Season record: 22-22
Last week: 2-3 (Virginia Tech -10.5, UCF -2, TCU -6.5, Wisconsin +6.5, Colorado -5)
It was another 2-3 week for me and after nine weeks of college football, I am at an even .500. As we get into November, it is time to finish strong!
Let’s go!
#4 Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1) @ #3 Penn State Nittany Lions (7-0) | November 2 | 11:00 AM CT | Beaver Stadium
Line: Ohio State -3.5 | Total: 45.5
The biggest game of the week is happening in University Park this weekend. One-loss Ohio State is taking undefeated Penn State. Both teams have been rather dominant as both are near the top of the conference in both offense and defense.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard grew up in Pennsylvania and was once a Penn State fan. Now, he plays quarterback for the Buckeyes and has done rather well in doing so. Howard is completing 74% of his passes and averages 9.9 yards per attempt. He also has five rushing touchdowns.
On the Penn State side, quarterback Drew Allar has also played at a high level. He has thrown for 1,640 yards while completing 71.4% of his passes this season. Allar’s status for this game is day-to-day after he left the Wisconsin game due to injury. In his absence, backup Beau Pribula went 11 of 13 passing with 98 yards and a touchdown.
However, when it comes to weapons, Ohio State has more to offer. This group is led by star freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith. Smith leads the Buckeyes in receiving yards (623) and receiving touchdowns (8). He is complemented with veteran receivers Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate. Egbuka has 546 receiving yards and six touchdowns, while Tate has 334 yards and two touchdowns.
Tight end Tyler Warren has done almost everything for the Nittany Lions. He leads the team in catches and receiving yards. In fact, Warren has more than double the receptions of Penn State’s second-leading receiver. Warren has 47 catches, while Harrison Wallace is the next closest with 22.
Big time players make big time plays in big time games. Ohio State has more of those players and Penn State still has little game James on their sideline.
Give me Ohio State -3.5.
Vanderbilt Commodores (5-3) @ Auburn Tigers (3-5) | November 2 | 11:45 PM CT | Jordan-Hare Stadium
Line: Auburn -6.5 | Total: 48.5
Jordan-Hare is not the most welcoming environment for opposing teams. However, for Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, perhaps it is. Pavia appears to thrive in chaos which has resulted in big upsets. There was the win over Alabama last month, but do not forget Pavia came to Jordan-Hare and won as a member of the New Mexico State team last season. Pavia threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns as New Mexico State defeated Auburn 31-10.
Auburn had a big game on the ground last week. The Tigers ran for 326 yards against Kentucky and captured their first SEC win of the season.
This was made possible by the lackluster offense which only possessed the ball for 24:18. This likely will not happen against Vanderbilt who leads the conference in time of possession at over 32 minutes per game.
I am going with Vanderbilt +6.5.
Arizona State Sun Devils (5-2) @ Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-5) | November 2 | 6:00 PM CT | Boone Pickens Stadium
Line: Arizona State -2.5 | Total: 58.5
This season has not gone well for Oklahoma State. The Cowboys came into this season with Big 12 Championship hopes and now they find themselves fighting just for bowl eligibility. (Not sure if teams still care about that)
The Oklahoma State defense has really struggled this season, especially against the run. In their last three games, the Cowboys have allowed 329 rushing yards per game. Their opponents are averaging 7.1 yards per carry!
Guess who Oklahoma State faces this week?
Cam Skattebo!
Skattebo is fourth in the league in rushing yards with 848. He has also reached the endzone 10 times on the season.
Arizona State also got some good news this week with quarterback Sam Leavitt being cleared for play. With Leavitt back in the lineup, the Sun Devils will not have to be over reliant on Skattebo.
Arizona State -2.5 is the pick.
#10 Texas A&M Aggies (7-1) @ South Carolina Gamecocks (4-3) | November 2 | 6:30 PM CT | Williams-Brice Stadium
Line: Texas A&M -2.5 | Total: 44.5
This is a matchup of two of the SEC’s top defenses. In conference play, South Carolina allows only 325.8 yards per game, while Texas A&M allows 346 yards per game.
Both teams also run the ball at a high percentage. Texas A&M runs the ball on 62.85% of their plays, which is the ninth-highest rate in the country. South Carolina, meanwhile, runs it 59.57% of the time, which is 17th in the country.
I am going under 44.5.
TCU Horned Frogs (5-3) @ Baylor Bears (4-4) | November 2 | 7:00 PM CT | McLane Stadium
Line: Baylor -3 | Total: 64.5
The Baylor offense has been ignited by Sawyer Robertson at quarterback. Robertson has thrown for 14 touchdowns over the last four games. In those games, the Bears are averaging 36.5 points per game.
TCU also features a prolific passing attack. Quarterback Josh Hoover averages 326.8 passing yards per game, which is sixth in the country.
Hoover will look to exploit a Baylor defense which has allowed an average of 314 passing yards per game over the last three games.
TCU, meanwhile, has played good defense in their last two road games. The Horned Frogs have limited their last two road opponents to an average of 306.5 yards per game. TCU has gone on to win both games over Kansas and Utah.
I just cannot quit the Horned Frogs. Give me TCU +3.
#18 Pittsburgh Panthers (7-0) @ #20 SMU Mustangs (7-1) | November 2 | 7:00 PM CT | Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Line: SMU -7.5 | Total: 58.5
This is a matchup of two of the last undefeated teams in the ACC. Yes, SMU is in the ACC.
Both teams have offenses that can put up points. Pittsburgh averages 40.9 points per game, while SMU averages 39.1 points per game.
Where this game could be decided is turnovers. Last week, SMU turned the ball over six times in their win over Duke and Pittsburgh turned over Syracuse five times.
The other big question is the status of Pittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein. Holstein’s status is unknown and Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi will not give details.
Now, with an ACC Championship appearance on the line, I am willing to bet Holstein will play. I am also willing to bet on Pittsburgh +7.5.
OUTTA HERE!
Clarknado Sports 