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NHL Grand Salami - November

The Grand Salami in pro hockey is decided by adding up all the goals scored in every game scheduled for that particular day. You can wager on 'over' or 'under' the Grand Salami total. The total is set by adding up all listed 'over/under' odds for each game on that particular day.

Note: The Grand Salami will have no action if any game is suspended or cancelled before the regulation time of three twenty minute periods. Also, regardless of the number of goals scored during the shoot out portion of the overtime, the final scored recorded for the game will give the winning team on more goal than its opponent based on the score at the end of regulation time.

*The majority of sportsbooks do not put out a total on the Grand Salami when there is only one game on the card. For tracking purposes, we will continue to show the 'over/under' for goals and combined goals scored on days with just one game.

NHL GRAND SALAMI

Date No. of Games Total Goals Combined Goals Scored Result
11/1 12 64 54 UNDER
11/2 7 36.5 39 OVER
11/3 1 5 7 OVER
11/4 12 65.5 56 UNDER
11/5 3 15.5 15 UNDER
11/6 10 54.5 56 OVER
11/7 5 26.5 26 UNDER
11/8 12 63.5 77 OVER
11/9 5 27.5 29 OVER
11/10 2 10.5 11 OVER
11/11 11 60.5 60 UNDER
11/12 2 11 18 OVER
11/13 9 49 53 OVER
11/14 6 32.5 28 UNDER
11/15 12 64.5 62 UNDER
11/16 6 31.5 33 OVER
11/17 1 5.5 6 OVER
11/18 11 60.5 65 OVER
11/19 2 11.5 11 UNDER
11/20 11 60.5 62 OVER
11/21 4 **PPD **PPD **PPD
11/22 13 69 74 OVER
11/23 4 22 18 UNDER
11/24 4 22 18 UNDER
11/25 7 38.5 37 UNDER
11/26 9 - - -
11/27 1 - - -

NHL Preview: Oilers (6-14) at Predators (14-5)

Date: November 27, 2014 8:00 PM EDT

More than a quarter of the way into the season, the Nashville Predators might be emerging as true contenders in the Western Conference.

The Edmonton Oilers, meanwhile, are still seeking their first win over such a foe.

The Central Division leaders will try to complete a three-game sweep of the Pacific stragglers Thursday night in Nashville, where the Oilers' most recent stretch of struggles began more than two weeks ago.

After Tuesday's 4-3 shootout win over Los Angeles, the Predators (14-5-2) are 8-1-1 at home with four straight victories, and another over the Oilers (6-14-2) would give them their top home streak since taking six straight from Jan. 7-Feb. 4, 2012. They're also 5-1-1 against the Pacific Division.

"It's been a good start, but at the same time to stay at the top of the league it's probably the hardest thing, and everybody who comes here or any team we're going to face, they want to get a piece of us," goaltender Pekka Rinne said. "You have to be ready for it. But it's been good. All the changes we've made ... obviously you got the record. It's easy to say that it's been working."

Craig Smith had a goal and an assist against the Kings and scored twice in the first meeting with Edmonton on Oct. 29.

What hasn't been working so well is the power play. Nashville turned in a second straight 0-for-4 night against the Kings, and its 13.8 percent season mark ranks near the bottom of the league. Its penalty kill has also struggled with a 75.9 percent mark, though it has killed off 15 of 17 over the last nine games.

At five-on-five, however, the Predators have been the best team in the league with a 1.68 goals-for-to-against ratio.

Plenty of that has to do with the emergence of rookie Filip Forsberg and the additions of James Neal and Mike Ribeiro in first-year coach Peter Laviolette's overhaul of the offense.

Forsberg has cooled off without a point in the last three games, but still leads the team and all rookies with 22. His plus-18 rating leads the league.

Defensively, the Predators have limited opponents to 2.10 goals per game, which is among the league leaders. Rinne has been in goal for each of Nashville's wins - he's tied for the league lead - and has a 1.97 goals-against average that's among the best in hockey.

Two of those victories have come against the Oilers, whose seven-game losing streak - their longest since going 0-8-3 from March 8-31, 2011 - started with a 3-2 loss in Nashville on Nov. 11. Forsberg had the game-winning goal and an assist.

More recently, the Oilers fell 3-2 in Dallas on Tuesday and are now 0-11-1 against the West. Even so, Jordan Eberle thinks the problems are more correctable than in years past.

"We were over-skating the puck and cheating, and that's not how you win games," Eberle told the team's official website. "We're beating ourselves. ... Last year teams were beating us, this year we're beating ourselves."

Eberle has nine points on a five-game streak against the Predators.

In goal, Viktor Fasth gave starter Ben Scrivens a night off after allowing five goals in each of his last two starts. Scrivens is 0-6-1 with a 3.88 GAA in his last eight games.

The Oilers are allowing 3.45 goals per game and their goaltenders' .885 save percentage is easily the worst in hockey.

Scrivens is 1-3-0 with a 2.39 GAA in five games against Edmonton. Rinne is 4-2-0 with a 2.25 GAA over the past three seasons against Edmonton.

Oilers put Pouliot on IR, recall Klefbom
The Sports Xchange

The Edmonton Oilers placed winger Benoit Pouliot on injured reserve Wednesday and recalled defenseman Oscar Klefbom from the Oklahoma City Barons of the AHL.

Pouliot suffered a broken foot Friday in a loss to the New Jersey Devils and is expected to miss five or six weeks.

Klefbom, 21, has registered eight points in nine games with the Barons this season. He was up with the Oilers for two games earlier this season.

Home ice proving huge for the Predators
Justin Hartling

The Nashville Predators have been sending their local fans happy this year as the team has gone a stellar 8-1-0-1 at the Bridgestone Arena this season.

The games have been close though, as the Preds have only outscored their opponents 28-22 on home ice.

Nashville will host the Edmonton Oilers Thursday.

NCAAF College Betting Recap - Week 13
By Daniel Dobish

Overall Notes

College Football Week 13 Results

Wager Favorites-Underdogs
Straight Up 44-16
Against the Spread 31-28-1

Wager Home-Away
Straight Up 42-18
Against the Spread 31-28-1

Wager Totals (O/U)
Over-Under 19-34


The largest underdog to cash
Wake Forest (+13.5, ML +450) vs Virginia Tech, 6-3 (2OT)

The largest favorite to cash
Georgia (-42.5) vs Charleston Southern, 55-9

Top 25 Notes
-- The Top 10 fared pretty well, but there was one casualty. Mississippi ran into red-hot Arkansas, and it wasn't even close. The Hogs took care of Hotty Toddy by a 30-0 count, as the Rebels limp into the Egg Bowl next weekend.

-- Florida State nearly joined Ole Miss in the loser's lounge, but they managed a 20-17 win against Boston College.

-- Nebraska could not hold off Minnesota in Lincoln, allowing a game-winning touchdown with 3:25 left in regulation. The Huskers were unable to respond.

-- Arizona State rebounded with a 52-31 victory over Washington State, improving to 3-1 ATS over their past four home games.

Big Five Conference Report (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC)

-- It was a weekend for the underdogs in the ACC. In seven league games, the underdog went 6-1 ATS, including the conference picture changing 45-20 win by North Carolina at Duke. ... Virginia crushed Miami-Florida by a 30-13 count despite being a short 'dog, and the loss drops the 'Canes to 1-4 SU/ATS on the road this season. UVA wrapped up the season 5-2 SU and 5-1-1 ATS at home. ... The worst game of the entire weekend in all leagues was in Winston-Salem, as Virginia Tech-Wake Forest played to a scoreless tie through regulation. In the extra sessions it was a field goal fest, with Wake mercifully finishing off the Hokies by a 6-3 count in double-overtime.

-- For the second straight week, we have a new single-game all-time rushing king. Oklahoma's RB Samaje Perine rolled for an FBS-record 427 yards in a 44-7 win against Kansas. The ink was barely dry in the record book after Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon set the record last weekend. ... Kansas State picked up a quality road win at West Virginia Thursday night, 26-20. K-State has covered seven of their past eight heading into next week's game against Kansas. ... Oklahoma State snapped a five-game non-cover streak with a 49-28 win at Baylor. The Bears entered 3-1 ATS in four home games, but they're now just 2-3 ATS in their past five games overall.

-- The 'dogs were barking in the Big Ten Saturday, too. ... In seven games, the underdogs hit in five games, with only Michigan State and Northwestern covering as favorites. ... Everyone in the Big Ten scored at least one touchdown except for Rutgers, who was held to just three points by Sparty. It was surprising as the 'over' was 4-1 in the past five for Rutgers. ... Indiana stepped up and had over 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Tevin Coleman, keeping Ohio State within arm's distance all day. The Hoosiers easily covered the 36.5-point number. Ohio State entered last week's game 6-1 ATS in their previous seven, but they have now failed to cover in back-to-back games for the first time this season.

-- Order was restored by favorites in the Pac-12. Only Arizona covered as an underdog, winning outright at Utah by a 42-10 score. ... Oregon barely covered a 33-point spread, winning 44-10. A scoreless fourth quarter poured cold water on the 'over' (74), which never was even close. ... In the battle of L.A., it was UCLA winning 38-20 against Southern California. The Bruins started the season 1-7 ATS, but they have covered three in a row heading into the season finale against Stanford. ... The Cardinal won the 'Big Game' 38-17 against California, and 'over' (56) bettors were left just one point short. Ouch.

-- ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard frankly do not care for FCS vs SEC matchups in late November, and it made for a boring week of games in the league. Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina paid the athletic budgets for five institutions Saturday, and there were no near-upsets, as expected. ... The Missouri-Tennessee game was pretty entertaining. The Tigers pulled out a 29-21 win despite being five-point dogs. Mizzou has won five straight, and covered three in a row heading into their big tilt against Arkansas. The Hogs blasted Ole Miss, and they have posted back-to-back shutouts. Arkansas has covered four in a row, and nine of the past 10 and the under has cashed in three straight.

Mid-Major Report

-- In Conference USA action, North Texas continues their late-season push to respectability, especially at home. They finished the season 4-2 SU/ATS in six home games. ... Old Dominion held off Louisiana Tech in OT, 30-27. It was a shocking setback for the Bulldogs, as they entered on a five-game win streak, and 8-2 ATS in their first 10 games.

-- Everything went according to plan in the Mountain West. Favorites cashed in five of the six games, with only UNLV covering at Hawaii. The Warriors have won back-to-back games for the first time this season. They head to Fresno State for the regular season finale. Hawaii is 1-4 SU and 1-3-1 ATS in five games on the mainland this season. ... Colorado State crushed New Mexico 58-20, covering for the third straight game, and for the seventh time in nine games. The 'over' has also cashed in four straight for the Rams.

-- In Sun Belt action, Louisiana-Monroe buried New Mexico State in Las Cruces by a 30-17 count. The under is 7-4 for ULM this season, while the under has hit in three of the past four for the Aggies after the over his in six straight from Sept. 6-Oct. 11. ... It took a while to get acclimated, but Appalachian State finally appears to be comfortable at the FBS level. They won as an eight-point underdog at Louisiana-Lafayette, 35-16. App State has won five in a row, and they're 4-1 ATS during the span.

Bad Beats

-- If you had Florida Atlantic on the moneyline at Middle Tennessee...ouch. FAU +240 led the entire game until the Blue Raiders converted a fourth down for a game-winning touchdown with 19 seconds left in regulation.

-- Brave souls who took the 'under' (68) in the OK State-Baylor game looked to be in good shape after 45 minutes, with Baylor up 35-14. However, the teams combined for 28 points in the fourth, including 21 points in the first 4:16, to turn a winning under ticket into a loser really quickly.

-- Minnesota trailed Nebraska 24-21 heading to the fourth quarter, and the 'over' (53) looked to be in good shape. But the first 11 1/2 minutes of the final stanza was scoreless, and a late Minnesota touchdown closed the scoring just one point short.

-- 'Over' (63) bettors were feeling good about themselves in the Fresno State-Nevada game, with 58 points after three quarters. However, the only scoring in the fourth was a Fresno safety. That's it.

-- In the islands, UNLV-Hawaii combined for 35 points, making an under look like a good possibility. However, the two teams exploded for 37 combined points in the fourth to push the total over 56.

4th Quarter Covers - Week 13
By Joe Nelson

Glancing at the scoreboard won’t tell you the whole story in most games. Here are the games that went down to the wire relative to the spread in the fourth quarter last week in the 13th college football weekend as the season heads to the final two weeks of the regular season. Each week there are several teams that cover despite not necessarily deserving it, as well as other teams that played much better than the final score shows, get the details in this weekly column.

Northern Illinois (PK) 21, Ohio 14: This Tuesday night game was tied halfway through the fourth quarter and Ohio out-rushed Northern Illinois in the game, not an easy feat. The Huskies answered a touchdown from the Bobcats with a 70-yard scoring drive, leaving Ohio with six minutes to go, down seven with the spread closing right at even after the Huskies were favored by four on the early opening number. Ohio seemed poised to answer going down the field with a big fourth down conversion and two other first downs, but on what looked like another first down conversion, Landon Smith fumbled, giving Northern Illinois the ball back with less than two minutes to go. Ohio had two timeouts left, but the Huskies converted a big third down play to run out the game.

Toledo (-7) 27, Bowling Green 20: Wednesday night MAC football featured a tight game with Bowling Green tying the score at 20-20 early in the fourth quarter. It took Toledo less than three minutes to answer, taking advantage of a strong kickoff return to push the lead back to seven with about ten minutes to go, sitting even with the closing spread. After matching punts, Bowling Green made good use of its next possession, getting inside the Toledo 30-yard line. Two sacks ended the threat as the Falcons went for it on fourth and long with over three minutes to go in the game. Bowling Green would force Toledo to punt again, but the Falcons wound up pinned on their own three-yard line and ultimately failed again on fourth and long for the their final chance.

San Diego State (-6) 30, Air Force 14: Air Force led 14-13 at the half and heading into the fourth quarter, the Falcons were still within range of the spread down nine after a late third quarter touchdown drive from the Aztecs. Air Force wound up with four turnovers in the game and twice early in the fourth quarter the Falcons were stopped going for it on fourth down. Down nine with fewer than three minutes on the clock, Air Force appeared to have a great shot to add points with even a field goal getting to even with the spread, but a Kale Pearson pass was intercepted and returned 56 yards for a touchdown to seal the game for the home favorite.

South Carolina (-25) 37, South Alabama 12: It was odd to see South Carolina as the team sitting at 5-5 going against 6-4 South Alabama with the Gamecocks needing a win to become bowl eligible. Early on it was a challenge, leading just 10-6 before an interception return for a touchdown put South Carolina up 17-6, but the Jaguars added a field goal to trail by just eight heading into the break. South Carolina managed just two field goals in the third quarter to lead by just 14, well short of the heavy favorite spread, but South Carolina would score two touchdowns in about a two minute span to take a 37-9 lead. A 31-yard South Alabama field goal in the final minutes would land the final score right on the closing number.

Ball State (-18) 45, Eastern Michigan 30: Ball State led 35-3 after a fumble return touchdown in the third quarter, seemingly in a complete control but with three consecutive scores, Eastern Michigan was within 19 and approaching the heavy underdog spread by the start of the fourth quarter. With two short drives, Ball State put the game away with a 45-16 lead with less than 11 minutes remaining, but Eastern Michigan kept playing, completing drives of 75 and 70 yards for two late touchdowns, the second of which spoiled the favorite cover.

Maryland (+6½) 23, Michigan 16: Michigan had a substantial yardage edge against Maryland in a game the Wolverines needed, but the scoring did not match up with the production with the familiar turnover storyline playing a role. Still Michigan led 16-9 and just past the favorite spread heading into the fourth quarter with the defense playing well, but Maryland tied the game early in the final frame. Michigan missed a field goal on its next drive and Maryland responded with another touchdown drive to take the lead with just six minutes to go and that would end up being the final score, leaving Michigan needing to beat Ohio State next week to become eligible for the postseason.

East Carolina (-20) 34, Tulane 6: East Carolina was in control of this game, but the Pirates led by just 14 at the half and they were short of the spread with a 20-3 lead heading into the fourth quarter. A Tulane field goal with 10 minutes to go in the game put the margin at just 14, but a few minutes later a touchdown put East Carolina past the favorite spread for the first time in the game. With less than a minute to go and the game in hand, East Carolina rushed in another touchdown to pad the final margin.

Wisconsin (-8) 26, Iowa 24: The Badgers took a 19-3 lead with just over five minutes to go in the third quarter, but it did not feel like a dominant performance. The game would tighten in a hurry as Iowa scored a touchdown just minutes later to get within eight with a successful two-point conversion. Aided by a critical and quite erroneous pass interference penalty, Iowa scored again early in the fourth quarter, but the attempt to tie with another two-point conversion failed. That allowed Wisconsin to go past the closing spread when the Badgers quickly answered with a 75-yard touchdown drive halfway through the final frame. Iowa would make things interesting with another touchdown drive to get back within two points, good enough to cover, but Wisconsin was able to run out the clock.

Texas Tech (PK) 34, Iowa State 31: After falling behind 14-0, Iowa State scored 24 straight points to lead by 10 well into the third quarter. By the start of the fourth quarter, Texas Tech was back in front by three after an 82-yard pass play. Early in the fourth quarter, the Cyclones took a four-point lead with a quick touchdown drive of only two plays, but then it was nearly 10 minutes of game clock before the next scoring play as Texas Tech failed on a fourth down try and Iowa State missed a field goal. The Red Raiders hit on another big pass play to go back in front with just over four minutes to go. Iowa State would get to the edge of long field goal range on its final possession, but they couldn’t extend the drive as Texas Tech turned in a positive late season performance in an exciting game.

Oregon (-33) 44, Colorado 10: Spreads in Oregon games keep climbing, but the Ducks snuck by another one. Oregon led 30-3 heading into the fourth before adding a touchdown to slip just past the number with less than four minutes to go in the third quarter. Colorado would answer to get back within 27, but Oregon completed the scoring trade to lead 44-10 heading into the fourth. Colorado seems like a good candidate for a backdoor cover, but in three possessions each in the final frame neither team crossed midfield.

Louisville (+2½) 31, Notre Dame 28: The Irish led by three late in the third quarter, but Louisville completed an 81-yard drive late in the third to lead 24-20. With another long scoring drive, the Cardinals started to pull away with a 31-20 lead early in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame quickly answered to get back within three and then the Irish got the big play they needed with a sack pushing Louisville back 14 yards on a key third down play. That made the field goal attempt much tougher and Louisville missed the try. The Irish were down inside the Louisville 10-yard line with under two minutes to play before getting backed up with a sack of their own. Still, the Irish seemed headed for overtime with a 32-yard field goal attempt but that kick also failed as the Cardinals escaped with a big win in South Bend.

North Texas (-2) 17, Florida International 14:North Texas led 14-0 early in this matchup but as they have done all season, Florida International put together points without its offense, scoring on a punt return and an interception return to tie the game just before halftime. With just seconds left in the third quarter, North Texas took a three-point lead with a short field goal. The Panthers had the best scoring chance in the fourth quarter, but it was Florida International giving away the big turnover with an interception in the end zone to end the threat as North Texas wound up with the win and narrow cover.

Arizona State (-14) 52, Washington State 31: This line dropped dramatically before kickoff and early on the underdog certainly looked like the side to be on with a back-and-forth start leaving Washington State up 24-21 at the half. Arizona State took a 28-24 run heading into the fourth and then the Sun Devils scored 24 points consecutively in the fourth quarter to pull away with a 52-24 lead before Washington State added a touchdown in the final minute which was not enough to impact the spread.

UL-Monroe (-6½) 30, New Mexico State 17: New Mexico State trailed by just three with less than two minutes to go in the third quarter before disaster struck the Aggies with a blocked punt returned for a touchdown to put UL-Monroe up by 10. New Mexico State was a home underdog with more than triple the rushing yards of its opponent, but they came up short as Monroe would add a fourth quarter field goal to pull away with a 13-point edge and the Aggies could not get the late spread-stealing touchdown.

Top 25 Betting Recap - Week 13
By Mike Rose

Week 13 of the 2014 NCAA football betting season is in the books, and today, we're going to be taking a look at each of the Top 25 teams in the rankings and see how they did from an ATS perspective in this go around this past week.

(Results in parentheses represent SU Result-ATS Result)

1) Alabama (W-L vs. Western Carolina 48-14)
There was a point that Bama was only up 17-14 in the second quarter against Western Carolina.

2) Oregon (W-W vs. Colorado 44-10)
Marcus Mariota has probably made himself the Heisman favorite at this point.

3) Florida State (W-L vs. Boston College 20-17)
Is there such a thing as an FSU game which doesn't end in a heart attack anymore?

4) Mississippi State (W-W vs. Vanderbilt 51-0)
The Bulldogs might be best served if Alabama wins next week. If so and they win the Egg Bowl, they should be in the playoff.

5) TCU (Bye)

6) Ohio State (W-L vs. Indiana 42-27)
The Bucks really needed to be more impressive than this to move up in the CFP rankings.

7) Baylor (W-L vs. Oklahoma State 49-28)
The Bears were more impressive than OSU, but can they move up and at least threaten to get into the playoff?

8) Ole Miss (L-L vs. Arkansas 30-0)
Remember when the Rebels were waltzing towards the playoff? They're waltzing towards a lousy bowl bid now.

9) UCLA (W-W vs. USC 38-20)
The Bruins are now one more win away from going to the Pac-12 title game.

10) Georgia (W-W vs. Georgia Southern 55-9)
Nick Chubb posted yet another 100+ yard game this week, albeit against weak competition.

11) Michigan State (W-W vs. Rutgers 45-3)
The Spartans now have two straight great results since choking against Ohio State.

12) Kansas State (W-W vs. West Virginia 26-20)
Kansas State's win spells good news for the rest of the Big XII teams fighting for a spot in the CFP.

13) Arizona State (W-W vs. Washington State 52-31)
The Sun Devils are still alive for the Pac-12 South, but they have to beat Arizona next week.

14) Auburn (W-L vs. Samford 31-7)
Something definitely isn't right with Auburn going into the Iron Bowl.

15) Arizona (W-W vs. Utah 42-10)
The Wildcats are the first to really put the Utes in their place this year.

16) Wisconsin (W-W vs. Iowa 26-24)
Give Melvin Gordon another 200 rushing yards.

17) Utah (L-L vs. Arizona 42-10)
It looks like the magic has run out of the Utes this year.

18) Georgia Tech (Bye)

19) USC (L-L vs. UCLA 38-20)
The Trojans are now staring a 7-5 season and a trip to a third-tier bowl in the face after losing the battle of LA.

20) Missouri (W-W vs. Tennessee 29-21)
The Tigers keep defying the odds, and they are now one win away from a second straight SEC Championship Game appearance.

21) Oklahoma (W-W vs. Kansas 44-7)
One week after Melvin Gordon set the FBS record for the most rushing yards in a game, Samaje Perine killed that mark.

22) Clemson (W-L vs. Georgia State 28-0)
Clemson really hopes that its defense can put up a big fight next week to break the hex against South Carolina.

23) Nebraska (L-L vs. Minnesota 28-24)
This should finally be the year that Bo Pelini is handed his pink slip.

24) Louisville (W-W vs. Notre Dame 31-28)
Reggie Bonnafon is one of the many remarkable freshmen quarterbacks coming up in the ACC.

25) Minnesota (W-W vs. Nebraska 28-24)
Maybe the CFP committee was justified in keeping this team in the Top 25 after all.

ACC Report - Week 14
By Joe Williams

It's the final weekend of the Atlantic Coast Conference schedule, and it's a bit anti-climactic. The ACC Championship Game is already set for Florida State and Georgia Tech. However, there are still a ton of interesting games.

Virginia and Virginia Tech play their rivalry game not only with state bragging rights on the line, but the winner will also become bowl eligible. The Bluegrass State bragging rights are also on the line, and Louisville faces a Kentucky team which has been a little better than usual. Clemson's Dabo Swinney also tries to solve his kryptonite, a.k.a. South Carolina in the Palmetto State battle. The Peach State also has bragging rights on the line. The Yellow Jackets are into the title game, but beating Georgia would be another nice feather in their caps. The Tar Heel State also has a heated contest between rivals, and of course there is Florida-Florida State. The Gators might be down, but wouldn't they love to spoil FSU's possible playoff spot and national title aspirations.


2014 ACC STANDINGS

Team SU Conference ATS Over/Under
Boston College 6-5 3-4 7-4 4-6-1
Clemson 8-3 6-2 4-7 4-7
Duke 8-3 4-3 6-4-1 2-8
Florida State 11-0 8-0 3-8 4-7
Georgia Tech 9-2 6-2 7-4 6-5
Louisville 8-3 5-3 6-4 3-6-1
Miami (Fla.) 6-5 3-4 5-6 3-8
North Carolina 6-5 4-3 5-6 5-5
North Carolina State 6-5 2-5 6-5 5-5-1
Pittsburgh 5-6 3-4 4-6-1 5-5-1
Syracuse 3-8 1-6 4-7 2-8-1
Virginia 5-6 3-4 7-3-1 3-8
Virginia Tech 5-6 2-5 4-7 3-7
Wake Forest 3-8 1-6 6-5 3-8


Virginia at Virginia Tech (Fri. - ESPN, 8:00p.m. ET)
This is an interesting game. As mentioned above, the lose goes home with no bragging rights, and the winner not only owns the Commonwealth for a year, but also becomes bowl eligible. The Cavaliers are favored by one point in this one, and the trends are a little mixed in the head-to-head department. UVA is just 3-7 ATS in the past 10 meetings in this series, but the favorite is 9-3 ATS in the past 12 meetings. And the road team has covered five of the past seven. For Virginia, two out of three ain't bad. The Hokies played perhaps the ugliest game of the season last week at Wake Forest, going scoreless in regulation before falling to Wake 6-3 in double-overtime. Virginia is 9-3-1 ATS in the past 13 games, while Virginia Tech has failed to cover in their past five home games. The Gobblers are also 2-11-1 ATS in the past 13 against a team with a losing record. The Hoos aren't much better, going 3-7-1 ATS in their past 11 road games against a team with a losing home record.

Kentucky at Louisville (ESPN2, 12:00 p.m. ET)
Kentucky heads into this rivalry game 1-4 ATS in the past five meetings, although the road team is 5-1 ATS in the past six. The Wildcats seemed to run out of steam a few weeks ago after appearing to have turned a corner. They're just 1-4 ATS in the past five games, and 0-7 ATS in their past seven games in the month of November. Louisville picked up a scintillating win at Notre Dame last week, and they're now 9-4 ATS in their past 13 games. The Cardinals are also 4-0 ATS in their past four against the SEC, but just 3-10 ATS in their past 13 home games against a team with a losing road record. Louisville is favored by 13 points in this one.

South Carolina at Clemson (ESPN, 12:00 p.m.)
The Gamecocks have had the number of their rivals from the upstate lately, winning five straight. The last time the Tigers tasted victory against the 'Cocks was a home game back on Nov. 29, 2008. Not only has South Carolina won five straight, but they've covered the past five, and seven of the past eight. The status of QB DeShaun Watson (knee) is in question, and backup QB Cole Stoudt (shoulder) is dealing with a sore shoulder, too. Could Clemson potentially be playing its biggest rivalry game with their third-string quarterback? That might be why the game is off the board at a lot of shops. The game opened with Clemson inexplicably favored by 4 1/2 points.

Georgia Tech at Georgia (SEC Network, 12:00 p.m.)
The Peach State battle has some added excitement with both teams fighting for their 10th win of the season. Georgia Tech is 3-1-1 ATS in their past five trips between the hedges, but they're just 1-4 ATS in their past five meetings overall with the Bulldogs. The road team is 12-3-1 ATS in the past 16 meetings in this rivalry. Both teams are hot against the number lately, with Ga. Tech going 4-0 ATS in the past four, and 4-1 ATS in the past five games. UGA is 5-1 ATS in the past six, and 4-0 ATS in the past four against a team with a winning record. However, the Dawgs are just 6-13-1 ATS in the past 20 home games against a team with a winning road record. Trends point to this game being a high-scoring affair, too. The over is 8-1 in Georgia Tech's past nine road games, and 7-1 in their past eight non-conference tilts. The over is also 5-0 in their past five road games against a team with a winning home mark. For UGA, the over is 4-1 in their past five non-conference battles, 20-6 in their past 26 games overall and 19-7 in the past 26 at home.

Syracuse at Boston College (ESPN3, 12:30 p.m.)
Boston College is bowl eligible, but they can improve their standing with another win. The Eagles find themselves favored by 11, and most trends point to a cover. They're 5-0 ATS in their past five home games against a team with a losing home record, and 11-5 ATS in their past 16 home games overall. Syracuse is just 1-5 ATS in their past six in November, although they are 4-1 ATS in their past five road outings. The under might be a better play, as the under is 5-0 in Syracuse's past five, and 6-1-1 in their past eight against a winning team. The under is 5-2 in BC's past seven, although the over is 5-2 in their past seven against a team with a losing overall mark.

North Carolina State at North Carolina (ESPN3, 12:30 p.m.)
The Tar Heels spoiled the league title hopes of a rival last week, and now hope to damage their other Triangle's rivals bowl prospects. The Wolfpack is bowl eligible, but the Tar Heels could drop them into a lower tier bowl rather than help them advance to a mid-tier game. NC State is 3-7 ATS in their past 10 games against a team with a winning record, and 3-8-1 ATS in their past 12 road games against a team with a winning home mark. UNC is 5-1 ATS in their past six overall, 4-1 ATS in their past five againts a team with a winning mark and 15-7 ATS in their past 22 home outings. The Wolfpack are 5-2 ATS in the past seven head-to-head battles, and the underdog has cashed in 12 of the past 16 in this rivalry.

Florida at Florida State (ESPN, 3:30 p.m.)
The Gators dealt their rival Georgia a costly loss a few weeks ago, and now they hope to step up for their departing coach and spoil the defending champs' chances of making the four-team playoff and repeating as national champs. Florida is 4-1 ATS in their past five road games, but they're 12-25-1 ATS in their past 38 against a winning team and 3-8 ATS in their past 11 non-conference battles. FSU is 3-8 ATS this season, and 1-5 ATS in their past six at home. The favorite has connected in 13 of the past 16 meetings in this series. The under has hit in eight of the past 10 meetings, and the undeer is 7-2 in the past nine meetings in Tallahassee.

Wake Forest at Duke (ESPNU, 7:00 p.m.)
Wake Forest is horrible, and their offense cannot score. They hit rock bottom last weekend by going scoreless in regulation, but somehow scratched out a 6-3 double-overtime win against Virginia Tech's equally pathetic offense. The Deacs are actually 4-1 ATS in their past five against a team with a winning record, and 4-1 ATS in their past five road games against a team with a winning home mark. Despite Duke's disappointing past two games, both home losses, they're still 6-2-1 ATS in their past nine home games and 7-2 ATS in their past nine at home. Still, 18 points seems awfully high given how poorly Duke is playing lately. While the road team is 8-3 ATS in the past 11 meetings, Wake is also just 2-6 ATS in their past eight against Duke. The under looks like the play based on recent trends, with the under 11-4 in Wake's past 15 road games, and 20-7 in their past 27 in the ACC. The under is 9-1 in Duke's past 10 ACC games, and 6-1 in their past seven overall. However, the over is 5-2 in the past seven meetings in this series, and 3-1-1 in the past five meetings at venerable Wallace Wade Stadium.

Pittsburgh at Miami-Florida (ESPN2, 7:00 p.m.)
Miami returns home after a disappointing 30-13 thumping at Virginia. They look to regroup in the sunshine, where they are 4-1 ATS in the past five home games. However, while Miami is also 7-3 ATS in their past 10 home games against a team with a losing road record, they're also just 4-10 ATS in their past 14 ACC battles and 6-13 ATS in their past 19 overall. Pitt is just 1-3-1 ATs in their past five against a team with a winning overall mark, and 2-6-1 ATS in their past nine overall. The favorite has hit in six of the past eight, and the Panthers are just 2-6 ATS in the past eight meetings with the Canes. The road team is 4-0 ATS in the past four, however. In this series, the under is also 6-2 in the past eight battles.

Big Ten Report - Week 14
By ASA

Wisconsin (-13.5) vs. Minnesota – 3:30 p.m. ET

Wisconsin was able to escape with a two-point win over Iowa to set up a winner-take all showdown with Minnesota for the B1G West title. The Badgers’ defense looked vulnerable against the Hawkeyes, something that hasn’t happened to Wisconsin very often this season. The Badgers allowed 412 total yards, including 311 passing yards and 2 TD to Jake Rudock on 20-of-30 completions. Luckily, they had another 200-yards rushing day from star RB Melvin Gordon – giving him five 200+-yard games on the season. His next rushing yard will give him the B1G single-season rushing record and he’s within 519 yards of the FBS single-season rushing record (2,628 by Barry Sanders in 1988). The Gophers did a good job of limiting Nebraska star RB Ameer Abdullah last week to just 98 yards on 20 carries, but there have been times that the Gophers have struggled against elite running teams.

For Minnesota to have a shot in this game, they’ll have to show up against the run and force UW QB’s Stave & McEvoy to make plays through the air. Stave, the superior passing option of the two QB’s, is completing just 57.6% with 6 TD and 4 INT this season. Offensively the Gophers have a similar approach to UW. They lean heavily on David Cobb and the running attack, which ranks 25th in rushing yards per game (228.9), but that could be an issue this week as he’s questionable with a hamstring injury. QB Leidner is a shaky at best passer. He’s completing just 51.1% of his passes this season with 10 TD and 8 INT. But like he proved in last week’s win over Nebraska, his best asset is his ability to pull the ball down and scramble. He had 111 rush yards and 2 scores against the Huskers last week and now has 408 rush yards with 8 TD on the season.

Look for both squads to try and control the time of possession by running the football with authority. Last year Wisconsin controlled the clock for +11 minutes, rushed for 197 yards on 4.4 YPC, and limited Minnesota to 185 yards of offense and no offensive touchdowns in the 20-7 victory. Wisconsin has now won 10 straight in the series by an average margin of 16.2 PPG. That includes five consecutive wins at Camp Randall by an average of 21.2 PPG. Minnesota, despite the losses, has covered five of the last seven in the series. Wisconsin is 11-2 ATS in the last 13 B1G home games as a double-digit favorite. Minnesota has covered six of its last eight overall and is 11-2 ATS in the last 13 B1G games.

Ohio State (-20) vs. Michigan – 12:00 p.m. ET

The Buckeyes jumped out to an early 14-0 lead over the Hoosiers, but three turnovers allowed the Hoosiers to gain some steam and actually take a 20-14 lead in the 3rd quarter. J.T. Barrett bounced back from two interceptions to throw for 302 yards on 25-of-35 passing with 4 TD’s to lead the Buckeyes to a 42-27 victory – officially sealing the deal on OSU’s B1G East division title. RB Elliott had 107 rushing yards and 1 TD on 13 carries and WR Jalin Marshall tallied four total touchdowns on the day (3 receiving, 1 punt return). The Buckeyes defense struggled against the run for the second consecutive game. They allowed 218 rush yards and 3 TD to Minnesota two weeks ago and 281 yards and 3 TD to Indiana last week. That has to be fixed, especially with either Wisconsin or Minnesota on deck in the B1G Championship game next week. First they have their annual rivalry game with Michigan. With a win, they’ll stay in the thick of the CFB Playoff race while eliminating the Wolverines from a bowl berth.

Michigan’s disappointing season continued with an underachieving performance against Maryland last week. In the final home game of the season, Michigan couldn’t close out the game as the Wolves lost a seven-point lead in the 4th quarter. They had a good day on the ground, rushing for 292 yards on 45 carries (6.5 YPC), but QB Gardner was ineffective (13-of-24 passing for 106 yards with 1 INT) and couldn’t make the clutch throws late. Defensively they were a little to allowing to a bad Maryland offense. Michigan allowed the Terps to gain 147 rush yards – 62 more rush yards than the Terps had gained in the previous three games combined. With that loss, the Wolverines now need a win to become bowl-eligible, but the way this season has went, it might be better just to stop the bleeding now. Ohio State is 9-1 SU and 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings with Michigan, with a +11 PPG scoring margin in those 10 meetings. Last year was one of the most memorable matchup in recent memory as Michigan came from behind and had a chance to tie or win with 32 seconds remaining. The two-point conversion attempt failed and OSU escaped Ann Arbor with a 42-41 win. OSU is 15-5 ATS in the last 20 home games as a favorite of 20-points or more. Michigan hasn’t been an underdog of 20 points or more since a trip to Columbus in 2008 and the Wolves are 0-3 ATS in the last three games as an underdog of 10 points or more.

Michigan State (-13) atPenn State – 3:30 p.m. ET

Michigan State’s second place finish in the B1G East was solidified last week as they can’t surpass OSU for the division title. They completely dominated Rutgers in their final home game of the season. Sparty had a +286 yard advantage and +11 first downs in the 42-point victory. QB Cook tossed for 254 yards and 2 scores while the rushing attack notched 242 yards on 5.5 YPC. Defensively they held Rutgers to just 14-of-31 passing for 139 yards with 3 picks and they held the Scarlet Knights under 100 yards rushing (95 yards on 3.3 YPC). MSU may be among the best teams in the nation, but it lost its two key games of the season (Oregon & Ohio State) and won’t get a shot at the playoff. The Spartans can still close out an impressive 10-win regular season with a win over Penn State here. MSU’s RB Jeremy Langford has recorded 15-straight 100 yard rushing games against B1G opponents, but he’ll be tested to reach that plateau here against the No. 1 rush-defense in the nation. PSU is allowing just 81.7 rush YPG this season and only one rusher had exceeded 100 rush yards (OSU’s Elliott).

Last week the Nittany Lions held Illinois to just 68 rush yards on 2.5 YPC. The problem for PSU is that its offense was yet again underwhelming as it fell to the Illini on a last second field goal. QB Hackenberg continues to struggle as he completed just 8-of-16 passes for 93 yards and 1 TD as PSU tallied just 15 first downs and 265 total yards. It’ll be another day of tough sledding for this offense against an MSU defense that ranks 8th in total yards allowed and 22nd in points per game allowed. The Nittany Lions are already bowl eligible, so there’s not a lot to play for here; but one can expect a motivated effort from James Franklin’s crew in the final home game of the season. Penn State is 8-3 SU & 7-4 ATS in the last 11 meetings with Michigan State. The Nittany Lions are also 5-1 SU & 4-2 ATS in the last six home games against the Spartans, but MSU won at State College in the latest meeting in 2010. Michigan State has been a B1G road favorite of 10 points or more just five times since 1999. Three of those occasions happened this season and they are 2-1 ATS in those games. Penn State is 3-5-1 ATS in the last nine games as a home underdog, one of the covers was earlier this season against OSU as a 14-point ‘dog (24-31 OT loss).

Iowa (-1.5) vs. Nebraska – Friday, 12:00 p.m. ET

Iowa has been a difficult team to analyze this season. They’ve alternated wins and losses over the last six weeks with games that included impressive wins (48-7 over Northwestern) and troubling losses (14-51 @Minnesota). Still, give the Hawkeyes credit for nearly pulling off the upset over Wisconsin last week. This sporadic Iowa offense had more success against Wisconsin’s dominating defense than any team this season as QB Rudock threw for 311 yards and 2 scores and the rushing attack notched over 100 yards against the nation’s 5th-ranked rush defense. Defensively they played quite well against Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon, despite the final statistics. Ninety five of Gordon’s 200 yards came on one-rush and if you take away that one carry, Gordon managed a meager 105 yards on 30 carries. Iowa’s rush defense will be put to the test again against this Nebraska offense that ranks 15th in rush yards per game (256.2).

Nebraska RB Abdullah is a bit banged up and has managed just 168 rush yards on 44 carries over the past two games, but he’s getting healthier and is still a threat in this matchup. Expect Iowa to try to replicate what Wisconsin and Minnesota have done the past two games against Nebraska: stack the box against Abdullah and force QB Armstrong to beat them – which hasn’t worked in the Huskers’ favor. They’ve dropped back-to-back games as the Nebraska QB has completed just 18-of-37 (48.6%) for 285 yards with 2 TD and 1 INT. It also hasn’t been pretty on the defensive side of the ball as the Huskers have allowed 862 rush yards on 8.2 YPC with 11 rush TD in in the last two games. It’s difficult to gauge Nebraska’s motivation level heading into this game. The Huskers have dropped back-to-back games to eliminate them from a B1G West title and are now playing their final road game of the season with little at stake. Iowa has covered the last two in the series vs. Nebraska, including last year’s 21-point win in Lincoln as a three-point underdog. Nebraska is 4-1 ATS in its last five as a road underdog but they’ve failed to cover their last four conference games. Iowa is just 5-12-1 ATS in its last 18 as a home favorite but is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 conference games.

Maryland (-8) vs. Rutgers – 3:30 p.m. ET

The newcomers to the B1G meet for the first time as conference rivals here. Maryland comes into this one off of a come-from-behind win in Ann Arbor over the Wolverines. It wasn’t a pretty performance from the Terps as they were outgained and had fewer first downs, but they were able to make plays when it counted in outscoring the Wolves 14-0 in the 4th quarter to notch a 7-point victory. The offense isn’t especially hot coming into this matchup. QB Brown is completing 51.7% of his passes with 4 TD and 6 INT over the last six games while the rushing attack has sputtered to just 232 yards on 100 carries (2.3 YPC) over the last four games. The offense should be able to find some success against this Rutgers defense that ranks 95th nationally in yards per game allowed, including 72nd against the pass and 102nd against the rush.

Rutgers followed up its 22-point victory over Indiana two weeks ago in disappointing fashion last week in a 42-point loss to Michigan State. Rutgers has been completely overmatched by top-tier B1G teams this season: it has now lost to MSU by 42 points, Wisconsin by 37 points, Nebraska by 18 points, and Ohio State by 39 points. Against MSU, the Scarlet Knights were hapless on offense as QB’s Nova and Laviano combined to complete just 14-of-31 passes for 139 yards with 0 TD and 3 INT while the rushing attack was held to just 95 yards on 29 carries (3.3 YPC). Both squads are bowl eligible, so nothing to play for in that regards. But each would like to close out their inaugural B1G season with a win here. These two last met in 2009 with Rutgers winning by 21-points as Maryland. Maryland is just 6-13 ATS in the last 19 games as a home favorite of 7-points or more. Rutgers is 14-5-1 ATS in its last 20 games as a road ‘dog of 7-points or more, though they have lost the last three occasions this year by an average of 33 points per game.

Northwestern (-8.5) vs. Illinois – 12:00 p.m. ET

Though this isn’t a very appealing matchup, there’s a lot at stake here for both teams. Both teams sit at 5-6 and a win will send the victor to a bowl game. It will be a successful season for the victor and mark another losing campaign for the loser. Northwestern has won back-to-back games in impressive fashion. First they knocked off Notre Dame by three points in South Bend then got a blowout win at Purdue last week. The win over the Boilers came at a price as starting QB Trevor Siemian tore his ACL and is done for the season. Junior QB Zack Oliver will get the start on Saturday. Oliver has thrown 23 passes in three seasons with the Wildcats for a meager 158 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT.

Luckily he’s going against Illinois and not one of the better B1G defenses here. The Illini are 115th in yards per game allowed and 105th in points allowed. Illinois has won just two of its previous seven games, but one of them was a quality win over Penn State last week. QB O'Toole provided a nice spark off the bench, tossing for 157 yards and 1 score in a game where yards were at a premium. Defensively it wasn’t a great opponent, but the Illini had arguably their top performance to date, limiting the Nittany Lions to just 265 total yards and 15 first downs. Northwestern is 7-3 SU & 6-4 ATS in the last 10 meetings. The Wildcats have won two straight overall, including a win at home in 2012 by 36 points. Northwestern is 0-6 ATS in the last six games as a home favorite of seven points or more. Illinois is 2-12 ATS in its last 14 road games.

Indiana (-3) vs. Purdue – 12:00 p.m. ET

Hard to find an edge in this matchup. Indiana has dropped six straight games by 20.3 PPG. Purdue has dropped five straight games by an average of 15.6 PPG. Indiana is 2-3 SU at home while Purdue is 1-4 SU on the road. IU’s QB Diamont has undoubtedly improved over the past few weeks, but he's still a third-string quarterback who was put in an impossible position to succeed this year. Credit the Hoosiers for hanging tough against Ohio State last week, where they actually held a 21-20 4th quarter lead before OSU took control of the game. RB Coleman rushed for 228 yards and 3 TD and is now just 94 yards away from eclipsing 2,000 yards this season.

Defensively the Hoosiers remain bad. They’ve allowed 34+ points in five of the last six games and rank 100th in yards per game allowed this season. Purdue showed signs of progress earlier in the Big Ten season -- when it beat Illinois and fell to Minnesota 39-38, but it has been difficult to find many positives lately. QB Appleby seems to have regressed lately as he has just 7 TD and 6 INT over the last four games – completing less than 50% of his passes over that span. The defense has also struggled mightily of late, as this unit has surrendered 34+ PPG over its last five games. Purdue has won seven of the last 10 in the series outright. The Hoosiers have dropped two of the last three home meetings with Purdue, but Indiana won last year’s meeting at home by 20-points, 56-36. Purdue is 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven road games. Indiana is just 1-5-2 ATS in their last 8 conference games.

Big 12, SEC heat up Thursday

LSU TIGERS (7-4) at TEXAS A&M AGGIES (7-4)
TV/Time: FS1, 7:30 p.m. ET
Line: LSU -3.5, Total: 50.5

Two struggling SEC teams desperate for a win will collide on Thanksgiving night when LSU visits Texas A&M.

The Tigers are certainly talented, as they have victories this season against both Wisconsin and Ole Miss, but have also lost SU and ATS to Mississippi State, Auburn, Alabama and Arkansas. Overall they are 7-4 ATS while covering in each one of their victories and are coming off a bad loss to the Razorbacks by a score of 17-0 as 2-point underdogs on the road on Nov. 15. It was Arkansas’ first win against the Tigers in 18 tries as LSU managed a putrid 123 yards of offense and 2.3 yards per play.

The Aggies have had a similar season with huge wins over South Carolina and Auburn, but ran into a juggernaut in the middle part of their schedule as they were defeated by Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Alabama by a combined 91 points over three consecutive games. They most recently absorbed a loss to Missouri on Nov. 15 by a score of 34-27 as 3.5-point favorites at home, bringing their ATS record this season to just 4-7, while they have covered only once in their past seven attempts.

The Aggies defense just could not hold the Tigers offense in check as they totaled 587 yards, which included 335 yards on the ground (6.8 YPC). LSU has won this matchup (SU and ATS) in each of the past three seasons while having an average margin of victory of 15.3 PPG.

Last year the Tigers dominated in a 34-10 game as 3-point favorites at home behind 517 yards of offense and two forced turnovers. Bettors should also know that LSU is an impressive 17-4 ATS (81%) in road games after gaining 100 or less rushing yards in its previous contest since 1992 while Texas A&M is 33-18 ATS (65%) in home games after a game where it forced one or fewer turnovers over the same timeframe.

On the injury front, HB Kenny Hilliard (undisclosed) is out for the remainder of the season for LSU, while the Aggies come into this one without any significant omissions from their lineup.

The Tigers have had a solid year rushing the ball (204.5 YPG) as they rank 35th in the nation while gaining a meager 169.1 YPG through the air (112th in FBS) and just 28.0 PPG of offense (74th in nation).

QB Anthony Jennings (1,353 pass yards, 9 TD, 6 INT) has really struggled in the past two games, combining to go 20-for-48 (42%) for 163 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He is not leaned on much for this team as he has eclipsed 200 passing yards just once on the year.

HB Leonard Fournette (745 rush yards, 7 TD) has been a bright spot for this team as a freshman, as he has hit triple digits in rushing yards three times this season. HB Terrance Magee (471 rush yards, 3 TD) has also done well while averaging 5.4 YPC and is now the primary backup with Hilliard out for the year. WR Travis Dural (747 rec yards, 7 TD) has posted an excellent 21.3 yards per catch, but does not get the volume as he has caught a mere 14 balls over the past six games combined. Meanwhile, WR Malachi Dupre (277 rec yards, 5 TD) has also been a big red-zone threat while getting tons of yards per catch (21.3 avg).

The defense is what keeps this team winning, as it has allowed 16.4 PPG (5th in FBS) this year behind the strong play of LB Kwon Alexander (72 tackles, 7 TFL) and DL Danielle Hunter (63 tackles, 12 TFL).

Texas A&M has focused on the passing game and excelled with 321.2 YPG through the air (10th in nation) while adding 148.2 rushing YPG (88th in FBS), all resulting in them scoring the 23rd-most points in FBS (36.0 PPG).

The downfall of QB Kenny Hill (2,649 pass yards, 23 TD, 8 INT) has given way to freshman QB Kyle Allen (884 pass yards, 11 TD, 5 INT) who has thrown seven touchdowns and two interceptions over the past two games while hitting on better than 65% of his passes each time. He has seen his attempts increase in each of the past three contests, and was rated the No. 1 pocket passer among college QB prospects coming into the year.

HBs Tra Carson (431 rush yards, 5 TD) and Trey Williams (412 rush yards, 5 TD) have combined to average 5.4 YPC while neither player has really had a breakout performance this season. WRs Josh Reynolds (746 rec yards, 12 TD), Malcome Kennedy (526 rec yards, 4 TD), Speedy Noil (513 rec yards, 4 TD) and Ricky Seals-Jones (443 rec yards, 4 TD) all have 40+ receptions on the year while Reynolds is coming off his best game of the season in which he caught five passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

The Aggies have not done well on the defensive side of things while giving up 27.7 PPG on the year (75th in nation) and have surrendered an average of 36.0 PPG and 584.5 total YPG over their past two contests. DL Myles Garrett (11 sacks, 46 tackles) and DB Deshazor Everett (65 tackles, 1 INT) will need to perform at their highest levels to have a chance come Thursday.

TCU HORNED FROGS (9-1) at TEXAS LONGHORNS (6-5)

TV/Time: ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET
Line: TCU -6.5, Total: 56.5

No. 5 TCU looks to get closer to a playoff berth as they travel to Austin to take on Texas on Thanksgiving night.

The Horned Frogs were off last week, which followed a major struggle in a narrow 34-30 win at 28-point underdog Kansas. However, TCU was still able to win its fifth straight game (3-2 ATS) where it has averaged 46.0 PPG. The Longhorns have had some ups and downs in head coach Charlie Strong’s first season, but the team is playing its best football right now.

Texas has won its past three games (SU and ATS) by a combined score of 95 to 36, which included a 33-16 win against then-No. 23 West Virginia. But that was the only ranked team the Longhorns have beaten, as they are 1-4 SU versus top-25 schools, with two of those defeats coming at home.

Last year, these two teams played in Fort Worth, with the 3-point underdog Longhorns winning, 30-7. Texas dominated the game, outgaining the Horned Frogs 415 to 246, including 187 to 45 on the ground. But in the first Big 12 meeting between these schools in Austin in 2012, TCU prevailed 20-13 by outrushing the Longhorns 217 to 86. Both schools have powerful betting trends against them, as excellent offensive road favorites (34+ PPG) facing an average defense (21 to 28 PPG allowed) after a win by six points or less are just 9-31 ATS (23%) in the past 10 seasons, but underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points coming off two straight conference wins facing an opponent coming off a road win are just 25-63 ATS (28%) in the past 10 seasons.

There are a couple of key offensive injuries in this game with TCU RB B.J. Catalon (shoulder) considered questionable to play, while Texas WR Jaxon Shipley (leg) has been upgraded to probable.

The Horned Frogs have been great on both sides of the ball this year, but it is the improvement of the offense that has this team within striking distance of the first college football playoffs. The offense ranks 2nd in FBS scoring (45.9 PPG), 8th in passing (323.6 YPG) and 28th in rushing (218 YPG).

Junior QB Trevone Boykin (3,021 pass yards, 548 rush yards, 31 total TD) had many doubters last season when he threw just 7 TD with 7 INT, but is now one of the top candidates for the Heisman trophy with 24 passing TD and only 5 INT. He is a tremendous athlete, but his improved composure and poise has helped him take the next step as a quarterback.

RB Aaron Green (677 rush yards, 8.3 YPC, 6 TD) is a speedster who is tough to stop once he gets to the second level of the defense. His backfield mate, junior RB B.J. Catalon (493 rush yards, 5.0 YPC, 10 TD) has battled some injuries, but he is the guy that can take over the game late when TCU needs some first downs.

At receiver, junior WRs Josh Doctson (693 rec yards, 7 TD), Kolby Listenbee (606 rec yards, 3 TD) and Deante' Gray (486 rec yards, 7 TD) are all capable of going for at least 100 yards and two touchdowns on any given game.

Other than the 61-58 loss at Baylor, the TCU defense has played very well this season. The unit gives up 23.1 PPG (35th in FBS), and has one of the biggest playmakers in the country on that side of the ball in LB Paul Dawson (105 tackles, 15 TFL, 5 sacks, 3 INT, 2 FF). Dawson can make plays anywhere on the field, in any kind of situation. He has the ability to guard slot receivers when needed, and can cause a lot of havoc in the backfield. In the secondary, S Chris Hackett (6 INT, 66 tackles, 3.5 TFL) can not only cover, but he is not afraid to come up and make plays against the run as well.

It has been a tough season in Austin, but the Longhorns are playing their best football at the end of the season. The offense has been up-and-down, ranking 77th in FBS rushing (154.0 YPG), 80th in passing (212.9 YPG) and 98th in scoring (23.7 PPG).

Sophomore QB Tyrone Swoopes (2,152 pass yards, 12 TD, 6 INT) has steadily improved since being thrown into the starting job, showing the potential that has Longhorns fans' hopes high for the future. He is a threat to make plays with both his arm and legs, and at 6-foot-4, 243 pounds, he can be very difficult for defenses to tackle. The ground game of RBs Malcolm Brown (654 rush yards, 3.9 YPC, 6 TD) and Johnathan Gray (627 rush yards, 4.9 YPC, 7 TD) has been inconsistent, but both backs are capable of having big days.

The Horned Frogs are going to focus on stopping those two, so the Texas air attack will have to perform at a high level. WR John Harris (59 catches, 976 yards, 7 TD) is the big-play threat on the roster, using his size and speed to get behind the defense. Senior WR Jaxon Shipley (58 catches, 571 yards, 1 TD) complements him perfectly, going over the middle and making the tough catches. He is being slowed by a leg injury, but he should be good to go on Thursday night.

The defense has been great all year, ranking 24th in the country in points allowed (21.0 PPG). LBs Jordan Hicks (136 tackles, 12 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and Steve Edmond (116 tackles, 12 TFL, 4.5 sacks) are one of the best tackling duos in college football. Both of them do a great job of stopping the run, while also getting pressure on the quarterback. In the secondary, senior CB Quandre Diggs (60 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 INT) is the heart and soul of this defense, always rallying the team when it needs it.

Thursday's Tip Sheet
By Joe Nelson

While the NFL has claimed Thanksgiving as its holiday, college football is bringing two intriguing matchups to the table Thursday night as both Texas and Texas A&M continue their Thanksgiving tradition, just not against each other. Here is a look at the Thursday night games in the Big XII and SEC.

Matchup: TCU Horned Frogs at Texas Longhorns
Venue: Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas
Time/TV: 7:30 PM ET FOX 1
Line: TCU -6, Over/Under 56½
Last Meeting: 2013, Texas (+2½) 30-7 at TCU

TCU appears to be sinking in the national playoff picture as the Horned Frogs may never recover from the narrow 34-30 win over lowly Kansas. With Iowa State up next this is the last opportunity TCU has to impress the committee, getting this national spotlight game Thanksgiving night. Baylor seems poised to pass TCU as the head-to-head meeting may grow in importance and next week the Bears will get to play a highly regarded Kansas State team. The Big XII may get left out entirely with some momentum behind Ohio State’s inclusion and if Mississippi State and Alabama both win convincingly this week it may not matter as the SEC will likely get two teams in.

TCU’s season may ultimately be remembered for what could have been if not for 11 minutes of trouble in Waco in October. TCU led the game at Baylor 58-37 with less than 12 minutes on the clock after Marcus Mallet scored on an interception return touchdown but the Frogs could not get a single stop on defense and the offense failed in several key third down plays, missing the chance to take time off the clock. Ultimately Baylor scored 24 straight points to close the game and that is the difference between TCU being a lock for the national playoff compared with current less promising position.

For Texas a season that started somewhat disastrously has turned to a season of quiet promise with three straight November wins for the Longhorns. After the somewhat contentious removal of Mack Brown as the head coach last season, Charlie Strong’s tenure in Austin featured an embarrassing 41-7 loss at home against BYU in the second game. Texas started the season 2-4 but now at 6-5 the Longhorns have a chance to put a stamp on an encouraging first page in the new era this week.

The turnaround has started with defense as Texas has played very tough defense in seven of the last eight games. Against some very good offensive teams Texas has held up pretty well and the challenge will be servere this week with a TCU squad that is scoring 46 points per game while averaging 542 yards per game. Trevone Boykin may not make it to New York but he is certainly on a short list of the top players in the nation this season with over 3,000 passing yards and over 500 rushing yards, accounting for 31 touchdowns.

Texas is not getting that type of production from the quarterback position as it has been a big adjustment with sophomore Tyrone Swoopes taking over for David Ash. Swoopes has delivered a handful of productive games but he is completing just 58 percent of his passes and he is not the same dynamic two-way threat. John Harris has been one of the top receivers in the Big XII with 59 catches and he should eclipse 1,000 receiving yards this week but the offense for the Longhorns has not been consistent and Texas really only has one quality win, beating West Virginia at home.

TCU is just 6-12-1 ATS vs. Texas since 1980 including just 8-3 ATS since 1988. TCU beat Texas in Austin in 2012 but the Frogs have just two S/U wins in 19 meetings since 1980. TCU is 34-42-1 ATS as a road favorite going back to 1981 including going 1-7 ATS in the last eight instances going back to November of 2011. The win for Texas over West Virginia was the first for the Longhorns as a home underdog S/U or ATS since 1999 as Texas had failed in five straight home underdog situations prior to that game. This is just the seventh time Texas has been a home underdog since 2000 and Texas is also on a 16-5 ATS run in the final home game of the season going back to 1993.

Matchup: LSU Tigers at Texas A&M Aggies
Venue: Kyle Field in College Station, Texas
Time/TV: 7:30 PM ET ESPN
Line: LSU -3 Over/Under 49½
Last Meeting: 2013, at LSU (-5) 34-10

For two programs accustomed to being in the national conversation in recent years this Thanksgiving showdown will leave the loser potentially in a tie for last place in the SEC West if Arkansas beats Missouri. Both teams have matching 7-4 records but with 3-4 records in conference play. Neither team will be in the discussion for a major bowl spot and by the very high standards of both programs, it will be considered a bit of a down season regardless of this week’s result.

There have been major highs and lows for both teams with Texas A&M peaking early with a 5-0 start and the blowout win at South Carolina in the opening week before crashing with three straight lopsided losses including a 59-0 self-destruction in Tuscaloosa. The Aggies did rebound with a big win at Auburn to save some face in what has been a tough second half of the season.

LSU snuck by Wisconsin in the opening week and then started 0-2 in SEC play with a home loss against Mississippi State and an ugly 41-7 loss at Auburn. The young Tigers team did respond with three straight wins in October including giving Mississippi their first loss however. LSU seemed to have Alabama beat before a painful sequence led to an overtime loss and in its last game LSU was shut out against an Arkansas team that had lost 17 straight conference games.

Texas A&M started the season under sophomore quarterback Kenny Hill who posted huge early season numbers and emerged on the Heisman short list. Hill is no longer the starter as he struggled with the decline of the Aggies and was suspended for two weeks with highly touted freshman Kyle Allen taking the job. Allen has had mixed results and an Aggies offense that is not running the ball like it used to has seen a big scoring drop from the past two seasons. The defense for Texas A&M has also struggled in several matchups and the overall figures for the Aggies look much worse if you take away an incredibly weak non-conference slate.

Last season’s LSU offense posted 453 yards per game and nearly 36 points per game but glancing at the Sunday NFL scores and seeing rookies Alfred Blue, Jeremy Hill, Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, and Zach Mettenberger all in prominent roles shows you how much this team had to rebuild. LSU has been much better on defense than last season with just 16 points per game allowed but the offense is getting very little done consistently in the passing game. Over the past three games LSU has scored a total of just 19 points but the 17-0 loss to Arkansas could be chalked up to a letdown after the demoralizing Alabama game. The team should be ready for this finale Thursday night after a bye week last week.

In the last trip to College Station LSU escaped with a 24-19 win but it was the worst game of the season for Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel as Texas A&M had five turnovers to surrender an early lead. Last season in Baton Rouge LSU crushed Texas A&M 34-10 with nearly double the yardage total as the Aggies were held under 300 yards for their lowest output of the season.

LSU has won and covered in the three recent meetings between these teams going back to the Cotton Bowl after the 2010 season and the Tigers are 8-4-1 ATS vs. Texas A&M since 1986. LSU is 44-28-2 ATS as a road favorite since 1984 including going 17-11-1 ATS since 2005 when Les Miles took over. LSU is 28-15 S/U on the road under Miles, though just 21-20-2 ATS and just 3-7-1 ATS the past three seasons. Texas A&M is 21-12-1 ATS as a home underdog since 1985 including going 5-2 ATS since 2009 in that role though the team is just 0-3 S/U and 1-2 ATS as a home underdog under Kevin Sumlin.

NCAAF Opening Line Report: Big spreads for college football's biggest rivalries
By COLIN KELLY

This week’s college football slate makes a complete 180-degree turn from last week, which was loaded with rather meaningless matchups. Thanksgiving weekend brings a buffet of big contests that will go a long way toward determining which teams make the inaugural four-team playoff.

And of course, the SEC will have the main course, with two key contests, headlined by Alabama playing host to archrival Auburn in the Iron Bowl. The Crimson Tide (10-1 SU, 3-8 ATS) are coming off a 48-14 rout of FCS foe Western Carolina, though they fell well short of covering as massive 50.5-point favorites, leaving them tied with several teams for the second-worst ATS record in the Nation.

Auburn (8-3 SU, 4-7 ATS), which had its playoff hopes sunk in by back-to-back losses to Texas A&M and Georgia, also had a lightweight foe last weekend, dropping Samford 31-7 as an even bigger chalk than ‘Bama – 59.5 points.

“We opened Alabama -9.5 and there hasn’t been too much movement,” Scott Kaminsky , tells Covers. “In a game like this, it doesn’t matter what the records are. Each team wants to go away with a victory. But I don’t think this one goes above -9.5. I’ll take a stab and say it will stay in single digits.”

In last year’s Iron Bowl, Auburn won 34-28 by returning a missed field goal the length of the field for a touchdown on the last play of the game.

Mississippi State Bulldogs (-1) at Mississippi Rebels

Mississippi State has just one loss, and a respectable one at that, falling at Alabama two weekends ago. The Bulldogs (10-1 SU, 7-4 ATS) still have a very good chance to reach the four-team playoff and are coming off a 51-0 shellacking of Vanderbilt laying 29.5 points at home.

Meanwhile, Mississippi (8-3, 6-4-1 ATS) can only play spoiler in the annual Egg Bowl. The Rebels were coming off a bye before traveling to Arkansas on Saturday, yet got blasted by the Razorbacks 30-0 as a 3-point fave.

“Mississippi State opened as a 1-point road favorite,” says Kaminsky. “Ole Miss had a horrible game last week. They looked so good to start out but just bit the bullet, and lost three of their last four.”

Michigan Wolverines at Ohio State Buckeyes (-20)

No matter the situation, this game is big every year. But it’s far more important for Ohio State (10-1 SU, 7-4 ATS), which has a shot at the playoff. The Buckeyes struggled to put away Indiana on Saturday, winning 42-27 while failing to cash as 36.5-point favorites.

Michigan (5-6 SU, 4-7 ATS) is playing out the string under likely-to-be-fired coach Brady Hoke. The Wolverines were 6-point home chalk against Maryland, but lost outright 23-16.

“I can’t see anyway (Michigan) wins this game,” says Kaminsky, who opened Ohio State as a 20-point favorite. “They’re playing a team that is so much better than them. So many times, it’s the last game of the season and last game for the seniors or the coach. But there’s one thing you always have to bring to the table and that’s talent. And (Michigan) doesn’t have a lot of talent. If they cover the spread, they will have done well. Not in their eyes, but they would’ve done well.”

Oregon Ducks (-20) at Oregon State Beavers

A look at the records would have one think that Oregon (10-1 SU, 7-4 ATS) should roll, but this rivalry game is often tight. Last year, also in Corvallis, the Ducks held on for a 36-35 win giving 24 points.

Oregon is coming off a 44-10 home win and cover against Colorado laying 32.5 points, while the Beavers (5-6 SU, 3-8 ATS) – coming off an upset of Arizona State – got bounced at Washington 37-13 catching 6.5 points.

“This is the same scenario as the Michigan-Ohio State game. Almost the same spread,” says Kaminsky, who opened Oregon -21 and moved to -20 with early money the underdog. “Oregon just beats up on people and they’ll beat up on Oregon State. The Beavers want to beat Oregon bad, but they just don’t have the talent.”