AUBURN at MISSISSIPI STATE…Auburn has won 7 of last 8 and covered 6 of last 8 in series (although MSU has covered 2 of last 3). Tigers, however, 1-9 vs. line away from home past two seasons, as well as 0-4 vs. number as road chalk since ‘08. MSU 8-4 vs. line last 12 as Starkville dog, and Buldogs have covered 4 of last 5 vs. SEC teams at Scott Field. Tech edge-slight to MSU, based on team trends.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN at TEMPLE (moved to Thursday, September 9)...Al "Touch of" Golden a solid point-spread force lately, 8-4 LY, 16-8 since ‘08, 21-10 last 31 on board. Temple also 10-5 its last 15 as chalk. Under Brian Kelly and Butch Jones, CMU was 15-8 as dog since ‘05, 12-7 as road dog that span, and 40-18 overall vs. spread that 5-season span. Tech edge-slight to Temple, based on Al "Touch of" Golden factor.

WEST VIRGINIA at MARSHALL (Friday, September 10)...Doc home debut at Marshall. Herd hasn’t been closer than 17 against WVU the past four years, but finally covered one of those in ‘09 meetings. Herd also just 5-11 as DD dog since ‘05 (though 1-1 in role at home that span). Bill Stewart just 2-9 vs. line his last 11 as chalk, and just 3-6 past two years as road chalk. Tech edge-slight to Marshall, based on Stewart chalk woes.

UTEP at HOUSTON (Friday, September 10)...UTEP has covered the last three years in series and shocked UH by a 58-41 count LY at Sun Bowl. Mike Price also 7-4 as road dog since ‘07 and 6-2 his last 8 as DD road dog. Sumlin, however, has covered last 4 and 7 of last 8 as host, and Cougs covered all 3 tries as home chalk LY. Sumlin also 3-0 vs. line in revenge games. Tech edge-slight to UTEP, based on series trends.

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GEORGIA TECH at KANSAS...Turner Gill’s Buffalo teams were 17-9 vs. number their last 26 as dog, although just 3-3 their last 6 as home dog. KU really tanked LY for Mangino, dropping 8 of last 9 vs. number. Jayhawks also no covers last 4 as Lawrence dog for Mangino. Paul Johnson is 9-2 vs. line as visitor since taking over GT, and is 5-0 as visiting favorite since ‘08. Tech edge-GT, based on Paul Johnson numbers.

MEMPHIS at EAST CAROLINA...Porter vs. Ruffin McNeill! Total pointspread domination the past decade by ECU, which has covered 8 straight vs. Memphis. Tigers now 2-11 their last 13 on board after miss. Satte loss, and 1-7 vs. number their last 7 away from home. Tech edge-ECU, based on team trends.

GEORGIA at SOUTH CAROLINA...Road team 4-0-1 vs. line last 5 meetings. If Richt getting points note he is 9-3 as road dog since ‘05. Spurrier just 1-3 last 4 as SEC home chalk. Tech edge-Georgia, based on team and series road trends.

DUKE at WAKE FOREST...Ugh! Getting some early conference games this year. Road team is 6-1 vs. line last 7 meetings, including 3 straight Duke covers at Winston-Salem. Deacs’ home chalk numbers have improved lately (7-7 since ‘07) but going back to 2000, Wake just 10-20 as Groves Stadium chalk. Cutcliffe 7-4 as road dog since ‘08 and Blue Devils a surprising 14-7 vs. number their last 21 on road. Tech edge-Duke, based on team and series trends.

HAWAII at ARMY...Contrasting styles. And quite a long trip for UH, six time zones! Note that McMackin now 7-3 vs. line his last 10 on mainland. Ellerson only 1-4 vs. line at the Point LY, 0-2 as home chalk. Army just 7-16 vs. spread at Michie since ‘05. Note Hawaii beat Navy LY, though that one was in Honolulu. Tech edge-Hawaii, based on Army home woes.

SAN JOSE STATE at WISCONSIN...Who is scheduling for San Jose, anyway? Spartans just 1-16 vs. number last 17 on board (counting Fresno as loss LY), and no covers last 9 on road. Spartans 4-16 as DD road dog since ‘05, also just 1-6 last 7 getting more than 20 points. Bielema 4-2 laying 20 or more at Camp Randall since ‘06. Tech edge-Wisconsin, based on SJSU woes.

SOUTH FLORIDA at FLORIDA...After getting Florida State (and beating Florida State) LY, USF gets Florida TY. Skip Holtz gets to test the 23-9 dog mark he recorded the past five years at ECU. USF 5-1 itself as DD dog since ‘05. Urban Meyer 11-7 laying DDd at Swamp since ‘07, 14-7 vs. line last 21 as host since ‘07, and 28-13 overall vs. number since late ‘06. Meyer also had covered last 5 vs. non-SEC foes prior to Miami-O opener. Tech edge-slight to USF, based on team and Skip dog marks.

LSU at VANDERBILT...Tigers no covers last 5 as chalk away from Baton Rouge, and just 7-19 overall their last 26 as favorite. Tech edge-Vanderbilt, based on team trends.

IDAHO at NEBRASKA...Robb Akey 10-4 last 14 as dog but just 3-5 last 8 getting 20 or more. Idaho also covered all 6 non-WAC games LY. Bo Pelini 5-1 last 6 laying 20 or more, and 13-6 last 19 on board overall. Huskers have also covered their last 7 vs. non-Big XII opposition. Tech edge-Nebraska, based on team trends.

IOWA STATE at IOWA...Cyclones had covered 5 straight and 8 of last 9 in series prior to LY’s 35-3 loss at Ames. Still, ISU has covered six straight at Nile Kinnick Stadium. Ferentz only 2-4 as Iowa City chalk LY and 6-13 in role since ‘06. Paul Rhoads 5-1 vs. line away LY and 3-0 as DD dog on road. Tech edge-ISU, based on team and extended series trends.

COLORADO at CAL...Soon to be a Pac-10 game. Buffs were 3-2 as visiting dog LY though extended marks in role are not good (7-16 since ‘05). If Buffs getting DD here note 3-0 mark in role on road LY. Tedford’s recent spread marks distorted by 7-0 home chalk mark in ‘08, otherwise he has been so-so in recent seasons, such as LY’s 2-3 spread mark at home. Tedford just 8-15 laying DD since ‘05 (throw out ‘08 and mark is 4-13). Tech edge-slight to Colorado, based on team trends.

FLORIDA STATE at OKLAHOMA...These teams haven’t met since Stoops won the 2000 national title with 13-2 Orange Bowl upset. Not sure they had met since the ‘79-80 Orange Bowls before that. Noles have been a decent 13-7 as dog since ‘05, though just 6-6 the past 3 years. Stoops only 4-7 as chalk LY but was 10-2 in role in ‘08, and has covered 7 straight vs. non-conference foes in Norman. Tech edge-slight to OU, based on team trends.

MICHIGAN at NOTRE DAME...Underdog team has covered 5 of last 6 and 6 of last 8 in series. Irish entered 2010 just 9-21 their last 30 vs. number at South Bend, and 6-17 their last 23 as home chalk, but might have started to turn things in Purdiue opener. Rodriguez just 2-7 vs. line on road since ‘08. Tech edge-Michigan, based on series dog trends.

EASTERN MICHIGAN at MIAMI-OHIO...Ugh! Teams haven’t met since ‘05. EMU not quite as bad against spread on road (3-4 vs. line away, all as dog) as at home LY (1-4). Miami-Ohio 0-14 as chalk since 2006! Tech edge-EMU, based on Miami-O chalk woes.

KENT STATE at BOSTON COLLEGE...Rematch of scintillating opener in ‘08 won by BC at Cleveland, 21-0, and LY’s 34-7 Eagles win at Chestnut Hill. BC now 9-2 vs. line its last 11 as host (almost-corresponding 8-2 last 10 as home chalk) and 3-1 as DD home chalk since ‘07. Kent State very back-and-forth lately vs. line and has failed to cover last two years vs. BC. Tech edge-Spaziani, based on team and series trends. MIAMI-FLORIDA at OHIO STATE...Canes can avenge bitter loss in ‘02 title game at Fiesta Bowl. Miami has covered its last 3 and 5 of its last 6 as dog for Shannon. Dog side is 28-12 vs. number in last 40 Cane games on board. Tressel, however, now on 15-3 spread run last 18 after Marshall opener, and 11-3 last 14 as chalk. Tressel also 7-2 last 9 laying DDs at Big Horseshoe. Tech edge-slight to Miami, based on dog-in-Cane angle.

BYU at AIR FORCE...Cougs have won and covered last 6 meetings, never winning by fewer than 14 points. And they might be a dog here, although Bronco Mendenhall just 2-5 in "short" role since ‘07 (2-1 LY, however). Troy Calhoun 11-4 vs. line at Falcon Stadium and 13-4 vs. spread as chalk since taking over at AFA in 2007. Tech edge-BYU, based on series trends.

UNLV at UTAH...Utes have only covered one of last five meetings, and that was LY at Sam Boyd Stadium 35-15. Utes only 13-13 as chalk since ‘07 and 8-7 in role at home that span, although they have now won 18 straight games in Salt Lake City. Sanford’s Rebels really labored on road, just 7-19 vs. line away the past five seasons, and 6-15 as road dog that span (6-10 as DD road dog), so Hauck has his work cut out. Tech edge-slight to Utah, based on team trends.

OREGON at TENNESSEE...Vols only 2-4 vs. line at home vs. non-SEC the past two years under Phil Fulmer and Lane Kiffin. Ducks only 4-6 their last 10 as chalk away from Eugene, but Oregon is 23-16 overall vs. number since ‘07. Tech edge-slight to Oregon, based on team trends.

BOWLING GREEN at TULSA...Intriguing intersectional! Falcs might (or might not) recall getting blasted by Golden Hurricane 63-7 in ‘07 GMAC Bowl. BGSU 9-2 vs. line visiting non-MAC teams since ‘06. Falcs also 17-6 vs. spread away from Doyt-Perry Stadium since ‘07 and 5-1 as DD road dog that span. Tulsa has dropped last 5, 6 of last 7, and 8 of last 10 vs. number LY, and has failed to cover last 4 as home chalk. Also 3-10 last 13 as chalk overall after ECU loss. Tech edge-BGSU, based on team trends.

WYOMING at TEXAS...Wyo put up a fight for a while LY vs. Texas and covered as huge dog. Cowboys did a lot of covering LY en roue to 9-3 spread mark and 6-1 mark as dog away from Laramie for Dave Christensen. Mack only 3-6 laying 20 or more since LY, when Horns covered just 4 of 11 as DD chalk. Mack also just 10-10 vs. spread last 20 at Austin. Tech edge-Wyo, based on recent team trends.

LA TECH at TEXAS A&M...Sonny Dykes at LT! Mike Sherman was 6-1 vs. line at home LY as the home team was 10-2 vs. line in Aggie ‘09 games. Sherman 4-1 as Kyle Field chalk LY compared to 0-2 chalk on road. LT was a much better home dog (7-1) than road dog (7-16) the past four seasons. Tech edge-slight to A&M, based on recent home mark.

SYRACUSE at WASHINGTON...Where did the time go? It seems like just yesterday that Jake Locker began his U-Dub career in a Friday night Huskies win at Syracuse in 2007 by a 42-12 count. Huskies 5-2 vs. line at home for Sarkisian LY (1-1 as home chalk), as UW bleached the floor following the failed Ty regime. Note that Marrone has covered all 5 vs. non-Big East LY and Cuse has covered last 5 vs. non-conference foes, but has also just won 4 of 27 SU on road "P.P." (Post-Pasqualoni). Tech edge-UW, based on recent home mark.

TOLEDO at OHIO...Rockets only 2-4 vs. line away LY (1-3 as road dog) and 5-12 vs. line as visitor since ‘07 (4-11 as road dog). Solich, meanwhile, is 6-1 last 7 as Athens chalk since mid ‘06. Solich also solid 27-16 vs. line last 43 on board. Tech edge-Ohio, based on Solich marks.

BUFFALO at BAYLOR...Turner Gill was 14-6 vs. line away from home the past three seasons, now Quinn tries to replicate. Baylor was 0-2 as chalk LY but was 3-0 in role for Art Briles in ‘08 and is 8-4 in somewhat rare role since ‘05. Tech edge-slight to Baylor, based on team trends. PENN STATE at ALABAMA...Bama was 9-4 vs. line LY but Nick has not been overwhelming as home chalk, just 3-3 in role LY and 6-6 the past two high-flying seasons. Shades was 5-0 vs. line away LY and is 9-2-1 vs. number last 12 away from Happy Valley. But Shades only 4-6 as dog since ‘05, 9-14 last 23 as dog. Tech edge-slight to Shades, based on recent road mark.

NC STATE at UCF...O’Brien only 3-4 as dog LY but he is 17-10 as short with NCS since ‘07 and 20-10 in role since ‘06 (BC & NCS). Note O’Leary’s 5-1 chalk mark LY as well as 9-3 vs. spread in ‘09. Tech edge-NCS, based on extended O’Brien dog marks.

SAN DIEGO STATE at NEW MEXICO STATE...Rare road chalk for Aztecs, 0-4 in role since ‘05, 1-7 the past decade. Last road chalk cover was 2003 at UTEP (0-6 in role since). DeWayne Walker just 1-5 vs. line at Las Cruces LY, NMSU 2-9 vs. spread as host since ‘08. One team rarely covers as road chalk and the other rarely covers as a road dog! Tech edge-SDSU, based on NMSU woes.

UAB at SMU...UAB lost vs. SMU LY and has lost and failed to cover last 3 vs. Mustangs since ‘05. Blazers just 1-5 as road dog LY. June Jones, however, 0-4 as chalk LY, and SMU no covers its last 10 as chalk dating to late ‘06! Ponies also just 4-12 vs. line at home since ‘07. Tech edge-slight to UAB, based on SMU chalk woes.

TEXAS TECH at NEW MEXICO...Mike Leach was only 5-8 as DD chalk the past three years, let's see what Tuberville can do. Lobos, however, just 1-4 vs. line last 5 at home vs. non-MWC foes. Tech edge-slight to TT, based on recent Lobo negatives.

OLE MISS at TULANE... Bob Toledo 3-12 vs. line last 15 on board, 1-8 last 9 at Superdome. Wave also 3-11 its last 14 as dog. Rebs have covered their last 4 on road vs. non-SEC foes and are 5-0 as DD chalk since ‘05. Tech edge-Ole Miss, based on team trends.

STANFORD at UCLA...Tree has lost and failed to cover last 3 at Rose Bowl, and Stanford 5-10 vs. line last 15 away from Farm, but Harbaugh is 11-6 vs. line last 17 on board. If dog, note Neuheisel 3-9 vs. line last 12 in role, although Bruins are 27-10 vs. spread their last 37 at Rose Bowl dating to early ‘04. "Totals" note...7 of last 8 "under" in series. Tech edge-slight to Stanford, based on recent trends.

COLORADO STATE at NEVADA...Wolf Pack 19-4 vs. line as Reno chalk since Chris Ault returned to sidelines in 2004. Pack also 6-2 vs. line under Ault as non-WAC host. CSU has dropped its last 7 on the board since mid '09 and is 2-6 its last 8 vs. number in reg. season vs. non-MWC away from Fort Collins. Tech edge-Nevada, based on team trends.

VIRGINIA at SOUTHERN CAL...Lane Kiffin picking up where Carroll left off, as SC now 4-10 vs. line since LY, all as chalk. Trojans just 2-7 their last 9 as DD chalk. Cavs were 4-1 vs. line away for Groh LY and 9-4 as dog away from Charlottesville since ‘07. Mike London road debut for UVa. Tech edge-Virginia, based on team trends.

WESTERN KENTUCKY at KENTUCKY...UK just 1-7 vs. line last 8 at Lexington (1-4 last 5 as home chalk), 7-14 vs. line last 21 at Commonwealth Stadium. Although Cats did beat WKU 41-3 in 2008. Tops 5-4 last 9 as DD dog. Tech edge-slight to WKU, based on team trends.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC vs. MICHIGAN STATE (at Ford Field, Detroit)...Howard got an elusive cover as a non-Belt visitor in opener at UAB, now just 2-14 vs. line last 16 in role (the other cover at Mich State in ‘08!). Dantonio just 8-11 vs. line at East Lansing since ‘07 and 3-6 as DD home chalk that span. Tech edge-slight to MSU, based on extended FAU non-Belt road negatives.

UL-MONROE at ARKANSAS (at Little Rock)...ULM covered last 2 meetings in ‘06 and ‘08, nearly scoring major upset in latter 28-27 loss that might have turned around the Warhawks. Those games were with Weatherbie, however. Petrino 12-6-1 last 19 on board and is 8-2 vs. spread last 10 as host (2-1 as DD home chalk). Tech edge-Arkansas, based on recent trends.

RICE at NORTH TEXAS...Owls put 77 on UNT the last time they saw them in 2008. If Rice chalk note 7-2 mark in role since ‘07 (1-0 LY). Mean Green just 5-10 vs. line at Denton since ‘07 for Todd Dodge and 6-13 against number last 19 as host since early ‘06. Tech edge-Rice, based on team trends.

ARKANSAS STATE at UL-LAFAYETTE... ULL has won and covered last 2 meetings and is 4-1 vs. line last 5 against Red Wolves. If Cajuns chalk note 9-3 mark in role since ‘07. ASU dropped last 6 vs. line LY and is 3-16 vs. spread last 19 on board. Tech edge-ULL, based on team and series trends.

TROY at OKLAHOMA STATE...Troy just 3-6 vs. number last 9 as non-conference visitor. OSU only 3-3 as home chalk LY but is 11-4 its last 15 as Stillwater chalk after Wash. State romp. Tech edge-OSU, based on extended Gundy home chalk marks.

RUTGERS at FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL...FIU was 1-4 vs. line as host LY and 2-5 as dog, but note Golden Panthers 5-2 as home dog since ‘07 and gave Scarlet Knights a scare LY in New Jersey. Rutgers 9-2 vs. line its last 11 vs. non-conference foes on road, and 17-8 vs. line last 25 away from Piscataway. Tech edge-Rutgers, based on team trends.