College Football Picks

Expect bruising RB Allen Bradford to stomp over Hawaii.

With the college football season getting its start on Thursday, September 2, I’m looking to see if there are any good lines to take before we kick into gear with the NFL. Some lines are already out and I’m already doing some homework on them. The primetime game on Thursday will be Pitt (+3) vs. Utah, which I like Pitt in, but it’s not a strong play due to Pitt being on the road with a QB who is making his first start. I’m expecting Pitt’s D and Dion Lewis to get the job done for the Panthers though. Afterwards, we’ll see USC (-19) @ Hawaii on ESPN.

USC TROJANS -19 @ HAWAII WARRIORS

I’m not expecting USC to be as dominating as in year’s past due to the controversy that surrounded their team this past offseason. They’re prohibited from playing in a Bowl game for the next two years and they’re no longer being led by coaching mastermind Pete Carroll. You have to wonder how that will affect the team this season. One player that won’t affect is RB Allen Bradford who said, “the only way we’re going to be able to express ourselves is to win 13 games.”

USC has a history of beating the smack out of Hawaii. The last time they played was in 2005 and USC won 63-17, following their 2003 rout over Hawaii 63-31. However, with USC’s 1-8 record ATS on the road last season and a 4-9 overall record ATS, I’m hesitant to jump on the opportunity to take USC in this game. To show you how little coaches expect from USC this season, they’re not even listed in the top 25 in …

Dion Lewis looks to start the season by running wild on the Utes.

The football season is almost upon us. Training camps are in full-mode — injuries are popping up, rookies are developing, and preseason games are about to get underway. Although I cannot wait for the NFL to begin, we get an early start with college football the week prior to the NFL season kicking off.  Although betting on preseason football games is nothing more than a coin toss, week 1 of college football is when good money can always me made.

We start the season on Thursday, September 2. The game of the day in terms of viewing (as opposed betting on) is the Pittsburgh Panthers (+3.5) @ Utah Utes, which I imagine will be broadcasted on ABC or ESPN at the 8:30 time slot, which will be followed by USC (-19) @ Hawaii on ESPN at 11:00.

Both teams last year were BCS contenders and both teams finished the season with 10-3 records.  Impressive by all means. Pitt finished 17th in the final BCS standings while Utah wound up 24th.  Pitt’s defense was their main strength with the 19th best defense in the league. Utah was best known for their potent offense, which ranked 34th in the nation and averaged 29.8 PPG.

The player to watch in this game is none other than emerging RB Dion Lewis, who was a yard shy of an 1800-yard season last year. Dion piled up 18 TDs in his freshman year. In his sophomore year, he is going to tear up the NCAA. Against a Utah defense that is returning just 4 starters, I’m smelling trouble for a young defense that gave up 138 rushing yards per game last …

Great to be back! Bowl games are a great opportunity to make a ton of cash as there are a ton of live dogs to be played.

I will have a write for probably all of the bowl games and recommendations.

Wyoming vs Fresno State (-11): for 1 unit. – This Fresno State has played a brutal schedule playing some of the toughest teams in the nation including Cincinnati, Boise State, and a strong Wisconsin team. However, they did lose all three of those games. Plus you factor in the travel schedule and they went from Cincinnati to Hawaii, which had to be grueling on this squad. I think the time off will be a real difference here for Fresno State. Down the stretch this team just looked tired. I love that they have had a couple weeks to rest and get focused for the Bowl game. Another important factor is that most of Fresno State’s players have been in a bowl game before so they will be ready for the media and extra hype and attention that comes with playing in these games. Wyoming is probably one the best college stories of the year. The way they got things turned around and are now in a bowl game is huge. However, that could be their downfall. They may just be happy to be there instead of ready to play one of the best opponents they have played all year long. Wyoming has also been burned by the run all year long and Fresno State has run the ball very well against almost everyone they have played. Lay the points here with Fresno State as they win going away 44-24. I also recommend playing the OVER. L for 1.1 units…

Overall Profit 4.7 units

Where has this college football season gone? We have had our share of winners and losers and our share of hot streaks and cold streaks. Last week I put you on two huge winners with Auburn and Connecticut and several other smaller wins to run our profit up to 4.7 units. This college weekend is huge and for many it will determine who is playing in big bowl games and who will be disappointed about playing in some other bowl game. As a note, for all us bettors this weekend is huge. I usually don’t do this, but I am going to give you some great insight. I guarantee there will be several games this weekend where the game comes down to the final play or final series and whoever wins goes on to a big bowl game and the other goes on to some bowl they don’t want to be in. That is key, remember Alabama last year? After losing to Florida they had to play in a bowl game verse Utah that they didn’t want to be in and it cost them. That situation will happen again this year: close game, loser ends up in a meaningless bowl, the loser is favored, and then loses outright. We will need to find those plays on be on the right side.
Thursday Night:

Oregon State at Oregon (-10) for 1 unit. I agree with everything VM said, plus I love the home field advantage in this contest. Oregon is a different team at home and that will be clearly evident tonight as they win by 3 touchdowns over OSU.

LOCK OF THE YEAR #5: Texas (-14) vs Nebraska for 2 units: My Lock of the Year …

Here is where my head is at concerning the Saturday college football games. Nothing big here, just some small bets.

1.) Pac 10 Teaser — USC over Arizona, Cal over WASHINGTON — USC and Cal are 7-point favorites, I’ll pair those together and take them at pick ’em games.

2.) Cincinnati -2 over PITTSBURGH — I’ll take advantage of the low spread here. Although Pittsburgh has a quality defense and a running game that will move the ball on Cincy, Cincinnati has one of the best offenses in football and should just outscore Pittsburgh in this one.

3.) Florida -5.5 over ALABAMA — Should be a great game. I say Florida wins by 7-10. Better offense, better defense. Alabama just hasn’t done enough to impress me like Florida has. Plus, Tim Tebow loves Jesus too much for him to lose. Will be really close with the spread, but I’ll take the Gators.…

Monday Night + Sunday Night steak goes to 6-0.  We then put that money on UNC last night and were up even more.  I’m looking into where to put my money next, which is why I’m eying up Thursday’s College Football card.

OREGON STATE BEAVERS @ OREGON DUCKS -10

Oregon has been unstoppable, but Oregon State has been extremely impressive as well. Going into this season, I don’t think any of us expected Oregon State to be an 8-3 team. These teams stats are practically identical on both sides of the ball.

Both teams resumes are extremely impressive. Oregon State beat UCLA by 7, Stanford by 10, and @Arizona State by 11. Oregon State’s losses are to Cincinnati by 10, Arizona by 5, and @USC by 6. Oregon has impressive wins over Arizone State by 23, USC by 27, Cal by 39.  Their 2 losses come via Boise State in week 1 where they lost 19-8 and 3 weeks ago @Stanford by 9.

When Oregon plays at home, they are dominant. They are 6-0 at home.  The scores of their last two home games, 44-21 and 47-20, and that was to Arizona State and USC  respectively, two high quality teams. Oregon State has proven that they can play on the road, but Oregon has shown that they are a dominant football team at home. When you can beat USC 47-20, you have one hell of a football team. However, Oregon State hung in there @USC, losing by the score of 42-36.

I think the home field is the difference in this one, and I think the Ducks win this one, but I do not like the spread at +10 and feel that Oregon State has a good chance …

I hope you were able to take down UCONN -13.5 earlier today.  We’ve now extended our winning streak to 11-0.

Right now Florida vs. Florida State is underway. Brandon has FSU at +24.5, I have them at +32/Over 49. So far Florida has a 10-0 lead going into the 2nd quarter.  I’ll need the pace to pick up to get that over, but there’s still a lot of football left to play.

Tonight, I am on board with the teasers of Georgia Tech -0.5/Over 50 and Navy -2.5/Under 61.5.

Brandon has added 3 more picks:

1.) Arizona at Arizona State (+3.5) for 1 unit. (W)

2.) New Mexico Sate (+11) at San Jose State for 1 unit. (W)

3.) Utah State at Idaho (-3) for 1 unit. (L)

Good luck!…