10-31-14 |
Tulsa +24.5 v. Memphis |
|
20-40 |
Win
|
100 |
28 h 18 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Tulsa at Memphis @ 8:00 p.m. ET The Memphis Tigers host the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Tulsa with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. While Tulsa is among the bottom of the barrel when it comes to FBS programs, Memphis isn’t deserving of this monstrous spread. The Tigers are terribly inconsistent and if they don’t stayed focused Friday, the Golden Hurricanes could easily get close enough to cover. 2. Memphis beat up on lowly SMU last week – and Tulsa is no SMU. The Golden Hurricane can actually put up a good fight, having scored more than 26 points per game in their last four, including a 38-30 loss to South Florida two weeks ago. Tulsa had a 20-point lead at halftime versus USF but let it slip away, proving this team does have the potential to hang in the AAC. They’re coming off a bye and would nothing more to snap their current losing skid Friday. 3. Tulsa always comes to play against Memphis. The Golden Hurricane have won four of their last five meetings with the Tigers, covering in all but one of those games. The road team has also been the smart play when these schools collide, with the ATS win going to the visitor in four of their last five encounters. Play on Tulsa as an 8* Regular Selection Friday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-30-14 |
New Orleans Saints v. Carolina Panthers +3 |
|
28-10 |
Loss |
-111 |
25 h 4 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Carolina vs. New Orleans @ 8:25 p.m. ET The Carolina Panthers host the New Orleans Saints Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Carolina with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. New Orleans hits the road for a big letdown spot after a huge win over the Packers last week. The Saints are a wretched bet away from the Big Easy, going 3-9 ATS in their last 12 road tilts. New Orleans puts up 24.5 points per game away from home, compared to 33.7 inside the Superdome. 2. The Saints defense is still among the worst in the league and gets even worse on the road. New Orleans is giving up 31.2 points per road game – ranked fourth worst in the NFL. They give up a 123.5 rushing yards per road game and face a Carolina attack that can chew up the turf – and returns RB DeAngelo Williams this week. 3. Carolina is tough team to top at home, especially against the spread. The Panthers are 3-1 ATS inside Bank of America Stadium this season and have gone 9-2-1 ATS in their previous dozen home contests. Carolina showed it can still contend with the top teams in the NFC, losing a tight one to Seattle last week, and need a win over the Saints to stay on top of the NFC South. The Panthers have covered in nine of their last 12 against the Saints. Play on Carolina as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-30-14 |
Florida State v. Louisville +4.5 |
|
42-31 |
Loss |
-115 |
23 h 37 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Louiville vs. Florida State @ 7:30 p.m. ET The Louisville Cardinals host the Florida State Seminoles Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Louisville with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Getting the points on a home team is always a plus, but Papa John's Cardinal Stadium will be rocking for this weekday war against the defending national champs Thursday night. Jameis Winston – one of the biggest villains in college football - won’t be able to hear himself think at the line of scrimmage. 2. The Cardinals boast the top-ranked defense in the FBS, giving up only 245.1 yards per game. Louisville has allowed just 14.6 points per game and has stuffed the run for a mere 68.8 yards per outing. Florida State RB Karlos Williams is expected to play Thursday but has been embroiled in multiple controversies all week, stemming from an assault claim and robbery accusation, with little focus on football. 3. Florida State has been a terrible play this season. The defending national champs have seemed disinterested and flat on numerous occasions. It nearly cost them an undefeated record and possible shot at another national title against Notre Dame two weeks ago. Heading into Thursday, the Seminoles are just 1-6 ATS on the year. Play on Louisville as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-27-14 |
Washington Redskins +10 v. Dallas Cowboys |
|
20-17 |
Win
|
100 |
30 h 31 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Washington (+) @ Dallas @ 8:30 PM ET The Washington Redskins visit the Dallas Cowboys Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Washington with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. On paper this game might look like it should be "all Dallas" but the Cowboys haven't fared well in this role in more ways than one. First off, as a large favorite of 6 or more the Cowboys have failed to cover the spread 7 times in a row. That includes their match-up against the Texans earlier this year when we successfully played against Dallas with Houston. Secondly, the Cowboys are an amazing ugly 1-9 ATS in their last 10 Monday night games. 2. Teams are always up for facing the team that had the long-standing moniker of "America's Team". Factor that in with facing them in primetime on national TV and the fact that it's a Monday nighter and you have all the right reasons for a team to be sky high with emotions when facing the Cowboys. It's no wonder that Dallas has lost the money in 9 of their last 10 MNF games. 3. The Redskins are an ugly 2-5 on the season but they are a double digit dog in this one and are coming off of a confidence-building win over the Titans last week. Dallas is caught in a bit of a sandwich spot here too. They are off of a big win over another division rival, the Giants. New York was trying to climb back into the NFC East race so that was a huge win for the Cowboys. It's also hard for Dallas not to get caught to looking ahead to their game next week, they are hosting the Cardinals and Arizona entered Sunday's action as the only NFC team other than the Eagles or Cowboys with just one loss on the season. Statistically the Redskins defense has been solid this season and their offense has been soli through the air. Their ugly record is what is helping to give us line value in this one and we'll gladly take it. Play on Washington as an 8* Regular Selection Monday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-26-14 |
Green Bay Packers v. New Orleans Saints -1 |
Top |
23-44 |
Win
|
100 |
30 h 35 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on New Orleans vs. Green Bay @ 8:30 a.m. ET The New Orleans Saints host the Green Bay Packers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on New Orleans with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Saints find themselves at home in a must-win game on the Sunday night stage after letting a victory slip away at Detroit last Sunday. New Orleans can boost itself back into the mix in the NFC with a win against Green Bay in Week 8 – an opportunity this veteran team will jump at. 2. The Packers have a dinged up secondary, with injuries to starting CB Sam Shields and SS Morgan Burnett leaving them thin against a potent Saints passing game. Drew Brees is savvy enough to pick on any replacements and with TE Jimmy Graham getting healthier, Green Bay could have some bad mismatches in coverage Sunday night. 3. This is the Saints at home in primetime – a potent combo for bettors. New Orleans is a completely different team inside the Superdome, averaging 33.72 points per game there over the last four seasons – compared to just 24.38 points per road game in that span. The Saints are a perfect 6-0 on Sunday Night Football under head coach Sean Payton heading into this primetime matchup. Play on New Orleans as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-26-14 |
Philadelphia Eagles +2 v. Arizona Cardinals |
Top |
20-24 |
Loss |
-107 |
26 h 44 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia at Arizona @ 4:05 p.m. ET The Arizona Cardinals host the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Eagles are coming off a much-needed bye week, allowing head coach Chip Kelly to tinker with his up-tempo attack. Philadelphia boasts the third-best offense in the NFL – averaging 30.5 points per game – but still has plenty of room for improvement. 2. The Cardinals defense is able to overwhelm opponents with its speed, but rarely does Arizona run into an offense that is quick than it. The Eagles attack will neutralize the Cardinals’ greatest strength on defense and sap the energy out of the stop unit. 3. While the Eagles offense gets all the headlines, the defense has been even better. Philadelphia just shutout the Giants 27-0 before the bye week and has proven it is a threat to score even without the football. The Eagles have three defensive scores and also pose a big threat on special teams, with two blocked punts equalling touchdowns and scores on punt and kick returns this season. Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-26-14 |
Detroit Lions v. Atlanta Falcons +3.5 |
|
22-21 |
Win
|
100 |
20 h 44 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Atlanta vs. Detroit @ 9:30 a.m. ET The Atlanta Falcons face the Detroit Lions in London, England Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Atlanta with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Falcons offense has sputtered the last three weeks, bottoming out in a 29-7 loss to Baltimore last week. Atlanta is looking at this overseas trip as a chance to wake up the scoring attack, which features one of the best receiving tandems in the league, in Julio Jones and Roddy White. Expect those playmakers to shine on this big stage. 2. Detroit has also struggled to score the football in recent weeks. The Lions haven’t been the same offense with WR Calvin Johnson on the sidelines and even if the dynamic wideout is playing, he’ll be less than 100 percent. Detroit has managed only 17.5 points per game the last six weeks, and only 16 points per game away from the Motor City. 3. Atlanta has covered the spread in four of their previous five meetings with Detroit, including three straight victories SU and ATS going back to 2008. The Falcons have outscored the Lions 88-55 in that span. Play on Atlanta as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-25-14 |
Arizona State v. Washington +3 |
Top |
24-10 |
Loss |
-105 |
26 h 16 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Washington vs. Arizona State @ 10:45 p.m. ET The Washington Huskies host the Arizona State Sun Devils Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Washington with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Arizona State finds this road trip to Washington sandwiched between two tough spots. The Sun Devils are coming off a huge win over Stanford and then host Utah the following week. There could be a total lack of focus on this dangerous Huskies squad. 2. Arizona State appears to be giving senior QB Taylor Kelly the nod for this game, after missing three games with a broken foot. The Huskies will put that tender foot to the test. Washington is second in the Pac-12 in sacks with 27 and thrives on putting pressure on the passer. Kelly will get flushed from the pocket and UW will expose his lack of mobility. 3. Washington QB Cyler Miles is doubtful with a concussion, putting the ball in the hands of freshman Troy Williams. Williams stepped in versus Oregon last week, passing for just 37 yards but showing his explosive running ability. He scrambled for 28 yards and a touchdown in relief of Miles. He won’t face much of a threat from the ASU defense, which has allowed opponents to score 27.8 points on 425.2 yards against per game. Play on Washington as a 10* Top Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-25-14 |
Ole Miss v. LSU +4 |
|
7-10 |
Win
|
100 |
23 h 47 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Louisiana State vs. Mississippi @ 7:15 p.m. ET The LSU Tigers host the Mississippi Rebels Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Louisiana State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Oddsmakers are in a rare spot, giving points to LSU at home in a huge night game on homecoming weekend. Tiger Stadium will be rocking and Ole Miss will succumb to Death Valley, one of the best home-field edges in college football. 2. The Tigers showed they still have claws with a 41-3 trouncing of Kentucky last weekend. Louisiana State has allowed an average of just 8.8 points per game at home this season, and boasts the fourth-ranked pass defense in the land, giving up just 156.2 yards per game through the air. 3. Ole Miss depends on turnovers to give its offensive extra chances, leading the SEC with 20 takeaways on the year. However, Louisiana State is a disciplined team that has only coughed the ball up nine times all season. The Tigers also force their fair share of turnovers as well, recording 16 takeaways heading into Week 9. Rebels QB Bo Wallace has fallen off the pace in recent games and completed only 46.4 percent of his passes against Tennessee last week. Play on Louisiana State as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-24-14 |
BYU +7 v. Boise State |
|
30-55 |
Loss |
-115 |
11 h 46 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Brigham Young at Boise State @ 9:00 p.m. ET The Boise State Broncos host the BYU Cougars Friday night. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Brigham Young with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Despite these teams separated by conference, this rivalry continues to be on the better lesser-known grudge matches in college football. Brigham Young won outright and covered last season at home and won ATS in Boise the year before. 2. The Cougars offense continued to put up big scores with backup QB Christian Stewart taking over for the injured Taysom Hill, throwing for 408 yards and four touchdowns while adding 47 yards on the ground versus Nevada last week. Brigham Young lost 42-35 but are more than capable of keeping pace with the Broncos. 3. BYU is expected to return top RB Jamaal Williams, who missed last week with an ankle injury. Williams rushed for 395 yards and scored three touchdowns before going down on October 9. His return gives Stewart some support in the backfield and will keep Boise State’s defense honest. The Broncos has allowed 101 points over the past three games. Play on Brigham Young as an 8* Regular Selection Friday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-23-14 |
San Diego Chargers +8.5 v. Denver Broncos |
|
21-35 |
Loss |
-110 |
22 h 14 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on San Diego at Denver @ 8:25 p.m. ET The Denver Broncos host the San Diego Chargers Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on San Diego with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Chargers have been a thorn in the side of the Broncos in recent years. The Bolts went into Mile High and won last December and took Denver to the brink in the postseason, covering the spread in both of those road games. Going back further, San Diego has come away with the cash in 11 of their last 17 clashes with their AFC West rivals, including two pushes in that span. 2. Denver is ripe for a letdown Thursday, coming off a one-sided win over San Francisco on Sunday Night Football. The short week won’t help things, either. Neither does a trip to New England the following week. 3. San Diego is one of the best time of possession teams in the NFL, chewing up an average of 32:37 per game – fifth best. Although the Bolts couldn’t control the football versus Kansas City last week, San Diego will look to sit on the ball and ice Peyton Manning on the sideline. In the win over Seattle, the Chargers dominated the clocked with 42:15 TOP. And, in their win at Denver in 2013, the Bolts burned through 38:49 in TOP. Expect a patient San Diego offense to take their time and limit how much action the Broncos potent pass game gets. Play on San Diego as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-23-14 |
Miami (Fla) v. Virginia Tech +3 |
|
30-6 |
Loss |
-110 |
22 h 1 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Virginia Tech vs. Miami @ 8:00 p.m. ET The Virginia Tech Hokies host the Miami Hurricanes Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Virginia Tech with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Virginia Tech is finally back home after two tough road games, including a loss to Pittsburgh last week. The Hokies are getting a field goal from oddsmakers after some less-than-impressive showings, but this is a must-win game for Virginia Tech which runs the risk of falling off the pace in the ACC Coastal. 2. The Hokies rushing attack couldn’t find traction with star RB Marshawn Williams out with an ankle injury versus Pitt. Williams’ status is not official but Miami coach Al Golden expects to see Virginia Tech’s freshman standout Thursday. The Hurricanes have struggled against the run this season, allowing 151.57 yards on the ground per game. 3. The Hokies have been cash cows versus the Canes in recent years, covering the spread in 10 of their previous 13 clashes. Virginia Tech has also won ATS in five of their last seven games versus Miami in Blacksburg. Play on Virginia Tech as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-20-14 |
Houston Texans v. Pittsburgh Steelers -3 |
Top |
23-30 |
Win
|
100 |
57 h 39 m |
Show
|
Rickenbach Monday NFL: *10* Pittsburgh (-) @ 8:30 ET - The Texans are earning respect this season after last year's debacle. But that is helping to give us some line value here. After opening up at a -4 this line has come down to a -3 and people are overlooking the fact that the Texans are 1-15 straight-up in their last 16 games as an underdog. In other words, it's easy to lay a small number against a team that has performed so poorly in the underdog role. The Texans are also 0-3 ATS on Monday Night Football in the prior two seasons. Though the Steelers fell short against Cleveland last week the result on the scoreboard was not reflective of the fact that the Steelers actually had more first downs than the Browns. Pittsburgh will be fired up nonetheless after an embarrassing 31-10 result in what was the 4th road game in 5 weeks for the Steelers. Pittsburgh is happy to be back home as this is just their 3rd home game this season. The Texans gave up over 450 yards of offense to the Colts last week while the Steelers held Cleveland to just 8 completed passes Sunday! Both of these teams run the ball well but the Steelers possess the much better defense and the line value is big here as people are overvaluing the Texans return to respectability this season while also undervaluing how solid this Steelers team still is (especially at home) because of the false final last week - Steelers played much better than 31-10 final would indicate. Grab the line value with a small home favorite that is very angry and fully prepared to put up a huge performance on their home field in primetime action.
|
10-19-14 |
San Francisco 49ers v. Denver Broncos -7 |
|
17-42 |
Win
|
106 |
33 h 49 m |
Show
|
Rickenbach Sunday NFL: *8* Denver (-) @ 8:30 ET - San Francisco is 2-1 on the road this season after coming back from a big deficit to beat the Rams in St Louis last week. Now, on a short week after MNF the 49'ers must travel to the high altitude of Denver and the Niners haven't traveled well this season. Yes they beat the Rams but they were down on the scoreboard for much of that game and San Francisco was also outgained in each of their two prior road games this season. Now they face one of the league's best teams and we get line value with the Broncos at home in this one. Denver has won all 3 of their home games by at least a TD this season and the margin should have been in even greater in their wins over Indianapolis and Kansas City. Late scoring was the difference in each one of those games. The Broncos are 18-6 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points the last 3 years combined. The 49'ers history of performance after playing on Monday Night Football is not good as they are 14-24 ATS. Also, when it's back to back road games and the latter road game is in the thin air of Colorado, the uphill climb is even steeper. Look for Denver to take it to San Francisco early and often in this one. Back to back primetime affairs will be tough for the Niners as this is a Sunday Night match-up. While the Broncos have had this game circled since failing to get the job done in their other biggest game so far this season...the loss at Seattle. Denver earns some respect back with a huge home win here.
|
10-19-14 |
NY Giants +7 v. Dallas Cowboys |
|
21-31 |
Loss |
-120 |
29 h 35 m |
Show
|
Rickenbach Sunday NFL: *8* New York Giants (+) @ 4:25 ET - This is the perfect spot to fade the public. Everyone saw Dallas upset the defending super bowl champs in Seattle last week. Then, on Sunday night, everyone saw the Giants lay and egg against the Eagles in a game where New York was dominated by Philadelphia in every facet of the game. This is precisely why this line has climbed as high as a full touchdown. In a divisional match-up where the Giants will be looking to get back in the NFC East race and the Cowboys will get caught still celebrating their huge road win to the West Coast, this one sets up perfectly for a play on the underdog. Note that home favorites who played at Seattle in their prior game have covered the spread just 3 times in the last 16 times this has occurred. Also note that Dallas is an ugly 3-9 ATS at home when they are off of a win. This is the week when the hype catches up to the Cowboys as the Giants have had this divisional match-up circled after losing both games to Dallas last season. After tough start to the season, the Giants offense was rolling for 3 straight games before they ran into a fired up Eagles time in primetime Sunday night action last week. Don't let the result fool you from last week, the Giants offense will bounce back and the defense will be fired up after hearing all about Romo and Murray all week long heading into this match-up. Look for the Giants to improve to 8-3 ATS in the month of October as they fight the Cowboys all the way in this one and have a good shot at the outright upset.
|
10-19-14 |
Arizona Cardinals v. Oakland Raiders +4 |
Top |
24-13 |
Loss |
-110 |
29 h 35 m |
Show
|
Rickenbach Sunday NFL: *10* Oakland (+) @ 4:25 ET - Here is another case of an ugly home dog worth the investment. The Raiders are still winless on the season but they are off of a very strong effort against the surprising Chargers last week and now Oakland is hosting an over-rated Cardinals team. Yes, Arizona has a solid record so far this season but they have been outgained in 3 of their last 4 games and it's only because of a positive turnover margin that they've achieved the record they have on this young season. We liked what we saw from QB Carr last week and the Raiders run game also got going. With Arizona having QB issues and dealing with many injuries on the defensive side of the ball, the Raiders will surprise many this week as we're grabbing the points but expecting the outright win. Note that Arizona has big games coming up against 5-1 Philly and 5-1 Dallas and the Cardinals will get caught overlooking an improved Raiders team here. Look for Arizona to drop to 3-8 ATS in the month of October while the Raiders improve to 6-2 ATS in October games and win for the 5th time in their 6 all-time meetings with the Cardinals. Arizona has been giving up a ton of yardage in recent weeks and the Raiders should enjoy another huge effort on offense just like last week against the Chargers.
|
10-19-14 |
Cleveland Browns v. Jacksonville Jaguars +6 |
|
6-24 |
Win
|
100 |
25 h 11 m |
Show
|
Rickenbach Sunday NFL: *8* Jacksonville (+) @ 1 ET - Cleveland's 31-10 victory over Pittsburgh looks impressive on the scoreboard but the yardage in the game was nearly equal and the Steelers actually had more first downs. In other words, the play on the field certainly wasn't reflected in the final numbers on the scoreboard! This is helping to give solid line value to the Jaguars in this one. Yes, Jacksonville is winless on the season but they almost notched their first victory at Tennessee last week. The Jaguars actually had 27 first downs compared to just 14 for the Titans. The gritty effort by the Jaguars on the road is indicative of the fight that these Jags team still has in them and getting to take on the Browns in the warmth and humidity of Jacksonville in October will also help the Jaguars in this one. Look for Cleveland to get caught still celebrating their huge divisional win over the Steelers from last weekend. The Jaguars do have a solid defensive line that excels at the pass rush and the Browns recently lost their all pro center, Mack. Look for the Browns to drop to 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games against teams with a losing record.
|
10-18-14 |
Stanford -3.5 v. Arizona State |
Top |
10-26 |
Loss |
-103 |
30 h 56 m |
Show
|
Rickenbach Saturday NCAAF Game #359 - *10* Stanford Cardinal @ 10:30 PM ET - The physicality of Stanford continues to dominate the Sun Devils in recent years. The last two times these teams have met The Cardinal have won by a combined 38 points. Look for more of the same here. The odds makers are certainly telling you something with this line. Arizona State has a better record and is ranked higher than Stanford and yet they are a home dog to The Cardinal. Don't be fooled, it is with good reason that Stanford is favored. The Cardinal only have one straight-up loss in Pac 12 action and that was a game in which they outgained USC by more than 100 yards but lost because of 2 turnovers compared to 0 turnovers for the Trojans. Stanford went a combined 13-7 in conference action the last two seasons and that type of dominance continues in this critical Pac 12 battle late Saturday night. There is a simply huge defensive edge for the Cardinal here that can not be ignored. Arizona State allows 215 more yards per game than does Stanford. Looking at each teams' game against Southern Cal exemplifies this. The Cardinal allowed less than 300 yards to the Trojans while the Sun Devils allowed nearly 500 yards to USC in their match-up two weeks ago. Note that Arizona State is 0-4 ATS the last three years as a dog of 3.5 to 10 points. Also, Arizona State is 8-14 ATS in games with a posted total between 52.5 and 56 points. This is not surprising because the Sun Devils prefer high scoring affairs. Get ASU involved in a lower scoring physical grudge match and they can not hang and that will be the case again here as Stanford's physicality wins out once again.
|
10-18-14 |
Tennessee +16.5 v. Ole Miss |
|
3-34 |
Loss |
-105 |
27 h 51 m |
Show
|
Rickenbach Saturday NCAAF Game #387 - *8* Tennessee Volunteers @ 7 PM ET - Ole Miss is an amazing 6-0 ATS in addition to being 6-0 straight-up this season. However, the Rebels allowed over 400 yards of passing last week and allowed a total of almost 400 yards of offense in their prior game as well. The point is that Mississippi has been playing with fire in recent games and if you play with fire long enough you eventually get burned. The Volunteers of Tennessee come into this game having displayed a solid defensive effort on the year. The Vols stubbed their toes in two games this season but in the other four games this season Tennessee has allowed an average of just 11.5 points per game. The combined record of those teams is 14-9 this season and none of those opponents have a losing record. The Vols will be fired up here to face one of the top-ranked teams in the country so a huge effort on the defensive side of the ball is expected. At the same time, the Rebels defense has certainly shown some chinks in its armor recently and the Volunteers will take full advantage. Note that Tennessee is 4-2 (80%) ATS as a road dog of 14.5 to 17 points. Also, the Volunteers are 23-12 ATS in road games with a posted total between 42.5 and 49 points. Though the Rebels have a phenomenal ATS record this season note that Mississippi is an ugly 7-13 ATS in home games with a posted total between 42.5 and 49 points. Look for the undefeated Rebels to get caught looking ahead to what they perceive to be their two toughest tests left on their schedule (hosting Auburn and a road game at LSU). That said, don't be surprised when the double digit underdog Volunteers give Ole Miss all they can handle in this one.
|
10-18-14 |
Baylor v. West Virginia +8.5 |
|
27-41 |
Win
|
100 |
21 h 7 m |
Show
|
Rickenbach Saturday NCAAF Game #326 - *8* West Virginia Mountaineers @ Noon ET - We faded Baylor last week and cashed in easily...although it should have been even easier. The Horned Frogs were up by 21 with less than 12 minutes to go in the game before the Bears rattled off 24 straight points. While there is no doubt that Baylor should be commended for their strong effort note that it will be much tougher to duplicate such an effort on the road. That said, all signs point to another big challenge for the Bears this week as they face the 4-2 Mountaineers. Remember last year West Virginia was a large dog against Oklahoma State and did get the upset win. This year, against Oklahoma, the Mountaineers gave the Sooners a big challenge deep into the game before finally falling short and failing to cover in the end. West Virginia beat Baylor the last time the Mountaineers hosted the Bears. But last year down in Texas the Mountaineers were embarrassed and they are seeking their revenge here. Baylor's early season schedule was filled with cupcakes and just as they've been exposed each of their last two games (note that Texas nearly equaled Baylor's yardage and TCU nearly beat the Bears), they once again will struggle against a respectable foe here. That gives great line value to the big home dog.
|
10-17-14 |
Temple +7.5 v. Houston |
|
10-31 |
Loss |
-115 |
12 h 48 m |
Show
|
Rickenbach Friday NCAAF *8* Temple Owls + points @ 9 ET - The Owls catch Houston in a good spot here as the Cougars will get caught still celebrating their outright upset road victory at Memphis. Last week, Houston knocked off the Tigers thanks to five Memphis turnovers. Note that the Cougars only had 15 first downs in the game and they will struggle to get any kind of positive margin on the scoreboard against the Owls in this one. Temple is seeking revenge for last year's 22-13 loss to the Cougars and the Owls are allowing an average of just 14 points per game this season. The current total posted on this game is 51 points and note that the Owls are an amazing 9-1 (90%) ATS in road games with a posted total between 49.5 and 52 points. The Cougars have turned the ball over 13 times in their 4 home games this season. As for the Owls, they have forced 10 turnovers in their two road games this season. Continued opportunistic play on the part of the Owls while the Cougars offense continues to struggle means this game could be an outright upset for the road team. Even if Temple does not pull off the upset, the Owls should easily stay within one score here and that's all that is needed to cash this ticket. Play Temple plus the points as a regular *8* selection Friday night.
|
10-16-14 |
NY Jets +10 v. New England Patriots |
|
25-27 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 23 m |
Show
|
Thursday NFL *8* New York Jets + the points @ 8:25 ET - Taking big dogs in games where weather has potential to be a strong factor is a smart play. Weather can be the great equalizer. That said, a lot of rain is expected in Foxboro Thursday and it's not expected to let up until the latter stages of this game Thursday night. Though the New York Jets have looked ugly this season, a primetime divisional match-up will have them fully focused and the weather is likely to help neutralize a solid Patriots offense. Note that New England is just 7-10 ATS the L3YR when they enter a game off of two or more consecutive wins. The Patriots enter this game off of wins against the Bengals and Bills but now face a Jets team that has covered three of it's last four match-ups with the Pats. Yes, the Jets are an ugly 0-5-1 ATS this season but that is also what is helping to drive the line value in this one. New England was installed as a huge home favorite here and the weather could be a deterrent to the Pats being able to impose their will against the Jets Thursday night. With New York sitting at 1-5 on the season this is truly their biggest game of the year remaining on their schedule. The only other primetime game the Jets have scheduled is a Monday night game later in the season against a Dolphins team that is only 2-3 on the season. With that said, expect a fully focused effort from the Jets in this one as they will pull out all the stops to remain competitive against a hated division rival. Play the New York Jets plus the points as a regular *8* play Thursday night.
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10-14-14 |
UL-Lafayette +3 v. Texas State |
|
34-10 |
Win
|
100 |
12 h 52 m |
Show
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Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Tuesday 8* (Regular Play) on Louisiana @ Texas State @ 8 p.m. ET The Texas State Bobcats host the UL Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Louisiana with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Texas State is off of a 35-30 win over Idaho last week but the Bobcats were a 17 point favorite in that one so they certainly did not impress. In fact, the first downs in that game were 33 to 14 in favor of the Vandals so Texas State was living by the big play in that game. The "false final" that resulted in that game is helping to give some line value here as, even though this game is being played at Texas State, the wrong team is favored. 2. Louisiana is coming off of a 34 to 31 win over Georgia State. Though the Ragin' Cajuns failed to cover the big number in that one it had a lot to do with being off of a bye week which followed a tough loss at Boise State. The fact that UL Lafayette has battled the likes of teams like Boise State and Mississippi on the road this season helps to prepare them for a road match-up like this rare Tuesday night affair. The Bobcats schedule pales in comparison to the schedule the Ragin' Cajuns have faced. 3. Over the last 3 seasons Louisiana is 4-1 ATS in games where the posted line is between -3 and +3. In other words, the Ragin' Cajuns thrive on key match-ups expected to be close games. They prove that again here. As for the Bobcats, look for Texas State to drop to 5-10 ATS in games against conference competition as they've continually struggled to get the cash against conference foes in recent seasons. Play on Louisiana as an 8* Regular Selection Tuesday. Good luck, Scott.
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10-13-14 |
San Francisco 49ers v. St. Louis Rams +3.5 |
|
31-17 |
Loss |
-115 |
57 h 8 m |
Show
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Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on St. Louis vs. San Francisco @ 8:30 p.m. ET The St. Louis Rams host the San Francisco 49ers Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on St. Louis with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Niners continue to struggle on offense, despite a surplus of talent. San Francisco is averaging only 22 points per game. The 49ers have been able to run the ball but will need to air it out to cover this spread Monday – averaging only 207 passing yards per game. Colin Kaepernick has seven passing TDs to four INTs this season. 2. Rams QB Austin Davis is playing beyond his years, passing for 1,129 yards and completing 67.8 percent of his throws. He’s coming off a 375-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Eagles last week. He’s put up 702 yards and six TDs in the past two games. 3. This Rams offense has been able to keep the chains moving on third down, boasting a 46.15 percent success rate. Davis has been a rock on third downs, completing 70.3 percent of his passes and connecting for five of his touchdowns. St. Louis will pick up those needed yards and milk the clock, wearing down the Niners defense. Play on St. Louis as an 8* Regular Selection Monday. Good luck, Scott.
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10-12-14 |
NY Giants v. Philadelphia Eagles -2.5 |
Top |
0-27 |
Win
|
100 |
46 h 10 m |
Show
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Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia vs. NY Giants @ 8:30 p.m. ET The Philadelphia Eagles host the New York Giants Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Eagles offense has hit a bit of a speed bump in recent weeks. They were shutout versus the 49ers and managed two touchdown against the Rams last week. Chip Kelly has worked with QB Nick Foles in improving his execution and RB LeSean McCoy is anxious to have a breakout game after struggling to live up to his standards. 2. Philadelphia doesn’t need to have the football to score. The Eagles have scored four non-offensive touchdowns – two off blocked punts – and go up against a Giants team that has been prone to mistakes in the past. 3. New York’s already thin rushing corps took another knock when RB Rashad Jennings went down with a knee injury. That leaves rookie RB Andre Williams to shoulder the load. The Giants offense may be forced out of its game plan if Williams can’t gain ground, leaving Eli Manning open to the Eagles’ lightning-quick blitz packages. Philadelphia has 11 sacks on the season, including four against St. Louis last Sunday. Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
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10-12-14 |
Dallas Cowboys v. Seattle Seahawks -7.5 |
|
30-23 |
Loss |
-110 |
43 h 22 m |
Show
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Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Seattle vs. Dallas @ 4:25 p.m. ET The Seattle Seahawks host the Dallas Cowboys Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Seattle with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Dallas has leaned on the run game this season, jumping on the back of DeMarco Murray and taking some of the pressure off Tony Romo to produce. Murray goes up against the top run stop unit in the league, throwing a major wrench in the Cowboys’ game plans. 2. Dallas’ linebacker corps is banged up with Bruce Carter and Rolando McClain listed as questionable this week. While it looks like at least one of the two will play Sunday, they’re facing a bruising back in Marshawn Lynch – who hits just as hard as any linebacker – and a sleek dual-threat QB in Russell Wilson. Those two combined for 194 yards on the ground against the Redskins last Monday. Dallas ranks 20th against the run, giving up 122 rushing yards per game. 3. Seattle is coming off a less-than-stellar effort against Washington – a game that was much closer than the final score indicated - and is looking to return to form in front of its frenzied home fans. The Seahawks have covered in 40 of their previous 18 games in front of the 12th Man, with one push in that span. Play on Seattle as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
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10-11-14 |
Alabama -9 v. Arkansas |
Top |
14-13 |
Loss |
-110 |
29 h 26 m |
Show
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Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Alabama at Arkansas @ 6:00 p.m. ET The Arkansas Razorbacks host the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Alabama with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Alabama was stunned in Oxford last week and took a lot of heat in the media this week. Head coach Nick Saban will want to shut up those doubters with a perfect performance on the road Saturday. Expect him to show no mercy. 2. Arkansas doesn’t have the defensive prowess to slow down Alabama. The Tide boast a balance attack that’s putting up 549.2 yards an outing – 10th in the country. The Hogs allowed 45 and 35 points to SEC opponents already this season, setting the bar for a Bama blowout. 3. Arkansas is dependent on the run game, sitting seventh in the country in yards on the ground. They’ll run into a massive Alabama defensive line that has limited opponent to just 64 yards rushing per game. Bama crushed Arkansas 52-0 last season, holding the Hogs to 165 yards on the ground, and covered easily. The Crimson Tide has covered the spread in five of their last six clashes with the Razorbacks. Play on Alabama as a 10* Top Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
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10-11-14 |
TCU +8 v. Baylor |
|
58-61 |
Win
|
100 |
29 h 60 m |
Show
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Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Texas Christian at Baylor @ 3:30 p.m. ET The Baylor Bears host the TCU Horned Frogs Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Texas Christian with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Baylor didn’t look go in its win over Texas last weekend. The Bears narrowly avoided a potential upset thanks to a goal-line fumble from the Horns and a fake punt that picked up a crucial first down in the second half. Baylor now faces a much tougher challenge in TCU, which just flexed its Big 12 muscle in a win against Oklahoma. 2. The Horned Frogs are once again the defensive elite in the conference. Texas Christian’s stop unit came up huge against the Sooners last Saturday and roll into Waco ranked seventh in points allowed (13.5) and yards allowed (279.2) per game. 3. While defense is the life blood of this TCU squad, it showed it can be just as dominant with the football. The Horned Frogs scored 37 points versus OU and has ranks 12th in scoring in the nation, with an average of 42.8 per contests and dual-threat Trevone Boykin has injected his name into the Heisman conversation after posting 395 total yards of offense last week. Play on Texas Christian as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
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10-11-14 |
Georgia -2.5 v. Missouri |
|
34-0 |
Win
|
100 |
20 h 35 m |
Show
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Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Georgia at Missouri @ 12:00 p.m. ET The Missouri Tigers host the Georgia Bulldogs Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Georgia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The suspension of UGA star RB Todd Gurley may have scared off some bettors but there is plenty of firepower behind Gurley on the Bulldogs depth chart. Backups Nick Chubb and Sony Michel have combined for 447 rushing yards and five touchdowns this season. 2. Georgia may lean on the run game but has a very talented passing attack that will get a few more takes Saturday. Quarterback Hutson Mason is completing 68 percent of his passes and has thrown seven TDs to just three INTs. 3. Missouri’s offense isn’t as potent as once thought. After picking on cupcakes in the early going, the Tigers have scored just 48 combined points the last two games – a big dip from their season average of 34.6. Georgia’s offense may get the headlines but this Bulldogs defense is one of the most talented in the land, locking down opponents to just 335 yards per game. Play on Georgia as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
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10-10-14 |
San Diego State -4 v. New Mexico |
|
24-14 |
Win
|
100 |
50 h 51 m |
Show
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Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 8* (Regular Play) on San Diego State vs. New Mexico @ 9:30 p.m. ET The New Mexico Lobos host the San Diego State Aztecs Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on San Diego State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. San Diego State is showing confidence in freshmen QB Nick Bawden, who is taking snaps for the injured Quinn Kaehler. Bawden didn’t turn too many heads in the loss to Fresno State last week but he should be more collected and confident with another week working with the first teamers. Bawden can make plays with his legs if need, picking up 36 yards on eight carries versus the Bulldogs. It should be noted that his two interceptions were tipped before falling into the hands of the defense. 2. San Diego State head coach Rocky Long has the inside edge on Friday’s opponent, having served at New Mexico for 10 seasons. Long left for SDSU in 2008 but will feel right at home in Albuquerque Friday night, putting his players at ease in this road game. 3. The Lobos defense is among the bottom of the college football heap, ranked 119th in yards against (501.6 ypg) and allowing 33.6 points against. The Aztecs can ground and pound behind RB Donnel Pumphrey, who has rushed for 561 yards and nine touchdowns – tied for third for most rushing TDs in the country. Play on San Diego State as an 8* Regular Selection Friday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-09-14 |
Indianapolis Colts -2.5 v. Houston Texans |
|
33-28 |
Win
|
100 |
48 h 32 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Indianapolis at Houston @ 8:25 p.m. ET The Houston Texans host the Indianapolis Colts Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Indianapolis with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Houston Texans live and die through their defense. If the stop unit can create chaos and force turnovers – often times scoring on those turnovers – the pressure is off a lack lustre offense to produce. Unfortunately for Houston, the Colts do a good job protecting the football. Indianapolis only has two fumbles on the season, those actually coming last week against the Ravens. A reinforced lesson on securing the ball this week will limit those mistakes Thursday. 2. The Texans offense is banged up coming into a short week. Receiver Andre Johnson and RB Arian Foster were both question marks to play in Dallas last Sunday and now have a closing window to heel up before Thursday. Foster was very vocal about his disdain for the weekday games in the media, still playing on a tender hamstring that has him limited in practice this week. Johnson also missed practice with an ankle injury but is expected to play. 3. While the Colts offense is getting all the headlines – and very well should be leading the league in scoring (31.2 ppg) – the defense has done a great job pressuring opposing passers and picking up 12 sacks on the season. Indianapolis had four sacks versus the Ravens in Week 5. Houston QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has struggled with interceptions with good protection – tossing six INTs to just five TDs – so things could get ugly when the Colts pressure forces him to throw some wayward passes. Play on Indianapolis as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday. Good luck, Scott.
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10-09-14 |
BYU +3.5 v. Central Florida |
|
24-31 |
Loss |
-110 |
46 h 2 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on BYU at Central Florida @ 7:30 p.m. ET The Central Florida Knights host the BYU Cougars Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on BYU with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. BYU is being discounted by oddsmakers after the loss of star quarterback and Heisman hopeful Taysom Hill, who broken his leg last week against Utah State. The ball is handed to backup Christian Stewart, who had a rough outing in relief of Hill, throwing three interceptions in the loss to the Aggies. Stewart has now had a week to run with the first teamers and the senior will be called upon to manage the game, not make plays like Hill. There is enough talent around him to keep the chains moving and keep BYU competitive. 2. The Cougars will lean on RB Jamaal Williams and a dumbed-down playbook against the Knight Thursday. Brigham Young relied on Hill to pick up gains on the ground but Williams has 395 yards rushing and three touchdowns, and will get a lot more touched Thursday. Central Florida gave up 117 yards rushing to Houston last week and allowed those Cougars to control the clock, with a 32:17/27:43 edge in time of possession. Expect BYU to grind it out on the ground and eat the clock in those road spot. 3. Central Florida barely squeaked out a victory versus Houston last week, forcing a goal-line fumble to save the ‘W’. The Knights have struggled to produce points this season. Outside of beating up on FCS Bethune Cookman for 41 points, UCF has only averaged 17 points in its other three contests. The Cougars defense is giving up only 22 points per contest and rank among the toughest run defenses in the country. Play on BYU as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-06-14 |
Seattle Seahawks v. Washington Redskins +8.5 |
|
27-17 |
Loss |
-135 |
58 h 49 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL 8* Monday (Regular Play) on Washington vs. Seattle @ 8:30 p.m. ET The Washington Redskins host the Seattle Seahawks Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Washington with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Seahawks have enjoyed a bye week to prepare for this Monday nighter but Washington has also had an extended period to ready for the defending Super Bowl champs. The Redskins played the Thursday night game last week, giving them 11 days off to tinker with their sets and pound out a game play for the Seahawks, who make a cross-country trip to DC. 2. The Washington pass rush is one of the best in the league. Featuring the likes of Jason Hatcher, Ryan Kerrigan, and Brian Orakpo, the Redskins front seven will throw the kitchen sink at Seattle QB Russell Wilson and try to get him on the run. The front seven has also swallowed up opposing rushers, giving up only 87 yards on the ground per game this season. Washington is going to take the lanes away and force Seattle to throw the ball. 3. In their loss to San Diego, the Seahawks were dominated in time of possession, allowing the Chargers to hang on to the football for more than 42 minutes. Washington will take a similar plan of attack, leaning on RB Alfred Morris to ground and pound against the defense and chew up as much clock as possible. The Redskins have had success when Morris gets the lion’s share of the offensive workload and head coach Jay Gruden has hinted at a healthy dose of the run game Monday night. Play on Washington as an 8* Regular Selection Monday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-05-14 |
Cincinnati Bengals v. New England Patriots +2 |
Top |
17-43 |
Win
|
100 |
47 h 12 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL 10* (Top Play) on New England vs. Cincinnati @ 8:30 p.m. ET The New England Patriots host the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on New England with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. It seems like the betting market is ready to write off the Patriots after their embarrassing loss on Monday Night Football. New England found itself in a tough spot last Monday – a spot even the best of teams would struggle in. The Pats were playing their third road game in four weeks and it happened to be at one of the toughest venues in the NFL, Arrowhead Stadium. A return home for a primetime game is just what Belichick, Brady & Co. need. 2. There is reason to panic in New England. The Patriots run the risk of falling off the pace in the AFC and can’t afford to let these home games slip away. New England are a solid bet at home, covering in seven of its last nine inside Gillette Stadium. 3. The Bengals have built a 3-0 record against some shoddy defensive clubs. They were able to knockoff the Falcons and Titans, who ranked 29th and 28th respectively in points against, and took down AFC North rival Baltimore which ranks among the bottom of the league in pass defense (260.2 yards per game). Cincinnati gets a test versus a Patriots defense that boasts one of the better linebacker corps in the NFL. They’ll be able to pressure QB Andy Dalton –something opponents haven’t been able to do - and snuff out the short pass to RB Giovanni Bernard. Play on New England as a 10* Top Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-05-14 |
Arizona Cardinals v. Denver Broncos -7.5 |
|
20-41 |
Win
|
100 |
54 h 33 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Denver vs. Arizona @ 4:05 p.m. ET The Denver Broncos host the Arizona Cardinals Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Denver with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Arizona is expected to start backup Drew Stanton in place of the injured Carson Palmer Sunday. While Stanton was solid in his last outing, this Denver defense has had two weeks to prepare for the backup. The Broncos’ pass rush is picking up steam with eight sacks in the first three games and will look to make life uncomfortable for Stanton and the Cardinals offensive line. 2. Peyton Manning has had two week to stew over the overtime loss to Seattle in Week 3. Manning brought the Broncos back and forced the added time but didn’t get a chance to take the field in OT. He’s hungry to erase that loss and get Denver back on track. The Broncos have covered in each of their last six games coming off a loss. 3. Arizona’s defense doesn’t have the pass rush to disturb Manning. The Cardinals have just three sacks on the year and have allowed 244.7 passing yards per game – ranked 18th in the NFL. This defense needs the pass rush to hurry the opposing QB in order to force mistakes and create turnover chances for the secondary, and that isn’t happening. This is an overly aggressive pass defense that could get burned by Manning’s pump fakes and passing prowess. Play on Denver as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-05-14 |
Houston Texans +7 v. Dallas Cowboys |
|
17-20 |
Win
|
100 |
50 h 29 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Houston at Dallas @ 1:00 p.m. ET The Dallas Cowboys host the Houston Texans Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Houston with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Cowboys are a bit of a shocker to start the season 3-1, coming off a massive victory over New Orleans on Sunday Night Football last week. This Dallas team is ripe for a letdown in Week 5, especially with Texans fans migrating to Arlington and spoiling the Cowboys already-weak home-field advantage inside AT&T Stadium. 2. Dallas’ three wins have come against struggling defensive squads. It’s only real test on that side of the ball was San Francisco in Week 1, and all the Niners did was pick off Tony Romo three times and forced three Cowboys fumbles – recovering one. The Texans thrive on turnovers caused by the pass rush, as we saw from J.J. Watt & Co. against Buffalo last Sunday. 3. Dallas’ defense has played beyond itself in the last three games. The Cowboys, which ranked dead last in the league in defense in 2013, are still pretty much the same unit minus the injured Sean Lee and some departed stars. They’ve been able to create more turnovers, and have gotten extra down time with the offense running the ball more often than last season. It’s easy to look good when you’re not on the field. Houston’s defense will make for quick three-and-outs and force this shaky Dallas stop unit to play added minutes. Expect the other cleat to drop for Big D’s ‘D’ Sunday afternoon. Play on Houston as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-04-14 |
Miami (Fla) +2 v. Georgia Tech |
Top |
17-28 |
Loss |
-105 |
45 h 28 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Miami at Georgia Tech @ 7:30 p.m. ET The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets host the Miami Hurricanes Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Miami with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Things are starting to fall into place for this young but talented Miami squad. The Canes are coming off a big win over Duke last weekend, defeating the Blue Devils thanks to a dominating defense that only allowed 10 points and 264 total yards, while picking off two passes and recovering a fumble in the big ACC victory. 2. Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense can be a handful for most teams, but Al Golden’s Hurricanes have seen it all before. In fact, Miami has had great success shutting down the Yellow Jackets’ rushing game. Miami has won five in a row against GT, covering in all five of those games. The Canes possess the speed on defense to close in on runners and make the tackle before they pick up steam. 3. Miami freshman QB Brad Kaaya is getting more comfortable in his role. After being plagued by turnovers in his first few games under center, Kaaya passed for two touchdown on 223 yards with no interception against Duke. He hasn’t been rattled on the road either, with his stats actually improving in enemy territory. The Yellow Jackets don’t have much standing in the way this week. Georgia Tech allows 401.2 yards per game and has allowed a total of 62 points the last two games. Play on Miami as a 10* Top Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-04-14 |
Baylor v. Texas +15.5 |
|
28-7 |
Loss |
-110 |
42 h 30 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Texas vs. Baylor @ 3:30 p.m. ET The Texas Longhorns host the Baylor Bears Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Texas with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. While these programs are heading in different directions, this is a Texas-sized rivalry in which many of those stats and records get tossed out the window. Texas has dominated this Big 12 battle but recently the Bears have taken on the rolls of favorites, sparking a talented Texas team to relish the role of spoiler at home Saturday. 2. The Longhorns are being discounted for losing to two very talented teams in BYU and UCLA, and got a lot of confidence back by blanking Kansas last weekend. This is a talented defense that limited the Bruins to just 20 points – only three points in the first half – back in Week 3. They’re second behind Baylor in the conference with 16 sacks and already have nine interceptions and six forced fumbles. 3. Baylor is lighting up the scoreboard but has yet to be tested by a defense like Texas. The Bears have punished cushy stop units like Iowa State and small-conference cupcakes but could get a rude awakening against a young but talented Texas team. On top of that, BU has a huge matchup with TCU next week and could get caught looking past this hungry rival and to the Horned Frogs dominating defense. Play on Texas as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-02-14 |
Minnesota Vikings v. Green Bay Packers -9 |
|
10-42 |
Win
|
100 |
46 h 27 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Green Bay vs. Minnesota @ 8:25 p.m. ET The Green Bay Packers host the Minnesota Vikings Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Green Bay with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Packers got their groove back against the Bears this past weekend, with the offense finally waking up and producing 38 points on 358 yards of offense – 302 coming from the arm of Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay knows that Minnesota is a much-improved defense but there are too many weapons on the Packers attack and this unit is starting to click. 2. Green Bay’s defense had its moments in Week 4. It was bowled over by the run game but managed to lock down the Bears potent passing game for just 17 points while picking off two passes and forcing three fumbles. The Packers stop unit won’t be taking on the same threats against Minnesota, which trots out a rookie QB on a bum wheel and running game missing its biggest star. Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater, who was impressive in his first career start, is nursing an ankle injury and had a short week to recover. If he does play, you can expect Green Bay to throw pressure at the young passer in order to move him around and test that injury. 3. Minnesota has improved with Mike Zimmer taking over, but stopping the run remains a sore spot for the stop unit. The Vikings have allowed 113.2 yards on the ground per game despite playing opponents not known for their dominant ground games. The Packers can do some serious damage and take pressure off Rodgers with Eddie Lacy gaining ground. He only carried the ball 17 times against the Bears and has been relatively quiet to start the season – rushing for 161 yards and one touchdown. Lacy is primed for a breakout game and Thursday night is the perfect stage. He had 110 yards and a touchdown and 94 yards and a score in the two games against Minnesota last season. Play on Green Bay as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday. Good luck, Scott.
|
10-02-14 |
Central Florida +3.5 v. Houston |
|
17-12 |
Win
|
100 |
45 h 35 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Central Florida at Houston @ 7:00 p.m. ET The Houston Cougars host the Central Florida Knights Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Central Florida with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Central Florida need some time to retool following two tough losses and a pick-me-up win against FCS Bethune Cookman two weeks ago. The Knights are coming off a bye week, giving QB Justin Holman more time to work his way into the offense and create chemistry with his deep receiving corps. Expect a big uptick from the 204.3 yards passing average UCF has posted through three games. 2. Houston is not the explosive team it once was. It has puffed up its scoring number against FCS Grambling State and a weak UNLV team, but had to battle for touchdown versus Texas-San Antonio and BYU. The Cougars have taken to the turf in recent outings and run into a UCF defense that has allowed only 102.3 yards rushing per game so far this season – 20th in the country. The Knights limited Penn State to 57 total rushing yards and slowed down Bethune Cookman to 72 yards on 42 carries – an average of just 1.7 yards per carry. 3. The Knight have won four in a row over Houston and have also taken four straight conference openers going back to their days in the C-USA. Central Florida plays four mid-week matchups this week – a roll the UCF players enjoy. And UCF backers have also loved those weekday games, with the Knights covering in each of their previous Thursday night matchups. Play on Central Florida as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-29-14 |
New England Patriots v. Kansas City Chiefs +3.5 |
|
14-41 |
Win
|
100 |
59 h 55 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Kansas City vs. New England @ 8:30 p.m. ET The Kansas City Chiefs host the New England Patriots Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Kansas City with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The oddsmakers are giving New England far too much credit in this Monday matchup when the truth is the Patriots have done nothing of note so far in 2014. They’ve beaten two terrible teams – Minnesota and Oakland – and couldn’t cover the 14-point against the Raiders last week. New England lost on the road in Miami in Week 1 and now heads to one of the toughest venues in the NFL – Arrowhead Stadium. 2. Tom Brady is showing his age in 2014, passing for just 632 yards through three games with a dismal 58.8 completion rate and 82.9 QB rating. The Patriots offense doesn’t have the deep ball threats it used to and Brady doesn’t have the arm strength or accuracy to take advantage of his open targets. Kansas City won’t have any issues plugging up the short passing lanes, currently ranking 10th against the pass and allowing just 223.7 yards through the air per game. 3. The Chiefs offense is starting to gain traction, scoring 34 points against Miami in Week 3. Kansas City returns RB Jamaal Charles from an ankle sprain this week, giving them a dynamic rushing attack with fellow RB Knile Davis emerging as a true red-zone threat. They also get speedster De'Anthony Thomas in the mix after he missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury. New England’s defense has put up some impressive numbers against weak opponents but will be exposed against a loaded KC offense Monday night. Play on Kansas City as an 8* Regular Selection Monday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-28-14 |
New Orleans Saints -3 v. Dallas Cowboys |
|
17-38 |
Loss |
-105 |
36 h 33 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on New Orleans at Dallas @ 8:30 p.m. ET The Dallas Cowboys host the New Orleans Saints Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on New Orleans with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. New Orleans needs a big game after starting the season with back-to-back losses. The Saints were able to take a win over a beleaguered Vikings side last week, and ride momentum into Sunday Night Football. While New Orleans has struggled away from home, the Saints will be comfortable inside the fast track of AT&T Stadium which will have a large cheering section for the opposing side – which is always the way in Arlington. New Orleans always seems to shine on the primetime stage too, and has been a moneymaker on the Sunday night broadcast in the past. 2. Dallas defense hasn’t been truly tested yet. Remember, this stop unit ranked dead last in the NFL last season and didn’t improve at all. The Cowboys have played three offensively-challenged teams in San Francisco, Tennessee, and St. Louis, and now go up against a power Saints attack that will bully the soft Dallas secondary with bigger stronger receivers. 3. The Cowboys have been able to find offensive success behind RB DeMarco Murray, who leads the NFL in rushing through three weeks. However, the Cowboys could be quick to abandon the run if – and when – they get down on the scoreboard to the Saints. That puts the ball in the hands of Tony Romo, who is not the same potent passer he was before undergoing back surgery this offseason. Romo is having a tough time hitting his targets on deep routes and has already been picked off four times this season. Play on New Orleans as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-28-14 |
Philadelphia Eagles +5 v. San Francisco 49ers |
Top |
21-26 |
Push |
0 |
32 h 40 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia at San Francisco @ 4:25 p.m. ET The San Francisco 49ers host the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Eagles roll into Levis Stadium with a ton of momentum, starting the season 3-0. The scary thing is that Philadelphia has not yet played a complete game. The Eagles have found themselves playing from behind in all three weeks, but with a challenge like San Francisco on the road, expect Philadelphia to put in its first full four-quarter effort Sunday. 2. Philadelphia has been stellar in the final 15 minutes of games. While they’ve had to battle back on the scoreboard, the Eagles have dominated the fourth quarter after wearing down opponents with their up-tempo offensive pace all game. The 49ers have been the opposite. San Francisco has fallen apart at the end of games and has failed to score a single point in the fourth quarter in each of its first three games. 3. The Niners defense hasn’t been able to absorb the losses of Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman, allowing opponents to air it out for 226.3 yards per game and registering only four sacks. The Eagles will stretch the linebackers out with their dynamic passing game, hitting LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles for quick tosses then setting up downfield strikes. McCoy has yet live up to his top billing, and a big stage like this seem like the perfect place for the playmaker to have his breakout game. Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-28-14 |
Carolina Panthers +3.5 v. Baltimore Ravens |
|
10-38 |
Loss |
-115 |
28 h 17 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Carolina at Baltimore @ 1 p.m. ET The Baltimore Ravens host the Carolina Panthers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Carolina with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. This matchup features two teams who lean on the run but don’t necessarily have the horse to execute that game plan Sunday. However, while Baltimore struggles to find legs behind the injured Bernard Pierce, the Panthers welcome back DeAngelo Williams. Williams gives Carolina balance on offense and will chew up some clock, keeping the ball out of the hand of the Ravens offense and wearing down a thinning defensive unit. 2. Carolina was supposed to struggle with the pass game this season but rookie WR Kelvin Benjamin and TE Greg Olsen have stepped up, giving the Panthers legit weapons downfield. Cam Newton is getting healthy and should improve on a pass game that ranks 10th overall in the NFL, averaging 259.7 passing yards per game. 3. This Carolina defense is ready to rebound from a poor outing against Pittsburgh last week. The Panthers, who boast one of the top stop units in the league, allowed 37 points to the Steelers in Week 3. However, Ron Rivera are his defense have been working on fixing any leaks and are eager to erase that embarrassing performance. With the Ravens run game banged up, Baltimore will need to lean on the pass more to move the chains. The Panthers can get aggressive and throw a lot of pressure at QB Joe Flacco. Carolina has eight sacks for far this season, and led the NFL with 60 sacks in 2013. Play on Carolina as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-27-14 |
Nevada -5 v. San Jose State |
Top |
21-10 |
Win
|
100 |
30 h 21 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Nevada at San Jose State @ 10:30 p.m. ET The San Jose State Spartans host the Nevada Wolf Pack Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Nevada with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Nevada has had an extra week to prepare for San Jose State, enjoying a bye following their close loss to Arizona. The Wolf Pack showed it could run with the big boys but hanging 28 points on the Wildcats, despite a slowed-down attack that dominates time of possession. Nevada eats up 36:32 per game, which ranks fifth nationally. 2. San Jose State has a hard enough time scoring with the football – let alone when its offense is cooling on the sidelines for extended periods. The Spartans have mustered only 20.7 points per game through three games, including a lone touchdown in the loss to Minnesota. San Jose State is also working in a new QB in Joe Gray after Blake Jurich struggled to move the chains and the offense committed five turnovers last week. Expect more delays as this offense sputters with a new QB under center. 3. Nevada is able to wear down opponents with its clock-eating attack and dominating ground game. The Wolf Pack managed just 108 yards rushing versus Arizona, due to playing from behind, but will look to get RB Don Jackson going early. Nevada also has a capable passing game with QB Cody Fajardo airing it out for 321 yards and three touchdowns versus the Wildcats two weeks ago. Play on Nevada as a 10* Top Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-27-14 |
Stanford v. Washington +8 |
|
20-13 |
Win
|
100 |
24 h 17 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Washington vs. Stanford @ 4:15 p.m. ET The Washington Huskies host the Stanford Cardinal Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Washington with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Stanford hasn’t played up to its usual standards but books are still making the Cardinals sizable favorites in this Pac-12 matchup. Stanford is prime for a lookahead against a dangerous rival, with a trip to South Bend on the schedule the following week for a huge game with the Irish. 2. Washington is 4-0 out of the gate and is improving each week. While it looked shaky versus Hawaii in Week 1, it is coming off convincing wins over Illinois and Georgia State. The Huskies have a potent offense, averaging 41.2 points per game heading into Saturday. Stanford has some impressive stats on defense but have padded their number against some weaker opponents, and the loss to Southern Cal looks even worse with USC stumbling in its last game. 3. Overshadowed by Washington’s success on offense is a Huskies stop unit that has kept opposing passers on the run. Washington has recorded 19 sacks – tied for the national lead – and will make life uncomfortable for Stanford QB Kevin Hogan, who has been sacked six times through three games. Play on Washington as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-26-14 |
Fresno State -5 v. New Mexico |
|
35-24 |
Win
|
100 |
28 h 26 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Fresno State at New Mexico @ 8:00 p.m. ET The New Mexico Lobos host the Fresno State Bulldogs Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Fresno State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Fresno State took a break from one of the toughest non-conference slates in the country to beat up on FCS Southern Utah last week, thumping the Thunderbirds 56-16 as 17.5-point favorites. The Bulldogs’ previous three games came against football heavyweights Southern Cal, Utah and Nebraska. This matchup with New Mexico is a step down in competition for FSU, which shouldn’t be intimidated by hitting the road for a Friday night fight. 2. Fresno State’s defense was bullied by those big-name programs, currently ranking 125th in yards against per game, but isn’t as bad as those stats would indicate. The Bulldogs defeated the Lobos 69-28 last year on the arm of now-departed Derek Carr, and know that this year it will need to slow down New Mexico’s triple-option offense and win this matchup with defense. 3. The Bulldogs offensive production is a bit skewed as well, going against elite competition for the first three games. Fresno State was still able to do some damage against those major conference powers and showed an explosive rushing attack versus Southern Utah, racking up 389 yards on the ground. The Lobos have been bulldozed by opposing teams this season, giving up an average of 309 yards per game on the ground – dead last in the FBS. New Mexico narrowly escaped with a win over rival New Mexico State and failed to cover as a 4-point favorite because it couldn’t slow down the Aggies on third down. Now, with Fresno State pushing the pile for easy third-down conversions, the Lobos won’t be able to stop the chains from moving Friday night. Play on Fresno State as an 8* Regular Selection Friday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-25-14 |
UCLA -4 v. Arizona State |
|
62-27 |
Win
|
100 |
13 h 8 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on UCLA Arizona State @ 10 p.m. ET The Arizona State Sun Devils host the UCLA Bruins Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on UCLA with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Bruins have a curtain over their QB plans Thursday night, staying silent on whether or not star quarterback Brett Hundley will take the field. Hundley is nursing an elbow injury and could give way to backup Jerry Neuheisel, who showed he was capable of the starting gig with a two-touchdown effort versus Texas. The market may be discounting the Bruins for Hundley’s injury but there is plenty of value in UCLA Thursday night. 2. Arizona State’s defense was exposed in its game versus Colorado, allowing the Buffaloes to rack up 545 yards of offense. The Sun Devils are still learning new schemes and don’t have much experience to help the transition. Arizona State watched Colorado convert on third down on 44 percent of their tries, as well as execute on a fourth down attempt. The Sun Devils can’t afford to let UCLA stay on the field Thursday. 3. UCLA coach Jim Mora is going to be extra careful not to spot ASU a big lead Thursday. The Bruins have fallen behind the Sun Devils in recent meetings and have had to battle back all game. Watch for Mora to control the pace of the game with strong rushing attack, leaning on Paul Perkins and Jordan James to beat up an Arizona State stop unit that allowed 232 yards on the ground to Colorado. UCLA put up 217 rushing yards in the win over Texas and will repeat that dominance Thursday. Play on UCLA as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-25-14 |
NY Giants v. Washington Redskins -3.5 |
|
45-14 |
Loss |
-100 |
12 h 5 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Washington vs. NY Giants @ 8:25 p.m. ET The Washington Redskins host the New York Giants Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Washington with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Redskins went toe-to-toe with NFC East frontrunner Philadelphia in Week 3, showing they have the offensive pace to put big numbers on the board. The Redskins lost 37-34 but covered as 4-point underdogs and enter Week 4 averaging 27 points per game – fifth most in the NFL. 2. On the other side of the field, the Giants continue to suffer growing pains with their new offense. New York more than doubled its production through the first two weeks last Sunday, scoring 30 points in a win over Houston. They’ll get a test against a very aggressive Washington stop unit that, while failing to record a sack Sunday, had plenty of hard hits on Eagles QB Nick Foles. 3. The Redskins have had a full week for QB Kirk Cousins to work with his first-team receivers and develop better chemistry on the field. Cousins proved he could handle the start load, passing for 427 yards and three touchdowns Sunday. The Giants secondary looked strong last week but was going up against Texans QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. New York has allowed 258.3 passing yards per game and faces a Washington downfield attack with plenty of weapons, as well as a dominating RB in Alfred Morris to keep them honest. Play on Washington as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-21-14 |
Pittsburgh Steelers +3 v. Carolina Panthers |
Top |
37-19 |
Win
|
110 |
45 h 27 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Pittsburgh at Carolina @ 8:30 p.m. ET The Carolina Panthers host the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Pittsburgh with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Steelers have been aching to get back on the primetime stage after getting embarrassed on Thursday Night Football by the rival Ravens last week. Pittsburgh is a proud franchise, so that one-sided loss has been fueling the fires heading into this Sunday finale. The Steelers have also covered in five straight meetings with the Panthers. 2. Carolina was able to lock down Detroit’s potent pass attack in Week 2, allowing only seven points and snuffing out potential scoring drives by forcing turnovers. However, the Steelers aren’t just able to do damage down field and are returning to their ground-and-pound roots thanks to versatile RB Le’Veon Bell, who tops the NFL in yards from scrimmage. The Panthers will have a tough time tracking Bell, who has been a real weapon in the short passing game. 3. The Panthers rushing attack limps into Sunday Night Football. De’Angelo Williams is dealing with a thigh injury, Mike Tolbert is nursing a sore chest, and Fozzy Whitaker could be out with a quadriceps injury. Jonathan Stewart is the lone heathy RB on the depth chart but isn’t used to shouldering the entire load. Pittsburgh will be able to ignore the banged up ground game and attack Cam Newton, forcing him to rush his progressions. Newton was sacked five times versus Detroit and could really feel the heat against a Pittsburgh defense that is dying to prove itself. Play on Pittsburgh as a 10* Top Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-21-14 |
Washington Redskins v. Philadelphia Eagles -5.5 |
|
34-37 |
Loss |
-109 |
38 h 0 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia vs. Washington @ 1:00 p.m. ET The Philadelphia Eagles host the Washington Redskins Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Redskins offense gets a bit of a facelift with Kirk Cousin stepping in for the injured Robert Griffin III. Cousins doesn’t have the ability to break off big gains with his legs, so Philadelphia can use its speed and pressure the passer. Washington may also be without top WR DeSean Jackson. Even if Jackson does play, he doesn’t have much chemistry with Cousins and won’t have much of an impact at less than 100 percent. 2. The Eagles have needed comebacks in both their wins this season – an issue head coach Chip Kelly is well aware of. Look for Philadelphia to come out strong and try to put this game out of reach early, rather than scramble for the second-half rally. 3. Philadelphia has too many weapons for Washington to handle. Running back LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles are the most explosive playmaking backfield in the NFL, breaking off big gains on the ground and off the short pass. The Redskins were able to get to a hampered Jaguars offense last Sunday but this Eagles offense is on another level and will wear out the Washington defenders before the whistle blows for halftime. Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-20-14 |
Rutgers v. Navy -6 |
Top |
31-24 |
Loss |
-105 |
41 h 55 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Navy vs. Rutgers @ 3:30 p.m. ET The Navy Midshipman host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Navy with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. It’s no surprise what the Navy game plan is – run the ball. The Middies’ triple-option offense is tops in the land with 403 rushing yards per game. But even though the Scarlet Knights know what’s coming, it’s not an easy attack to stop. Rutgers allowed FCS Howard to run for 259 yards in Week 2, failing to cover as big favorites. 2. Navy is coming off two solid wins on the road, knocking off Temple and Texas State, and covering the spread in each victory. The Midshipmen are expecting to have star QB Keenan Reynolds back on the field versus Rutgers after missing Week 3’s action with a knee injury. Reynolds can stretch the field with his ability to run the football and brings a ton of experience under center for Navy. 3. Rutgers offense was exposed against Penn State last week. Quaterback Gary Nova was horrible, completing only 50 percent of his passes and throwing five interceptions. Head coach Kyle Flood is sticking with Nova against Navy Saturday, but the Middies have a ball-hawking defense that has three interceptions already this season. Play on Navy as a 10* Top Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-19-14 |
Connecticut v. South Florida -1.5 |
|
14-17 |
Win
|
100 |
46 h 13 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 8* (Regular Play) on South Florida vs. Connecticut @ 8:00 p.m. ET The South Florida Bulls host the Connecticut Huskies Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on South Florida with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Huskies have dropped two home games to FBS opponents and now hit the road for the first time Friday night. If Connecticut thought it was tough moving the chains in front of a friendly crowd, wait until the deafening fans inside Raymond James Stadium drown out the playcall at the line of scrimmage. UConn is averaging just under 17 points per game this season and points will be harder to come by Friday night. 2. The Bulls have a major home-run hitter in RB Marlon Mack, who set the AAC record for rushing yards in a single game with 275 in Week 1. Mack has slowed down against tougher opposition but faces a UConn stop unit that allows 120.3 yards on the ground per game. That number could be higher if not for opponents exploiting an equally-weak pass defense. 3. This Huskies offense has been in shambles since starting QB Casey Cochran was forced to retire from football due to concussions. His replacement Chandler Whitmer hasn’t found his form, throwing for two touchdowns and two interceptions in his most recent game against Boise State and posting a 49 percent completion rate. There’s not much of a ground game to take some of the pressure off Whitmer, with UConn managing just 66.7 yards on the ground per game. Play on South Florida as an 8* Regular Selection Friday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-15-14 |
Philadelphia Eagles +3 v. Indianapolis Colts |
|
30-27 |
Win
|
100 |
34 h 13 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia at Indianapolis @ 8:30 p.m. ET The Indianapolis Colts host the Philadelphia Eagles Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Eagles got their wake-up call last week, falling behind 17-0 to the Jaguars before storming back for a 34-17 win and the cover. Philadelphia can’t afford another slow start versus the Colts, so expect the Eagles to come out firing on Monday Night Football. 2. The Colts defense was rolled by Denver in the first half of their Sunday night loss in Week 1, giving up 24 points in the first two quarters. While Indianapolis crawled back into that game, the defense got some help from poor chemistry between Peyton Manning and receivers Andre Caldwell and Emmanuel Sanders. Philadelphia is the only other offense in the NFL on par with Denver and will expose the Indy defense for big gains Monday. 3. The Eagles defense was a bit underrated in Week 1 after allowing Jacksonville to take an early lead. However, those scores came on turnovers and offered the Jaguars a short field. Philadelphia tightened up and the defense pitched a shutout in the final two quarters. Expect the Eagles stop unit to continue to improve Monday night. Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Monday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-14-14 |
Dallas Cowboys v. Tennessee Titans -3 |
|
26-10 |
Loss |
-125 |
27 h 31 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Tennessee vs. Dallas @ 1 p.m. ET The Tennessee Titans host the Dallas Cowboys Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Tennessee with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Titans ride a wave of momentum into Week 2 after crushing Kansas City 26-10 in Week 1. Tennessee was undervalued in that game and is undervalued again this Sunday. The Titans have turned the corner with a solid defensive unit and an offense that is finding its footing. 2. Dallas was dreadful on offense in Week 1, turning the ball over four times in the 28-17 loss to San Francisco that wasn’t as close as the score would indicate. Tony Romo was responsible for three of those turnovers, forcing three INTs while trying to do too much with the football. Romo is the driving force behind this Cowboys team but isn’t the same player since undergoing another back surgery this offseason. 3. The Titans were able to rumble for 162 yards on the ground in Week 1, getting great production from the RB corps. Tennessee will employ another ground-heavy attack Sunday, wearing down a thin Cowboys defense that ranked dead last in the NFL last season. This should open up the passing game for QB Jake Locker to strike for big gains downfield, easily covering this spread Sunday. Play on Tennessee as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-13-14 |
Penn State -3 v. Rutgers |
Top |
13-10 |
Push |
0 |
47 h 43 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Penn State vs. Rutgers @ 8 p.m. ET The Rutgers Scarlet Knights host the Penn State Nittany Lions Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Penn State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Penn State got a major lift in morale this past week when the NCAA lifted sanctions and the bowl ban enforced after the Jerry Sandusky scandal. The Nittany Lions players, who came to Happy Valley unsure of the program’s future, will be rewarded for their loyalty and it will show Saturday night. 2. Penn State has shown its offense and defense prowess in the first two games of the season. The Nitany Lions put on an air show for the fans in Ireland, racking up 454 passing yards in the win over UCF. Then Penn State shutdown Akron to just three points on 277 total yards in Week 2. This is a talented team on both sides of the ball. 3. This is Rutgers first Big Ten game since joining the conference this offseason. The Scarlet Knight have never defeated PSU at home in nine tries and the Nittany Lions will look to deliver a “Welcome to the Big Ten” beating Saturday. Rutgers barely edged a weak Washington State squad and had trouble with FCS Howard, watching the Bison outscore them 18-7 in the second half of that Week 2 game. Play on Penn State as a 10* Top Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-13-14 |
Georgia -6.5 v. South Carolina |
|
35-38 |
Loss |
-106 |
45 h 40 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Georgia at South Carolina @ 3:30 p.m. ET The South Carolina Gamecocks host the Georgia Bulldogs Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Georgia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Georgia has had a week off since defeating Clemson in Week 1, ironing out the details for this massive SEC showdown. The Bulldogs aren’t expecting any but a fight in South Carolina and don’t want to repeat their last trip to William-Brice Stadium, when they fell behind 21-0 and eventually lost 35-7. This is a big statement game for UGA. 2. Georgia has more weapons than most SEC schools, but the biggest gun of all is RB Todd Gurley, who leads the Heisman race after dominating Clemson with 198 yards and three touchdowns on the ground as well as a 100-yard kick return touchdown. Last season, Gurley went for 132 yards and a score versus South Carolina, leading UGA to a 41-30 victory at home as a 3-point favorite. 3. If the Gamecocks focus all their defensive efforts on Gurley, UGA has more than enough firepower in the passing game. Quarterback Hutson Mason has plenty of receiving options. The same can’t be said for South Carolina QB Dylan Thompson, if Georgia takes RB Mike Davis out of the equation. Thompson has already thrown two interceptions and couldn’t get the Gamecocks back into the game against Texas A&M in Week 1, competing only 50 percent of his passes. This Bulldogs defense is stacked with talent and its pass rush is one of the best in the country. Play on Georgia as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-13-14 |
Central Florida +10 v. Missouri |
|
10-38 |
Loss |
-101 |
39 h 46 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Central Florida at Missouri @ 12 p.m. ET The Missouri Tigers host the Central Florida Knights Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Central Florida with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Central Florida has had two weeks to prepare for Missouri, taking a bye week after opening the season with a slim loss versus Penn State in Ireland. The Knights will be well versed in the Tigers’ biggest weaknesses come Saturday afternoon. 2. The Knights have one of the most experienced defenses in college football and are stout against the run, locking down Penn State to only 57 rushing yards in the opener. The secondary was soft in that Week 1 matchup, giving up 454 passing yards, but to help offset that the Knights have been turning their attention to the pass rush and won’t give Missouri QB Maty Mauk time to strike down field. 3. Central Florida was a giant killer before joining the AAC power conference. The Knights have knocked off their last two ranked foes and have been dominant away from home, winning six straight on the road. UCF owns an impressive 6-1 ATS mark in its last seven non-conference clashes heading into Saturday. Play on Central Florida as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-11-14 |
Pittsburgh Steelers v. Baltimore Ravens -2.5 |
|
6-26 |
Win
|
100 |
34 h 6 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh @ 8:25 p.m. ET The Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Baltimore with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Ravens are a desperate team at home on Thursday Night Football. Baltimore could drop back in the AFC North standings, with the Steelers and Bengals picking up wins in Week 1. Expect that desperation to help overcome a very trying week for Baltimore in the wake of the Ray Rice release. 2. The Steelers looked solid in the first half of their win against Cleveland Sunday but fell apart down the stretch and narrowly dodged a bullet. Pittsburgh allowed 24 second-half points to a lackluster Browns offense and needed a last-second 41-yard field goal to hold on to the win, failing to cover as 5.5-point home chalk. 3. The Ravens actually outgained the Bengals in their Week 1 loss, getting solid production from third-string RB Justin Forsett and developing some chemistry between QB Joe Flacco and veteran WR Steve Smith. Baltimore can turn the switch to a run-heavy playbook that can control the clock and slow down the pace of the game, going against the grain for Pittsburgh’s no-huddle attack. Look for the Ravens to dominate time of possession and wear down the Steelers stop unit, just like it did in the second half versus Cleveland. Play on Baltimore as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-11-14 |
Louisiana Tech +4 v. North Texas |
|
42-21 |
Win
|
100 |
33 h 49 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Louisiana Tech at North Texas @ 8:00 p.m. ET The North Texas Mean Green host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Louisiana Tech with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. It would seem “The Bulldog” has a soft spot for the Bulldogs, but this Louisiana Tech team is for real. It hung 48 points on rivals Louisiana Lafayette in Week 2, compiling 533 total yards on offense. The Bulldogs have plenty of firepower. 2. North Texas’ win over SMU last weekend should come with a grain of salt. The Mustangs are a mess, managing only six points in that defeat, and that should reflect on the Mean Green defense. North Texas gave up 38 points to an overrated Texas team holding back on its playbook in Week 1 and La Tech is just as potent with the football. 3. North Texas is a very young squad after losing plenty of senior experience from last season. The Mean Green hung 43 points on the Mustangs but benefited from five SMU turnovers. New QB Josh Greer was 9 for 12 for 86 yards passing and the running game did the bulk of the work. The Bulldogs will challenge that inexperience Thursday night and try to make Greer beat them by stacking the line and taking away the rush. Louisiana Tech was able to grab an interception and force a fumble recovery versus Oklahoma, then picked off another pass and scooped up two more fumbles in the win against ULL. This is a very active defense that thrives on mistakes. Play on Louisiana Tech as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-07-14 |
Indianapolis Colts v. Denver Broncos -7.5 |
|
24-31 |
Loss |
-102 |
47 h 44 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Denver vs. Indianapolis @ 8:30 p.m. ET The Denver Broncos host the Indianapolis Colts Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Denver with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Peyton Manning and the Broncos haven’t forgotten what happened in Indianapolis last year, getting edged 39-33 by the Colts. Indy was one of the few teams, outside of Seattle in the Super Bowl, to rattle Manning, sacking him four times and picking him off once. Denver will look to return the favor, and erase a dismal effort in the Super Bowl, in this revenge spot. 2. The Colts have some serious issues on the offensive line heading into Week 1. The pass protection has been plagued by injury and could leave them inexperienced at keys spots for one of the biggest games of the year. Denver won’t have to fear the non-existent rushing game and will be able to bring heavy pressure on Andrew Luck. 3. The Broncos defense was the chink the armor for a talented Denver squad last season, so the front office boosted the stop unit with some big free-agent signings. Veteran linebacker DeMarcus Ware and corners Aqib Talib and T.J. Ward are huge additions to Jack Del Rio’s defense, which is out to make a big statement on Sunday Night Football. Play on Denver as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-07-14 |
San Francisco 49ers -4 v. Dallas Cowboys |
Top |
28-17 |
Win
|
102 |
43 h 41 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on San Francisco at Dallas @ 4:25 p.m. ET The Dallas Cowboys host the San Francisco 49ers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on San Francisco with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. San Francisco just watched the rival Seahawks – pretty much the only team standing between them and the Super Bowl – destroy the Packers Thursday night. The Niners know they must keep pace with Seattle if they want to get back to the NFC title game, and it starts in Week 1 with a strong showing at Dallas. 2. The Cowboys had a historically bad defense in 2013, allowing 415.3 yards per game – worst in the NFL. Dallas did nothing to correct those problems this offseason, and actually may have gotten worse after watching DeMarcus Ware head to Denver and losing LB Sean Lee to another injury. 3. San Francisco had trouble getting the wheels turning on offense this preseason but came alive in the final two games of the exhibition schedule. Dual-threat Colin Kaepernick had a bevy of targets downfield and the running game has overcome injuries with the emergence of Carlos Hyde. The 49ers have too many weapons for the Cowboys to contain Sunday afternoon. Play on San Francisco as a 10* Top Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-06-14 |
Michigan v. Notre Dame -3.5 |
Top |
0-31 |
Win
|
100 |
45 h 27 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Notre Dame vs. Michigan@ 7:30 p.m. ET The Notre Dame Fighting Irish host the Michigan Wolverines Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Notre Dame with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Fighting Irish are a different teams with Everett Golson at quarterback. After missing last season due to academic issues, Golson exploded for 295 yards passing and two touchdowns while rushing for three scores on the ground. Notre Dame is a very dangerous team with the dynamic dual-threat under center. 2. Home is where the hard-earned cash is when it comes to this series. The host team has covered in six of the past seven clashes between Notre Dame and Michigan, and the new field turf at Notre Dame Stadium will be rocking Saturday night. 3. The Irish are going to force Michigan QB Devin Gardner to beat them Saturday, loading up the box to take away the Wolverines potent ground game. Gardner isn’t a perfect passer and his lack of accuracy will be tested in hostile territory against a defense that forced two turnovers versus Rice in Week 1. Play on Notre Dame as a 10* Top Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-06-14 |
Missouri v. Toledo +4 |
|
49-24 |
Loss |
-110 |
38 h 60 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Toledo vs. Missouri @ 12:00 p.m. ET The Toledo Rockets host the Missouri Tigers Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Toledo with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Toledo isn’t afraid of ranked opponents. Actually, it’s the other way around. The Rockets go toe-to-toe with some of the biggest names in college football each season and hold their own. Toledo fell 38-23 versus Missouri last season, pushing with the 15-point spread thanks to three turnovers in an otherwise strong showing versus the Tigers, but have the home edge this season. The short spread shows just how much respect the oddsmakers have for the Rockets. 2. Toledo’s offense exploded for 666 total yards of offense in the season opener versus New Hampshire. Former Alabama QB Phillip Ely spearheaded that attack with 337 passing yards. Missouri, on the other, sputtered out of the gate in its Week 1 outing versus South Dakota State. The Tigers managed only 393 yards on offense and allowed 365 yards to the FCS Jackrabbits. 3. Toledo knows Mizzou head coach Gary Pinkel very well. Pinkel was the Rockets’ playcaller for 10 seasons, so Toledo has plenty of tape on his systems and tendencies. The Tigers are still warming up to their new head coach, and those growing pains will be magnified Saturday. Play on Toledo as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-05-14 |
Pittsburgh v. Boston College +4 |
|
30-20 |
Loss |
-104 |
51 h 23 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Boston College vs. Pittsburgh @ 7:00 p.m. ET The Boston College Eagles host the Pittsburgh Panthers Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Boston College with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Both Boston College and Pitt won easily in Week 1, however, the Eagles did manage to take down a FBS foe in UMass while the Panthers beat up on FCS Delaware. Boston College debuted its new start, Florida transfer Tyler Murphy, who compiled 291 all-purpose yards in the 30-7 victory as a 17-point favorite. 2. The Boston College defense is feeling very confident after locking down UMass to just 55 yards on the ground in Week 1. The Eagles allowed just 202 yards in total and 77 of those gains came on a big-play brain fart in which the Minutemen scored in the third quarter. 3. Boston College has been a solid cover play when playing in Alumni Stadium. The Eagles have covered the spread in five of their last six home games going back to last season. This former Big East rivalry has been very tight over the years. Boston College and Pitt have had four of their last eight clashes decided by four points or less with the home side going 4-1 ATS in their previous five encounters. Play on Boston College as an 8* Regular Selection Friday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-04-14 |
Green Bay Packers +6 v. Seattle Seahawks |
|
16-36 |
Loss |
-108 |
52 h 25 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Green Bay at Seattle @ 8:30 p.m. ET The Seattle Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Green Bay with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Packers have a lot to prove on Thursday night. Green Bay can make a major case for the Super Bowl with a win over the defending champs in Seattle. And it all starts with the running game. The Packers were able to establish the run in the preseason behind RN Eddie Lacy and will control the tempo of the game and keep the Seahawks defensive guessing with a strong effort from their second-year back. Lacy should have plenty of room with Seattle guarding against Aaron Rodgers and an explosive passing playbook. 2. After such a dominant performance in the Super Bowl, the betting public is all over the Seahawks in Week 1. This line has been puffed up all summer long, with most shops offering Week 1 odds for a while now. Green Bay is getting little respect for a team that can seriously give Seattle a run for its money in the NFC this season. Bettors are getting a steal on the Cheese Heads at this price. 3. While Seattle’s defense gets a lot of the headlines, the Packers improved their stop unit this offseason. Green Bay added veteran Julius Peppers to an already stacked linebacker corps and return star Clay Matthews, who was slowed by a hand injury in 2013. The Packers have the horses to get to Russell Wilson and chase down Marshawn Lynch. Play on Green Bay as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-04-14 |
Arizona -7 v. Texas-San Antonio |
|
26-23 |
Loss |
-100 |
35 h 32 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Arizona at Texas-San Antonio @ 8:00 p.m. ET The Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners host the Arizona Wildcats Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Arizona with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Arizona flexed its muscle with a dominating 58-13 win over UNLV in Week 1. The Wildcats got a massive effort from QB Anu Solomon, who passed for 425 yards and four touchdowns while adding another 50 yards on the ground. On top of that, Arizona rumbled for 353 yards rushing. That is more offense than the Roadrunners can handle. 2. Texas-San Antonio is ripe for a letdown spot after stunning the Houston Cougars as a 7.5-point underdog in Week 1. The Roadrunners were able to force six Houston turnovers in that win, something that won’t come easy against the Wildcats Thursday. Expect Texas-San Antonio to fall flat in this mid-week matchup. 3. While the Roadrunners are on the rise, Arizona handled them quite easily last year. The Wildcats took a 38-13 victory but came up just short of covering the 25.5-point spread. This year, books are only giving Texas-San Antonio a touchdown at home. The Roadrunners have a formidable defense but don’t have the depth or overall size to compete with the Wildcats. Arizona’s no-huddle attack will eventually wear down a UTSA squad still working its way into game shape in the second week of the schedule. Play on Arizona as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday. Good luck, Scott.
|
09-01-14 |
Miami (Florida) +3.5 v. Louisville |
Top |
13-31 |
Loss |
-110 |
34 h 43 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF 10* (Top Play) on Miami at Louisville @ 8:00 p.m. ET The Miami Hurricanes visit the Louisville Cardinals Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Miami with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Miami comes into this marquee Monday matchup motivated to take down the Cardinals. The Hurricanes fell 36-9 to Louisville in the Russell Athletic Bowl last December, an embarrassing loss the Canes haven’t forgotten about heading into their season opener. 2. Louisville is not only dealing with a huge hole at quarterback – thanks to Teddy Bridgewater making the jump to the pros – but also suffered a massive loss at receiver after DeVante Parker injured his foot during practice. Parker set a school record for touchdown catches in 2013, so the Cardinals will struggle to find cohesion in the passing game. 3. Miami will control the tempo of the game with star running back Duke Johnson, who earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors in 2013. Johnson would have done more last season if not for a late injury, so he’s chomping at the bit to prove he’s among the top rushers in the country. Louisville has a new defensive coordinator in Todd Grantham, who is integrating a 3-4 defense. Those drastic changes often come with growing pains, so expect the Cardinals to be chasing after Johnson all night Monday. Play on Miami as a 10* Top Selection Monday. Good luck, Scott.
|
08-31-14 |
Utah State v. Tennessee -5 |
|
7-38 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 28 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Tennessee vs. Utah State @ 7: 00 p.m. ET The Tennessee Volunteers host the Utah State Aggies Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Tennessee with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Tennessee won’t be taking this Mountain West opponent lightly. The Aggies are known for shocking bigger programs and is a perfect test for this young Volunteers team, who will get a big boost from the home crowd in the season opener. 2. Tennessee has a big advantage in the passing game. The Vols boast a towering group of options while the Aggies secondary is coming up short – literally. Tennessee QB Justin Worley will exploit that size advantage and pick on Utah State’s shorter defenders. 3. Utah State relies on QB Chuckie Keeton to make plays with his legs in order to keep the chains moving, but the Vols have an answer for the dynamic dual threat in star LB A.J. Johnson, who is regarded as one of the top linebackers in the country. Johnson will likely spy Keeton on plenty of plays Sunday, shutting down his scrambles before they can do big damage. Keeton is also coming off knee surgery, so expect him to be a little tentative to run – especially if he sees Johnson is waiting for him. Play on Tennessee as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.
|
08-30-14 |
LSU v. Wisconsin +5.5 |
Top |
28-24 |
Win
|
100 |
26 h 45 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Wisconsin vs. LSU @ 9:00 p.m. ET The Wisconsin Badgers face the LSU Tigers Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Wisconsin with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Wisconsin knows the Big Ten and a likely spot in the college football playoff is ripe for the picking after Ohio State’s Braxton Miller went down for the season. The Badgers can have the inside track and a win over SEC power LSU is a huge first step. Expect a very focused and driven Wisconsin squad Saturday in Houston. The Badgers have done well against non-conference foes, covering in four of their last five outside the Big Ten. 2. Louisiana State has too many holes to fill on offense to keep pace in this game. The Tigers are replacing a starting quarterback, running back and a pair of skilled receivers. When Wisconsin grabs the edge on the scoreboard, LSU will be hard pressed to fight its way back into the game with too many new faces on offense. 3. Wisconsin will look to exploit an experienced front seven for the Tigers. Louisiana State lost plenty of bodies on the line and in the linebacker corps, and now have to take on Badgers stud RB Melvin Gordon, who rushed for 7.8 yards per carry and 12 touchdowns in 2013. Play on Wisconsin as a 10* Top Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
|
08-30-14 |
Clemson v. Georgia -7.5 |
|
21-45 |
Win
|
101 |
22 h 25 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Georgia vs. Clemson @ 5:30 p.m. ET The Georgia Bulldogs host the Clemson Tigers Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Georgia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Georgia comes into 2014 with high hopes, recognized as a legit sleeper title contender. The Bulldogs have a surplus of options on offense, starting with RB Todd Gurley. They also have a proven QB in Hutson Mason and a dynamic WR tandem in Michael Bennett and Chris Conley. 2. Clemson is dealing with a major hit to its offensive playbook, losing QB Tajh Boyd and WR Sammy Watkins. The Tigers were able to lean on those playmakers in past seasons but will fall flat when trying to keep pace with the UGA offense. 3. For all their weapons on offense, UGA has some playmakers on the other side of the ball. The Bulldogs are a SEC-tested defense that battled through injuries last season. Now the stop unit is healthy and anxious to prove they have what it takes to take UGA to the top of the SEC. Play on Georgia as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday. Good luck, Scott.
|
08-29-14 |
Colorado State +3 v. Colorado |
|
31-17 |
Win
|
100 |
100 h 38 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Colorado State vs. Colorado @ 9:00 p.m. ET The Colorado State Rams take on the Colorado Buffaloes Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Colorado State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Colorado State has quietly built a buzz this offseason and is getting great line value in this rivalry versus the Buffaloes. The Rams covered 10 times for loyal backers last season and will continue to be a cash cow in 2014. The underdog has also covered in 13 of the last 18 installments of this Rocky Mountain Rivalry. 2. Colorado is still a step behind its state cousin, coming into the season with a young and inexperienced core. The Buffaloes don’t have much behind the first teamers and the first game of the season is especially tough with players still working their way into game shape. Colorado will look to its bench to give the starters a much-needed blow, and the cupboard will be bare Friday night. 3. Colorado State brings back dual-threat QB Garrett Grayson and top two targets Rashard Higgins and Joe Hansley. Offenses sometimes need a couple weeks to find their footing and with Grayson’s ability to break plays with his legs, the Rams will continue to move the chains even when a play breaks down. Play on Colorado State as an 8* Regular Selection Friday. Good luck, Scott.
|
02-02-14 |
Seattle Seahawks +3 v. Denver Broncos |
Top |
43-8 |
Win
|
100 |
192 h 11 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Seattle vs. Denver @ 6:30 p.m. ET
The Seattle Seahawks face the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
|
01-19-14 |
San Francisco 49ers v. Seattle Seahawks -3 |
|
17-23 |
Win
|
100 |
74 h 57 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Seattle vs. San Francisco @ 6:30 p.m. ET The Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game Sunday.
|
01-19-14 |
New England Patriots v. Denver Broncos -4 |
Top |
16-26 |
Win
|
100 |
70 h 11 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Denver vs. New England @ 3:00 p.m. ET The Denver Broncos host the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game Sunday.
|
01-12-14 |
San Diego Chargers v. Denver Broncos -9 |
Top |
17-24 |
Loss |
-110 |
56 h 31 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Denver vs. San Diego @ 4:40 p.m. ET
The Denver Broncos host the San Diego Chargers Sunday.
|
01-11-14 |
New Orleans Saints +8 v. Seattle Seahawks |
|
15-23 |
Push |
0 |
32 h 26 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on New Orleans at Seattle @ 4:35 p.m. ET
The New Orleans Saints visit the Seattle Seahawks Saturday afternoon.
|
01-06-14 |
Auburn v. Florida State -8.5 |
Top |
31-34 |
Loss |
-110 |
35 h 4 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Monday 10* (Top Play) on Florida State vs. Auburn @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Florida State Seminoles take on the Auburn Tigers in the BCS National Championship Game Monday.
|
01-05-14 |
San Francisco 49ers v. Green Bay Packers +3 |
Top |
23-20 |
Push |
0 |
94 h 53 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Green Bay vs. San Francisco @ 4:40 p.m. ET
The Green Bay Packers host the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Wild Card Game Sunday.
|
01-05-14 |
San Diego Chargers +7 v. Cincinnati Bengals |
|
27-10 |
Win
|
100 |
90 h 56 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on San Diego at Cincinnati @ 1:05 p.m. ET
The San Diego Chargers visits the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Wild Card Game Sunday.
|
01-04-14 |
New Orleans Saints v. Philadelphia Eagles -2.5 |
|
26-24 |
Loss |
-105 |
74 h 16 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia vs. New Orleans @ 8:10 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia Eagles host the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Wild Card Game Saturday.
|
01-04-14 |
Houston v. Vanderbilt -2 |
|
24-41 |
Win
|
100 |
5 h 5 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Vanderbilt vs. Houston @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Vanderbilt Commodores take on the Houston Cougars in the BBVA Compass Bowl Saturday.
|
01-03-14 |
Clemson +3 v. Ohio State |
Top |
40-35 |
Win
|
100 |
14 h 44 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 10* (Top Play) on Clemson vs. Ohio State @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Clemson Tigers take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Orange Bowl Friday.
|
01-03-14 |
Oklahoma State v. Missouri +1.5 |
|
31-41 |
Win
|
100 |
14 h 45 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Missiouri vs. Oklahoma State @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Missouri Tigers take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Cotton Bowl Friday.
|
01-02-14 |
Oklahoma +17 v. Alabama |
Top |
45-31 |
Win
|
100 |
14 h 1 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Thursday 10* (Top Play) on Oklahoma vs. Alabama @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Oklahoma Sooners clash with the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl Thursday.
|
01-01-14 |
Central Florida +17 v. Baylor |
Top |
52-42 |
Win
|
100 |
14 h 44 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Central Florida vs. Baylor @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Central Florida Knights tackle the Baylor Bears in the Fiesta Bowl Wednesday.
|
01-01-14 |
Michigan State +7 v. Stanford |
|
24-20 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 49 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on Michigan State vs. Stanford @ 5:00 p.m. ET
The Michigan State Spartans take on the Stanford Cardinal in the Rose Bowl Wednesday.
|
01-01-14 |
UNLV +7 v. North Texas |
|
14-36 |
Loss |
-115 |
6 h 52 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on UNLV vs. North Texas @ 12:00 p.m. ET
The UNLV Runnin
|
12-31-13 |
Mississippi State -7 v. Rice |
|
44-7 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 5 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Tuesday 6* (Regular Play) on Mississippi State vs. Rice @ 4:00 p.m. ET
The Mississippi State Bulldogs face the Rice Owls in the Liberty Bowl Tuesday.
|
12-31-13 |
Virginia Tech +7.5 v. UCLA |
|
12-42 |
Loss |
-105 |
7 h 21 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Tuesday 8* (Regular Play) on Virginia Tech vs. UCLA @ 2:00 p.m. ET
The UCLA Bruins battle the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Sun Bowl Tuesday.
|
12-31-13 |
Boston College v. Arizona -7 |
|
19-42 |
Win
|
100 |
6 h 16 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Tuesday 6* (Regular Play) on Arizona vs. Boston College @ 12:30 p.m. ET
The Arizona Wildcats meet the Boston College Eagles in the Advocare V100 Bowl Tuesday.
|
12-30-13 |
Texas Tech +14.5 v. Arizona State |
|
37-23 |
Win
|
100 |
14 h 11 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Texas Tech vs. Arizona State @ 10:15 p.m. ET The Texas Tech Red Raiders take on the Arizona State Sun Devils in the Holiday Bowl Monday.
|
12-30-13 |
Texas v. Oregon -14 |
|
7-30 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 4 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Monday 7* (Regular Play) on Oregon vs. Texas @ 6:45 p.m. ET The Oregon Ducks take on the Texas Longhorns in the Alamo Bowl Monday.
|
12-30-13 |
Middle Tenn State +7 v. Navy |
|
6-24 |
Loss |
-110 |
4 h 51 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Monday 6* (Regular Play) on Middle Tennessee vs. Navy @ 11:45 p.m. ET The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders face the Navy Midshipmen in the Armed Forces Bowl Monday.
|
12-29-13 |
Philadelphia Eagles -7 v. Dallas Cowboys |
Top |
24-22 |
Loss |
-100 |
33 h 44 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia at Dallas @ 8:30 p.m. ET The Philadelphia Eagles take on the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
|
12-29-13 |
Green Bay Packers -3 v. Chicago Bears |
|
33-28 |
Win
|
106 |
29 h 3 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Green Bay at Chicago @ 4:25 p.m. ET The Green Bay Packers take on the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon.
|
12-28-13 |
Miami (Florida) v. Louisville -4 |
|
9-36 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 1 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Louisville vs. Miami @ 6:45 p.m. ET The Louisville Cardinals take on the Miami Hurricanes in the Russell Athletic Bowl Saturday.
|
12-28-13 |
Cincinnati v. North Carolina -2.5 |
|
17-39 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 51 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 7* (Regular Play) on North Carolina vs. Cincinnati@ 3:20 p.m. ET The North Carolina Tar Heels take on the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Belk Bowl Saturday.
|
12-28-13 |
Rutgers +14 v. Notre Dame |
|
16-29 |
Win
|
101 |
22 h 52 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 6* (Regular Play) on Rutgers vs. Notre Dame @ 12:00 p.m. ET The Rutgers Scarlet Knights takes on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Pinstripe Bowl Saturday.
|
12-27-13 |
Syracuse v. Minnesota -4 |
|
21-17 |
Loss |
-108 |
10 h 1 m |
Show
|
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Minnesota vs. Syracuse @ 6:00 p.m. ET The Minnesota Golden Gophers clash with the Syracuse Orange in the Texas Bowl Friday.
|