Tons of appealing plays on this week’s slate of games, which is usually when Lady Luck bites back.
BLATANT HOMERISM–Week 8
(Last week: 4-1; Overall: 23-12)
Memphis at Tulsa (+11)
Consider this a situational play. The Tigers just scored arguably the biggest win in program history on Saturday. A trip to T-Town for a Friday night game screams “flat spot.”
So far this year, Memphis has given up 46 points to Cincinnati and 41 to Bowling Green. The Golden Hurricane play a similar air-it-out style to those two, so this is not the kind of game where the Tigers want to sleepwalk. Don’t be shocked if the ‘Cane put a scare into them.
The pick: Memphis by not enough.
Penn State at Maryland (+6.5)
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but I just don’t think the Nittany Lions are any good. While the PSU defense can play a little, the O remains a complete cluster. Christian Hackenberg and James Franklin might need to spend a little time apart.
The Terrapins look equally dysfunctional from the outside, but I like that they’re coming off a bye week. I suspect putting the team in the hands of ace recruiter Mike Locksley as interim coach will give the Terps an extra jolt against a squad that might be feeling the effects of last week’s bare-knuckles match with Ohio State.
The pick: Maryland outright.
Utah at USC (-3.5)
Utah, undefeated and ranked No. 4 in the country, is an underdog to the rudderless Trojans? You got that right.
USC was missing both a head coach and a starting center last week, but the Trojans still played played Notre Dame tight. ‘SC didn’t show any signs of packing it in in South Bend.
For as well as Utah has played this year, the Utes still lack the talent of teams like Southern Cal. That will catch up to them eventually. How about starting this weekend?
The pick: USC, 27-21.
Tennessee (+15) at Alabama
I’ve been riding the Tennessee train for the better part of the year and don’t see a reason to get off now. Frankly, I just don’t think the Crimson Tide are 15 points better than the Volunteers, and ‘Bama hasn’t played particularly well at home lately.
The pick: Tide by fewer than 15 points.
Temple at East Carolina (-3)
Another situational play. The undefeated Owls are heading on the road for a Thursday night game with Notre Dame on deck. ECU also wants revenge after last year’s mess.
That’s a fade.
The pick: Pirates 38, Owls 30.
THE SKINNY–Week 8
(Last week: 3-2; Overall: 18-16-1)
Memphis at Tulsa (+11)
Iowa State at Baylor (-37)
Clemson at Miami (+7.5)
Indiana (+16.5) at Michigan State
Utah at USC (-3.5)
-Allen Kenney