Kent/Wyoming

It's the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The Golden Flashes finished 7-6 and first in the MAC East Division. The Cowboys were 6-6 and finished fourth in the Mountain Division of the MWC.

Kent averages 30.3 PPG, while the Cowboys average only 23.5. The Golden Flashes have struggled defensively, but they catch a big break here facing this stagnant Cowboys' offense. 

Wyoming dropped six of its last final eight games. Sean Chambers is going to have to shoulder the load here with the Golden Flashes stacking the box. Chambers threw more INT's than TD's this year. 

The Cowboys have one of the worst run defenses in the country, which plays right into Kent's strength on the offensive side.

I think the outright is possible, but let's grab the points. 8* SPECIAL on Kent. 

UL Lafayette/Marshall

This is the New Orleans Bowl. While the outright is possible, let's grab the points.

This is a neutral site game, but Lafayette should have more fans in the stands because of the proximity, but regardless I like the underdog in this one. The Herd finished 7-5. Marshall averages 34 points per game, while allowing 22.8.

The No. 17 Ragin Cajuns beat App State 24-16 in the Sun Belt Conferece Championship game. UL Lafayette averages 30.7 PPG, while allowing 18.3.

The Herd have the offense to keep pace and their defense will be one of hte best that the Cajuns have faced all season.

I expect a war until the final horn. 10* PLAYBOOK on Marshall. 

Houston/Cincinnati.

The Cougars went 11-1 on the season, while the Bearcats enter at 12-0. With a win today, Cincinnati can become the first group of five conference program to reach the Playoff since it was started back in 2014. 

Houston averages 38.8 PPG. QB Clayton Tune was great with 3,013 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. Alton McCaskill has 844 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground.

The Cougars have been stout defensively as well, allowing 19.8 PPG.

That defense will be tested like it hasn't seen all season though with the Bearcats offense that averages 39.6 PPG. Desmond Ritter has 3,000 passing yards and 27 TD's, along with 342 rushing yards and six rushing TD's. 

The Bearcats defense has also been remarkable, allowing just 15.8 PPG.

Finally note that Cincinnati is 4-1 ATS in its last five following an ATS victory, while the Cougars are just 4-11 ATS in their last 15 following a SU win of more than 20 points.

Lay the points, expect a blowout. Cincinnati 10* Game of the Week. 

Georgia Southern/App State

No outright, but closer than expected.

This is the "Deeper Than Hate Rivalry" matchup at the Kidd Brewer Stadium. Georgia Southern is off a 34-17 home loss to BYU as a 20-point underdog.

App State though has already locked up top spot and a place in the conferene title game, so I expect it to take the proverbial "foot off the gas" in the second half.

And that'll leave the door WIDE open for the Eagles to run through here. Connor Cigelske was a bright spot in his team's loss last weekend going 11 of 14 for 122 yards, while also rushing for 20 more. Overall the Eagles average 21.8, while allowing 31.8.

The Mountaineers have nothing to play for here. They average 36.5 PPG, while allowing 20.4. Chase Brice is amazing, but I expect the team to play conservative in the second half.

This spread is too large. Georgia Southern. 8* play. 

Houston/UConn

Outright win? I'm not saying that of course. But I think that Houston will go up big, then cost to victory here in the second half as it prepares for the Conference Championship game and its Bowl berth. 

Houston is 10-1 and off the 31-13 home win over Memphis (note that the Cougars are just 2-7 ATS in their last nine off a SU/ATS home win in which they held their opponent to 13 or fewer points in.)

UConn has only played three games this year that were decided by ten points or fewer. The Huskies are averaging 15.5 PPG, while conceding 37.9. 

Houston averages 38.2 PPG, while allowing 20.1. The only knock against the Cougars this season is their level of competition.

But it's senior night for UConn as well. I say that the Huskies comfortably sneak in through the back door. 10* COACHES CORNER on UCONN. 

USF/UCF

USF is 2-9. UCF is 7-4. This is senior night for the Knights, but I think they'll get caught looking past their lowly opponent today. 

While the Bulls are only 2-9 SU, they've been profitable for bettors this season at 6-5 ATS. 

And while UCF is 7-4 SU (including 6-0 at home), it's only 4-7 ATS (incl. just 3-3 ATS at home.)

With the majority of the public money on the favorite here, I say this line is absolutely inflated.

USF lost this game by a score of 58-46 last season, and I expect a similar effort from the Bulls here as well.

The numbers/trends and overall situation points to the points as the savvy move. 8* Playbook on USF. 

Missouri/Arkansas.

Both teams are bowl eligible, but an upset victory today for the Tigers will ensure that they have nothing to worry about.

Arkansas is 7-4 overall, and 5-1 at home. It's off a "near miss" in its last game, falling 42-35 at Alabama as a 20.5-point underdog.

After that emotional setback, I say that the Razorbacks have a predictable mental letdown here. I'm not calling for a straight up upset or anything like that, but I do absolutely believe that the stage is set for a much tighter game than most are expecting.

The setback to Alabama actually broke a slide of five straight ATS losses for Arkansas.

The Tigers? They're off a thrilling 24-23 OT win at home over Florida to move to 6-5 and I say they have the offense and the overall motivation to keep this one interesting. 8* COACHES CORNER on Missouri. 

Wyoming/Utah State

This is a big game for 5-5 Wyoming, which needs one more win to become eligible. It does have another chance next weekend, but with nothing to lose here as it tries to score the upset, I do indeed expect the visiting side to keep this one close down the stretch.

The Cowboys are led by a rushing offense that is ranked 47th in the nation. Xazavian Valladay has 797 passing yards and five TD's. Titus Swen has 549 rushing yards and four major scores.

I say Utah State, which smashed SJSU 48-17 in its last game, gets caught complacent here.

Logan Bonner has 25 TD's and ten INT's this year, but the Cowboys are adept at defending the pass.

I expect the visiting to hang around late, so grab as many points as you can!

10* MOUNTAIN WEST GAME OF YEAR on Wyoming.

FSU/BC

Florida State has two more opportunities to become bowl eligible, while BC has already earned that at 6-4. That latest sixth win came last weekend in a 41-30 victory at Georgia Tech.

FSU salvaged its season with a last second win over Miami at Tallahassee as well, as QB Jordan Travis has 274 yards passing, along with 62 yards rushing and two TD's. 

Eagles' QB Phil Jurkovec accounted for five TD's in his team's win last weekend, but I say an inevitable letdown is imminent here for the Eagles, who are just 2-6 ATS in their last eight after scoring 40 or more points in a SU/ATS victory in their last outing.

8* HIGH-NOON BLOWOUT on FSU. 

Arizona/Washington State.

Arizona is 1-9. It has nothing to play for here. Washington State is 5-5. It has everything to play for here, especially with a tough matchup in the Apple Cup at Washington next weekend.

It's now or never for the Cougars to gain eligibility. They most recently fell 38-24 at Oregon. QB Jayden de Laura finished with 280 passing yards, two TD's and two INT's. 

I just can't see playing the role of spoiler being enough motivation for the Wildcats today. As Kramer once said to Jerry: "Stick a fork in them, they're done!" 

Arizona is off a 38-29 home loss to Utah. QB Will Plummer was decent with 223 yards passing and a TD.

The Wildcats concede 29.5 PPG this year, while the Cougars allow 26. 

Washington State though is 10-3 ATS in its last 13 against teams with losing records. Arizon hasn't fared nearly as well for bettors in this spot though, going just 2-7 ATS in its last nine conference road games as an underdog in the +13.5 to +15.5 points range. 

Good news for WSU's defense today is that Arizona is averaging just 17.8 PPG over its last five. 

Lay the points. 8* PLAYBOOK on Washington State. 

NIU/Buffalo.

Buffalo has two chances to try and earn eligibility. NIU is 7-3. The Huskies can improve their berth with a win, but I think the more desperate home side steps up and delivers in this crucial moment.

Buffalo is off a humbling 27-point loss to Miami Ohio. NIU posted a tight one-point win at home over Ball State for its seventh win of the year and I think it'll have a letdown here. Rocky Lombardi is in unchartered territory and I expect him to stumble.

This is Kyle Vantrease's moment to step up. The Bulls are 7-2 ATS in their last nine following a 24-points or greater SU/ATS loss in their previous outing.

The outright is possible, but grab the points!

8* SPECIAL on Buffalo. 

Bowling Green/Miami Ohio.

With a chance to earn bowl eligibility with a win today, I expect the Redhawks to not only win here today at home in this favorable matchup, but to do it in blowout style.

Bowling Green is just 3-7 SU this year. It's a disproportianate 7-3 ATS though. Miami Ohio is 5-5 SU and 4-6 ATS.

Bowling Green was just torched 49-17 at home by Toledo and I think it'll have a difficult time keeping pace here today as well as an even bigger underdog.

Miami Ohio ran up thescore in last weekend's 48-18 win here at home over Buffalo as a 7-point favorite and all signs point to a duplicate game-plan here.

10* COACHES CORNER Miami Ohio. 

Notre Dame/Virginia 

Both teams are eligible. Each is looking to improve its bowl berth now. An upset victory over the Irish would sure look good on the Cavs resume.

While it's not out of the question obviously, I'm going to grab the points in a contest which I envision being decided in the final moments.

The Irish have used three different QB's this season (Jack Coan, Tyler Buchner and Drew Pyne.) 

The Notre Dame defense is elite as well. Last week it held Navy to 6 points.

The Cavaliers won their sixth game of the year, then they came up short in last week's 66-49 loss to BYU on October 30th.

They come out of their bye week having posted 48 or more points in three straight games.

With a week off to prepare, I think UVA coach Bronco Mendenhall will have a good game-plan drawn up.

As I said, I think the outright/upset is possible, but let's grab the points. 10* PLAY-BOOK on UVA. 

Mississippi State/Auburn

Auburn is 6-3 and it's now bowl elgible. Mississippi State is just 5-4 though, so I expect it to fight tooth and nail today to also become eligible. Outright win is possible, but let's grab the points.

The Bulldogs are off a tight 31-28 loss to Arkansas, while Auburn fell 20-3 to Texas A&M.

Mississippi State has lost three straight in this series, so it'll be motivated to reverse that trend. 

The Bulldogs are led by dynamic QB Will Rogers (great name!), as he's completed nearly 75.2 percent of his passes. Auburn has struggled against the pass, which doesn't bode well facing a Mike Leach offense. 

The Tigers have been good under first-year head coach Bryan Harsin. RB Tank Bigsby is an offensive standout. 

Auburn though is 0-4 ATS in its last four home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Mississippi State on the other hand is 4-1 ATS in its last five as a conference road dog in the +4.5 to +6.5 points range.

The Bulldogs have so far covered as a road underdog in both such instances this season and everything points to that trend continuing today. 8* SHOW-DOWN on Mississippi State.

Wyoming/Boise State.

Wyoming if 5-4. Boise State is 5-4. The Cowboys are just 1-4 in conference, while the Broncos are 3-2. 

The Cowboys kept their bowl hopes alive with a big 31-17 home win over Colorado State. I say they keep it rolling here. QB Levi Williams had 92 passing yards and two TDs.

Boise State improved to one game over .500 last time out as well with a 40-14 road win at Fresno State, with QB Hank Bachmeier going 15 of 27 for 283 yards and a TD.

Ultimately though in this crucial game, I tihnk it'll be the Cowboys' stout defensive play which keeps them in it late (concede only 21.3 PPG).

Boise State is the better team, but I don't think by this many points. 10* PLAYBOOK on Wyoming. 

UNC/Pittsburgh.

UNC needs one more win to become eligible, but I think it'll come up short on the short week. The Tar Heels had fight from behind all day in last week's upset OT win at home over Wake Forest.

Can anyone say "letdown" spot?!

Pitt on the other hand is off a 54-29 win over Duke and I believe it's superior defense will prove to be the difference-maker today. 

The bottom line here is though, that this game doesn't in fact "mean more" to the Tar Heels. If Pitt wins out, then it'll earn a spot in the ACC Title game. 

The Panthers are a perfect 4-0 ATS in their last four after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game as well, while the Tar Heels are just 2-8 ATS in their last ten following a SU victory.

Lay the points and expect a decisive result.

10* ACC GAME OF YEAR on Pittsburgh. 

Ball State/NIU 

NIU is bowl eligible at 6-3, while Ball State needs one more victory as it's just 5-4. I think this matters. I believe the more desperate team will find a way to victory this evening (and that hungrier tearm is definitely the Cardinals!)

NIU lost 52-47 at Kent State last time out and I think it comes in exhausted here. Ball State is off a 31-25 win at Akron, but it can't be happy with the performance as the Cardinals were a 20-point favorite in that one.

The Huskies are terrible defensively and the Cardinals are 7-2 ATS in their last nine as a road favorite in the -1.5 to -3.5 range.

I'm laying the points, the play here is Ball State.

Buffalo/Miami Ohio.

Buffalo is 4-5. It's gone 2-3 in conference play. They're off a 56-44 loss to Bowling Green. 

Miami Ohio is also 4-5. Both teams need two more victories to become bowl eligible. The Redhawks though are 3-2 in conference play. Off an upset 35-33 loss to Ohio, I like Miami Ohio to get back on track here in this crucial and important matchup.

The Bulls' offense revolves around RB Dylan Mcduffee, but their defense concedes 31.8 PPG. 

That's bad news facing the Redhawks, who have the 34th ranked passing attack in the country with 264 yards per game. Keep your eyes on QB Brett Gabbert, who already has 1,435 passing yards.

Buffalo's defensive issues come back to haunt it again. Lay the points, the play is Miami Ohio.

Mississippi State @ Arkansas

This is a big game for both teams, as each sits at 5-3. They each need one more win to become bowl eligible. However, I really do think that the home field will be a big advantage for the Razorbacks today.

Mississippi State is off a 31-17 home win over Kentucky, but I think it'll stumble here on the road. 

Arkansas State won't be lacking for motivation here obviously, as it's just 1-3 and last in the SEC West. Arkansas pulled off the upset 21-14 last year over Ole Miss as a 16.5-point dog. 

Will Rogers was 36 of 39 for Ole Miss last weekend, but I'm not expecting lightning to strike twice for him this weekend.

Arkansas comes in rested as well off its bye. The Razorbacks are 100% healthy and they're 7-2 ATS in their last nine when coming out of their bye week and playing at home.

Look for Ole Miss to stumble off last week's big win and for the rested home side to pull away down the stretch.

Duke @ Wake Forest

Duke comes into this ACC Matchup with a 3-4 record. Last week, they got absolutely torched by UVA 48-0. That makes them now 0-8 their past 8 games played against opponents from this conference. On the road this year, the Blue Devils are a sad 0-3 ATS. They've also allowed 440+ yards per game from their opponents.

The Demon Deaconds come into this game with a perfect 7-0 record. They are off a huge win against Army where they dropped 70 points on the scoreboard. Dating back a few seasons, Wake Forest is a dominant 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games played in October. QB Sam Hartman has been unbelievable this season as well. With 19 TDs and only 3INTs, while adding 4 more TDs on the ground, Wake couldn't be more happy.

With Wake Forest having beaten UVA by 20, and Duke losing to them by 50, I expect no short of an annihilation this Saturday. Take the Demon Deacons.

Michigan @ Michigan State

Two 7-0 teams collide on Saturday afternoon. This has all the feelings of a good old fashioned "slobber knocker." I think that the team that has possession of the football last is going to come out on top, it's seriously that close.

And so, that definitely means that I'm going to grab the points and the determined home side.

One thing benefitting MSU here is it comes out of its bye week. It's had an entire week off to prepare for this one. 

These teams are very similar on both sides of the ball. Their offenses for the most part revolve around the run game. 

MSU though is 5-1 ATS in its last six here against the Wolverines, while Michigan is interestingly 0-5 ATS in its last five against the East Division.

There are more on the line that just bragging rights this season. Major implications for the College Football Playoff race and the Big Ten are on the line today.

Everything points to, at the very least, a comfortable cover for the home side. The play is MSU.

Clemson @ Pittsburgh

I like Pittsburgh to keep the foot on the gas in this one. Clemson is 4-2 and 3-1 in the ACC, most recently coming off a tight 17-14 win against Syracuse, unable to cover the large spread.

The Panthers are 5-1 and 2-0 in conference. They most recently beat Virginia Tech 28-7. 

DJ Uiagalelei passed for 181 yards and one touchdown in Clemson's win last weekend, but he now faces one of the best defenses he's ever played against.

Pittsburgh has conceded just 35 points in its past three games and it hasn’t allowed more than 100 yards rushing in those contests. 

The Panthers are also 5-1 ATS in their last six against the Conference, while the Tigers are just 2-6 ATS in their last eight as a road dog in the +2.5 to +4.5 points range.

I think Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett is the difference-maker in the end.

Lay the points, the play is on Pittsburgh.

Cinci @ Navy

Now 6-0 including a huge win against the Irish at South Bend, the Bearcats are looking like one of the best teams in the nation yet again this year. With 16 total TDs and only 2 INTs, QB Desmond Ridder is definitely in the MVP conversation. He's looking to build on that against a struggling Navy squad.

To be completely honest, the Midshipmen have been awful. With a 1-5 record on the season, they are a miserable 1-10 in their last 11 games dating back to last season. Let's not forget in the last meeting against Cinci, Navy failed to even get on the board in the 42-0 loss (2018.)

Expect the #2 team in the country to absolutely destroy this weak Navy team. The line might scare people off, but it won't be enough, I guarantee it. Take Cinci

Army @ Wisconsin

Army is 4-1 after losing to Ball State on the road by 12 points. I think the Black Knights can bounce back here though. Wisconsin enters at 2-3 after beating Illinois by 24 on the road.

But despite stumbling last week, Army still averages 34.4 PPG. QB Christian Anderson has 431 rushing yrds and five touchdowns. 

The Badgers are coming off a shutout, but note that they're just 2-8 ATS in their last ten off a SU/ATS road shutout victory in which they scored 21 or more points in. QB Graham Mertz has 781 passing yards, but only two passing TD's.

Wisconsin is also just 2-5 ATS in its last seven at home, while the Black Knights are 6-1 ATS in their last seven after scoring less than 20 points in their last game.

The Badgers only average 19.6 PPG, while Army averages 20.8. I have a hard time seeing Wisconsin pulling away.

Grab the points, the play is Army.

Liberty @ UL Monroe

This is a complete mismatch no matter how you look at it.

Liberty comes into this game with only the one loss (5-1) against Syracuse, but they are 17-2 in thier last 19 games dating back to last season.

Louisiana Monroe is only 2-6 in their last 6 games played at home.

The Flames have limited opponents to only 164.5 passing yards per game, while UL Monroe has given up 466 total yards per game.

Take Liberty and expect it to be one of the biggest blowouts of the day

Sd St @ Sj St

Have you ever heard the story of David vs. Goliath? In that story, the underdog somehow manages to win against all odds.

That's not going to be the case here today though in my opinion. SDSU is led by RB Greg Bell offensively. So far he has 94 rushes for 520 yards (5.5 yards per carry) with five TD's. 

I can't see SJSU mustering much off an offensive attack against SDSU, which concedes just 16.6 points per contest. 

The Spartans only allow 23.8 PPG, but their strength of schedule has to be questioned. 

This is one of the best offenses that SJSU has seen. And there's no question it's the best defense it's seen.

Look for SDSU to pull away for a comfortable win and cover as this one comes down the stretch. ANNIHILATION on SDSU

Michigan @ Nebraska

Michigan is going to have a letdown, but it's not going to be this weekend.

The Wolverines are 5-0, most recently coming off a 38-17 victory over Wisconsin.

Nebraska is off a 56-7 win over Northwestern.

The Wolverines won four straight at home though before hitting the road and defeating the Badgers last weekend.

I just can't see the Huskers keeping pace with this high-flying Wolerines offense though that enters averaging 40.2 PPG. QB Cade McNamara has 731 yards passing and five TD's, while RB Blake Corum has 521 rushing yards and seven major scores on the ground.

Michigan allows just 12.8 PPG, while Wisconsin concedes 15.5

Previous to last week's win, the Huskers had lost two straight. Wisconsin averages 32.2 PPG, led by Adrian Martinez who has 1,463 passing yards, six TD's and two INT's. 

Nebraska though is a poor 1-5-1 ATS in its last seven home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

Michigan faced the best rush defense in the nation last weekend and still posted over 100 yards. 

Go with the Wolverines here to pull away down the stretch.

Coastal Carolina @ Arkansas State

Coastal Carolina is averaging 48.2 PP, which ranks second in the natoin. Its strength is its run game which ranks fifth in the nation. 

Arkansas State just gave up over 500 rushing yards in its last game. Arkansas State has scored 67 points over its last two games, but it's conceded 100. 

In fact Arkansas State currently ranks the second-worst in the FBS in allowing 45.6 PPG.

Each team's numbers are a bit skewed because of the level of competition it's faced, but regardless, we have essentially the No. 1 offense in the nation, going up against the worst defense in the country.

This one is going to get ugly fast and I simply don't see Grayson McCall and this stable of CC RB's taking the foot off the gas, even if they have a huge lead.

The Red Wolves are also just 1-5 ATS in their last six after allowing 40 or more points in their previous game, while CC is 7-2 ATS in its last nine on the road. 

Lay the points, the play is Coastal Carolina.

Florida @ Kentucky

Florida is good, but that loss to Bama could come back to haunt them later in the year. Although being 3-1 this season, the Gators are only 3-4 in thier last 7 games. CB Kaiir Elam will most likely play, but he might be bothered by his knee a bit this game. He's their only guy who's forced an INT this season so far.

Many may consider this Kentucky team a joke, but they are 4-0 for a reason. With wins over Mizzouri and South Carolina, the Wildcats are looking like one of their strongest groups in a long time. Dating back to last year, they've now won 6 straight games.

Florida is definitely the favorites and everyone expects them to blow UK out. But don't underestimate the Wildcats. I expect a close hard/rough game this Saturday. Give me Kentucky.

UL Monroe @ Coastal Carolina

After getting dominated in week 1, UL Monroe has won two straight to get back in the bowl hunt. Although they are 2-1, they've been awful on the road. Dating back to last season, the Warhawks are a terrible 0-9 in their last 9 road games. they are also 1-8 in their last 9 games played against teams in their Conference (Sun Belt.)

Coastal Carolina has been near perfect dating back to last season, with only the one loss. After last week's 53-3 win, the Chanticleers are a perfect 10-0 in their last 10 home games. I expect QB McCall to have anothe excellent game against this weak opponent.

This is a complete mismatch on both sides of the ball and the oddsmakers know it. The spread is big, but it's not big enough. Expect atleast a 40pt win for CCU.

Arkansas @ Georgia 

Off a dominant win against the Texas A&M Aggies last weekend, the Razorbacks sure aren't getting the respect that they deserve yet. Being ranked #8 is a good spot for them. But +19 against a team that's ranked 6 spots ahead of them, C'mon. If you didn't watch last weekend, Arkansas absolutely crushed A&M. 

Georgia has been excellent don't get me wrong, but 19 points is way too much. The Bulldogs are dealing with injuries all over the place too. George Pickens, one of the best WRs in America is out (as we knew,) QB JT Daniels is still dealing with a back injury, big time LB Nolan Smith is probable, but he's been hurt with one of his legs, and big TE Darnaell Washington is Questionable with a foot injury. 

Both teams come in undefeated and only one will stay that way. I wouldn't be shocked at all if the Razorbacks pulled this one off, but I'll gladly take them +19. 

Houston @ Tulsa

Houston is 3-1 and Tulsa is 1-3. Off a 41-34 win over Arkansas State last week, I think the Golden Hurricane will take a step back here. The Cougars are coming off a 28-20 home win over Navy. Clayton Tune had 257 yards and a TD. Davis Brin had 355 yards, three TD's and a pick in his team's win over the Red Wolves. Houston's only conceding 16.3 PPG this year, while Tualsa is allowing 30.5. The road team has covered in eight of the past nine meetings, so I'm grabbing the points and rolling with Houston in this one.

West Virginia @ Oklahoma

The Mountaineers are now 2-1 after a 27-21 win over then No. 15-ranked Virginia Tech. 

The Sooners are off a 23-16 victory over Nebraska as 22.5 point favorites.

So far WVU is averaging 39 PPG, throwing for 271.3 and rushing for 139.7. QB Jarret Doege had 193 yards, two TD's and an INT last week. The Mountaineers have also been good defensively in conceding just 17 PPG.

The Sooners may be 3-0, but I think they'll have a fight on their hands here today. Okalahoma is averaging 45.7 PPG, while allowing 17. Spencer Rattler had 214 yards and a TD in the Sooners victory last week.

Oklahoma though is poor in this spot for bettors (3-8 ATS its last 11 after scorign 40 or more points in its previous game), while WVU has been good (5-1 ATS its last six games played in September.) 

I think the Sooners are susceptible defensively. Grab all these points, the play is West Virginia 10* BIG PLAY

Texas Tech @ Texas 

The Longhorns are 2-1, while the Red Raiders are undefeated. 

To say this is a "revenge" game though would be an understatement for the Red Raiders here, as they've lost three in a row in this series, including a 63-56 OT thriller last year. 

Texas Tech hasn't played the stiffest of competition yet, but it's passed all early tests easily. In the most recent win over FIU, QB Tyler Shough had 399 yards passing and four touchdowns. 

Texas is off a 58-0 win over Rice. The previous week the Longhorns loast 40-21 to Arkansas. 

Texas took out its frustrations on Rice and rolled up 620 yards of offense. 

The Longhorns though are just 2-7 ATS in their last nine after posting a shutout win in their previous outing. 

I think his Red Raiders' offense can hang with Texas late (like last year!) Grab the points 8* SHOWDOWN

Marshall @ Appalachian State

Off a tough loss to Eastern Carolina last weekend, Marshall now travels to North Carolina where they'll take on the always dangerous Mountaineers. Although they are 2-1, the Thundering Hurd are 1-2 ATS on the season, 1-4 dating back to last year. They've also lost 5 of their last 7 games as an underdog.

For Appalachian State, they've looked very sharp, despite losing a tough one to Miami. They are now a dominant 19-1 in thier last 20 games played at home. They are aksi 8-1  in their last 9 games against opponents from the Conference USA. 

Having said that, I think Marshall will be very shy/unconfident after that shocking loss last week. Expect the Mountaineers to jump all over that and make them pay. Take App State.

Arakansas State @ Washington

Off a heartbreaking loss in Week 2 against Memphis, Arkansas St falls to 1-1.  That makes them only 2-6 in their last 8 games dating back to last season. Even worse, they are only 1-7 L8 games played on the road. 

The Huskies have not looked good this season either. It's obvious that they are struggling. But, they've domianted the Sun Belt Conference in the past and I expect that to continue here. They are also 16-4 in their last 20 games played at home. 

While this will be a wet/rainy game in Washington, I believe that the bigger name school will show the country that they aren't the joke everyone thinks they are here. Also, look for TE Cade Otton to have a big game here. Take Washington.

Maryland @ Illinois

After upsetting Nebraska out of the gate, it seemed Illinois might be poised for a fast start. The Fighting Illini lost their next two games though. This is a team with a new coach essentially in a rebuilding year. The Illini are 1-5 ATS their last six games. 

The Terrapins beat West Virginia and then won their next game by a score of 62-0. No rebuilding for them. Their coach is in his third year here and they've got big plans for the season. 

In the only previous meeting, the Terrapins outgained Illinois by a 712-493 margin, crushing them 63-33. The Terrapins ran for more than 400 yards. That was in 2018 but 2021 looks like another big win. Lay the points with Maryland. 

Western Kentucky @ Army

Western Kentucky comes into this game off a week 1 win against a not so good Tennessee-Martin team. The Hiltoppers may have won that game, but I expect a completely different outcome here. The Hilltoppers are only 2-9-1 ATS in their L12 games played on Saturday.

The Black Nights looked absolutely dominant in week 1 against Georgia State (as an underdog) making it look easy. Army only threw the ball 4 times total, but when you can run the ball 67 times and average 4 yards per carry it's going to be tough for any team to compete against that. Army is also a perfect 9-0 in their last 9 games played at home.

Although both teams are off a win, the Black Nights looked like they could beat some of the best teams in the league with their unique play-style. Look for Army to dominate from the opening kickoff. Tale Army

Kansas @ Coastal Carolina 

What? A team from the Sun Belt laying this many points against a Big 12 team? It must be some kind of joke. That's the reaction some might have if they didn't know the real story. 

Kansas isn't just any Big 12 team. The Jayhawks are the single worst Big 12 team. Coastal Carolina isn't just any Sun Belt team. The Chanticleers are the best SBC team. They won 11 games last year and brought back 19 starters. Week 1 saw them deliver a 52-14 blowout.

The Jayhawks kept things reasonably close against Coastal Carolina the past two years. This is the first time they meet in Conway though and its going to get ugly. Lay the points with Coastal Carolina.

Louisville vs. Ole Miss

The underdog came back to cover in last night's game. The Rebels will make sure it doesn't happen twice in a row. 

The Cardinals aren't a bad team. The problem is that Ole Miss is a lot better than they even realize. The Rebels were tied 42-42 in a game against Alabama last season and they return 17 starters from that team. The offense is among the best in the country and the defense will be much better than last year. 

The Rebels are 13-5 last 18, against the spread in neutral site games. Last time they opened the season at a neutral site, they beat Texas Tech 47-27. This one should play out similarly. Lay the points with Ole Miss. 

Northwestern State @ North Texas

Big class difference between these schools, as evidenced by the pointspread. North Texas has a big game at SMU next and will use this game to build confidence for that one. They haven't won at SMU since 1933 but with an experienced team, this could be the year they have a shot. Blowing out Northwestern State will help prepare for that possibility. 

Mean Green bring back 19 starters, 9 on offense, 10 on defense. Those 19 returning players began last year with a 57-31 beating of another outmatched team.

Coach Littrell is 5-0 in his games against FCS schools, winning by nearly 30 points per game. Lay the points with North Texas. 

Penn State @ Wisconsin

Two quality teams here, making this a very big game. Wisconsin has plans to win the West. Penn State hopes to challenge Ohio State in the East. The Nittany Lions outgained Big Ten opponents by +102 yards per game last season and they're going to be better this year. 

Nittany Lions are 4-0 ATS their last four and 6-1 ATS their last seven in September.

Badgers are 1-4 ATS last five overall, 0-4 ATS last four Big Ten games. 

Wisconsin is always tough but Penn State has still won the last four meetings. Three were decided by 7 or less. Grab the points with Penn St.

Old Dominion Monarchs @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons

The Monarchs haven't played a game since 2019 and in that season, they were an awful 1-11, including losing each of their last 10. Because of their year off, they have lost some key players and will lack experience out there this campaign. Even the coach is new and hasn't coached a single NCAAFB game as HC in his life. Entering this game against the Demon Deacons,  the Monarchs are a sad 1-5 ATS in their L6 week 1 games. Expect another dreadful year from there guys.

Wake Forest is bringing back 20 of thier 22 starters from last season, including every offensive starter. Although they ended the season 4-5, they beat teams like Virginia Tech on the road when they were ranked #19th in the country. Dating back to 2019, the Demon Deacons are a perfect 6-0 ATS at home in their last 6 games. This year I expect a much stronger group of guys with much more experience to bring home a bowl game. 

With Wake Forest as the much better team, I expect a blowout here in North Carolina. -32 is a lot, but this one should be easier than people think. Take the Demon Deacons!

East Carolina vs. Appalachian State

The Mountaineers are loaded on both sides of the ball. Appalachian State averaged better than 34 points last season, as well as more than 450 yards. Many of the skill players that put up those numbers are back. The secondary was already the best in the Sun Belt and the Mountaineers bring back 10 defensive starters. 

The Pirates are a bad defensive team. They will have trouble stopping the balanced Mountaineer attack. Thursday night football has not been kind to ECU. The Pirates are 5-12 ATS their last 17 Thursday games. They are also 4-11 ATS their last 15 outside of their own conference. 

The Mountaineers are better on both sides of the ball. They won't be stopped in this one. Lay the points with Appalachian State. 

UTEP Miners @ New Mexico State Aggies

Although having a rough 3-5 2020 campaign, the Miners have high expectations for this season. With every offensive starter returning, they'll have all the chemistry in the world. Dating back to last season, UTEP is 4-1 ATS thier L5 games AND, going back even further, they are 4-2 SU in their L6 games played in August. In the past, Texas El Paso has owned this series as they are a dominant 8-3 the past 11 games against the Aggies.

New Mexico State is coming off a 2020 where they played 0 games. They did play 2 spring games this year though and that might of helped a little bit. But the Aggies are returning just 3 of 22 starters from 2019 and I expect that to be a problem this season. In the 2 games this spring QB Jonah Johnson only threw for 358 yards, with 1TD and 3INTs. They did have some success running the ball but I believe that UTEP will be able to shut that down for most of the game. NMSU is also a sad 0-6 in their last 6 season openers.

Having said all that, the Miners are the far better side and has played with each other for a long time. I expect a dominant win here for them. Take UTEP with ease.

The set-up: A&M averages 31.67 PPG and it allows 21.1. UNC averages 43.0 PPG, while allowing 28.36. Both teams are dealing with injury issues and with players opting out of this game to prepare for the NFL draft, but I still think that Texas A&M is a bit of a fraud. The SEC overall had a down year and the Aggies numbers are skewed a bit in my opinion. UNC's offense is potent and it's faced some of the best defenses around. 

The pick: A&M is good, but not good enough to be the fifth ranked team in the nation. I'll point out as well that UNC is 7-2 ATS in its last nine as an underdog in the 7 to 9.5 points range. Look for these two hungry teams to battle tooth and nail until the final moments and make sure to grab as many points as you can.

This is a 10* ULTIMATE OF THE ULTIMATE on North Carolina.

The set-up: NC State won each of its last four games, including over Florida State, Liberty, Syracuse and Georgia Tech. Kentucky on the other hand lost four of its last five. I like Bailey Hockman in this matchup, as Kentucky's secondary and defense overall is banged up. 

The pick: NC State is also 4-1 ATS in its last five vs. teams with losing records and 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 bowl games. The Wildcats only scored an average of 21.7 PPG this year and I think they'll have trouble keeping pace down the stretch. Grab the points.

This is a 9* PLAY-BOOK on NC State.

The set-up: This is the second game of the College Football Playoff Semifinal. Clemson has faced the 36th toughest schedule and Ohio State has faced the 67th. Ohio State beat Northwestern 22-10 to win the Big Ten Championship, while Clemson won the ACC crown with a 34-10 win over Notre Dame. This game features two of the best QB's in the nation in Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence. The Buckeyes average 42.5 PPG, and they concede 21, while Clemson averages 44.9 PPG, while allowing 17.5. 

The pick: Clemson though is interestingly just 1-4 ATS in its last five after postin more than 450 total yards in its previous game, while Ohio State is 20-8 ATS in its last 28 as an underdog. This is the first non-conferece game for each team and I think that Fields has the offense to keep this one close and competitive until the final moments. I'm grabbing the points.

This is a 10* BOWL GAME OF THE YEAR on Ohio State.

The set-up: The Badgers snapped a three-game slide with a 20-17 win over Minnesota in their finale and I think they're going to find a way to get the job done here as well. The Demon Deacons enter having lost back-to-back games, including a humbling 45-21 loss to Louisville as one point favorites last time out. Wake has a good offense, which averaged 37 PPG, but it was atrocious defensively, allowing 31.6. Sam Hartman was a bright spot for the Wake, finishing with 1,906 passing yards, ten TD's and just one INT. 

The pick: Wisconsin only averaged 22.3 PPG, but it made up for it on the other end by playing "lights out" defense, conceding just 15.7 PPG this year. Graham Mertz finished with eight TD's and five interceptions this season, but note that the Badgers are 7-2 ATS in their last nine after allowing 18 points or less in a SU victory in their last outing. I think Wisconsin effectively slows down Wake and I look for Mertz to take advantage of this extremely bad Wake secondary. Lay the points!

This is a 10* play on Wisconsin.

The set-up: Oklahoma State was 7-3 in Big 12 play. The Cowboys alternated wins and losses over the final month. Miami was 8-2 overall. The Hurricanes were on a five-game win streak before a 62-26 loss to UNC in their last game. The Cowboys have a strong run game, but Miami's rush defense is decent. Overall Oklahoma State averages 29.5 PPG, while allowing 21.9. QB Spencer Sanders though heads into this game without the services of top RB Chuba Hubbard. 

The pick: Miami averaged 34 PPG. QB D'Eriq King had 2,573 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions. The Hurricanes allowed 26.0 PPG and I'd argue that their schedule was much more difficult than they Cowboys. With a spread like this, clearly the oddsmakers think these teams are very evenly matched. While I respect the OK State rushing game, I think Miami's big line will contain that aspect and turn the Cowboys one-dimensional. I like King to post a big game here as well. I'm on the Hurricanes.

This is a 10* BLOWOUT on Miami.

The set-up: Alabama is really good. Great offense, great defense and it's well coached as well. Florida also has a really good offense and a decent defense. Florida lost to LSU last time out and even with a win today, it wouldn't make the College Football Playoff. But the Gators would love nothing more than to hand the Tide their first loss of the season. Despite the loss to LSU last weekend, QB Kyle Trask still had 474 yards passing and two TD's. The Bama defense has been sharp of late, but the unit has yet to see an offense quite as dynamic as this.

The pick: Mac Jones is in line for the Heisman now, but for a few weeks Trask was in the conversation as well. With one last chance to impress, I like Trask to help his team keep this one interesting late. Note as well that Florida is 8-2 ATS in its last ten after allowing 35 points or more in a SU/ATS loss in its previous outing. As I mentioned off the top, I don't predict an outright upset, but everything does point to this one being much more competitive than what this spread would suggest. Grab the points.

This is a 10* ULTIMATE OF THE ULTIMATE on Florida.

The set-up: No upsets here, as I like the App State Mountaineers to lay the hammer down from start to finish. Neither team will be in the Championship game, but it's still an important contest to determine the second-place finisher in the division. App State lost 24-21 to Louisiana last time out. In that contest senior QB Zac Thomas had the absolute worst game of his career, going 10 of 21 for 92 yards and two interceptions. Suffice it to say, I don't expect that lightning bolt of futility to strike twice. Georgia Southern enters off a 20-3 win over FAU, using their backup QB in Justin Tomlin, who was 3 of 12 for 70 yards, while also rushing for an additional 78. Keep your eyes on Camerun Peoples for App State, as he has 738 rushing yards and seven TD's so far this season.

The pick: Georgia Southern is stout against the run, but with its attention on Peoples, I'm predicting a massive bounce-back game here for the highly motivated Thomas. The QB issues are Georgia Southern aren't trivial. Getting by FAU is one thing, but trying to keep up with this pissed off Mountaineers side is quite another. I'm laying the points in this great situational spot.

This is an 8* DESTRUCTION on App State.

The set-up: Tom Herman is coaching for his job here for Texas. The Longhorns' offense revolves around Sam Ehlinger, who will look to move to a perfect 4-0 against K-State ofr his career. The Texas defense has taken a hit, but fortunately that unit faces the poor offense of the Wildcats, which have averaged just 362.2 yards per game of offense, with backup Will Howard now directing the show after Skylar Thompson went down with injury. 

The pick: To make matters worst for K-State, its defense has been even worse than its offense, allowing 426.6 yards per game and almost 270 of those yards through the air. And that's the difference-maker here for me entirely, as I expect Ehlinger to have himself a day here. Texas still has a chance to finish 7-3 (with a game at home against the lowly Jayhawks to finish it off.) I expect Ehlinger to take over this game on Saturday afternoon - lay the points.

This is a 10* GAME OF THE MONTH on Texas.

The set-up: Obviously TCU is the much better team. But it's not that much better. TCU is 3-4 and Kansas is 0-7. But with a game at Oklahoma State to end the season, I think the Horned Frogs take the foot off the gas in the second half. Kansas had its last game postponed, previous to that it lost 62-9 to Oklahoma. TCU had its two game win streak snapped in a 24-6 loss to WVU and I think it comes out flat-footed here vs. the lowly Jayhawks. Situationally speaking, this one sets up great for the home side in my opinion. TCU averages 24 PPG and it allows 26.7. Kansas has averaged 15.1 and allowed 48.4. 

The picks: I'm not going to try and tell you that the Jayhawks are going to win this game outright, as that's not going to be the case. I simply feel this is a really bad spot for TCU after last week's loss and with a bigger game next week vs. the Cowboys. This is the Jayhawks best shot at a win this year and I believe they play with pride and easily keep this one close with the large spread. Grab the points.

This is a 10* GAME OF THE WEEK on Kansas.

The set-up: Northwestern is 5-0, while MSU is just 1-4. Clearly Northwestern is the better team, but I expect complacency to finally settle in here. Michigan State has had an extra week off to prepare as well for this one, so I expect the Spartans to comfortably sneak in through the back door down the stretch. The Wildcats are only allowing 12.6 PPG, but note that they're only scoring 25.8. Peyton Ramsey has been decent with eight TD's and our INT's, but I think the Wildcats take the foot off the gas in the second half. 

The picks: Rocky Lombard has seven TD passes and six INTs. MSU has allowed 33.8 PPG over the last four games, but I think the extra time off to prepare will help them here. They also benefit facing this non-explosive Wildcats attack. With a game at Minnesota up next, I think Northwestern does indeed get caught looking ahead. Look for Lombardi to have a bounce back game here and to keep this one close. Grab the points.

This is an 8* PLAY-BOOK on Michigan State.

The set-up: No outright, but closer than expected! Ball State enters on top form, having won two straight. The Cardinals offense is balanced, averaging almost 480 yards of offense per game and 33.3 points. Ball State is allowing 437 yards of offense, but with Toledo QB Eli Peters injured (possibly out), the door is open for Ball State RB Caleb Huntley and company.

The picks: Carter Bradley could get the call here if Peter's leg injury keeps him out. Toledo has looked good on both sides of the ball, but note that the Rockets are still a poor 1-5 ATS their last six following an ATS victory, while the Cardinals are 4-0 ATS in their last four when playing the role of underdog. I think this is a game that the visitors can win outright, but let's grab the points.

This is an 8* DESTRUCTION on Ball State.

The set-up: Here is another great "situational" play. I think CMU is the better team in this matchup, but after falling 52-44 to rival Western Michigan in its last outing, I look for the visiting side to come out flat vs. the lowly Eagles. EMU is winless and it's hungry to get off the schneid (note that it's lost two of its games by seven points or less.) These two QB's are a "wash" as well, as CMU's Daniel Richardson and EMU's Preston Hutchinson have similar numbers. 

The pick: Note as well that CMU is just 3-7 ATS in its last ten after allowing 50 or more points in a SU loss in its last outing. The conditions are right for an outright upset here, but let's grab the points!

This is an 8* play on EMU.

The set-up:

The picks:

This is an 8* play on UNC

The set-up:

The picks:

This is an 8* play on USF.

The set-up: Iowa is 3-2. It started 0-2 and has won three in a row. Nebraska is 1-3 and it comes in under the radar here. Nebraska comes in off a poor showing at home against Illinois, so there is some overreaction here about how bad the Huskers really are in my opinion. Iowa comes in off a big win over Penn State on the road. Iowa's defense has been the difference maker though, as QB Spencer Petras has four INT's and three TD's this year. 

The picks: Nebraska has allowed 34.3 PPG in the early going, which obviously is poor. The Huskers catch a bit of a break facing this Iowa offense which averages 180 YPG on the ground. The Huskers' offense has put points on the board, averaging 21.3 PPG. Nebraska has two QB's in Adrian Martinez and Luke McCaffrey and I think they'll keep their team competitive late. No outright, but look for Iowa to take the foot off the gas in the second half, allowing the hungry visiting side to comfortably sneak in through the back door.

This is a 9* DESTRUCTION on Nebraska. 

The set-up: Iowa State is 6-1 in Big 12 play for the first time ever and suffice it to say, I expect a bit of a letdown here in this difficult road venue. Brock Purdy had 236 yards and two TD's in his team's blowout win over K-State last time out. Texas though is on a three-game win skein as well. Texas' defense is underrated, it looked good in the 17-13 win over WVU last time out. 

The picks: Texas last game was postponed due to COVID, so the Longhorns come in with an extra week of rest to focus and prepare. I'll give a big nod to Sam Ehlinger over his counterpart Purdy as well, as Ehlinger has been a difference-maker so far for his team. I'm laying the short points in this great situational play, but expecting a big rout.

This is a 10* BEATDOWN on Texas.

The set-up: Cincinnati has been great, but it has a big target on its back after all of the attention its gotten and I believe it finally stumbles this weekend in this difficult road venue. The Bearcats most recently thumped ECU 55-17 last Friday. The Knights won't at all be intimidated though obviously, they most recently hammered Temple 38-13 last weekend. This also sets up as a revenge game for the home side, which fell 27-24 in Cincinnati last season. These teams are evenly matched for the most part. Desmond Ridder and Dillon Gabriel are a "wash" at the QB position. Each team is also sharp defensively. I don't think the Bearcats will go undefeated though this year and note that they're just 2-8 ATS in their last ten after five or more SU victories in a row.

The picks: UCF on the other hand is 23-2 straight-up in its last 25 at home. This one has the feel of whichever of these two hungry teams has its hands on the ball last is going to win and in a scenario like that, I'm going to always grab as many points as I can. So that's what I'm doing here!

This is an 8* BLOCKBUSTER on UCF.

The set-up: I've grabbed the points, but I do expect Penn State to finally get into the win column here as well with a straight-up victory. With a spread like this, the oddsmakers are trying to lead us to believe that these teams are evenly matched. I do think that's the case also, but for me this comes down to motivation levels. Iowa is 2-2 and the Nittany Lions are 0-4. Iowa has once again been tough defensively, allowing just 14.8 PPG. QB Spencer Petras is a game manager, as RB Tyler Goodson is the focal point.

The picks: The Nittany Lions went 10-2 last year and note that they've never started a season 0-5 ever in their entire 100-year history of playing. Penn State lost 30-23 to Nebraska last time out, but it looked a lot better in the second half. Will Levis and Sean Clifford are going to keep this Hawkeyes defense on its heels today. Yes, Penn State has fallen off considerably from last year's team, but so too has Iowa. The Hawkeyes have been consistently inconsistent this year and after last week's win, I expect that trend to continue here vs. a Nittany Lions team which will be risking life and limb to try and finally get into the win column. As stated off the top, the outright is possible, but let's grab the points.

This is a 10* GAME OF THE YEAR on Penn State.

The set-up: Obviously I'm not predicting an outright upset here. I simply believe that Florida will go up big early, and then take the foot off the gas in the second half as it prepares for Kentucky, Tennessee and LSU to finish off the season. 

The picks: Vanderbilt is winless, but it's been competitive in almost every game it's been in, most recently falling 38-35 at Kentucky, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter. Kyle Trask could even be pulled in the second half, leaving the door open for Ken Seals and company to earn a solid backdoor cover. Just like UMass on Friday night, look for this spread to be too much for the favorite to cover here. 

This is an 8* ATS BLOWOUT on Vanderbilt.

The set-up: Coastal Carolina has a target on its back and I think that App State will give it everything it can handle on Saturday afternoon. The Mountaineers lost their opener, but they enter on top form after five-straight victories. Overall the Mountaineers allow only 16.9 PPG. Coastal Carolina has exceeded expectations for sure this year, as it's ranked and it's also beaten a ranked team. It allows only 16.3 PPG. App State won this game 56-37 last year, and while I'm not predicting an upset of that size this season, I do expect the hungry visiting side to deliver the goods.

The picks: The Mountaineers third ranked rushing offense will prove to be the difference maker here, as I expect it to keep Grayson McCall and the CC offense off the field of play more than usual. Look for App State's run game and defense to be the difference this afternoon, and grab as many points as you can.

This is an 8* DESTRUCTION on Appalachian State.

The set-up: Minnesota is coming off a 33-7 loss to Iowa and it's now only 1-3, while Purdue enters off a 27-20 loss to Northwestern, falling to 2-1. If recent history is any precedence, then the Gophers have to be loving their chances as they've taken the last two in this series, including a 38-31 decision last season. Purdue only managed 262 yards of offense in its last outing. Overall the Boilermakers averages 25 PPG and they allow 23.7. Aidan O'Connell has 916 yards passing, seven touchdowns and only two interceptions. 

The picks: Tanner Morgan had two costly INT's in the Gophers loss last weekend. So far in the early going Minnesota is averaging 29 PPG, but it's conceding 35.8. Morgan has issues with his offensive line, but Purdue's defense isn't adept at rushing the passer, so this is a perfect opponent to get bounce back against. I'll point out as well that the Gophers are 7-2 ATS in their last nine after a 20 points or larger SU/ATS loss in their previous outing. This one has the feel of whichever teams has its hands on the ball last is going to win and in a scenario like that, I'm going to grab the points.

This is a 10* DESTRUCTION on Minnesota.

The set-up: The Rockets won this game 37-34 in OT last year, but I think they'll earn a much easier victory on Wednesday night. Toledo has averaged 38 PPG in the early going, but two late TD passes by WMU was too much to overcome in a close setback last weekend. QB Eli Peter was 30 of 46 and while the defense struggled, that unit catches a break this week facing the Eagles. 

The picks: EMU most recently lost 38-31 to Ball State. In the setback the Eagles posted 377 total yards of offense, with Preston Hutchinson accounting for 250 of those through the air. The Eagles though are just 1-6 ATS in their last seven following an ATS victory, while the Rockets are 5-1 ATS in their last six road games vs. a team with a losing home record. I'm laying the points and expecting a decisive win and cover!

This is a 10* ELITE OF THE ELITE on Toledo.

The set-up: These teams are only playing six games in the MAC this year, but I still think this sets up as a bit of a "look ahead" game for Buffalo. The Bulls are 2-0 and the Bowling Green Falcons are 0-2. But with a game at 2-0 Kent State up next, I believe the Bulls will be caught taking the foot off the gas in the second half. 

The pick: Buffalo likes to run the ball and the Falcons are poor at stopping the run. This one comes down to whether or not Bowling Green can get some points in garbage time and I believe it can, as even Northern Illinois put some points on the board in garbage time vs. the Buffs last time out. For all the reasons listed above, grab as many points as you can and expect a solid back door cover. 

This is a 10* DESTRUCTION on Bowling Green.

The set-up: UNLV will try to get off the schneid after starting the season 0-3. Most recently the Rebels fell 40-27 to Fresno State this past weekend. QB Max Gilliam has four touchdowns through three games. SJSU on the other hand is 3-0 after an upset 28-17 win over SDSU on Saturday. The Spartans were double-digit dogs, but QB Nick Starkel and company somehow managed the upset. Starkel left the SDSU game with a hand injury though and his status is up in the air here. 

The picks: The Spartans have only allowed 14.7 PPG in the early going, but winning leads to complacency. With a game vs. Fresno State up next as well, this also sets up as a "look ahead" spot for the home side. SJSU backup QB Nick Nash is capable, but the Runnin Rebels are desperate here. No outright, but closer than expected. Grab the points.

This is an 8* BAIL-OUT BLOWOUT on UNLV.

The set-up:

The picks:

This is an 8* DESTRUCTION on New Mexico.

The set-up: Fresno is 2-1 and Utah State is 0-3. Fresno lost 34-19 to Hawaii to open the year, but the Bulldogs have rebounded to beat two bad teams in UNLV and Colorado State. Utah State's competition has been much greater, having lost to Boise State, SDSU and Nevada. After the 34-9 loss to Nevada, head coach Gary Anderson was fired, with assistant head-coach Frank Maile now stepping in as interim. I think the Aggies will respond on the field of play to this coaching change. 

The picks: Utah State is also 11-4 ATS in its last 15 at home, while Fresno State is is just 2-6 ATS in its last eight after back-to-back SU/ATS victories. No outright, but look for the coaching change to help motivate the home side here as they at they very least, take this one rigth down to the wire. I'm grabbing the points.

This is a 10* MW GAME OF THE YEAR on Utah State.

The set-up: Does ECU have a shot at winning this game outright? Of course not. There's zero chance of that. Cincinnati has a favorable schedule and it appears to be on a mission. However, I think this is a great situational play, as I do think the Pirates will play hard on this nationally televised game, while I also fully expect the Bearcats to take the foot off the gas in the second half as they get ready for a much tougher game at UCF next weekend. Situationally, this one sets up great for the Pirates. 

The picks: Cincinnati has already blown out plenty of opponents this season and there's just zero reason for it do so again. We've reached the point of the season where it has to start looking ahead and I fully expect that to happen here. I base my picks on many things. Situations, trends, trying to go against public money/perception at times. For this one though, it's all about the overall situation that each team finds itself in coming into this one (it's also important to note that ECU is in fact 5-2 ATS in its last seven on the road as well.) Grab the points.

This is a 10* U OF THE U on ECU.

The set-up: EMU opened with a 27-23 loss to Kent State, while Ball State lost 38-31 to Miami Ohio. Preston Hutchinson was 21 of 35 for the Eagles in his opener, throwing for 241 yards, two TD's and two INT's. EMU's weak point last year was its defense and I think the unit will predictably struggle on the road here in this difficult venue. 

The picks: Ball State had an interesting season last year, as it won only five games, but it was just eight points away from an eight win season. The Ball State defense is also poor, but the offense has been great, led by senior QB Drew Pitt, who had 309 passing yards, one TD and one INT in the opener. Ball State's balanced offense will be the difference maker in the end though, as Caleb Huntley had 132 rushing yards and two TD's in last week's setback on the ground. Pitt and the Cardinals have a huge experience edge. They're also playing at home. I like Ball State to put the foot on the gas and keep it there until the final whistle. Lay the points.

This is a 10* DESTRUCTION on Ball State.

The set-up: WKU has lost three of its last four, but off a blowout loss to BYU, I like the Hilltoppers to comfortably sneak in through the back door down the stretch. FAU has had three games postponed due to Covid. It's been good in the early going, allowing only 13.3 PPG, but I think it comes out a bit flat to start here, and that's going to be the advantage we grab hold of and ride to a solid cover. Despite losing 41-10 to BYU, WKU had 166 rushing yards in the setback. QB Tyrell Pigrom had been great as well, as he has eight touchdowns and no interceptions. 

The picks: FAU enters off a 24-3 win over UTSA. Nick Tronti had 382 passing yards, three TD's and one INT on the year. Note though that FAU is just 1-6 ATS in its last seven after holding a team to three points or less in a victory in its previous outing. I like the "hungrier" team to at least cover with the generous spread.

This is a 9* UNDERDOG BEST OF THE BEST on WKU.

The set-up: Minnesota is 0-2. Illinois is 0-2. Two teams enter, only one will leave with a victory. And that team will be the Gophers (and in resounding fashion!) Last year the Gophers annihilated the Illini 40-17 in this game and I expect a similar beatdown here. Last year Minnesota only lost two games total. Last time out Minnesota lost in OT to Maryland off a failed PAT. THe Gophers lost a lot of talent, but I like Tanner Morgan to help his team to bounce back here finally and get off the schneid. 

The picks: And here's the perfect team to do it against, as Illinois hasn't won a game since Nov. 23rd of last year. Overall the Illini allow 309 passing yards per game, which is second worst in the nation. QB Coran Taylor is a lone stand out on a poor team and I look for Minnesota to finally get untracked here (note as well that Illinois is just 2-5 ATS in its last seven after allowing more than 280 passing yards in its previous game.) I'm laying the points and expecting a blowout.

This is an 8* BLOWOUT on Minnesota.

The set-up: Cincinnati is 5-0 and Houston is 2-2. Clearly the Bearcats are the better team and I'm not going to try and convince you otherwise. Desmond Ridder leads an exciting and dynamic Bearcats offense and Cincinnati has also been great defensively. The Bearcats have a favorable remaining schedule as well, so a Championship berth is not out of the question if they can run the table. It's a shortened season, so it's definitely possible as well. 

The picks: Houston comes in under the radar though in my opinion (note that it's 4-1 ATS/SU in its last five on the road.) Houston fell apart in a loss to UCF last weekend. They also have a loss to BYU (43-26). They have big wins over Tulane (49-31) and Navy (37-21). I think the Bearcats take the foot off the gas in the second half. Expect a comfortable cover.

This is a 9* COACH'S CORNER on Houston.

The set-up: Syrause is a bad team, but I like it to sneak in through the back door down the stretch. Boston College almost beat Clemson last week and because of that "near miss," I think the Eagles come out a bit flat here (of course, Trevor Lawrence wasn't playing in that one.) Overall BC averages 27.6 points per game, while allowing 26.3. Syracuse comes in off a 38-14 home loss to Wake Forest. The Orange actually played decently against Clemson as well, and Syracuse was the first to intercept Lawrence in his Collegiate career. Overall the Orange only average 19 PPG, while conceding 13.3. 

The picks: Yes, BC is the better team here. But the situation favors the hungry underdog home side. With a game at home against Notre Dame in another nationally televised contest, I expect BC to take the foot off the gas as well in the second half if it does in fact have a lead. I'll grab the points and expect a solid back door cover.

This is an 8* DESTRUCTION on Syracuse.

The set-up: San Jose State is 2-0 and I think it'll give the Aztecs a run for their money on Friday night. Most recently the Spartans topped New Mexico 38-21 last Saturday, covering the 13.5 point spread. SDSU is also 2-0 after its 38-7 win over Utah State. SDSU won this matchup 27-17 last year and it has in fact won seven straight in this series. Can anyone say "revenge factor?!" Nick Starkel had three TD passes for SJSU last weekend. He also ran two in. SJSU averages 27.5 PPG and it concedes 13.5. 

The picks: SDSU got two rushing TD's from Greg Bell last time out. The Aztecs actually outgained the hapless Aggies 570-215. Overall SDSU averages 36 points and it allows just 6.3. Both teams have faced lesser competition, but that changes this weekend. SJSU has made significant strides on both sides of the ball and I think it's being severely underestimated here by the oddsmakers. I like Starkel to keep this one competitive until the final moments. Grab the points.

This is a 10* PLAY-BOOK on San Jose State.

The set-up: Wyoming is 1-1 after defeating Hawaii 31-7 last Thursday. Colorado State opened is season with a 38-17 loss to Fresno State. The silver-lining for the Rams was that they gained 372 yards on offense (unfortunately allowing 442 yards of their own.) Wyoming has to start the season with its backup QB in Levi Williams, who looked decent vs. a weak Warriors team last week. But it's still significant to note that the Cowboys are down signifcant pieces, including to starting quarterback Sean Chambers is out indefinitely with a fractured fibula. Others include RB Titus Swen and offensive lineman Alonzo Velazquez, while defensive end Garrett Crall is questionable.

The picks: Colorado State will settle down here at home. The defense has a big opportunity to bounce back here as well. The offense though looked great in the dual QB system with Todd Centeio and Patrick O'Brien. This is definitely one of those cases where we should not "overreact" after the Week 1 results. Look for the Rams depth to be the difference here and I also expect a much better defensive effort. Outright is possible, but let's grab the points.

This is a 10* GAME OF THE WEEK on Colorado State.

The set-up: Most of Buffalo's defense from last year returns. The unit would go on to give up less than three TD's in five of its last six games last year. NIU has QB Ross Bowers under center, but the Huskies are dealing with a huge turnover of players on both sides of the ball this season. Bower was sacked 18 times last year and he had more INT's than TD's. Buffalo is also 4-1 ATS the last five in this series. Buffalo also welcomes back its biggest offensive weapon in RB Jaret Patterson, who averaged 5.8 YPC last year. Buffalo QB Kyle Vantrease is also back, and he had 1,200 yards passing, eight touchdowns and only two interceptions. 

The picks: NIU is also only 3-8 ATS in its last 11 as an underdog, while Buffalo is 6-1 ATS in its last seven as a favorite. Buffalo had some issues with covid a few weeks ago, but I still think it'll easily pull away down the stretch vs. this Huskies team that is basically starting from scratch. I'm laying the points.

This is a 10* GAME OF THE WEEK on Buffalo.

The set-up: I like to wait to write my analysis until as close to game time as possible, as that allows all last information to come in. Today though I'm having major internet problems, so will not be able to give my full and proper analysis. I apologize for that, but I'm unable to access most of the information that I normally have access too.

The pick: Note that Mississippi State is 6-1 ATS in its last seven following a double-digit home loss, while Alabama is 2-8 ATS in its last ten following an ATS win. Alabama gets caught looking ahead to its bye week here, so grab the points!

This is an 8* PLAY-BOOK on Mississippi State.

The set-up:

The pick:

This is a 10* GAME OF THE YEAR on Texas.

The set-up: I like to wait to write my analysis until as close to game time as possible, as that allows all last information to come in. Today though I'm having major internet problems, so will not be able to give my full and proper analysis. I apologize for that, but I'm unable to access most of the information that I normally have access too. 

The pick: Iowa State is just 3-7 ATS in its last ten as a 25 points or higher favorite on the road and coming off a SU/ATS loss. I'm grabbing the points!

This is an 8* LIVE DOG DESTRUCTION on Kansas. 

The set-up: UNLV finished last in the Mountain West last year, going 4-8 overall and 2-6 in league play. The Rebels only won four games, but two of those wins came right at the end of the year. SDSU was second in the Mountainwest last year, going 10-3 and 5-3. UNLV QB Kenyon Oblad will have his hands full in this difficult venue, but he does come in with much more experience and with his top three wide receivers from last year. 

The pick: The Aztecs have a new QB in Carson Baker this season, last year he made just 24 passes. SDSU also has a new starting RB in Chance Bell. SDSU was No. 2 in the nation defensively last year, but the unit also had some turnover this year. With a game at Utah State on Halloween Night up next, I think the home side takes the foot off the gas in the second half, leaving the back door wide open for Oblad and company. Grab as many points as you can.

This is a 10* MOUNTAIN-WEST GAME OF THE YEAR on UNLV.

The set-up: I think Marshall gets caught looking past lowly FAU today. Marshall is ranked No. 22 in the country with a 4-0 record. Last time out it beat Louisiana Tech 35-17. The Thundering Herd have also had two other games postponed due to Covid 19 issues. FAU has only played one game so far this year, a 21-17 victory over Charlotte. The Owls have had to deal with sevreal Covid related issues as well. FAU is led by the dynamic play of dual-threat QB Nick Tronti. 

The pick: Marshall though is just 2-6 ATS in its last eight following a 15 points or greater victory in which it also covered the spread, while FAU is 7-2 ATS in its last nine after playing with two or more weeks of rest. I like the well rested Owls to sneak in through the back door down the stretch, after Marshall takes the foot off the gas in the second half. Grab the points.

This is an 8* ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION on FAU.

The set-up: Michigan State defeated Rutgers 27-0 as a 22-point favorite last year, but MSU has a new coach and a new QB and it has plenty of new faces on both sides of the ball. The Spartans lost almost all of their offensive talent from last season's team which struggled with offensive consistency. 

The pick: Rutgers was dead last in the Big Ten last year, but it returns seven starters on offense and eight on defense. Quarterback Noah Vedral doesn't have a lot of experience, but the transfer is decent and is a true dual threat. I look for MSU to get caught looking past its opponent. No outright, but closer than expected. Grab the points.

This is an 8* play on Rutgers.

The set-up: CC has a target on its back as the only undefeated team in the Sun Belt. Georgia Southern won this game 30-27 last year. Georgia Southern comes in on top form as well after back-to-back wins, most recently routing UMass 41-0. Georgia Southern is ranked fourth in the country in rushing. JD King has 423 rushing yards so far. CC comes in off a 30-27 win over a ranked Louisiana team. Note though that CC's run defense gave up nearly 300 rushing yards in that one. 

The pick: Georgia Southern is 6-2 ATS in its last eight as a road underdog in the +5.5 to +7.5 range and after back-to-back victories. I think Georgia Southern's strong running game is the difference here. Grab the points.

This is an 8* play on Georgia Southern.

The set-up: UNC is looking to lay a beating on NC State after a poor performance in Tallahassee. The Wolfpack are now ranked 23rd after three straight wins, including a 31-20 win over Duke last time out. NC State is led by the dynamic polay of QB Devin Leary, but he's now out for the rest of the season after breaking his fibula late in last week's victory. 

The pick: Florida State had a 31-7 lead over UNC, before the Tar Heels finally fell 31-28. Mack Browns team has all the pieces to bounce back big at home though, led by Heisman Trophy candidate Sam Howell. The Tar Heels are 5-1 ATS their last six at home as well, while the Wolfpack are just 2-8 ATS in their last ten on the road.

This is an 8* play on UNC.

The set-up: Wisconsin plays with revenge here after falling 24-23 to Illinois as a 30-point favorite last season. The Badgers lost their next game after that setback as well to Ohio State last season, but overall the Badgers had another great year. Wisconsin is without the services of starting QB Jack Coan, meaning that Graham Mertz will have his shot at proving himself tonight on the national stage. Wisconsin also doesn't have Jonathan Taylor running the ball anymore, but Nakia Watson is expected to fill in seamlessly. 

The pick: Brandon Peters is back under center for Illinois this year, but most of the pieces he had around him last season have moved on. Peters only completed 55 percent of his passes last season. Illinois' best player is likely kicker James McCourt. Note though that the home side is 4-0 ATS the last four in this series, while Illinois is 0-5 ATS in its last five "Friday night" contests. Look for the Badgers' superior defense to be the difference maker for us down the stretch, as I expect the home side to keep the foot on the gas, even if it has a large lead in the second half. Lay the points.

This is a 10* PLAY-BOOK on Wisconsin.

The set-up: Arkansas State is 1-1 after a 59-52 win as a 3.5 point favorite against Georgia State last weekend. The Red Wolves though allowed 583 total yards of offense. Arkansas State enters first among the ten teams in the Sun Belt by averaging 496 yards of offense per game, but it's also dead last on the defensive end, allowing 481.8 yards. 

The pick: So far the MOuntaineers are 2-1 this season. App State has been off since September 26th and I expect the Mountaineers to come out and run the Red Wolves off the field with their superior play on both ends of the field. So far App State is averaging 31.3 PPG and it's conceding only 19.3. The Mountaineers have plenty of returning talent from last year and I think the extra time off just adds fuel to the fire for the home side. Conversely, after their last loss, I expect the Red Wolves to come out flat-footed here. I'm laying the points and expecting a rout.

This is a 10* GAME OF THE WEEK on App State.

The set-up: Kentucky has been playing well and I think it'll take this one down to the wire. The Wildcats enter off a 24-2 win over Mississippi State, including posting six interceptions. The Vols enter off a disheartening 44-21 loss to Georgia and I expect them to get caught flat-footed here as well. Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano turned the ball over three times. 

The pick: I think Wildcats' QB Terry Wilson is going to have a big day here. He had 463 yards passing with two touchdowns, along with 221 rushing yards and three more TD's on the ground. The Vols are also just 2-7 ATS in their last nine after a ten points or greater road loss in their previous outing. With Alabama coming to town next weekend, this also sets up as a "look ahead" spot for the home side. I'm grabbing the points and expecting a "nail biter!" 

This is an 8* ROUT on Kentucky.

The set-up: SMU enters out of its bye week. Tulane fell 49-31 to Houston last weekend. This is a revenge game for the Green Wave after falling 37-20 to the Mustangs in the final game of the regular season for each team last year. SMU QB Shane Buechele has gone 105 passes without throwing a pick for SMU. The Mustangs average 44 PPG and they allow just 23.3. But with a game at home against leading Cincinnati next weekend, there's no question that this sets up as a classic "look ahead" spot for Buechele and the Mustangs. 

The pick: The Green Wave offense stalled last weekend. The defense was sharp in forucing five turnovers. Michael Pratt was making his first start of his career and he has 141 passing yards and a touchdown. Tulane relies mostly on the run game on offense anyways though and so far it's averaging 37 PPG, while allowing 31. The Green Wave are also 6-1 ATS in their last seven following an ATS loss and 5-0 ATS as a home dog, while the Mustangs are just 1-5 ATS in their last six on the road. No outright, but down to the wire. Grab the points.

This is a 10* GAME OF THE MONTH on Tulane.

The set-up: Last season Georiga State upset Arkansas State 52-38 as a 6.5-point underdog and I think it has a legitimate shot at winning this contest outright as well. The Panthers opened the season with a 34-31 OT loss to Louisiana-Lafayette and then had their next contest postponed. On OCtober 3rd they beat ACC foe East Carolina 49-29 as a two-point underdog. Georgia State won the yardage battle 485-286. Cornelious Brown has four touchdowns and three INT's, but the Panthers have averaged 40 PPG, while allowing 31.5. 

The pick: Arkansas State enters off a 50-27 win over FCS opponent Central Arkansas. The Red Wolves won the yardage battle 573 to 411. Arkansas State utilizes two quarterbacks this year in Layne Hatcher and Logan Bonner. The Red Wolves though are 0-3 in their last three as a favorite vs. an FBS opponent, while Georgia State enters with a 6-3 ATS record out of its last nine when playing the role of underdog. The Panthers secondary already has five interceptions, so I think the Red Wolves have a difficult time moving the ball today. I'm grabbing the points.

This is a 10* ATS BLOOD-BATH on Georgia State.

The set-up: The Ragin Cajun's blew the Chanticleers away in last year's 48-7 win, but I expect Coastal Carolina to be much more competitive this season. The Chanticleers went 5-7 last year. This season they're 3-0. Eight starters returned to the offensive side of the ball and in the early going they're averaging 44.3 PPG. CC had 38 in a win over Kansas to open the season. Grayson McCall had 322 yards and four TD's last week. Last year CC allowed 33.2 PPG, this season it's conceding just 22.3.

The pick: UL Lafayette hasn't played since September 26th because of Covid issues. The Ragin Cajuns went 11-3 last year and they're 3-0 this season. In their last game they held on for a 20-18 victory over Georgia Southern. GSU had 447 yards of offense, including 192 on the ground. Overall the Cajuns average 28.3 PPG this season. Coastal Carolina is 7-1 ATS in its last eight road games vs. a team with a winning home record though and 5-1 ATS in its last six following a straight-up win of more than 20 points, while Louisiana is 0-4 ATS in its last four conference contests. Revenge is on CC's mind here and while the outright is possible, in the end I'm grabbing up the ample points!

This is a 10* GAME OF THE WEEK on Coastal Carolina.

The set-up: K-State beat Oklahoma last year as a big underdog, so I definitely thought that the Sooners would be out for revenge this season, but a late meltdown last week led to a second consecutive loss to the Wildcats as a 28 point favorite. Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler threw three interceptions, so that obviously didn't help. Iowa State was upset by the Ragin Cajuns two weeks ago, but the Cyclones held on for a 37-34 win over TCU last weekend. I am not going to over-react here to the Sooners "brain fart" last weekend..instead I will look at the positives and expect Oklahoma to bounce back this week. Rattler, while he did throw the three interceptions, he also threw for 375 yards and four touchdowns. It was Rattler's second consecutive four touchdown game. Drake Stoops, son of former coach Bob Stoops caught three passes for 93 yards and a touchdown. The Sooners looked poor defensively though, they allowed 334 passing yards and did not record a turnover. 

The pick: Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy had 211 yards passing and one touchdown, while Breece Hall had three rushing touchdowns in the win over the Horned Frogs last weekend. The Cyclones win came at a cost though, as two offensive linemen were lost in Trevor Downing and Robert Hudson. The Iowa State defense was a big of a mixed back, posting seven sacks, but also allowing 400 passing yards. I think that Rattler is going to be able to exploit this and I like the Sooners defense to bounce back after that atrocious fourth quarter last week. I'll finish off by pointing out that Iowa State is 0-3-1 ATS in its last four following a straight-up victory.

This is a 10* GAME OF THE WEEK on Oklahoma.

The set-up: Cincinnati is 2-0 on the season after beating Army last time out. USF won its first game over Citadel 27-6, before then getting destroyed 52-0 by the Irish. Then last week the Bulls game vs. FAU was postponed due to Covid. South Florida will be running the ball a ton here and I think the home side gets caught "looking ahead" today. 

The pick: In fact, the Bearcats enjoy their bye-week after this. And finally note that Cincinnati is just 2-7 ATS in its last nine after back-to-back ATS victories. No outright, but closer than expected. Grab the points.

This is an 8* PLAY-BOOK on South Florida.

The set-up: The Red Raiders play with revenge here after falling 30-27 in this game last year. Texas Tech comes in off a tough loss to Texas, but they were a massive underdog and they have to be feeling good about how they played. Now they get to take out their frustrations on a contented K-State team which just upset Oklahoma for the second time in two years as a 28 point underdog. In the end Texas Tech had 441 yards, with QB Alex Bowman throwing for five TDs. 

The pick: K-State trailed for the first three quarters, but a complete collapse by Oklahoma in the fourth proved to be the difference. It was a surprising result, considering that K-State has several players sidelined with Covid. Skyler Thompson had three rushing TD's and one passing. Both teams took their respective ranked opponents down to the wire, but one came away with the victory, while the other came up JUST short. Give me the hungrier dog in this fight and take the points in the process!

This is a 9* 'PLAY-BOOK' on Texas Tech.

The set-up: Texas won this game last year by a score of 49-24, but I think the stage is set for a much closer battle this time around. The Longhorns are 1-0 after beating UTEP 59-3, and the Red Red Raiders are also 1-0 after beating Houston Baptist by a score of 35-33. Texas is looking to improve upon its 8-5 record from last year. Sam Ehlinger is back under center to direct an offense which averaged 35.2 PPG. The weakness is on the defensive end though, as the unit allowed 27.5 PPG last season. That defense should be improved, but it now clearly faces a much tougher offense this week. 

The pick: Texas Tech will have its hands full through all three phases, but with QB Alan Bowman under center, I love the Red Raiders chances here. Bowman can keep his team in late. Last year he only played in three games, but he finished with 1,020 yards, six TD's and three INT's in that span. Texas Tech also welcomes back three of its top four receivers, led by KeSean Carter. Yes, the Red Raiders are destined to be terrible defensively again this season (they allowed 600 yards in th ewin over HBU), but the unit does return eight starters, so minor improvement is also expected. The Red Raiders' schedule doesn't easier either with games at K-State and Iowa State up next. Texas on the other hand will get caught "looking ahead" here with a game at home vs. TCU, follow by at Oklahoma, vs. Baylor and at Oklahoma State all on deck next. No outright, but much closer than expected in my opinion. Grab the points.

This is a 10* GAME OF THE YEAR on Texas Tech.

The set-up: This is a big game for Florida State. The Seminoles have endured back-to-back poor seasons under Willie Taggert, but he's out this season and Mike Norvell is in. Norvell was extremely successful as the head coach at Memphis last year, leading it to an AAC title while averaging 40.5 points in the process. Georiga Tech switched up its offense last year under then first year head coach Geoff Collins, but it's hard to imagine this rebuilding visiting side doing much better than it's 3-9 record from 2019. James Graham returns under center for GT, or does he? In fact, as of writing this the Yellowjackets haven't even named their starting QB. GT's defense was one of the worst in the country and while it should improve, it won't be too dramatically. Unfortunately this year GT is being thrown to the wolves this season, without any non-conference "cream-puffs" to warm up on. 

The pick: FSU has its No. 1 QB back (James Blackmon) and its top receiver in Tamorrian Terry back and ready to prove themselves. The Seminoles were poor defensively last year, but ten of 11 starters are back and I think that spells big trouble for the QB-less Jackets. GT is a "Power 5" team in name only, the product on the field today is going to be a sub-par and I think the Seminoles will take FULL advantage. Lay the points.

This is a 10* COACH'S CORNER on FSU.

The set-up: Yes UAB crushed Central Arkansas 45-35 at home last weekend, but I think the Blazers will have a much more difficult time vs. this Hurricanes team which went a sub-par 6-7 last year. Tyler Johnson III is a decent QB and Spencer Brown a good RB, but I believe they'll struggle here in this difficult road venue. 

The pick: Miami fans have a lot to be excited about this season, as D'Eriq King transferred over from Houston. King is a dynamic QB and he's going to want to prove himself here. The Miami Florida defense lost a few starters, but overall the unit remains a strenght of the team. I have a hard time seeing UAB keeping up to King and company down the stretch. Lay the points!

This is a 10* GAME OF THE WEEK on Miami Florida.