Oregon State Beavers at Arizona Wildcats
Saturday, 10/9/10, 6:00 PM EDT; TV: Versus
Opening Point Spread: Arizona -9.5
Current Betting Line: Arizona -9
Opening Total: 50.5
Current Total: 50
Current Moneyline: Arizona -350/Oregon State +290
Oregon State travels to Tucson to play the No. 9 Wildcats and the team is looking to capture its ninth road win in 12 tries. The Beavers also have active road winning streaks of five games at California and four at Arizona and Washington. In a 31-28 win over Arizona State last Saturday, the team seemed to find a rhythm in amassing 416 yards of total offense against the Sun Devils. The team was 113th in the nation offensively at 270.3 yards per game before that contest. “I think we’re getting more comfortable,” sophomore quarterback Ryan Katz said. “I think we’re just scratching the surface.” He completed 19 of 29 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns in the best start of his young career. Saturday’s game marks the third time this season that the Beavers have faced an AP top 10 team, with all of those games on the road. The team is 7-1 ATS in October over the last three years.
The Beavers failed to reach October 1st with a winning record for the seventh consecutive season, as the team is a combined 12-16 in those contests. Oregon State is likely to turn things around starting this week, posting a 38-14 mark in October, November and December since the 2004 season. Another reason to back head coach Mike Riley’s team is they have yet to commit a turnover this season, while creating eight on defense. Oregon State has been effective in the red zone as well, scoring on 10-of-11 chances, including nine touchdowns. One problem the unit has faced this season is converting on third downs, which has led them to be next-to-last in number of offensive plays run this season.
Arizona enjoyed a bye week after its gritty 10-9 victory over California on September 25. The game marked the third in four games that the Wildcats held an opponent to no touchdowns and helped the team close September with a 4-0 mark. “The bye week could not come fast enough,” said wide receiver Juron Criner. Despite not playing this past weekend, the squad moved up five spots in the Top 25, giving them their highest ranking since the 1999 preseason poll. Arizona leads Oregon State 21-11-1 in the all-time series and picked up a 37-32 win in last year’s contest. Quarterback Nick Foles debuted in that game, rallying the Wildcats from a 17-14 halftime deficit. The team is 12-3 ATS in its last 15 home games and the total is 6-8 Over/Under in those games.
The Wildcats have one of the best defenses in the country, ranking second in total defense in allowing 230.8 yards per game, while being fourth in the nation in allowing 11.0 points a contest. They’ve given up three touchdowns this season and all came against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Arizona did a good job of containing Beavers’ running back Jacquizz Rodgers last season, allowing 85 yards on 16 carries. The unit has a good job of replicating that effort by giving up just 101.3 yards per game on the ground in 2010. Over the last three years, head coach Mike Stoops has led his team to a 3-3 ATS record after a bye week.
Bettors will have a major interest in playing the Beavers due to their 10-1 ATS mark as a road underdog, while the Wildcats enter with a 2-9 ATS record in their last 11 games as a home favorite of 3.5-10 points. Still even with the trends have to lean with the home team as the spot clearly favors the Cats.
We do have 7 college football picks for Saturday. You can get these winners by visiting our ncaa football picks page of the site.
