Mr. CFB Pick Six: Week 3
The odds tell us that it is damn near impossible to go winless when picking as many as six games.
Well, guess what? We defied the odds and put up a big, fat, ugly 0-6 last season.
How did it happen? Glad you asked:
**--Vanderbilt had looked pretty respectable in its first two games and I felt like the Commodores would play well enough to keep Wake Forest, now without quarterback Sam Hartman from coverring 10 points. Wake won 36-20.
**--I took Tulane and the seven points against Ole Miss in New Orleans and for a while the Blue Wave hung in there. Ole Miss easly covered seven, winning 37-20.
**--That's it. I'm never picking Texas A&M in a big game again. I took the Aggies giving 4.5, and picked them to win straight up at Miami. Miami dominated 45-33. Things are fixing to get ugly in Collegee Station.
**--I felt Alabama at home giving 7 1/2 against Texas was a double plantinum lock of the week. But every time Alabama threw a punch, the Longhorns punched back--hard. Texas broke Alabama's 21-game home winning streak 34-24.
That's 0-4. No wait, it gets better.
**--Arizona went all the way across the country to play Mississippi State in Starkville. The Wildcats were getting 9.5 and I thought Mississippi State, with the cowbells and all, would win and cover. The Bulldogs only won by seven, 31-24.
And finally, I hought Auburn would win and cover 6.5 despite the travel to California. Auburn won 14-10.
So here we are. We've dug ourselves a massive hole as we are 3-9 going into week 3.
We have to do better because we can't do worse.
Carry on.
LSU (1-1) giving 9.5 at Mississippi State (2-0).
You'll recall that after LSU's season-opening loss to Florida State in 2022, the Tigers came back to win the SEC West. That is what Coach Brian Kelly is reminding his troops of as they go to Starkville. LSU destroyed Gramblng 72-10 in Baton Rouge last week and now try to prove it can play that way against an SEC opponent. I like LSU to win the game but with an 11 a.m. start and all those cowbells I just believe it will be closer than the experts think. Tigers win but don't cover.
Alabama (1-1) giving 32.5 at South Florida (1-1).
Yes, this game is at South Florida and will be played at Raymond James Stadium. Alabama and South Florida made a deal a while back that would have the Crimson Tide going t South Florida once and the Bulls coming to Tusaloosa twice. (2024, 2026).
Alabama, trying to recover from its 34-24 beat down by Texas, has had a tough week. The Tide will either be sluggish or roally ticked off. I vote for the latter. Crimson Tide covers.
South Carolina (1-1) getting 27.5 at Georgia (2-0)
Georgia opens the defense of its SEC championship against the Gamecocks, who were less than impressive two weeks ago against North Carolina (31-17). That game was telling because South Carolina could not block the North Carolina defensive front and gave up nine sacks. Here's a scoop. Georgia's defensive line is better than North Carolina's defensive line. South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler will be running all day. Georgia has won 21 strraight games at home. The last team to beat the Dawgs at Dooley Field? That would be South Carolina in 2019.
Georgia covere the 27.5.
Tennessee (2-0), giving 6.5 at Florida (1-1)
This is a big, big game for Floridra Coach Billy Napier. He still needs a signature win in Gainesville to convince the Gators--players and fans--that he knows what he is doing.Florida has won 16 of the last 18 meetings with the Vols. Tennssee has not won at Florida since 2003. This is also a big game for Tennessee quateerback Joe Milton, who needs to prove he can make all the throws in this offense. Tennessee wins and covers late.
BYU (getting 8.5) (2-0) at Arkansas (2-0)
I will say this about most of the games that Arkansas will play this season. If quarterback K.J. Jefferson can stay healthy and if speedy running back Rocket Sanders can get 10 to 15 touches the Hogs can win. Jefferson has completed 73.8 percent of his passes in his first two games. Last season he posted 367 yards and five touchdowns in a 52-35 win over BYU at Provo. But Sanders, we learned, will not be available for this game due to an injury. Still, I like the Hogs to win and cover.
Georgia Tech (1-1) getting 19 at Ole Miss (2-0)
The Rebels played well in a tough atmosphere last week and ended up winning at Tulane 37-20. Ole Miss quarterback Jaxon Dart has completed 35 of his first 50 passes for 601 yards and six touchdowns. Georgia Tech lost a tough opener to Louisville (39-34) but bounced back last week against South Carolina State. Georgia Tech is quarterbacked by Haynes King, a transfer from Texas A&M. I like the Rebels to win, but 19 is too many to cover.