Second Set of College Football Picks
By Colin Dixon, September 18th 2019
Picture via @LSUFootball Twitter
Welp my first week did not go too bad as my first set of picks went 6-4 on the games from last week. Hopefully I can continue to get better and maybe go 10-0 one week. But let's not get too ahead of ourselves as we have another juicy slate of football games this weekend. Here are my top 10 games to bet on to win some money:
Game 1: Houston +4.5 @ Tulane
Both of these teams have played top 10 teams to start the year and both lost but this game is going to be an all out battle. Houston is only 3 games into the Dana Holgorsen tenure and the Cougars are 1-2 under its new head coach. Houstons losses came to Oklahoma and Washington State who are two high powered offenses. I think the Cougars are being looked down on while the Green Wave of Tulane are being looked up on and to me this game is an easy win for Houston and since they are 4.5 point underdogs it is a no brainer pick for me... cross my fingers
Game 2: Utah (#10) -4 @USC
Last week I thought USC was going to blowout BYU on the road but that did not happen and they ended up losing in overtime. This week the Trojans host a top 10 team in the Utah Utes who have scored 30+ points in each of their first 3 games. Both of these teams played BYU this year but the Utes were the only one to win. The Utes were in control of that game a majority of the time and after USC QB Kedon Slovis threw 3 INTS it is apparent to me that the Utes are going to role big in this game. They will watch tape on how to confuse and pressure the Freshman QB and this is why I am taking Utah -4 this week.
Game 3: Cal (#23) +2.0 @ Ole Miss
Is Cal for real? I still am not sure and this is why this game intrigues me. Ole Miss is a SEC team that will always win games but they tend to struggle against sneaky out of conference teams like Cal. The Bears are 3-0 so far this year and are still hyped after their big upset against Washington a couple weeks ago. Although they are ranked and Ole Miss is not the Rebels are the slight favorite at home. I think the Bears go into Mississippi confident but they will not know what is coming for them and will lose a close game against Ole Miss. I think Ole Miss will win by a touchdown or more therefore I am taking the home favorite at -2.0.
Game 4: LSU (#4) -24 @ Vanderbilt
LSU has shown everyone they are a true contender on a national level and they are facing a rather weak opponent in Vanderbilt this week. Just a couple weeks ago Vanderbilt hosted University of Georgia and the stadium was filled with the Georgia red which created a home field advantage even though they were on the road. I assume this will happen again this weekend in Nashville when the Tigers are in town. Vanderbilt is one of two power five teams to not win a game yet this season and they should fear a blowout when LSU comes to town. I have LSU in a blowout win by at least 30 which means put my money on the Tigers in this game.
Game 5: Michigan (#11) +3.5 @ Wisconsin (#13)
This is the second best game on TV this weekend with a top 15 matchup in Madison, Wisconsin when the Wolverines will face off with the Badgers. Wisconsin has not allowed a single point this season and the new Michigan offense has struggled mightily all season. Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines are coming off a bye week and will look to knock off a highly talented Badger football team. I love to watch Michigan football and a couple weeks ago I would've said Wolverines easy but one of my new favorites to watch in Wisconsin, therefore I am taking the Badgers in this early season BIG 10 matchup.
Game 6: Louisville @ Florida State Over/Under 61
My favorite podcast Pardon My Take has a saying that "life is too short to bet the under," and this game stands out to me as one with ZERO defense on either side. So to that extent I think this game easily surpasses 61 and will end up in a 45-42 shootout with who knows on top but what I do know that the over will hit!
Game 7: SMU +9.5 @ TCU (#25)
Over the years I have enjoyed watching the Horned Frogs of TCU as they have had one of the better programs in the NCAA but this year was assumed to be a down year but they have shocked many and have gotten off to a 3-0 start. I think coach Gary Patterson knows how to coach a football team and although I have not seen any TCU games this year I know what that program does year in and year out and that is win football games. They have a SMU team coming in who is 3-0. But they have played teams who have no defense and TCU has only allowed 209 yards a game this year. I think the Horned Frogs shut down SMU and cover -9.5.
Game 8: Old Dominion +29.5 @ Virginia (#21)
Virginia cost me $10 last weekend and therefore I will never trust them when it comes to betting. Just last year Old Dominion shocked the world in one of the biggest upsets in 2018 when they beat Virginia Tech. I am not saying that OD will win this game but I think they will give Virginia trouble and they will force Virginia to not cover 2 games in a row. So +29.5 it is for me.
Game 9: Colorado +7.5 @ ASU (#24)
I don't like betting the under dog a lot but this is my 3rd of my picks this week and heres why I think Colorado doesn't just cover but they will win outright: Colorado can score points and they can score them in a hurry. Yes they lost last week to Air Force but... support the troops am I right? Anyways ASU has played 2 of the ugliest games the past two weeks after barely bearing Michigan State 10-7 (which is huge but the game sucked) and then beating Sacramento State 19-7 (this game should have been 70-0). Anyways I think ASU has too much hype and I think the Buffs regroup and snag a big W in tempe this week and cover the +7.5.
Game 10: Notre Dame (#7) +14 @ Georgia (#3)
So the biggest game of this weekend is number 7 vs number 3 in Athens where the Fighting Irish look to put themselves back into the spotlight when they play the Georgia Bulldogs. Kind of crazy that the number number 7 team is 14 point underdogs in any game but here is the truth: nobody trust the Fighting Irish after last year against Clemson in the Playoff. I never have liked Notre Dame and I am a huge fan of Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs down in Athens. I think this is going to be a statement for the Bulldogs and they will cover easily and will win by 21.
Welp my first week did not go too bad as my first set of picks went 6-4 on the games from last week. Hopefully I can continue to get better and maybe go 10-0 one week. But let's not get too ahead of ourselves as we have another juicy slate of football games this weekend. Here are my top 10 games to bet on to win some money:
Game 1: Houston +4.5 @ Tulane
Both of these teams have played top 10 teams to start the year and both lost but this game is going to be an all out battle. Houston is only 3 games into the Dana Holgorsen tenure and the Cougars are 1-2 under its new head coach. Houstons losses came to Oklahoma and Washington State who are two high powered offenses. I think the Cougars are being looked down on while the Green Wave of Tulane are being looked up on and to me this game is an easy win for Houston and since they are 4.5 point underdogs it is a no brainer pick for me... cross my fingers
Game 2: Utah (#10) -4 @USC
Last week I thought USC was going to blowout BYU on the road but that did not happen and they ended up losing in overtime. This week the Trojans host a top 10 team in the Utah Utes who have scored 30+ points in each of their first 3 games. Both of these teams played BYU this year but the Utes were the only one to win. The Utes were in control of that game a majority of the time and after USC QB Kedon Slovis threw 3 INTS it is apparent to me that the Utes are going to role big in this game. They will watch tape on how to confuse and pressure the Freshman QB and this is why I am taking Utah -4 this week.
Game 3: Cal (#23) +2.0 @ Ole Miss
Is Cal for real? I still am not sure and this is why this game intrigues me. Ole Miss is a SEC team that will always win games but they tend to struggle against sneaky out of conference teams like Cal. The Bears are 3-0 so far this year and are still hyped after their big upset against Washington a couple weeks ago. Although they are ranked and Ole Miss is not the Rebels are the slight favorite at home. I think the Bears go into Mississippi confident but they will not know what is coming for them and will lose a close game against Ole Miss. I think Ole Miss will win by a touchdown or more therefore I am taking the home favorite at -2.0.
Game 4: LSU (#4) -24 @ Vanderbilt
LSU has shown everyone they are a true contender on a national level and they are facing a rather weak opponent in Vanderbilt this week. Just a couple weeks ago Vanderbilt hosted University of Georgia and the stadium was filled with the Georgia red which created a home field advantage even though they were on the road. I assume this will happen again this weekend in Nashville when the Tigers are in town. Vanderbilt is one of two power five teams to not win a game yet this season and they should fear a blowout when LSU comes to town. I have LSU in a blowout win by at least 30 which means put my money on the Tigers in this game.
Game 5: Michigan (#11) +3.5 @ Wisconsin (#13)
This is the second best game on TV this weekend with a top 15 matchup in Madison, Wisconsin when the Wolverines will face off with the Badgers. Wisconsin has not allowed a single point this season and the new Michigan offense has struggled mightily all season. Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines are coming off a bye week and will look to knock off a highly talented Badger football team. I love to watch Michigan football and a couple weeks ago I would've said Wolverines easy but one of my new favorites to watch in Wisconsin, therefore I am taking the Badgers in this early season BIG 10 matchup.
Game 6: Louisville @ Florida State Over/Under 61
My favorite podcast Pardon My Take has a saying that "life is too short to bet the under," and this game stands out to me as one with ZERO defense on either side. So to that extent I think this game easily surpasses 61 and will end up in a 45-42 shootout with who knows on top but what I do know that the over will hit!
Game 7: SMU +9.5 @ TCU (#25)
Over the years I have enjoyed watching the Horned Frogs of TCU as they have had one of the better programs in the NCAA but this year was assumed to be a down year but they have shocked many and have gotten off to a 3-0 start. I think coach Gary Patterson knows how to coach a football team and although I have not seen any TCU games this year I know what that program does year in and year out and that is win football games. They have a SMU team coming in who is 3-0. But they have played teams who have no defense and TCU has only allowed 209 yards a game this year. I think the Horned Frogs shut down SMU and cover -9.5.
Game 8: Old Dominion +29.5 @ Virginia (#21)
Virginia cost me $10 last weekend and therefore I will never trust them when it comes to betting. Just last year Old Dominion shocked the world in one of the biggest upsets in 2018 when they beat Virginia Tech. I am not saying that OD will win this game but I think they will give Virginia trouble and they will force Virginia to not cover 2 games in a row. So +29.5 it is for me.
Game 9: Colorado +7.5 @ ASU (#24)
I don't like betting the under dog a lot but this is my 3rd of my picks this week and heres why I think Colorado doesn't just cover but they will win outright: Colorado can score points and they can score them in a hurry. Yes they lost last week to Air Force but... support the troops am I right? Anyways ASU has played 2 of the ugliest games the past two weeks after barely bearing Michigan State 10-7 (which is huge but the game sucked) and then beating Sacramento State 19-7 (this game should have been 70-0). Anyways I think ASU has too much hype and I think the Buffs regroup and snag a big W in tempe this week and cover the +7.5.
Game 10: Notre Dame (#7) +14 @ Georgia (#3)
So the biggest game of this weekend is number 7 vs number 3 in Athens where the Fighting Irish look to put themselves back into the spotlight when they play the Georgia Bulldogs. Kind of crazy that the number number 7 team is 14 point underdogs in any game but here is the truth: nobody trust the Fighting Irish after last year against Clemson in the Playoff. I never have liked Notre Dame and I am a huge fan of Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs down in Athens. I think this is going to be a statement for the Bulldogs and they will cover easily and will win by 21.
