Season record: 16-13-1
Last week: 3-1 (Pittsburgh -4, South Carolina +11.5, Oklahoma +7.5, USC +1.5)
After a strong week, our winning percentage now sits at 55%. Let’s keep it going!
Cincinnati Bearcats (4-1) @ West Virginia Mountaineers (3-3) | October 17 | 11:00 AM CT | Milan Puskar Stadium
Line: West Virginia -1.5 | Total: 63.5
West Virginia has one of the nation’s most potent offenses. The Mountaineers have gone over 500 yards of offense in their last two games. However, they have lost both thanks to a defense that has not stopped much of anything.
West Virginia enters this matchup with a defense that gives up 460.8 yards per game, which ranks 131st in the country.
Cincinnati is not much better, either. The Bearcats allow 401.6 yards per game, ranking 115th nationally.
I am not sure either team will get many stops. Give me over 63.5 to get the day started.
#13 Missouri Tigers (5-1) @ #9 Ole Miss Rebels (4-1) | October 17 | 2:30 PM CT | Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
Line: Ole Miss -5.5 | Total: 58.5
Missouri enters Oxford on a tear after taking care of Florida and Texas A&M in recent weeks. It has been the Tigers’ ground attack that has been a driving force. Missouri has rushed for 220 or more yards in back to back weeks. Running back Jamal Roberts leads the way with 5.63 yards per carry.
Roberts will get a crack at the Ole Miss defense. The Rebels have not been exactly stout against the run this season. In SEC play, Ole Miss has allowed 192.3 yards per game on the ground.
We know about how stellar Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is. The best way to neutralize him is keeping him off the field, and the Missouri rushing offense can do exactly that.
Missouri +5.5 is the pick.
TCU Horned Frogs (2-3) @ Baylor Bears (4-1) | October 17 | 6:00 PM CT | McLane Stadium
Line: Baylor -6 | Total: 48.5
Baylor did about whatever they wanted offensively last time they took the field against Arizona State. The Bears piled up 564 yards of offense on their way to a 55-19 victory.
While impressive, expect things to get tougher against the TCU defense. The Horned Frogs are off to a disappointing start, but their defense is not the reason why. TCU allows only 255 yards per game, which ranks eighth nationally.
Both teams are coming off a bye, and for TCU that means finally getting over the Dublin trip.
After a 5-1 start, this just feels like the right time to fade Baylor. Give me TCU +6.
#15 Kentucky Wildcats (5-1) @ Oklahoma Sooners (3-2) | October 17 | 6:30 PM CT | Memorial Stadium
Line: Oklahoma -6.5 | Total: 43.5
Kentucky is coming off one of their biggest wins in recent program history. The Wildcats pulled off an overtime thriller with a walk-off 35-34 win over LSU. It was Kentucky’s second overtime victory in as many weeks.
Now, they have to go on the road to Oklahoma. The Oklahoma defense has been the calling card for this team. Last week was just another example. The Sooners picked off Texas quarterback Arch Manning twice, including one returned for a touchdown.
On the season, they allow only 266.8 yards per game.
The Oklahoma offense may have found a spark in their win over Texas last week. Junior running back Lloyd Avant stepped up last week with 72 yards and a touchdown.
Getting Avant on track will be key to getting this Oklahoma offense going. They will face a Kentucky defense that has played at least 70 snaps for four straight weeks, so the Sooners could have some success here.
I expect another SEC rollercoaster after a big win. Give me Oklahoma -6.5.
#21 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-1) @ California Bears (3-3) | October 17 | 9:30 PM CT | California Memorial Stadium
Line: Wake Forest -9.5 | Total: 53.5
Not many quarterbacks are playing better than Wake Forest’s Gio Lopez right now. Lopez has thrown for 13 touchdowns and only one interception this season. He has also run for six more.
California is coming off an upset win over Virginia Tech behind backup quarterback Jackson Brousseau. Brousseau threw for 321 yards and a touchdown filling in for the injured Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Sagapolutelee is expected back this week.
Whichever quarterback is taking snaps will face a Wake Forest defense that has rounded into shape in recent weeks. The Demon Deacons held Miami to a season-low 378 yards of offense. More recently, Wake Forest held Stanford and North Carolina State to 197 and 258 yards of offense, respectively.
I am taking Wake Forest -9.5.
OUTTA HERE!
