Pick 6: Will Notre Dame Win on the "Road?"
We rebounded rather nicely last week and I’m feeling more confident than ever. Only losses last week were Alabama and Oklahoma not covering - but they did still win. This week we take a look at six games and where I’m putting my money AND a couple matchups to watch in each game. Enjoy.
12 Notre Dame @ 18 Wisconsin (-6.5), 11:00 CT, FOX
Wisconsin’s season started with a heartbreaking 16-10 loss to Penn State and Notre Dame nearly loss to Florida State. Neither team can afford to lose this game - especially in conference. Wisconsin enters as the 6.5 point favorite at Soldier Field in Chicago but I’m not sure I’m ready to jump back on the Badgers bandwagon just yet. Wisconsin will have to rely on quarterback Graham Mertz in this one with Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton lurking in the secondary. I expect a low scoring game in this one but I like Notre Dame to cover the 6.5. The Jack Coan redemption game goes to the Irish.
Matchup to watch: Kyle Hamilton vs Graham Mertz, Kyren Williams (ND RB) vs the Wisconsin run defense.
LSU (-2.5) @ Mississippi State, 11:00 CT, ESPN
The fact that LSU is only a 2.5 point favorite should tell you a lot about the state of their program. I do love an underdog pick, but Mississippi State has their own problems and I don’t feel they can beat LSU - even at home. The LSU defense is going to be the difference maker in this one. The Tigers have two of the top corners in the SEC and it’s almost a pick your poison situation when trying to throw on this defense. If Mississippi State had more of a run game I would feel confident taking the Bulldogs. But I’ll roll with the Tigers to cover in this one.
Matchup to watch: LSU corners Derek Stingley Jr and Eli Ricks against the MSU passing attack.
7 Texas A&M (-5.5) @ 16 Arkansas, 2:30 CT, CBS
Arkansas has been a nice surprise this season but A&M has been the favorite all along. Does Arkansas have enough on defense to stop the Aggies offense? Can Arkansas score on a tough A&M defense? I think so. Arkansas has studs on both sides of the ball and proved that against Texas. A&M has struggled so far this season and is still bringing their quarterback up to speed, I like Arkansas to cover in this one and would not be surprised at all to see the Razorbacks win outright. I feel so confident that I’ll give Arkansas the title of Super Underdog Locksmith Game of the Week to Bet Your Money On!
Matchup to watch for: Arkansas safety Jalen Catalon against A&M tight end Jalen Wydermyer. Kenyon Green (A&M LT) and Isaiah Spiller (A&M RB) against the Arkansas run defense.
9 Clemson (-10) @ NC State, 2:30 CT, ESPN
Clemson has been a let down in two out of their three games so far this season - with their only big win coming against South Carolina State. Now they travel to Raleigh to take on a NC State team that is better than their record. Will this game bring back “Clemsoning?” I think it could! Until Clemson makes me believe they are good I’m going to believe they are an average team with a few National Titles in their history. I’m taking NC State to cover in this one as well. Clemson hasn’t beat a good team by 10+ points since Notre Dame in December, 2020.
Matchup to watch: Clemson defensive lineman Bryan Bresee and Myles Murphy against NC State offensive line (Ikem Ekwonu and Grant Gibson)
Kansas @ Duke (-16), 3:00 CT, ACC Network
Everyone has to be excited about KU traveling to Cameron Indoor Stadium to take on the Duke Blue Devils. The two top teams in college basketball don’t face off often but here we are in September with a heavy weight matchup on our hands. 16 points for Coach K and the Dukies seems like a lot over Bill Self in the Jayhawks - which is why I’m taking KU to cover the spread and keep it close against Duke.
Matchup to watch: Nothing. Until this is an actual basketball matchup you should not watch this game.
Nebraska @ 20 Michigan State (-5.5), 6:00 CT, FS1
I’m still trying to figure out what kind of team Nebraska is after four games this season but they’ve just been so inconsistent so far. They one constant is that they covered the spread in their lost three games but that’s not enough for me to put money on Nebraska. Michigan State is coming off a very good win against Miami and starting to look like an interesting team to watch in the Big Ten. Led by running back Kenneth Walker, the Spartans should run all over the Cornhuskers. I’m taking Sparty to cover at home!
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