Who Will Win - Kirby Smart's UGA Football or the Auburn Tigers?
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and UGA football are headed home for the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry and the Auburn Tigers. Here is what will happen this weekend for the Dawgs and all over college football... according to the Dawg Post crew.
Michigan State (+24) at Oregon | FOX |9:00 PM Friday
Matt’s Pick: Oregon’s starting to play better and better. This could be the game they start to put it all together. This is a big mental test to see if they can play at a high level the week before they take on Ohio State. I think they’re up to the task. Oregon (-24).
Ryan’s Pick: Oregon has been looking better since the first couple of weeks where it clearly was not a top-10 team. The Ducks have a lot of talents. So far, this is not the championship contender that it was projected to be, but I like Oregon over Michigan State.
Normally, I would root for an awesome Friday night game, but I think Oregon is too good for Michigan State to cover. Give me the Ducks (-24).
Dean’s Pick: I'm going to tell you right now that I love these night games on Friday night - particularly when they kick a little later, and this one does. FOX has done a good job of saying: "We don't have the best TV package in the market, but we do have a good one, and we are going to own Friday night."
And so it is... no NFL in the way, and marquee Big Ten teams like Oregon playing. I will take the Ducks (-24) here as they try to play a little better on October than they did in what was an up-and-down September.
Town college football is about progressing during the season - that's new... at least its importance is. Can Dan Lanning get Oregon where it needs to go? We will find out in October.
UCLA (+28) at Penn State | ABC | 12:00 PM
Matt’s Pick: I’m riding with the Bruins. Again. They’re not good, but they’re not this bad. 28 points is a lot. Even on the road. Penn Satte wins the game by double-digits, and is may not be pretty, but I’ll take the Bruins to cover. UCLA (+28).
Ryan’s Pick: I have UCLA (+28) here. Driving anologies are probably the wrong choice for this crowd. Imagine the top contenders are all fast cars driving to the destination that is the College Football Playoff. Georgia, Texas, Alabama and Ohio State are sports cars. Penn State is a minivan. It is not as flashy, but it is still going to get you there. Minivans can’t cover a 28-point spread.
Dean’s Pick: Imagine having to criss cross the country like this for conference games. You are welcome UCLA. What was the alternative? The Big 12? You are the ones that wanted this... well, no one "wants" to go to Penn State - just ask James Franklin's players.
Give me UCLA (+28) and all them points.
Missouri (+2.5) at Texas A&M | ABC |12:00 PM
Matt’s Pick: Missouri needs to step it up. This is a game they need if they want to have the season many thought they could have. This is a big road test, but if Missouri is a legitimate playoff team, they’ll take care of business. I like their chances here. Missouri (+2.5).
Ryan’s Pick: Texas A&M already proved to us that home field advantage at night was not near enough to beat a questionable Notre Dame team. Missouri is struggling but is better than the Irish. I will take the better team with the points. Mizzou (+2.5).
Dean’s Pick: I thought I had a better feel for this situation, and then Missouri went and nearly earned a loss to Vanderbilt. But if I have learned one thing about college football its that Bryant-Denny Stadium smells like weed. If I have learned two things it's that one week of college football has nothing to do with the next week.
M. I. Z. (+2.5).
Iowa (+21) at Ohio State | CBS |3:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: Give me the Buckeyes. They’ve had it pretty easy so far this year, but they’ll handle Iowa. At home. Not at noon. This could be a one-score game at the half, but Ohio State can cruise as the game goes on. Ohio State (-21).
Ryan’s Pick: Ohio State is going to keep rolling as long as it is not challenged. I cannot wait to see how this team plays in Eugene next week. For now, give me the Buckeyes (-21) to continue to cover big spreads.
Dean’s Pick: We will have to get an update from Columbus when Ohio State plays an opponent that doesn't require a defibrillator.
Since losing to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl last year, Ohio State gone third-world GDP-level spending on a roster and played Akron, Western Michigan, Marshall and Michigan State. Michigan Tech had to reschedule.
The game at Oregon looms next week. Iowa is trash. Give me Ohio State (-21) to cover.
Ole Miss (-9) at South Carolina | ESPN |3:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: Oh boy. Let’s overreact to Ole Miss’ home loss to Kentucky. Carolina’s not a bad team. They’ve got the Rebels at home. This is a game they can win. This should be a great environment, and I’m expecting Carolina to fight hard. Gamecocks (+9).
Ryan’s Pick: This is the toughest one to pick this week. I did not see Kentucky beating Ole Miss coming. Kentucky is just going to be one of those teams this year that gives better competition a tough out, or outright beat it. That is what happened last week.
As for Ole Miss, the Rebels have to respond. LaNorris Sellers and Rocket Sanders are listed as questionable. I think it is pretty questionable that the Gamecocks win this game. I am going Ole Miss (-9). All you need is to outscore these guys by a touchdown and a field goal. Is that too much to ask for?
Dean’s Pick: So this one is a little tricky. This isn't the first time the Rebels have gone on the road, but this is an actual away game unlike Ole Miss' journey to Wake Forest. Then we've got a South Carolina team that's proven it can play with the likes of LSU and beat the likes of Kentucky.
This is a critical game for Ole Miss, and I think they could straight up lose the game. There is no more margin for error this season with UGA, LSU and even lowly Oklahoma on the schedule. If this game were at noon local I would take Ole Miss, but being that it is a 3:30 give me Shane's Cocks (+9) and the points.
Miami (-10.5) at Cal | ESPN |10:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: The Canes have the quarterback and the talent overall to get the job done. Long trip out there, and this should be a close game for the most part, but I’ll take a big game from Cam Ward and a late Miami cover. Miami (-10.5).
Ryan’s Pick: Oh, Miami. This is one of the teams this season that will end up with the bye in the College Football Playoff but is probably not a serious contender. In a similar way as I view Carson Beck with the Alabama game, I came away a little concerned about Cam Ward and his abilities despiute his awesome statline and wow plays last Friday night.
I think I still like Miami out there late at night. Do we deserve this game? Some of you college football fans are healthy. Not me. I like to induldge in a little bit extra. I want the dessert. Give me my sweet treat that is this kickoff, and give me the Hurricanes (-10.5). But, don’t give me a real hurricane. We have had enough of those.
Dean’s Pick: With the poor attendance we've gotten used to at California Memorial Stadium, Miami should fit right at home Saturday night in Berkley. I love the ACC is giving us these types of games. Nothing has to make sense in the ACC. Results. Game times. Dabo Swinney's social media posts.
This is the ACC - love it or join the American or Big 12 (if they will have you).
Miami survived its old Big East rival Virginia Tech last Friday night in a game the Canes probably should have lost. Everyone probably thinks Cal is a bunch of losers, but they beat Auburn (take that haters).
Cal can't score, but they are pretty good on defense. Give me the Bears (+10.5) as I no longer trust Miami - as if I ever should have.
Clemson (-14.5) at Florida State | ESPN |7:00 PM
Matt’s Pick: Clemson. Clemson all day. Clemson by 20+. They have a chance to embarrass a really bad Florida State team. Not expecting much of an environment down in Tallahassee. Give me a big Clemson victory on the road. Tigers (-14.5).
Ryan’s Pick: I don’t have much to say about this. I think it is pretty obvious. Florida State has heard enough from me. Clemson (-14.5).
Dean’s Pick: Clemson is going to kill Florida State. The Taters have turned things around since UGA beat their skulls in the first game of the season. There isn't much in their way the rest of the season, either. Clemson's toughest game will probably be South Carolina at the end of the year.
Clemson is playing better, but consider that Cade Klubnik was 15 for 31 (48%) during the Tigers' 40-14 win over Stanford last weekend... that's pretty bad.
Florida State's quarterback play is worse. Give me Clemson (-14.5)... big.
Auburn (+24) at Georgia | ABC |3:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: I think Georgia wins comfortably, but I’m taking Auburn to cover. Auburn’s lost by 10 points or less in each of their three losses. This is a team that fights and plays in tight games. They have talented defenders, a veteran back on offense, and some playmakers on the outside. If Auburn plays well and can take care of the ball, they should cover this line. However, they’ve turned the ball over left and right this year and things won’t be easier Between the Hedges. Georgia wins this game by double-digits, but I’m leaning towards an Auburn cover. Tigers (+24).
Ryan’s Pick: This game reminds me a lot of the 2022 matchup between these schools. Auburn has head coach drama, Georgia isn’t playing super hot, this is a huge line. I think that Georgia (-24) will cover. I am expecting a much better offensive performance from the Dawgs this week.
On defense, Georgia has already faced its toughest challenge of the season. Auburn is a way worse version of Alabama on offense. I think this is an easy win for Georgia, truly.
Dean’s Pick: I am actually changing my pick on this game from the video that we release on Thursday night. I am going to take Georgia (-24). Here's why... Auburn can't score, and if we've learned anything from UGA it's that they eventually score (except in Lexington).
If I have learned anything from Auburn it is that they simply are not a good offense, and UGA very well could shut them out. So when you ask yourself if Georgia can score 30 points on Auburn the answer is yes. Georgia can probably score 30 on nearly anyone. It's possible we've seen Georgia's bad offensive game, and it was against Kentucky. We will see.
But Georgia has really dominated Auburn in Athens. I don't think that changes at all Saturday.
Season ATS
Matt 22-22
Ryan 16-29
Dean 22-22