There are a lot of quality plays this week. Here are my picks.
Penn State at Illinois (+28, 59.5): Penn State has been an awesome play the last two weeks but that was at home. Things could be different on the road against an improved Illini team primed for an upset. I’m taking Illinois as a home dog.
Washington State at USC (-3.5, 53): True freshmen quarterback J.T Daniels has struggled the past two weeks but Washington State’s generous defense is just what the doctor ordered to get back on track. I like SC as a home favorite.
Notre Dame at Wake Forest (+7.5, 57.5): I am not getting burned by Notre Dane for a third straight week. They did not play well at home against Ball State and Vandy. Wake will be a tough challenge in Winston Salem. I’m taking the Deacons as a home dog. Notre Dame wins by a field goal.
Georgia at Missouri (+14, 64.5): I’m tempted to play the over/under in this game. As good as Georgia’s defense is, I think they will have their hands with Drew Lock and the Tigers spread offense. I’m taking the Tigers as a home dog in a game that will be closer than people think.
Texas A&M at Alabama (-27, 61): Alabama is a machine right now and I don’t see a Texas A&M team that doesn’t play great defense slowing them down. Tua and the boys hang 45 on the Aggies and the Tide cover with ease as a home favorite.
Clemson at Georgia Tech (+16.5, 52.5): The Jackets are off to a tough start but something tells me Paul Johnson’s team will be amped up to play at home. Defending the option is tough. As good as Clemson’s defense is, they can be neutralized by the option. I think the Tigers win but the Jackets cover as a home dog.
Kansas State at West Virginia (-16, 60.5): Kansas State is mediocre at best. They won’t score enough points to hang with Will Grier and a Mountaineers offense that has had two weeks to prepare. West Virginia covers no problem.
South Carolina (-2, 54.5)at Vanderbilt: Vandy plays good defense so they will give Jake Bentley and the Gamecocks offense problems. The problem, Vandy is average on offense and wont score enough. I like Carolina as a road favorite.
TCU (-3.5, 47.5) at Texas: All the money will be on Texas in this one. I’m going the other way. I don’t buy the Horns despite their win over SC last week. I like Shane Robinson and the Frogs as a road favorite.
Florida at Tennessee (+4.5, 57.5): Neither of these teams are what we are accustomed to seeing. This rivalry has lost its luster but it still means something to these two schools. Jeremy Pruitt is the right guy to turn the Vols around. The turnaround starts with a home win over Florida.
Mississippi State at Kentucky (+10, 55.5): Kentucky is for real. Sure Nick Fitzgerald and company have been rolling but the Wildcats can play and they’ll have a raucous home crowd behind them. I think Mississippi State pulls it out but it’ll be by a touchdown. The smart money is on the Wildcats as a home dog.
Texas Tech at Oklahoma State (-13, 76.5): Okie State is for real and they proved that last week in a convincing win over Boise State. This week they face a Texas Tech team that can score but doesn’t exactly play stout D. -13 is a big number but an number to cover at home. Take the Pokes as a home fav.
Army at Oklahoma (-31.5, 63): Oklahoma should have no problem stopping Army’s Flexbone triple option and they should have no problem scoring. Sooners roll big and cover.
Michigan State at Indiana (+4.5, 48.5): All of a sudden it is hard to buy Michigan State as a legit contender in the Big Ten. It goes to show you what one loss will do. That being said, I think the Spartans find a way to pull this game out by a field goal. Take the Hoosiers as a home dog.
Arkansas at Auburn (-29.5, 56.5): It has been a nightmare start for Chad Morris at Arkansas. He’s trying to run the spread with multiple offense personnel. It hasn’t worked. Auburn will be all lathered up after a tough loss to LSU. I think the Tigers will bounce back in a big way today.
Stanford at Oregon (+2, 57.5): Oregon has rolled through an early cupcake schedule but they get their first test of the season with Stanford rolling into town. This game is all about Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. If he plays well, the Ducks win. If he struggles against the nation’s number one defense, the Ducks will struggle. Something tells me Herbert will come to play and in the process become a household name. Oregon wins and covers.
Wisconsin (-3, 43.5) at Iowa: I had a feeling Wisconsin was fraudulent and they proved that to me last week by losing to BYU. I think they will bounce back this week against Iowa but it’ll be a war. I am reluctantly putting my money on the Badgers in this one as a road favorite.
Arizona State at Washington (-17.5, 49): -17.5 is a big number but it is a number that the Huskies could cover against an Arizona State team that does not play well on the road. As evident by their 28-21 loss to San Diego State last week.