College Football Week 10: Predictions Against the Spread
Week 10 of the college football season is just around the corner and several inciting spreads await the gambling hound in all of us.
Last week, a 9-10-1 week continued a disappointing trend of losing weekends.
This weekend, a shorter slate will hopefully remove some of these hideous losses and improve that overall record just a tad.
Let us take a gander at what is ahead and pick a few winners against these always-difficult spread.
No. 1 Oregon (-29) Vs. Washington
1 of 17
With Jake Locker ruled out of this game, Washington has an ice cube’s chances in hell of coming out of Autzen with a win.
Oregon’s unbelievably fast offense should run circles around these inept Huskies. The Ducks win this one in a murderous blowout.
Pick: Oregon -29
No. 2 Boise State (-21.5) Vs. Hawaii
2 of 17
Over its past five home games, Boise State has failed to cover the spread four times. The Broncos have also not covered a spread against Hawaii on the blue turf since 2004.
Hawaii has covered five of its last six games away from the islands and should be able to keep this game close.
Pick: Hawaii +21.5
No. 4 TCU (-5.5) @ No. 6 Utah
3 of 17
This is, by far, the most interesting game of the week.
TCU’s top-ranked defense (8.7 p/g) and ninth-ranked offense (40.8 p/g) tussle with Utah’s third-ranked offense (45.3 p/g) and sixth-ranked defense (14.1 p/g)
The differences between these teams are miniscule. This one will be close, so take the points.
Pick: Utah +5.5
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 5 Alabama (-6.5) @ No. 12 LSU
4 of 17
LSU finally stumbled last week against Auburn and the thread could completely unravel this weekend.
Since 2005, Alabama is 3-0-2 ATS against LSU.
Although the Tide has rebounded from the South Carolina tumble, it will need a convincing win against the Tigers to keep its National Championship arguments alive.
Pick: Alabama -6.5
No. 7 Wisconsin (-20) @ Purdue
5 of 17
While Wisconsin has covered its last two lines, a three-touchdown victory against a FBS school doesn’t seem to be in these Badgers’ repertoire.
Purdue got smoked the past two weeks on the road, but some nice home cooking should help them keep this spread within reach.
Pick: Purdue +20
No. 9 Nebraska (-19) @ Iowa State
6 of 17
Nebraska will be seeking revenge after last season’s pathetic loss to Iowa State.
A huge win against Missouri could mean a thorough dismantling of the Cyclones is in store.
Iowa State has struggled against Top 10 teams this season, falling to Oklahoma (52-0) and Utah (68-27) earlier this season. Another meltdown against Nebraska is highly likely.
Pick: Nebraska -19
No. 10 Stanford (-8.5) Vs. No. 13 Arizona
7 of 17
Don’t look now, but Stanford’s offense is ranked fifth in the FBS (42.4 p/g).
Arizona’s defense isn’t exactly chopped liver, either (14.1 p/g).
The Bearcats offense should be able to hang in a shootout, but a two-touchdown spread seems doable for Andrew Luck and the Cardinal’s sneakily explosive offense.
Pick: Stanford -8.5
No. 11 Oklahoma (-3.5) @ Texas A&M
8 of 17
Oklahoma has a strangle hold on this yearly matchup, winning seven straight and covering the last three spreads.
A 3.5-point line seems abnormally low, but the Aggies talented offense is completely capable of keeping this game close.
Oklahoma should prove to be the better team, though, winning by a touchdown late.
Pick: Oklahoma -3.5
No. 14 Missouri (-5.5) @ Texas Tech
9 of 17
After a humbling loss to Nebraska last week, Missouri remains on the road to get things back on track against pass-happy Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders rank seventh in passing yards (316.8 y/g), but their 98th-ranked defense (32.6 p/g) reeks like month old garbage.
Missouri will win, but it won’t run away with it.
Pick: Missouri -5.5
No. 15 Iowa (-17) @ Indiana
10 of 17
Following the floor mopping of No. 5 Michigan State, Iowa is in prime position to annihilate Indiana.
The Hoosiers have yet to win a Big Ten game this season. While their passing game ranks in the Top 10 (312.9 y/g), the rest of their team should struggle immensely against these much more powerful Hawkeyes.
Pick: Iowa -17
No. 16 Michigan State (-24) Vs. Minnesota
11 of 17
Minnesota has been the laughing stock of the Big Ten this season, winning only one game and losing four of its five conference games by at least 11 points.
Michigan State can’t feel good after last week’s complete breakdown. Expect the Spartans to rebound, taking out its frustrations on the Gophers.
Pick: Michigan State -24
No. 17 Arkansas @ No. 18 South Carolina (-3)
12 of 17
Arkansas’s second ranked passing offense (360.3 y/g) squares off against South Carolina’s dismal passing defense (ranked 105th with 259 y/g).
However, the Razorbacks have not fared well against ranked teams this season (0-2). South Carolina’s offense can keep up with Arkansas and will win this game by a touchdown.
Pick: South Carolina -3
No. 19 Oklahoma State (-7) Vs. No. 22 Baylor
13 of 17
Last week, Baylor snapped a 12-game losing streak to Texas, proving that these aren’t the Bears that the Big 12 is used to stomping on.
Baylor will continue to turn heads this week.
Oklahoma State’s up-tempo offense (45.3 p/g) certainly has the weapons to stay with Baylor’s Robert Griffin, but there seems to be something undeniably special about the Bears this year.
Pick: Baylor +7
No. 20 Virginia Tech (-14) Vs. Georgia Tech
14 of 17
Both Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech are not inclined to throw the ball too often, which could be a problem for the Yellow Jackets shaky rush defense (162.2 y/g).
However, the Yellow Jackets' top-ranked rushing offense (317.4 y/g) also tangles with a mediocre Virginia Tech rush defense (136.0 y/g), making this game closer than people think.
Pick: Georgia Tech +14
No. 23 North Carolina State @ Clemson -3
15 of 17
North Carolina State’s upset of Florida State last week parlayed with Clemson loss to Boston College make this line a little fishy at first glance.
Although the Wolfpack has not won in Clemson in eight years, Russell Wilson’s command of his offense seems leaps and bounds better than whichever QB the Tigers decide to start, which should reverse this trend.
Pick: North Carolina State +3
No. 24 Florida State (-10) Vs. North Carolina
16 of 17
North Carolina’s only win against Florida State came in Chapel Hill. Unfortunately, this game is in Florida
The Seminoles are still reeling from last week’s upset loss to NC State and should come out firing. They could completely dismantle UNC just like Miami did a few weeks prior.
Pick: Florida State -10
No. 25 Nevada (-12) @ Idaho
17 of 17
While Colin Kaepernick and Nevada’s offense continues to put up impressive numbers, a question mark has to be raised about their unstable defense.
Idaho’s passing game ranks fourth in the FBS (338.3 y/g) and should do a number on Nevada’s unstable passing defense (ranked 104th with 258.0 y/g).
Nevada should win, but the Vandals keep it within 10 points.
Pick: Idaho +12
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
