Man, I hope you’ve been reading.
It was another winning week in college football in my column when I went 3-1 against the spread. I’m now 26-11 against the number here, where I pick the biggest TV games on the slate each week.
Catch me on Periscope @JonnyOddsShark every Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET where I go over my personal picks for the week. I’m now 44-23 against the spread on the season and 17-4 with my Great White Shark plays.
Let’s go get some more.
Oklahoma State at Texas +7, 65 - 12 p.m. ET on ABC
Bettors are naturally going to make comparisons between this game and the Red River shootout. OK State has a high-flying offense like Oklahoma. They have a Heisman candidate for a QB, too. Texas is getting close to the same number of points … but I caution you not to simply take Texas if that’s what you’re thinking. I loved the Horns last week as one of my Great White Shark plays on Periscope (it came through) but I’m looking the other way here. The Cowboys’ D is just a lot tougher than Oklahoma’s. It’s the No. 2 third-down defense in the nation and they rank better than the Sooners in yards against per play (4.8).
Pick: Oklahoma State -7
Tennessee at Alabama -36, 50.5 – 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS
I hate CBS so much for making me pick this game. But this column is all about the biggest TV games. By all logic, the Tide should obliterate here. The trouble is that it’s a look-ahead spot to LSU for Alabama and if they get up by a million, I won’t be surprised to see extras coming onto our screens like it’s a Hollywood movie set. The other factor here is that this is now the Vols’ Super Bowl this season. In a year full of misery, if they could pull out a mammoth upset over Alabama, somehow, some way, it could all be worth it. My guess here is Tennessee scores against some scrubs late after Bama piles up an early lead and we see this one jump the number.
Pick: OVER
USC AT Notre Dame -4, 60 – 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC
This is the first time USC has been an underdog in 11 games and they went out and pounded Washington 26-13 in that one as +10 underdogs. I’ve faded USC a few times this year with success, including last week’s stupid 13-point line against Utah. But this one doesn’t quite feel right. I like Notre Dame but there are a couple of reasons I’ve been trying to talk myself out of it. One is starting senior linebacker Greer Martini is probably out. The Irish also aren’t the best against the pass at 77th in the country. So I think the way to go here is this:
Pick: USC teased to +10 with this one below, which also happens to be at the same time …
Michigan at Penn State -9.5, 45 – 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC
There are a lotta reasons to like Penn State here. Saquon Barkley. Third in the nation in points against per game (9.4). Fifth in tackles for loss (8.8 per game). No. 9 total defense. But this is still Michigan with a defense that ranks No. 1 in the country.
Pick: Michigan +15.5 on a teaser with USC
