Articles by Cappers Picks related to online NCAA Football betting, and handicapping live CFB matchups.
Second-year head coach Rich Rodriguez is coming off a season that saw him go 8-5 with the Arizona Wildcats. That campaign was the first time he had put together a winning record in a season debut, as well as the first time his team went to a bowl game in a debut.
The Oregon Ducks have taken the NCAA by storm over the past few seasons, and 2013 should prove to be no exception. The fast-paced, up-tempo offense has been too much for most Pac-12 teams to handle, and even though head coach Chip Kelly has departed for the NFL, Mark Helfrich should be ready to carry forward the winning ways of the past.
With the NBA and NHL seasons complete, we’ve entered the slow portion of the betting calendar. College football is still nearly two months from getting underway, but lines have been posted, and the alert bettor is always on the lookout for value, no matter the time of year.
The Michigan State Spartans were so close to having a big season in 2012, but their inability to come up with big plays in crunch time cost them in many games. Five of their six losses came by a grand total of 13 points.
It’s tough to figure out the Iowa Hawkeyes. Kirk Ferentz was seen as one of college football’s top coaches a few years ago when the Hawkeyes were shocking the Big Ten and playing like one of the nation’s top teams.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers went 10-4 last season, but it’s hard to consider their season much of a success thanks to the way it ended. Nebraska was absolutely embarrassed 70-31 by Wisconsin in the Big 10 Conference Championship Game.
The Oregon State Beavers shocked the world with their performance for much of the 2012 season. Because of a weather-influenced delay against Nicholls St., Mike Riley’s crew opened up the year against the No. 13 Wisconsin Badgers.
There is no conference that has had as much movement of teams as the American Athletic Conference, formerly the Big East. This year the league still has its hooks in last year’s winner, Louisville, while welcoming a host of newcomers from Conference USA.
The college football season officially gets underway on August 29th but many sportsbooks have begun posting lines for Week 1 games. The games still may be a ways away but here are five underdogs expected to make some noise in Week 1. Lines courtesy of BetOnline.
The Heisman Trophy is annually one of the toughest awards to predict prior to the start of the season. Nevertheless, with everyone’s attention turned toward playoff action and the early part of the baseball season, there may be some value to be found in these odds before the average bettor takes a closer look.
The college football season is still about three months away, but it is never too early to start looking at how the season will get going. Alabama won the BCS Championship again last year. Changes are coming to the BCS in the year ahead, and it should be an exciting season.
In the ever-growing movement of college football – whether you look at TV dollars, conference re-alignment or points on the scoreboard – 2013-14 promises to be another enthralling season in the race for BCS hardware. .
Crimson Tide vs. Fighting Irish College Football Spread/Handicapping
Well it is finally here. Two big brand names but still debate over whether these are the two most deserving schools (at least for me). Probably a defensive battle but with so much time to prepare who knows
#2 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) vs. #1 Notre Dame (12-0)
Monday January 7
Sun Life Stadium – Miami, FL
8:30
Moneyline: Alabama -345, Notre Dame +315 at SportsBettingOnline.ag
Spread: Alabama -9.5
O/U: 40.5
ATS Matchup Stats | Gambling Insight!
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Alabama is probably the most talented team in the nation. They always do well in recruiting rankings and now that mock drafts are the rage they are looking good there too.
The amazing thing is that they almost didn’t make it here. Johnny Heisman knocked them down earlier in the season and the Bulldogs nearly had their number in the SEC Championship.
Both of those teams have a nice mix of offensive talent to challenge their defense…The defense gets a lot of praise but the offense is very good too – they averaged 38ppg.
Its not flashy but the best offensive line in football paved the way for two 1000 yard rushers, Eddie Lacy and freshman T.J. Yeldon both averaged 6.5 yards per carry.
That line also gave QB A.J. McCarron time to complete nearly 70% of his passes. He makes few mistakes too (just 3 interceptions on the season)…Despite the one loss the Crimson Tide are heavy favourites at -9.5.
Alabama has been a poor bet this season at just 6-7 ATS including 1-4 ATS down the stretch.
This could be a tight defensive struggle but it could also be another examples of Bama’s recent dominance.
The last and only undefeated team in the nation is Notre Dame. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Technically you can’t argue with their selection to the Championship game but for me they don’t pass the sight test for me. Their regular season had some nice wins but also some head scratchers, I think only one of their conquests, Stanford, lived up to expectations this season…
Statistically the defense has been a monster with linebacker Manti Te’o gaining lots of attention and finishing second in the Heisman race.
Its the offense led by QB Everett Golson that has everyone questioning this team.
They run the ball alright and have QB Tommy Rees as closer but it is hardly a good offensive team that is likely to struggle against Alabama…In addition to having strong defenses another trait the Irish have in common is a poor ATS record, just 7-6. That has been primarily because of their poor offensive showings.
It affected them as favourites with big numbers but I think it will do the same in this one too.
They might not be able to keep this one close.
Spread Pick: Alabama -9.5
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction:
This year’s GoDaddy.com Bowl features a talented Sun Belt Conference team locking horns with a MAC outfit coming off a memorable campaign.
I don’t know how things got weird and a game of this calibre got pushed to this late in the bowl calendar. I do know that there is nothing to like about it. SEC vs BIg East is not a good matchup in this one.
Pittsburgh Panthers (6-6) vs Ole Miss Rebels (6-6)
Saturday January 5
Legion Field – Birmingham, AL
1:00PM
Moneyline: Ole Miss -160, Pittsburgh +140 at SportsBettingOnline.ag
Spread: Ole Miss -3.5
O/U: 52
ATS Matchup Stats | Gambling Insight!
Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s Picks Today!
The Panthers needed to win their final two games to become bowl eligible and they did. In fact they have gone the whole season on two game streaks, losing then winning, creating their current symetrical 6-6 record.
Mostly they are getting it done on the defensive side of the ball as the Panthers are inconsistent on offense at best…
At running back they have a difference maker in Ray Graham. The pint sized senior finally broke through with a 1000 yard season – but with his worst average per carry. He is tougher than he looks and plays well when the team wins.
QB Tino Sunseri has taken a lot of heat over the years but he put up some nice numbers as a senior too including a TD/INT ratio of 19/2…Pitts was 7-4 ATS this season including 5-1 the last two months of the season.
I think the only way you can like this team is as the underdog because you just can’t rely on them too much. That extra half point provides some value though.
Ole Miss also got their bowl qualifying win in the last week of the season, beating in-state rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. They play in the toughest division in college football and held their own this year, losses to Vanderbilt, LSU and Texas A&M were all by 6 points or less. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
This isn’t a great team but with any other schedule they are probably 8-4…
Nothing in particular stands out about Ole Miss talent wise. QB Bo Wallace is alright but throws it too many times to the wrong guys. Former starting QB Randall Mackey gets used running the ball, at receiver and sometimes even throwing the ball too.
It is that kind of versatility that might come in handy with a lot of extra time to prepare…
Though just 6-6 Ole Miss has been a very profitable 9-3 ATS. This is a battle tested team that even though it is not super talented seems to play above its head.
Coach Hugh Freeze is doing a better job than you realize in his first year and it should end with a bowl victory.
Spread Pick: Ole Miss -3.5
O/U Pick: Under
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 24 – Pittsburgh 17
Both Texas A&M and Oklahoma ended the season hot winning 5 straight games and these teams are old rivals from in the Big 12. Johnny Manziel won the Heisman for the Aggies this season and became the first ever freshman to do so.
