Are we having fun yet or what?
This college football campaign is really starting to heat up. This is the time of year when we see the polls changing significantly. Only three of the Top-20 teams retained the same ranking they did a week ago, in No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Georgia, and No. 5 LSU. Eleven teams moved up or down the polls by one notch, and some as many as three or four spots, with Stanford making the biggest slide, dropping seven spots, down to No. 14. With a huge conference rivalry week happening, you can expect more teams to move by next week.
Here are this week’s Best Bets (lines are as of print and can change. If a line is around a Hot Number or moves against us, be smart):
Colorado -2.5 over Arizona State: You’ve got to love a line of -2.5 with Colorado here, as the Buffaloes are off to their first 4-0 start in 20 years. This is a very well-balanced team on both sides of the ball. Don’t put too much stock in an Arizona State offense that posted 52 points on a defenseless, Oregon State squad last week. The home team is 5-0 ATS the last five meetings in this series. COLORADO
California -1 over Arizona: Some bad luck last week vs. Oregon prevented Cal from a 4-0 start. The Wildcats’ 108th-ranked rush defense is going to get steamrolled by the backfield tandem of McIlwain and Laird (491 yards and four TDs combined). California is 5-0 ATS the last five meetings in this series and 5-2 ATS the last seven conference games. Arizona is 1-4 ATS the last five games vs. teams with a winning record and 2-6 ATS their last eight games overall. CAL
UNLV -9.5 over New Mexico: How about the Rebels, who are 2-0 at Sam Boyd Stadium and are outscoring visitors by 28.5 PPG. The New Mexico defense allowed Liberty to light them up for 43 points last week. Offensively, the Lobos have to go with backups at the helm as their starting QB, Tuioti is shelved for the season. UNLV is 6-2 ATS the last eight vs. New Mexico and 4-1 ATS the last five following a bye week. UNLV
Northwestern +11.5 over Michigan State: Northwestern will bounce back here with a vengeance, after a heartbreaking, 20-17 loss and cover to Michigan last week, as a 15.5-point ‘dog. This is way too many points to give a Wildcats team that is 7-3 ATS the last 10 games played following a loss and 7-0 ATS the last seven games played at Spartan Stadium. MSU can not stop the pass (115th). NORTHWESTERN
Texas +7.5 over Oklahoma: It’s all about the line! And I like getting +7.5 with Texas here. The Longhorns are 5-0 ATS the last five meetings with the Sooners. As a matter of fact, the last four matchups in this series were all separated by seven points or less. Oklahoma can score points on just about anyone but their defense leaves a lot to be desired, especially against the pass (97th). A mature Sam Ehlinger (64.7 percent completion rate, 1,185 yards, 9 TDs, 2 INTs) has played mistake-free the last four outings, all wins. TEXAS
Wisconsin -20 over Nebraska: This game has the makings of a massacre. Nebraska hasn’t won a game since October of last year, riding a 1-7 ATS run. Wisconsin possesses a stifling defense and one of the best rushing units in college football. The combination is going to prove to be fatal for Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are 2-5 ATS the last seven vs. the Badgers, 1-5 ATS the last six conference games, and 5-15-1 ATS the last 21 overall games. The Badgers are 7-3 ATS the last 10 games played in October, 5-1 ATS the last six conference games, and 13-3 ATS the last 16 games played following a bye week. WISCONSIN
Hawaii -3.5 over Wyoming: Not much has changed this season for the Wyoming offense. They rank 123rd, averaging just 18.4 PPG. The big difference is on defense, where they had the No. 9 stop-unit a season ago. But now, they rank 81st, yielding 27.2 PPG. The Rainbow Warriors enter this game with a 5-1 record, including 3-0 at home, where they outscore guests by 17.7 PPG. Cole McDonald ( 2,100 yards, 24 TDs ) leads the No. 6 passing unit in the nation. HAWAII
Last week: 3-3
Season: 13-12