Pac-12 football should be interesting this season, especially knowing that there is the dynamic of the USC Trojans not being eligible for the conference crown. The Oregon Ducks might not need to beat USC to win the conference this year, but they might need this one to contend for the National Championship Game.

USC Trojans @ Oregon Ducks Picks & Info
USC Trojans @ Oregon Ducks Date: Saturday, November 19th, 2011
USC Trojans @ Oregon Ducks Location: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR
USC Trojans @ Oregon Ducks Spread: Oregon Ducks -10

If the Trojans really open up as 10 point underdogs in this one, you know that Head Coach Lane Kiffin is going to use that as some big time bulletin board material. It’s big enough that this is the Game of the Year for the Men of Troy, knowing that this is the duel against the team that nearly won the whole enchilada last year. QB Matt Barkley knows that he is going to have the onus of this offense on his shoulders. He led the team to a 32-29 lead in the third quarter against the Ducks, but the defense just had no chance, giving up a whopping 600 yards. Ultimately, two picks cost Barkley and really countered his 264 passing yards.

USC Trojans @ Oregon Ducks Past Games (Since 1996)
2010: Oregon 53 – USC 32
2009: Oregon 47 – USC 20
2008: USC 44 – Oregon 10
2007: Oregon 24 – USC 17
2006: USC 35 – Oregon 10
2005: USC 45 – Oregon 13
2002: USC 44 – Oregon 33
2001: Oregon 24 – USC 22
2000: Oregon 28 – USC 17
1999: Oregon 33 – USC 30
1998: Oregon 17 – USC 13
1997: USC 24 – Oregon 22

Oregon’s offense has scored a whopping 100 points in the last two meetings against the Trojans thanks to Head Coach Chip Kelly’s offense. Last year, QB Darron Thomas threw for 288 yards and rushed for 42 more, and RB LaMichael James rumbled for 239 yards and three TDs. Like we said, we already know that the Ducks put up those 600 yards against USC, something that was really unheard of before. The only question is that defense, but that was the same unit that was questioned all season long before rallying to the National Championship Game. Ironically, it was the offense that came up short against the Auburn Tigers. The Ducks also haven’t lost a home game since losing to the Boise State Broncos in September 2008, and they haven’t been beaten at home in Pac-10 play since losing the Civil War against the Oregon State Beavers in 2007.

USC Trojans @ Oregon Ducks Game Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 8/1/11):
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USC Trojans (+10) @ Oregon Ducks

Current Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma Game Odds Can Be Found Below

This is an interesting season in the Big XII, due to the fact that there are only 10 teams this season. The Oklahoma Sooners are the overwhelming favorites to claim the conference crown, but the biggest team that might be standing in their way are the Texas A&M Aggies. There is a huge advantage to the Sooners with this one being played in Norman, but the Aggies definitely have their chance to make a big time impact on the conference title race and the National Championship picture.

Texas A&M Aggies @ Oklahoma Sooners Picks & Info
Texas A&M Aggies @ Oklahoma Sooners Date: Saturday, November 5th
Texas A&M Aggies @ Oklahoma Sooners Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK
Texas A&M Aggies @ Oklahoma Sooners Spread: Oklahoma Sooners -9.5

The good news for the Aggies this year is that the mass majority of their games of importance are either at home or at neutral sites. In fact, this is going to be the second time all season long that A&M leaves the Lone Star State, and it is only the second of three trips outside of the state. Last year, QB Ryan Tannehill really had a nice game in relief of the ineffective QB Jerrod Johnson, throwing for 225 yards and two TDs. The 33-19 victory was the biggest of the season for A&M, and it really sparked it to such a fantastic season. It was the first time that the Aggies won a game in this series since 2002, but they haven’t won a game here in Norman since 1997.

Texas A&M Aggies vs. Oklahoma Sooners Past Games (Since 1995)
2010: Texas A&M 33 – Oklahoma 19
2009: Oklahoma 65 – Texas A&M 10
2008: Oklahoma 66 – Texas A&M 28
2007: Oklahoma 42 – Texas A&M 14
2006: Oklahoma 17 – Texas A&M 16
2005: Oklahoma 36 – Texas A&M 30
2004: Oklahoma 42 – Texas A&M 35
2003: Oklahoma 77 – Texas A&M 0
2002: Texas A&M 30 – Oklahoma 26
2001: Oklahoma 31 – Texas A&M 10
2000: Oklahoma 35 – Texas A&M 31
1999: Oklahoma 51 – Texas A&M 6
1998: Texas A&M 29 – Oklahoma 0
1997: Texas A&M 51 – Oklahoma 7
1996: Texas A&M 33 – Oklahoma 16

The Sooners really have a bone to pick with the Aggies this year after that loss last season, and an offense that put up 372 yards worth of offense is almost totally intact. QB Landry Jones had to throw 59 passes in last year’s defeat, but he only came up with 36 completions and 290 total yards. The rushing game just didn’t have it either on the day. Head Coach Bob Stoops knows that his defense can’t let Tannehill and the A&M offense have its way once again like it did last year.

Texas A&M Aggies @ Oklahoma Sooners Game Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/30/11):
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Texas A&M Aggies (+9.5) @ Oklahoma Sooners

Current Alabama @ Florida Game Odds Can Be Found Below

When Tim Tebow was roaming the field for the Florida Gators, it was seemingly an annual game that they played against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship Game. This year in Gainesville, the stakes aren’t quite as high as they once were years ago with both SEC and National Championship implications on the line, but this is still definitely one of the biggest games of the year.

Alabama Crimson Tide @ Florida Gators Picks & Info
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Florida Gators Date: Saturday, October 1st
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Florida Gators Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Florida Gators Spread: Florida Gators +7

The Gators are most certainly a shadow of the team that had Tebow and a slew of other talented stars on it, but so too, are the Crimson Tide. RB Mark Ingram had a great career in Tuscaloosa, especially against Florida, but now, the job is left to RB Trent Richardson. The speedy back has shown all sorts of potential, and now that the backfield is his alone, we are expecting big time things. This is definitely going to be a big time test for new QB AJ McCarron, who looked good in relief a season ago. This is the second road game for Alabama on the season, and if the first one is lost against the Penn State Nittany Lions, this could be a National Championship make or break situation.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Florida Gators Past Games (Since 1995)
2010: Alabama 31 – Florida 6
2009: Alabama 32 – Florida 13
2008: Florida 31 – Alabama 20
2006: Florida 28 – Alabama 13
2005: Alabama 31 – Florida 3
1999: Alabama 34 – Florida 7
1999: Alabama 40 – Florida 39
1998: Florida 16 – Alabama 10
1996: Florida 45 – Alabama 30

Florida has its normal cupcakes to start the season, but this is where things are going to be getting a bit tricky. The Gators not only have to deal with Alabama on October 1st, but LSU, Auburn, and Georgia immediately thereafter. This is the only home game from September 17th until November 5th, and to say that it is a must win game for first year Head Coach Will Muschamp is an understatement. QB John Brantley was a wreck last year in big games for the most part, and this is going to be his first chance with his new offense to really be tested against a significantly better team. Alabama has one of the best defenses in the nation year in and year out, and this year shouldn’t be an exception. This is why the Gators are such hefty home underdogs, something that we don’t normally see.

Alabama Crimson Tide @ Florida Gators Game Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/30/11):
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Alabama Crimson Tide (-7) @ Florida Gators

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are being welcomed into the Big 10 with open arms this year, but the competition on the field is going to be hot and heavy from start to finish when they go up against the best and brightest in the conference. An up and coming Penn State Nittany Lions team is waiting on the conference slate this year in what could be one of the best games of the season in conference play.

Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Penn State Nittany Lions Picks & Info
Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Penn State Nittany Lions Date: Saturday, November 12th
Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Penn St. Nittany Lions Location: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Penn State Nittany Lions Spread: Penn State Nittany Lions +2

The Cornhuskers are definitely in a position to waltz right into the Big 10 and come away with a conference crown. QB Taylor Martinez is hopefully going to take strides in the right direction this year, and the hope is that a year of offseason conditioning can get his arm to match the quality of his legs. RB Rex Burkhead is going to have his work cut out for him in this one against a traditionally stout run defense, but the good news on the other side of the ball is that Head Coach Bo Pelini has the Black Shirts hitting and hitting hard once again. Penn State’s offense probably isn’t good enough to score all that much against Nebraska, and if this is the case, Big Red is justifiably favored to take this late season tussle in November.

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Past Games (Since 1995)
2003: Nebraska 18 – Penn State 10
2002: Penn State 40 – Nebraska 7

The last time the Nittany Lions welcomed in the Cornhuskers to Happy Valley, Nebraska was the No. 1 ranked team in America, and Penn State blew it out 40-7. No one is thinking that the result is going to be this lopsided this time around, but an upset of this proportion would rival that 33 point bombing from 2002. QB Matt McGloin had a solid season down the stretch last year, but whether it is he or Robert Bolden getting the call under center for Head Coach Joe Paterno, there is going to be a heck of a lot of work to do. RB Evan Royster needs to be replaced, and he was such a tremendous portion of this Penn State offense over the last few seasons. The defense ranked No. 34 in the land last year, and if that doesn’t pick it up in this one, the Nittany Lions could be in some trouble.

Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Penn State Nittany Lions Game Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/28/11):
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Nebraska Cornhuskers (-2) @ Penn State Nittany Lions (+2)

Each and every season, the Big XII seems like it comes down to the Red River Shootout between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners. Texas might have dropped just a tad over the course of the last year, but that isn’t going to take away the importance of this game, especially with the Sooners eyeing the National Championship this season.

Oklahoma Sooners @ Texas Longhorns Picks & Info
Oklahoma Sooners @ Texas Longhorns Date: Saturday, October 8th, 2011
Oklahoma Sooners @ Texas Longhorns Location: Cotton Bowl Stadium, Dallas, TX
Oklahoma Sooners @ Texas Longhorns Spread: Texas Longhorns +8

For the entire early part of the 2000s, the Sooners dominated this series against Texas, taking it behind the woodshed seemingly every year. That changed over the back end of the decade though, as OU dropped four out of five. Last year’s 28-20 win almost seems tainted for how bad the Longhorns really were. Now, things definitely appear to be back on the Sooners’ side once again. A potent passing attack led by QB Landry Jones and WR Ryan Broyles is going to be one of the best in the nation, and historically, quarterbacks for Sooners have a field day in this fixture. There are still questions about this defense, which ranked No. 53 in the nation last year at 362.5 yards per game. Still, we know that things are going to get better and better for this unit with a ton of returning starters, and by the time this game rolls around, this unit should be back in fine form once again.

Oklahoma Sooners @ Texas Longhorns Past Games (Since 1995)
2010: Oklahoma 28 – Texas 20
2009: Texas 16 – Oklahoma 13
2008: Texas 45 – Oklahoma 35
2007: Oklahoma 28 – Texas 21
2006: Texas 28 – Oklahoma 10
2005: Texas 45 – Oklahoma 12
2004: Oklahoma 12 – Texas 0
2003: Oklahoma 65 – Texas 13
2002: Oklahoma 35 – Texas 24
2001: Oklahoma 14 – Texas 3
2000: Oklahoma 63 – Texas 14
1999: Texas 38 – Oklahoma 28
1998: Texas 34 – Oklahoma 3
1997: Texas 27 – Oklahoma 24
1996: Oklahoma 30 – Texas 27

The Longhorns have their work cut out for them this year. Not only do they have to find some viable offensive options after a disastrous year without any real success from QB Garrett Gilbert, but they have to replace a number of key defensive players and Defensive Coordinator Will Muschamp. Texas is really in the danger zone right now with Head Coach Mack Brown, and another bad season might bring up some cause for concern in Austin about the future of the Longhorns’ leader. Texas has never had a history of putting up a slew of points in games in this series, and Gilbert and company could really have a hard time in this one if the Oklahoma defense improves this year as well.

Oklahoma Sooners @ Texas Longhorns Game Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/28/11):
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Oklahoma Sooners (-8) @ Texas Longhorns

The ACC Coastal Division is always one that is tightly contested, and this year should be no exception whatsoever. The Hokies are going to be one of the top teams in the land once again this year, but the Hurricanes, under first year coach Al Golden, are going to be looking to make an impression by taking them to their first conference championship game since joining the ACC.

Miami Hurricanes @ Virginia Tech Hokies Picks & Info
Miami Hurricanes @ Virginia Tech Hokies Date: Saturday, October 8th
Miami Hurricanes @ Virginia Tech Hokies Location: Layne Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
Miami Hurricanes @ Virginia Tech Hokies Spread: Virginia Tech Hokies -6

The Hurricanes are really under the gun in this one. QB Jacory Harris knows that he needs to really get his act in gear against a Virginia Tech team that has dominated him over the years. Harris threw for 1,793 yards and 14 TDs last season against 15 picks. However, there is a real question whether or not Stephen Morris will end up taking over. Harris has the experience, but Morris has the better skills in all likelihood even though his numbers were worse with 1,240 yards and seven scores in 2010. The cupboard isn’t totally dry in South Beach this year, but things definitely aren’t as good as they have been in the past. This trip to Layne Stadium is going to be tough, but the good news is that the team did go 4-2 SU and 3-3 ATS as visitors this year, so the upset in this one isn’t out of the question.

Miami Hurricanes vs. Virginia Tech Hokies Past Games (Since 1995)
2010: Virginia Tech 31 – Miami 17
2009: Virginia Tech 31 – Miami 7
2008: Miami 16 – Virginia Tech 14
2007: Virginia Tech 44 – Miami 14
2006: Virginia Tech 17 – Miami 10
2005: Miami 27 – Virginia Tech 7
2004: Virginia Tech 16 – Miami 10
2003: Virginia Tech 31 – Miami 7
2002: Miami 56 – Virginia Tech 45
2001: Miami 26 – Virginia Tech 24
2000: Miami 41 – Virginia Tech 21
1999: Virginia Tech 43 – Miami 10
1998: Virginia Tech 27 – Miami 20
1997: Virginia Tech 27 – Miami 25
1996: Virginia Tech 21 – Miami 7
1995: Virginia Tech 13 – Miami 7

As one could tell just by looking at the scores in this series, Head Coach Frank Beamer has consistently put together a defense that has been able to stuff up the Canes. This year should be no exception, as VT is coming off of a season in which it allowed just 20.6 points per game a season ago. Offensively, QB Tyrod Taylor has moved on, and over the last several seasons, there haven’t been many other players take snaps. Taylor threw 24 TDs against five picks, numbers which are going to be hard for QB Logan Thomas. Last season’s loss to the James Madison Dukes was the end of a disastrous stretch of games, but since that point, Beamer Ball has taken over again and the Hokies have been remarkable. The hope is that that keeps up to get them back into the ACC Championship Game once again.

Miami Hurricanes @ Virginia Tech Hokies Game Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/25/11):
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Miami Hurricanes (+6) @ Virginia Tech Hokies

The Broncos and Horned Frogs have had a history of playing against one another in the postseason, but they have never shared a conference before. This will be the only season in which they are in the Mountain West together, and the stakes may never be higher. Both of these squads have high hopes for a BCS campaign, but in all likelihood, only the winner of this game will have a shot of making it to the big time.

TCU Horned Frogs @ Boise State Broncos Picks & Info
TCU Horned Frogs @ Boise State Broncos Date: Saturday, November 12th
TCU Horned Frogs @ Boise State Broncos Location: Bronco Stadium, Boise, ID
TCU Horned Frogs @ Boise State Broncos Spread: Boise State Broncos -14.5

This could be a tougher year for Head Coach Gary Patterson and company due to the fact that he has to break in a new signal caller after watching QB Andy Dalton move on to the NFL as the winningest quarterback in TCU history. The defense, which allowed just a dozen points per game, including really sticking toe to toe with the Wisconsin Badgers in the Rose Bowl last season. This will be a remarkable test for the Horned Frogs defense, and they are going to be up against it versus a Boise State offense that has a habit of dropping just a slew of points on opponents, especially on the Smurf Turf.

TCU Horned Frogs vs. Boise State Broncos Past Games (Since 1995)
2010: Boise State 17 – TCU 10
2008: TCU 17 – Boise State 16
2003: Boise State 34 – TCU 31

The Broncos though, are returning their most important pieces of the puzzle for another run at the BCS this year. They were left out in the cold after a solid season after losing to the Nevada Wolf Pack on the road in the de facto WAC Championship Game, and the end result saw the university lose millions of dollars. Now, Boise moves to the MWC, where it had hoped to build a mega-conference with TCU and Utah. Little did it know that this was going to be the only season in which the Broncos were going to have that sort of “mega conference” feel. This is definitely going to be the make or break game for QB Kellen Moore in his Heisman Trophy campaign this year, because a loss in this game, even he throws for 500 yards against a remarkable defense, will take away both the team’s BCS hopes and crush his Heisman hopes as well.

TCU Horned Frogs @ Boise State Broncos Game Odds @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/24/11):
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TCU Horned Frogs (+11.5) @ Boise State Broncos