Well I am ready to beat the spread this week with 10 outstanding picks that are sure to make everyone happy. Just to recap last weekend, I finished 13 - 7 on the top twenty games and 31 - 19 on the best 50 games. I was really let down by some very lethargic performances (Florida, NC St, Ole Miss, and TTU) but such is the life of those of us following college football played by 19 - 22 year old young men. Oh well, here we go with renewed enthusiasm for a new slate of contests.
Home Team in CAPS
1. Miami getting 1/2 from VIRGINIA
Al Golden has them rolling along with an eye on the ACC Championship game, making a bowl game, the defense is playing much better and the offense has stopped turning it over.
2. Pitt over UCONN by 3 1/2
Tino Sunseri is on fire. Over the last 7 games he has completed over 70% of his passes with only 1 int. Ray Graham appears to be back at 100% based on his game against Notre Dame. UConn doesn't score much and is winless in the Big East.
3. ARKANSAS ST over La. Monroe by 6 1/2
Colton Browning (QB for La. Monroe) is injured and is questionable for the game on Thursday night. Without this playmaker on offense, I don't think the Warhawks can keep up with Gus Malzahn's high flying scoring machine.
4. Minnesota over ILLINOIS by 3 1/2
There is a certain attitude within the Golden Gopher program that is that of a winner. The Illini do not have that same winning approach. I believe this will be a close game with the visiting team taking the game by 7.
5. Oregon over CAL by 27 1/2
I know that 27 1/2 is a lot of points and Oregon is due for a let down and Cal has played them tough over the last several years. But the CAL team is really beat up with injuries, their coach is on the hot seat, and they are all but eliminated from bowl invitation possibilities. Then throw on top of that the fact that Oregon is looking for style points and they are just flat out good, I think they will cover.
6. CLEMSON over Maryland by 30 1/2
Well if you think 27 1/2 is a lot to cover this will might scare you a little. But don't worry too much, I just heard that Maryland is starting the hot-dog vendor at QB this week and the woeful performance last week of the freshman middle linebacker. They only scored 13 against a weak Georgia Tech defense. The tiger defense is much better than GT. We all know that Clemson will run it up at home on anybody.
7. Marshall over UAB by 2 1/2
This is one of those gotta feeling games. Marshall has been high flying of late and UAB just had some measure of success over So. Miss coming from behind to win 26 - 19. So the pressure is off to win a conference game and I believe they will return to the losing ways.
8. SMU over So. Miss by 12 1/2
SMU averages 35 ppg on offense while So. Miss gives up 40 ppg. So. Miss scores 20 ppg and SMU gives up 25. Those numbers tell me the spread will be covered. Then add in the fact that SMU is 4 - 1 ATS at home and So Miss is 1 - 3 ATS on the road, this is one of my locks.
9. Fresno St over NEVADA by 2 1/2
Both teams are scoring a lot of points and Fresno St is leading the conference so momentum is on their side. They are 4-1 ATS on the road while Nevada is 0 -4 ATS at home. Look for a 10+ point win for Fresno.
10. NEBRASKA over Penn St. by 6 1/2
Taylor Martinez is playing much better and taking care of the ball. The Cornhuskers play very good pass defense that will slow down the Penn St offense significantly. Penn St does not run the ball very well at all and this could leave their defense on the field too much making this a 4th quarter game where Nebraska wins by two TD's.
Other games I like
Tulane over MEMPHIS by 1 1/2
LSU over Miss St by 13 1/2
NO. CAROLINA over Ga Tech by 9 1/2
La. Tech over TEXAS ST by 19 1/2
San Jose St over NEW MEXICO ST by 22 1/2
OKLAHOMA over Baylor by 20 1/2
ucla over WASH ST by 14 1/2
ALABAMA over Texas A & M by 13 1/2
NEW MEXICO getting 1/2 from Wyoming
So Alabama getting 9 1/2 from NORTH TEXAS
Look for updates later this week as I get more research done.
Good luck and may the spread be with you,
Coach Bourque
