College Football Betting Odds: Will Les Miles Get Lucky Against The Alabama Crimson Tide?

It was a tough road again last week and the season total now stands at 40-50 on the year with only a few more weeks left to get back to the .500 mark.

At this point in the season, teams are getting tired and those without much depth are likely feeling the pinch—even against the lower quality teams—and that makes some match-ups a bit harder to predict.

However, let's stick with 15 again this week as desperate times call for desperate measures.

The picks made, for clarification, are both ATS (against the spread) and straight-up but, for the purpose of the running season tally, the only picks that count are the ATS ones. 

All lines are available through VegasInsider.com—as usual.

1. LSU vs Alabama: Alabama (-6.5)

Here's the problem with LSU—it's the same problem they've had all season long—they don't have consistently good quarterback play. The fact that they only have one loss this season is as much a testament to Les Miles' gunslinger coaching as it is to the talent on the field.

Alabama is coming into this one blindly as LSU has also had two weeks to prepare. However, that said, Saban has to take a little pleasure in sticking it to the Bayou faithful—many of whom never forgave him for ditching them for an NFL job.

It's a tough one to call, but, if Ingram and Richardson can find some room against that tough LSU defense and McElroy can keep from holding the ball so long that Bear Bryant comes back to smack his helmet off, Alabama should be able to win this one.

The Lady's ATS Pick: LSU to cover (Alabama to win).

2. Memphis vs Tennessee: Tennessee (-20)

Memphis is terrible. I don't care where this game is being played nor how tired and beat up this Volunteers team is, this game will be the one where Tyler Bray finds his footing, Tauren Poole goes for nearly 200, and the wide receivers have a field goal.

This is a 'get-well' game for Dooley's crew.

The Lady's ATS Pick: Tennessee to cover. 

3. Texas Tech vs. Missouri: Missouri (-4)

Both teams are coming off losses but, at this point, Missouri still has more to play for and that may be enough to motivate them going into hostile territory.

The Lady's ATS Pick: Missouri to cover. 

4. UCLA vs Oregon State: Oregon State (-5)

This game is in Los Angeles and the Beavers haven't been as convincing on the road as they have at home. That said, this is a UCLA team that has struggled against better Pac-10 opposition all season and that is not a trend that I expect to see change on Saturday.

The Lady's ATS Pick: Oregon State to cover. 

5. Utah vs TCU: TCU (-4.5)

I know TCU hammered the Utes last season (55-28), but this isn't that Utah team. This game will be closer than many think and the outcome may settle TCU's fate once and for all.

The Lady's ATS Pick: Utah to cover (Utah to win).

6.  Louisiana Tech vs. Fresno State: Fresno State (-1)

This game is usually pretty close—despite the talent level that separates the two teams. However, Fresno State should be able to find plenty of passing lanes to throw into against a soft Bulldogs secondary and that will be the difference.

The Lady's Pick: Fresno State to cover. 

7. Stanford vs. Arizona: Stanford (-9.5)

Arizona has a tough defense and the Cardinal may be still flying a bit high after blanking the Washington Huskies last weekend. It's possible the Wildcats can come in and catch Stanford napping.

The Lady's ATS Pick: Arizona to cover. 

8. Iowa State vs. Nebraska: Nebraska (-19)

The Cornhuskers usually play the Cyclones closer in Lincoln than they do in Ames. If that holds true on Saturday, then 19 points may be too much.

The Lady's ATS Pick: Iowa State. 

9.  Oregon vs. Washington: Oregon (-28.5)

Washington isn't good but Oregon is feeling cocky after taking the top spot. Will they suffer a minor lapse in concentration this weekend? It seems likely that they might take their foot off the point-accelarator a little bit this week—not enough to lose, but enough to see the Huskies cover.

Then again, Eugene (Oregon) is Eugene, and that is one tough place to play.

The Lady's ATS Pick: Oregon to cover. 

10. Boise State vs. Hawaii: Boise State (-21) 

Some team has to be able to upset the Broncos at some point...why not Hawaii.

The Lady's ATS Pick: Hawaii

The Lady's Luck Picks...who else will cover?


11. Kansas (-10) vs Colorado

12. Florida (-14) at Vanderbilt


13. Florida State (-7) vs North Carolina


14. Michigan State (-24) vs Minnesota

15. Oklahoma (-3.5) at Texas A&M

The Big East Wants Coaching Staff Sizes To Be Smaller

An article published in USA Today states that the NCAA cabinet is looking into introducing legislation that would limit the support staff allowed in college football programs.

Currently, the NCAA places a limit on the number of coaches that can be involved with assisting the players—on or off the field. That number, currently, is capped at 12 (the head coach, nine assistants, and two graduate assistants).

However, it gets a little sketchier when discussing non-coaching personnel. There are no limits to that number and, just a quick browse of some of the more well-known programs in college football will attest to that; Ohio State (41), Rutgers (36), and Michigan (33) all boast large amounts of non-coaching staff on their payroll.

The latter was recently forced to impose a self-sanction on their football program when it was discovered that inappropriate actions were being executed by the non-coaching staff hired by head coach, Rich Rodriguez. The report was stated as such:

The school said two main problems - too many people acting as coaches and too many hours being put into football by the players - occurred in part because of "inattention by the football staff."

After his hire from West Virginia, Rodriguez filled all five quality control positions in the program - essentially assistants to assistants who were paid $17 per hour to "run errands for the coaches, check on student-athlete class attendance and academic issues, and chart plays."

The school said the staff "crossed the line in specific situations and engaged in 'coaching activities"' as defined by the NCAA.