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VIRGINIA TECH at MIAMI FLORIDA </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>Virginia Tech improved to 9-2 SU and 7-3 ATS with last week’s 24-10 win and cover over visiting Virginia. The 10 th-ranked Hokies can win the ACC title outright with a triumph today. Last year in at home in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech rolled 31-7, handing Miami its worse loss since a 43-10 setback at Virginia Tech in 1999.
Virginia Tech, which has covered 14 of its last 21 road finales, has scored the spread victory in three of its last four visits to the Orange Bowl. Two years ago the 17½-pount underdog Hokies fell 56-45 at Miami. They’ve also covered the last three series’ showdowns overall.
Ninth-ranked Miami, 8-2 SU and 6-4 ATS, was idle last week. The Hurricanes can earn a share of the conference title with a victory and knock Virginia Tech out of a BCS bowl in the process.
The Hurricanes have covered five straight when playing at home with revenge. However, Miami is on spread slides of 2-9 at home following a bye, and 5-12 when laying points in the Orange Bowl.
ATS ADVANTAGE: VIRGINIA TECH
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ARMY vs NAVY at Philadelphia </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>Army, 2-8 SU and 5-5 ATS, was off last week. The Black Knights had a minus-20 turnover margin last year, but are plus-3 this season heading into this game that will once again be staged in Philadelphia.
Army is on spread slides of 1-7 and 3-10 in the series, and the Black Knights are ranked dead last among 117 I-A teams in total defense.
Navy improved to 8-2 SU and 4-4 ATS with its 54-21 win over visiting Rutgers on November 20. The Emerald Bowl-bound Midshipmen, who rushed for 476 yards in the win over Rutgers, have covered 10 of their last 14 away from home. They’re also on a run of 28-3 against the number when they win straight-up as a favorite.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NAVY
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MICHIGAN STATE at HAWAII </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>Michigan State, 5-6 SU and ATS, was off last week after being embarrassed 37-13 at Penn State on November 20. The Spartans, who allowed 38 and 45 points in their previous two road games prior to going to Happy Valley, have covered just nine of their last 25 as a non-conference favorite. They’re also on spread slides of 13-22 overall and 3-11 in road finales.
Hawaii improved to 6-5 SU and 5-6 ATS with its outright 49-41 upset of visiting Northwestern a week ago. The Warriors are playing their third straight home game and are averaging 46 points in their last six games on the big island. They’ve covered six of their last seven as a home dog and eight of their last nine when getting points at home against a non-conference foe.
ATS ADVANTAGE: HAWAII
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TENNESSEE vs AUBURN at Atlanta
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>Tennessee, which is on a 1-5 spread slide, did not cover the 23-point number in last week’s 37-31 comeback win over visiting Kentucky. The 15 th-ranked Volunteers, 9-2 SU and 4-7 ATS, are making their fourth SEC Championship Game appearance at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The Vols staged fourth quarter comeback wins over Auburn in 1997 and versus Mississippi State the following year before being upset by LSU in 2001.
Tennessee, which will give Rick Clausen his third straight start under center with freshmen quarterbacks Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer still sidelined by injuries, has covered just once in the last nine meetings with Auburn. That includes a 34-10 home loss to the Tigers on Oct. 2 when the Vols committed six turnovers. Under coach Phil Fulmer, Tennessee is 0-30-1 against the number when it loses straight-up.
Third-ranked Auburn, 11-0 SU and 7-3 ATS and coming off a bye, is seeking its first outright conference title since 1987. The Tigers lost to Tennessee in the 1997 SEC tile game and to Florida in 2000.
Auburn, which has allowed just one rushing touchdown this year, has won its eight conference games this season by an average margin of 18.9 points. The Tigers have scored the spread victory in six of their last seven overall.
ATS ADVANTAGE: AUBURN </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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PITTSBURGH at SOUTH FLORIDA </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>Pittsburgh covered for the fourth time in five games with its 16-13 win over visiting West Virginia on Thanksgiving night. The 19 th-ranked Panthers, 7-3 SU and 5-4 ATS, will qualify for a BCS bowl with a win over the Bulls.
Pitt has covered just four of its last 26 as a road chalk of more than 5½ points.
South Florida dropped to 4-6 SU and 3-6 ATS after failing to stay within the 3 ½-point number in last week’s 31-15 loss to visiting Memphis. The Bulls, who beat Pittsburgh 35-26 in the only other meeting in 2001, have covered only twice in their last seven home games.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
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