MAKING MO' MONEY IN WEEK SEVEN

 

We had a B+ kinda Saturday last week and we’re still sitting pretty good at a 73% clip in our overall picks.

This weekend we finally have a full plate of great games from top to bottom as several key teams face each other with huge conference/division ramifications.

SPECIAL FEATURE:  FLORIDA vs LSU

This is a marquee game so we’ve asked a few pals to chip in with their thoughts on what’s going down in the Red Stick. It’s a night game in Baton Rouge, which means strange things can happen. Please welcome Bayou Bengal, Golden Gator, and Two Bits Joe.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS….

Bayou Bengal. Orgeron disciple.

From BAYOU BENGAL...

Saturday night in Death Valley marks the start of what could be one of the toughest schedules in the country. LSU and their high-flying offense (which still doesn't make sense to most of we Tiger faithful) take on their first "real" defense in a Florida team that feels like they can take on the world. The main questions: can Joe Burrow, a top-2 Heisman candidate, carry his 78% completion percentage through UF's NFL-caliber back line? And can LSU's pass rush, which has not been a major strength thus far, get after it enough to cause Kyle Trask a headache or two? The matchup to watch: LSU's wideouts vs. the UF defensive backs. This could be one for the books, folks…and I’m going with LSU for the WIN. GEAUX TIGAHS.

Golden Gator. Ready to rumble

From GOLDEN GATOR...

Death in the Valley of Death.

Someone’s dream of a place in the playoffs will die Saturday night when the Florida Gators face the LSU Tigers in Death Valley.

Here’s what we know…..

ABOUT LSU

• Joe Burrows is a helluva football player, especially when playing such power houses as Georgia Southern, Utah State, and Northwestern State. Oh and Vandy. Courtesy of these patsy games, LSU is the highest scoring team in the nation.

• The LSU defense is very suspect having given up 38 points to both Vandy and Texas.

ABOUT FLORIDA

• Florida has a helluva defense especially with all the injured players now back.  
• The Gators QB, Kyle Trask is very inexperienced but has performed extremely well so far…can he handle the crowd noise in Death Valley.
• The Gators will put extreme pressure on Burrows…can he take the heat?

THE BOTTOM LINE

This will be a classic battle between a power offense and a power defense. Take the Gators and the spread. These two teams will keep it close…with the winner winning by less than 10 points. Who will win the game? The Gators will intercept three times and win a tough battle… 34 - 28.

Two Bits Joe. Ready to chomp

FROM TWO BITS JOE...

Let me just take a moment to set the scene because I’m fired up and pissed off.

(WWW note: we'll be taking bets on whether or not TBJ makes it out of Baton Rouge alive).

A few days ago, the irrelevant LSU defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko criticized Florida’s QB for celebrating after last year’s victory against LSU stating, “I forgot that quarterback’s name…. he was running around celebrating on the field like he won the Super Bowl.” Well his name is Feleipe Franks. And he just got finished smacking you around in front of a home crowd so next time, get better not bitter.

That being said, our heart and soul, Feleipe Franks, won’t be playing in this one. He dislocated his ankle against Kentucky and underwent season ending surgery, which Breiden would know about if he spent his time watching film instead of running his mouth.

So then why are the Gators going to win this Saturday? Below are a few reasons:

Defense – What conference does LSU play in again? Is it the SEC or Big 12? Because in 5 games I haven’t seen them play any impressive defense. In fact, letting up 38 points to Vanderbilt is laughable. On the other hand, Florida’s defense just lit up Auburn for 4 turnovers. Plus, we’ll finally be fully loaded in the trenches with Jabari Zuniga back in action. Joe Burrow better strap up cause we’re coming to knock his helmet off.
LP Deuce Deuce – After a slow start to the season, Lamical Perine will come to life. Expect him to ride the wave of confidence he gained after his 88-yard game clinching TD last week. 124 yards and 2 TD’s. Book it.
Kyle Trask – Florida is the only team in the country that could lose their starting QB and not skip a beat. Kyle makes good, quick decisions with the football and delivers to his receivers. I’m sure he’ll have his eye on #9 Grant Delpit prior to every snap but I don’t think he’s going to worry too much about Breiden Fehoko. I expect Trask to wake up feeling dangerous against the fake DBU.
Dan Mullen – What else is there to say. We have the best gameplanner in the world. The QB Whisperer. Our boys will be ready.
Me – Yeah that’s right. I’m going to be there in Death Valley with some of my closest friends and I will be personally responsible for making Joe Burrow’s ears bleed from the upper deck.

*Author’s Note*
Dan Mullen made a suspicious comment about one day unveiling black uniforms. As of 10/8, Florida has not stated what they’ll be wearing in their 8pm showdown in Death Valley. Don’t be surprised if the Gators wear black to mourn the death of Joe Burrow’s career. Not Breiden Fehoko though. His career died long ago.

THE GREAT EIGHT™ FOR WEEK SEVEN

#7 FLORIDA @ #5 LSU…this game has all the fixin’s to be a classic. Two top ten teams…east versus west…Mullen versus Orgeron…night game in Baton Rouge. Key number to focus on: 8 passing targets. Each averaging 13 yards per catch. But Florida represents the first real defense that the Tigers have faced thus far, so qb Joe Burrow is going to have to work for it. Flipside is a banged up Gator qb Kyle Trask facing a pesky LSU defense. Gators will play tough but LSU will get in its shots just enough to come out with a W. In a close one, Bengal Tigers roar over the Gators..

MISSISSIPPI STATE @ TENNESSEE…even though the Vols were spanked by Georgia last week, the play of frosh qb Brian Mauer has given the Big Orange faithful a whiff of hope, and a chance at winning their first SEC game in forever. Call us crazy but we like Tennessee in this one. In an UPSET SPECIAL, Vols over the Bulldogs.

#6 OKLAHOMA @ #11 TEXAS…the Red River Showdown is on tap tomorrow and should be a good one. The line is tempting but we ain’t biting. Sooner qb Jalen Hurts continues to be nothing short of extraordinary, averaging 14 yards per pass with 14 TDs and just 2 picks. Add in his running ability and Oklahoma has the nation’s top offense, the most efficient passing attack, and #2 in the nation behind LSU in scoring. And it’s all happening at the right time. Go large with the Sooners.

SOUTH CAROLINA @ #3 GEORGIA…usually we’ll jump on a 25 point spread. But this is Georgia. And their playing at a high level on offense as well as defense. South Carolina, on the other hand, is having a tough time moving chains and scoring points. They are dead last in time of possession and awful on third downs. That chapel bell will be ringing again in Athens. Dawgs dump on the Cocks.

MICHIGAN STATE @ #8 WISCONSIN…the undefeated Badgers will have Camp Randall Stadium rocking on Saturday. We don’t see Sparty getting much traction against one of the best defenses in America….#2 in run defense and #1 in pass efficiency defense. Look for Badger rb Jonathan Taylor to make some big runs, especially in the 2^nd half. Badgers bite the Spartans.

#1 ALABAMA @ #24 TEXAS A+M…lather, rinse, repeat. That’s the Bama way. The Aggies will keep things close for a spell but Bama qb Tua Tagovailoa will strike early and often to any one of his future NFL receivers. He’s currently sitting at 23 TD passes with zero picks, hitting on 76% of his passes. The Aggie defense can only defend so much, and their offense cannot keep pace. Roll with the Tide in College Station.

#10 PENN STATE @ #17 IOWA…this game will be a dandy in Iowa City and features two really strong teams. Penn State is about to embark on a brutal conference run so they really want to keep their mojo running. Meanwhile, Iowa needs to rebound from their close loss to Michigan, hoping that was just a blip on the radar. The Nittany Lions have won five straight in this series. It’s not going to stop here. Roar with the Lions over the Hawkeyes.

SOUTHERN CAL @ #9 NOTRE DAME…if the Trojans want to win, it’s gotta be thru the air. The Irish secondary was lit up by Virginia for 334 yards, and UGA’s Jake Fromm sliced and diced it. USC is 3-0 at home and 0-2 on the road. Which doesn’t bode well since this game is in South Bend. Irish eyes will be smiling on Saturday.

MAKE MO’ MONEY with MARK™