By The Numbers -- Sept. 30

TOP GAMES
(2) Clemson at (12) Virginia Tech
TRENDS
Clemson has covered its last four vs teams with winning record, and are 5-1 ATS in L6 contests and 3-4 ATS L7 vs ACC; Tigers just 5-9 ATS since 2014 as a road favorite; Hokies have covered 7 of L8 and are 5-1 ATS L6 at Lane Stadium; Home team is 5-2 ATS L7 and underdog is 5-1 ATS in L6 meetings
ANALYSIS
This will be the first real trip into the spotlight for the Hokies, while for Clemson it's just another game. The defending national champs have been under the microscope all season, and thus far have passed every exam. Lane Stadium should be off the hook, especially with a nighttime start, and this is Clemson's first visit there since October of 2011, when they won 23-3. It's a rematch of last year's ACC title game, won 42-35 by Clemson as Tech ended up 23 yards from a tying touchdown and possible overtime, though both teams have different quarterbacks. Kelly Bryant (67.9%, 2 TDs, 268 rushing, 7 TDs) has been solid for Clemson and Josh Jackson (65.7%, 11 TDs) has been surprisingly good for Tech. Tech has a great weapon in receiver Cam Phillips, while Clemson's defense is ranked third in the country in total defense and points allowed, and it already has 17 sacks. Bud Foster's D is its typical stingy unit, not allowing a rushing touchdown this season, which means Clemson may need to lean on the pass for the first time this year. Clemson's experience in big games and overall talent edge gives it the edge, but everything will be earned.
Line -- Clemson -7; Pick -- Clemson 28-18

(24) Mississippi State at (13) Auburn
TRENDS
Bulldogs are 4-12 SU last 16 meetings, but are 7-3 ATS as a road dog; MSU is 15-10-1 ATS in conference play since 2014, and 7-6 ATS off a SU loss; Tigers are just 6-12 ATS as a home favorite since 2014 and 2-3 ATS L5 game with a spread of 6-8 points; Auburn 5-0 SU L5 home contests
ANALYSIS
The grind continues for the Bulldogs, who will be facing a third straight ranked SEC foe when they travel to Auburn. The Tigers routed an overmatched Missouri squad in its most complete game of the season, while MSU was demolished by Georgia in Athens. The Tigers defense has been championship level, sitting fourth nationally in yards allowed (236.3) and has been getting it done up front. That's where the Bulldogs lost the battle last week, getting beaten in the trenches. If they can't win that battle tonight, then it will be another long evening. Auburn will have both of its talented runners available for just the second time this season, as Kamryn Pettway is expected back from an ankle injury. Kerryon Johnson scored five TDs against Mizzou, and QB Jarrett Stidham played his smoothest game of the season, going 13-of-17 for 218 yards and a score. So MSU will have its hands full on defense. Nick Fitzgerald is one of the most dynamic runners in the country at quarterback, and will try to rebound from a 14-of-29, two interception performance against Georgia. Auburn has won six of the last nine meetings, including last year's 38-14 drubbing in Starkville.
Line -- Auburn -7.5; Pick -- Auburn 35-24

OTHER GAMES
Vanderbilt at (21) Florida -- Vandy has covered last two times vs. Gators, and is 7-4 L11 as an underdog; Florida just 7-12-1 ATS L20 on the board; the road team has covered 8 of the last 9 in this series, and during that span Vandy is 4-0 ATS in games played at The Swamp
Line -- Florida -8.5; Pick --Vanderbilt 24-21

Houston at Temple -- Houston 9-5 ATS L14 on the road; Cougars 19-6 SU in last 25 contests and have covered three straight in this series; Temple has started the season 0-4 ATS but is 6-2 ATS L8 at home; Owls 8-3 as home dog since 2013; 
Line -- Houston -13; Pick -- Houston 27-21

Maryland at Minnesota -- Terps 4-9 ATS L13 vs. spread; Maryland is 12-8 ATS off a SU loss since 2014; PJ Fleck-coached teams are on a 29-15 spread run since late 2014, and Gophers are 2-1 ATS this season; Minnesota just 2-8 L10 when favored by double digits
Line -- Minnesota -12.5; Pick -- Minnesota 34-17

Northwestern at (10) Wisconsin -- Wildcats have won and covered two of last three in the series, and are 9-3 ATS as a visiting dog since 2014; NU has covered 10 of L15 as an underdog of 14 or more; Wisconsin 14-4 ATS L18 vs. the spread; Badgers have been favored in 30 of L31 meetings, but are just 18-13 SU in those games
Line -- Wisconsin -15.5; Pick -- Wisconsin 40-27

Indiana at (4) Penn State -- Hoosiers 6-3 L9 as a double digit underdog; Indiana has gone 59-83-5 ATS as a road dog over the last 37 seasons; Hoosiers 5-2 ATS L7 road games; Penn State riding a 12-2 ATS streak, including 5-2 L7 laying double digits; PSU has won 19 of the 20 meetings;
Line -- Penn State -19; Pick -- Penn State 45-29

(7) Georgia at Tennessee -- Underdog has covered five straight in the series; UGA is 5-0 SU in its L5 games; Dawgs 6-4 ATS as road favorite since 2014; Tennessee just 3-8-2 L13 lined games, but 5-0 SU in L5 home contests; Vols 2-1 ATS as home dog since 2014; UT 9-12-1 ATS off SU win since 2014
Line -- Georgia -8; Pick -- Georgia 33-23

Arizona State at Stanford -- Sun Devils a sorry 1-6 ATS L7 away from home; Stanford just 2-5 ATS as a home favorite last year, but was 9-4 ATS in that same situation the previous two seasons; Stanford 16-7 ATS L23 conference games; home team is 4-1-1 L6 in the series
Line -- Stanford -17; Pick -- Stanford 48-20

Eastern Michigan at Kentucky -- EMU is 8-1 ATS L9 on the road, including 5-0 ATS L5 away from home; Eagles 0-9 SU vs SEC but 10-5 ATS vs. non-MAC since 2014; Kentucky has failed to cover last seven non-SEC games, and just 1-6 ATS laying double digits; Wildcats 6-3 SU L9 at home but just 6-9 ATS vs. non-conference since 2014.
Line -- Kentucky -14.5; Pick -- Kentucky 35-26

Iowa at Michigan State -- Hawkeyes 9-2-1 ATS L12 as a visitor, 8-2 ATS L10 on road in B1G; Iowa 19-9-1 ATS since 1980 in this series, and 11-3 ATS L14 in East Lansing; Sparty 6-2 ATS L8 as league host, but just 3-8 ATS coming off a SU home loss the previous week; MSU 5-1 ATS L6 at home
Line -- Michigan State -4; Pick -- Iowa 24-21

Miami (Ohio) at (22) Notre Dame -- RedHawks 5-1 ATS as away dog L6; Miami 12-5 ATS as road underdog since 2014 and 9-6 ATS vs. non-MAC since 2014; Notre Dame just 2-6 L8 as home favorite; Irish 18-7 SU L25 at home; ND 6-3 ATS vs. non-Power5 foes
Line - Notre Dame -21; Pick -- Notre Dame 34-24

Troy at (25) LSU -- Trojans 7-3-1 L11 lined non-Sun Belt contests and 6-2-1 ATS as underdog since 2015; Troy 5-2 SU L7 road games; LSU has failed to cover in L3 at home; LSU has won 49 straight games against non-conference opponents and is 9-2 SU L11 at home
Line -- LSU -20.5; Pick -- LSU 36-23

Memphis at UCF -- Tigers 2-6 L8 on the road and 1-11 SU in L12 road openers; Memphis 5-1 SU in L6 games and 3-1-1 ATS as away underdog; UCF 10-5 ATS for Scott Frost, 5-2 ATS as host; UCF has won nine straight against Tigers; Knights 9-5 ATS as home favorite since 2014
Line -- UCF -4; Pick -- UCF 35-34

(11) Ohio State at Rutgers -- Buckeyes have won and covered last three meetings, with smallest margin being 39; OSU 7-10 ATS L17 vs. line; Buckeyes have been road favorites of 28 or more just seven times, and are 4-3 ATS; This is the ninth time Rutgers is a home dog of 28 or more in the L38Y, and are just 2-7 ATS in that situation; Knights 8-13 ATS coming off SU loss since 2014
Line -- Ohio State -30; Pick -- Ohio State 49-10

South Carolina at Texas A&M -- Gamecocks have covered last three road contests; SC 6-7 ATS as road dog since 2014 and 5-6 ATS as SEC road dog in that span; A&M 6-13-1 ATS L20 as home favorite; Aggies 2-11 ATS L13 games; A&M 1-5-1 as SEC home favorite since 2014
Line -- Texas A&M -8; Pick -- Texas A&M 34-21

(16) Oklahoma State at Texas Tech -- Road team has covered four straight in the series; Okie State 6-6-1 ATS L13 on the road in Big 12, but 6-1 ATS L7 road contests and 4-0 ATS L4 in Lubbock; Tech a robust 6-2-1 ATS L9 at home, but just 4-4 ATS as a home dog since 2014; Tech is 16-10-1 ATS in Big 12 contests since 2014
Line -- Oklahoma State - 10.5; Pick -- Oklahoma State 50-34

Ole Miss at (1) Alabama -- Rebels have covered last three, winning two outright, but are just 1-9 ATS vs spread since last season; Ole Miss 5-1 ATS L6 on the road against Tide; Bama 4-1 ATS L5 as home favorite; Bama just 1-2 ATS as DD favorite over Rebels since 2012; Bama 8-12-1 ATS as favorite of 28 or more since 2012
Line -- Alabama -28; Pick -- Alabama 48-14

Northern Illinois at (19) San Diego State -- Huskies 3-0 ATS this season, have covered five straight lined games and 7-0-1 ATS L8 vs spread, 6-1 ATS as visiting dog since 2015; Aztecs 4-0 SU but have failed to cover this year in last three home games as a favorite, and are 1-6 ATS L7 hosting non-MWC; Aztecs 11-1 SU last dozen at home
Line -- San Diego State -10; Pick -- San Diego State 35-23

Cal at Oregon -- Bears 3-0 ATS as dog under Wilcox this season, 4-9 ATS previous two seasons in that situation; Cal just 5-11 ATS L16 Pac-12 contests, and 10-26 ATS L36 following a SU loss; Oregon 5-1 ATS L6 meetings, and no SU losses to Cal since 2008; Oregon just 4-9 ATS as home favorite since 2015 but have covered last four at home in this series.
Line -- Oregon -15.5; Pick -- Oregon 45-27

Colorado at UCLA -- Underdog has covered the number in the last four meetings; Buffs 4-0 ATS as visiting dog last season, 7-2 ATS in that role since 2015; Buffs are 8-3 ATS L11 conference games; UCLA 6-12 ATS as Rose Bowl favorite since 2014 and just 3-10 ATS L13 at home; road team is 4-1 ATS L5 meetings
Line -- UCLA -7.5; Pick-- Colorado 30-28

2017 RECORD
SU -- 54-14 (3-2 Thursday/Friday); ATS -- 47-41-1 (2-3 Thursday/Friday)