Thursday, October 10, 2019
Tigers Back In Action Against Improving Seminoles
After a stellar week, there was a serious move down to mediocrity last week.
A late touchdown by Pittsburgh at Duke wiped out the opportunity for a winning week. The slate was an average 5-5.
There are some big time tilts this week. The Red River Shootout in Dallas and undefeated Florida at undefeated LSU are the two highlight games.
Clemson returns home to face improving Florida State. The Seminoles have the athletes to cause major problems. If the Tigers are going to rout the Seminoles for the second straight year, they will have to slow down FSU running back Cam Akers is one of the best in the country.
As always, the picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
Friday
Virginia at Miami -2.0 -- Miami gagged against struggling Virginia Tech last week.Virginia comes to south Florida trying to recover from getting mashed in the second half at Notre Dame. Quarterback Bryce Perkins makes the Virginia offense go. Give me those points. Pick -- Virginia
Saturday
South Carolina at Georgia -24.5 -- The Gamecocks are not ready for what they will see Saturday in Athens. Let the big Dawg eat. Pick -- Georgia
Georgia Tech at Duke -17.5 -- Even when Georgia Tech was good, Duke was a pain for the Yellow Jackets. Blue Devils bounce back. Pick -- Duke
Florida State at Clemson -27.0 -- Last year, Clemson turned Doak Campbell Stadium into a library. I expect the Seminoles to put up a better fight this year. Too many points. Pick -- Florida State
Oklahoma vs. Texas +10 (Dallas) -- Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts against a thin Texas secondary. Not a good combination. Pick -- Oklahoma
Alabama at Texas A&M +17.0 -- The Aggies have not lived up to expectations. The Aggies faced No. 1 Clemson in early September. Here comes No. 1 Alabama in early October. I am afraid the Aggies will need a 13th or 14th man to have a chance. Pick -- Alabama
Nebraska at Minnesota -7.5 -- The Golden Gophers stay golden. Pick -- Minnesota
Southern Cal at Notre Dame -11.0 -- Notre Dame at home at night. Take the Irish. Pick -- Notre Dame
Louisville at Wake Forest -6.5 -- The two surprise teams of the ACC. Louisville is respectable again under head coach Scott Satterfield. Wake is still undefeated under head coach Dave Clawson. Could the Demon Deacons be undefeated when they come to Clemson on Nov. 16? It's possible. Pick -- Wake Forest
Florida at LSU -13.5 -- Florida's undefeated season comes to an end. Pick -- LSU
Last Week -- 5-5
For The Season -- 38-22
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Almost Perfect. One Of The Best Weeks In The History Of The Cobb Blog
I had all the reasons to pick a close game in Chapel Hill. I outlined all of the reasons in last week's blog. At the last second, I lost my nerve. That second cost me a perfect week.
The Tigers stopped a pathetic attempt at two points late in the game to survive an inspired effort from the Tar Heels. Mack Brown is coaching up the Tar Heels. The Heels are much better than their record indicates.
What has been lost in all of the whining about Clemson's performance last Saturday was the work of North Carolina defensive coordinator Jay Bateman. Last year as Army's defense coordinator, Bateman designed a plan that limited high-powered Oklahoma to 24 points in Norman. His plan against Clemson was brilliant.
Clemson's biggest problem is offensive consistency. The second biggest problem is a lack of creativity. The three plays are -- sideways pass, right tackle, or go long and I will throw it to you. If the opposition is daring you to run, run. The numbers show Clemson's running backs are not getting enough touches. Personally, I think the standing around at the line of scrimmage is eroding the effectiveness of the offense. Perhaps the offense has been operating at a slower pace to try and protect a developing defense. Clemson's defense has shown it is ahead of schedule. It is time to get past Page 5 of the playbook and try and approach "Chad Speed."
The good news is Clemson gets this week off to try and fix its problems before playing host to the circus that is Florida State football.
The most interesting game of the week takes place in The Swamp where undefeated Florida plays host to undefeated Auburn. By Saturday night, we will know which one is a fraud and which one stays in the race for the SEC Championship game.
As always, picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
Oklahoma State at Texas Tech +10 -- Texas Tech got drilled by Oklahoma last Saturday. This week the Red Raiders have to deal with Cowboy running back Chuba Hubbard, who ran for 296 yards in Oklahoma State's victory over Kansas State. Good luck trying to lock up Hubbard. Pick -- Oklahoma State
Iowa at Michigan -3.5 -- It is the time of year when Michigan starts developing a pulse again before losing to Ohio State at the end of November. Pick -- Michigan
North Carolina at Georgia Tech +10 -- After a fabulous effort against No. 1 Clemson, North Carolina head coach Mack Brown has been complaining about his team's practices this week. In the business, that's known as sandbagging. Pick -- North Carolina
Air Force at Navy +3.5 -- Give me the Navy option and the home field. Pick -- Navy
Georgia at Tennessee +25 -- After a week of dealing with the Knoxville police and a player arrest, Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt now has to deal with Georgia. Another "plus" this week -- Pruitt received the dreaded vote of confidence from UT athletic director Phil Fulmer. That usually means the end is near. Pick -- Georgia
Boston College at Louisville -6.5 -- AJ Dillon has been running well for the Eagles. BC is due a breakthrough Pick -- Boston College
Auburn at Florida +3.0 -- Defense will be the difference in this battle of unbeatens and I think Auburn's D is just a little bit better. Pick -- Auburn
Virginia Tech at Miami (Fla.) -13.5 -- Canes put several more dents in what is quickly becoming a disastrous season for the Hokies. Pick -- Miami
Michigan State at Ohio State -20.5 -- Michigan State is the first team with a pulse Ohio State has faced. Sparty might have enough defense to hang for a while, but the Buckeyes have much more offense. A lot more offense. Pick -- Ohio State
Pittsburgh at Duke -4.5 -- This series is filled with high-scoring games. The Blue Devils were impressive in Blacksburg last Friday. I think Duke will do most of the scoring at Wallace Wade Outdoor Stadium. Pick -- Duke
Last Week -- 9-1
For The Season -- 33-17
The Tigers stopped a pathetic attempt at two points late in the game to survive an inspired effort from the Tar Heels. Mack Brown is coaching up the Tar Heels. The Heels are much better than their record indicates.
What has been lost in all of the whining about Clemson's performance last Saturday was the work of North Carolina defensive coordinator Jay Bateman. Last year as Army's defense coordinator, Bateman designed a plan that limited high-powered Oklahoma to 24 points in Norman. His plan against Clemson was brilliant.
Clemson's biggest problem is offensive consistency. The second biggest problem is a lack of creativity. The three plays are -- sideways pass, right tackle, or go long and I will throw it to you. If the opposition is daring you to run, run. The numbers show Clemson's running backs are not getting enough touches. Personally, I think the standing around at the line of scrimmage is eroding the effectiveness of the offense. Perhaps the offense has been operating at a slower pace to try and protect a developing defense. Clemson's defense has shown it is ahead of schedule. It is time to get past Page 5 of the playbook and try and approach "Chad Speed."
The good news is Clemson gets this week off to try and fix its problems before playing host to the circus that is Florida State football.
The most interesting game of the week takes place in The Swamp where undefeated Florida plays host to undefeated Auburn. By Saturday night, we will know which one is a fraud and which one stays in the race for the SEC Championship game.
As always, picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
Oklahoma State at Texas Tech +10 -- Texas Tech got drilled by Oklahoma last Saturday. This week the Red Raiders have to deal with Cowboy running back Chuba Hubbard, who ran for 296 yards in Oklahoma State's victory over Kansas State. Good luck trying to lock up Hubbard. Pick -- Oklahoma State
Iowa at Michigan -3.5 -- It is the time of year when Michigan starts developing a pulse again before losing to Ohio State at the end of November. Pick -- Michigan
North Carolina at Georgia Tech +10 -- After a fabulous effort against No. 1 Clemson, North Carolina head coach Mack Brown has been complaining about his team's practices this week. In the business, that's known as sandbagging. Pick -- North Carolina
Air Force at Navy +3.5 -- Give me the Navy option and the home field. Pick -- Navy
Georgia at Tennessee +25 -- After a week of dealing with the Knoxville police and a player arrest, Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt now has to deal with Georgia. Another "plus" this week -- Pruitt received the dreaded vote of confidence from UT athletic director Phil Fulmer. That usually means the end is near. Pick -- Georgia
Boston College at Louisville -6.5 -- AJ Dillon has been running well for the Eagles. BC is due a breakthrough Pick -- Boston College
Auburn at Florida +3.0 -- Defense will be the difference in this battle of unbeatens and I think Auburn's D is just a little bit better. Pick -- Auburn
Virginia Tech at Miami (Fla.) -13.5 -- Canes put several more dents in what is quickly becoming a disastrous season for the Hokies. Pick -- Miami
Michigan State at Ohio State -20.5 -- Michigan State is the first team with a pulse Ohio State has faced. Sparty might have enough defense to hang for a while, but the Buckeyes have much more offense. A lot more offense. Pick -- Ohio State
Pittsburgh at Duke -4.5 -- This series is filled with high-scoring games. The Blue Devils were impressive in Blacksburg last Friday. I think Duke will do most of the scoring at Wallace Wade Outdoor Stadium. Pick -- Duke
Last Week -- 9-1
For The Season -- 33-17
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Clemson Makes Rare Visit To Chapel Hill
Last week finished on the plus side with a 6-4 mark. That makes three winning weeks in the first four of the 2019 season. The big misses last week were Georgia not dominating Notre Dame as all of the experts predicted and Pittsburgh surprising "national champion" Central Florida on a trick play.
The most excitement in Clemson last Saturday night was a seven-minute movie shoot. Meanwhile, South Carolina continues to self destruct.
As always, picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
Friday
Duke at Virginia Tech -2.5 -- Duke has been more solid than Virginia Tech. The Hokies have had trouble hanging on to the football. And Virginia Tech's defense still has issues. Pick -- Duke
Saturday
Clemson at North Carolina +27.0 -- This is just Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney's second trip to Chapel Hill as head coach. All four of North Carolina's games have followed the same script -- the Tar Heels fall behind and then rally in the fourth quarter. It sounds silly and stupid, but I still have concerns about the Clemson offense. The Tigers are swinging for the fences and not showing a lot of consistency. Yard production has been amazing but there seems to be something missing. After last week's backyard game against Charlotte where everyone played and everyone had a good time, I hope the Tigers show up and show some improvement. I have a sense this one will be tougher than expected. Pick -- Clemson
Kentucky at South Carolina -3.0 -- Kentucky has dominated this series, but the Wildcats have serious issues at quarterback. Pick -- South Carolina
Wake Forest at Boston College +6.5 -- The Deacons, the second-best team in the ACC, hit the road to Chestnut Hill. BC getting almost seven points at home is too good to pass up. Pick -- Boston College
Virginia at Notre Dame -12.5 -- I want to believe in Virginia, but I just can't. The Irish gave it their all in Athens last week but came up short. I think home field will be the difference. Pick -- Notre Dame
N.C. State at Florida State -6.5 -- Florida State seems to be getting its act together. N.C. State has played nobody. The road gets rough for the Wolfpack as the Seminoles spring an ambush. Pick -- Florida State
Coastal Carolina at Appalachian State +16.0 -- The Mountaineers return to The Rock after beating the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill last week. Coastal Carolina also has a Power Five victory -- Kansas. App State at home is just to be a hill to climb for the Chants. Pick -- Appalachian State
Southern Cal at Washington -10.0 -- The Trojans are pretty good at home, not so much on the road. Pick -- Washington
Mississippi State at Auburn -11.0 -- I still think Auburn is a fraud, but the sham will continue for one more week. Pick -- Auburn
Washington State at Utah -5.5 -- While Utah was losing yet another game to Southern Cal at the Coliseum last week, Washington State choked in the second half against a bad UCLA team to lose 67-63. Give me home field and the Ute defense. Pick -- Utah
Last Week -- 6-4
For The Season -- 24-16
The most excitement in Clemson last Saturday night was a seven-minute movie shoot. Meanwhile, South Carolina continues to self destruct.
As always, picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
Friday
Duke at Virginia Tech -2.5 -- Duke has been more solid than Virginia Tech. The Hokies have had trouble hanging on to the football. And Virginia Tech's defense still has issues. Pick -- Duke
Saturday
Clemson at North Carolina +27.0 -- This is just Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney's second trip to Chapel Hill as head coach. All four of North Carolina's games have followed the same script -- the Tar Heels fall behind and then rally in the fourth quarter. It sounds silly and stupid, but I still have concerns about the Clemson offense. The Tigers are swinging for the fences and not showing a lot of consistency. Yard production has been amazing but there seems to be something missing. After last week's backyard game against Charlotte where everyone played and everyone had a good time, I hope the Tigers show up and show some improvement. I have a sense this one will be tougher than expected. Pick -- Clemson
Kentucky at South Carolina -3.0 -- Kentucky has dominated this series, but the Wildcats have serious issues at quarterback. Pick -- South Carolina
Wake Forest at Boston College +6.5 -- The Deacons, the second-best team in the ACC, hit the road to Chestnut Hill. BC getting almost seven points at home is too good to pass up. Pick -- Boston College
Virginia at Notre Dame -12.5 -- I want to believe in Virginia, but I just can't. The Irish gave it their all in Athens last week but came up short. I think home field will be the difference. Pick -- Notre Dame
N.C. State at Florida State -6.5 -- Florida State seems to be getting its act together. N.C. State has played nobody. The road gets rough for the Wolfpack as the Seminoles spring an ambush. Pick -- Florida State
Coastal Carolina at Appalachian State +16.0 -- The Mountaineers return to The Rock after beating the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill last week. Coastal Carolina also has a Power Five victory -- Kansas. App State at home is just to be a hill to climb for the Chants. Pick -- Appalachian State
Southern Cal at Washington -10.0 -- The Trojans are pretty good at home, not so much on the road. Pick -- Washington
Mississippi State at Auburn -11.0 -- I still think Auburn is a fraud, but the sham will continue for one more week. Pick -- Auburn
Washington State at Utah -5.5 -- While Utah was losing yet another game to Southern Cal at the Coliseum last week, Washington State choked in the second half against a bad UCLA team to lose 67-63. Give me home field and the Ute defense. Pick -- Utah
Last Week -- 6-4
For The Season -- 24-16
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Winning Streak Ends At Two Weeks
Penn State failing to cover in its final scheduled meeting against Pitt and N.C. State and Boston College getting run over led to the first losing week of the season.
Boston College's loss to Kansas was really shocking. Prior to beating the Eagles, the Jayhawks had lost 48 straight non-conference road games.
After three weeks, we have learned the ACC has deteriorated beyond recognition and is worse than a five-alarm dumpster fire. Virginia and Wake Forest are now considered No. 2 and No. 3 in the league. Playing in a putrid league means Clemson better not lose a game if it hopes to return to the College Football Playoff.
As we head to the official start of fall on Saturday, we have some games of national significance this week. Notre Dame at Georgia, Michigan at Wisconsin, and Auburn at Texas A&M all will help to start shaping the CFP picture.
As always, picks are are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
South Carolina at Missouri -9.5 -- The Gamecocks moved the ball against Alabama but still got rolled by the Tide. Haven't they seen this Kelly Bryant guy before playing for a different set of Tigers? Bryant reintroduces himself to UofSC. Pick -- Missouri
Charlotte at Clemson -41.5 -- The Clemson spreads have been so massive that it makes it difficult not to take the points. There is great gnashing of teeth by Clemson fans because Trevor Lawrence has shown that he is not Superman. Relax. Take a deep breath. Remember the days when the Tigers were squeezing out one touchdown victories over The Citadel and Furman. It will be okay. Dabo says Charlotte could embarrass Clemson. What??? If you believe that, you also believe football parking at Clemson is cheap and readily available. Pick -- Clemson
Oklahoma State at Texas -5.5 -- The Pokes have won five straight against Texas in Austin, but Texas is the first real team they have played this season. This Saturday, reality wears horns. Real long horns. Pick -- Texas
Notre Dame at Georgia -14.0 -- I think this is this week's gift. The Irish have one of the worst rush defenses in the country. Georgia has a massive offensive line and a stable of running backs. Dawgs walk the Dawg on the Irish. Pick -- Georgia
Tennessee at Florida -14.0 -- Tennessee is bad. Florida has lost its hot dog starting quarterback for the season. I think the Florida defense and home field will be the difference. Pick -- Florida
Michigan at Wisconsin -3.5 -- Michigan gets exposed by the Wisconsin bulldozer and several clueless analysts around the country begin their annual exercise of wondering why they always think the always-disappointing Wolverines will be a factor outside of the Big 10. It happens every year. Until Michigan does something, they need to stop it. Pick -- Wisconsin
Louisville at Florida State -6.5 -- Florida State looks like hot garbage. Is this the week the Seminoles put together a complete game? Probably not. But Louisville is still to early in the rebuilding process to win this one. Even Willie Taggart can't screw this one up. Can he? Pick -- Florida State
Central Florida at Pittsburgh -12.0 -- Pittsburgh can't score. Central Florida can score. And score in bunches. Pick -- Central Florida
Auburn at Texas A&M -4.0 -- Auburn, another fraud, gets exposed by the 12th Man. A&M adds to Clemson's sinking strength of schedule number. Pick -- Texas A&M
Colorado at Arizona State -7.5 -- People laughed and laughed when Arizona State hired Herm Edwards. Edwards has the Sun Devils ranked 24th in the country. Some are still laughing, but they are laughing quietly. Here comes Colorado rumbling off the mountains into the the desert. I like the Devils in the desert heat. Pick -- Arizona State
Last Week -- 4-6
For The Season -- 18-12
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Call Me Butter, I'm On A Roll
The second week of the season brought another 7-3 worksheet. I was robbed of an 8-2 record because Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher managed the last six minutes of his team's 24-10 loss to Clemson as if the national championship was on the line. The Aggies' touchdown with just seconds remaining created a cover for A&M. Hmmm. Add your own conspiracy theories here.
This week's interesting games included a non-conference ACC matchup of undefeated teams in Winston-Salem, Clemson's trip to the Loud House, and the Tide rolling into Columbia.
I like North Carolina and Wake scheduling a non-conference game. Fans would rather see a game against an old rival instead of a game against an unnamed community college.
As always, all picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
Friday
North Carolina at Wake Forest -3.0 -- The Tar Heels won just two games last season. They are already 2-0 this season in the first season of the Mack Brown Reunion Tour. Most people turn up their noses when you say "Wake Forest Football," but the Deacons can play. And score. Mack gets his first loss. Pick -- Wake Forest
Kansas at Boston College -21.0 -- The turf is artificial in Chestnut Hill, so there is nothing for Les Miles to eat. AJ Dillon will have a coming out party. Pick -- Boston College
Saturday
Arkansas State at Georgia -33.5 -- The Dawgs roll one more tomato can around Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium before the Fighting Irish come to town. Pick -- Georgia
Alabama at South Carolina +26.5 -- Alabama head coach Nick Saban complained about early kickoff times this week. He says the games are too hot. Roll Tired. After the game, South Carolina will have a complaint -- Why was this game was ever played? Pick -- Alabama
Oklahoma State at Tulsa +14.5 -- No matter how many coaches or players he loses on an annual basis, Mike Gundy knows how to generate offense. The Pokes will bring plenty of weapons to Tulsa and blow away the Hurricanes. Pick -- Oklahoma State
Clemson at Syracuse +27.5 -- Syracuse cannot be that bad. It is just not possible. The Orange got beat from pillar to post in College Park. I don't think looking ahead was a problem for Cuse. But I do think there are issues with the Orange. The Tigers suffocated Texas A&M. The Clemson offense has yet to leave the launch pad. Will this be the game? It has a been a long time since Clemson has been somebody's homecoming opponent. But with the recent history of this game, 27.5 is just too many points. Pick -- Syracuse
Pittsburgh at Penn State -17.0 -- The 100th and final meeting between these two bitter Pennsylvania rivals for the foreseeable future will be a Nittany Lion rout. Pick -- Penn State
N.C. State at West Virginia +6.5 -- This is N.C. State's first real test and it will be no where near a mid-term exam. The Mountaineers currently are a mess. Pick -- N.C. State
Stanford at Central Florida -7.5 -- Stanford got stunned by Southern Cal last Saturday night. The Cardinal now travels East to face Central Florida. Before this game is finished, the Cardinal will be running for the plane. Pick -- Central Florida
Florida at Kentucky +8.0 -- Kentucky finally snapped its lengthy losing streak against Florida last season. I just don't believe in the Gators and eight points is a tricky spread. Pick -- Kentucky
Last Week -- 7-3
For The Season -- 14-6
This week's interesting games included a non-conference ACC matchup of undefeated teams in Winston-Salem, Clemson's trip to the Loud House, and the Tide rolling into Columbia.
I like North Carolina and Wake scheduling a non-conference game. Fans would rather see a game against an old rival instead of a game against an unnamed community college.
As always, all picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
Friday
North Carolina at Wake Forest -3.0 -- The Tar Heels won just two games last season. They are already 2-0 this season in the first season of the Mack Brown Reunion Tour. Most people turn up their noses when you say "Wake Forest Football," but the Deacons can play. And score. Mack gets his first loss. Pick -- Wake Forest
Kansas at Boston College -21.0 -- The turf is artificial in Chestnut Hill, so there is nothing for Les Miles to eat. AJ Dillon will have a coming out party. Pick -- Boston College
Saturday
Arkansas State at Georgia -33.5 -- The Dawgs roll one more tomato can around Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium before the Fighting Irish come to town. Pick -- Georgia
Alabama at South Carolina +26.5 -- Alabama head coach Nick Saban complained about early kickoff times this week. He says the games are too hot. Roll Tired. After the game, South Carolina will have a complaint -- Why was this game was ever played? Pick -- Alabama
Oklahoma State at Tulsa +14.5 -- No matter how many coaches or players he loses on an annual basis, Mike Gundy knows how to generate offense. The Pokes will bring plenty of weapons to Tulsa and blow away the Hurricanes. Pick -- Oklahoma State
Clemson at Syracuse +27.5 -- Syracuse cannot be that bad. It is just not possible. The Orange got beat from pillar to post in College Park. I don't think looking ahead was a problem for Cuse. But I do think there are issues with the Orange. The Tigers suffocated Texas A&M. The Clemson offense has yet to leave the launch pad. Will this be the game? It has a been a long time since Clemson has been somebody's homecoming opponent. But with the recent history of this game, 27.5 is just too many points. Pick -- Syracuse
Pittsburgh at Penn State -17.0 -- The 100th and final meeting between these two bitter Pennsylvania rivals for the foreseeable future will be a Nittany Lion rout. Pick -- Penn State
N.C. State at West Virginia +6.5 -- This is N.C. State's first real test and it will be no where near a mid-term exam. The Mountaineers currently are a mess. Pick -- N.C. State
Stanford at Central Florida -7.5 -- Stanford got stunned by Southern Cal last Saturday night. The Cardinal now travels East to face Central Florida. Before this game is finished, the Cardinal will be running for the plane. Pick -- Central Florida
Florida at Kentucky +8.0 -- Kentucky finally snapped its lengthy losing streak against Florida last season. I just don't believe in the Gators and eight points is a tricky spread. Pick -- Kentucky
Last Week -- 7-3
For The Season -- 14-6
Thursday, September 5, 2019
7-3 Is A Good Start
The first week brought a 7-3 worksheet. I'll take 70 percent the rest of the season.
The biggest miss came in the Carolina-Carolina match up. I had a feeling the Heels would play better with Mack Brown at the helm, but I still thought South Carolina would survive. Now, the Gamecocks are 0-1 and missing their No. 1 quarterback with Alabama coming to Columbia a week from Saturday. Good luck with that.
Clemson was sloppy but effective against a Georgia Tech team that is going to be lost for a while because the triple option is gone. I expect Clemson to get past Page 5 of the playbook this week against mouthy Texas A&M.
Next to Oklahoma, I thought Georgia had the best opening week. The Dawgs have an extremely powerful running game and a defense that looks real. Maybe this is the year Georgia finally gets past Alabama.
As always, the weekly selections are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
Friday
Wake Forest at Rice +18.0 -- Wake Forest can score. With a just a pinch of defense, they will cover the spread against the mighty Owls. Pick -- Wake Forest
Saturday
Texas A&M at Clemson -18.5 -- The spread is massive. The talking heads have talked about how Clemson survived A&M at College Station last season. What they haven't talked about is the lack of holding calls against Clemson's defensive front and A&M's abundance of dumb luck. The Tigers were flying blind against the Aggies last season. Don't give Brent Venables a full season of tape to watch. Add to defensive preparation the fact A&M has not seen Trevor Lawrence and his tidal wave of wide receivers for an entire game. One Aggie has predicted an upset, which tells me the Aggies don't have a clue what they are about to face in Death Valley. Dabo opens up a can on Jimbo. Pick -- Clemson
South Florida at Georgia Tech -6.0 -- Two teams that got the hell beat out of them in their openers meet in Atlanta. This is the home opener for Georgia Tech head coach Jeff Collins. South Florida is on real slide. I think Tech's enthusiasm will make a difference. Pick -- Georgia Tech
West Virginia at Missouri -14.0 -- Transfer quarterback Kelly Bryant passed for 424 yards and two touchdowns in an opening loss at Wyoming. The Tigers open at home against a rebuilding West Virginia squad. Pick -- Missouri
Syracuse at Maryland -2.0 -- With Clemson on the horizon, this is a serious trap game for Syracuse. This spread has moved during the week. Apparently, Maryland's domination of Howard impressed the bettors. Pick -- Maryland
Nebraska at Colorado +4.5 -- A renewal of one of the great rivalries of the old Big 8. I think home field is the difference for the Buffs. Pick -- Colorado
BYU at Tennessee -3.5 -- All you need to know about last week in Knoxville is a boat on the Tennessee River outside the stadium caught fire and sank. The Vols are in serious trouble. BYU is a mess too. Pick -- BYU
Arkansas at Ole Miss -7.0 -- Two downtrodden members of the SEC meet in Oxford. Arkansas barely survived something called Portland State last week, while Ole Miss stumbled at Memphis. The Rebels/Black Bears/Sharks get it done. Pick -- Ole Miss
LSU at Texas +4.5 -- I said last week's line for the Virginia Tech at Boston College was a gift. I think this line is gift No. 2. Pick -- Texas
Miami (Fla.) at North Carolina +6.0 -- No program spews "We're Back!" more than Miami. My question is when are the Hurricanes coming back? We always hear about the talent, but the results are lacking. The Heels pulled off a surprise in Charlotte with a rebuilt defense and a freshman quarterback. It pains me, but I'm picking the Heels. Pick -- North Carolina
Last Week -- 7-3
Overall -- 7-3
The biggest miss came in the Carolina-Carolina match up. I had a feeling the Heels would play better with Mack Brown at the helm, but I still thought South Carolina would survive. Now, the Gamecocks are 0-1 and missing their No. 1 quarterback with Alabama coming to Columbia a week from Saturday. Good luck with that.
Clemson was sloppy but effective against a Georgia Tech team that is going to be lost for a while because the triple option is gone. I expect Clemson to get past Page 5 of the playbook this week against mouthy Texas A&M.
Next to Oklahoma, I thought Georgia had the best opening week. The Dawgs have an extremely powerful running game and a defense that looks real. Maybe this is the year Georgia finally gets past Alabama.
As always, the weekly selections are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
Friday
Wake Forest at Rice +18.0 -- Wake Forest can score. With a just a pinch of defense, they will cover the spread against the mighty Owls. Pick -- Wake Forest
Saturday
Texas A&M at Clemson -18.5 -- The spread is massive. The talking heads have talked about how Clemson survived A&M at College Station last season. What they haven't talked about is the lack of holding calls against Clemson's defensive front and A&M's abundance of dumb luck. The Tigers were flying blind against the Aggies last season. Don't give Brent Venables a full season of tape to watch. Add to defensive preparation the fact A&M has not seen Trevor Lawrence and his tidal wave of wide receivers for an entire game. One Aggie has predicted an upset, which tells me the Aggies don't have a clue what they are about to face in Death Valley. Dabo opens up a can on Jimbo. Pick -- Clemson
South Florida at Georgia Tech -6.0 -- Two teams that got the hell beat out of them in their openers meet in Atlanta. This is the home opener for Georgia Tech head coach Jeff Collins. South Florida is on real slide. I think Tech's enthusiasm will make a difference. Pick -- Georgia Tech
West Virginia at Missouri -14.0 -- Transfer quarterback Kelly Bryant passed for 424 yards and two touchdowns in an opening loss at Wyoming. The Tigers open at home against a rebuilding West Virginia squad. Pick -- Missouri
Syracuse at Maryland -2.0 -- With Clemson on the horizon, this is a serious trap game for Syracuse. This spread has moved during the week. Apparently, Maryland's domination of Howard impressed the bettors. Pick -- Maryland
Nebraska at Colorado +4.5 -- A renewal of one of the great rivalries of the old Big 8. I think home field is the difference for the Buffs. Pick -- Colorado
BYU at Tennessee -3.5 -- All you need to know about last week in Knoxville is a boat on the Tennessee River outside the stadium caught fire and sank. The Vols are in serious trouble. BYU is a mess too. Pick -- BYU
Arkansas at Ole Miss -7.0 -- Two downtrodden members of the SEC meet in Oxford. Arkansas barely survived something called Portland State last week, while Ole Miss stumbled at Memphis. The Rebels/Black Bears/Sharks get it done. Pick -- Ole Miss
LSU at Texas +4.5 -- I said last week's line for the Virginia Tech at Boston College was a gift. I think this line is gift No. 2. Pick -- Texas
Miami (Fla.) at North Carolina +6.0 -- No program spews "We're Back!" more than Miami. My question is when are the Hurricanes coming back? We always hear about the talent, but the results are lacking. The Heels pulled off a surprise in Charlotte with a rebuilt defense and a freshman quarterback. It pains me, but I'm picking the Heels. Pick -- North Carolina
Last Week -- 7-3
Overall -- 7-3
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Let's Get It On! Week One Is Finally Here
Okay, the talking is finished.
Thank goodness.
The whining from Tuscaloosa and national media's attempts to disrupt Clemson got tiresome. The "Kelly Bryant not getting a ring story" was just stupid. Then there was the annual complaint from sports business reporter Darren Rovell about Clemson players taking themselves off of social media during the season. Stupid story No. 2. Let's move on.
Even though it feels as if the off-season took forever, here is an interesting note -- This was Clemson shortest off-season ever. Won the national championship on Jan. 7. Open the 2019 season on Aug. 29.
Let's get it on.
I am not going to waste a lot of time getting to the picks because it's Wednesday morning and Clemson opens Thursday night.
Here are this week's selections.
All picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes
Thursday
Georgia Tech at Clemson -37 -- Forget finding tickets. Clemson fans have been losing their minds trying to figure out how to get the new ACC Network. This is the first live game on ACCN, which went on the air last week. The Tigers will celebrate a historic 2018 and then kickoff 2019. This should be the most dynamic offense in Clemson history. Questions remain about the defense, but defensive coordinator Brent Venables has been relatively calm in the preseason. He has proven before he can build a defense with whatever parts are provided. Georgia Tech has ditched the triple option. New Tech head coach Jeff Collins does not have a depth chart. He just lists the players who might play. Tech calls it ATL -- Above The Line. The Tigers will have to adjust to the new-look Jackets on the fly. I think the Tigers will roll, but 37 points is too much for an opener. Pick -- Georgia Tech
Utah at Brigham Young +5.5 -- This is a huge rivalry for an opener. ESPN's Lee Corso has picked Utah as a playoff team. That's enough for me to pick the Cougars. Pick -- Brigham Young
Friday
Oklahoma State at Oregon State +14.5 -- The Pokes travel West to take on one of the worst teams in the Pac 12. Pistols firing. Pick -- Oklahoma State
Utah State at Wake Forest -3.5 -- Utah State is touting quarterback Jordan Love as a Heisman Trophy candidate. One of their promo items is a package of candy hearts. Get it? Wake has two quarterbacks who can play -- Sam Hartman and Jamie Newman. The Deacons go fast. Real fast. This game could provide a lot of fireworks. Pick -- Wake Forest
Colorado State at Colorado -13.5 -- Colorado owns this rivalry. Pick -- Colorado
Saturday
South Carolina vs. North Carolina +10.0 -- On paper, this looks like Will Muschamp's best team in Columbia. But the Gamecock schedule is brutal. Mack Brown surprised most of the free world by coming out of the ESPN broadcast booth to dive on a massive hand grenade in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels blew several games in the fourth quarter last season. Brown will make them better, but the Heels just don't have enough talent to hang with the Gamecocks. Pick -- South Carolina
Georgia at Vanderbilt -21.5 -- The Dawgs are a playoff caliber team and a national championship contender. Their quest to get another shot at SEC kingpin Alabama begins in Music City. Openers are tricky and Vandy has a history of giving Georgia problems in Nashville. But I believe the Dawgs will roll. Pick -- Georgia
Virginia Tech at Boston College +2 -- I double checked and triple checked this spread. I think this is a gift. Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster is starting his final season. The Hokies were not good on defense in 2018. The Eagles have one of the best running backs in the country in AJ Dillon. BC head coach Steve Addazio also likes his passing game. Dare I say stone cold lock? Pick -- Boston College
Northwestern at Stanford -6.5 -- Clemson transfer Hunter Johnson joins Kelly Bryant (Missouri) as former Clemson quarterbacks who are now starting somewhere else. The Wildcats won the Big 10 West last season. You can count on Stanford being big and physical. Home field is the difference. Pick -- Stanford
Virginia at Pittsburgh +2.5 -- This is a massive game in the ACC Coastal Division. Pitt is the defending Coastal champ. The Cavaliers, led by dual threat quarterback Bryce Perkins, is on the rise. Pitt rallied in the second half to Virginia in Charlottesville last season. The winner of this game takes the inside track to the Coastal Division title. Pick -- Virginia
Thank goodness.
The whining from Tuscaloosa and national media's attempts to disrupt Clemson got tiresome. The "Kelly Bryant not getting a ring story" was just stupid. Then there was the annual complaint from sports business reporter Darren Rovell about Clemson players taking themselves off of social media during the season. Stupid story No. 2. Let's move on.
Even though it feels as if the off-season took forever, here is an interesting note -- This was Clemson shortest off-season ever. Won the national championship on Jan. 7. Open the 2019 season on Aug. 29.
Let's get it on.
I am not going to waste a lot of time getting to the picks because it's Wednesday morning and Clemson opens Thursday night.
Here are this week's selections.
All picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes
Thursday
Georgia Tech at Clemson -37 -- Forget finding tickets. Clemson fans have been losing their minds trying to figure out how to get the new ACC Network. This is the first live game on ACCN, which went on the air last week. The Tigers will celebrate a historic 2018 and then kickoff 2019. This should be the most dynamic offense in Clemson history. Questions remain about the defense, but defensive coordinator Brent Venables has been relatively calm in the preseason. He has proven before he can build a defense with whatever parts are provided. Georgia Tech has ditched the triple option. New Tech head coach Jeff Collins does not have a depth chart. He just lists the players who might play. Tech calls it ATL -- Above The Line. The Tigers will have to adjust to the new-look Jackets on the fly. I think the Tigers will roll, but 37 points is too much for an opener. Pick -- Georgia Tech
Utah at Brigham Young +5.5 -- This is a huge rivalry for an opener. ESPN's Lee Corso has picked Utah as a playoff team. That's enough for me to pick the Cougars. Pick -- Brigham Young
Friday
Oklahoma State at Oregon State +14.5 -- The Pokes travel West to take on one of the worst teams in the Pac 12. Pistols firing. Pick -- Oklahoma State
Utah State at Wake Forest -3.5 -- Utah State is touting quarterback Jordan Love as a Heisman Trophy candidate. One of their promo items is a package of candy hearts. Get it? Wake has two quarterbacks who can play -- Sam Hartman and Jamie Newman. The Deacons go fast. Real fast. This game could provide a lot of fireworks. Pick -- Wake Forest
Colorado State at Colorado -13.5 -- Colorado owns this rivalry. Pick -- Colorado
Saturday
South Carolina vs. North Carolina +10.0 -- On paper, this looks like Will Muschamp's best team in Columbia. But the Gamecock schedule is brutal. Mack Brown surprised most of the free world by coming out of the ESPN broadcast booth to dive on a massive hand grenade in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels blew several games in the fourth quarter last season. Brown will make them better, but the Heels just don't have enough talent to hang with the Gamecocks. Pick -- South Carolina
Georgia at Vanderbilt -21.5 -- The Dawgs are a playoff caliber team and a national championship contender. Their quest to get another shot at SEC kingpin Alabama begins in Music City. Openers are tricky and Vandy has a history of giving Georgia problems in Nashville. But I believe the Dawgs will roll. Pick -- Georgia
Virginia Tech at Boston College +2 -- I double checked and triple checked this spread. I think this is a gift. Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster is starting his final season. The Hokies were not good on defense in 2018. The Eagles have one of the best running backs in the country in AJ Dillon. BC head coach Steve Addazio also likes his passing game. Dare I say stone cold lock? Pick -- Boston College
Northwestern at Stanford -6.5 -- Clemson transfer Hunter Johnson joins Kelly Bryant (Missouri) as former Clemson quarterbacks who are now starting somewhere else. The Wildcats won the Big 10 West last season. You can count on Stanford being big and physical. Home field is the difference. Pick -- Stanford
Virginia at Pittsburgh +2.5 -- This is a massive game in the ACC Coastal Division. Pitt is the defending Coastal champ. The Cavaliers, led by dual threat quarterback Bryce Perkins, is on the rise. Pitt rallied in the second half to Virginia in Charlottesville last season. The winner of this game takes the inside track to the Coastal Division title. Pick -- Virginia
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