College Football Handicapping Articles

Weekly Public Action Football Betting Report with Predictions (11th Edition)
by Joey House - 11/24/2023

As interesting as writing the PAR this year has been, it's also been an incredible learning experience. After last week's record of 2-1 on the recommendations (remember, I couldn't in good conscience suggest Baylor and, for excellent reasons, losing 42-17 to TCU), the yearly tally of PAR picks comes to 18-15, a 54.5% winning percentage. As any handicapper worth their salt will tell you, anytime you finish in the black is a good campaign.

College Football Free Picks: Weekly Mid-Major Report and Predictions for James Madison Week 13
by Joey House - 11/23/2023

Welcome to Doc's Sports Mid-Major Report covering the James Madison University Dukes as they roll through the Sunbelt Conference in just their second year at the FBS level. This week's game against Coastal Carolina is the final game of the regular season, but hopefully not our last edition. Due to the ridiculous rules that exclude them from postseason play for the first two years, JMU is currently ineligible for the Sunbelt championship or a bowl game. However, there is a caveat that the Dukes could receive an invitation if there are not enough teams to reach bowl eligibility.

NCAA Football Predictions: Week 13 Opening Line Report and Picks
by Joey House - 11/21/2023

While there are a ton of flaws in the NCAA (stupid 2-year postseason restrictions for new teams pop into my head), one of the few things that N-C-Double-As#&oles get right is scheduling. I'm neither an OU nor Texas fan, but every October, I look forward to the Red River Rivalry. Ditto for the "World's Biggest Outdoor Cocktail Party," the annual game between Florida and Georgia. The NCAA schedulers thoroughly understand the "save the best for last" concept.

NCAA Football Betting: Fading the Top 25 Weekly Free Picks Week 12
by Joey House - 11/17/2023

Things are heating up with the second release of the College Football Playoff polls. In the final year of the 4-team format, there are currently five undefeated Power 5 teams. No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan play each other next week, so one of those teams is guaranteed a loss, which fits perfectly for the CFP committee.

College Football Totals Picks Week 12: Over or Under Predictions for Saturday
by Joey House - 11/17/2023

Regrettably, it's been a few weeks since our last edition. We took a beating on those picks, losing 6.9 units. However, because of the beauty of Doc's "Unit Betting System," I've been able to maximize my strongest plays and still have a healthy profit for the season. With just two weeks before the postseason, we're positioning ourselves nicely for a big bowl season and a great all-around year.

Weekly Public Action Football Betting Report with Predictions
by Joey House - 11/17/2023

Welcome to Week 10 of the Public Action Report (PAR). Since there have been a couple of weeks since the last PAR, I'll go over what we are attempting to do. Typically, when the action is particularly one-sided in a game, we expect the odds for the favored team to get less attractive. Sometimes, we will see games when most of the bets are on one team, yet the odds move to make that team more attractive.

College Football Free Picks: Weekly Mid-Major Report and Predictions for James Madison Week 12
by Joey House - 11/15/2023

I remember the movie "The Program," starring the late, great James Caan as a college football coach of a school eerily similar to Florida State. The star middle linebacker of this fictional team, Alvin Mack, had a not-so-flattering name for the NC-double-*#$%! I recall that name whenever I talk about JMU's post-season eligibility restrictions. The school administration and the Sunbelt Conference have written letters asking for the post-season restrictions to be lifted. Hopefully, these entities will have more success than the Virginia politicians who lobbied the NCAA on JMU's behalf.

NCAA Football Predictions: Week 12 Opening Line Report and Picks
by Joey House - 11/14/2023

How in the hell are there only two weeks left in the regular season of college football? It seems like just yesterday I was previewing the conferences and talking about season win totals, and now we're getting ready for conference championship games and the bowl season. Of course, the more things change, the more they stay the same. We started the season with Michigan's head coach, Jim Harbaugh, suspended, and we're finishing the season similarly.

College Football Free Picks: Weekly Mid-Major Report and Predictions for James Madison Week 11
by Joey House - 11/10/2023

At the start of the season, 133 FBS programs started with a clean slate and dreams of a perfect season. As the late summer rays gave way to the autumn foliage, these perfect seasons started falling away like the fall leaves from the tree. In week 11, seven of those FBS teams are still living their dreams of perfection. When Ohio State takes on Michigan in two weeks, one of those squads will be handed their first loss.

College Football Free Picks: Weekly Mid-Major Report and Predictions for Coastal Carolina (Chanticleers vs. Old Dominion)
by Matt Zitt - 11/2/2023

The Chanticleers return to the road this weekend with a trip to Old Dominion for their final Sunbelt road trip of the regular season. Grayson McCall has still not cleared concussion protocol this week, and that means Jarrett Guest will make his second career start in the college landscape. He had a career day in his first start last weekend that resulted in a 34-6 win over Marshall. Guest threw for 289 yards and tossed three touchdowns while rushing for 36 yards. The offense should be exciting, as Guest completed seven passes that went for over 20 yards, the most for CCU in a single game this season.

College Football Free Picks: Weekly Mid-Major Report and Predictions for James Madison Week 10
by Joey House - 11/1/2023

A quote from the indomitable Yogi Berra often fits in any situation. Last season, JMU's first game as a ranked Top 25 team promptly resulted in its first loss. Last Saturday, when Old Dominion kicked a field goal early in the 4th quarter to cut the Dukes' lead to just three points, I instantly thought of Yogi's "It's like Deja Vu all over again." But JMU's defense stepped up and didn't allow the Monarchs past mid-field again and held on for the 30-27 victory.

NCAA Football Predictions: Week 10 Opening Line Report and Picks
by Joey House - 10/30/2023

When people ask me what my favorite time of the year is, I instantly say, "Fall." There are parts of every other season that I love, but none more so than being able to wear a hoodie and jeans to a Friday night high school football game or Saturday afternoon matchup on the college gridiron.

NCAA Football Betting: Fading the Top 25 Weekly Free Picks Week 9
by Joey House - 10/27/2023

Week 8 was a rocky week for us, as our picks only went 1-3. No. 10 Penn State, but more specifically, their offense, failed against No. 3 Ohio State yet again and didn't cover the 5.5-point spread in their 20-12 loss. No. 19 LSU looked like a juggernaut against Army, winning 62-0. The hook in the No. 13 Ole Miss-Auburn game kept us from having a .500 record as the Rebels won 28-21 and covered a 6.5-point spread against the Tigers. North Texas provided an entertaining game, losing 35-28 but easily cashing as a 20.5-point dog.

Weekly Public Action Football Betting Report with Predictions (Ninth Edition)
by Joey House - 10/27/2023

Welcome to Week 9 of the Public Action Report (PAR). Here's a brief refresher of what you can expect from those new to this weekly series. Typically, when the action is particularly one-sided in a game, we expect the odds for the favored team to get less attractive. Sometimes, we will see games when most of the bets are on one team, yet the odds move to make that team more attractive.

College Football Free Picks: Weekly Mid-Major Report and Predictions for James Madison Week 9
by Joey House - 10/25/2023

Let me assume my position on the proverbial soapbox to rail against the NCAA. Not only are new schools like James Madison (7-0) and Jacksonville State (6-2) not allowed to participate in postseason play, but their stats are not listed in the NCAA's National Rankings. For example, JMU's defense leads the nation in fewest rushing yards per game and sacks. The Dukes' defensive lineman Jalen Green is the individual leader in the country for sacks with 13. Yet, if you go to the NCAA website, it shows a player from Colorado State with 10 sacks as the nation's leader.

NCAA Football Predictions: Week 9 Opening Line Report and Picks
by Joey House - 10/23/2023

Welcome to the Doc's Sports NCAA Opening Line Report, where we give you an early look at the upcoming week's essential games. I will also analyze the opening line of select games that caught my attention and briefly explain my initial lean. We started the week early, with an under 61 pick in the Jacksonville State vs. Western Kentucky, with a final score of 20-17. Then we hit the Penn State vs. Ohio State under 48 with an Ohio State victory of 20-18.

College Football Totals Picks Week 8: Over or Under Predictions for Saturday
by Joey House - 10/20/2023

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I could not write an article last week. My picks from 2 weeks ago only went 1-3 but still eeked out a 0.6-unit profit, as I hit my 5-unit over in the Oklahoma-Texas game but missed on two 1-unit plays and a 2-unit selection. This is where Doc's "Unit Betting System" shines, allowing us to make a slight profit even though we only hit 25% of our wagers.

NCAA Football Betting: Fading the Top 25 Weekly Free Picks Week 8
by Joey House - 10/20/2023

Welcome back, folks, to Week 8 of "Fade the Top 25", where we take a look at the action in the Top 25 to find the ranked teams that are primed for a non-cover, either by a straight-up loss or perhaps laying a boatload of points and squeak by. Due to a personal emergency last week, we could not get out an article. But we're back and ready to continue our season-long battle with "The Books."

Weekly Public Action Football Betting Report with Predictions (Eighth Edition)
by Joey House - 10/19/2023

Last week, the PAR picks went 2-2. The two big spreads with Penn State and Michigan both covered. The two losses, however, were very interesting. The Fresno State vs. Utah State game had its line open at six and moved down to Fresno State minus 4.5. Fresno won by a score of 37-32. All the early money wagers on Fresno lost, but the late money on Utah State also lost. The never-ending game between oddsmakers and bettors continues, with the sportsbooks winning that contest.

College Football Free Picks: Weekly Mid-Major Report and Predictions for Coastal Carolina (Chanticleers vs. Arkansas State)
by Matt Zitt - 10/19/2023

Coastal Carolina concludes its three-game Sun Belt road trip on Saturday night as the Chanticleers will visit Arkansas State. This stretch of three consecutive conference road games is the first in the history of the program. CCU is riding in with high emotions and confidence after a huge 27-24 win over the Appalachian State Mountaineers last week. That game was played on a Tuesday, so the Chants have had extra time to prepare and rest up.