Taking LONG BEACH STATE here. A little conference home opener to make things right. LBST off their usual brutal road start to the year. Game against Wichita, Louisville, North Carolina, UCLA, Washington, Kansas, oh well ,you get the idea. Just say they played teams that rocked them but should build 'character' and get them ready for games like this! 4* Money Maker LONG BEACH STATE

4* Money Maker PENN

4* Total Money UNDER Oklahoma St/ Baylor

8* Sure Shot NORTH DAKOTA

4* Total Money UNDER Raiders/Texans

Taking the RAIDERS here. Will likely sprinkle a little +175 ML on Oakland also. Look, we like the under also. I can't see many points on the board here unless it is a turnover fest inside the other teams 30 yard line. Brock is back after being benched for Savage, but is starting because the later is in the concussion protocol. Not much of an endorsement for a guy who signed a whopping contract before the season started. Texans totally humiliated in same spot 30-0 against KC last year. Maybe they are motivated. But they are a banged up team on both sides of the ball. I haven't liked them all year and won't like them being favored either. Raiders were looking like a potential 1 seed and serious Super Bowl threat until they lost their QB. I get they laid an egg in Denver. But I like their coach. He is a defensive guy, and that side of the ball will be looked to force TOs and help out their new rookie QB. And as for Cook. The kid has a talented stable of RBs behind him plus a pair of 1000 yard WRs to help him out. 4* Money Maker OAKLAND RAIDERS 

5* Best Bet ARKANSAS ST

4* Money Maker LA KINGS

4* Money Maker MONTANA

Taking FORDHAM here. I had both of these guys in the middle of the road for the A-10. Joe's still adjusting after losing their leading scorer. Give me the scrappy home pup here in their conference opener. 5* Best Bet FORDHAM 

Taking SOUTH CAROLINA here. It would be easy for me to jump on A&M here. I mean, losing 100-58 you would think they are going to 'man up' and bring it here. But maybe they just aren't that good. 8 wins, woo-hoo! Go look up who they beat (St Francis PA, South Carolina Upstate, Texas A&M CC, Denver, Northridge and Virginia Tech)  - Safe to say the level of play is nowhere near their losses to Kentucky, Tennessee, Arizona and UCLA. And that is where I put this Gamecocks team. Their guard play with Thrornwell back should make this a 10pt margin. 4* Money Maker SOUTH CAROLINA 

Taking WEST VIRGINIA here. We faded these the other night on the road against Texas Tech and scored another dog outright winner. Not sure why they didn't schedule this one at TCU though. Guess they felt that TCU had to get out of Texas. Since they have played out of state twice in 14 games. 'Neers will be all out with their tough defense here at home off that OT loss. Horn Frogs of a win over Oklahoma and a 6pt loss to Kansas, so not sure what they have in the tank for game 3 of a tough stretch. 4* Money Maker WEST VIRGINIA 

4* Money Maker BOWLING GREEN

Taking SYRACUSE here. Now we Pitt cashed as a nice dog outright winner over Virginia the other night. That is why we jump on the fade train. Orange haven't really shown much this year. Yet, find themselves a small fave over a good Panthers that is a borderline Top 25 team. The 'Cuse with triple revenge working as Pitt won all 3 games last year!  4* Money Maker SYRACUSE

Taking GEORGETOWN here. Butler off a huge win over the #1 team in the country. Now laying that short number on the road. Give me the double revenge minded home dogs. 4* Money Maker GEORGETOWN 

4* Money Maker ILL-CHI

5* Best Bet WISC GREEN BAY

4* Money Maker TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

4* Money Maker RHODE ISLAND

4* Money Maker PACIFIC TIGERS

4* Money Maker MONTANA

4* Money Maker FURMAN

4* Money Maker EASTERN ILLINOIS

4* Money Maker CLEVELAND STATE

4* Money Maker NASHVILLE

4* Money Maker OLD DOMINION 

4* Money Maker NC WILMINGTON 

4* Money Maker WASHINGTON 

5* Best Bet UTAH STATE

5* Best Bet NEVADA 

4* Money Maker CAL IRVINE

8* Sure Shot CAL DAVIS

4* Money Maker PITT PANTHERS

4* Money Maker PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

4* Money Maker WESTERN ILLINOIS

4* Money Maker GEORGE MASON

4* Money Maker NIAGRA

4* Money Maker AUBURN TIGERS

5* Best Bet LOYOLA CHICAGO 

4* Money Maker TEXAS TECH

4* Money Maker MONTREAL CANADIENS

4* Money Maker EASTERN MICHIGAN 

4* Money Maker BALL ST

4* Money Maker MIAMI OHIO

4* Money Maker BUFFALO

4* Money Maker COLORADO

Taking OKC here. Last we saw the Thunder they were getting trucked on Thursday night losing by 34 to Memphis. The Bucks are in off an impressive 20pt win over the Bulls. Time for some correction. 4* Money Maker OKC THUNDER

4* Money Maker ELON

5* Best Bet TENN-CHATTANOOGA 

4* Money Maker QUINNIPIAC

4* Money Maker IONA

Taking USC here. I faded these guys day 1 against Alabama, but this team is playing some excellent ball lately. And truth be told, the Big 10 hasn't impressed in bowls. Yes we cashed with Indiana and Northwestern, but also fading Ohio State and Michigan in big fashion. Do we think that Penn State is really the cream of the crop from this conference? For the sake of the selection committee, let's hope not. They left a Conference Champion off the playoff roster. No team probably playing with a bigger chip on their shoulder than Penn State. Do they channel teams of past, like the 86 bunch, and the 'fatigue game' vs Miami? I don't hear SC taking that kind of smack. But I just get the feeling that the Lions haven't faced an offense like what they will see out of the Trojans here. 5* Best Bet USC TROJANS 

4* Money Maker HOFSTRA

4* Money Maker SIENA 

4* Total Money UNDER Iowa/Florida 

Taking FLORIDA here. I was leaning a little Iowa when the lines were first posted. But I am all in on the Gators here. They won 16-10 at LSU. Lost at Florida State 31-13. Were throttled by Alabama (we had Bama) 54-16. But as I said in my Bama write up that day. Gators are in off a brutal stretch. They were missing key guys. The scheduling was brutal. Now they get guys back. They are playing in-state. When was the last time Iowa plucked out a huge Florida recruit? This is a big game for them. Get the losing taste out of their mouth. And honestly. I have backed Iowa in bowls before and it hurts. 8* Sure Shot FLORIDA GATORS 

Taking the LIONS here. Should probably sprinkle some +160 ML on this also. Is anyone giving Detroit a shot here? Yeah they were run out of the building on MNF. And that is the last anyone has seen of them. They forget this team hadn't more than 20 points in their 8 prior games. Also. This is the SNF game. We will know if the Redskins win. If that is the case, loser it out. Otherwise, winner takes the North and the loser is a Wild-Card. In any scenario I am grabbing the home dog here. 4* Money Maker DETROIT LIONS 

4* Total Money UNDER Colorado/ Utah 

4* Money Maker MID TENN ST

Taking the SAINTS here. I know Atlanta is playing for that 2 seed. But I think there is way too much pride on the other side lines here. Getting to 8-8 is a big deal. No way Brees and Payton want a 3rd straight 7-9 season. New Orleans 6 of 8 losses have been by 1,3,6,2,3 and 5. And we get a points like this with Brees and the #1 offense. +290 Dog Outright in play here. 10* Money Bomb NEW ORLEANS SAINTS  

4* Money Maker SETON HALL

4* Total Money UNDER Northern Iowa/ Evansville

4* Total Money UNDER Ravens/ Bengals 

4* Total Money UNDER Texans/ Titans 

4* Total Money UNDER Dallas/ Philly

Taking the JETS here. So I was all in on the Bills last week as I said they were playing for their coaches job. Well, they did love the guy, but not enough to stop the terrible season they are having. So Rex and his brother are out. Could very well be the end of the Ryan coaching lineage to be perfectly honest. Now we have the home dog Jets. Who, themselves, have some coaching questions. But why? This team has dealt with problems since they wouldn't pay FitzMagic, or FitzTragic, more fitting this year. The OL is banged up. The defense wasn't good. The offense didn't do much to help. A bad year all around. But as we have seen with this up and down club, they haven't quit on their coach. I think this game means more to them than the Bills and they are coming out to win this thing today. 4* Money Maker NY JETS 

Taking the JAGS here. Appears all these guys needed was new coach on the sidelines. Colts will mail it in with nothing to play for here. While Jax players need to show ownership and whatever HC will be taking over, that they are quitters. 5* Best Bet JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 

Taking TAMPA here. Part of me says take Carolina as they will be playing for pride and yada yada yada. Super Bowl team out of the playoffs, that type of motivation. But I can't overlook the injuries here. I know all teams are banged up. But I think the Panthers mail it in here. Bucs have the slimmest of shots at the playoffs. Honestly, for them to make it, they need a real miracle. But you figure with no pressure they win it going away here. In front of a home crowd, I think getting to 9-7 is a big deal. 5* Best Bet TAMPA BAY 

4* Money Maker PEPPERDINE

Taking CLEMSON here. Where is the respect for this team? Total smack in the face. Dabo will have these guys extra chippy with a monster chip on their shoulders here. Ohio State has set the precedent that you don't have to be a conference champ to get in the playoffs. And you can lose a h2h with the conference champ and still get here. I don't want to hear how the Big 12 has no championship game and gets left out of these things from now on. Look. Buckeyes have a good team, but are not as explosive as years past. They are 6-6 ATS this year. Penn State and Michigan beat them in the trenches and Clemson is +22 sacks on the year. That is where this game will be won. And this Clemson team is nothing but focused at getting back to Alabama.. 5* Best Bet CLEMSON TIGERS 

4* Money Maker UL LAFAYETTE

Let's get it here. ROLL TIDE - How can we not take these guys. They have been rolling all year. We had the over in the SEC Championship Game and I said that both sides of the ball from Alabama wears you down. Do we really think extra time off is going to help here? Let's be honest. This line will only get higher. I might come back with a middle if it gets to near 20. Washington is a good team. The ole, chip on the shoulder, disrespected thing going on here. PAC 12 is the little brother conference and all that jazz. Are we really giving this Alabama staff nearly a month to game plan here? I can have a big to-do about individual players on both sides and balls and run down some stats. Bottomline is this - I see something like in the 38-17 range. 8* Sure Shot ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

4* Money Maker PITTSBURGH

4* Money Maker SAMFORD

4* Money Maker CHARLESTON

4* Money Maker VIRGINIA TECH

4* Money Maker TOWSON

8* Sure Shot TENNESSEE STATE

4* Money Maker GEORGETOWN

Taking LSU here. This team is good. You know I like their HC and have cashed already with him this year. We have the whole Heisman jinx thing going on for UL. And look. UL Had much higher hopes than the Citrus Bowl. These guys climbed to #3 in the polls after they pasted Florida State. But they lost to Houston and Kentucky. And are here. A dog to a 7 win team. Fournette was banged up this year and the Tigers really skip a beat with their rush attack. 10* Money Bomb LSU TIGERS 

4* Money Maker MEMPHIS

Taking FLORIDA STATE with the points and ML +225 here. What is there not to like? 'Noles get to a face another big league program. And to help things along, a pro-style offense that their defense can contain while catching a TD. Sign me up. FSU was at it's worse playing run-type QB offenses. Michigan is not that kind of offense. Plus, they limped to the finish line. The covered 1 game against a ranked team they played. That was Penn State. Colorado, Wiscy, Iowa, Ohio State. All tough games for the Wolverines. Florida State defense was #1 in the nation in sacks, Michigan #2. But we have seen the Michigan OL struggle lately. Dog outright here. 5* Best Bet FLORIDA STATE 

4* Money Maker GEORGE MASON

5* Best Bet OKLAHOMA STATE

Taking NEBRASKA here. This is simply a play on HC Mike Riley. They guy wins meaningless Bowl Games. 7-2 SU and 6-3 ATS. Where is the motivation for the Vols? So they are playing in-state - What does that mean? They had high hopes after a fast start but limped home. They though they would at least be in the Sugar Bowl but lost to Vanderbilt. Give me the Cornhuskers with a backup QB that nobody is expecting anything from. 4* Money Maker NEBRASKA 

4* Money Maker NORFOLK STATE

Taking NORTH CAROLINA here. Maybe Stanford gets up to prove they don't need a quitter on their team. But this line nary moved with McCaffrey's announcement. QB Trubinsky is getting some NFL draft talk. The kid can throw that's for sure. What better way to lift his stock they a nice bowl win over a PAC 12 power? 4* Money Maker NORTH CAROLINA 

Taking OKLAHOMA STATE here. These guys were humiliated last year in bowl action, and no way Mike Gundy lets that go down 2 years in a row. Cowboys excited and bring a potent offense into the Alamo Bowl. Both teams off losses that would have given them Conference Titles. But I think Colorado, for all the times we did cash on them, is just the weaker team. Buffs new to the bowling with nary a player ever been to one. This is routine for Okie State. Can't help but think we will have a Big 12 friendly crowd playing here in Texas also. Final thought is that Colorado loses it's DC. So even with a replacement in-house, it just isn't the same as a the experience walking away. 10* Money Bomb OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS 

4* Money Maker JACKSONVILLE STATE

4* Money Maker BRADLEY

5* Best Bet LOYOLA CHICAGO 

4* Total Money UNDER William & Mary/ Old Dominion

Taking OAKLAND here. The Grizz are off b2b games vs Georgia and Michigan State. A pair of bigger power conference schools. Now the old proverbial 'drop in class.' That isn't a knock on Wright State. The real key for me here is that after Oakland won both regular season games, the Raiders pulled out the OT upset in the Horizon Tournament. Oakland 4-1 ATS last 5 in the series. 8* Sure Shot OAKLAND GRIZZLIES

Taking SOUTH CAROLINA here. Go grab the 10 also, but I am looking for the big payday (+335) on the sites here. SC only has one terrible blow-out loss on their resume when Clemson blasted them 56-7 in their season finale. So off that terrible loss, I think we see a focused team here. I will be the first to say I am down on this team. I thought they would be a bottom feeder in the SEC. And I did have Miss St the other day and they should have lost outright. That being said, SoFla losses it's HC to Oregon and has their OC at the helm this afternoon. I just think the Bulls defense is not an elite unit and the Gamecocks should be a live a dog here. I think USF has a legit Heisman guy for next year at QB, but this is a huge step up in class. This is the SEC not AAC. SC was 3-9 last year and is 6-6 heading to bowl play. They don't consider this a lower tier bowl. This is a big game for the players and the direction of the team. They have to think it is a slap in the face to be a double digit dog here. 4* Money Maker SOUTH CAROLINA 

4* Money Maker COLORADO STATE

4* Money Maker FRESNO STATE

4* Money Maker ORAL ROBERTS

4* Money Maker MISSOURI STATE

Taking KANSAS STATE here. How can we not back this HC? Snyder a profitable 5-1 as a dog this year (loss at Oklahoma) and are 27-13 67.5% last 40 under him. A&M roared out to a fast start but has been pedestrian down the stretch. Sumlin < Snyder is no contest. Sumlin 0-7-1 ATS last 8 game for the Aggies. Whispers that Snyder is hanging it up after this win. 8* Sure Shot KANSAS STATE

4* Money Maker INDIANA