Takes on College Football: Against the Spread, Week Five

Let’s be clear: we are not experts. If you go by these picks, you’re bound to be lose money or maybe you’ll be able to pay off all those student loans! You never know! Each week, two crazy, lazy writers at The Alabama Take give their best guess at the best bets with the lowest stress. It’s our college football picks of the week!

2018 ATS Record
Blaine Duncan: 8-3 (Week Four: 2-1)
T.D. Wood: 6-6 (Week Four: 1-2)

Blaine Duncan
I had another 2-1 week last weekend. Purdue came through, finally, and Auburn covered in a bounce back game. I’m liking my streak of winning more than losing. Let’s see if I can pick some more winners.

Virginia Tech (+4) at Duke: I don’t have much faith in this pick if I’m being honest, but I’ll say that I’m of the belief that Tech may be a bit stronger team than Duke. Take it or leave it.

South Carolina (+1.5) at Kentucky: Seems like every year, we have a team in the SEC East that’s supposed to be the newest of the biggest and baddest. Kentucky very well could be that team this year, especially with Benny Snell, Jr. at RB, but I’m not buying it yet. This line has moved in favor of South Carolina, which does worry me, but I’m still with Muschamp and the Gamecocks and am calling for the upset.

Utah at Washington State (Over 50): Long before I ever stated looking at lines, an old high school friend of mine once told me to always bet the over on the West Coast games. This one has a low over/under due to Utah playing solid defense and the Cougars not being quite as explosive as Mike Leach’s previous Washington State teams. Something tells me that 50 is still too low for this one. Bet the over on the West Coast games.

 

T.D. Wood
Welp, my faith in TCU and Mississippi State finally bit me in the ass. Another good slate of games this weekend, headlined by a huge Big Ten throwdown in Happy Valley. I’m going to pick that one, plus a Big 12 shootout and a traditionally boring rivalry.

West Virginia at Texas Tech (Over 72): I’m leaning towards the Mountaineers covering the 3.5-point spread, but I’m not totally confident in that pick. What I am confident in is that this game will resemble an Arena League score. The lowest output between these two offenses was WVU’s 35 last week against Kansas State.

Stanford (+5.5) at Notre Dame: So, this is supposed to be some kind of rivalry. They have a trophy and everything. But, can anyone outside of these two fanbases recall a big game or specific moment in this matchup? Anyway, should be a close one. Stanford had one hell of a comeback last week in Eugene, it’ll be interesting to see if they have enough left in the emotional tank to get another big road win.

Ohio State at Penn State (+3.5): This is Penn State’s first big test of the season, and the first big true road test for the Buckeyes. Ohio State has won five of the last six in the series, but I think the Nittany Lions getting points at home in a big game is too good to ass up. Trace McSorley balls out and the home team wins.

Note: All games are Against the Spread. Odds are taken from the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook.