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Posts Tagged ‘Washington Huskies’

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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December 30th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The Holiday Bowl pits teams from the Big XII and the Pac-10 against each other every single season. This year's set of college football picks on this illustrious battle doesn't quite have the same luster as normal, as the Washington Huskies were a bit of a farce this season, while the Nebraska Cornhuskers don't even feel like a Big XII team anymore since they are moving to the Big Ten next year. Still, this is the only rematch of the bowl season from a regular season duel. The Cornhuskers won the first go around by five TDs up in Seattle, and U-Dub has a ton of work to do if it thinks it is turning the tide in this one.

Holiday Bowl Matchup: Washington Huskies vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Date: Thursday, December 30th, 10:00 ET
Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA
Holiday Bowl Line: Nebraska -13.5
Over/Under 52.5

Huskies Notes: Washington just has to feel fortunate to be playing in a bowl game this year. The only reason that it has moved so far up the bowl ladder is because the Arizona Wildcats slid down the stretch and were shut out in this game last year, and the Holiday Bowl wanted some new blood. With both the Stanford Cardinal and Oregon Ducks going to the BCS, this was the only bowl eligible team remaining to select. QB Jake Locker will be playing in his final game at U-Dub, and it is his first and only bowl appearance as well. He remembers that dreadful 4-for-20 game against the Black Shirts defense when these teams met in the Northwest, as it was a game that probably cost him millions of dollars this year in the NFL Draft. Locker really needs a big performance to leave a good taste in the mouths of the scouts for these NFL teams, as he has never had a 3,000 yard season and with a loss here, will have never led his team to an above .500 record. Do keep an eye on WR Jermaine Kearse and RB Chris Polk. These are the two men that have any chance of helping this offense out, along with Locker. Polk accounted for 1,238 yards and eight scores on the ground, while Kearse led the team in receiving with 56 grabs for 954 yards and 12 trips to the end zone. Washington has the worst scoring discrepancy of teams in the bowl season, getting outscored by 9.1 points per game on average on the campaign. The only positive to look at is that the Huskies did win their final three games of the season both SU and against the college football odds.

Cornhuskers Notes: This isn't quite what Nebraska had in mind this year, especially in its final season in the Big XII. However, going to the Big XII Championship Game for a second straight season and nearly taking down the Oklahoma Sooners provided a nice consolation prize here in San Diego. The key to watch out for is how well the Nebraska running game takes care of the Washington defense. When these teams met the first time around, all three of the Huskers' main runners made it to the 100+ yard barrier. It would be unfair to assume that RB Roy Helu, RB Rex Burkhead, and QB Taylor Martinez are going to be able to put on that type of a show once again, but if they do, they'll all end up as 1,000 yard runners, marking the second time in the history of college football that that would have happened, joining last year's Nevada Wolf Pack. Martinez needs 58 yards on the ground to get there, while Burkhead has to have 88 yards. Should Burkhead score three TDs, this would also be one of just three trios in the country to have three players with ten rushing touchdowns as well. The 'D' for Nebraska stumbled just a tad down the stretch, but there is no doubt that this is the superior unit in this game. The Cornhuskers average allowing just 294.8 yards and 17.2 points per game.

The Final Word: The only question in our minds is whether or not Nebraska really wants to be here in the Holiday Bowl or not. If it does, it is going to smoke the Huskies for a second time this year. If not, that's when the upset can happen. Locker is probably one of the most overrated players in the country though, and he isn't going to be able to get the job done. If U-Dub couldn't do it at home, it isn't going to be able to do it at the Holiday Bowl either.

Holiday Bowl Free Pick: Nebraska -13.5
Holiday Bowl Prediction: Nebraska 44 – Washington 21

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November 17th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Matchup: Georgia State Panthers @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Date: Thursday, November 18th, 7:30 ET
Location: Bryant Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL
Game Line: Alabama -55.5
Over/Under OTB

For those of you that have an account at 5Dimes Sportsbook have college football betting lines available to you in this game. For those of you that don't, be sure to Sign Up for An Account to take advantage of this game. We know that the Crimson Tide have a significantly better squad than the Panthers do, but really and truthfully… how interested is Alabama in winning this game on the eve of the Iron Bowl against the No. 2 Auburn Tigers at home? To Georgia State, this game means everything. This is a situation where you have a team that has overachieved at the FCS level all season long, going 6-4 in its first year in existence under a head coach that used to graze the sidelines in Tuscaloosa. It's going to be no surprise to see Alabama jump out to a 35-0 lead at halftime or something like that, but it is really only going to take a stroke of genius or two by the Panthers offense to be able to take down the college football odds against a number like this.

Free College Football Picks: Georgia State +55.5
Prediction: Alabama 51 – Georgia State 7

Matchup: UCLA Bruins @ Washington Huskies
Date: Thursday, November 18th, 8:00 ET
Location: Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA
Game Line: Washington -2
Over/Under 53

Here, we have a game of significant interest for Pac-10 fans, as this game is going to determine who is still going to be eligible to go bowling, and who is probably just playing out the end of the regular season without having any shot at a December date with a team from another conference. UCLA knows that it still has some give, but it probably isn't winning both of its last two games at the Arizona State Sun Devils and at home against the USC Trojans, so claiming victory here in Seattle is imperative. The "Pistol" offense is in full force right now for UCLA, as HC Rick Neuheisel has become smart enough to realize that he doesn't have a quarterback that is really capable of throwing the football, especially with QB Kevin Prince on the sidelines. After all, QB Richard Brehaut has only tossed two TD passes all season long, and he has taken plenty of snaps. RB Johnathan Franklin is the real deal, as he is one good game away from being a 1,000 yard rusher on the season. However, UCLA's defense is a real concern in this one. QB Jake Locker knows that the Bruins are there for the taking, especially since this is the last home game of his career. He has never been to a bowl game before and would love to sniff a meaningful December game before he leaves school for the NFL. RB Chris Polk could really torch this defense as well, as he is the forgotten man in this offense. Washington needs to win out, but it will be favored in two of its last three games, and potentially in all three. This will be the first big step for U-Dub, as it has had a far more consistent team this year than the 4-5 Bruins, who just seem to squeak by and take advantage of great situations.

Free College Football Picks: Washington -2
Prediction: Washington 28 – UCLA 23

Matchup: Air Force Falcons @ UNLV Rebels
Date: Thursday, November 18th, 10:00 ET
Location: Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Game Line: UNLV +19.5
Over/Under 56.5

The key statistic to look at in this game is very, very simple. The Rebels are allowing 211.9 yards per game on the ground. The Falcons are averaging rushing for 315.6 yards per game. The TCU Horned Frogs rushed for over 270 yards on UNLV. The West Virginia Mountaineers put up 220 yards. Heck, the Nevada Wolf Pack dropped 374. What do you think Air Force is going to do? 400? 450? One thing is for certain, and that's that the Falcons are going to be able to call their shot in this game. The Rebels are terrible. They have only beaten two teams this season in the MWC that are equally terrible, the New Mexico Lobos and Wyoming Cowboys. Air Force already has seven wins this year, and though a bowl game is already assured, the Independence Bowl wants to take the service academy. This would probably be the most illustrious bowl game that the Falcons have played in for years, and losing this game is just not an option. Especially in a standalone game that the eyes of the nation will be watching, you can bet that RB Asher Clark and QB Tim Jefferson are going to make sure that the job gets done in relatively comfortable fashion.

Free College Football Picks: Air Force -19.5
Prediction: Air Force 41 – UNLV 16

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

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Matchup: Washington Huskies @ Oregon Ducks
Date: Saturday, November 6th, 3:30 ET
Location: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR
Game Line: Oregon -34.5
Over/Under 67.5

Simply put, without QB Jake Locker in the lineup, the Huskies don't even remotely have a chance of hanging around in this game. Locker is the heart and soul of this team, and he has basically accounted for all of the offense this year. Now, QB Keith White is going to thrown into the mix having thrown just nine passes in his entire career. The true frosh won't last against an Oregon offense that has dropped 42 or more points on everyone it has faced this year and is averaging over 575 yards per game. This could be a real showcase for RB LaMichael James, who is gunning for his third 200+ yard rushing game this year, a feat which could certainly be had against a defense that was just run over last week to the tune of 41 points against the Stanford Cardinal. All you'll be hearing atop the BCS rankings for another week is Quack! Quack!

Free College Football Picks: Oregon -34.5
Prediction: Oregon 52 – Washington 10

Matchup: Alabama Crimson Tide @ LSU Tigers
Date: Saturday, November 6th, 3:30 ET
Location: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA
Game Line: LSU +6.5
Over/Under 44

We've already talked quite a bit about this big time tussle in the Bayou, and we think that we have already made our point clear that we love the Bayou Bengals. This is a rough scheduling spot for the Tide even though they are off of their bye week, as it was also a bye for LSU. Giving two weeks for HC Les Miles to draw up more tricks seems to be a little unfair. The question is going to be whether the offense for LSU can really get enough going to keep the Alabama offense out of sync. If the Tide get this game into the high 20s, there is no chance for LSU to survive. However, we've seen the "Mad Hatter" pull off stranger things, and we think the Tigers are going to roar loudly on Saturday.

Free College Football Picks: LSU +6.5
Prediction: LSU 20 – Alabama 16

Matchup: Hawaii Warriors @ Boise State Broncos
Date: Saturday, November 6th, 3:30 ET
Location: Bronco Stadium, Boise, ID
Game Line: Boise State -21
Over/Under 66

One would think that the only hope the Warriors have in this one is to try to make it a shootout. Their defense just isn't good enough to compete with Boise State, and the Broncos have one of the most high octane offenses in the land as well. This isn't a test like that of the Virginia Tech Hokies earlier in the season. This is a legitimate home game against a long time rival, and it isn't an opportunity that Boise State figures to pass on in its showcase season. QB Bryant Moniz is going to be in for his biggest test of the season, even bigger than when the USC Trojans paid a visit to the Big Island. Hawaii has the longest ATS winning streak in the nation coming into this week at six games, but that all comes to a close as QB Kellen Moore and the gang put the Warriors down and move one step closer to the BCS.

Free College Football Picks: Boise State -21
Prediction: Boise State 41 – Hawaii 17

Matchup: TCU Horned Frogs @ Utah Utes
Date: Saturday, November 6th, 3:30 ET
Location: Rice Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT
Game Line: Utah +4.5
Over/Under 51.5

Is this really the game of the year? The Horned Frogs know that the reward for winning this game on the road would probably be the coveted No. 2 ranking in the BCS next week, as they will probably hop over the Auburn Tigers, who are taking on an FCS opponent. TCU has a lot of great things going for it, including a defense that ranks No. 1 in the nation in three major statistical categories. HC Gary Patterson lives for games like this one, and he knows that QB Andy Dalton is the man that can get the job done by going on the road and taking care of the Utes. Don't think for one minute that the combination of QB Jordan Wynn, RB Eddie Wide, and RB Matt Asiata are just rolling over and dying, though. Rice Eccles Stadium is one of the more hellacious places to go play in the MWC. Here's the thing, though. Utah has struggled just a bit against some of the better teams on its schedule. Against better teams than that, the Horned Frogs just keep continuing to roll and really haven't had a close call this year. They might get challenged on Saturday afternoon, but when push really comes to shove, TCU is winning this game by two scores.

Free College Football Picks: TCU -4.5
Prediction: TCU 24 – Utah 13

Matchup: North Carolina Tar Heels @ Florida State Seminoles
Date: Saturday, November 6th, 3:30 ET
Location: Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL
Game Line: Florida State -10.5
Over/Under 49

If you really believe that the garnet and gold have the best team on their half of the ACC Atlantic Division, this is the game for you. Florida State is coming home for what should be an emotion tie just a week after getting beaten at the gun in a crushing defeat by the NC State Wolfpack at Carter Finley Stadium on national TV. QB Christian Ponder is going to want to make amends for fumbling on the final drive of the game that could've won it, and the defense is certainly going to want to make up for its three second half touchdowns allowed to the Wolfpack. The Noles haven't even given up that many points in a full game this year at home. North Carolina is a mess right now, and it was lucky to survive against lowly William & Mary last weekend. The Heels are well on their way to another disappointing defeat in the Sunshine State after getting blown away by the Miami Hurricanes two weeks ago.

Free College Football Picks: Florida State -10.5
Prediction: Florida State 31 – North Carolina 16

Matchup: Northwestern Wildcats @ Penn State Nittany Lions
Date: Saturday, November 6th, 3:30 ET
Location: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
Game Line: Penn State -6
Over/Under 48

Don't be overly shocked if this turns out to be a fantastic game in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions and Wildcats are both looking to improve their bowl positioning this year and they are both rock solid clubs. Northwestern has really slipped against the NCAA football odds of late, dropping five in a row. However, the Wildcats still have one of the most consistent dual threat quarterbacks in the Big Ten in QB Dan Persa, and he is figuring out on the job how he can win games in a very tough conference. The Nittany Lions are getting back QB Robert Bolden after his one week absence, and this is going to be one of the more difficult games for the youngster to deal with this year. It feels like every single season, Northwestern has this way of playing really, really tight games against Big Ten teams in games that maybe aren't of the utmost importance, and this sort of feels like one of those games. Fortunately, unlike last week against the Indiana Hoosiers, we don't have to pick a winner. We just need the Cats to stay close to stick in front of the number.

Free College Football Picks: Northwestern +6
Prediction: Penn State 28 – Northwestern 24

Matchup: Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Iowa State Cyclones
Date: Saturday, November 6th, 3:30 ET
Location: Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA
Game Line: Iowa State +17.5
Over/Under 57.5

Here's the million dollar question in this NCAA football betting affair: Which Iowa State team is going to show up? Is the one going to take the field that was absolutely blown to bits by both the Utah Utes and Oklahoma Sooners in back to back weeks, or will the ISU that went on the road and beat the Texas Longhorns and smashed both the Kansas Jayhawks and Texas Tech Red Raiders be on the gridiron? It's not totally inconceivable to think that the Cyclones could still win the Big XII North, but obviously, this is a must win game. The Huskers are probably in no mood to screw around after finally making themselves the only team in this conference that really controlled their own destiny last week when they beat the Missouri Tigers. Still, we know that RB Roy Helu isn't rushing for 300 yards again this week, and we aren't so sure how healthy QB Taylor Martinez really is. On top of that, this is a ton of points to be giving a home team in a conference tussle, especially one that has the caliber enough to go bowling this year.

Free College Football Picks: Iowa State +17.5
Prediction: Nebraska 31 – Iowa State 20

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October 21st, 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 8 of college football betting action!

Underdog Pick #1: North Carolina Tar Heels (+210 at Diamond Sportsbook) @ Miami Hurricanes, Saturday, 7:30 ET: Miami needs to be very, very careful in this game, or it will get picked off and be finished in the ACC Coastal Division this year. The Canes have never really had much success against North Carolina, going just 2-4 SU and 0-5-1 ATS in six tries since joining the ACC. The Tar Heels are very quietly one of the best ATS teams in the nation this year, and all of a sudden, four straight foes, some of which have relatively potent offensive units, have been kept in the teens in scoring. In those games, North Carolina is 4-0 SU and ATS. Miami really slacked off last week against the Duke Blue Devils, which is the only game that we have to work with after the debilitating loss against the Florida State Seminoles two weeks ago. This is a bad, bad spot for "The U," even at home, and with HC Randy Shannon not really having much in the way of a reputation for getting his team up after it has been eliminated from National Championship contention, we think that this is an absolutely fantastic price on the men from Tobacco Road.

Underdog Pick #2: Kansas Jayhawks (+400 at Diamond Sportsbook) vs. Texas A&M Aggies, Saturday 7:00 ET: We tend to think that the Aggies are a train wreck waiting to happen right now. QB Jerrod Johnson has had some iffy game over the last few weeks, and we tend to believe that he might be in for a disastrous outing in this one. This looks way too much like the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, when the Jayhawks came out of nowhere to pull off an outright upset. This is historically a relatively close series, and HC Turner Gill has a crew that badly needs to get back in the saddle after losing 59-7 and 55-7 in their last two games. A&M hasn't won in four tries, and this could potentially be a disaster waiting to happen. Go big or go home, right? We'll take Rock Chalk to make matters worse for HC Mike Sherman and company on Saturday.

Underdog Pick #3: Washington Huskies (+210 at Diamond Sportsbook) @ Arizona Wildcats, Saturday, 10:15 ET: Arizona is going to be debuting a new QB this week in either Matt Scott or Bryson Beirne, and both are likely to take snaps against the Huskies. U-Dub knows who its quarterback is, and QB Jake Locker is still on the rebound from that awful game he had against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Don't kid yourself: The Huskies are legit. This is a team that can be the Oregon Ducks and win the Pac-10 this year if given the opportunity and the chips fall properly. We aren't so sure that this line is right even if QB Nick Foles didn't injure he knee. With Foles not in the fold, we tend to believe that the Huskies should be favored. You betcha we're backing them to win this game at least one out of three times!

Underdog Pick #4: Tennessee Volunteers (+500 at Diamond Sportsbook) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide, Saturday, 7:00 ET: Remember when we backed Tennessee playing in the Bayou against the LSU Tigers and came up that one play short of a very similar upset? The Tide need to be very careful once again, as we think they are absolute in the danger zone to get knocked out of the BCS National Championship picture. This is the third straight week in which Alabama is taking on a foe coming off of a bye week, and the last time that it played a game like that on the road, the South Carolina Gamecocks picked it off. This isn't quite the same team, but it isn't quite the same setting either. Rocky Top at night is a horror to go play at for the opposition. Yes, the Vols were blown out at night by the Oregon Ducks, but this is a totally different scenario in a conference battle. Tennessee fell just short last year, winning 12-10 in Tuscaloosa, and we absolutely think that it is taking this tussle at least one out of five times, especially knowing how horrendously tired the Crimson Tide must be of playing tough teams.

Underdog Pick #5: LSU Tigers (+180 at Diamond Sportsbook) @ Auburn Tigers, Saturday, 3:30 ET: The marquee game of the day is going to be one of the big upsets of the weekend as well. The Bayou Bengals just have a fantastic setup in this one. Their defense is speedy enough to take care of the X-Factor with QB Cam Newton, something that the defense of the Arkansas Razorbacks didn't have. Their offense has the right tools with the short passing game and hardnosed running game to really frustrate the Auburn defense. The scheduling spot is just perfect as well. LSU had its letdown game from when it beat the Florida Gators already, as it struggled with McNeese State at times. Auburn is just coming off the biggest win of the year, and it came in a game that was significantly closer and significantly tougher than the final score suggests. These Tigers have had a ton of lives this year already, squeaking out wins against the Clemson Tigers, South Carolina Gamecocks, Kentucky Wildcats, and now the Hogs as well. At some point, luck is going to run out at Jordan Hare Stadium. That luck runs out on Saturday.

Underdog Pick #6: Utah State Aggies (+140 at Diamond Sportsbook) vs. Hawaii Warriors, Saturday, 5:00 ET: We were just going to leave it at five underdog plays this week, but this one might be the best spot of the bunch. The Aggies are in a perfect spot, just like LSU is in this weekend. They are coming off of a bye week and are welcoming in Hawaii, which just came off of its biggest win of the season against the Nevada Wolf Pack. Yes, this offense can sling the ball all over the field, and yes, it will get its scores, but if you remember properly, this was also an offense that was really screwed up by the Colorado Buffaloes' defense on the road earlier this season. We've said it time and time again. Hawaii just isn't cut out to play games away from the Big Island. Utah State knows that this is the last gasp if a bowl game is in its future, and we thoroughly expect, just like we saw against the BYU Cougars in primetime football a few weeks ago, that the Aggies are going to come out firing on all cylinders and take down a very unsuspecting bunch of Warriors.

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

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Matchup: Florida Gators @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Date: Saturday, October 2nd, 8:00 ET
Location: Bryant Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL
Game Line: Alabama -8.5
Over/Under 48

This is the game that everyone has been waiting for this year. The winner of the Alabama/Florida battle has played for the BCS Championship in each of the last two seasons, and this year very well might not be an exception either. The Gators enter this one with a defense that is probably significantly underrated. There aren't many teams in the land that can say that they have held four teams, all of FBS quality to 17 points or less. RB Jeff Demps has been knocked up just a tad, but that is probably because he has been called upon too many times this year. Still, this is a man with lightning quick speed that can bust a game open in a heartbeat. Watch out for QB/WR/RB Trey Burton, who comes in on the goal line to run the old QB Tim Tebow playbook. QB John Brantley might not be capable, but Burton already has seven scores on the year on the ground and one through the air. As for Brantley, he is improving as his center Mike Pouncey is improving. He has thrown for 700 yards with six scores and a pick this year. However, stopping the Tide is going to be a totally different challenge. RB Mark Ingram is averaging over 150 yards per game on the ground since coming back to the lineup, while QB Greg McElroy still hasn't lost a game at this level. He came up big last week, throwing for 194 yards in the comeback win against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Still, when push comes to shove, we think that we've seen every trick in HC Nick Saban's book. We certainly haven't seen it all out of HC Urban Meyer as of yet. This could be a mighty interesting game, and we want as many points as we can in this NCAA football showdown.

Free College Football Picks: Florida +8.5
Prediction: Florida 24 – Alabama 23

Matchup: Stanford Cardinal @ Oregon Ducks
Date: Saturday, October 2nd, 8:00 ET
Location: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR
Game Line: Oregon -6.5
Over/Under 66

These two Top 10 teams could both be in the running both for the Rose Bowl and for the National Championship, and both are clearly at the top of their game right now. The Quack Attack might have the best offense in the land, and RB LaMichael James might be reintroducing himself to the world on Saturday night. James has rushed for 475 yards this year, which is saying something considering the fact that he was suspended for the first game of the year. This is an offense which has put at least 42 points on the board in all four meetings. Of course, save that 31 points against Arizona State last week, the 'D' had only allowed 13 total points as well. It's not like Stanford has slacked, though. In two home games, the Cardinal have a combined margin of victory of 120-41. On the road, it is 72-14. QB Andrew Luck might be making himself a Heisman Trophy contender. He'll get over the 1,000 yard mark for the year on Saturday, and he'll hopefully add to his 11 TDs on the season. The problem that Luck has is that no one will be watching this game, since they'll all be watching Alabama play Florida. The good news for Luck, though? He'll be leading a tremendous upset at Autzen Stadium.

Free College Football Picks: Stanford +6.5
Prediction: Stanford 38 – Oregon 34

Matchup: Washington Huskies @ USC Trojans
Date: Saturday, October 2nd, 8:00 ET
Location: Los Angeles Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
Game Line: USC -10
Over/Under 60.5

If there is one game that the Trojans should be getting up for this year, this is it. The Huskies embarrassed USC last year, and considering the fact that there isn't a bowl game to look forward to, an immense heaping of payback would be the sweetest recourse. U-Dub has a lot of troubles right now. The Huskies need to get a much better game out of QB Jake Locker, and Locker needs to have the big game as well, not just for his team, but for his NFL Draft stock as well. It feels like centuries ago, but two weeks ago when Locker ran up against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, he only went 4-for-20 through the air. QB Matt Barkley has already thrown for 12 TDs and 941 yards this year, and he is clearly showing that he wants to lead this team. The last time that Washington came to LA, the Men of Troy won 56-0. It might not be that bad in the end, but when push comes to shove, even a victory by 11 points is as good as one by 50. Back the Trojans on Saturday night.

Free College Football Picks: USC -10
Prediction: USC 34 – Washington 17

Matchup: Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Boston College Eagles
Date: Saturday, October 2nd, 8:00 ET
Location: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MA
Game Line: Boston College +2.5
Over/Under 46

The two Catholic schools that are bitter rivals in on the collegiate gridiron will duke it out on Saturday night. The Eagles and Fighting Irish really don't like each other, and that really takes away the fact that neither of these teams are heading anywhere in particular this year. Notre Dame badly needs a win to get going, or HC Brian Kelly might be finding himself out on the streets very, very soon in his first year. QB Dayne Crist has thrown for 1,155 yards and eight scores this year, which is a far cry from what anyone on Boston College has been capable of doing this year. The Eagles are coming off of a pathetic offensive performance that they have had in quite some time in the form of a 19-0 loss to the Virginia Tech Hokies. This is an interesting battle between teams that could blow up and could fizzle out. BC has covered three of the L/4 in this series, but this seems to be too important of a game for the Fighting Irish to lose. We've been losing with the Golden Domers quite a bit, but we still think this is a team that is underrated and is worthy of backing.

Free College Football Picks: Notre Dame -2.5
Prediction: Notre Dame 27 – Boston College 20

Matchup: Penn State Nittany Lions @ Iowa Hawkeyes
Date: Saturday, October 2nd, 8:05 ET
Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Game Line: Iowa -7
Over/Under 40.5

This is a very interesting tussle between two teams that don't like each other, and no one is really talking about it. The Hawkeyes just seem to have Penn State's number, and HC Joe Paterno knows that this is going to be a very, very difficult task. His freshman QB Robert Bolden is trying his best this year, but he is only completing 60.2 percent of his passes for 823 yards with three scores and five picks. Last week was the resurgence of RB Evan Royster, who finally had his first 100 yard rushing game against the Temple Owls. However, Iowa is still upset about that loss to the Arizona Wildcats two weeks ago. The Hawkeyes still have to have the ability to win the BCS Championship, but they have a lot of work to do and need to get quite a bit of help in doing so. QB Ricky Stanzi has thrown for 999 yards and has nine scores and a pick, but the Hawkeyes' 'D' has been the key. Save allowing 34 to Arizona, the defense has only allowed a total of 14 points in three games. Go with the Hawkeyes and lay the tuddy.

Free College Football Picks: Iowa -7
Prediction: Iowa 21 – Iowa State 7

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September 17th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Arkansas Razorbacks @ Georgia Bulldogs (-2.5)
Saturday, September 18th
12:00 ET, Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA

Last week, UGA was in the familiar position of being a road team that was an underdog to an unranked home team. That always seems like a recipe for disaster for the ranked foe. Is this week an exception? The roles are reversed now, as Georgia seems to be the team in control while playing Between the Hedges. One thing is for certain, and that's that it is going to take a big, big effort to stop QB Ryan Mallett and the Arkansas offense. The Hogs have accounted for well over 350 passing yards per game in their first two efforts, and it is going to be up to Georgia to figure out how to stop it. The running game must be key for the Dawgs in this one, as it will both key HC Bobby Petrino's team off the field and could help take the pressure off of freshman QB Aaron Murray. Go with HC Mark Richt to figure it out and put his Bulldogs back in the win column and potentially back in the Top 25.

Prediction: Georgia 27 – Arkansas 24
Maryland Terrapins (+10.5) @ West Virginia Mountaineers
Saturday, September 18th
12:00 ET, Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV

Until QB Geno Smith really takes this team over and gets this Mountaineers offense rolling, we are going to remain skeptical of WVU. Simply put, the 'Neers haven't been that impressive this year, particularly in their overtime escape from the Marshall Thundering Herd last week. Now, a game Terrapins squad comes to Morgantown full of confidence from a good upset at the Navy Midshipmen and a rock solid 62-3 win over the Morgan State Bears. The offense knows it can roll. The defense knows it can stop opponents. The question is whether it can all come together again. This two QB system is going to be a nightmare to try to stop for the Mountaineers' 'D', especially when QB Jamarr Robinson hits the outside with his legs. There are three legitimate rushing threats in this game for the Terps. However, when push comes to shove, the best option is going to be RB Noel Devine. As long as West Virginia doesn't get away from Devine, it should find a way to win this game, but it is going to be touch and go throughout just like the OT win last week.

Prediction: West Virginia 24 – Maryland 16
Kent State Golden Flashes (+21) @ Penn State Nittany Lions
Saturday, September 18th
12:00 ET, Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA

Happy Valley should be rocking and rolling on Saturday afternoon for the visit from the Kent State Golden Flashes. HC Joe Paterno's crew probably can't really hold its head high after getting rocked by the Alabama Crimson Tide last week, but we know that there is better for this team on the horizon. Our questions actually don't resolve around the offense, because we are convinced that QB Robert Bolden is going to make some plays and make some mistakes. The question is whether the defense can keep the Flashes in single digits in scoring or not. We tend to believe not. Kent State's QB Spencer Keith is good enough to bring his team into the end zone at least twice, and if that's the case, a defense that has been stingy this year should be able to find a way to keep a true frosh from putting up enough points to cover this lofty NCAA football spread.

Prediction: Penn State 31 – Kent State 14
East Carolina Pirates @ Virginia Tech Hokies (-20.5)
Saturday, September 18th
1:30 ET, Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA

Are we certifiably insane to want to back a team that has already been beaten twice this year, once by an FCS foe? The truth of the matter is that the Hokies are significantly better than they have played so far this year. The James Madison Dukes snuck up on them and caught them napping for about 15 minutes of football, and it ultimately bit them in the rear to the point that they will not stand a chance of winning the National Championship anymore. However, head coach Frank Beamer is one of the best in the nation. He also has certainly been telling his boys all week just how dangerous this ECU squad is; after all, the Pirates did beat the Hokies two years ago and nearly beat them in the first game back after the shootings in Blacksburg four years ago. ECU has played above itself this year, and QB Dominique Davis probably isn't all that great. An angry bunch of Hokies should come into this one motivated, and we'd be very, very surprised to see either side of the ball really struggle in what should be a very easy victory.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 38 – East Carolina 7
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Duke Blue Devils (+24.5)
Saturday, September 18th
3:30 ET, Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, NC

The Crimson Tide take to the road for the first time this year in what should amount to be a relatively easy home game against the Duke Blue Devils. However, let's not discount the fact that this really could be the best offensive team that the defending national champs have seen this year. That's right. We said it. Duke might have a better offense than the Penn State Nittany Lions. The Blue Devils are led by QB Sean Renfree, who has reached the 350+ yard passing mark in both of his games this year. Though we are certain that he won't reach that plateau once again on Saturday, even throwing for 250 should be able to put a few points on the board. RB Mark Ingram is back, which is probably going to put a tad extra weight on the running game for Alabama. Will that translate into a four TD victory? We tend to believe not. HC David Cutcliffe has the Dookies playing about as well right now as they have played in the last 20 years. They're going to win a game like this at some point. This won't be the one, but even staying remotely competitive and making the Tide play the full 60 minutes is a legitimate possibility.

Prediction: Alabama 41 – Duke 24
Nebraska Cornhuskers (-3.5) @ Washington Huskies
Saturday, September 18th
3:30 ET, Husky Field, Seattle, WA

Let's get two things straight right away. First off, the Huskies' loss to the BYU Cougars two weeks ago might ultimately look like a very bad one really soon, as the Cougs could very well by a five or a six loss team this year. Secondly, had U-Dub not beaten the USC Trojans last year almost to the date of this kickoff, it wouldn't be anything less than a seven point pup on Saturday. That being said, we know that Nebraska really hasn't played anyone yet this year and hasn't been challenged. We also know that the Huskers haven't played up to their potential, particularly on defense. The Huskies just aren't up to the level of a Top 25 team yet, and though this is a prototypical spot where the underdog feels like it should be the right play due to the fact that this line looks square, we still aren't buying into it. If backing Nebraska makes us donks, then donks we are.

Prediction: Nebraska 27 – Washington 10
Florida Gators @ Tennessee Volunteers (+14)
Saturday, September 18th
3:30 ET, Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

Rocky Top, you'll always be home sweet home to the Volunteers. Tennessee just hasn't played all that well at home over the last four seasons or so, but all of those bitter memories could be erased if the Florida Gators had a big, fat 'L' stamped on their foreheads at the end of the night on Saturday. The Vols are going to need to play the defense of their lives to keep down a Florida offense that has struggled all season long. Without WR/RB Chris Rainey in the lineup, the only real man to fear is RB Jeff Demps. UT has the speed to settle him down, but at any point, Rainey could still go off for 70 yards. It's also going to take a Herculean effort from QB Matt Simms, who will be playing in his first big game of his career. Last week's loss to Oregon needs to be nothing more than a bad memory that is in the past for HC Derek Dooley's boys. Don't be shocked if there is a big time upset on Rocky Top on Saturday afternoon in what should be a very close game the whole way.

Prediction: Tennessee 21 – Florida 20
Arizona State Sun Devils @ Wisconsin Badgers (-12.5)
Saturday, September 18th
3:30 ET, Camp Randall, Madison, WI

Start jumping up and down, Wisconsin fans! Your team is about set to open up its first can of whoop butt on the season. The Badgers are just too strong offensively for the Sun Devils to keep up, even if they are without the services of WR Nick Toon on Saturday. QB Scott Tolzein has really yet to put forth a good effort this year, especially considering the level of opposition that has been faced. The relatively close call against the San Jose State Spartans should provide a wakeup call for Wisky, which really thinks it has a chance to win the National Championship this season. Arizona State is the weakest 2-0 team in the country having beat up on a pair of FCS nobodies to start the season. The Sun Devils are going to be getting a very, very cruel reality check on Saturday that they still aren't going to be a bowl team this year, even if QB Steven Threet has the game of his life.

Prediction: Wisconsin 45 – Arizona State 20
USC Trojans (-11.5) @ Minnesota Golden Gophers
Saturday, September 18th
3:30 ET, Mall of America Field, Minneapolis, MN

The Golden Gophers could have realistically been looking an 0-3 start in the face had it lost to the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders two weeks ago. That game against MTSU should have never been close without QB Dwight Dasher in the lineup, and the proof of just how bad this team is came last week in an embarrassing 41-38 loss to the South Dakota Coyotes of the FCS. We already know that Minnesota's offense isn't good enough to play with the best defenses in America, and USC, at least talent wise could fit the bill. The offense for the Trojans should be to at least match what the Coyotes did last week, right? We know that things have gone well for the Men of Troy this year in spite of the fact that they are indeed 2-0 on the season, but they are going to be able to stomp Minnesota by at least two TDs on Saturday afternoon.

Prediction: USC 41 – Minnesota 21
BYU Cougars @ Florida State Seminoles (-10)
Saturday, September 18th
3:30 ET, Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL

If HC Jimbo Fisher knows what's good for him, he is going to have his Noles ready to come out and stomp the living heck out of the Cougars. Fisher absolutely cannot afford a home loss in this spot just one week after getting beaten by 30 (and it wasn't that close) by the Oklahoma Sooners. A comfortable win can give the garnet and gold nation the feeling that the loss to OU was at least to one of the best teams in the country. A loss to BYU would erase the memories of that good first win against the Samford Bulldogs, as everyone would say that it was just one win against a lousy FCS team. For BYU, a lot is riding on the line as well, as one good performance against a questionable Washington team and a bad performance at a solid Air Force team can get magnified with a defeat. Things can spin out of control in a hurry for the Cougs with another loss, as everyone in the MWC is going to want to keep them down in their last year in the conference. The Seminoles have the goods to dominate this game, just as they did last year in Provo. Expect a very similar outing, especially with BYU now playing with a true freshman at quarterback for at least half the game.

Prediction: Florida State 33 – BYU 17

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July 30th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The 2010 college football betting season is almost here, and here at Cappers Info, we have the inside skinny on the five teams that you should be banking on going 'over' their season win totals and should be trying to cash in with all season long!

South Carolina Gamecocks over 7 wins (even @ Brobury Sports): The Gamecocks are primed to do some damage in the SEC this season. The offense will be led again by QB Stephen Garcia, who struggled somewhat last year, due in part to trouble on the offensive line. However, now with nine starters back on offense, things are looking up. Returning at wide receiver are Alshon Jeffrey and Tori Curley, who averaged 16.6 and 14.2 yards per catch respectively. Running back Kenny Miles also returns. Miles led last year’s team in rushing yards, but scored only once. With a more experienced offensive line, both the ground and passing offenses stand a much better chance. Defensively, the Gamecocks are in great shape. DE Cliff Matthews returns, leading last year’s squad in sacks and earning all-conference honors. The linebackers run deep, with Shaq Wilson leading the way. Senior safety Chris Culliver will lead a strong secondary. As for the schedule, it’s no cakewalk. However, the toughest opponents all come to Columbia, with Georgia and Alabama showing up early in the year. The most challenging road game will be at Florida in November. The Gamecocks could easily see nine wins.

Nevada Wolfpack over 9.5 wins (+105 @ Brobury Sports): The Wolfpack went on an eight game win streak after losing all three of their non-conference games last year. This season, the nation’s top dual threat quarterback Colin Kaepernick returns with plenty of offensive talent. Kaepernick was just one of three 1,000 yard rushers, and running back Vai Taua will rejoin him. The team’s passing attack was lackluster a year ago, but all three leading receivers return, with Brandon Wimberly, Tray Session, and Chris Wellington. On defense, the Wolfpack may finally be on the rise. Last year’s 119th ranked passing defense returns seven starters and a new defensive coordinator in Andy Buh promises a more aggressive scheme. Both cornerbacks are back, and juniors Brandon Marshall and James-Michael Johnson will lead the linebackers. The schedule appears a bit easier than last year’s, with four of five non-conference games being highly winnable. The Wolfpack will travel to Hawaii and Fresno State, in a tough conference schedule, but host Boise State. Ten wins should be this season’s expectation for Nevada.

Florida State Seminoles over 7.5 wins (-140 @ Brobury Sports): The Seminoles are poised to be strong ACC contenders. Returning at quarterback is Heisman hopeful Christian Ponder, who was impressive through nine games before injuring his shoulder. He will have plenty of talented options to work with, starting with a strong group of wide receivers. Bert Reed is expected to become the top target. Strong second and third options exist in Taiwan Easterling and Jarmon Fortson. The ground attack will be led by senior Jermaine Thomas, who was good for nine scores last season. Behind him will be Chris Thompson and Ty Jones. Defensively, the Seminoles are completely retooling. New coordinator Mark Stoops will have to jumpstart a defense which allowed 433.8 yards and 30 points per game last season. Up front, FSU returns three linemen. Two starting linebackers are also back, which should improve the running defense. At cornerback, Ochucko Jenije will make a huge impact on opponents’ passing games. The schedule is favorable, minus a few monstrous games. The Seminoles will travel to Oklahoma in week two, followed by a home contest with BYU. A final week home game against Florida will not be easy. In conference, things aren’t so bad, with the toughest game at Miami.

Washington Huskies over 7 wins (-130 @ Brobury Sports): The Huskies return nine starters on offense, with QB Jake Locker leading the way. Locker’s strengths are twofold; he threw for 21 touchdowns while running for seven last year. Sophomore tailback Chris Polk had one of the best rookie rushing seasons in school history. At wide receiver, the Huskies will rely primarily on Jermaine Kearse, who averaged 17.3 yards per catch last year. Devin Aguilar provides a strong second target. Four starting linemen return, which will be a huge key for this unit’s success. On defense, the Huskies have some questions up front. Due to some injuries, Washington may need to find two new DEs. Mason Foster will lead the linebackers as last season’s interception leader. U-Dub faces a tough non-conference schedule, with an opening week game at BYU and two weeks later hosting Nebraska. In the Pac 10, the Huskies will have to go to Oregon and Arizona. A high powered offense will offset the question marks on defense; Washington could take eight or nine wins easily.

Virginia Tech Hokies over 9.5 wins (-120 @ Brobury Sports): The Hokies are poised to win the ACC this year. Returning at quarterback is Tyrod Taylor, who has shown the ability to throw as well as scramble. The bulk of the ground attack will be led by Ryan Williams and Zac Evans, who is returning from injury. All three top wide receivers return in Jarrett Boykin, Danny Coale, and Dyrell Roberts. Boykin and Coale both averaged over 20 yards per reception in 2009. Defensively, the Hokies also stay strong. Despite just five starters returning, the team has plenty to build around. All three starting linebackers are back, led by Barquell Rivers, who should be back from a leg injury by September. Team interceptions leader Rashad Carmichael returns at cornerback. The Hokies will have little time to gel, as Boise State comes calling in week one. Virginia Tech has a three game losing streak going in week one non-conference games. After that, though, the schedule eases considerably, with only four road games. Their toughest test in the ACC will be at Miami. Expect a ten win season.

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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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February 21st, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

Cappersinfo.com begins its new bi-weekly installment of the Top 10 Teams across all of sports that you should be wagering against religiously.

Teams ranked by Score Coefficient Ranking (SCR), which takes the amount of money earned/lost 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 20 games played to qualify.

1: Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks (College Basketball) (3-19-1 ATS, -$1,790) (SCR: -71.6) The Skyhawks are off the charts miserable against the college basketball betting lines this season. They dropped two more ATS this week to fall to just 3-19-1 on the season. In comparison, last season's worst ATS squad, Fordham, at least went 6-20 ATS.

2: Pepperdine Waves (College Basketball) (6-16-1 ATS, -$1,160) (SCR: -46.4) Pepperdine ran into a "tidal wave" of sorts last week when they faced an angry Gonzaga team off of its loss to Loyola-Marymount. The Waves fell behind 40-19 early and never really found any traction to give them a chance in the second half. Thank goodness that this season is just about over for Pepperdine.

3: Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans (College Basketball) (6-15-2 ATS, -$1,050) (SCR: -42.0) UALR's nightmarish season is fortunately almost over as well. The Trojans were crushed 83-65 at North Texas on Saturday for their fifth straight SU loss (1-4 ATS). They good news is that their only games left in the regular season are at home. The bad news is that they're just 2-5-2 ATS there.

4: Tulsa Golden Hurricane (College Basketball) (7-16-1 ATS, -$1,060) (SCR: -37.9) The Golden Hurricane may have visions of March Madness dancing in its head, but it hasn't treated NCAA basketball betting fans well at all. SU losses to UTEP and Marshall this week dropped Tulsa to 0-9 ATS in its L/9, which has it plummeting towards the top of this list and falling towards the NIT just as quickly.

T-5: Cincinnati Bearcats (College Basketball) (6-14 ATS, -$940) (SCR: -37.6) Same for you, Cincinnati! That win you had at UConn last weekend was the only real thing you've had going for you in quite some time. You're just 4-6 SU and 2-8 ATS in your L/10 games, all in Big East play.

T-5: LaSalle Explorers (College Basketball) (6-14 ATS, -$940) (SCR: -37.6) LaSalle's six-game ATS slide came to an end over the course of the week in a 68-54 loss at Dayton. It feels like this team has alternated good defense efforts and miserable ones for weeks now. Just look at the Explorers' L/5 games… 68 vs. Dayton, 103 vs. Duquesne, 68 vs. St. Louis, 90 vs. Rhode Island, 64 vs. Temple… If the Bonnies are paying attention to this trend, they should be going for at least 80 come Sunday!

7: North Carolina Tar Heels (College Basketball) (8-17 ATS, -$1,070) (SCR: -36.9) The abortion known as the 2009-10 season for the defending national champion UNC Tar Heels took another body blow on Saturday in the form of a 71-67 loss at Boston College. That's 1-6 ATS now in Carolina's L/7 overall.

8: South Alabama Jaguars (College Basketball) (9-17-1 ATS, -$970) (SCR: -34.6) The Jaguars may have that win against Florida earlier this season to fall back on, but lately, things in the Sun Belt have been terrible. South Alabama dropped its two games this week by a combined 57 points. Yikes!

9: Toronto Maple Leafs (Hockey) (27-34 ATS, -$2,760) (SCR: -33.7) It's hard for an NHL or NBA team to crack into this list considering how even the teams are on a nightly basis, but the Maple Leafs got the job done! Toronto is just 2-9 in its L/11 games and allowed at least four goals in six of the 11. The All-Star Break couldn't have come at a better time for this team.

10: Washington Huskies (College Basketball) (9-17 ATS, -$970) (SCR: -33.5) It should come as no surprise that at least one Pac-10 team made an appearance on this list, and it's only fitting that it is a Washington team that was picked to be a big time team out of this conference doing the deed. The Huskies beat the snot out of UCLA this weekend, but that loss to USC as 9.5-point favorites didn't help matters any.

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