NCAA Football Betting – BCS National Championship Game Could Set Records For Offense

Given the offensive talents on both teams, it would be no surprise to see the No. 1 Auburn Tigers and No. 2 Oregon Ducks set the record for most points in a national title game in this year’s Tostitos’ BCS National Championship game. These teams combined to average 90 points per game during the regular season, and with a handful of superstars on both sides of the ball, it should make for an exciting contest.

Tostitos’ BCS National Championship Game

Oregon Ducks vs. Auburn Tigers

Monday January 10, 2011 – 8:30 PM ET

Online Sports Betting Odds: Auburn - 3

While the Tigers boast Heisman trophy-winner and quarterback Cam Newton and running back Michael Dyer, the Ducks will answer with an impressive tandem of their own in Heisman trophy runner-up and running back LaMichael James and quarterback Darron Thomas. While the Tigers’ offense is predicated on strength and toughness, the Ducks is on speed and finesse, setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown.

NCAA Football Betting Preview: Oregon

Thomas and James will get plenty of opportunities to show their value against a Tigers’ defense that has looked tentative several times this season. James rushed for 1,682 yards and 28 touchdowns during the college football betting year, while Thomas provided the perfect compliment as a signal-caller that can make big plays with both his arm and legs. Thomas threw for 28 touchdowns, while rushing for five more, and will need to use his speed and ability to make plays outside of the pocket to exploit a much slower Tigers’ defense. The Ducks showed improvement defensively as the season wore on, but three games in which they allowed 500 yards have left them looking vulnerable.

NCAA Football Betting Preview: Auburn

The same can be said about an Auburn defense that allowed 28 points per betting services game over the final eight weeks, and finished in the bottom-half of the SEC in total defense. Newton more than made up for the team’s deficiencies on the other side of the ball with an outstanding season, throwing for 2,589 yards while rushing for another 1,409 and combining for 48 touchdowns. Dyer provided the perfect compliment to Newton’s playmaking abilities with excellent straight-line speed and toughness, and averaged 5.9 yards per carry. Those two will be relied on heavily to keep up with the Oregon offense, particularly due to the inconsistencies that the team has experienced defensively.

The Match Up: Oregon vs. Auburn

The Tigers and Ducks will exchange several blows and big plays throughout the course of what should be an exciting football betting game, and it may come down to which offense can put up more points in the end. Oregon flexed their muscle against the PAC-10, but will be battling a different type of beast in Auburn. How both sides adapt defensively to taking on offenses they are not used to will go a long way in determining which team comes out on top, and it’s hard to bet against the biggest superstar in the game in what should be an explosive battle.

BSN Sports Pick: Auburn - 3

NFL Odds Preview for January 2, 2010: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens (-10)

Online Sports Bet Preview:

NFL betting in the AFC North is getting interesting. The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers sit on top of the division each with an 11-4 record. They are finishing the season against the bottom two teams in the division, but neither game is a gimme by any stretch of the imagination.

The Ravens have the Cincinnati Bengals coming to town for the final game of the season, and the Bengals just knocked the San Diego Chargers out of the playoffs with a week 16 win. The sportsbook promo experts were not expecting the Chargers to lose that game considering the fact that their entire playoff hopes were riding on a win. But Cincinnati beat one of the best offensive and defensive teams in the league 34-20, and that should concern the Baltimore Ravens.

Offense:

The Ravens put together a potent offense in the off-season with the acquisition of wide receivers Donte Stallworth and Anquan Boldin. But the offense experienced a slow start due to some problems with quarterback Joe Flacco. Flacco came into the first few games of this season indecisive and, when he did make a decision, it was not a good one. But, as the season wore on, Flacco has developed confidence in his abilities and has teamed up with running back Ray Rice to create a very potent offense.

The Bengals were losing to the Chargers until a 21-point fourth quarter explosion sealed the game. The explosion came from the Cincinnati passing game. Quarterback Carson Palmer threw four touchdown passes in the game, with two of them going to receiver Jerome Simpson. The Bengals were playing without their top receiver Terrell Owens, but they still managed to put up an offensive display to win the game.

Defense:

The confidence of the Cincinnati offense could be a problem for the Baltimore defense. The front seven of Baltimore is capable of keeping Carson Palmer in check, but the young and inconsistent secondary is prone to giving up points especially towards the end of a game. Ray Lewis and the linebackers will shut down the Bengals running game, but it could be Carson Palmer and the passing game that gives the Bengals problems.

The Bengals completely shut down the Chargers extremely potent running attack, and the Chargers feature two first-string running backs in Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles. The Ravens have Ray Rice and occasionally turn to Willis McGahee, but the lack of dimension to the Ravens running game may give the Bengals a chance to focus on Flacco and the passing game.

The Bottom Line:

The Cincinnati Bengals saw what it was like to have Terrell Owens on offense this season, and now they have seen what it is like to not have him. Owens will probably be looking for a new team again this off-season. and the Bengals will roll into this game with some confidence. But they will need more than confidence to beat a Ravens team that is fighting for the second best record in the AFC.

BSN Sports free pick: Baltimore Ravens

College Football Betting – Buckeyes, Razorbacks Go After Sugar Bowl

College football betting players have watched Ohio State go 0-9 against the SEC in bowl games, and the Buckeyes will get a chance to break that duck when they head into the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans to take on Arkansas, who are making their first BCS appearance.

Sugar Bowl Betting – Tuesday, January 4th, 8:30 PM ET

The No.6 Buckeyes (11-1) shared the Big Ten title with Michigan State and Wisconsin, and their lone blip was a loss in Madison to the Badgers, but they didn’t play the Spartans. Terrelle Pryor leads the No.20 offense in the country, but running back Dan Herron is a big part of that as well and allows the Buckeyes to use some play-action passes. As usual, the defense is the power of the team as the Buckeyes are second in the country on that side of the ball, and they’re deep and experienced in the secondary. The front seven has been bolstered by a healthy Ross Homan, and you can’t forget about end Cameron Heyward, a future NFL pick.

The No.8 Razorbacks (10-2) lost only at home to Alabama and at Auburn, and their six-game winning streak to end the SEC season included three wins over ranked teams, and two of those were on the road. Pivot Ryan Mallett sparks the No.3 aerial attack in the country, and he’ll have some insight on Ohio State after playing for their bitter rival, Michigan. Don’t sleep on Knile Davis, who ran for almost 1,200 yards. The defense is 33rd in the country, and outside of allowing 65 at Auburn, the Razorbacks didn’t give up more than 24 points in regulation (they gave up 31 against Mississippi State in double overtime). No one had Arkansas here before the season started, but they should get some sportsbook promo now.

The Buckeyes are a 3.5-point betting favorite in the Sugar Bowl, even with their record against the SEC and their recent BCS woes. Ohio State had lost three BCS games in a row before last year’s Rose Bowl win over Oregon, and two of those were romps at the hand of the SEC in title games. The Razorbacks shouldn’t be worried about the big stage after their season in the SEC, but their talented receiving core has their hands full against a very good Ohio State secondary. If a line that has been suspect at times this season can’t give Mallet time, Arkansas is going to be in trouble because the OSU secondary will be all over the wideouts, meaning there will be no quick throws. We’re giving a slight edge to the Buckeyes because of their conservative, mistake-free offense and a rock-solid defense.

Gambling Advisor free pick: Ohio State -3.5

NFL Betting Preview for December 26, 2010: Washington Redskins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (-6.5)

Betting Overview:

Washington head coach Mike Shanahan has been able to make winning teams out of average players, and post Super Bowl winning NFL scores with Hall of Fame caliber players. The man knows how to utilize talent and get the most from his team. Maybe that is why the NFL betting world is shocked to see the chaos being created by Shanahan in Washington. The problems with defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth were avoidable with some face-to-face talking before the season started, but the problems that Shanahan created with starting quarterback Donavan McNabb are just baffling.

The preseason NFL predictions surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars certainly did not include the Jags competing for the AFC South title in week 15 of the regular season. But last week’s loss to the Colts may have been the end of a season that saw the Jaguars take a center stage no one expected them to take. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew has become the focus of an offense that still does not have an identity, but yet can put a lot of points on the board.

Offense:

The Jacksonville offense was able to go toe-to-toe with a relatively healthy Indianapolis Colts defense in what become a week 15 shoot out for first place in the AFC South. But the Jags running game could just not get going against that Colts defensive front, and Maurice Jones-Drew wound up with on 46 yards rushing and no touchdowns. Quarterback David Garrard showed that he can get the ball down the field when he needs to, but eventually he ran out of ideas and the Colts defense won the day.

The Redskins gave the starting quarterback job to Rex Grossman in what head coach Mike Shanahan calls an “evaluation period.” That basically says to the fans that the Redskins have thrown in the towel on the season, officially, and the fans can expect to see a lot of replacement players in the game for evaluation purposes. That bodes really well for a Jacksonville defense that is looking for a reason to get better. For example, when the Redskins were near the goal line late in their week 15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Shanahan did not have starting running back Ryan Torain in the game. The goal line, with the game on the line in the regular season, seemed like a good time for Shanahan to evaluate talent.

Defense:

Defensively the Washington Redskins are a mess as well. The Washington coaching staff is trying to hammer a 3-4 defense into a roster that is not made up of players that can play that kind of scheme. For some reason, Mike Shanahan is not willing to work with what he has. He seems more content to exert his power as the head coach and, rather than gradually moving towards the scheme he wants, he is trying to force players to play in ways they are not comfortable playing. With no Albert Haynesworth, Shanahan has no nose tackle for his defense, and that opens up the Redskins against the run.

The Jaguars defense is not much better than the Redskins, and they showed up when they gave up 34 points to the Indianapolis Colts in a game the Jaguars had to have. The worst part for the Jacksonville defense is that they were beat by the run and the pass.

The Bottom Line:

If Mike Shanahan is going to continue to evaluate talent, then the Jaguars will take this game easily. If Shanahan uses the players he has to try and win this game, then it will be a very close game.

BSN Sports Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars

College Football Betting – TCU Get To See What They’re Made Of Against Wisconsin

NCAA football betting players have listened all season to the great debate: do non-AQ (automatic qualifiers) teams belong in the same category as AQ teams? This year, we get a matchup that will be a huge statement in that debate as Wisconsin will go against TCU in the “Granddaddy of Them All”, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The Horned Frogs were left out of the national-title party, and this is their chance to step up for non-AQ teams everywhere (before they head off to the Big East).

Wisconsin TCU Betting – January 1st, 5:00 PM ET

The No.5 Badgers (11-1) fell just once, on October 2nd by 10 points at Michigan State, and that led them back to Pasadena for the first time since 2000. The Badgers offense was out of control down the stretch, averaging 67 points over their last three games, and they’re doing it on the strength of the No.12 rushing attack in the nation. The star of the show, John Clay, has missed the last few games and will likely be back for the Rose Bowl. UFC betting players may think they’re getting ready to watch a battle in the octagon, because the Badgers aren’t fancy, they step up and punch you in the mouth.

Only twice did the No.3 Horned Frogs (12-0) fail to beat an opponent by double digits, and only four opponents managed to reach double digits against TCU, who could end up with their fifth No.1 ranking in total defense in the last 10 years. But the offense caught up to the defense, coming in ninth in total offense and fourth in points scored. In fact, the Badgers and Horned Frogs are tied for fourth in the nation in points scored.

Your pay per head sportsbook has the Horned Frogs favored by a field goal in this massive game, and these two programs have never met. Wisconsin is 3-3 in their all-time Rose Bowl record, while TCU is looking to bounce back from a loss to Boise State in last year’s Fiesta Bowl, their debut appearance in a BCS bowl. This game will be won and lost at the line of scrimmage, as Wisconsin looks to impose its will, and their power running game, while the Horned Frogs have to protect Andy Dalton and their aerial attack. We’re going to take Wisconsin because of their running game, but it’s not going to be a blowout; in fact, it’ll likely be decided by a field goal in what could be the most exciting game of the bowl season. It won’t be a high-scoring affair, so take the under on the posted total of 58.5.

BSN Sports pick: Wisconsin +3

NFL Odds Preview for December 16, 2010: San Francisco 49ers vs. San Diego Chargers (-9)

Betting Overview:

When San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York proclaimed that his then 0-3 San Francisco 49ers would not only make the playoffs but they would also win the division, it was considered one of the most ludicrous NFL predictions of the season. But as the NFL scores kept rolling in, the 49ers find themselves at 5-8 and only one game out of first place in an extremely weak NFC West. After pounding the Seattle Seahawks 40-21 in week 14, the 49ers turn their attention to the San Diego Chargers.

The San Diego Chargers used to be good money for NFL betting in December. No matter how the Chargers had done earlier in the season, they always seemed to sweep December and make the playoffs. This December has been a bit different. The Chargers lost a key week 13 game to the Oakland Raiders that put San Diego two games back of first place Kansas City in the AFC West. But the Chargers beat Kansas City in week 14, and are riding a wave of momentum into this game against the 49ers.

Offense:

The San Diego Chargers have watched their offensive production fall off in December. The Chargers are now ranked second in the league in offense averaging a total of 400 yards per game. But do not let a fall in the rankings fool you. The Chargers still have a potent running game headed by a healthy rookie running back Ryan Mathews, and the passing game still features an extremely accurate quarterback in Philip Rivers.

The San Francisco 49ers just cannot seem to make up their minds. For some reason, quarterback Troy Smith was benched for the already-once-benched Alex Smith two games ago. When Troy Smith was playing, he was creating a buzz in the league. But the 49ers have shown that they desperately want Alex Smith to be the starting quarterback and it looks like they made the right choice so far. Running back Frank Gore cannot get blocking from the offensive line, and there is no underneath passing game that features tight end Vernon Davis. The problems with the San Francisco offense seem to be coaching rather than the players.

Defense:

The San Diego Chargers still have the number one ranked defense in the league. It is a fast defense that puts pressure on the quarterback and stuffs the run at the line of scrimmage. The defensive backfield is extremely fast and getting smarter every week. The 49ers defense is the very kind of defense that the San Francisco 49ers cannot play well against.

The 49ers have the 11th ranked defense in the league allowing an average of 327 yards per game. But that was established against teams like the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers won’t have any answers for an offense like the one the Chargers bring to the table.

The Bottom Line:

The sad thing about the NFC West is that the 49ers could lose this game and still be in the hunt for the divisional crown. When you spend all season playing weak teams like the ones in the NFC West, you are in no condition to take on the San Diego Chargers.

BSN Sports Pick: San Diego Chargers

NFL Betting Preview for December 19, 2010: Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers (-2.5)

Betting Overview:

These games between NFL teams trying to figure out who will be on the roster next season are usually very interesting. The NFL predictions for the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers were not optimistic in the preseason, and the regular season NFL scores have shown both teams to be living down to expectations. This will be a difficult game for NFL betting enthusiasts because you really never know which Arizona Cardinals team will show up. It could be the Cardinals team that has put together a 4-9 record this season, or it could be the Cardinals team that laid a 43-13 beating on the Denver Broncos in week 14.

The Carolina Panthers should be on the hunt for a new head coach after this season is over. Current head coach John Fox did not have the personnel to win this season, but he made some extremely bad moves in an attempt to win. Rather than develop a young team into something that Carolina fans could be excited about, Fox has dismantled his team and shattered the confidence of rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen. There will be a lot of pieces for a new coach to pick up in Carolina next season.

Offense:

The Cardinals are still searching for the answer at quarterback. Right now, the only in-house solution seems to be the young Max Hall. But he has been injured almost all season long and there is no chance of getting him any game play experience this season. Rookie John Skelton did an excellent job of managing the 43-13 win over the Broncos in week 14, but he did not have any major hand in determining the outcome of the game. It is expected that the Cardinals will release quarterback Derek Anderson at the end of the season and try their luck in the draft. Running back Tim Hightower had 148 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the week 14 win, and he looks to be as potent as ever.

The Carolina Panthers are clueless on offense. The offensive line cannot protect Clausen or block for the run. Head coach John Fox pulled Clausen from the lineup twice in favor of journeyman Matt Moore until Moore finally suffered a concussion. Wide receiver Steve Smith is wasting away in Carolina, and last year’s 1,000 yard rusher Jonathan Stewart will be lucky to get 800 rushing yards this season.

Defense:

On defense, the Cardinals cannot stop the run or the pass. But they have just enough firepower on defense to shut down a unit like the Carolina Panthers. The Cardinals are strongest against the pass, and they will limit Clausen’s ability to throw deep. The Cardinals linebackers will have to determine whether or not Jonathan Stewart has a big game on the ground.

The most frustrating thing for Carolina fans is that their 1-12 record includes stellar performances by the 12th ranked defense in the league. Carolina’s biggest defensive weakness is against the run where they are ranked 25th in the league. There is no passing game in Arizona to shut down, so the Panthers will be able to shift all of their defensive resources to stopping Tim Hightower.

The Bottom Line:

The Panthers are about as well-matched as they can get against the Cardinals. But it is hard to bet for the Panthers because they keep finding new ways to lose games. A team does not get the distinction of being the worst team in football without making critical mistakes at the worst possible times.

BSN Sports Pick: Arizona Cardinals

NCAA Football Betting – Non-BCS Bowl Outlook

NCAA football betting players shouldn’t just check out the BCS bowls, as there are a number of other matchups worth taking a look at. Here are the top five matchups outside of the BCS bowls.

Utah Boise State Betting – December 22nd, 8:00 PM ET

The No.10 Broncos are favored by 16.5 points in the Las Vegas Bowl, where they will face the No.19 Utes in a clash of top non-AQ teams. The Broncos and Utes both had disappointing seasons, especially Boise State, so this game should be exciting. This game could be won up front: Boise State is second in sacks, while Utah is fifth in sacks allowed. The Utes have won nine bowl games in a row, but they’ll be in tough against the Broncos, who have won all three meetings with Utah.

Hawaii Tulsa Betting – December 24th, 8:00 PM ET

The Warriors are 12-point favorites in what is a home game at the Hawaii Bowl, and they’ve made six appearances in this game since 2002. The Golden Hurricane have won two bowls in a row, and they’re in for a shootout this time. You may be in for a sports betting bonus if you bet on the posted total as both teams are ranked in the top 10 in scoring offense. These two met five times between 2000 and 2004, with Hawaii winning three.

Florida State South Carolina Betting – December 31st, 7:30 PM ET

The No.20 Gamecocks are 3-point favorites in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl against the No.23 Seminoles in this matchup of teams that lost in their conference title games. The Gamecocks have lost three of their last four bowl games, while FSU has won three of their last four heading into their first meeting against South Carolina. There is some history here: South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is 5-8 against FSU from his time at Florida.

Alabama Michigan State Betting – January 1st, 1:00 PM ET

Pay per head sportsbook odds have the No.16 Crimson Tide as an 11-point favorite in the Capital One Bowl against the No.9 Spartans, and both teams will be angry heading into this game. The defending national champs from Alabama lost a 24-point lead at home to rival Auburn in the “Iron Bowl”, while the Spartans feel slighted about being left out of the BCS bowl picture. These two have not met before, and both teams are ranked in the top 30 in terms of scoring offense and defense.

LSU Texas A&M Betting – January 7th, 8:00 PM ET

The No.11 Tigers are favored by a point in the Cotton Bowl, making their first appearance here since 2002. The No.17 Aggies will be out to end a four-bowl losing streak, and they’ve been blown out by SEC teams in two of them. These two have met once, in 1995, and LSU’s No.8 defense will try to slow down Texas A&M’s No.20-ranked offense, so those who bet will have a tough choice.

NFL Odds Preview for December 12, 2010: Cleveland Browns vs. Buffalo Bills (-1)

Betting Overview:

The Cleveland Browns looked like a much-improved football team almost from the beginning of the season. Quarterback Jake Delhomme looks more comfortable in the Cleveland offense than he did in Carolina, and running back Peyton Hillis is the break-out surprise of the 2010 season. The Browns have a shut-down kind of defense that has been effective at creating turnovers. With wins over the New England Patriots and defending champion New Orleans Saints under their belts, the Browns are also developing a strong sense of confidence.

The Buffalo Bills were showing major signs of improvement. Buffalo had taken some pretty good teams to overtime, and then beat the Cincinnati Bengals after the Bengals had taken a huge halftime lead. Then the Bills seemed to fall back to their old ways in week 13 against the Vikings. Turnovers, bad plays and really bad penalties cost the Bills dearly. That gun the Bills had used to shoot themselves in the foot had re-surfaced after being put away for so many weeks. If the Bills can learn to stop shooting themselves in the foot, they can put together some wins to finish the season.

Offense:

The Buffalo Bills were not part of anyone’s NFL predictions for the playoffs this season and rightfully so. The NFL scores that Bills had put up earlier in the season showed a team in complete disarray. But the NFL betting world has seen a different Buffalo Bills team in the past few weeks. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is a cool presence in that Buffalo offensive huddle, and wide receiver Stevie Johnson is a rising star regardless of what the Almighty thinks. The problem for the Bills is still a weak offensive line and bad penalties. If they can improve on those two aspects of their offense, then they may start moving into the realm of playoff contender.

The Cleveland Browns got a shot of confidence this summer when Mike Holgren became president of the team. But that confidence was shaken a little when Holgren brought in quarterbacks Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace. Rookie quarterback Colt McCoy barely made the team this season, and Browns fans were more than concerned. But Delhomme has proved to be consistent as the Browns quarterback, and McCoy showed signs of promise while he filled in for the injured Delhomme in the middle of the season. Add in running back sensation Peyton Hillis, and the Browns are on their way to the improvements they were so desperately looking for.

Defense:

The Bills defense is more inconsistent than bad. There have been games where the Bills defense has only allowed 17 points or less, and then there are games where the Buffalo team has allowed 35 points or more. This is not the same ball-hawking team we saw last season that put up a lot of interceptions. The Bills defense seems unsure of itself and unable to keep the team in tight games against good teams.

The Browns defense is a lot like the Bills defense was last season. The Cleveland defense looks for turnover opportunities, and they are able to put some pressure on the quarterback. But the Cleveland defense still needs help up front, and that may be where the Bills can exploit the Browns for some offensive yards.

The Bottom Line:

The Browns are headed in a good direction through planning and on purpose, the Bills seem to be headed in the right direction by accident. If the Bills really knew what they had in quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, then they would have started him at the beginning of the season instead of Trent Edwards. Planning breeds winning, and the Browns are learning how to plan from one of the best ever.

BSN Sports Pick: Cleveland Browns

NCAA Football Betting – Seminoles, Hokies Square Off For ACC Championship

NCAA football betting players may remember the 2005 ACC championship game, which was the first for the conference, and culminated in a 27-22 win for Florida State over Virginia Tech. The Seminoles have not been back since, while the Hokies are making their fourth appearance in the ACC title game as the two will clash in Charlotte on Saturday night.

Florida State vs. Virginia Tech Betting – Saturday, 7:45 PM ET

The No.21 Seminoles (9-3, 6-2) did their part last week, ending a six-year skid against rival Florida by pounding the Gators 31-7 at home, and then they got some help from Maryland, who beat North Carolina State to put Florida State in the ACC title game. Christian Ponder was 16-of-24 for 221 yards and three touchdowns in his last game at Bobby Bowden Field, and over the next few months, he’ll be looking to raise his stock when it comes to the top NFL picks. But the defense was the story on this day as they held the Gators to 276 yards, including 64 yards through the air, and they forced four turnovers along the way.

The No.15 Hokies (10-2, 8-0) won their 10th straight game in a 37-7 win over Virginia at home, and they did efficiently with 201 rushing yards. Tyrod Taylor was 13-of-23 for 176 yards and a touchdown for the Hokies, who were also strong on the other side of the ball by stopping the Cavaliers on 11 of 12 third-down attempts, and all three of their chances on fourth down. The Hokies have shown a lot of heart by coming back from two losses to start the season, and when people were writing them off, Virginia Tech stormed back to prove that they’re still the kings of the ACC as they go for their third conference crown in four years.

Online football betting odds have the Hokies as a 4-point favorite in this showdown, but the Seminoles have won four of their last five against Virginia Tech, including the win in the 2005 ACC title game. The Florida State defense has been much improved this season, but they’re going to have to contain Turner, who can hurt you with his arms as well as his legs. The Seminoles are second in the country in sacks, and they’ll be out to disrupt Taylor. As for the Hokies, they’re going to have to deal with the Florida State running game, and they’ve shown that they can have a problem stopping the run. If they can’t do that, then Ponder can use the play-action pass. This is going to be a close game, and while we think that the Hokies will win, we think Florida State can cover the sports betting spread.