12 Jun 2019
We offer analysis and odds on a trio of this week’s NCAA Division 1 games, including a big SEC clash as LSU travel to The Swamp and take on the Florida Gators.
TULSA @ HOUSTON
If offense is your College Football bag, then the Houston Cougars will have had you transfixed this season. The Cougars have scored at least 45 points in every game they have played and come into this Thursday night (1am) clash on the back of a 70-14 demolition of Texas Southern last week.
QB D’Eriq King threw three touchdowns in completing 20 of 25 passes and 200 yards. He also tossed one interception and ran in another TD. Fellow passer Clayton Tune finished with 12 completions for 186 yards and two scores, while the ground game was also effective as Kelan Walker ran for 105 yards and a TD.
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane suffered a third straight loss before a bye week, committing five turnovers in a 31-17 loss at Temple. QB Luke Skipper tossed three interceptions and lost two fumbles (two more recovered fumbles were attributed to him).
The Golden Hurricane will not deviate from its ground game and while the points total is set at 69.5, their ball-control offense may be able to limit Houston’s possessions, so some will favour the under at odds of 5/6.
Houston is the 10/11 Genting Casino College Football handicap favourite conceding 18.5 points, although they have failed to cover the spread in their two previous meetings.
GEORGIA TECH @ LOUISVILLE
Friday Night Lights in Louisville is always an intimidating atmosphere , but while Georgia Tech has lost its last seven road games, Yellow Jackets’ fans may be able to breathe easy, since they have a great record against rotating opponents from the ACC Atlantic Division under Paul Johnson.
In fact, Georgia Tech has won 14 of its last 15 against such teams.
Tech snapped a three-game losing streak when thrashing Bowling Green 63-17 last week and their opportunistic defense is tied 11th in the nation in interceptions (seven) and 13th in total takeaways.
It is rare that the Yellow Jackets play on a Friday night, but they are 6-4 in such games.
Like Georgia Tech, the Louisville Cardinals are 2-3 on the season (0-2 in conference play), but they have a 12-5 record at home in the conference since joining the ACC in 2014.
This clash will be all about how well the Cardinals defend the run, for Georgia Tech ranks second nationally, carving out 339.2 yards per game on the ground, with versatile QB TaQuan Marshall their leading rusher with 382 yards from 88 carries. He has run in seven TDS.
Cardinals’ defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder faced Johnson’s spread-option attack when he held the same position at Notre Dame in 2015 and the Fighting Irish defeated the Yellow Jackets 30-22. VanGorder has not minced his words about the spread-option, so Johnson may feel if screws are to be turned, he would be first in the queue.
And this would appear to be a good opportunity for Tech to snap their road streak, since the Cardinals rank 121st nationally in total offense at 311.6 yards per game and 75th in total defense (conceding 385.8 yards per game.
The Genting Casino online College Football odds have Georgia Tech as 4/9 Moneyline favourites and are 4/5 on the Genting Casino handicap conceding 3.5 points.
The points total is set at 58.5 points, and given the respective offensive output, some will plump for the under at odds of 4/5.
MARYLAND AT MICHIGAN
Michigan’s defense is allowing just 3.58 yards per play in five games. That is impressive. They are only one of two schools to allow less than four yards per play.
Since Dan Brown arrived, the Wolverines have finished in the top three defensive ranking every year since 2016.
While they still have to play the No.4 offense in Ohio State, No.14 Penn State, No.35 Wisconsin and No.65 Indiana, they should not be troubled by Maryland’s attack.
Michigan had to dig deep last week, coming back from 17-0 down to beat Northwestern 20-17, while the Terrapins are coming off a bye following an impressive 42-13 win over Minnesota. The Terps (3-1 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) are better than their one loss, a 35-14 home defeat by Temple, but a trip to Ann Arbor is daunting when the home side have beaten its past four opponents by an average of 30 points per game.
Maryland has lost the last three meetings by a combined 122-14 points, but they arrive healthy and they have already beaten a ranked opponent this season.
While they are considered 17.5-point underdogs on the Genting Casino College Football odds, they have the ability to run the ball to keep the pressure off of QB Kasim Hill, so those 5/6 odds with the points might start to look quite tasty if they keep the chains moving on first and second down.
Could it be that this game will be closer than some experts are predicting?
LSU @ FLORIDA
There is a fascinating SEC battle on Saturday night between two surprising teams as the 5-0 LSU Tigers take on the 4-1 Florida Gators in The Swamp.
The Genting Casino College Football odds point to a defensive struggle, with the points total set at 44.5 points. That is fair enough, especially since the under has cashed in on seven of the last eight LSU road games. The under has also prevailed in seven of the last 10 meetings in Gainesville.
While most teams will easily put up points on Ole Miss, it was LSU redshirt junior QB Joe Burrow’s turn last week. He passed for 292 yards and three TDs in a 45-16 win, as the Tigers put up over 500 yards of offense for the first time this season. Burrow also ran for 96 yards on nine carries.
Both teams are allowing just 15 points per game respectively and given each team’s limited play at the QB position – Gators’ Felipe Franks is making slow but steady progress but looks far from the finished product – this may well be a defensive struggle.
The last five meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less and LSU has won four of those meetings (and six of the last eight). The No.5-ranked Tigers are considered 3.5-point underdogs to beat the No.22-ranked Gators on the Genting Casino online College Football odds at 3/4, which will have some thinking the hosts are being a little disrespected by the voters. The Gators can be backed at 21/10 on the MoneyLine, with the visiting Tigers at 4/6.
Those seeking College Football picks against the handicap spread may wish to take a look at Lindyssports.com, America’s leading football authority.
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