NCAA football betting: Penn State Nittany Lions @ Iowa Hawkeyes

Online Betting Odds: Iowa -7

Why To Bet On Penn State

The Nittany Lions have a stingy defense. Penn State did not allow Alabama to score any more points than the Tide did against Arkansas (24), and coordinator Tom Bradley, who has been at Joe Paterno’s side for many decades (though not for Paterno’s entire head-coaching reign in Happy Valley), is one of the best defensive minds around. Combine that reality with the fact that Iowa’s offense has struggled, and you have the recipe for a potential Penn State upset. Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi flatly failed his team in its big September game against the Arizona Wildcats in week three. Knowing that his defense is supposed to win games for Iowa, Stanzi still stumbled. He threw a pick-six in the first half which enabled Arizona to bolt to a 14-0 lead and eventually hold off the Hawkeyes, 34-27. Iowa’s offense was dormant for two and a half quarters against Arizona and took too long to get going. Iowa did tie the game at 27 due to a pick-six of its own, but when Arizona scored with 3:57 left to re-take the lead, Stanzi wasn’t able to answer. Iowa’s offense – which was balky in 2009 – did not become decidedly better in its first true test of 2010. If Penn State’s defense can simply get some turnovers, this will become an even-steven battle decided in the final minutes of regulation (or perhaps overtime).

Why To Bet On Iowa

The Hawkeyes’ defense excelled even though Iowa lost at Arizona on Sept. 18. Arizona scored 21 of its 34 points due to a blocked punt, a pick-six against the aforementioned Mr. Stanzi, and a kick return for a touchdown. Iowa’s defense allowed only 13 genuine points and did very little to lose the game for Kirk Ferentz’s team. Playing at home in Kinnick Stadium, Iowa should thrive in general, but against Penn State, the Hawkeyes could really have a field day. First of all, Iowa has beaten Penn State in seven of the last eight meetings between the two schools. Second, Iowa has allowed more than 14 points to Penn State in only one of the past five meetings. Third, Iowa smothered Penn State last year in Happy Valley, rolling to a 21-10 win even without much offensive production from Stanzi. Fourth, that 21-10 win was achieved against a senior PSU quarterback, Daryll Clark. This year, Iowa will face Penn State freshman signal caller Robert Bolden, who has struggled mightily under center for the Nittany Lions. Penn State has scored just four touchdowns in its last three games combined, and two of those games were against inferior Mid-American Conference opponents. PSU is having nightmares in the red zone, and against Iowa’s defense, it doesn’t seem as though the Nittany Lions will improve in that regard.

How The Game Will Play Out

Penn State-Iowa has been a lopsided matchup over the past decade, and the confrontation between PSU’s offense and Iowa’s defense has been particularly one-sided. The Hawkeyes will smother Robert Bolden and should not give up more than one touchdown. A score similar to last year’s 21-10 tally would be appropriate, although Iowa should probably be able to add a few more points on home turf.

Penn State Iowa Betting Pick: Iowa

What: NFL betting
When: Sunday, October 3rd, 4:05 PM ET
Where: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, FL
Pick: Indianapolis Colts -8

What’s On The Line

The Indianapolis Colts (2-1) got another efficiently brilliant performance from Peyton Manning in a 27-13 win in Denver, and it also appears as though the defense has gotten their act together after a tough Week 1. The Jaguars (1-2) were whipped all over the field in a 28-3 loss at home to the Philadelphia Eagles, and they’ll probably be seeing Michael Vick in their nightmares. The Jaguars need a win to keep up in the AFC North, but they’ve been dominated by the Colts in recent years.

Offensive Matchups: Colts Jaguars Betting

Manning leads the league in passer rating, and he’s thrown three touchdowns with no picks in each of the first three games of the season. Indianapolis keeps trying to establish a running game, and they have been for the last few years, but it’s pretty much irrelevant with Manning at the helm. The control he has over this offense is sick, and when you take away Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark, who combined for nine catches, he finds Austin Collie for 12 receptions, 171 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and little-used Blair White in the end zone.

The Jacksonville Jaguars managed 184 yards of offense against the Eagles, and David Garrard had one of the worst days in recent memory by any pivot: 13-of 30 for 105 yards, a pick and he was sacked six times. The problem is, the Jaguars don’t have a backup to replace Garrard, so he’ll keep getting chances. Teams are ganging up on Maurice Jones-Drew, their only offensive option, so something needs to happen to open up the offense.

Betting picks: Colts

Defensive Matchups: Colts Jaguars Betting

In the first game of the season, the Colts gave up 257 yards, including 231 yards to Houston’s Arian Foster. In Week 2, they held the New York Giants to 120 yards on the ground and in Week 3, 47 yards against the Denver Broncos. Whatever happened after that first week, they need to do it every week because the Indianapolis defense looks incredibly focused now. With Garrard struggling, look for them to aim to contain Jones-Drew.

Jacksonville will face a different type of pivot with Manning, a pocket passer, but they made Vick look like Joe Montana as he tossed for 291 yards and three touchdowns, then he ran for 30 more yards and a score. The Jaguars looked completely unprepared for the problems Vick posed, and some of that has to go on the coaches. It’s not looking good for coach Jack Del Rio, who has been leading the Jaguars since 2003, and it may be time for a change.

Sports picks: Colts

Notable Injuries: Colts Jaguars Betting

Tackle Charlie Johnson (foot), receiver Pierre Garcon (hamstring) and safety Brandon King (hamstring) all missed last week’s game and will be watched this week. Linebacker Kavell Conner (foot) left the Denver game in the first quarter, while the Colts will hope Clint Sessions (hamstring) can go after missing the last two games.

The Jaguars look to have all hands on deck, and they’ll need everyone.

Sports pick: Jaguars

Outlook and Pick: Colts Jaguars Betting

The Colts are an 8-point NFL betting favorite on the road, and they’ve won four of their last five trips to Jacksonville, going 3-2 ATS as well. The Jaguars look awful, and they’re going up against Manning, who has a 99.4 rating in 17 games against them with 34 touchdowns and 12 picks. Not to mention, all of the trouble that Jacksonville is having in the secondary? It’ll be a good day if they keep Manning under 400 yards. The Colts will win in an online betting romp.

Free Pick: Indianapolis Colts

What: NFL betting
When: Sunday, October 3rd, 1:00 PM ET
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers

What’s On The Line

The Steelers (3-0) remain unbeaten after a 38-13 romp of Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and this showdown with Baltimore will be their final game without suspended quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, although they’re doing pretty well without him. The Ravens (2-1) scored 10 points in the fourth quarter of a 24-17 win at home over Cleveland, setting up what could be the first meeting of the two teams that will fight for the AFC North crown.

Offensive Matchups: Ravens Steelers Betting

Joe Flacco was 22-of-31 for 262 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers for the Baltimore Ravens in his best game of the season, and that also opened up the field for Ray Rice, who had 80 yards on 15 carries. Anquan Boldin caught all three of Flacco’s touchdowns, and the two have built a good understanding in their short time as teammates.

The offense hasn’t been great for the Pittsburgh Steelers, ranking 26th in the league, but the ground game is third and they racked up 201 rushing yards against the Buccaneers. Rashard Mendenhall had 143 yards and a score, and he’s been fine with the heavy workload as the Steelers deal with all of their quarterback problems. But Charlie Batch may have to make some plays with his arm this week, as the Ravens have a stellar run defense.

Sport pick: Ravens

Defensive Matchups: Ravens Steelers Betting

The Ravens have the best defense in the league statistically, although they did give up an uncharacteristic 173 yards on the ground against the Browns. Last season was strange for the Ravens, who lost coordinator Rex Ryan to the Jets, and they were also without safety Ed Reed. They seem to be resigned to the fact that Reed may not play this year, and they’ve moved on while looking like the defense that has dominated for the last decade.

The Steelers obviously aren’t far behind in sixth place, but “Blitzburgh” is back as Pittsburgh has 10 sacks through the first three games. Four came against the Buccaneers, and the Steelers look far more secure at the back with Troy Polamalu healthy, and that allows the Steelers to be more free with their blitz packages. That means nothing but trouble for opposing quarterbacks.

Free sports picks: Draw

Notable Injuries: Ravens Steelers Betting

Rice (knee) left the Cleveland Browns game in the fourth quarter, and NFL betting players should keep an eye on his availability throughout this week.

Nose tackle Chris Hoke (knee) is out, and that hurts the Steelers’ depth on the defensive line.

Sport pick: Draw

Outlook and Pick: Ravens Steelers Betting

The NFL betting line for this game will be extremely close, although the Steelers should be favored at home. The Ravens are 1-4 SU in their last five trips to Pittsburgh, but a respectable 2-1-1 ATS, so check the line. Check the total as well: four of the last five at Heinz Field between these two have gone over the total, and given that these two have great defenses, the total is usually absurdly low. The Steelers are the play here, given their play at home (8-2 SU in their last 10), but it’s going to be a game decided by a field goal, so consider that as you make your online betting play.

Stan’s Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers

What: NFL betting
When: Sunday, September 26th, 4:05 PM ET
Where: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MO
PPick: Washington Redskins -3.5

hat’s On The Line

The Redskins (1-1) were rather unfortunate to lose 30-27 at home to Houston as Graham Gano missed a field goal that would have given them the win, but the offense came together in Donovan McNabb’s second game. The Rams (0-2) are still a major work in progress, but they at least put forth a good effort in a 16-14 loss in Oakland. The Redskins need this win to keep pace in the NFC East, while the Rams have zero expectations for this year, and Sam Bradford will face a tough defense in his third NFL game.

Offensive Matchups: Redskins Rams Betting

The Houston defense isn’t that scary, some critics will say, but McNabb still threw for 426 yards and a touchdown, which is no small feat. McNabb saw that the defense was having problems and put it upon himself to keep his team in the game, especially given that the running game was pretty much non-existent outside of Clinton Portis’ two scores. The Redskins gave up three sacks and McNabb was pressured a lot, which makes his big game all the more impressive.

Bradford was 14-of-25 for 167 yards, two touchdowns and a pick, and he’s been pretty good in his first couple of games, showing a feel for the pass rush and a quick and accurate release. Steven Jackson had 75 yards on 19 carries, and he may be fresher throughout the season as he doesn’t have to do it all alone. Bradford is going to hit some rough patches, but so far, he looks like he has the temperament to handle it all.

Gambling picks: Redskins

Defensive Matchups: Redskins Rams Betting

The Redskins’ secondary was torched by Houston, failing to take advantage of a great pass rush that racked up five sacks on the day. To be fair, they were going up against arguably the league’s best receiver in Andre Johnson and a prolific Houston offense, but the Redskins have a better defense than they showed last week and they’ll be eager to prove that against the Rams.

The Rams gave up 404 yards against an anemic Oakland offense, and outside of middle James Laurinaitis, there isn’t really any good players on this entire unit, which is ranked 28th through the first two games. Defensive end Chris Long has been a big disappointment, and the secondary is average, at best. There’s a lot of pressure on Laurinaitis to make every tackle, which is good for his development, but the Rams need a lot of work on this side of the ball.

Sport pick: Redskins

Notable Injuries: Redskins Rams Betting

Rookie tackle Trent Williams (knee), safety Chris Horton (ankle) and receiver Anthony Armstrong (groin) didn’t practice this week, which means they probably won’t go for the Redskins.

Safeties Craig Dahl (concussion) and Oshiomogho Atogwe (thigh), as well as receiver Laurent Robinson (foot) are unlikely to play for the Rams.

Sport pick: Draw

Outlook and Pick: Redskins Rams Betting

The Redskins are 3.5-point NFL betting favorites on the road against the Rams, who are 3-7 SU and 4-6 ATS in their last 10 meetings with Washington since 1994. In St. Louis since 1995, the Redskins are 4-1 both SU and ATS, and it’s safe to say they should rout the Rams this weekend. The Rams just aren’t talented enough to hang with a Washington team that will be angry from last week’s loss, and the defense will be in the mood to rough up Bradford, who has to handle the Redskins’ blitzes. Look for an easy online betting win for the Redskins on Sunday.

Stan’s Pick: Washington Redskins -3.5

NCAA Football Odds: Oklahoma Sooners @ Cincinnati Bearcats

Online Betting Odds: Oklahoma -13.5

Why To Bet On Oklahoma

The Sooners – who looked every bit as bad as Cincinnati in their first game of the season against Utah State – ironed out their problems in week two against Florida State. Quarterback Landry Jones is adjusting to being the full-time starting quarterback one year after unexpectedly relieving former Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford under center. Oklahoma has found its sea legs on offense, and a defense coached by coordinator Brent Venables is also gaining in confidence. As long as Oklahoma plays a steady, workmanlike brand of ball and doesn’t commit a larger number of turnovers and other mistakes, the Sooners should quite frankly cruise against a decidedly inferior opponent. This game had trouble written all over it when a lot of college football analysts pored over schedules in the recently-concluded offseason. Now, a date at Cincinnati doesn’t seem nearly as daunting to the Sooners.

Why To Bet On Cincinnati

When this game was originally scheduled, it looked like an attractive matchup as the back end of a home-and-home series between the two schools. Unfortunately, a lot has happened since the last time these two teams met in Norman, Oklahoma. Cincinnati – winner of both the 2008 and 2009 Big East crowns – lost head coach Brian Kelly and witnessed the departures of star players Tony Pike and Mardy Gilyard. However, if there is ever a time for Cincinnati to make a stand in 2010, this is it. The Bearcats will pour all their emotional resources and creative tactical plans into this one game. Playing at home, Cincinnati and first-year coach Butch Jones will throw the kitchen sink at Oklahoma and feed off whatever momentum they can get. Just a handful of big plays in the early going – one long touchdown pass and one interception off a Landry Jones pass – could potentially work wonders for the Bearcats’ confidence and propel them forward on a day when they’ll need all the help they can get.

How The Game Will Play Out

The Bearcats will be full of energy in the early going, and their adrenaline rush might very well enable them to pen in the Sooners and create a stalemate after the first 20 minutes of play. Midway through the second quarter, however, one should expect this game to change (if it doesn’t change even earlier in the proceedings). Oklahoma’s power, physicality, and depth should begin to wear out Cincinnati’s thin defensive front. The Bearcats just couldn’t keep up with North Carolina State on September 16th in a 30-19 loss that was more decisive than the final score indicated. Against the Sooners – who are far better than NC State – Cincinnati will just not have the manpower or the fresh bodies to hang with Oklahoma. The Sooners will pull away in the second quarter and coast throughout the second half.

Oklahoma Cincinnati Betting Pick: Oklahoma

What: NFL betting
When: Sunday, September 26th, 4:15 PM ET
Where: Qwest Field, Seattle, WA
Pick: San Diego Chargers -5.5

What’s On The Line

The Chargers (1-1) rebounded from a tough Week 1 upset in Kansas City with a 38-13 romp at home against Jacksonville as they continue to look for receiving replacements during the Vincent Jackson saga that threatens to overshadow the entire season. The Seahawks (1-1) fell back to earth after their big opening-week win as they were dropped 31-14 in Denver. We’re wondering which side of these Jekkyl-and-Hyde teams we’re going to see this week as the Chargers go into one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL.

Offensive Matchups: Chargers Seahawks Betting

Even without Jackson, who we’re willing to bet will never play another game in San Diego, the Chargers were prolific last week, putting up 477 yards of offense. Philip Rivers threw for 334 yards, three touchdowns and a pair of picks, and he’s still the No.3-rated passer in the league right now. However, rookie running back Ryan Mathews has yet to make an impact on the offense, and now he has a bad ankle, which opens the door for Mike Tolbert.

The Seahawks moved the ball against the Broncos, but four turnovers stopped them right in their tracks. Three of those turnovers came off of picks by Matt Hasselbeck, who also tossed for 233 yards and a touchdown, and that was the worry for the Seahawks coming into the season: would Hasselbeck regress further and become a turnover machine like Jake Delhomme did in Carolina? The Seahawks did manage to average 5.5 yards on the ground, but they had to nix the running game once they got behind.

Betting picks: Chargers

Defensive Matchups: Chargers Seahawks Betting

The San Diego defense has played pretty well so far this season, and they were turnover kings against the Jaguars, forcing six of them, four on interceptions. Safety Steve Gregory had 13 tackles, while Antoine Cason had a pair of picks from the Chargers, who also managed a couple of sacks. The Chargers’ defense doesn’t have to be spectacular as long as Rivers is guiding the offense, but they need to continue to be opportunistic.

Seattle just couldn’t stop the Broncos from moving the chains: Denver went 14-of-20 on third down, which is why they held the ball for over 37 minutes and wore down the Seahawks. Rookie safety Earl Thomas had eight tackles, but the Seahawks still allowed 307 yards against Kyle Orton…so how are they going to fare against Rivers? Week 2’s defense probably looked more like the unit we’re going to see on Sunday.

Free picks: Chargers

Notable Injuries: Chargers Seahawks Betting

Mathews (ankle), linebacker Stephen Cooper (knee) and receiver Malcom Floyd (leg) are all questionable for this game.

For Seattle, linebacker Leroy Hill (ankle) and fullback Quinton Gaither (knee) are definitely out.

Sports picks: Draw

Outlook and Pick: Chargers Seahawks Betting

NFL betting odds have the Chargers as a 5.5-point favorite on the road, and they won their last trip to Seattle, a 20-17 loss back in December 2006. That was their first win in five games against the Seahawks, who figure to play better at home than they did last week on the road. But they’re playing a very tough road team in San Diego, who are 7-3 SU in their last 10 away games, and 5-5 ATS. The Chargers are a tough-minded team led by Rivers, while the Seahawks still have a ways to go. Look for the Chargers to swarm Hasselback into making mistakes, and if they get an early lead, it’s over. Take San Diego on the road for the online betting win.

Stan’s Pick: San Diego Chargers

NCAA Football Odds: Stanford Cardinal @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Online Betting Odds: Stanford -4.5

Why To Bet On Stanford

Yes, it was only Wake Forest, but the Cardinal looked dominant and very well-lubricated as an offensive force late last Saturday night. Stanford made football look incredibly easy in a 68-24 demolition of the Demon Deacons. Quarterback Andrew Luck was razor-sharp for coach Jim Harbaugh, completing just under 75 percent of his passes (17 of 23) for 207 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Luck, not Washington quarterback Jake Locker, is setting the standard for excellence in a West Coast signal caller, and he’s presiding over a Stanford offense that is steamrolling the opposition. One week after a 35-0 win at UCLA, the Cardinal produced 41 points in just the first half of play against Wake Forest. Harbaugh was able to insert two backup quarterbacks in the game, and the Cardinal were still able to score 27 points after halftime en route to a 44-point runaway. Last year, Stanford lost at Wake Forest, as Luck encountered a steep learning curve in his freshman season. This year, with some newly-won wisdom in his football mind, Luck is making better decisions and is progressing far more quickly through the reads he needs to make when he surveys a defense. An in-form Andrew Luck is going to thrive, and a thriving Andrew Luck is going to make Stanford an elite contender for the Pac-10 Conference championship, especially since USC is ineligible for the crown in 2010. Luck has more than enough composure to win in South Bend.

Why To Bet On Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish are 1-2 because they’ve shot themselves in the foot in the red zone and, on a broader level, in the opponent’s final third of the field. Notre Dame has shown an ability to move the ball between the 30s, but when coach Brian Kelly’s offense gets into scoring range, it often flinches. Last Saturday against Michigan State, a fumble and an interception in the red zone doomed the Irish in a 34-31 overtime loss. This problem has to be fixed in order for the Irish to post better results.
The good news in all this, of course, is that the Irish really aren’t that far from being a really good team. Quarterback Dayne Crist is a gifted athlete; he just has to show better maturity in meaningful moments and display the acumen of former Irish quarterbacks Brady Quinn and Jimmy Clausen. Receiver Michael Floyd also needs to elevate his game. Floyd is a dynamic receiver, but the star flanker’s fumble at Michigan State proved to be a very costly turnover. If this offense can simply weed out turnovers, it has every chance of playing Stanford on even terms and eventually winning.

How The Game Will Play Out

The Irish will throw some punches, but Stanford – with Andrew Luck under center – simply has the superior quarterback in this game. Since both coaches, Harbaugh (Stanford) and Kelly (Notre Dame), are superb offensive coaches, give the nod to the team with the better gunslinger. Stanford will win in the shadow of the Golden Dome.

Stanford Notre Dame Betting Pick: Stanford

What: NFL betting
When: Sunday, September 26th, 4:15 PM ET
Where: University Of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Pick: Oakland Raiders +4.5

What’s On The Line

The Raiders (1-1) managed to come away with a 16-14 win at home over St. Louis, and while they probably should have won by more, a win is a win when you’re an Oakland fan/NFL betting player. The Cardinals (1-1) were humiliated 41-7 in Atlanta in a game that was over by halftime, and Arizona never even looked like they could come back in the second half. Therefore, the Cardinals are playing for pride at this point, while the Raiders are just aiming to get better.

Offensive Matchups: Raiders Cardinals Betting

The Oakland offense worked much better under Bruce Gradkowski than Jason Campbell, which is pretty much the last thing in the world that coach Tom Cable wanted to see. Therefore, we still don’t know who is going to be the starter coming into this game, although we’re willing to bet that Campbell gets another chance. Whoever the starter is, they can only pray for another dominant performance from Darren McFadden, who ran 30 times for 145 yards, showing what a lot of people saw in him at Arkansas. If McFadden and the ground game can be effective, that helps the starter out a lot more.

Outside of Tim Hightower’s 115 yards on the ground, there’s nothing good to say about the Arizona offense’s showing last week. Derek Anderson was 17-of-31 for 161 yards and a pair of picks, and rookie Max Hall wasn’t much better, going 1-of-2 for three yards and a pick. Larry Fitzgerald had seven catches for 83 yards, but he’s facing double and triple-teams on essentially every play. The offensive line didn’t give Anderson much help as he was running around for most of the game.

Free pick: Draw

Defensive Matchups: Raiders Cardinals Betting

Of course, you have to take into account that they were playing the Rams, but the Raiders held St. Louis to 210 yards of offense, including 75 yards on the ground. Rookie linebacker Rolando McClain led the way with six tackles, including one suplex that made SportsCenter, and he is the epitome of what the Raiders are aiming for now: nasty in the front seven, because they already have a decent secondary.

The less said about Arizona’s defensive performance, the better. NFL betting players watched the Cardinals basically get pushed around on that side of the ball, and even when Michael Turner went down, the Falcons kept running over them to the tune of 221 yards. You’re not going to beat anyone in the league, or even college, if you’re going to give up that many yards on the ground, and the Cardinals are going to have to do some soul-searching this week during practice.

Gambling picks: Raiders

Notable Injuries: Raiders Cardinals Betting

The Raiders seem to have a clean bill of health heading into this game.

Running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (knee) hopes to practice and make his regular-season debut this week, while receiver Early Doucet (hernia) will probably be out for another month.

Sport picks: Raiders

Outlook and Pick: Raiders Cardinals Betting

NFL betting odds have the Cardinals as a 4.5-point favorite at home, but the Raiders have won four of five in this series, including a pair of wins in Arizona. We’re going with the Raiders to pull out a win in this contest as well, as the Cardinals will at least show some pride, but it won’t be enough. We’re not sold on Derek Anderson to the point that we’re willing to take Bruce Gradkowski over him, and the Oakland defense is no joke. The Raiders would also do well to get McFadden involved early in the game to take the pressure off of whoever their quarterback is, and we also think the Oakland offensive line will have their way with the Arizona front seven. Go with the Oakland Raiders for the online betting upset on the road.

Stan’s Pick: Oakland Raiders

NCAA Football Odds: South Carolina Gamecocks @ Auburn Tigers

Online Betting Odds: Auburn -3

Why To Bet On South Carolina

The one trump card, the ace in the hole, possessed by the visitors from the Palmetto State is a young man who has stamped himself as 2010’s best freshman running back. Marcus Lattimore ran through the front seven of the Georgia Bulldogs in Carolina’s last game against an FBS opponent (the Gamecocks played FCS-based Furman on Sept. 18). Lattimore carried South Carolina on his back against Georgia, rumbling for 182 yards and continuously gaining yards after the first point of contact. Lattimore’s performance was made all the more remarkable by the fact that his offense generated just 17 points. South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia was less than fully impressive in that game, and his fumble deep in Georgia territory gave the Bulldogs a chance to tie the game late in the third quarter. However, a Georgia fumble on the Carolina 2 enabled the Gamecocks to survive in a must-have SEC opener.

Just imagine what Lattimore could do if Garcia passes the ball with distinction and avoids the turnover bug. The Gamecocks have the running game and the go-to guy in the backfield they’ve lacked throughout the Steve Spurrier era in Columbia. Now that Carolina has its hammer, it can pound away against Auburn’s defensive front and shorten this game on the road.

Why To Bet On Auburn

The Tigers were inconsistent last week against Clemson, but they were also very resilient. Not many people gave them a chance to come back from a 17-0 second-quarter deficit. Auburn scored all of 17 points in week two against Mississippi State, so it represented quite an accomplishment for coach Gene Chizik’s team to get off the deck, grab a 24-17 lead, and ultimately make one final defensive stand en route to a 27-24 victory.

That display of resilience against Clemson should feed Auburn with a great deal of confidence against South Carolina. Moreover, Auburn gets this game at home and should be able to find even more belief. Yet, as big as those two factors are, the best reason to take Auburn is that South Carolina still shows signs of being a middle-tier SEC team that’s not ready to move upward in the conference pecking order. The Gamecocks led FCS-based Furman by only 12 points (31-19) midway through the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s game, and Furman was driving with a chance to cut its deficit to just five points. Only then did the game get salted away for Carolina, courtesy of an 80-yard pick-six. Gamecock quarterback Stephen Garcia remains extremely inconsistent, and on the road against a physical Auburn defense, he’s very likely to commit a few turnovers. If Auburn gets three takeaways, it will very likely win this game.

How The Game Will Play Out

South Carolina, plainly put, is not yet ready to win this kind of game on the road. There will be a lot of running between the tackles and a ton of hard hits, but in the end, Auburn will make fewer mistakes and emerge victorious at home.

South Carolina Auburn Betting Pick: Auburn

NCAA Football Odds: Alabama Crimson Tide @ Arkansas Razorbacks

Online Betting Odds: Alabama -7.5

Why To Bet On Alabama

Why would you not bet on Alabama in this game? Coach Nick Saban rules the college football world at the moment. His team has won the SEC West each of the last two seasons, and claimed the SEC championship in 2009, en route to the national title in a win over Texas. Saban is working with a young defense this year, but he has quality players to work with. Moreover, Saban is known for his teaching credentials; Alabama wasn’t dominating in its 24-3 win over Penn State on Sept. 11 (the Tide played a far easier game on Sept. 18 when they visited Duke), but the Crimson Tide still kept the Nittany Lions out of the end zone and became extremely resilient whenever they were pushed near their own 20-yard line. Alabama’s defense is rounding into form, while its offense is very formidable. Greg McElroy won a national title in his first year as the Alabama quarterback, and he returns this season along with his chief offensive playmakers: running back Mark Ingram, backup running back Trent Richardson, and highly-touted wide receiver Julio Jones. Alabama’s going to be very tough for Arkansas’ defense to stop in this game. Even if Arkansas is able to score at times, Bama could very well put up 30 points and still carry the day in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Why To Bet On Arkansas

The Razorbacks have circled this game in red and have focused on it throughout the entire offseason. The Hogs played two non-conference cupcakes to start their season, and then began their SEC campaign last weekend with a big win at Georgia. All of that, however, is and has been a mere prelude to this contest, which will shape the contours of the SEC West season and quite possibly decide the division. Auburn – the other prime contender in the division – has to play at Alabama this year, so if Alabama wins this game, it’s really hard to imagine how the Crimson Tide, the defending SEC champions, will lose hold of their division in 2010. Arkansas knows that it must win this game to stop the Tide, and that motivation will enable the Hogs to play perhaps one touchdown better than the point spread will suggest.
From a specific X-and-O standpoint, Arkansas needs to turn this game into a pure track meet. Alabama’s defense is quite talented, but it’s also inexperienced compared to the unit that won the 2009 national championship. Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett returned for another season precisely so he could win games like this… and also enhance his NFL draft stock. Mallett has multiple receiving targets to throw to, so as long as he gets good protection from his offensive line, Mallett could very possibly light up Alabama’s secondary and post 35 or more points. It could very genuinely happen.

How The Game Will Play Out

The Arkansas offense will play a solid game, but it won’t quite dominate. That will allow Alabama’s offense – with its better run-pass balance – to score touchdowns while controlling the clock and keeping Arkansas’ offense off the field. Alabama will lean on Arkansas in the trenches and wear down the Hogs late. Alabama knows how to win these games; Arkansas is merely hoping it can pull through. That’s a big difference this week. Take the Crimson Tide.

Alabama Arkansas Betting Pick: Alabama