Week 9 College Football Tips

Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Its official: Ohio State is by far the top team in the nation. The Buckeyes own a 108 power rating, the best number of the entire season, and lead Clemson and LSU by a full three points in the Jeff Frank power numbers.

Ohio State destroyed Indiana, 44-3, to go to 8-0 SU and 7-1 ATS. The Buckeyes are now 15-0 SU and 14-1 ATS since the Penn State loss last October. Troy Smith had his way against the Hoosiers, throwing for four touchdowns, three in the first half alone, and the cover was never really an issue as the Buckeyes, who were favored by 31, won by 41 points.

They now control their own destiny, as a win vs. Michigan on November 18 will put the number one team in the country into the BCS Championship Game. Even if they lose that contest, they still should reach the title game with a USC and West Virginia loss during the season.

Michigan jumped over the Trojans into the number two spot in the BCS rankings this week, but that will be a moot point if the Maize and Blue lose to the Buckeyes next month. USC still has a few tough games left on the schedule, including California and Notre Dame, so everything remains up in the air.

The Trojans were off last week and face Oregon State this Saturday. The home team has covered the last three meetings, including two years ago in Corvallis, when the Beavers lost 28-20, a game where they were getting 16 1/2 points. OSU was 4-4 SU and ATS at the time, while USC was 8-0 SU and 5-3 ATS.

Southern Cal has gone the opposite route of Ohio State this season, covering only two of six games and failing to cover each of its last four. One other note: The Trojans have gone UNDER in four of their last five games, while the Beavers have gone UNDER in all six of their lined games this season, so jump on the UNDER along with Oregon State.

Michigan is 8-0 SU and 5-2-1 ATS and has covered its last four games. The Wolverines' defense has been the real reason why they have been so strong this year, especially against the run. The Maize and Blue have allowed only 33.6 rushing yards per game for a 1.4 yards per rush average. Thats why they have gone UNDER in their last five games.

This week, Michigan takes on Northwestern, which owns the worst collapse in NCAA history. The Wildcats had the ATS win in the bag, but to lose a game that they led 38-3 in the third quarter will not go over too well in Evanston this week. The only way Northwestern has a chance to cover this game is if Michigan takes the game lightly after having faced Michigan State, Penn State and Iowa in its last three contests.

West Virginia leapt over Auburn for fourth, but the Mountaineers still have road games left at Louisville and Pittsburgh, and a home date with Rutgers in early December. If Auburn wins out, it would be ironic if the Tigers make it to the BCS Championship Game, considering that they may not even play in the SEC title game if Arkansas fails to lose another game.

NO RESPECT

Clemson has done everything right this season except converting an extra point in the one-point loss at Boston College in the second week of the season. Since then, the Tigers are 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS, but are ranked a mere 10th in the AP poll and 12th in the BCS.

Clemsons toughest remaining game comes this Thursday night against Virginia Tech, a team that has lost two of its last three games and has failed to cover in three of its previous four. This looks like a trap game for the Tigers, especially after crushing Georgia Tech last Saturday night. It was an emotional win on Homecoming Day, as the Tigers even pulled out the purple uniforms. The Hokies' defense is still solid and will give Clemson fits on. Don't be shocked if V-Tech pulls the upset.

LSU has the misfortune of a brutal schedule. The Tigers already have traveled to Auburn and Florida, and the road kill will continue at Tennessee on November 4 and finally at Arkansas in the last game of the season. With two losses, they have zero chance of making it back into the top five. Don't be fooled, however, as the Tigers are one of the top teams in the country and will show it vs. the Volunteers in their next game.

THIS WEEKS PICKS

Virginia hosts NC State. The Cavaliers offense got off to a very slow start this season, averaging a shade below 11 ppg in the first four contests. However, third-string quarterback Jameel Sewell has gained confidence as the year has progressed, and Virginia has scored an average of 27 in its last four games.

The defense fell apart in the fourth quarter vs. Maryland back on October 14, allowing 21 points in the 28-26 loss, but shut out the Tar Heels last Thursday night and now has given up points in only two of the last eight quarters and five of the previous 16.

NC State is 3-4 on the year but has only played two road games, a 20-point loss to Southern Miss and a six-point defeat last week at Maryland. The Terrapins led the game 23-6 after three and coasted the rest of the way. The Wolfpack are 2-4 ATS, including 0-2 away, and will find the going tough against an improved Cavaliers club.

Take Virginia by at least a field goal.

Arizona State travels to Seattle to take on Washington. The Huskies are coming off a tough overtime loss to California, a game in which they led in the fourth quarter, 17-13, and then made a miraculous comeback at the end of regulation to send the game to OT.

Second-string quarterback, Carl Bonnell, replaced the injured Isiah Stanback and threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns, the last one, a 40-yard strike with less than 10 seconds left to tie the game at 24. Most people will remember that play and how well the Huskies played, but they forget that Bonnell threw five interceptions. That was his first start since having faced San Jose State in Washingtons fifth game in 2004, a season in which he threw four picks and zero touchdowns, completing only 37% of his passes.

This game is eerily similar to a couple of weeks back when the Huskies played great against USC, but fell to Oregon State at home in their next contest, 27-17. The Beavers ran up 498 total yards to Washington's 323, but two OSU turnovers kept the Huskies in the contest.

Arizona State has played much better as of late after two disgusting losses to Oregon and Cal, losing by a combined 63 points. On October 14, the Sun Devils were tied with USC until the final five minutes, when Chauncey Washington scored the go-ahead touchdown. ASU gained more confidence with its 38-3 thrashing of Stanford last Saturday.

Go with Arizona State in a double-digit win.

Nebraska and Oklahoma State hook up in Stillwater, and the last time these two teams met in Oklahoma, the Cowboys were getting 8 1/2 points and walked off with the outright win, 24-21. Oklahoma State was 2-4 at the time, while Nebraska was 5-2.

This year the Cornhuskers are 6-2 but are coming off an emotional, heartbreaking loss to Texas. The Longhorns sent out Ryan Bailey, who replaced regular kicker Greg Johnson, to kick the game-winning field goal with 23 seconds left to prevail, 22-20. The Cornhuskers' next game is against the Missouri Tigers, who are currently tied with Nebraska atop the Big 12 North at 3-1. The Huskers would love nothing more than another shot at the Longhorns, so they might be looking ahead to next weeks game, where a win over Mizzou would give them the clear lead in the North.

Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy said in practice that quarterback Bobby Reid would start this game. The sophomore had to leave the last contest with a concussion, and the 4-3 Cowboys fell to Texas A&M by one point in overtime, 34-33.

Look for Okie State to pull the upset over Nebraska, as the Cornhuskers will fail in a sandwich game between Texas and Missouri.

Take the Cowboys plus the points.

OVER/UNDER PLAY

Air Force and BYU have combined for 359 points in the last five meetings, an average of 72 points per game. The final scores of the last two games played in Colorado Springs were Air Force 52-9 in 02 and BYU 41-24 in 04. The two teams will hook up this weekend, and another shootout is expected.

The Cougars are averaging 40 points per game in their last six and have scored 99 in the last two contests. True, the games were against UNLV and San Diego State, but the Cougars were able to score a combined 103 against the likes of Tulsa, Boston College and TCU, with the latter two contests coming on the road.

Air Force is coming off a stunning loss to previously winless San Diego State, so the Falcons will be more than fired up. They played only one game against a predominantly passing team and allowed 31 points to Tennessee, while scoring 30 themselves.

Take the OVER.

Finally, this weeks Top 10:

1) Ohio State, 108; 2) Clemson, 105; 2) LSU, 105; 4) Texas, 104; 4) California, 104; 6) Michigan, 102; 7) Louisville, 101; 8) Florida, 100.5; 9) West Virginia, 100; 10) USC, 99; 10) Auburn, 99; 10) Wisconsin, 99

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