Peter Cornell (5-4-3 record)
Virginia Tech +8.5 @ North Carolina
There is no doubt that this and any other game on the southeast coast will be receiving rain and wind Saturday. Chapel Hill looks to be right in the center of all of it. I think I am having flashbacks to when UNC played VT in Hurricane Matthew back in 2016. The final score of that game was 34-3 VT winning at Carolina. That game has just about nothing to do with this one but I do believe weather like this gives an advantage to the Hokies. The VT offense is horrendous no matter what the weather is. The Carolina defense is also horrible and couldn’t stop a local high school team. The weather should neutralize the strong offense that Carolina brings to the table and should keep this one closer. I expect a lower scoring affair around 23-17 UNC. Take the Hokies.
Iowa State -3 @ Kansas
I know this isn’t a popular one. Kansas has been nothing short of an awesome story this year, but we all know at some point this is going to come to an end. Lance Leipold has the Jayhawks playing at a level they haven’t seen in a really long time. On the other sideline, Matt Campbell is a great coach that I am shocked hasn’t moved on to bigger and better yet (maybe Nebraska). I expect the Cyclones to bring a sound defense and a solid running game into Lawrence and show Kansas something they have yet to see this year. Kansas loves to run the football averaging close to 6.7 yards per rush which is 8th in the country. The Cyclones have the goods to shut that down with a defense that is 14th in the country allowing only 2.7 yards per carry. Something has to give here and I think I would rather side with the team that has had recent success, in Iowa State. Give me Matt Campbell and the Cyclones 31-27 in a close one.
Clemson -6.5 vs NC State
Last week I was against Clemson on the road @ Wake Forest and got the cover. This week I am hopping on the Tigers in a massive game that will probably decide the winner of the Atlantic division in the ACC. Clemson got a monster game last week out of DJ U and a not so good game out of the defense like they are used to right? Nonetheless this bet is against the Wolfpack more so than on the Tigers. The preseason ACC Player of the Year in NC State QB Devin Leary has really been anything but a player of the year candidate. His numbers are not necessarily bad, just not anywhere near player of the year good. This game expects to see some bad weather with the Hurricane reaching South Carolina just in time for kickoff. I expect some wind and rain most of the game which will hurt the Wolfpack take advantage of the worst part of this Clemson defense, the secondary. I expect the Tigers to control the line of scrimmage in this one and put away the Pack 21-10. Take C-L-E-M-S-O-N.
Henry Porter (6-6 record)
Eastern Michigan -20 vs UMass
Death, taxes, and UMass being god awful at football. It’s been this way for a number of years and this season is no different. Did you know that in 2006, UMass lost to Appalachian State in the FCS National Championship? Now you do. Eastern Michigan comes into this game with a 2-2 record including a win at Arizona State. But this pick is more about how bad UMass is. I expect the Eagles to control the field from start to finish in a game they know they have to have to gain bowl eligibility. The Minutemen were blanked last week against a horrid Temple team and now will have to outscore this EMU squad averaging 31 points per game. Eagles win this one and cover 37-10.
Charlotte vs UTEP ov 50.5
Chris Reynolds is back and that bodes well for the 49ers and over bettors. Before falling to South Carolina last week, Charlotte pulled off an improbable victory on the road at Georgia State. The 49ers know they have to put up a lot of points because their defense isn’t stopping anyone. The offense has gotten better but the defense has yet to allow less than 40 points in each of their first four games. UTEP is flying high after a big win against Boise State but I could see their defense having a letdown game in a matchup they may be over confident about. Charlotte pulls off the small upset and wins at home 33-27.
Georgia State +9 @ Army
Speaking of Georgia State, this team desperately needs a win. There might not be a better 0-4 team in the last few seasons than this Panther squad and that’s probably not a title you want. They had decent performances against UNC and South Carolina this season and I think they will be revved up for this one. Army’s last game was a 49-10 drubbing of Villanova, but this Black Knights' squad isn’t as strong as they’ve been in recent years. I still like Army to take this one but Georgia State will make it close in another heartbreaker. Black Knights win 38-35.
Roger Murdock (7-5 record)
Iowa +11 vs Michigan
I almost didn’t bet this because I didn’t want to have to watch it. This game is going to be awful. But I am shocked by this line. Iowa can’t score but they have one of the best defenses in the country and they are built to play close games. Michigan is 4-0 but this is the first real test of the season. The Wolverines did not impress in their first game against a P5 team last week, only beating Maryland by 7. Now they have to go on the road to Iowa and be ready for a grind-it-out dogfight. Sprinkle the Hawkeyes moneyline too because they win this outright, 20-17.
Alabama -17.5 @ Arkansas
Arkansas fell off their high horse last week in an agonizing loss to TAMU. They are a good, but not great team. Alabama comes to town this week playing their first real opponent since their week 2 scare against Texas. I believe that Saban will have the Tide ready to roll and get a huge win to rebuild their confidence. Public money will also be all over the Hogs this week, and the public isn’t winning money fading Alabama. Tide win this 52-17.
Oklahoma/TCU ov 68.5
This will be an exciting game with huge implications in the Big 12. Both of these teams can put up points and neither can get a stop. I’m expecting it to be close, and that means it will be a back and forth, last team to get the ball wins game. Last year these teams played to a total of 83. Oklahoma’s first close game of the year last week against Kansas State played to a total of 75. TCU’s first close game of the year last week played to a total of 76. I think this one gets into the 70's too.
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