The Magnificent Seven: Week X

Five winning weeks in six and three in a row. Unfortunately, most of our winning weeks have been of the 4-3 variety, while our losing weeks were much worse. The overall record is not where we want it to be, but better than it was a month ago. Let's see if we can start November off strong. 

Last Week: 4-3

Overall: 30-33

Clemson -2.5 Duke

I don't want to alarm any Clemson fans that read this blog (assuming of course that Clemson fans can read), but if the Tigers drop this game to them Duke Boys, they may not qualify for a bowl. A loss would give the Tigers five on the season. They would then need to win two of three against Florida State, Louisville, and South Carolina (with the final two coming on the road) to get to six wins assuming they handle business against Furman. Think about that for a second. When the Tigers were making playoff appearances beginning in the middle of the last decade, they lost three regular season games combined between 2015 and 2020. Perhaps more disturbing for the Clemson faithful is the Tigers lack of success in Death Valley. Clemson has dropped five consecutive games to power conference opponents at home. For comparison, between 2013 and 2023, the Tigers lost four homes game total! I think the Tigers end that skid against power conference teams this weekend. Duke has done a great job of tripping over their own dicks when stepping up in class this season. They committed five turnovers in a home loss to Illinois, fell behind big against Tulane and could not recover, and choked away numerous red zone opportunities in a home loss to Georgia Tech. Duke's victories this season have come against Elon, Cal, NC State, and Syracuse (versus a backup quarterback). Cal and NC State will do well to finish 6-6. I know Clemson may not finish much better than that, but the Tigers at least have pedigree and more talented players than the Wolfpack and Golden Bears. Plus, Clemson has played better than their 2-3 league record would indicate. Clemson has outgained four of their five ACC opponents and on the season are averaging more than a yard more per play than their league foes (+1.12). You are catching Clemson at a discount against a Duke defense that has been shredded by every quarterback they have faced with the exception of Syracuse's backup (Rickie Collins). Take the Tigers to win this one by at least a touchdown. 

Texas -2.5 Vanderbilt

I was one of the first folks on the Diego Pavia bandwagon when he arrived in Nashville. And the transfer from New Mexico State and juco national champion from New Mexico Military has not disappointed. Vanderbilt won a bowl game for the first time in more than a decade last season and defying their history, are somehow ranked ninth in the latest edition of the AP Poll. Vanderbilt was a good story and a plucky underdog last season, but they are a good team this season. That being said, why are they only catching two and half points at Texas? The Longhorns have played well enough to lose in three of their last four games, saving Billy Napier's job (temporarily) in The Swamp a month ago and nearly losing to both Kentucky and Mississippi State over the past two weeks. Those data points are not great, but they all came away from home, where coincidentally, Texas has not played in six weeks. This is their first home game since their destruction of Sam Houston State in late September. Meanwhile, if you try hard enough, you can poke a few holes in Vanderbilt's resume. All their non-conference victories came against bad (Georgia State, Utah State, and Virginia Tech) or FCS (Charleston Southern) teams. In their road win against South Carolina, Gamecock quarterback LaNorris Sellers exited with a concussion and they gained just 265 yards of offense in their victory against Missouri last week while also benefitting from another quarterback injury. I would be pleased as punch if the Commodores managed to beat the Longhorns and continue their quixotic quest to win the SEC, but I think you are getting Texas at a discount in this spot even if Arch Manning is unable to play.  

UCF +3.5 Baylor

How much fight does Baylor have left? The Bears fancied themselves contenders in the Big 12 in the preseason. By the way, take a look at the preseason consensus for the Big 12. You'd be better off throwing a darts. After closing the 2024 regular season with six consecutive wins, optimism was high in Waco. However, the Baylor defense has been a smoking crater in 2025, allowing over 36 points per game to FBS opponents. Arizona State and Oklahoma State were the only teams that failed to crack thirty against Baylor's woeful stop unit. Starting with this game, Baylor does get three of their final four games at home, but outside of their 2021 Big 12 title winning campaign, the Bears have not been good in Waco. Under embattled head coach Dave Aranda, the Bears are 11-12 straight up in Big 12 homes games. They were 5-0 in Big 12 home games in 2021. Even a Clemson grad can do that math. That means they are 6-12 straight up in conference home games in Aranda's other four and a half seasons. With a defense this bad, you can never feel comfortable laying points. And their opponent this week, UCF, is off a bye and ready to get back to a bowl game after missing out on one for the first time in a decade last season. Outside of their opener, when they were inexplicably shut down by Jacksonville State, UCF has run the ball well in 2025. I expect the Knights to continue doing so against a porous Baylor defense. The Knights should be both efficient and explosive on the ground and do enough to potentially leave Waco with their fifth win and a fired Baylor head coach. 

SMU +11.5 Miami

If all you saw was the final score, you likely thought Miami had no problem with Stanford last week. After all the Hurricanes won 42-7 and outgained Stanford by more than 250 yards. However, this game was tied at halftime and Miami punched in a touchdown with under thirty seconds to play to eke out the cover. The second half outburst against Stanford also marked the first time Miami scored more than 28 points against a power conference opponent. The Hurricanes are good, but they are built to win with their defense. Defense first teams are not who you want to lay double digits with, particularly on the road. And while this is not Miami's first road trip of the season, it is their first foray outside the state of Florida since the regular season finale last year when they blew a shot at both the ACC title (and clash with SMU) and a playoff spot. SMU comes home off their first conference loss in nearly three years in a game that was an abomination of offensive football. The Mustangs and Demon Deacons combined for nearly as many turnovers and punts (21) as they did first downs (25). Prior to that showing, SMU had been solid to good on offense, averaging nearly 34 points per game and 6.3 yards per play against power conference opponents. Their pass defense has been a little suspect, but their run defense has been good and they have been able to pressure opposing quarterbacks (25 sacks on the season). The Mustangs should be able to put Carson Beck and Miami in unfavorable third down situations. Couple that with Miami's lack of offensive dominance and you have the recipe for a close game. SMU has lost four homes games under Rhett Lashlee. Three have come by a field goal or less and the other was by eight points to the eventual national runner up. I think SMU keeps this one close and potentially ends Miami's chances for their first ACC title by pulling the outright upset. 

Navy +6.5 North Texas

Navy's schedule has been paper soft thus far, so their 7-0 record is not quite indicative of how good they are. Still, the Midshipmen have banked seven win, including five in the American, and even assuming a loss next week to Notre Dame, are in position to snag a College Football Playoff bid. The Midshipmen continue to excel in their second season under offensive coordinator Drew Cronic and quarterback Blake Horvath. The Midshipmen are averaging over 37 points per game and over seven and a half yards per play. I expect a shootout as they travel to Denton to take on North Texas. The Mean Green have a potent offense of their own, averaging over 46 points per game in their third season under head coach Eric Morris. And while Navy has gotten a lot of flack for their soft schedule, North Texas has not exactly faced a phalanx of strong teams either. The Mean Green have beaten an FCS team (Lamar), a MAC team in overtime (Western Michigan), an unhoused team (Washington State), a Sun Belt team (South Alabama), and a trio of American teams without a winning record (Army, Charlotte, and UTSA). In addition, their victory against Washington State was buoyed by five Cougar turnovers. In their lone game against an opponent in the top half of college football, they were demolished by South Florida. The North Texas defense is better than it has been the past two seasons when they allowed over 37 and 34 points per game respectively, but I expect Navy to shred them on the ground and through the air. These teams seem to be close in strength to me. Consequently, I recommend you back the team catching nearly a full touchdown. 

Temple +4.5 East Carolina

We see it almost every season. An also ran hires a good coach and boom, they are usually (instantly) competitive. Temple is the most recent team to do this after hiring KC Keeler away from Sam Houston State. Keeler won a pair of FCS titles at Delaware and Sam Houston State and later led the Bearkats to success after they joined FBS. Keeler has already guided the Owls to five wins, their most since 2019. Temple has yet to beat a good team (UTSA is probably their best win), but they have been competitive in every game that did not involve a power conference team. Temple's biggest revelation has been their quarterback, Evan Simon. Simon came into the season with twenty career touchdown passes. He has tossed 21 a little more than halfway through the season. After scoring in the teens on average in three of the past five seasons, the Owls are averaging a robust 33.6 points per game this year. If that number holds, it would be their best offensive showing since 2018 when Geoff Collins parlayed running a competent offense at Temple into the Georgia Tech job. The Owls survived a scare at Tulsa last week, but back home, I expect a more complete showing in an upset of the Pirates. 

Minnesota -3.5 Michigan State

The Golden Gophers are coming off a horrendous showing at Iowa where they were dominated by the Hawkeyes in a battle for the Floyd of Rosedale. The porcine trophy has been held by Iowa more often than not this century with the most humorous circumstance coming when Iowa fans tore down Minnesota's goalposts in 2002 after clinching an undefeated Big 10 regular season. In other words, the loss to the Hawkeyes should have been expected and should have almost no impact on the result in this game. While Minnesota was busy losing to Iowa, Michigan State may have shot their wad in an effort to get even with their big brother in East Lansing. The Spartans lost to Michigan for the fourth consecutive time to fall to 3-5 and put themselves in position to miss a bowl game for the fourth consecutive season. The Spartans also do not have a great track record in the games immediately following Michigan since Mark Dantonio's retirement. In the past five seasons, they are 1-4 both straight up and ATS in the game following their in-state battle with all four losses coming by double digits. Minnesota should win this game by at least a touchdown. 

The Magnificent Seven: Week IX

Four winning weeks in five. Lets make it five of six.     

Last Week: 4-3

Overall: 26-30

Kansas State +3.5 Kansas

One item I look for when deciding on games that make the weekly post is spreads that are not in line with historical trends. This one fits that category quite well. Kansas has not been favored in this Sunflower Showdown since 2009 and they have not won in this series since 2008! Once Bill Snyder arrived in Manhattan, this series quickly became a battle of hammer and nail. Since 1989 (Snyder's first season), Kansas State is 29-7 straight up in this series. The Wildcats were 23-4 under Snyder (22-1 after a 1-3 start), 6-0 under current head coach Chris Klieman, and 0-3 under Ron Prince. 2025 has been a disappointing season for Kansas State, with the Wildcats sitting at 3-4 after expecting to contend for the Big 12 title. However, all four of their losses have come by six points or less and I expect another tight game in Lawrence. Catching more than a field goal, they are the play. 

Kent State +7.5 Bowling Green

Time to go back to the Kent State well. I backed the Golden Flashes last week as they faced the MAC's best team, Toledo. The stalwart underdogs jumped out to a 10-0 lead, but surrendered 45 consecutive points in a blowout loss. Despite the defeat, Kent State is far better than they have been the past two seasons when they did not record a single FBS victory. On the other sideline, Bowling Green actually beat Toledo two weeks ago, but followed that up with a home loss to Central Michigan. The Falcons have scored twenty or fewer points four times this season and have failed to top 28 points in any game. If they are unlikely to get into the thirties, Kent State should be able to hang around and cover this number. 

Ball State +5.5 Northern Illinois

Thomas Hammock has had a unique career at Northern Illinois to say the least. The former running back for the Huskies has been the coach at his alma mater since 2019 where he has finished winless and won the MAC in consecutive seasons. Since winning the conference in 2021, Northern Illinois is just 11-16 in league play, including a sterling 0-3 mark this season. The Huskies have not gotten their offense on track, as they are averaging just 12.3 points per game (11.2 versus FBS opponents) and have not scored more than 21 points in any game. Yet, here they are, laying more than a field goal against a Ball State team that has won three of five since an inauspicious beginning to the Mike Uremovich era. Uremovich also has some history at Northern Illinois. He was an assistant coach in 2012 (MAC title) and offensive coordinator in both 2017 and 2018 (MAC title). I think the Cardinals are poised to pull off the upset and win their fourth game of the season. Northern Illinois has been horrendous as a home favorite (and a favorite overall) under Thomas Hammock. They are 3-14 ATS as a home favorite against FBS opponents, having dropped ten of those games outright. I know it doesn't apply in this situation, but they are also 2-9 ATS as a road favorite, with seven outright losses. For those keeping track, they are 5-23 ATS as a favorite with an amazing seventeen outright losses! I've backed Ball State the past two weeks and they have split for me. As a wise man once said, two out of three ain't bad. 

NC State +6.5 Pittsburgh

Since benching Eli Holstein in favor of Mason Heintschel, the Pitt Panthers have won three in a row, while scoring 112 total points (at least thirty in each game). But let's consider the trio of teams they have beaten in that span. First up was Boston College. The Eagles are 1-6 and in real danger of finishing without an FBS win. Next, they won at Florida State. That win has also lost a little luster as the once promising season for the Seminoles has unraveled. Florida State has dropped four consecutive games and are in danger of getting their coach fired and potentially not qualifying for a bowl game. And their most recent victory came against a Syracuse team has struggled mightily since their starting quarterback went down. The Orange have dropped three in a row, failing to score twenty points in any game. NC State represents Pitt's stiffest test with Heintschel starting. The Wolfpack have a good quarterback (CJ Bailey), an explosive running back (Hollywood Smothers), and have played a strong schedule to date. The Wolfpack have beaten decent to solid teams (East Carolina, Virginia, and Wake Forest), played one of the better ACC teams tough on the road (Duke), and been blown out by a true national contender (Notre Dame). Their most recent data point was that road loss to Notre Dame which is inflating this spread. These two teams are midlevel ACC schools, both in recent history and this season. Pitt was able to rise above their station and win the league in 2021, but since then, they are 13-15 in ACC play and just 4-6 ATS as a home favorite against power conference teams. Doesn't this just seem like a game Pitt drops under Pat Narduzzi? The Panthers have won three in a row against less than stellar competition and NC State rolls in off a bye. I like the Wolfpack to keep this close and potentially win outright. 

Tulsa +5.5 Temple

I know a few years in college football can seem like a lifetime, but Temple used to be good at this sport. Between 2009 and 2019, under five different head coaches, the Owls finished with winning records in eight seasons, spent some time in the AP Poll, and even won a conference title. However, beginning with the pandemic impacted 2020 campaign, Temple had been a laughing stock for the previous half decade. The Owls finished with a single victory in 2020, and then won three games in each of the next four seasons. But, much like they did in the late aughts, the Owls seemed to have nailed their most recent coaching hire. KC Keeler won a pair of FCS national titles and guided Sam Houston State to ten wins in their second season of FBS play. Seven games into his career at Temple, he has already guided the Owls to four victories and has them in position to play in their first bowl game since 2019. The betting market seems to understand how good Keeler is. Between 2020 and 2024, the Owls were road favorites on just two occasions (versus Akron in 2021 and versus Navy in 2020). This marks the third time they have been a road favorite this season alone. In addition, the Owls won just one road game between 2020 and 2024 (the 2021 road trip to Akron). They have already won two road games this season. Can they make it a hat trick? Perhaps, but I think this number is a shade too high. Their previous road victories (and covers as road favorites) have come against two of the worst teams in FBS (Charlotte and Massachusetts). Tulsa has a bad record (2-5), but the Golden Hurricane have endured a tough American schedule, having faced East Carolina, Memphis, Navy, and Tulane during their 0-4 league start. Those four teams are a combined 22-5 overall (11-2 in American play). Temple is good, but should they be laying more than a field goal on the road against a competent conference foe? I say no. 

Washington State -1.5 Toledo

Washington State has dropped two tight games in a row to ranked power conference teams. In fact, the Cougars have played a relatively tough schedule overall. In addition to their two most recent games against Ole Miss and Virginia, the Cougars have played their annual Apple Cup clash with Washington and gone on the road to North Texas, a contender in the American. They dropped all four of those games, but their home blowout of San Diego State has aged well, with the Aztecs rolling off four consecutive wins since their loss on the Palouse. Now the Cougars come back home for the first time in more than a month and will face a MAC team for just the third time in school history. Toledo has made eleven Mountain Standard Time or Pacific Standard Time trips in the BCS/CFP era (since 1998). They are 3-8 on those road trips with five of the losses coming by double digits. Their three victories all came against Mountain West teams that finished with losing records (Wyoming in 2012, Nevada in 2017, and Colorado State in 2019). None of those teams are as good Washington State. Little was expected of the Cougars as they played a nomadic schedule in their second season since the (temporary) dissolution of the Pac-12. However, head coach Jimmy Rogers, winner of the 2023 FCS national title at South Dakota State, has the Cougars in position to qualify for a bowl game. The Cougars do not have a conference title to win, so the Rockets should have their full attention. Meanwhile, this game is effectively meaningless for a Toledo squad that has no hopes to qualify for the College Football Playoff and is behind the eight ball to qualify for the MAC Championship Game as well. Take the Cougars to easily cover this small number. 

Georgia Southern +1.5 Arkansas State

The Red Wolves from Arkansas State have been getting away with it lately. They have won their past two games each by a single point. Against Texas State, the Bobcats scored late, but missed an extra point and Arkansas State drove down the field to tie and then win with a made extra point. Then in a midweek game against South Alabama, the Jaguars were up two, but missed a short field goal allowing Arkansas State to drive down a kick a field goal of their own to win. The Red Wolves have struggled to move the ball and score points (except on the last drive of the past two games). They are averaging just under nineteen points per game against FBS opponents and have scored more than 21 points just once (the aforementioned victory against Texas State). Meanwhile, Georgia Southern entered 2025 with high expectations. The Eagles were the consensus pick to finish second in the Sun Belt East behind James Madison. They opened the season with a tough two game trip to California, losing to Fresno State and Southern Cal by a combined 67 points. However, since then, they have played much better ball. They beat Jacksonville State and dominated their in-state rival Georgia State, while losing a tight game to Southern Miss. James Madison handled them, but the Red Wolves are closer to their weight class as indicated by the spread. Georgia Southern is going to score (scored at least 35 points in four of their past five games) and I don't think Arkansas State can keep up. The wrong team is favored here. 

The Magnificent Seven: Week VIII

Three winning weeks in four. Lets make it four of five.     

Last Week: 4-3

Overall: 22-27

Central Michigan +3.5 Bowling Green

Last week Bowling Green pulled off a shocking upset in their I-75 rivalry with Toledo, but if you were paying attention to the recent history of that series, perhaps the result was not so shocking. Toledo has consistently been the best program in the MAC under head coach Jason Candle, but they have also consistently suffered an inexplicable loss (or two) each season. In Candle's nine and half seasons in charge, the Rockets have dropped nine games as a double digit favorite, including two this season to severely dampen their MAC title hopes. They have also struggled in the rivalry with Bowling Green. The Rockets have been favored in each of the past ten meetings, including nine times by double digits. However, they are only 6-4 straight up and 3-7 ATS. In other words, last week's upset was more about Toledo than it was Bowling Green. I'm sure the Falcon faithful are hyped to have a shot at a bowl game and a former Heisman Trophy winner patrolling the sideline. However, despite the Falcons 3-1 record against FCS and non-power conference teams, they have been outgained by more than 60 yards per game and nearly 0.7 yards per play. Off that emotional win, they must prepare for a team coming off a bye that is one of the more run oriented non-option teams in the country. Central Michigan runs the ball on 68% of their offensive snaps and against non-power conference teams, has done so with great success (over 250 yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry). I think Central Michigan is primed to pull the upset, so you may not even need the three and a half points. 

Boston College -1.5 Connecticut

Boston College has dropped five consecutive games after opening the season with a victory over the Seven Blocks of Granite at Fordham. A brief glance at their remaining schedule reveals this may be their last chance for a win before the season finale against former Big East foe Syracuse. Two ranked teams are on the schedule (Georgia Tech and Notre Dame) as well as the past two ACC Championship Game losers (Louisville and SMU). Things are not going great for second year head coach Bill O'Brien. Can they get right against a fellow northeastern school? Connecticut is well on their way to a third bowl game in four seasons under head coach Jim Mora Jr. That is quite an accomplishment for a school that went nearly a decade as one of the worst teams in FBS. Despite their success under Mora, the Huskies have mostly buoyed their record versus non-power conference schools. In regular season games, they are 20-9 against FCS and non-power conference opponents. However, they are just 1-12 against power conference opponents, including an 0-8 record on the road. Their one victory against a power conference team? It came against Boston College in 2022. For that reason, and since Boston College has an unenviable remaining schedule, I think the Eagles will be ready for the Huskies. I expect a lot of points to be scored with these two teams mostly viewing defense as an optional portion of football. The betting market seems to agree (over/under is currently 59.5). With an expected high point total, Boston College should score enough to cover the small number. 

South Carolina +5.5 Oklahoma

This road trip to South Carolina (a team that was ranked thirteenth in the preseason AP Poll) represents a reprieve for Oklahoma from the rigors of their SEC schedule. Don't believe me, take a look. After their visit to Columbia, the Sooners remaining five games are all against teams currently ranked sixteenth or better in the AP Poll. Despite their defensive prowess under head coach Brent Venables, I would not expect much better than a .500 record the rest of the way. Oklahoma has played ten SEC games games since joining the conference. Chronologically, they have scored 15, 27, 3, 9, 14, 23, 24, 17, 24, and 6 points. I'll do the math for you. That is 16.2 points per game. And if you watched their most recent game against Texas, it does not appear that quarterback John Mateer is healthy. Mateer had surgery on his hand less than a month ago and as you may have guessed, surgery, no matter how minor, is not conducive to playing high level football. Mateer threw three interceptions against the Longhorns last week, and the team averaged under four yards per play and failed to reach 300 yards of offense. South Carolina has offensive problems of their own, having been outgained by South Carolina State earlier in the year, but the Gamecocks can rush the passer and cause havoc in the backfield. They also have good special teams, returning three punts for touchdowns thus far on the season. This figures to be an ugly game and as such, I like the underdog with great special teams to keep this close and potentially win outright. 

Kent State +26.5 Toledo

The Kent State Golden Flashes earned their first victory against an FBS opponent in nearly three seasons last week against Massachusetts. The winless Minutemen may well be the worst team in FBS, but Kent State dominated them in an easy 42-6 win. Can the Golden Flashes start an FBS winning streak against the most talented team in the MAC? I wouldn't back the Golden Flashes on the moneyline, but I think they can keep this one within four touchdowns. The Golden Flashes actually have a competent offense for the first time since Sean Lewis was in charge. In 2023 and 2024, they averaged just over fifteen points per game against MAC opponents. They have scored 70 total points as they have split their first two MAC games this season. Quarterback Dru DeShields has played well, averaging over eight yards per pass while throwing nine touchdowns through the first half of the season. The Golden Flashes also have a good kickoff return game, with the fantastically named Da'Realyst Clark having returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. Meanwhile the prohibitive conference favorite, Toledo, already has two conference losses and is coming off blowing a huge lead in a rivalry game to Bowling Green. How motivated will they be to run it up against Kent State? I think the Golden Flashes put up a fight, but ultimately fall to the Rockets. 

Ball State -1.5 Akron

Western Michigan put on a defensive clinic last week, limiting Ball State to 88 yards of total offense in a 42-0 shellacking. That continued an impressive trend for the Broncos who may well have the best defense in the MAC. Western Michigan is 3-0 in MAC play and has allowed just 16 total points. Fortunately for Ball State, Akron does not have the same defensive prowess and will be unlikely to put the clamps on them. Akron is 2-22 on the road under head coach Joe Moorhead and this is their smallest underdog role away from home (they were favored at Kent State last season). Akron does not stop the run, permitting over 200 yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry to MAC foes this season (three games). Akron has had some limited success passing the ball and will hit their share of positive plays against a bad Ball State pass defense, but the Akron offensive line is weak (15 sacks allowed in their five games against non-power conference FBS teams) and quarterback Ben Finley is fully capable of an interception or fumble. Ball State defensive lineman Nathan Voorhis (distant cousin of Jason?) had three and half sacks in the Cardinals upset of Ohio two weeks ago. I expect he gets to Finley at least once and helps Ball State equal last season's win total. 

SMU +9.5 Clemson

The Mustangs have won nineteen consecutive (regular season) conference games stretching all the way back to 2022 (between the American and the ACC). I had to give the regular season qualifier as they famously clawed their way out of a big hole only to lose to Clemson on a last second field goal in the ACC Championship Game last season. To get to an even twenty, they will have to win at Death Valley, a place that only...checks notes...the last four power conference visitors have won. That's right folks, beginning with Louisville last season, Clemson has dropped four consecutive home games to power conference teams (South Carolina, LSU, and Syracuse). Despite those struggles, the Tigers are still being priced in the betting market like they were between 2015 and 2020. Victories against the very bottom of the ACC (North Carolina and Boston College) have made seemingly everyone forget what happened in September. For SMU, this marks just the second time they have been an underdog in an ACC game. The first came in their inaugural ACC road trip to Louisville last year. They entered as a touchdown underdog, but won by a touchdown. I think something eerily similar may happen on Saturday. SMU is not as good as they were last season when they rolled through the ACC unbeaten with just two victories coming by one score. However, Clemson is also not as good as they were last season. And in case you forgot, the betting line for last year's ACC Championship Game was SMU -3 on a neutral field. This line implies the difference between these two teams is roughly a touchdown in Clemson's favor on a neutral field. Has the combined rating for these two teams moved ten points since last December? I don't think so. Back the Pony Express and don't be shocked if they stretch their conference win streak to twenty games. 

Maryland +3.5 UCLA

If this game were played two weeks ago, what would the betting line have been? Maryland would have entered with an unblemished record and UCLA would have been winless and on 0-12 watch. Maryland by a touchdown? Has there been a combined ten-point swing in a fortnight? UCLA has obviously improved, knocking off Penn State and setting the stage for the Nittany Lions to fire James Franklin. They also traveled to Michigan State and knocked off the Spartans. Meanwhile, Maryland has dropped a pair of tight home games to Washington and Nebraska. The Huskies and Cornhuskers are a notch below the top teams in the Big 10 (Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon), but they have combined for a 10-2 record. In other words, both those teams are better than UCLA. I know the venue for this game is the Rose Bowl and not College Park, but this is an evening kick (7:00 EST), not a late night game, so while travel may be an issue, this game will not be kicking off at bedtime for the Maryland players. The betting market has moved too far toward UCLA. The Bruins don't get any pass rush (just six sacks all season), so winning (and covering) this game will be on the shoulders of the offense. Offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel has done no wrong in his first two games calling plays. I think regression comes for the Bruins and Maryland leaves the Golden State with their fifth win of the season. 

The Magnificent Seven: Week VII

We were oh so close to three consecutive winning weeks, but couldn't quite get there. We'll try and begin another streak this week.    

Last Week: 3-4

Overall: 18-24

Louisiana-Lafayette +17.5 James Madison

The Ragin' Cajuns are not good and James Madison is probably either the best or second best team in the Sun Belt. However, both participants in this game are run heavy, so there should be a dearth of possessions, more variance, and less time for James Madison to get margin. Louisiana-Lafayette has run the ball on 58% of their plays from scrimmage in 2025 despite a 2-3 record where they have trailed for a majority of the season. They have also averaged a healthy six yards per carry. Meanwhile, James Madison is even more run heavy, keeping the ball on the ground on 64% of their offensive plays. The Dukes passing game has not gotten on track, with the team averaging under six yards per pass. In addition, the Dukes may be looking ahead to next week's clash with Old Dominion that will likely decide the Sun Belt East. Louisiana-Lafayette has also been great as a road underdog under Michael Desormeaux. The Ragin' Cajuns are 4-0 ATS as when catching points in conference play away from Lafayette. Running teams and a running clock make the Ragin' Cajuns the play. 

Maryland +6.5 Nebraska

Maryland was this close to being a sleeper Big 10 team at the midway point of the regular season. The Terrapins led Washington 20-0 in the second half, but surrendered 24 straight points to fall to the Huskies and end their perfect start to 2025. With no time to mourn the loss of their perfect record, the Terrapins welcome another middle class Big 10 team to College Park. Nebraska also has but one blemish on their record in 2025. The Cornhuskers lost to Michigan a few weeks ago, but otherwise have been perfect. However, this tilt in mid-October represents their first true road game of the year! A quick perusal through college football schedules tells me that Missouri is the only other FBS team not to play on the road this season. At least Nebraska has played a neutral site game. Missouri does not leave the friendly confines of Faurot Field until next week. This is only the third time Nebraska has been a road favorite under Matt Rhule. The Cornhuskers are 1-1 both ATS and straight up in their previous forays as a road favorite. Their win and cover came against 1-11 Purdue last season for what its worth. I don't think this Nebraska team should be laying nearly a touchdown on the road against almost any Big 10 opponent. Their victory on the scoreboard looked impressive against Michigan State last week, but a blocked punt and a muffed kickoff provided the winning margin. If Maryland can avoid last week's loss beating them twice, I think they have a great shot at upsetting the Cornhuskers at home. 

Virginia Tech +14.5 Georgia Tech

I was wrong about Brent Key. I thought their success at the end of 2022 once he was named the interim coach was due to randomness and I believed they settled for the former player who rallied the troops after Geoff Collins was fired. But Key has brought competency to Atlanta. Notice I said competency. The Yellow Jackets are a solid ACC team, but they are not the thirteenth best team in the country as the AP Poll might have you believe. The Yellow Jackets tend to play up or down to their level of competition. That is a function of the offense they run. That offense involves a lot of runs (many by quarterback Haynes King) and a constantly moving clock. This results in fewer possessions and more variance. Hence, Georgia Tech is great as an underdog and bad as a favorite. They have been especially bad as big favorites. Georgia Tech has been favored by double digits against an FBS opponent four times under Key. They are 1-3 ATS, having lost one game outright and eking out another in overtime. This is the second most points they have ever been favored by against a power conference team. They were favored by fifteen and a half in their last game at Wake Forest. The Yellow Jackets won that game in overtime, but if not for some questionable officiating would already have a loss on their ledger. Virginia Tech is playing out the string under an interim coach, but the defense has played well since Brent Pry was fired. Their past three opponents have netted just 149 yards rushing. One of the opponents was an FCS team, but their two league opponents in that span averaged under two and a half yards per carry. The Virginia Tech offense is still an enigma (or bad) with quarterback Kyron Drones playing with the consistency of a true freshman despite recently making a colonoscopy appointment. If Drones just plays an average game (i.e., not too many mistakes), the Virginia Tech defense should do enough to keep them in this game. 

Ball State +9.5 Western Michigan

The Cardinals and Broncos combined to finish 7-9 in MAC play last season and not much was expected of them heading into 2025. The preseason consensus had them both finishing in the bottom half of the conference. However, through three combined conference games, neither has suffered a loss. In addition, each has beaten a team expected to appear in the MAC Championship Game. Western Michigan knocked off Toledo a few weeks ago, and then last week, Ball State upset defending MAC champ, Ohio. Western Michigan has allowed just 16 total points in their first two MAC games, but they are probably due for some regression the rest of the way. Toledo and Massachusetts combined for eight red zone trips against the Broncos, but managed just three field goals in those trips. Holding opponents to such an incredibly low red zone conversion rate is unlikely to continue over their final six league games. As for Ball State, the Cardinals have hit their stride after struggling in their first two games against power conference opponents. The Cardinals scored three total points in road trips at Purdue and Auburn, but have won two of three with a good running game and complimentary passing attack. Ball State prefers to run, with 64% of their offensive plays coming on the ground. That should keep the clock moving, limit possessions, and allow them to keep this one close against a team that has averaged just over 14 points per game against FBS opposition. 

Southern Cal -2.5 Michigan

Plenty of ink has been spilled and key strokes punched on Southern Cal's struggles away from home under Lincoln Riley, particularly on their trips to the east coast. The Trojans are 0-4 both ATS and straight up on Big 10 road trips to the central or eastern time zone since joining the league before last season. All the losses have been close, including last season's upset defeat at Michigan. The Trojans have two more trips east this season (Nebraska and Notre Dame), but this week, they will be in the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium, where they have played well, even during last season's disappointing 7-6 campaign. The only teams to beat them at home last season both made the semifinals of the College Football Playoff (Notre Dame and Penn State). In fact, the Trojans were 4-0 ATS as a home favorite last season and are 13-7 ATS in the role under Riley. This is also the smallest home favorite they have been under Riley (previous low was as a four point favorite in 2022 against Notre Dame). I have been skeptical of Michigan all season, so I see no reason not to fade them on the road against a quality opponent that is coming off a bye. Southern Cal still has an outside shot at the College Football Playoff, but with road trips to Notre Dame and Oregon remaining on the schedule, they must beat Michigan to maintain any illusion hope for a CFP bid. Take the Trojans to cover this small number against a team making a cross country road trip. 

South Carolina +8.5 LSU

The Tigers and Gamecocks both began the season ranked in the top thirteen of the AP Poll. In this new era of college football, that means they were both expected to be in contention for a College Football Playoff bid. However, if South Carolina loses this game, their CFP aspirations will be finished and an LSU loss would put their hopes on life support. Both teams also entered the season with likely NFL draft picks taking snaps either under center or in the shotgun. But both have struggled through the first third of the season. LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier leads an offense that has not topped twenty points in their three games versus power conference opponents. Meanwhile, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers has thrown a good deep ball (averages over ten yards per pass), but has taken too many sacks and has missed time with a concussion. Sellers injury occurred a month ago and he has played in the past two games, so he should be fully healthy on this trip to Death Valley. South Carolina's defense has slipped a little from last season, but they should be able to keep the Gamecocks within striking distance against an LSU offense that is fundamentally broken. 

New Mexico +16.5 Boise State

Its been feast or famine for Boise State through five games in 2025. In their three wins, the Broncos have averaged a robust 49 points per game. In their two losses, they have scored fourteen combined points. A lot of that is due to strength of schedule. Their two losses have come to teams currently ranked in the AP Poll (South Florida and Notre Dame), while their victories have come against teams with a combined two FBS wins (Eastern Washington, Air Force, and Appalachian State). Despite their name brand recognition and bid to the College Football Playoff last season, Boise State's hopes to crash the party are likely nil. If they win out, they will be 10-2 with no (likely) ranked wins and two non-competitive losses. I think its fair to question how motivated they will be to run through their next seven Mountain West opponents. The first of those seven is a frisky New Mexico team led by first year head coach Jason Eck. Eck came to Albuquerque after a successful three year run at Idaho and has the Lobos at 3-2 (the same record as Boise) with respectable road losses to Michigan and San Jose State. Eck brought his quarterback from Idaho (Jack Layne) with him and the offense has remained strong despite the loss of last year's starting quarterback, Devon Dampier. The defense has also improved and is on pace to allow fewer than thirty points per game for the first time in three seasons. After spending the better part of a decade at the bottom of the Mountain West, the Lobos have become middle class over the past two seasons and with the imminent departure of some of the stronger programs in the conference, could be poised for bigger things over the coming seasons. But lets not get ahead of ourselves. I would be shocked if New Mexico won this game outright, but this is not a vintage Boise State squad, so the Lobos should hang around for four quarters. 

The Magnificent Seven: Week VI

Back to back winning weeks. Are things coming together? The overall record is still poor, but much better than it was two weeks ago. There are some real ugly dogs in this week's post, so stay away if you don't have a strong stomach.   

Last Week: 5-2

Overall: 15-20

Colorado State +5.5 San Diego State

San Diego State has had a weird start to the 2025 season. Not bad or good, just weird. They have won three games which equals their win total from last season, but the results have been all over the place. They have recorded two shutout wins during which they have scored 72 total points, with one coming against an FCS team and the other an ACC team that is otherwise unbeaten. They also won an ugly 6-3 game against a MAC school and in their only loss allowed 36 points to a team that has not scored more than 24 points in any other game this season. Insert shoulder shrug emoji here. Now they open conference play against a team set to join them in whatever they are calling the new Pac-12 next year. Colorado State is just 1-3 through the first third of the season, with their lone win coming against an FCS opponent. However, they have played a strong power conference team (Washington), a solid Group of Five team (UTSA), and a future Pac-whatever team (Washington State). The loss to UTSA came by a single point and in their loss to Washington State, they scored only three points despite multiple drives that ended in Washington State territory. They failed on fourth down three times, including once inside the Cougar ten yard line. They fumbled inside the Cougar twenty yard line. Plus they also missed two field goals. Turnovers, fourth down failures, and missed kicks contribute significantly to the outcome of one game, but are not very useful for predicting what will happen next. San Diego State has scored four offensive touchdowns in their three games against FBS opponents. That is not a recipe for covering spreads as a favorite unless the Aztecs are counting on some defensive or special teams touchdowns. I think this game ends up like a classic 1970s NFL game. Not necessarily in style of play, but in final score. A final of 17-14, 20-17, or 21-17 seems quite likely. Take the undervalued dog against the overvalued favorite. 

Ball State +14.5 Ohio

The Mike Uremovich era began rather inauspiciously at Ball State. The Cardinals lost their first two games (against power conference teams) by a combined score of 73-3 and generated under 300 total yards combined. However, since the schedule has eased up, the Cardinals have scored 34 and 25 respectively against a solid FCS team (New Hampshire) and  mid-level non-power FBS team (Connecticut). The Cardinals also rang up over 400 yards of offense in each game. They were especially strong on the ground, rolling up nearly 500 combined yards rushing after being held to negative rushing yards by Auburn. Now the Cardinals open MAC play off a bye against a team that is potentially the league's best. In a rugged non-conference slate, the defending MAC champs went 1-2 against a trio of power conference teams (beat West Virginia). In their non-conference finale, they beat an FCS team (Gardner-Webb) and then opened MAC play with a two touchdown victory against Bowling Green. The Bobcats have the best quarterback in the MAC (Parker Navarro), but their run defense has been suspect. In the past two weeks, Gardner-Webb and Bowling Green have each rushed for nearly 200 yards against the Bobcats at over five yards per carry. That plays right into the hands of a big underdog. Expect Ball State to keep the ball on the ground and chew up the clock against Ohio. As previously mentioned, the Cardinals are also off a bye, while Ohio is playing a game for the sixth consecutive week. Catching double digits at home, the Cardinals are the play.  

Wisconsin +17.5 Michigan

I like the Badgers in this spot for a couple of reasons. For starters, they have played good run defense through the first quarter of the season. Opponents are averaging just over two yards per carry and while that includes two games against Miami of Ohio and Middle Tennessee, it also includes their showings against Alabama and Maryland. Alabama rushed for 72 yards on 22 carries against the Badgers which represents the high water mark their defense has permitted in both yardage and yards per carry (3.27). Their pass defense has been another story (allowed over eight yards per pass), but that is skewed by Alabama's evisceration of their secondary. Michigan still has a (relatively) unproven freshman quarterback and will attempt to win this game on the ground. They romped through Nebraska in their last game, averaging over eight yards per carry and have rushed for over 1000 yards through their first four games. I think they will meet some resistance against the Badgers and be forced into more passing situations than they are comfortable with. Second, this spread is an historical outlier in this series. The Badgers and Wolverines have played twelve times since 2005 and Wisconsin has actually been favored seven times, including each of the past three meetings. Michigan has not been close to this big a favorite since they were favored by thirteen points in 2006. Finally, Wisconsin is coming off a bye after two consecutive horrendous performances. With four teams currently ranked in the AP Poll left on their schedule, not to mention games against Iowa, Washington, and Minnesota, Wisconsin is probably going to finish 4-8 or worse. However, with the bye week to reset, I expect a spirited effort on Saturday. The only issue I have with taking the Badgers is the dual questions of how do they and how much can they score? Outside of Middle Tennessee, Wisconsin has not scored more than seventeen points in any game this season. Still, with both teams deferring to the running game, the clock should be consistently running, so if they can score ten points, they should cover this number. 

Massachusetts +13.5 Western Michigan

So its come to this? We are backing the Minutemen of Massachusetts. I understand if you don't have the stomach to take a winless team that somehow lost to Bryant (not Kobe or Paul Bear). But hear me out. Since losing to Bryant, the Minutemen have played Iowa and Missouri, and not particularly well, I might add. But what can we really tell from those games? Massachusetts is totally outclassed by those Big 10 and SEC teams. Now they get to face a team in their own weight class, at home no less. And rest assured, Western Michigan is in their weight class. The Broncos have won their past two games and thanks to their inexplicable win against Toledo are tied for first in the MAC. Despite scoring 47 points last week against Rhode Island, the Broncos have yet to eclipse five yards per play in any game this season. Their victory against Toledo says more about the Rockets and their volatility in MAC play (look at Jason Candle's record as a favorite) than it does about Western Michigan's quality. The Broncos have been a road favorite four previous times under Lance Taylor. They are 2-2 ATS in those games, but the covers have come in games where they were a one and three point favorite respectively. In the other games where they were favored by seven and ten points, they lost one outright and won the other by three. I'm not sure if the Minutemen can notch their first MAC win since 2015 (don't worry, they were out of the league for a decade and are not riding an eighty game losing skid), but they will cover this ridiculously high number. 

Louisiana-Monroe +11.5 Northwestern

Last week I faded Northwestern when they were a decent sized home favorite against UCLA. The Wildcats stormed out to a 17-0 lead in the first half, but did not score again and had to hold on for dear life against the Bruins. The Wildcats have one of the worst passing games of all power conference teams. Quarterback Preston Stone, who threw 28 touchdown passes two seasons ago for SMU, has thrown exactly one touchdown pass in three games against FBS opponents (versus six interceptions). The Wildcats have scored three, fourteen, and seventeen points against FBS competition. The optimist might point out those point totals have been steadily increasing and expect continued improvement. They might be right. Sort of. It would not shock me if Northwestern scores or even eclipses twenty points on Saturday. However, I would not expect them to score much more than that. The oddsmakers and betting market don't either. The total in this game is forty and a half implying the Wildcats are expected to score around 25 points. That seems a little sanguine to me. Louisiana-Monroe plays like you want a double digit underdog to play. They have run the ball nearly 64% of the time in 2025 and they have done so quite well. The Warhawks are averaging nearly six yards per carry, and that total includes their low output against Alabama. The Warhawks will not be nearly as overmatched against the Wildcats. Northwestern has allowed over five yards per carry on the season and that includes their game against one of the worst teams in FCS (Western Illinois). The Wildcats have a road trip at Penn State next week, but they better not look past a Louisiana-Monroe team that is capable of pulling the outright upset in Evanston. 

Michigan State +11.5 Nebraska

Nebraska has been a big favorite numerous times over the past few seasons. However, most of those instances have come against teams outside the power conferences. Since Scott Frost's arrival in 2018 and continuing through the Matt Rhule era, the Cornhuskers have been double digit favorites against power conference teams just six times (all Big 10 opponents). They are a respectable 3-3 ATS in such games, but the covers have come against Illinois in 2018 (4-8 record), Northwestern in 2021 (3-9), and Purdue last season (1-11). Against more respectable opponents (Illinois in 2019 and 2020 and Northwestern in 2023), the Cornhuskers have failed to cover and have even lost outright. Michigan State will not be participating in the College Football Playoff this season, but the Spartans are 3-1 and have an outside shot at a bowl game. And like Nebraska, they are off a bye after their first loss of the season. Michigan State should be able to take advantage of Nebraska's poor run defense. The two power conference teams Nebraska has faced (Cincinnati and Michigan) rushed for nearly 500 yards at over seven yards per clip. Michigan State has been decent on the ground, averaging around 130 yards per game at nearly four yards per carry against their two power conference opponents. In addition, Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith has been an underdog covering machine at both Corvallis and East Lansing. His teams at Oregon State and Michigan State are a combined 17-9 ATS as a road underdog. Nebraska should not be favored against any Big 10 team by double digits save perhaps Northwestern and maybe Purdue. Take the Spartans to give the Cornhuskers all they can handle in Lincoln. 

Florida State +4.5 Miami

Last week I faded Florida State as they were playing their first road game against a quality opponent after a month at home. Miami is in an eerily similar situation this week. The Hurricanes pulled a narrow upset over Notre Dame in their opener and have not been challenged since against a trio of in-state teams of varying quality (Bethune-Cookman, South Florida, and Florida). The Hurricane offense wrecked Bethune-Cookman and South Florida (over 1100 combined yards), but against the two power conference teams on their schedule (Notre Dame and Florida), they have averaged under five yards per play. Florida State's defense suffered some breakdowns last week against Virginia, but the Seminoles actually outgained the Cavaliers by 74 yards and averaged a yard more per play. Florida State had a fluky interception inside the Virginia red zone and seemed ready to take control of the game after spotting Virginia a 14-0 lead. Last week's loss to the Cavaliers was tough, but the Seminoles are still alive in both the ACC race and the College Football Playoff. I expect them to be motivated when their unbeaten in-state rival travels to Tallahassee. Miami is a shade overrated by the betting public (Notre Dame's best defensive performance by both total yards and yards per play came against the Hurricanes) and as they venture away from home, I expect another top ten team to go down. 

The Magnificent Seven: Week V

Finally. We had our first winning week. It did take a late backdoor from Temple, but we also missed two games by the hook. All in all, I think it was deserved. Lets see if we can put together a winning streak.  

Last Week: 4-3

Overall: 10-18

Virginia +6.5 Florida State

After upsetting Alabama over Labor Day Weekend, Florida State has basically had a month off before returning to action on Friday. They pounded East Texas A&M (FCS) and a team that probably should be FCS (Kent State). In between those two games, they had a bye to kick up their legs and enjoy their shiny top ten ranking. So through three games, they have pounded two teams nowhere near their talent level and ambushed an Alabama team that has also not accomplished much in the early going. As is almost always the case, Alabama entered the season with great expectations. And like Pip, they may reach those lofty goals (I don't remember the plot of Great Expectations, so maybe Pip didn't reach them), but thus far, they have also dominated two overmatched teams (Louisiana-Monroe and Wisconsin) so we don't really know how good they are. To sum things up, Florida State engineered a massive upset against a team the jury is still out on and crushed two teams that are not in their weight class. Now they go on the road for the first time all season against a competent opponent celebrating the 30th anniversary of one of their biggest wins in program history (which also came in a game not played on Saturday). I expect to see a lot of highlights on ESPN of Warrick Dunn taking a shotgun snap. This is by far the best Virginia team of Tony Elliott's tenure with the team averaging over 45 points per game behind transfer quarterback Chandler Morris. Had Morris not thrown an interception in Raleigh with the Cavaliers driving against NC State, Virginia would likely be undefeated and this spread would probably be significantly less than a touchdown. I expect Virginia to keep this one close and would not be surprised if the weekend starts off with a top ten upset. 

Connecticut -3.5 Buffalo

Both these teams were trendy picks in the offseason. A lot of college football podcasts I respect thought the Bulls could build on last season's nine win campaign and compete in the MAC. Similarly, despite the presence of three power conference teams on the schedule, Connecticut's over/under win total was 7.5. For the record, I bet the under win total for both of these teams back in the summer. Hopefully, at least one of those bets gets home. I think I had a pretty good read on both of these teams as each has been a little disappointing thus far in 2025. Connecticut nearly beat Syracuse on the road, but they also lost to FBS newbie Delaware and were life and death with Ball State last week. However, I think you have to be more dissuaded from what Buffalo has done thus far. The Bulls played Minnesota relatively close on the scoreboard in their opener, but the Gophers nearly tripled their total yardage and should have won by more. Then they dominated their FCS opponent St. Francis. However, the Red Flashes are transitioning down to Division III. They then faced Kent State. The Golden Flashes are currently riding a twenty-five game FBS losing streak. However, the Bulls needed a late touchdown drive to pull that out of the fire. Finally, last week, at home against Troy and their backup quarterback, they surrendered a double digit second half lead. Connecticut has dominated this series between northeast have nots, winning fourteen of the sixteen meetings (ten of twelve as FBS opponents) with twelve of the fourteen victories coming by double digits, including last year's 47-3 drubbing against a Buffalo team that has clearly regressed. The Huskies should put up at least thirty in this spot and I don't think the Bulls will be able to keep up, especially not with their MAC schedule beginning in earnest next week against Eastern Michigan. 

Rice +14.5 Navy

When two service academies face off there are generally two tenets you should follow. Look for the under and if one is a significant favorite, look to the underdog. Rice is obviously not s service academy. Those nerds are probably not the ones we want defending our country. However, they have played like a service academy in their first season under Scott Abell. They run the ball and play slow. That reduces possessions and increases variance and (in theory) allows them to compete against teams with better talent. Navy has been doing the same thing for decades although they did modernize (or more accurately, adjust) the offense last season by adding concepts from the Delaware Wing T courtesy of offensive coordinator Drew Cronic. The Midshipmen won ten games last season and are 3-0 as we pass the quarter poll of 2025. However, with Rice playing an option offense, I think they will be able to limit Navy's attack. The Midshipmen won't be shut down, but I think they finish significantly below their seasonal scoring average (44 points per game). The Midshipmen also may be looking ahead to next week when they face a real service academy in the Air Force Falcons. The total in this game is quite low for a two touchdown spread (currently sits at 44.5). In a game that figures to have limited possessions, I like the underdog catching north of two touchdowns.  

California +6.5 Boston College

Imagine for one second if this game had been played last week. The Golden Bears from Berkeley would have been 3-0 and Boston College would have been 1-2 coming off back to back losses to Michigan State and Stanford. Cal probably would have been favored, despite the cross country journey. Of course, this game was not played last week. And in the interim Boston College has had a bye to lick the wounds from their west coast trip while Cal suffered a shocking loss to San Diego State. There were some extenuating circumstances in that loss. First off, it was a road trip to a non-power conference in-state opponent a week before conference play so the Aztecs were likely highly motivated and Cal may have been sleep walking. The Bears seemed like they were in position to take control early in that game, driving 75 yards on their first possession before failing on a fourth down conversion at the two yard line. They also missed a field goal in the first half and gave up an eighty yard pass to fall behind by two scores. In the second half, San Diego State scored two defensive touchdowns to put the game out of reach. The 34-0 final score was a bit misleading. Not that Cal deserved to win, but the Aztecs are not five touchdowns better than the boys from Berkeley. So, based on the result of one game, this spread has likely moved by about a touchdown. That pretty much guarantees there is value in the underdog. The only concern one might have is the cross country trip. Well, lets look back at Cal's first season in the ACC. Their five road games last year came against Auburn (non-conference), Florida State, Pittsburgh, SMU, and Wake Forest. The Bears finished 2-3 in those games, but two of those losses (Florida State and Pittsburgh) came by less than a touchdown. The Bears were blown out in their road trip to SMU, but that was actually their shortest trip and probably more attributable to the quality of the Mustangs. This game is at a reasonable time (3:30 EST), so Cal should have an opportunity to adjust their internal body clocks. Boston College has played well on offense this season, but their defense is not good enough to be laying nearly a touchdown against a quality opponent. 

UCLA +6.5 Northwestern

The DeShaun Foster era is mercifully over after a season and quarter at UCLA. While Foster finishes with a 5-10 overall record and a damning home blowout loss to New Mexico, I think his failures are more systemic and a result of problems within the program rather than any particular ineptitude he possesses. Foster played for the Carolina Panthers and helped guide them to a Super Bowl appearance during his NFL career, so I could be a bit biased, but the Bruins probably need to make some structural changes if they are to compete in this new era of college football. That being said, I think they are good play this week. For starters, the interim coach, Tim Skipper, has experience in this sort thing. Last season, he took over as interim head coach at Fresno State after Jeff Tedford departed in the summer due to health reasons. Second, UCLA is coming off a bye, so they have had extra time to prepare with the new regime. Third, while this game will be played quite east of Los Angeles, it is not a Noon kick. UCLA will have a few extra hours to adjust. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, they are playing Northwestern. Full transparency, I was intrigued by Northwestern in the offseason. I liked the addition of quarterback Preston Stone from SMU. But instead of moving the Northwestern offense forward, it has regressed to the Stone Age. Stone has thrown twice as many interceptions as touchdowns (six to three) and the team has scored seventeen total points in two games against FBS competition. Its hard to win and even harder to cover if you can't score. Neither team in this game is good, but the difference between them is not close to a touchdown. Back the Bruins. 

Auburn +6.5 Texas A&M

These two former SEC West rivals have played every season since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012. Over those thirteen games, Auburn has eked out a 7-6 record. But perhaps the most interesting tidbit about this series is the performance of the road team and the underdog. The road team is 8-5 straight up and amazingly won the first six games in the rivalry between 2012 and 2017. The underdog is also 8-5 straight up in this series. Like Tiny Toon Adventures, it is usually best to expect the unexpected. Auburn is making their second consecutive tough road trip after losing in Norman last week and Texas A&M is off a bye, but I think the Tigers have a real chance to win this game outright. This will be by far the best defense Texas A&M has faced all season. Their first two opponents were non-power conference teams (UTSA and Utah State) and while their win in South Bend was impressive, this may be the worst defense Notre Dame has fielded since the invention of the forward pass. Auburn is eighth nationally in tackles for loss (32) so they should be able to wreck some havoc in the Aggies backfield. Of course, the Aggies should be able to force their fair share of pressure against an Auburn team that allowed ten sacks last week. The Tigers line and quarterback Jackson Arnold's propensity to hold the football too long will probably prevent them from winning this game, but they arguably outplayed Oklahoma in Norman last week. This line should be closer to a field goal, so take the added value in the Tigers from The Plains. 

Florida Atlantic +13.5 Memphis

Memphis put themselves in position to contend for the College Football Playoff by knocking off SEC neighbor Arkansas in a classic last week. The Tigers fell behind 28-10 in the first half, but outscored the Razorbacks 22-3 the rest of the way to eke out a win. Can they maintain their focus as they travel to Boca Raton to face a Florida Atlantic team that has struggled in Zach Kittley's first season in charge? In two games against FBS competition, the Owls have turned the ball over (either via interception or turnover on downs) on 19 of 28 possessions (excluding those possessions that close the half). Quarterback Caden Veltkamp has already thrown seven interceptions after throwing ten all of last season. And the team as a whole has a turnover margin of minus 8. That helps explain why they have lost to Maryland and Florida International by a combined 42 points despite winning the yardage battle. With a bye week to get in sync and some positive regression in the turnover department (just one forced turnover in three games), I think the Owls are primed to take flight on offense. The next three games for Memphis are against these Owls, Tulsa, and UAB. Most casual observers figure they should be 7-0 before hosting South Florida in late October. However, the Tigers have made a habit of losing or coming close to losing road games under Ryan Silverfield. They are just 7-12 in road conference games under his watch. They may not drop to 7-13 after Saturday, but the Owls will put up a fight at home. 

The Magnificent Seven: Week IV

The good news is, we did better than last week. That was about the only good news. Time to find some winners. 

Last Week: 2-5

Overall: 6-15

Memphis +7.5 Arkansas

This pick should be sponsored by Jimmy John's (or Firehouse, or Jersey Mike's, or even Subway) because it is the ultimate sandwich spot. Last week, Arkansas faced conference rival Ole Miss in a high-scoring hard-fought battle. The Razorbacks ultimately fell in Oxford, dropping their third straight to the Rebels. And next week, the Hogs host the nation's best 0-2 team, Notre Dame. But now, they travel to the Liberty Bowl to face one of the stronger non-power teams in the country. Memphis has been successful under head coach Ryan Silverfield, but they have yet to win the American. In fact, the Tigers have failed to even appear in the American Championship Game. However, the Tigers have managed to beat some power conference teams over the past few seasons. They knocked off Mississippi State at home in 2021 and beat Florida State in Tallahassee last season. They have also beaten Iowa State and West Virginia in bowl games over the past two seasons. Collectively, the Tigers are 4-2 against power conference opponents, including 2-0 at home. Memphis is 5-2 ATS as a home underdog in the regular season under Silverfield, with four outright victories. Meanwhile, Arkansas is not used to laying points on the road under head coach Sam Pittman. Pittman arrived in Fayetteville prior to the 2020 season. In those five plus seasons, the Razorbacks have been road favorites just four times. Those instances came against LSU in 2021, Auburn and Missouri in 2022, and Mississippi State last season. Those four teams combined to finish 19-29 in the regular season. LSU and Missouri were the best of the bunch at 6-6. Memphis will be highly motivated to beat a team in their region from the mighty SEC. Couple that with the sandwich spot for Arkansas and the Tigers are a real threat to win the game outright. 

Miami (Ohio) +2.5 UNLV

The spread in this game is very illuminating. An undefeated team is favored by less than a field goal on the road against a. winless team. UNLV may have the worst collection of victories thus far in 2025. The Rebels have beaten Idaho State (FCS), Sam Houston State, and UCLA (fired coach). Those three times have a combined 0-9 record with all of the losses coming by multiple scores except two of the games against UNLV. Idaho State and UCLA both lost to the Rebels in Allegiant Stadium by a touchdown. UNLV has had a week off to bask in the frivolity of their 3-0 start, but that is offset by Miami also coming off a bye. The Redhawks have faced a much more challenging schedule, losing road contests to Big 10 teams (Wisconsin and Rutgers). Under head coach Chuck Martin, the Redhawks typically take their lumps against power conference teams (2-15 straight up record), but they have fared much better against teams on their level. In regular season games, the Redhawks are 61-50 against fellow mid-majors and FCS teams (39-17 in such games since 2019). If these teams swapped schedules, Miami would likely enter this game with an unblemished record while UNLV would most likely be winless. In that scenario, Miami would probably be laying points. UNLV has issues on defense and is due for some regression in the turnover department (forced seven and are +5 through three games). Take the Redhawks to win this one outright. 

Northern Illinois +21.5 Mississippi State

After beating Arizona State thanks to a goal line stand and a late touchdown, Mississippi State had a week to read their press clippings before facing a truly awful FCS team in Alcorn State. Steve McNair's alma mater did not put up any fight, losing 63-0 to the Bulldogs and their cowbells. The Bulldogs are halfway through a four game home stand and have Tennessee on deck. The only thing standing between them and and their first 4-0 record since 2014 is Northern Illinois off a bye. What could go wrong? The Huskies don't have the firepower to win this game, but I think they can drag Mississippi State into the muck and make their life hell. Northern Illinois is not a triple option or service academy team, but they play like one. They play at a slow tempo, run the ball, and go for it on fourth down. That introduces more variance and helps them keep the game close against superior opponents. Under head coach Thomas Hammock, the Huskies are just 3-7 straight up on the road against power conference opponents. However, they are 7-3 ATS. If Northern Illinois falls down by multiple scores, they will be in a tough spot. As I mentioned, they cannot throw the ball, so there is almost no hope of them staging an epic comeback. Still, with a week off to prepare and with Tennessee up next for Mississippi State, I think the Huskies can frustrate the Bulldogs and keep this one close. 

Temple +23.5 Georgia Tech

Fresh off their home upset of Clemson, Georgia Tech is back in the AP Poll for the second time in as many seasons. Last season, their time as a ranked team was brief. After opening the year with victories against Florida State in Ireland and Georgia State in Atlanta, the Yellow Jackets lost at Syracuse and never reentered the AP Poll. The Yellow Jackets probably won't lose to Temple, although losing as a big home favorite is not something foreign to Georgia Tech under Brent Key. This is a bad spot for Georgia Tech as they have legitimate aspirations to get to the ACC Championship Game. Conference play begins in earnest next week when the Yellow Jackets travel to Wake Forest and its not a stretch to say Georgia Tech may be favored in all their remaining conference games. They may go off as a slight underdog at Duke or NC State, but they will not be a decisive underdog until they close the season with the boys from Athens. With everything in front of them, Georgia Tech has no incentive to run quarterback Haynes King into the ground. Including sacks, King carried the ball an Eddie George esque 25 times last week. He also carried the ball 19 times in their opener against Colorado. Since arriving at Georgia Tech prior to the 2023 season, King has carried the ball an average of 12.5 times against power conference opponents. In an admittedly small sample (four games), he has averaged just four carries per game against Group of Five and FCS opponents. The season is a quarter complete, but there are still nine regular season games remaining and the Yellow Jackets need a healthy King if they are to compete for an ACC title. I expect a conservative game plan that protects King and attempts to mitigate chances for injury. Georgia Tech also plays slow. While they no longer run the flexbone as they did under Paul Johnson, they tend to keep the ball on the ground and chew up the clock. That is great when you are catching points, but is not conducive to covering a large spread. Temple was walloped by Oklahoma last week, but I expect a better performance in Atlanta. 

Kennesaw State +6 Arkansas State

Arkansas State nearly upset a Big 12 team for the second time in six seasons. Its alright if you memory-holed the entire 2020 campaign, but the Red Wolves did win at Kansas State in their second game that year. That win did not propel them to big things, as they finished 4-7. It was their first of four consecutive losing seasons that was not broken until last year. After their tight loss to Iowa State, the Red Wolves travel to Kennesaw, Georgia in what most certainly will be a flat spot. Despite their solid showing on the scoreboard last week, Arkansas State was outgained by 70 yards and more than two yards per play by the Cyclones. And speaking of the boys from Ames, I'm not entirely convinced they are even that good. Their three FBS wins have all come by eight points or fewer against Kansas State, Iowa, and the aforementioned Arkansas State. Those three teams have one FBS win combined and it came against Massachusetts. Meanwhile, Kennesaw State got their first win of the Jerry Mack era last week when they beat Merrimack at home. Like Arkansas State, the Owls have also played two power conference opponents. And like Arkansas State, they hung tough in one and got destroyed in the other. Kennesaw State scored 27 points last week against their FCS opponent and I think they can come close to or exceed that number against a porous Arkansas State defense. The Red Wolves have allowed an average of at least 30 points per game over each of the past six seasons and early returns have not been promising. Arkansas State is 5-19 straight up on the road under Butch Jones and the Red Wolves have been a road favorite just once in his tenure. The Red Wolves shot their metaphorical wad last week and the refractory period will catch up to them this week. Kennesaw State is live to win this game outright. 

Indiana -5 Illinois

Like the Miami and UNLV game, the spread here is very telling. The AP voters rate Illinois as the ninth best team in the country (pardon me while I stifle my laughter). Meanwhile, they rate Indiana nineteenth. Yet, Indiana is laying more than a field goal at home. Go figure. Indiana has actually won four of the past five in this series (and covered in all five), but this is not your typical battle between Illinois and Indiana. Illinois has appeared in the AP Poll in three of the past four seasons, but prior to that had not been ranked since 2011. Surprisingly, Indiana has appeared in the AP Poll in five of the past seven seasons, but there have been extenuating circumstance. The Hoosiers performance in the weird Covid season will go down as one of the biggest one year outliers in college football history. Thanks to that performance, the Hoosiers actually opened the 2021 ranked seventeenth in the preseason AP Poll. For reference, that is three spots higher than they were in this year's preseason AP Poll. That Indiana team finished 2-10 and went winless in the Big 10. A winless Big 10 campaign is unlikely to happen again. Indiana has rolled teams at home under Curt Cignetti, winning ten of their eleven home games by at least ten points. Against FBS teams, they are 7-2 ATS, failing to cover against Michigan last season and Old Dominion this season. Indiana has lost just twice under Cignetti. Those defeats came on the road to Ohio State and Notre Dame last season. If your memory is not great, those were the eventual national champion and national runner up. The only concern I have in this game is the fact that Illinois is an impressive 12-4 ATS as a road underdog under Bret Bielema. However, seven of those twelve covers have come when the Illini were catching double digits. Take the Hoosiers to win by at least a touchdown in this battle of ranked teams. 

Fresno State -2.5 Hawaii

I thought Fresno State could be a sleeper in the Mountain West and through their first four games under new head coach Matt Entz, they have not done anything to suggest otherwise. Well, maybe one thing. The Bulldogs did not look good in their opener, falling to Kansas in blowout fashion. However, since that loss, they have won three in a row against teams of varying quality (mostly bad). They have dominated on the ground, rushing for nearly 800 yards in their past three games while averaging nearly seven yards per rush. Hawaii is also 3-1, but they have been less than impressive against a similar schedule. The Rainbow Warriors have eclipsed 30 points just once on the young season and they are averaging under five yards per play as a team despite not facing any elite defenses. Traveling to the islands is always tough, but Hawaii's homefield advantage is a bit overstated. Hawaii is 14-10 at home under head coach Timmy Chang, but five of those victories have come against FCS opponents. This spread should be closer to a touchdown, so take the Bulldogs to leave Paradise with a relatively easy win.