Red Sheet
Penn State 41 - ILLINOIS 13 - (12:00 EDT) -- Line opened at Penn State minus 16, and is now minus 14½. A year ago, we were all over the Illini & their super defense, which finished the '22 season as the 3rd best stop unit
in the nation, holding ten opponents to 20 pts, or less, with a spot in the ReliaQuest Bowl, with just one
of their five setbacks coming by more than a TD (late in bowl). They are just 4 pts from an 11-4 ATS
run. But this year's defense is a mirror of LY's edition, with last week's loss to Kansas a perfect
example, allowing the Jayhawks 262 RYs & 539 TYs. The 7th-ranked Lions are a study in efficiency, with current 7-0-1 ATS run (+103 pts). A bit of Nittany payback for LY's overtime setback.
RATING: PENN STATE 89
Kansas State 38 - MISSOURI 20 - (12:00) -- Line opened at Kansas State minus 5½, and is now minus 5. As we have written numerous times, the Wildcats are always ready, or at least it seems that way, having suffered through just one ATS losing campaign over the last 15 years. A week ago, they took on a Troy team
which feasted in the dog role, and promptly issued a 42-13 drubbing that goes along with a 375-76 RY
edge in the early going, with QB Howard an efficient 5/2 in the early going. The Tigers are annually figured as an upcoming force, but have had only 2 winning seasons over the last 8 years, & are in off
a 17-pt ATS loss in narrow SU escape vs Middle Tennessee. Lay the reasonable 5 pts in this game.
RATING: KANSAS STATE 89
Kansas 56 - NEVADA 17 - (10:30) -- Line opened at Kansas minus 28, and is still minus 28. Seems an impossibility that the Jayhawks can be listed as a 4-TD chalk over any other major foe. After all, they've been the
ultimate whipping boys over the last decade posting such straightup records as 3-9, 3-9, 0-12, 2-10,
1-11, 3-9, 3-9, 0-9, & 2-10, before things began to drastically change with LY's 6-7 log which did not wind up in winning fashion (0-4 SU & ATS). However, any thoughts of a "one year wonder" has been quashed with 2-0 start that includes last week's 14½ cover over Illinois. Nevada is faltering badly, with
a 99-20 pt deficit thus far (33-6 loss to Idaho LW, with a 463-266 yd deficit). Can't buck logic here.
RATING: KANSAS 88
MISSISSIPPI 34 - Georgia Tech 31 - (7:30) -- Line opened at Mississippi minus 14, and is now minus 20. Sure the Yellow Jackets have had many a preseason loaded with anticipation of a winning campaign, with the
vast majority falling short, only 2 winning seasons over the previous 8 years. They've scrapped the
triple option, that at least provided overland excitement at times. A year ago, however, things may have
changed, when Brent Key took over as head coach for the final 8 games, posting a non losing 4-4
record, including road wins over Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, & North Carolina, as 21½, 4, & 21 pt
underdogs. Visitor has covered 11-of-14 OleMiss games, & Rebels have Alabama up next week.
RATING: GEORGIA TECH 88
COLORADO 55 - Colorado State 22 - (10:00) -- Line opened at Colorado minus 23, and is now minus 23½. Oh, what a story this has been, with many a so-called "expert" bucking the possibility of Deion actually pulling it
off, namely taking a downtrodden team, & turning it into a power, with the infusion of a ton of lesser
light talent. But the scoffs have certainly been proven wrong. Buffs, off a 1-11 SU, 2-10 ATS and now
stand at #18 in the nation, with 24 & 19 pt covers, led by a brilliant debut by Sanders (the younger): 903 PYs & 6/0. Any weakness has to be an overland game, which has produced only 55 & 58 yds thus far. However, the Rams ("O" pts in 12-of-13 games) simply do not figure to stay with them..
RATING: COLORADO 88
NEW YORK GIANTS 30 - Arizona 15 - (4:05) -- Line opened at NY Giants minus 4½, and is now minus 5½. Quite a shutout the Giants pitched in last week's total embarrassment hosting Cowboy, with the final score of
40-0 just about what NY deserved, the chant of "it could have been even worse" hardly applies. Not
quite what was expected. On the other side, the Cards again came so close to ending their 8-game
slide, altho new HC Gannon is in decent company, as noted in Pointwise. The 13th straight coach to
lose, or tie in his Cardinal head coaching debut. A remarkable stat, to be sure. Giants need the proper
tonic to regain their step, off LW's outcome, with the Cards providing such an elixer. Back on track.
RATING: NEW YORK GIANTS 88
NEAR CHOICES (Rated 87): Duke, Florida St, Texas A&M, Notre Dame
NFL: KC, NY Jets, Pittsburgh