jayhawks should be able to handle themselves. The oddsmakers will give too much respect to the Tigers, and KU will get the job done and lock up the regular season conference crown and the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament.

Free College Basketball Picks: Kansas Jayhawks

Matchup: Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Connecticut Huskies
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 2:00 ET
Location: XL Center, Storrs, CT
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB

The Fighting Irish have to feel like they have a legitimate chance of being a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but they are going to need to win the Big East and probably beat the Pitt Panthers to do it. There’s a chance to draw level for the Big East regular season crown as well, and that’s a coveted thing for any team to have on its resume for a top seed in the dance. Connecticut really just needs to feel like it has to ability to win it all in what will be the last home game for Kemba Walker before he heads to the NBA. Walker can take this game over like none other, and though the Irish will inevitably throw everything they can at him including the kitchen sink, it isn’t going to be enough. Notre Dame will get rocked on the that day is designed for Walker to shine.

Free NCAA Basketball Picks: Connecticut Huskies

Matchup: Villanova Wildcats @ Pittsburgh Panthers
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 4:00 ET
Location: Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB

Villanova is in a world of hurt right now, as it is really playing poor ball at a poor time of year to be doing so. The Cats have dropped three in a row going into this, the final, and arguably most difficult game of the entire season. They’ve also lost seven out of 11 and don’t look anything like a team that even belongs in March Madness, let alone belongs there as a respectable seed. Pittsburgh’s defense is just downright nasty, as it hasn’t allowed more than 66 points in a game in almost two full months, including a 57-54 win over Nova in the City of Brotherly Love four weeks ago. Ashton Gibbs, Brad Wanamaker, Gilbert Brown… it’s all just too much for the Wildcats to handle right now. They just don’t stand a chance of going into the Steel City and doing any damage, and it’ll show in another lopsided defeat.

College Basketball Free Picks: Pittsburgh Panthers

Matchup: Florida Gators @ Vanderbilt Commodores
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 6:00 ET
Location: Memorial Gym, Nashville, TN
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB

This is a tough one, because both the Gators and the Dores are fantastic at what they do. Believe it or not, Florida already has eight wins on the road this season, which is a ton for a team that really didn’t do much in the way of scheduling out of conference on the road this year (though there are wins against Xavier and Florida State to speak of). Vandy has those 14 wins at home though, and they’re going to be hard to overlook. Chandler Parsons and the crew are very thin, yet they are very talented as well. UF is really hoping to get up onto the No. 3 line or so for the NCAA Tournament, and a win like this would go a long way to ensuring that. We just don’t buy into Vandy though, as there are a lot of fluff wins that just don’t look all that great when push comes to shove. The 21 wins for the regular season is nice, but knowing that the oddsmakers are going to treat this home court advantage worth a whole slew of points, we have to back the blue and orange.

NCAA Basketball Free Picks: Florida Gators

Matchup: Duke Blue Devils @ North Carolina Tar Heels
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 8:00 ET
Location: Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB


First place in the ACC and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament are on the line in Chapel Hill on Saturday, and the oddsmakers are really going to have to take a close look at just how good they think that UNC really is. The Tar Heels are certainly flying through everyone in the ACC right now, and they were able to do something this past week that Duke wasn’t able to do: Beat Florida State on the road. Granted, the Noles didn’t have Chris Singleton, but it was UNC’s second win against the garnet and gold this year, and the first time around, Singleton was playing, and the game was a blowout from the get go. This challenge against the Dookies the first time around was a solid one, as North Carolina challenged the whole way and blew a huge lead. This time, it will make amends and make things right. The Carolina Blue clad nation will be out and in full force in a game that is going to feel like the Super Bowl on Tobacco Road. Coach K knows that there are bigger and more important battles to fight than this one, and though the Blue Devils will end up losing this battle, their goal is to win the war and to defend their NCAA Championship.

College Basketball Expert Picks: Duke Blue Devils

Matchup: Texas Longhorns @ Baylor Bears
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 9:00 ET
Location: Ferrell Center, Waco, TX
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB

We know that this isn’t a Top 25 battle, but this is arguably the most meaningful game of the entire day. For the Longhorns, they’re hoping to snap out of this two game funk and to get back on track for a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Winning this one and winning the Big XII would still inevitably get the job done. However, a loss and an early exit from the Big XII Tourney could result in a disastrous No. 4 seed, which could make the first round of the dance very, very interesting. Jordan Hamilton, Tristan Thompson and company have the talent to beat anyone in America, but thanks to how inexperienced this club really is, nothing is a guarantee. For Baylor, it really needs this signature win to pad its resume for the NCAA Tournament. A loss will likely leave it with a lot of work to do to get into March Madness. A win will almost certainly get the job done with just one win in the Big XII Tournament (and even that might not be necessary). There’s too much on the line here for Baylor to get beaten, and we tend to believe that it will get the job done once and for all and make its case to go dancing.

NCAA Basketball Free Picks: Baylor Bears

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February 18th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Matchup: St. John's Red Storm @ Pittsburgh Panthers
Date: Saturday, February 19th, 12:00 ET
Location: Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Game Line: Pittsburgh -3.5
Over/Under 133

The Johnnies have had a history of slaying some real giants here at Madison Square Garden, and if they can pull this one off on Saturday afternoon, they'll surely be dancing regardless of what happens for the rest of the year. However, history really doesn't bode well in this one for the hosts. Pittsburgh has won and covered five in a row in this series. The two trips to MSG before that in 2005 and 2006 did end with St. John's upsets, but that doesn't mean that this is going to be the case again today. U-Pitt just doesn't have an immediate history of tripping up on the road, posting wins against the Villanova Wildcats and West Virginia Mountaineers there in recent weeks. Sure, St. John's now has two road wins after beating both the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Marquette Golden Eagles away from MSG over the course of the last few weeks, but that doesn't mean that Head Coach Steve Lavin's team is really ready for this challenge. You can bet that the Panthers have been watching intently as teams like the Duke Blue Devils and UConn Huskies have come in here and pulled off upsets. The oddsmakers are sure to not give us a break for backing the Red Storm, so we'll have no choice but to pull the trigger on the Panthers and hope that Brad Wanamaker can carry us to another victory since Ashton Gibbs is out of the lineup with an MCL sprain.

Free College Basketball Picks: Pittsburgh Panthers

Matchup: Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ West Virginia Mountaineers
Date: Saturday, February 19th, 1:00 ET
Location: WVU Coliseum, Morgantown, WV
Game Line: West Virginia -4
Over/Under 130

Home teams have had a fantastic history in this series, winning seven straight outright and nine out of the last 10 meetings dating back to 2004. Notre Dame has had a bit of a history of falling flat in games like this one, getting dropped by the St. John's Red Storm and the Marquette Golden Eagles on the road. Of course, since that point, the Irish are 7-0 SU and 6-1 ATS, and they are now in serious contention for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The 'Neers are coming off of a horrifying loss to the Syracuse Orange, their second straight road game in which they scored in the low 50s in points. However, one thing is for sure, and that's that Head Coach Bob Huggins isn't going to let Notre Dame drop three pointers all over the place on them, as demonstrated by last year's 53-51 win at Madison Square Garden in the Big East Tournament. WVU has a great team that matches up well with this Notre Dame squad, and the hosts badly need one more feather in their cap for the March Madness run. Don't be shocked if they get that feather on Saturday.

Free NCAA Basketball Picks: West Virginia Mountaineers

Matchup: Washington Huskies @ Arizona Wildcats
Date: Saturday, February 19th, 6:00 ET
Location: McKale Center, Tucson, AZ
Game Line: Arizona -2.5
Over/Under 157.5

If the Huskies are going to add a big time road win to their resume for the NCAA Tournament, this is where they're going to have to get it. Unfortunately, history really isn't on their side, as the home team is 6-2 ATS over the course of the last eight meetings, and the U of A will be a decided favorite on the college basketball odds. Washington was absolutely dreadful on the road on a trip that include a stop against the Washington State Cougars and two against the Oregon schools, going 0-3 SU and ATS even though it was a heavy favorite in all three games. Playing at home is just a different story. Arizona is playing significantly better ball right now, and it really should show up on the scoreboard on Saturday. The Cats would have no problem if they made it that they were the only Pac-10 team that got a bid to the NCAA Tournament, and if that happens to be the case, they could turn out to be a legitimate favorite to win the whole enchilada.

College Basketball Free Picks: Arizona Wildcats

Matchup: Utah State Aggies @ St. Mary's Gaels
Date: Saturday, February 19th, 9:00 ET
Location: McKeon Pavilion, Moraga, CA
Game Line: St. Mary's -4
Over/Under 136

Believe it or not, this BracketBusters showdown is the only battle of the entire day that pits a pair of teams ranked in the Top 25 against each other. The winner of this game is likely to keep their spot in the Top 25, though if the winner is St. Mary's, both might fall out. The Gaels have had a miserable week leading up to this point, as they were beaten down by the San Diego Toreros on Wednesday night in one of the biggest upsets of the entire season. This was a team that really should have been manhandled, and in the long run, if the Gaels don't end up making the NCAA Tournament, they can look back and shake their head at that loss as 17 point favorites to a team that won't finish with a Top 200 RPI ranking. Utah State suffered a similar loss two weeks ago against the Idaho Vandals, and this is their only chance to pick up an RPI Top 100 victory this entire season. They know that they aren't likely to get accepted to the dance in spite of the fact that they would have 27 wins under their belt without this win, and even then, the only sure route is going to be winning the WAC Tournament. This game means worlds more to Utah State than it does to St. Mary's, and we tend to believe that that will show on Saturday night. Will the Aggies pull off the upset? Probably not. But that doesn't mean they won't stick inside the number.

NCAA Basketball Free Picks: Utah State Aggies

Matchup: Texas A&M Aggies @ Oklahoma State Cowboys
Date: Saturday, February 19th, 9:00 ET
Location: Gallagher IBA Arena, Stillwater, OK
Game Line: Oklahoma State -2
Over/Under 127

It's a big, big day for the Pokes, as they really need this one to at least feel like they're on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble at the moment. They've dropped five of their last seven and seven of their last 10, but the good news is that the only home loss in this run has come to one of the best teams in the country, the Texas Longhorns. However, there's a point that we have to wonder whether this team is any good or not. After all, the Aggies slammed Okie State 71-48 back on January 12th in one of the worst beat downs of the season. The Cowboys were held to just 16-of-46 shooting from the field, and no one scored more than 11 points. The bench was kept incredibly quiet as well, so there were just no sparks that were able to fly. The scarier part about that win? Khris Middleton only had nine points and only took eight shots. Don't be surprised if the second verse goes the same as the first in this one, as the superior Aggies should be able to come into Stillwater and walk out victorious.

College Basketball Expert Picks: Texas A&M Aggies

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January 7th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The BBVA Compass Bowl might look like just another bowl betting bash featuring a pair of mediocre teams from power conferences, but there are a ton of storylines that go along with the duel on Saturday after that kicks off a triple header of football action including the NFL playoffs.

BBVA Compass Bowl Matchup: Kentucky Wildcats vs. Pittsburgh Panthers
Date: Saturday, January 8th, 12:00 ET
Location: Legion Field, Birmingham, AL
BBVA Compass Bowl Line: Pittsburgh -3.5
Over/Under 52

Wildcats Notes: This is the first bowl game for Head Coach Joker Phillips, who did a fantastic job taking care of this team this year in spite of the fact that many thought they would struggle to get into the second season. Kentucky survived the rugged SEC this year to finish at .500 and would love nothing more than to be able to pull off the upset here at Legion Field to finish up the campaign with a winning record. If he is going to do that though, it is going to have to happen with QB Morgan Newton calling the shots, not QB Mike Hartline. Hartline, who had a fantastic senior season, was suspended for this game and has not made the trip to Birmingham with the team. Newton, just a sophomore, is the future of the Kentucky program, and he brings a significantly tougher challenge to the table than Hartline does for the U-Pitt defense. No, Newton really isn't set to break all sorts of passing records, but he does have great legs, making this offense very, very fun to watch. Mr. Do It All, Randall Cobb is inevitably going to be taking some snaps as well as the Wildcat signal caller. Cobb threw the ball 10 times this year and accounted for 58 yards and three TDs. He was the second leading rusher on the squad as well with 401 yards and five scores. And of course, he was the top receiving option as well with 79 receptions, 955 yards, and seven TDs. Don't forget about the play of WR Chris Matthews either, though. This explosive star only caught 57 passes, but he averaged 15.7 yards per catch, giving him 897 yards and nine TDs on the year. RB Derrick Locke had 816 yards and 10 TDs on the ground as well. UK's defense had some bad games this year, like when it allowed 44 to the Georgia Bulldogs and 48 to the Florida Gators, but in totality, things weren't really that bad. The Wildcats held teams to just 344.9 yards and 28.5 points per game, numbers which probably would be good enough to beat the BBVA Compass Bowl odds on Saturday.

Panthers Notes: Trying to find a man that can take control of the Panthers right now is a hard enough task. Head Coach Dave Wannstedt was forced to resign at the end of the season, and the man that was hired to replace him, former Miami Redhawks Head Coach Mike Haywood, was fired on New Year's Day amidst allegations stemming from a domestic violence case. That alone, might be causing enough turmoil to cause the Panthers not to want to really show up here in Birmingham. On top of that, U-Pitt really didn't play well down the stretch, losing to both the Connecticut Huskies and West Virginia Mountaineers in games that really should have been won. Instead of playing in the BCS, something that seemed like a foregone conclusion going into the month of November, here it is in Birmingham, playing in a second tier game against a second tier team. Still, the Pittsburgh defense can make a real difference here at the BBVA Compass Bowl. This team allowed just 298.6 yards per game this year, ranking No. 9 in the land, though we must remember that this schedule wasn't nearly as tough as the one that the Wildcats faced. Do watch out for both RBs Dion Lewis and Ray Graham, who combined to account for almost 1,800 yards between them on the ground on the season. They also scored a combined 20 times. QB Tino Sunseri will be starting his first career bowl game as well after a 2010 season in which he threw for 2,476 yards and 15 TDs against eight picks.

The Final Word: We're not really so sure why the line in this game keeps going in Pitt's favor. We're not so certain that Kentucky isn't the better team in this game, and we really know that the Panthers probably don't have a lot of motivation to be here. Don't be surprised if Cobb, Newton, and company just continually find ways to puncture hole after hole in this Pittsburgh defense, and if that's the case, the Cats very well could run "Wild" in Birmingham.

BBVA Compass Bowl Free Pick: Kentucky +3.5
BBVA Compass Bowl Prediction: Kentucky 38 – Pittsburgh 20

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November 25th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Matchup: Louisville Cardinals at Rutgers Scarlett Knights
Date: Friday, November 26th, 11:00 ET
Location: Rutgers Stadium, Piscataway, NJ
Game Line: Louisville -3.5
Over/Under 48

Two teams fighting for bowl eligibility square off Friday morning in Piscataway when the 5-6 Louisville Cardinals take on the 4-6 Scarlett Knights. First-year HC Charlie Strong has rejuvenated a Louisville program that was moribund under Steve Kragthorpe, although the record may not not say as much. Of Louisville's six losses, only one has been by more than one score and the Cardinals have been giving teams a game effort. On Saturday, the Cardinals played a slugfest of a game against Big East Rival West Virginia, giving the Mountaineers all they could handle in a 17-10 loss. Louisville's defense held West Virginia to just 261 total yards and sensational RB Noel Devine to only manage 58 yards on the day. QB Justin Burke got the start in place of the injured Adam Froman and had trouble moving the ball, completing just 50% of his passes 145 yards and an interception on the afternoon. Froman looks like he will get the start on Friday, but don't be surprised if Burke is the quarterback. Meanwhile, Rutgers continues to struggle, having lost four straight with only one conference win on their resume. Against Cincinnati, the story was the Scarlett Knights' inability to stop Cincinnati's offense through the duration of game. The Bearcats racked up an incredible 661 total yards on HQ Greg Schiano's squad in their 68-39 route of the Scarlett Knights. QB Chas Dodd had one of his best days on offense for the Scarlett Knights, completing 19 of 20 passes for 335 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss. WR Mark Harrison was the primary target of Dodd and had the game of a lifetime for Rutgers, catching 10 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns on the afternoon.

Free College Football Picks: Louisville -3
Prediction: Louisville 21 – Rutgers 13

Matchup: West Virginia Mountaineers @ Pittsburgh Panthers
Date: Friday, November 26th, 12:00 ET
Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
Game Line: Pittsburgh -3
Over/Under 39

The Backyard Brawl will go a long way in determining the Big East title on Friday afternoon when 6-4 Pittsburgh Panthers host the 7-3 West Virginia Mountaineers. On Saturday, Pittsburgh gutted out a tough 17-10 road win over the South Florida Bulls. QB Tino Sunseri didn't put up dazzling numbers for the Panthers, but was good enough to get Pitt the win. Sunseri completed 11 of 16 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers' victory. RB Dion Louis also helped contribute to the win by carrying the ball 22 times for 105 yards and a touchdown. PItt's defense was once again stout, holding USF to less than 300 yards. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers scored a close victory themselves, a much needed 17-10 win over Louisville that stops WVU's recent skid. West Virginia's offense was held in check throughout the game by Louisville with QB Geno Smith only completing 9 of 20 passes for 133 yards rushing for just 20 yards on 11 carries without notching a touchdown. RB Noel Devine struggled as well, rushing for only 58 yards and touchdown on 23 carries. West Virginia's defense won them the game this afternoon, holding Louisville's offense to a scant 171 total yards.

Free College Football Picks: Pittsburgh -3
Prediction: Pittsburgh 20 – West Virginia 14

Matchup: Auburn Tigers @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Date: Friday, November 26th, 2:30 ET
Location: Bryant Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL
Game Line: Alabama -4.5
Over/Under 58

The most anticipated regular season game of the year will take place Friday afternoon in the great state of Alabama when the 9-2 Alabama Crimson Tide take on the 11-0 Auburn Tigers. Although there is a whirlwind swirling around the possible ineligibility of Tigers' QB Cameron Newton, the Tigers are poised to make their first ever BCS Title Game if they can defeat arch-rival Alabama on Friday. Under the tutelage of OC Gus Malzahn, Newton has established himself as the best player in all of college football and would be the overwhelming favorite to win the Heisman Trophy if not for the eligibility concern. The last time college football betting enthusiasts saw Auburn was two weeks ago when the Tigers defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 49-31. Georgia gave Auburn all they could handle for three quarters before the tigers put them away in the fourth. Newton once again put together a fantastic game, completing 12 of 15 passes for 148 yards with two touchdowns and an interception while also carrying the ball 30 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Defensive guru Nick Saban will look to do what no other team has done this season in shutting down Newton. Alabama has had virtually two weeks to prepare for Auburn after walking through the motions in a 63-7 win over FCS Georgia State last Thursday night. Alabama's starters only played the first half and put up the numbers you'd expect in scoring 42 first half points. QB Greg McElroy completed 12 of 13 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns. RB Mark Ingram carried the ball 12 times for 86 yards and a score and WR Julio Jones caught seven passes for 86 yards and two TDs in the blowout win.

Free College Football Picks: Alabama -4.5
Prediction: Alabama 38 – Auburn 28

Matchup: Colorado Buffaloes @ Nebraska Cornhuskers
Date: Friday, November 26th, 3:30 ET
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE
Game Line: Nebraska -16.5
Over/Under 50.5

The 9-2 Nebraska Cornhuskers will look to keep their hopes for a BCS at-large bid alive on Friday afternoon when they host the 5-6 Colorado Buffaloes for possibly the last time. The meeting will be bittersweet as there are no plans for the two to continue to play each other after Nebraska moves to the Big 10 next season. Nebraska will look to score a win in their last regular season Big 12 game after falling 9-6 to Texas A&M last week. The Cornhuskers have been the center of controversy during the week after reports that QB Taylor Martinez had quit the team and that DC Carl Pelini had shoved a photographer on the field after the game was over. The hopes of Nebraska's offense rest on Martinez and the status of his ankle as the offense doesn't click unless Martinez is under center. Against the Aggies last week, Martinez was banged up most of the game and put up one of his worst games of the season, completing just 11 of 17 passes for 107 yards and an interception and only managing 17 yards rushing on 11 carries. As for Colorado, the Buffaloes have won back-to-back games since the firing of former HC Dan Hawkins. Colorado got big gains from QB Cody Hawkins and RB Rodney Stewart to top Kansas State 44-36. Hawkins completed 14 or 25 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns while Stewart rushed for 195 yards and two touchdowns while also throwing a 23 yard touchdown pass.

Free College Football Picks: Colorado +16.5
Prediction: Nebraska 24 – Colorado 14

Matchup: Arizona Wildcats @ Oregon Ducks
Date: Friday, November 26th, 7:00 ET
Location: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR
Game Line: Oregon -19
Over/Under 62

The 10-0 Oregon Ducks will aim to keep their undefeated season and BCS Title Game berth alive Friday night when they host the 7-3 Arizona Wildcats. College football bettors last saw Oregon two weeks ago when the Ducks squeaked out a narrow 15-13 win over the California Golden Bears. Oregon's offense had their least effective performance of the season in Berkeley, managing just 317 total yards against Cal. QB Darrin Thomas completed 15 of 29 passes for 155 yards and a score in the win, while Heisman Trophy contender LaMichael James could only muster 102 yards on 31 touches. Oregon's previously maligned defense came up huge for the Ducks in the victory, holding Cal to just 193 total yards of offense and completely shutting down the Cal passing attack, with Cal QB Brock Mansion mustering just 69 yards passing on 10 of 28 completions. An Oregon win against Arizona also clinches the Ducks at least the Pac-10 Title and an appearance in the Rose Bowl.

Free College Football Picks: Oregon -19
Prediction: Oregon 51 – Arizona 20

Matchup: Boise State Broncos @ Nevada Wolf Pack
Date: Friday, November 26th, 10:15 ET
Location: Mackay Stadium, Reno, NV
Game Line: Boise State -14
Over/Under 67.5

With a win against the 10-1 Nevada Wolfpack on Friday night, the 10-0 Boise State Broncos will clinch the WAC Title and be one step closer to a potential BCS Title Game bid. QB Kellen Moore is a darkhorse to win the Heisman, but has put up some of the best numbers in the country despite being pulled early in many of his conference games. Last week in their 51-0 drubbing of Fresno State, Moore completed 27 of 38 passes for 333 yards and four touchdowns against one interception. Moore's favorite two target's were again the dynamic duo of WR Austin Pettis and WR Titus Young. Pettis hauled in 10 passes 93 yards and two scores on the evening while Young caught eight balls for 164 yards and two touchdowns. As for Nevada, the Wolfpack has given Boise State all it can handle in their games over the past few seasons. Nevada is led by QB Colin Kaepernick who completed 15 of 27 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns last week against New Mexico State. Kaepernick also added 35 yards rushing and a touchdown on the day. RB Vai Taua carried the ball 22 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns and also caught a 79 yard touchdown pass in the 52-6 victory over the Aggies.

Free College Football Picks: Nevada +14
Prediction: Boise State 38 – Nevada 34

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November 10th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Matchup: Pittsburgh Panthers @ Connecticut Huskies
Date: Thursday, November 11th, 7:30 ET
Location: Rentschler Field, Storrs, CT
Game Line: Pittsburgh -5.5
Over/Under 46.5

The 5-3 Pittsburgh Panthers will look to increase their Big East conference lead on Thursday night when they travel to Storrs to take on the 4-4 Connecticut Huskies. The last time college football bettors saw Pittsburgh, the Panthers cruised to a 20-3 over the Louisville Cardinals on the back of one of the best defenses in the country. The Panthers held the Cardinals to just 185 total yards of offense and forced two turnovers en route to the 17 point victory. QB Tino Sunseri was efficient in the win, completing 13 of 24 passes for 123 yards, while the RB duo of Dion Lewis and Ray Graham combined to carry the rock for 105 yards and two touchdowns. As for Connecticut, the Huskies scored a huge 16-13 overtime win against West Virginia two weeks ago to move them a little closer to bowl eligibility. The Huskies were the beneficiaries of four West Virginia turnovers and were able to hold the Mountaineers to just 13 points despite giving up over 400 yards of offense. RB Jordan Todman was effective on the ground, carrying the ball for 113 yards and a touchdown. QB Zach Frazer completed 18 of 29 passes for 166 yards in the winning effort.

Free College Football Picks: Pittsburgh -5.5
Prediction: Pittsburgh 27 Connecticut 17


Matchup: East Carolina Pirates @ UAB Blazers
Date: Thursday, November 11th, 8:00 ET
Location: Legion Field, Birmingham, AL
Game Line: UAB -2
Over/Under 67

Conference USA rivals face off on Thursday night when the 5-4 East Carolina Pirates travel to Birmingham to take on the 3-6 UAB Blazers. East Carolina could not have played a worse game defensively than they did last Saturday. The Pirates defense allowed Navy to put up a mind-boggling 76 points and gave up over 500 yards of rushing to the Midshipmen in their 76-35 loss. East Carolina was able to move the ball on offense pretty well, racking up 567 total yards on Navy, but four turnovers were simply too much for the Pirates to overcome. QB Dominique Davis had an amazing day against the Midshipmen defense, completing 43 of 65 passes for 413 yards and five touchdowns. His favorite target was WR Lance Lewis, who reeled in nine passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Blazers have struggled to find their way after losing QB Joe Webb to the NFL Draft this spring. QB Bryan Ellis hasn’t been terrible this season, completing 55.3% of his passes for 1910 yards with 14 touchdowns and 9 interceptions, but he hasn’t been able to match the production the Blazers saw under Webb last season. Last week, the Blazers put themselves on the brink of missing bowl season when they fell 31-17 to Marshall. In the loss, Ellis completed 20 of 44 passes for 235 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. RB Pat Shed struggled though, mustering only 45 yards on 16 carries. With the damage Navy did to ECU’s rushing defense last game, expect a healthy dose of Shed on the ground this game.

Free College Football Picks: East Carolina +2
Prediction: East Carolina 38 UAB 34

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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 8th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Matchup: Indiana Hoosiers @ Ohio State Buckeyes
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 12:00 ET
Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
Game Line: Ohio State -22.5
Over/Under 57.5

Many might think that the way to go in this NCAA football betting battle is by taking the visiting Hoosiers due to the nature of what they did last week in nearly upsetting the Michigan Wolverines. However, we must remember that IU hasn't faced a team that plays defense like Ohio State all season long, and it also hasn't played a real road test against a legitimate conference contender at this point either. We love QB Ben Chappell and think that he has the goods to be a professional quarterback at some level, but this is too tough of a matchup for him to excel. The Buckeyes had their slip last week against Illinois and lived to tell about it. Unless there is a bit of a look ahead syndrome going on with the Wisconsin Badgers coming up next week, we are sure that OSU is going to want to come back and absolutely throw the gauntlet down. QB Denard Robinson absolutely shredded this Indiana defense last week. QB Terrelle Pryor might be able to do the same. The difference is that the Hoosiers won't be scoring 35 points this weekend like they did last weekend.

Free College Football Picks: Ohio State -22.5
Prediction: Ohio State 45 – Indiana 17

Matchup: Illinois Fighting Illini @ Penn State Nittany Lions
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 12:00 ET
Location: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
Game Line: Penn State -7.5
Over/Under 42

The Nittany Lions are out of the Top 25 this week, while the Illini nearly snuck into it after a near miss against the Ohio State Buckeyes last weekend. The bottom line for the Nittany Lions is that they are going to be overmatched by the best teams in the Big Ten all season long due to the fact that QB Robert Bolden, as a freshman, just isn't able to keep up with what the conference is throwing his way. However, Illinois isn't a top notch Big Ten team, nor is it even remotely close. This is also a team with a freshman QB Nathan Scheelhaase. Yes, Scheelhaase put together a respectable performance last weekend against the Bucks, but this game will be significantly different on the road in front of 90,000+ screaming fans in Happy Valley. PSU is going to be eager to prove that last week's loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road was merely a bump in the road, and it will do so by stomping Illinois with a strong second half, just like the Bucks did last weekend.

Free College Football Picks: Penn State -7.5
Prediction: Penn State 27 – Illinois 13

Matchup: Tennessee Volunteers @ Georgia Bulldogs
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 12:21 ET
Location: Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA
Game Line: Georgia -11
Over/Under 48

"Between the Hedges" we go for another SEC betting battle between the Dawgs and the Vols. These two teams really don't like each other, and the Bulldogs are going to want to get some big time payback for last season's 45-19 blowout on Rocky Top. The Dawgs only have one win in this series since 2005, including when the Vols came here and won 51-33 in 2006. Tennessee has covered the NCAA football betting lines in four straight between these SEC East rivals. Georgia has never gotten off to this bad of a start in SEC play, nor has it ever endured a four game losing streak under HC Mark Richt. Is this team better than its record? Probably. Is it significantly better than its record? Probably not. UGA has gotten a real shot in the arm with the return of WR AJ Green to the lineup, but the Volunteers are only going to have to key in on him to stop on this offense. Last week, when faced with a similar situation with the LSU Tigers and RB Steven Ridley, Tennessee came just one play away from pulling off the ultimate upset in the Bayou. Don't be so surprised if an upset is in the cards, and if that's the case, Richt might find himself out of a job before the beginning of next week, as 1-5 won't sit well with the Georgia boosters.

Free College Football Picks: Tennessee +11
Prediction: Tennessee 20 – Georgia 17

Matchup: Alabama Crimson Tide @ South Carolina Gamecocks
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 3:30 ET
Location: Williams Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC
Game Line: South Carolina +7
Over/Under 47.5

It's easy to just make college football picks on the Crimson Tide after destroying the Florida Gators last weekend, but this is a type of challenge of the likes that has not been seen before by this team. Yes, the Tide rolled into Fayetteville and took care of the Arkansas Razorbacks with a nice surge at the end of the game. We must note that that was Alabama's one failed cover of the season to date. The difference here? The Gamecocks have had two weeks to prepare for this game and haven't really had anything on their minds but getting revenge for the game two weeks ago at Jordan Hare Stadium, a narrow defeat against the Texas A&M Aggies. We know that RB Mark Ingram is still probably the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. We still know that QB Greg McElroy hasn't lost a game as a starting quarterback since he was in eighth grade. We still know that the Tide just absolutely crippled the Florida offense last week and has the top scoring 'D' in the land. But there's something about this game that just feels different. The Ol' Ball Coach, HC Steve Spurrier has to have some things up his sleeve, and all of the tricks will be coming out of the bag in this one. This would be a defining moment in South Carolina football history if it could win this game, and we think that the upset just might be in the cards on Saturday afternoon.

Free College Football Picks: South Carolina +7
Prediction: South Carolina 27 – Alabama 26

Matchup: Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Texas A&M Aggies
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 3:30 ET
Location: Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX
Game Line: Texas A&M +5.5
Over/Under 62.5

The Hogs and Aggies have ties going back to the olden days, and this is the second straight year that they will play at a neutral site to renew old ties. Last year, QB Ryan Mallett went absolutely bananas, throwing for 271 yards and four TDs against a Texas A&M team that just had no answers. Arkansas is coming off of that crushing fourth quarter rally of a defeat at the hands of the Alabama Crimson Tide, something that clearly will not be forgotten easily. A&M has struggled trying to protect QB Jerrod Johnson, who is one of the best dual threat signal callers in the land. HC Bobby Petrino has been scheming for this one for two weeks. We also tend to believe that the Hogs have the ability to play with the Crimson Tide, therefore they can beat anyone in America. This game will probably be no exception. Last week was a shootout in which Johnson threw four picks against the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and if he makes those same types of mistakes this weekend, it is going to be one heck of a lot afternoon in "Big D."

Free College Football Picks: Arkansas -5.5
Prediction: Arkansas 37 – Texas A&M 21

Matchup: Michigan State Spartans @ Michigan Wolverines
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 3:30 ET
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
Game Line: Michigan -4.5
Over/Under 62.5

This game has the potential to have some real fireworks in it, as the "Big Game" has really not been this big in a number of years. The Wolverines and Spartans are both 5-0 and both think that this is the year that they can go to the Rose Bowl. However, both have a history of this being the time of year that they fold up shop and are never heard from again, and that's exactly what they're both trying to avoid. For HC Rich Rodriguez, this game is even more important. The Spartans are on house money, and regardless of whether every single game down the stretch is lost or not, HC Mark Dantonio's job is safe after that fake field goal call that beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Rodriguez… not so much. What Rich Rod does have on his side is the most dynamic player in the country, QB Denard Robinson. He'll become the first man to get to 1,000 rushing yards in all likelihood in this game, and he'll also be well over the 2,000 yard mark for the year between rushing and passing when it's all said and done. The Spartans have never faced a team with this type of an offense and haven't played a true road game this year (the one "road game" was "at" Florida Atlantic… at Ford Field). It will be up to RB Edwin Baker and RB Le'Veon Bell to control the clock and keep Robinson off the field. However, Big Blue has struggled trying to stop the pass this year, not the rush. In fact, this is the worst rated pass defense in the nation at over 307 yards per game. Still, if QB Kirk Cousins can't get going in a big way, Michigan is going to end up rolling over the Spartans. This game means too much to the maize and blue to be beaten. A bowl game will be a guarantee when Saturday is over.

Free College Football Picks: Michigan -4.5
Prediction: Michigan 40 – Michigan State 28

Matchup: Virginia Cavaliers @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 3:30 ET
Location: Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Game Line: Georgia Tech -10
Over/Under 47

The Cavvies were steamrolled last week by the Florida State Seminoles, but they have a shred of promise for the rest of this season. Meanwhile, the Yellow Jackets are still trying to figure out how they have been stung twice this year and why they are just 1-4 ATS a year after going to the Orange Bowl as the ACC champs. QB Josh Nesbitt is just as dangerous now as he was last season when he led this team to a fantastic season, but his 880 total yards in five games just isn't reflecting that. He needs to find a way to get more involved in the offense, which ranks just 58th in the land in total yards at 388.2 yards per game. Virginia hasn't been great, but sticking in front of a double digit spread, even on the road, seems like a legitimate possibility. Something's wrong with the Ramblin' Wreck right now, and we're determined to take advantage of that. GT might win it, but the Cavs are sticking around for the full 60 minutes.

Free College Football Picks: Virginia +10
Prediction: Georgia Tech 24 – Virginia 20

Matchup: Pittsburgh Panthers @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 3:30 ET
Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
Game Line: Notre Dame -6
Over/Under 49.5

Is something really wrong with the Panthers right now, or have they just run across a tough spot in the schedule? Their two losses are very respectable ones against the Miami Hurricanes and Utah Utes, and their two wins were both by respectable margins even though they were against sub-par teams. This is the first time this year that they are really on a team in their weight class, per se. The Irish finally got a big win together last week against the Boston College Eagles, and maybe that will jumpstart the season, as the next portion of the schedule just isn't that difficult. The Panthers have health concerns with RB Dion Lewis, while the Irish are still rolling offensively to the tune of 24.6 points per game. We tend to believe that that will be enough to take care of U-Pitt, which really needs to find an identity going into the Big East campaign next week.

Free College Football Picks: Notre Dame -6
Prediction: Notre Dame 28 – Pittsburgh 17

Matchup: Clemson Tigers @ North Carolina Tar Heels
Date: Saturday, October 9th, 3:30 ET
Location: Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
Game Line: North Carolina -2.5
Over/Under 52.5

The Tar Heels are still dealing with a plethora of defensive suspensions, but they seemed to overcome all of those problems last week when they really shut down the powerful East Carolina Pirates with a 42-17 victory. Clemson comes to town now with a slew of questions. The Tigers have two losses, but are defeats against the Auburn Tigers and Miami Hurricanes really that bad? However, they have two wins as well. We already know that beating the North Texas Mean Green and the Presbyterian Blue Hose is nothing to write home about. This is a very good litmus test for both teams. The difference here is that North Carolina is very battle tested and already knows what it takes to win in the ACC. The home game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets might have been a defeat, but it certainly might have set the tone for the rest of the season. UNC is the better team in this battle, and as long as QB TJ Yates doesn't put on his pick face all of a sudden, the Tar Heels should be able to snare a win.

Free College Football Picks: North Carolina -2.5
Prediction: North Carolina 27 – Clemson 20

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October 7th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor
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Here at Cappers Info, we are taking a weekly look at the teams that could be ones ripe to pull off some major upsets! Check out the potentially ugly dogs that could come up and bite you in the butt in you aren't careful for the Week 6 of college football betting action!

Underdog Pick #1: Florida State Seminoles (OTB at Diamond Sportsbook) @ Miami Hurricanes, Saturday, 8:00 ET: When this game opened up earlier in the week, Florida State was a 6.5 point underdog. There are still some outlets that have this game on the board, but right now, QB Jacory Harris is up in the air with a shoulder injury, and if he can't play, this line will move dramatically. We're sort of opening that Harris does play, giving us a more favorable line. The Seminoles are absolutely legit this year, and they have proved it in ACC play by blowing away both Virginia and Wake Forest. This would be the biggest win in the Jimbo Fisher era, one that badly needs to get off the ground in a hurry to live up to expectations. The Canes have been very, very impressive during this rough stretch of games, and though they aren't usually candidates to end up losing their second home game of the season, Florida State provides a significantly different challenge. The garnet and gold remember that loss suffered last year at Doak Campbell Stadium. Payback could be a you know what on Saturday night.

Underdog Pick #2: Colorado Buffaloes (+400 at Diamond Sportsbook) @ Missouri Tigers, Saturday 7:00 ET: Now we'll get the chance to see whether the Buffs are real or not. HC Dan Hawkins knows that he needs to string together at least four wins in conference play this year, and this very much so a winnable fixture that could make the Big XII North race very, very interesting. Though we know that the Tigers are still undefeated and ranked, we aren't so sure that they belong there. The schedule hasn't been particularly difficult, and though there have been a few stingy teams show up, none are probably as strong as Colorado really is. If the Buffaloes hold onto the football, this is a very, very winnable game, and we'll take our chances that it will happen at least one out of five times for us to break even. Here's to QB Blaine Gabbert not choosing now to go off on one of his patented 450+ yard passing tirades.

Underdog Pick #3: Pittsburgh Panthers (+200 at Diamond Sportsbook) @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Saturday, 3:30 ET: If the Panthers are legitimate contenders in the Big East this year, they certainly are underrated in this game by the oddsmakers. The more we watch Notre Dame, the more we aren't so sure of their abilities. Yes, they notched another cover last week by beating Boston College, but who doesn't beat the Eagles nowadays? U-Pitt is still feeling the effects of that beat down suffered at the hands of the Hurricanes, but in "The U" is that good, losses to Miami and Utah shouldn't cause you to shy away. QB Tino Sunseri has to be getting better just by experience, and if RB Dion Lewis comes back into the lineup, it will make the offense just that much better. Don't be overly shocked to see the Panthers come out and take care of the Golden Domers with ease, especially if that front four can really put pressure on QB Dayne Crist in the pocket.

Underdog Pick #4: USC Trojans (+300 at Diamond Sportsbook) @ Stanford Cardinal, Saturday, 8:00 ET: Losing last week to the Washington Huskies will clearly do one of two things for the Trojans. They'll either wake up and remember that they still have over half of a season to play, or they'll fold up shop remembering that they don't have a bowl game to go chase after. We know that this team is good enough to win this game, just as Stanford was good enough to win back in LA last year. However, that victory could be a cause for concern for HC Jim Harbaugh's crew. The Men of Troy aren't usually ones to forget about defeats easily, though things are clearly different this year. We have to remember the psyche of the Cardinal as well. Just how well will they bounce back after they not only blew a 21-3 lead against the Oregon Ducks last week, but were ultimately obliterated? We'll take our chances that the upset very well could be in the cards, knowing that the Trojans could legitimately get their doors blown off as well.

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

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#19 Miami Hurricanes @ Pittsburgh Panthers (+3.5)
Thursday, September 23rd
7:45 ET, Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

Former Big East foes square off Thursday night when the Pittsburgh Panthers and Miami (FL) Hurricanes clash in Heinz Field. Miami is coming off of a tough loss to the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes that knocked them from the ranks of the unbeaten. In the 36-24 loss, the #19 Hurricanes struggled on both sides of the ball, with the defense allowing over 400 total yards and QB Terrelle Pryor running wild for 113 yards while throwing for 233. On the offensive side of the ball, QB Jacory Harris was forced into mistakes all day by the Buckeyes defense. Harris threw four picks and looked totally flustered in the pocket at times. The one bright spot for the Hurricanes was the special teams as Lamar Miller and Travis Benjamin each showed off their speed with blazing return touchdowns. Pittsburgh got a break in their second game of the season, cruising to a 38-16 win against FCS New Hampshire 12 days ago after suffering a tough overtime loss to Utah in their season opener. QB Tino Sunseri completed 24 of 34 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns against one interception in the win against the Wildcats while RB Ray Graham carried the ball nine times for 115 yards and two touchdowns. If Pittsburgh hopes to defeat the Hurricanes though, RB Dion Lewis must get on track after averaging less than 3.0 YPC over the first two games.

Prediction: Miami 31 Pittsburgh 20

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

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Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (+14) @ South Carolina Gamecocks
Thursday, September 2nd
7:30 ET, Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC

The Gamecocks are going to come into this one full of question marks. Yes, we know that QB Stephen Garcia is going to be the man under center and that he is a very dangerous threat every time he drops back to throw the pigskin, but there are as many as seven starters that could be suspended before the game kicks off. TE Weslye Saunders has already been informed of his suspension, and in Saunders, the Cocks are losing their second best returning receiver from a year ago. HC Larry Fedora always believes that his team can hit the road and take out the big boys across the country, and this will be no exception. QB Austin Davis is back from his foot injury that kept him out of the final two thirds of last season, and many think that he could be amongst the best QBs in Conference USA. SC HC Steve Spurrier has never lost to an non-BCS conference foe (38-0), but that could be in some serious jeopardy on Thursday night. We'll give the Gamecocks the slight upper hand, but our NCAA football picks are clearly on Southern Miss to stick in front of this two TD spread.

Prediction: South Carolina 31 – Southern Miss 27
#15 Pittsburgh Panthers (+3) @ #24 Utah Utes
Thursday, September 2nd
8:30 ET, Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT

QB Jordan Wynn really made a name for himself at the end of last season, and we think that by the end of this year, he could be in store for great things at Utah. Just one problem: This isn't the end of the year. The Utes are going to have all sorts of problems trying to keep the Pittsburgh front four off of Wynn's back, and if that unit can successfully get pressure and leave seven guys back in the secondary to cause havoc, there are going to be plenty of turnovers. At that point, all HC Dave Wannstedt has to do is put the ball into the hands of RB Dion Lewis. Lewis rushed for just short of 1,800 yards a year ago and could be a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate by the time the season is said and done. Even though QB Tino Sunseri is taking over for the departed Bill Stull, we still don't think that the Panthers have any major problems getting out of Salt Lake City with an upset that will avenge the 2005 Fiesta Bowl loss to the Utes.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 27 – Utah 17
USC Trojans (-21) @ Hawaii Warriors
Thursday, September 2nd
11:00 ET, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI

For all intents and purposes, this game is the equivalent of USC's bowl game this year, since the Men of Troy have been ruled ineligible for postseason play this year. If the Trojans are ready and raring to go, this game won't be close from the get go. HC Lane Kiffin has had months to get ready for this crazy passing attack that Hawaii is going to be bringing to the table, and as long as QB Brett Moniz and WR Greg Salas are at least mildly contained, the Trojans should have no problems. Look for QB Matt Barkley to get his second season in So Cal off to a good start, as USC should be able to handle the Warriors with ease. Had this been a normal year for the Trojans, they would be five TD favorites. The adjustment for the bowl suspension is just too much.

Prediction: USC 55 – Hawaii 17

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