Category: College Football

2013 Vegas College Football Games of the Year

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2013 COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES OF THE YEAR

OK, so these were released earlier and some of the lines might have changed since but I wanted to post these and then put some of my own comments on what we have here.  I am going to do this blind, meaning, I’m not sitting reveiwing all of the schedules and match-up, but rather, I am just going to put some thoughts on paper.  Here are my gut reactions to these bets!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

WAKE FOREST vs. BOSTON COLLEGE -1
Take Wake.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2013

SOUTH CAROLINA vs. GEORGIA -5
I really like both of these teams and think that this is going to set the stage early for the SEC, we like Georgia by a touchdown, so give the points.

FLORIDA -6 vs. MIAMI FL
We like Florida this year but Miami could be fun in this one, let’s get some points and take Miami

WEST VIRGINIA vs. OKLAHOMA -16.5

TEXAS -6.5 vs. BYU
Texas, Texas, Texas

NOTRE DAME vs. MICHIGAN -3
Michigan big time

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

TCU -6 vs. TEXAS TECH
Can the Thursday home dog hold up this early?  Not on this one, TCU
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

AIR FORCE vs.BOISE ST -19.5

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2013

UCLA vs. NEBRASKA -7
Revenge, Nebraska

ALABAMA -6.5 vs. TEXAS A&M
Revenge, Alabama by 2 touchdowns

IOWA vs. IOWA ST -1

OREGON ST -3 vs. UTAH

WISCONSIN vs. ARIZONA ST -5
Taking the Devils at home when it’s still triple digits.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2013

CLEMSON -9.5 vs. NC STATE
Clemson.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013

BOISE ST vs. FRESNO ST -2
How many times have we said, “Is this the year Fresno St. knocks off Boise?”  Friday Night Lights, take Fresno St.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2013

UTAH vs. BYU -5

ARIZONA ST vs. STANFORD -8.5
Don’t like the Devils in this one, Stanford

MICHIGAN ST vs. NOTRE DAME -5.5

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

VIRGINIA TECH -1 vs. GEORGIA TECH
If the Hokies are back, we’ll know by now, Virginia Tech in this one

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013

UTAH ST vs. SAN JOSE ST -1

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2013

LSU vs. GEORGIA -5.5

TEXAS A&M -14 vs. ARKANSAS

USC vs. ARIZONA ST -2.5

OKLAHOMA vs. NOTRE DAME -1
Okllahoma takes one back

WISCONSIN vs. OHIO ST -10.5
Ohio St for the win but Wisconsin taking the points is the bet

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

TEXAS -13.5 vs. IOWA ST

UCLA -1.5 vs. UTAH
UCLA should be a bigger favorite so something is interesting here…

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2013

BYU -2 vs. UTAH ST

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2013

TCU vs. OKLAHOMA -7
Let’s get Horny together, Frogs and points

NOTRE DAME -2 vs. ARIZONA ST @ ARLINGTON, TX

OHIO ST -7.5 vs. NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2013

RUTGERS vs. LOUISVILLE -12
We have a feeling that Louisville is ready to dominate this year, let’s take Louisville big here!

ARIZONA vs. USC -10
We kinda like the cats with points but not 100%

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

TEMPLE vs. CINCINNATI -17

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

What a great week, we like Texas, LSU, Ole Miss, Stanford, and Michigan, no moneylines here all line bets! 

TEXAS -2 vs. OKLAHOMA @ DALLAS, TX

FLORIDA vs. LSU -3

TEXAS A&M -5.5 vs. OLE MISS

STANFORD -9.5 vs. UTAH

OREGON -12.5 vs. WASHINGTON

MICHIGAN -3 vs. PENN ST

BOISE ST -3 vs. UTAH ST

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013

MIAMI FL vs. NORTH CAROLINA -3

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2013

CENTRAL FLORIDA vs. LOUISVILLE -11.5

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2013

FLORIDA ST vs. CLEMSON -1.5
What should be one of the top 10 games of the year, it’s the Tigers Year!

FLORIDA -8 vs. MISSOURI

TCU vs. OKLAHOMA ST -7

LSU -4 vs. OLE MISS

UCLA vs. STANFORD -11.5

USC vs. NOTRE DAME -3
Trojans!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

KENTUCKY vs. MISSISSIPPI ST -11.5

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

BOISE ST vs. BYU -2

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013

SOUTH CAROLINA -7.5 vs. MISSOURI

TENNESSEE vs. ALABAMA -28
Maybe this is for suckers but take Tennessee

TEXAS -2.5 vs. TCU

UNLV vs. NEVADA -14

UCLA vs. OREGON -18.5

STANFORD -3.5 vs. OREGON ST

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2013

ARIZONA ST -12.5 vs. WASHINGTON ST

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013

USC vs. OREGON ST -1.5

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2013

One of the first Rivals weekends! 
We like Florida St, NC State, Michigan, and Georgia!

MIAMI FL vs. FLORIDA ST -11.5

NORTH CAROLINA -4.5 vs. NC STATE

MICHIGAN vs. MICHIGAN ST -2

FLORIDA vs. GEORGIA -2.5 @ JACKSONVILLE, FL

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013
Baylor looking upset and Oregon covers

OKLAHOMA -6 vs. BAYLOR

OREGON -4 vs. STANFORD

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013
Cardinals Cover!

LOUISVILLE -10 vs. U CONN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013

NEBRASKA vs. MICHIGAN -3.5
Nebraska as the prepare for the B1G Championship Game!

BYU vs. WISCONSIN -5.5

LSU vs. ALABAMA -12
LSU take the points and enjoy

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2013

GEORGIA TECH vs. CLEMSON -13

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2013

WASHINGTON vs. UCLA -4

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2013
Gamecocks, Frogs, Wolverines, and Cardinals moveing on…

FLORIDA vs. SOUTH CAROLINA -3.5

TCU -2.5 vs. KANSAS ST

MICHIGAN ST vs. NEBRASKA -5.5

MICHIGAN -3 vs. NORTHWESTERN

OKLAHOMA ST vs. TEXAS -4.5

STANFORD -1 vs. USC

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013

UNLV vs. AIR FORCE -9

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013

NAVY vs. SAN JOSE ST -7.5

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2013
Nebraska to cover, K State gets the points, LSU covers, Arizona with the points

NEBRASKA -3 vs. PENN ST

VANDERBILT vs. TENNESSEE -1

OKLAHOMA -6.5 vs. KANSAS ST

MICHIGAN ST -1 vs. NORTHWESTERN

TEXAS A&M vs. LSU -2.5

OREGON -13.5 vs. ARIZONA

WASHINGTON vs. OREGON ST -5

ARIZONA ST vs. UCLA -1

BYU vs. NOTRE DAME -8

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013

OLE MISS -4 vs. MISSISSIPPI ST

TEXAS TECH vs. TEXAS -16.5

FRIDAY, NOVEBER 29, 2013

WASHINGTON ST vs. WASHINGTON -14

OREGON ST vs. OREGON -16.5

 

RIVALS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2013 !!!  We like the looks of this weekend and can’t wait for it!  We got action on Georgia Tech getting the points but Bulldogs win by a touchdown.  Let’s go with Hokies, Ohio St, Florida, Clemson, Sun Devils, Trojans.

GEORGIA -10 vs. GEORGIA TECH

VIRGINIA TECH -8.5 vs. VIRGINIA

OHIO ST -3 vs. MICHIGAN

FLORIDA ST vs. FLORIDA -3

CLEMSON vs. SOUTH CAROLINA -4.5

KANSAS ST -14.5 vs. KANSAS

TEXAS A&M -8.5 vs. MISSOURI

ALABAMA -21.5 vs. AUBURN

BAYLOR vs. TCU -8

ARIZONA vs. ARIZONA ST -7

UCLA vs. USC -7

NOTRE DAME vs. STANFORD -7

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013

LOUISVILLE -3.5 vs. CINCINNATI

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2013

OKLAHOMA vs. OKLAHOMA ST -3

TEXAS -6.5 vs. BAYLOR

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2013

NAVY -7.5 vs. ARMY @ PHILADELPHIA, PA
NAVY BIG TIME!!!!

Hope you had some fun with this, make your picks and let’s see how everyone does!  It’s too early to hold us or you to any of these picks but it’s fun to just run through it and see what jumps out at you!

 

2013 Top 5* @TheACCFootball Conference Predictions!

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ACC LogoAtlantic Coast Conference Preseason Top 5* Rundown

The ACC this year is a tale of two stories, the Atlantic Division where we find a battle between two (outside) National Championship contenders and the Coastal Division where we find a battle between two storied programs trying to return to a National Championship mold.  The ACC welcomes two additional programs in Pittsburgh and Syracuse in it’s expansion to a 14 team field.  The season kicks-off like a Fast and the Furious opening scene, with Clemson playing host to the Georgia Bulldogs, in a game that will have BCS implications.  Meanwhile down in Atlanta, Alabama’s Pro-Football Team known as the Crimson Tide roll into town to face-off with Frank Beamer’s Hokies who will be looking to see if they can keep up with the best for four full quarters of football.  Is it August 31st yet?  Here’s the ACC Rivals Rundown:

1.  Clemson University Tigers 11-1 (Atlantic Division Champions)

We have a hard time here at the RR believing in the Clemson Tigers, but with 13 returning starters between defense and offense led by one of our Heisman Trophy contenders in QB Tajh Boyd, this year we are going all in on the Tigers.  Standing in the way of Clemson is a schedule that starts right out of the gate with Georgia coming into Memorial Staduim, a game that will determine if we are talking about a National Title run or just an ACC Title run.  We like the Tigers in that game and see them coasting until they match-up with Florida State on Oct. 19th, in the game that will determine the Atlantic division.  After that If they can survive a trap game against Georgia Tech at home, Clemson could find themselves playing South Carolina in the final game of the season with the national media talking BCS, BCS, BCS.

2.  Florida State Seminoles  10-2        

The question surrounding FSU this year is:  Reload or Rebuild?  After a season that could’ve seen the Seminoles playing for a National Championship, Jimbo Fisher is looking to replace his playmakers on both sides of the football.  The schedule sets up nicely for a young team looking to develop before they match-up against the heavyweights of Clemson, Miami, and Florida.  FSU should be 6-0 before going into the game with Clemson but Clemson has too much experience and gets the Seminoles at home, which is the difference maker.  The answer is, they will be reloading this year and if leaders can emerge on offense watch out for the Seminoles to be in the national picture.

3.  Virginia Tech Hokies 10-2 (Coastal Division Champions)

Last season the Hokies found themselves struggling to become bowl eligible but after winning their final two regular season and beating Rutgers in the Russell Athletic Bowl, the Hokies finished the 2012 campaign on a high note.  Since then, they have revamped the offensive coaching staff and are poised to return to the double digit win total that they have become accustom to in Blacksburg.  The Hokies find themselves with the most difficult opening game in all of college football, a neutral site game against the defending Champs, Alabama.  If they survive that test and take away the positives, Virginia Tech could go on an eight game winning streak setting the scene for a coastal division match-up against the Hurricanes, even if they lose that head to head, we still like Virginia Tech to meet Clemson for the ACC Championship and the chance for a BCS return.  In true Beamer fashion, it will rely on defense and special team, while hoping the offense isn’t too far behind.

4.  The University of Miami Hurricanes 9-3

It’s been too long since the “U” dominated college football with it’s on and off the field actions, as we look at our 2013 predictions it’s tempting to say that they have arrived and this is the year…however, it’s not.  On the bright side, the program is about to turn the corner and starting being in the conversation once again.  The ‘Canes return a what will be one of the most exciting offenses in college football but still have a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the ball.  The defense gave up a school record in points last year and have only 4 starters returning (which could be a good thing).  They have a tough schedule with Florida and Florida St, but could be playing for a Coastal Division Championship when they meet Virginia Tech.  We like Miami to be playing for a National Title in 2015 and a BCS shot in 2014 but this year they will be finishing behind the Hokies.

 5.  Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets  8-4

Last year Georgia Tech had a bad schedule, why?  They faced what turned out to be a bad Virginia Tech before they knew they were bad and lost in OT.  Then they lost, again in OT, a couple of weeks later to an slightly above average Miami team.  Those two losses deflated their sails and they couldn’t recover until they found themselves at 3-4 and yet somehow Georgia Tech still found themselves beating USC on New Year’s Eve in the Sun Bowl.  This year they bring back 16 starters, 11 which are seniors, they start with Elon and Duke then could easily find themselves at 2-3 before they finish the season at 8-4.  With the experience The Yellow Jackets are bringing back, they get our “Outsiders” chance to surprise everyone and win the division if they can get through a three game stretch of North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Miami.

6.  University of North Carolina Tar Heels & N.C. State Wolfpack

Ok, here’s the deal and we’re not going into a long thing here, honestly, we don’t like either of these teams, N.C. State with it’s new coach and a North Carolina team that hasn’t been able to live up to it’s recruiting.  So here they sit, the problem is North Carolina was 9 points away (total) from going 10-1 in a year that they were not bowl eligible and N.C. State has a schedule that has 9 wins if they are on the same page by August 31st.  So, with both of them being dangerous, both having some nice upside, here they both sit tied for the final place in our Rivals Rundown of the ACC.

American Athletic Conference Preseason Top 5 Prediction

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American Athletic Conference

This by far and away is the easiest conference in the country to pick the preseason favorite to win!  Alabama in the SEC is a solid pick but it’s not a pure runaway pick like this newly created conference.  Now that the Big East is no longer a college football conference we find ourselves with a mash-up cast of characters that spreads from New Jersey to Florida to Texas to Ohio.  The conference which will see another makeover next year will have some good football but no great Rivalry’s.  With that being said, here is my predicted order of finish of the Top 5 for the new American Athletic Conference!

1. Louisville Cardinals 12-0

Louisville is faced with a very interesting conundrum, is the season a failure if they don’t go undefeated?  The answer to this question is YES!  Look, after coming off of an 11 win season last year, one that ended in a smackdown of a national power in Florida at the Sugar Bowl, Coach Charlie Strong is ready to show us his best Urban Meyer at Utah impersonation, go undefeated, play in another major bowl (not the national title, even if they go undefeated) and see if he can pass up a major football power like USC knocking on your door.  Led by an experience QB, Teddy Bridgewater, the Cardinals have 7 home games and then only travel to Kentucky, Temple, South Florida, Connecticut, and finishing with their toughest road game, Cincinnati.  Like we’ve seen before, the last game could be the trap game that keeps them out of back to back BCS Bowl appearances.  With that being said, the Cardinals will finish undefeated, and end up an another BCS game.

 2. Cincinnati Bearcats 11-1

Normally, I hate picking first year coaches or first year QB led teams to go one game away from a perfect season but Cincinnati might be the perfect storm this year.  With Tommy Tuberville coming from a successful stint at Texas Tech to Nippert Stadium, this team could easily run the table setting up a clash of “surprise” to the national media unbeatens, when the meet up with Louisville on Dec. 5th.  Cincinnati has a couple of B1G hurddles early on with Purdue and Illinois (both programs are down) then they will have a tough road match up with USF and Rutgers, if they pass those tests look for QB Brendon Kay and the Bearcats to be ready to play in a better bowl then last year.  The Oddsmakers have them at over 9.5 wins for a +120, I’ll take it.

 3. University of Central Florida Knights 9-3

The Knights are ready to make the move after a successful end to their stay at Conference USA with the possibility of being the dark horse in the new AAC.  The have the coach, George O’Leary going into his 11th year at UCF, they return solid starters on offense led by QB Blake Bortles who threw for over 3,000 yards last season, and they return enough experience on defense to be dangerous.  The only problem, schedule.  The Knights have early games against Penn State and South Carolina, they then have to travel to Louisville before the schedule opens up with 4 of 6 home games.  I’m looking at a team that will sit 3-3 to go 6-0 at the end of the season with a chance for back to back double digit wins in a bowl ending appearance.

 4. Rutgers Scarlet Knights 8-4

For a brief moment in time last year, Rutgers where the talk of the town.  They had one loss, a new coach, and looked like maybe just maybe they could make a BCS game, then a loss to Pitt and Louisville ended it all.  This year it’s a tough call for the Scarlet Knights, my heart wants to say that they will compete for a title but with Central Florida coming in and with tough road games to Fresno State and Louisville I’m calling for a close but no cigar this year for Rutgers

 5. University of Houston Cougars  7-5

This might be the toughest pick of this top 5, oh wait, yes it is the toughest pick, the reason…no one knows which Houston team is going to show up this year.  Is it the explosive double digit win team or is it the pathetic team that showed up last year, I’m going with something in the middle.  Houston has enough talent returning on offense to score with most of their schedule, the question is how many points will it’s defense give up?  They will try to answer that question in bringing in a new D.C in Dave Gibbs, Gibbs is coming in from the NFL and will install a 3-4 defense.  The schedule plays into Houston’s favor setting up some early victories but then takes a nasty turn with BYU, Rutgers, South Florida, UCF, Louisville, and Cincinnati.  Let’s see which Houston shows up!