By Robert Perea and Tony Erquiaga
Tony
Oh, my goodness, my college picks were solid last week, going an impressive 3-0, all winning easily. We won’t talk about the NFL. There is an interesting slate of games this week in both college and the NFL. Remember, please don’t listen to me and lose your money.
Florida vs. Georgia (-10.5): The world’s largest cocktail party is back, just not in Jacksonville. Florida is one of the biggest wild cards this season. Play well one week, look like crap another. Georgia has its sights set on a national championship. Georgia 38, Florida 20
Nevada (+22.5) at UCLA: N-E-V-A-D-A, Nevada! Look at the boys up on North Virginia Street. There are signs of life for the Wolf Pack. UCLA is ranked No. 7 in the nation and has been one of the biggest surprises of the season under first-year head coach Bob Chesney. The weather could be iffy. UCLA 31, Nevada 21
Northwestern (+3.5) at Oregon: What was set to be one of Oregon’s best teams has cratered into a season to forget. Oregon’s season was over when Dante Moore was hurt on the brutal hit against USC in September. It has been disfunction ever since. The nerds go into Eugene and beat the party school. Northwestern 28, Oregon 21
Cardinals at Cowboys (-7.5): How bout them Cowboys! Are they fully back? We will see. However, the Cardinals are the Cardinals and Dallas should easily win. One of these days, the Cowboys’ defense will actually play up to their ability. Just run the ball. Meanwhile, Arizona is the same old story. Cowboys 31, Cardinals 13
Bears at Seahawks (-3.5): This very well could be a preview of the NFC Championship. These are two of the better teams in the NFL. The Bears’ Caleb Williams is the real deal at QB. Seattle is one of the toughest places to play and their defense is elite. If this game was in Chicago, it could be the opposite outcome. Seahawks 24, Bears 20
Ravens at Bills (-3.5): Will the real Baltimore Ravens team please raise your hand. What is going on? Where is Lamar Jackson? Do you play him? Is he completely healthy? We have no answers to those questions. The Bills are the better team and playing at home. Bills 28, Ravens 17
Last week
College: 3-0
NFL: 0-3
Season
College: 11-16
NFL: 7-12-1
Robert
East Carolina (-4 ½) over Temple: After Temple lost 38-31 to Charlotte two weeks ago, Temple head coach Casey Keller called it the single most embarrassing game of his career. Charlotte was 0-6 and had scored 55 points in five games against FBS opponents, averaging 217 yards per game, but got 449 yards and those 38 points against Temple. Maybe the Temple players are equally as embarrassed, but that defense also gave up 505 yards the week before to UConn and 536 to Toledo. East Carolina has blown leads and lost in overtime two consecutive weeks. I’m not high on the work of new offensive coordinator Jordan Davis so far, but I am high on the leadership of head coach Blake Harrell and I believe the Pirates play their best game of the season here.
San Diego St. (-2 ½) over Washington St.: Freshman QB Stone Saunders got his first start last week and the Aztecs scored 49 points in a 56-49 loss to Colorado St. So why am I laying 2 ½ with a team that just gave up 56 points? Partly because, if you discard a game against Duquesne, Washington State hasn’t scored 56 points combined in any two games this season. Running back Lucky Sutton is back for the Aztecs after missing a couple games; youngster Javion Kinnard has emerged as a good RB2 and now that the Aztecs found someone who can complete a pass, I think they’re undervalued. The Cougars don’t run or pass well and the Aztecs will keep them winless against FBS opponents.
Fresno St. (+6) over Oregon St.: This very well could be a fool’s errand, betting against a 5-2 Oregon St. team that is 6-1 against the spread, with the only non-cover coming by a half-point against Washington St. I really like Oregon St. coach Jamarcus Shepherd, and it’s possible they’re just going to steamroll the rest of the new Pac-12, at least until they run into Boise St. in a couple of weeks. But the best team they’ve beaten is Montana, and the forecast calls for rain Saturday night in Fresno. QB Braden Atkinson had astounding numbers as a freshman last year at Mercer and even better this year at OSU, but if he can do it in the rain in a hostile road setting and win by a TD or more, then I’ll tip my cap.
Lions (-3 ½) over Vikings: Just like almost everyone expected, the last unbeaten team is the one with Kyler Murray at quarterback. Of course, they’re only 24th in the NFL in scoring and 29th in yards per game, but they’ve done it by allowing only 12 points per game. But nothing stays the same in the NFL for long. An early Lions’ score, a couple of Kyler Murray interceptions, and nobody is undefeated anymore.
Raiders (+1 ½) over Jets: Coming off of four consecutive losses, the Raiders have a fever, and the cure is more cowbell. Oops, sorry, I mean the cure is facing the Jets. Got a little carried away there watching some old YouTube videos. Even in a couple of their defeats, the Raiders have been feisty, and facing the feeble Jets offense should be just what the Raiders need to get back in the W column.
Chiefs (-1) at Broncos: The Chiefs got smacked by a Seahawks team that had lost two consecutive games and was playing in front of its frenzied 12s in prime time. But now they’re back in the AFC West they have dominated until Mahomes’ injury wrecked last season.
Last Week
College: 2-1
NFL: 2-0-1
Season
College: 15-12
NFL: 14-6-1
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