Last week had an SEC emphasis and things went well. How can you ignore the best conference? This week, I diversify a bit.
Maryland (+11) over CLEMSON - The mercurial Terps seem to play up to their opposition. If they show up, they definitely can compete with the Tigers and their young offensive line. NC State played well in Death Valley a couple weeks ago, and I think the Terps are better than the Wolfpack.
DUKE (-6.5) over Virginia - Mainly, I just want to be able to make fun of my friend who went to UVA. A loss to Duke, especially by a TD or more, would be sad, and also should mean a W for UMD next week.
Alabama (+7) over GEORGIA - I still feel like UGA hasn't quite hit their stride without some of their stars, and the Tide is rolling. Plus Saban is a great big-game coach, and last year this went to OT. I think Bama is better than last year, and UGA is marginally worse.
AUBURN (-6.5) over Tennessee - Auburn's defense might be the best in the nation, and Crompton is going to get destroyed by it.
Wisconsin (-6) over MICHIGAN - Michigan has done nothing impressive this year, while the Badgers already won on the road against a ranked team.
Pat Hill plays anyone, anywhere. And he does it well.Fresno State (-7) over UCLA - I feel like there must be something I don't know here. UCLA's loss to BYU was followed up with a bad loss to Arizona. Fresno's a good team, they should win easily.
Last Week: 4-1-0
Season: 13-6-1
10 Responses:
Has Duke ever been the favorite in the past decade against a I-A team? Even Navy or Temple?
I think they were favored against Navy earlier this year. Before that, it might have been since Spurrier was the coach.
I agree with your Auburn and Alabama picks. I hope Maryland pulls it off but Davis and Spiller are tough to stop. I'm still not sold on Turner. He's too inconsistent. Do you guys think that Ralph can use Portis like the Dolphins did with Ronnie Brown in this game?
Jason,
I seem to remember Duke having a good football year that one year where Krzyzewski was out for the year in basketball. I remember an SI piece on Duke perhaps being a football school (people thought at the time that Krzyzewski might not come back), with Duke being in last place in basketball. Fred Goldsmith was the football coach and they had all that fuss over Heather Sue Mercer, the Duke female kicker (first ever on a D I team, I think).
Anyway. So I'm just wondering....did Duke ever turn out to be really good in football? How did the basketball team with that K guy end up doing?
Michigan with the points. Just cuz.
Stop being lazy and call more challenging games.
How can you look off Penn St-Illinois while we continue to look at Tennessee? What about UNC-Miami? Maybe Nebraska-VT. I can understand ignoring USF-NC State even though it could be an interesting game.
Also (so I can complain more since I like the picks), even though we have an off week, how about the Michael Johnson field goal block? Domination.
Enough whining. I don't think the spread will be as large as they think for Maryland-Clemson. Well, assuming the right Maryland team shows up. I think so.
I am excited about Duke-UVA. Should be a fun game.
Challenging games? If you think there are "easy" games to pick against the spread, quit your job and double up each week.
I think, J-Red, the misguided gpb did not realize these were against the spread, or doesn't understand the concept. Or maybe you knew that. Or maybe I'm wrong.
In any case, for those who don't realize these are against the spread (as this happened last week, too), what do you think those silly numbers are in parentheses next to one of the teams?
You mean that "-5" isn't someone golf score? Gpb may be the only one who actually looks forward to a Duke football game.
Yeah. I never really considered them as bets and figured the spread was provided to indicate the favorite while he picked winners. Gambling sure isn't my vice. Oops.
Russell chided me as well. Suppose I more than earned it for being an assbag. Looking back, week 1 was even clear about it, not that I'd remember it while still studying for quals. Egg carton meet face.
Perhaps I'll give it a try on paper down the road to see how I do before I have an opinion again. Until then, I can wallow in shame for a bit.
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