11-2-13

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Saturday's NCAAF Top 25 betting cheat sheet: Afternoon action
By SPORTSDIRECT INC. STAFF

Northern Illinois Huskies at Massachusetts Minutemen (+23.5, 58)

The undefeated Huskies, who have won 20 of their last 21 games, shouldn't have a problem with a Massachusetts team it defeated 63-0 a year ago. Jordan Lynch continues to light up opposing defenses through the air and on the ground, and recently became the tenth player in FBS history to surpass 3,000 yards rushing and 4,000 yards passing in a career.

The Minutemen are coming off a heart-breaking 31-30 defeat to Western Michigan, in which head coach Charley Molnar opted for a two-point conversion attempt down by one point with 22 seconds remaining. The attempt failed, leaving the Minutemen with a 2-18 record since joining the FBS last season. Rob Blanchflower led the offense with a career-high 131 yards receiving on seven catches.

LINE: Northern Illinois opened as a 22.5-point favorite, but the line has grown to 23.5. The O/U is set at 58.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-50s with partly cloudy skies.
TRENDS:

* Huskies are 9-2-1 ATS vs. teams with losing records.
* Minutemen are 1-4 ATS vs. teams with winning records.
* Under is 7-1 in Massachusetts' last eight games.

Ohio State Buckeyes at Purdue Boilermakers (+31.5, 56.5)

Quarterback Braxton Miller and running back Carlos Hyde look to continue raising their games when No. 4 Ohio State visits struggling Purdue for a Big Ten clash on Saturday. Miller completed 40-of-51 passes the last two weeks and Hyde gained 464 yards rushing over the previous three games for the Buckeyes, who have won 20 straight.

Ohio State, which is averaging 42 points in four league games, faces a Boilermakers team that started eight underclassmen in a 14-0 loss at Michigan State on Oct. 19. Freshman quarterback Danny Etling will make his third start as Purdue attempts to snap a five-game losing streak. Etling is 28-of-60 for 344 yards over his last two games, DeAngelo Yancey has made 15 catches for 327 yards and Akeem Hunt leads the team in rushing (293) and receptions (24).

LINE: The line has moved slightly to 31.5 after Ohio State opened as a 31-point fave. The total is 56.5.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-40s with a 20 percent chance of rain and wind blowing diagonally from the northwest at 12 mph.
TRENDS:

* Buckeyes are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a SU win.
* Boilermakers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games following a bye week.
* Under is 7-2 in the last nine meetings.

Wisconsin Badgers at Iowa Hawkeyes (+9.5, 48.5)

The Badgers have won two straight games and had their second bye in four weeks last weekend. Iowa recorded a 17-10 overtime victory over Northwestern last Saturday after suffering consecutive losses to Michigan State and Ohio State. The Hawkeyes’ three defeats - Northern Illinois is the other team that beat them - are to teams with a combined 23-1 record.

Iowa middle linebacker James Morris is coming off a superb performance in which he had eight tackles, two sacks and recovered a fumble against Northwestern. Morris has 64 tackles - second on the squad behind the 79 of weak-side linebacker Anthony Hitchens - and ranks eighth in school history with 357 in his career.

LINE: The Badgers have held steady as a 9.5-point favorite. The total is set at 48 1/2.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-40s with partly cloudy skies and wind blowing diagonally out of the northwest at 14 mph.
TRENDS:

* Badgers are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games following an ATS win.
* Hawkeyes are 4-1 ATS in their last five conference games.
* The road team is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.

Mississippi State Bulldogs at South Carolina Gamecocks (-12, 52)

With its division title hopes rejuvenated, No. 16 South Carolina returns home Saturday to take on struggling Mississippi State in a Southeastern Conference cross-divisional matchup. After entering the game in the third quarter and engineering a comeback last week against Missouri, South Carolina starting quarterback Connor Shaw is questionable this week with a virus.

Despite being kicked in the left shin by a fellow student on Mississippi State’s campus early this week, according to the school’s website, dual-threat quarterback Dak Prescott will get the start for the Bulldogs. Prescott has just five touchdowns against three interceptions since taking over for an injured Tyler Russell in the opening week, but he has rushed for over 100 yards three times in the Bulldogs' last five games.

LINE: The Gamecocks opened as 12.5-point favorites, but the line has since dipped to 12. The total is set at 52.
WEATHER: Sunny skies are expected with temperatures in the mid-60s and wind blowing across the field at 10 mph.
TRENDS:

* Bulldogs are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games.
* Gamecocks are 0-5 ATS in their last five games on grass.
* Over is 8-2 in South Carolina's last 10 conference games.

Clemson Tigers at Virginia Cavaliers (+17, 54.5)

No. 8 Clemson will try to break out of its offensive funk when the Tigers travel to play ACC rival Virginia on Saturday. Clemson, also No. 8 in the latest BCS rankings, struggled to put away Maryland last week after falling flat in a 51-14 loss to No. 3 Florida State. The Tigers should have an easier time against the Cavaliers, who have lost five straight and are allowing nearly 30 points a game.

Red-zone efficiency is of particular focus for the Tigers, who led the Terrapins 19-13 in the third quarter before claiming a 40-27 victory. Clemson settled for four field goals after getting inside the 20. Some of the Tigers’ offensive struggles can be attributed to quarterback Tajh Boyd, who got banged up against both the Seminoles and the Terrapins.

LINE: Clemson opened as a 17-point favorite, but the line has dropped to 16.5. The total has held steady at 54.5.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-60s with partly cloudy skies and wind blowing across the field at 7 mph.
TRENDS:

* Tigers are 4-11-2 ATS in their last 17 road games vs. teams with losing home records.
* Cavaliers are 5-15-2 ATS in their last 22 games.
* Under is 9-1 in Virginia's last 10 November games.

Michigan Wolverines at Michigan State Spartans (-6, 46.5)

First place in the Legends Division will be on the line when the 24th-ranked Spartans host No. 21 Michigan on Saturday. he Wolverines will be playing just their third true road game and barely scraped by a winless Connecticut team 24-21 away from home on Sept. 21 before suffering their lone loss, 43-40 in four overtimes, at Penn State on Oct. 12.

Michigan State padded its record and showed off on defense while making some necessary adjustments offensively in last week’s 42-3 triumph over Illinois, as quarterback Connor Cook went 15-of-16 for 208 yards and three touchdowns in his most efficient performance. Cook’s emergence complements a running attack that is averaging 196.5 yards.

LINE: Michigan State was installed as a 4.5-point favorite, but the line has since vaulted to 6. The total is set at 46.5.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-40s with a 40 percent chance of rain and wind blowing diagonally out of the northwest at 9 mph.
TRENDS:

* Wolverines are 1-8 ATS in their last nine games after racking up more than 280 yards in their previous contest.
* Spartans are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 games following an ATS win.
* Over is 6-1 in Michigan's last seven conference games.

Navy Midshipmen at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-17, 48.5)

Notre Dame seeks its fourth straight victory Saturday afternoon when it hosts Navy as the longtime rivals meet for the 87th straight season. The Fighting Irish are coming off their most lopsided win of the year, a 45-10 rout at Air Force. They have put a 3-2 start in the rear view mirror and are gearing up for a challenging stretch run that ends with a visit to Stanford on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The Midshipmen also took care of Air Force earlier in the year and are coming off a 24-21 win over Pittsburgh last Saturday. A 30-yard field goal as time expired was the difference as Navy scored 10 points in the final three-plus minutes to improve to 3-0 at home. The Midshipmen have dropped three straight on the road, however, including two to non-BCS conference schools.

LINE: Notre Dame has held steady as a 17-point favorite. The total has dipped from 49 to 48.5.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-40s with a 46 percent chance of rain and wind blowing across the width of the field at 13 mph.
TRENDS:

* Midshipmen are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games on grass.
* Fighting Irish are 0-6 ATS in their last six games after scoring 40 or more points in their previous outing.
* Road team is 15-3 ATS in their last 18 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Saturday's NCAAF Top 25 betting cheat sheet: Evening action

Auburn Tigers at Arkansas Razorbacks (+8, 54.5)

Arkansas has lost five straight since starting 3-0 while yielding 52 points in each of its two latest setbacks - to No. 18 South Carolina and No. 1 Alabama - while scoring only seven against the Gamecocks and getting blanked by the Crimson Tide. Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall, who injured his shoulder in the Tigers' 45-10 victory over Florida Atlantic last week, is expected to play, according to WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham.

The Razorbacks, who are playing their fifth straight ranked opponent, have the worst offense in the SEC at 20.4 points per game and have only mustered 17 points in their last three games combined. Running back Alex Collins, the first freshman in SEC history to start his career with three 100-yard rushing games, has been held to 79 yards in four games since conference play began.

LINE: Auburn opened as a 9.5-point favorite, but the line has since dropped to 8. The total is set at 54.5.
WEATHER: Clear skies are expected with temperatures in the low-50s and wind blowing diagonally out of the northwest at 5 mph.
TRENDS:

* Tigers are 5-0 ATS in their last five games.
* Razorbacks are 20-9 ATS in their last 29 home games.
* Over is 19-7 in Arkansas' last 26 November games.

Tennessee Volunteers at Missouri Tigers (-10.5, 55.5)

Missouri still controls its fate in the SEC East, but the 10th-ranked Tigers can't afford another setback when they host upset-minded Tennessee on Saturday. The Tigers' charmed season suffered its first blemish in a 27-24 double-overtime loss to South Carolina last week. The Volunteers knocked off those same Gamecocks two weeks ago, but are coming off a 45-10 thrashing at the hands of top-ranked Alabama.

The Volunteers will hand the reins of the offense to freshman Joshua Dobbs, who will make his first start in place of Justin Worley (thumb). Dobbs was slated for a redshirt before coming off the bench against Alabama and going 5-for-12 for 75 yards. To pull off the upset, Tennessee will need a big game from running back Rajion Neal and a defense that has not fared well against strong offenses.

LINE: Missouri comes in as a 10.5-point favorite, down from an opening line of -13. The total is steady at 55.5.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-50s with sunny skies and wind blowing across the field at 7 mph.
TRENDS:

* Volunteers are 5-12-1 ATS in their last 18 games vs. teams with winning records.
* Tigers are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games following an ATS loss.
* Over is 8-3 in Missouri's last 11 games.

Oklahoma State Cowboys at Texas Tech Red Raiders (-2.5, 66.5)

Oklahoma State will try to stretch its winning streak to five games against No. 15 Texas Tech when the No. 12 Cowboys travel to Lubbock for Saturday night’s Big 12 matchup. The Red Raiders are the first ranked team Oklahoma State will face this season and they entered the week tied for fifth in the nation at 537.1 total yards a game. Texas Tech is coming off its first loss of the season, however, and is 1-7 in the month of November over the last two years.

Josh Stewart is leading the Cowboys in receptions and receiving yards for the second straight season, leaving him 16 yards short of becoming the seventh player in school history to reach 2,000 receiving yards for his career. But Stewart was limited to 20 yards or less in two of the last three games. Chelf hasn’t helped Stewart’s productivity, completing 38 percent of his passes in the seven quarters since he took over for Walsh.

LINE: Texas Tech opened as a 1.5-point favorite, but the line has moved to 2.5 while the total holds steady at 66.5.
WEATHER: Fans should expect clear skies and temperatures in the low-60s. Wind will blow north across the length of the field at 5 mph.
TRENDS:

* Cowboys are 16-7 ATS in their last 23 games on Fieldturf.
* Red Raiders are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 home games against teams with winning road records.
* Over is 6-0 in Texas Tech's last six games following an ATS loss.

Colorado Buffaloes at UCLA Bruins (-27, 57)

The Buffaloes are yielding a conference-worst 287.5 rushing yards per Pac-12 game after giving up an eye-popping 405 against Arizona. Colorado isn't much better against the pass, yielding 268 yards per contest with only seven sacks. The Buffaloes' two best offensive weapons were injured against Arizona as wide receiver Paul Richardson hurt his ankle while freshman running back Michael Adkins II suffered a concussion

The Bruins have struggled without running back Jordon James, who averaged 141.3 yards in three games before injuring his ankle against Utah on Oct. 3 and missed the ensuing three contests since. Sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley appeared to be a Heisman Trophy candidate before throwing two touchdowns and four interceptions in his last two games, but has an opportunity to get his confidence back against Colorado.

LINE: The line has moved slightly from UCLA -26.5 to -27. The total is set at 57.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-70s under sunny skies with wind blowing north across the length of the field at 6 mph.
TRENDS:

* Buffaloes are 6-20 ATS in their last 26 conference games.
* Bruins are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 home games.
* Under is 25-4 in UCLA's last 29 home games vs. teams with losing road records.

Miami Hurricanes at Florida State Seminoles (-22, 61)

The Hurricanes have won nine straight — their longest streak since winning 10 in a row from Nov. 15, 2003, to Oct. 23, 2004 — yet they're three-touchdown underdogs. Miami's offense was impressive early in the season but has been inconsistent against inferior opponents the past two games. The defense has kept the Hurricanes in the past two contests and boasts 22 sacks and 12 interceptions on the season

The Seminoles have been unstoppable on offense with redshirt freshman Jameis Winston running the show, scoring touchdowns on 54.2 percent of their drives — second-best in the nation. Winston has emerged as a Heisman Trophy contender, as he ranks second in the nation in passing efficiency and has passed for 2,177 yards and 23 touchdowns.

LINE: Florida State has held steady as a 22-point favorite. The total is set at 61.
WEATHER: Skies will be clear with temperatures in the mid-60s and wind blowing diagonally out of the northwest at 6 mph.
TRENDS:

* Hurricanes are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 conference games.
* Seminoles are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games on grass.
* Over is 7-0 in Florida State's last seven games.

UTEP Miners at Texas A&M Aggies (-45.5, 76)

Texas A&M would have been a heavy favorite against Texas-El Paso anyway, but now the No. 14 Aggies will be up against a second-string quarterback when they host the Miners in a nonconference game Saturday night. UTEP quarterback Jameill Showers injured his throwing shoulder in a loss to Rice last weekend and could be lost for the season.

Aggies star quarterback Manziel was limited during practice last week because of a shoulder injury but took the field Saturday against Vanderbilt and threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns in the 56-24 victory. Manziel rushed for career lows of 11 yards on four carries and may take that approach again Saturday to protect his shoulder.

LINE: The line opened with the Aggies a 45-point favorite, and has since risen to 45.5. The total is set at 76.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-60s with sunny skies and wind blowing diagonally out of the north at 5 mph.
TRENDS:

* Miners are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing 200 or more rushing yards in their previous outing.
* Aggies are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games vs. Conference USA opponents.
* Over is 6-1 in Texas A&M's last seven home games.

Nevada Wolf Pack at Fresno State Bulldogs (-20.5, 73.5)

The Wolf Pack lost to rival UNLV for the first time in nine meetings last week. Cody Fajardo threw for 357 yards in the game, marking the third time in his last four outings that he's gone over 350 yards. Fajardo, whose Mountain West-record streak of 193 passes without an interception was snapped against UNLV, ranks 16th in the nation in completion percentage (67.7).

The Bulldogs blocked a field goal as regulation time expired last week and then got a 1-yard touchdown run from Marteze Waller to post a 35-28 win on the road. Fresno State has won 10 straight games at home, led by Carr, who ranks seventh in the nation in passing with 2,574 yards and is second in touchdowns with 25. The Bulldogs have won two games in overtime this season and has four wins by seven or fewer points.

LINE: The Bulldogs have been locked in as 20.5-point favorites, while the total is steady at 73.5.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-50s with clear skies.
TRENDS:

* Wolfpack are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games.
* Bulldogs are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games following an SU win.
* Road team is 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Rocketman Sports

CFB


Michigan @ Michigan State 3:30 PM EST
Play On: Double Dime (#360) Michigan State -3 1/2

The Michigan Wolverines travel to Michigan State to take on the Spartans on Saturday afternoon. Michigan is 6-1 SU on the season while Michigan State comes in with a nice 7-1 SU record this year. This Michigan State defense is tough allowing only 12.2 points per game overall this year and 12.8 points per game at home this season. Michigan State allows only 54.4 yards per game on the ground and 215 totals yards per game. Michigan is 13-29 ATS last 42 conference games. Michigan is 7-20-1 ATS last 28 road games. Michigan State is 20-8-1 ATS last 29 games against a team with a winning record. Michigan is 0-5 ATS last 5 meetings overall in this series. We'll play Michigan State for 3 units today! Thanks and good luck, Rocky

Kansas @ Texas 3:30 PM EST
Play On: Double Dime (#386) Texas -27

The Kansas Jayhawks travel to Texas to take on the Longhorns on Saturday afternoon. Kansas is 2-5 SU overall this year while Texas is 5-2 SU on the season. Kansas is 1-5 ATS this year on turf. Kansas is 1-26 SU and 8-19 ATS since 1992 as a road underdog of 21 1/2 or more points. Kansas is 1-30 SU and 9-22 ATS since 1992 as an underdog of 21 1/2 to 31 points. Kansas is 40-68 ATS last 108 games after a conference loss. Kansas is scoring only 15.5 points per game on the road this year. Texas is scoring 32.6 points per game overall this year and 36.7 points per game at home this season. Those numbers will increase after today as Texas will crush Kansas. Texas is 8-2 ATS last 10 meetings overall in this series including 5-0 ATS last 5 at home vs Kansas. Home team is 6-1 ATS last 7 meetings overall in this series and the favorite has covered 8 of the past 10 meetings. We'll play Texas for 3 units today! Thanks and good luck, Rocky


Tulane @ Florida Atlantic 5:00 PM EST
Play On: Double Dime (#388) Florida Atlantic -2 1/2

The Tulane Green Wave travel to Florida Atlantic to take on the Owls on Saturday afternoon. Tulane comes in with a 6-2 SU record this year while Florida Atlantic is only 2-6 SU on the season. So why in the world is Florida Atlantic favored in this game? Florida Atlantic has really played some tough teams and they have been in almost every game except against Auburn this past week. Tulane is 3-12 SU on the road the past 3 years. Tulane is 2-8 ATS last 10 games on grass. Florida Atlantic is 8-0 ATS last 8 games after scoring less than 20 points. Florida Atlantic is 12-2 ATS last 14 games after a SU loss. Florida Atlantic is 14-4 ATS last 18 games after a SU loss of 20 points or more. Florida Atlantic is 6-1 ATS last 7 conference games. We'll play Florida Atlantic for 3 units today! Thanks and good luck, Rocky

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Northcoast

Early Bird POW - Florida St. -21.5

Underdog POW - Tulane +4

Power Plays - 4* Michigan State-5.5

Economy - Nebraska -7.5

Private Play Hotline - Temple

Private Play Hotline - Tulane

Big Dog POW - Arkansas +9

Big 12 POW - Oklahoma St. +1

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Charlotte Sports

CFB

Indiana

Tennessee

Marshall

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Big East

CFB
Tennessee

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Miami at Florida State: What bettors need to know

Miami Hurricanes at Florida State Seminoles (-22, 61)

Just like old times, major national championship implications will be on the line when No. 3 Florida State hosts No. 6 Miami in a battle of unbeaten teams Saturday night. The Seminoles might be playing better than anyone in the nation after following their blowout win at Clemson with a 49-17 thumping of North Carolina State last week. Miami presents the greatest threat remaining on the schedule and wants to claim Sunshine State superiority.

The Hurricanes have moved to the periphery of the national title picture after two straight narrow victories — 27-23 at North Carolina and 24-21 over Wake Forest — but could reclaim their place in the conversation with an upset in Tallahassee. While the Hurricanes have been narrowly averted disaster, the Seminoles have been inflicting it. They've won their last three games by a combined 132 points and six of their seven wins have come by 28 points or more.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ABC.

LINE: Florida State opened -22. The total opened at 61.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-60s with clear skies.

ABOUT MIAMI (7-0, 3-0 ACC): The Hurricanes have won nine straight — their longest streak since winning 10 in a row from Nov. 15, 2003, to Oct. 23, 2004 — yet they're three-touchdown underdogs. Miami's offense was impressive early in the season but has been inconsistent against inferior opponents the past two games. The defense has kept the Hurricanes in the past two contests and boasts 22 sacks and 12 interceptions on the season but will have its hands full with an explosive Florida State offense.

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (7-0, 5-0): The Seminoles have been unstoppable on offense with redshirt freshman Jameis Winston running the show, scoring touchdowns on 54.2 percent of their drives — second-best in the nation. Winston has emerged as a Heisman Trophy contender, as he ranks second in the nation in passing efficiency and has passed for 2,177 yards and 23 touchdowns. The big offensive numbers have overshadowed a defense that leads the country against the pass (153.7 yards per game) and has produced 14 turnovers and three defensive touchdowns.

TRENDS:

* Underdog is 13-3 ATS in their last 16 meetings.
* Road team is 6-1 ATS in their last seven meetings.
* Hurricanes are 6-1 ATS in their last seven meetings in Florida State.
* Seminoles are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. The rivals are meeting when both are unbeaten for the ninth time, and the first since 2003.

2. Miami RB Duke Johnson (1,770) needs 184 rushing yards to move into the top 10 in school history, and he needs 230 to become the program's ninth 2,000-yard rusher.

3. Florida State has scored 40 or more points in seven consecutive games, tying the school record set in 1995.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Georgia vs. Florida: What bettors need to know

Georgia Bulldogs vs. Florida Gators (+2.5, 47)

Both Georgia and Florida stumble into the latest installment of the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party on Saturday in Jacksonville, their dreams of winning the SEC East title hampered by a rash of injuries that has derailed both teams’ seasons. What is as amazing as the health issues that have hit both teams is that each squad still has a slim shot to reach the conference title game. Saturday’s winner must win the rest of its SEC games and needs Missouri to lose at least once.

Georgia tailback Todd Gurley is expected to play for the first time since spraining his left ankle Sept. 28 against LSU, but wide receiver Chris Conley (ankle) and safety Josh Harvey-Clemons (foot) may not face the Gators. Florida, meanwhile, has seen eight players, including starting quarterback Jeff Driskel (broken leg), sidelined for the season. Both teams have lost two in a row, the first time since 1926 that the Bulldogs and Gators meet riding multiple-game losing streaks, according to ESPN Stats and Information.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS.

LINE: The Bulldogs opened as 2.5-point road faves. The total opened at 47.

WEATHER: Forecasts are calling for a 66 percent chance of rain. Wind will blow across the field at 8 mph.

ABOUT GEORGIA (4-3, 3-2 SEC): Senior quarterback Aaron Murray threw three interceptions in the first half of last year’s 17-9 victory over the Gators, but he could join Johnny Rauch and Buck Belue as the only Bulldogs quarterbacks in the past 70 years to beat Florida three times. The return of Gurley, who topped 100 yards rushing in his first two games, will bolster the Bulldogs’ already powerful offense. Georgia has allowed 30 or more points six times in seven games even though junior linebackers Ramik Wilson (second) and Amarlo Herrera (fifth) rank in the top five in the SEC in tackles.

ABOUT FLORIDA (4-3, 3-2): Freshman running back Kelvin Taylor gave the Gators a boost against Missouri in Florida's last game, rushing for 74 yards and scoring his first career touchdown. But Florida comes in ranked 103rd nationally in scoring at 21.1 points and mustered just 151 yards of total offense against Missouri, as junior quarterback Tyler Murphy has struggled since taking over for Driskel. The Gators’ hopes lie with a defense that is eighth nationally in points allowed per game (16.3), but Florida was torched for 500 yards and 36 points against the Tigers.

TRENDS:

* Favorite is 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
* Under is 5-2 in the last seven meetings in Florida.
* Bulldogs are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 meetings in Florida.
* Gators are 1-8 ATS in their last nine games in November.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Georgia and Florida face off unranked for the second time in four years, after at least one team was ranked every year since 1979.

2. Florida’s three losses all have come on the road against teams now ranked in the top 15 (No. 6 Miami, No. 10 Missouri, No. 13 LSU).

3. The Bulldogs have won the past two meetings with Florida; Georgia has not beaten the Gators three consecutive years since 1987-89.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Saturday's CFL action: What bettors need to know

Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (+2, 52)

After clinching home-field advantage in the East Semifinal with last week’s victory, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats close their regular season with a visit to the lowly Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday. Hamilton has defeated the Blue Bombers three times this season, including a 37-18 rout at Investors Group Field, where Winnipeg is just 1-7. The Tiger-Cats, led by quarterback Henry Burris and running back C.J. Gable, have a 7-2 record against East Division opponents and have won three of their last four games.

The Blue Bombers are beginning to look towards next season, assessing which players they will hang onto as they try to rebuild from a dismal 2013 campaign. Mike Sims-Walker, a recent addition to Winnipeg’s receiving corps, provided reason for hope with a solid debut performance (eight catches, 137 yards), but the question of who will be throwing the ball to him next year remains unanswered. Quarterback Max Hall will start for the Blue Bombers on Saturday, but a completion percentage under 60 and nine interceptions to nine touchdown throws, Hall’s position for next season is tenuous at best.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (9-8): Kick-returner Brandon Banks was named special teams player of the week after recording 210 combined return yards, including a 107-yard missed field goal return touchdown. Burris is 212 passing yards short of reaching 5,000 for the second straight season and third time in his CFL career. Of bigger concern for Hamilton than its offence is its defence, which has just 33 sacks and has allowed a league-worst 35 passing touchdowns.

ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (3-14): Running back Will Ford’s role has increased from kick-returning to start the season and Ford is now 10 yards away from leading Winnipeg in rushing with 571 to go with 1,047 return yards. Linebacker Henoc Muamba leads the team with 97 tackles, as well as 18 special teams tackles. The Blue Bombers defence is vulnerable against the pass, allowing a league-worst eight 300-yard passing games.

TRENDS:

* Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings in Winnipeg.
* Tiger-Cats are 5-1 ATS in their last six road games.
* Blue Bombers are 1-6-1 ATS in their last eight home games.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. The Tiger-Cats and Blue Bombers are tied at the bottom of the league with 12 interceptions apiece.

2. Hamilton WR Bakari Grant is 53 receiving yards away from reaching 1,000 for the first time in his three CFL seasons.

3. Hamilton, which has played in Guelph all season, will open its new stadium next year hoping its inaugural year goes better than Winnipeg’s first season at Investors Group Field.


Edmonton Eskimos at Saskatchewan Roughriders (-4.5, 52)

Even though their season is lost, the Edmonton Eskimos would like nothing more than to end it with one win against a West Division opponent. The Eskimos will have that opportunity when they visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday. Edmonton is 0-9 against divisional foes and is mired in a five-game losing skid, while Saskatchewan has defeated the Eskimos all three times the teams have faced each other this year.

The Roughriders are stumbling into the playoffs with a 3-5 record in their last eight games, raising questions about their mental toughness following a franchise-best 8-0 start to the year. Defensive back Dwight Anderson went so far as to claim “Calgary sucks” after the Stampeders defeated Saskatchewan last week to secure top spot in the West Division, which seemed like the Roughriders’ to lose not too long ago. Anderson and Saskatchewan’s league-best defence will need to play its best in the playoffs, and it will have a perfect opportunity to build confidence against Edmonton’s inconsistent offence.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (3-14): Slotback Adarius Bowman is in top form after returning from a knee injury suffered last year, recording 199 receiving yards last week - the most by any receiver this season. “It would’ve been a lot better to be talking about it if we got the win, but personally it feels good. Just to know the leg is doing good,” Bowman said after the game. Despite missing most of the season, Bowman is only behind slotback Fred Stamps for the team receiving yards lead.

ABOUT THE ROUGHRIDERS (11-6): Quarterback Darian Durant reached 4,000 passing yards for the third time in his career while also setting a new career-high with 31 touchdown tosses, throwing 16 of them to slotbacks Chris Getzlaf and Weston Dressler, both of whom have caught over 1,000 yards this season. Running back Kory Sheets is 201 rushing yards behind Jon Cornish of the Stampeders for the league-lead. Saskatchewan is 8-0 this season when Sheets rushes for more than 100 yards in a game.

TRENDS:

* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Eskimos are 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
* Eskimos are 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall.
* Under is 6-0 in Roughriders last six games overall.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Stamps leads the league with 1,259 receiving yards.

2. Saskatchewan is 6-2 at home.

3. The Eskimos have won at least four games every season since joining the CFL in 1949.

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English Breakfast: Premier League betting cheat sheet

Saturday's Premier League fixture list is highlighted by Arsenal hosting Liverpool. The Gunners top the table with 22 points, but the Reds are nipping at their heels with 20.

We talk to Aron Black of Bet365 to see where the actions is on some of the hotter fixtures.

Newcastle v Chelsea (+500, +320, -163)

Why bet Newcastle: The Magpies must play with a chip on their shoulder after a gut-wrenching loss to rivals Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear Derby. Newcastle is a quality side that has been competitive in each match since the 4-0 defeat at Man City on opening day.

Key players out/doubtful: Fabricio Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Jonás Gutiérrez

Why bet Chelsea: Incredible stretch of performances from the Blues. They defeated Arsenal 2-0 in Capital One Cup action midweek, defeated Man City 2-1 last weekend, and thumped a totally overmatched Schalke side in Champions League last week. This team is flying.

Key players out/doubtful: Marco van Ginkel

2012-13 fixture result: Newcastle 3, Chelsea 2

Key betting note: The Blues have kept just three clean sheets in their last 12 EPL away games.

Where the action is: "Action so far is loving the Blues, with the bulk of full-time result plays on them, with Newcastle and the Draw currently being well swerved. Chelsea boast a high scoring midfield, and with Torres finding some form in other competitions, the Magpies could be in for a long day."

Fulham v Manchester United (+550, +320, -175)

Why bet Fulham: The Cottagers found a bit of quality with back-to-back wins before losing 2-0 at Southampton last week. They must collect points here with a trip away to Liverpool looming. If not, they'll find themselves back around the bottom of the table.

Key players out/doubtful: Hugo Rodallega, Matthew Briggs

Why bet Manchester United: Though the results aren't reminiscent of United sides of years past, the Red Devils have collected seven points in their last three matches and maybe rounding into form under David Moyes. Can we gush anymore over Adnan Januzaj? The 18-year-old is destined to become the next legend at Old Trafford.

Key players out/doubtful: Danny Welbeck, Darren Fletcher

2012-13 fixture result: Fulham 0, Manchester United 1

Key betting note: Fulham has lost five-straight matches against United in the Premier League.

Hull v Sunderland (+115, +240, +280)

Why bet Hull: The Tigers are easily the cream of the newly-promoted crop in the Premier League. Despite back-to-back defeats, they sit 10th in the table and were unlucky in both of their recent losses. They held Spurs scoreless before an untimely handball in the area led to Spurs' victory.

Key players out/doubtful: Robbie Brady, Alex Bruce, James Chester, Allan McGregor, Danny Graham

Why bet Sunderland: There will not be a more confident side in the league. The Black Cats defeated Newcastle which, to many Sunderland supporters, is akin to winning the title. It has been a rough start, but Sunderland has good players and perhaps those players are responding to Gus Poyet more than they were under Paolo Di Canio. This could be a turning point in the north east.

Key players out/doubtful: Wes Brown

2012-13 fixture result: N/A

Key betting note: Of teams in the top half of the table, Hull has the fewest goals scored with seven.

Manchester City v Norwich (-500, +650, +1700)

Why bet City: City's two game winning streak came to a halt due to an atrocious late Chelsea goal last weekend. They'll look to bounce back with the awful Canaries in town, and score goals by the boatload in doing so. They do lead the league in goals (21) after all.

Key players out/doubtful: Steven Jovetic

Why bet Norwich: What is Norwich? After a promising 2012-13 season, the Canaries have been dreadful to start the new campaign. They spent liberally on striker help, bringing in Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Gary Hooper but are at the bottom in goals with just six. They've taken just four points from a possible 18 and have looked awful in doing so. The Canaries did, however, win at City last season and are the only club to have beaten Southampton this season. There is still reason to believe in this side.

Key players out/doubtful: Alexander Tettey, Elliott Bennett, Robert Snodgrass

2012-13 fixture result: Manchester City 2, Norwich 3

Key betting note: City forward Sergio Agüero has netted four goals in three EPL starts versus the Canaries.

Stoke v Southampton (+230, +230, +140)

Why bet Stoke: The Potters were awfully close to defeating Man United at Old Trafford last weekend and can take a lot of positives from that game. The side has only allowed two goals in their four home matches this season, losing just once.

Key players out/doubtful: Robert Huth

Why bet Southampton: Because this is the toughest defense to crack in the league. Through nine matches, the Saints have allowed just three goals and sit fifth in the table in a dream start to their season.

Key players out/doubtful: Guly

2012-13 fixture result: Stoke 3, Southampton 3

Key betting note: Southampton has five clean sheets in its previous six EPL matches.

Where the action is: "At no point in recent history would Southampton go to the Brittannia Stadium and be +140 faves, but given the form of the teams its hard to argue the prices. With the lack of goals from Stoke, as well as their own very decent home defensive record of only two goals conceded, and Southampton's ability to keep teams from scoring against them, the over/under 2.5 goals is priced at +140 for the over and -188 for the under, there are not going to be many games where the over 2.5 is available at +140."

West Brom v Crystal Palace (-182, +320, +600)

Why bet West Brom: Because Crystal Palace is a terrible, terrible football team.

Key players out/doubtful: Zoltán Gera, Ben Foster, George Thorne

Why bet Crystal Palace: In the hopes that the old adage "even a broken clock is right twice a day" is indeed true. Maybe, just maybe, the Eagles get their stuff together and perform like a Premier League club under caretaker Keith Millen. Because they were abysmal under Ian Holloway.

Key players out/doubtful: Patrick McCarthy, Glenn Murray, Jack Hunt, Jonathan Williams

2012-13 fixture result: N/A

Key betting note: Palace has lost their last six Premier League matches.

West Ham v Aston Villa (+125, +250, +240)

Why bet West Ham: The Hammers will be happy after collecting a point in Wales following a 0-0 draw with Swansea. They are one of the better defensive units in the league and have allowed just eight goals thus far.

Key players out/doubtful: Alou Diarra, Ricardo Vaz Te, Matthew Taylor, Andy Carroll, James Collins

Why bet Aston Villa: It has been a tough run for the Villains, losers of two straight and toiling in 14th after beating clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City this season. But you get that with young teams. Inconsistency. They have showed they are capable of beating anyone, but also losing to anyone as well.

Key players out/doubtful: Jores Okore, Charles N'Zogbia, Antonio Luna, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Joe Bennett

2012-13 fixture result: West Ham 1, Aston Villa 0

Key betting note: West Ham has four wins, seven draws and just two defeats in the last 13 meetings with Villa at Upton Park.

Arsenal v Liverpool (+130, +250, +230)

Why bet Arsenal: Gunners skeptics cite the fact that they've played just one top-eight team thus far in the season, but what else is the club supposed to do? They are winning when they need to win. Save for a tough match versus Dortmund in Champions League and a loss to Chelsea midweek in the Capital One Cup, they've lost just once all season - to Aston Villa in the opening fixture of the season. This is a side that deserves to be atop the table. For now.

Key players out/injured: Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lukas Podolski, Abou Diaby

Why bet Liverpool: Because this side is beyond potent with Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge leading the line. The goals they scored last weekend against a helpless West Brom side were all of the highest quality. Rodgers' experiment of starting three CB's in a 3-5-2 has fared well and there is no reason to stop. Clogging the midfield against Arsenal's playmakers is a good idea, especially with pacey CB's Kolo Touré and Mamadou Sakho able to cover any errors.

Key players out/doubtful: Iago Aspas, José Enrique, Sebastián Coates

2012-13 fixture result: Arsenal 2, Liverpool 2

Key betting note: Arsenal and Liverpool have drawn in seven of their previous 12 meetings.

Where the action is: "This match sees over 2.5 goals at -154 with under 2.5 at +120. This price will probably not last, as one of the most popular plays on the match is over 2.5 goals, so those considering backing it should probably look to back it sooner than later. First Goalscorer market sees Suarez and Sturridge both getting backed as +500 faves."

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Dave Essler

3* Missouri/Tenn Under

3* Iowa

2* Boston College

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Stephen Nover

315 Clemson/316 Virginia OVER triple-dime bet

364 Indiana double-dime bet

329 Pittsburgh single-dime bet

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Green sheet:
5 S Carolina
4 WV
3 VT
2 Wisc
2 Fl St
1 Akron
1 Marshall

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Spreitzer Conference Shocker- Tennessee

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Spreitzer Conf Blockbuster GOM- Arizona