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Week 11 College Football Picks

Season record: 30-27-1

Last week: 2-3 (Auburn -4.5, Georgia Tech -5, Kentucky +9.5, Notre Dame -9.5, LSU +14.5)

It was a pretty rough week. Not only did I come away with a losing record, but the games I felt really good about lost handily. Let us take a look back.

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Photo credit: John Reed, USA TODAY Sports

Auburn pulled out an improbable victory when Jarrett Stidham connected with Seth Williams on an 11-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Auburn won the game 28-24, missing the cover by a half of a point.

Texas A&M did not struggle the ball the way they did previously on the road. The Aggies had 203 yards on the ground. Trayveon Williams led the way with 107 yards and 2 touchdowns.

However, Texas A&M came up empty on their final six possessions of the game.

The Auburn offense was not great on Saturday, only gaining 278 yards on the day. However, on the final two drives, Auburn scored on touchdown drives of 71 and 58 yards, respectively to complete the comeback.

 

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Photo credit: Grant Halverson, Getty Images

Georgia Tech struggled at times to put away North Carolina. Georgia Tech led 28-20 in the fourth, then North Carolina tied the game after a touchdown and successful two-point conversion with 12:35 left. Georgia Tech pulled away with a touchdown and a late field goal to win the game 38-28.

Georgia Tech ran the ball with great success, as they picked up 461 rushing yards on 74 carries. Quarterback Tobias Oliver threw the ball with incredible efficiency as he completed both of his passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.

North Carolina hung around, but Georgia Tech was able to put up the late scores to get the cover.

 

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Photo credit: Bryan Woolston, Associated Press

Georgia dominated this game in a way I did not see coming, beating Kentucky 34-17. The Bulldogs ran all over Kentucky with 331 rushing yards. D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield both eclipsed 100 rushing yards, with 156 and 115, respectively.

Georgia, for all their past troubles against the run, bottled up Benny Snell Jr. Snell carried the ball 20 times for only 73 yards.

With the win, Georgia became SEC East Champions and will face Alabama on December 1 in Atlanta.

 

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Photo credit: Clint Jenkins, 247 Sports

Notre Dame found themselves in a tight game in Evanston on Saturday night. Northwestern scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to pull within three points. Up 24-21, Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book led an 89-yard touchdown drive to make it 31-21.

Book had another solid game leading the Irish to victory. He completed 22 of 34 passes for 343 yards and 2 touchdowns, and also ran for another.

 

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Photo credit: John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports

Alabama won and covered. We are moving on.

 

Week 11 presents a new opportunity. Let me see if I can pick up some late season momentum.

 

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Photo credit: Nick Wagner, Austin American-Statesman

TCU Horned Frogs @ West Virginia Mountaineers | 11:00 AM CT | November 10 | Milan Puskar Stadium

Line: West Virginia  -11.5 | Total: 56

Will Grier and West Virginia come into this game after knocking off Texas in an emotional win in Austin.

Grier leads a powerful offense that averages 40 points per game. Meanwhile, TCU has not scored over 40 points since September 7 when the Horned Frogs scored 42 against SMU.

I am taking West Virginia -11.5.

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Photo credit: Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Vanderbilt Commodores @ Missouri Tigers | 11:00 AM CT | November 10 | Memorial Stadium

Line: Missouri -16.5 | Total: 63

Missouri had its biggest win of the season last week as they thumped Florida in Gainesville, 38-17. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, comes off of a bye.

Missouri quarterback regained form in the victory over Florida. He completed 24 of 32 passes for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns. I like his chances against a Vanderbilt defense that gave up 284 passing yards and 2 touchdowns to Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks, and 240 passing yards and 2 touchdowns to Arkansas quarterback Ty Storey. Those two quarterbacks are not in the same class as Lock.

I am going with Missouri -16.5 as I expect the Tigers’ offense to have another big day on Saturday.

 

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Photo credit: Mark Brown, Getty Images

North Carolina Tar Heels @ Duke Blue Devils | 11:20 AM CT | November 10 | Wallace Wade Stadium

Line: Duke -10 | Total: 58.5

I am going to cut right to the chase here; I am fading North Carolina as I did last week. The Tar Heels showed some fight last week against Georgia Tech, but after another loss, I expect them to pack it in.

I am going with Duke -10 as they still have something to play for.

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Photo credit: John Weast, Getty Images

Oklahoma State Cowboys @ Oklahoma Sooners | 2:30 PM CT | November 10 | Memorial Stadium

Line: Oklahoma -20.5 | Total: 79

At this point in the season, we all know about the juggernaut that is the Oklahoma offense. The Sooners average 563 yards and 49 points a game.

Oklahoma State also has a powerful offense, albeit less consistent, averaging 497 yards and 38 points per game. The Cowboys typically go as quarterback Taylor Cornelius goes. Cornelius was great in the victory over Texas, throwing for three touchdowns in the 38-35 victory.

In a game sure to have plenty of points scored, I like Oklahoma State +20.5.

 

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Photo credit: Chris Williams, Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Washington State Cougars @ Colorado Buffaloes | 2:30 PM CT | November 10 | Folsom Field

Line: Washington State -6 | Total: 60.5

Washington State is still playing for a potential Pac-12 Championship and College Football Playoff berth. Colorado is trying to end a 4-game losing streak.

Washington State features quarterback Gardner Minshew and the nation’s top passing attack, with 397 yards per game. This could spell trouble for a Colorado defense giving up 12.8 yards per completion.

However, the Colorado offense is getting a big boost on Saturday with the return of receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. Shenault has 11 touchdowns on the season and is the Buffaloes’ most dangerous weapon on offense. He has missed the last three games and Colorado has lost all of them.

Colorado +6 is my pick. I have questions about Washington State being able to go on the road against a team hungry for a win.

 

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Photo credit: Joe Robbins, Getty Images

Auburn Tigers @ Georgia Bulldogs | 6:00 PM CT | November 10 | Sanford Stadium

Line: Georgia -14 | Total: 52.5

Since getting thrashed by LSU in Baton Rouge, Georgia has dominated Florida and Kentucky.

Georgia has re-discovered their running game with D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield. The pair combined to rush for 175 yards against Florida and 271 against Kentucky. This could spell success against an Auburn team that surprisingly has not stopped the run in big games. Mississippi State rushed for 349 yards while Texas A&M ran for 203 yards.

As mentioned earlier, the Auburn offense is still struggling. I do not like their chances in Sanford Stadium against a Georgia defense that only gives up 16 points per game.

I am taking Georgia -14 as I expect them to roll.

OUTTA HERE!

4 responses to “Week 11 College Football Picks”

  1. Didn’t even touch the ACC Coastal Chanpionship in Pittsburgh?! What are you doing here?! This should be the I just cut and paste from Fox Sports.

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    • Good evening sir. I like the Tigers. The line is dropping, and I believe that is an overreaction to the Alabama game. I expect LSU to win by at least two touchdowns.

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