I feel like Jerry Seinfield in that episode where things keep evening out for him. One week I go 3-1 and the next I go 1-3. The past two weeks, I haven’t even been that dramatic, going 4-4 combined.
Last Saturday, Minnesota and Oregon State were winners, but Alabama and Toledo left me hanging. The 4-0 Saturday has eluded me so far this year, but so has his evil twin, the 0-4 Saturday, so things could be worse.
No. 1 Ohio State @ No. 18 Wisconsin, 7:00PM ET
The Buckeyes failed to cover in their only road game of the year so far, but that was against Illinois – whom they’ve never covered against…ever. (Don’t look that up – it’s fact.) Wisconsin hasn’t covered all year and I don’t think its fortune turns around this week either. Ohio State is allowing just 13.5 points per game this season and is fourth in the nation against the run. Thanks to John Clay and James White, Wisconsin has the 11th best rushing attack in college football, but the Badgers will meet their match this Saturday against a tough Buckeye front seven. Ohio State leads the all-time series 53-17-5 and will no doubt be jacked up a week after claiming the No. 1 spot in the top-25 polls.
THE PICK: OHIO STATE –3.5
No. 11 Utah @ Wyoming, 6:00PM ET
The Utes should have no problem securing their second 6-0 start in the past three seasons when they travel to Laramie to take on a struggling but somewhat competitive Wyoming team. Utah is averaging 32 points per game this year, while the Cowboys are having trouble keeping opponents out of the end zone (they’re allowing 32 PPG). Utah has won nine of the last 10 matchups and holds a series edge of 50-31-1. That doesn’t mean much when you’re laying 20.5 points, but the Utes are 4-0-1 against the number this year and they look primed for another cover.
THE PICK: UTAH –20.5
No. 3 Boise State @ San Jose State, 8:00PM ET
As I’ve written countless times before, I don’t make it a habit of laying 40.5 points but I’ll make an exception here. (There’s a joke in that first sentence if you can find it.) The Broncos have proven plenty of times in the past that they can handle big point spreads whether they’re playing on the road or not. Outside of a decent effort at Wisconsin earlier this year, the Spartans have struggled virtually every week. They don’t have the players to match up with Boise for four quarters and as long as the Broncos don’t let their foot off the gas in the second half, they should cover the 40.5.
THE PICK: BOISE STATE –40.5
No. 19 Nevada @ Hawaii, 11:30PM ET
Even though Nevada is 6-0 and ranked, 6.5 points seems like a lot to be giving a 4-2 Hawaii program playing at home. The Warriors have covered in five of their first six games and are averaging 47.7 points per game at home thus far. On paper, the Wolf Pack match up well with Hawaii because the Warriors have had issues stopping the run and Nevada owns the fifth best rushing attack in the nation. However, Hawaii is a different animal at home and will no doubt love to upset a ranked team coming into its house looking to improve their top-25 standing. While I don’t have the stones to predict an outright win, I like the Warriors to cover.
THE PICK: HAWAII +6.5
Season Record (aka “the perfect example of mediocrity”): 8-8
