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 Friday morning. Each week, we will update our records from the last week, so you can see who is really helping you cash in each week.
—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.
Eli McKown, sports editor (9-11)
I firmly believe that my luck is just at a low point right now.
Only means it can go up though. Conference championship week will be mine.
Northern Illinois (ML) vs Kent State
Rocky Lombardi. MAC-tion. Do I need to say anything else?
Pittsburgh (-3) vs Wake Forest
The ACC is a hot mess this year, but don’t disregard Pitt’s incredible season so far. Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi has got his breakout year right now with redshirt senior quarterback Kenny Pickett and company, I like Pittsburgh to run with this one.
Oh, and bet the over.
Georgia (-6.5) vs Alabama
This isn’t like years past.
Georgia has proven it is legitimate and Alabama has done nothing but prove they’re a step behind from last year. I like Georgia to win by three or more scores here.
Jared Ramsey, football and men’s basketball reporter (11-9-1)
Championship week means only one thing: Championship-level decision making needs to happen. I feel extremely confident with my picks to end the college football season.
Western Kentucky (-3) vs UTSA
Listen, I know that the roadrunners have been a fan favorite of one of our analysts all season, but now is time to fade UTSA. They are coming off its first and only loss of the season in the season finale against North Texas and now have to play one of the best offenses in the country in Western Kentucky.
I think that UTSA’s miracle season has lost its steam and graduate student quarterback Bailey Zappe and the Hilltoppers will finish them off and win the Conference USA.
Wake Forest vs Pittsburgh over 71
Eli hinted in his picks that the over might be in play but I’m here to tell you to lock that in. Wake Forest and Pittsburgh both sit atop the ACC in scoring and near the bottom in defense. This should be a fun, high-scoring affair. I don’t have a good feeling one way or another on these teams, but I will bet both will crack 40 points.
Warriors (ML) vs the Suns (NBA)
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The Suns and Warriors will play for the second time in a week this Friday. They boast the best and second-best record in the NBA at the moment and they show no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The Suns are currently riding a 17-game win streak and look like a perfectly constructed basketball machine of death.
With that being said, the Warriors have been right there with them in the West for the first two months or so of the season. Stephen Curry will win MVP if he can continue this pace and the Dubs look like the only real challenger to the wagon that is the Suns. If the Warriors want to keep pace in the race for the 1 seed, a win Saturday night is almost a must-need.
Sean Reider, men’s basketball reporter (10-10)
At the tail-end of a pretty ridiculous college football season, I think it was hearing Brian Kelly do his best Foghorn Leghorn impression yesterday that broke my brain for good so no guarantees here. Let’s just hope for the best, keep everything in front of us and remember the memories we made along the way, okay?
Louisiana (+3) vs Appalachian State
Billy Napier is now the new head coach of the Florida Gators but he’s staying behind to lead the Ragin’ Cajuns in their conference championship and I commend him for it. Besides whatever boost that should give his team, I like Louisiana’s run game a lot here and while Appalachian State is one of the hottest teams in the Sun Belt, they got smoked by Louisiana to the tune of 28 points earlier this season. I, for one, am not willing to discount that result no matter how hot the Mountaineers are and I encourage you to follow my (often untrustworthy) lead here.
USC (+4.5) vs Cal
No-brainer here. Lotta Trojans out there looking to show head coachLincoln Riley what they’re made of so I’m expecting one of their strongest efforts of the season against a Cal team I have admittedly not watched once this year. Fight on!
Michigan (-10.5) vs Iowa
Look, if you gotta endure the Wolverines winning a long-elusive Big Ten title, you might as well make some money off of it. Make sure you soften the emotional blow of watching your most bitter rival (one of the best ATS teams in all of college football) rock a turnover-dependent Hawkeyes squad with a little extra cash and be sure to mute “Hail to the Victors,” “Go Blue” and “Hutch for Heisman” on Twitter until Monday. Hell, be sure to pat yourself on the back for this act of sportsmanship, too. You deserve it.
