Tulsa @ Bowling Green -3.5: These teams have played once in the past five years, a 33-20 Tulsa win in 2010. Bowling Green is picked to win the East Division in the MAC, while Tulsa is the favorite to win the West in C-USA! Bowling Green returns 19 starters for the 2013 season, while Tulsa brings back only 10. That said, C-USA is clearly the better league and Tulsa the better program. Prior to the 2010 meeting, they Played in the GMAC Bowl where Tulsa set a record for the largest margin of victory, 56 points, with a 63-7 pounding of BGU. Tulsa will not only beat the spread, they will win this game outright!
Ole Miss -3 vs Vanderbilt: This is a great match-up in the SEC of two programs that are clearly on the rise. Vandy in the East Division & Ole Miss in the West. These teams have met five times in the past five years with Vanderbilt winning four and three in a row. Last year the Commodores beat the Rebels 28-27, Vandy drove the length of the field to win the game as time expired. Both teams won their bowl games last year, Ole Miss beat Pitt 38-17 & Vandy beat NC State 38-24.Against the better teams in the SEC East Vandy did not show up, losing to Florida 31-17 & Georgia 48-3 while Ole Miss lost to A&M 30-27 & LSU 41 35. I do not believe Vanderbilt got Ole Miss’ best effort last year … they will this time… Look for a very competitive game with Ole Miss winning by a touchdown. Take Ole Miss and give Vandy the 3!
Rutgers @ Fresno State -10.5: This is a very good Fresno State team, they are picked by most preseason publications to win the West Division of the Mountain West Conference. They were 9-4 a year ago, but were hammered in the Hawaii Bowl by SMU, 43-10! This year they bring back 16 starters including their QB, Derek Carr, David Carr’s younger brother. Rutgers also was 9-4 last year, losing their bowl game to Virginia Tech 14-10, in OT. Rutgers has the best offensive line in the American Athletic Conference, one of the leagues best receivers, Brandon Coleman, & one of the AAC best runners, Savon Huggins. The concern for the Scarlet Knights is on the defensive side of the ball. Rutgers will score on Fresno, they just will struggle to stop them. Take Rutgers & the 10.5 points as Fresno wins but does not cover!
BYU @ Virginia PK: Virginia is 2-1 vs BYU, the last meeting between the teams was in 2000, a game won by BYU, 38-35 in OT! The Cavaliers were 4-8 last year, while BYU finished the 2012 season @ 8-5, beating San Diego State, 26 -3 in the Poinsettia Bowl. The two best players in this game both play for BYU, LB Kyle Van Noy & WR Cody Hoffman, Virginia does have an outstanding Offensive Left Tackle, Morgan Moses, 6’6 325! In their last their last four opening day contests, BYU has beaten, Oklahoma 14-13 in 2009, Washington 23-17 in 2010, Ole Miss 14-13 in 2011 & Washington State 30-6 last year! Important to Note, only the Ole Miss game was on the road, all the other games were played at Lavell Edwards Stadium! That said, this is a pick ’em game neither team is giving points ,,, Take BYU to win the Game!
Florida State -10 @ Pitt: This is a pretty big mountain for the Panthers to be given to climb in their first ever ACC contest. That said, FSU is a surprising 3-5 vs Pitt. Their last meeting was in 1983, a game won by Pittsburgh, 17-16! Further the Seminoles have lost their last two, 1st road game of the season, @ Oklahoma, 47-17, in 2010 & @ Clemson. 35-30, in 2011. Ok, it sounds like Pitt has a good shot at the Seminoles … Forget it!! FSU has the best O-Line in the ACC, Center, Bryan Stork & OG, Tre, Jackson, the best receivers Rashad Greene, Nick O’Leary, & Kelvin Benjamin & RBs Devonte Freeman & James Wilder in the conference, & a Red Shirt Freshman QB, Jameis Winston, who is being talked about as one of the best they have ever had at that position. On Defense, it is more of the same, best linebackers in the ACC, Christian Jones & Telvin Smith, best D Backs in the Conference; LaMarcus Joyner, Ronald Darby, & Terrence Brooks, while 2nd team All-American, Timmy Jernigan, leads a really good D-Line. FSU roster is just to good for Pitt! Take FSU and give the Panthers the 10 points!
University of Texas San Antonio @ New Mexico -3: I am at a loss to understand why New Mexico is only giving UTSA 3 points. Bob Davie did a very good job a year ago and could have won more games. They lost to the following teams, Air Force 28-23, Colorado State 24-20, Nevada 31-24, Wyoming, 28-23 & Boise State 32-29! New Mexico was competitive in the MWC Davie’s first year. This game has an ND & Miami head coach connection, Bob Davie guided ND and Larry Coker led the Hurricanes. Davie won four games last year, more than the previous three years combined. The Lobos have a chance to win 6 games this year, but they will need to win many of the six early. This game is a needed step for a New Mexico team that is more talented and deeper than a year ago. Take New Mexico and give UTSA the points!
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