(8-6 +.3 units. hooray.)
CLEMSON +5.5 @ Ga. Tech (1 unit)
Last year Clemson was expected to do great things in the ACC and fell flat on their face Game 1 vs. Alabama. This year they need to replace their QB and top running back, but their OL and DL will be stronger. Ga Tech may be the elite team in the ACC, but saying that there's an 'elite team' in the ACC is an oximoron. CLEMSON 20-17
OHIO ST. +7 (-118) vs USC (1 unit)
Last weeks sluggish performance vs Navy gives this game a lot of line value. QB Barkley may have settled in his debut, but beating Silicon Valley Tech isn't the same as going to the horseshoe and knocking off the Buckeyes. I think the OhioSt. offense will explode by exploiting an inexperienced USC DL. I also see Barkley making some rookie errors that could cost his team. Ohio St. 27-24
NOTRE DAME -3 @ Michigan (1.5 units)
I always pick this game wrong, but this year I think it's a gimme. Notre Dame has clearly turned the corner, and i don't think a win vs. W. Mich suggests that Michigan has their swagger back. ND shutout a potent Nevada offense and will be playing with tons of confidence. Jimmy Clausen is looking like the leader he needs to be, and ND finally has a team that believes in itself. Home advantage aside, ND is clearly the better team and Michigan has lost enough home games the past 2 years for me to dismiss that as a reason the question this pick. Notre Dame 31-10
IOWA ST. +7 vs Iowa (1 unit)
This is another rivalry where you can throw out the records. ISU sucked last year but they return the majority of their offense, a unit that was embarassed in LYs 17-5 loss to Iowa, and will want to redeem itself. Iowa almost lost to 1-AA (yeah, i still refer to it as 1-AA) N. Iowa LW and is probably playing with decreased confidence. With no more Shonn Greene to lead the offense, Iowa doesn't have enough weapons to win convincingly. Iowa 17-13
More picks to come....
CLEMSON +5.5 @ Ga. Tech (1 unit)
Last year Clemson was expected to do great things in the ACC and fell flat on their face Game 1 vs. Alabama. This year they need to replace their QB and top running back, but their OL and DL will be stronger. Ga Tech may be the elite team in the ACC, but saying that there's an 'elite team' in the ACC is an oximoron. CLEMSON 20-17
OHIO ST. +7 (-118) vs USC (1 unit)
Last weeks sluggish performance vs Navy gives this game a lot of line value. QB Barkley may have settled in his debut, but beating Silicon Valley Tech isn't the same as going to the horseshoe and knocking off the Buckeyes. I think the OhioSt. offense will explode by exploiting an inexperienced USC DL. I also see Barkley making some rookie errors that could cost his team. Ohio St. 27-24
NOTRE DAME -3 @ Michigan (1.5 units)
I always pick this game wrong, but this year I think it's a gimme. Notre Dame has clearly turned the corner, and i don't think a win vs. W. Mich suggests that Michigan has their swagger back. ND shutout a potent Nevada offense and will be playing with tons of confidence. Jimmy Clausen is looking like the leader he needs to be, and ND finally has a team that believes in itself. Home advantage aside, ND is clearly the better team and Michigan has lost enough home games the past 2 years for me to dismiss that as a reason the question this pick. Notre Dame 31-10
IOWA ST. +7 vs Iowa (1 unit)
This is another rivalry where you can throw out the records. ISU sucked last year but they return the majority of their offense, a unit that was embarassed in LYs 17-5 loss to Iowa, and will want to redeem itself. Iowa almost lost to 1-AA (yeah, i still refer to it as 1-AA) N. Iowa LW and is probably playing with decreased confidence. With no more Shonn Greene to lead the offense, Iowa doesn't have enough weapons to win convincingly. Iowa 17-13
More picks to come....
