Season record: 0-3-1

Last week: 0-3-1 (Boston College -21, Arkansas State +33, Alabama -24.5, Kentucky +8)

Well, I certainly did not get off to a good start. It all started when Kansas putting a whooping on 21-point favorite Boston College. The Kansas offense took flight for the first time this year as they put up 567 yards on their way to a 48-24 rout. It was also the Jayhawks’ first road win over a power conference since they defeated Iowa State in 2008.

Arkansas State was no match for Georgia last Saturday as the Bulldogs easily covered the 33-point spread. Jake Fromm threw three touchdowns in the 55-0 victory.

I almost had a winner with Alabama, but a South Carolina touchdown ruined that. South Carolina quarterback Ryan Hilinski completed a touchdown pass to Kyle Markway with elevens seconds remaining to make it a 47-22 game. The proceeding extra point then made it 47-23, which was enough to cover as 24.5-point underdogs. Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for a career-high 444 yards and 5 touchdowns in the win.

Despite his three interceptions, Kentucky quarterback did enough to lead Kentucky to a victory. Smith threw for 267 yards and accounted for 3 touchdowns on a night where Kentucky led most of the way. However, Smith was not the only backup quarterback to play a role in this game. After Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks went down in the third quarter, Kyle Trask came in to help lead a comeback. Trask came into the game with the Gators trailing 21-10. Florida would go on to score on two of his first three drives to give them a 22-21 lead.

This is where things got wacky for Kentucky +8. Kentucky would go on a nine play, fifty-eight yard drive, but Kentucky kicker Chance Poore (quite an unfortunate name) missed the thirty-five yard field goal attempt. Florida regained possession, and on third and six, Josh Hammond took an end around seventy-six yards for a touchdown.

Final score: Florida 29 Kentucky 21

This week will have to be better. It simply has to, right?

Houston Cougars (1-2) @ Tulane Green Wave (2-1) | September 19 | 7:00 PM CT | Yulman Stadium

Line: Tulane -5 | Total: 57

Thursday night’s game is one of the biggest games in Yulman Stadium since it opened in 2014. Tulane has posted two dominant victories over Florida International and Missouri State. Now, they host American Athletic Conference rival Houston.

Houston quarterback D’Eriq King has received plenty of publicity for his dual threat abilities, but Tulane quarterback Justin McMillan has been good in his own right. McMillan leads the Green Wave in passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns.

The concerning thing about Houston is their defense. They have played powerful offenses in Oklahoma and Washington State, but the Cougars have not shown much resistance. Houston is allowing 7.47 yards per play. It is a short week with the game on Thursday, so I do not think those issues get fixed. Their offense has not been potent enough to cover up those issues, either, averaging 5.75 yards per play.

I am taking Tulane -5.

Michigan Wolverines (2-0) @ Wisconsin Badgers (2-0) | September 21 | 11:00 AM CT | Camp Randall Stadium

Line: Wisconsin -3.5 | Total: 43.5

Wisconsin has come out and dominated their first two opponents, South Florida and Central Michigan, by a combined score of 110-0. The Badgers have been doing it with a powerful rushing game and suffocating defense. Running back Jonathan Taylor has run for five touchdowns in his first two games. The defense is only allowing 107.5 yards per game. The Badgers are also getting solid quarterback play from junior Jack Coan, who is completing over 76% of his passes.

It has not come so easy for Michigan thus far. In their last game, they were taken to double overtime by Army. Among the issues were two fumbles by quarterback Shea Patterson and the amount of yards given up on the ground by the defense.

Given what I have seen out of these two teams thus far this season, I am taking Wisconsin -3.5.

Auburn Tigers (3-0) @ Texas A&M Aggies (2-1) | September 21 | 2:30 PM CT | Kyle Field

Line: Texas A&M -3.5 | Total: 48.5

This is Saturday’s only game which features two ranked SEC teams. Auburn is undefeated, but this will be their first true road game of the season. The Tigers have enjoyed success at Kyle Field, winning in their previous three trips there. However, this will be their first time with a true freshman starting quarterback. Bo Nix struggled in his first start, but stepped up to complete the game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute against Oregon.

Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher has made his name as an offensive coach, but it has been his defense that his been the story this season. In the loss at Clemson, the Aggies held Clemson star running back Travis Etienne to fifty-three yards on sixteen carries. Texas A&M is among the nation’s leaders in points per game allowed, giving up less than twelve points per game.

Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond has struggled with his accuracy at times. He was 24 of 42 at Clemson and has thrown an interception in each game this season. However, Mond has been in big games, and he is playing at home.

I like Texas A&M -3.5 because I think their defense will take away Auburn’s running game and force Nix to beat them. While I think Nix has a promising future, I do not expect him to make enough plays to get it done against this Texas A&M defense.

Central Florida Knights (3-0) @ Pittsburgh Panthers (1-2) | September 21 | 2:30 PM CT | Heinz Field

Line: Central Florida -12.5 | Total: 59

No matter who plays quarterback for Central Florida, their offense continues to pile up points. Freshman Dillon Gabriel has thrown for nine touchdowns and zero interceptions through three games as they have averaged over fifty-one points per game.

Pittsburgh is coming off of a tough loss to rival Penn State. Down by seven, with under five minutes left, head coach Pat Narduzzi opted to kick a field goal from the Penn State one yard line. The kick was missed and Pittsburgh fell 17-10.

The Panthers have a tough defense and are among the team sack leaders in the country with twelve on the season. But can they slow down the Central Florida offense the way they are rolling right now?

Central Florida -12.5 is the pick. They will continue to be on my radar as long as their opponent is not LSU.

Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-0) @ Texas Longhorns (2-1) | September 21 | 6:30 PM CT | Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium

Line: Texas -5 | Total: 73

This could be the most fun matchup of the week. Oklahoma State comes in averaging just over forty-nine points a game while Texas is just under forty-four points a game. There will be offensive stars all over the field; Oklahoma State has running back Chuba Hubbard (522 rushing yards, 7 touchdowns) and wide receiver Tylan Wallace (390 rushing yards, 6 touchdowns), while Texas has wide receivers Devin Duvernay, Brennan Eagles, and Jake Smith, who each have three touchdowns a piece.

Each team has only played one team from a power conference this season. Oklahoma State played Oregon State and gave up 38, while Texas played LSU and gave up 45.

That means I am taking over 73.

OUTTA HERE!