Dawg Post's Weekend Picks for UGA Football and the Rest of College Football Are In
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and UGA football get the season going this weekend Between the Hedges. Here is what will happen this weekend... according to the Dawg Post crew (even with Ryan protesting some picks).
Florida (+4.5) at Utah - ESPN Thursday at 8 PM
Matt’s Pick: Call me crazy, but I like the Gators to cover the +4.5 here. I’m expecting a close, low scoring game. Utah’s a banged up team right now. They’ll be without multiple defensive linemen, most likely quaterback Cam Rising, and they might have to start a true freshman at left tackle. I think Utah wins a close game at the end, but the Gators cover.
Ryan’s Pick: Ryan is protesting this pick
Dean’s Pick: I really don't like this situation for the Utes. I don't know that this is the best game of the weekend, but it is the one that I going to watch the most closely because of the Gators playing a pressure game on the road.
This program hasn't played a non-conference road game out of state in more than 30 years. That's amazing. If the Gators get pushed around they are in for a very long season. Utah might be powerful and all that, but Florida plays in the SEC - and Utah is great and everything - but they ain't the SEC.
I don't know Utah's backup QB situation. I also know Florida's starting QB situation. Neither is great. The more I type this the more I know I am going to contradict myself. I am going to take the Utes (-4.5) to cover. But I would not at all be surprised with at Florida win straight up.
Louisville (-8) at Georgia Tech - ESPN Friday at 7:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: I think the Jackets are heading in the right direction, but I’m going to take Louisville -8 here. They’ve got a new QB in Jack Plummer who played with new head coach Jeff Brohm at Purdue. They have two returning backs are returning lots of talent on defense. Give me Louisville.
Ryan’s Pick - Ryan decided to skip some games this week, and also decided to pick the WVU at Penn State game... I like Penn State this year. They’ve put together a nice little squad, and if Drew Allar is the real deal, they could make some noise in November. How will West Virginia recuperate from the departure of JT Daniels I’m not sure, but it won’t start with a road win over the Nittany Lions. Mountaineers get bounced - Give me Penn State (-20.5).
Dean’s Pick: What a nasty game for a Friday night in Atlanta. Poor Gary Stoken and crew. Imagine going from putting one Georgia-Oregon and Georgia-Ohio State to putting on this turdfest. I can't imagine more than 2 million people will watch this game. I will take the Jackets (+8) and the generous eight points I am being awarded with Tech being at home. Let's be honest, Louisville hasn't done much to earn being more than a touchdown favorite over anyone - let alone on the road.
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Virginia (+28) vs. Tennessee - ABC, 12 PM
Matt’s Pick: That’s a lot of points, but I’ll take Tennessee -28. Too many question marks for Virginia. Not a lot of returning talent and I have no clue what the offense will look like. Tennessee wants to get the season off strong. I think they’ll do what they can to make a season-opening statement against a bad Virginis team.
Ryan’s Pick: Ryan is protesting this pick
Dean’s Pick: The Vols are going to score enough points to make folks think they are going to be a real player nationally in 2023. No one will consider they are playing a team that was 3-7 a season ago, and failed to score more than 20 on offense eight times out of ten games play. Yikes. I'll take the Vols (-28) - big.
North Carolina (-2.5) vs. South Carolina - ABC, 7:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: I’ve got back and forth on this one, but I’m going with North Carolina -2.5. I can see them winning on a late field goal. I like the direction the Gamecocks are heading in, but I can see them tripping over UNC. If quarterback Drake Maye is the real deal, the Tar Heels should cover this one.
Ryan’s Pick: I don’t trust Carolina. Yes, exactly. I don’t trust either of these teams, but I like the direction that South Carolina is going, and give me the points - (USC +2.5). They are moving forward with Shane Beamer, as corny as it gets over there. These teams might be fighting for mayonnaise or Cheez-Itz at the end of the year. North Carolina definitely has the better quarterback. This game could get wacky.
Dean’s Pick: I have to admit that I am totally confused by this game. Charlotte (which never seems ready for big football games). Battle of the Carolinas (which never seems to end well for South Carolina). What could go wrong? I'll tell you what could go wrong - Spencer Rattler. My man played unreal against the Vols, but pretty much threw the same amount of picks as scores a season ago. I am dumb, but I am not sure I am dumb enough to know what really happens in this game. I will be watching fully. I think North Carolina is probably the better team, but South Carolina is tougher - give me the Cocks (+2.5) and their points.
LSU (-2.5) vs. FSU - ABC, Sunday at 7:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: Watching this game with a big LSU friend. I’m taking the Tigers -2.5. Florida State SHOULD be very good this year, but I think the Tigers are the deeper, better team right now.
Ryan’s Pick: This one is tough. I think Florida State has a lot of great players, and the hype train is rolling for them to win the ACC and contend for a playoff spot. I don’t know that it is a contending team, however. Brian Kelly impressed me in year one and I love good coaches in year two. Those are usually years of growth for good program leaders. I really hope this game ends up being the most fun of the weekend. I think LSU wins by double-digits - give me LSU -2.5. They don’t make it look super easy, but they’ll go to Orlando and handle things.
Dean’s Pick: I'm going with LSU (-2.5). I want to see if the Tigers are ready for primetime. I think a lot of folks are interested in the same thing. We shall see. A loss is not a certain disaster for either team, but for me this isn't dissimilar to the Georgia-Tater game in 2021... we are going to say nice things about the loser of the game, but if you are good you actually win these types of games. I am guessing LSU is the better team; I also think LSU is the tougher team. But this game should be tight, and the best game of the weekend when it comes down to it.
Clemson (-12.5) at Duke - ESPN, Monday at 8 PM
Matt’s Pick: Looking forward to this one. I’m not sold on the Tigers this season. This could be a more difficult game for the Tigers than people think. I think Duke is better than they’re given credit for. Quarterback Riley Leonard can really play. They’ve added peices and bring back multiple top defenders in the secondary. Clemson wins, but I’ll take Duke +12.5.
Ryan’s Pick: I don’t think Clemson has a hard time covering this line - give me Clemson -12.5. This is an important year for Dabo and his program. If they continue the downslide, everybody will forget about Clemson. I do like Cade Klubnik. I think he’s a gamer and I want gamers on my team. My team isn’t Clemson, but I do think they have a great shot at winning the ACC and going to the playoff.
Dean’s Pick: Speaking of the Taters, this line really seems low. But I went back and looked, and Clemson just isn't having to cover the same lines they used to. This is a Duke team that went 9-4 a season ago and 5-1 at home. The only loss they took was against UNC by three. I am pretty certain they are going to take a loss on Monday night, but by how much? Duke didn't play in a game where they were not competitive. The Blue Devils lost four games by a combined 16 points - all four being one-score losses.
But they lost to Georgia Tech for God's sake. We can't have that. Their win over 2017 national champions UCF in the Military Bowl was a nice close to the season. Nothing says you are ready for Big 12 play like getting dunked on by Duke.
If Clemson can't cover this line something is quite wrong. They came out flat a year ago in Atlanta against Tech, but rallied to cover. I will take the Taters to covern (-12.5), but I am watching closely to see where Clemson really is as we close the college football weekend.
Season ATS
Matt 3-3
Ryan 2-4
Dean 2-4
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