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Week 8 Recap
Alex’s Week 8 Record: 4-4
Alex’s Overall Record: 41-47
Adam’s Week 8 Record: 4-4
Adam’s Overall Record: 17-20
CQ Readers’ Week 8 Record: 4-4
CQ Readers’ Overall Record: 23-23
Mediocrity all-around last week. The CQ Readers have gone .500 every week.
Let’s all pick some winners.
Hoosier Special
Indiana (-4.5) at Maryland, O/U 52, 3:30 p.m.
Alex: Indiana’s defense is for real. That’s the only thing I know about this team. The only thing I know about Maryland is that they’re on what is approximately their 27th-string quarterback. I’ll take Indiana big and with the Terps struggling to score.
Alex’s Pick: Indiana (-4.5) and Under 52
Adam’s Pick: Indiana (-4.5) and Over 52
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: Indiana (-4.5) at Maryland, O/U 52
This poll is closed
-
13%
Indiana (-4.5) and Over 52
(9 votes) -
70%
Indiana (-4.5) and Under 52
(48 votes) -
4%
Maryland (+4.5) and Over 52
(3 votes) -
11%
Maryland (+4.5) and Under 52
(8 votes)
Top 25 Games
11 Oklahoma State (-7) at 22 West Virginia, O/U 73, 12:00 p.m.
Alex: Oklahoma State seems past due to end up on the wrong end of a dud performance. They’ve had two - against Texas Tech and Texas - since getting thumped by TCU. I think the Mountaineers not only cover, but win outright.
Alex’s Pick: West Virginia (+7)
Adam’s Pick: Over 73
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: Oklahoma State (-7) at West Virginia, O/U 73
This poll is closed
-
21%
Oklahoma State (-7)
(9 votes) -
39%
West Virginia (+7)
(16 votes) -
21%
Over 73
(9 votes) -
17%
Under 73
(7 votes)
2 Penn State at 6 Ohio State (-7), O/U 57.5, 3:30 p.m.
Alex: I haven’t believed Penn State is the best team in the Big Ten, or the Big Ten East, or the second best team in the country all year. I think Ohio State will win because I’m still not convinced Penn State is in the same class as other top teams. But I don’t buy the Buckeyes themselves enough to give 7. Instead, I’m banking on some scoring and an entertaining game.
Alex’s Pick: Over 57.5
Adam’s Pick: Ohio State (-7)
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: Penn State at Ohio State (-7), O/U 57.5
This poll is closed
-
42%
Penn State (+7)
(24 votes) -
19%
Ohio State (-7)
(11 votes) -
28%
Over 57.5
(16 votes) -
8%
Under 57.5
(5 votes)
4 TCU (-6.5) at 25 Iowa State, O/U 48.5, 3:30 p.m.
Alex: TCU has had an awfully consistent season. They have just gone about their business each week, rolling over everyone who has stepped in their path. But there’s still something missing, something I can’t quite put my finger on. Iowa State is having its best season that I can remember. This one will be closer than Vegas thinks, and the Cyclones may just pull it out at home and shake up the College Football Playoff conversation.
Alex’s Pick: Iowa State (+6.5)
Adam’s Pick: (-6.5)
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: TCU (-6.5) at Iowa State, O/U 48.5
This poll is closed
-
56%
TCU (-6.5)
(22 votes) -
23%
Iowa State (+6.5)
(9 votes) -
17%
Over 48.5
(7 votes) -
2%
Under 48.5
(1 vote)
14 NC State at 9 Notre Dame (-7.5), O/U 58, 3:30 p.m.
Alex: As much as it pains me to say, I think Brian Kelly’s team is legit and it looks like the Irish going 4-8 last season was just a fluke. A lot of people like NC State here, but I still remember the team that got beat by South Carolina in the season opener.
Alex’s Pick: Notre Dame (-7.5)
Adam’s Pick: NC State (-7.5)
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: NC State at Notre Dame (-7.5), O/U 58
This poll is closed
-
21%
NC State (+7.5)
(9 votes) -
60%
Notre Dame (-7.5)
(25 votes) -
4%
Over 58
(2 votes) -
12%
Under 58
(5 votes)
Big Ten Games
5 Wisconsin (-26.5) at Illinois, O/U 49, 12:00 p.m.
Alex: Wisconsin is the best team in the Big Ten West (skinniest kid at fat camp). Illinois is not (Charlie Weis at fat camp).
Alex’s Pick: Wisconsin (-26.5)
Adam’s Pick: Under 49
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: Wisconsin (-26.5) at Illinois, O/U 49
This poll is closed
-
51%
Wisconsin (-26.5)
(21 votes) -
21%
Illinois (+26.5)
(9 votes) -
9%
Over 49
(4 votes) -
17%
Under 49
(7 votes)
Rutger at Michigan (-23.5), O/U 43.5, 12:00 p.m.
Alex: One good defense, one great defense, and no offense that can be trusted. Michigan oughta blow them out, but probably won’t if they play like they have every week other than the opener. The under seems easy here.
Alex’s Pick: Under 43.5
Adam’s Pick: Michigan (-23.5)
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: Rutger at Michigan (-23.5), O/U 43.5
This poll is closed
-
31%
Rutger (+23.5)
(13 votes) -
26%
Michigan (-23.5)
(11 votes) -
7%
Over 43.5
(3 votes) -
34%
Under 43.5
(14 votes)
16 Michigan State (-2.5) at Northwestern, O/U 40.5, 3:30 p.m.
Alex: With the help they got from the officials last Saturday, Sparty oughta feel like they got lucky and should be incredibly focused coming into this matchup with Northwestern. The bottom line, though, is that I’m not picking a Big Ten West team against a Big Ten East team unless that Big Ten West team is Wisconsin.
Alex’s Pick: Michigan State (-2.5)
Adam’s Pick: Northwestern (+2.5)
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: Michigan State (-2.5) at Northwestern, O/U 40.5
This poll is closed
-
72%
Michigan State (-2.5)
(26 votes) -
13%
Northwestern (+2.5)
(5 votes) -
0%
Over 40.5
(0 votes) -
13%
Under 40.5
(5 votes)
Minnesota at Iowa (-7), O/U 43, 6:30 p.m.
Alex: Another Saturday snoozer featuring the Hawkeyes. Yawn.
Alex’s Pick: Under 43
Adam’s Pick: Iowa (-7)
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: Minnesota at Iowa (-7), O/U 43
This poll is closed
-
5%
Minnesota (+7)
(2 votes) -
41%
Iowa (-7)
(15 votes) -
2%
Over 43
(1 vote) -
50%
Under 43
(18 votes)
Nebraska at Purdue (-4.5), O/U 51.5, 7:30 p.m.
Alex: Hey, did you hear that Purdue got lights??????????? These are two putrid offenses. I’m convinced that, as bad as they’ve been, Nebraska wins this one outright. But the under seems like the easiest money on the board this week.
Alex’s Pick: Under 51.5
Adam’s Pick: Over 51.5
Poll
CQ Reader Poll: Nebraska at Purdue (-4.5), O/U 51.5
This poll is closed
-
36%
Nebraska (+4.5)
(15 votes) -
21%
Purdue (-4.5)
(9 votes) -
0%
Over 51.5
(0 votes) -
41%
Under 51.5
(17 votes)
Locks of the Week
Alex: Texas most certainly is not “back.” The heightening of expectations for that program over the past year has been absurd. Tom Herman built something nice at Houston, but people close to and far from the Longhorns’ program underestimated just how far they had fallen behind the pack in the Big 12. But Texas has had what I would consider a fairly nice season (considering where the program was 12 months ago). One bounce the other way in any of three games against ranked teams (USC, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State), and Herman would be smelling like roses. As for their opponent this week, Baylor is 0-7 and has fallen further than a program like Texas could ever imagine. The Bears have played a couple tough games against better teams, but the Longhorns are due for a laugher. Nine points aren’t nearly enough.
Alex’s Lock: Texas (-9) at Baylor
Ben’s Sun Belt picks
Ben Raphel: Last week, I focused on the AAC and did not do very well! This week, I’m shifting my focus to the Sun Belt, a conference which is good for about one solid upset per year over a Power 5 team. This year, it was Troy beating LSU when we all thought Ed Orgeron was a goner. Every team in this conference has exactly one interesting fact that a casual CFB fan might remember:
Appalachian State? Beat Michigan in the Big House and we’re all still laughing about it a decade later.
Louisiana-Monroe? Beat Nick Saban in his first year at Bama.
Coastal Carolina? Their coach (who’s on medical leave this season) used to be a Wall Street CEO.
Arkansas State? Their fans were real jerks about natural disasters.
Also, remember Georgia Southern, Indiana’s week 4 opponent? They haven’t won all season and already fired their head coach.
Anyway, onto some picks:
App State at UMass (+4.5) - The Minutemen have come close in several games this year, and App State tends to play much worse on the road.
Georgia Southern at Troy (over 50.5) - A Mike DeBord offense put up 52 points on Georgia Southern earlier this year. Take the over.
Louisiana-Monroe at Idaho (-3) - This is Idaho’s last year in the Sun Belt and in FBS in general, and the Vandals need to show some pride after a 68-21 loss to Mizzou last weekend.
Texas State at Coastal Carolina (-8) - Both teams are 1-6 but at least Coastal can score points. Going with the Chanticleers at home.
Arkansas State (-3) at New Mexico State - Arkansas State is ranked 28th in offensive S&P. NMSU is ranked 94th in defensive S&P. Gimme the Red Wolves on the road in Las Cruces.
THE PEOPLE’S PARLAY
Kyle Swick: Another week, another People’s Parlay that hit 3 of its 4 legs. This time it had the decency of blowing up in the early leg, as Virginia no-showed against Boston College and were down three touchdowns before I even got around to checking that score.
You’re probably thinking, “Hey Kyle you’re awfully good at nailing 3 of 4 parlay picks why don’t you just make next week’s parlay three legs” and that’s GOT-DANG QUITTER TALK AND I WON’T HAVE IT. PUT YOUR ENTIRE BANKROLL* ON THESE BAD BOYS:
- VIRGINIA (+3) at Pittsburgh (the most important thing about gambling is to never learn from your mistakes)
- Penn State at OHIO STATE (-7)
- NOTRE DAME (-7) at NC State
- ARKANSAS STATE (-3) at New Mexico State
*under no circumstances should you place your entire bankroll on any single bet, let alone a parlay, let alone a parlay that gets hammered out on Friday morning by some hungover moron on the internet.