Overall Record 20-20
After taking last week off, I am back to give you some winners. I am dead even after 40 picks which is not where I would like to be, but it could be a lot worse. Feels like just yesterday we were excited for football to start, and now there are only 5 weeks left in the college regular season. Let’s enjoy it while we can and let me make you some Christmas money along the way. I’m locked in.
8Ole Miss at 13Oklahoma (-5.5)
Ole Miss still has everything in front of them as they head down to Norman this weekend to take on the Sooners. Their offense continues to be lethal, and Trinidad Chambliss has gone from a flash in the pan to a full on grease fire for the Rebels. Last week, Ole Miss scored 5 straight touchdowns until Kirby Smart finally figured out how to stop them and grind out a win. On the other side, John Mateer has not been as sharp as he was pre hand injury and I think that can play in Ole Miss’s favor. They don’t need too many stops to win games due to their high flying offense, and I don’t think Oklahoma will have enough juice to keep up. Lane Kiffin and the Rebels will get right this weekend and may knock off the Sooners, but I am banking on at least a cover. Rebels +5.5. (If this line moves to 4.5 or 3.5 before game day, I still like it).
Kansas State at Kansas (-2.5)
Kansas State started the year off just about as bad as it can get for a team with conference championship aspirations, but they have slowly turned a corner and look more like the team everyone expected to see. The Kansas Jayhawks have been pretty underwhelming so far. I didn’t think that they would run the conference or anything, but I thought they would be a little bit better than 4-3 at this point. Jalon Daniels has been pretty solid, but he better be in his 6th year of playing QB for Kansas. He was playing when covid first started! Kansas State has won 16 games in a row against Kansas, and I don’t see that changing this weekend. Kansas State Wildcats +2.5.
11BYU at Iowa State (-2.5)
Vegas hits us with another weird line in this Big 12 matchup. When you see a 7-0 team as underdogs, it makes you wonder why. BYU has won a number of close games this year and enter this contest unblemished. Iowa State started out hot, but injuries have derailed them a bit the last few weeks. They are coming off a bye and should get a few of their playmakers back that have missed the last month or so. BYU is a good team, but I don’t think they are as good as their record would suggest. I think going on the road to a hostile environment against a team with their backs against the wall will be too much for Bear Bachmeier and the Cougars to overcome. The toughest place BYU has had to play so far was at Arizona, and it took 2 overtimes for them to squeak out a win. Jack Trice Stadium will be rocking, and it will propel the Cyclones to at least a 3 point victory to help them get back on track. ISU -2.5.
Minnesota at Iowa (O/U 39.5)
Two very similar teams are facing off in this classic Big 10 showdown this weekend. Iowa has been known for their defense for about as long as I can remember and Minnesota is typically thought of in the same light. It has been a pretty ugly season for Iowa QB Mark Gronowski who has more interceptions than TDs so far, but that is usally a hallmark of Iowa quarterbacks. On the other side, the Golden Gopher offense hasn’t been lighting it up, but they have done enough to win a lot of their games. Both of these teams are still in the hunt to sneak into the Big 10 Championship, and a win for either team in this one will go a long way. I don’t know how it gets done, but I like this game to go over. Hopefully some big defensive plays, short fields, and a little bit of desperation will go a long way. Feeling a 24-17 slugfest to cash the over. Over 39.5.
Houston at 24Arizona State (-6.5)
I watch a lot of Big 12 football, so if you see a trend with the matchups I choose, that is the main reason. Houston comes into this game 6-1 and one of the midseason surprises of the Big 12, although I think their record is a little bit inflated by the weaker big 12 teams they have played. Arizona state has been up and down this year, but mostly up as they are fresh off a huge win against Texas Tech which certainly keeps their dreams of repeating in Arlington alive and well. This is another game that they need to win to solidify their Big 12 championship hopes. One issue with that is they will be without the best WR in the Big 12 and likely top 5 draft pick Jordyn Tyson who has caught 8 of QB Sam Leavitt’s 9 touchdowns this year. A WR not named Jordyn Tyson has not scored a TD for ASU since Cam Skattebo threw a 42 yard bomb to Malik Mclain against Texas in the CFP… so yeah it has been a while. I think this will be a bigger deal than people want to think and the Sun Devils will struggle mightily without their all world WR. Give me the Cougars to keep it close. Houston +6.5
Final Picks:
Ole Miss +5.5
Kansas State +3.5
Iowa State -2.5
Iowa/Minn Over 39.5
Houston +6.5
Written By Blake Mire @BlakeMire on X
This is not financial advice, tail or fade at your own risk.