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Here’s A Closer Look At The Sharp Trio Of College Football Expert Picks For Week 9
No. 25 Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh
When: Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 7:00 PM ETWhere: Heinz Field
TV: ESPN
Odds: Virginia Tech -3.5
Analysis:
The Virginia Tech Hokies (5-2 SU, 4-3 ATS) bounced back from their humbling Week 7 loss against lowly Syracuse to pound the hell out of Miami 37-16 on Saturday as athletic quarterback Jerod Evans threw two TD passes and ran for another. The Hokies also sacked Miami’s Brad Kaaya an insane eight times while improving to 4-1 SU and ATS over their last five games.
Still, it is the Pittsburgh Panthers that are my pick in this Week 9 ACC clash seeing as how the Panthers have won three straight and are well-rested after getting a bye this past weekend. Pittsburgh (5-2 SU, 2-5 ATS) got past Virginia 45-31 two weeks ago to move to 3-0 SU and ATS over their last three games, but that’s not why I like the Panthers in this contest. I’m going to urge you to back Pittsburgh because the Panthers are on fire offensively, having scored at least 36 points in each of their last six games and will have two of the best three players on the field in powerful running back James Conner and safety Jordan Whitehead.
Pittsburgh has won two straight in this series and three of four overall while going 5-0 ATS in their last five home dates against the Hokies.
Pick: Pittsburgh +3.5 Points
Cal at USC
When: Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 10:30 PM ETWhere: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
TV: ESPN
Odds: USC -14
Analysis:
The California Golden Bears (4-3 SU, 4-3 ATS) recorded one of the most exciting wins on the Week 8 schedule by outlasting Oregon 52-49 in two overtimes as Matt Anderson nailed a 28-yard field goal in the second OT and sophomore defensive back Jordan Kunaszyk finished off the Ducks with a game-ending interception.
“It’s crazy,” Kunaszyk said. “I just remember going into OT, I was like, `Man, another one of these games.’ Every one of our games is close. I wouldn’t want it any other way.” While the Bears got a huge win this past weekend and are my pick to cover the college football betting line as a two-touchdown, I will say that USC is the Moneyline pick as I fully expect the Trojans to get the outright home win.
USC (4-3 SU, 3-4 ATS) has won three in a row and looked really solid in their emphatic 48-14 win over Arizona two weeks ago, but California has the more explosive offense and I believe they’ll give the Trojans a hard way to go for the outright win. Cal is 4-2 ATS over their last six games and starting quarterback Davis Webb is far better than any signal-caller on the Trojans’ roster. Keep it simple. USC wins at home, but the ATS cover goes to Cal!
Pick: Cal +14 Points/USC Moneyline
No. 5 Louisville at Virginia
When: Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 12:00 PM ETWhere: Scott Stadium
TV: ABC, ESPN2
Odds: Louisville -28
Analysis:
The Louisville Cardinals (6-1 SU, 5-2 ATS) pounded the hell out of NC State on Saturday, winning 54-13 despite the fact that I picked the Wolfpack to play the Cardinals close until the very end. Heisman trophy front-runner Lamar Jackson continued his assault on the rest of college football by passing for 355 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 76 yards and another score.
The Virginia Cavaliers (2-5 SU, 4-3 ATS) got completely humbled in their 35-14 loss to North Carolina this past weekend and have absolutely no chance whatsoever of upsetting the explosive Cardinals. With Louisville outscoring Virginia by 26 points per game and allowing 10 fewer points per contest defensively, I say the Cardinals are the easy pick to win and cash in despite the fact that Virginia has gone 10-3 ATS in its last 13 games.
Louisville is 10-5 ATS in its last 15 road games and will cover the college football betting line in this matchup to improve on that mark as head coach Bobby Petrino runs up the score!
Pick: Louisville -28 Points
