UGA Football is Off, But Who Will Win the Off Week Before the Gators?
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and No. 2 UGA football are off this week, but it is a fun week of college football. Here is what will happen this weekend for the Dawgs and all over college football... according to the Dawg Post crew.
Boise State (-3.5) at UNLV | CBSN | 10:30 PM FRIDAY
Matt’s Pick: I’ll take my guy Hajj-Malik Williams and the Rebels at home. Boise State may have the best player in the country, but this UNLV team is well-coached with a veteran quarterback from Atlanta who is playing at a high level. Close game, but they’re good enough defensively to somewhat control Boise back Ashton Jeanty. UNLV (+3.5).
Ryan’s Pick: UNLV is a good team. This is a great matchup. I am buying into the Boise State hype a little bit. Ashton Jeanty is one of the best offensive weapons in the country and the Broncos almost beat Oregon. I like Boise (-3.5).
Dean’s Pick: This is one critical contest. The winner of this game has the inside track to the College Football Playoff, which is probably a topic for another day. That said, if you can stay up to check this game out it will be worth your time. These are both solid teams. The winner is in good shape for the playoff. I will take the points and UNLV (+3.5) at home.
Notre Dame (-13) vs. Navy | ABC | 12:00 PM
Matt’s Pick: Navy’s for real. Friend and former colleague Brian Newberry as the Midshipmen sailing to a special season. They play hard, execute the plan, and can absolutely win this football game. Don’t be surprised if they do. Navy (+13).
Ryan’s Pick: Some things, I will just be stubborn about. I am stubborn about thinking Notre Dame is not that good of a team. Navy throws a little bit more than it did in the past while still honoring the traditional option offense it runs. Riley Leonard and the Irish can’t pass. Give me Navy (+13) with a good chance to win.
Dean’s Pick: Speaking of the No. 12 seed for the CFP, Navy is sitting right there with Army ranked and hanging out. I could only image the drama surrounding an Army-Navy game with a CFP spot on the line. That's not out of the question in 2024. But we are going to have to start with a straight up win over the Irish. I don't see it. Notre Dame wins, but I will grab Navy (+13) and the points.
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Oklahoma (+20) at Ole Miss | ESPN | 12:00 PM
Matt’s Pick: Taking the Rebels, here. I don’t trust the Sooners. They’re falling apart. Playing worse and worse. It’s getting ugly over there. Ole Miss is in desperation mode. Can’t have another loss in the record column. They’ll come out fighting and come away with an impressive win. Ole Miss (-20).
Ryan’s Pick: This game needs no explanation other than Oklahoma is getting worse as the season goes on. Ole Miss is the better team by far. How can things keep unraveling for the Sooners. Texas was supposed to give them a beat down, but then South Carolina did too IN THE FIRST QUARTER. Ole Miss (-20).
Dean’s Pick: So an 11 AM local for two teams that were hoping for better situations as we hit late October. For the Rebels - they've gotten humbled by Kentucky and lost a tight one to LSU. Oklahoma? Who haven't they lost to? Oh, Auburn. Well, can't lose them all I guess. I'm going to be very curious about this game. OU is in a bad place, and I don't just mean that state. I'll take the dead confederates (-20) to cover.
Illinois (+21.5) at Oregon | CBS | 3:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: Oregon’s playing well. No doubt. That big win on the road at Purdue was impressive just a week after their massive win against the Buckeyes. They appear locked in, but Illinois could give them a real fight. They’re strong defensively and have a quarterback who should keep them in the game. Illinois (+21.5).
Ryan’s Pick: Oregon is finally starting to roll. The thing is, Illinois is a solid football team. I will be impressed with the Ducks if they cover this line, and while I am temped to take them, I think that Illinois (+21.5) is the smarter play here.
Dean’s Pick: This is going to be a closer game than you think. That's why I'm not even messing around. Give me Illinois (+21.5) and that half-point hook. I think this will be less comfortable than the Ducks would like, but they'll win.
Missouri (+14) at Alabama | ABC | 3:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: This Missouri team is beat up. Now they’re going on the road to play a pissed-off Alabama team. Good luck with that. The Tide can’t lose a third game this early. They need a win in the biggest way. They’ve got a big opportunity to run Missouri out of the building and I think they’ll take full advantage of it. Alabama (-14).
Ryan’s Pick: Alabama and Missouri have both been disappointing. I can’t say I thought Alabama would look this out of sorts, but I saw a slide coming. Missouri has just been fighting to win. That’s what the Tigers are right now- fighters. The problem is, they are fighting with bad teams. I am reluctantly taking the Tide (-14).
Dean’s Pick: Oh boy. This could get ugly. I didn't think Missouri could beat Alabama on the road after the last few weeks of play from the Tigers, but the last few weeks from the Tide have me reconsidering things, and Alabama fans searching for trees to kill. Two-loss Alabama isn't out of the CFP, but it is very entertaining. Then again, two-loss Alabama is fortunate it isn't three- or four-loss Alabama at this point. Give me Alabama (-14). No one in their right mind would have confidence in Missouri right now. They are a total mess.
Texas (-18.5) at Vanderbilt | SECN | 4:15 PM
Matt’s Pick: I think the Vanderbilt story is over. The Horns got punched in the mouth last weekend. They need to come back and play with pride. With the way Vanderbilt’s playing, there’s no overlooking them. I’m expecting Texas to bounce back and win this one convincingly. Horns get the job done on the road. Texas (-18.5).
Ryan’s Pick: I am putting my faith in the Longhorns to bounce back from getting dismantled by Georgia. Vanderbilt has been a fun story, but I still think that Texas has a legit chance to win it all. I want to root for Vanderbilt, and I still may, but I’m taking Texas (-18.5).
Dean’s Pick: This game is a CFP eliminator game - at least it looks that way. Consider that Vanderbilt can still wind its way to the SECCG. I expect this game to be a weird one. Might Texas be the first quality team to win in Nashville this season? What is a quality team? Give me Vandy (+18.5) and that mass of points. Texas wins.
Penn State (-6.5) at Wisconsin | NBC | 7:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: This is a game that could go either way. his could absolutely be the game Penn State slips up. On the road against a Wisconsin team that isn’t completely terrible. Still, Penn State’s more talented. They’re the better team and win by a late touchdown. Penn State (-6.5).
Ryan’s Pick: Penn State is going to make the playoff no matter how much of a true championship contender it really is. I think we should give the Nittany Lions the benefit of the doubt until they slip up, which I do not think is going to happen against Wisconsin. I’ll take Penn State (-6.5). The talent gap will be noticeable.
Dean’s Pick: Very curious game. I've talked about Wisconsin not having the players to play with Alabama... they have the players to play with Penn State. Not a great week or look for James Franklin, but he's hard to like in the first place. Penn State isn't good. They are just undefeated. Those two things are not the same at all. I think they stay undefeated this week as well and cover the line. Give me Penn State (-6.5).
LSU (+2.5) at Texas A&M | ABC | 7:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: I’m buying the LSU hype. That win against Arkansas was impressive. They’re getting better defensively and quarterback Garrett Nussmeir is playing better an better. He’s playing like one of the best quarterbacks in the country. He can absolutely lead the Tigers to victory in College Station. LSU (-2.5).
Ryan’s Pick: We almost always record the video version of these picks first. I was upset to hear that Dean and Matt are both taking LSU because I am all over LSU right now.
I have probably said it before, but I am a big Garrett Nussmeier believer. I think he is going to climb up the draft boards as we get closer to April. He is leading an offense that has NFL players at every position. A&M lost to Notre Dame at home to kick off the season, so that Kyle Field home crowd has already not been enough. Give me LSU (+2.5).
Dean’s Pick: Game of the week. Two undefeateds in SEC play. LSU is better than A&M, but you can't trust LSU at all. A&M's start to the season is probably putting a Bevo-sized fright into the Horns. Those two fans bases are something else. Its like overgrown State-Ole Miss... they care about their stupidity, but no one else does. But I can't help myself. I just have to take LSU and the points here. This is going to be a really challenging situation for LSU - they've had a tough schedule lately. I'll take LSU (+2.5) and the points. No clue who wins this one.
Season ATS
Matt 33-35
Ryan 28-41
Dean 34-34