LSU vs. Alabama Headline Week 10 College Football

LSU vs. Alabama Headline Week 10 College Football

It’s only happened 45 times in the history of NCAA Division I football, but the No. 1 and 2 teams in the nation will meet for the 46th time during the regular season when the No.1 LSU Tigers and No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide meet in what is undoubtedly the biggest matchup to date on the 2011 NCAAF regular season schedule.

In addition to this matchup between top-ranked teams, BetOnline collegiate gridiron gamblers will also get another pair of free picks featuring at least two more nationally-ranked BCS title contenders in this weekend’s games, so let’s get the ball rolling.

No. 1 LSU at No. 2 Alabama
Saturday, Nov. 5, 8:00 PM ET
TV: CBS

NCAAF Odds
Alabama Crimson Tide -4.5

Analysis: The LSU Tigers (8-0 SU, 6-2 ATS) pounded the Auburn Tigers unmercifully in its emphatic 45-10 win over Auburn as a 21-point favorite while the Alabama Crimson Tide (8-0 SU, 7-1 ATS) cruised to victory in its 37-6 win over Tennessee as a whopping 30–point favorite.

Now, both powerful teams will look to remain unbeaten when they meet in the biggest college football game of the 2011 regular season, but only one team is going to walk away victorious and I know which one. While Alabama has cashed in for gridiron gamblers in five consecutive games, LSU has struck pay dirt three straight times and they’re my pick to do so again, by recording the outright road win in this contest.

The Crimson Tide are allowing just 44.9 rushing yards per contest this season – not to mention an unheard of 6.9 points per game defensively, but I still don’t like them to get the win in this contest, mostly because I believe Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron is going to throw at least two interceptions in this contest. Not only that, but Alabama hasn’t met a team this season that could match its powerful rushing attack, but they will in this contest.

LSU averages 191.9 yards per game and clearly have the superior set of skill position players, particularly in the defensive backfield. I like LSU’s pro offense and I think quarterback Jarrett Lee will make enough solid throws to keep Alabama’s ferocious defense off balance.

The Road team in this series has gone 11-3-1 ATS in the L/15 meetings while LSU has gone 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven road games against the Crimson Tide and I believe they are going to cash in against the spread by picking up the close SU road win in this highly-anticipated matchup.

This game has ‘classic field goal contest’ written all over it, making the LSU Tigers more of a lock than anything else.

NCAAF Pick: LSU Tigers +5 Points

Texas Tech at No. 21 Texas
Saturday, Nov. 5, 12:00 PM ET
TV: FX

NCAAF Odds
Texas Longhorns -12

Analysis: If each team’s last games are any indication then the 21st-ranked Texas Longhorns (5-2 SU, 4-3 ATS) don’t look like they’re going to have many problems when they host in-state rival Texas Tech (5-3 SU, 5-3 ATS) in their annual showdown this Saturday.

Texas Tech was crushed in its 41-7 Week 8 loss to Iowa State as a 15-point home favorite while Texas laid a huge, 43-0 smackdown on mediocre Kansas to cash in against the spread as a whopping 28-point home favorite. The Longhorns have won two straight and seven of the last eight meetings overall against Texas Tech and I see no reason why they won’t win this one as well.

Nevertheless, I am still going to urge BetOnline collegiate gridiron gamblers to back the Texas Tech Red Raiders as a two-touchdown underdog.

Texas Tech is 9-3-1 ATS in its L/13 games after scoring less than 20 points in its previous contest and Texas is just 2-7 ATS in its L/9 games against conference opponents. Back the Red Raiders to cash in by keeping it close until the very end.

NCAAF Pick: Texas Tech +14 Points

Purdue at No. 20 Wisconsin
Saturday, Nov. 5, 12:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN2

NCAAF Odds
Wisconsin Badgers -25.5

Analysis: The Purdue Boilermakers (4-4 SU, 4-4 ATS) and Wisconsin Badgers (6-2 SU, 5-2-1 ATS) will both be looking to get back in the win column after falling in their respective Week 9 NCAAF matchups.

Purdue is coming off a dismal 36-14 road loss to Michigan while failing to cash in against the spread as a 14-point road dog to snap its three-game ATS winning streak. Wisconsin has lost two straight, including its heartbreaking 33-29 loss to Ohio State as a 7.5-point road favorite to nearly fall out of the national rankings.

The Badgers have won five consecutive games over the Boilermakers and should make it six in a row by winning this contest at home. However, when it comes to covering the NCAAF betting line as a 25.5-point home favorite, I just can’t back the Badgers after they’ve dropped the ball in a big way the last two weeks.

Purdue is 8-3 ATS in their L/11 games as a road underdog of 10.5 points or more and 5-2 ATS in their last seven conference games. The Badgers have posted some stellar ATS trends of their own coming into this contest, but I still like the Boilermakers to cash in with the road team in this series going 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight meetings!

NCAAF Pick: Purdue Boilermakers +25.5 Points