It’s starting to get busy for online betting players on the college football front, as teams are jockeying for position in their conferences, as well as the BCS. Here are five games to keep an eye on this weekend (point spread in brackets).
No.3. Texas (-9) at No.14 Oklahoma State (Saturday, 8:00 PM ET)
The Longhorns have won 11 straight over the Cowboys, who have been brilliant since losing All-American receiver Dez Bryant to an NCAA suspension. Texas thrashed Missouri on the road, while Oklahoma State did the same at Baylor. The Cowboys’ high-powered offense could use Bryant back for this game, as the Longhorns are second in the nation in defense.
No.5 USC(-3.5) at No.10 Oregon (Saturday, 8:00 PM ET)
These two Pac-10 rivals have split their last 10 meetings, although USC has won four of the last five. The Ducks will be looking to go at USC’s defense, which has looked leaky in the last two weeks, but their improved defense will face a big task trying to contain the Trojans’ offense, led by frosh pivot Matt Barkey.
No.22 South Carolina at Tennessee (-6) (Saturday, 7:45 PM ET)
The Gamecocks usually falter down the stretch, and Tennessee may be where the 2009 edition starts. The Vols, under defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin (coach of Tennessee head man Lane Kiffin), have become one of the top defenses in the country, and if they get a half-decent day from quarterback Jonathan Crompton like they did last week against Alabama, the Vols can play with anyone in the country.
Georgia vs No.1 Florida (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
“The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” doesn’t hold the same allure as the last two have, but it’s always a good time when Florida and Georgia get together. The Gators’ top-ranked defense may have four of their starters back against the Bulldogs, who have dropped two of their last three.
No.21 West Virginia at South Florida (Friday, 8:00 PM ET)
The Mountaineers are quietly in the Big East hunt, and they don’t do one thing great, but they do everything very well. They’re heading to face South Florida, who was a preseason favourite in the Big East before losing quarterback Matt Grothe to a knee injury The Bulls have lost two in a row, but this is also the team that won at Florida State (if that even means anything anymore).