Week 6 Best Bets: Do or Die for the Rice Owls?

Last week was horrific, I won't even cut around the edges.

Big Ten picks have been A-okay, so if you're looking to wager on the Midwest maniacs, check out the earlier rendition of Week 6 odds (might not lose a Michigan game ever again).

By the way, hold your nose and slug a double shot of Clorox because we're heading down to Boca Raton for a Conference USA clash.

Lock of the Week: Rice at Florida Atlantic

Line: Florida Atlantic -3.5, 58.5

*Closes browser*

Hey, thanks guys and gals, this is why I adore you to level infinity.

The Conference USA is the Reese's Pieces of college football and frankly I'll welcome Type II any day of the week. Just your typical, "hey, can you guys hurry up and score so we can heave 78-yard, play action wheel routes, too?" If you aren't intact, GET INTACT. It's an eccentric core comprised of gunslingers alike, and I like the slot that the Rice Owls fall into on Saturday versus FAU.

For Rice, it's been an obstacle course as its seen the likes of Baylor, Texas and the Western Kentucky Fighting Doughtys; the result, just your average 161 points surrendered. Sitting at 2-3, head coach David Bailiff has three straight postseason bids on the line, but has notched a 17-5 record after Week 5 since 2012. This means absolutely nothing, however.

The offense has merely been ignited with just 20 points the previous two contests yet measures up with a lackluster FAU defense squandering 410 total yards per contest in 2015. Rice may not be vying for a conference title any time this season but a bowl bid still hangs in the balance.

Pick: Rice +3.5

Best Bets

The best bet of Saturday in terms of the Big Ten is unfortunately the Ohio State Buckeyes -32.5 versus Maryland. I've stacked the endless claim of "this is the week that the Buckeyes resuscitate and batter their opponents," yet I've been defied in four straight weeks.

You can only suffer for so long, so now OSU gets potentially the most inept team in the conference to prove the naysayers doubting the No. 1 ranking completely wrong. Ohio State fails to cover then don't even put them in the AP Top 25.

Pick: Ohio State -32.5

Real intriguing setup on Friday night as the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles take on the Marshall Thundering Herd in Huntington.

I originally stamped the envelope for yet another spectacular season on offense for the Herd and have been stymied by a lack of chemistry. Injuries have setback the gelling and whether Marshall opts for Michael Birdsong or freshman Chase Litton, the unit remains in disarray with the lack of rhythm so far.

On the other hand, one of the hottest quarterbacks in the conference in Nick Mullens appears primed to step into the ring and deliver a blow to the defending C-USA champs. Head coach Todd Monken was sent over following his tenure as the quarterbacks coach at Oklahoma State, taking him two years to fiddle the kinks out and utilize a dynamic offense.

Last season, Marshall was a 27.5-point favorite on the road in this meeting, now laying just 6.5 at home. I'm not sure if the public has latched on to the 180 in Huntington thus far, but the 'books may have something up their sleeve come Friday night.

Pick: Southern Mississippi +6.5