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A couple of this week’s teams are coming off big upsets, and maybe to some extent that reflects the kind of numbers we’re looking at. But not much.
What I’m interested in seeing is how a couple of very capable sides (Wisconsin and Boise State) who aren’t used to prepping for pure option offenses are able to do it this week, against Army and Air Force, respectively. Ans an added sidelight, the Cadets and Falcons are playing a little defense this season.
Air Force at Boise State Parlay Betting
Air Force vs. Boise State Picks
Time: Saturday, October 16 at 9 PM ET
ATS Odds: Boise State Broncos -3 (-115) vs. Air Force Falcons +3 (-105)
The Play: AIR FORCE +3 (-105)
We certainly don’t want to disparage Boise State after its upset win over BYU last time out. But Air Force is one of those teams that always looms as an opponent that is tough as hell to prepare for, and they seem to have it working on both sides of the ball – witness its #12 ranking in total defense.
Remember that the Falcons are the nation’s leaders in rushing yardage (335.6 yards per game), so Boise had better bring its “A” game on defense. But do they have such a game to bring. The Broncos are hardly airtight; they’ve allowed a so-so 4.4 yards per carry. They had little success in stopping a much thinner Air Force squad last year, even in victory (allowed 415 rushing yards in a 49-30 win). And Troy Calhoun brings a team that is more well-rounded this time around.
Arizona State at Utah Parlay Betting
Time: Saturday, October 16 at 10 PM ET
ATS Odds: Utah Utes -1 (-110) vs. Arizona State Sun Devils +1 (-110)
The Play: ARIZONA STATE +1 (-110)
Utah ain’t chopped liver; they won at USC last week and came within a couple of points of beating nationally-ranked San Diego State. Cameron Rising was a big star in the Coliseum with three touchdown passes.
But Herm Edwards has had a lot of success at ASU that perhaps people didn’t see coming. You’d have to say that his Sun Devils have the more versatile quarterback in Jayden Daniels, and he’s part of a ground game that has produced a robust 5.8 yards per attempt.
Arizona State’s defensive front is genuinely hard to deal with; they have averaged 3.8 sacks per game and yielded just 3.3 yards per carry.
UCLA at Washington Parlay Betting
Time: Saturday, October 16 at 8:30 PM ET
ATS Odds: Washington Huskies -1.5 (-110) vs. UCLA Bruins +1.5 (-110)
The Play: UCLA +1.5 (-110)
Washington was looked upon as a legitimate contender for the Pac 12 title, but the truth is that they have amounted to one of the more overrated teams in the nation. Is Dylan Morris all that special (7 TD’s, 6 INT’s)? And where is the running game (3.6 ypc)?
UCLA is the team with far more balance, and Chip Kelly has a lot of depth with his ball-carriers, and that doesn’t even include QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who’s come alive as a passer (8.8 yards / attempt, 11-2 ratio).
Hawaii at Nevada Parlay Betting
Hawaii vs. Nevada Picks
Time: Saturday, October 16 at 10:30 PM ET
ATS Odds: Nevada Wolf Pack -14 (-110) vs. Hawaii Rainbows +14 (-110)
The Play: NEVADA -14(-110)
With Brayden Schager hitting just 11 of 27 (for less than five yards an attempt) subbing for injured QB Chavan Cordeiro, how did Hawaii wind up beating Fresno State? Well, because Jake Haener got picked off four times in what was an ugly effort. The ‘Bows aren’t likely to duplicate that kind of thievery, particularly against Nevada QB Carson Strong, who is being touted as a possible high NFL draft pick.
Hawaii coach Todd Graham had indicated that both Cordeiro and Schager will play against Nevada, which means Cordeiro isn’t quite 100%. Either way, the Wolf Pack is sending the pressure, with a pass rush that has 21 sacks.
And let’s call for double revenge, as Hawaii has taken care of business in back-to-back meetings.
Army at Wisconsin Parlay Betting
Time: Saturday, October 16 at 8 PM ET
ATS Odds: Wisconsin Badgers -14 (-110) vs. Army Cadets +14 (-110)
The Play: ARMY +14
Here is one of those matchups between the “irresistible force” and the “immovable object.” Army is second in the nation in rushing, while Wisconsin is tops in defending the run. But they’re not necessarily #1 in defending an option attack, so one could expect Jeff Monken to come up with a wrinkle or two (with an extra prep week) that the Badgers may not be altogether ready for.
Army is facing a Power 5 foe for the first time, but we’ve seen that they have not been scared to punch above their weight in the recent past. And the Cadets are no slouch defensively. Meanwhile, what in the world happened to the once-highly-touted Graham Mertz? With two TD passes and seven picks, you wonder whether Wisky can create any kind of margin against a capable opponent.
