Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ Army Black Knights (+10): I like Rutgers, I picked them last week and they lost, but that’s not why I’m going against them here. The Black Knights play close games, and really, the final scores in their losses don’t completely show how well they’ve hung in with almost every single opponent this year. They were down just 1 going into the 4th quarter of their 19-35 loss to the Duke Blue Devils. They were tied at 13 midway through the 4th quarter in their 27-13 loss to a solid Temple team. They’ve played well against almsot everyone, are 3-4 on the season, and can really run with toughness. Two running teams, a Friday Night game on ESPN, I’ll take the 10-point home underdog, thanks.
Tag Archives: Week 8 NCAA Picks
South Florida Bulls vs Pittsburgh Panthers Free NCAA Pick
South Florida Bulls (+7) @ Pittsburgh Panthers: The Panthers don’t blow good teams out, they aren’t that kid of squad. South Florida has a very quick defense, and I think that ends up limiting the Panthers in this one. Isn’t it time for Pittsburgh to start losing games they are supposed to win? The Panthers have just one loss, to a mediocre to bad North Carolina State team, a couple one score wins in a row won’t help the Panthers in this one. South Florida fights back after a tough loss last week to Cincinnati. You can run on the Panthers, and the Bulls will – that’s enough to take the 7 here. Give me the Bulls.
Arkansas Razorbacks vs Mississippi Rebels Football Pick
Arkansas Razorbacks (+6.5) @ Mississippi Rebels: I have to be honest here, the Rebels just kind of gross me out. All pre-season all I heard about was how great Jevan Snead was going to be, he was highly ranked, touted as a Top NFL Prospect. So far the kid hasn’t completed 50% of his passes and Ryan freaking Mallet looks like a better pro prospect than him. The Razorbacks lost a close one to Georgia, then got blown out by Alabama, and took a tough three point loss to the Gators last week – but they have talent, and they can put up points on any defense in the Nation. Ole Miss has not impressed me, beating up on teams like Vanderbilt and UAB doesn’t make up for looking like absolute dump against South Carolina and Alabama in losses. The Razorbacks just have to fight that post-Florida hangover, and they’ll cover this easily. Arkansas has won 4 of the last 5 against Ole Miss, covering in each of those 5 contests. I’ll take them for 6 in a row…
Connecticut Huskies vs West Virginia Mountaineers Pick
UConn Huskies (+7.5) @ West Virginia Mountaineers: The Huskies have to have heavy hearts coming into this game, but I’ll be rooting for them, and I think they have a very good chance. The Connecticut Huskies are as good as any team West Virginia has played thus far, and the Mountaineers haven’t impressed me with their ability to step on the gas. I know a lot has happened this week since their teammate was stabbed and killed at a school dance, and different teams react different ways, but from what I’ve heard from the Huskies, I like their chances to keep this one close on Saturday. I speak from experience when I say that a teammates death can cause a team to really come together, to rely on each other, to put the team first – those are all key things in team success. I’ll take them and a touchdown plus.
Maryland Terrapins vs Duke Blue Devils NCAA Pick
Maryland Terrapins @ Duke Blue Devils (-4.5): I know Duke is Duke, and that this isn’t college hoops or Lacrosse, but they’ve impressed me so far this season. Playing tough against Virginia Tech, then beating up on NC State, you have to like that sequence moving forward. They easily could have ran with that close Va Tech game, and just came out sluggish against the Wolfpack, but no, they came out drilling NC State from the get go. At 3-3, they are much improved from the terrible Duke days. Thaddeus Lewis is a game breaking QB, and they do other things well to. Duke hasn’t beaten Maryland since 1999, but this is as good a year as any. You never know what you’re going to get with Maryland, a beat down by Rutgers, a loss to Middle Tennessee, an overtime win over James Madison, or an upset over Clemson – who will you get? I’m expecting Duke to draw that pathetic team with all those losses, lets hope it’s not the Maryland team that downed Clemson. I never though I’d see myself taking Duke as a favorite, lets hope that doesn’t backfire.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane V UTEP Miners Free College Pick
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (-7.5) @ UTEP Miners: The Wednesday Night Football Game on ESPN pits two teams against each other that have been very even over the years. You take away last seasons 77-35 beating the Hurricane put on the Miners, and you see 3 very close games over the last few seasons. The home team has taken 5 of the last 6 games in this match-up, and this game will be played on UTEP’s home field. But, a streak has to end sometime, and I think Wednesday is one of those times. UTEP has had about a week and a half to get ready for this game, and Wednesday Night will have a nice crowd for the Miners, but Tulsa played last Wednesday, giving them a full normal week of practice to get ready to stomp the Miners. These teams aren’t equal. Tulsa has pretty much handled everybody they’ve played besides Oklahoma and Boise State. And those aren’t bad teams. UTEP is 3-7 ATS at home in their last 10 games. While 72% of the public likes Tulsa, the bottom line is, so do I. I’ve never let the public perception change my view, and while crazy ish happens on Mid-Week games, I am pretty confident that the Hurricane get a double digit win at UTEP today!
NCAA Free Picks: Week 8
Tough week for me last time around, I’m still up on the year but my positive money is dwindling a bit. Here’s what I have for Week 8 – which should be great – where my wins won’t be late – hate, mate, kate, rate, don’t eat the bait – and so on and so forth. 😉
LSU Tigers (-3) @ South Carolina: You bet – free money. LSU is so much better than South Carolina that I can’t even fathom losing this game. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, I just can’t fabricate a situation that sees LSU losing back to back games, their second being to South Carolina – no way no how.
Missouri Tigers (+6) @ Texas Longhorns: Maybe Texas is better and this game is at home for them, but I just have a feeling that Texas won’t keep playing great and Missouri will be on their best behavior after ruining a chance at perfection while losing last week.
Virginia Tech @ Boston College (-2.5): I like my chances with this one. VaTech plays well, and they are talented, but Boston College is a solid team playing on the road, and they got Tech last time the two went head to head. I see the Eagles pulling this one out.
Oregon State Beavers (-13.5) @ Washington Huskies: Free money again. This fits so many of my “good bet” categories I’m not even going into detail.
Mississippi State Bulldogs (+7.5) @ Tennessee Volunteers: The Vols aren’t good and while Miss State isn’t great either, they are just about equal with Tennessee. The fact that Tennessee usually just stops the Dogs in this match-up gets me excited for MSU having a chance and making it happen. I like the upset here so the points look good.
Utah State Aggies (+21) @ Nevada Wolfpack: I just don’t think Nevada should be favored by 3 touchdowns against anyone in their conference, and despite the Aggies attempt to crush my soul be getting pounded by San Jose State last week, I think they are a good bet here.
Pittsburgh Panthers @ Navy Midshipmen (+3.5): First of all, this game won’t come down to points – either the Midshipmen or they’ll get beat pretty good. I think Navy wins this game. Pittsburgh loves to take teams lightly, Navy has a gnarly rushing attack, and PIttsburgh doesn’t have enough offensive firepower to handle the Midshipmen’s biggest weakness, their defense.
USC Trojans (+42) @ Washington State Cougars: This spread is freaking huge – I’ll take it. Bet against Washington – it’s been a working motto for me thus far and I’m sticking to it, through thick and borderline crazy. The Cougars have already lost 3 Pac-10 games by 40+, I don’t see why the best Pac 10 team (USC) can’t be the 4th to do so.
Kansas Jayhawks (+20) @ Oklahoma Sooners: I just think Kansas is closer to Oklahoma’s level than this. OK will be up to play this game after having their #1 ranking plundered from them, and I think they win this game, just not by this much.
Ohio State Buckeyes (-3) @ Michigan State Spartans: Really? Hmm… I don’t see it that close. I see Ohio State by a touchdown, even on the road. I wouldn’t doubt if OSU doubled my spread. The Spartans are 6-1, but they aren’t that good. They don’t have one quality win on their schedule thus far – and that won’t change this weekend against the chestnuts.