USC Trojans (-10) @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish: You can’t get lucky every week, even if you are Irish. Notre Dame has had a lot of help, “officially”, and I doubt that continues against one of the more talented teams in the country. USC took a loss to Washington earlier this year, but they are still 4-1, and still showing dominance against lesser foes. Don’t get it twisted, the Irish are a lesser foe. Remember, USC hasn’t lost a game that Matt Barkley started. A lot of injuries usually kills a team, but a team with the roster talent like USC can do work. I expect Notre Dame to score more than the 3 points Cal put up last week, but Southern California will find plenty of open spaces to put up points against Notre Dame’s porous defense. 35-14, maybe 20, seems right to me. I’ll take the Trojans!
Tag Archives: Free College Picks
Pittsburgh Panthers vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Free Pick
Pittsburgh Panthers @ Rutgers Scarlet Nights (+5.5): I guess Pittsburgh is Pittsburgh and that’s somehow the reason they are favored by 5.5 points playing at Rutgers on a Friday Night? Otherwise I can’t really explain it. Both teams have one loss, and neither looked pretty in the process. But Rutgers has played consistently better defense, giving up just 35 points over the last 4 games. And ready for this – since taking over at quarterback full time, Tom Savage has led his team to 4 straight wins. Not enough is said about that, not many people know. Savage has been very efficient, and better yet, mistake free. Look for him to continue his solid play, and at the very least, Rutgers is a nice value bet as a 5.5 point dog at home.
Wyoming Cowboys vs Air Force Falcons Free College Pick
Wyoming Cowboys (+10.5) @ Air Force Falcons: This is the year Wyoming gets back at Air Force for taking them out in each of the last three seasons. Both teams run the ball really well, and while Air Force is a little more disciplined and a little more efficient on the ground, Wyoming throws the ball a little better and does a good job with the little things. Plus, I just think these teams are too even for a 10.5 point spread. Wyoming comes in playing their best football of the season and fixed some tough of the issues they had earlier in the season. Basically, Austyn Carts-Samuels has taken over the starting quarterback job for good, and in the last three games he’s really given the Cowboys an air threat. I think his play keeps this game close.
Arkansas Razorbacks vs Florida Gators Free NCAA Pick
Arkansas Razorbacks @ Florida Gators (-24): I like the Gators to put up around 45 points against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Unlike LSU and Tennessee, the Razorbacks will drop back to pass in hopes of doing what they do best to win the game. That will play into what Florida does best, shut down opposing passing attacks, prey on mistakes, and turn all those short field opportunities to scores. The Gators haven’t played a game where they’ve given up two touchdowns yet this season. I think Arkansas is the best passing attack they’ve faced so far, but I still don’t think that transfers to more scoring chances for the Razorbacks. Florida should continue their defensive dominance, they have too many good players with too much speed. 42-10 sounds about right to me. I’ll take the number one team in the land!
Virginia Tech Hokies vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Pick
Virginia Tech Hokies (-3) @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: I just think the Hokies are flat out a lot better than the Yellow Jackets. G-Tech has played well lately, but they give up too many points. You can’t do that against VaTech, it just doesn’t work. Why? you ask, because Virginia Tech doesn’t give up lots of points. The only chance you have is to beat them in a tough contest. A high scoring game will only end one way, with the Hokies on top. Three points? I don’t care that 70% of the public agrees with me, I’m not even worried.
Central Michigan vs. Western Michigan College Football Pick
Central Michigan Chippewas (-6.5) @ Western Michigan Broncos: The Chipps are a big public favorite in this one, and it’s because they have a highly rated college quarterback, they are 4-1, they have an upset win over the Spartans to their credit, and they’ve won five straight, and four straight by a touchdown or more. But I like teh Chipps for one reason, and one reason only – in his 3 year career, one filled with success and impressive leadership, Central Michigan QB Dan LeFevour has never lost to his in-Michigan rival. There’s something to be said for that. If you can walk into a game saying I’ve always beaten these guys, always, tell your teammates, just follow me, I’ve been here before and I’ve never lost – I’ll take that every time. Rivalry? Sure, but pretty one-sided since Dan started tossing touchdowns.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Clemson Tigers Pick
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (+7) @ Clemson Tigers: In the end, I think Clemson has a good chance to get away with a win at home. I mean the home team has gotten the win in 6 of the last 7 seasons, but this game is going to be close. And close means take the points, the value is there. Even if Clemson gets off to an early lead, Skinner has the arm to get his team back in it. If the Deacons get off to a quick lead, Clemson will struggle relying on their passing attack to get back in the game. The nod goes toward the 7 points there. I expect a close game. Another plus for points. The Tigers are good in the trenches, boasting one of the conferences best defensive lines, but their secondary hasn’t been great. A plus for Skinner and his 1600+ yards and 15 touchdowns. Offensively the Tigers have had a tough time getting in the end zone. Riley Skinner has been playing very well of late, and I think he’s enough to cover the full touchdown spread in a game that is often very close. I’ll take the points in this middle of the road ACC match-up.
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers Football Pick
Iowa Hawkeyes @ Wisconsin Badgers (-2.5): Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of either team, but Iowa is way ahead of where they should be, and stuff like that has a way of working it’s way out sooner rather than later. They’re pretty lucky to be without a loss right now, a one point win against Northern Iowa to start the season, a 3 point win over Arkansas State two weeks ago, and a 2 point win over Michigan last week. You only get so many chances, and if the Hawkeyes were kittens, those lives would be getting down to go time, or shall we say no time. Football karma is real, and teh Badgers unranked and favored by nearly a field goal at home against the 12th ranked team in the country? There’s something to like there.
Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Longhorns Free Pick
Oklahoma Sooners (+3.5) @ Texas Longhorns: Now I seriously doubt the 3.5 will matter much when all is said and done, but the fact that I can win even if the Sooners lose by a field goal makes me feel just that much better about my selection. I like the Sooners here for a couple reasons. Coming into the season, I thought Oklahoma was the better team. Now they have already lost twice, and haven’t looked brilliant so far this season, but at least they’re battle tested. They’ve had a tough start to the year, but that’s because of injuries and some very good opponents. BYU is a very good veteran team, Miami has loads of talent and has played very well in some big games, and even Tulsa can play with most anyone in the country. That’s 3 games against better opponents than Texas has seen all season, and to be honest, I haven’t been that impressed with the Longhorns when I’ve seen them play. Colt hasn’t been nearly as sharp as he was last season, and the running game has some questions with injuries coming into this game. I also like that the winner of this game has been the road team 3 straight seasons. Now Texas has covered 4 straight, and ousted Oklahoma in 3 of the last 4, but this one has a little different feel. National Title hopes are basically out of the question for Oklahoma, while a win for the Longhorns would give them a leg up in the race for the Championship. Oklahoma has nothing to lose, and can only relish in the chance to upset the Texans and do their part in destroying their rival’s chance at glory. The underdog Sooners out to ruin it all, I kind of like them in that role. This should be a great one, but I’ll take the road dog and the points!
Free College Football Picks: Week 6
It’s hard to imagine that we’ve plowed through five weeks of college football already, but sure enough, we step right into Week 6 this time around for my free picks. Five weeks, lots has happened. During my 10-3 Week 5, Oklahoma effectively removed themselves from title-contention by losing to the Hurricanes in Miami over the weekend; so much for coming back to win a title, eh Bradford? Well, this week is sure to have more upsets – there are some huge games on the horizon. Notre Dame plays again, so there should be more terrible calls doing over unfortunate Irish opponents. I’m one game under .500 heading into the week, here goes my predictions.
Nebraska Cornhuskes (-3) @ Missouri Tigers: The Tigers are at home, rated higher than the Cornhuskers, and still a 3 points underdog. Something’s weird here. What is it, you ask? Well, the Cornhuskers are the better team, but since they’ve lost once already (a single point loss to Va Tech) and Missouri is undefeated, the Tigers hold the higher ranking. Forget that Missou has struggled against powerhouse programs like Bowling Green and Nevada, and forget that Nebraska has smoked everyone besides their one point loss to the Hokies. But here’s the deal, it’s not like Nebraska has beaten anybody good either. Whomever takes this game now has one solid win on their resume. I think that’s Nebraska – they’re more ready.
Auburn Tigers @ Arkansas Razorbacks (+3): There’s a certain time where hype hits down week and down week hits reality. That might be this time around for the Tigers. After finally smashing into the Top 25 after a 5-0 start to the season, a solid Razorbacks team hosts Auburn in an early Saturday Morning showdown. Now the road team has won 6 of the last 7 between these two programs, but I’m taking the home dog here. I think Arkansas puts up enough points, and sooner or later the luck runs out on the Tigers. Two tough home games in a row probably takes it’s toll here.
Michigan State Spartans (-4) @ Illinois Illini: I don’t think the Spartans are good, or even worthy of being favored on the road, this line doesn’t have great value or anything, but the Illini are bad. Even after a big win over their “in state big brother” program, I still think the Spartans have enough in the tank to get a double digit win in Illinois.
Oregon Ducks @ UCLA Bruins (+6.5): Now this game will almost certainly go to 7, it’s already up a half point and still 70% of the public bets like the Ducks despite being nearly a touchdown favorite on the road. UCLA is better than they’ve played, and still have just one loss, one which came against a very physical Stanford team. So, they should be better prepared for the Ducks rushing attack. The Bruins have a very good defense, one of the more underrated units in the Pact 10, and while Oregon has been very good over the last three weeks, I think they have trouble against the Bruins. The spread is ridiculous, I know that much.
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Mississippi Rebels (+6.5): The Rebels are a very talented team that had a lot to lose last time they played on National TV, they ended up showing exactly how to play as poorly as possible while losing to South Carolina on Thursday Night a couple weeks ago. But they are talented, and now have basically nothing to lose as a big home dog hosting the powerhouse Crimson Tide. I like the Rebels to turn it around and at the very least, keep this one close. I’ll take the home dog and the points.
Indiana Hoosiers (+7) @ Virginia Cavaliers: I think Indiana is better than Virginia. I’ve seen both teams play and still think Indiana is a little underrated. I’ll take them and the points.
Duke Blue Devils (+15) @ North Carolina State Wolfpack: I think Duke has one of their best teams ever, now that being said, they are still not all that good. That being said, neither is NC State. Duke’s coming off a pretty good game against Va Tech last week, and I think they’re a nice value getting more than two touchdowns. The last three games in this match-up have been very close contests, and 6 of the last 7 have been NC State wins, but by a touchdown or less. I think that trend continues, if Duke doesn’t upset outright.
Arizona State Sun Devils (-20) @ Washington State Cougars: Fade the Cougars. Listen, the Sun Devils should put up 35-42 points on the Cougs. The Cougs won’t be scoring more than twice. That’s a cover. That fits with my #1 rule in betting college football, fade the cougars.
Florida Gators (-9) @ Louisiana State Tigers: The Tigers shouldn’t be a Top 5 team, they’ve been lucky to win 3 close games this year. I’m thinking Tebow is back, if he is, this is a 20 piecing by the Gators. I like Florida a lot.
Arizona Wildcats (-3) @ Washington Huskies: I like the Dawgs, they just struggle against teams that run the ball with physicality. The Wildcats won’t stop running the ball, no matter how much the Huskies bait them. Do the Dawgs have a chance? Sure, they have good coaches and one of the truly special players in college football, Jake Locker. But the Wildcats have the better team, and they should run the ball early and often to oust the Huskies.