Season record: 6-3
Last week: 3-2 (Nebraska -3, Ole Miss/Tulane over 65, Marshall -3, Appalachian State/North Carolina over 58.5, Texas +7.5)
Don’t doubt Coach Prime. Lesson learned. Michael Pratt not playing for Tulane was also a bummer. However, we had a winning week in spite of that.
We have a long way to go, so let’s get to the picks!
#15 Kansas State Wildcats (2-0) @ Missouri Tigers (2-0) | September 16 | 11:00 AM CT | Faurot Field
Line: Kansas State -5 | Total: 48
Kansas State heads to Missouri as two undefeated teams square off. While Kansas State has rolled in their first two games, it has been more of a struggle for the Missouri Tigers.
Speaking of struggles, more of that is to be expected for Missouri. The Tigers are a run-heavy team thus far into the season, running the ball 66.7% of the time. That will be a challenge when they face Kansas State’s rush defense, who leads the country allowing only 38 yards per game. Missouri’s leading rusher Cody Shrader averaged only 3.7 yards per carry last week against Middle Tennessee State.
Missouri quarterback Brady Cook has put up good numbers so far. Cook has completed 31 of 40 passes for 376 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions. His favorite receiver has been Luther Burden III, who has 15 receptions for 213 yards and a touchdown. If Missouri is to win, it will take a big effort from these two.
Kansas State also likes to run the ball. While it did not produce gaudy results, it did just enough to keep the Troy defense off balance in the Wildcats’ 42-13 romp last week. Treshaun Ward ran for 58 yards while DJ Giddens ran for 52. Quarterback Will Howard also used his legs, adding 33 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns.
Howard also displayed some fine passing, as he threw three touchdowns in the win over Troy.
I like Howard to lead the Wildcats to another win and cover, so give me Kansas State -5.
Virginia Tech Hokies (1-1) @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-0) | September 16 | 2:30 PM CT | SHI Stadium
Line: Rutgers -7 | Total: 39.5
Let’s go to Piscataway and SHI Stadium, which is apparently named after an IT company.
Something else I know is that Rutgers beats bad teams. The Scarlet Knights have taken care of business of Northwestern and Temple by scores of 24-7 and 36-7, respectively.
You know what else? Virginia Tech is a bad team. The Hokies are coming off a 24-17 home loss to Purdue. Quarterback Grant Wells struggled, completing 16 of 33 passes with 2 touchdowns to go along with 2 interceptions.
That is not a good recipe against the Rutgers defense. The Scarlet Knights have been great in that area. Passes defended is a stat which measures passes broken up and interceptions, and Rutgers leads the country with 11 per game.
For the Rutgers offense, Kyle Monangai stepped up last week to lead the way. The junior running back went to work as he carried the ball 28 times for 165 yards and a score. He could have another big day against a Virginia Tech defense that has given up 201 rushing yards to Old Dominion and 179 to Purdue.
Keep chopping! Rutgers -7
South Carolina Gamecocks (1-1) @ #1 Georgia Bulldogs (2-0) | September 16 | 2:30 PM CT | Sanford Stadium
Line: Georgia -27.5 | Total: 54
South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler had the worst game of his collegiate career against Georgia last season. Rattler had 118 passing yards and 2 interceptions as the Gamecocks were routed by a score of 48-7. He will get another crack at it in Athens on Saturday.
Rattler is off to a hot start this year, completing 83.3% of his passes to go along with 3 touchdowns. A big part of that success is the emergence of receiver Xavier Legette, who is averaging 148 receiving yards per game. Legette has taken the pressure of fellow receiver Antwane “Juice” Wells, who has been slowed by injuries. Indications are that Wells is progressing, and should be good to go.
South Carolina has struggled on the offensive line, and that was apparent in their season opener loss against North Carolina. The Gamecocks surrendered nine sacks in the contest. They will face a dominant defense in Georgia, but pass rush is not their forte. While opposing quarterbacks are making it a point to get rid of the ball quickly, the fact of the matter is the Bulldogs only have one sack through two games.
While Georgia has not generated many sacks, they are creating turnovers. The Bulldogs picked off three passes against Ball State. One of which came on a fortuitous bounce.
The Georgia offense has rolled through its first two opponents. However, the Bulldogs rushing offense has not been as dominant as year’s past. While last year’s team averaged 205.3 rushing yards per game, this year’s team sits at 129 rushing yards per game. That is alarming when their opponents have been Tennessee-Martin and Ball State.
Can true freshman quarterback Carson Beck carry the Georgia offense? Beck has been solid, averaging 9.5 yards per attempt and a 3 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio.
Again, that is against inferior competition. The Gamecocks should present a more difficult test. The South Carolina secondary picked off Drake Maye twice earlier this month.
I think Shane Beamer and his boys have something to prove, so give me South Carolina +27.5.
#8 Washington Huskies (2-0) @ Michigan State Spartans (2-0) | September 16 | 4:00 PM CT | Spartan Stadium
Line: Washington -16 | Total: 57.5
Washington quarterback Michael Penix has picked up where he left off in 2022. Through two games, Penix is averaging 429.5 passing yards per game, second only to Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.
The Huskies will be playing in their first road game of the season as they head into Lansing. This game serves as a backdrop to one of the biggest ongoing scandals in college sports. Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker is currently suspended due to a sexual harassment investigation.
With this looming, it is hard to imagine the Spartans having a great week of practice. Then you add the fact that Penix and company are coming to town, and it could be a rout.
Michigan State’s stats are inflated due to the fact that they have played Central Michigan and Richmond. However, they displayed a poor pass defense in 2022. Michigan State faced four ranked opponents last season, and in those games quarterbacks completed 68.9% of their passes for 1,191 yards with 16 touchdowns and only 1 interception.
I am taking Washington -16.
Pittsburgh Panthers (1-1) @ West Virginia Mountaineers (1-1) | September 16 | 6:30 PM CT | Milan Piskar Stadium
Line: Pittsburgh -1 | Total: 50
Both teams come into this matchup with a record of 1-1. However, last week’s results could not be any more different. For West Virginia, it was a “get right” game as they cruised over Duquesne. For Pittsburgh, it was a disappointing loss to Cincinnati.
The reuniting of quarterback Phil Jurkovec and offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. was supposed to bring the Pittsburgh offense to life. However, against Cincinnati, we saw anything but that. Jurkovec completed 10 of 32 passes as the offense struggled most of the game.
The disappointment did not just belong to the offense. The Pittsburgh defense, which is usually stout under head coach Pat Narduzzi, was gashed for 216 rushing yards. The Panthers should expect more of the same this week against West Virginia. The Mountaineers have a pair of talented running backs in CJ Donaldson and Jahiem White.
The Duquesne game was an opportunity for Garrett Greene to show what he can do throwing the ball. Greene tossed four touchdowns in the victory and was among PFF’s highest graded quarterbacks last week.
Greene has also shown an ability to run, with 100 rushing yards through two games.
You have to love the way his star running back blocks for him, too. That is the kind of grit it will take to win the “Backyard Brawl”.
Take me home, country roads! West Virginia +1
OUTTA HERE!
Clarknado Sports 