Cincinnati vs North Carolina State 2010 College Football Picks: The BIG EAST will battle the ACC Thursday night (7:30 pm ET) when the Cincinnati Bearcats travel to Raleigh N.C., to play the North Carolina State Wolfpack in a nationally televised college football game on ESPN. SBGglobal.com oddsmakers list the Wolfpack as slight 2-chalk ATS home favorites while giving -125 moneyline odds. Bearcats' backers are getting +105 ML odds. The SBG Global game total (Over/Under) is currently holding at 54 1/2. Thursday's game will be the first meeting between the schools.
State is currently 2-0 on the season, for the first time since 2002. The Wolfpack opened their 2010 campaign by defeating, an FCS level program, Western Carolina 48-7 SU in a non-lined game. The Wolfpack earned a hard fought 28-21 road victory at Central Florida in Week-2, covering the betting spread as a +3 underdog while the total fell UNDER the posted 52 total.
Cincinnati stumbled out the gate in 2010 by losing by two touchdowns (14-28) at Fresno State in Week-1 as a 2 1/2 point underdog. The Bearcats followed with a win in Week-2, dominating FCS program Indiana State 40-7.
The Bearcats are coming off back to back BIG EAST Championships, titles that earned them appearances in the Orange and Sugar Bowls. State meanwhile fell short of expectations finishing 2009 with a 5-7 season. The Wolfpack finished 2008 with a 23-29 loss to Rutgers in the PAPAJOHNS.com Bowl that culminated in a 6-7 season. The Wolfpack haven't enjoyed a winning season since 2005 when they went 7-6.
State is coached by Tom O'Brien who is now in his third year with the Wolfpack where he is 18-21 overall and 9-15 in ACC play. He has an overall career won-loss record of 93-66, mostly accumulated at Boston College where he coached 10 seasons.
The Bearcats entered the Butch Jones era when he was hired away from Central Michigan on Dec. 16, 2009 to replace Brian Kelly who departed following the 2009 season to coach Notre Dame. Jones most recently led Central Michigan to a pair of Mid-American Conference Championships and three-straight bowl appearances.
Jones will employ the type of run-pass spread offense he learned under Rich Rodriguez while serving as an assistant at West Virginia. Junior quarterback Zach Collaros seems to be an adequate field leader. He has rushed for 106 yards in two games. With 29 carries he has become the leading rusher on the team. Collaros is 35-of58 through the air for 349 yards and three touchdowns.
Russell Wilson has returned to lead the State offense in 2010. In 2009 he was an honorable mention All-ACC performer and the teams MVP. He ranked fourth nationally in touchdown passes with 31, to lead the ACC. Russell led the team to 3,287 yards of total offense with a 273 yard average per game.
While offense gets most of the attention, so far in 2010 both schools seem to rely on their defenses to get victories. The Wolfpack are ranked 18th in total defense allowing only a 248.5 yards per game average. The Bearcats are ranked 29th in total defense by giving up only 275 yard to the opposition.
Reno Gold's pick: I am picking the Wolfpack while giving the 2-points as home favorite. I see Cincinnati as a team in transition – new coach – new system. State has been challenged this season and came out on top looking impressive, especially defensively, at Central Florida. The Bearcats haven't done anything to give me an idea they might win this game.
When it comes to College Football Picks there is only one sports handicapper that football bettors should follow, he goes by name of Reno Gold. Handicapping college football games for over thirty five years without a losing season, Reno has the experience and long term winning record only time can produce. His opening week one college football predictions broke all previous records, 11-1, producing 8-1 ATS (5-1 dogs) and a 3-0 O/U. Gold's winning ways continued in week 2 as the seasoned professional went 5-3 ATS. Register for our Free Sports Picks Newsletter below and start getting Reno Gold’s Week 3 College Football Picks today!
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