NCAA Odds Football Picks – Crimson Tide Set To Roll Through South Carolina This Saturday

Just in case there were any doubters about the legitimacy of head coach Nick Saban’s number one-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide after they started out 4-0 this season, the defending national champions settled the critics by blowing away what was widely talked about as being their most legitimate threat in the SEC this season. The 31-6 win over the Florida Gators was testament to just how strong this Crimson Tide team is, perhaps even better than the one that dominated its way through an undefeated season a year ago, eventually winning the BCS Championship betting game.

Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Kansas State Wildcats
Thursday October 6, 2010 – 7:30 PM ET
Bill Snyder Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas
Broadcast: CBS
Odds: Alabama - 7
Total: 49

There is little rest for Alabama this week, as they travel to take on the number-19 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks. South Carolina is coming off of its first loss of the season, 35-27 to number-17 Auburn, and will have had two college football betting weeks to prepare for the growing Crimson Tide.

NCAA Handicapping: What Alabama Will Have To Do To Win?

Show up. The Crimson Tide are perhaps the strongest team in college football since the Florida Gators’ national championship team and star Tim Tebow, and maybe even beyond that, so it is tough to predict anything less than domination in this game. It isn’t just about offense for Alabama, whose 17th ranked running game has gotten a boost from the return of Heisman trophy-winning running back Mark Ingram and his 7.9 yards per carry average over the past couple of weeks. The last time these teams met, Ingram rushed for 246 yards. The Crimson Tide rank first overall in Northbet scoring defense, limiting offenses such as Florida and Penn State to an average of less than a touchdown. Quarterback Greg McElroy continues to carve out his role in the offense, looking more comfortable with every passing week, and that should continue this week with the Crimson Tide wrapping up the final match of their tough early season schedule, which has featured ranked opponents in three consecutive weeks, all coming away from home.

NCAA Handicapping: What Kansas State Will Have To Do To Win?

The Gamecocks have had two weeks to prepare for Alabama, but two months may not even have been enough given the way the Crimson Tide are playing. Head coach Steve Spurrier has been unable to beat Alabama in two contests with South Carolina, and those Crimson Tide teams weren’t even as good as this one is.

NCAA Handicapping: Outlook & Pick

No matter what the schedule makers seem to throw at the Crimson Tide this season, this team keeps on answering and there is little doubt that Alabama is the best team in the country. The fact that it is still early in the season is testament to that the Crimson Tide should not be too fatigued heading in to this game, and the seven points is not nearly enough given what Alabama did to Florida last week.

NCAA Football Betting Pick: Alabama - 7