Two winning weeks in a row? Believe it.
Last week was the best week of the season -- 7-3 -- and I inched within one game of the .500 mark for the season.
But this is no time to relax. I think this week's slate of games is the toughest to date. There are numerous spreads at or above seven points.
As always, all of the picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
Here are this week's selections:
Miami at Duke +6.5 -- One of the most interesting games of the weekend between two undefeated teams. The last time Miami was in Durham it won the game on a controversial rugby play on the final play of the game. I think Duke is for real. Duke quarterback Daniel Jones, a former walk-on, is one of the biggest surprises in the ACC. The Blue Devils also are playing some defense. I think Duke will cover. Pick -- Duke
Southern Cal at Washington State +3.5 -- Pullman on a Friday night. Southern Cal has got some issues. I think Mike Leach and the Cougars pull off the upset. Pick -- Washington State
Georgia at Tennessee +7.5 -- There is something going on in Athens. Kirby Smart is starting to take hold of the program. The Dawgs had no trouble with Mississippi State last week. Now it is time to take the red-and-black show on the road and head up the mountain. If anyone can figure out Tennessee and Butch Jones, please raise your hand. There will be some initial emotion for the Vols, but I think the Dawgs will get it done and label themselves the team to beat in the SEC East. Pick -- Georgia
South Carolina at Texas A&M -8.5 -- I just don't think the Gamecocks can generate enough points to keep up with the Aggies. It will be a hot time in the old town tonight. Pick -- Texas A&M
Mississippi State at Auburn -9.0 -- Shell-shocked Bulldogs will drop their second in a row. Momentum is building on the Plains. Pick -- Auburn
North Carolina at Georgia Tech -9.5 -- North Carolina's defense is awful. A wet paper towel puts up more resistance. Tech's offense has been running hot early. Pick -- Georgia Tech
Clemson at Virginia Tech +7.5 -- Saturday night in Blacksburg is a tough chore. Tech freshman quarterback Josh Jackson is having some early success for the Hokies. The Tigers always seem to have trouble with a running quarterback. Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster will have a plan for the Tigers. I am banking on two things -- Jackson hasn't seen a defensive unit as good as Clemson's unit and the bright lights and surroundings of a big game will affect the Hokies in a negative way. Sooner or later, the Tigers are going to lose on the road again. But I don't think it will be this Saturday night. Pick -- Clemson
Ole Miss at Alabama -28.0 -- The SEC has become Alabama's personal playground. Two words. Roll Tide. Pick -- Alabama
Florida State at Wake Forest +7.5 -- Undefeated Wake Forest against 0-2 Florida State. Let that sink in for a second. Can the Deacons move to 5-0 before their road trip to Clemson? I don't think so. Pick -- Florida State
Oklahoma State at Texas Tech +9.5 -- This game might take six or seven hours. Both of these teams are pass happy and score in bunches. The Pokes got tripped up at home last week by TCU. If they aren't careful, the situation could get ugly in Lubbock. I think the Pokes will survive, but I am going to take the Red Raiders and the points. Pick -- Texas Tech
Last Week -- 7-3
For The Season -- 19-20-1
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Finally, A Week Above .500
Last week was a definite improvement versus the first two weeks for one reason -- it was a winning week.
As we say in the South, Clemson "showed out" last Saturday by humiliating Louisville and Lamar Jackson. After that performance, the question has to be asked -- Are the Tigers better than they were last year?
As we say in the South, Clemson "showed out" last Saturday by humiliating Louisville and Lamar Jackson. After that performance, the question has to be asked -- Are the Tigers better than they were last year?
Last week's record was 5-4-1. The big misses were Tennessee, which violated a sacred football fundamental by allowing a Florida wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland behind the secondary on the final play, and South Carolina, which found a way to lose to Kentucky for the fourth year in a row.
The push was Duke's 14-point impressive victory over Baylor.
Clemson provided one of the biggest surprises of the week by dominating Louisville. The previous three games between the Tigers and Cards had gone down to the bitter end. The fourth meeting wasn't even close. The stars seem to be aligning for the Tigers, but there is a lot of ball left to be played.
As always, the selections on the Cobb Blog are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
Here are this week's selections:
Pittsburgh at Georgia Tech -7.5 -- Pitt allowed Oklahoma State to score on its first seven possessions and its head coach -- Pat Narduzzi -- is a defensive guy. Paul Johnson has the triple option up and running on The Flats. The Jackets roll. Pick -- Georgia Tech
TCU at Oklahoma State -11.0 -- Interesting early showdown in the Big 12. Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph, a native of Rock Hill, S.C., has to be considered one of the early leaders for the Heisman Trophy. TCU is beginning to look like a vintage Gary Patterson team. The spread is a little high, but I like the Pokes on their own ranch. Pick -- Oklahoma State
Louisiana Tech at South Carolina -8.5 -- The Yardbirds did their annual early face plant last Saturday against Kentucky. Now South Carolina is faced with the return of Skip Holtz, the former coach-in-waiting, to Williams-Brice. Without Deebo Samuel and the lack of a running game, I expect the Cocks to struggle. Take the points. Pick -- Louisiana Tech
Boston College at Clemson -34.5 -- This would be a trap game if Boston College was bringing anything to Death Valley. The Eagles got mauled at home last week by a Notre Dame team that will be lucky to finish with a winning season. The Tigers were running on all cylinders last Saturday night in Louisville. It will be interesting to see if they can keep it up. Pick -- Clemson
Mississippi State at Georgia -5.0 -- An early-season showdown in the It-Just-Means-More SEC. Mississippi State pulled off a stunner last Saturday night by pounding LSU in Stark-Vegas. The Dawgs continue to live off of their defense and their running game. I think playing between the Hedges will be the difference. Pick -- Georgia
N.C. State at Florida State -13.0 -- Who the hell knows about this game? What is N.C. State? Enough talent to beat just about anybody but doesn't have the ability to hold it together for any length of time. Florida State, which has played just one game this season, will trot out freshman quarterback James Blackman against the Wolfpack. FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher is confident Blackman can handle it. The Wolfpack has been tough on the Seminoles in the past. FSU has a defense but can it generate any points? Who knows? Anybody got a clue? Give me the points. Pick -- N.C. State
Duke at North Carolina +2.5 -- Duke is better coached. North Carolina has better talent. Duke is giving points on the road. When was the last time you saw that? I have seen enough of Duke to believe in the Blue Devils in this one. Duke head coach David Cutcliffe is known as a great developer of quarterbacks, but Duke's defense is pretty good. Pick -- Duke
Alabama at Vanderbilt +18.5 -- Common sense tells you Vanderbilt's party is over. The Commodores are 3-0 after outlasting Kansas State last week. But here comes big bad Bama to Music City to slap Vandy back into reality. Most of America would love to see Vandy pull off the upset. But I don't think it is going to happen. Pick -- Alabama
Michigan at Purdue +10 -- The Michigan defense is for real. The Michigan offense is not. Purdue is vastly improved. I think the Boilermakers have something cooked up for the Wolverines. Pick -- Purdue
Florida at Kentucky +2.5 -- Kentucky is off to its first 3-0 start since 2010. But the Wildcats have lost 30 in a row, yes 30 in a row, to Florida. The Gators' offense is truly offensive. Kentucky's defensive unit is salty. I think the goal posts come down in Lexington Saturday. Pick -- Kentucky
Last Week -- 5-4-1
For The Season -- 12-17-1
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Just Keep Saying To Yourself, It's Early
We're just two weeks into the season, so it is not time to hit the panic button. Yet.
Last week's 3-7 record against the spread dropped the season record to 7-13. Yeah, it's ugly, but there is a lot of ball left to be played.
On the positive side, I told you last week I didn't believe the national hype on Ohio State. Oklahoma went to the Horseshoe and beat down the Buckeyes. I think there are more beatings to come for The Ohio State.
On the negative side, I missed South Carolina again. The Gamecocks are 2-0 and probably will be 4-0 before getting tested again. I thought Penn State would cover against Pitt. It didn't. I picked Boston College at home in a pick'em against Wake Forest, but the Deacons blasted the Eagles.
I don't know the answer, but I thought I would just throw out this observation. When was the last time Duke and Wake Forest were both double-digit favorites on the same Saturday?
Let's move on. As always, 10 games against the spread for entertainment purposes only.
Here are this week's selections.
Oklahoma State at Pittsburgh -14.0 -- Last year's meeting in Stillwater was a shootout the Cowboys won in overtime. This is a much different Pitt team. The Panthers are missing a lot of their offensive pieces from a year ago. The Cowboys can still score and score a lot. Pick -- Oklahoma State
Kentucky at South Carolina -6.0 -- The Gamecocks, off to a surprising 2-0 start, welcome Kentucky to Columbia for their 2017 home opener. Will the Gamecocks stumble? Nope. Pick -- South Carolina
Clemson at Louisville +3.0 -- The dynamic Lamar Jackson meets a Clemson defensive unit that is allowing just 118 total yards per game. Jackson usually gets that much in the first quarter. Something has got to give. What do you do with Jackson? Do you go after him risking flushing him out of the pocket? Or do you drop back and defend and force him to throw? Clemson did a good job against Jackson in the first half last year, but he ran crazy in the second half. The unknown for this game is the Clemson offense. How many points can it produce? Can the Tigers keep the ball and keep Jackson off the field? The Tigers helped the Cardinals last year with five turnovers. That cannot happen Saturday. I am expecting another close one. I am betting the difference is the Tigers have been here before and will handle the spotlight better. Pick -- Clemson
Baylor at Duke -14.0 -- Duke smashed a good Northwestern team last week. Baylor is a five-alarm dumpster fire. Pick -- Duke
Notre Dame at Boston College -13.5 -- Notre Dame is a mess. Boston College is a bigger mess. Pick -- Notre Dame
Tennessee at Florida -5.5 -- Back in the day, this was a highly anticipated game in the SEC and on the national level. But both of these teams have major issues. Florida can't score. Tennessee's defense got torched by Georgia Tech's triple option. Will the hurricane aftermath in the state of Florida have an effect on the Gators? Will Tennessee head coach Butch Jones finally win a game that means something? I don't understand the spread, so I am picking the Vols. Pick -- Tennessee
LSU at Mississippi State +7.0 -- What is LSU? Have the Tigers solved their offensive problems? Mississippi State has beaten Charleston Southern and Louisiana Tech. So what? History tells you to pick LSU. But strange things can happen in Stark-Vegas, especially early in the season. Take the points. Pick -- Mississippi State
Kansas State at Vanderbilt +4.0 -- Kansas State, as always, is a darkhorse in the Big 12 race. This is Vandy's first major test of the season. Pick -- Kansas State
Texas at Southern Cal -15.0 -- Texas bounced back last week after laying an opening egg against Maryland, but Southern Cal is a different type of animal. One Texas isn't ready for at this time. Fight on! Pick -- Southern Cal
Utah State at Wake Forest -13.5 -- Utah State must really be awful. Pick -- Wake Forest
Last Week Against The Spread -- 3-7
For The Season -- 7-13
Last week's 3-7 record against the spread dropped the season record to 7-13. Yeah, it's ugly, but there is a lot of ball left to be played.
On the positive side, I told you last week I didn't believe the national hype on Ohio State. Oklahoma went to the Horseshoe and beat down the Buckeyes. I think there are more beatings to come for The Ohio State.
On the negative side, I missed South Carolina again. The Gamecocks are 2-0 and probably will be 4-0 before getting tested again. I thought Penn State would cover against Pitt. It didn't. I picked Boston College at home in a pick'em against Wake Forest, but the Deacons blasted the Eagles.
I don't know the answer, but I thought I would just throw out this observation. When was the last time Duke and Wake Forest were both double-digit favorites on the same Saturday?
Let's move on. As always, 10 games against the spread for entertainment purposes only.
Here are this week's selections.
Oklahoma State at Pittsburgh -14.0 -- Last year's meeting in Stillwater was a shootout the Cowboys won in overtime. This is a much different Pitt team. The Panthers are missing a lot of their offensive pieces from a year ago. The Cowboys can still score and score a lot. Pick -- Oklahoma State
Kentucky at South Carolina -6.0 -- The Gamecocks, off to a surprising 2-0 start, welcome Kentucky to Columbia for their 2017 home opener. Will the Gamecocks stumble? Nope. Pick -- South Carolina
Clemson at Louisville +3.0 -- The dynamic Lamar Jackson meets a Clemson defensive unit that is allowing just 118 total yards per game. Jackson usually gets that much in the first quarter. Something has got to give. What do you do with Jackson? Do you go after him risking flushing him out of the pocket? Or do you drop back and defend and force him to throw? Clemson did a good job against Jackson in the first half last year, but he ran crazy in the second half. The unknown for this game is the Clemson offense. How many points can it produce? Can the Tigers keep the ball and keep Jackson off the field? The Tigers helped the Cardinals last year with five turnovers. That cannot happen Saturday. I am expecting another close one. I am betting the difference is the Tigers have been here before and will handle the spotlight better. Pick -- Clemson
Baylor at Duke -14.0 -- Duke smashed a good Northwestern team last week. Baylor is a five-alarm dumpster fire. Pick -- Duke
Notre Dame at Boston College -13.5 -- Notre Dame is a mess. Boston College is a bigger mess. Pick -- Notre Dame
Tennessee at Florida -5.5 -- Back in the day, this was a highly anticipated game in the SEC and on the national level. But both of these teams have major issues. Florida can't score. Tennessee's defense got torched by Georgia Tech's triple option. Will the hurricane aftermath in the state of Florida have an effect on the Gators? Will Tennessee head coach Butch Jones finally win a game that means something? I don't understand the spread, so I am picking the Vols. Pick -- Tennessee
LSU at Mississippi State +7.0 -- What is LSU? Have the Tigers solved their offensive problems? Mississippi State has beaten Charleston Southern and Louisiana Tech. So what? History tells you to pick LSU. But strange things can happen in Stark-Vegas, especially early in the season. Take the points. Pick -- Mississippi State
Kansas State at Vanderbilt +4.0 -- Kansas State, as always, is a darkhorse in the Big 12 race. This is Vandy's first major test of the season. Pick -- Kansas State
Texas at Southern Cal -15.0 -- Texas bounced back last week after laying an opening egg against Maryland, but Southern Cal is a different type of animal. One Texas isn't ready for at this time. Fight on! Pick -- Southern Cal
Utah State at Wake Forest -13.5 -- Utah State must really be awful. Pick -- Wake Forest
Last Week Against The Spread -- 3-7
For The Season -- 7-13
Thursday, September 7, 2017
Auburn at Clemson: Will Defense Rule?
Week One is in the books and it was not good.
First time out against a tough slate of games, the record was 4-6.
But that was a just a warm up. There is a lot football left.
As always, all picks are against the spread. And picks are for entertainment purposes only.
Week Two gets even tougher. Let's have at it.
Auburn at Clemson -5.0 -- Clemson won a glorfied scrimmage against a feeble Kent State. Kent State threw up the white flag early and was only interested in collecting the check. Auburn beat a usually pesky Georgia Southern squad. In some ways, these two teams mirror each other -- inexperience on offense, experienced on defense. On paper, this has the makings of a defensive game with both teams throwing haymakers. I think home field will be the difference. Pick -- Clemson
South Carolina at Missouri -2.5 -- The Gamecocks won a shootout in Charlotte by making more plays than the Wolfpack. South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley made several nice throws, but the Gamecocks still need to find a running game. Missouri dropped 72 on Missouri State. This spread looks strange. I'm taking the home field. Pick -- Missouri
Georgia at Notre Dame -4.0 -- The Dawgs make a rare trip North to tangle with the Irish for just the second time in history. I congratulate both programs. This is a great game for college football. The only other meeting was Georgia's victory in the Sugar Bowl which clinched the 1980 national championship. Georgia has quarterback issues. Notre Dame is trying to bounce back from last seasons's 4-8 egg. There has been trash talking coming out of Athens. Big shock there. Wake up the echoes. Pick -- Notre Dame
Louisville at North Carolina +10 -- Lamar Jackson's run at a second Heisman Trophy got off to a rocky start, but the Cardinals managed to save themselves against lowly Purdue. North Carolina took one step toward talking basketball season by losing at home to California. Louisville will have to play a much cleaner game to cover the spread. This smells like an early must win for the Heels. I expect the Heels to play with a sense of desperation. Pick -- North Carolina
Iowa at Iowa State +2.5 -- The Cyclones are a weak sister in the Big 12. The Hawkeyes have been known to stumble. Pick -- Iowa State
Wake Forest at Boston College Pick'em -- BC 2-0? Believe it. Pick -- BC
Oklahoma at Ohio State -7.5 -- I just don't get the national love for Ohio State. Sure, the Buckeyes have plenty of talent, but their offense is still a mess. Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley faces his first big road game as a head coach. Sooner quarterback Baker Mayfield came back to Norman to make a run at a national title. Take the points. Pick -- Oklahoma
Stanford at Southern Cal -6.0 -- Cardinal power versus Trojan flash. I'm going to take the power. Pick -- Stanford
TCU at Arkansas +3.0 -- When has Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema ever won a big game? I'm waiting for your answer. Can Arkansas' ground game keep up with TCU's Big 12 offense? I'm going to take the Frogs. Pick -- TCU
Pittsburgh at Penn State -21.0 -- Pitt beat Penn State last season, a loss that ended up costing the Nittany Lions a trip to the College Football Playoff. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Happy Valley will not be a happy place for the Panthers. Pick -- Penn State.
Last Week Against The Spread -- 4-6
2017 Season -- 4-6
First time out against a tough slate of games, the record was 4-6.
But that was a just a warm up. There is a lot football left.
As always, all picks are against the spread. And picks are for entertainment purposes only.
Week Two gets even tougher. Let's have at it.
Auburn at Clemson -5.0 -- Clemson won a glorfied scrimmage against a feeble Kent State. Kent State threw up the white flag early and was only interested in collecting the check. Auburn beat a usually pesky Georgia Southern squad. In some ways, these two teams mirror each other -- inexperience on offense, experienced on defense. On paper, this has the makings of a defensive game with both teams throwing haymakers. I think home field will be the difference. Pick -- Clemson
South Carolina at Missouri -2.5 -- The Gamecocks won a shootout in Charlotte by making more plays than the Wolfpack. South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley made several nice throws, but the Gamecocks still need to find a running game. Missouri dropped 72 on Missouri State. This spread looks strange. I'm taking the home field. Pick -- Missouri
Georgia at Notre Dame -4.0 -- The Dawgs make a rare trip North to tangle with the Irish for just the second time in history. I congratulate both programs. This is a great game for college football. The only other meeting was Georgia's victory in the Sugar Bowl which clinched the 1980 national championship. Georgia has quarterback issues. Notre Dame is trying to bounce back from last seasons's 4-8 egg. There has been trash talking coming out of Athens. Big shock there. Wake up the echoes. Pick -- Notre Dame
Louisville at North Carolina +10 -- Lamar Jackson's run at a second Heisman Trophy got off to a rocky start, but the Cardinals managed to save themselves against lowly Purdue. North Carolina took one step toward talking basketball season by losing at home to California. Louisville will have to play a much cleaner game to cover the spread. This smells like an early must win for the Heels. I expect the Heels to play with a sense of desperation. Pick -- North Carolina
Iowa at Iowa State +2.5 -- The Cyclones are a weak sister in the Big 12. The Hawkeyes have been known to stumble. Pick -- Iowa State
Wake Forest at Boston College Pick'em -- BC 2-0? Believe it. Pick -- BC
Oklahoma at Ohio State -7.5 -- I just don't get the national love for Ohio State. Sure, the Buckeyes have plenty of talent, but their offense is still a mess. Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley faces his first big road game as a head coach. Sooner quarterback Baker Mayfield came back to Norman to make a run at a national title. Take the points. Pick -- Oklahoma
Stanford at Southern Cal -6.0 -- Cardinal power versus Trojan flash. I'm going to take the power. Pick -- Stanford
TCU at Arkansas +3.0 -- When has Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema ever won a big game? I'm waiting for your answer. Can Arkansas' ground game keep up with TCU's Big 12 offense? I'm going to take the Frogs. Pick -- TCU
Pittsburgh at Penn State -21.0 -- Pitt beat Penn State last season, a loss that ended up costing the Nittany Lions a trip to the College Football Playoff. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Happy Valley will not be a happy place for the Panthers. Pick -- Penn State.
Last Week Against The Spread -- 4-6
2017 Season -- 4-6
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