Chad Morris will have his Hogs ready against Alabama today.
My picks for today. There are a lot of jump ball games this week so pick wisely. DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Research is key this week.
Northwestern at Michigan State (-10, 43.5): Sparty hasn’t lived up to the hype but neither has Northwestern. -10 is a big number but I think Michigan State covers. Northwestern struggles to score points.
Maryland at Michigan (-17.5, 47.5): Michigan is starting to roll on offense and a lot of that has to do with Shea Patterson getting comfortable in the system. Maryland has played tough and inspired football this season but they will be overmatched in this one. I’m taking Michigan.
Missouri (-1.5, 63) at South Carolina: Jake Bentley vs. Drew Lock is not going to happen as Bentley is out. That means taking the high scoring Tigers in this one is a no brainer. The Gamecock defense is tough, especially at home but Lock will make enough plays in the passing game for Mizzou to cover.
Kansas at West Virginia (-27.5, 61.5): Kansas two game winning streak will be a distant memory after the beatdown they’ll get at the hands of Will Grier and the Mountaineers.
Alabama at Arkansas (+35.5, 57.5): It’s been a tough first season for Chad Morris in Fayetteville but something tells me he will have the Razorbacks ready to play in this game. It’s easy to take Bama in games like this but they didn’t cover last week against Louisiana so take Arkansas as the prohibitive dog.
Texas vs. Oklahoma (-7, 60): The Red River Shootout could produce another classic between Texas and Oklahoma. The Horns are good so you know this will be a tight game. I question if defensive coordinator Todd Orlando can slow down the high powered Sooners offense. Quarterback Skyler Murray is playing at a high level right now and the Sooner offense is virtually unstoppable. I think this will be a close game but I’m taking the Sooners.
Boston College at N.C State (-6, 60): No A.J Dillon spells trouble for Boston College. The Eagles strive to be balanced offensively but that will not be the case today. I think quarterback Anthony Brown and the Eagles offense will struggle today against a talented Wolfpack front. Give me N.C State at home to cover by a touchdown.
LSU (-2, 44.5) at Florida: I am all in on Coach O and the Tigers until they play Alabama. Florida has struggled offensively. They cannot score and that will be the difference in this game. LSU doesn’t mind mucking it up and winning low scoring games.
Clemson at Wake Forest (+20.5, 61): If the Tigers quarterback situation wasn’t so unsettled I would take them in this game but it’s tough to pass up Wake as a home dog. Wake’s defense is atrocious so I may regret this pick.
Iowa State at Oklahoma State (-9.5, 55.5): The Fighting Campbell’s just don’t have the same mojo that they had last season. I know Oklahoma State can be unpredictable, especially at home but they’ll win today and cover what is essentially a ten point spread.
Florida State (+14, 48.5) at Miami: I know Miami is playing better since Mark Richt inserted N’Kosi Perry into the line up but this spread is too big for me to take Miami as the favorite. This is a rivalry game. Bragging rights and in-state recruiting are on the line. Florida State will come to play but Miami will win a close game.
Indiana at Ohio State (-27.5, 64.5): Am I suppose to believe that Indiana will play Ohio State tough in this game? That seems to be the national perception. Not going to happen. Give me the Buckeyes to cover no problem as a prohibitive home favorite.
Kentucky at Texas A&M (-5.5, 50.5): This will be Kentucky’s biggest test to date and while I am all in on this Wildcats revival, I can’t see them winning at College Station. If they do, they are a legit contender in the SEC East. They won’t. Give me the Aggies as a home favorite.
Washington at UCLA (+21, 52.5): Despite being 0-4, the Fighting Chippers will come to play and make life tough on Washington. The Huskies will win this game but the Bruins will play them tough.
Vanderbilt at Georgia (-25.5, 54.5): It is hard not to take Georgia in games like this. They don’t always cover and they might not today against an improved Commodores team Despite that, I am taking Jake Fromm and company to cruise at home by four scores.
Auburn (-3.5, 43) at Mississippi State: Mississippi State proved last week that they are pretenders by scoring six measly points against a mediocre Florida team. The fact that Auburn is only favored by -3.5 is a joke. They will win this game by a touchdown. Jarrett Stidham goes off and the Tigers win.
Nebraska at Wisconsin (-17.5, 60.5): The Cornhuskers are awful. I feel bad for Scott Frost. It has been bad up until this point and it is about to get worse. Wisconsin still has national championship aspirations and they need statement wins. They will make one today. The Badgers will cruise and cover at home.
Notre Dame at Virginia Tech (+6.5, 55.5): I sense a Notre Dame gag job coming. Everyone and their mommy is on the Irish bandwagon nationally but the bubble is about to burst. Take the Hokies as a home dog. It is a no brainer bet.