By:Chris Torrisi

The 2010 College Football season kicks off and I'll break down every game on the Thursday night card for you from a sharp perspective. Please play close attention to the line movements I talk about because only sharps aka professional bettors have been betting these games for the past few weeks to make the lines move. Squares aka the general betting public don't bet until game day. If you want to beat the books your best strategy is to bet like a sharp and get the best numbers early.

Marshall vs Ohio State (-28, O/U 47.5)
Do you want to lay four touchdowns with Ohio State when the U of Miami is on deck next week? I don't think so because remember what happened last year when the Buckeyes had USC on deck in week two? They barely beat Navy 31-27 as three touchdown favorites. At most sharp books in Vegas this line opened at 29 and has fallen to 28. So sharps have moved this down one point by taking a shot on Marshall. You have to remember Ohio State failed to cover three home openers in a row. In 2007 they didn't cover vs. Akron as 29 point favorites winning 20-2, in 2008 they didn't cover vs Ohio as 33 point favorites winning 26-14, and last year snuck by Navy. Ohio State will probably keep it rather vanilla with the Hurricanes coming to town next Saturday. Marshall is talented enough to make a bowl again this year and they bring back 14 starters from a 2009 7-6 team. The only iffy thing about Marshall is that it's Doc Holliday's first game coaching them. It's always tough backing a team in their first few games under a new system. Marshall also doesn't have good history against BCS teams either. I'd lean still Marshall or pass all together.

Southern Mississippi vs South Carolina (14, O/U 47)
We saw this game open up at 13.5 and it has moved up to 14 and 14.5 at some of the sharper books in Vegas. Steve Spurrier has a team this year that is a Dark Horse Contender of mine to win the National Title. They bring back 16 starters and I think QB Stephen Garcia has a break out year in 2010. They have the most underrated receiver corps in the SEC and I call for them to have their best rushing numbers since Spurrier came to town with their loaded backfield. The defense is stacked and I think they hold opponents to an average of under 20 ppg for the first time since 2006. Southern Mississippi has WR DeAndre Brown who had a breakout Frosh season but slumped last year after recovering from a broken leg. Look out for Brown to bust out this year because Southern Miss touts one of the deepest QB rotations in college football with Austin Davis and Martevious Young. The main problems for them in this game is their offensive line is very inexperienced and they lost their top two rushers from a year ago. I think South Carolina can give them a lot of trouble in this game eventhough the Golden Eagles are known to play BCS schools tight. The South Carolina front seven should dominate in this game from the start. I'd say sharps got the best of this number at -13.5 when it opened. I'd still lean South Carolina though because they are very capable to blow this one wide open if Spurrier puts his foot on the pedal. The Gamecocks do have Georgia on deck next week so you have to factor in them possibly looking ahead.

Florida Atlantic vs UAB (-14.5, O/U 50)
We saw this game open up at 12 and it's now up to 14 and 14.5 at most shops as I go to press. The total opened at 52 and has now dipped down to 50 in most shops with sharps hitting the under. The 14 point spread seemed kind of high to me at first glance because my power ratings show both of these teams a lot closer than two touchdowns. Florida Atlantic got swamped last year against UAB 56-29 so they may play factor in the high number. But UAB is shell the offense they had in 2009. FAU had major problems trying to contain UAB QB Joe Webb who torched them on the ground and through the air. FAU brings back 1,400 yard rusher Alfred Morris who had 11 touchdowns last year. QB Jeff Van Camp is back under center in 2010, he had a sharp 12/2 TD/INT ratio when filling in for injured Rusty Smith last season. UAB loses Joe Webb who was their leading rusher and passer a year ago. To be honest they bring back a lot of experience on defense and Florida Atlantic has the most inexperienced offensive line in college football bringing 0 starters back. I'd lean FAU if you wait until game day and get the highest line possible, I think some of the sharps could be setting up middles by betting UAB at 12 early and trying to get the best number possible on game day with FAU setting up a middle. With UAB having what should be a lousy offense and a decent defense this year you may want to look hard at the under.

USC (-21, O/U 54) vs Hawaii
This line opened up at 18 and is now up to 21 and 21.5 in most shops. I honestly don't think USC is the best team in the Pac-10 this season by far, and they are going to be highly overrated with oddsmakers until the betting public catches up. So basically I think you will see a lot of inflated lines with USC this season. Remember they were 4-9 ATS last year and I expect more of the same this year. I am in no hurry to lay three touchdowns with them on Thursday but I am staying far away from Hawaii at this point too. The Warriors usually get trounced everytime they play a Pac-10 school except for last year when they beat a horrible Washington State team. I think the value is gone because sharps snatched it layingunder three touchdowns with USC when they got it at 18, 19, and 20. If you feel you must play this game I'd lean the Trojans to blow out Hawaii but be careful because it's USC first game under a new coaching staff, and they aren't as good as the pundits make them out to be. They have a very soft non-conference schedule but look to fade them in most spots all year. I'd lean USC to open up the Kiffin era with a blow out.

Northern Illinois vs Iowa State (-4, O/U 48)
This game opened up at 3 and has jumped between 4 and 4.5 as I write this at press time. Coach Paul Rhoads did the unthinkable last year by bringing Iowa State to a bowl game and clinching them their first winning season since 2005. This year they have an absolutely brutal schedule but bring back a lot of talent on this offensive side of the ball. They have 1,200 yard rusher Alexander Robinson back and QB Austen Arnaud who I feel should have a very good Senior campaign. The Cyclones also bring back a very deep and talented offensive line. I thought this line was short when it opened, my power rating numbers show Iowa State being a 5.5 point favorite. So the line is creeping more toward reality I guess you can say. I think 3 was bargain price if you got it. One thing I will say about Northern Illinois is that Jerry Kill puts together a feisty bunch that plays very hard and never quits. They played Wisconsin and Purdue down to the wire last year. All the key pieces to their puzzle are back. That includes their starting QB, RB, their top WR, and five of their six top tacklers on defense. Northern Illinois could very well play spoiler here regardless what my power rankings show, remember when Iowa State got stumped 23-14 in their home opener against Kent State in 2007 as a three point favorite? If they take Northern Illinois lightly that can very well happen again. Jerry Kill is 4-1 ATS when leading his team against BCS schools. My numbers point to Iowa State but my gut tells me NIU is very live in this spot.

Minnesota(-3, O/U 48.5) vs Middle Tennessee State
This game opened up with Middle Tennessee State as a 5.5 point favorite and has now swung to them being a three point dog in most spots. The reason for the swing is their starting QB Dwight Dasher is suspended for taking a $1,500 loan. So without Dasher who threw 23 touchdowns last year behind center not playing things looked ugly fast and sharps acted swiftly attacking the line. The Blue Raiders always play BCS schools tight and I'm even hearing chatter from some sharps I spoke with that are still taking Middle Tennessee State with the points. It's tough because the back up QB's have looked shaky in practice all week from the reports I've read. Minnesota easily has the worst defense in the Big 10 this year, and we all know how backing bad defensive squads on the road can turn out. It's hard to trust the Blue Raiders without Dasher and Minnesota is hard to lay points with against anybody this year. It's your call!