2010 College Football Week 3 Picks: Making college football picks on Monday's probably isn't the smartest thing to do because the odds are limited. About the only betting odds available for that weeks games are the point-spreads and that's about it. Totals, props and futures haven't hit the board yet.
Now after saying that, there are games I feel the need to hit on right now. Sometimes a betting line jumps off the page at me and those games are the ones I want to discuss.
In what looks like a great Thursday night ESPN game, we will have a BIG EAST/ACC battle going on when Cincinnati travels to play North Carolina State in Raleigh. I am looking for a breakout year from the Wolfpack in what appears to be a weaker ACC. State is already 2-0 SU and 1-0 ATS as they head into Week-3, having just defeated Central Florida 28-21 on the road as a +3 underdog. The Wolfpack defeated Western Carolina 48-7 in a non-lined game in Week-1. Cincinnati, on the other hand, was soundly defeated in Week-1 by the score of 28-21 when they played at Fresno State. The Bearcats were lined as 1-chalk favorites in that game. Last Saturday Cincinnati easily defeated Indiania State, a school in the lower FCS sub-division. BetUS.com opened betting on this game as a PICK. The Wolfpack will win this game SU.
No. 12 Arkansas travels to play Georgia in an early Saturday game (12-Noon ET) at Sanford Stadium in Athens. The Hogs are listed as +2 1/2-chalk underdogs versus the Bulldogs for this one. Let me first warn you. Do not fall off into a trap for this game. Arkansas will win it despite what many early forcasters will be predicting. Some folks say the Razorbacks are struggling because they didn't blow out weaker opponents in Weeks 1 and 2. After looking into the situation I don't think they had their game-face on. It will be a different story for their first SEC game with Georgia. Now if Georgia gets their best player, receiver A.J. Green back the Bulldogs chances will be better. Green is currently suspended because of selling a jersey he wore in a bowl game. My early pick: Arkansas 41- Georgia – 24.
Kansas State is currently favored by -5 for its home game with Iowa State on Saturday. If you wait until game day to bet this line it will probably be out to -7 by then. That's just my hunch. As long as the line stay's below -7 then I say take it. I really like what Bill Schneider has done in his short time back leading the Wildcats. And he's got some fine horses too such as Carson Coffman at quarterback and the big running back Daniel Thomas.
As of Monday afternoon, No. 1 ranked Alabama is giving Duke -24 points for its game in Durham. As great as the Crimson Tide has looked in their two games with San Jose State and Penn State, I can see this particular game closer than what many folks will think. I'm going on record to say Duke covers. The Tide are too well coached to be caught in a trap but players will not see the Blue Devils as much of a threat. I will wait until game time to make this bet because this line will not stay at -24. I expect it to be 27 or 28 by kickoff. Once it's announced that Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram is healthy the line will move; stay tuned.
Here are a few other games that catch my fancy that I will briefly mention, but will come back with an expanded write-up later in the week when game totals are posted.
West Virginia at home hosting Maryland. I like the Terps getting +11 1/2.
Illinois favored at home by -7 to Northern Illinois. I'll take the Fighting Illini in this one right now.
Vanderbilt travels to Ole Miss as a +13 dog. Ok, I'll take the Commodores in this one.
Florida heads to Neyland Stadium to play the Vols as a -16 1/2 chalk favorite. Is Florida really that good? I don't think so. I'm going back to the Volunteers well once more and taking +16 1/2.
Auburn is giving -6 to Clemson for their big game at Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday night. C.J. Spiller is gone from Clemson right? I like War-Eagle to cover.
Boise State is giving -24 up in Laramie to the Wyoming Cowboys. I'll take the bluff and bet Wyoming plus the points.
Troy will blast UAB as a -5 favorite on any field. This one will be played on Legion Field in Birmingham. It will still be like a Troy home game. Trojans win easily covering -5.
There are plenty of games still left on the board. I will address some of those as we get nearer kick-off.
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