Season record: 18-12

Last week: 2-3 (Maryland +19.5, Rutgers +14,Purdue +2.5, Alabama/Texas A&M under 47, Arkansas/Ole Miss over 63.5)

What a wild, crazy week it was. First, we had Maryland with a second half lead then go on to lose by 20. Rutgers kept it within the number, but Purdue was unable to. Iowa still does not do much on offense, but the Hawkeyes win on the backs of their defense. We got sweaty with the Alabama and Texas A&M under. Then finally Ole Miss and Arkansas fell short of our over. Their games against LSU made me believe these two teams would be more high-scoring than they actually were.

Sitting at 60%, there is still work to be done. Let’s get to the picks!

Syracuse Orange (4-2) @ #4 Florida State Seminoles (5-0) | October 14 | 11:00 AM CT | Doak Campbell Stadium

Line: Florida State -17.5 | Total: 56.5

It is October and I believe Syracuse has turned into a pumpkin. The Orange have been outscored in their last two by a combined score of 71-21.

Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader’s play has dipped as of late. In his last two games, he is averaging only 5.7 yards per attempt while throwing for 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.

Shrader has shown an ability as a dual-threat quarterback, rushing as many as 25 times in a game. Florida State is coming off a game in which the Seminoles saw another quarterback with scrambling ability. Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones ran 14 times for 80 yards last week. His rushing ability was the most effective part of the Virginia Tech offense as Florida State held them to 313 yards on the day.

I expect the Seminoles to tighten up defensively against a Syracuse offense that also relies on their quarterback as a rusher. Shrader’s success as a rusher has gone down significantly as competition has risen. In the four wins, he averaged 6.87 yards per carry; while in the two losses, Shrader averaged only 2.08 yards per carry.

After being slowed by Boston College and Clemson, the Florida State offense looked to be back in rhythm against Virginia Tech. The Seminoles were ignited by running back Trey Benson, who had 200 yards on the ground. Even more impressive is that Benson did so on 11 carries.

Adding an explosive running attack to the weapons Florida State has in Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson makes me believe the Seminoles will be too much for the Orange.

Florida State -17.5 is the pick.

#8 Oregon Ducks (5-0) @ #7 Washington Huskies (5-0) | October 14 | 2:30 PM CT | Husky Stadium

Line: Washington -3 | Total: 67.5

Oregon and Washington both enter undefeated and coming off a bye. Both teams have been impressive on both the scoreboard and on the stat sheet. Washington leads the country with 569.4 yards per game, while Oregon is second at 557.8 yards per game.

Washington quarterback Michael Penix has been phenomenal as he leads the country with 399.8 passing yards per game.

I just feel like this Washington offense is unstoppable, and now receiver Jalen McMillan returns to action.

McMillan has missed the last two games, but despite that, he has 311 yards and 3 touchdowns on the season. In McMillan’s absence, receivers Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk have picked up the slack. Odunze is averaging 121.6 receiving yards per game and Polk is averaging 93.6 receiving yards per game.

The Oregon defense comes in allowing only 255.6 yards per game. However, the level of competition is a bit suspect. The top offense the Ducks have faced is Colorado. The Buffaloes rank 50th in the nation at 415.8 yards per game. However, they have a clear weakness on the offensive line. Colorado has allowed 31 sacks on the season, second-worst in the country.

Washington has had no issues protecting Penix this season. He has only been sacked three times on the season.

With the Huskies at home, I am taking Washington -3.

Missouri Tigers (5-1) @ #24 Kentucky Wildcats (5-1) | October 14 | 6:30 PM CT | Kroger Field

Line: Kentucky -2.5 | Total: 52.5

When I look at this game, I see a tale of two quarterbacks. Missouri’s Brady Cook, despite the loss last week, has been very impressive this season. Cook is completing 71.8% of his passes and 13 have gone for touchdowns. On the other side is Kentucky’s Devin Leary. In the past two weeks, Leary has completed only 19 of 45 passes for 197 yards.

While Leary’s passing has underwhelmed for Kentucky, running back Ray Davis been a force for most of the season. Davis’s biggest game coming when he ran for 280 yards and 3 touchdowns in the victory over Florida.

The Missouri run defense has been good for most of the season, with the exception of the LSU game last week. Last week, the Tigers were gashed for 274 yards on the ground. The LSU offense simply overpowered Missouri behind a really good offensive line and a playmaking quarterback in Jayden Daniels.

Thankfully for Missouri, they do not face the high-powered LSU offense this week. Focusing on taking away Davis, I expect to see more of the Missouri run defense that allowed only 2.53 yards per carry in their first five games.

Give me Missouri +2.5.

#25 Miami Hurricanes (4-1) @ #12 North Carolina Tar Heels (5-0) | October 14 | 6:30 PM CT | Kenan Stadium

Line: North Carolina -3.5 | Total: 57

So I am sure you have seen the end of the Georgia Tech-Miami game dozens of times by now. It is still unbelievable how it all went down. Obviously, Maimi head coach Mario Cristobal was asked about it on Monday and here is what he had to say.

Now, I am a big believer that things are never as good or bad as they seem. Since I follow LSU, I am quite familiar of late game blunders thanks to one Les Miles. I recall two significant occurrences in which Miles botched in-game moments. First, there was the end of the 2009 Ole Miss game.

Then there was the end of the 2010 Tennessee game.

Despite all of that, LSU still went on to win thanks to Tennessee having 13 men on the field.

But that is not the point, the point is that following both mishaps, LSU went on to win the following week. In 2009, LSU defeated Arkansas the following week, and in 2010, LSU defeated Florida in Gainesville the following week.

Sometimes coaching blunders lead to good things. Some might even say it is “God’s Plan”.

Miami +3.5

North Carolina State Wolfpack (4-2) @ #17 Duke Blue Devils (4-1) | October 14 | 7:00 PM CT | Wallace Wade Stadium

Line: Duke -3.5 | Total: 46.5

MJ Morris made his first start at quarterback for North Carolina State and it turned into a wild affair against Marshall. The Wolfpack were able to survive to win 48-41. There was plenty of good and bad as Morris threw four touchdowns and three interceptions.

I expect things to be less chaotic as North Carolina State travels to Duke. Duke is the ACC’s top passing defense, allowing only 159 yards per game.

Duke starting quarterback Riley Leonard was unable to finish their game against Notre Dame due to an ankle injury.

Whether it is Duke backup Henry Belin or Leonard at less than 100%, we can expect a conservative offense. The Blue Devils also play at a slow pace. They average 64 plays per game, which is 111th in the country.

Give me under 46.5.

UAB Blazers (2-4) @ UT-San Antonio Roadrunners (2-3) | October 14 | 7:00 PM CT | Alamodome

Line: UT-San Antonio -10 | Total: 67.5

UT-San Antonio quarterback Frank Harris returned to action last week after missing two games and he did not disappoint. Harris completed 25 of 33 passes for 338 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Roadrunners’ win over Temple.

UT-San Antonio will now take on UAB, who has given up plenty of big plays. The Blazers have given up 33 plays of at least 20 yards this season. In addition, when UAB opponents reach the red zone, they are scoring touchdowns 70% of time.

UAB is coming off their biggest offensive output of the season. The Blazers racked up 608 yards in their 56-35 victory over South Florida.

Points should be aplenty in this one, so give me over 67.5.

OUTTA HERE!