My picks for the games coming up this weekend. I’ll be picking weeks going forward, and giving you my Games I’d Bet at the end. All selected winners are in bold, and all lines were accurate as of 1:00 PM on Thursday.
Games I’d Bet
Thursday
Temple @ #21 USF -19.5
I like the work Charlie Strong has done already in Tampa, but as a head coach, generally Strong’s teams don’t blow out opponents. 19.5 points is a lot to give a not-terrible Temple team, especially on a Thursday night.
Saturday
Kent State @ #19 Louisville -44
I know Kent State is not good, at all. But the Louisville defense is ripe for the picking and the offense is still limited by a struggling offensive line. 44 points just seems too high, especially the potential for a letdown after a rough game against Clemson.
#17 Mississippi State @ #11 Georgia -5.5
This one is tough. I love Georgia this year, and they are playing well. But Mississippi State is on FIRE and I’m expecting that to carry over.
#20 Florida @ Kentucky +1.5
This line has been shrinking all week and I just have a gut feeling Kentucky manages to pull this one off, finally. Florida isn’t good, and I think Kentucky figured some things out last week against South Carolina.
#4 Penn State @ Iowa +13
Another team I love this season is Penn State, and I’m not sold on Iowa at all. Trace McSorley is starting to steal some Heisman shine from his backfield mate Saquon Barkley, and James Franklin is bringing some serious swagger to State College.
Best of the Rest
Friday
Virginia @ Boise State -12.5
#23 Utah @ Arizona +3.5
Saturday
Texas A&M @Arkansas -2.5
UMass @ Tennessee -28
West Virginia @ Kansas +21.5
Texas Tech @ Houston -6
Army @ Tulane -2.5
UNLV @ #10 Ohio State -40.5
NC State @ #12 Florida State -13
Pittsburgh @ Georgia Tech -8.5
New Mexico @ Tulsa -11
Old Dominion @ #13 Virginia Tech -27.5
Idaho @ South Alabama -4
Ohio @ Eastern Michigan -2.5
Central Florida @ Maryland -3.5
LA Tech @ South Carolina -8
#1 Alabama @ Vanderbilt +18.5
#16 TCU @ #6 Oklahoma State -13
#5 USC @ California +17
Georgia Southern @ Indiana -24
Rutgers @ Nebraska -12.5
Boston College @ #2 Clemson -34
Duke @ North Carolina +2.5
Toledo @ #14 Miami (FL) -13.5
Wake Forest @ Appalachian State +5
Cincinnati @ Navy -11.5
Miami (OH) @ Central Michigan -1.5
#8 Michigan @ Purdue +10
UL Monroe @ Louisiana -6.5
Nevada @ #18 Washington State -28
Georgia State @ Charlotte +1
Akron @ Troy -15.5
#3 Oklahoma @ Baylor +27.5
UAB @ North Texas -13
Syracuse @ #25 LSU -21
FAU @ Buffalo -2
Ball State @ WKU -8
Arkansas State @ SMU -5.5
#22 San Diego State @ Air Force +3
#15 Auburn @ Missouri +18
FIU @ Rice -2
UTSA @ Texas State +12
Utah State @ San Jose State -1
Notre Dame @ Michigan State +4
UTEP @ New Mexico State -19
#24 Oregon @ Arizona State +14
#7 Washington @ Colorado +11.5
Hawai’i @ Wyoming -6
UCLA @ Stanford -7
Sunday
East Carolina @ UConn -4.5
The Sports Modern 