-Originally published 10/31/20-
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
Week 8 Picks: 9-7
Cumulative: 61-29
Friday, October 30th
#19 Marshall (5-0) @ Florida International (0-3) – 7:00pm, CBSSN
The Thundering Herd wacked FAU 20-9 last weekend and will continue to roll to 6-0 in Conference USA over FIU. D-lineman Darius Hodge is top-10 nationally in sacks (5). They’re converting on almost 56% of 3rd downs, averaging 4.6 yards-per-carry and almost 200 rushing yards-per-game.
Marshall 35 FIU 24
Saturday, October 31st – Early Slate
Boston College (4-2) @ #1 Clemson (6-0) – Noon, ABC
Boston College knocked Georgia Tech and looks the part of a solid up and coming squad in the ACC. Sophomore QB Phil Jurkovec (12 Td, 4 Int) is 6th in the NCAA in passing yards (1,671 Yds). Clemson nearly overlooked Syracuse last week and survived 47-21. They’ll have to make sure not to slip up against BC with road trips to Notre Dame and Florida State coming up. Five Star QB D.J. Uiagalelei will start with Trevor Lawrence testing positive for COVID. Clemson will ride RB Travis Etienne to a close victory.
Boston College 24 Clemson 33
#5 Georgia (3-1) @ Kentucky (2-3) – Noon, SECN
The Bulldogs have had 2 weeks off since getting destroyed by Alabama. Kentucky dropped another game, 20-10 to a lousy Missouri team. Offensive struggles continue for the Wildcats as they only posted 145 yards of offense. Georgia should lick its wounds and come out ready to completely shut the Wildcats down. Stetson Bennett should rebound, but if he struggles anymore after the Alabama game he might get benched.
Georgia 38 Kentucky 0
Memphis (3-1) @ #7 Cincinnati (4-0) – Noon, ESPN
The Bearcats locked down the explosive SMU offense last weekend 42-13 and faces another group that can light it up this week in the Memphis Tigers. Memphis is averaging almost 550 yards of offense a game. SMU beat Memphis earlier in the year 30-27. QB Desmond Ridder only had 126 passing yards and 1 passing touchdown, but rushed for 179 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 91 yard burner against SMU. Cincinnati looks the part of a legitimate team to compete for a New Year’s 6 game. An AAC win here pushes it closers to reality.
Memphis 21 Cincinnati 28
Michigan State (0-1) @ Michigan (1-0) – Noon, Fox
Michigan State looked miserable in a blowout loss to Rutgers 38-27, ending their 21 game Big 10 losing streak. MSU outgained Rutgers by almost 100 yards, but turned the ball over 7 times. Michigan’s defense looked frightening beating a good Minnesota team and Joe Milton looked good taking over as the starting QB for the Wolverines. MSU won’t have nearly the fumbling issues they had last weekend, but the conservative play calling and so-so QB play don’t look to give them much chance against this defense.
MSU 14 Michigan 42
#16 Kansas State (4-1) @ West Virginia (3-2) – Noon, ESPN2
West Virginia lost to Texas Tech 34-27 last week and Kansas State maintains a lead for 1st place in the Big-12 after crushing doormat Kansas 55-14. Neither of these teams are very good. KSU’s defense is much better and the offense averages 35 ppg and 367 yards of total offense. WVU is averaging 32.2 ppg and 460 yards. I’m giving KSU’s defense the edge here.
KSU 34 West Virginia 32
#20 Coastal Carolina (5-0) @ Georgia State (2-2) – Noon, ESPNU
One of the smaller teams outside of Marshall and BYU to watch is the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Defensively, the Chanticleers are giving up too many points (21) to bad offenses, but they’ve recorded 17 sacks, 7 interceptions, and 4 forced fumbles. The offense averages 423 yards-per-game, averages 4.3 ypc and 10.2 per pass attempt. They’re converting over 55% of 3rd downs and averaging 38 ppg. Georgia State is a fine team, but CC is a much better squad.
Coastal Carolina 31 Georgia State 21
#23 Iowa State (3-2) @ Kansas (0-5) – Noon, FS1
ISU tripped up against Oklahoma State 24-21 last week, but the Cyclones defense did a reasonable job keeping the game close with OKS returning QB Spencer Sanders from injury for his first full game of the season. RB Breece Hall could have a 200 yards day against Kansas. He’s averaging 6.3 ypc.
Iowa State 42 Kansas 10
Saturday Afternoon Slate
#4 Notre Dame (5-0) @ Georgia Tech (2-4) – 3:30pm, ABC
I certainly though Norte Dame would have issues against Pitts front last week and I picked them to lose. They cruised to a 45-3 victory. Ian Brook only completed 16 of 30 passes but went over 300 yards passing and 40 yards rushing and also threw for 3 touchdowns. It was Book’s first 300 yards game this year. The defense looked great holding down what has been a very good offense. Georgia Tech is still rebuilding and will have problems moving the ball against Notre Dame’s defense. ND has Clemson next week, its first real opponent, so this could be a trap-game, but GT just can’t keep up.
Notre Dame 24 Georgia Tech 6
WISCONSIN/NEBRASKA IS DEEMED A “NO CONTEST”. WISCONSIN CANCELLED DUE TO MULTIPLE POSTITIVE COVID TESTS FOR PLAYERS AND COACHING STAFF, BUT THE RATE DIDN’T REACH THE BIG 10 REQUIRED PERCENTAGE FOR CANCELLATION. ITS ALSO NOT A FORFIT, THE GAME DOESN’T COUNT FOR EITHER TEAM.
#9 Wisconsin (1-0) @ Nebraska (0-1) – 3:30pm, FS1
Redshirt freshman QB Graham Mertz shocked the world when he stepped in for injured Jack Coan and looked fantastic (20/21, 248 Yds, 5 Tds) in the open-day flaying of Illinois. He’ll miss at least two games due to COVID protocol after two positive tests this week and multiple Wisconsin QB’s will miss this game. Nebraska hung in with Ohio State for a half. It’s a huge disappointment that Mertz is out after a great debut. With the quarterback position up in the air for Wisconsin they’ll be relying on the defense that held Illinois to less than 100 passing yards and 130+ rushing yards and the run game that posted 180+ yards. Nebraska managed a run game (210 yards) against Ohio State thanks to the running ability of QB Adrian Martinez (13 Car, 85 Yds, 6.5 Avg, 1 Rush/Td). This should be a close game, I think Nebraska’s defense will be able to disrupt Wisconsin without a real quarterback threat and match the run game.
Wisconsin 17 Nebraska 21
#17 Indiana (1-0) @ Rutgers (1-0) – 3:30pm, BTN
Hoosier-daddy? *clap clap clap clap clap* Hoosier-daddy? *clap clap clap clap clap*
I feel like that could have been some of the chants shouted as Indiana possibly ruined Penn States playoff chances on opening day. Indiana was more than doubled up on in yardage and time of possession by PSU and pulled the game out by an inch in OT. Defense gave up 250 yards on the ground and the offense only managed 211 yards total. It’s all uphill from here. Rutgers didn’t play well and still managed to defeat a Michigan State team that looked like they were playing hot potato, not football. MSU had more yards, more yards-per pass play, fewer penalties but the 7-3 turnover disparity destroyed the Spartans. Both teams didn’t play their best last week and both won. Sophomore QB and duel threat Michael Penix for Indiana is a playmaker to keep an eye on, I think the Hoosiers keep the good times going.
Indiana 42 Rutgers 28
Texas (3-2) @ #6 Oklahoma State (4-0) – 4:00pm, Fox
Oklahoma State welcomed back Spencer Sanders at QB last weekend in a 24-21 win over Iowa State. He’d been out since opening day due to injury. Sanders (20/25, 235 Yds, 1 Td, 2 Int, 71 Rush/Yds, 1 Rush/Td) instantly upgraded the offense and Chuba Hubbard logged (139 Yds,, 5.6 ypc, 1 Td) a much better day as well. The Longhorns took a week off after falling to Oklahoma in a shootout, and then knocked off Baylor 27-16. OSU is starting to look like a complete team With Sanders back they should be able to go to-to-toe with Texas on offense and the Cowboys defense is much better.
Texas 31 Oklahoma State 35
#25 Boise State (1-0) @ Air Force (1-0) – 6:00pm, CBSSN
The Mountain West quietly kicked of their season as well last week. Boise State stifled Utah State 42-13 and Air Force folded to the normally awful Spartans of San Jose State. AF played their opener against Navy three weeks ago. BSU looks like Mountain West champs again and young QB Hank Bachmeier ( 268 Yds, 3 Tds, 71.4%) looks like he’s ready to be the next great Bronc QB in a long line.
Boise State 35 Air Force 24
Mississippi State (1-3) @ #2 Alabama (5-0) – 7:00pm, ESPN
Yikes, yikes, yikes. How the bulldogs have fallen. It would be nice to see Mike Leach’s offense throw the ball all over the SEC, but that ship has sailed this season. His players are bailing on him, RB Kylin Hill has opted out of the rest of the season, and Leach himself is part of the problem, stating he might need to clear out the locker room. MSU scored 44 points in their opening day win and 30 points in three losses combined since then. Alabama will get a look at life after WR Jaylen Waddle, lost for the season after a first quarter injury against Tennessee last week.
Mississippi State 3 Alabama 45
#3 Ohio State (1-0) @ #18 Penn State (1-0) – 7:30pm, ABC
An early slugfest between two of the Big 10’s best. Penn State had too many penalties and critical mistakes last week but doubled Indiana in yardage and time of possession in a game. Penn State will be able to move the ball on Penn State and get stops. Justin Fields outside of the pocket is the hardest thing to defend. On the other side, PSU will be able to run the ball and Sean Clifford is a mobile threat as well. I expect this game to be a shootout as we earn more about these teams in week 2 and the playoffs could hang in the balance.
Ohio State 45 Penn State 42
Arkansas (2-2) @ #8 Texas A&M (3-1) – 7:30pm, SECN
Both teams took last week off. Arkansas has been looking pretty good and was one Auburn botched snap away from 3-1. Feleipe Franks (974 Yds, 8 Tds, 3 Int, 64%) at QB has helped the offense. A&M averages 172 yards rushing-per-game and converts on 57% of 3rd downs. The squad has looked sluggish at times and QB Kellen Mond has his good days and bad. I think Mond will have a good day, but it’ll be close.
Arkansas 21 Texas A&M 28
Missouri (2-2) @ #10 Florida (2-1) – 7:30pm, SECN ALT
Florida took last week off after falling to Texas A&M. The Gators offense is real and the defense hopefully got better over the bye. Missouri is a surprising 2-2 with losses to Alabama and Tennessee and wins against LSU and Kentucky. Its hard to tell if the Tigers are halfway decent with their inconsistencies on both sides of the ball. Florida should be able to win coming off the bye here.
Missouri 20 Florida 45
Navy (3-3) @ #22 SMU (5-1) – 7:30pm, ESPN2
SMU was blown out by Cincinnati last week 42-13. The offense was held to 290 total yards and Shane Buechele (23/44, 216 Yds, 1 Td, 1 Int, sacked 5 times) had his worst performance this season. Thankfully, Navy’s defense is more forgiving. The Midshipman have been crushed twice (BYU 55-3, AF 40-7) and their 3 wins are by a combined 9 points. They’ve giving up at least 23 points in every contest. SMU should get right here.
Navy 28 SMU 42
#15 North Carolina (4-1) @ Virginia (1-4) – 8:00pm, ACCN
The Tar heels grabbed a big win against NC State last week 48-21. The ground game provided 326 yards and 5 touchdowns and Sam Howell added 252 yards and a touchdown. It would be nice to see Howell really shred a team, but you can’t complain about almost 600 yards of offense. The Cavaliers defense will give them some pushback, but Virginia’s offense isn’t very good.
North Carolina 34 Virginia 20
#24 Oklahoma (3-2) @ Texas Tech (2-3) – 8:00pm, Fox
Oklahoma came out of the bye week and took out TCU last weekend 33-14. TCU’s defense has been pretty good, so putting up 498 yards of offense was good. Allowing 351 was not. Spencer Rattler is averaging 10.1 yards-per-attempt, 4th among QB’s that have played more than one game. He’s top 8 in yards (1,518), touchdowns (15), and completion percentage (9.5) for QB’s that have played multiple games. The Red Raiders aren’t as potent offensively as years past. The defense is slightly more capable, its more of a plastic bag in the wind than a paper bag in the rain, it comes around every now and again. Oklahoma can give up tons of points, but they should score more than they give here.
Oklahoma 42 Texas Tech 21
Western Kentucky (2-4) @ #11 BYU (6-0) – 10:15pm, ESPN
The Hilltoppers have been an underrated feisty bunch the last decade, but that won’t be the case here. BYU is averaging 45 ppg and hasn’t given up more than 26 in a game. Rack up another W before a big contest with Boise State 11/6.
Western Kentucky: A Little BYU: A Lot