Maybe A New Computer Will Change My Luck

     Because of computer issues, my first post of this week's blog was directly to Facebook. After getting word Friday afternoon that my computer was on life support, I made a quick trip to Office Depot. Hopefully, the new computer will bring me luck.

     Unfortunately, my picks also are on life support. It has been said consistency is the mark of greatness. I don’t think that is true in my case as I suffered through my third consecutive 5-5 week. The overall record remains at three games above .500.

     Let’s see if I can break the mediocre streak this week. As always, all picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.

     Here are this week’s selections.

     Oklahoma State at West Virginia +7.0 – The Pokes struggled against an improving Texas team last week but managed to pull out a victory in a strange way – with their defense. This week is going to be different because West Virginia throws it all over the lot. My gut tells me couches are in danger in Morgantown this weekend. Pick – West Virginia

     Georgia vs. Florida -13.5 – I don’t care what the administrations at both schools say this will always be known as The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Bourbon is the most popular liquid of the weekend. Georgia is undefeated and talking College Football Playoff. Florida is just talking. The Gators say it’s Georgia and Florida beats Georgia. There is some recent truth to that statement. Georgia’s offense lives by the run, while Florida is just trying to find a way to score. I think the Dawgs will pull it out, but the spread is too high. Pick – Florida

     Vanderbilt at South Carolina -7.0 – Vanderbilt’s shipwreck limps into Williams-Brice and will take several more broadsides. Pick – South Carolina

     Georgia Tech at Clemson -14.0 – Weather could be a major factor in Death Valley. Rain and the coolest temperatures of the season are predicted for Saturday night. The last two seasons Brent Venables’ defense has totally shut down the Yellow Jackets’ triple option. Most observers believe rain favors the team that runs the ball, but I believe the weather will effect Tech’s ball handling. Pick – Clemson

     Louisville at Wake Forest +3.0 – Wake has played tough but has received nothing but losses for its efforts. Lamar Jackson continues to be the only thing Louisville has on the roster. If Jackson can’t run, the Cardinals are in trouble. Don’t take these Deacons lightly in Winston-Salem. Pick – Wake Forest

     Penn State at Ohio State -6.5 – I just look at this spread and shake my head. I simply don’t believe in the Buckeyes. If quarterback J.T. Barrett is forced to throw, the Buckeyes are helpless. Penn State is spewing confidence and still remembers Ohio State was picked for the College Football Playoff last season even though the Nittany Lions won the Big 10 title. Give me those points. Pick – Penn State

     N.C. State at Notre Dame -7.0 – Raise your hand if you thought in August this game would have major implications for the College Football Playoff? I thought so. The Wolfpack had last week off, while the Irish were smashing Southern Cal. The winner is still alive for the CFP. Even with a loss, the Wolfpack is still in control of the Atlantic Division. I think the moment will be too big for the Wolfpack. Pick – Notre Dame

     Mississippi State at Texas A&M +1.5 – An interesting game between two teams doing a nice job of holding their seasons together despite taking some hits. I think the 12th Man will be the difference. Pick – Texas A&M

     Houston at South Florida -11.0 – I like the way Charlie Strong has quickly resurrected his career in Tampa after the disaster in Austin. The Bulls have scored 30 or more points in 24 consecutive games, a record for the AP poll era. The Bulls are averaging 41.6 points per game. Houston allowed Memphis 42 points in one half. I am going to run with the Bulls. Pick – South Florida

     Miami at North Carolina +20.0 – The Step Right Up And Beat The Hell Out Of North Carolina tour continues. Larry Fedora, it may be time to call a real estate agent. Pick – Miami

Last Week – 5-5
For The Season – 41-38-1

Mediocre Again, Time To Break Out

     Another ho-hum 5-5 week kept the overall season record on hold at three games above .500.
     My warning to Clemson came true as the Tigers were more worried about facing Off Week than Syracuse. The 22-point dog Orange beat the Tigers straight up and put Clemson's playoff hopes on a week-by-week watch. The most shocking part of the game was the way Syracuse pushed Clemson around and the lack of response from the Tigers. One more lack of effort similar to that one and the Tigers will not make the playoff field.
     Georgia won big but did not cover and South Carolina managed to put several more For Sale signs in Tennessee head coach Butch Jones' front yard.
     As always, all picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
     Let's get to this week's selections.
     Oklahoma State at Texas +7 -- Since a shocking opening day loss to Maryland, Texas has shown a pulse. The Longhorns have suffered close losses to Southern Cal and Oklahoma. This will be an offensive shootout. I think the Pokes will survive because they have more weapons. Pick -- Oklahoma State
     Wake Forest at Georgia Tech -6.5 -- The Jackets got beat at the buzzer in Miami last week. Wake got off to a great start but has hit a rough patch. Wake's defense recorded 17 tackles for loss against Florida State. I think the Deacons' quick defensive front will be able to disrupt the Jackets. Pick -- Wake Forest
     Louisville at Florida State -6.5 -- Last season, Louisville ran up the score against FSU, setting a record for points against the Seminoles. The Seminoles certainly have long memories. This is Lamar Jackson vs. FSU's solid defense and FSU's mediocre offense against Louisville's mediocre defense. The Cardinals are a dumpster fire after losing at home to Boston College. I think the Seminoles will set the dumpster on fire. Pick -- Florida State
     Boston College at Virginia -7.0 -- Boston College pulled off an upset in Louisville. But there will be no upset in Charlottesville. Virginia's surprising season continues. Pick -- Virginia
     Tennessee at Alabama -34.5 -- I remember the days when Tennessee could actually compete with Alabama. Almost everyone looked forward to the third Saturday in October, the traditional date for the game. Man, that's a lot of points. But Tennessee's offense is putrid and its defense isn't much better. It is always difficult to take that many points, but I think the Tide will roll. Pick -- Alabama
     LSU at Ole Miss +6.5 -- LSU head coach Ed Orgeron (aka The Cookie Monster -- just listen to the man talk) returns to The Grove where he once was the head coach. Asked if he still had any connections at Ole Miss, he said he hoped the Exxon station was still cooking chicken on a stick. LSU has recovered nicely since losing to Troy. I think the Bayou Bengals get it done. Pick -- LSU
     North Carolina at Virginia Tech -21.0 -- The Larry Fedora Farewell tour continues. Pick -- Virginia Tech
     Central Florida at Navy +7.5 -- The Midshipmen will try and sink the Knights. Anchors aweigh. Pick -- Navy
     Michigan at Penn State -9.5 -- This will not be a game. Michigan is a mess on offense. Khaki pants takes a beating in Happy Valley. Pick -- Penn State
     Southern Cal at Notre Dame -3.5 -- I really don't want to believe in Notre Dame, but with every week that passes by, the Irish look better and better. Wake up the echoes. Pick -- Notre Dame

Last Week -- 5-5
For The Season -- 36-33-1

Blip On The Screen

    The three-week winning streak got interrupted last week with a mediocre 5-5 record.

     Alabama and Clemson both failed to cover and Louisville got upset in Raleigh under a full moon. The moon will be full again on Nov. 4 when Clemson travels to N.C. State. Just saying.

     As predicted, Michigan failed to cover and Michigan State won outright in a driving rain storm in the Big House.

     This week, Clemson plays at Syracuse on Friday night. I am not a fan of Friday night college football and will never will be a fan. If the colleges want to play on Thursday night, that's ok -- as long as both teams get the previous Saturday off. Friday nights are for high school football. Period. I think the National Felons League should return to Sunday and Monday and leave Thursdays to the colleges. And the colleges should leave Fridays to the preps.

     As always, selections are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.

     Here are this week's selections:

     Clemson at Syracuse +22.5 -- One last outing for the Tigers before a much-needed off-week. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney says quarterback Kelly Bryant, who tweeked an ankle in the victory over Wake Forest, will play. Two years ago at the Carrier Dome, the Orange surprised the Tigers with some triple option and the Tigers had to fight to survive. The Orange likes to play fast, really fast, and has two of the best wide receivers in the country in Steve Ismael (No. 1 in the country in receiving yards) and Ervin Phillips (No. 31 in the country in receiving yards). Be careful Tigers. Be very careful. I am going to take the points. Pick -- Syracuse

     South Carolina at Tennessee -2.5 -- After a big victory over Arkansas, the Gamecocks take some new-found confidence up the mountain to Ob-knoxville. Struggling Tennessee will start redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano at quarterback. The Vols needed to do something to try and jump start their putrid offense. Tennessee head coach Butch Jones has one foot out the door. Tennessee looks disinterested and lost. I think the Gamecocks will get a road win. Pick -- South Carolina

     Georgia Tech at Miami -6.5 -- When he was at Georgia, Mark Richt owned Georgia Tech. His ownership continues when the Yellow Jackets visit South Beach. Pick -- Miami

     Baylor at Oklahoma State -25.5 -- Pokes celebrate homecoming with a serious Bear hunt. Bear rugs for everybody. Pick -- Oklahoma State

     Missouri at Georgia -30.5 -- Not only is Missouri a 10-alarm dumpster fire, the Tigers don't even have a dumpster anymore. Not enough points. Not even close. Dawgs roll on to the Cocktail Party. Pick -- Georgia 

     Auburn at LSU +6.5 -- Auburn has gained momentum every week since leaving Clemson with an eight-point loss. A victory will label the Tigers the No. 1 challenger to Alabama in the SEC West. Pick -- Auburn

     Oklahoma vs. Texas in Dallas +7.5 -- Oklahoma crapped in its own nest last week with a home loss to 30-point underdog Iowa State. Much like Ohio State, who the Sooners beat in Columbus earlier this season, Oklahoma talks a good game but can't produce results. Texas has pulled some surprises in the Red River Rivalry in the past. I think the Longhorns have got the Sooners right where they want them. Pick -- Texas

     Navy at Memphis -4.0 -- This might be the best game this weekend. Navy's high-powered option against Memphis' high-flying passing attack. Home field will be the difference. Pick -- Memphis

     Texas A&M at Florida -3.0 -- Florida is wearing the ugliest uniform in the history of college football for this game. If you have not seen it, Google it. But don't eat before you look at the picture. A&M can score. Florida can't. Swamp gets drained. Uniforms get burned. Pick -- Texas A&M

     Boise State at San Diego State -7.0 -- The Aztecs are one of the big stories in college football this season. Since this one isn't on the blue turf, I'm taking SD. Pick -- San Diego State

     Last Week -- 5-5

     For The Season -- 31-28-1

     

Recent Run Of Success Continues

    Three winning weeks in a row and two consecutive weeks at 70 percent have pushed the overall season record to the positive side by three games.
     The national chatter is college football this week has been -- Can anybody but Clemson play with Alabama? Maybe we are headed to Alabama-Clemson III, but there is a long way to go. Personally, I don't want Alabama-Clemson III. I don't think my heart could take it. There are some possible land mines for Clemson remaining, and Alabama still has to deal with Auburn in the Iron Bowl and possibly Georgia in the SEC Championship game.
     As always, picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
     Here are this week's selections:
     Louisville at N.C. State +4 -- In a Thursday night special, the Lamar Jackson Show travels to the Wolf Lair in Raleigh. The Cardinals have faced nothing but layups since getting slapped down by Clemson. N.C. State is talented and wildly inconsistent. The Wolfpack has a history of positive results on Thursday nights. But I think the Cardinals will find a way to hand the Pack its first ACC loss. Pick -- Louisville
     Wake Forest at Clemson -21.5 -- Wake should have/could have beaten Florida State last week. Clemson beat Virginia Tech to become the first team in the history of the AP poll to beat three top 15 teams in the month of September. Kelly Bryant continues to exceed pre-season expectations at quarterback for the Tigers. And Clemson's nasty defense has shown up every week. Have you ever seen a better pair of defensive ends at the college level? Wake's offense likes to go fast. That will suit the Tigers just fine. Pick -- Clemson
     Arkansas at South Carolina +2.5 -- Two teams going no where. The Gamecocks have suffered a couple of frustrating losses to Kentucky and Texas A&M. Who knows what Arkansas is going to bring to Columbia. There is nothing fancy about the Hogs. They will line up and run it at the Gamecocks. Can the Gamecocks stand up to the pounding? I will take the points at home. Pick -- South Carolina
     Duke at Virginia -2.5 -- Duke got beat down by Miami last Friday night at Wallace Wade Outdoor Stadium. At 3-1, Virginia has shown some signs of life. Woos your daddy? Pick -- Virginia
     LSU at Florida -3.0 -- LSU is a five-alarm dumpster fire. The revolving door at quarterback continues for the Gators. Three points isn't enough. Pick -- Florida
     Notre Dame at North Carolina -15.0 -- North Carolina's defense is a 10-alarm dumpster fire. Pathetic is not a strong enough word. What time is your African-American Studies class? When does basketball season start? Pick -- Notre Dame
     West Virginia at TCU -13.0 -- I think TCU head coach Gary Patterson has it going again in Fort Worth. Horned Frogs all over the coon skin hats. Pick -- TCU
     Miami (Fla.) at Florida State +3.0 -- This is still a great rivalry because of state and conference ties. Rain may play a major factor. The Hurricanes will make the struggling Noles an official candidate for the Pinstripe Bowl. I hear Yankee Stadium is lovely in late December. Pick -- Miami
     Alabama at Texas A&M -26.5 -- In the last two games, the Crimson Tide has outscored the opposition, 125-3. That is not a misprint. I guess the SEC just does mean more -- more points by the Tide. Good luck Aggies. You are going to need it. Pick -- Alabama
    Michigan State at Michigan -10.0 -- This is the first time this Michigan showdown has been played at night. My gut tells me Michigan wins this game because of home field but won't cover. I would not be surprised if Michigan State wins outright. Pick -- Michigan State

Last Week -- 7-3
For The Season -- 26-23-1