Dawg Post's Weekend Picks for UGA Football and the Rest of College Football Are In
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and No. 1 UGA football welcome Ball State Between the Hedges. Here is what will happen this weekend... according to the Dawg Post crew.
Texas (+7) at Alabama | ESPN |7 PM
Matt’s Pick: Man, I’m excited for this one. Texas is improving, but they’re not going into Tuscaloosa, at night, and pulling off an upset. I think the Elephants take control and cruise in the 4th quarter. They looked great in week one and I think they’ll keep it up with the ‘Horns in town. I’ll take Alabama (-7).
Ryan’s Pick: The closer we have gotten to this game, I have grown more confident that Alabama is going to get the job done at home. Last year, Texas should have won that game. I remember sitting in the photo room at Sanford as Alabama slipped by the Ewers-less Longhorns. He lookedreally good at the beginning of the game. This is not last season though, and Alabama may have won last year, but they will still be looking for revenge in a way. Jalen Milroe impressed me last week. I’ll take the Crimson Tide (-7.) Texas will put up a fight, however.
Dean’s Pick: I have the Horns (+7) here on this one, but I don't think they beat Alabama on the road. Each season teams that are good can play up to the level of a very good/great team. We saw that a season ago in Austin. I think we will see something approaching that on Saturday.
I do like the way Alabama is playing right now. I think they are the second-best team in the country so far from what I've been able to see. My concern, like many, is what happens when Jalen Milroe has to play quarterback. I am not concerned with anything else at Bama.
I am concerned with him. I am concerned that he will get out and run on Texas. I am concerned that he will be deadly in open space. I am concerned (for Texas) that there is too much around him to really expect to hold Bama down.
But we've got some unknowns here. Will Bama survive this game, or power their way to a win. Clemson has taken a huge step back - that's clear. Has Bama stayed the same or gotten better? Saturday we will start to find out.
Nebraska (+3.5) at Colorado | FOX |12 PM
Matt’s Pick: The Buffs were impressive in week one. Lots of talent on offense. Travis Hunter is amazing. The ‘Huskers are still the ‘Huskers. I’ll take Colorado (-3.5).
Ryan’s Pick: Colorado is not going to look like that every single week. Eventually they will level out. I don’t think that happens at home this week to Nebraska- who suffered a heartbreaking loss last Thursday to Minnesota in the final seconds. It is going to be a rough start for Matt Rhule’s Cornhuskers. Look, we all knew Travis Hunter was this good. I didn’t know Shedeur Sanders was, though. Deion has made this team a fun watch, and I’ll take the Buffs to cover the 3.5 points.
Dean’s Pick: I got a shot to watch both of these teams last week, and I can assure you that Colorado is better than Nebraska. This will be the Cornhuskers' second game on the road this season. They should be 1-0, but after collapsing at Minnesota they are in a familiar spot - underdogs with folks asking questions.
In terms of this game being a great rivalry, etc... it really wasn't and isn't. The time that most folks associate with this game - the last 1980s and 1990s - saw the Buffs go 3-11-1. That's not a rivalry. That's basically Georgia against Vanderbilt in that same time frame.
This year's Buffs can score. They can't stop much, but the good news is Nebraska can't score. I will take the Buffs (-3). The only thing that concerns me is the entire world telling CU how great they are right now, and an old nemesis that's already played a tough road game coming in to take a shot at what's hot.
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20-Year Warranty | Made in Georgia
Notre Dame (-7) at NC State | ABC | 12 PM
Matt’s Pick: This Fighting Irish team feels different. I don’t hate the Wolfpack, but I like the Irish more. A lot more. Give me Notre Dame (-7) on the road. Us Irish have to stick together.
Ryan’s Pick: Notre Dame was the biggest winner of Week 0 when it went across the pond and hammered Navy in. Sam Hartman is an upgrade for them at quarterback. Will they be that good all year long? Navy might be just terrible. I think the Irish are good enough to win by more than a touchdown against NC State. I’m heavy on these favorites right now. Notre Dame -7.
Dean’s Pick: So Notre Dame has looked as good or better than everyone in college football so far. They've come out and won lopsided games against Navy and Tennessee State. Those are not high-level foes, but the Irish have looked the best so far. Now Notre Dame goes gets its first true road game of the season at NC State, where daily showers are optional.
NCSU didn't look great against UConn last week, which is a warning sign. I will take the Irish (-7) to grab a win on the road at noon on ABC.
Utah (-7) at Baylor | ESPN | 7:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: Utah plays tough defensively and have some playmakers on offense. This is a solid team, and the Bears appear to be banged up. I think Utah covers the (-7).
Ryan’s Pick: You cannot lose to Texas State. You cannot, and now your starting quarterback is out for Week 2 against the Utes? No bueno. Utah is not totally healthy, themselves, but they are good enough to take care of Baylor, regardless. Utes -7. Another favorite.
Dean’s Pick: I'm not sure what in the world happened to the Bears last week. Joanna Gaines isn't spending all that time at the end of each show making a chalk wall for the kids to write the Baylor schedule on when we are out here losing to to North Texas for goodness sake. Talk about a bad loss. I'm not sure what's going on with Utah's QB situation, but the Utes look like trouble. Still, I think the Bears (+7) hang around long enough to earn you some money in this prime-time kick on ESPN, which you can watch if you don't have Spectrum.
Ole Miss (-7) at Tulane | ESPN2 |3:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: Riding with the Green Wave here. Ole Miss may win a tight one, but I can see Tulane winning this one straight up. The Rebels are more talented, but Tulan can really play. Green Wave (+7).
Ryan’s Pick: At what point do we question what Lane Kiffin has accomplished at Ole Miss? This wouldn’t be a terrible loss, but you gotta start winning bigger games. I think Ole Miss wins a nailbiter. I originally thought they would cover, but I’ll go with Tulane (+7).
Dean’s Pick: Hide you quarter zips and boat shoes - Tulane and Ole Miss are getting together to play football again. This time the Green Wave(s?) is hosting this game on campus. That's going to give them a bit of an advantages over the Rebs they wouldn't have in the Superdome. Tulane hasn't beaten Ole Miss since before Matt was born. Think about that. Both teams have not been ranked for this matchup in ages. Give me a trip to The Boot on Friday, and a Tulane (+7) cover on Saturday afternoon before another trip to The Boot for pizza on Saturday night.
Texas A&M (-4) at Miami | ABC | 3:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: I’d hate to be the head coach of the losing team here. I think the Aggies are finally on the right track. I see them going to Miami and having an impressive game. Give me Texas A&M (-4).
Ryan’s Pick: I accidentally missed a game or two that we were picking last week. I almost purposefully did not write anything for this. What an odd matchup. Both coaches are in weird spots. I think Texas A&M (-4) has more on the line right now. I’ll take them to cover. Maybe this is the favorite that really comes back to haunt me.
Dean’s Pick: I don't trust either of these two. I will take the Aggies because - I really don't know why. I would not bet this game no matter what. Give me the Toy Soliders (-4) to cover the line.
Season ATS
Stanford (+29.5) at USC | FOX | 10:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: Still not sold on the Trojan’s defense. That’s a big spread. I’m going to take Stanford and the points here. Stanford (+29.5).
Ryan’s Pick: The question is whether or not USC and Caleb Williams are 30 points better than Stanford. The answer is yes. Give me the Trojans (-29.5).
Dean’s Pick: I am all about this game. Auburn and Cal (a game we are not picking because it is just too much of a clash of cultures for me to be comfortable with) kicks off at the same exact time as this game. It is going to be awesome. I fully expect SC to run up and down the field on Stanford. I got a chance to watch the Trees play against Hawaii - they can't play with USC, but they can score enough to probably eat into the line enough. I will take Stanford (+29.5) and the points.
Season ATS
Ball is not a State (+42) at Georgia | SECN | 12 PM
Matt’s Pick: Tough one here, but give me Ball State +42. Back-door cover with a late score against Georgia’s 3rd team. That’s a lot of points. Georgia blows them out, but I can see Ball State covering. Give me Ball is not a State at (+42).
Ryan’s Pick: I am a little reluctant to take Georgia to cover this line. I have been wrong about Georgia covering these big lines a couple times the last two or three years. Don’t ask me to bet on Georgia, especially for these games. I’ll tell you that you should not gameble on Georgia games. I think the Dawgs will look smoother this week. Give me Georgia (-42). Kirby does not care about these spreads or running up the score. Look at the Tennessee game last year. I think all three quarterbacks get a look again, and that means it will be another blowout.
Dean’s Pick: I'm actually dumb enough to take Georgia (-42) here. Why? I think a couple of reasons. First, did you know Kirby's UGA teams have never covered a line over 40 points in his tenure? That won't last forever. Second, Georgia score 41 offensive points last week - and they really didn't explode until the 3rd quarter. What happens if they score 28 in the first half this week? It will be hard not to score at least two more touchdowns and maybe get a FG along the way.
I don't think Ball State will score. I do think they are better than Tennessee-Martin, however. But I just don't think they are in Georgia's universe. So although Ball State had a second-quarter lead on Kentucky this past Saturday, I think this game is something like 45-0 or 48-3.
Season ATS
Matt 5-6
Ryan 3-6
Dean 5-6
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