TCU at Fresno State (-4) - 7:00pm Pacific
Head coach Pat Hill has publicly stated that this is easily his best team in his 3 year tenure at Fresno State. After showing good signs (had UCLA against the ropes) in back to back road games vs Pac-10 opponents, the Bulldogs exploded vs Nevada last week. They amassed 49 points and 547 total yards (could have been much more) while dominating both sides of the ball. Nevada is no pushover, they played most of the game vs Oregon two weeks ago without star QB Neill and were made to look much worse than they are, but Neill started and played throughout last week. Fresno St senior QB Billy Volek is solid and does not make many mistakes. He has completed 62.3% of his passes and has a 11-2 TD/INT ratio this year. The Bulldogs have three talented and speedy receivers. Freshman RB Derrick Ward has looked like a superstar since making his debut vs UCLA two games back. He leads the team in rushing with 286 yards and an 8.4ypc average in just 2 games! Unfortunately, he reportedly injured his hand in practice this week but is still expected to see action. TCU is another team who only has 3 games under their belt which is a disadvantage at this point in the season. The Horned Frogs have not looked good and are 1-2 after escaping with a 3 point win vs 0-4 Arkansas State last week. The presumably tough TCU defense gave up 187 yards rushing vs the Indians. TCU QB Batteaux missed the game with a torn ligament in his non-throwing hand, but he uses his off hand often on option plays. He is expected to split time at QB with true freshman Casey Printers (5-10, 1 INT vs Ark St). Horned Frogs scored only 7 points vs Northwestern, and were shut out in the entire 2nd half vs Arkansas State. TCU is one of the worst passing teams in Division 1 which may be just what the doctor ordered for the Fresno St defense. The Bulldog defense has done a good job of stopping the run this year. They held UCLA to just 3.0ypc and held Nevada to only 2.4ypc. Fresno's LB corps is the strength of the defense led by 1st team WAC LB senior Tim Skipper. This should be a favorable matchup for the Bulldogs defense vs one dimensional TCU offense. Last years game at TCU was very close until a 4th Qtr TD fumble return gave TCU a 21-10 win. This time around Fresno St is a better team and is playing a night game at home. Bulldogs are ready for a big win. Fresno State  2 UNITS

Arkansas at Kentucky (+9.5) - 10:30am Pacific
The Wildcats again are a solid value. We really liked their performance on the road at Indiana two weeks ago and they did not play all that bad vs Florida last week. Kentucky fell behind 28-0 early on and were obviously outclassed, but they played even with the Gators in the 2nd half and would have even gained some ground back if they could have made some plays they usually make on offense. After being sacked four times and throwing an interception in the first half, QB Dusty Bonner rebounded and finished a solid 36 for 48. The Razorbacks were a senior dominated team last year, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines. They have no less than 4 first year starters on the offensive line this year and they lost their two best defensive lineman from last year to graduation as well. It showed last week vs Alabama which was only their third game of the season and first real test. Alabama controlled the line of scrimmage and had a 193 to 64 rushing yard advantage. The Razorback defense gave up 491 yards and 35 points overall despite 6 Tide turnovers! Arkansas QB Clint Stoerner missed an entire week of practice before the Alabama game with a shoulder injury and is still not back to 100%. Razorback star WR Anthony Lucas will start but missed practice Monday & Tuesday with a sore knee. In last years game at Arkansas, Kentucky was a +4 point dog and led 20-7 in the 3rd quarter before throwing a crucial interception that was returned 67 yards back to 13 yard line and ended up being a 14 point turnaround. This year Kentucky is at home and getting +9.5! Razorbacks were 5-1 ATS last year at home and 2-4 ATS away from home. This is their second straight road game. Kentucky is aiming for a 3 game win streak (Ark, S Carolina, LSU) that would give them a good shot at a second straight bowl bid. With Arkansas lacking their usual line of scrimmage strength, the Wildcats can outscore them. +9.5 point home dog is a luxury with a major opportunity for a straight up win. Kentucky  1 UNIT

Oregon State (+13.5) at USC - 3:30pm Pacific
The Beavers come in to this game with a 3-0 record and have covered 6 straight games vs the spread dating back to last season. They have had a BYE week to prepare and get all of their regular players fresh and healthy. They have a high level of confidence after playing the Trojans very close here last season. OSU trailed USC 23-20 with just a few minutes left in the game before some freak plays gave USC a 40-20 win and miracle cover last year. Oregon State is in search of its first winning season in a very long time. Last year, besides playing USC close, the Beavers lost at Washington by 1 point, to Cal by 1 point, to UCLA by 7 in the final minute, and then beat Oregon in OT all in successive weeks! Dennis Erickson is obviously a solid college head coach and is doing fine job in his first year here. OSU did get a scare last week from #1 ranked Division I-AA Ga Southern, but they survived 48-41. Sophomore QB Jonathan Smith finally gives the Beavers a legitimate passing threat. RB Ken Simonton is in a zone right now. Simonton actually leads the nation in rushing! He looks, acts, and plays like a 5th year senior but is only a sophomore. The defense is not big, but is very speedy and will surprise people. USC suffered a big blow losing QB Carson Palmer for 6-8 weeks with a collarbone injury in last weeks OT loss at Oregon. He is flat out one of the best young QB's in the country and was a big asset of this team. Backup Van Raaphorst played well in relief last week, but last year whenever he was in the Trojan offense was lethargic. Trojan starting center Eric Denmon has missed practice with a nagging knee injury, probably will play but is not expected to start. A true freshman who planned to redshirt is the 3rd string center. USC is also without starting receiver Windrell Hayes. The Trojan defense was somewhat exposed by Oregon last week. Again, teams who lose in OT usually do not perform well the following week. The Beavers are clearly an improved team and will be up big time for this game. If USC does not come with their A game, they will lose this one straight up. Oregon State  1 UNIT