OKLAHOMA STATE over Iowa State by 6
Giving up chunk plays is a sure recipe for disaster, and the Cowboys
allowed a ridiculous number of them against Baylor last week: eight
runs of 15-plus yards (including a 73-yarder) and three pass plays of 63
yards or more, as the Bears gained 530 yards on just 49 plays. (Baylor
also ran back a fumble for a TD.) That sets up the hard-working
database for another particularly insightful nugget: bowl teams from
the previous season coming off consecutive SU favorite losses are
20-5-1 ATS as dogs from Game Eight out when facing greater than
.700 opponents. And there is no doubt that OSU can light up the stat
sheet, as RB Chuba Hubbard leads the nation in rushing with 1,265
yards and future NFL WR draft pick Tylan Wallace has 7 TD catches and
is averaging 17.2 YPC. Meanwhile, the Cyclones are riding a 3-0 SUATS
win streak but have an even bigger game on deck with Oklahoma
looming. An ugly 0-5 ATS stat in games before taking on the Sooners
while playing foes coming off consecutive losses leaves us taking a
long, hard look at the hungry visitor. Cyclones get caught by the madas-hell Cowboys today and if you’re still not convinced, we hand it off
to THE CLINCHER: OSU head coach Mike Gundy is 5-1 SU and 6-0
ATS as a dog when coming off a SU favorite loss
DUKE over North Carolina by 14
Six overtimes – we get tired just thinking about it. Imagine the
heartache suffered by Mack Brown and his team after losing a 4-hour
game, especially when each team missed 2 FGs in the OT sessions
before the new overtime rules kicked in and the Hokies cashed in a
2-point conversion to win 43-41. So now the Heels are the epitome
of an overtime loser taking the role of an unrested home favorite
the following week and must deal with a 43-73-3 ATS record for such
teams since the inception of overtime in college football. To make
matters worse, UNC dresses up as a Homecoming favorite to boot.
Meanwhile, Duke is 20-9-1 ATS in this series, including 11-3 ATS as
a dog coming off a SUATS loss. The Blue Devils are tied with the Tar
Heels at 2-2 in the ACC Atlantic Division, but own a winning record
as opposed to UNC’s 3-4 overall mark. This is the first FBS foe for the
Devils this season that was not in a bowl game last season and David
Cutcliffe will certainly have his Dukies ready for the Research Triangle
rivalry game coming off the beating they took in Charlottesville last
Saturday.
