Football And Picks - August 31, 2008

Yesterday we went 2-3 and we sit at 5-4 overall for +1.6 units on the season. That Wisconsin loss was a tough pill to swallow yesterday. The Badgers dominated all game, but allowed the back-door cover for Akron in the weaning seconds of the game. Even that wouldn't have mattered if Wisconsin scored at the end of the half on 1st and Goal on the Zips 1 yard line (instead they turned the ball over, leading to an Akron field goal right before the half - a 10 point swing). Oh well. We'll lose some of those and get some we don't deserve over the course of the season. Today we have picks in both games. We won't have picks in either of tomorrow's games FYI.

Today's NCAA Football Picks:

Game: Kentucky at Louisville (Sunday 8/31 3:30 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total UNDER 56 -110

This is a "reputation" total, as most college football fans are used to seeing these teams put up big numbers on offense. There is one big difference between these teams this year. Both QB's responsible for the offesive explosions the past few years are now playing in the NFL. To top it off, Kentucky will have their best defense ever under Coach Brooks. Louisville has lost 13 starters from a year ago, and will have a lot of replacement talent, but not much experience. These teams should both have a different look this season, and not the same one that got up and down the field seemingly at will in years past. We like this one to stay UNDER the posted total.

After watching Barrack Obama accept his party's nomination here on Thursday night, Denver's Mile High Stadium gets back to football. The Mile High showdown will have center-stage all to itself tonight in primetime. Colorado State fell off dramatically last year, going 3-9 in Sonny Lubick's final year. Colorado, despite a 6-7 finish, provided hope to their fans as they outperformed expectations last season in Dan Hawkins' second year. The Buffs nearly beat Georgia and did beat Oklahoma, offering lots of hope for 2008. Cody Hawkins returns at QB, one of 14 returning starters. Colorado State returns just five defensive starters and 34 letterman. It's the first game for Steve Fairchild, with a lot of new starters including quarterback and we don't expect them to be clicking out of the gate. Hawkins is 38-21 ATS in his coaching career including a stellar 10-2 ATS mark as a favorite of 10.5 to 21 points. We think it's just too much to ask for the Rams to keep this one close.

NCAA Football Picks Resources:

• Read our How we pick college football winners here.
• View 2008 college football predictions here.
• Don't forget to read our college football Game Analysis here.
• Don't forget to visit our college football record.
• Check out college football sportsbook reviews here.
• Take a look at our 2008 college football prior picks season results here.
• Updated today: football against-the-spread standings.
• Hop over to our Football odds and lines here.
• View our updated college football pick of the week.
• Take a look at our blog college football picks here.

Check out the last five NCAA Football Picks Newsletters:

NCAA-Football-Picks-August-30-2008
Coach Bielema has taken this Wisconsin team to January Bowl games his first two years. But this may in fact, be his best team yet. The offensive line is one of the best in the country and they ha...

NCAA-Football-Picks-August-26-2008
After a 1-4 start last season Buffalo finished strong producing a winning record in their last seven games. Overall the Bulls went 5-3 in the MAC and outgained conference opponents by over 7...