Boston College (+4.5) at North Carolina State (59.5): We split with Virginia and the Over last week in their game against this NC State Wolfpack squad but we did cash with the Over in that game.
I’m inclined to look in that same direction from a totals perspective here as they face Boston College. NC State’s offense is a very strong unit led by senior QB Ryan Findley who has led the Wolfpack to 35+ point scoring outputs in three straight games. I think they will have success moving the football against Boston College which defensively leaves a lot to be desired. BC has allowed 30+ points in their three games against better competition and better offensive football teams when facing Wake Forest, Purdue and Temple while allowing close to 400 total yards per game on average.
On the other side of the equation, the Boston College offense will be a great test for NC State’s defense which to me is a bit down from where they were last season particularly along the defensive line. There is concern that Eagles RB AJ Dillon may miss this game due to an ankle injury he suffered last week against Temple but Ben Glines came in for Dillon and ran for 120 yards and looked impressive doing so. As a result, his potential absence from this game may not hamper the BC rushing attack as much as some may fear.
QB Anthony Brown needs to improve and get more consistent throwing the football and he might be able to make some plays against the NC State whose defense has been worse at defending the pass than the run. OVER
Tulane at Cincinnati (-7.5): It hasn’t been the best start to the season for the Green Wave but there might be a “buy sign” on this team after an impressive home win 40-24 against the Memphis Tigers to give Willie Fritz’s team their second win of the season.
Tulane’s triple option attack was lethal and QB Jonathan Banks played better than he has in other games. The Wave rolled toward 496 total yards in last week’s win and will be a good test for Cincinnati, which has gotten off to a fine start at 5-0 SU, 4-1 ATS with an offense that has been exceptional and very well balanced between the run and the pass under freshman QB Desmond Ridder who has unseated incumbent starter Hayden Moore at that position for the Bearcats.
The one fly in the ointment is the quality of competition hasn’t been spectacular. They’ve beaten UConn, Miami (OH), Alabama A&M and a UCLA squad that was playing their first game under a new head coach and totally different system. The one loss came to the Ohio Bobcats in a game they were favored by a TD at home. Tulane has been a good underdog play and I see them being a live dog here. TULANE
Indiana at Ohio State (-26): The Buckeyes enter this Big Ten home game against the Hoosiers on the heels of a grueling and physical battle against Penn State in a true statement game last weekend in Happy Valley. Ohio State rallied from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to come from behind, 27-26.
If there was ever a spot possible for a hangover after such a massive win, it would be here for Ohio State. Indiana has proven to be feisty and no pushover for Ohio State in recent seasons. The Hoosiers are 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings against the Buckeyes and five of those games were decided by three TD’s or less. Indiana is 4-1 SU this season and the lone defeat was a 35-21 home loss to Michigan State. But the Hoosiers were competitive in that game and were only outgained by 49 yards by the Spartans.
Indiana QB Peyton Ramsey has a terrific 71 percent completion rate and has thrown eight TD passes in five games for the Hoosiers and the backdoor could be open here even if Indiana falls behind as the Ohio State defense was on the field for 76 snaps last week against the fast-paced, uptempo Penn State offense and there could be some after-effects of that showing in this game. INDIANA
Last week: 2-1-1
Season: 7-4-1