[Tommy]

Wisconsin on letdown alert after beating Michigan at home last week, but they've lost last two games vs Indiana, both as double digit favorites (IU won last visit here 63-32, as 14-pt dogs), so doubt they'll look past 3-0 Hoosiers, who step way up in class here. Indiana is 9-21 in last 30 tries as road dog, 13-27 vs spread in Big 11 play and 2-7 vs spread after a bye.

My records go back 26 years, and I can't find State favored in this series. Michigan won four of last five games vs Spartans, with only loss 26-24 in '01; State lost this game 45-37 in OT last year, but had 368-223 edge running ball. Wolverines were 24-35/ 273 passing last year; they're 4-2 in last six tries as a road dog,
4-10 vs spread in last fourteen games on natural grass. At 2-2, desperate times for Lloyd Carr's Wolverines.

Clemson lost last two weeks in OT, after two nail-biting wins to open season; this is softest game they've had so far, vs 1-3 Wake team that is underachieving (home losses to Vandy, Maryland). Tigers won four of last five series meetings, winning in OT last year, but they lost last visit here 45-17. Clemson is 3 for last 28 on third down, and 1-4 as road favorite since '02. Wake is 10-3-2 vs spread in last fifteen series games.

Favorite is 8-3 vs spread in Virginia Tech-West Virginia rivalry, home team covered seven of last nine (they recruit against each other a lot, but this is not a league game); last four series totals have been 38 or less, as both sides completed less than half their passes in last year's 19-13 Tech win. Hokies won last three games by combined margin of 141-7. WVa 3-1 in last four tries as a home dog.

Home side is 11-2 vs spread last 13 Iowa State-Nebraska games, winning last four SU, as Cyclones losing last two visits to this site, 48-14/28-0. Both sides completed less than half their passes in last year's 34-27 ISU win in Ames. ISU offensive coach came to Ames from Nebraska-- Cyclones haven't won in Lincoln for 4+ decades. Huskers are 3-0, outscoring foes 30-3 in first half. Pivotal game for both sides.

Baylor shocked Texas A&M 35-34 in OT last year, going for 2 in OT, and pulling upset as 25-point dog; Bears are 5-5 as road dog under Morriss, 2-6 vs spread after bye, but 3-0 SU, winning at SMU, Army. Aggies covered nine of last 12 series games, 6-1 vs spread in last seven home dog- they beat SMU 66-8, a team Baylor was life-and-death to beat, 28-23.

Florida 1-6 vs spread in last seven tries as road favorite, 0-4-1 vs spread in last five visits to Alabama, which is 2-3 as home dog under Shula, but led by senior QB Croyle, has dominated foes so far this season, Key point here is can Tide defense stop one-dimensional (Leak doesn't run ball much) spread offense? Pick on this game is in my selection box, down below.

UConn pounded Army last two years, 48-21/40-3; total yardage in last year's game was 503-250; Huskies 5-1 in last six tries as road favorite, but they played Georgia Tech, and have national TV date with Syracuse next Friday. Cadets 0-3 but improving under Bobby Ross; they gave 3-0 Iowa State good game last week, losing 28-21. Army is 4-3 as home dog under Ross, but they've been outscored 42-14 in second half of games this season.

Minnesota won its last three games vs Penn State, winning here 20-14 two years ago; totals in last three meetings were 41-34-23. Both sides had dramatic wins last week, coming from behind late. Gophers are 7-14 vs spread on Big 11 road, but 16-11 vs number on grass, 10-4 in last 14 tries as road favorite. JoePa 6-4 as home dog since '00; they're -5 in turnovers last two games. Minnesota ran ball for 300+ yards in all four games, last three of which went over the total.

Texas won last three games vs Missouri by 46-12/35-16/28-20 scores; Longhorns are 16-7 vs spread after a bye, 7-3 vs number in last ten games overall, but covered just one of last four in this series. hard to endorse Missouri team that lost at home to New Mexico, 45-35. Longhorns already have 51-10/60-3 wins this yr, and at win in Columbus; they're 16-7 vs spread after a bye.

USC won last five years vs Arizona State, winning last two in Tempe by 44-38 (ot), 37-17 scores; they squashed ASU 45-7 last year in Coliseum, sacking Walter eight times. Sun Devils are 9-2-1 vs spread in last dozen tries as home dog; they're 3-1 this year, scoring 47 ppg, losing only on miracle finish by LSU. Trojans trailed 13-0 in Eugene last week, 13-10 at half, won 45-13, so they're a juggernaut until otherwise notified.

Cal rolling behind JC transfer QB Ayoob, winning three games vs D-I foes by 39-15-28 points, but Arizona has gotten better, losing just 31-24 vs Purdue, and by FG at Utah. Wildcats were 13-32 passing vs Cal last year; they're 5-10 in last fifteen tries as road dog. Arizona is 21-11 vs spread after a bye, but 3-8 vs spread on Pac 10 road. Will Bears look ahead to next week's game vs UCLA? Bears 19-11 vs spread in last 30 Pac-10 home games, 9-7 in last sixteen as home fave.

Average total in last five Nevada-San Jose games is 80.4, with favorites covering all five, and teams splitting last two at this site. Wolf Pack won last three series games by 28-12-18 points, but they've covered just six of their last 18 conference games. Wolf Pack lost last nine road games SU, they're 4-7 vs spread in last 11 as road favorite. San Jose 10-6 vs spread in their last 16 conference games.

South Florida crushed Big East frontrunner Louisville next week, but still no respect from the line, as Bulls getting 20+ from Miami team that wore Colorado down in early afternoon sun last week, 23-3. Biggest game in USF history, for sure. Hurricanes 13-21 vs spread in last 34 tries as a favorite. Lot of these kids played vs each other in high school, so chip on USF's shoulder, as they got overlooked by big-time Miami.

Purdue beat Notre Dame last two years, 41-16 last year, 23-10 in last visit here; Boilers are 8-4-1 in last thirteen series games, with home side covering seven of last ten. Both teams gained 500+ yards in last year's game, Quinn passed for 460 yards, Purdue sacked him seven times, and passed for 413 yards on just 32 throws (23 catches). Fourth road game in five weeks for Irish; I am little leery of bucking home team in a night game, since the crowd support usually little vocal with extra hours to drink.

Kansas State covered five of last six tries as road dog, eight of last 12 on grass, but they've lost three of last four games vs Oklahoma, even though they're 13-2-2 vs spread in last 17 series games. Sooners are 3-10 vs spread in game before playing rival Texas, are 3-11 vs spread in their last fourteen games overall.

QB Mitchell not expected to play for South Carolina, so Spurrier using new guy vs Auburn team that is 6-3 in last nine tries as home favorite, 9-4 vs spread vs SEC East, but 2-10 vs spread week before its bye. Field was at QB for Tigers last week, not Cox (stomach flu), but Cox expected back here. Gamecock D held Georgia to 17 points in Athens, and Dawgs are better than this Auburn team, would expect Spurrier to get a cover here, but can not invest in backup QB making first start on road.

Top two Memphis QB's both have broken legs, Tigers lost both games vs D-I foes by 4,6 points. Memphis lost in OT at Tulsa last week, despite rushing for 335 yards- they were 9-25 passing. UTEP trailed 10-7 in third quarter last week, before scoring on INT and blocked punt in 4:00 span to break game open. Tigers are 11-4 as home dog since '98, 4-0 since '01