College Football
Feature Picks
Archives
11/16/10-11/20/10

Friday, November 19
BOISE STATE (-30) by 32.71 over Fresno State - The computer is 9-0 SU, 7-2 ATS with Broncos games this year. It's 6-3, 4-4 with the Bulldogs. Boise State has won 6 games this year by 35 or more points, including a 42-7 win over Hawaii. Fresno State lost to Hawaii 49-27.
Boise State won 51-0. The computer won SU, won ATS.

Saturday, November 20
Arkansas (-5) by 6.51 over MISSISSIPPI STATE - The Bulldogs are beset with the nation's 79th-best pass defense which may not bode well at all against Arkansas' No. 3 pass offense. Overall, the Razorbacks rank 7th offensively while Mississippi State ranks 43rd defensively. Meanwhile, Arkansas' 31st-ranked defense goes against the Bulldogs' 64th-ranked offense.
Arkansas won 38-31 in 2 OT. The computer won SU, won ATS.

Clemson (-14.5) by 15.29 over WAKE FOREST - Wake has lost five games this year by at least 31 points. The computer is 9-1 SU, 5-4 ATS with the Tigers. It's 10-0, 4-5 with the Demon Deacons. Clemson needs 1 more win to become bowl eligible and hosts South Carolina next week.
Clemson won 30-10. The computer won SU, won ATS.

GEORGIA TECH (-9) by 17.08 over Duke - Duke ranks 11th in the ACC in rushing while Georgia Tech ranks last in the league, by far, in passing. The Blue Devils rank 10th in rushing defense while the Yellow Jackets rank 4th in pass defense. The computer is 7-2 ATS with the Ramblin' Wreck but just 2-7 with the Dukies. Georgia Tech needs 1 more win to become bowl eligible.
Georgia Tech won 30-20. The computer won SU, won ATS.

TEXAS (-21) by 25.10 over Fau - FAU has lost by 21 at Arkansas State and 28 at USF. Surely, the Longhorns can beat an average Sun Belt team by more than 21, and they better or they have no chance of becoming bowl eligible. It doesn't help to look at stats as they team are nowhere near the same level in competition. Texas has faced the nation's 15th-toughest schedule while the Owls have played the No. 110 schedule.
Texas won 51-17. The computer won SU, won ATS.

Florida State (-3) by 5.66 over MARYLAND - Florida State enjoys a slim statistical advantage but a huge historical edge as the 'Noles have won 18 of the 20 games ever played in the series. Both losses, however, did come at Maryland in '04 and '06 and the Terps are hosting this game. The computer is 5-4 ATS with both teams.
Florida State won 30-16. The computer won SU, won ATS.

Oklahoma State (-18) by 21.28 over KANSAS - Really? Just 18 for the Vegas spread? The Cowboys top the Big 12 in passing offense and the Jayhawks rank 8th defensively. Even worse Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden tops the nation in passing, Justin Blackmon is 1st in receiving and Kendall Hunter is 4th in rushing. Kansas has lost at home to Kansas State by 52 and Texas A&M by 35.
Oklahoma State won 48-14. The computer won SU, won ATS.

Nebraska (-2.5) by 3.31 over TEXAS A&M - The computer is 9-1 SU, 8-1 ATS with the Cornhuskers. Otherwise, this pick scares me.
Texas A&M won 9-6. The computer lost SU, lost ATS.

Wisconsin (-7) by 10.89 over MICHIGAN - Denard Robinson has become inconsistent and turnover-proned, slowing Michigan's best offensive threat. Wisconsin ranks 3rd in the Big 10 on both sides of the ball. Michigan ranks 1st in offense, but last in defense.
Wisconsin won 48-28. The computer won SU, won ATS.

Tennessee (-9.5) by 10.77 over VANDERBILT - Tennessee picked up its first SEC win under head coach Derek Dooley with last week's 52-14 thumping of Ole Miss. Vanderbilt heads to Knoxville for this state rivalry game riding a 5-game streak of losses that were all by 14 points or more in which it has been outscored by a cumulative 206-55.
Tennessee won 24-10. The computer won SU, won ATS.

Saturday, November 20
Stanford (-8) by 4.28 over CALIFORNIA - Cal is 4-1 at home and may have upset Oregon last week if the field goal kicker had not been called for moving prior to the snap of what would have been his go-ahead field goal. After a 5-yard penalty was assessed, he missed the re-try. The computer is 8-2 SU, 7-2 ATS with Cal. It is 10-0 ATS with Stanford, but just 4-5 ATS. The rivalry that began in 1892 and Stanford leads the series 50-44-10. However, Cal has won the last two meetings and 7 of the last 8.
Stanford won 48-14. The computer won SU, lost ATS.

CINCINNATI (-11) by 5.10 over Rutgers - 7 of Rutgers' 8 FBS games have been decided by 5 points or less and Cincinnati's only Big East win was by 8 points at Louisville five weeks ago.
Cincinnati won 69-38. The computer won SU, lost ATS.

East Carolina (-13) by 7.99 over RICE - Rice has fared much better at home in CUSA games with a 3-point win over Houston and an 11-point loss to SMU.
Rice won 62-38. The computer lost SU, won ATS.

Fiu (-7) by 0.58 over LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE - FIU is 1-5 overall vs. Louisiana and 0-3 at Lafayette. The Ragin' Cajuns have been struggling mightily, but the computer is 7-2 ATS with FIU and 7-3 with UL-L.
FIU won 38-17. The computer won SU, lost ATS.

SOUTHERN MISS (-7) by 0.06 over Houston - Southern Miss has lost 2 of its 3 CUSA home games by 1 point, including a 50-49 overtime setback to UAB. This may be Houston's best chance to become bowl eligible as it closes the season at Texas Tech next week. The Eagles are dealing with the horror of 3 players being shot early Sunday morning outside a Hattiesburg nightclub. Martez Smith, Tim Green and Deddrick Jones remained in the hospital as of Wednesday, and Smith is paralyzed from the waist down.
Southern MIss won 59-41. The computer won SU, lost ATS.

WESTERN MICHIGAN (-9) by 4.42 over Kent State - Each team is 4-6 overall, 3-3 in the MAC. The Broncos' only home wins have come against FCS member Nicholls State and MAC doormat Eastern Michigan.
Western Michigan won 38-3. The computer won SU, lost ATS.

Thursday, November 18
Ucla by 2 over WASHINGTON (-3) - The computer is 6-3 SU with Washington and 5-4 with UCLA. The Huskies are bad on defense and inconsistent on offense. The Bruins are consistently below average-to-bad on defense and have no offense.
Washington won 24-7. The computer lost SU, lost ATS.

Saturday, November 20
UConn by 2.25 over SYRACUSE (-4.5) - It makes very little sense. The Huskies lose to Rutgers and Louisville, albeit on the road, then return home to score consecutive upsets of Pitt and West Virginia. UConn features the nation's 2nd-leading rusher in Jordan Todman who is averaging 147 yards per game, though the Huskies rank only 87th nationally on offense. Syracuse, however, ranks 97th in that category. On the defensive side of the ball, UConn ranks 56th while the 'Cuse ranks 8th.
UConn won 23-6. The computer won SU, won ATS.

Idaho by 0.07 over UTAH STATE (-4) - The computer is 8-2 SU with both Utah State and Idaho which rank 101 and 102, respectively, on defense. The Aggies have won the last three meetings in the series.
Idaho won 28-6. The computer won SU, won ATS.

Northwestern by 1.21 over Illinois (-5) - (at Wrigley Field, Chicago) The Wildcats have won 6 of the last 7 meetings. The computer is 7-3 SU with Northwestern and 8-2 with the Illini.
Illinois won 48-27. The computer lost SU, lost ATS.

North Texas by 1.91 over LOUISIANA-MONROE (-2.5) - The computer is 8-2 SU with UL-Monroe but just 5-5 with UNT. Interim head coach Mike Canales is 2-1 for the Mean Green since taking over for the fired Todd Dodge.
Louisiana-Monroe won 49-37. The computer lost SU, lost ATS.

OREGON STATE by 2.49 over Usc (-3) - The Beavers have slipped to 4-5 overall and have games coming up against Stanford and Oregon after this week's home game with the Trojans. USC has played five games that were decided by 3 points or less. The computer is 7-3 with the Trojans and 5-4 with Oregon State.
Oregon State won 36-7. The computer won SU, won ATS.