You Can Bet On It (Week 13)

You Can Bet On It! (11/23/17)

Welcome back,

Happy Thanksgiving everyone I hope everyone who reads this has had a great turkey day with great friends or family like I did. I would like to say that I am thankful for all the great football that I have been lucky enough to be able to see this season. All though my team has fallen short and likewise so have my picks this season has only increased my joy for all college football. For the sake of possibly losing some people due to left over itis, I will try and crotch grab this week’s pick to victory like Baker Mayfield at Kansas.

Utah State vs Air Force, Colorado Springs, CO, 10:15pm

Spread:  Air Force by 2

Over/Under: 57 points

This isn’t a game that most other people are not going to clamor to watch but based on the spread you might want to. Now neither team is really fighting for anything that much matter other than maybe pride. Utah State has had quite a disappointing year and does not have many good win to hang their hat on, while Air Force has underperformed in my opinion. That being said being that is under a field goal spread when Air Force is at home it’s a no brainer to me to go with Air Force and most likely the over as I don’t see much defense played in this game

Air Force: 38 Utah State: 28

North Carolina vs North Carolina State, Raleigh, NC, 3:30pm

Spread: North Carolina State by 17

Over/Under: 57 points

A few weeks ago if you gave me this game with the same spread I would of had a harder time to figure out how the spread would play out. However now as things stand  North Carolina is still bad yet they are starting to play better football as of late while the opposite can be said of North Carolina State after they lost to Norte Dame and Clemson in back to back weeks. I am going to take North Carolina in this one because of this tread but also because it is a rivalry game after all and 17 points is quite a large spread for such. Give me the under to go with it seeing as I don’t have a ton of faith in either offense.

North Carolina: 17 North Carolina State: 24

UNLV vs Nevada, Reno, NV, 2:00pm

Spread: Nevada by 2 ½ points

Over/Under: 67 ½ points

I don’t really have reasoning for picking this game other than it seems fitting given the fact it’s the battle of the gambling game, I don’t think that’s the name of this rivalry but it should be. Both teams are quite bad but I have a feeling and seeing as we are talking about spreads give me UNLV and the over in what I hope is a crazy game fitting of two major gambling cities.

UNLV: 48 Nevada: 45

LOCK OF THE WEEK

Notre Dame vs Stanford, Stanford CA, 8:00pm

Spread:  Notre Dame by2 ½ points

Over/Under: 55 points

Notre Dame is in a skid when it comes to the spread and they finally actually have to play on the road for what feels like the second time all year. This Notre Dame was overrated in my opinion most of the year and quite frankly still is if I am being honest. Stanford on the other hand has a pretty solid year all things considered given they were not one of the California teams that got any attention when the year started. I will take Stanford at home to win but I will take the under in a game I don’t see much scoring in.

Notre Dame: 21 Stanford: 27

Current Record: 20-26-2

Last Week: 2-2-0

You Can Bet On It (Week 12)

You Can Bet On It! (11/16/17)

Welcome back,

Yay chaos! I cannot say that enough and you can verify that with Dan Snyder if you think that I am lying. I have said it before and will continue to say that this is the reason I love college football and believe that every sports fan should too. In no other sport that I can think of is chaos such an important part of the entertainment, at any point in time seasons can be destroyed, teams can climb to be contenders, and nothing is settled until the end of the year. Now I think it’s great however it was not that way with my picks but that shouldn’t really surprise me seeing as for every week I have taken a step forward the next I get beat like Notre Dame last Saturday…bad. I will do my best to get off of the mat this week but I make not such guarantee.

Michigan vs Wisconsin, Madison WI, 7:00pm

Spread:  Wisconsin by 7 ½ points

Over/Under: 41 points

Now first of all in any other year I would probably avoid this game as it is usually always a marquee matchup for the Big 10. However I don’t think that this one will be for a couple of reason and I might have felt differently if this game was played in the big house. Wisconsin is still flying under the radar for most including the college football playoff committee for being undefeated. Michigan on the other hand has tried very hard to get back on track but the key losses from last year and the slowed pace of player development have them already looking into next year. I believe Wisconsin knows they need a statement game where they put up a convincing win and there are fewer better teams to do that against other than Michigan, so I will take Wisconsin and the over.

Michigan: 14 Wisconsin: 35

Purdue vs Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 3:30pm

Spread: Iowa by 8 ½ points

Over/Under: 41 points

Oh Iowa the ban of my existence as a fan and as a person looking to make the right picks yet here you are again grabbing my attention. Iowa has been a roller coast of a team this year, winning big games at time but also blowing other. Purdue…well not so much but I will say they have played most of their games close especially in those that they lost. That however does not excuse losing to Rutgers because that is just a plain ole bad look for any college team in the FBS. I will take Iowa in this one because they are at home and if they can beat my Buckeyes at home in convincing fashion then you have to be able to roll on a team that lost to Rutgers and the over because 41 is just too low for 

college football.

Iowa: 31 Purdue: 13

Fresno State vs Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 2:00pm

Spread: Pick

Over/Under: 41 ½ points

I am going to be completely honest on this one I don’t know much about either of these teams as I have not seem much of them. I do know Wyoming has a hell of a quarterback and has beaten some solid teams along the way this season plus they are at home. SO I just went with my gut when I saw it and am going to say Wyoming and the over because again why so many low spreads, maybe I should my pick on those next year?

Wyoming: 35 Fresno State: 31

LOCK OF THE WEEK

Iowa State vs Baylor, Waco TX, 12:00pm

Spread:  Iowa State by 9 ½ points

Over/Under: 54 ½ points

This game seems crazy obvious and so much so that I feel like I am missing something. Iowa State has been the surprise of college football this year and rightfully so with the big wins they have had and yes they have lost some close games to big school and maybe a few they should have one. The reason this game is head scratching to me is such a low spread against a Baylor team that has only one win even. Yes they are at home which can give them some advantage in this contest but I just don’t see the talent level as being anywhere close to equal. I think Iowa State will bounce back after two straight losses and do so in impressive fashion again a Baylor team that is, to put it nicely, lacking. Give me Baylor and the over because this is the Big 12 football after all and defense is overrated.

Iowa State: 42 Baylor: 18

Current Record: 18-24-2

Last Week: 0-4-0

You Can Bet On It (Week 11)

You Can Bet On It! (11/9/17)

Welcome back,

Well my college football teams hope have now gone the toilet like most of my picking ability has seemed to this year. Now I have some hope considering my picks last week but I am going to just jump into my picks this week and hope for the best so here we go.

Alabama vs Mississippi State, Starkville MS, 7:00pm

Spread:  Alabama by 14 points

Over/Under: 50 ½ points

This is an easy choice for me based on a couple of factors one of which this is still Alabama after all and they could produce a blow out at any time. Other factors are the 14 points is the smallest spread Alabama has seen all year, this along with the fact that Mississippi State was losing late in the game to UMass last week. I’m not fazed by Mississippi State being at home as I don’t think it will help them much in the contest which due to the love given to the SEC is seen as a much closer matchup than it should be. I will take Alabama no question and the over, so I guess roll tide!

Alabama: 38 Mississippi State: 17

Iowa vs Wisconsin, Madison WI, 3:30pm

Spread:  Wisconsin by 12 ½ points

Over/Under: 46 points

This might be the game I am most unsure of this week with my picks because I have been unable to place who either of these two teams are this year. Wisconsin has been a strong team but does lack competition considering they play the weaker of the Big Ten divisions even though they have looked strong all year. Iowa on the other hand does have a hard time on the road and certainly can do damage at home as I saw to my pain last week against my Buckeyes. That being said I think Iowa is a much better team than most give credit yet could still be overlooked. I will take Iowa and the points to play a much closer game than most think and the over which is crazy low.

Iowa: 28 Wisconsin: 32

Georgia vs Auburn, Auburn AL, 3:30pm

Spread: Georgia by 2 ½ points

Over/Under: 48 points

Well this spread seems like an insult to Georgia who has had quite a strong season so far and is currently ranked number one in the college football playoff rankings. Now Auburn is at home and they have not had a bad season however they haven’t really played anyone except for Clemson and they still lost to a way overrated LSU team. I don’t see any reason why Georgia shouldn’t win this game and by a field goal seems more than reasonable to me, and again I’ll take the over because I don’t know where these low predictions are coming from.

Georgia: 31 Auburn: 21

LOCK OF THE WEEK

Kansas vs Texas, Berkeley CA, 6:00pm

Spread: Texas by 33 points

Over/Under: 55 points

This maybe one of my boldest predictions considering the extremely large spread however I do feel like it is warranted in this situation for one main reason. Kansas is bad and I mean really, really, really bad considering last week they were the underdog to Baylor who had not one a game up to that point and they did lose that contest.  Texas has not been anything to write home about and has burned me more than once this year but they have been getting better with each week that along with the fact they have one missed the spread in 2 games this season I have faith. I will take Texas and the under in fear Kansas can’t even score.

Kansas: 3 Texas: 42

Current Record: 18-20-2

Last Week: 3-1-0

You Can Bet On It! (Week 10)

You Can Bet On It! (11/2/17)

Welcome back,

At this point I don’t have a clue about what the hell is going on in college football anymore, and if I’m being completely honest I kind of love it that way. In case you missed either Ohio State vs Penn State or the TCU vs Iowa State game I suggest you take the time and check out the highlights because both of those games can go down as instant classics. As I write this it’s only a few hours away from the first college football playoff rankings are to get announced and I do not envy the people in the room who have to make those choice because my head just thinking about all the craziness that has happened this season. As for my picks, it’s safe to say that I am not having a good year at least in this column and truth be told this is also one of my worse years in the last 10 years I have been making picks. So I will do my very best to turn this around before the end of the year, however at this point the safe bet would be on me not being able so……

Memphis vs Tulsa, Tulsa OK, 8:00pm (11/3)

Spread:  Memphis by 12 points

Over/Under: 78 points

First thing that caught my eye was that this game started off at 14 ½ point in Memphis favor and has dropped 2 points in only two days, that means a lot of bets have been made on Tulsa to keep it within 2 touchdowns and Vegas is correcting for those large bets. Now I can’t think of a reason for why so many bets have come in on Tulsa unless someone knows about a ref being bought to affect the outcome and I’m not aware of it. Memphis has only one loss on the season while Tulsa has only two wins on the season against a much easier schedule than Memphis when compared. Neither team seems to care much for play defense which can be seen in the over/under, I am going to take the over because of that and try and take advantage of the Vegas correction and take Memphis to cover the 12.

Memphis: 48 Tulsa: 31

North Carolina State vs Clemson, Raleigh NC, 3:30pm

Spread:  Clemson by 7 ½ points

Over/Under: 51 points

This is much more intriguing game than most people would think considering together both of these teams have lost a total of 3 games this season. Clemson is currently in a playoff push with only one loss and North Carolina State had a chance to be a Cinderella of college football until they went into South Bend last week. I could honestly see either one of the spreads come out this one because this is a contest between two ACC powerhouses who know each other well. I view this as a dog fight that will go down to the last possession mainly because North Carolina State is going to be at home and they are trying to play spoiler at the hands of a conference foe. I will take NC State to stay within the touchdown and the over because I think it is a little low for such a contest

North Carolina State: 31 Clemson: 27

Iowa State vs West Virginia, Morgantown WV, 3:30pm

Spread: West Virginia by 2 ½ points

Over/Under: 60 points

So I guess this week I am on a big game kick because this is another game that I would recommend tuning into if you have chance. Iowa State this year has been a mix between Cinderella in their own right but they have also been a nightmare for other power houses as well, just ask Oklahoma and TCU. West Virginia is not a joke of a team either and a getting the almost customary 3 point favorite that should be the home team. I just have a gut feeling that Iowa State is not a fluke and should not be treated as such as like as Matt Campbell is coaching and making a QB an amazing LB and winning games with the 3^rd strong QB. I will take Iowa State to further prove that once again to any remaining doubters that they are the real deal in another strong road win and I’ll take the over to boot because well no one in the Big 12 plays defense.

Iowa State: 38 West Virginia: 32

LOCK OF THE WEEK

California vs Oregon State, Berkeley CA, 10:30pm

Spread: Carolina by 8 points

Over/Under: 55 points

I am aware that my locks of the week have been as successful as JuJu Smith-Schuster’s bike lock so proceeded with caution for my sake. Now California should have been a much better them than they are this year and have been under preforming at every turn. Oregon State however has never expected to be that good this year and they certainly have shown that with only one win to date. The reason I am going to take California as my lock this week is because they are going to be at home and Oregon State has really struggled, which is saying something for them, on the road this year. California should be much better than they have played and this is a game for them to show that but I don’t have much faith in either team so I’ll go with the under as well.

California: 28 Oregon State: 13

Current Record: 15-19-2

Last Week: 1-3-0