College Football Picks | UGA Football Back Between the Hedges
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and No. 1 UGA football will tee it up Between the Hedges at Sanford Stadium against Tennessee Tech on Saturday at 2 PM . Here is what will happen this weekend for the Dawgs and all over college football... according to the Dawg Post crew.
Duke (+3) at Northwestern | FS1 |9:00 PM
Matt’s Pick: Battle of the books. Bunch of smart kids trying to battle it out on the gridiron. I’ll take the team with the better run game at home. Not a lot of points in this one, but Northwestern gets the win and covers. Northwestern (-3).
Ryan’s Pick: Dean thinks we might be picking too many games, but then pulls this one out for us to debate about. Sometimes in games you don’t know a lot about, it is picked off the vibes. Northwestern is who I am going with here. I like the temporary stadium. I like home field advantage. Give me Northwestern (-3).
Dean’s Pick: Nothing says college football like a half-built stadium in Chicago on the banks of Lake Michigan. Welcome to the Big Ten on FS1 - where games go to die. I love this game, and I am not being sarcastic. I will be watching every snap. Give me Northwestern (-3), and another one of them beef sandwiches - hold the onions.
Texas (-7) at Michigan | FOX |12:00 PM
Matt’s Pick: I really wasn’t sold on Michigan in week one. I like their defense, but they could be in for a rough time against Texas. If the ‘Horns can click on offense, you have to like their chances. They’ve got a good team, but they’ll need to win a tough battle in the trenches to pull this one out. I’ll take Texas (-7) on the road.
Ryan’s Pick: I don’t want to overreact to week zero and one happenings. Michigan did not look so hot against Fresno State. It is hard to come back to the reality of a new season after a championship season. Michigan is a good football team, but it is not a great one like last season. I think the Wolverines kept a lot of great pieces from its championship roster, but not enough to win the conference or contend for a championship this season.
Texas, on the other hand, looked the part against Colorado State, winning 52-0. It is a game Texas should win by a lot, so I don’t want to overreact like we could be with Alabama or Ole Miss. The thing is, Michigan might not be a great team this season, but Texas can be. I have the Longhorns (-7).
Dean’s Pick: Texas can match Michigan physically. They are the better team (thus being such a huge favorite on the road). This line is starting to really drift away from UM, so I have nearly no pause - give me Texas (-7) to win and cover. I want to see what Texas has, and this game will be a great example of that.
Arkansas (+8.5) at Oklahoma State | ABC |12:00 PM
Matt’s Pick: Am I buying into the Hogs after a 70-0 win over the Arkansas Pine Bluffers? You bet I am. Will I look like a fool? Probably. The Pokes have Ollie Gordon, and he might make me look dumb here, but Arkansas’ offense could keep this one halfway close. They’re playing for their coach. Sam Pittman and the Hogs make this one a game on the road. Arkansas (+8.5).
Ryan’s Pick: I am definitely not going to overreact to Arkansas beating Pine Bluff by 70 points. Oklahoma State is the better team and will have the best player on the field in Ollie Gordon III. I’ve got Oklahoma State (-8.5).
Dean’s Pick: Oklahoma State has the worst sideline in college football. At least there isn't a live animal there to leave turds. Give me the Cowboys (-8.5), but avoid those wooden things they beat against the padding on the sidelines. It's annoying. That entire setup is annoying.
South Carolina (+10) at Kentucky | ABC |3:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: This is a classic South Carolina win when nobody expects them too. But this team might be really bad. On the road. 3:30 kickoff. Really sluggish offense in week one. I don’t like Carolina’s chances. The Cats come out hot and Brock Vandagriff has a strong game, leading them a win and a cover. Kentucky (-10).
Ryan’s Pick: It seems like South Carolina has gotten even worse as a program. So much for all of the cringey videos. I don’t know how good Kentucky is, but the Brock Vandagriff led Wildcats are definitely good enough to take care of the Gamecocks. I like Kentucky (-10) at home.
Dean’s Pick: While you weren't watching last week South Carolina was struggling to hold off Old Dominion while the Kitty Kats were waiting around to snuggle against Southern Miss. Neither game was pretty, but Carolina looked like full trash last week. Clemson's loss last week to the Dawgs was Carolina's win... that won't happen this week. Give me them Kitties (-10), and avert your eyes.
Tennessee (-7.5) vs. NC State | ABC |7:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: I don’t think N.C State looked as bad as everyone thought last week. They turned it on when they needed too, but Tennessee is a different animal. The Vols look good, and I’m taking them to cover here. I don’t like the half-point, but I’ll take Tennessee (-7.5).
Ryan’s Pick: Tennessee looked the part in week one. Nico Idonknowhowtopronounceit looked like he could lead an elite offense. NC State took way too long to put Western Carolina away. I think the Volunteers (-7.5) will just outscore them.
Dean’s Pick: Tennessee is way, way better than NC State. I think this line is too low. NC State looked like pure trash last week for a half against Western Carolina. And if there's anything I know its that there can be states named for directions so long as they are north or south. Once we get into east-west we are tip toeing around West Virginia... and nobody wants that... certainly not dentists. The Vols looked good over the weekend. Give me Tennessee (-7.5).
Colorado (+7) at Nebraska | NBC |7:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: Am I crazy here? Can Dylan Raiola beat Shadeur Sanders in a shootout? I know they’re on the road, but there’s still a lot of talent on that Colorado offense. They can absolutely win this game. First big test for Raiola. Tons of pressure. Even on the road, I’ll take Colorado (+7) here.
Ryan’s Pick: Colorado’s win on Thursday night against North Dakota State did not leave me any more confident in the program than I was before, which was not very. Deion Sanders almost cost them the game by allowing his son to throw a deep pass instead of just trying to run the clock out. It changed the end of the game and it almost changed the result.
Dylan Raiola showed off his arm talent in his debut. We saw him enough last year to know that he can be really good. Colorado might have more talent in certain areas, but I am not confident in the Buffaloes. I like Nebraska (-7) at home.
Dean’s Pick: I have gone back and forth about this. The only winner in this game is NBC, which is taking two teams that are borderline Gator Bowl worthy and putting them on after Notre Dame. I should probably take the points here, but I am too stupid - give me Nebraska (-7) at home. PS - I have been to Nebraska. You don't ever want to go to Nebraska. There is literally nothing there. Its like driving through Ryan Lochte's head.
Texas Tech (-1.5) at Washington State | FOX |10:00 PM
Matt’s Pick: I’ll take Washington State at home. Not a fun place to play. Could be a really fun game, and I think State will take the win. Washington State (+1.5).
Ryan’s Pick: 2-PAC 2-PAC 2-PAC!!! You know where I wouldn’t want to be if I was a Texas Tech football player late on Saturday night? I wouldn’t wanna be in Pullman, Washington. Give me the Wildcats (+1.5).
Dean’s Pick: I live for this trash TV. Jerry Springer? Jenny Jones? Ricki Lake? They've got nothing on Texas Tech-Washington State. Man, TTU looked really, really bad last week. Give me the Red Raiders (-1.5) covering this small line.
2Pac did not die for this!
Tennessee Tech (+53.5) at Georgia | SECN+ |2:00 PM
Matt’s Pick: So many points here. But last I checked, Georgia beat Florida State by 60 just last year. They’ve beat plenty of teams by 50+ points. I don’t think Tennessee Tech is as bad as people may think, but I’m not putting anything past Kirby and these Dawgs. If they can record a shutout, which is completely possible, this could be an easy cover. Probably too many points, but I’ll take them. Georgia (-53.5).
Ryan’s Pick: These are so tough to pick sometimes. Georgia did not cash in on covering the spread when the line was this big in 2023. I think this 2024 team has a little more firepower. If Georgia can spread a little bit of the juice out that it had against Clemson in the second half, there is no reason to believe that Georgia is incapable of beating Tennessee Tech by more than 50 points.
The defense set the bar at holding a ranked team to a field goal. Unless this defense is generational, which it is probably not, then that is not going to happen every single week. Even if the Golden Eagles muster a score or put up 10 on the board, Georgia (-53.5) should cover in this one. Let’s see if adding Trevor Etienne into the fold provides an extra spark for an offense that took two quarters to get rolling in Atlanta.
Dean’s Pick: UGA has not covered a 50-plus point line in school history. That’s not going to start this week. Be smart - give me the Eagles (+53.5) and a whole bunch of points. Sidenote - like Nebraska, I have been to Cookeville, Tennessee... you’ll survive without ever going their, too.
Season ATS
Matt 6-6
Ryan 4-8
Dean 6-6