Coming off of a above average week of handicapping but solid on top 3 plays going 3-0 with Kansas St., Missouri, and Stanford. This week I don't like as many games but feel as strong about them as last week's top plays.
Thursday Night Game: West Virginia -16 - Syracuse has been horrid away from the Carrier Dome this year. They have been competitive at home but seem overwhelmed on the road. WV still reeling a bit from loss to VA Tech a couple weeks back but looking to get solid with pollsters on National TV with blowout of overmatched Orangemen.
West Virginia 41 Syracuse 10
Kansas +27 - Jayhawks are better than most know and are coming off a bye week in preparing for Sooners. Sooners in a sandwich game here with Cowboys on horizon in Stillwater next week. Jayhawks are solid on offense and should be able to be as competitive as Wildcats were as they are even more potent on offense than K State but take better care of the ball.
Oklahoma 31 Kansas 17
Missouri -2.5 - Tigers are money at home under Gary Pinkel and can't afford to slip up here with a trip to Lincoln on the horizon which will probably be for Big 12 North Title. Smith is a similar quarterback to Mcneil who gave Cowboys defense fits last week and is probably even better. Difference in this game is Tigers defense who is stout against the run and will hold down Morency and Woods.
Missouri 28 Oklahoma St. 17
Florida -24 - Gators have too much talent on both sides of the ball for Bulldogs. Even if they bring their C game and turnover the ball, Bulldogs are so weak on offense that they will not be able to capitalize. I look for Florida to tune up their running game in this one to get ready for another set of Bulldogs upcoming in Jacksonville.
Florida 45 Mississippi St. 10
Wake Forest +14 - Florida St. coming off of a big win over Virginia goes back on the road where they have been very ordinary. Wake Forest has once again surprised and been very competitive all year long. I look for nothing different here as Seminoles need to be on upset alert in Winston Salem.
Florida St. 27 Wake Forest 20
Nebraska +5.5- Huskers need a win here to set up showdown with Missouri next week. I see a high scoring affair with difference being Wildcats special teams turnovers. Callahan looking for big road win gets one here but barely.
Nebraska 41 Kansas St. 38
Purdue -4 - Boilers have to be really angry over losing the game with Badgers in last 3 minutes. I expect Orton and company to take it out on young Michigan team to stay in the Big 10 race.
Purdue 31 Michigan 20
Stanford -4 - Ducks are not that good of a team especially on the road. Cardinals go back to the friendly confines where they have played like a Top 10 team. Oregon will have to have their A game to stay close in this one. They won't have it.
Stanford 38 Oregon 14
Alabama +7.5 - Tide's running game and stout defense should allow them to stay close in this rivalry game. I look for a late score by Vols to win but barely in a low scoring affair.
Tennessee 21 Alabama 17
Fresno St. +12- Boise St. has been sleepwalking to this game and so has Bulldogs. I like Hill in a big game situation and feel they can exploit the weaknesses of Boise defense. I will go with the better defense in this one.
Fresno St. 27 Boise St. 24
That is it for now though may add some periodically during the week.
Thursday Night Game: West Virginia -16 - Syracuse has been horrid away from the Carrier Dome this year. They have been competitive at home but seem overwhelmed on the road. WV still reeling a bit from loss to VA Tech a couple weeks back but looking to get solid with pollsters on National TV with blowout of overmatched Orangemen.
West Virginia 41 Syracuse 10
Kansas +27 - Jayhawks are better than most know and are coming off a bye week in preparing for Sooners. Sooners in a sandwich game here with Cowboys on horizon in Stillwater next week. Jayhawks are solid on offense and should be able to be as competitive as Wildcats were as they are even more potent on offense than K State but take better care of the ball.
Oklahoma 31 Kansas 17
Missouri -2.5 - Tigers are money at home under Gary Pinkel and can't afford to slip up here with a trip to Lincoln on the horizon which will probably be for Big 12 North Title. Smith is a similar quarterback to Mcneil who gave Cowboys defense fits last week and is probably even better. Difference in this game is Tigers defense who is stout against the run and will hold down Morency and Woods.
Missouri 28 Oklahoma St. 17
Florida -24 - Gators have too much talent on both sides of the ball for Bulldogs. Even if they bring their C game and turnover the ball, Bulldogs are so weak on offense that they will not be able to capitalize. I look for Florida to tune up their running game in this one to get ready for another set of Bulldogs upcoming in Jacksonville.
Florida 45 Mississippi St. 10
Wake Forest +14 - Florida St. coming off of a big win over Virginia goes back on the road where they have been very ordinary. Wake Forest has once again surprised and been very competitive all year long. I look for nothing different here as Seminoles need to be on upset alert in Winston Salem.
Florida St. 27 Wake Forest 20
Nebraska +5.5- Huskers need a win here to set up showdown with Missouri next week. I see a high scoring affair with difference being Wildcats special teams turnovers. Callahan looking for big road win gets one here but barely.
Nebraska 41 Kansas St. 38
Purdue -4 - Boilers have to be really angry over losing the game with Badgers in last 3 minutes. I expect Orton and company to take it out on young Michigan team to stay in the Big 10 race.
Purdue 31 Michigan 20
Stanford -4 - Ducks are not that good of a team especially on the road. Cardinals go back to the friendly confines where they have played like a Top 10 team. Oregon will have to have their A game to stay close in this one. They won't have it.
Stanford 38 Oregon 14
Alabama +7.5 - Tide's running game and stout defense should allow them to stay close in this rivalry game. I look for a late score by Vols to win but barely in a low scoring affair.
Tennessee 21 Alabama 17
Fresno St. +12- Boise St. has been sleepwalking to this game and so has Bulldogs. I like Hill in a big game situation and feel they can exploit the weaknesses of Boise defense. I will go with the better defense in this one.
Fresno St. 27 Boise St. 24
That is it for now though may add some periodically during the week.
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