Somehow, and we still have no idea how this happened, our picks finished last season #1 overall in Yahoo Sports’ College Football Pick’em for picks against the spread. We had a 137-89 record going into the final two weeks as you can see from the screenshot above. We held on to win but Yahoo isn’t showing last year’s results. Our research team is on it.
Our strategy for most games (we go with our gut occasionally) is pretty simple: Vegas doesn’t like losing money so we go against the overwhelming trends (e.g. when one team has 80% of the public behind it), which leads to many underdog picks because the public is always in love with favorites. Unfortunately, our strategy also incorporates picking UCLA every week because Mr. Rudin went there. We still won somehow.
So here you go, free college football picks from last year’s champs! And yes, we’re back in the Yahoo College Football Pick’em as “Rosen for Roses” if you want to make sure we aren’t making this stuff up (we weren’t kidding about the UCLA thing were we?).
Note: Some of the games on Yahoo show the spread as “off”, which means a spread has not been assigned. Yahoo makes those games an even line. We won’t be making picks for those in this column. Our picks will appear here in a weekly column on Thursday mornings until season’s end or the time where we realize that our picks have become so putrid that they become embarrassing to post, whichever comes first.
COLORADO STATE +5.5 vs. COLORADO (neutral site)
This game is more of a toss up than people think. Take the points.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC +9 vs. NAVY
Nine points isn’t that many in a game with a 68.5 over/under, but we expect the game to come down to the fourth quarter.
FLORIDA +4 vs. MICHIGAN (neutral site)
Florida and its psycho coach (see video) are highly underrated this season. #17 in the nation? Don’t be surprised if the Gators are in the playoff hunt this season. Michigan on the other hand is a very young team and at least a year away. Early call: Michigan wins the National Championship in 2019 (game itself played in 2020). Florida ekes this one out despite having 10 guys suspended for selling student store items for cash. No, really.
NOTRE DAME -18.5 vs. TEMPLE
Notre Dame is a tough draw for a Temple team returning only 8 starters and a question mark at QB.
WYOMING +11.5 at IOWA
Wyoming’s QB is a guy named Josh Allen. You might not know that now, but you will by season’s end.
TEXAS -18.5 vs. MARYLAND
Maryland is not very good at football and unfortunately for them, this is a football game.
NORTH CAROLINA -12 vs. CALIFORNIA
Cal is going to be bad this season. Like New York Jets bad.
TROY +10.5 at BOISE STATE
90% of people on Yahoo picked Florida State. Vegas does not like losing money.
KENTUCKY -10 at SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
Kentucky is actually a program on the rise, no really. That’s until they hit the SEC portion of their schedule. News alert: Southern Miss is not in the SEC.
WESTERN MICHIGAN +26.5 at USC
87% of people on Yahoo picked USC. Vegas does not like losing money.
APPALACHIAN STATE +14.5 at GEORGIA
We really like Georgia this year but 88% supporting Georgia in this game and that funky of a spread? Something’s amiss. Vegas.
COASTAL CAROLINA +2.5 vs. UMASS
We didn’t just flip a coin on this one . . . honest!
PURDUE +24.5 vs. LOUISVILLE (neutral site)
Louisville’s offensive line is a mess. It won’t matter that much in this game, but Louisville is overrated and will have a tough time against the spread this season.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE +3 vs. VANDERBILT
81% of people on Yahoo picked Vanderbilt. Do they think that this is a debate tournament?
BYU +16 at LSU
BYU will load the box against Derrius Guice and force LSU to beat them in the air. LSU will eventually wear down the Cougars but don’t be surprised if this game becomes a nail biter. Also, 86% went with LSU.
VIRGINIA TECH -4 vs. WEST VIRGINIA (neutral site)
We like Virginia Tech to build off of last season’s success despite losing quite a bit of offensive talent to the NFL. That defense returns a lot of starters and will control most of their games.
UCLA -3.5 vs. TEXAS A&M
You know the rules. In other news, Mr. Rudin is currently meditating in front of a poster of Josh Rosen. He can’t be disturbed right now.
TENNESSEE -3 vs. GEORGIA TECH (neutral site)
This should be a highly competitive game and the spread feels right. We’re going with Tennessee because Georgia Tech can’t stop the run and Tennessee should be able to pound the ball late for a game-winning touchdown drive.
That’s all for this week. We’ll leave you with these inspirational words: FOOTBALL’S BACK!!! YES!!!
Note: Yahoo messed up on the Alabama vs. Florida State spread and flipped it, having FSU as the 7.5 point favorite when Vegas has it vice versa. We did not include the pick in the column. Should be a great game. As an FYI, we wouldn’t go against a pissed off Nick Saban team in week one after a National Championship loss. Yahoo made the same mistake with the South Carolina vs. N.C. State game too for some reason.
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