 |
| Nick Fitzgerald and Mississippi State head to Georgia this weekend in a Bulldog battle |
Play of Week 3: "Hail Tyrie"
A battle between two defensive teams ended in a pretty offensive way last Saturday. With the game tied at 20 and nine seconds on the clock, Florida quarterback Felipe Franks took a snap from his own 37 yard line. He evaded pressure and steped up to the line of scrimmage to launch a pass right into the arms of receiver Tyrie Cleveland, who brought it down in the endzone with triple zeros on the clock.
(Mis)Play of Week 3: "O-H No"
Picks:
Record
Last Week: 17-4 vs. Spread: 9-10 O/U: 10-9
Season: 45-9 vs. Spread: 14-18 O/U: 18-14
(Home Teams Listed Last)
UNLV 14, #10 Ohio State 58 (Noon, BTN)
Line: OSU -40.5 Over/Under: 65.5
The Rebels of Nevada Las Vegas are 1-1 on the season, having lost to Howard and beaten Idaho. The Buckeyes got back on track after an ugly loss to Oklahoma, routing Army 38-7. Freshman running back J.K. Dobbins has been the most electrifying player for Ohio State so far, turning 55 carries into 425 yards and three touchdowns. OSU (which, after a court settlement, can still be used to refer to both Ohio State and Oklahoma State) should cruise.
NC State 32, #12 Florida State 35 (Noon, ABC/ESPN2)
Line: FSU -12.5 O/U: 51.5
N.C. State was a preseason sleeper in the eyes of many. ESPN analyst Cole Cubelic even had the Wolfpack in his projected top four. Well, North Carolina State isn't going to make the playoff after falling to South Carolina in their season opener, but the Wolf Pack could still make things interesting in Tallahassee on Saturday. The Seminoles haven't played since September 2 and will be breaking in a new quarterback. I think they'll still hold on, but it'll be close.
Kent State 10, #19 Louisville 61 (Noon, ACCN)
Line: LOU -44 O/U: 56
Louisville couldn't keep up with Clemson in last Saturday night's highly-anticipated matchup, so the Cardinals can take out their frustration on Kent State this Saturday. The Golden Flashes also lost to Clemson (56-3), and last week they got shutout by Marshall. Lamar Jackson and company should fly back into the win column.
Old Dominion 3, #13 Virginia Tech 38 (2:00 PM, ACCN)
Line: VT -28 O/U: 52.5
The Hokies have looked very good thus far, getting off to a 3-0 start that included a win over West Virginia. Both teams are coming off games against Carolina teams, albeit with much different results. Virginia Tech beat up on East Carolina 64-17, while Old Dominion fell to North Carolina 53-23. That adds up to a rout for VT this weekend.
#1 Alabama 42, Vanderbilt 28 (3:30 PM, CBS)
Line: ALA -18.5 O/U: 43
This game could be an intriguing one. Vanderbilt is 3-0 after an upset of Kansas State last week, and the Tide have to go to Nashville for a battle with the hot Commodores. I think Vandy will put up a spirited effort, but Alabama is ranked number one for a reason.
Boston College 7, #2 Clemson 55 (3:30 PM, ESPN2)
Line: CLEM -34 O/U: 52.5
Clemson looks like a real threat to defend its National Title, especially after handling Louisville last weekend. While the Tigers have won their last two games (both against ranked teams), the Eagles have been beaten pretty handily in their last two (both to unranked teams). Boston College stands no chance against Clemson's vicious defense and improving offense in Death Valley.
#5 USC 38, California 31 (3:30 PM, ABC)
Line: USC -17 O/U: 64.5
Here's another game that could prove to be interesting. Cal is 3-0 and gets to host in-state rival Southern Cal Saturday afternoon. I still think the Trojans are a Playoff contender, but they needed overtime to get rid of Texas last week. It could come down to the wire, but I think Sam Darnold and the Trojans prove too much for the Bears in the end.
#16 TCU 45, #6 Oklahoma State 62 (3:30 PM, ESPN)
Line: OKST -13.5 O/U: 71
Finally, we reach the first of this weekend's two ranked matchups. Expect lots of offense in this one (Oklahoma State and TCU rank fourth and 16th, respectively, in total offense), but don't necessarily expect it to be close. I think Oklahoma State is a lot better than TCU, and that starts with quarterback Mason Rudolph, who has thrown for 1,135 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Toledo 17, #14 Miami 35 (3:30 PM, ACCN)
Line: MIAMI -13.5 O/U: 61.5
Miami can't take Toledo for granted this weekend. First off, the Hurricanes haven't played in three weeks (because of the natural disaster they are named after), and Toledo is a strong MAC team led by senior quarterback Logan Woodside (1004 yards passing, 8 TD) and a three-headed running back monster that has the Rockets ranked 25th in the nation in rushing yards. In the end, though, I think the talented Canes (at home) will prove too much.
#8 Michigan 32, Purdue 24 (4:00 PM, Fox)
Line: MICH -10.5 O/U: 50
So, I guess Purdue is actually pretty good this year. Credit goes to new head coach Jeff Brohm, who has the Boilermakers at 2-1 (that one loss being a close affair with Louisville). After allowing Air Force to hang around for much of last week's game, the Wolverines must be leery of Purdue. Jim Harbaugh's boys should come out on top, but Purdue will make them sweat.
Nevada 14, #18 Washington State 45 (6:00 PM, PAC12N)
Line: WSU -28 O/U: 67.5
Washington State hasn't started 4-0 since 2001, and Mike Leach should get the Cougars there this weekend against winless Nevada. Washington State (unsurprisingly) ranks in the top ten in the country in passing offense, led by senior quarterback Luke Falk (900 yards passing, 9 TD). Meanwhile, Nevada ranks outside the top 100 in passing defense.
#3 Oklahoma 52, Baylor 21 (6:30 PM, FS1)
Line: OKLA -27.5 O/U: 63
These are two teams going in opposite directions. Baylor, a Big 12 champion not too long ago, has started 0-3 (losing to juggernauts Liberty, UTSA, and Duke), while Playoff contender Oklahoma followed up a statement win on the road against Ohio State with a thrashing of Tulane last weekend. Sooner quarterback Baker Mayfield has thrown for 1,046 yards and ten touchdowns. Baylor gave up 447 yards and three touchdowns to Liberty quarterback Stephen Calvert in Week 1. This won't end well for the Bears.
#17 Mississippi State 20, #11 Georgia 17 (7:00 PM, ESPN)
Line: UGA -4.5 O/U: 48
Two teams chasing Alabama in the SEC face off in this weekend's marquee game. Mississippi State impressed in a 37-7 rout of LSU last week, while Georgia beat up on Samford a week after squeaking by Notre Dame. Both teams have relied on good defense and balanced offensive attacks, and I could see ether team winning the Battle of the Bulldogs. I'll go with dual-threat quarterback Nick Fitzgerald and Mississippi State.
#22 San Diego State 27, Air Force 21 (7:00 PM, CBSSN)
Line: SDSU -3 O/U: 47
Another team that impressed last weekend was the Aztecs of San Diego State, who upset Stanford. Air Force, which hung with Michigan last week, will prove a tough opponent, but I think SDSU will prevail on the shoulders of the defense and running back Rashaad Penny (who leads the nation in rushing yards).
Syracuse 13, #25 LSU 32 (7:00 PM, ESPN2)
Line: LSU -21 O/U: 56.5
LSU will look to bounce back after an embarrassing loss to Mississippi State last weekend. LSU isn't as good as people thought, and the Tigers may not even be good enough to be ranked. But they are better than 2-1 Syracuse, and they shouldn't have too much trouble with the Orange.
#4 Penn State 30, Iowa 31 (7:30 PM, ABC)
Line: PSU -13 O/U: 52
Like I said, we could see at least one shocking upset this weekend. This is the one I'm predicting. Yes, Penn State is a National Championship threat with a bearish defense and Heisman Trophy favorite Saquon Barkley in the backfield, but the Hawkeyes have looked good too, and they pulled off some upsets last season (against Michigan and Nebraska). I think Kirk Ferentz's squad finds a way Saturday night in Iowa City.
#15 Auburn 29, Missouri 10 (7:30 PM, ESPNU)
Line: AUB -17.5 O/U: 60
A week after losing by a touchdown (and two-point conversion) to Clemson, Auburn let Mercer hang around in an eventual 24-10 win. While the Tiger offense has been stagnant at times, the defense has been stout. That doesn't bode well for Missouri, which was held to three points by Purdue last week.
#20 Florida 21, Kentucky 13 (7:30 PM, SECN)
Line: FLA -2 O/U: 44
The Gators are feeling high after a Hail Mary to beat Tennessee last weekend. Florida can't overlook 3-0 Kentucky after that exciting win, and I don't think they will. This is still a defensive team with offensive questions, but quarterback Felipe Franks and the crew are making progress.
#7 Washington 35, Colorado 24 (10:00 PM, FS1)
Line: WASH -11.5 O/U: 50
Another team not to be taken lightly this weekend is unbeaten Colorado, which will host the seventh-ranked Washington Huskies Saturday night. Neither team has been tested thus far, but both will be this week. Colorado quarterback Steven Montez has actually thrown for more yards this season (858) than Washington signal-caller Jake Browning (798), but I think Browning and the Huskies escape Colorado with a win over the Buffaloes.
#24 Oregon 48, Arizona State 32 (10:00 PM, PAC12N)
(Interception is at 1:09 in video)
Miami (Ohio) lead in-state rival Cincinnati 17-14 with just over a minute remaining in regulation. All the RedHawks needed was a first down. They faced third and seven from their own seven. Quarterback Gus Ragland dropped back and tried to force the ball in between two defenders. That was a bad idea, as Cincinnati's Malik Clements intercepted the pass and galloped into the endzone, putting the Bearcats up for good.Picks:
Record
Last Week: 17-4 vs. Spread: 9-10 O/U: 10-9
Season: 45-9 vs. Spread: 14-18 O/U: 18-14
(Home Teams Listed Last)
UNLV 14, #10 Ohio State 58 (Noon, BTN)
Line: OSU -40.5 Over/Under: 65.5
The Rebels of Nevada Las Vegas are 1-1 on the season, having lost to Howard and beaten Idaho. The Buckeyes got back on track after an ugly loss to Oklahoma, routing Army 38-7. Freshman running back J.K. Dobbins has been the most electrifying player for Ohio State so far, turning 55 carries into 425 yards and three touchdowns. OSU (which, after a court settlement, can still be used to refer to both Ohio State and Oklahoma State) should cruise.
Line: FSU -12.5 O/U: 51.5
N.C. State was a preseason sleeper in the eyes of many. ESPN analyst Cole Cubelic even had the Wolfpack in his projected top four. Well, North Carolina State isn't going to make the playoff after falling to South Carolina in their season opener, but the Wolf Pack could still make things interesting in Tallahassee on Saturday. The Seminoles haven't played since September 2 and will be breaking in a new quarterback. I think they'll still hold on, but it'll be close.
Line: LOU -44 O/U: 56
Louisville couldn't keep up with Clemson in last Saturday night's highly-anticipated matchup, so the Cardinals can take out their frustration on Kent State this Saturday. The Golden Flashes also lost to Clemson (56-3), and last week they got shutout by Marshall. Lamar Jackson and company should fly back into the win column.
Line: VT -28 O/U: 52.5
The Hokies have looked very good thus far, getting off to a 3-0 start that included a win over West Virginia. Both teams are coming off games against Carolina teams, albeit with much different results. Virginia Tech beat up on East Carolina 64-17, while Old Dominion fell to North Carolina 53-23. That adds up to a rout for VT this weekend.
Line: ALA -18.5 O/U: 43
This game could be an intriguing one. Vanderbilt is 3-0 after an upset of Kansas State last week, and the Tide have to go to Nashville for a battle with the hot Commodores. I think Vandy will put up a spirited effort, but Alabama is ranked number one for a reason.
Line: CLEM -34 O/U: 52.5
Clemson looks like a real threat to defend its National Title, especially after handling Louisville last weekend. While the Tigers have won their last two games (both against ranked teams), the Eagles have been beaten pretty handily in their last two (both to unranked teams). Boston College stands no chance against Clemson's vicious defense and improving offense in Death Valley.
Line: USC -17 O/U: 64.5
Here's another game that could prove to be interesting. Cal is 3-0 and gets to host in-state rival Southern Cal Saturday afternoon. I still think the Trojans are a Playoff contender, but they needed overtime to get rid of Texas last week. It could come down to the wire, but I think Sam Darnold and the Trojans prove too much for the Bears in the end.
Line: OKST -13.5 O/U: 71
Finally, we reach the first of this weekend's two ranked matchups. Expect lots of offense in this one (Oklahoma State and TCU rank fourth and 16th, respectively, in total offense), but don't necessarily expect it to be close. I think Oklahoma State is a lot better than TCU, and that starts with quarterback Mason Rudolph, who has thrown for 1,135 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Line: MIAMI -13.5 O/U: 61.5
Miami can't take Toledo for granted this weekend. First off, the Hurricanes haven't played in three weeks (because of the natural disaster they are named after), and Toledo is a strong MAC team led by senior quarterback Logan Woodside (1004 yards passing, 8 TD) and a three-headed running back monster that has the Rockets ranked 25th in the nation in rushing yards. In the end, though, I think the talented Canes (at home) will prove too much.
Line: MICH -10.5 O/U: 50
So, I guess Purdue is actually pretty good this year. Credit goes to new head coach Jeff Brohm, who has the Boilermakers at 2-1 (that one loss being a close affair with Louisville). After allowing Air Force to hang around for much of last week's game, the Wolverines must be leery of Purdue. Jim Harbaugh's boys should come out on top, but Purdue will make them sweat.
Line: WSU -28 O/U: 67.5
Washington State hasn't started 4-0 since 2001, and Mike Leach should get the Cougars there this weekend against winless Nevada. Washington State (unsurprisingly) ranks in the top ten in the country in passing offense, led by senior quarterback Luke Falk (900 yards passing, 9 TD). Meanwhile, Nevada ranks outside the top 100 in passing defense.
Line: OKLA -27.5 O/U: 63
These are two teams going in opposite directions. Baylor, a Big 12 champion not too long ago, has started 0-3 (losing to juggernauts Liberty, UTSA, and Duke), while Playoff contender Oklahoma followed up a statement win on the road against Ohio State with a thrashing of Tulane last weekend. Sooner quarterback Baker Mayfield has thrown for 1,046 yards and ten touchdowns. Baylor gave up 447 yards and three touchdowns to Liberty quarterback Stephen Calvert in Week 1. This won't end well for the Bears.
Line: UGA -4.5 O/U: 48
Two teams chasing Alabama in the SEC face off in this weekend's marquee game. Mississippi State impressed in a 37-7 rout of LSU last week, while Georgia beat up on Samford a week after squeaking by Notre Dame. Both teams have relied on good defense and balanced offensive attacks, and I could see ether team winning the Battle of the Bulldogs. I'll go with dual-threat quarterback Nick Fitzgerald and Mississippi State.
Line: SDSU -3 O/U: 47
Another team that impressed last weekend was the Aztecs of San Diego State, who upset Stanford. Air Force, which hung with Michigan last week, will prove a tough opponent, but I think SDSU will prevail on the shoulders of the defense and running back Rashaad Penny (who leads the nation in rushing yards).
Line: LSU -21 O/U: 56.5
LSU will look to bounce back after an embarrassing loss to Mississippi State last weekend. LSU isn't as good as people thought, and the Tigers may not even be good enough to be ranked. But they are better than 2-1 Syracuse, and they shouldn't have too much trouble with the Orange.
Line: PSU -13 O/U: 52
Like I said, we could see at least one shocking upset this weekend. This is the one I'm predicting. Yes, Penn State is a National Championship threat with a bearish defense and Heisman Trophy favorite Saquon Barkley in the backfield, but the Hawkeyes have looked good too, and they pulled off some upsets last season (against Michigan and Nebraska). I think Kirk Ferentz's squad finds a way Saturday night in Iowa City.
Line: AUB -17.5 O/U: 60
A week after losing by a touchdown (and two-point conversion) to Clemson, Auburn let Mercer hang around in an eventual 24-10 win. While the Tiger offense has been stagnant at times, the defense has been stout. That doesn't bode well for Missouri, which was held to three points by Purdue last week.
Line: FLA -2 O/U: 44
The Gators are feeling high after a Hail Mary to beat Tennessee last weekend. Florida can't overlook 3-0 Kentucky after that exciting win, and I don't think they will. This is still a defensive team with offensive questions, but quarterback Felipe Franks and the crew are making progress.
Line: WASH -11.5 O/U: 50
Another team not to be taken lightly this weekend is unbeaten Colorado, which will host the seventh-ranked Washington Huskies Saturday night. Neither team has been tested thus far, but both will be this week. Colorado quarterback Steven Montez has actually thrown for more yards this season (858) than Washington signal-caller Jake Browning (798), but I think Browning and the Huskies escape Colorado with a win over the Buffaloes.
Line: ORE -14.5 O/U: 75.5
To finish off the night, we have the Oregon Ducks, who have somewhat quietly made it back to relevancy, and the Arizona State Sun Devils, who have not. This might be Oregon's toughest test so far, but the Ducks should still be able to run past 1-2 ASU.
Stats, Information, Lines, and Over/Unders via ESPN.com
Spreads and Over/Unders are as of Friday Afternoon
To stay up to date on the newest Head in the Game articles (and general sports commentary), follow @headingameblog on Twitter (you can also find me on Twitter @G_Tingley)
To finish off the night, we have the Oregon Ducks, who have somewhat quietly made it back to relevancy, and the Arizona State Sun Devils, who have not. This might be Oregon's toughest test so far, but the Ducks should still be able to run past 1-2 ASU.
Stats, Information, Lines, and Over/Unders via ESPN.com
Spreads and Over/Unders are as of Friday Afternoon
To stay up to date on the newest Head in the Game articles (and general sports commentary), follow @headingameblog on Twitter (you can also find me on Twitter @G_Tingley)
No comments:
Post a Comment