By Keaton Hargett | FrontPorchSports.com
Welcome to the very first edition of the Front Porch Sports Pick’Em. Here’s how it works: every week, our bloggers and staff are going to make five picks against the spread, and then we’ll each throw in one Lock of the Week. It’s simple, it’s competitive, and—if you’re reading this—you probably think you’re smarter than us anyway, so feel free to give us hell in the comments.
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Auburn (-2.5) @ Baylor (+2.5)
I’m taking Baylor +2.5 here. Baylor has been talked about all off-season and anytime I ask an Auburn fan their opinion, they have nothing positive to say. Auburn going on the road to Waco in Week One feels dangerous. I’ll ride with the Bears at home catching points.
Texas (+2.5) @ Ohio State (-2.5)
Give me Texas +2.5. This is the kind of game where Arch Manning is going to prove why being a Manning means that you’re used to having the hype and don’t fear pressure. Ohio State had a complete rebuild of their coaching staff and Texas hasn’t slept since their gut wrenching loss in the cotton bowl.
LSU (+3.5) @ Clemson (-3.5)
This one’s fun—the battle for Death Valley. Little history: LSU started calling their stadium Death Valley after beating Clemson in the 1959 Sugar Bowl. Clemson technically coined it first, but LSU made it stick. Either way, I’m taking LSU +3.5. I’ll take the points in what feels like a coin flip game.
Notre Dame (-2.5) @ Miami (+2.5)
Catholics vs. Convicts, one of the coolest rivalry names out there and great coaches w great players. I like Marcus Freeman a lot, and I trust him more than Mario Cristobal when the game gets tight. Carson Beck doesn’t fully sell me like his ex-girlfriend. I’ll take Notre Dame -2.5.
TCU (-3) @ North Carolina (+3)
TCU is basically the center of the college football universe right now. First it was Deion Sanders, and now they’re about to open the Bill Belichick era with his 24-year-old girlfriend sitting front row. Give me TCU -3. Lock it in.
Lock of the Week: UTSA (+24.5) @ Texas A&M
I locked this one in six months ago. Vegas has UTSA catching nearly four touchdowns against a Texas A&M team that always starts slow. Plus, A&M screwed up not hiring Jeff Traylor. Instead, they went with Mike Elko, who I think is a terrible coach to combat Sark & Texas joining the SEC. Jeff Traylor is has a chip on his shoulder and Elko probably will overlook it. Give me UTSA +24.5 all day.
That’s Week One of the Front Porch Sports Pick’Em. Five picks, one lock, and plenty of room for disaster. Check back each week to see how we did—and to laugh at our losses.