NCAA FOOTBALL Top 25 - First Take on Sides and Totals
This week’s NCAA Top 25 offering is better than ever and if you are looking to win some money then dive in with us and find out who is worthy of your time.
Oklahoma -3, ML -160/+140, O/U 63.5
Oklahoma 1-4-0 ATS, Texas 4-1-0 ATS
11:00 AM ET: ABC
The Oklahoma Sooners have not had an easy path to this 5-0 record, even Tulane gave them problems (40-35) for the win. The only free ride came in week two against WCU in a 76-0 smackdown that was 100% expected. Week three saw a 23-16 win over a very tough Nebraska, then 16-13 over WVU, and last week’s victory over KSU, 37-31. The Longhorns have not been in a better place in time to take advantage of a + number in a long time. Arkansas was the one hiccup, but that is ancient history! In Dallas, we must go with a hungry Texas.
Texas +3, Over 63.5
Ohio State -21, ML -1,700/+900, O/U 71
Ohio State 2-2-1 ATS, Maryland 3-2-0 ATS
11:00 AM ET FOX
Maryland hits the U after last week’s beatdown coming by way of #5, Iowa. Can they rebound? Against most teams, probably, however, this is number 7, Ohio State and maybe just maybe the Buckeyes are not the same old Buckeyes at home, but they are still at home and we are hard pressed to give the Terrapins much of a chance. Both teams defend well, but OSU has the scoring advantage at 45.0-32.6 ppg. Maryland will run out of gas against States offense.
OSU -21, Under 71
Michigan State -5.5, ML -210/+180, O/U 51
Michigan State 3-1-1 ATS, Rutgers 4-1-0 ATS
11:00 AM ET BTN
Rutgers did something the football Gods did not appreciate, it’s obvious when looking at their schedule. This week makes for the 3rd ranked opponent in a row and life will not be easy against Michigan State. Rutgers hung around with Michigan in the big house for a loss 13-20, however, last week was a beatdown in Ohio State. MSU is putting up enough-more offense than Rutgers for bettors to back the -5.5 but watch out, this one could go to the wire. Both teams can dial down on the defense, look for a slow, grind it out affair.
Michigan State -5.5, Under 51
Ole Miss -5.5, ML -220/+180, O/U 66.5
Ole Miss 2-1-1 ATS, Arkansas 4-1-0 ATS
11:00 AM ET ESPN
One thing every college football fan knows, is the toughness of the SEC. The SEC is and it will always be a difficult place to pick up a win, even with two in conference teams going at it. According to the matchup predictor, the Razorbacks have a 33.3% chance to win this game. What utter nonsense! Both the Razorbacks, and Ole Miss come in having lost last week. Here is the kicker… Arkansas lost to #2 Georgia, and Ole Miss lost to #1 Alabama. This will be a battle, but we know both can indeed battle.
Arkansas +5.5, Under 66.5
Florida -39, O/U 59.5
Florida 2-3-0 ATS, Vanderbilt 1-4-0 ATS
11:00 AM ET SECN
The Gators score 31.4 ppg compared to Vandy’s 16.0, they allow 19.8 ppg compared to 35.0! It goes without saying that Florida will win this game and by a big number, but will they cover 39 bleeping points? Listen, Vandy is really bad. They lost to ETSU (it’s ok, we didn’t know who ETSU was either, we Googled it!). Florida is coming off of a down week themselves after getting worked by Kentucky (20-13). Florida is not Alabama, they are not on their way to greatness this season, however, they are 39-points better than Vanderbilt.
Florida -39, Over 59.5
Georgia -15.5, ML -800/+550, O/U 47
Georgia 4-1-0 ATS, Auburn 3-2-0 ATS
2:30 PM ET CBS
This game is going to be a dandy and possibly the best game of the week. Auburn will NOT roll over for Georgia simply because they are Georgia! The one glaring problem… Nobody can score on Georgia, literally, NOBODY! Georgia’s defense is SICK! They hold their opponents to 4.6 ppg! Who does that? Auburns defense is not shabby with 16.2 ppg allowed. Auburn sticks around in this one by proxy. At the end of the day, Georgia gets the win but doesn’t cover 16 points.
Auburn +15.5, Under 47
BYU -6, ML -200/+240, O/U 57
Boise State 3-2-0 ATS, BYU 3-2-0 ATS
2:30 PM ET ABC
Boise State is not the team they once were, they have fallen on a bit of a slump and it all starts with the loss of head coach Bryan Harsin. Although Harsin never took the Broncos close to a championship, he did serve up winning football in Boise. The Broncos are scoring 32.5 points per game (3 more than BYU) and only allowing 22.8, not awesome, not terrible. BYU comes in allowing 19.4 ppg with a 5-0 record, they are a solid football team with a couple of nice wins over ranked opponents such as AZ State, and Utah. At home, we like BYU to cover 6.
BYU -6, Under 57
Wake Forest -6, ML -200/+240, O/U 57
Wake Forest 2-3-0 ATS, Syracuse 4-1-0 ATS
2:30 PM ET ESPN 2
Wake is hot, they are playing great defense and scoring 38.4 ppg. By Syracuse standards, they are also hot! Say what you will about Syracuse football but It’s much improved. Last weeks loss to FSU was expected, what wasn’t expected were the Orange keeping it close, real close and at FSU. Wake has their hands full and Wakes strength of schedule tends to cast doubt. If you are looking for an easy button this may not be the game and Vegas knows it, thus the -6.
Syracuse +6 Over 57
SMU -13.5, ML -600/+425, O/U 55.5
SMU 4-1-0 ATS, Navy 2-2-0 ATS
2:30 PM ET CBSSN
SMU and stud QB Mordecai, should destroy Navy. Normally, we don’t like laying more than a TD on the road, however, there are exceptions and today is that day! Tanner Mordecai is 127-181 on the year with 1, 569 passing yards and count them… 24 TD’s! With just 6 interceptions, this kid is a jewel. Fortunately for SMU, Mordecai doesn’t have to do it all, he has big weapons in Bentley, and Gray. Look for a big day offensively from SMU and a lousy day for Navy.
SMU -13.5, Over 55.5
Penn State +1.5, ML +105/-125, O/U 41
Penn State 4-1-0 ATS, Iowa 4-1-0 ATS
3:00 PM ET FOX
Welcome to the battle royal. This one is set to be smash mouth, in your face, and a defensive juggernaut from two defensive juggernauts. Both teams have no trouble scoring, with 30.0 ppg for PSU, and 33.2 ppg respectively for Iowa. Scoring is not the issue for either team, however, both teams put the screws to their opponents on defense and we MUST love under 41. This one could be a 16-13 kind of affair. Both teams have battled ranked opponents - the road to 5-0 looks easy but it hasn’t been. We love this kind of favorite at home.
Iowa -1.5, Under 41
Michigan -3.5, ML -170/+425, O/U 50.5
Michigan 4-1-0 ATS, Nebraska 5-1-0 ATS
6:30 PM ET ABC
Harbaugh was brought in to bring home the bacon, and he hasn’t done it. He just might this year. The Wolverines are fired up and they are scoring 39.8 ppg, while holding their opponent to 12.8 ppg. Michigan finally has their ducks in a row with a balanced attack on offense with McNamara, Corum, and Johnson leading the charge. Nebraska has a tough row to hoe this week, however, they bring a stellar defense to the table, that holds opponents to 15.5 ppg. Michigan is in for an old-fashioned dog fight. Is Adrian Martinez (QB Neb) the next Lamar Jackson? If your looking for a fun one, dial this one up.
Michigan -3 buying the half point, Under 50.5
ND/VT EVEN, ML -110/-110, O/U 47
Notre Dame 2-3-0 ATS, Virginia Tech 2-2-0 ATS
6:30 PM ET ACCN
Notre Dame has suffered injuries and are still hoping to get well soon. This comes at a cost with three QB’s in tow for the Irish. Does this work against a defense in VT? We don’t think so and we are willing to bet on it! The even money sounds like a gift to us and we love VA Tech in this one at home. The Irish have dropped in the rankings for a reason and a defense from VA Tech that hold opponents to 15.3 ppg is going to be too much.
Virginia Tech Even, Under 47
LSU +3, ML +145/-170, O/U 51
LSU 2-3-0 ATS, Kentucky 4-1-0 ATS
6:30 PM ET SECN
Nobody can deny that Kentucky looks good, they have been good, and we wouldn’t want to take anything away from their efforts. Having said that, strength of schedule matters when you are going to lay money on the line. Although Kentucky is allowing just 16.8 ppg, against MIZ they allowed 28 and against UTC they allowed 23. Neither of those teams are exactly Alabama! As much as we hate LSU’s loss against UCLA, we love their three wins, and they kept it close against Auburn in a 24-19 loss.
LSU +3, Under 51
Alabama -18, ML -1,000/+650, O/U 51
Alabama 3-2-0 ATS, Texas A&M 2-3-0 ATS
7:00 PM ET CBS
Can Alabama roll into College Station and pick up their 9th win in a row over the Aggies? YES, they can, and they will. The question is, will it be closer than 18 points and is this game worth taking the risk on? Texas A&M has simply fallen off, there is no other way in which to describe them. They are not competitive against competitive teams. They beat Colorado, in College Station, 10-7! Alabama is the same old Alabama and probably better than ever. Saban, has this team ramped up and ready for this one.
Alabama -18, Over 51
New Mexico (2-3, 0-1 Mountain West) @ # 25 San Diego State (4-0, 0-0 Mountain West)
New Mexico +19.5, ML +700/-1, 100 O/U 42.5
New Mexico 0-5-0 ATS, SDSU 3-1-0 ATS
8:00 PM ET FS1
New Mexico does not have the fire power to hang around with San Diego State. Strength of schedule would be more of a factor if the opponent wasn’t New Mexico. Strength of schedule is simply not a valid argument in this one. SDSU is doing what it takes to win and the proved it against Utah in an overtime victory, 33-31.
SDSU -19.5, Over 42.5
This rounds out your Top 25 for week 6. Every game on this list will be fun, and certainly worth betting on. Have fun this week and good luck.
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