It just almost a month, but we finally had a positive record last week.
We nailed Clemson, Georgia, and South Carolina. Clemson's defense destroyed Georgia Tech's triple option, but the Clemson offense continues to sleepwalk. Georgia got hammered at Ole Miss. The Dawgs have got massive offensive problems. South Carolina also continues to have major offensive problems.
The biggest wiffs were Michigan State and Wake Forest. Really Michigan State? 30-6 loss to Wisconsin? We predicted the Demon Deacons would fall from the ranks of the unbeatens, but they managed to slip by Indiana on the road.
The feature game this week is the massive ACC Atlantic showdown at Clemson Saturday night.
Well, let's get it on!
All picks are against the spread.
And of course, all picks are for entertainment purposes only.
Friday
Stanford at Washington -3.5. Biggest game of the season to date for Stanford. The Cardinal pulled out a victory late at UCLA. Washington was a sexy preseason pick in the Pac 12. Let's ride the Huskies. Pick -- Washington
Saturday
Miami (Fla) at Georgia Tech +7. Mark Richt was 13-2 against Georgia Tech when he was at Georgia, but his Bulldogs did have some struggles against the Jackets' triple option. I think the combination of Miami's defense and Hurricane quarterback Brad Kaaya will be to much for Tech. Pick -- Miami
Texas at Oklahoma State -2.5. The Horns come to Stillwater Saturday and the Pokes will be waiting on them with all guns loaded. Pick -- Oklahoma State
Tennessee at Georgia +3. Georgia got exposed last week at Ole Miss. Tennessee will do more damage to the Dawgs this week. Kirby, we've got a problem. Pick -- Georgia
Louisville at Clemson +2. This line has been all over the board. Clemson an underdog at home? I know Lamar "Action" Jackson is the runaway favorite for the Heisman Trophy at the moment but is he that good? The key to the game -- Can Clemson turn Jackson into a pocket passer? If Jackson is allowed to run, it could be a long night for the Tigers. Clemson has been in big games recently. Louisville has not. Pick -- Clemson
Texas A&M at South Carolina +17.5. South Carolina can't score. A&M can score. The spread is a little hefty, but I think the Aggies will find a way to cover. Pick -- Texas A&M
Virginia at Duke -3.5. Duke shocked the world last week at Notre Dame. Can the Blue Devils come off their Golden Dome high in time to deal with the struggling Cavaliers? The answer is yes. Pick -- Duke
North Carolina at Florida State -11. Florida State at home against the Fighting Larry Fedoras. I think the Noles roll. Pick -- Florida State
Wisconsin at Michigan -11. Wisconsin's impressive early-season run ends in the Big House. The Wolverines stay unbeaten. Pick -- Michigan
Wake Forest at N.C. State -11. Speaking of unbeatens, how about Wake Forest? The surprising Deacons travel to Raleigh to face the skiddish Wolfpack. As long as they are unbeaten, let's ride the Deacons. Pick -- Wake Forest
Last Week -- 6-4
For The Season -- 21-19-1
Friday, September 30, 2016
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
After Three Weeks, Still Can't Break Through The .500 Level
Three weeks in the books and all three weeks of picks have been dead even.
Louisville shocked the country last week by destroying Florida State. The Cardinals and dynamic quarterback Lamar Jackson look like the real deal.
Georgia and South Carolina both did damage to the picks record last week by barely covering narrow spreads.
Let's take a look at this week's selections. As always, picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
Thursday
-- Clemson at Georgia Tech +9.5. Clemson is a shaky 3-0. Georgia Tech is an unknown 3-0. The Tigers have not won in Atlanta since 2003 and strange things always seem to happen at ancient Grant Field, especially to the Tigers. A Clemson victory will set up a surprising early-season showdown against streaking Louisville on Oct. 1. I don't think the Tigers will be looking ahead. They cannot afford to. Grouchy Paul Johnson and his triple option deserve respect. Clemson has been working on Georgia Tech for 10 days and the Tigers spend time on the triple option in the spring because they play Tech every year. The line opened at 11, so the gamblers have been taking Tech. I think this will be Clemson's coming out party. Pick -- Clemson
Saturday
-- Southern Cal at Utah -3.0. Southern Cal's season got off to a rotten start when it got mutilated by Alabama. Utah will add to the USC misery. Pick -- Utah
-- Georgia at Ole Miss -7.0. Bottom line, Georgia simply isn't ready to see what it is going to see Saturday in Oxford, Miss. Ole Miss, which has blown a pair of signature wins against Florida State and Alabama, will take out some frustration on the Dawgs. Pick -- Ole Miss
-- South Carolina at Kentucky -2.5. The Gamecocks travel to Lexington, Ky., to try and equal last season's win total (3). It won't happen. Pick -- Kentucky
-- Oklahoma State at Baylor -9.5. The Cowboys leave Stillwater for the first time this season to face undefeated Baylor. Oklahoma State's defense is equal to a speed bump. A really low speed bump. Take the Bears at home. Pick -- Baylor
-- Wisconsin at Michigan State -5.5. Reality sets in for Wisconsin. Michigan State showed it still has some punch by manhandling Notre Dame last Saturday. Pick -- Michigan State
-- Pittsburgh at North Carolina -7.0. This one might last four-plus hours. Pitt has allowed 84 points in its last two games. UNC has allowed 84 points in its three games this season. Defense will take a holiday in this one. The over/under is a joke at 67.5. Pick -- North Carolina
-- Florida at Tennessee -6.5. Tennessee has lost 11 in a row to Florida, the last two by a single point. The streak ends this week in Knoxville. Gators go down. Vols stamp themselves as SEC East favorites. Pick -- Tennessee
-- LSU at Auburn +3.5. Both of these teams are an offensive mess. The difference is LSU has one solid option -- powerful running back Leonard Fournette. Fournette rushed for 244 yards and three touchdowns against Auburn last season. Gus Malzahn's seat at Auburn ignites into a five-alarm fire after this one. Pick -- LSU
-- Wake Forest at Indiana -7.5. Undefeated Wake Forest will fall from the ranks of the unbeaten. Pick -- Indiana
Last Week -- 5-5
For The Season -- 15-15-1
Louisville shocked the country last week by destroying Florida State. The Cardinals and dynamic quarterback Lamar Jackson look like the real deal.
Georgia and South Carolina both did damage to the picks record last week by barely covering narrow spreads.
Let's take a look at this week's selections. As always, picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
Thursday
-- Clemson at Georgia Tech +9.5. Clemson is a shaky 3-0. Georgia Tech is an unknown 3-0. The Tigers have not won in Atlanta since 2003 and strange things always seem to happen at ancient Grant Field, especially to the Tigers. A Clemson victory will set up a surprising early-season showdown against streaking Louisville on Oct. 1. I don't think the Tigers will be looking ahead. They cannot afford to. Grouchy Paul Johnson and his triple option deserve respect. Clemson has been working on Georgia Tech for 10 days and the Tigers spend time on the triple option in the spring because they play Tech every year. The line opened at 11, so the gamblers have been taking Tech. I think this will be Clemson's coming out party. Pick -- Clemson
Saturday
-- Southern Cal at Utah -3.0. Southern Cal's season got off to a rotten start when it got mutilated by Alabama. Utah will add to the USC misery. Pick -- Utah
-- Georgia at Ole Miss -7.0. Bottom line, Georgia simply isn't ready to see what it is going to see Saturday in Oxford, Miss. Ole Miss, which has blown a pair of signature wins against Florida State and Alabama, will take out some frustration on the Dawgs. Pick -- Ole Miss
-- South Carolina at Kentucky -2.5. The Gamecocks travel to Lexington, Ky., to try and equal last season's win total (3). It won't happen. Pick -- Kentucky
-- Oklahoma State at Baylor -9.5. The Cowboys leave Stillwater for the first time this season to face undefeated Baylor. Oklahoma State's defense is equal to a speed bump. A really low speed bump. Take the Bears at home. Pick -- Baylor
-- Wisconsin at Michigan State -5.5. Reality sets in for Wisconsin. Michigan State showed it still has some punch by manhandling Notre Dame last Saturday. Pick -- Michigan State
-- Pittsburgh at North Carolina -7.0. This one might last four-plus hours. Pitt has allowed 84 points in its last two games. UNC has allowed 84 points in its three games this season. Defense will take a holiday in this one. The over/under is a joke at 67.5. Pick -- North Carolina
-- Florida at Tennessee -6.5. Tennessee has lost 11 in a row to Florida, the last two by a single point. The streak ends this week in Knoxville. Gators go down. Vols stamp themselves as SEC East favorites. Pick -- Tennessee
-- LSU at Auburn +3.5. Both of these teams are an offensive mess. The difference is LSU has one solid option -- powerful running back Leonard Fournette. Fournette rushed for 244 yards and three touchdowns against Auburn last season. Gus Malzahn's seat at Auburn ignites into a five-alarm fire after this one. Pick -- LSU
-- Wake Forest at Indiana -7.5. Undefeated Wake Forest will fall from the ranks of the unbeaten. Pick -- Indiana
Last Week -- 5-5
For The Season -- 15-15-1
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Clemson Disappoints, TCU Loss Means Trouble For Big 12
It is the most asked question in upstate South Carolina this week: What is wrong with Clemson?
The Tigers are 2-0 but have been less than impressive in both of their victories. Basically, they have stumbled their way to 2-0. Quarterback DeShaun Watson has not been sharp and his receivers need the "electric football rule" to be added to the book. (Electric football rule -- Any pass hitting a receiver in the air is considered complete. Receiver can pick up the ball and run with it.) Ray Ray McCloud forgot to take something with him over the goal line in one of the biggest bonehead plays in Clemson history. Fans felt pretty good about the development of the defensive unit until it fell apart in the final five minutes against Troy. The Tigers have this week against South Carolina State to get things straightened out. Clemson is not one of this week's 10 picks because there is not a line. But if I were you, I would take the South Carolina State Marching 101 and the give the points.
TCU lost in overtime to Arkansas to make the Big 12 the early favorite to be left out of the College Football playoff. Coupled with Oklahoma State's shocking and illegal loss to Central Michigan at home, the Big 12 already has two wheels over the cliff. Oklahoma must beat Ohio State to stay alive in the CFP conversation.
Last week was another .500 week. Kentucky, a 16-point underdog, was the biggest disappointment of the week. The Wildcats didn't come close to covering as they lost their 30th consecutive game to Florida.
Here are this week's selections. All picks are against the spread.
-- Vanderbilt at Georgia Tech -6.5. This is a tough spot for Tech. SEC opponent then Clemson on a short week. Can the Jackets focus on the Dores first? Pick -- Georgia Tech
-- Pittsburgh at Oklahoma State -6.0. Don't let a loss beat you twice. Thanks to a major officiating error, the Cowboys' playoff hopes to a major hit last Saturday. Pitt, led by bruising running back James Connor, knocked off Penn State and come to Stillwater full of confidence. This is a clash of offensive styles -- the wide-open Cowboys versus the plodding Panthers. Home field makes the difference. Pick -- Oklahoma State
-- East Carolina at South Carolina -3.5. The Gamecocks play their first home game of the season. South Carolina's offense is a major work in progress. East Carolina has momentum after beating N.C. State last Saturday, its sixth straight victory over an ACC team. Pick -- East Carolina
-- Georgia at Missouri +6.5. Georgia also has offensive issues. Kirby Smart can't decided on a quarterback. I think 6.5 is just too many points. Pick -- Missouri
-- Florida State at Louisville +2.5. This is the marquee game of the day. On paper, it looks like a real shootout. Too bad the kickoff is at noon. This is Louisville's first real test. Lamar Jackson has been superb in the first two games -- 13 touchdowns in 57 minutes. Can he do anything against a real defense? Pick -- Louisville
-- Colorado at Michigan -20.5. Where are you Cordell Stewart? The Wolverines will rough up the Buffs in the Big House. Pick -- Michigan
-- Boston College at Virginia Tech -6.0. Both of these teams have offensive issues. Please God, don't let Virginia Tech wear those rock uniforms ever again. Thank you. Amen. Take the Hokies at home. Pick -- Virginia Tech
-- Alabama at Ole Miss -10. Nick Saban screaming at Lane Kiffin late in last week's game set the stage for this week. Saban is dialed in. The Rebels have won two straight against the Tide. That streak ends Saturday. Pick -- Alabama
-- Michigan State at Notre Dame -7.5. The Spartans do not have enough offense to keep up with the Domers. Pick -- Notre Dame
-- Ohio State at Oklahoma +1.5. It's mid-September but it's do-or-die for the Sooners. A second loss would almost certainly eliminate Oklahoma from playoff consideration. The Buckeyes rarely leave Columbus in September. They prefer a steady diet of home cupcakes before Big 10 play begins. I may be a sucker, but I can't pass up the Sooners getting points at home. Pick -- Oklahoma
Last Week -- 5-5
For The Season -- 10-10-1
The Tigers are 2-0 but have been less than impressive in both of their victories. Basically, they have stumbled their way to 2-0. Quarterback DeShaun Watson has not been sharp and his receivers need the "electric football rule" to be added to the book. (Electric football rule -- Any pass hitting a receiver in the air is considered complete. Receiver can pick up the ball and run with it.) Ray Ray McCloud forgot to take something with him over the goal line in one of the biggest bonehead plays in Clemson history. Fans felt pretty good about the development of the defensive unit until it fell apart in the final five minutes against Troy. The Tigers have this week against South Carolina State to get things straightened out. Clemson is not one of this week's 10 picks because there is not a line. But if I were you, I would take the South Carolina State Marching 101 and the give the points.
TCU lost in overtime to Arkansas to make the Big 12 the early favorite to be left out of the College Football playoff. Coupled with Oklahoma State's shocking and illegal loss to Central Michigan at home, the Big 12 already has two wheels over the cliff. Oklahoma must beat Ohio State to stay alive in the CFP conversation.
Last week was another .500 week. Kentucky, a 16-point underdog, was the biggest disappointment of the week. The Wildcats didn't come close to covering as they lost their 30th consecutive game to Florida.
Here are this week's selections. All picks are against the spread.
-- Vanderbilt at Georgia Tech -6.5. This is a tough spot for Tech. SEC opponent then Clemson on a short week. Can the Jackets focus on the Dores first? Pick -- Georgia Tech
-- Pittsburgh at Oklahoma State -6.0. Don't let a loss beat you twice. Thanks to a major officiating error, the Cowboys' playoff hopes to a major hit last Saturday. Pitt, led by bruising running back James Connor, knocked off Penn State and come to Stillwater full of confidence. This is a clash of offensive styles -- the wide-open Cowboys versus the plodding Panthers. Home field makes the difference. Pick -- Oklahoma State
-- East Carolina at South Carolina -3.5. The Gamecocks play their first home game of the season. South Carolina's offense is a major work in progress. East Carolina has momentum after beating N.C. State last Saturday, its sixth straight victory over an ACC team. Pick -- East Carolina
-- Georgia at Missouri +6.5. Georgia also has offensive issues. Kirby Smart can't decided on a quarterback. I think 6.5 is just too many points. Pick -- Missouri
-- Florida State at Louisville +2.5. This is the marquee game of the day. On paper, it looks like a real shootout. Too bad the kickoff is at noon. This is Louisville's first real test. Lamar Jackson has been superb in the first two games -- 13 touchdowns in 57 minutes. Can he do anything against a real defense? Pick -- Louisville
-- Colorado at Michigan -20.5. Where are you Cordell Stewart? The Wolverines will rough up the Buffs in the Big House. Pick -- Michigan
-- Boston College at Virginia Tech -6.0. Both of these teams have offensive issues. Please God, don't let Virginia Tech wear those rock uniforms ever again. Thank you. Amen. Take the Hokies at home. Pick -- Virginia Tech
-- Alabama at Ole Miss -10. Nick Saban screaming at Lane Kiffin late in last week's game set the stage for this week. Saban is dialed in. The Rebels have won two straight against the Tide. That streak ends Saturday. Pick -- Alabama
-- Michigan State at Notre Dame -7.5. The Spartans do not have enough offense to keep up with the Domers. Pick -- Notre Dame
-- Ohio State at Oklahoma +1.5. It's mid-September but it's do-or-die for the Sooners. A second loss would almost certainly eliminate Oklahoma from playoff consideration. The Buckeyes rarely leave Columbus in September. They prefer a steady diet of home cupcakes before Big 10 play begins. I may be a sucker, but I can't pass up the Sooners getting points at home. Pick -- Oklahoma
Last Week -- 5-5
For The Season -- 10-10-1
Thursday, September 8, 2016
After One Week At .500
After a wild Week One, the record stands at .500.
There weren't any big wiffs. I count Texas beating Notre Dame as probably the biggest surprise of the weekend.
Both Wisconsin and Houston won outright to cover their spreads. I nailed both of those games.
The big miss was Tennessee, a 20-point favorite, that had to fight like hell to beat Appalachian State.
I thought North Carolina could get Georgia, but Larry Fedora pulled his normal disappearing act in the first game of the season.
Clemson would have covered, but Dabo Swinney did too much thinking and decided not to kick the clinching field goal. Auburn took the ball and got off two Hail Marys before Clemson was finally able to end the game and keep numerous TVs in upstate South Carolina from being destroyed.
I got Florida State correct, but the Seminoles had to pull off the biggest comeback in school history to stun Ole Probation, I mean Ole Miss.
There was one push. Georgia Tech scored a late touchdown to beat Boston College by three.
This week's slate of games is not nearly as attractive as Week One. Here are this week's selections. As always, the picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only:
Friday's Game
-- Louisville at Syracuse -14.5. A somewhat interesting match up. This is the ACC opener for both teams. Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino is 5-0 against the Orange. Syracuse first-year head coach Dino Babers has installed a fast-paced offense and he promises to go even faster in the future. Babers wants 80-plus snaps per game. Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson accounted for eight touchdowns in the first half against outmanned Charlotte in the opener. The big question -- Will Louisville be looking ahead to Florida State? I don't think so. Pick -- Louisville
Saturday's Games
-- Troy at Clemson +36. No worries about kicking a field goal this week. Everybody plays. Everybody has a good time. Tigers in a laugher. Pick -- Clemson
-- South Carolina at Mississippi State -6.5. The Bulldogs blew a 17-point lead at home to lose their opener to South Alabama, a program that has existed for just seven seasons. South Carolina won a fist fight in Nashville thanks to the strong leg of Elliott Fry. Fry hit a career-long 55-yard field goal to win the game for the Gamecocks. The combination of State getting slapped in the face by South Alabama plus playing in Stark-Vegas will be too much for South Carolina. Pick -- Mississippi State
-- N.C. State at East Carolina +4.5. The Wolfpack travels east to renew a heated, under-the-radar rivalry. East Carolina plans to "stripe" the stadium with sections alternating purple and gold. Back in the day, these two schools hated each other. It is going to be interesting to see if time has cooled things down a bit. The Pirates can score, so I like the points. Pick -- East Carolina
-- Boston College at Massachusetts +16. UMass went to the Swamp and gave the suspect Gators all they wanted. BC went across the pond and suffered yet another narrow loss when Georgia Tech scored a touchdown with less than 30 seconds to play to win by three. The spread indicates to me that somebody knows something. Pick -- Boston College
-- Penn State at Pittsburgh -6, Pitt running James Connor is one of the best stories in college football. Connor has returned from a major knee injury and cancer to play for the Panthers. Playing in his first game after a year off last Saturday, Connor scored two touchdowns in Pitt's 28-7 victory over Villanova. The James Franklin era has yet to take off in Happy Valley. These two last met in 2000, a 12-0 Pitt victory that snapped a seven-game Penn State winning streak in the series. Connors' tough running and the Pitt defense will make the difference. Pick -- Pittsburgh
-- Wake Forest at Duke -5. I consider David Cutcliffe a miracle worker. He has been a winner everywhere he has been as a coach. He has made Duke football relevant. Wake football is back to where it came from before the glory days of Jim Grobe. In the toilet. Pick -- Duke
-- Kentucky at Florida -16. After the first week of the season, I think the key to this game is the line. I just don't think Florida can beat anybody by 16. Pick -- Kentucky
-- Arkansas at TCU -7.5. Here's a statistical oddity. Arkansas has won five in a row against TCU in Fort Worth. These two schools haven't played since 1991 -- Arkansas' final season in the Southwest Conference. It wasn't that long ago that TCU was known for defense. Now, the Frog faithful are wondering -- Where is the defense? This is a definite clash of offensive styles -- High-flying TCU versus plodding Arkansas. I will take the Frogs. Pick -- TCU
-- Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee -11.5 at Bristol, Tenn. A crowd of around 180,000 is expected at the converted Bristol Motor Speedway for this meeting between the Hokies and Vols. First-year Tech head coach Justin Fuente won his opener -- a 36-13 decision over Liberty. Tennessee, the preseason favorite in the SEC East, had to survive upstart Appalachian State in the opener. The Hokies are still too much of an unknown. Big question of the night. Will that say -- "Drivers, start your engines!" before the kickoff. Pick -- Tennessee
Weekly Record -- 5-5-1
Season Record -- 5-5-1
There weren't any big wiffs. I count Texas beating Notre Dame as probably the biggest surprise of the weekend.
Both Wisconsin and Houston won outright to cover their spreads. I nailed both of those games.
The big miss was Tennessee, a 20-point favorite, that had to fight like hell to beat Appalachian State.
I thought North Carolina could get Georgia, but Larry Fedora pulled his normal disappearing act in the first game of the season.
Clemson would have covered, but Dabo Swinney did too much thinking and decided not to kick the clinching field goal. Auburn took the ball and got off two Hail Marys before Clemson was finally able to end the game and keep numerous TVs in upstate South Carolina from being destroyed.
I got Florida State correct, but the Seminoles had to pull off the biggest comeback in school history to stun Ole Probation, I mean Ole Miss.
There was one push. Georgia Tech scored a late touchdown to beat Boston College by three.
This week's slate of games is not nearly as attractive as Week One. Here are this week's selections. As always, the picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only:
Friday's Game
-- Louisville at Syracuse -14.5. A somewhat interesting match up. This is the ACC opener for both teams. Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino is 5-0 against the Orange. Syracuse first-year head coach Dino Babers has installed a fast-paced offense and he promises to go even faster in the future. Babers wants 80-plus snaps per game. Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson accounted for eight touchdowns in the first half against outmanned Charlotte in the opener. The big question -- Will Louisville be looking ahead to Florida State? I don't think so. Pick -- Louisville
Saturday's Games
-- Troy at Clemson +36. No worries about kicking a field goal this week. Everybody plays. Everybody has a good time. Tigers in a laugher. Pick -- Clemson
-- South Carolina at Mississippi State -6.5. The Bulldogs blew a 17-point lead at home to lose their opener to South Alabama, a program that has existed for just seven seasons. South Carolina won a fist fight in Nashville thanks to the strong leg of Elliott Fry. Fry hit a career-long 55-yard field goal to win the game for the Gamecocks. The combination of State getting slapped in the face by South Alabama plus playing in Stark-Vegas will be too much for South Carolina. Pick -- Mississippi State
-- N.C. State at East Carolina +4.5. The Wolfpack travels east to renew a heated, under-the-radar rivalry. East Carolina plans to "stripe" the stadium with sections alternating purple and gold. Back in the day, these two schools hated each other. It is going to be interesting to see if time has cooled things down a bit. The Pirates can score, so I like the points. Pick -- East Carolina
-- Boston College at Massachusetts +16. UMass went to the Swamp and gave the suspect Gators all they wanted. BC went across the pond and suffered yet another narrow loss when Georgia Tech scored a touchdown with less than 30 seconds to play to win by three. The spread indicates to me that somebody knows something. Pick -- Boston College
-- Penn State at Pittsburgh -6, Pitt running James Connor is one of the best stories in college football. Connor has returned from a major knee injury and cancer to play for the Panthers. Playing in his first game after a year off last Saturday, Connor scored two touchdowns in Pitt's 28-7 victory over Villanova. The James Franklin era has yet to take off in Happy Valley. These two last met in 2000, a 12-0 Pitt victory that snapped a seven-game Penn State winning streak in the series. Connors' tough running and the Pitt defense will make the difference. Pick -- Pittsburgh
-- Wake Forest at Duke -5. I consider David Cutcliffe a miracle worker. He has been a winner everywhere he has been as a coach. He has made Duke football relevant. Wake football is back to where it came from before the glory days of Jim Grobe. In the toilet. Pick -- Duke
-- Kentucky at Florida -16. After the first week of the season, I think the key to this game is the line. I just don't think Florida can beat anybody by 16. Pick -- Kentucky
-- Arkansas at TCU -7.5. Here's a statistical oddity. Arkansas has won five in a row against TCU in Fort Worth. These two schools haven't played since 1991 -- Arkansas' final season in the Southwest Conference. It wasn't that long ago that TCU was known for defense. Now, the Frog faithful are wondering -- Where is the defense? This is a definite clash of offensive styles -- High-flying TCU versus plodding Arkansas. I will take the Frogs. Pick -- TCU
-- Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee -11.5 at Bristol, Tenn. A crowd of around 180,000 is expected at the converted Bristol Motor Speedway for this meeting between the Hokies and Vols. First-year Tech head coach Justin Fuente won his opener -- a 36-13 decision over Liberty. Tennessee, the preseason favorite in the SEC East, had to survive upstart Appalachian State in the opener. The Hokies are still too much of an unknown. Big question of the night. Will that say -- "Drivers, start your engines!" before the kickoff. Pick -- Tennessee
Weekly Record -- 5-5-1
Season Record -- 5-5-1
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
New Season. Let's Get It Started.
The waiting is finally over. The daily release of some sort of "list" about college football is done. The preseason All-American teams have been named. The predictions have been made. All of the talk is done.
It is time to get it on.
Welcome back to the Cobb Blog.
Week One has some amazing matchups. Gone are the days of paying to play four punching bags before entering conference play. The Big Five conferences know that strength of schedule means something. If you want to be in the talk for the College Football Playoff, you have to play quality non-conference opponents.
Locally, expectations at Clemson have never been higher. A dynamic offense, led by all-everything quarterback DeShaun Watson, should be the best in the country. The defense is going to need some time, but there is plenty of talent on the depth chart.
How good is Watson? There has been some chatter during the preseason that he is going to put it in cruise control to keep from getting hurt before the 2017 NFL Draft. Watson says that isn't going to happen. And I don't think that's Watson's style. He is going to give whatever he's got. As long as he is on the field, Clemson can beat anybody.
South Carolina is developing under first-year head coach Will Muschamp, who is getting a second chance to be a head coach in the SEC. Muschamp and his staff already have addressed one of the big issues in Columbia -- recruiting. But it is going to take some time to turn around the entire program that has declined the past two seasons.
This ranks as one of the most interesting opening weeks ever with five interesting neutral site games. Here are this week's selections. All picks are against the betting line. And as always, the picks are for entertainment purposes only:
Thursday Games
-- South Carolina at Vanderbilt -3.5. The Gamecocks have become a staple on the opening Thursday night of the season. This year, they take their act on the road to Nashville to face a Vandy team that has high expectations. But Vandy always has high expectations until the season starts. Both teams are a mystery, but I think the Muschamp era will get off to a good start. Pick -- South Carolina
-- Appalachian State at Tennessee -20.0. Many pundits say Tennessee is finally back. The Vols have been the most popular selection with take the SEC East title. The Mountaineers cannot be overlooked, but I don't think the Vols will have a problem. Pick -- Tennessee
Saturday Games
-- Georgia Tech vs. Boston College +3 at Dublin, Ireland. It took a lot of preparation to get both of these teams to Dublin -- passports for players and staff, counting equipment and compiling lists for security checks, shipping the equipment, etc. Last year was a total flop for both of these teams. Tech struggled to find offensive consistency, while BC just struggled for offense. The Eagles can play defense, so Tech's option attack better take care of the ball. The points are tempting, but I think the Yellow Jackets will find some way to cover the spread. Pick -- Georgia Tech
-- Georgia vs. North Carolina +3.5 at Atlanta. This one has interesting game written all over it. I am going to put Georgia on Upset Alert. Georgia fans finally managed to get rid of Mark Richt and get the man they have wanted for a long time -- former Bulldog player and former Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. Georgia's offense got a boost when it was announced running back Nick Chubb, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Tennessee game last season, is ready to go for the opener. North Carolina will have a new starting quarterback who is not brand new -- Mitch Trubisky, who played in nine games last season. The Heels also have a solid running back -- Elijah Hood. The Heels can score and their defensive unit should take another step forward this season. Pick -- North Carolina
-- Clemson at Auburn -7.5. Another Upset Alert. Auburn struggled last season and has had several scrapes with the law during the off season. There are murmurs on the Plains that head coach Gus Malzahn is in trouble. Clemson has gone from hunter to hunted. Clemson's offensive unit should be high flying and dynamic with Watson at the controls. The Clemson defensive unit is in the same situation it was last season -- reloading with talented but untested players. Can former Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, who was fired by Dabo Swinney after the Tigers gave up 70 to West Virginia, inspire his Auburn defense to rise up against Clemson? This looks like a tussle for three quarters. There is a lot working in Auburn's favor, but some how, some way, I think Clemson will find a way to cover. Pick -- Clemson
-- Alabama vs. Southern Cal +9 at Arlington, Texas. The Crimson Tide has won four of the last seven national championships. Southern Cal has been through some trials and tribulations in recent years, but the Trojans are still considered one of the Blue Bloods of college football. But on Saturday night at Jerry World, I think the stage will be too big for the Trojans and the Tide will roll. Pick -- Alabama
-- Oklahoma at Houston -11. "Big Game" Bob Stoops is stepping out in the opener with a dangerous trip to Houston. Houston head coach Tom Herman has built a power high-scoring offense since coming to southeast Texas from Ohio State. The Cougars showed they are a national factor at the end of last season by beating Florida State in the Peach Bowl. Oklahoma has most of its key players back from last year's team that reached the College Football Playoff. I think the Sooners will win, but I don't think they will cover. Take the points. Pick -- Houston
-- UCLA at Texas A&M -3. No school has had more quarterbacks transfer out of the program in the last two years than Texas A&M. Aggie fans hope former Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight can stabilize the position. People keep waiting for Jim Mora, Jr., to return to the NFL, but for the moment, he is still in Westwood. The Bruins have enough defense to hang with the Aggies. Pick -- UCLA
-- LSU vs. Wisconsin -10 at Green Bay, Wisconsin. This one will be played on the not-so-frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. Saturday's forecast is 77 degrees and high humidity. LSU stud running back Leonard Fournette has been slowed by an ankle problem in the preseason. LSU head coach Les Miles is planning on reducing Fournette's workload in hopes of keeping him fresher later in the season. Wisconsin is all about a big offensive line and physical backs. Ten is a lot of points. I am going to take the points. Pick -- Wisconsin
Sunday
-- Notre Dame at Texas -2.5. The Irish humiliated the Longhorns last season in South Bend. The only thing Texas managed to do last year was upset Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly got a super dose of heart burn during the preseason when six Irish players decided to get themselves arrested. The Irish were a couple of plays away from being in the College Football Playoff last season. I just don't believe in Texas. Pick -- Notre Dame
Monday
-- Ole Miss vs. Florida State -5 at Orlando, Fla. Clemson reject Chad Kelly has become one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC. FSU's Dalvin Cook is one of the best running backs in the country, but the Seminoles have an issue at quarterback. After Sean Maguire was sidelined with a foot injury in the preseason, freshman dual threat Deondre Francois was named the starting quarterback. I think the difference in this one is defense. Florida State is really stout, and Kelly has a history of making bad decisions. Pick -- Florida State
It is time to get it on.
Welcome back to the Cobb Blog.
Week One has some amazing matchups. Gone are the days of paying to play four punching bags before entering conference play. The Big Five conferences know that strength of schedule means something. If you want to be in the talk for the College Football Playoff, you have to play quality non-conference opponents.
Locally, expectations at Clemson have never been higher. A dynamic offense, led by all-everything quarterback DeShaun Watson, should be the best in the country. The defense is going to need some time, but there is plenty of talent on the depth chart.
How good is Watson? There has been some chatter during the preseason that he is going to put it in cruise control to keep from getting hurt before the 2017 NFL Draft. Watson says that isn't going to happen. And I don't think that's Watson's style. He is going to give whatever he's got. As long as he is on the field, Clemson can beat anybody.
South Carolina is developing under first-year head coach Will Muschamp, who is getting a second chance to be a head coach in the SEC. Muschamp and his staff already have addressed one of the big issues in Columbia -- recruiting. But it is going to take some time to turn around the entire program that has declined the past two seasons.
This ranks as one of the most interesting opening weeks ever with five interesting neutral site games. Here are this week's selections. All picks are against the betting line. And as always, the picks are for entertainment purposes only:
Thursday Games
-- South Carolina at Vanderbilt -3.5. The Gamecocks have become a staple on the opening Thursday night of the season. This year, they take their act on the road to Nashville to face a Vandy team that has high expectations. But Vandy always has high expectations until the season starts. Both teams are a mystery, but I think the Muschamp era will get off to a good start. Pick -- South Carolina
-- Appalachian State at Tennessee -20.0. Many pundits say Tennessee is finally back. The Vols have been the most popular selection with take the SEC East title. The Mountaineers cannot be overlooked, but I don't think the Vols will have a problem. Pick -- Tennessee
Saturday Games
-- Georgia Tech vs. Boston College +3 at Dublin, Ireland. It took a lot of preparation to get both of these teams to Dublin -- passports for players and staff, counting equipment and compiling lists for security checks, shipping the equipment, etc. Last year was a total flop for both of these teams. Tech struggled to find offensive consistency, while BC just struggled for offense. The Eagles can play defense, so Tech's option attack better take care of the ball. The points are tempting, but I think the Yellow Jackets will find some way to cover the spread. Pick -- Georgia Tech
-- Georgia vs. North Carolina +3.5 at Atlanta. This one has interesting game written all over it. I am going to put Georgia on Upset Alert. Georgia fans finally managed to get rid of Mark Richt and get the man they have wanted for a long time -- former Bulldog player and former Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. Georgia's offense got a boost when it was announced running back Nick Chubb, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Tennessee game last season, is ready to go for the opener. North Carolina will have a new starting quarterback who is not brand new -- Mitch Trubisky, who played in nine games last season. The Heels also have a solid running back -- Elijah Hood. The Heels can score and their defensive unit should take another step forward this season. Pick -- North Carolina
-- Clemson at Auburn -7.5. Another Upset Alert. Auburn struggled last season and has had several scrapes with the law during the off season. There are murmurs on the Plains that head coach Gus Malzahn is in trouble. Clemson has gone from hunter to hunted. Clemson's offensive unit should be high flying and dynamic with Watson at the controls. The Clemson defensive unit is in the same situation it was last season -- reloading with talented but untested players. Can former Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, who was fired by Dabo Swinney after the Tigers gave up 70 to West Virginia, inspire his Auburn defense to rise up against Clemson? This looks like a tussle for three quarters. There is a lot working in Auburn's favor, but some how, some way, I think Clemson will find a way to cover. Pick -- Clemson
-- Alabama vs. Southern Cal +9 at Arlington, Texas. The Crimson Tide has won four of the last seven national championships. Southern Cal has been through some trials and tribulations in recent years, but the Trojans are still considered one of the Blue Bloods of college football. But on Saturday night at Jerry World, I think the stage will be too big for the Trojans and the Tide will roll. Pick -- Alabama
-- Oklahoma at Houston -11. "Big Game" Bob Stoops is stepping out in the opener with a dangerous trip to Houston. Houston head coach Tom Herman has built a power high-scoring offense since coming to southeast Texas from Ohio State. The Cougars showed they are a national factor at the end of last season by beating Florida State in the Peach Bowl. Oklahoma has most of its key players back from last year's team that reached the College Football Playoff. I think the Sooners will win, but I don't think they will cover. Take the points. Pick -- Houston
-- UCLA at Texas A&M -3. No school has had more quarterbacks transfer out of the program in the last two years than Texas A&M. Aggie fans hope former Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight can stabilize the position. People keep waiting for Jim Mora, Jr., to return to the NFL, but for the moment, he is still in Westwood. The Bruins have enough defense to hang with the Aggies. Pick -- UCLA
-- LSU vs. Wisconsin -10 at Green Bay, Wisconsin. This one will be played on the not-so-frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. Saturday's forecast is 77 degrees and high humidity. LSU stud running back Leonard Fournette has been slowed by an ankle problem in the preseason. LSU head coach Les Miles is planning on reducing Fournette's workload in hopes of keeping him fresher later in the season. Wisconsin is all about a big offensive line and physical backs. Ten is a lot of points. I am going to take the points. Pick -- Wisconsin
Sunday
-- Notre Dame at Texas -2.5. The Irish humiliated the Longhorns last season in South Bend. The only thing Texas managed to do last year was upset Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly got a super dose of heart burn during the preseason when six Irish players decided to get themselves arrested. The Irish were a couple of plays away from being in the College Football Playoff last season. I just don't believe in Texas. Pick -- Notre Dame
Monday
-- Ole Miss vs. Florida State -5 at Orlando, Fla. Clemson reject Chad Kelly has become one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC. FSU's Dalvin Cook is one of the best running backs in the country, but the Seminoles have an issue at quarterback. After Sean Maguire was sidelined with a foot injury in the preseason, freshman dual threat Deondre Francois was named the starting quarterback. I think the difference in this one is defense. Florida State is really stout, and Kelly has a history of making bad decisions. Pick -- Florida State
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Let's Pick The Big Six
Well, a lousy first weekend of December has left me with two wheels hanging over the cliff. A "fine" effort of 2-7 drops the overall record for 2015 at 75-75. That's correct. A flat .500 record for the season against the spread. Exactly how it should be. As I've heard it said many times, that's why they build those great big hotels in the desert.
A couple of weeks ago, I decided to not wade through the endless schedule of worthless bowl games and just cut to the chase. The New Year's Six. The only six games worth caring about. And I have to admit it. This is a pretty strong slate of six. On paper, all of these games look to be watchable.
So, let's take a shot at it. It is time to sack up and deliver in the clutch. As always, the picks are against the spread.
Peach Bowl -- Florida State -7.0 vs. Houston. The word out of Tallahassee is lack of interest. The Seminoles had trouble selling tickets for their second trip of the season to Atlanta. The first one didn't work out too well. Georgia Tech returned a blocked field goal on the last play of the game to hand FSU its first loss of the season. Houston, the American Athletic Conference champion, can score. But can the Cougars deal with FSU running back Dalvin Cook, who has rushed for 1,658 yards and 18 touchdowns? Bigger question -- Does FSU even want to be at the Peach Bowl? FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher says the Peach Bowl is a great consolation prize. Doesn't sound like a glowing endorsement. But I think Cook will be the difference and will rescue the Seminoles. Somebody needs to make sure Osceola doesn't bury is flaming spear in the Georgia Dome turf. That would set off the smoke alarms. Take Florida State.
Orange Bowl -- Oklahoma -3.5 vs. Clemson. Since this game was announced, Oklahoma has been the favorite and the line has not moved much, if at all. The Sooners have been cocky the week leading up to the game. They have showed little respect to the team that wore them out 40-6 last December in Orlando. It was obvious Oklahoma did not want to be in Orlando last year. The Sooners were out of it from the start. There is no doubt Oklahoma has most of the motivation on its side because of the whipping it took last season. The Sooners have even tried to make a big deal out of Clemson putting up a tombstone -- something the Tigers do for every victory away from home against a ranked team. Clemson has the No. 1 ranking and the lack-of-respect card. The more the Tigers win, the less respect they get from the national media. It seems everyone is waiting on the Tigers to lose. But it hasn't happened yet. Both teams have quarterbacks who did not play in last year's meeting -- Deshaun Watson for Clemson and Baker Mayfield for Oklahoma. Watson has made the plays all season. Mayfield is the type of quarterback that gives the Tigers trouble, one who runs around and extends plays. I believe the Clemson defense is refocused and ready to go and will play better than it did in the final month of the season. Give me the points. Take Clemson.
Cotton Bowl -- Alabama -10.0 vs. Michigan State. This line says one thing to me. Michigan State is getting completely dissed. The bookies apparently are buying into the Alabama hype. Alabama has one big card to play -- Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. This game will be played in a phone booth. These two teams will beat on each other for three-plus hours. It has been described by some as Caveman Football -- run good, pass bad. I give the edge to Alabama because of Henry, its defense, and its special teams. But I am going to take Sparty because I believe 10 points is too much. Pick Michigan State.
Sugar Bowl -- Ole Miss -7.0 vs. Oklahoma State. Both of these teams can score, but can they stop anybody? The excitement factor is a wash because both teams are happy to be in New Orleans. The Rebels are missing some key parts of their defense, so I'm going to ride with the Pokes and the points. Pistols firing. Pick Oklahoma State.
Fiesta Bowl -- Ohio State -6.5 vs. Notre Dame. I like this matchup. With a little more luck, the Irish could have been in the Top Four. Ohio State, the defending national champions, slopped through the season and finally got nipped at home by Michigan State. I think Notre Dame will be highly motivated for this game. Wake up the echoes. Pick Notre Dame.
Rose Bowl -- Stanford -6.0 vs. Iowa. Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey probably deserved more chatter in the Heisman Trophy race. He truly has done it all for the Cardinal -- 1,847 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, 41 receptions for 540 yards and four touchdowns, 28.9 yards per kickoff return and one touchdown, and two touchdown passes. Iowa is a nice team and has had a nice season, but I don't think the Hawkeyes are ready to deal with Stanford. Pick Stanford.
Last Week -- 2-7
Season -- 75-75
A couple of weeks ago, I decided to not wade through the endless schedule of worthless bowl games and just cut to the chase. The New Year's Six. The only six games worth caring about. And I have to admit it. This is a pretty strong slate of six. On paper, all of these games look to be watchable.
So, let's take a shot at it. It is time to sack up and deliver in the clutch. As always, the picks are against the spread.
Peach Bowl -- Florida State -7.0 vs. Houston. The word out of Tallahassee is lack of interest. The Seminoles had trouble selling tickets for their second trip of the season to Atlanta. The first one didn't work out too well. Georgia Tech returned a blocked field goal on the last play of the game to hand FSU its first loss of the season. Houston, the American Athletic Conference champion, can score. But can the Cougars deal with FSU running back Dalvin Cook, who has rushed for 1,658 yards and 18 touchdowns? Bigger question -- Does FSU even want to be at the Peach Bowl? FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher says the Peach Bowl is a great consolation prize. Doesn't sound like a glowing endorsement. But I think Cook will be the difference and will rescue the Seminoles. Somebody needs to make sure Osceola doesn't bury is flaming spear in the Georgia Dome turf. That would set off the smoke alarms. Take Florida State.
Orange Bowl -- Oklahoma -3.5 vs. Clemson. Since this game was announced, Oklahoma has been the favorite and the line has not moved much, if at all. The Sooners have been cocky the week leading up to the game. They have showed little respect to the team that wore them out 40-6 last December in Orlando. It was obvious Oklahoma did not want to be in Orlando last year. The Sooners were out of it from the start. There is no doubt Oklahoma has most of the motivation on its side because of the whipping it took last season. The Sooners have even tried to make a big deal out of Clemson putting up a tombstone -- something the Tigers do for every victory away from home against a ranked team. Clemson has the No. 1 ranking and the lack-of-respect card. The more the Tigers win, the less respect they get from the national media. It seems everyone is waiting on the Tigers to lose. But it hasn't happened yet. Both teams have quarterbacks who did not play in last year's meeting -- Deshaun Watson for Clemson and Baker Mayfield for Oklahoma. Watson has made the plays all season. Mayfield is the type of quarterback that gives the Tigers trouble, one who runs around and extends plays. I believe the Clemson defense is refocused and ready to go and will play better than it did in the final month of the season. Give me the points. Take Clemson.
Cotton Bowl -- Alabama -10.0 vs. Michigan State. This line says one thing to me. Michigan State is getting completely dissed. The bookies apparently are buying into the Alabama hype. Alabama has one big card to play -- Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. This game will be played in a phone booth. These two teams will beat on each other for three-plus hours. It has been described by some as Caveman Football -- run good, pass bad. I give the edge to Alabama because of Henry, its defense, and its special teams. But I am going to take Sparty because I believe 10 points is too much. Pick Michigan State.
Sugar Bowl -- Ole Miss -7.0 vs. Oklahoma State. Both of these teams can score, but can they stop anybody? The excitement factor is a wash because both teams are happy to be in New Orleans. The Rebels are missing some key parts of their defense, so I'm going to ride with the Pokes and the points. Pistols firing. Pick Oklahoma State.
Fiesta Bowl -- Ohio State -6.5 vs. Notre Dame. I like this matchup. With a little more luck, the Irish could have been in the Top Four. Ohio State, the defending national champions, slopped through the season and finally got nipped at home by Michigan State. I think Notre Dame will be highly motivated for this game. Wake up the echoes. Pick Notre Dame.
Rose Bowl -- Stanford -6.0 vs. Iowa. Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey probably deserved more chatter in the Heisman Trophy race. He truly has done it all for the Cardinal -- 1,847 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, 41 receptions for 540 yards and four touchdowns, 28.9 yards per kickoff return and one touchdown, and two touchdown passes. Iowa is a nice team and has had a nice season, but I don't think the Hawkeyes are ready to deal with Stanford. Pick Stanford.
Last Week -- 2-7
Season -- 75-75
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Tigers vs. Heels Highlights Final Week
Another winning week last week (9-7) but it could have been much, much better. The biggest misses were Michigan, Oklahoma State, and Mississippi State. All three suffered shocking blowouts to their archrivals.
This is the final week of picks. The biggest game of the week is in Charlotte, N.C., where No. 1 Clemson collides with streaking North Carolina. Most of the country is hoping the Tigers lose to create chaos in the College Football Playoff poll.
The remainder of the slate is composed of conference championship games and a few meaningless conference games. As always, all selections are against the spread.
I'll be back in a couple of weeks to select the post-Christmas bowl games and playoffs.
Merry Christmas to everyone.
North Carolina vs. Clemson -4.5 -- Well, it all comes down to this. No. 1 Clemson, which has been wobbling in recent weeks, against the hated Tar Heels. This is Clemson's 10th straight game (its bye week was in late September), and the Tigers are starting to show some wear and tear. Lack of depth on defense is becoming a factor. The Tar Heels can score a lot of points and their defense is more salty than it was last season. North Carolina is still questionable against the run, and the Tar Heels have yet to be under the blazing national spotlight this season. I think those two factors are major pluses for the Tigers. If North Carolina wins, the ACC will probably get left out of the playoffs. If Clemson wins, the Tigers will get a chance to get their feet under them before starting preparations for the semifinal on Dec. 31. I think the national media pulling for North Carolina is going to have a positive effect on the Tigers. Some people still don't believe in the Tigers. I think the Tigers will win some more converts Saturday night. And John Swofford will be shedding tears. Pick Clemson.
Southern Miss at Western Kentucky -7.5 -- Southern Miss has been one of the biggest surprises in college football with a wonderful turnaround season. I like the points in this matchup. Pick Southern Miss.
Temple at Houston -5.5 -- Houston will unleash its high-powered offense on the Owls. Pick Houston.
Texas at Baylor -20.5 -- Meaningless Big 12 game. Bears roll. Charlie Strong's seat gets warmer. Pick Baylor.
Florida vs. Alabama -18.0 -- Do we even have to play this game? Can't we call Gainesville and tell Florida to stay home? SEC haters are pulling for the ultimate upset. But the Gators have no shot. The Gators cannot score. The Tide rolls into the playoffs and possibly into the No. 1 spot by crushing the Gators. Pick Alabama.
West Virginia -5.5 at Kansas State -- Another meaningless Big 12 game. Kansas State needs to win to qualify for a bowl game. I don't think the Wildcats are going to make it. Pick West Virginia.
Air Force at San Diego State -6.0 -- I always liked the nickname Aztecs. Pick San Diego State.
Stanford -4.5 vs. Southern Cal. Interesting game. Stanford has been whining/campaigning for a spot in the playoffs if it beats Southern Cal. Southern Cal has played well for interim-now-new-head-coach Clay Helton. This one is being played in Santa Clara, which is closer to Stanford's campus. But I don't think that is going to matter. Fight On. Pick Southern Cal.
Michigan State -3.5 vs. Iowa -- I think this spread is too low. Michigan State rolls, ends Iowa's unbeaten season, and earns a spot in the playoffs. Pick Sparty.
Georgia State at Georgia Southern -21.0 -- I needed a 10th game, so I picked this one. Eagles in a blowout. Pick Georgia Southern.
Last Week -- 9-7
For The Season -- 73-68
This is the final week of picks. The biggest game of the week is in Charlotte, N.C., where No. 1 Clemson collides with streaking North Carolina. Most of the country is hoping the Tigers lose to create chaos in the College Football Playoff poll.
The remainder of the slate is composed of conference championship games and a few meaningless conference games. As always, all selections are against the spread.
I'll be back in a couple of weeks to select the post-Christmas bowl games and playoffs.
Merry Christmas to everyone.
North Carolina vs. Clemson -4.5 -- Well, it all comes down to this. No. 1 Clemson, which has been wobbling in recent weeks, against the hated Tar Heels. This is Clemson's 10th straight game (its bye week was in late September), and the Tigers are starting to show some wear and tear. Lack of depth on defense is becoming a factor. The Tar Heels can score a lot of points and their defense is more salty than it was last season. North Carolina is still questionable against the run, and the Tar Heels have yet to be under the blazing national spotlight this season. I think those two factors are major pluses for the Tigers. If North Carolina wins, the ACC will probably get left out of the playoffs. If Clemson wins, the Tigers will get a chance to get their feet under them before starting preparations for the semifinal on Dec. 31. I think the national media pulling for North Carolina is going to have a positive effect on the Tigers. Some people still don't believe in the Tigers. I think the Tigers will win some more converts Saturday night. And John Swofford will be shedding tears. Pick Clemson.
Southern Miss at Western Kentucky -7.5 -- Southern Miss has been one of the biggest surprises in college football with a wonderful turnaround season. I like the points in this matchup. Pick Southern Miss.
Temple at Houston -5.5 -- Houston will unleash its high-powered offense on the Owls. Pick Houston.
Texas at Baylor -20.5 -- Meaningless Big 12 game. Bears roll. Charlie Strong's seat gets warmer. Pick Baylor.
Florida vs. Alabama -18.0 -- Do we even have to play this game? Can't we call Gainesville and tell Florida to stay home? SEC haters are pulling for the ultimate upset. But the Gators have no shot. The Gators cannot score. The Tide rolls into the playoffs and possibly into the No. 1 spot by crushing the Gators. Pick Alabama.
West Virginia -5.5 at Kansas State -- Another meaningless Big 12 game. Kansas State needs to win to qualify for a bowl game. I don't think the Wildcats are going to make it. Pick West Virginia.
Air Force at San Diego State -6.0 -- I always liked the nickname Aztecs. Pick San Diego State.
Stanford -4.5 vs. Southern Cal. Interesting game. Stanford has been whining/campaigning for a spot in the playoffs if it beats Southern Cal. Southern Cal has played well for interim-now-new-head-coach Clay Helton. This one is being played in Santa Clara, which is closer to Stanford's campus. But I don't think that is going to matter. Fight On. Pick Southern Cal.
Michigan State -3.5 vs. Iowa -- I think this spread is too low. Michigan State rolls, ends Iowa's unbeaten season, and earns a spot in the playoffs. Pick Sparty.
Georgia State at Georgia Southern -21.0 -- I needed a 10th game, so I picked this one. Eagles in a blowout. Pick Georgia Southern.
Last Week -- 9-7
For The Season -- 73-68
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