Week 9 College Football Matchups

College football betting has a busy weekend ahead. Conference play continues to weed out the weak, and knowing where to lay your bets is getting tougher each Saturday. Here are two of this weekend’s notable matchups .

Texas Longhorns at Oklahoma State Cowboys (+8.5, 52)

The Texas Longhorns march closer to a shot at the BCS title but have to face a feisty rival in OSU. Texas thumped Missouri 41-7 last weekend and now have another road test in Stillwater. The Longhorns showed that their defense can be just as nasty as QB Colt McCoy and the offense. That stop unit held the Tigers to a season low of 173 yards of total offense.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys continue to plug new players into their lineup. Wide receiver Dez Bryant will remain suspended, and running back Kendall Hunter is questionable for Saturday with an injured ankle. Quarterback Zac Robinson has kept the team afloat and is getting big games from senior RB Keith Toston on the ground.

Georgia Bulldogs at Florida Gators (-15, 48)

Georgia Bulldogs has had two weeks off, using the bye to prepare for the reigning national champs in the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”. The Bulldogs haven’t been able to hang with the SEC elite this season but are coming off a win over Vanderbilt two weeks ago. Georgia has lost three of the last four meetings with UF in Jacksonville, but has gone 2-2 ATS against the college football point spreads.

Florida Gators got a scare last weekend from Mississippi State. The Gators have seemed far from their championship form the last few weeks. Last Saturday, the passing attack totaled only 127 yards and QB Tim Tebow was picked off twice. The burly signal caller did rush for 88 yards and a score, and is gradually getting back to his smash-mouth self since suffering a concussion over a month ago.

College Football Betting Picks

If you plan on doing any wagering this fall then you are probably looking for college football betting picks. You really will have no problems finding sites that specialize in giving out their ideas and predictions, but the question is just how good are these selections? There are football fans everywhere who like to throw their ideas on forums and blogs, so if you are getting your bets from these types of sites then be careful.  Sign up for a new account with BetUS and deposit $500 or more and they are going to automatically deposit another $500 in your account with their amazing $500 match bonus for new customers!

Once you find the picks that you want to bet then only half the battle is over with as you still need to find a reliable sportsbook to deposit into and start placing your bets on these tips. We have done the hard work in looking up several of the top sportsbooks in terms of deposit and payout methods, customer service, reliability, stability, and bonuses. You simply can’t find better places to make your wagers than the sportsbooks listed along the right hand side of this page.

The internet is the perfect place to do your college football betting because there is a ton of resources and handicappers out there to help you win, and then there is the convenience of 24 hour, seven day a week, every day of the year wagering. Plus with the costs for these companies to operate online being so low you will pay less for the picks and you’ll get more bonuses out of your sportsbook.

It’s time to start beating the NCAA football odds with top-rated NCAA football picks from the best handicappers in the world.

College Football Handicapping Picks

If you are looking for the top college football handicapping picks on the internet today, then look no further than Larry Cook and the Info Plays team. This legendary sports handicapper has been around the business for years and knows the ins and outs of the world of sports. His football picks have long been regarded as the best in the industry, simply because his premium predictions are the best in the industry.  Bet on college football at BetUS this season and get a HUGE $500 match bonus!

If you have never picked up a college football handicapping picks package, you may be asking what the benefits are. If you can hit 60% plus of your games on your own and can spend a lot of time each week going over the numbers then you may not need a handicapper. These guys specialize in picking winners, so if you want a specialist visit the Info Plays page and pick up a package.

The Info Plays college football betting picks are worth their money because they will win for you and win consistently. This crew hits all of their big plays, is always honest, and doesn’t have long lasting slumps you might find with other services. Sign up today and start winning with a service that has a proven track record of providing their customers with winning football picks.

Before you make any picks on this week’s games, be sure to check our live NCAA football odds feed to see which sportsbooks are giving out the best lines.

College Football Handicapping 2006

We want to make sure you know what to expect when doing your 2006 college football handicapping. This article should give you some insight into how one of our expert handicappers is going to approach the season.  Also, if you are looking for some place to wager on football this season, you have to put BetUS at the top of your list.  They are currently offering a $500 match bonus and I haven’t seen any other offers this season that come close to it!  There’s just no better place to try your hand at beating the college football odds.

I’ve been talking it over with some football experts here in Las Vegas and we can’t remember ever confronting a college football season like this.

- Every legitimate national championship threat has to replace significant skill position talent, or high impact players on defense.

- There are at least 15 teams who can make reasonable cases that they’ve got a shot to play in the BCS championship game if they can win their big games.

- The addition of a 12th game to everyone’s schedule this year has taken away many bye weeks. If you’ve already scanned through the schedules, you know that many teams will be eight or nine games deep into the schedule before they get a week off. Some go straight through until getting a break around Thanksgiving. That means injuries and depth will play a bigger role in college football this year than ever.

So, you may be asking how anyone could project a national championship favorite or even a reasonable top ten. Or, how could anyone even trust their power ratings in the opening week? Remember how bad those early polls were last year? Tennessee was a consensus #2 in the country in the preseason even though they wouldn’t make it to a bowl. A lot of popular dark horse picks ended up with four losses or more.

How do you handicap college football games in this kind of environment? Here’s what I suggest:

- First, remember that the oddsmakers are in the same boat you are. They’re in one of their biggest positions of weakness in quite some time. That should boost your confidence right off the bat.

- Be conservative if you have yet to gain a strong feel. You’ve probably heard that a sports bettor’s biggest advantage is that he can pass any game while the oddsmakers have to put up a number in all of them. The oddsmakers will be putting up a few guesses. If you’ve got insights about a certain coach or a certain team, you’ll be able to cherry pick some great winning situations.

- Consider playing second half lines. The best way to get a read on two teams going head-to-head is to watch them play each other. In the old days, this was of no benefit to bettors because only full game lines were available. Now, you can watch the first half and bet on the second half. The oddsmakers will be floundering here as well with so many games going on simultaneously. You can cherry-pick the ones you watch and look for soft spots.

- Give extra weight to experienced quarterbacks. They’re more valuable than normal this year because so many big name teams will be breaking in newcomers. This is going to be a big deal in the first few weeks of the season. This should affect your thinking on both sides and totals.

- Remember to look for climate advantages. The Southeast and Southwest have had brutally hot summers (and are still having them). It’s very likely that any teams from mild weather will fade badly in the second halves of games played in very hot weather. This is something that often trumps differences in experience, so you can still play this edge with confidence.

- To set the tone for your late season college football handicapping, start paying very close attention now to which teams have depth and which don’t. Every year, many of the smaller programs fade badly in the final month of the season. They may get up for their rivalry game, but otherwise, they’re blowout fodder for the powers. Without the bye weeks this year this will happen to more programs and it will happen earlier than ever before. I think this particular angle will offer up several big play opportunities in the second half of the season.

I know you’ll be watching a zillion games on TV in the coming days. We all will! Make notes of any depth-related comments you hear from the announcers, and eyeball for yourself how well the backups do when they get a chance to perform. It will pay off time and time again down the road.

We’re coming up on what could prove to be a very unique season. The oddsmakers are talking tough. But I know they’re scared to death about these early games. They know in their hearts that they’re just guessing with the early numbers. Analysts like you and me who use the right approach will be able to teach them a lesson about making college football picks!

Remember that you can get free NCAA football picks all season long so you can see how each handicapper examines each game before you ever purchase a premium football picks package.

2006 NCAA Football Predictions: Sun Belt Conference

This is a real conference on the move as will be shown by our 2006 Sun Belt predictions. One again Marc Lawrence is going to take you team by team through this conference and give you the low down on what to expect, but if you want help making your picks week after week then take a look at one of his college football picks packages. You won’t want to miss a single day of winners from this long time expert on the gridiron.

The new kids on the block continue their search for identity in 2006. In just four seasons, the league has secured a bowl win (2002 New Orleans Bowl), had multiple teams reach the postseason (2004 – North Texas and Troy) and had Troy’s Demarcus Ware chosen as the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Still, they’ve still got this ‘Louisiana Garbage Can image they’d like to kick.  For anyone who wants a chance at beating the NCAA football odds throughout this season, even if you already have a sportsbook account, you should open a new account with BetUS and deposit $500 or more.  If you do, they ll automatically add another $500 to your account!

Here is my take on the SUN BELT CONFERENCE for 2006. Coming up next: the WAC CONFERENCE. Enjoy…

ARKANSAS STATE
If more teams developed Arkansas State head coach Steve Roberts’ ‘I Will’ philosophy there would likely be an over abundance of bowl- eligible teams. ‘I Will’ became ‘We Did’ in 2005 when the Indians overachieved their way to its 1st-ever bowl game. That was the same Arkansas State squad that was ranked No. 115 in SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’S pre-season poll in 2005. Roberts will be put to the task this season with numerous offensive holes to fill, including a new starting quarterback and a pair of replacement running backs. Then again, last year’s team featured a lot of new faces snapping on their chin straps. Don’t count him out.
PLAY ON: vs. Army (9/2)

LA LAFAYETTE
Now here’s a non-descript team that doesn’t smell up the joint. After capturing a share of the Sun Belt Conference championship last season, head coach Rickey Bustle was inked to a contract extension through 2010, and it’s easy to understand why. His teams have increased its win percentage each season since his arrival four years ago. They lose only 13 lettermen from last year’s championship squad and, behind SR QB Jerry Babb, will face only one opponent with a winning record in 2006 (LSU in their opener). To top it off they enter this new season riding the nation’s 7th longest win streak. Not bad for a Louisiana garbage can.
PLAY ON: vs. Texas A&M (9/9)

LA MONROE
Here we go again with yet another ‘politically correct’ nickname change. In yielding to pressure from the native American Indian sovereignty, they switched from the Indians to the Warhawks. Now that’s a nice new surname saturated with serenity. It’s also reassuring knowing that when they go on the warpath (as Warhawks have been known to do) they will no longer be slighting the American Indian (sic). Meanwhile, head coach Charlie Weatherbie’s warriors have been collecting scalps on a regular basis of late as they’ve come away winners in 10 of their last 18 battles. They’d better win early and often this year as the last five games of the season are away from the reservation.
PLAY ON: vs. Louisiana Lafayette (11/25)

MID TENNESSEE STATE
On the heels of their fourth consecutive sub .500 effort, former head coach Andy McCollom was dispatched in favor of Rick Stockstill, an assistant at South Carolina the last two seasons. If Stockstill were a racehorse his blood lines would be impeccable, as he’s tutored under the likes of Steve Spurrier, Lou Holtz, Danny Ford, Tommy Bowden, Ken Hatfield and Tommy West. He’ll rely heavily on SR southpaw QB Clint Marks, who has started 21 consecutive games while completing 66% of his passes. Faced with seven road games, and a 4th new defensive coordinator in as many years, let’s hope Stockstill doesn’t buck shins in his maiden season.
PLAY ON: vs. Florida International (8/31)

NORTH TEXAS
A disastrous 2005 season, one the athletic department cares to refer to as a ‘hiccup in the rear view mirror’, saw the Eagles 26-game conference win streak snapped to shreds. In truth it was more like a Heimlich maneuver gone bad when North Texas was solidly outgained in each of their 11 contests. The not-so-mean Green Machine was absolutely pummeled outside the conference, outscored 204-26 in an 0-4 effort. The return of 50 lettermen, along with16 starters, should help the healing process. RB Jamario Thomas will need to return to his 2004 form when he lead the nation in rushing. Otherwise it will be another difficult season to swallow.
PLAY ON: vs. Florida Atlantic (11/18)

TROY
Like many of the ‘big-name’ schools that suffer a losing season, Troy has a tendency to bounce back up off the carpet the following year. In his 16 season with the Trojans, head coach Larry Blakeney has suffered through only four losing years. His teams are 24-11 combined the following season. He’ll be put to the test early on in 2006 when his team opens on the road in four of their initial five games. They will also have to overcome a seven-game road itinerary. To their credit, Troy was the No.1 ranked team in total defense in the Sun Belt Conference last season. Unfortunately, they ranked dead- last in red-zone efficiency on both sides of the ball.
PLAY ON: vs. Louisiana Monroe (10/21)

Get even more winning college football picks from our top handicappers all week long, right here.  No site brings you a better selection of expert football picks.

2006 WAC College Football Predictions

Here are the 2006 WAC predictions courtesy of Marc Lawrence. If you are looking for a quality handicapper this fall then try picking up one of his college football picks packages. You won’t want to miss a single day of winners from this long time winner.

I’ll bet you didn’t know in the last four years the WAC owns the 2nd best win percentage of all conferences in bowl games (8-6). In addition, the top three teams in the league own 140 victories since 2001, the 4th best mark of top-trio teams in all other conferences in the land (better than the Big 10). Things aren’t as wacky in the WAC as you might have imagined.  Don’t miss out on this limited-time $500 match bonus from BetUS.  It’s for players that want to start beating the college football lines this year.

Here is my take on the WAC CONFERENCE for 2006. Enjoy…

BOISE STATE
The biggest question surrounding this program is, ‘Was Dan the man, or is it the magical blue-smurf turf’ that has accounted for Boise State’s lofty status in Division 1-A football this decade? (Boise’s 63 wins is topped by only three other teams this decade) Gone is head coach Dan Hawkins, the new Colorado mentor. In his stead is Chris Peterson, former Broncos’ OC, and a finalist for the Frank Broyles award (recognizing the nation’s top assistant coach) in 2002 and 2004. Peterson will enjoy the luxury of having 18 returning starters at his disposal, including star QB Jared Zabransky, a senior who has started 25 straight games (20-5). Don’t buck these Broncos.
PLAY ON: vs. Fresno State (11/1)

FRESNO STATE
Anyone. Anytime. Anywhere. That is Pat Hill’s philosophy when it comes to squaring off against the opposition. In his nine years with the Bulldogs Hill has take on 44 non-conference opponents, only 15 at home (he’s 26-12 ATS those games, including 7-0 ATS with revenge). He lost 4-year starting QB Paul Pinegar and all-WAC DE Garrett McIntyre to the NFL draft, meaning there are some serious holes to plug in 2006. Their 7-game bowl streak is the longest of any West Coast team. Even minus McIntyre, we especially like the fact this defense has improved each of the last three years. They’re also 46-10 SU from November out under Hill, and that’s against Anyone. Anytime. Anywhere.
PLAY ON: vs. Oregon (9/9)

HAWAII
From an empty cupboard to Overstock.com, Warriors’ head coach June Jones is happy to be logging on in 2006. Last year Hawaii featured a mere nine returning starters and, as a result, missed out on a bowl bid for the first time in four years. This season the Grass Skirts return a walloping 61 lettermen, including 15 starters from last year’s 5-7 edition. In addition, eight home games should virtually guarantee a return to the post-season. Junior QB Colt Brennan is back after establishing 11 school records while leading the nation in total offensive yards last season. It looks to be bombs away in Pearl Harbor in ’06.
PLAY ON: vs. Nevada (10/7)

IDAHO
Like the Prodigal Son, Dennis Erickson has returned home. It all began in Moscow (Idaho, that is) for Erickson back in 1982 when he took the reins of the then Division 1-AA Vandals. Twenty-four years later, Erickson brings 17 years (and a glossy 145-56-1 SU & 80-59-4 ATS record) of college football, and six years of NFL head coaching experience, to his old home. Ironically, he’ll open the 2006 season against former UI coach John L. Sullivan when his team travels to Michigan State. In addition, he’ll also take on two former employers when he visits Oregon State and Washington State in PAC 10 action. Who says you can never return home?
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Michigan State (9/2)

LOUISIANA TECH
It seems you just can’t teach an old dog new tricks. The Bulldogs were hitting on all cylinders at season’s end last year with wins in five of their final six games. Unfortunately blowout losses in their first two non-conference road games left them unappealing to bowl scouts. In seven years behind head coach Jack Bicknell, La Tech has tackled 31 bowl teams, 24 BCS opponents and 20 teams residing in the Top 15. It will be nothing different in 2006 when they open the season on the road in four of their first five games against the likes of Nebraska, Texas A&M, Clemson and Boise State. Some dogs never learn.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Clemson (9/30)

NEVADA
Back for his 3rd term at Nevada, Chris Ault (177-73-1 career) captured his 8th conference championship with the Wolf Pack last year. Not only did they lead the nation in Time of Possession (33:12), they extended the nation’s longest active scoring streak to 304 games. This is definitely a program on the rise and it shows. They return 14 starters from last year’s championship squad, plus a starter in 2004, offensive lineman (J.J. Milan), who sat out last year with an injury. If they get by their initial four games (all versus bowlers) they can literally write another bowl bid in 2006. Rest assured they’ll come out on the attack.
PLAY ON: vs. Colorado State (9/16)

NEW MEXICO STATE
Yikes. The Aggies foray into the WAC last year was a total disaster as they not only failed to win game throughout the entire season, but also went 0-8 ATS in conference play. It has Hal Mumme scratching his head wondering what went wrong. For starters, his ‘air-raid’ offense simply couldn’t overcome the nation’s worst defense. That needs to be addressed in a major way. The new signal caller will be 6’ 6” QB Chase Holbrook, a transfer from SE Louisiana, who came in with Mumme last year. Keep this thought in mind: teams that were winless the previous season are 14-3-2 ATS at home against a foe off a SU underdog win since 1982. We’ll be watching.
PASS

SAN JOSE STATE
Veteran head coach Dick Tomey did an admirable job in his first year with the Spartans last season, winning both of their final two games of the season while improving the offense and the defense. He’ll look to build on the season-ending victories behind eight returning starters on offense and the benefit of seven home games in 2006. More than that, though, is Tomey’s Marine-like approach to defense. Last year’s unit allowed 112 fewer points than the team he inherited, making San Jose one of eleven teams to yield 110 or fewer points in 2005. The defensive line was gutted, making his approach even more challenging in ’06.
PASS

UTAH STATE
When does playing seven road games in the same season prove to be an advantage? When you’re doing it for the 3rd time in four years. FYI: teams playing in their 7th road game of the year are 57-76-4 ATS, including 27-52-3 ATS without revenge. Second year head coach Brent Guy, a former defensive coordinator at Arizona State, welcomes back a compliment of offensive skill people. Better yet, Guy played 20 freshmen in 2005, 12 of whom started at least one game, He will need to find a go-to running back, however, as a player other than a RB lead the team in rushing nine of eleven games last season. Bret’s our guy.
PLAY ON: vs. Louisiana Tech (10/21)

Get even more winning college football picks from our top handicappers all week long, right here.  No site brings you a better selection of expert football picks.

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