We've made it to a critical point in this college football season, and now things really start to get interesting. Conference play is at the core of the college schedule, and teams are gearing up for a stretch run of games against common opponents, the outcomes of which will shape the postseason berths for a lot of programs.
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Of course, with every good college football games comes another round of your friendly neighborhood bookies looking to take bets for games all weekend. This week, there's a neutral site SEC matchup that's sure to dazzle, a Mountain West showdown with a Heisman Trophy sleeper, and one historic program just looking to actually log a win.
As always, all of these lines can be found on Bovada.
Arkansas (+21.5) vs. Texas A&M
The # 7️⃣ rushing D in the country?
That would be The Chief & crew.#WPS #HammerDown pic.twitter.com/V2JIOj4hEL— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) September 27, 2018
This neutral site game in Arlington, Texas at AT&T Stadium features one of the nation's most intriguing personal matchups, as former Texas A&M running back Rakeem Boyd will get the start for Chad Morris' Razorbacks this weekend.
If his name sounds familiar, that is because Boyd claims subtle fame as a star on season three of "Last Chance U." After transferring from Independence Community College, Boyd will start for Arkansas for the first time with Devwah Whaley sidelined with a concussion. Texas A&M has a new look with Jimbo Fisher at the helm, but the Razorbacks are looking to avenge three-straight losses.
I don't think they'll win, but this game could easily be a lot closer than 22 points if Arkansas shows up to play.
Tennessee (+30.5) at No. 2 Georgia
Q: What are we wearing for #TENNvsUGA?
A: [ watch the video below 👇 ]@Academy // #PoweredByTheT pic.twitter.com/TZ1XngMgzW
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 27, 2018
The Volunteers might be off to a slow start under Jeremy Pruitt, but the program is historically really good when they travel to Athens, Georgia.
In the last seven games at Georgia, Tennessee has won three of them including a 34-31 win in 2016. The Bulldogs are riding high after four-straight wins and a 2-0 start to their SEC East schedule. Hosting a Tennessee team that embarrassed themselves last week at home against Florida smells like it could be a statement game for the Volunteers.
It'll be tough to overcome the overall talent of the Bulldogs, but 30.5 points is a lot for anybody, especially an SEC team with everything to prove Saturday afternoon.
Hawaii (-10) at San Jose State
Our QB1 is the nation's #️⃣1️⃣ #ColeHardFacts
😎🌈🏈🤙 pic.twitter.com/tDlfT5fqVy— Hawaii Football (@HawaiiFootball) September 26, 2018
The best player in the country that nobody is talking about is a Rainbow Warrior, and his name is Cole McDonald.
In his first year as the starter, the sophomore quarterback leads the nation in passing yards (1,759), passing touchdowns (20) and his 391.8 yards per game is the second most in the country through Hawaii's 4-1 start. With junior wide receiver John Ursua, a Biletnikoff Award candidate as the nation's top pass catcher, on his team, McDonald and this high-flying Hawaii offense is capable of hanging 40-plus points on anybody in the Mountain West Conference.
Despite a week off to prepare, San Jose State is 0-3 and in trouble of getting routed at home.
Purdue (-4) at Nebraska
Conference home opener this Saturday.
🔴✊#GBR pic.twitter.com/7s09LYOfSK
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) September 24, 2018
For a historic program like Nebraska to have its worst start since World War II, you've got to think they wake up and right the ship when Big Ten Conference opponent rolls into town.
The Purdue Boilermakers have shown flashes of dominance on offense so far, and their 1-3 record doesn't really show how close those games have been. Nebraska lost to Colorado, Troy and were smoked by Michigan last weekend. The Cornhuskers can't run the ball, they can't pass the ball, and they sure can't stop anybody on a defense that ranks 114th in the country allowing 37.7 points per game.
I was going all in and betting on the Cornhuskers to put it all together and finally get head coach Scott Frost his first win in Lincoln, but this team has way too many problems to get my vote.
