-Originally published 10/24/20-
Week 2 Picks: 7-1
Week 3 Picks: 7-2
Week 4 Picks: 12-5
Week 5 Picks: 11-5
Week 6 Picks: 8-3
Week 7 Picks: 7-6
Cumulative: 52-22
Friday, October 23rd
Illinois (0-0) @ #14 Wisconsin (0-0) – 8:00pm, BTN
Illinois returns lots of pieces from a team that went a surprising 6-7 last season. Former Michigan QB Brandon Peters (1,884 Yds, 18 Tds, 8 Int) is one of them. Most of the offensive line, several sill position players and a handful of defensive contributors do as well. Wisconsin just lost their starting QB Jack Coan to a foot injury suffered in practice and will probably be starting redshirt freshman Graham Mertz. He’s the highest ranked QB to ever arrive in Madison. The Badgers will be replacing RB Jonathan Taylor at running back and WR Quintez Cephus. The secondary should be the strength of the defense. Illinois pulled the upset 24-23 last season on a late field goal and that could be the case again this year.
Illinois 23 Wisconsin 20
Saturday, October 24th
Syracuse (1-4) @ #1 Clemson (5-0) – Noon, ACCN
2018 Clemson pulled out a 27-23 victory against Syracuse. In 2017, Syracuse won 27-24. This year will look closer to 2019 and 2016, combined 95-6 Clemson victories. The Tigers had no problem rolling a young Georgia Tech squad 73-7 last weekend and don’t look to play anyone close this season. They won’t have any issue rolling the Orange after they were hammered against Liberty. Syracuse was without starting QB Tommy Devito due to injury, but the Orange won’t be able to hang whether he’s back or not.
Syracuse 17 Clemson 49
Nebraska (0-0) @ #5 Ohio State (0-0) – Noon, FOX
We finally get to see Justin Fields in action. Ohio State throttled Nebraska 48-7 last season in a night game after ESPN showed up for game day. The Buckeyes lose RB J.K, Dobbins, DE Chase Young and most of the starters on both sides of the ball. WR Chris Olave (49 Rec, 849 Yds, 17.3 Ypr, 12 Td) will return as the #1 receiving weapon. The Huskers just named Adrian Martinez (1,956 Yds, 10 Tds, 9 Int, 59.4% , 626 Rush/Yds, 7 Rush/Tds) starting QB and will be replacing most starters at the skill positions on offense and on the defensive side of the ball. We should be learning the names of new stars on Saturday as the Buckeyes shed the Huskers. They’ll be looking to win big to make sure they have a shot at the playoffs.
Nebraska 10 Ohio State 56
#23 NC State (4-1) @ #14 North Carolina – Noon, ESPN
As Clemson pulls away from the rest of the completion in the ACC we have….these two. North Carolina is absolutely embarrassing. I don’t think the offense is going to figure it out this year, it’s such a waste. Florida State was up 24-0 on UNC last weekend, including a pick-6 handout from Sam Howell, before the Tar Heels made it onto the score board. FSU’s 31-7 halftime lead was enough for the 31-28 win. The offense isn’t good right now, the offensive line needs to be better, Howell needs to be better. The defense is getting rolled up on the ground. The Wolfpack hasn’t beaten the toughest competition in Wake Forest, Virginia, Duke and Pittsburg and the schedule is tougher from here. Starting QB Devin Leary is out 4-8 weeks with a broken fibula. That leaves Bailey Hockman (316 Yds, 2 Tds, 3 Int) to man the ship. UNC should be able to eek out a W at the very least.
NC State 27 North Carolina 31
Kansas (0-4) @ #20 Kansas State (3-1) – Noon, FS1
What a sad state of affairs for Kansas when hiring big name coach Les Miles can’t even improve your recruiting or win total. Kansas State is steadily holding the line up front of the Big-12 after knocking off Oklahoma and following up with wins over Texas Tech (31-21) and TCU (21-14). All of those teams suck, so it doesn’t really mean anything. I don’t think KSU is a good team, but they manage to get important stops on defense. They won’t lose this rivalry game.
Kansas 10 Kansas State 24
Georgia Southern (3-1) @ #25 Coastal Carolina – Noon, ESPNU
You know what conference hasn’t disappointed this season? The rinky dink Sun Belt. Besides these two, Application State (2-1) and Louisiana (3-1) have been ranked (granted half the teams aren’t playing) and Arkansas State (3-2) with a win against Kansas State and Troy (3-1) despite getting crushed by BYU, are decent. Very little is ever expect of one of the worst conferences in D-1 football, but the limited number of games has greatly benefited them. Coastal Carolina has looked great on both sides of the ball. Redshirt freshman QB Grayson McCall is the 2nd leading rusher on the team and will be on the NFL’s radar soon. Georgia Southern’s run offense will be challenging but I believe in the Chanticleers.
Georgia Southern 20 Coastal Carolina 27
Florida Atlantic (1-0) @ #22 Marshall (4-0) – 2:30pm
QB Nick Tronti (98 Yds, 2 Tds, 50%, 94 Rush/Yds, 1 Rush/Td) for the Owls lead the team to a 21-17 victory over Charlotte. Marshall continues to roll after beating solid opponents Appalachian State 17-7, Louisiana Tech 35-17, Western Kentucky 38-14 and crushing Eastern Kentucky 59-0. Marshall is averaging over 37 points-per-game and converting on 60% of third downs. I’ve watched as much Marshall football as the rest of the country, but this squad looks good on the highlight tape and should keep rolling.
Florida Atlantic 10 Marshall 38
#2 Alabama (4-0) @ Tennessee (2-2) – 3:30pm, CBS
Alabama embarrassed Georgia last week while Tennessee continued its new yearly tradition of falling short of early top-25 rankings by losing to Kentucky 34-7. The Vols were having QB problems with Guarantano before he threw two pick-sixes against the Wildcats. Mac Jones (1,518 Yds, 12 Tds, 2 Ints, 78.3%) on the other hand is 6th in passing yards, and 1st in yards-per-attempt (13.2) thanks to receivers John Metchie III and Jaylen Waddle ranking top-8 nationally in yards-per-catch (24.9 and 22.3 respectively) and Waddle and Devonta Smith both in the top-8 in receiving yards (557 and 483 yards respectively). RB Najee Harris is 6th in rushing yards (499), 1st in rushing Tds (11), top-10 in rushing attempts and 2nd in the nation in ypc (6.0) for backs with at least 75 carries (83). The defense is having trouble sacking opposing QBs, averaging less than 2 sacks-per-game, but the front seven is still disruptive. The tide should roll here.
Alabama 49 Tennessee 20
#3 Notre Dame (4-0) @ Pittsburgh (3-3) – 3:30pm, ABC
Notre Dame doesn’t look good. The Irish eeked out a 12-7 win against Louisville. Ian Book doesn’t look good and the offense has to rely on the ground game. Their opponents have a combined record of 5-16. Pitt dropped back-to-back games by 1 point each before losing at Miami 31-19. The Panthers run game hasn’t been efficient, averaging less than 3 ypc. The front seven is still one of the best in football with Patrick Jones leading the NCAA in sacks (7) and QB Kenny Pickett is 8th in the nation in passing yards (1,389) and leads the offense. I think Pitt is able to play the role of spoiler here.
Notre Dame 20 Pittsburgh 24
#17 Iowa State (3-1) @ #6 Oklahoma State (3-0) – 3:30pm, FOX
The Big 12 has been an embarrassment so far and these two are the conference favorites at this point. OSU has been happy with QB Shane Illingworth (483 Yds, 3 Tds, 1 Int, 73.5%) in the absence of Specer Sanders due to injury. The Cowboys will be happy with rotating both under center, but you know what they say about having two good quarterbacks, no great options. RB Chuba Hubbard (339 Yds, 4.9 ypc, 4 Tds) was supposed to be putting up Heisman numbers but has been held in check. Iowa State has won three straight, knocking off TCU, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech. QB Brock Purdy has looked better and RB Breece Hall is 3rd in the nation rushing (531) despite playing one fewer game than some teams. Defense is optional; per usual in the Big 12, but these are two of the better units. I expect the Cyclones the blow though Stillwater and grab a win.
Iowa State 30 Oklahoma State 21
#8 Penn State (0-0) @ Indiana (0-0) – 3:30pm, FS1
The Hoosiers finished 8-5 last season to the surprise of many. Half the defense and almost the entire offense returns. Michael Penix Jr wrested the starting QB position away last season and as a freshman and was a star before suffering a knee injury. He’ll Penix will be a stud that’s been lost in the shuffle with all the other Big 10 action last season, Covid, and the Justin Field hype this year. Don’t be surprised if you hear his name more in the next couple months. Penn State exploded to 11-2 last year and is expected to push Ohio State for the Big 10 title this year. Mobile QB Sean Clifford threw for over 2,600 yards and ran for another 400 and threw for 23 touchdowns and added 5 on the ground. Most of the offense returns and half of the defense does as well. Both of these teams should be fun to watch, but the Lions are better.
Penn State 34 Indiana 31
#19 Virginia Tech (3-1) @ Wake Forest (2-2) – 3:30, ESPN3
VT’s QB play is inconsistent and three guys have taken snaps. The offense behind the run game is averaging 312 rushing yards-per-game, 6.9 ypc, and 42 ppg. The defense has looked great logging 15 sacks, 5 interceptions and 3 fumbles forced and recovered. Wake Forest isn’t a pushover; they’re middle of the road. The offense can put up points, but this VT defense is a real buzz saw. The Hokie Pokies should shake Wake here.
Virginia Tech 42 Wake Forest 32
#18 Michigan (0-0) @ #21 Minnesota (0-0) – 7:30, ABC
Michigan is returning some studs on defense, but the offense will hae almost an entirely new group. QB Joe Milton will take over the starting job with Dylan McCaffrey transferring. The Gophers key returnees are QB Tanner Morgan (3,253 Yds, 30 Tds, 7 Ints, 66%) and WR Rashod Bateman (60 Rec, 1,219 Yds, 11 TD) who opted back into the season. They’ll return most of their starters as well. I’m going with the experienced QB over the experience defense, but I’m excited to see what Joe Milton will show for the Wolverines.
Michigan 28 Minnesota 31
Virginia (1-3) @ #11 Miami (4-1) – 8:00pm, ACCN
Miami steadied itself by beating Pitt 31-19 after the embarrassing 42-17 drubbing by Clemson that was actually worse than the score suggested. The ‘Caines need another win over a struggling Virginia team here before hitting NC State and Virginia Tech on the road in early November to stay in the ACC race. D’Eriq King has accounted for over 1,300 yards of offense but isn’t playing at a Heisman level He’ll have a chance to pad some stats against the Cavaliers.
Virginia 14 Miami 35
#9 Cincinnati (3-0) @ #16 SMU (5-0) – 9:00pm, ESPN2
One of the best games of the day matches SMU’s offense against Cincinnati’s defense. The Bearcats have beaten South Florida, Army and Austin Peay, but haven’t been tested yet. The defense hasn’t been generating enough pressure for what’s expected. SMU has notched nice wins against Memphis and Tulane by field goals in back-to-back weeks. Shane Buechele is 2nd in the nation with 1,710 yards. SMU is 4th in the nation in total offensive yards (563.2). The Mustangs has looked the part of New Year’s Six party crashers so far, I think we’ll see how good Cincinnati really is.
Cincinnati 24 SMU 34
Texas State (1-5) @ #12 BYU (5-0) – 10:15pm, ESPN
BYU had to turn the jets on to pull out a victory against Houston last week, but the Cougars are still a dominant force.
Texas State 3 BYU 48
