UGA Football Takes on the Tide | What Will Happen with Alabama vs. UGA? Dawg Post Picks
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and No. 5 UGA football tangle with the Alabama Crimson Tide this Saturday night Between the Hedges. Here is what will happen this weekend for the Dawgs and all over college football... according to the Dawg Post crew.
No. 1 Ohio State (-8.5) at Washington | CBS | 3:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: I think this is a tricky one for the Buckeyes. The 9.5 is intruiging, but with the long trip to Seattle, look for them to get the win and get home. This one doesn’t have to be pretty. The Huskies are a respectable team who should give Ohio State everything they have at home. I see a close, hard-earned victory for the Buckeyes. They get the win, Washington gets the cover. Huskies (+8.5).
Ryan’s Pick: This is a tough one. Washington looks like a good team against bad teams. Ohio State’s ceiling is as high as any other in the country. I am going with the Buckeyes (-8.5) to get a late cover in Seattle. It is a lot of points, but if Ohio State is a true contender, it should be able to get this done. I am putting a lot of faith in Julian Sayin with this being his first road start.
Dean’s Pick: I've got Ohio State in this one, and this is like Matt said - a tricky one. I don't at all think Ohio State wins this game 100%. Seattle is a very difficult place to play. The stadium traps sound because of the roof as well as the water surrounding it. But Ohio State simply has too much talent not to take them in this one. Give me Ohio State (-8.5).
No. 21 USC (-6.5) at No. 23 Illinois | FOX | 12:00 PM
Matt’s Pick: Illinois looked awful last week. Flat out embarrassed against the Hoosiers. I want to see them bounce back with the Trojans making the long flight out there, but USC is playing better football right now. They’re getting good quarterback play and they’re running the ball well. They’ve got players. Illinois will fight back, but it won’t be enough. Even on the road, the Trojans get it done. USC (-6.5).
Ryan’s Pick: Man, I was wrong against Illinois last week. I thought it was the better team heading into that Indiana matchup, and that could not have been further from the truth. It is hard to mentally return from a beatdown. I have doubts about the home field advantage mattering much after that, especially when the game is played at noon. USC looks like a solid team, and I think the Trojans (-6.5) will cover.
Dean’s Pick: USC is the better team, and we are asking a lot of them here. They played the latest game of the weekend last Saturday (11 PM EST kick). And now they are flying halfway across the nation to play a noon eastern kick. Somewhere in that you are losing recovery time, but this is the new Big Ten - and TV is kick. I will take the Trojans (-6.5) to cover more because of what I say from Illinois than anything else. That was ugly last week.
No. 22 Notre Dame (-3.5) at Arkansas | ABC | 12:00 PM
Matt’s Pick: The season is on the line for the Irish. They got hosed by the officials against Texas A&M and can’t lose another game. The Hogs just lost to Memphis and things are looking grim for Sam Pittman. The Hogs can score, but Notre Dame appears to be the better team. They’ll be ready and get a big win on the road. Notre Dame (-3.5).
Ryan’s Pick: Going to Memphis and losing is not a good look on several accounts. Arkansas was a sleeper team for many to be competitive in the conference. I think the Razorbacks give Notre Dame a fight, but I feel good about the Irish (-3.5) going to Fayetteville and covering.
Dean’s Pick: Big game for the Hogs for sure this week. Notre Dame is in a stakes game every time they play the rest of the way thanks to starting the year 0-2. Arkansas can beat the Irish, but I can't plan on that happening Saturday. Arkansas is not trustworthy. They lose too many games they should win. They did that Saturday against Memphis in a Liberty Bowl that was half full of Hogs. Horrible, horrible loss. That said, Norte Dame's betting advantage in this game has been knocked down significantly. Why? I'm not sure, but at just over a FG I feel good about the Irish (this week). Give me Notre Dame (-3.5).
No. 4 LSU (+1.5) at No. 13 Ole Miss | ABC | 3:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: This is one I’ve been going back and forth on. Earlier this week I was on Ole Miss. Now I’m getting LSU vibes. The Rebels are scoring, but the Tigers defense has all week to gameplan for Trinidad Chambliss if that’s who gets the start. Ole Miss could make me look real dumb here, but I’m expecting a strong game from the LSU defense. Offensively, they’ll do just enough to get the job done. Tigers get it done on the road. LSU (+1.5).
Ryan’s Pick: Another tough game to pick. My default is to go with the better team getting points. That notion did not workout for me with Illinois last week, but it turns out that Indiana is a better team than the Illini. I feel much stronger about LSU being the better team here. The Tigers are getting it done with strong defense. The offense really isn’t clicking. I am betting on that to change this week. I’ll take LSU (+1.5).
Dean’s Pick: To be frank, this is the one true rivalry in the SEC I am not sure I understand. These two really don't like one another - particularly Ole Miss doesn't like LSU. LSU doesn't have a classic, true SEC rival. They are nearly everyone's secondary rival. For a program that's so important in the league to be the SEC's version of Wisconsin or NC State is strange. And yet here we are - with LSU perhaps gathering another big road win to get going this season. Now an LSU linebacker is "dating" Lane Kiffin's daughter? Lane has a lot of Dallas Cowboys in him - always in the news. He's also got a quarterback situation going into this one. LSU can't seem to score, which is astonishing to me. This line moved from LSU being favored to the Rebs. I guess I will take the home team, but I really don't know. Give me Ole Miss (-1.5).
Auburn (+6.5) at No. 9 Texas A&M | ESPN | 3:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: This might be my toughest pick. Auburn’s defense was solid against Oklahoma. I don’t see the Aggies lighting up the scoreboard against Auburn the same way they did against Notre Dame. Still, they’re playing with confidence and get the Tigers at home. If the game is in Auburn this might be a coin flip. But coming off a heartbreaking loss in Norman, going back on the road is asking a lot. Auburn keeps it tight, but the Aggies win by a touchdown. Texas A&M (-6.5).
Ryan’s Pick: Auburn got completely robbed last week. I actually think the Tigers would have beaten Oklahoma if it were not for the officiating. Texas A&M will be an even tougher test. I think the Aggies can make some noise this year. I have Texas A&M (-6.5). The Aggies have a much better wide receiver room for Marcel Reed to work with, and if he can distribute well, they will be dangerous.
Dean’s Pick: A&M has handled Auburn pretty solidly lately at home. I don't think that changes this week. I think the number might be low here. Give me the Aggies (-6.5).
No. 15 Tennessee (-9.5) at State | SECN | 4:15 PM
Matt’s Pick: The Vols are looking for style points in this one. If they can pour it on, they’ll do it. State’s better than I thought, but Tennessee’s proven they’re a good team. This one could get trick for three quarters, but I think Tennessee gets a late cover and a 10-point win. The Vols can score and are good enough on defense to slow down the Bulldog offense just enough for the cover. Tennessee (-9.5).
Ryan’s Pick: There is no team in college football that likes scoring as much as the Tennessee Volunteers do. Mississippi State has had a solid start to the season - better than I would have predicted. I am still going with Tennessee (-9.5) here.
Dean’s Pick: Listen, Tennessee is going to really score. I love the way that offense is playing. State is better than they have been, but for me this is a test that's to much for State to pass. Vols (-9.5) even though it is a lot, and even though Josh Huepel isn't great on the road.
No. 6 Oregon (+3.5) at No. 3 Penn State | NBC | 7:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: I really want to pick Oregon here but I just can’t do it. Penn State’s had three easy cupcakes to run through to prepare for this one. Surely they’re finally ready for a big opponent. Night game in Happy Valley. Penn State is good, but we’re not sure how good just yet. If this game is in Eugene, I’m probably taking the Ducks. However, that long flight has to have some type of impact. I’ll take Penn State (-3.5).
Ryan’s Pick: I think this is going to be a close game. So, I am rolling with the Ducks (+3.5). I think we still don’t know a ton about either of these teams. Logic would say to go with Penn State, who is off to an elite start (against cupcakes) on defense and designating this as the white out game. I have a feeling Oregon’s offense might be better than the Nittany Lions defense. This is a vibes pick.
Dean’s Pick: I would not be surprised with a straight up Oregon win, but I am going to take Penn State (-3.5) to cover this line. Dan Lanning has a younger bunch, and it is always tough going on the road for the first time in the season. (Yes, Oregon played at Northwestern, and as much as I love Chicago and all the food and meat you can get there - playing at NU isn't like other road games). I think this is one of maybe two losses the Ducks eat before the playoff. A win isn't out of the question.
No. 17 Alabama (+3) at No. 5 Georgia | ABC | 7:30 PM
Matt’s Pick: I’m taking the Dawgs here. I think this line should be around 6.5. I think Alabama will make some plays through the air, but I’m expecting Georgia to have more success on the ground. If Gunner Stockton can coneinue being safe with the football I think Georgia will get enough solid drives in. Limit turnovers on offense and limit explosive plays defensively. Even with Jam Miller back, I think the Tide are going to have troublr running on Georgia. They’ll attack Georgia vertically, and have some success, but it won’t be enough in the end. Georgia wins and crowd helps them out. I’ll take Georgia (-3).
Ryan’s Pick:
I think that Georgia is the better team. You take the better team at home and at night. I am going with the Dawgs (-3). Alabama cruised against ULM and Wisconsin after not showing up against Florida State. Kirby Smart is right. Ty Simpson is the hottest quarterback in the country right now. The Tide have the wide receivers to give Georgia serious problems.
Here is why I have Georgia: This game being at home matters. This is the first time Kirby is getting Alabama at home. It is time to slay the demon for good, or he really does have an Alabama problem. The Dawgs gutted one out in Knoxville. They know they can probably win any game because the team can go toe-to-toe with anyone with coaching and talent.
Georgia’s run game and line of scrimmage play have been better than Alabama’s so far. I think that will be the difference-maker. I think Georgia wins by a touchdown - maybe even by 10.
Dean’s Pick: The last three games between these two teams have come down to the last play of the game, and Alabama has won two of those three. So why wouldn't I take what I'm being given and grab the Tide (+3) in Athens? I should. I will. Alabama plays its best game of the season more often than not against Georgia. They certainly didn't play it at Florida State. I think one of three things is going to happen in this one. Georgia wins close (which is my pick); Alabama wins close (which is what has happened a lot; or Georgia boat races the Tide (which is probably overdue).
Alabama has its collective tusks against the wall. This is a do-or-die game for Bama because they are not ripping off eight wins in a row against the schedule they have coming up. One of two narratives will emerge from this game: That Kirby can't beat Alabama, or that Kalen DeBour is all but done. I'm not suggesting I agree with those things, but that will be what happens.
I know the media and fans well. We are a simple group. We want black or white - no grey. Georgia would lose this game and win it all. Bama could win this game and still go 8-4. It "is" time for Georgia to win this game, however. But this is just one game in Georgia's season.
This might be "the" game for Alabama to save themselves.
Season ATS
Matt 14-21
Ryan 19-16
Dean 15-20
Week 5 Picks
