College Football Game Lines – Crimson Tide To Take On Duke

Even without the defending Heisman trophy winning running back Mark Ingram in the lineup, the Alabama Crimson Tide have continued their domination of the NCAAF betting with a couple of big wins the opening two weeks of the season.

The defending national champions will get their top rusher back this weekend, and although it is unlikely that head coach Nick Saban will give him extended playing time in his return from arthroscopic surgery, since Alabama hasn’t missed a step without him so far.

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Alabama Crimson Tide @ Duke Blue Devils

Saturday September 18, 2010 – 3:30 PM ET

Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, North Carolina

Broadcast: ABC

Odds: Alabama -23.5

Total: 59

College Football Game Lines: What Alabama Will Have To Do To Win

The Crimson Tide have won 26 straight games dating back to two years ago, and are a legitimate favorite to extend that streak through the rest of this season and back to the national title game.

Sophomore running back Trent Richardson has rushed for 210 yards and three touchdowns in two wins this year, helping pace an offense that has been even more dominant this season in the passing game than they were a year ago.

Quarterback Greg McElroy is now a senior, and his 191.12 rating through two dominating performances is an indication that he has arrived. Alabama will play consecutive road games at Duke and then at number-12 Arkansas before returning home to face off with the number-10 Florida Gators.

If they can continue the momentum that has been building the last couple of season to a big win over the Blue Devls, it could potentially carry them through three straight games against teams ranked in the top-13.

College Football Game Lines: What Duke Will Have To Do To Win

The Blue Devils have split their first two games of the season, beating Elon Phoenix in a game they were expected to dominate before coming back down to earth on a trip to Wake Forest. Duke is ranked sixth in the country in passing yards, and can put up numbers through the air, but will face a much tougher test when they take on one of the best defenses in the country.

It is unreasonable to think that the Blue Devils will be able to pull off an upset, but if they can raise their level of play they could keep the score respectable.

College Football Game Lines: Outlook & Pick

The Crimson Tide is rising, and there is no reason to think that Alabama will be stopped any time soon. The nation’s number-one ranked team is way above the rest of its competition, and will only get better with Ingram returning this week.

Duke played well in a close loss to Wake Forest, but this is an entirely different monster, and it will be hard for the Blue Devils to cover the spread despite the ridiculously high number the bookmakers have given this game.

College Football Game Lines Pick: Alabama -23.5

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