by Ahhhhhh at last, college football is back. After a 5-0 start to my season, my perfection may be in shambles if TCU’s offense (I got Team Total O42.5) doesn’t wake up. Regardless, here are my favorite plays for the rest of the weekend. Good day to have a day!
Boise State at #10 Washington -14.5
At the beginning of the week this was my lock, but I’ve become slightly less optimistic about it. As of 11 a.m. this morning, 65% of the money is on Boise, as the Broncos are the trendiest dog of the day. Interesting…
The Huskies are coming off a fantastic 2022 campaign and feature one of the most dynamic offenses in the country behind Michael Penix, Jr. and a stout receiving corps. This isn’t a vintage Boise State team that we were used to seeing a decade ago. The Broncos are 2-7 against Power-Five teams in their last nine games with five of those losses coming by at least 17 points or more. I think it’s a bad matchup for Boise State offensively, as it’s a run-oriented team going up against the best front four in the Pac-12 led by All-American candidate DE Bralen Trice. The line dropped from -14.5 to -14, but I’m still going to lay the -14 with some confidence. (1 unit)
UMASS +35.5 at Auburn
The Tigers will be an improved squad this season under a better coach in Hugh Freeze. On the other hand, UMASS is a massive underdog that looked solid offensively in Week 0. The Minutemen are 9-0 ATS vs. SEC opponents in their last nine games. Will they win? No. But I expect them to cover in Jordan-Hare. (1 unit)
Texas Tech (-14) at Wyoming
This one screams trap game to some with Texas Tech having Oregon next Saturday, but I like them covering the spread.
There’s a lot in store for a well-coached Tech squad this season and I expect them to handle a slightly above-average Cowboys team that is 2-5 ATS vs. Power-Five schools since 2017.
Wyoming had the 110th-ranked offense in CFB in 2022 behind a bad passing game that heavily relied on the run and lost three key linemen in the offseason (also lost best WR in Josh Cobbs to Houston). Tech’s defense isn’t scary, but it will do its job and piggyback off of an offense that led the Big-12 with over 300 passing yards/game last season. As long as he can stay healthy, expect QB Tyler Shough to have a good year and an even better opening night in Laramie. (2 units)
West Virginia at Penn State -20.5
I’m high on the Nittany Lions this year and Beaver Stadium is going to be rocking out of its damn skull. West Virginia is a broken program with its head coach Neil Brown already on the hot seat before the first game of the season. PSU covers and makes a statement Week 1 in primetime. (2 units)
Florida State vs. LSU -2.5
In the words of Barstool’s Big Cat, this is my “mortal lock” of the week. It’s one of those picks that is all gut feeling and needs no further explanation. #GeauxTigers (3 units)
