:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69959733/1235437223.0.jpg)
The average on picks last week dropped back to a more normal area. 4.19 points on average with a 4 way tie at the top scorers for the week. Congrats to Champ, GTalbatross, @LeeNobody, and Benjamin Tankersley (never heard of him) with 7 correct picks on the week. @LeeNobody in particular needs acknowledgement, as he is now 2 wins away from the top spot despite missing week 1. Phillip retains the top scorer spot on the year with 29 correct picks and a correct pick percentage of 58%. @LeeNobody is hot on his tail with 27 correct picks and a 67.50% correct pick percentage. Other top runners include ClavinCliff, donkeygoatrunner, and GTalbatross as we approach the midpoint in the season. Here is the current results for the picks following last week:
THANK GOODNESS KENTUCKY WON THEIR GAME, OTHERWISE VISITING THE DMV WOULD BE A MORE EXCITING OUTING THAN WATCHING AN SEC GAME!!! AT LEAST THE FEDS WHO RUN THE DMV ARE WILLING TO ADMIT THEY’RE TRYING TO MAKE YOUR LIFE AS BORING AS POSSIBLE!!! “CHECK OUT THESE TEAMS WE RANKED HIGHLY SO YOU WOULD THINK YOU WOULD HAVE AN INTERESTING MATCHUP!!!” THATS YOU NCAA AND SEC!!! Y’ALL FOLKS BORE ME!!!
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22897691/1344521724.jpg)
IF A PERSON WEIGHS MORE THAN AN OREGON LOSS THAN THEY ARE A WITCH!!! I’M JUST TALKING FACTS Y’ALL. I GOT MY TINFOIL HAT NOW SO I CAN SEE THROUGH THE LIES OF THE TEAMS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!!!
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22897698/1344498393.jpg)
MICHIGAN IS OUT THERE TRYING TO PROVE THAT THEY WON’T LOSE TO THE BUCKEYES AGAIN THIS YEAR!!! THEY SAY I’M INSANE, BUT AT LEAST WHEN I TALK TO ZARLOC THE ALIEN, THE CONVERSATIONS MAKE SENSE!!! BIG 10 JUST ADMIT PENN STATE IS YOUR BEST CHANCE AT THE PLAYOFFS ALREADY!!! YOUR NEXT BEST OPTION IS A MAN IN A WEIRD YELLOW SUIT WHO CALLS EVERYONE “BUB” AND SOME KIND OF WEIRD NUT THAT FALLS OFF TREES!!! GET REAL Y’ALL!!!
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22897712/1344520601.jpg)
picks for this week.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (-3.5) @ Duke Blue Devils
Logan: GT looked bad last week. So did Duke. I’m kind of on an emotional hangover after that disappointment of a game last week. I do think Georgia Tech will win, but I can’t work up the motivation to actually look into the matchup in the off chance that we do lose to a Duke team who should be worse statistically. GT, please give me a good win this week and set up for season where we might see more than 3 wins. Please guys. I need this.
Akshay: Tech should win this game by more than three points. It would be extremely painful if they did not.
Ben: I truly want Georgia Tech to win this game. However, I have started solely using the Bindex to make my picks, and that got me seven wins last week, and unfortunately, not only does the Bindex have Duke covering, it has Duke winning this game. You can direct all complaints to Robert.
Logan’s pick: GT
Akshay’s pick: GT
Ben’s pick: Don’t hate me, but Duke wins outright
Stanford Cardinals @ #22 Arizona State Sun Devils (-11.5)
Logan: On the opposite end of the spectrum from GT and Duke, both Arizona State and Stanford had impressive games last week. Not being on the west coast I don’t keep as much track of these games, but I believe both these teams now control their own destiny in the PAC-12. This should be a fun game. From what I’ve seen Arizona State has more talent and is more consistent on the field, so I’m gonna hitch my wagon to the Sun Devils even with the large spread.
Akshay: STANFORD IS THE GEORGIA TECH OF THE WEST — I WILL NOT TAKE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS TAKE, FEAR THE TREE, BABY
Ben: Stanford can be whatever it wants to be, but you know what it isn’t? #FirmForHerm. Sun Devils win.
Logan’s pick: Sun Devils
Akshay’s pick: Stanford covers
Ben: #FirmForHerm
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide (-17.5) @ Texas A&M Aggies
Logan: Beginning of a few SEC Matchups I will be highlighting this week. I picked against Alabama last week, which is a mistake I will not repeat. Aggies can’t get things going on offense with their backup QB, which is a shame because they had high hopes this season. Sorry Aggies.
Akshay: TAMU....buddy. Godspeed in this one.
Ben: Texas A&M isn’t going to have a good time this week. Just as the tide comes in every morning, the Tide is going to roll this weekend.
Logan’s pick: Tide Rolls, Roll Tide
Akshay’s pick: Alabama
Ben’s pick: Bama
#6 Oklahoma Sooners (-3.5) vs #21 Texas Longhorns
Logan: The Red River Shootout, another traditional SEC matchup. Both of these teams have struggled compared to expectations this week, but have found ways to keep winning games in the Big 12 despite that. The past few years would indicate Oklahoma should take this game, but Texas traditionally plays the Sooners close. I’ll take Texas to cover, but this matchup could go either way with how these teams are playing right now.
Akshay: This game is OU’s to lose, but if Spencer Rattler puts on his best Brett Favre impression, there could be trouble.
Ben: Spencer Rattler hasn’t been as good as he was last year, but Texas still isn’t back.
Logan’s pick: Longhorns cover
Akshay’s pick: Boomer Sooner
Ben’s pick: OU all day
#13 Arkansas Razorbacks @ #17 Ole Miss Rebels (-6.5)
Logan: Battle of the losers from last week. Arkansas just could not get going last week, whereas the Rebels finally found a way to get things moving once Alabama stopped taking the game seriously. I want to keep riding the Razorbacks because they are talented and bucking old trends this year, but the game last week showed the key weakness for the hogs. Shut down the run and the Arkansas offense struggles. I think Ole Miss will take advantage of that defensive strategy at home and come away with this one.
Akshay: This is going to be an incredibly fun game, and I can not wait to watch it. Ole Miss has no semblance of a defense, and Matt Corrall could really make some crispy bacon out of Arkansas’. I would be hard pressed to say this ends in any sort of blowout.
Ben: I really want Ole Miss to win out and finally throw a wrench in the top of the SEC, but I think Arky comes out mad after getting shut out last week and at least keeps this close.
Logan’s pick: Ole Miss
Akshay’s pick: Hogs cover
Ben: Sam Pittman’s revenge (Arky)
#14 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-1) @ Virginia Tech Hokies
Logan: I told you last week, Notre Dame can’t keep getting away with close wins. Looking at this matchup, Hokies are getting the Irish at home and the Hokies need to prove they can win an out of conference matchup. The teams both line up pretty well against each other, I’ll say VT.
Akshay: Is this the week Justin Fuente gets fired out of a cannon? Could be!
Ben: I don’t think Notre Dame is a good team. I also don’t think Virginia Tech is a good team, but I do think they’re a worse team than Notre Dame.
Logan’s pick: VT
Akshay’s pick: Notre Dame
Ben’s pick: Exit Sandman (Notre Dame)
West Virginia Mountaineers @ Baylor Bears (-3)
Logan: Baylor had a tough loss last week against what may be the 2nd best team in the Big 12 last week. West Virginia is better than their record indicates, so I’ll take the Mountaineers to cover but I don’t see them winning this one.
Akshay: Lots of metrics like Baylor, which confuses me. I haven't watched a second of either of these teams, so this is a purely vibes pick, and the vibes really are really speaking to me about the Mountaineers.
Ben: Smoking the Musket (West Virginia’s SBN site) is one of my favorite Twitter follows, so this pains me, but Baylor wins and covers.
Logan’s pick: West Virginia Covers, Baylor Wins
Akshay’s pick: WVU wins outright
Ben: Baylor
Wyoming Cowboys @ Air Force Falcons (-6)
Logan: This matchup is on here because I don’t want to pick the matchup that is happening in Auburn this week. I know little to nothing about either of these teams. Wyoming is undefeated this year, but their last matchup was a struggle against UConn (yes, that UConn). Air Force’s one loss was to Utah State by only 4 points. I expect Air Force to take this one relatively easy, and sets the Falcons up to be the front runner for the Commander and Chief Trophy.
Akshay: I too know nothing about these teams, but I’m drawn to picking the Cowboys here. Let’s get weird in Colorado Springs.
Ben: I don’t really know much about how either of these teams are doing, but the Bindex tells me Wyoming wins by 0.16, so I’ll pick them.
Logan’s pick: Air Force
Akshay’s pick: Wyoming
Ben’s pick: Wyoming
Maryland Terrapins @ #7 Ohio State Buckeyes (-21)
Logan: The matchup predictor on ESPN has the Buckeyes as having a 95% chance to win this matchup. I tend to agree, the Terrapins have a talent for winning games they shouldn’t, but the blow out against Iowa last week does not leave me feeling confident for Maryland going into the Horseshoe this week. Ohio State should take this one easily unless they are already planning ahead for their game against Penn State. So the real question becomes, do you think Ohio State will beat the huge spread? I’m still going to go with yes, Ohio State all the way.
... Just taking all the blow out spreads this week
Akshay: Yeah, Maryland’s gonna get flattened here, and it’s not gonna be pretty.
Ben: Is Ohio State really that good this year? It’s a solid maybe. I don’t know that Maryland is good either, but I’m still going to pick them because turtles are cool.
Logan’s pick: Ohio State
Akshay’s pick: Ohio State
Ben’s pick: Maryland
#4 Penn State Nittany Lions @ #3 Iowa Hawkeyes (-2)
Logan: It’s another Fox Network matchup. You know what that means, upsets on the horizon. These teams both matchup well on paper, with Iowa having more success recently but arguably playing less talented opponents. Currently Iowa is listed as the close favorite, and since the game is on Fox I will take the underdog in Penn State... because picking games based on the network they are on is a tried and true strategy.
Akshay: This game really should have gotten College GameDay considering the small numbers next to both teams’ names, the door in the B1G East being open for Penn State, and Iowa’s cakewalk of a schedule en route to Indianapolis for the B1G title game. I’m going to guess the actual game will be a clunker, because life isn’t fair and Iowa loves turning a nationally-televised game into an absolute rock-fight.
Ben: Ahh yes, a top five match-up between Iowa and Penn State. This is just going to be a great time. I really want one of these teams to make it to the CFP just so we can have something different, so I’m going to put my eggs in Penn State’s basket.
Logan’s pick: Fox Network gives it to the underdog in Penn State
Akshay’s pick: Iowa. It’s a good Iowa year.
Ben’s pick: It might be a good Iowa year, but Penn State wins outright here.