Week 6 Record: 3-2; YTD Record: 18-15-1
Another week down, another week in the green. We had a lot of wild finishes last week, with Miami losing in the most embarrassing fashion against Georgia Tech, courtesy of Mario Christobal deciding not to kneel, then ultimately fumbling the ball, then the game. This week is sure to bring us even more excitement with 4 Top-25 matchups like Oregon vs. Washington and USC vs. Notre Dame. I have spotted 3 matchups below that I feel will keep us in the black this week moving forward. Let’s hit the books!
South Carolina ML (-120)
Florida at The Swamp is one of the most dangerous teams to face in the NCAA. The Gators away from Gainesville, however, are mere mortals. Standing 0-2 on the road with losses to ranked Utah and Kentucky is nothing to hang your head over, however, Billy Napier cannot seem to get his offenses going on the highway.
South Carolina, coming off a road loss to No. 21 Tennessee, could not find a better time for a bye week. Shane Beamer stated during the bye week that he was going to make an emphasis getting his younger talent more snaps on the field against Florida. Coach Beamer felt the reason why the Tennessee game got away in the 2nd half was due to the sheer volume of snaps his veterans had to take.
With an entire week to get the young core implemented in the game plan, I expect the Gamecocks to be fresh and ready to play at home. Rattler and the offense getting extra time to rest and regroup can only be seen as a plus. Florida is also set for a bye week after this game in preparation for a major home game hosting Georgia. Lay the short ML at home with the rested, focused team over the winless road squad.
Tennessee (-3)
Joe Milton’s Heisman hype train has been put on cruise control this season. While sporting a respectable 9/3 TD/INT stat line, he hasn’t quite lived up to the extreme expectations that were left for him courtesy of Hendon Hooker. Losing Bru McCoy to a devastating leg injury last week has left a hole in the Vols WR core. I still trust HC Josh Heupel at home this week to handle the Aggies.
Texas A&M is coming off a really brutal loss last week at home against rival Alabama, where they played to the wire the entire duration. It is fair to question where their head space will be this week, going to Neyland Stadium, where Tennessee hasn’t been defeated since November 2021. The bye week has come at a great time for the Vols, where they have had an extra week to prepare for life without McCoy in a true next man up situation to fill the void.
I do believe we haven’t seen the true ceiling for Joe Milton yet, but it starts this weekend. TAMU is 108th in Opponent Yards Per Completion, and Milton has the tools to carve up the secondary with explosive plays and chunk yards. Jimbo Fisher has not won an SEC road game since October 2021 (Mizzou), so why would I trust him here? Lay the field goal and trust the Vols to continue their home tear in route to a hearty victory over the Aggies.
Arizona (+8)
Why? Because they’re a WAGON that’s why!
The Arizona Wildcats are 5-1 ATS and have quickly become a darling of mine this season. The last 2 covers were against the creme de la creme of the conference in Washington and USC. Arizona lost by 7 against the Huskies with a failed onside kick and took USC to a 3 OT thriller at The Colliseum where they fell 43-41. Oh and by the way, both of these games were played by the BACKUP QB Noah Fifita, who has quickly become the leader of the offense as a freshmen.
Ok, enough oozing over the Covering Terror in Tucson. Washington State has been the dark horse in the loaded PAC-12 this season, defeating No. 19 Wisconsin, No. 14 Oregon State, and amassing a 4-0 record before last week. If you followed my page, you would have noticed I was on the UCLA side, as they covered the number as an unranked home favorite enroute to a satisfying 25-17 victory. I felt the Cougars were a tad fraudulent with 3/4 wins coming at home and only going on the road once. This game should tell us what kind of team WSU really is now, playing in the “Dream Crusher” game.
Arizona has been battle-tested this season and seems to pass every obstacle they come across. Washington State plays now after getting their perfect season ruined and possibly no chance at a CFP. Arizona has a much-needed bye week after this game, while WSU gets a date at #8 Oregon on deck. I like the way this Wildcats team looks even though they may not have the “talent” edge. Give me Arizona to keep this game within a TD and cover the number, bringing the Wildcats to an impressive 6-1 ATS!