[Tommy]

Northwestern has QB problems, with Kafka nursing hamstring, and they're also -7 in turnovers, with ten giveaways in last three games. Home side covered seven of their last nine games in this series, but Wildcats won last visit here, are 10-6-1 vs spread last 17 Big 11 road games. Penn State was down 14-6 at Ohio State in last 3:00, then threw two picks for TDs.

Kansas ended 36-game losing skid vs Nebraska last year; still, Jayhawks are 7-23 vs spread in last 30 series games, and 4-10 vs spread in last 14 Big 12 road games. Kansas won at home last week with their backup QB playing, while Nebraska was waxing Troy, 56-0. Jayhawks outgained Nebraska 428-138 last year, but CornXXXXs are improving, while Kansas might be down some.

Indiana gets star WR Hardy back (suspension) and head coach Hoeppner (brain surgery) too, but they need competent play at QB position; last week, while defense held UConn to 7 points, Hoosier offense had 192 total yards. Badgers covered three of last nine as road favorite, two of last seven vs Indiana.

Miami covered five of last 20 when laying double digits at home, facing 4th-year starting QB Kolb, who has Houston out to 4-0 start, scoring 36.7 ppg vs I-A foes. Cougars lost 38-13 two years ago on this field, but were 3-0 as road dog last year. Hurricanes are in turmoil after drubbing at Louisville; they're 1-9 vs spread after a bye week.

Pitt lost at home to Ohio U of MAC last year, so no way they'll take Toledo lightly, even though Rockets have injured QB and are 1-2 vs I-A feos, with two of those three games going into OT Panthers have Big East opener at Syracuse next week, but think Toledo has their attention. Pitt's last four lined games all went over total.

Louisiana Tech is already playing third big money road game, as they've lost at Nebraska (49-10), Texas A&M (45-14). Clemson is hot, following up Florida State win with demolition of Tar Heels in Death Valley. Tigers won their two home games this year by scores of 54-6/52-7, rushing for 523 yards in those two games. Clemson has revenge battle with Wake Forest up next, but this Tiger team might be Bowden's best in his 8 years at Clemson.

Rice had freshman player die early in week during workout, for some reason, this game is still being played. Owls are 0-4 after playing money games at UCLA (26-16), vs Texas (52-7) and at Florida State (55-7). Army home after beating Baylor and close loss vs Texas A&M. Huge coaching edge for Army, but for one game, Rice figures to be the more inspired team.

Purdue is 8-5 vs spread in last 13 games vs Notre Dame, but 3-14 vs spread as road dog under Tiller. Road team is 9-5 vs spread in last fourteen series games. Boilers scoring 34.7 ppg vs their
I-A foes, but they've also given up 26.7. Irish off bad games vs two Michigan teams; they got lucky in East Lansing, but State ran ball for 248 yards in rainy loss. Notre Dame was just 1-11 on third down, still scored 40 points. Go figure.

Boise State just 1-3-1 in last five games as road dog, while Utah is 15-6 vs spread in last 21 non-MWC games, and 10-7 in last 17 tries as home favorite. Utes have Thursday game vs TCU next, so two tough games in five days. Boise is 3-0 vs I-A teams, with 17-10 win at 1-3 Wyoming only win. Hawai'i riddled them for 34 points and 388 passing yards in 41-34 Boise win last week.

Star USC WR Jarrett probably out for this game, but Trojans are machine; inlast year's 55-13 win over Wazzu, USC gained a total of 745 yards (yes, 745), 312 on ground. Coogs are 4-2 vs spread in last six tries as home dog, but visitor is 7-4 vs spread in series As point of reference, Wazzu was outgained 478-261 in loss at Auburn. Trojans struggled on offense at Arizona last week but defense carried day in 20-3 win.

UCLA dropped last three road games, allowing 49 ppg; last win on foreign soil was 30-27 in OT on this field last year. Stanford is 0-4, allowing 39 ppg (outscored 156-63); they've allowed avg of 319 rushing yards/game in last three weeks. UCLA led 16-0 in first quarter last week in Seattle, then fell apart in second half of 29-19 loss; they're 10-29 on third down last two games.

Alabama hit bomb on first series vs Florida last year and upset Gators at home, 31-3, first time since '92 a Florida team had failed to score TD; Tide is 5-0-1 vs spread in this series, 19-8 against spread in last 27 tries as road dog. Bama has kicking issues as 24-23 loss at Arkansas saw FG kicker miss three FGs and a huge PAT in OT. Florida has LSU next week.

Texas Tech is 13-4 vs spread in last 17 games vs Texas A&M, as Raiders' last two visits to A&M both wound up in overtime. Average total in last four series games in 78. Tech won 56-17 in last year's game, passing 32-48/433 yds. Aggies are 4-0, but got lucky holding off Army, and La Tech game was 14-7 at half, so no one real impressed. Tech won four of last five series games.

Ole Miss is in freefall after getting squashed at home by a Wake Forest team missing its QB and best RB. Ole Miss fan I know is wagering on Georgia and giving points in this game, thats how low Ole Miss folks are now. Georgia was lucky to escape 14-13 vs Colorado last week, as 3rd-string QB threw last-minute TD to pull game out, but they got outplayed badly for three quarters.

Like we said, Colorado played hearts out last week, leading 13-0 at Georgia in fourth quarter, before Dawgs pulled game out with last-minute TD pass. Buffaloes won four of last five games vs Missouri, covered ten of last 14 on carpet, but in '06, Colorado is 0-4, scoring 9 ppg, Mizzou 4-0, albeit vs shaky schedule. Mizzou is just 2-5 vs spread in last seven games vs Missouri, but things seem to have turned for them this season.

Virginia Tech crushed Georgia Tech last year, as 3-0 Jackets hit on only 13-32 passes in 51-7 VT win. GT won three in row since narrow loss in opener to Notre Dame; they've covered 13 of 19 as double digit road dog in ACC play. Hokies struggled a week ago, trailing Cincinnati 10-5 at half; VT has nine INTs in its four games, so GT's senior QB Ball has to have a great game to keep his team in game.

Home side covered seven of last nine Ohio State-Iowa games, but Buckeyes are 11-3 vs spread in last 14, although road night games haven't been kind to Brutus Buckeye's boys (1-5 vs pts in Big 11 night games, 5-11 vs spread in last 16 Big 11 road tilts). Hawkeyes have thrown six picks in last three games, little bit of red flag. Buckeyes were struggling on offense last week against Penn State, but defense bailed them out late.

Road team is 14-5 vs spread in last nineteen series games, with Michigan 8-3 vs spread in last 11 Big 11 road tilts. Wolverines are just 9-16 vs spread as road favorite; they won last two visits to this site, 41-24/38-35. Gophers are 11-17 vs spread in last 28 Big 11 home games; they posted shutouts in their two wins this year, allowed 42,27 pts in losses. Doubt they shut Michigan out.

Memphis covered 12 of last 16 as home dog and last six series games vs Tennessee, but Tigers rebuilding this year, putting in new offense. Defense yielded 805 yards, 63 pts in two games vs I-A opponents. Vols covered six of last eight as road favorite, have Georgia game up next; they've allowed 187 rushing yards a game over last three weeks, but Memphis is passing team now. Vols 9-5 vs spread in last 14 non-SEC road games.

Tulane plays its first home game since '04, vs team that led them share their facilities after Katrina in '05. Green Wave allowing 41 ppg in 1-2 start; their QB Ricard was hurt last week, status isn't known as I type this. Mustangs ran ball for 214 yards in a 55-9 win over Arkansas State. Green Wave beat SMU last year 31-10, early in season, before toll of traveling came into play; Green Wave outgained Mustangs 357-127 in that game last year.

Arizona State got crushed in Berkeley last week, now Oregon is on its way, Sun Devils are 10-2-1 vs spread in last thirteen tries as home dog- they're 8-3 vs spread in last eight series contests. Ducks snuck out wins at Fresno and miracle vs Oklahoma, as mobile QB Dixon had 570 passing yards in those two games. Oregon covered 13 of last 20 Pac-10 road games. In last year's win, Oregon ran ball for 234 yards, passed for 278