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. We will also update our records from the last week, so you can see who is really helping you cash in.
Alex is heating up while Sam is back above .500 and Eli, well, still has some work to do.
Sam Sklar, Sports Editor (14-13)
I’m back in the win column. Nearly had a 3-0 sweep, but Ohio State and Penn State decided to make it a track meet in the fourth quarter.
Maryland at Wisconsin (Over 50)
This is not the typical Badger team that we are used to seeing with a hard-nosed defense and a dominant run game.
Instead, this Wisconsin offense is putting up points. Since Paul Chryst was fired, the Badgers offense has averaged 35 points per game. And as Michigan State fans saw about a month ago, this defense isn’t great either. Wisconsin overs have hit six games in a row and it is about to become seven.
Florida (+3.5) at Texas A&M
This is a great matchup for Florida. The Gators are a run-first team and that’s Texas A&M’s weakness defensively. On the other hand, Florida doesn’t have a great defense and just dismissed Brenton Cox, but Texas A&M’s offense is so mediocre.
The Aggies are in a freefall having lost four in a row. "I Won’t Back Down" from this one and will probably sprinkle on the money line too.
Auburn (+13) at Mississippi State
Bryan Harsin is finally gone after just two years at Auburn. I think the Tigers will circle the wagons with him out the door. There’s also a funny off-the-field dynamic with these two programs, with Mississippi State’s John Cohen leaving the university this week to accept the same athletic director position at Auburn.
Alex Faber, Football Reporter (12-15)
I’m fine with a 2-1 week. Unsurprisingly, Jimbo Fisher’s squad was the only one that let me down.
Also, I continued to make money by plugging my nose and betting the over on some disgusting football games — Iowa and Northwestern combined for 46 points in a game no one outside of the midwest watched.
Let’s keep up this upward climb. I have a good feeling about this week.
Texas at Kansas State (ML)
This is a really scary line.
After dropping a close game to Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Texas had a bye-week to rest and recover. Kansas State is coming off of an absolutely dominant 48-0 performance against a good Oklahoma State team last Saturday. You could make strong arguments for both sides here. Plus, I haven’t had the best of luck betting on Texas this season.
However, I’m just going to close my eyes and take the Wildcats. The Longhorns have struggled to finish off opponents this season, especially on the road (just look at the losses to Texas Tech and Oklahoma State). Give me Kansas State in a Big-12 thriller.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
Air Force at Army (Over 39.5)
My weekly “the line is just too damn low” bet.
I’ll give the exact reason I’ve given in the past: under 40 points in a college football game is just too low. On paper, this should be a low-scoring, old-fashioned football game featuring two run-first squads. College football games rarely adhere to logic.
Liberty at Arkansas (-14.5)
I have no question that the Razorbacks will obliterate the Flames this Saturday. Hope you enjoyed being ranked for a week Liberty!
Eli McKown, State News Contributor (10-17)
Shoutout South Alabama for keeping me afloat in what could have been a disastrous week.
South Alabama (-4) at Georgia Southern
I’m riding with the Jaguars until the wheels fall off. Clay Helton who?
Oregon State (+4.5) at Washington
I love the Beavers this season. In what might be the best defense in the Pac-12, I'd like them to shut down Washington and grind out a win here, but the Beavers covering the spread is a lock.
North Carolina (-7) at Virginia
Not sure if people have gotten the memo that Virginia is bad. Like, really bad. North Carolina by a hundred here.
