Each week, The State News’ degenerates who are 21 and older will be helping you try to earn some money with three picks of their own. Each week, we will update our records from the last week, so you can see who is really helping you cash in.
A mixed bag of results and some close calls defined our week, here’s our next try at trying to help you out.
Eli McKown, Sports Editor (4-5)
Once again I was excruciatingly close to hitting all three had Northwestern hadn’t missed an easy field goal and if North Carolina State didn’t get caught sleeping in Miami. But hey, that’s life right?
Iowa (ML) vs Wisconsin
This is the battle of two of the poorest offenses in the country but also two of the better defenses in the country too.
In this one, I just believe in Iowa junior quarterback Spencer Petras more than I do Wisconsin sophomore quarterback Graham Mertz. I like Iowa to cover the three-point spread and get a victory here.
Indiana (ML) vs Maryland
Both squads have lost three straight games coming into this one, but one team looked a heck of a lot better than the other.
Maryland and Indiana’s offenses have been downright awful in recent weeks, but the Hoosiers have ultimately looked much better on the defensive side of the ball against better opponents. At 2-5, it also just feels like Indiana will be more desperate than ever. Give me the Hoosiers moneyline and I love them to easily cover the five-point spread.
Purdue (+7.5) vs Nebraska
Yes, I went with three Big Ten games, but these feel like free money to me.
Nebraska has played teams tough, but 7.5 points is a lot for a team in Purdue that took down Iowa not that long ago. Purdue can air it out with junior wide receiver David Bell and I’m not sure Nebraska has the secondary to slow them down.
I don’t feel quite as comfortable taking the moneyline here, but 7.5 points is a lot for Nebraska to win by.
Jared Ramsey, Football Beat Reporter (5-4)
I am officially above average after going 2-1 last week (it was dangerously close to being a perfect week but alas). This week it’s all about continuing the success and widening the gap between myself and the other experts.
Pittsburgh (-9) vs Miami
Pittsburgh controls its own destiny in the ACC Coastal division after its electric start to the season. The Panthers are 6-1 thanks to one of the most high-powered offenses in college football with redshirt senior Kenny Pickett at quarterback. Pickett and Pittsburgh should be able to do whatever they want offensively against the Hurricanes.
I have seen the abomination that is called the Miami defense with my own eyes. The players miss more tackles than they make. It might be a long Saturday afternoon against Pitt’s offense for the Canes.
Texas (ML) at Baylor
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Texas has been on the receiving end of the nation’s jokes for the past three weeks after blowing leads against the two Oklahoma teams in its last two games. I think the bye week was perfectly timed last week for Texas and they should take care of business against Baylor as an underdog.
Also, one of the losses on my record is because of the Baylor Bears, so this is a revenge pick too.
Utah State (-5.5) vs Hawaii
I have actually been able to watch most of Hawaii’s games this year because they usually start in the middle of the night and I’m done covering MSU by the time the Rainbow Warriors are taking the field. With that being said, I think Hawaii is going to get waxed by Utah State Saturday.
The scheduled start for the game is 3 p.m. EST, or at 9 a.m. in Honolulu. I am relying on travel fatigue to be a massive factor for this friendly wager. I think the trip to the mainland for an early game spells disaster for Hawaii.
Sean Reider, Sports GA (3-6)
I went 0-3 last week. Don’t wanna talk about it. Don’t wanna remember it. In the spirit of that, I am picking three completely random games with three completely random picks to see if throwing darts is better than me actually putting picks in.
Louisiana (-21) vs Texas State
UCF (-10.5) vs Temple
Vanderbilt vs Missouri (+16.5)
Let’s get it.
Discussion
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