After the weekend off for Canadian Thanksgiving (happy belated Canucks), I’m going after all SEC college games and all OVER/UNDER picks in NFL.
BULLY THE BOOKIE RECORD:
NCAAF: 7-1 (4-0 last week)
NFL: 2-2-2 (1-0-2 last week)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEC SPECIAL SATURDAY
2 Georgia Bulldogs (6-0, 3-3 ATS) @ 13 Louisiana State Tigers (5-1, 3-3 ATS)
Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA, Saturday October 13th, 3:30 P.M EST
Line: Georgia -8, O/U 50.5
This Saturday Tiger Stadium hosts a match up for the ages. #2 ranked Bulldogs travel to the swampy lands down on the Bayou of dirty south Louisiana. Widely-considered the most hostile environment and biggest home field advantage in the nation. Tiger Stadium, commonly known as Death Valley, seats approximately 102,000 die hard LSU faithfuls -- and it's electric.
Although, unlike other stadiums that boast drunken frat boys and sorority girls, Tiger Stadium is family friendly and can turn any Saturday into a family affair.
Such as this enthusiastic Mother and Daughter combo taking in a game in Tiger territory.
This LSU team plays hard hitting, in your face football. The defense gives up 17 points on average per game and produces turnovers by pressuring the QB early and often. The Tigers one loss came last week at #14 Florida -- away from Death Valley. LSU may have beat #16 Miami and #21 Auburn, but these Bulldogs are on a whole other level. After last year's OT loss to Alabama for the national championship, U of GA is back on track for another championship appearance. However, the Tigers stand in their way, and although they aren't even half way through their season, this game should determine the fate of both teams.
Last time LSU and Georgia met was in 2013. That year the Tigers had 2 stars wideouts; OBJ and Jarvis Landry, while Georgia had the NFL’s current best back; Todd Gurley.
Needless to say, this game will be one to remember filled with future NFL stars. As for who's going to win, Georgia gets the W in Death Valley because of the depth of talent, overall strength of program, coaching staff, etc. Pretty much all the reasons that make you a better football team. However, Louisiana State’s defense is too tough to get blown out; this game finishes within one score.
PICK: LSU +8
PREDICTION: BULLDOGS 27 - TIGERS 20
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22 Texas A&M Aggies (4-2, 5-1 ATS) @ South Carolina Gamecocks (3-2, 3-2 ATS)
Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC, Saturday October 13th, 3:30 P.M EST
Line: Texas A&M -2.5, O/U 52
Another cross division SEC matchup this Saturday, as the Aggies travel to Columbia, SC to take on the Gamecocks.
Am I Immature? Yes, but is that inappropriate for this family friendly article? Yes.
The key matchup in this game is Texas A&M’s defensive front vs South Carolina QB. Last year when these teams played, the Aggies ran QB Jake Bentley and his O line through the floor by sacking him 7 times. A similar narrative may arise this week. Bentley missed last week with a knee injury and this week he practiced lightly while wearing a huge knee brace. South Carolina has yet to announce this week’s starter and their choices aren’t great. The Cocks have to roll the dice with either a banged up starting QB or a healthy, less-talented backup. The Aggies defensive front gets to the QB every week; posting 16 sacks through 6 games. Bentley may want to choose to milk the knee injury one more week just to avoid seeing these familiar foes.
On the sidelines, two head coaches headline the other narrative in this match. Old friends/foes are reunited to coach against each other in foreign territory. Will Muschamp, current Gamecocks coach, and Jimbo Fisher, current Aggies coach, coached together at LSU in the early 2000s. Muschamp was the defensive coordinator and Jimbo took care of the offensive side. After their tenure in Louisiana, they both moved onto head coaching positions joining opposite sides of a bitter rivalry. Jimbo coached Florida State and Muschamp coached Florida, where they would face off each year for the in-state rivalry. All this being said, these coaches know each other’s playbooks like their own. It’ll be fun to watch the mind games on the sidelines between these two college football legends.
With South Carolina QB not 100%, or maybe not playing, and Aggies being on the road, there are a lot of question marks here.
BUT, with high risk comes high reward.
PICK: UNDER 52 TOTAL POINTS
PREDICTION: GAMECOCKS 24 - AGGIES 23
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXTRA COLLEGE SEC PLAYS
Mississippi Rebels @ Arkansas Razorbacks
PICK: Ole Miss -6.5 as they travel to the bottom feeder of SEC west play. Ole Miss is definitely not a powerhouse per say but they will be too much for the Razorbacks. 41-24 Ole Miss
Missouri Tigers @ Alabama Crimson Tide
PICK: OVER 74 total points as Mizzou will get beat up by the nation’s best. Bama will score 50-60 and this Tigers offense which averages 39 PPG will get the rest. 59-27 Bama.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALLY ‘TOTALS’ NFL SUNDAY
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-2, 2-2 ATS) @ Atlanta Falcons (1-4, 1-4 ATS)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA, Sunday October 14th, 1 P.M EST
Line: ATL -3, O/U 57
If you like offense, tune in at 1 P.M. If you like defense, change that dial.
Not sure where the second Amber Alert is for the Buccs defense, but consider this my amber alert for that missing amber alert.
The defense on both teams is horrendous. They were not very strong to start the season and after several injuries, the defense has completely plummeted. In terms of points allowed, the Bucs rank dead last (34.8 PPG) and Falcons rank second last (32.6 PPG). However, with over a handful of defensive starters injured, the Falcons are coming for that last spot
Although, with poor defense comes a high flying showdown in Hotlanta. Atlanta’s passing attack has been deadly. Veteran Matt Ryan has been slinging it to star wideouts Julio Jones (34 catches for 564 yards) and rookie Calvin Ridley (6 TDs) all season. Ryan will likely make another pro bowl appearance, while simultaneously missing playoffs, despite being a top 10 offensive team.
Bucs are 1st in the league in yards per game and 6th in points. After being suspended by his team, Jameis Winston makes his first start at QB this year. He’ll look to pick up where his backup Fitzmagic/ Fitztragic left off.
I’ll predict that each QB has at least 3 passing TDs and each team has a TD of 50+ yards. This game will go OVER the total before the start of the 4th.
PICK: OVER 57 TOTAL POINTS
PREDICTION: FALCONS 38 - BUCS 34
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXTRA TOTALS NFL PLAYS
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Dallas Cowboys
PICK: UNDER 40.5 total points as two bad offenses go against two good defenses. Cowboys have gone UNDER 8 of last 9 with average total being 33. This will be a punt fest. 23-13 JAX
Baltimore Ravens @ Tennessee Titans
PICK: UNDER 41.5 totals points as the Titans continue to play the ugliest football games in recent memory. Ravens will be comfortable with slowing the game into a methodical chess match. 19-17 BAL