The Wiz of Odds

Crystal Ball

Matt Youmans, Las Vegas Review-Journal: It's way to early for the selection committee to release rankings, according to one sportsbook director. Another handicapper says the committee was influenced by "SEC West overhype." Oh, you want picks? Try Navy and the points against Notre Dame and Arkansas and the points against Mississippi State.

Reno Gazette-Journal: It was a rough week for the handicappers, but tough times don't last forever and tough people do. The selections for Saturday: North Carolina, Oregon and Arizona.

Double D, Boston Herald: Baylor is on the outside look in on the playoff. The Bears have to put their foot on the pedal if they have any hope of reaching the promised land. There's no better chance to roll a big number than Saturday. Kansas is the opponent and Baylor is a 35.5-point favorite. Lay the points.

Howie Kussoy, New York Post: It has been nice, Mississippi, and now your memorable season is about to melt away. Royalty is taking over. Auburn is coming to town and the Tigers are going to end any hopes the Rebels had of competing for the national championship.

Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: How confident is Hlastradamus entering this week? The seer is giving you eight games instead of the normal five. This is Oregon's time, and with Stanford on the decline and coming to Eugene, it's time to load up on the Ducks.

Bruce Feldman and Stewart Mandel, Fox Sports: This week's upset specials are Maryland over Penn State and Tennessee over South Carolina.

Jon Wilner, College Hotline: Saturday will help bring clarity to the Pacific 12, with Stanford at Oregon and Utah at Arizona State. The Cardinal and Utes get the call.

Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports: The Confidence Pool. Locks of the week are Duke, Georgia Southern and Purdue.

For the latest numbers, click here.

For statistical analysis, visit cfbstats.com and StatMilk.

For complete TV listings, check Matt Sarzyniak Sports.

Track how the public is betting at Sports Book Spy.

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'Happy Valley' Documentary Examines Sandusky Case

Here is the trailer for "Happy Valley," the upcoming documentary that examines the circumstances behind the crimes of former Penn State assistant Jerry Sandusky, who was convicted in 2012 of 45 counts of sexual abuse of young boys.

The film was written and directed by Amir Bar-Lev. His earlier work included the 2010 documentary "The Tillman Story."

"Happy Valley" is scheduled for release on Nov. 19. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan gave the documentary a favorable review at the Sundance Festival.

The SEC and Worldwide (Cheer) Leader

Is the Southeastern Conference an all-powerful entity that has rightfully earned its place atop the college football foodchain, or is the SEC's position due in large part to a marketing machine that has a financial stake in the league?

Jordan Burchette authors a piece in Rolling Stone titled, "The Worldwide Cheerleader: ESPN and the College Football Playoff." Burchette lays out a compelling argument that the network uses its multimedia might to twist and turn narratives in favor of the SEC.

ESPN has invested heavily in the SEC by creating the SEC Network. By one account, ESPN could earn 12% of its annual profits from the network.

Burchette points out that South Carolina — a team that has already racked up four losses — was touted as a darkhouse national title contender in the preseason. Much of the praise came from ESPN's roster of talent. Then along came Texas A&M, which handed the Gamecocks a 52-28 loss in the season opener at Columbia.

Gamblers Say Alabama Remains the Team to Beat

Forget what the clowns on College Football Playoff selection committee have to say. The truth can be found with gamblers. They have actual samolians riding on the outcome. A little silver will cut a lot of family ties.

The gambling gods at Bovada have Alabama as the team to beat. Oregon's Marcus Mariota remains the favorite win the Heisman.

Complete odds after the jump.

Image from 30fps.

Snapshots of Week 9

A look at the week that was, thanks to 30fps.

Utah's Electrifying Victory Over USC

Utah needed one yard to complete a sweep of Pacific 12 teams from Southern California on Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. The Utes got it when quarterback Travis Wilson completed a pass to Kaelin Clay with eight seconds remaining, giving the home team a 24-21 victory over USC.

Utah, which beat UCLA, 30-28, earlier this month, is 6-1 entering Saturday's game at Arizona State.

Wiz correspondent Greg Laughlin was among the 47,619 at Rice-Eccles. You can view more of his images after the jump.