FINISH STRONG IN WEEK FIFTEEN

We went 6-2 last weekend to finish the regular season with 82 hot picks and a winning percentage of 73%. That’s one of our best finishes in our history of making college game picks. And, that translates to a lot of cash.

 

This is championship weekend and, of course, we’re picking the winners in what should be a pretty entertaining line-up of games.

SIDELINES

• the coaching carousel is in full motion, with some schools pulling the plug a couple of weeks ago. In the SEC alone, there are three openings including Mizzou, Arkansas, and Ole Piss (see their last game). Add in Colorado State (Bobo), Florida State, South Florida, and more, and you have a lot of buy outs and deals cooking.

• it’s fairly nonsensical to hear the pundits declaring that Nick Saban is finished at Alabama. Yes, the Tide hit a couple of bumps this year but they will be back…with Saban on the sideline.

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THE GREAT EIGHT™ FOR WEEK FIFTEEN

#4 GEORGIA vs #2 LSU…this is an absolute must-win for the Dawgs if they want a shot at the CFP. Win, and they are in. Lose, it’s off to the Sugar Bowl. Even if undefeated LSU loses, they most likely stay in the final four based on its body of work over the season. UGA needs to play this game like yesterday because it seems they’re losing top players everyday due to injury. If LSU plays its type of game, Ed Orgeron goes from being on everyone’s Hot Seat Coach list to start last year to the SEC champion head man. Tigers maul the puppies.

#7 BAYLOR vs #6 OKLAHOMA… this game has bigly ramifications. A big win by Oklahoma moves it closer to CFP consideration. Look for them to pile on style points to impress the committee. This game also has potential impact on the Heisman race. The big favorite is LSU’s Joe Burrow. But (and a huge “but”) if Georgia shuts down Burrows while Jalen Hurts puts up huge numbers, voting could get interesting. We think he’ll have an amazing game. Sooners roll over the Bears.

#8 WISCONSIN vs #1 OHIO STATE…the Buckeyes are the heavy favorite in this game. Win and they lock in the top seed in the CFP. Lose, and they drop to either the third or fourth spot. No big deal really. But the Badgers could take some of the buzz off if two things happen: the o-line tame Chase Young and keep him out of the Badger backfield. Next, Badger rb Jonathan Taylor has a huge day running. It will be a great face-off: Taylor versus JK Dobbins. Dobbins just posted 211 rush yards and 4 TDs last Saturday versus Michigan. We see the same tomorrow. Put your bucks on the Buckeyes.

#23 VIRGINIA vs #3 CLEMSON…Dabo Swinney needs a huge win to finally get some love from the CFP committee. But the lack of love may well be warranted. Undefeated Clemson has yet to play a top 20 team, and plays in a conference that is void of big time competition. A win over the Cavs is almost certain and that will secure a CFP berth. Lose and all bets are off for the Tigers to stay in the hunt. Losing aint gonna happen. Tigers chew on the Cavs.

#5 UTAH vs #13 OREGON…this is a Friday night match so don’t dilly dally on getting your bets lined up. Utah doesn’t have a high profile win this season, and this is its chance to make a huge national statement. The one game everyone did see was the weeknight loss to USC, and without a win over a College Football Playoff top 25 team, the national respect isn’t there. But the Utes are a really strong team, and now it has to show it against the No. 13 team to have any chance of getting into the CFP consideration set (although a lot has to happen). In any event, a trip to the Rose Bowl is in their grasp. We think they’ll be ready. Utes pluck the Ducks.

CINNCINATTI @ MEMPHIS… These teams feature two of the hottest head coaching prospects in college football. Memphis head man Mike Norvell has been rumored for several big openings including Ole Miss and Florida State, while Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell is in the mix for all of the main gigs, starting with Boston College. The winner of this will up his stock that much more. The Tigers have a huge bowl game to play for - - the Cotton Bowl. That should be enough motivation for Memphis which has one of the most dynamic offenses around, averaging 7+ yards per play. Tigers roar in Memphis.

MIAMI OF OHIO vs CENTRAL MICHIGAN…the MAC has been sort of screwy this year with projected champions folding earlier in the season. We’re going to show some love to former Tennessee quarterback (then Houston, now CMU) Quinten Dormady and predict a win for the Chippewas. Dormady liar must go has caught fire the last half of the season and should make the offense click while its defense sets up. Put your chips on the Chippewas.

UAB @ FLORIDA ATLANTIC …The Blazers are the defending Conference USA champions and the Owls went on a 9-0 run to finish the season at 9-3. The head coaches, Lane Kiffin and Bill Clark, are on the short lists at bigger places looking to rebuild, and it throw pence out too wouldn’t shock us to see Kiffin turn up at someplace like Arkansas or Mizzou. UAB had the easiest schedule in America while FAU dominated its opponents, often by double digits. This game is going down in Boca Raton. Put your money on the Owls.

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