The Florida Gators and the LSU Tigers both have rich histories of late that include a number of appearances in the BCS National Championship Game. The Bayou Bengals might be contenders again this year, but we just don’t see the Gators being able to play that same role in spite of the fact that they are on the verge of being in the Top 10 in the nation. However, for LSU to be BCS bound once again, it is likely going to have to go into the Swamp and avoid the upset against a UF team that will be playing in one of its biggest games of the entire season. Our LSU vs. Florida picks are second to none here at Bankroll Sports, and we have our first look at this college football matchup in our Top 25 games of the 2012 season.

LSU Tigers @ Florida Gators Picks & Info
LSU Tigers @ Florida Gators Date: Saturday, October 6th
LSU Tigers @ Florida Gators Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL
LSU Tigers @ Florida Gators Spread: LSU Tigers -2.5

Losing DB Tyrann Mathieu really is hurting the LSU defense, which really still is one of the best in the nation this year. The unit is still great, knowing that DE Sam Montgomery is an All-American, and he is joined by a heck of a lot of returning defensive linemen. This unit has absolutely crippled the Florida offense in recent years, especially last season when the unit just had zip going without QB John Brantley in the fold. The offense is going to be up in the air for sure with a true freshman in QB Zach Mettenberger under center, but the offensive line should be strong once again, and the backfield is just loaded. Expect to see a lot out of RB Spencer Ware, especially in this one, knowing that Head Coach Les Miles is going to want to take good care of the football against a normally very opportunistic defense.

LSU Tigers vs. Florida Gators Past Games (Since 1995)
2011: LSU 41 – Florida 11
2010: LSU 33 – Florida 29
2009: Florida 13 – LSU 3
2008: Florida 51 – LSU 21
2007: LSU 28 – Florida 24
2006: Florida 23 – LSU 10
2005: LSU 21 – Florida 17
2004: LSU 24 – Florida 21
2003: Florida 19 – LSU 7
2002: LSU 36 – Florida 7
2001: Florida 44 – LSU 5
2000: Florida 41 – LSU 9
1999: Florida 31 – LSU 10
1998: Florida 22 – LSU 10
1997: LSU 28 – Florida 21
1996: Florida 56 – LSU 13
1995: Florida 28 – LSU 10

The bottom line for Florida in this game is that QB Jeff Driskel (and maybe QB Jacoby Brissett) just has to do better than it did last year in this game. Missing RBs Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey won’t hurt all that much in relation to last year as the LSU defense was just too quick for them to use their speed to get to the outside. The question is going to be where that offense is coming from though, with so many pieces to the puzzle already gone from a unit that has been suspect at best since QB Tim Tebow graduated. RB Mike Gillislee has had a great start to the season, but he has never faced a defense that has this much talent. Defensively, there is definitely a lot here to work with for Head Coach Will Muschamp. He is a defensive specialist for sure, and with 10 returning starters and a lot of depth working its way into the regular rotation, there is no reason to believe that LSU will be able to put anywhere near the 41 points on the board that it did a campaign ago in the Bayou.

LSU @ Florida Free Picks^^: This could be a massive statement of a game for the Gators. This is a perfectly placed game, right in the middle of the season as it normally is. UF should be riding high with confidence at this point, and we think that it will be a lot closer to a pick ’em by the time this game kicks off. As it is, the college football point spread has dropped from 4.5 to 2.5. Florida is good enough to pull off the upset in what could be the signature win of Coach Muschamp’s career to date. Even if the Gators don’t get the job done, 4.5 points at the open might ultimately be the difference between a cover and a failure. This is one of the toughest calls for the entire college football season.

^^Note: This is a college football prediction that is made as of August 2012, and it does not reflect the opinions that our expert NCAA Football handicappers will have on this game. This article by our very talented sports blog staff is for entertainment and informational purposes only. If you would like to purchase our premium college football picks for the year, please Click Here

Our NCAA football expert handicappers will have their LSU @ Florida picks on Saturday, 10/6/2012.

Big XII football always has and always will revolve around the state of Texas. The biggest school in the biggest state in football is the Texas Longhorns, regardless of how good they are or aren’t. It is going to be very interesting to see how the West Virginia Mountaineers do in their very first trip to Austin, a trip that is going to very potentially make or break the season for either of these teams. Both squads have upper echelon talent, and both have gotten through the first month and change of the season with great records intact. Join us for our Texas vs. West Virginia picks for the very first game in this newly born rivalry.

West Virginia Mountaineers @ Texas Longhorns Picks & Info
West Virginia Mountaineers @ Texas Longhorns Date: Saturday, October 6th
West Virginia Mountaineers @ Texas Longhorns Location: Royal Texas Stadium, Austin, TX
West Virginia Mountaineers @ Texas Longhorns Spread: Texas Longhorns -7

There is no doubt that what makes the West Virginia offense move is its passing attack. The team really has a knack for getting up and down the field this way, and why not? QB Geno Smith is clearly one of the top quarterbacks in the country and a legitimate pro prospect, while WRs Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin might both also be future NFLers. Ivan McCartney is the underappreciated receiver of the bunch, and the work of RB Dustin Garrison will likely end up going overlooked as well. Defensively, Head Coach Dana Holgorsen knows that he has his work cut out for him. His 3-3-5 unit does return seven starters, but there is going to be a real question as to how the ‘Neers are going to be able to contend with the Texas running game with just three returning starters up front.

Thus far this year, Smith has had himself a heck of a year, and he is coming off of one of the best passing games that a quarterback has ever had in college football, throwing for over 600 yards and eight TDs against the Baylor Bears. The defense though, is predictably not all that great, knowing that this unit just allowed 63 last week as well.

West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Texas Longhorns Past Games (Since 1995)
None

This is going to be a great make or break type of a game for the Longhorns. They clearly haven’t hit the hardest part of their schedule, and losing this one clearly will separate the idea of a BCS type of a team and one that is going to be mired in the middle of the field with seven or eight wins that can only hope for a bid in the Alamo Bowl (or one of the sorts). The defense will have its work cut out for it going against Smith and the gang, but the offense might finally really have a chance to shine against a sometimes very weak unit. QB David Ash have had a few confidence boosting games in front of him to start off the campaign, and he has numbers that stack up against most of the Big XII quarterbacks right now. The good news is that this defense isn’t going to be all that good that he sees on the other side of the ball, but the bad news is that he is going to have to score a ton of points to get the win. Watch out for RBs Malcolm Brown, Joe Bergeron, and DJ Monroe to try to control the clock by keeping the ball on the ground, which could make for some room for Ash to get the ball up the field as he has done over the course of the first few games of the campaign.

West Virginia @ Texas Free Picks^^: We really want the points on our side in this game. West Virginia is a team that is built just like your average Big XII team, and in fact, it almost might have seemed displaced in the Big East in the past. Texas is starting to creep back towards the somewhat dominating team that it had over the course of the middle and end of last decade, but there is still quite some ways to go. Will the Longhorns get there? Sure they will… eventually. This probably isn’t the time for them to be laying 6.5 in a game like this one quite yet, though.

^^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 West Virginia vs. Texas picks from our experts on 10/6/12

The SEC East title might be on the line relatively early in the season in Columbia, when the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Georgia Bulldogs square off at Williams Brice Stadium. These two teams have played quite the rivalry over the course of the last few years, and this year should be no exception. Both of these teams were ranked in the Top 10 in the Preseason AP Poll, and they are both in the Top 6 in the land right now. Join us for our South Carolina vs. Georgia picks and predictions for what could be one of the best games of the season in the SEC.

Georgia Bulldogs @ South Carolina Gamecocks Picks & Info
Georgia Bulldogs @ South Carolina Gamecocks Date: Saturday, October 6th
Georgia Bulldogs @ South Carolina Gamecocks Location: Williams Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC
Georgia Bulldogs @ South Carolina Gamecocks Spread: South Carolina Gamecocks (-2)

The Dawgs started off the season in poor shape last year, losing their first two games of the season. They were in a heck of a lot of trouble at that point, and Head Coach Mark Richt was probably on his way out the door. UGA rolled to 10 straight wins to end the regular season though, and it ultimately went to the SEC Championship Game as a result. QB Aaron Murray is expected to be one of the best in the SEC this year, especially knowing that this is his third year as a starter. The Dawgs aren’t going to have RB Isaiah Crowell, who was kicked off the team, but there are still some sturdy backs in the backfield to help carry the load. Thus far, Georgia’s problem has been with its defense, which has been bipolar at times. The unit is clearly going to be up against it versus the powerful Gamecocks offense, which features one of the most underrated offensive lines in the country. This defense for the Bulldogs though, has allowed at least 20 points in four of their five games this year, and considering the fact that there hasn’t been a great team on the schedule yet, that’s definitely a cause for some concern.

Georgia Bulldogs vs. South Carolina Gamecocks Past Games (Since 1995)
2011: South Carolina 45 – Georgia 42
2010: South Carolina 17 – Georgia 6
2009: Georgia 41 – South Carolina 37
2008: Georgia 14 – South Carolina 7
2007: South Carolina 16 – Georgia 12
2006: Georgia 18 – South Carolina 0
2005: Georgia 17 – South Carolina 15
2004: Georgia 20 – South Carolina 16
2003: Georgia 31 – South Carolina 7
2002: Georgia 13 – South Carolina 7
2001: South Carolina 14 – Georgia 9
2000: South Carolina 21 – Georgia 10
1999: Georgia 24 – South Carolina 9
1998: Georgia 17 – South Carolina 3
1997: Georgia 31 – South Carolina 15
1996: South Carolina 23 – Georgia 14

South Carolina has really made a nice renaissance here over the course of the last half dozen years or so under Head Coach Steve Spurrier, and this should be yet another great year with at least eight or nine wins. The fact of the matter is that this team is bringing back 13 starters, many of which are still young and quite talented. RB Brandon Wilds is just a sophomore, and RB Marcus Lattimore and QB Connor Shaw are just juniors. WR Ace Sanders is also a junior. DE Jadeveon Clowney is one of the best defenders in the nation, and he just a sophomore as well. Times are clearly only going to be getting better here for the Gamecocks, though it is clear that this is going to be a test of epic proportions against a fantastic UGA squad. South Carolina knows that this is the best chance that it has had over the course of the last several years to make it to the BCS for the very first time, and though that still doesn’t seem likely, it would really be virtually impossible if this game happened to be lost.

Georgia @ South Carolina Free Picks^^: There is a reason that this point spread is oh so close. The Bulldogs and Gamecocks are both great teams, and this should be the war of all wars in the SEC East this year. We do expect that the winner of this game is going to be the one that goes to the SEC Championship Game. Home field advantage is crucial for the Cocks, but in the end, we still think that Murray has the ability to come on the road and beat any team in this side of this conference. Back the Bulldogs for your college football picks.

^^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 Georgia vs. South Carolina picks from our experts on 10/6/12

This is one of the biggest weeks on the NCAA football odds all year long. There are three clashes of teams that are ranked in the Top 15 in the nation and a ton of other conference games that should whet your appetite. Don’t miss out on our 2012 Week 6 betting lines for college football!

But before we get to the main course on Saturday, we have five weekday games to sink our teeth into. The most important game on the college football gambling lines is the one between the USC Trojans and the Utah Utes. Anyone betting on the Men of Troy have to be careful, knowing that road teams have been as good as death, especially ones that are ranked in the Pac-12 this year. USC has already fallen victim to the Stanford Cardinal on the road, and the CFB point spread wasn’t really all that far off from this one. USC is getting the nod to start the week at -12.5.

Elsewhere on Thursday night, the UCF Knights are laying two touchdowns against the East Carolina Pirates, while the Arkansas State Red Wolves and the Florida International Golden Panthers aren’t going to be separated by all that much. The Red Wolves are 1.5-point underdogs on the road in South Florida.

Friday night is featuring a two-pack of games. The Big East kicks things off when the Pitt Panthers are favored by a field goal at the Carrier Dome against the Syracuse Orange. The BYU Cougars and Utah Utes will also face off on Friday night on ESPN, but the Week 6 odds are currently off the board at the start of the week.

There are three absolutely massive games that are on the docket this week that cannot be missed, as they all feature Top 12 teams.

We’ll start with the 3:30 ET game pitting the Florida Gators against the LSU Tigers. The Bayou Bengals have been falling in the Top 5 in the land over the course of the last few weeks. They have been playing very vanilla ball though, and they are going to have a real chance to shine in the Swamp against the Gators. Play this game two weeks ago, and the Gators are underdogs by at least a touchdown, and maybe double digits. Play in three weeks in the future, and that might be the case as well. However, with the Tigers playing seemingly as badly as they have over the course of the last few years and the Gators coming into this one at 4-0, and for those reasons, the men in blue and orange are only catching 3.5.

Later on in the night, the West Virginia Mountaineers, fresh off of their 800+ yard game, are going to be headed on the road to take on the Texas Longhorns. The Horns were able to come up with a game winning drive of their own against Oklahoma State last week. QB David Ash and QB Geno Smith are going to be fighting it out in this one in Austin, and it is going to be a Texas-sized showdown. This is inevitably going to be one of the biggest ‘totals’ of the week. The Mountaineers are the higher ranked team, but in the end, they aren’t expected to win this game, and the oddsmakers aren’t even implying that they are the better team. Texas is favored by 6.5.

But perhaps the biggest NCAA football matchup in Week 6 pits the Georgia Bulldogs against the South Carolina Gamecocks. Especially if Florida loses earlier in the day, this game will be for first place in the SEC East. This is a bigger game from the standpoint that will be a National Championship elimination game. These two teams are amongst the best in the nation, and they are both going to be up against it taking on the other in the biggest game for both over the course of the year. Unlike Texas, which is favored by more than home field advantage, the oddsmakers just can’t separate Georgia and South Carolina. The only difference to make this spread South Carolina -3? The fact that this game is being played in Columbia and not in Athens. Flip this one to Athens, and the Dawgs would probably be favored by a field goal right now as well.

**Click Here for the World’s Most Profitable Sports Betting System**

It’s not as though the rest of the card is going to be feature a ton of slacking games. There are a number of teams that are on massive upset alert that are ranked in the Top 25 in the country.

Perhaps the biggest upset candidate might be the Florida State Seminoles. The garnet and gold overcame their first road game of the year, and they are expected to do so against the NC State Wolfpack this week as well. However, Raleigh has always been a nightmarish place for the Noles to play in, and NC State has always been a thorn in FSU’s side. The Wolfpack are getting two touchdowns, but if recent history repeats itself, the Seminoles might be in some trouble. They have lost four meetings here in Raleigh since the late-1990s.

The Oklahoma Sooners might be on upset alert as well on the road. The Sooners were beaten by the Kansas State Wildcats at home the last time that we saw them, and now, their hopes of playing for the Big XII Championship or the BCS really at all are up in the air here in Lubbock on Saturday. The Texas Tech Red Raiders are the next team on the docket, and this game is dangerous for sure. Head Coach Tommy Tuberville is a master for games like this one, and his offense is going to be problematic for OU. Remember that last year, as more than four-touchdown underdogs, the Red Raiders pulled off the shocker in Norman. This year, T-Tech is getting just five points.

The Michigan Wolverines could be in some trouble as well. They aren’t in the Top 25 anymore, but they are certainly still supposed to be favorites to win the Big Ten. QB Denard Robinson has looked lost at times in this, his senior year, and now, he is going to be running into a Purdue Boilermakers outfit that was the only one this year to really give the Notre Dame Fighting Irish a run for their money for the full 60 minutes. Michigan is -3.5, but it wouldn’t be a shock at all if the Boilers started their Big Ten campaign on the right foot.

Last week, the biggest favorite, the Alabama Crimson Tide, were favored by 30.5 points. This week, that number has come down quite a bit. The only favorites that are greater than 21 points on the opening college football betting odds are the Oregon Ducks (-24.5 vs. Washington Huskies), Kansas State Wildcats (-24.5 vs. Kansas Jayhawks), and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (-25 vs. UNLV Runnin’ Rebels). There aren’t all that many big time road favorites this week either. The Fresno State Bulldogs are -16 against the Colorado State Rams, while the Michigan State Spartans are -14.5 on the road against the Indiana Hoosiers. No other team is favored on the road by more than the 14 of Florida State.

On the flip side of that though, there are six games which are separated by a college football point spread of three points or fewer, while there are 19 games that are separated by a touchdown or fewer.

What’s most interesting to us is the role of the aforementioned Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. One more win should put the Bulldogs in the Top 25 in the land, and they are laying 25 points against the UNLV Running Rebels at home and should have no problem. Meanwhile, the only other mid-major team that has any sort of real chance to get into the BCS discussion this year is the Boise State Broncos, who are favored by 11 on the road against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles.

2012 NCAA Football Week 6 Odds @ WagerWeb Sportsbook (as of 10/6/12):
(Get a HUGE 100% Bonus at WagerWeb.com When Using This Link)

Week 6 College Football Betting Lines for Thursday, 10/4/12

303 East Carolina Pirates +12
304 Central Florida Knights -12
Over/Under 45

305 USC Trojans -13.5
306 Utah Utes +13.5
Over/Under 50

307 Arkansas State Red Wolves -1
308 Florida International Golden Panthers +1
Over/Under 56.5

NCAA Football Lines for Week 6 for Friday, 10/5/12

309 Pittsburgh Panthers +1
310 Syracuse Orange -1
Over/Under 59

311 Utah State Aggies +6.5
312 BYU Cougars -6.5
Over/Under 45

Week 6 NCAA Football Odds for Saturday, 10/6/12

313 Navy Midshipmen +8
314 Air Force Falcons -8
Over/Under 54

315 Michigan State Spartans -15.5
316 Indiana Hoosiers +15.5
Over/Under 48.5

317 Northern Illinois Huskies -2.5
318 Ball State Cardinals +2.5
Over/Under 66.5

319 Boston College Eagles -7
320 Army Black Knights +7
Over/Under 56.5

321 Bowling Green Falcons -5
322 Akron Zips +5
Over/Under 63.5

323 Miami Redhawks +20.5
324 Cincinnati Bearcats -20.5
Over/Under 58.5

325 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets +10.5
326 Clemson Tigers -10.5
Over/Under 72.5

327 Virginia Cavaliers +1
328 Duke Blue Devils -1
Over/Under 55.5

329 South Florida Bulls -3.5
330 Temple Owls +3.5
Over/Under 47.5

331 Northwestern Wildcats +2.5
332 Penn State Nittany Lions -2.5
Over/Under 47.5

333 Kent State Golden Flashes -3
334 Eastern Michigan Eagles +3
Over/Under 48.5

335 Connecticut Huskies +7
336 Rutgers Scarlet Knights -7
Over/Under 40

337 Florida State Seminoles -15.5
338 NC State Wolfpack +15.5
Over/Under 54

339 Massachusetts Minutemen +16.5
340 Western Michigan Broncos -16.5
Over/Under 55

341 Vanderbilt Commodores +7
342 Missouri Tigers -7
Over/Under 44.5

343 Texas A&M Aggies -13.5
344 Ole Miss Rebels +13.5
Over/Under 64.5

345 Virginia Tech Hokies +5.5
346 North Carolina Tar Heels -5.5
Over/Under 50

347 Washington Huskies +24
348 Oregon Ducks -24
Over/Under 62.5

349 Georgia Bulldogs +1.5
350 South Carolina Gamecocks -1.5
Over/Under 54

351 West Virginia Mountaineers +7
352 Texas Longhorns -7
Over/Under 73.5

353 Iowa State Cyclones +7
354 TCU Horned Frogs -7
Over/Under 41

355 Illinois Fighting Illini +14.5
356 Wisconsin Badgers -14.5
Over/Under 45

357 Kansas Jayhawks +25
358 Kansas State Wildcats -25
Over/Under 54

359 UCLA Bruins -2.5
360 Cal Golden Bears +2.5
Over/Under 55.5

361 Arkansas Razorbacks +7
362 Auburn Tigers -7
Over/Under 56

363 Michigan Wolverines -2.5
364 Purdue Boilermakers +2.5
Over/Under 58

365 Wyoming Cowboys +19
366 Nevada Wolf Pack -19
Over/Under 68.5

367 New Mexico State Aggies +9.5
368 Idaho Vandals -9.5
Over/Under 56.5

369 Arizona Wildcats +9.5
370 Stanford Cardinal -9.5
Over/Under 54

371 Oklahoma Sooners -4
372 Texas Tech Red Raiders +4
Over/Under 57

373 Central Michigan Chippewas +11.5
374 Toledo Rockets -11.5
Over/Under 68

375 Boise State Broncos -10
376 Southern Miss Golden Eagles +10
Over/Under 47.5

377 Rice Owls -5.5
378 Memphis Tigers +5.5
Over/Under 61

379 Wake Forest Demon Deacons +7
380 Maryland Terrapins -7
Over/Under 47.5

381 Mississippi State Bulldogs -10
382 Kentucky Wildcats +10
Over/Under 46.5

383 Washington State Cougars +14.5
384 Oregon State Beavers -14.5
Over/Under 58.5

385 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels +27.5
386 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs -27.5
Over/Under 70

387 Tulsa Golden Hurricane -4
388 Marshall Thundering Herd +4
Over/Under 69

389 Miami Hurricanes +14
390 Notre Dame Fighting Irish -14
Over/Under 53.5

391 Buffalo Bulls +14
392 Ohio Bobcats -14
Over/Under 57

393 Nebraska Cornhuskers +3
394 Ohio State Buckeyes -3
Over/Under 56.5

395 Hawaii Warriors +21.5
396 San Diego State Aztecs -21.5
Over/Under 59.5

397 Fresno State Bulldogs -17.5
398 Colorado State Rams +17.5
Over/Under 60

399 LSU Tigers -2.5
400 Florida Gators +2.5
Over/Under 41.5

401 Texas State Bobcats +3
402 New Mexico Lobos -3
Over/Under 50

403 SMU Mustangs +2.5
404 UTEP Miners -2.5
Over/Under 51.5

405 Tulane Green Wave +27.5
406 Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns -27.5
Over/Under 54.5

407 Louisiana Monroe Warhawks -3
408 Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders +3
Over/Under 66

409 North Texas Mean Green +11
410 Houston Cougars -11
Over/Under 58.5

441 Southeast Louisiana Golden Lions +18.5
442 UAB Blazers -18.5