Week 8: The picks are in! The picks are in!

By TNG Staff

Sorry, another in a string of analysis-free posts. The Tigers are going to the World Series, what can I say? I've been distracted. Let's get to it.

Kyle says...

This season: 17-11

Last week: 2-2

Not the best outcome last week, but you didn't lose money betting with me and you're up on the season.

Nebraska @ Northwestern +7

The Huskers' D has another thing coming if they think they'll shut down the Wildcats attack. Get down to the book and lay the Cats to keep it thisclose, if not win. Northwestern beats the spread. 

BYU @ Notre Dame -13

Robbed of their ability to throw a changeup when freshman QB Taysom Hill went down, the Riley Nelson-led BYU offense won't be able to give the Irish front line enough different looks to hold them off. ND covers easily. 

Stanford -3 @ Cal

Cal has improved since we last covered them here, but never underestimate Tedford's ability to blow a big game. Stanford covers in Berkeley. 

Michigan State +9 @ Michigan

The Spartan offense is pathetic heading into this matchup, and Andrew Maxwell is not ready for prime time. HOWEVAH, this is the best defensive front 7 outside of Alabama that Denard Robinson has seen all year, and we know how well he holds up against the rush. Spartans beat the spread. 

Marcus says...

This season: 12-12

Last week: Idle

After taking a week off, I'm back to get above .500.  Tigers in the Series though?  Life is so good.

Michigan State @ Michigan -9

MSU beats the spread if their offense gets it together.  I'm losing faith.  The Wolverines are due. Michigan covers.  Signed, Pessimistic Spartan fan in Naperville.

Western Michigan @ Kent State -3.5

After last weeks collapse in Muncie it's hard to trust the Broncos on the road.  Flashes cover.

Purdue @ Ohio State -18

The Buckeyes cover.  Braxton Miller for Heisman.

Cincinnati -5.5 @ Toledo 

A North - South Ohio battle at The Glass Bowl.   Cincy may be the tallest midget in the Big Least, but they cover against the Rockets.

Big Tex says...

This season: 12-11

Last week: 0-5

Welp, I have to admit, I was not totally expecting Big Tex to get back in the game after totally bombing every pick he made last week, including the NFL bonus, which does not count against his season record. But he's back for more and still above .500 after an oh-fer, so we'll call it a fluke and see what he has to say this week.

Louisville -6.5 vs. USF

Louisville covers. 

USC vs. Colorado +40.5

Buffs beat the spread.

LSU -3 @ Texas A&M

LSU covers. 

Oklahoma State vs. Iowa State +14

Cyclones beat the spread.

Texas vs. Baylor +11

Baylor beats the spread. 

Georgia -27.5 @ Kentucky

Bulldogs cover.

Oregon State -10 vs. Utah

Beavs cover. 

Rutgers -5 @ Temple

Rutgers covers

NFL Bonus

By TNG Staff

Big Tex took it in the pants yesterday, so he'll try to get back on the horse here.

Green Bay @ Houston -3

Denver @ San Diego +1

Week 7: The picks are in! The picks are in!

TNG staff
Alright, this is the last post I'll short you on analysis for. But, we're your money maker.

Kyle says...
This season: 15-9
Last week: 3-1
We are scorching earth with these picks. If you're betting with TNG, you're way up on the season at this point. Let's take a look at Kyle's picks for this week...

Texas +3.5 vs. Oklahoma (Dallas)
I'm taking the Horns because Landry Jones melts under pressure and the UT DTs can bring it. Texas beats the spread. 

USC -13 @ Washington
SC has too much offense for U-Dub and wins big in a high scoring affair. Trojans cover. 

Fresno State @ Boise State -7
The Broncos' defense has been dominant all year, and FSU has nadda on that side of the ball. Boise covers. 

Stanford @ Notre Dame -7
Chalk again as the Irish D proves too much for the Cardinal, who are traveling to the midwest in October—not the forte of warm weather kids. Irish cover. 

Big Tex says...
This season: 12-6
Last week: 5-1
Big Tex is tearing it up in his first season at TNG.

Kansas State -6.5 @ Iowa State
Wildcats to cover. 

WVU -4.5 @ Texas Tech
Big Tex picks the Mountaineers to cover and picks against his wife's alma mater. We'll let them square that decision.

Oregon State @ BYU -2.5
Cougars cover. 

Texas +3.5 vs. Oklahoma
Horns beat the spread.

Alabama @ Missouri +21.5
Mizzou beats the spread. 

Week 7: Keggs and Bacon

By Kyle Magin

Texas and Oklahoma are forcing us to get up really effing early on the West Coast (8 a.m.!) so I'm going to grouch via video.

That was cathartic, I think. Onto football. We've got a tremendous slate of games involving teams from West of the Mississippi this weekend: Stanford heads to Notre Dame, the aforementioned Red River Shootout, Oregon State and BYU and USC heading up to Seattle.

Texas vs. Oklahoma -3.5 (Dallas) 
UT's defense is not good. Oklahoma is shaky, but WHEN the Sooners get Landry Jones protection, he can find holes in the backfield to the tune of 11.3 yards per completion. He's getting great help from his rush game, but OU, completely logistically, doesn't bother to run all that much. Of course. Texas' offense is solid aside from a pesky penchant for fumbling the ball—8 times so far this season. Its defense has a miserable habit of giving up big plays—opponents managed 13.5 yards per catch against the 1-loss Horns through the first half of the season, and time and again last week West Virginia's receivers got loose for long plays. If Jones can find his receivers, it'll be a long day in the Cotton Bowl, but, few teams get to the passer like Texas' d-ends.

Southern Cal -12 @ Washington
We all know Washington is hapless against the run game. USC has difficulties protecting its quarterback. Watch for SC to try to manufacture some protection for Matt Barkley with Silas Redd and the boys in the run game before going to the air.

Oregon State @ BYU -6
Oregon State is ranked 10th and still getting no love. I understand Provo is no easy place to play, but the Cougars' offense has been so and up and down this season while the Beavers have been rock solid.

Stanford @ Notre Dame -7.5
Big play Ty Montgomery, a receiver for the Cardinal, is likely hurt and out for game in South Bend. That's a problem, because any headway opponents have made this year against the Irish has been through the air. UND strangles opposing offenses, giving up just 39 percent of opposing third down conversions and a minuscule 17 percent of red zone scores as touchdowns. If you get off on the Irish, consider yourself lucky.

Week 7: Games we're watching

By Kyle Magin
Consumed with a trip to Oakland to watch the Tigers try to sweep the A's in game 3 of the ALDS, you'll get a brief Monday-Tuesday post here.

Texas vs. Oklahoma -3
Can UT bounce back in Dallas after a demoralizing lost last week at home to West Virginia?

Louisville -3 @ Pittsburgh

Fresno State @ Boise State -7.5
Fresno's all-world offenses clashes with an immovable object in the Broncos' D.

Stanford @ Notre Dame -9.5
Best defensive matchup of the day.

South Carolina @ LSU -3
SC is in the title hunt and LSU hasn't convinced in any win since early September.

West Virginia -4.5 @ Texas Tech
How much juice does the Mountaineer offense have left?

Week 6: The Picks are in! The Picks are in!

TNG Staff

I hope you're keeping an eye on TNG and taking our advice this season, because if you are, you're making money. We're a combined 29-23 on the season. I'll let Luda tell you the rest...

Kyle says...

This season: 12-8

Last week: 3-1

Northwestern +3 @ Penn State

The Wildcats offense is too dynamic for the Lions, even on homecoming. NW beats the spread. 

Washington @ Oregon -25

The Duck defense makes the difference in this game. Quack to cover. 

Georgia @ South Carolina -1.5

Georgia's defense has too many holes for the ol' Ballcoach to exploit. Cocks cover. 

West Virginia @ Texas -6.5

The Horns have some pieces on defense, and that's more than W. Va, despite the fireworks. Horns cover. 

Marcus says...

This season: 10-10

Last week: 3-1

Northwestern +3 @ Penn State

UMass @ Western Michigan -16.5

Michigan State -15.5 @ Indiana

Northern Illinois -2.5 @ Ball State

Big Tex says...

This season: 7-5

Last week: Idle

Kansas State -23.5 vs Kansas

Texas -6.5 vs WVU

Ohio State -3.5 vs Nebraska

Mississippi State -9.5 @ Kentucky

Oklahoma -5.5 @ Texas Tech

Clemson -9.5 vs Georgia Tech

Week 6: Just Ducky

By Kyle Magin
Nike's Oregon Duck army circles the wagons in Eugene this weekend when he Dogs come to town, looking for their second straight upset win. SC continues to trot through the desert of dashed expectations, and, oddly, a win over a struggling Utah squad could give them a hand. In Palo Alto, we find out onetime heroes, the Stanford Cardinal, look to get back on top against the once-feared and now-jeered Arizona Wildcats.

Southern California -14.5 @ Utah
SC's defense is relatively stout—giving up just 17.3 points per game against some pretty strong offenses. Leonard Williams is taking care of things up front and putting pressure on opposing offenses while Dion Bailey lurks in the defensive backfield. To almost everyone's surprise, it's the Trojan O led by QB Matt Barkley letting the U of Spoiled Children down. Barkley's completing just 55 percent of his passes and the offense is miserable on third down. Utah's Star Lotulelei and co are shutting opposing offenses down on third zone and in the red zone. The Utes offense can't put up any points, though.

Washington @ Oregon -24
What's there to say? The Ducks are 24 point favorites because their defense is starting to shut people down, and their offense outscores opponents 91-19 in the first quarter. The Duck D shuts down opposing offenses in the red zone, where they only manage to score TDs 30 percent of the time and convert on third downs just 25 percent of the time. Ho-hum for the O, where Oregon rushes for 6 yards per carry and does all sorts of wild things through the air. The Huskies are Giant Killers because Keith Price and company continue to win the time of possession battle and have minimized turnovers.

Arizona @ Stanford -9
Stanford plays defense!