Sports Handicapper William Burns's Picks & Predictions

(#24) Edmonton Oilers | ATS | . 

Vancouver might have gotten the best of Edmonton in the opening game of the season. However, the Oilers responded with a dominating nine goal performance in a multi-goal win against the Canucks in the rematch. This time around, I don't expect the game to be even remotely close. I mean let's look at the records here. The Canucks are 3-14-1 on the campaign while the Oilers are 11-3-3. Edmonton is also 11-6 against the spread this season, meaning that it covers its games when it wins. Give me the Oilers by a boat load on Saturday evening. 

Burns' Prediction: 6-2 Oilers.

(#662) UC San Diego Tritons | ATS | . 

Fresno State might be off a winning opening matchup. However, the Bulldogs won by single digits at home against a DII level program. That's not going to cut it this time around against one of my teams to watch out for this season in UC San Diego. The Tritons completely dominated their first game of the season, putting up 100 points in the win. Even though they allowed 75, which isn't great for their standards, opening game jitters were definitely taken place. UCSD remains at home and should be flying with confidence. I like UCSD significantly more this season & I'm expecting yet another double digit victory in this one. 

Burns' Prediction: 85-67 UCSD.

(#651) Pacific Tigers @ (#652) Bradley Braves | UNDER | . 

Pacific started the season against a non-D1 school and completely dominated. Even though the Tigers put up 100+ points, their defense is what carried the show, allowing 47 points in the win. That should continue in this one as I expect the Tigers to be one of the most underrated defenses in the country this season. Let's not forget to mention that Pacific ranked 331st in adjusted tempo last season and currently have the 310th ranking this year. Bradley comes in off a win as well. The Braves held their opponents to just 41 points (also non-D1.) Pacific is also traveling across the country for this game, making it a fatigue spot for offense. Bradley ranks 225th in tempo, and has a significantly stronger defense than offense. I'm on the "under." 

Burns' Prediction: 70-62 Bradley.

(#383) West Virginia Mountaineers | ATS | . 

Coming off a bye week, West Virginia should be very refreshed for this football game against the defending Big-12 Champions. The Mountaineers are on the road this weekend. But, they come into this game with a 9-3 ATS record over their most recent 12 games played as a double digit conference underdogs. 

Texas Tech might be one of the best in the conference again this season. But, laying more than two touchdowns is quite a bit against one of the best offensive teams in the entire country. This should be a very high scoring contest, and I'm a bit disappointed that I missed out on the +17. However, I don't think it will be needed as I like WVU to keep this one within single digits and fight for the upset on Saturday evening. 

Burns' Prediction: 41-34 Texas Tech.

(#405) Missouri State Bears @ (#406) Florida International Golden Panthers | UNDER | . 

Missouri State comes into this game playing much better football since the bye week. No, it hasn't been pretty this season. But, at least the Bears are putting up a fight and making games interesting now. Last weekends 28-3 win against Sam Houston State should most definitely help with the confidence levels, especially defensively. This will be a tough road task. But, I think that MOST can fight to keep this one from getting too far out of reach. 

Florida International needs a response coming off three straight losses. Don't discredit the FIU defense though. The Golden Panthers have some of the best defensive numbers in the country when it comes to yards/points/3rd down %, you name it. I like the "under" on Saturday afternoon. 

Burns' Prediction: 24-14 FIU.

(#366) Arizona State Sun Devils | ATS | . 

Colorado has impressed me this season, with its ability to stay in ball games and make things interesting. However, the Buffaloes are not the same team on the road than they are on their home turf. The Buffs are 1-3 on the road this season including three straight defeats, all by double digits. Colorado is also 4-11 in this series and has failed to cover in B2B games. 

Arizona State, on the other hand, is 12-4 ATS off a SU defeat under HC Kenny Dillingham. The Sun Devils have also been the superior of the two sides this season, averaging more than eight more PPG and putting up great defensive numbers. I expect at least a TD win for ASU on Saturday evening here at home. 

Burns' Prediction: 31-21 ASU.

(#343) Texas Longhorns | ATS | . 

Even though this is a road game, I trust Texas in this spot to pick up a much needed win. Like a lot of top teams in this conference, the Longhorns are dealing with having two losses on their record. While that's expected for some sides, if the Longhorns miss the playoffs again this season, it will be hard not to have the conversation of firing Sark. Arch Manning gets all of the hype in the world & he's going to want to put on a show in this massively important road matchup on Saturday. Don't get me wrong, this Missouri team has been fantastic, especially at home this season. However, I wasn't impressed at all when the Tigers lost to Ole Miss and that game is still in the back of my head. Give me Texas. 

Burns' Prediction: 27-10 Texas

(#415) Sam Houston State Bearkats @ (#416) Jacksonville State Gamecocks | UNDER | . 

I believe that this one should be a low scoring contest on Saturday. Sam Houston State enters this contest on a dreadful 0-4 run, putting up only three points in three of those four matchups. The Bearkats just aren't having a good season and things aren't going to come easily this weekend either against one of the top defensive groups in the conference. Actually, not just the conference, but the whole nation. 

The Gamecocks allowed zero points last weekend and that could be on the cards again this time around. They are decent offensively, but don't put up that many points either. This has the makings of a dominating performance from JVille State. It's just a matter of SHSU's defense locking in to keep this one below the number. Given the majority of the results this year, and despite the L's, I believe that the Bearkats most definitely have it in them. 

Burns' Prediction: 30-7 Jacks State.

(#412) Tennessee Volunteers | ATS | . 

All season long, Kentucky has been taking names. Six consecutive wins & a dominant 6-1 record inside the conference have the Wildcats as a team to look out for down the final stretch of the season. That being said, I believe that the bye week that they just had will come back to haunt them with how well they were playing prior to. Kentucky has consistently been getting killed against Tennessee over the years, with a 3-38 record over the past 41 meetings and five straight losses. 

Looking at the Vols this season, they too are coming off of a bye week. That was much needed after they took a loss against South Carolina last time out. With two losses now on the year, the Volunteers are in do-or-die territory. The crowd will be rocking on Saturday evening & I'm expecting at least a touchdown win for Tennessee in this SEC rivalry game. 

Burns' Prediction: 34-17 Tennessee.

(#421) Fresno State Bulldogs | ATS | . 

I had success with Fresno State twice last month including last weekend in its upset win against Oregon State. The Bulldogs have treated me well as a team, as I am 6-0 over the past six times that I've played on one of their games (sides/totals.) I'm playing on the Bulldogs this evening against Utah State in another conference matchup. With their 5-3 record this season, I believe that the one more win to clinch a bowl game will come this weekend against a 3-5 Utah State side. 

The Aggies might have similar stats to the Bulldogs in terms of yardage and defensive numbers. However, averaging 16.9 PPG isn't going to cut it in a matchup like this, even at home. Even if Fresno wins by just a field goal, that's still a win here. The oddsmakers continue to disrespect the Bulldogs and I'm backing them on Saturday evening. 

Burns' Prediction: 29-14 Fresno St.