Bet College Football

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. VA Tech Hokies Betting Preview
2010-11-05

Sportsbook.com College Football Betting Odds: Virginia Tech -13, Total: 56

Virginia Tech goes for its seventh straight win (SU and ATS) when it hosts Georgia Tech on Thursday night. The Hokies have outscored their past six opponents 250-106 and are 13-3 ATS (15-1 SU) in the past four Novembers. The Jackets won last year’s meeting 28-23 despite only one completed pass (in seven pass attempts), as GT rushed for 309 yards and four touchdowns. QB Josh Nesbitt had three of those scores.

Georgia Tech has sustained its rushing prowess this year with a nation-leading 317.4 rushing yards per game. RB Anthony Allen (87 rush YPG, 5 TD) and Nesbitt (81 rush YPG, 8 TD) have combined for 62 percent of the team’s carries. The Yellow Jackets have the second-fewest pass attempts (105) and passing yards (678) in the nation, ahead of only Army. The defense has been adequate in terms of yardage, ranked 53rd in nation with 354 YPG allowed, but it has been better against the pass (192 YPG).

Virginia Tech has been a beast in conference play, posting a 26-12 ATS record (68%) over the past five seasons against ACC opponents. QB Tyrod Taylor is the main reason the Hokies have won six in a row. He has 12 TD and just two interceptions during the win streak and has also chipped in two 100-yard rushing games and three rushing touchdowns. RB Ryan Williams finally returned to the field last week after missing four games, but only had six carries in the 44-7 win over Duke. Williams is expected to see more action on Thursday, which makes sense considering he rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries against the Yellow Jackets last year.

The underdog is 4-0 ATS (3-1 SU) in the past four series meetings, but the these two college football betting trends support the Hokies covering the point spread.

Play On - A home team (VIRGINIA TECH) - dominant team (outgain opp. by 1.2+ YPP) against an average team (+/- 0.6 YPP), after gaining 6.75 or more yards/play in 2 consecutive games. (50-20 since 1992.) (71.4%, +28 units. Rating = 3*).

VIRGINIA TECH is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) after 2 consecutive covers as a favorite over the last 2 seasons. The average score was VIRGINIA TECH 42.7, OPPONENT 16.6 - (Rating = 2*).

For ‘total’ bettors, these two betting trends point towards the ‘over’ cashing.

Play Over - All teams where the total is between 49.5 and 56 (VIRGINIA TECH) - after beating the spread by 21 or more points total in their last three games, in November games. (68-30 over the last 5 seasons.) (69.4%, +35 units. Rating = 3*).

Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson is 16-3 OVER (+12.7 Units) after 1 or more consecutive straight up losses in all games he has coached since 1992. The average score was Johnson 31.8, OPPONENT 27.4 - (Rating = 3*).

Now that you have all of the key numbers for tonight’s game, head over to Sportsbook.com to bet on college football.

California favored as mystery team
2009-12-23

Good luck in trying to figure out the California Bears this season. If you haven’t yet, don’t press, they only have one game left, as they look to close what has been an up-and-down season in “up” fashion when they take on Utah in the Poinsettia Bowl from San Diego. Cal has somewhat of a home field advantage playing just down the coast, but that hasn’t stopped more bettors (53%) from backing the Utes as 2.5-point underdogs, according to Sportsbook.com.

Preseason publications were correct in saying USC was vulnerable and Cal and Oregon were the two teams thought to be most capable of being Pac-10 champions. After a 3-0 start, the Bears were declawed by Oregon and USC by combined scores of 72-6 and were shown to be overrated. California (8-4, 6-6 ATS) regrouped and won five of next six, including an incredibly impressive 34-28 victory over rival Stanford at their place. With a chance to finish the season at least feeling good about themselves and earn Sun Bowl bid, what does Cal do, get whacked by Washington 42-10, dropping them to this pre-Christmas bowl in San Diego. California is 3-13 ATS after a game where they forced no turnovers.

Everyone following the Utah football program agrees this year’s 9-3 record is a long way away from last season’s 13-0 and final No.2 ranking. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t a successful campaign in Salt Lake City, since it was only Utah’s eighth nine-win season all-time. This has become a very stable football program under coach Kyle Whittingham, being able to possibly win 10 games after undefeated year, despite only four retuning offensive starters. Word out of Utah campus is the Utes (5-7 ATS) have quickly moved beyond overtime loss to astringent rival BYU and looks forward to the challenge of taking on a Pac-10 club, always a point of emphasis for Mountain West schools. Give Utah time to prepare and they are rugged opponent, with 24-10 ATS record when playing with two weeks or more of rest over the last 17 years.

Because of the matchup, this bowl shows up as a respectable 14th in our rankings. California was 3-3 SU and ATS against teams participating in bowls. Utah is 2-3 with only one cover vs. competition also playing in the postseason. The Bears are 10-8-1 as bowlers with 5-6 ATS record and this marks the sixth straight time they are favorites (2-3 ATS). The Utes are uber-bowlers with 11-3 record (9-3 ATS), which includes eight straight triumphs (6-2 ATS). They are sparkling 6-1 ATS as underdogs. The favorite has won all four Poinsettia Bowls, with a .500 spread record.

Both teams will be intent on stopping the other team’s running game, led by backup pigskin-totters. Cal has Shane Vareen in for Jahvid Best, who’s been unable to overcome concussion issues. Utah wants to force QB Kevin Riley to beat them and their defense is capable, since they are 11-2 ATS after allowing 275 or less total yards in consecutive games.

The Utes lost stud ball-carrier in Matt Aiata, however his replacement Eddie Wide ran for over 1,000 yards and scored 12 touchdowns, starting the last seven games of the season. California wants to see if true freshman quarterback Jordan Wynn handles a little Pac-10 pressure. Utah coaches might go max protection in obvious passing situations since the Bears were 108th in the nation in pass defense, allowing 260.9 yards per game, with 17 TD passes.

Sportsbook.com has California as three-point favorites, with total of 52. The Bears have shown their trustworthiness in this exact situation under coach Jeff Tedford with 4-13 ATS record when the line is +3 to -3, losing by 4.1 points a game. Cal is 10-2 UNDER after a game with a turnover margin of -2 or worse. Besides their dumbfounding bowl streak, Utah is 15-2 UNDER away from home after two or more consecutive wins against the spread, winning by six points per game.

ESPN will televise this confrontation from San Diego starting at 8 Eastern. The StatFox Power Line indicates this game should be a Pick em’.

CFB: MAC Title Game has Big Favorite
2009-12-04

All season long, Central Michigan (10-2, 9-2 ATS) has gone about its business in a diligent manner. Picked to win the Mid-American Conference for the third time in four years, often other teams would have fallen under the weight of expectations, not this bunch. CMU will try to wrap the league title vs. Ohio U on Friday night in Detroit. The Chippewas are a heavy 13-point favorite at Sportsbook.com but that hasn’t stopped 80% of bettors from putting their faith in them.

The Chippewas are 8-0 and 6-2 ATS in conference action and upset Michigan State and gave Arizona a competitive game, covering the spread at Tucson in the season opener. All along this journey, Dan LeFevour has proven to a special college quarterback and is now MAC’s all-time leader in passing yards, breaking quarterback Byron Leftwich’s record and is now third all-time on the NCAA yardage list. Central Michigan’s return to prominence after 8-5 season coincided with defense coming together. The Chippewas are 18-10-1 against the spread as conference favorites the last five seasons.

Ohio U. tumbled Temple from the ranks of the unbeaten in the MAC last week and captured the East Division title 35-17, ending the Owls nine-game winning streak. Quarterback Theo Scott threw three touchdowns and ran for two more, setting up 2006 rematch for conference championship. The Bobcats (9-3, 7-4 ATS) offense has clicked the last few weeks, averaging 33.3 points per game, after scoring 19.5 PPG against lesser MAC competition in four prior games. Ohio U. arrives in Detroit with four-game winning streak and is 18-8 ATS off one or more wins the last five years.

Central Michigan finished first in the conference in points allowed at 17.8 and second in total defense at 331 yards per game surrendered. Defensive end Frank Zombo said “It hurt last year to be ranked near the bottom in team defense, - he added, “That’s why we missed the championship game, and we had to watch it on TV. That’s what motivated us in the offseason. We didn’t want to be on our couches watching the game again.”

The Chippewas may have a decided edge over Ohio U. if they get into the red zone. Central Michigan held opponents to a 73 percent scoring rate inside the 20-yard line, while the Bobcats ranks 106th in red zone scoring, and beggarly 114th in red zone touchdown percentage.

Sportsbook.com has Ohio U. as a 13-point underdog at Ford Field, with total of 53. The Bobcats realize the hill they have to climb, but have a much improved secondary since the last time these teams met and have forced FBS-best 35 turnovers this season.

“You want to be the best, you have to beat the best,” senior WR Taylor Price said. “We get that chance.”

Creating turnovers will be huge for the Ohio since they are 8-1 ATS if they have the opponent commit at least two miscues. Oddmakers are setting a scoring pace CMU signal caller Dan LeFevour is very comfortable at, with 9-2 ATS record when the total is between 49.5 and 56.

Central Michigan has defeated Ohio three consecutive times (2-0-1 ATS), including 31-28 at Athens, OH last year and in MAC Championship 31-10 three years ago.

ESPN2 has the MAC title game at 8:00 Eastern. Sportsbook.com has the wagering action covered, although, there might be a slight overpricing, as the StatFox Power Line shows Central Michigan by 10 only.

CFB: Arizona State at Oregon (10:15 PM ET, ESPN)
2009-11-13

Oregon’s slip last week at Stanford left it no room for error in the quest to be the 2009 Pac-10 champion. The Ducks will return home this week when they host an Arizona State team that gave USC all it could last week. It seems that oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com cannot set a line high enough for players on this contest, as an opening price of -16 has moved to -18 under the pressure of 93% support from bettors.

The Ducks (7-2, 6-3 ATS) look to continue their march towards a Pac-10 title and have games at Arizona and vs. Oregon State left on the slate. Oregon’s seven game winning streak ended last week at Stanford with a foul defensive performance. The offense is hardly a duck out of water, averaging over 40 points a game in conference action, including the 24 against UCLA when quarterback Jeremiah Masoli was out with knee injury. Opposing teams have much to fear, as one Pac-10 coach said about the Ducks offense after watching the USC massacre. “The execution was at the highest level I’ve ever seen someone run the spread option attack,”

Another aspect is the athleticism of the Oregon defense, which is evident watching them play (when motivated) and fly around to the ball. It’s no wonder they are 28-11 ATS when they allow 15 to 21 points. Incidentally, the StatFox Game Estimator pegs the Sun Devils for 19 in this one.

Folks in Tempe are showing signs of restlessness after three straight Pac-10 losses and a 2-5 record since starting 2-0. Injuries have been a big factor for a squad lacking any real depth. Rumors are circulating that Dennis Erickson has a coaching staff littered with too many cronies and not enough younger energetic types that can recruit and keep the players fired up. Erickson is also calling the offense and questionable clock management has surfaced in different games, with many believing the head coach’s plate is too full. The defense is well above average (15th in total defense); however they will have to be uncommonly extraordinary to slow Oregon. The Sun Devils are a pale 8-18-2 ATS as a conference club catching points.

Oregon has oppressed Arizona State (4-3 ATS) in the last four meetings, winning and covering each time, with average differential of 24 points a contest. These two schools have averaged 64 points per game the last three years.

The StatFox Power Line shows Oregon by 20, meaning Sportsbook may have to boost the number up above that figure to even out is betting action before kickoff. Be patient if you plan on taking the underdog for this late night contest.

CFB: East Carolina at Memphis Betting Preview
2009-10-27

It hasn’t been quite the season East Carolina envisioned; however a victory at Memphis keeps the Pirates on track to defend their title as Conference USA champions. The Pirates (4-3, 2-4 ATS) are tied for first place in the East Division with Marshall and Southern Miss at 3-1 and take control, at least for the time being, with a win. ECU is a 4-point favorite at last check and backed by well over 90% of bettors at Sportsbook.com.

East Carolina hopes their 49 points against Rice has them going in the right direction offensively, since they rank fifth in points scored (25.1) and are eighth in total offense (329.9) in the league. Quarterback Patrick Pinkney has been uneven performer all season in terms of passing. Despite a veteran offensive line, East Carolina has averaged just 3.7 yards per carry against opponents allowing 4.1. The Pirates are only 1-3 SU as visitors this season and 2-9 ATS in road games over the last two seasons.

Memphis (2-5, SU&ATS) has moved the ball better than the number of points they’ve scored on the season and will need to improve that situation promptly with daunting slate the rest of the year. The Tigers rank sixth in total offense in C-USA play, however are merely ninth in scoring at 21.4 points per game.

Quarterback injuries and ineffectiveness have again limited what coach Tommy West would like to do at Memphis. A great example of moving the ball without scoring was last contest against Southern Miss. In spite of 425-360 edge in total yards, Memphis lost 36-16 as 14.5-point underdogs. The Tigers are 1-4-1 ATS in non-Saturday games.

Sportsbook.com has East Carolina as four-point road favorites, despite 0-6 ATS mark in road games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last three seasons. The Pirates will look to force miscues and are in the Top 20 in turnovers forced with 17. They will need to be consistent on offense and keep tallying scores since Memphis red zone defense is laughable, with opposing teams have scored 25 of 27 trips.

For the Tigers, it’s about scoring touchdowns and ringing up 30 or more points. If Memphis can reach 30-point plateau, they are 8-3 ATS. That means passing and running the ball effectively. They are 0-6 ATS when they rush for 100 to 150 yards over the last two seasons. Memphis has struggled mightily with East Carolina, with 4-8 SU record and 1-11 ATS, failing to cover last seven in a row.

Coach Skip Holtz has his father Lou in town, along with Rece Davis and Mark May to do the game on ESPN2 at 8 Eastern. With Memphis still having road games at Tennessee, at Houston and at Tulsa, this might be a conference game to give sharp effort and they are 8-1 ATS after Southern Miss and 8-4 ATS as home underdogs under coach West.

The StatFox Power Line says ECU by 6, so perhaps Sportsbook needs to bump the line up a bit by kickoff.