Stephen Nover – Sports Handicapper & Betting Picks

I get that Calgary is not going to set any scoring records this season. But a 6 is just too low of a total for a game involving the Vancouver Canucks.

Vancouver could be the worst defensive team in the NHL. The Canucks have given up nine and five goals in their two games this season, both against Edmonton.

Calgary has nowhere near Edmonton's firepower, but the Flames won't play a weaker defensive team right now. The Canucks have given up an average of 4.8 goals a game during their last 11 games going back to last season.

The Canucks are much more proficient on offense. They have scored four or more goals in five of their last six games going back to last season. Calgary was terrible in its opener losing, 6-1, at home to the Kraken.

I am going to buy low on South Carolina following two straight losses by the Gamecocks, who fell to Alabama and Mississippi State. No shame in losing to either of those two teams. But this does put South Carolina and it's coach, Shane Beamer, in a crucial spot hosting Kentucky.

South Carolina has owned Kentucky recently winning the past four matchups. The Gamecocks have defeated the Wildcats by a combined, 66-19, during the past two years.

Highly talented QB LaNorris Sellers is playing much better for South Carolina this season than he did last year. Kentucky ranks 103rd in pass defense.

There are not many people in the world who have an obsession about the Akron football team. Central Michigan coach Matt Drinkall may be the only one on the planet.

That's because the Zips dealt Central Michigan a crucial 28-22 Mid-American Conference loss last season, perhaps their most disappointing of the year.

Now the Chippewas want revenge in their homecoming game.

"There's not another game on our schedule I have thought about more," Drinkall said. "I've thought about this Akron game, conservatively, 50 times a day, every day, for the last 365 days because we failed to perform to our standards in that game."

I like the Chippewa's chances of winning this contest by more than a touchdown. They are 2-2 with losses to fourth ranked Miami and New Mexico, a title contender in the Mountain West Conference.

Akron hasn't played that tough of a schedule. The Zips defeated Robert Morris, a FCS team, and have lost to Wake Forest, Minnesota and UNLV by a combined score of 117-33.

The Zips could be without their best quarterback, Cibastian Broughton, due to injury.

Central Michigan has been solid running the ball, averaging nearly 170 yards rushing per game. Now the Chippewas could become more balanced as Akron has allowed the second most passing yards per game in the Mid-American Conference.

Purdue was averaging 39.3 points a game during its first three games until losing, 49-10, to Notre Dame last week. The Boilermakers' Ryan Browne is one of the more underrated QB's in the country completing 71.3% of his passes for 1,135 yards with a 7-to-1 TD/INT ratio. He should do well again as Purdue is stepping way down in class defensively facing Illinois.

The Illini's defense ranks 120th in pass defense. After giving up 42 points and 518 yards to Ohio State, the Illini let go their defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck.

Fortunately for Illinois it has a strong offense sparked by East Carolina quarterback transfer Katin Houser, who has completed 68.6% of his passes for 1,021 yards with a 9-to-2 TD/INT ratio. He passed for 462 yards against Ohio State.

Purdue ranks third from the bottom in scoring defense giving up 39.5 points a game and 446 yards per game, which ranks 7th from the bottom.

Strong offenses coupled with weak defenses are why both Purdue and Illinois have each gone Over in all four of their games this season.

Add the name of Florida running back Jadan Baugh to the list of Heisman Trophy candidates. He is the second leading rusher in the country with 600 yards. He also has scored 11 touchdowns.

The Gators could be the best offensive team in the country. They are second in scoring at 53.5 points per game and 5th in most yards gained. Yes, they played Campbell. But Florida still is averaging 48 points in SEC play going against Auburn and Mississippi.

Missouri is down defensively from last season. The Tigers, though, can chip in offensively to push this total Over averaging 35.8 points a game and showing a good passing attack behind Austin Simmons.

Only 15 teams throw for more passing yards than Arizona. The Wildcats have a combination of an aggressive passing approach and one of the steadiest quarterbacks in the country, Noah Fifita. He has thrown for 84 touchdowns and 10,314 yards during his collegiate career, ranking first and second, respectively, among active FBS quarterbacks in those categories. The Wildcats have passed on 61.6 percent of their offensive plays.

Cincinnati has used a balanced approach to average 40.5 points a game. Gi’Bran Payne, Cole Tabb and QB JC French IV have combined to score 12 rushing touchdowns. French has thrown for six more TDs while completing 74.5 percent of his passes.

The Bearcats also have one of the best punt returners in the nation as Caleb Smith is averaging 27.5 yards per punt return.