Category: NCAA-F

The Nevada Wolf Pack and the Tulane Green Wave will face each other today in the Idaho Potato Bowl, with Tulane currently favored by -1.5. Nevada’s quarterback, Carson Strong, was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year and for good reason. He was 227-327 with 2,587 yards, 22 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. Strong and company will be able to move the ball against a Tulane defense that is soft against the pass and surrendering an average of 417.4 yards per game overall. The Green Wave offense is not prolific through the air but do have a formidable running game that is averaging 219.5 yards per game. If Nevada can slow down Tulane’s running attack and cut down on senseless penalties that have burned them all year, they win this game.
TODAY’S PICK: NEVADA WOLF PACK +1.5

The 10-0 Notre Dame Fighting Irish are a 10.5 point dog when they take on the 9-1 Clemson Tigers today in the ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium. Notre Dame won the first meeting this year, 47-40, but Clemson standout quarterback Trevor Lawrence was not active and will play today, thus the 10.5 point spread. Lawrence gets all the attention but don’t overlook the talents of the Irish quarterback, Ian Book, who is 30-3 as a starter for Notre Dame. Clemson cannot solely rely on Lawrence to get the job done. They will have to run the ball and that is not easy against Notre Dame, who held Clemson to just 34 rushing yards in the first meeting. Notre Dame is 6-0 ATS in their last 6 against a team with a winning record and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 at a neutral site.
TODAY’S PICK: NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH +10.5

The Mid American Conference title will be on the line tonight at Ford Field when the Ball State Cardinals face the Buffalo Bulls. The 5-0 Bulls have not just beaten their opponents this year, they have annihilated them. Buffalo has outscored their foes, 259 to 105, and have a rushing attack that is just relentless. The Bulls are averaging 344.2 rushing yards per game and have a running back, Jaret Patterson, who has been giving defensive coordinators fits. Over his 5 games, Patterson has rushed for 1,025 yards with 18 TDs and had 8 of those in one game against a really good Kent State team. Impressive. The 5-1 Cardinals will have to put up a lot of points if they want to hang in there with the Bulls but that will be tough to do without their best running back, Caleb Huntley, who for undisclosed reasons will not be in tonight’s game.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BUFFALO BULLS -13

The 3-2 Fresno State Bulldogs will be able to put up some points tonight when they face the 1-5 New Mexico Lobos. This game will be played at a neutral site, Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. The Lobos will have trouble containing the Bulldogs offense, which is averaging 493.6 yards per game and is ranked #5 in passing, where they average 357.6 yards per game. The Lobos defense is simply not good. They are ranked #106 overall, allowing an average of 453.6 yards per game and are ranked #113 against the pass, allowing an average of 271.8 yards per game. Fresno State has won 5 straight against New Mexico and have covered all 5.
TONIGHT’S PICK: FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS -12.5

The Georgia Southern Eagles perfect 5-0 home record will be in jeopardy tonight when they host the red hot Florida Atlantic Owls. The Owls are riding a 4-game winning streak and have held their opponents to a total of just 20 points over the 4 games. Now that is impressive. The Eagles offense is fueled by a running game that is averaging 267.6 yards per game but the Owls will have an answer for that, allowing a stingy 105.3 yards per game against the run. Florida Atlantic is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 as an underdog and 7-0 ATS in their last 7 against a team with a winning record.
TONIGHT’S PICK: FLORIDA ATLANTIC OWLS +2.5

The 8-1 Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns have secured a spot in the Conference Championship game so expect a conservative game plan from them tonight when they visit the 7-2 Appalachian State Mountaineers. These teams match up well, with both teams having similar numbers, but the Mountaineers have dominated the Ragin’ Cajuns in recent years and are 5-0 at home.
TONIGHT’S PICK: APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEERS M/L

The last time the 4-3 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and the 3-4 North Texas Mean Green met it was ugly, with the Bulldogs embarrassing the Mean Green in Louisiana, 52-17. Tonight the two rivals will face each other but the venue will be in North Texas and payback will be an incentive for the Mean Green. North Texas has a prolific offense, averaging 536.9 yards per game, and will be able to penetrate a Bulldogs’ defense that is allowing an average of 420.7 yards per game. The line opened up with Louisiana Tech laying 3.5 and has flipped to North Texas -1.5? Hmm, interesting.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN M/L