UGA Football Takes a Break, But College Football Picks Are In | USC or Michigan?
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and No. 1 UGA football are headed to Lexington to take on the Kentucky Wildcats. Here is what will happen this weekend for the Dawgs and all over college football... according to the Dawg Post crew.
Disclaimer: Lines were as of 9/15/2025
Stanford (+9.5) at Syracuse | ESPN | 7:30 PM | Friday
Matt’s Pick: Good luck, Stanford. Long flight across the country to play a tough, well-coached football team that’s more talented than they usually are. They’re playing at a high level and have more than enough pieces to win a big game on Friday night. Fran Brown will have his team ready to roll. Syracuse should’nt have many problems here. Syracuse (-9.5).
Ryan’s Pick: This game is just wrong. Stanford in the ACC feels wrong. Stanford has to go all the way across the country to play Syracuse. Kyle McCord was not fantastic at Ohio State, but he wasn’t bad by any means. With a year under his belt there and he probably would have been pretty solid this season for the Buckeyes. Instead, he’s a little bit overqualified for the Orange, and that is part of why I think Syracuse (-9.5) will cover. Friday night in upstate New York, ladies and gentlemen.
Dean’s Pick: Stanford just isn't great right now, and I'm going to take Syracuse, which seems to have a pulse. Don't confuse yourself into thinking that Syracuse is "good" - we've seen no indication of that. A three-point win over Tech isn't proof of much of anything on that front. But this is asking a lot of Stanford. Back-to-back games on the east coast in a matter of eight days? Not right. Give me Syracuse (-9.5) to cover.
North Carolina State (+14) at No. 21 Clemson | ABC |12:00 PM
Matt’s Pick: This might come down the the wire for the spread. Clemson is better than N.C State. They should win. If it’s 14.5, I might take State, but just 14? Clemson can handle that. Late touchdown in the 4th gets the cover. State keeps this one somewhat close for three quarters, but Clemson’s defense will have a big game. The Tigers need some style points down the road if they don’t win the conference. Coming off a BYE, look for Clemson to show up big at home. Clemson (-14).
Ryan’s Pick: First, I don’t think NC State is a good football team. It took the better part of four quarters for them to find rhythm against Western Carolina and then the Wolfpack got thumped by Tennessee, and I don’t think the Volunteers looked all that great doing it to them. I am giving Clemson the benefit of the doubt in this one.
We only have a two-game sample size of Clemson. In one game, the Tigers were awful. In the other game, Clemson was fantastic. Dabo’s squad is probably somewhere in the middle. I do think Clemson is a legit ACC contender, and style points are going to matter in the end if we want two ACC teams in the playoff. Do we really want that? Give me Clemson (-14).
Dean’s Pick: This is an important game for Clemson. This line is now over 20 points. I've decided to change my pick. I just don't like NCSU right now. NC State will have a different starting quarterback than when we made the pick on video. Give me the Taters (-14). I think this one could get out of hand.
Florida (-7.5) at Mississippi State | ESPN |12:00 PM
Matt’s Pick: Yikes. Put this game on CNBC. Tru TV. Bravo. Other networks you’ve heard about but never tune into. Nobody wants to watch this disaster. Florida’s proven they’re an awful football team, and State might be even worse. The Gators have to make some changes soon, but Napier will have his team ready to beat a terrible State team on the road. If Florida loses this game, Napier is gone on Monday. Can’t bring him back to Gainesville. Job on the line here. This might be dumb, but I’ll take Florida (-7.5).
Ryan’s Pick: For me, this is really just about how bad Mississippi State is. Losing 41-17 at home to Toledo is just so bad. Florida is not a good team either, but the Gators (-7.5) can pull off this cover.
Dean’s Pick: Goodness. I see where Matt is trying to move this to Bravo. Talk about Watch What Happens. This game has to be the all-time low point for two teams meeting in a game that's being broadcast by ESPN. Me? I love it. Its bad out there - let's see how bad it can get (pretty bad). Give me the Gators (-7.5).
UCLA (+22.5) at No. 16 LSU | ABC | 3:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: Wow. Is UCLA that bad? Because LSU isn’t this good. 22.5 points? That’s a lot. Too many in my eyes? Just don’t get blown out, UCLA. Show up just a little. You got this. Give me UCLA (+22.5).
Ryan’s Pick: This LSU team hasn't been quite as good as I projected it to be. The Tigers squeaked out a win in Columbia over the Gamecocks last week. Squeaked out is the best way that I can put it. I am not super confident in my pick for LSU (-22.5) to cover such a big line. The run defense is not good. I am putting my faith into a bounce back performance- or a breakout performance.
Dean’s Pick: LSU can't be trusted, but UCLA sucks.
🐯 > 🐻
LSU (-22.5) covers this line because if Indiana put 42 on your ass in the Rose Bowl things won't get much better in Death Valley.
Arkansas (+5.5) at Auburn | ESPN |3:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: I’ve gone back and forth on this one, but I’ve got “Auburn” here next to my name, so I must’ve said it the video we pre-recorded. So I’ll make the case for the Tigers. While they have no quarterback, they’ve got a defense that could make things tough for Arkansas. Jordan-Hare stadium can be tough to play in. Just not for the Cal-Berkeley Bears. I hate this pick, but I’ll stick with my gut and say Auburn (-5.5) like an idiot.
Ryan’s Pick: It’s too early, but Arkansas is probably a better team than Auburn. You cannot lose to Cal at home. I can’t believe that happened. This is not some weird cross country road trip type of game, though. This is an SEC matchup at Jordan-Hare Stadium. I’ll go with Auburn (-5.5) here.
Dean’s Pick: If State-Florida is a too much trash TV for you perhaps Arkansas-Auburn is more your speed.
Very quickly
All-time Trash TV rankings
1. Jerry Springer
2. Jersey Shore
3. Southern Charm
4. Teen Mom
5. MILF Manor
This game isn't much better. I'll take the Hogs (+5.5) and the points. The loser of this game is in trouble.
No. 11 USC (-6.5) at No. 18 Michigan| CBS |3:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: This Trojans team isn’t bad at all. They’ve got solid quarterback play and several weapons on offense that will test Michigan’s defense, and their defense is improved. Don’t forget Atlanta native and Dawg Post guy Woody Marks at running back. Michigan just hasn’t been impressive at all this year. Lincoln Riley needs to get up there and get it done. USC (-6.5).
Ryan’s Pick: USC is a better football team than Michigan is this season. I don’t think Michigan is a playoff team this season and it has expanded to 12 teams. Miller Moss is a pretty good quarterback. He is slowly climbing up draft boards in a draft where the quarterback position seems to be pretty uncertain. I like that this line is only 6.5 points. If it was a full seven, I would consider taking the Wolverines, but Michigan has already shown it can lose big at home to a better team. Go with USC (-6.5) here.
Dean’s Pick: So I'm very curious about this one. I think USC could make this pretty ugly if they don't have many mistakes. Michigan just doesn't have the guys they had over these last three years. A five-loss season isn't out of the question at all in my mind. Texas whipped Michigan's ass... they should have. Give me Trojans (-6.5).
No. 12 Utah (+2.5) at No. 14 Oklahoma State | FOX | 4:00 PM
Matt’s Pick: Big home game for Oklahoma State. They haven’t been overly impressive this year, but they’re good enough to get the job done at home. They’ll be ready to play. Give me Oklahoma State (-2.5).
Ryan’s Pick: Utah quarterback Cam Rising is just under two years older than me and I graduated college a year and a half ago. Just like me, he is on the injury report. It looks like he is expected to play, but man oh man. How often is that guy out of the lineup?
People seemed to pencil in Utah as the Big 12 champions. Maybe that is because if you look around that conference, it is hard to find teams with a legitimate chance of making the playoffs, and Utah has a history of being a tough out. Here is the thing, Utah has disappointed for the most part. It seems like in this last decade of the PAC 12, the Utes were always just right there but not there.
Oklahoma State is at home. This line is pretty small. The Cowboys have the best player in this game. Give me the Pokes (-2.5).
Dean’s Pick: Very quick lecture: quit thinking that the Big 12 has to be good football. It doesn't. I am here to be entertained - I'm not here for quality. The Big 12 is the equivalent of Trash TV. And these two are probably the best two in that league - two of the best three at least. So I'm not trying to be wowed - I'm trying to watch Jwoww and Ronnie. Two hits on this one - Ronnie hitting some random, and me hitting this number. Give me the Pokes (-2.5), and the house of horrors that is that sideline.
No. 6 Tennessee (-7.5) at No. 15 Oklahoma | ABC |7:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: Oh man. I want this game to be close. Badly. But I think the Vols get out there and take this one by double-digits. I don’t like the half-point here, but it won’t matter. Tennessee’s offense is too good, and Oklahoma’s offensive line play will have their hands full with Tennessee’s defense. Vols go up to Norman and get an impressive win. Tennessee (-7.5).
Ryan’s Pick: I am so excited for this game because we are going to learn a lot about Tennessee. Last week, I thought we learned that Missouri might not quite be as good as once thought. At least that was my takeaway. Alabama had a solid bounce back performance after
I think that Tennessee (-7.5) is going to win this game and cover this line. If the Vols continue with the trend of this season, the team is going to put up a lot of points. Oklahoma is solid. This will not be an easy out. I think Tennessee wins by 10-20 points, which I guess that makes them a real contender at this point in the year.
Dean’s Pick: I will take the Vols (-7.5), but if they don't cover the way I assume they will I've got a few questions. Perhaps when the Dawg Post crew is making unanimous picks that's a red flag... I don't know. I know this - Tennessee has looked great, and Oklahoma hasn't. I think this number should be more like 9, but I don't set lines - just take the money after I win.
Season ATS
Matt 14-14
Ryan 12-16
Dean 14-14