As is tradition, let’s take a look back at last weekend’s picks. We got close on a few of them, but ultimately, we went 0-5 last week. This will happen some weeks, but the important thing is to keep pushing. We have five more bold predictions we are confident in hitting this weekend.
Bo Nix throws 6 touchdowns – If Colorado had kept this game closer, I am confident this pick would have been successful. Oregon had the game well in hand by halftime and did not need Bo Nix to throw the ball in the second half.
Michigan beats Rutgers by at least 35 points – 24 in Big Ten terms is basically 35. Who does math anyways?
Marvin Harrison Jr catches 4 touchdown passes – I was overly confident, only for him to have zero touchdowns. He did get hurt early in the second half, but he still wouldn’t have scored multiple times even if he were perfectly healthy.
Ole Miss wins by double digits in Tuscaloosa – Lane Kiffin is never beating Nick Saban. That is the conclusion I have drawn from last weekend.
Penn State and Iowa combine for less than 40 points – Penn State, did you really need that last touchdown? I’ve predicted Penn State in three different games and whiffed on all three. I think we’re taking a break from Penn State for a few weeks.
Now we need to get into this weekend’s picks. We have one for Friday night so we can start on a high note early. I never expect to go five for five but hitting a few of our picks this weekend would be great for the ego.
USC scores 60 on Colorado – This might actually be a cool take after watching Oregon dominate Colorado last weekend. It’s evident that Colorado has several weaknesses, with one of the most glaring ones being their offensive and defensive lines. They are struggling to generate pressure and consistently rush the quarterback. USC is not a team that you can afford to give ample time to the quarterback. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Caleb Williams, is likely to exploit the defense. However, in my personal opinion, I believe Colorado will keep the game closer than they did against Oregon. USC does not have a stout defense; they have been prone to allowing big plays against weaker opponents. Colorado, on the other hand, boasts the most talented skill players USC will have faced to date. This will also be the best offense Colorado has faced, and they had difficulties stopping Oregon, Colorado State, and TCU. Expect Williams to have a significant impact, and the Trojans’ offense to put up impressive numbers.
Duke leads Notre Dame at the half – Notre Dame has spent more time this week talking about their loss to Ohio State than looking forward to Duke. This game has all the makings of a potential letdown for Notre Dame. They suffered a physical and heartbreaking loss in their own stadium and now must travel on the road to face Duke. This is one of the biggest games in Duke football history, and Mike Elko will have his team ready to play. Elko understands the standards for Notre Dame, as he spent a season in South Bend as the defensive coordinator in 2017. Riley Leonard will use his legs to escape the pocket and extend plays. Leonard has more rushing touchdowns than passing touchdowns in the first four games of the season. Notre Dame will likely bounce back after halftime, but expect Duke to come out firing on all cylinders and force the Fighting Irish to react.
Auburn is held to less than 150 total yards – Auburn is struggling this year; there’s no way around that statement. The Tigers’ offense has been underwhelming when facing power five opponents this season, and now they have the challenge of playing against Georgia. Auburn managed only 200 yards against Texas A&M and 230 yards against Cal. It’s worth noting that 89 of Auburn’s 200 yards last week came in the 4th quarter when the game was nearly decided. While many expected Hugh Freeze to improve Auburn’s competitiveness, it’s becoming increasingly clear that they won’t be competitive this season. Georgia may not have played at the level expected of the number one team, but they won’t need to in order to stifle Auburn’s offense. Georgia boasts significantly more talent and has held multiple teams to less than 100 yards in the first half. I expect this trend to continue against Auburn, as the Tigers have yet to establish an offensive identity, and facing Georgia is not the ideal situation to try to discover it.
Trevor Etienne Scores 3 Touchdowns – Has anyone been watching Trevor Etienne run the ball this year? He is one of the most underrated backs in the country, which is surprising considering his older brother was a college star. Etienne had an impressive performance against Tennessee and was a crucial part of their victory. Florida faces a tough game against Kentucky this weekend and can’t solely rely on Graham Mertz to win them the game. Establishing the run game early is crucial, and the best way to do it is with Etienne and Montrell Johnson. Etienne has been the more productive of the two running backs so far, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. Expect Florida to heavily utilize him and lean on him early and often. I think Etienne will find the paydirt three times on Saturday to give the Gators a chance at victory.
DJ Uiagalelei throws three interceptions against Utah – For those who haven’t been paying attention, Uiagalelei has struggled over the past few weeks. He has completed only 50.5% of his passes in the last three games against UC Davis, Washington State, and San Diego State. While he looked great in the season opener against San Jose State, he hasn’t been able to replicate that success in the subsequent weeks. Now, he faces one of the best defenses in the country. Utah’s defense is impressive, forcing an average of 1.8 turnovers per game, including five interceptions this season. So far, Graham Mertz is the only quarterback to complete more than 50% of his passes against the Utah defense. The Utes are likely to apply pressure on Uiagalelei and force him into making poor decisions. Expect Utah to hand DJ U one of his toughest outings as a Beaver.
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