There isn’t all that much of a doubt that the Florida State Seminoles and the Virginia Tech Hokies are two of the best three teams in the ACC this year. That being said, one of them will rule supreme in what could prove to be as crucial of a Thursday night NCAA football betting battle as we will see this year. All 12 members of the ACC are going to be watching this one, as this could change the entire course of the season in both the Atlantic Division and the Coastal Division. The Hokies will play host to the Seminoles in what could prove to be a preview of yet another ACC Championship Game in 2012.

Florida State Seminoles @ Virginia Tech Hokies Picks & Info
Florida State Seminoles @ Virginia Tech Hokies Date: Thursday, November 8th
Florida State Seminoles @ Virginia Tech Hokies Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
Florida State Seminoles @ Virginia Tech Hokies Spread: Florida State Seminoles (-3)

Florida State’s offense is going to have to be the difference in this game. QB EJ Manuel could be well on his way to a Heisman Trophy type of a season, and with the national spotlight shining in this standalone game on the college football TV schedule, there is no doubt that this could be the game that makes or breaks his campaign. This also could be vital from the standpoint that it might be the only thing separating the garnet and gold and a spot in the BCS National Championship Game. Barring a setback at home against Clemson or on the road against South Florida, NC State, or Miami (and yes, we know that that is a heck of a lot of “ifs”), this will likely be the only challenge left on the slate for the Noles. The defense took some massive strides last year, and though it is hard to measure exactly how many starters are really back from last year’s team, there is no doubt that there are at least 15 that are going to be back that were in the regular defensive rotation.

Florida State Seminoles vs. Virginia Tech Hokies Past Games (Since 1995)
2010: Virginia Tech 44 – Florida State 33 (ACC Championship Game)
2008: Florida State 30 – Virginia Tech 20
2007: Virginia Tech 40 – Florida State 21
2005: Florida State 27 – Virginia Tech 22 (ACC Championship Game)
2002: Florida State 30 – Virginia Tech 17 (Gator Bowl)
2000: Florida State 46 – Virginia Tech 29 (National Championship Game)

The Hokies could also reasonably be undefeated at this point too, though they have the unfortunate task of having to travel to Clemson and Miami in back to back weeks before this one kicks off, and it is hard to imagine many teams being able to get through that stretch of schedule without a blunder somewhere along the way. That being said, the V-Tech defense is going to have to be up to the challenge of containing the Seminoles. The Hokies really didn’t do a good job of that two years ago in the conference title game, but they did get their offense going full bore. The problem? QB Logan Thomas is now calling the shots and not QB Tyrod Taylor, and the rushing attack has really been diminished as well with RB David Thomas no longer in Blacksburg.

Florida State @ Florida State Free Picks^^: This is a tough call. Lane Stadium is used to hosting these Thursday nighters, and more often than not, the Hokies are the ones that come out on top in these situations. Florida State probably has the slightly better team, but we think that this game is going to mean more to V-Tech. Don’t be shocked if the Seminoles come back and win the war in the ACC Championship Game, where we expect these two teams to be meeting later in the campaign, but with the venue set in Blacksburg in primetime, we definitely want the field goal on our side.

^^Notice: The NCAA football picks & predictions listed on the sports betting blog are made by our staff writers early in the season and do not represent the Bankroll Sports expert handicapping team’s actual premium service releases. Click Here to receive our expert handicappers premium college football picks for the 2012 football season.

You can purchase our premium Florida State vs. Virginia Tech picks from our experts on 11/8/12

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have been craving respect for years and years. This could be a difficult season, but it could just as easily be one in which a BCS bowl game might be on the line. If Notre Dame has eight wins coming into this contest with the USC Trojans, it could be well on its way to the Orange Bowl or the Sugar Bowl. For the Trojans though, this could be the second to last step between them and a perfect season and a bid in the BCS National Championship Game. If nothing else, there is a ton of history and tradition here between these two schools, and this year’s game at the LA Coliseum will certainly be a college football matchup that cannot be missed.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ USC Trojans Picks & Info
Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ USC Trojans Date: Saturday, November 24th
Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ USC Trojans Location: Los Angeles Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ USC Trojans Spread: USC Trojans -13

Notre Dame will already know at this point what its season is going to be like. This might determine whether it gets to go to a bowl game or a BCS bowl bid, but there is no doubt that the National Championship is not in the picture. It is anyone’s guess as to whether it will be QB Tommy Rees or QB Andrew Hendrix by this point in the season, but either way, we know that the microscope is going to be on both of these athletes by November. Odds have it, both will have played and gone through many ups and downs, and whichever one is under center is going to know that he is in a lot of trouble going up against the stout USC defense.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. USC Trojans Past Games (Since 1995)
2011: USC 31 – Notre Dame 17
2010: Notre Dame 20 – USC 16
2009: USC 34 – Notre Dame 27
2008: USC 38 – Notre Dame 3
2007: USC 38 – Notre Dame 0
2006: USC 44 – Notre Dame 24
2005: USC 34 – Notre Dame 31
2004: USC 41 – Notre Dame 10
2003: USC 45 – Notre Dame 14
2002: USC 44 – Notre Dame 13
2001: Notre Dame 27 – USC 16
2000: Notre Dame 38 – USC 21
1999: Notre Dame 25 – USC 24
1998: USC 10 – Notre Dame 0
1997: USC 20 – Notre Dame 17
1996: USC 27 – Notre Dame 20
1995: Notre Dame 38 – USC 10

This is the first time that we have taken a look at the Trojans in our Top 25 countdown of the best college football matchups of the year, and we have to say that it is obvious that we like what we see. This could be the final home game for QB Matt Barkley, though in all likelihood, the next week, he’ll be playing in the Pac-12 Championship Game at the Coliseum as well. He’ll want to put on a show, as will so many of the other members of the Men of Troy that are going to be leaving for the NFL after this upcoming season is over with. Barkley might also have a Heisman Trophy to go out and win, and you know with the national media all over this game and everything that this team does, every single snap is important. Don’t be all that shocked, especially up against a Notre Dame secondary that has the tendency of being suspect, if Barkley ends up with a huge game on what will be Senior Night.

Notre Dame @ USC Free Picks^^: ‘V’ is for victory, and there is no doubt that USC is going to be proving triumphant in this one. Notre Dame is overrated at this point, but by the end of the year, when the Trojans are either undefeated or on the verge of it, there won’t be a way that this point spread is below two touchdowns. Back the Men of Troy in what could be their final home game to blow the Irish out of the water by at least three scores.

^^Disclaimer: Our college football picks by our sports blog writers are independent of those from our Expert NCAA Football Handicappers. All NCAA football odds and lines in our Top 25 are from the month of August, and those lines could and likely will change by the time the game kicks off.

You won’t want to miss our Notre Dame @ USC picks when our expert college football handicappers have them posted on the week of 11/24/12.

Dating all the way back to the days of the old Southwest Conference, the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Texas A&M Aggies have been bitter rivals with one another. They were separated by conferences when the Big 8 and the SEC pillaged the Southwest, but they renewed their rivalry in 2009. Now though, they are back in the SEC West together, and the stakes really couldn’t be higher than they are right now. No matter how good or bad either of these teams turn out to be, every year, this is always one of the best games on the college football schedule, and that’s why it is our #12 game of our Countdown to Kickoff: The Top 25 Games of the College Football Season.

Arkansas Razorbacks @ Texas A&M Aggies Picks & Info
Arkansas Razorbacks @ Texas A&M Aggies Date: Saturday, September 29th
Arkansas Razorbacks @ Texas A&M Aggies Location: Kyle Field, College Station, TX
Arkansas Razorbacks @ Texas A&M Aggies Spread: Arkansas Razorbacks -3.5

The Hogs know that this is going to be a year with a heck of a schedule. The team has games in conference against Alabama and LSU at home, and Auburn, Texas A&M, South Carolina, and Mississippi State on the road. It’s not going to be easy to say the least. This is going to be a crucial game, because in all likelihood, Arkansas is going to be 0-1 already in the SEC, as its opener comes at home against Alabama on September 15th. Lose this one, and the likelihood is there that there is no chance whatsoever to get to the SEC Championship Game. Last year, this was the game in which QB Tyler Wilson really proclaimed his presence. He threw for 510 yards and three TDs, and he did so on the comeback trail, leading the team from down 35-17 at halftime to win with 25 second half points. Of course, the bad news is that most of Wilson’s receivers are now gone, but at least he is back and ready to give it another go at the Aggies. Remember that last year at that point, the Hogs were still trying to figure out how to find receivers aside from WR Greg Childs, and WR Jarius Wright had 13 grabs for 281 yards and two TDs. Someone else is bound to step up.

Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Texas A&M Aggies Past Games (Since 1995)
2011: Arkansas 42 – Texas A&M 38
2010: Arkansas 24 – Texas A&M 17
2009: Arkansas 47 – Texas A&M 19

Head Coach Kevin Sumlin knows that this is going to be one of the biggest games of his entire season this year. Just getting to a bowl game is going to be tough as could be, knowing that the team has to go 7-5 just to make it thanks to the fact that it has a pair of FCS teams on the slate. The Aggies might be 4-0 at this point (and that’s only if they avoid the upset at SMU and find a way to beat Florida in their SEC opener), but from here, there just aren’t all that many wins that we see on the schedule. With QB Ryan Tannehill gone, Texas A&M is going to struggle to find a pass happy offense. QB Johnny Manziel looks to be the man that is going to have the job at the outset of the season, and this is a heck of a lot to be putting on the back of a redshirt freshman in the SEC. There are going to be some growing pains for sure, and this is one of those games that could turn out to be a vital one in the youngster’s career. The entire offensive line is back in front of Manziel, which should help out quite a bit, and the defense brings back eight, but those eight were embarrassed in the second half by these Razorbacks last season.

Arkansas @ Texas A&M Free Picks^^: Even though this game is going to be played in College Station, we just don’t see how the Aggies are going to be able to keep up with the Hogs. Matters can really only get worse, not better for Texas A&M. If it loses to either Florida or SMU, its stock is going to slide. No one really figures on Arkansas beating the Tide, but if it did, that would be a huge boost in its stock as well. We can only see this point spread going up, not down, and for that reason, we are going to jump on board right now with the Razorbacks.

^^Note: These college football picks are independent of the picks of our Expert NCAA Football Handicappers. These NCAA football picks are made as of 8/12/12, though we will keep the college football matchup page updated for this clash on the week of the game.

When the Arkansas @ Texas A&M odds are on the board on the week of 9/29, we will have our college football picks that you won’t want to miss!

The NFC West has been considered one of the weakest divisions in the NFL for quite some time, and it has made making NFL picks a disaster for football betting fanatics. This year though, there are arguments that could be made for all four teams as contenders, and this might be the campaign that it becomes a lot more favorable to back teams on the odds to win the NFC West.

We’ll start with the team that came out of nowhere last year, the San Francisco 49ers (NFC West Odds: 1 to 2.50 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook). For years and years, we knew that the Niners had some talent, but the Mike Singletary era just didn’t end up going the way that it was supposed to go. Now with Head Coach Jim Harbaugh calling the shots, QB Alex Smith is taking care of the football, and the defense is playing a heck of a lot harder than it did under Singletary. Now, the team went from a perennial 6-8 win average team to one that was a play or two away from going to the Super Bowl. Smith has to continue to take care of the pigskin and not throw picks, though this year. He is probably going to be asked to do a bit more for his team knowing that he has both WR Randy Moss and WR Mario Manningham to work with. RB Frank Gore is becoming known as fragile, but the addition of RB LaMichael James & RB Brandon Jacobs  should help out on the ground. It’s up to this defense once again to keep them in games. With LB Patrick Willis and the leagues best linebacking core leading the way, there’s no reason to believe that the 49ers won’t win this division for a second straight year.

Head Coach Pete Carroll knows that the time is coming and that his Seattle Seahawks (2012 Odds To Win NFC West: 4.80 to 1 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook) really have to compete in the NFC West. The team has played a heck of a lot better defense under his direction, but the offense for the most part has been suspect. As a result this year, the team drafted QB Russell Wilson as a project pick and signed QB Matt Flynn via free agency. Though it seems Flynn will be the starter, there could be a three-way fight for the job between the two along with incumbent QB Tarvaris Jackson. Either way, the important function of the offense is to make sure that RB Marshawn Lynch gets the job done. Lynch just earned himself big payday in the offseason, and he is the key to keeping this offense going; especially knowing that there really aren’t any truly explosive receivers that can readily stretch the field.

Meanwhile in the desert, Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt is on the hottest seat in the league with his Arizona Cardinals (Current Odds to win the NFC West: 7.50 to 1 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook). Whisenhunt probably didn’t get fired because his team finished out the year winning 7 of their last 9 last year, getting the Cardinals to .500 by beating the Seahawks on the final day of the regular season. That being said, 8-8 isn’t going to cut it this year in all likelihood for Whisenhunt to keep his job. QB Kevin Kolb is also going to be up against it this year.  If Kolb fails, he could easily be replaced and become a career backup. WR Larry Fitzgerald was a bit off of his normal numbers last year, but the addition of WR Michael Floyd could open things up for him (and return this offense to the same level that it was at when Fitz and WR Anquan Boldin were both dominating receivers).

The time is coming for the St. Louis Rams (2012 NFC West Odds: 9.35 to 1 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook). We like the fact that they signed Head Coach Jeff Fisher in the offseason, and we also like that they traded; and traded quite a bit in the NFL Draft to pick up a ton of potential starters. It showed the league that QB Sam Bradford is still the face of this franchise and the future.  RB Steven Jackson has the potential to continue what might be a Hall of Fame career. Are the Rams there yet? Not quite. Can they find a way to compete in the vastly improved NFC West next season? It is entirely possible. Still, we look to see the framework for a much better and improved campaign set in 2012.  the Rams are going to be an up and coming team to watch in the future as long as they continue to draft well with all of their extra picks and keep building on a solid foundation.

2012 NFL Odds to Win NFC West Division @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/3/12):
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San Francisco 49ers Win NFC West -250
Field Wins NFC West +190

Seattle Seahawks Win NFC West +480
Field Wins NFC West -750

Arizona Cardinals Win NFC West +750
Field Wins NFC West -1165

St. Louis Rams Win NFC West +935
Field Wins NFC West -1420