College Football Picks Against the Spread Week 10: Breaking Down Top 25 Lines
The Oregon Ducks, the Auburn Tigers, the TCU Horned Frogs and the Wisconsin Badgers are just some of the many Top 25 teams in action for Week 10.
Players like LaMichael James, Cam Newton and Andrew Luck will all be looking to augment their Heisman hopes and push their teams toward big bowl games.
It's a pivotal week in the college football season, and now it's time to pick some winners.
To better understand the matchups this week, it's important to take a look at the Las Vegas lines and try to determine the outcomes against the spread.
Click ahead and you'll find analysis for all games involving Top 25 teams!
No. 25 North Carolina State Wolfpack (+3.5) at Clemson Tigers (-3.5)
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Clemson has beaten NC State in six straight meetings, so there's good reason for the unranked Tigers to be considered home favorites in this matchup.
That being said, the Wolfpack netted a huge win last week against the Florida State Seminoles, and they aren't ready to give up the ground gained in the standings last week with a poor effort in Clemson, SC.
Look for Russell Wilson to will the team to victory behind the strength of his arm and his legs.
NC State 28, Clemson 24
North Carolina Tar Heels (+10) at No. 24 Florida State Seminoles (-10)
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The Tar Heels have basically been a disappointment this year, while the Seminoles are showing a lot of people why they were so excited to begin the Jimbo Fisher era. North Carolina has been decimated by suspensions due to NCAA violations, and it hasn't helped their record.
Last year Christian Ponder threw for 395 yards and three touchdowns against the Tar Heels and coming off last week's tough loss to NC State, he will be out for redemption.
The Tar Heels are 10 point 'dogs for a reason, though I expect them to cover the spread. But that's it.
Florida State 35, North Carolina 28
No. 23 Nevada Wolf Pack (-10.5) at Idaho Vandals (+10.5)
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There's an upset alert in Moscow, ID this week as the Vandals welcome the Wolf Pack to town.
Last week, the Wolf Pack defense looked abysmal as they gave up 42 second half points to Utah State. The week before, they lost to Hawaii in a game that knocked them from the ranks of the undefeated.
Idaho's passing offense is one of the best in the country at 365.1 YPG. I expect the Vandals to not only cover the spread, but also to win outright. I hope those goalposts are safely secured!
Idaho 52, Nevada 48
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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+12) at No. 22 Virginia Tech Hokies (-12)
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Since starting the season with two tough losses against Boise State and James Madison, the Hokies have been rolling. Tyrod Taylor has been playing great, having thrown 15 touchdowns to only three interceptions.
Georgia Tech's No. 1 rushing attack will be slowed by wet and sloppy conditions in Blacksburg, VA, and the Hokies will come out on top, covering the spread.
Virginia Tech 24, Georgia Tech 10
No. 18 Arkansas Razorbacks (+4) at No. 19 South Carolina Gamecocks (-4)
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Steve Spurrier has his Gamecocks playing great football and they have a chance to appear in their first SEC Championship Game. Though they can lose this game and still clinch the East division crown next week against the Florida Gators, Steve Spurrier is not one to give games away.
Stephen Garcia and Marcus Lattimore will lead South Carolina to victory, though the Razorbacks, behind the arm of Ryan Mallett, will cover the spread.
South Carolina 30, Arkansas 27
No. 21 Baylor Bears (+7.5) at No. 17 Oklahoma State Cowboys (-7.5)
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Justin Blackmon is the best receiver in college football, averaging 158.9 receiving yards per game to go along with 14 touchdown grabs. He's leading the FBS in touchdown catches despite missing last week's game against Kansas St. due to a DUI arrest.
His skill will be too much for the Baylor defense to overcome, and the Cowboys will win big. While both offenses are prolific, the Bears are second to the Cowboys in nearly ever category.
Baylor will go down this week and fail to cover the spread.
Oklahoma State 45, Baylor 35
No. 16 Iowa Hawkeyes (-17) at Indiana Hoosiers (+17)
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Ricky Stanzi and the Iowa Hawkeyes may be out of National Championship contention, but they still have their sights set on the Rose Bowl.
They certainly aren't going to let a lowly Hoosier team stand between them and Pasadena.
Adam Robinson will be unstoppable against the porous Indiana defense. The Hoosiers will still be looking for their first Big Ten win after this weekend, and the Hawkeyes will win big.
Iowa 27, Indiana 9
Minnesota Golden Gophers (+24) at No. 14 Michigan State Spartans (-24)
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The Spartans are 24-point favorites, and even that seems generous to the Golden Gophers. The Spartans are coming off a crushing defeat at the hands of Iowa, which essentially dashed any chance they had at the National Championship game.
They'll be looking to exact revenge on the lowly Golden Gophers; expect Kirk Cousins to come out firing against the weak secondary of Minnesota. Sparty will cover the spread and then some.
Michigan State 42, Minnesota 7
No. 15 Arizona Wildcats (+9.5) at No. 13 Stanford Cardinal (-9.5)
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Inexplicably, the Cardinal are favored by 9.5 points in a game against a comparable conference rival.
Don't get me wrong, I expect Andrew Luck to continue his dominance and run towards the Heisman Trophy/Buffalo Bills, but there's no way they win by more than three field goals.
The Wildcats are a good team with one of the best passing offenses in the country. Expect them to keep this game close, but come up just short in the end.
Stanford 21, Arizona 17
No. 12 Missouri Tigers (-4) at Texas Tech Red Raiders (+4)
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Last week, the Missouri Tigers were stymied by the staunch defense of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and their National Championship dreams may be all but gone.
Luckily, this week they'll be going up against the sieve-like defense of the Red Raiders. Texas Tech boasts a seriously good offense, but they'll be no match for a Tiger team that still hopes to win the Big 12.
The Tigers will cover the spread en route to a much-needed win.
Missouri 35, Texas Tech 30
No. 9 Wisconsin Badgers (-20) at Purdue Boilermakers (+20)
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The Purdue Boilermakers will have their hands full this week against the Badgers. Purdue has essentially no offense to speak of, which means this game won't be close.
Look for the Badger offensive line to open up huge holes for John Clay as the Badgers roll the Boilermakers and cover the spread.
Wisconsin 35, Purdue 12
No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners (-3) at Texas A&M Aggies
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If this game were in Norman, OK, there would be no question as to who would win it. The Sooners have won 35 straight at home and Bob Stoops is 71-2 all time at home.
The problem for Landry Jones and Co. is that this game is being played at Kyle Field in College Station, TX, a tough venue for any opponent. Both of these teams score around 35 PPG and let up around 20, so they're relatively equal in those metrics.
Texas A&M is coming off back-to-back wins against Kansas and Texas Tech. Look for them to continue to roll as I expect the Aggies to pull the upset and send the Sooners home losers.
Texas A&M 35, Oklahoma 31
No. 7 Nebraska Cornhuskers (-18) at Iowa State Cyclones (+18)
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Taylor Martinez and the Husker rushing attack take their talents to Ames, IA this week to face an Iowa State team that leaves much to be desired.
With last year's dreadful performance against the Cyclones far in the rear-view mirror, the Huskers will be looking to continue their climb back up the ranks with a big performance this week.
Iowa State has been outscored 155-34 against their three Top 10 opponents this year, and this week's game won't help to improve that stat.
Look for the Huskers to win, and win big as they cover the spread.
Nebraska 28, Iowa State 9
No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide (-6.5) at No. 10 LSU Tigers (+6.5)
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In what should be one of the most competitive and exciting games of the week, the Crimson Tide are traveling to Death Valley to take on the LSU Tigers.
LSU has one of the loudest stadiums and best home-field advantages in all of FBS. Despite that, I don't expect them to be able to overcome Alabama's steady offense and speedy defense.
The Tigers have won big games this season, but they've gotten pretty lucky in their victories. Luck won't be enough to beat Alabama, though I expect the Tigers to cover the spread.
Alabama 24, LSU 21
Hawaii Warriors (+21) at No. 4 Boise State Broncos (-21)
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This game features two of the highest powered offenses in the country. Hawaii actually leads the FBS in passing yards at 410 YPG, though the Broncos average more total yards per game with 515.9.
This is going to be a high scoring game, but Boise State knows that they need to remain undefeated in order to have a shot at any BCS bowl game, let alone the National Championship game.
Hawaii is the last team to beat the Broncos in the regular season, doing so in 2007. They won't experience a repeat of that this weekend, and the Broncos will win, though they won't cover.
Boise State 49, Hawaii 35
No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs (-4.5) at No. 5 Utah Utes (+4.5)
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One thing is certain about this game: The FBS will feature one less BCS-buster and one less National Championship contender following this matchup.
The Utes sport a dynamic, well-balanced offense, but they won't be able to keep up with the high-powered TCU attack.
The TCU defense is ranked No. 1 in all of FBS, and the Utes simply won't have the horses to keep up with the Horned Frogs, though Utah will cover the spread.
This game will go right down to the wire, and I expect the Horned Frogs to win it on a field goal that will sail through the uprights with zeroes on the clock.
TCU 20, Utah 19
Chattanooga Mocs at No. 2 Auburn Tigers
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There is no line available for this game, but it's pretty safe to say that the Auburn Tigers will win, and win big.
Chattanooga has never seen a player like Cam Newton and he will run all over their defense. This game won't be close at all, and Newton will probably be on the bench by sometime in the third quarter.
Auburn 45, Chattanooga 3
Washington Huskies (+35) at No. 1 Oregon Ducks (-35)
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This game will be a blowout of epic proportions. No one has been able to hang with the Ducks this season, and don't expect the Huskies to either.
LaMichael James and Darron Thomas will do whatever they want against the Huskies, a team that gives up 34.1 PPG, one of the worst marks in all of FBS.
The Huskies' best player, Jake Locker, won't even be in action. Expect the Ducks to cover the spread and win easily, as they have done all season long.
Oregon 55, Washington 14
Mike Osterberg is a student at Penn State University and a writing intern at BleacherReport.com. Follow him on twitter @Mike_Osterberg.
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