Saquon Barkley and the Lions face a stiff test this week at Northwestern.
It is hard to believe that it is already week 6 of the college football season. Where does the time go? Anyway, there are several great game on the docket this weekend.
Here are my picks versus the spread.
8 p.m. ET: No. 17 Louisville at No. 24 NC State (NC State +4.5): I like the Pack as a home dog in this one. Sure, it is easy to put your money on Lamar Jackson and the Cardinals but N.C State has the speed on defense to slow down Jackson and limit his ability to make big plays.
That is why I feel comfortable taking the Wolf Pack in this game.
Saturday, October 7
12 p.m. ET Wake Forest at No. 2 Clemson (Clemson -22.5): Dave Clawson and his staff have done a great job this season but the Demon Deacons don’t have the athletes to match against the defending champs. That being said, I don’t think the athletic gap between these two teams is so wide that Clemson should be three touchdown favorites. Don’t get me wrong, the defending champs will win this game but not by three scores.
12 p.m. ET: Iowa State at No. 3 Oklahoma (Oklahoma -28): Baker Mayfield and the Sooners will load up the stat in this one. Boomer Sooner should cover no problem as a home favorite.
12 p.m. ET: No. 4 Penn State at Northwestern (Northwestern +15.5): Northwestern is dangerous, just ask Wisconsin who struggled with the Wildcats last weekend. Penn State has been dominate thus far but they haven’t faced a stiff test like this yet. I think they will win this game but they won’t cover. I’m taking Northwestern as a home dog.
12 p.m. ET: No. 5 Georgia at Vanderbilt (Vanderbilt +18): Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs are for real. They make big plays on offense and play great defense. Vandy has come back to earth the last two weeks after beating Kansas State. The Commodores will compete but they don’t have the talent to pull off the upset. I’m taking Georgia as a road favorite. They should cover no problem.
12 p.m. ET: Ole Miss at No. 12 Auburn (Auburn -21.5): Ole Miss got abused by Bama last week and I expect more of the same this week. They just don’t have the talent to play with the big boys in the conference. Auburn covers with ease.
3:30 p.m. ET: No. 23 West Virginia at No. 8 TCU (TCU -13.5): Games like this scare me because they usually end up being high scoring affairs. This will be a shootout. That’s why I’m taking West Virginia as a road dog. I think TCU wins but not by two scores. The Horned Frogs will win a tight game.
3:30 p.m. ET: No. 13 Miami (FL) at Florida State (Florida State +3.5): This is a make up game. The Noles are struggling mightily without DeAndre Francois. They are just not the same offensively. That’s why I’m going with the Canes as road dogs. They are legit and they will prove it in this game.
3:30 p.m. ET: No. 21 Notre Dame at North Carolina (North Carolina +15.5): North Carolina is banged up defensively which doesn’t bode well for them considering Brandon Wimbush and the Irish are in town. Take the Irish with confidence in this one as a road favorite. They will cover no problem.
3:30 p.m. ET: LSU at No. 21 Florida (Florida -3.5): LSU is a train wreck right now. Losing to Troy at home last week is unacceptable. Now they have to travel to the swamp to battle a depleted Florida team. Florida is favored but I like LSU in this game. They are the more talented team and they will be out to prove that they are better than last week’s loss.
4 p.m. ET: Maryland at No. 10 Ohio State (Ohio State -30): Maryland is down to their third string quarterback in Max Bortenschlager. Bortenschlager played well last week but it will be a tough act to follow this week against a Buckeyes defense that has been nasty in recent weeks. -30 is a big number but I’m taking the Buckeyes as a home favorite anyway.
4 p.m. ET: Oregon State at No. 14 USC (USC -34): USC will be licking their chops after last week’s loss at Washington State. They should have no problem beating a bad Oregon State team.
7:15 p.m. ET: No. 1 Alabama at Texas A&M (Texas A&M +27): Alabama has been dominate thus far this season but being a four touchdown favorite might be a bit too much for my taste. Screw it! I’m taking A&M as a home dog. Why not?
7:15 p.m. ET: No. 16 Virginia Tech at Boston College (Boston College +16.5) Boston College has struggled on offense all season long but they play great defense and that is what will keep them in this game. Virginia Tech can score but I think they will struggle a little with the B.C defense. That is why I am taking the Eagles as a home dog. Why not?
7:30 p.m. ET: Michigan State at No. 7 Michigan (Michigan -10): Michigan all day. I don’t think Michigan State is as good as they looked last week against Iowa. The Wolverines have had two weeks to prepare for this one and it will show when they demolish Sparty. I’m putting my money on Big Blue with confidence.
8 p.m. ET: No. 9 Wisconsin at Nebraska (Nebraska +12): Wisconsin got a scare from Northwestern at home last week and going into Lincoln will be no easy task this week. The Huskers need a signature win. Beating Wisconsin would qualify as a signature win. I don’t think Nebraska will win this game but they’ll make it close. I am putting my money on the Huskers as a big home dog.
8 p.m. ET: No. 11 Washington State at Oregon (Oregon +2.5): We’ll see if Luke Falkband company are for real. If they can win at Autzen Stadium, then this team is legit. I will be rooting for them but I don’t see it. I’m putting my money on Oregon as a home favorite.