You Can Bet On It (Week 3)

You Can Bet On It! (9/14/2017)

Welcome back,

Yet another week in the book and although last week was not a bad week it certainly isn’t anything you want to brag about, at the very least it was 2-2 so progresses is being made. Now it’s true that most teams this early on are still filled with question marks and as the season goes on, especially as we get closer to conference play, teams will be easier to figure out. Now was this happen not only goes Vegas spreads become a lot closer but if you have been paying attention to teams throughout the year the games will get easier to pick. With all that being said this is not that week as a lot of games are going to be filled with big spreads as the big 5 conference teams are still for the most part playing much easier opponents so I can going to do my best to give 4 games I hope will turn my year around now that I have finally gotten on the right side of the board.

Kentucky vs South Carolina, Columbia SC, 3:30pm

Spread: South Carolina by 5 ½ points

Over/Under: 51points

First and foremost Kentucky is much more of a basketball school than they are with football and you if you go back and view their previous years records you will see that easily. On the other side of the ball in this matchup South Carolina has built a solid football team for many years and this year they have not given any reason to think they won’t continue to be a quality football team. Now I am going to take South Carolina in this matchup not only because history says it is a good idea but because Kentucky was not able to cover the spread in either of their first 2 games and those were against Southern Miss and Eastern Kentucky and have not scored more than 27 in either of those games. South Carolina on the other hand was able to cover the spread against much better school in North Carolina State and Missouri in the last two week while scoring over 30 in both contests. With that all being said I think the over/under is going to be pretty close but I’ll take the over barley and South Carolina easily covering the spread.

South Carolina:31 Kentucky: 21

Michigan vs Air Force, Ann Arbor MI,  12:00pm

Spread: Michigan by 27 points

Over/Under: 54 points

This another one of those high spread games that are always cause for pause for most people trying to pick against the spread, however I see a big opportunity to take a gamble. Michigan is not the team they were last year with all the players the lost last year to the NFL draft and there is serious concern regarding the QB position in Ann Arbor. As for Air Force they are never going to be at the Michigan level and there is very little to go off of this season given they only played the Virginia Military Keydets and seeing as this is the first I have heard of them I am a little concerned. Now with all that being said 27 is a very large spread and Air Force always knows how to throw the ball, combined that with all of the questions on the Michigan squad I will take Air Force and the over even though I don’t believe Air Force can win this game, I do think they will cover that 27 point spread.

Michigan: 38 Air Force: 21

North Carolina vs Old Dominion, Norfolk VA, 3:30pm

Spread: North Carolina by 7

Over/Under: 57  points

For starters, yes, I do understand that this one seems a little obvious and should be by lock of the week given how small the spread is and the level of teams facing off. Well I did think about this as the game of the week however a couple of things kept me from doing that, one of which being the lack luster start North Carolina has gotten off to and their lack of being able to cover a spread so far this year. Now Old Dominion has not and is not a team any ACC team should worry about beating however the spread only being 7 points is a bit shocking considering even with Old Dominion being decent team for the level they play at. I do believe North Carolina should be able to finally find their rhythm in this game and finally get a win and it should be by more than 7, so I am going to take the Tar Heels but go with the under in a game that I feel will be lower scoring and closer than most people would think.

North Carolina: 34 Old Dominion:21

LOCK OF THE WEEK

Iowa State vs Akron, Akron OH, 12:00pm

Spread: Iowa State by 10

Over/Under: 62 ½ points

This match up is pretty obvious why I would choose it my lock of the week and that’s because to be perfectly honest Iowa State is a very good and underrated team and well Akron is not either of those things. Iowa State is coming off a tough overtime loss to in state rival in a great game against Iowa, on the other hand Akron is coming off of a blow out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and yes that is a real school. Given the fact that Iowa has covered the spread in both of their first two games even with the loss and Akron being as well bad as they are I don’t foresee a team like Iowa State having any problem taking out last week’s frustrations on the Zips. I will take Iowa State by way more than the 10 they are favored and I will also take the over.

Iowa State: 45 Akron:27

Current Record: 2-5-1

Last Week: 2-2