Category: NCAA-F

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

The last time the 7-1 Clemson Tigers lost a home game was on November 12, 2016, and that was to the team they will be hosting today, the Pittsburgh Panthers. Pittsburgh sits at 5-4 on the season but could easily be 7-2 with two of their losses coming by just 1 point. Pitt is riding a 2-game winning streak and were clicking on all cylinders in last week’s 47-14 blowout of Virginia Tech. Clemson is expected to have Trevor Lawrence back behind center, which is why the line is currently Clemson -23.5. However, Lawrence has not played in over a month and the Tigers have not played since their overtime loss to the Irish on November 7th. Clemson has not been covering. They are 2-6 ATS this season and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games.
TODAY’S PICK: PITTSBURGH PANTHERS +23.5

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 0-4 but will be at home today in Happy Valley to face the 2-2 Iowa Hawkeyes. The Nittany Lions have not been 0-4 since 2001 and I don’t see them going 0-5 today. Iowa can run the ball, with Tyler Goodson in the backfield, but Penn State will be able to counter that with a run defense that is allowing an average of only 129.5 rushing yards per game. The Nittany Lions offense is averaging 437 yards per game with Iowa averaging 376. Edge Penn State. Penn State has had issues with turnovers but if they can hang onto the ball, they will get their first win of the season and their 7th straight victory over Iowa.
TODAY’S PICK: PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS M/L

The 1-3 Minnesota Golden Gophers will be seeking their first home victory tonight when they play host to the 2-1 Purdue Boilmakers. Minnesota has the edge in offense, averaging 407.5 yards per game, as opposed to Purdue’s 369, and the Gophers have owned the Boilmakers of late, winning the last two meetings and 6 of the last 7. Minnesota’s lone victory this year was a blowout of Illinois, 41-14, on November 7th – a team that Purdue had trouble with this year and were lucky to come away with a 31-24 victory.
TONIGHT’S PICK: MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS +2

The Central Michigan Chippewas will be a home dog tonight when they take on their state rival, the Western Michigan Broncos. Both teams are 2-0 and 2-0 ATS. Their offenses are similar with the Broncos averaging 460.5 yards per game and the Chippewa’s at 430 but the difference maker in this contest is Central Michigan’s defense. The Chippewas defense is holding teams to an average of just 294.5 yards per game as opposed to the Broncos 378.5 and they have been stingy against the run, allowing an average of only 92 yards per game. Central Michigan is getting 1.5 points tonight and are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games. Consider the Chips and the points. Update: The line has flipped and is currently Central Michigan -1, still worth consideration.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS +1.5

The Kent State Golden Flashes will be laying 27 points at home tonight over the Akron Zips and are they up to the task? Absolutely. The bottom-feeding Zips are 0-2. They have scored just 23 points in their first two games and have allowed a total of 82 points. Kent State is one of the elite teams in the MAC. The Golden Flashes are 2-0 and have scored a total of 89 points in their first two wins, scorching Bowling Green, 62-24, and knocking off Eastern Michigan, 27-23. Next up, Kent State will travel to Western New York to take on the Buffalo Bulls. The Bulls are currently 2-0 and after tonight they will be 3-0. The Flashes will want to send them a message.
TONIGHT’S PICK: KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES -27