Hello everyone. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving with your family and friends. It’s a great weekend of football rivalry with major playoff implications, so let’s get down to some picks for the last time this year.
As usual, I use the lines on the FanDuel Sportsbook.
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(Disclaimer: These are just my opinions. Please do your own analysis and choose accordingly. I am not telling you what to do with your money. Be responsible. Have a gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Terms and conditions apply; lines are subject to change.)
And now, onto this week’s picks…
Miami at PITT +6.5
I like Miami’s chances of winning this game. I think the Canes pass rush will make Mason Heintschel very uncomfortable and force some mistakes. I just don’t see Miami putting its foot down on the Panthers and putting them away. Canes wins 27-23 to win and close the season at 10-2 but not quite covered.
Ohio State at MICHIGAN +10.5
Ohio State hasn’t really been tested in weeks and weeks. Go check out their schedule. It’s really very weak. They will collide this weekend, and while I think they will survive, it will be close.
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CLEMSON +2.5 in South Carolina
The Tigers may have been the biggest mystery this season with home losses to Duke and Syracuse. But I feel like they’re starting to play a little better, and I think they have a slight talent advantage over the Gamecocks. I’ll take the points and the total victory on the road.
Vanderbilt at TENNESSEE -2.5
The Commodores are not good at the back end of their defense. Tennessee has the highest-scoring offense in the SEC and has the deep passing game (three receivers with over 700 receiving yards; Joey Aguilar leads the SEC in passing yards) to expose them. It’s a high-scoring affair, but the Vols get an extra stop or two to win and cover.
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Oregon to WASHINGTON +6.5
Call this one an instinctive choice. The Ducks overcame what seemed like their last major hurdle last week with a big win over USC at home. The Huskies have been inconsistent, but they earned their best win of the year at home against Illinois (42-25) and won back-to-back in blowout fashion after an embarrassing loss to Wisconsin. I’ll take the 6.5 and see if they can take it to the wire.
VIRGINIA TECH +8.5 in Virginia
The Hokies just own that rivalry and have that mental advantage over the Cavaliers. Add in the loss of star UVa LB Kam Robinson to injury, and I think Tech has a legitimate chance to delay the upset.
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ALABAMA -5.5 at Auburn
Anything can happen in the Iron Bowl, but Bama still has everything to play for, as they advance to the SEC Championship Game with a win and are most likely out of the playoffs with a loss. Auburn’s offense — even with their QB changes — won’t be quite enough to give the Canes the surprise they need to move closer to the playoffs. Tide by a touchdown.
SMU -13.5 at Cal
The Bears already had their chance to help Miami with an overtime win at Louisville, but that’s about it during a disappointing season that saw the firing of former head coach Justin Wilcox after a blowout loss to Stanford. Is there anything they can fight for? I’m not afraid of it. Ponies roll in Berkeley.
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GEORGIA -13.5 at Georgia Tech
Tech showed me who they were last week after losing 28-0 to Pitt at home. This game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, so the field will be even smaller for the Jackets. The bulldogs win big.
KENTUCKY +2.5 in Louisville
Perhaps a slight help for the Canes here if Louisville can get to 8-4, but Miller Moss’ health is still risky and star WR Chris Brown will be out, to add to the Cardinals’ injury woes. Kentucky has been playing better lately, with the exception of a stinking game against Vandy last week, but with bowl eligibility on the line, they will be the more motivated and healthier team with better vibes.
