Week three all set hopefully a better week overall than last week against the spread.
Thursday, September 18th, 2014:
#5 Auburn (68.17) at #20 Kansas State (28.28) (HFA:4.02), 6:30 pm ESPN, In a really good, early season, big 5 Thursday nighter Auburn heads from the plains to the plains to take on K State in Manhattan. Auburn is much better on offense than any team on Kansas State's schedule but the D has had some issues with physical running teams and Bill Snyder is a wizard which should give anyone pause when picking the favorite on the road on a Thursday. That being said... Power Pick: Auburn by 35.87 My Pick: Auburn 34-24 Line: Auburn -7.5
Saturday, September 20th, 2014:
Eastern Michigan (4.94) at #11 Michigan State (44.43) (HFA:4.53), 11:00 am BTN, Eastern Michigan heads to Michigan State to be a sacrificial in-state lamb before Michigan State starts their title repeat campaign in the Big Ten. Power Pick: Michigan State by 44.02 My Pick: Michigan State 34-9 Line: Michigan State -45.5
Troy (-2.87) at #13 Georgia (44.10) (HFA:5.13), 11:00 am SEC Network, Georgia comes off a heart breaker of a game at the hands of the Gamecocks and Todd Gurley will take his frustration out on a hapless Troy team. Georgia romps as Troy's woes continue. Power Pick: Georgia by 52.10 My Pick: Georgia 59-13 Line: Georgia -40
Bowling Green (22.28) at #19 Wisconsin (29.66) (HFA:4.72), 11:00 ESPN2, Bowling Green heads to Wisconsin off the heels of an upset of Indiana the weak before. Wisconsin is coming off a bye that hopefully saw Melvin Gordon get healthier and gave the pass game time to figure out an identity or at least a gameplan. Bowling Green comes in hoping to continue to figure out where it stands after the loss of Matt Johnson for the year with a hip injury. Power Pick: Wisconsin -12.09 My Pick: Wisconsin 31-17 Line: Wisconsin -27
Florida (39.95) at #3 Alabama (41.75) (HFA:5.45), 2:30 pm CBS, Florida heads to Bama in the first test of a Gator offense that has looked better under Kurt Roeper but didn't face the stiffest test in week 2. On other side of the field Lane Kiffin and an offense that has put up more than 500 yards each week looks to prove it's the genuine article against another typically stout Bama defense. A much improved Florida offense paired with a very good Florida D should keep this closer than expected but the talent gap right now is just a touch too wide. Power Pick: Alabama by 11.25 My Pick: Alabama 27-21 Line: Alabama -14.5
#6 Texas A&M (55.22) at SMU (3.89) (HFA:1.95), 2:30 pm ABC/ESPN2, Texas A&M ran South Carolina out of their own house, SMU got run off the field by Baylor and North Texas. A&M rolls and there is no reason to watch other than for the schadenfreude. Power Pick: Texas A&M by 49.38 My Pick: Texas A&M 66-3 Line: Texas A&M -33.5
*Virginia (25.74) at #21 BYU (26.57) (HFA:4.11), 2:30 pm ESPN, Virginia heads to Salt Lake City to take on a BYU team that may be the best of the non-Big 5 teams in the land. This matchup is Taysom Hill versus a Virginia defense may be one of the top 25 in the country. If the Virginia offense can put up 21 this could be a marquee win and a turning point to save Mike London's job. Power Pick: BYU by 4.11 My Pick: BYU 27-24 Line: BYU -14.5
*North Carolina (35.23) at East Carolina (20.81) (HFA:3.55), 2:30 pm ESPNU, This could be the most intriguing matchup of the day and the most illuminating. East Carolina hung with South Carolina and beat Virginia Tech. North Carolina by contrast struggled to pull away from Liberty and barely beat San Diego State and has yet to answer the call of being a fringe top 25 team. I don't know what to think, I know UNC is more talented but East Carolina has performed better this season so far and if appearances are to be believed may challenge for a conference title. Power Pick: North Carolina by 10.87 My Pick: East Carolina 21-20 Line: East Carolina -2.5
*Utah (29.37) at Michigan (33.51) (HFA:5.73), 2:30 pm ABC/ESPN2, Utah heads to Michigan in a game that I really don't know what's going to happen and I have no confidence in my ability to discern that information. So we'll wing it and I'll go Wolverines, 'cuz "thIer At hOmE". Power Pick: Michigan by 9.87 My Pick: Michigan 27-24 Line: Michigan -4
*Indiana (40.28) at #18 Missouri (51.56) (HFA:4.12), 3:00 pm SEC Network, Indiana visits the "other" Columbia to take on the "other-other" SEC Tigers. Indiana is coming off a disappointing home loss to Bowling Green sans it's starting QB and is looking for some retribution as they play Missouri. Missouri is coming off a four touchdown win over UCF and looks to be better than expected so far this season. Power Pick: Missouri by 15.41 My Pick: Missouri 31-10 Line: Missouri -14
*Mississippi State (49.18) at #8 LSU (42.12) (HFA:5.10), 6:00 pm ESPN, Mississippi State travels to Death Valley to take on the LeSU Tigers in a sneaky good matchup that may fly slightly under the radar. My numbers say the Bulldogs win in a tight one as the Tigers homefield advatage has a pretty good effect. My mind says LSU is better, Dak Prescott hasn't improved as much as expected but the defense is real good and this one is a slug it out game that is won late by the home team. Power Pick: Mississippi State by 1.96 My Pick: LSU 24-21 Line: LSU -9
*#4 Oklahoma (58.35) at West Virginia (19.13) (HFA:3.78), 6:00 pm FOX, This is a spread that suprised me on first look (Oklahoma -7.5 started at 11) but as the week has moved on I think it ends up being a lot like Auburn-Kansas State. Tough place to play with the superior team on the road and a venue with a penchant for crazy things to happen. My numbers say Oklahoma romps, my mind says Oklahoma romps and my gut says two crazy plays and West Virginia wins in a game we all call weird. Power Pick: Oklahoma by 35.44 My Pick: Oklahoma 31-20 Line: Oklahoma -7.5
*#14 South Carolina (60.22) at Vanderbilt (26.24) (HFA:3.20), 6:30 pm SEC Network, Vanderbilt has gotten blown out by Temple, shellacked by Ole Miss and only beat UMASS by 3 even in a let down spot I don't see Spurrier, et. al having any trouble here. Power Pick: South Carolina by 30.78 My Pick: South Carolina 31-3 Line: South Carolina -21.5
*#22 Clemson (38.94) at #1 Florida State (61.53) (HFA:4.46), 7:00 pm ABC, Clemson heads to Florida State for a revenge game after last seasons beat down at home. Clemson's upset bid is helped by Winston being suspended for the first half but I just don't see the difference in these two squads being purely Winston and I look for the FSU defense to shut down Clemson early and often and minimize the damage of an inexperienced quarterback in the first half. Power Pick: Florida State by 27.05 My Pick: 37-20 Line: Florida State -15
*Miami (FL) (35.43) at #24 Nebraska (30.64) (HFA:5.12), 7:00 pm ESPN2, A great 90's classic erupts in a sea of red on saturday night as the fifth best Big Ten and ACC teams play with conference pride at stake. Miami-Nebraska this time it's personal... and less fun. Power Pick: Nebraska by .34 My Pick: 20-17 Line: Nebraska -7.5
#2 Oregon (66.47) at Washington State (28.45) (HFA:2.96), 9:30 pm ESPN, Much like South Carolina I want this to be entertaining and close but I don't see Leach and company hanging around much past the five minute mare of the third quarter as Oregon puts on the jets. Power Pick: Oregon by 35.05 My Pick: Oregon 52-24 Line: Oregon -23.5
* denotes games that weren't done as of 6:45 Thursday night so that the Thursday prediction was up before the Auburn-Kansas State game.
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