Tony Weston SATURDAY'S PLAYS
35 Dime USC
15 Dime Oklahoma State
5 Dime Florida


USC at Ohio State
USC - Some people might consider what happened in the opening week of the college football season a fluke, and sure, there could be a case made for Ohio State’s slip up against Navy. But what USC did to San Jose State was not.

Granted, San Jose State isn’t a power anywhere, but the Trojans, even with a freshman at quarterback, weren’t looking ahead and looked like the best team in the country with that 56-3 victory.

USC enters the Horseshoe installed as a 7-point favorite and will cruise to a double-digit victory.

While the Trojans had a more experienced quarterback under center last year, Mark Sanchez was still starting in his first year at USC and led the team to an easy 35-3 beat down of Ohio State in the Los Angeles Coliseum.

You may be scared off by the fact that USC is only 1-4 ATS its last 5 true road games. But, consider that in those games the Trojans were installed as a favorite, on average, of more than 27 points per game (27.3).

Tonight, the Trojans are laying single digits. And when USC is laying between 3 1/2 and 10 points, the Trojans have been an ATM. USC is a perfect 8-0 ATS when laying between 3 1/2 and 10 points on the road and the team has cashed in 14 of its last 16 games when installed as a favorite anywhere of that price.

Consider, too, the Big Ten has been a punching bag for the Trojans, who have cashed in 10 of their last 11 against the conference.

The Buckeyes, on the other hand, are just 1-7 ATS their last 8 home games, including last week’s 31-27 survival against Navy as a 22-point favorite. Ohio State is also just 1-5 ATS its last 6 games outside the Big Ten and has not covered a game in its last 6 September contests.

Tonight, things won’t get much better as the Trojans cruise to a double digit victory. Take USC big on the road in this one.



Houston at Oklahoma State
OKLAHOMA STATE - How impressive did Oklahoma State look last week? Against a top-ranked opponent the Cowboys cruised to a 24-10 victory as a 5 1/2 point favorite.

Today, against the Houston Cougars the Cowboys will cruise to another victory as a 15 1/2 point favorite at home.

Including last week’s win and cover, Oklahoma State has now covered in 7 of its last 9 home games. At home, overall, the Cowboys are on a 7-0 ATS streak and are 5-1 ATS against opponents outside the Big XII.

Keep in mind, too, OSU is 22-5 ATS when laying double digits and is on an amazing 42-20-2 ATS run as a favorite overall.

On the other side, the Cougars have been a money loser lately, having failed to cover in 7 of its last 12 games overall and having gone only 1-7 ATS their last 8 roadies.

Houston is also just 1-4 ATS its last 5 non-league games and has covered just twice in its last 11 games coming off a SU win.

Things won’t get any better today as Oklahoma State cruises past the visitors.



Troy at Florida
FLORIDA - The Florida Gators continued right where they left off destroying Charleston Southern 62-3 last week in Florida’s first game since winning a national championship last season.

The Gators are now laying about 36 1/2 points and will cruise to another victory at home against visiting Troy.

The last time these two hooked up was in 2007 with Florida beating up Troy 59-31 as a 26-point favorite.

While things have changed slightly since then, the fact of the matter is Florida is still a dominant team. The Gators have covered in each of their last 4 home games and are 12-3 ATS their last 15 outside the SEC.

Consider, too, the Gators have covered in 21 of their last 27 games overall, while the Trojans have failed to cover in 4 of their last 5 against non-conference opponents.

They’ll fail to cover again as the Gators make this one look all too easy. Take Florida easily at home.