If you ordered your Thanksgiving turkey with a side of winners… You should probably go somewhere else.
On to this week’s picks…
BLATANT HOMERISM–Week 13
(Last week: 3-2; Overall: 36-24)
Iowa State at West Virginia (-14)
Betting against the Cyclones in coach Paul Rhoads’ swan song is a dangerous proposition, but let’s go ahead and throw caution to the wind.
The Mountaineers are quietly sneaking up on eight wins this year, which would make them one up the biggest surprises in the Big 12 this year. Even more quietly, they’re playing solid ball lately, having won three straight contests and covering easily in the last two.
ISU’s players might be fired up to send Rhoads out right. That energy will fade pretty quickly once they fall into a hole, though.
The pick: ‘Clones take the Country Rhoads back to Ames.
Texas Tech at Texas (+1)
Watch out, NFL – Fox Sports 1 is bringing the counter-programming heat this Thanksgiving night!
Who the hell backs this Texas team this late in the year? Me, that’s who, suckas.
I’ll make this simple: Tech sucks on the road; UT is appreciably better this season at home than away from the friendly confines.
The pick: Texas outright.
Iowa at Nebraska (+1.5)
Undefeated Iowa is a dog to team that needs the win just to get bowl-eligible? That should tell you something.
The pick: Cornhuskers by at least seven.
Texas A&M at LSU (-5.5)
Again, I’m squeamish about betting on a game in which one head coach is presumably heading for the exit. I really like how this sets up for the Tigers, however.
LSU has looked pretty lackluster for three consecutive weeks, but this looks like a chance to get right. A&M couldn’t stop the run if Lyle Lovett’s life depended on it. Leonard Fournette should go off, propelling LSU towards what could be a bittersweet moment for Les Miles.
The pick: Louisiana State, begrudgingly.
Georgia (-5) at Georgia Tech
Is there any coach in America who enjoys the sweet taste of revenge than Mark Richt?
OK, given what we know about Richt, there are probably quite a few. Even so, the Bulldogs are looking to get even with their in-state rivals after the 2014 debacle. That’s enough for me to choose a side.
The pick: Dawgs, going away.