TRACE ADAMS
Comp play winner for Saturday is Wisconsin to blow-out New Mexico at Camp Randall Stadium.
This is the second of three in a row at home for the Badgers who didn't exactly "crank up the offense" in last week's 34-3 win, but non-cover over Western Kentucky.
New Mexico was a 62-30 winner over someone named Incarnate Word last week in their season opener, but they did so by allowing well over 500 yards of total offense to the visitors. That could well be trouble with Johnathan Taylor always a threat to "take it to the house" anytime he touches the football.
The Badgers do own a money-making 10-5-1 against the spread ledger when laying double-digits under 4th year head coach Paul Chryst. and they are 20-10-1 overall against the spread since late in 2015. Meanwhile, Bob Davie's Lobos are just 5-7 their last dozen road games versus the math.
With a sneaky-good BYU team paying a visit to Madison next weekend, expect the Badgers to find their form this weekend after not covering the big impost last weekend.
Bucky Badger rolls the Wolves.
3* WISCONSIN
Comp play winner for Saturday is Wisconsin to blow-out New Mexico at Camp Randall Stadium.
This is the second of three in a row at home for the Badgers who didn't exactly "crank up the offense" in last week's 34-3 win, but non-cover over Western Kentucky.
New Mexico was a 62-30 winner over someone named Incarnate Word last week in their season opener, but they did so by allowing well over 500 yards of total offense to the visitors. That could well be trouble with Johnathan Taylor always a threat to "take it to the house" anytime he touches the football.
The Badgers do own a money-making 10-5-1 against the spread ledger when laying double-digits under 4th year head coach Paul Chryst. and they are 20-10-1 overall against the spread since late in 2015. Meanwhile, Bob Davie's Lobos are just 5-7 their last dozen road games versus the math.
With a sneaky-good BYU team paying a visit to Madison next weekend, expect the Badgers to find their form this weekend after not covering the big impost last weekend.
Bucky Badger rolls the Wolves.
3* WISCONSIN
CHRIS JORDAN
This week you get Duke as my free winner.
On the heels of last week's win over the Black Knights, Duke has won 23 of its last 30 non-conference games. This week the Devils travel to play a surprising Northwestern team, and I think the road pup is the right play.
With eight starters back on defense, I expect Duke to cause major problems for Northwestern's offense. Duke linebackers Joe Giles-Harris and Ben Humphreys came into the season with 232 and 207 career tackles, respectively, forming the only active duo in the ACC with 200+ total stops each. They'll be key in plugging the holes to stop the Wildcats rushing game.
On the other side of the ball, Duke quarterback Daniel Jones came into the 2018 campaign as one of two active quarterbacks nationally with 5,500+ passing yards and 1,000+ rushing yards, joining Syracuse’s Eric Dungy. In 25 career games, Jones has compiled 6,728 yards of total offense while accounting for 46 TDs. Last week he was solid in completing 13 of 17 attempts for 197 yards and a touchdown, while running for another.
Look for the Devils to challenge for the outright win.
3* DUKE
This week you get Duke as my free winner.
On the heels of last week's win over the Black Knights, Duke has won 23 of its last 30 non-conference games. This week the Devils travel to play a surprising Northwestern team, and I think the road pup is the right play.
With eight starters back on defense, I expect Duke to cause major problems for Northwestern's offense. Duke linebackers Joe Giles-Harris and Ben Humphreys came into the season with 232 and 207 career tackles, respectively, forming the only active duo in the ACC with 200+ total stops each. They'll be key in plugging the holes to stop the Wildcats rushing game.
On the other side of the ball, Duke quarterback Daniel Jones came into the 2018 campaign as one of two active quarterbacks nationally with 5,500+ passing yards and 1,000+ rushing yards, joining Syracuse’s Eric Dungy. In 25 career games, Jones has compiled 6,728 yards of total offense while accounting for 46 TDs. Last week he was solid in completing 13 of 17 attempts for 197 yards and a touchdown, while running for another.
Look for the Devils to challenge for the outright win.
3* DUKE
RAY CHADWICK
Saturday comp play on Northwestern at home over Duke.
The Wildcats showed me something by heading into Purdue on the 30th of August, forcing 3 first-half turnovers (all 3 leading to Northwestern touchdowns) and holding on for the 31-27 outright win as the small road underdog. That straight up win pushed the Wildcats winning streak to 9 in a row, with 8 covers in those 9 wins.
Today they play host to a Duke team that opened their new season with a 34-14 win and cover at home over Army. The Blue Devils caught the Wildcats this very same week last year in Durham, and whipped-up on them 41-17. That win avenged Duke's loss to Evanston the season before, as the home team took that one 24-13 back in 2016.
I like the "home cooking" revenge spot that Northwestern finds themselves in today, as they have covered 7 of their last 9 (2016 win over Duke included) as the home favorite the past 2+ seasons, and they only have a date with Akron at home up next.
Northwestern QB Clayton Thorson looked a little rusty in the win over Purdue, yet the 'Cats still scored 31 points. Thorson will only get better after rehabbing his injured knee. Oh, he also has RB Jeremy Larkin who scored twice and rand for 143 yards in the Purdue win to hand the ball off to.
Duke's defense is stout, so I am not calling for a runaway win by Northwestern, but in the end the Wildcats will have enough to get by for the win and the cover as the small home favorite.
4* NORTHWESTERN
Saturday comp play on Northwestern at home over Duke.
The Wildcats showed me something by heading into Purdue on the 30th of August, forcing 3 first-half turnovers (all 3 leading to Northwestern touchdowns) and holding on for the 31-27 outright win as the small road underdog. That straight up win pushed the Wildcats winning streak to 9 in a row, with 8 covers in those 9 wins.
Today they play host to a Duke team that opened their new season with a 34-14 win and cover at home over Army. The Blue Devils caught the Wildcats this very same week last year in Durham, and whipped-up on them 41-17. That win avenged Duke's loss to Evanston the season before, as the home team took that one 24-13 back in 2016.
I like the "home cooking" revenge spot that Northwestern finds themselves in today, as they have covered 7 of their last 9 (2016 win over Duke included) as the home favorite the past 2+ seasons, and they only have a date with Akron at home up next.
Northwestern QB Clayton Thorson looked a little rusty in the win over Purdue, yet the 'Cats still scored 31 points. Thorson will only get better after rehabbing his injured knee. Oh, he also has RB Jeremy Larkin who scored twice and rand for 143 yards in the Purdue win to hand the ball off to.
Duke's defense is stout, so I am not calling for a runaway win by Northwestern, but in the end the Wildcats will have enough to get by for the win and the cover as the small home favorite.
4* NORTHWESTERN
JEFF BENTON
Your Saturday freebie is the Navy at home against Memphis.
Let's roll with the Middies plus the points this Saturday at home in their AAC opener against the Tigers.
Memphis handled their business - as expected - in week one at home over Mercer, 66-14. Heck, I didn't even know Mercer fielded a football team!?!?!
Navy went on the road - all the way to Honolulu - only to lose to Hawaii, 59-41. The Midshipmen are in danger of opening the season 0-2 for the first time under Ken Niumatalolo since 2012, so expect an inspired effort from the Annapolis gang today.
Rare to get the Middies in the home underdog role, so I say let's put those points to work for us in this AAC contest. Navy is 5-2 against the spread as the home dog since 2009.
This is a revenge game for the Naval Academy, as they committed a season-high 5 turnovers in last season's 30-27 loss at the Liberty Bowl, but they did cover by a hook as the +3 1/2 point underdog. In fact, Navy has covered each of the last 3 series meetings against the Tigers, and I like them to cover here.
Middies to avoid the dreaded 0-2 hole to start the new season. Well, maybe they don't avoid the 0-2 start, but with the points they get the job done.
Dog play on Navy for Saturday.
2* NAVY
Your Saturday freebie is the Navy at home against Memphis.
Let's roll with the Middies plus the points this Saturday at home in their AAC opener against the Tigers.
Memphis handled their business - as expected - in week one at home over Mercer, 66-14. Heck, I didn't even know Mercer fielded a football team!?!?!
Navy went on the road - all the way to Honolulu - only to lose to Hawaii, 59-41. The Midshipmen are in danger of opening the season 0-2 for the first time under Ken Niumatalolo since 2012, so expect an inspired effort from the Annapolis gang today.
Rare to get the Middies in the home underdog role, so I say let's put those points to work for us in this AAC contest. Navy is 5-2 against the spread as the home dog since 2009.
This is a revenge game for the Naval Academy, as they committed a season-high 5 turnovers in last season's 30-27 loss at the Liberty Bowl, but they did cover by a hook as the +3 1/2 point underdog. In fact, Navy has covered each of the last 3 series meetings against the Tigers, and I like them to cover here.
Middies to avoid the dreaded 0-2 hole to start the new season. Well, maybe they don't avoid the 0-2 start, but with the points they get the job done.
Dog play on Navy for Saturday.
2* NAVY
JOHN MARTIN
NCAA-F | Sep 08, 2018
UCLA vs. Oklahoma
1 Unit Bonus Play on UCLA +30
This was a 20-point spread just last week. After UCLA was upset by Cincinnati, and Oklahoma dominated Florida Atlantic, the line has been adjusted basically 10 points. It’s now time to take advantage of this extra line value and back UCLA as a 30-point underdog here to Oklahoma. The Bruins have the talent to matchup up with Oklahoma. And now that they have a game under their belts in Chip Kelly’s systems, they should make big improvements from Week 1 to Week 2. The Bruins also get some suspended players back that they didn’t have last week. Give me UCLA.
NCAA-F | Sep 08, 2018
UCLA vs. Oklahoma
1 Unit Bonus Play on UCLA +30
This was a 20-point spread just last week. After UCLA was upset by Cincinnati, and Oklahoma dominated Florida Atlantic, the line has been adjusted basically 10 points. It’s now time to take advantage of this extra line value and back UCLA as a 30-point underdog here to Oklahoma. The Bruins have the talent to matchup up with Oklahoma. And now that they have a game under their belts in Chip Kelly’s systems, they should make big improvements from Week 1 to Week 2. The Bruins also get some suspended players back that they didn’t have last week. Give me UCLA.
KYLE HUNTER
NCAA-F | Sep 08, 2018
Arkansas State vs. Alabama
Arkansas State+36½
*3 Star Free Pick* The Alabama Crimson Tide are 6-17 ATS in their last 23 under Nick Saban when laying 29.5 points or more. Of course Alabama is capable of absolutely throttling Arkansas State here, but in the past this isn't the type of spot where Nick Saban and crew run up the score. Saban's teams typically keep their non-conference games against smaller schools uglier by playing with a very vanilla offense and letting the clock run.
Alabama beat down Louisville last week, and it's hard to get up for a game against Arkansas State when you just beat Louisville and then have Ole Miss and Texas A&M in the next couple weeks. This is the game it would be easy for Alabama to look past.
Arkansas State has a veteran quarterback and a lot of weapons on offense. Even if they are losing badly, this one has backdoor potential.
Take Arkansas State.
NCAA-F | Sep 08, 2018
Arkansas State vs. Alabama
Arkansas State+36½
*3 Star Free Pick* The Alabama Crimson Tide are 6-17 ATS in their last 23 under Nick Saban when laying 29.5 points or more. Of course Alabama is capable of absolutely throttling Arkansas State here, but in the past this isn't the type of spot where Nick Saban and crew run up the score. Saban's teams typically keep their non-conference games against smaller schools uglier by playing with a very vanilla offense and letting the clock run.
Alabama beat down Louisville last week, and it's hard to get up for a game against Arkansas State when you just beat Louisville and then have Ole Miss and Texas A&M in the next couple weeks. This is the game it would be easy for Alabama to look past.
Arkansas State has a veteran quarterback and a lot of weapons on offense. Even if they are losing badly, this one has backdoor potential.
Take Arkansas State.
BRANDON LEE
10* FREE MLB PICK (Diamondbacks -127)
I'll gladly take my chances here with Clay Buchholz and the Diamondbacks as a small home favorite against Julio Teheran and the Braves. Buchholz has been a massive surprise for Arizona. He's heading into this 16th start with a 1.76 ERA and 1.032 WHIP. He's got a 1.82 ERA in 5 home starts and a 0.47 ERA and 0.895 WHIP in his last 3 starts. Teheran has been hit or miss all season and it's led to a mediocre 9-7 record and 4.05 ERA in 27 starts. Arizona won 5-3 on Friday and that's worth noting, as the Diamondbacks are 7-1 in Buchholz's last 8 starts after scoring 5 or more runs and the Braves are a mere 1-9 in their last 10 after giving up 5+ runs. Give me Arizona -127!
10* FREE MLB PICK (Diamondbacks -127)
I'll gladly take my chances here with Clay Buchholz and the Diamondbacks as a small home favorite against Julio Teheran and the Braves. Buchholz has been a massive surprise for Arizona. He's heading into this 16th start with a 1.76 ERA and 1.032 WHIP. He's got a 1.82 ERA in 5 home starts and a 0.47 ERA and 0.895 WHIP in his last 3 starts. Teheran has been hit or miss all season and it's led to a mediocre 9-7 record and 4.05 ERA in 27 starts. Arizona won 5-3 on Friday and that's worth noting, as the Diamondbacks are 7-1 in Buchholz's last 8 starts after scoring 5 or more runs and the Braves are a mere 1-9 in their last 10 after giving up 5+ runs. Give me Arizona -127!
