The second episode of my digital show and podcast
is now available!
As a reminder: college football episodes, presented by Big Noon Kickoff, will be released every Thursday, while an NFL episode will be released every Friday. If you’re looking to make a few bets on big games, then I have you covered. Let’s have fun and hopefully make some money. Here are my top picks for week 2.
Joel Clatt compares Deion Sander to Nick Saban following Colorado’s win
Joel Klatt and Colin Cowherd discuss a weekend packed with college football. The Buffaloes’ stunning win over TCU is the big headline.
Last week:
2-20-
(All times ET on Saturday)No. 13 Oregon
at
Texas Tech
, 7 p.m., FOX and
FOX Sports App
The holy trinity of weirdness in college football is Laramie, Wyoming, plus Lubbock, Texas, plus Ruston, Louisiana.
After experiencing CFB weirdness in Laramie — weather delay, huge lead, overtime, +111 in total yards, +1 in turnovers — Texas Tech returns home to Lubbock to take on an Oregon team that put up 80 against an FCS side last week (Portland State).Last week doesn’t mean the Red Raiders aren’t the team many thought was a Big 12 sleeper, and let’s not forget, we’ve seen Texas Tech fare very well in the role of home underdog.
Add in some extra motivation for quarterback Tyler Shough, who began his career with the Ducks, and there’s another intangible edge I like. The Red Raiders are a good bet this week because of the overreaction to last week’s result.
PICK: Texas Tech (+6.5) to lose by fewer than 6.5 points (or win outright)Auburn at California, 10:30 p.m., ESPNThis 6.5 number shocked me when I saw it. We don’t really know which of the two teams’ results from last week will be more indicative of their future performance. Cal’s new offensive coordinator Jake Spavital showed an offense that was legit for the first week in many years. I expect Sam Jackson V to return to quarterback for the Golden Bears (upper-body injuries), which will add a new dimension to their offense. The running of Jaydn ott could also pose a challenge for the Auburn defense.
Cal has also the defensive mind Justin Wilcox who I have admired for a very long time.
The Tigers should be better this year under Hugh Freeze, but this Pac-12 after-dark special has upset written all over it, especially if Auburn is down a few players and Jackson plays.
PICK: California (+6.5) to lose by fewer than 6.5 points (or win outright)
Temple
at
Rutgers
, 7:30 p.m., Big TenThis was a 16-14 game last year. What has changed between the two teams that would suggest that the State University of New Jersey could be laying double-digits? Temple didn’t play well against Akron in the first half, but they made the correct adjustments at halftime. The Owls only allowed 41 yards in their second half. I’ll take the points, because I think Temple will put up four quarters. PICK: Temple (+9.5) to lose by fewer than 9.5 points (or win outright)Troy
at No. Kansas State
at noon on FS1,
FOX Sport App, and 15
Kansas. The allure of Troy, with its very talented running back Kimani Vidal and experienced defense, as well as a head-coach like Jon Sumrall, who will play the underdog, is too great for me to ignore.
K State will play Missouri, a former conference rival. Maybe the Big 12 champions can get a sneak peek at what’s ahead.
PICK: Troy (+16.5) to lose by fewer than 16.5 points (or win outright)New Mexico Stateat Liberty
, 6 p.m., ESPN+
The Flames’ 10-point victory over Bowling Green last week was more about the awful Falcons than it was about the good Liberty.
PICK: Troy (+16.5) to lose by fewer than 16.5 points (or win outright)
New Mexico State
at Liberty, 6 p.m., ESPN+The Flames’ 10-point win over Bowling Green last week was more about the awful Falcons than it was about good Liberty. The Falcons had five turnovers and nine penalties. They were also 2-for-12 in third down. It’s not that the Aggies won’t help out the Flames. I expect Diego Pavia to lead the offense and clean up the mess and score enough points to keep the Flames in the game. PICK: New Mexico State (+11) to lose by fewer than 11 points (or win outright)Southern Miss
at No. Four
Florida state
, 8:30 p.m. ACC
I think that the Seminoles will be less emotionally focused on this short week. It’s unlikely that there will be an upset, but it’s hard to cover 31 points following Sunday’s victory over LSU.
The Golden Eagles may be in a year of transition, but scoring 14 should cover the large number. PICK: Southern Miss (+31) to lose by fewer than 31 points (or win outright)Stanford at No. USC
at 10:30 p.m. on FOX, and
FOX Sport App. There’s no reason to believe that the Trojans won’t score around 50 points and end the week with a bang.
PICK: USC (-29) to win by more than 29 points
UNDERDOGS TO PLAY ON THE MONEYLINE
Temple: +270Cal: +220Texas Tech : +215New Mexico State ;+320
NC State ;+255
Texas ;+240
Chris “The Bear” Fallica0100
PICK: USC (-29) to win by more than 29 pointsUNDERDOGS TO PLAY ON THE MONEYLINETemple: +270Cal: +220Texas Tech: +215
New Mexico State: +320
NC State: +255
Texas: +240
Chris “The Bear” Fallica
has covered sports for nearly three decades. He is a college football fanatic, but also loves the NFL, Soccer and Tennis. He enjoys MLB, NHL, Horse Racing, Golf, Tennis and MLB. Chris won the inaugural Circa Football Invitational, and finished among the top 10 in the Golden Nugget Football Contest. He has qualified for the NHC Handicapping Championship multiple times. Remember: “The less money you wager, the more money you lose when winning!” Follow him on twitter @
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