A possible preview of the SEC Conference championship game here. Alabama coach Nick Saban has the Tide rolling full speed ahead right now, exceeding just about everyone’s expectations (Bama ranked #24 in preseason) while Georgia looks as talented, strong and deep as any program in the country. Saban’s bunch made this one a real dogfight last year, losing 26-23 at Tuscaloosa, and they’ve snarled their way to a 9-0-1 mark as dogs of 6 > points off BB wins. Saban also has a 10-0-1 ATS card up his sleeve when Bama dresses up as a conference dog with revenge off a conference win taking on a foe off a SU win. Georgia’s Mark Richt is just 1-5 ATS between the hedges off consecutive away games and 3-7 ATS at home before a revenger (UGA has Tennessee next). Alabama has taken
the bullet in three straight meetings but appears to be a young team on the rise under Saban (only 9 seniors on roster), capable of matching up physically with Georgia’s superb athletes. Put a leash on them dawgs… the tide’s coming in.
MICHIGAN Plus over Wisconsin
Okay, let’s have a show of hands. How many of you have already sh**canned the Wolverines? We thought so. However, as handicappers, we have to be a bit more forgiving in our evaluation of a team’s weekly performance and right now we know that Joe Public thinks of Michigan as little more than Big 10 road kill. Can you handle the truth? The Maize-and-Blue has won 16 of the last 20 clashes with Wisky outright – and they were chalk in all 20 games! We love dominating dogs that have been favored forever in a series, especially when their foes own a 1-5 ATS mark against revenging conference opponents. Both squads come in off a week of rest and have performed well in that role (Wisconsin 5-1 ATS, Michigan 4-1-1 ATS). Rich Rodriguez has a solid defense at his disposal so if he can just get the offense to cut down on stupid penalties and critical turnovers, the homeboys can bury the Badgers in the Big House. This just in from our DID YOU KNOW library: Rodriguez is 8-2 SU and 9-1 ATS in his last ten tries as a conference dog. Like the old cliché says, this one will be decided by the team that wants it most… and Richie Rich needs today’s game like a vampire needs blood
UCLA Plus over Fresno State
The Bruins were brought down and fi eld-dressed by Arizona last week, bringing UCLA’s point deficit for its last two games (both losses) to 90-10 – figures that make the squad’s season-opening defeat of Tennessee seem like a distant mirage. However, against the Wildcats, the Bruin were without their top QBs, top two running backs, best pass receiver, starting center and starting tight end. Whew! Coach Rick Neuheisel did fi nd some solace in his team’s ability to fight into the fourth quarter against Zona after they had been chased out of Provo just after the coin toss. “Those who stay and continue to work will be rewarded,” said Neuheisel and we’re not about to give up on Ricky boy just yet… not with UCLA logging a 7-2 ATS mark versus the WAC. We’ve already told you that OT winners are bad news if they head out on the highway in their next game (52-74-2 ATS entering this season) and Fresno comes to town off one of the wildest OT wins we’ve ever witnessed, a 55-54 barnburner over Toledo
that made the Bulldogs the fi rst ranked team ever to win at the Glass Bowl. Pat Hill’s team has not cashed many checks as non-conference chalk, though, going just 3-10 ATS (including an awful 0-3 road record). It’s going to take some courage on your part but we look for a bruised Bruins bounce-back tonight.
Last Week: 1-1 Season: 6-4