Season record: 5-6-1
Last week: 2-3 (Florida State -2.5, Kansas State -14.5, Ole Miss -16.5, Penn State/Auburn under 47.5, UT-San Antonio +12.5)
Florida State and Ole Miss got it done, but beyond that, it was a rough week. Kansas State lost outright, so I need to give Tulane their due. The Auburn defense did not hold up against Penn State. The Nittany Lions ran for 245 yards as they put up 42 points. Then it came down to UT-San Antonio. The Roadrunners put together a good first half as they went to the half tied at 17. However, Texas running back Bijan Robinson would be too much in the second half. Robinson had touchdown runs of 78 and 41 yards as Texas ran away with a 40-21 victory.
Things have to get better and with a new week, I am confident that they will.
Let’s get to the picks!
Maryland Terrapins (3-0) @ #4 Michigan Wolverines (3-0) | September 24 | 11:00 AM CT | Michigan Stadium
Line: Michigan -16.5 | Total: 65
Big Noon Saturday features two undefeated teams in Maryland and Michigan. While Michigan has been completely dominant against Colorado State, Hawaii, and UConn, Maryland represents a more significant challenge.
His big brother Tua Tagovailoa had a big day on Sunday throwing for 6 touchdowns, but Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa is holding his own as well. The younger Tagovailoa is completing 77.3% of his passes this season. He also has a stellar quartet of receivers in Rakim Jarrett, Jeshaun Jones, Jacob Copeland, and Dontay Demus Jr. That group has accounted for 34 catches and 527 yards.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has typically been a grind-it-out type coach, but this season the Wolverines simply cannot stop scoring. At 55.3 points per game, Michigan leads the country in scoring offense. A big part of that is sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who averages a whopping 13.9 yards per attempt.
Big Noon Saturday should feature some fireworks when these two quarterbacks square off. Give me over 65.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1-2) @ North Carolina Tar Heels (3-0) | September 24 | 2:30 PM CT | Kenan Stadium
Line: North Carolina -2 | Total: 58
In today’s age of college football, you have to be able to score to win. North Carolina can do just that. The Tar Heels average 51.3 points per game. Quarterback Drake Maye has thrown for 930 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first three games. Maye has also completed 74.2% of his passes.
Notre Dame has had more trouble in this department. Starting quarterback Tyler Buchner injured his shoulder in a loss to Marshall. That left Drew Pyne to lead the offense. Pyne did an adequate job, completing 17 of 23 passes and 2 touchdowns.
However, the Irish only had 297 yards of offense on the day and converted only three of twelve third down attempts.
Drake Maye and the North Carolina offense can go 0 to 100 real quick and I do not know if Notre Dame has what it takes to catch up. While Marcus Freeman has recently converted to Catholicism, it may not be in God’s Plan to win this Saturday.
North Carolina -2 is the pick.
#10 Arkansas Razorbacks (3-0) vs. #23 Texas A&M Aggies (2-1) | September 24 | 6:00 PM CT | AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
Line: Texas A&M -2 | Total: 48
Perhaps Arkansas got caught looking ahead to this game as they had to overcome a second half deficit in order to put away Missouri State. However, when the Razorbacks needed drives, they put them together as they won 38-27.
The Arkansas offense has been dynamic thus far behind quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Raheim Sanders. Jefferson is completing 70.5% of his passes while Sanders is averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
Texas A&M has not fared so well offensively. After a disappointing loss to Appalachian State, the Aggies made a change at quarterback. LSU transfer Max Johnson started in their 17-9 victory over Miami. Johnson completed 10 of 20 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown came on a pass in which do-it-all running back Devon Achane did most of the work as he took a swing pass from 25 yards out for a score.
Arkansas ranks last nationally in passing yards allowed per game at 352.7. The Razorbacks have been victimized to the big play as they have allowed 15 plays of 20 or more yards. However, they are facing a Texas A&M offense that has not been able to consistently create such plays with only 8 through 3 games.
Texas A&M wants to run the ball with Achane. In that department, the Arkansas defense has been much better. They have allowed only 2.23 yards per carry this season.
I am taking Arkansas +2.
Kansas State Wildcats (2-1) @ #6 Oklahoma Sooners (3-0) | September 24 | 7:00 PM CT | Memorial Stadium
Line: Oklahoma -13 | Total: 53
Last week I put my faith in Kansas State and they failed me. This week I am going the other direction.
The Tulane defense kept Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn in check. Vaughn rushed for 81 yards on 20 carries. This week he will get another difficult test in an Oklahoma defense that ranks 11th nationally in yards per play allowed (4.06).
The Oklahoma offense is a juggernaut behind quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel is completing 66.7% of his passes and has thrown for 7 touchdowns with no interceptions. Gabriel is complemented by running back Eric Gray. Gray is coming off his biggest game of the season: 113 yards and 2 touchdowns in the win over Nebraska.
Kansas State struggled with the scrambling ability of Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt. Pratt ran for 87 yards against the Wildcats. Gabriel proved he can be dangerous with his legs last week as he broke off a 61-yard touchdown run.
Give me Oklahoma -13.
OUTTA HERE!
Clarknado Sports 
One response to “Nado’s Notions: Week 4”
[…] Last week: 0-3-1 (Maryland-Michigan over 65, North Carolina -2, Arkansas +2, Oklahoma -13) […]
LikeLike