Allen Eastman

6-Unit Play. Take #167 Minnesota (-6.5) over Syracuse (Noon, Saturday, Sept. 5)
This is my Game of the Week. The Golden Gophers are one of the most experienced teams in the country and should be able to take advantage of a Syracuse team that is still trying to find its way. Syracuse has a new coach and a whole new system that they are working on and they are just 2-7 ATS in nonconference games and 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 home games. Minnesota is 6-1 ATS on the road. They are a much more solid and stable team and they should take care of business here. Syracuse lost 30-10 to big 10 foe Northwestern last year. I can see a similar outcome in this game.

4-Unit Play. Take #164 UAB (-5.5) over Rice (4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 5)
I’m playing the Blazers in this one mainly because they are at home. The home team is 2-0 in this series and I like the experience that UAB brings to the table here. UAB finished last year on a 4-1 ATS run and I think that they will carry over some momentum and get off to a fast start here.

3-Unit Play. Take #156 Oklahoma State (-4.5) over Georgia (3:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 5)
Oklahoma State is looking forward to making a big impression in their opener. They have one of the best offenses in the country and they are looking forward to sticking it to an SEC team. Mark Richt has been great in opposing stadiums over the last few years but Oklahoma State has revenge from their opener in Athens two years ago (35-14 UGA win). Georgia has a new starting quarterback and running back and Stillwater is still a tough place for even experienced teams to win. I think this one will be close for a half but the playmakers on Oklahoma State are too much.

2-Unit Play. Take #152 Ohio (+3.5) over Connecticut (7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 5)
Connecticut has been really banged up this month and I think that they might be taking Ohio a little too lightly. The Bobcats played some BCS teams tough last year. They only lost to Ohio State by 12 and to Northwestern by 8. They get this one close to home and are 6-3 ATS as a home underdog over the last few years.

3-Unit Play. Take ‘Under’ 53.5 LSU at Washington (10:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 5)
The LSU defense is still one of the fastest and strongest defenses in the country. Usually early in the season the defense is well ahead of the offenses and it results in sloppy play. The Tigers have been a really strong ‘over’ play over the last couple years but I think that the oddsmakers have overadjusted this early in the season. LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson is not really a proven guy and I could see him struggling. On the other side, Jake Locker is more of a runner than a thrower. I see LSU in the 20’s and Washington in the 10’s and this one staying well ‘under’.