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Gambling911.com has released its first College Football prediction of Week 3 (2009) as it's one that stood out like a sore thumb. We of course will have more free picks and predictions throughout the week. Our record after Week 2 stood at 6-2 in College Football.
Our pick is on Oregon State to cover by +1 at SBG Global (note that at press time some books had Cincinnati at -1).
Now you might be saying that Cincinnati destroyed Oregon State last year. Very true but that was at home. Check out this stat: Oregon State is 14-1 in home games vs. non-conference teams since 1992.
Now we might be a little reluctant if Oregon State were a huge underdog in this one, which they are not.
The Bearcats are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
The Beavers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
They are also 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games following a S.U. win and 40-19-1 ATS in their last 60 home games.
There is also that "revenge" factor.
Oregon State's defense will be tested by Cincinnati nonetheless. The Beavers believe they have rebuilt their own defense. Oregon State welcomes back only three defensive starters from the 2008 unit that ranked near the top of the Pac-10 in most categories.
No. 17 Cincinnati runs a no-huddle spread that presently ranks second in the nation in scoring (58.5 points per game) and fifth in total yards (571 yards per game).
"It's basketball on grass," Beavers defensive coordinator Mark Banker said.
Banker is happy with the play of his defensive tackles and linebackers thus far.
"We're OK -- this week will be a better overall evaluation," Banker said. "We need to play with more confidence, and if they do that I think you'll see guys make more plays on the ball."
Cincinnati's quarterback, Tony Pike, has been outstanding thus far. He ranks fourth in the nation in pass efficiency and has thrown for 591 yards and six touchdowns with just one interception. Pike is known for flustering under pressure however.
If the Beavers defense is, indeed, reloading and the offense has its way with a rebuilding Bearcats defense -- just one returning starter -- then Oregon State will be 3-0 after starting the previous three seasons 2-3, writes Ted Miller of ESPN.com.
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
