Here are my five best bets for Week 3 in college football. Click each linked for a short writeup of the game:
Notre Dame (+2.5) over Georgia Tech
Tag Archives: Alabama
SEC Games to Circle
It’s a slow time in the sports calendar, which makes it a perfect time to start preparing for football season. I looked through the conference schedules for the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC and Pac-12 to look for favorable situations to support teams and bad situations to fade teams. Games are at least two months away, and I wouldn’t automatically pick these games but it’s something that could be helpful down the road. I will post the other four conferences next week. For now, here are games you should keep an eye on in the SEC:
September 26- Missouri at Kentucky: Missouri has three favorable non-conference games before their first SEC game at Kentucky. The Tigers will likely be a favorite against an up-and-coming Wildcats team that needs to win these games if they want to make a bowl. Missouri plays South Carolina the week after. Last year the Tigers shockingly lost to Indiana the week before playing the Gamecocks in a classic “look ahead” situation. Missouri may be looking past Kentucky with bigger games on deck so possibly take Kentucky if they are an underdog in this game.
October 10- Georgia at Tennessee: Georgia is coming off a home game against Alabama. A trip to Knoxville is less than ideal the week after such a big contest for the Bulldogs. The Volunteers host Arkansas the week before and a have a bye the week after. Tennessee might end up being a favorite in this game and I would likely take them if the spread is a south of a field goal.
October 17- Alabama at Texas A&M: Alabama has had favorable conference schedules the last few seasons. However, things change in 2015 as they draw Georgia and Tennessee from the SEC East. They play the two SEC East foes in part of a four-week stretch that also includes games against Arkansas and Texas A&M. The game against Texas A&M is on the road and I can see the Crimson Tide slipping up here. The Aggies will have revenge on their mind after being trounced 59-0 against Alabama last season. Texas A&M also has a favorable early season schedule, and they don’t leave the state of Texas until the eighth week of the season. I don’t know if Alabama will lose this game but I can see them failing to cover the spread.
Basketball Picks: January 13
South Carolina (-4) over Alabama: Alabama has started conference play 2-0 after wins against Texas A&M and at a rebuilding Tennessee team. The Crimson Tide will be playing in their second straight road game, and it’s very tough to win away from home in the SEC. Alabama also might be looking ahead to their weekend home game against No. 1 Kentucky. South Carolina faces a must-win situation after starting SEC play 0-2. They defeated Iowa State a week and a half ago so they are a solid team that should win this game. I’m not sold on Alabama yet and will take South Carolina here.
College Football: Week 12 Picks
I have seven picks in Week 12 of college football. I previewed the important games earlier in this week before the lines were released. I ended up picking six of those games so you can read my analysis there. Here are my picks and pool plays for Week 12:
South Carolina (+7) over Florida: This is the one game I didn’t preview earlier in the week because it has no impact on the College Football Playoff. South Carolina has blown three fourth quarter leads this year but I think they make sure to play 60 minutes in Gainesville. Florida doesn’t have the offense to be a touchdown favorite here and I think the Gamecocks win straight up.
Georgia (-2) over Auburn
Stanford (-7.5) over Utah
Alabama (-8) over Mississippi State
Arkansas (-2) over LSU
Florida State (-3) over Miami
Maryland (+12) over Michigan State
Pool Plays
Penn State (-11) over Temple
Ohio State (-14) over Minnesota
Iowa (-3.5) over Illinois
Nebraska (+6.5) over Wisconsin
College Football: Week 11 Picks
Here are my Week 11 college football picks and the rest of the pool plays:
Kansas State (+6) over TCU: A Bill Snyder team getting points is usually a safe pick. Kansas State’s only loss was against Auburn so both these teams are in contention for the College Football Playoff. I think Kansas State will try to control the ball to keep TCU’s explosive offense off the field. That’s why I also like the under in this game.
Under 58 in TCU vs Kansas State: See above
Under 45 in LSU vs Alabama: I can see LSU winning this game and because of that I like the under. It might be similar to the game two weeks ago when the Tigers upset Ole Miss 10-7. I don’t think Alabama’s offense will be as efficient on the road in Baton Rogue. Remember that these teams played a 9-6 game three years ago before meeting again in the National Championship.
Michigan State (-4) over Ohio State: Michigan State is the better team and are coming off a bye. The Spartans are playing at home in primetime, so I give the advantage to quarterback Connor Cook over Ohio State freshman J.T. Barrett.
Pool Plays
Kentucky (+10) over Georgia: The next two games are only pool plays but I was very close to making them official picks. I make most of my college football picks based on scheduling situations. Georgia is in a terrible scheduling spot this week. They just played Florida and play Auburn next week. So this Kentucky game is sandwiched between two big games for the Bulldogs. The matchup next week against Auburn is even more important because of how the Tigers beat the Bulldogs last season. Georgia also had their College Football Playoff dreams crushed last week when they lost to Florida. With no shot a winning the title and I think Georgia comes out flat in Lexington. That being said, the line has probably adjusted taking those factors into consideration. So I would lean towards Kentucky but would like this game a lot more if the spread was a few points higher.
Purdue (+17) over Wisconsin: The Badgers are one of four teams in the Big Ten West with one loss. The other three are Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. Those are Wisconsin’s three opponents after this game in West Lafayette. So this is a lookahead scenario against Purdue with bigger games on deck. Purdue has improved in conference play and even out gained Nebraska last week in a 21-point loss. The home team is getting a lot of points here but there’s going to be cold and rainy weather for an early kickoff on Saturday. That climate favors Wisconsin’s game plan of running of the ball and playing strong defense. That’s why I would only lean Purdue in this game.
College Football: Week 9 Picks
Here are my Week 9 college football picks and the rest of the pool plays:
Wisconsin (-10.5) over Maryland
Under 48 in Kansas State vs Texas
North Carolina (+7) Virginia
Under 49 in Michigan State vs Michigan
Oklahoma State (-1) over West Virginia
LSU (+4) over Ole Miss
Over 65 in Auburn vs South Carolina
Under 46 in Tennessee vs Alabama
Washington (+3) over Arizona State
Pool Plays
Oregon (-17.5) over California- Friday Night
Illinois (+6) over Minnesota
College Football: Week 8 Picks
Here are my Week 8 college football picks and the rest of the pool plays:
Iowa (+4.5) over Maryland
California (+7) over UCLA
Alabama (-13) over Texas A&M
Over 64 in Alabama vs Texas A&M
Tennessee (+16) over Ole Miss
Under 47 in Ole Miss vs Tennessee
LSU (-10) over Kentucky
Iowa State (+12.5) over Texas
Pool Plays
Wake Forest (+5) over Syracuse
Purdue (+14) over Minnesota
West Virginia (+8.5) over Baylor
Kansas State (+7.5) over Oklahoma
College Football: September 20 Picks
I picked Kanas State (+9.5) as part of a pool play on Thursday. I wasn’t confident enough to make it an official pick. I thought both teams played sloppy. Auburn could’ve won by a lot more and Kansas State could’ve won straight up if they made their field goals or didn’t throw a goal line interception. Moving on the this weekend, I had trouble with these games so I have one pick that I am very confident about. The teams I have the strongest leans towards against the spread are North Carolina, Mississippi State, Northern Illinois and Miami. Here’s my one pick this Saturday along with the other pool plays:
Under 51 in Florida vs Alabama
Pool Plays
Mississippi State (+9.5) over LSU
South Carolina (-21) over Vanderbilt
Florida vs Alabama Pick
My only college football pick of the week will also be the first over/under pick I have made this season. I like the Florida-Alabama game to go under the total of 51. The SEC has seen a lot of high scoring games this season involving Texas A&M, South Carolina and Georgia. However, Florida and Alabama are two on the best defensive teams in the conference and both teams have question marks on offense.
Florida may have been looking ahead to this game when they came out flat against Kentucky and need triple overtime to beat the Wildcats. Florida ran and threw the ball well but Jeff Driskel will need to play much better against Alabama than he did against Kentucky. Teams that can run a spread offense have given trouble to Alabama and Florida doesn’t have a spread offense where they open up the playbook.
Alabama quarterback Blake Sims hasn’t had to be spectacular this season. The senior has relied on wide receiver Amari Cooper who already has 33 receptions in three games. If there is one team that can neutralize Cooper, it’s Florida with star cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III. That will be the matchup to watch on Saturday and I think Hargreaves III can contain Cooper.
Florida and coach Will Muschamp know they need this game so I think they will bring their best defensive effort. I also think Alabama will be the dominant Alabama from the past with their defense. Driskel and Sims aren’t quarterbacks I expect to lead their teams on many scoring drives. That’s why I like the under in this SEC game.
Pick: Under 51 in Florida vs Alabama
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