Picking Top 25 Matchups (+ Rivalries)
(2) Ohio State -15.5 @ (13) Penn State
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. Photo by AP Photo/Jay LaPrete.
Ohio State comes into this game as one of the few teams that some have as #1 in the entire country, and they get their first true test of the year on Saturday. Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud, a Heisman favorite, leads his high-scoring offense into Happy Valley, where they will take on the Nittany Lions' 63rd-ranked defense. OSU should be able to score when they want, how they want. But that just seems too obvious, doesn’t it? Penn State cornerbacks Kalen King and Joey Porter Jr. will have their hands full all game, but the duo has 21 pass breakups on the year, and they will need every one of those to stay in this one. PSU quarterback Sean Clifford will need to be dialed in all game and maintain possession. The Buckeyes stay undefeated, but no blowout in this one.
Pick: Penn State +15.5
(9) Oklahoma State @ (22) Kansas State -1.5
Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders. Photo by Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports.
This game is dang near a pick’em, and that means we’re going to go ML for one of these teams. OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders had a nice game last week beating big favorite Texas, and he seems to be past his shoulder injury. This time, he will need to go on the road to the Little Apple and take on a hungry KSU squad. The Wildcats had to use three quarterbacks in their losing effort last week, and it is still unclear where they stand on their starter this week. The Cowboys know who their starter is, and should prove to be enough in this one as they try and pull off a minor upset.
Pick: Oklahoma State ML
(19) Kentucky @ (3) Tennessee -12
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel. Photo by Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports.
Many will be looking at this game and wonder if Tennessee will have its sights set on next week’s game against Georgia, and maybe overlook this matchup. Not so fast as Coach Corso would say. Coach Heupel has these boys locked in and truly living one game at a time. With the highest-scoring offense in the country led by quarterback and Heisman candidate Hendon Hooker, I don’t think Kentucky stands a chance. The line seems a little low, and that may be because the oddsmakers think that Kentucky will also score plenty, which is very possible. A back-door cover here would be devastating, but fingers crossed that doesn’t happen. Tennessee puts an old-fashioned whoopin’ on the ‘Cats, and that will lead us to a potential top-three matchup next week between the hedges.
Pick: Tennessee -12
Rivalry Games
Michigan State @ (4) Michigan -22.5
This is a big number for this top rivalry game. Sparty has taken the last two matchups in these series, with last year being one of the bigger upsets in recent memory. But this year, the Wolverines are probably stronger in some ways than they were last year, and right now running back Blake Corum is tearing apart opposing defenses. The money is flying at Michigan, and for that reason, I’ll fade them.
Pick: Michigan State +22.5
Florida @ (1) Georgia -22.5
Georgia needs to be careful in this matchup for many reasons. Florida defensive end Brenton Cox Jr., who leads the team in sacks, has spoken highly of this year's “World’s Largest Cocktail Party” during the week. The Bulldogs are 4-3 ATS this year and have often not looked like the top team in the country. Rivalry games often feature some surprises one way or another, and like the Spartans, this is all the Gators have left to play for.
Pick: Florida +22.5
Season Record: 2-4
