Last week: 5-7 Season: 64-39
Last week was a brutal week, and my percentage now sits at 62.1 percent, by far my worst year of picks going back through at least 2015. I'd advise you to just enjoy these or laugh at me, and don't take my advice if you make any bets. :)
The games this week aren't nearly as enticing as last week or next week, when Auburn and Alabama are expected to meet in an epic Iron Bowl. Those teams certainly shouldn't have any issues with their foes today, Louisiana-Monroe and Mercer, respectively, after the Tigers knocked off No. 1 Georgia and the Crimson Tide escaped Mississippi State with a win last weekend.
National game of the week
No. 24 Michigan at No. 5 Wisconsin, Noon Fox
The Wolverines are 8-2 with a close loss to Michigan State and a blowout loss to Penn State. They've won three straight games, though, scoring at least 33 points in each and holding opponents to 14 or fewer points. Third-string QB Brandon Peters has steadied the offense, which was sputtering under John O'Korn, who was the first fill-in for injured starter Wilton Speight. The Badgers are undefeated and trying to get into the College Football Playoff behind QB Alex Hornibrook, RB Jonathan Taylor, and a stout defense allowing about 13 points per game. The Badgers have had a pretty easy schedule thus far, though, with their only wins over quality teams being Northwestern, which is 7-3, and last week over Iowa, which is 6-4 but did crush Ohio State and barely lost to Penn State. That 38-14 win for the Badgers last week over the Hawkeyes is probably their best one of the season. This should be a fairly low-scoring game decided in the trenches, and I like Wisconsin at home.
Wisconsin 24, Michigan 17
Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech, 12:20 p.m. ACC Network
Virginia Tech 31, Pittsburgh 17
Kentucky at No. 7 Georgia, 3:30 p.m. CBS
Georgia 34, Kentucky 17
Navy at No. 8 Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. NBC
Notre Dame 38, Navy 20
Syracuse at Louisville, 3:30 p.m. ESPNU
Louisville 45, Syracuse 34
Georgia Tech at Duke, 3:30 p.m. ACC Network
Georgia Tech 27, Duke 20
No. 19 N.C. State at Wake Forest, 7:30 p.m. ESPNU
Wake Forest 24, N.C. State 23
Battle for the Victory Bell
UCLA at No. 11 USC, 8 p.m. ABC
USC 45, UCLA 35
Virginia at No. 2 Miami, Noon ABC
As much as I urged the Cavaliers to play free last week against Louisville, they should be even more inclined to do so against the Hurricanes. Supposedly, UVa's players were upset about how they played in their 38-21 loss to Louisville. There's not a much better stage to channel that frustration than in a nationally televised game against undefeated Miami. The Hurricanes, under second-year coach Mark Richt, seem to be getting better and better. The past two weeks, the Hurricanes have rocked Virginia
Tech (28-10) and Notre Dame (41-8) at home in prime time games to put themselves in position to face Clemson in the ACC championship with a chance to go to the playoff. Something tells me the players and the crowd won't be as ready for Virginia. UVa needs to attack any lack of motivation the Hurricanes have following two huge wins and a sleepy noon kickoff. It's going to be impossible for Miami to manufacture the same kind of intensity for a third straight game for a noon kickoff against an unranked team. The Cavaliers need to get off to a fast start and get in the Hurricanes' heads to let them know they'll be around the whole game. It was well documented, before the past two games, the struggles Miami endured, even though it was undefeated. It had to eke out wins over UNC (24-19), Syracuse (27-19), Georgia Tech (25-24), and Florida State (24-20). Miami can be had, but can UVa do the taking? I think the Cavaliers have to play a very good, almost perfect, game to have a chance, even if Miami isn't feeling that energetic (a Boise State-game type performance). Miami's defense has played well recently, though, and I don't think Virginia will find it easy to produce points. I like UVa to jump out to a lead maybe, or just stick around to the end of the game and put forth a good effort. But I think Miami scores a late touchdown or field goal to seal a victory to get to 10-0.
Miami 27, Virginia 13
Last week was a brutal week, and my percentage now sits at 62.1 percent, by far my worst year of picks going back through at least 2015. I'd advise you to just enjoy these or laugh at me, and don't take my advice if you make any bets. :)
The games this week aren't nearly as enticing as last week or next week, when Auburn and Alabama are expected to meet in an epic Iron Bowl. Those teams certainly shouldn't have any issues with their foes today, Louisiana-Monroe and Mercer, respectively, after the Tigers knocked off No. 1 Georgia and the Crimson Tide escaped Mississippi State with a win last weekend.
National game of the week
No. 24 Michigan at No. 5 Wisconsin, Noon Fox
The Wolverines are 8-2 with a close loss to Michigan State and a blowout loss to Penn State. They've won three straight games, though, scoring at least 33 points in each and holding opponents to 14 or fewer points. Third-string QB Brandon Peters has steadied the offense, which was sputtering under John O'Korn, who was the first fill-in for injured starter Wilton Speight. The Badgers are undefeated and trying to get into the College Football Playoff behind QB Alex Hornibrook, RB Jonathan Taylor, and a stout defense allowing about 13 points per game. The Badgers have had a pretty easy schedule thus far, though, with their only wins over quality teams being Northwestern, which is 7-3, and last week over Iowa, which is 6-4 but did crush Ohio State and barely lost to Penn State. That 38-14 win for the Badgers last week over the Hawkeyes is probably their best one of the season. This should be a fairly low-scoring game decided in the trenches, and I like Wisconsin at home.
Wisconsin 24, Michigan 17
Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech, 12:20 p.m. ACC Network
Virginia Tech 31, Pittsburgh 17
Kentucky at No. 7 Georgia, 3:30 p.m. CBS
Georgia 34, Kentucky 17
Navy at No. 8 Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. NBC
Notre Dame 38, Navy 20
Syracuse at Louisville, 3:30 p.m. ESPNU
Louisville 45, Syracuse 34
Georgia Tech at Duke, 3:30 p.m. ACC Network
Georgia Tech 27, Duke 20
No. 19 N.C. State at Wake Forest, 7:30 p.m. ESPNU
Wake Forest 24, N.C. State 23
Battle for the Victory Bell
UCLA at No. 11 USC, 8 p.m. ABC
USC 45, UCLA 35
Virginia at No. 2 Miami, Noon ABC
As much as I urged the Cavaliers to play free last week against Louisville, they should be even more inclined to do so against the Hurricanes. Supposedly, UVa's players were upset about how they played in their 38-21 loss to Louisville. There's not a much better stage to channel that frustration than in a nationally televised game against undefeated Miami. The Hurricanes, under second-year coach Mark Richt, seem to be getting better and better. The past two weeks, the Hurricanes have rocked Virginia
Miami 27, Virginia 13
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