College Football Top 25 Bettors Guide.

Since the ranked teams slate begins on Wednesday I have to start accordingly.

Wednesday:
Northern Illinois @ #17 Ball State (-9.5) 8pm- ESPN2: I don't know too much about the MAC conference but one thing is for sure- Ball State has an explosive offense. Nate Davis can do big things and this offense is a tough one to stop. They've had issues in terms of starting out slow, but even though NIU is solid, I expect Ball State to pull away in the 2nd half. Ball State 34 Northern Illinois 20

Thursday:
#12 TCU (-2.5) @ #8 Utah 8pm- CSTV: The fact this game won't be on ESPN is retarded in itself, but it is what it is. Anyways, this game has huge implications, not only in terms of the Mountain West but also with an at-large BCS berth and an extreme outside shot of the National Championship haha. TCU boasts the nation's #2 defense and Utah struggled on that side of the ball last week against New Mexico. Plus, TCU is looking for some revenge after Utah took them out last year 27-20. Should be a tight, close one once again but I have TCU getting this one. TCU 17 Utah 13

#23 Maryland @ Virginia Tech (-2.5)- 730pm ESPN: Maryland is the most schizo team in the nation. They've lost to Middle Tennessee State and Virginia...but they've also handled business vs. ranked teams, defeating Wake Forest, Clemson and California when they were ranked. Now, with the lead in the ACC Atlantic, they are in some degree the hunted. We all know how ESPN Thursday night games play out but this one is unique since the unranked team is actually the favorite. The ACC's unpredictability continues here. Virginia Tech 20 Maryland 14

Saturday:
#1 Alabama (-3.5) @ #16 LSU 330pm- CBS: This game is gonna be an emotional one with Nick Saban returning to his old stomping grounds now bringing in a serious contender for the NC facing last year's champs. An Alabama win here all but locks up the SEC West for them so that's incentive enough for them. Meanwhile, this game is also dangerous because LSU can come out with a nothing left to lose mentality. The low spread is due to Alabama not beating LSU since 2002. However, the higher ranked team has won 11 of the past 12 meetings (exception being 2005 when Bama was #4 and LSU was #5); not to mention Alabama's been known to start off fast...plus LSU's defense has been manhandled in recent weeks. Alabama 35 LSU 17

#9 Oklahoma State (+3) @ #2 Texas Tech 8pm- ABC regional (most likely though everyone except out in the West Coast): What a game this one is going to be. Both teams, as explosive as they are offensively, actually boast relatively decent defenses. So while most expect a shootout; don't get me wrong points will be scored, but not in a ping-pong fashion. One thing going against Oklahoma State this year is that the home team has won every game in the series since 2002...but just about every game in the series since then has been decided by less than ten points. Plus, with Texas Tech coming off an extremely emotional victory over Texas, how can they regroup and play an OK State team ready to try to derail another team's NC hopes; while trying to make a case on their own. For some reason, I feel like OK State is more for real than Texas Tech but this will be a must-see game. Oklahoma State 28 Texas Tech 24

#3 Penn State @ Iowa (+7.5) 330pm- ABC regional: Even though Penn State is coming off a bye week; they travel to Kinnick Stadium where they haven't had much success at all...not winning there since 1999. They've exercized some demons so far this year (snapping the long losing streaks to Michigan in general and finally winning at Ohio State) but this is one of those games which could be that trap game in which if they're not careful, they could outright lose. Ohio State did a masterful job in slowing down the Spread HD offense, and Iowa is a very solid football team- you know they took down notes on how to stop it. Penn State is susceptible to the run as well. Although Iowa is only 5-4...none of those losses have been by more than this current spread and I expect the same here. Penn State 20 Iowa 14


Baylor @ #4 Texas (-26) Noon- probably FSN: Texas has completely dominated Baylor as of late. Aside from last year when they "only" won by 21...they have defeated Baylor by 30+ since 2004; never scoring less than 44 points. Plus, anytime a team is coming off a defeat in Texas' position, you know they will be fuming. Baylor is okay and better than in previous years (offensively), but they are not ready for what will happen to them here and Texas' multiple weapons offensively. Texas 52 Baylor 20

#5 Florida (-23.5) @ Vanderbilt 8pm- ESPN2: Vandy's actually done a decent job keeping the games somewhat close in recent years but 3 things. #1- Florida may be playing the best football in the nation right now. #2- Vandy's season looks like it's falling apart from the seams and their anemic offense/go-for-broke defense is rearing its head. #3- After Florida made me look completely foolish 2 weeks ago vs. Kentucky point-spread wise I will never bet against them again (until maybe the SEC title game). Florida 49 Vanderbilt 13

#6 Oklahoma (-25) @ Texas A&M 330pm- ABC regional: Although this has all the makings of a closer-than-expected game...#1- Texas A&M doesn't have an offense as good as Kansas State's to really threaten Oklahoma and #2- this offense has barely been stopped all year. The only cause of concern will be on the point spread side, when Sam Bradford and the first-teamers get pulled from the game after another dominating performance. Oklahoma 55 Texas A&M 24

#21 California @ #7 USC (-18.5) 8pm- ABC regional (West Coast): If there's one thing we all know about USC- it's that they do not take too kindly teams trying to compete with them for a Pac-10 title and especially if you're ranked. With the disparity of the conference rearing its head this year, USC needs a statement win here in order to have any chance still at competing for the NC. Their defense has been ferocious ever since the Oregon State debacle. Plus as a whole...this team cannot be happy about dropping 2 spots in the BCS after winning by 56 points granted against a lame-duck Washington team they were favored by 46 over. They'll get it; but a weird thing that someone mentioned the other day...if Oregon State wins out as well in the Pac-10...guess who's the Pac-10 champs? Oregon State- because they beat USC earlier. USC 35 California 10

Utah State @ #10 Boise State (-32) 2pm: Ho-hum...another WAC game vs. a vastly inferior opponent on the Blue Turf= another destruction. The only drama with this one will be if Utah State scores a touchdown and the answer will be no. Boise State 42 Utah State 3

#11 Ohio State (-11) @ #24 Northwestern Noon- ESPN2: Northwestern is vastly improved don't get me wrong...but Ohio State has completely owned them the past couple of years by 54-10 and 58-7 tallies. While it won't be as decisive as that this year...Ohio State's defense at least in the Big 10 has been nothing short of spectacular...and will give Northwestern fits all day, everyday. Ohio State 28 Northwestern 9

#13 Georgia (-10.5) @ Kentucky 1230pm: The spread is this low because Kentucky has the tendency of playing higher ranked teams tough...and besides the Florida game they've been competitive all year. Georgia responded well last time they were beaten (taking care of Tennessee 26-14) and while Kentucky is better than Tennessee...I think Georgia has just enough to be able to cover (by the slimmest of margins). Georgia 24 Kentucky 13

Kansas State (+26) @ #14 Missouri 7pm: There's no doubt who will win (Mizzou)...but K-State does have a relatively good offense and Mizzou's D is nothing to write home about. There's no way in hell K-State can keep up with the Chase Daniel show...but with Mizzou being mediocre on the point spread side...it'll be enough for K-State to cover. Missouri 56 Kansas State 35

San Diego State @ #15 BYU (-36.5) 2pm: I'm not a huge fan of ludacriously high point spreads and BYU as of late hasn't been dominating as they were in the beginning of the season. But San Diego State is the Washington State of the Mountain West (albeit not as bad, at least they scored 34 points in a loss) and this is the perfect team for BYU to get back on track with. I could be wrong, but here goes. BYU 45 San Diego State 7

Purdue @ #18 Michigan State (-10) Noon: Purdue has played tough versus ranked opponents all year (losing by 6, 13 and 11 respectively) but all those games have been at home. Both teams are coming off of victories- Purdue a 48-42 shootout over Michigan and Michigan State coming valiantly from behind to edge Wisconsin 25-24. Purdue is gonna have trouble stopping Javon Ringer and their defense is really not that good. Last year, the Spartans won by 17 and I envision a similar outlook on Saturday. Michigan State 31 Purdue 17

#20 Georgia Tech @ #19 North Carolina (-4.5) Noon: I'm done trying to figure out the ACC...I'm so serious. Georgia Tech right now has destiny of the ACC Coastal Division but anytime one team has control, another team is ready to snatch it back. This week, it'll be UNC...and they've played very well in games vs. ranked opponents this year, winning by 20+ over UConn and Boston College. That's all I can really go after to be honest. North Carolina 24 Georgia Tech 14

Clemson (+6) @ #22 Florida State 330pm- ABC regional: Clemson has owned the Seminoles in recent years...but Tommy Bowden is no longer coaching them. Nevertheless, Florida State has had a solid year for their rebuilding year; meanwhile Clemson after being tabbed as an overwhelming favorite in the ACC in a Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas fashion, has been extremely disappointing. I don't see a problem however with Clemson covering this game...they may even win once again but I just don't know. It's gonna be a tight one just like a lot of the ACC games have been this year. Florida State 21 Clemson 17

Cincinnati @ #25 West Virginia (-8) 7pm- ESPNU: Don't look now, but West Virginia is beginning to hit their stride. Two impressive victories over Auburn and UConn have the Mountaineers on top of the Big East and with Pat White at 100% again...WVU figures to be the favorite in this conference, having a mediocre season. Cincinnati although they beat South Florida last week 24-10, kinda got lucky. They still allowed 366 yards of total offense; but USF was unable to capitalize on red-zone opportunities, twice coming away with nothing after being inside the 10. West Virginia will keep Cincy at bay in this one. West Virginia 28 Cincinnati 17

And so on.