Better late than never, right?? The deadline for these posts is always before kickoff of the first game, so I suppose technically we’re not late. However, I usually strive to get things done by Wednesday or Thursday, especially if we’re picking a Thursday night game, which is why we don’t pick Thursday games often. At any rate, it’s very rare to not have everything up for public consumption Saturday morning, but occasionally your humble webmaster does have some semblance of a life, hence the delay. At any rate, there hasn’t been much of a shift in our records, so we’ll just move on to this weekend’s games. 

My Season: 33-29

Zach’s Season: 28-34

Clemson (-6.5) at Virginia Tech

Once upon a time it was a marquee matchup with, at the very least, conference title implications. Unfortunately both teams are on the outside looking in right now. The outlook could improve for the 6-2 Tigers with a victory, while the 5-4 Hokies are simply defending their home turf and playing for bowl eligibility. I expect a spirited battle, but in the end it’s hard to ignore the fact that Clemson is clearly a better team. Zach believes the visiting favorites will win big.

My Pick: Clemson

Zach’s Pick: Clemson

Alabama (-3) at LSU

Has a bit of the shine worn off this rivalry?? Perhaps, but not that much. At 6-2 both teams still have conference championship & playoff aspirations, but those dreams will likely end for the loser. Death Valley on a Saturday night is daunting for any visitor, even The Tide. I believe we’re looking at a last second field goal or overtime situation, and I feel an upset brewing. Zach, on the other hand, likes LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, but thinks ‘Bama is the better team. He wouldn’t be surprised to see overtime, but thinks the visiting favorites will snag a close victory.

My Pick: LSU

Zach’s Pick: Alabama 

BYU (-4.5) at Utah

Who would have predicted a few months ago that the Battle of the Beehive State would have conference title implications…for BYU?? Not only do the Cougars lead the Big 12, but they are an unbeaten Top Ten team. Conversely, the 4-4 Utes have had their season go completely off the rails in the past month. They have the home field, but since the two schools are less than an hour apart it probably doesn’t matter. It’s one of those late night kickoffs that I used to look forward to when I was younger, but now I don’t know if I’ll even be awake for the second half and don’t anticipate missing much. Zach predicts a high scoring shootout, with the visiting favorites ultimately prevailing.

My Pick: BYU

Zach’s Pick: BYU

Philadelphia (-6.5) at Dallas 

Both teams are looking up at the division leading Washington Commanders, which is kind of funny. To be fair, Philly is only a half game out of first place and seems to have fixed most of the issues that plagued them late last season. The addition of RB Saquon Barkley has been a huge boost, with him resembling the freak of nature he was back at Penn St. in 2017. Meanwhile, the 3-5 Cowboys are fulfilling my prophecy for them from a year ago. I should have stuck with those vibes this offseason. Even with the home field there is no reason to believe Dallas has a chance to come out on top. Zach concurs.

My Pick: Philadelphia 

Zach’s Pick: Philadelphia 

Miami at LA Rams (-2.5)

It’s the Monday night game, which means football fans will be watching. The question though is whether or not we should be excited to tune in. At 2-6 the Dolphins are, thus far, falling way short of expectations. Can they turn things around in the second half of the season?? The outcome of this game could go a long way toward answering that question. The Rams are 4-4 and in a dog fight with the other three teams in the NFC West, so a victory would be quite important to them as well. I view the Rams as solid yet unspectacular in all three phases of the game. Their record could easily be a couple of wins better, but sometimes the ball just doesn’t bounce the right way. I foresee the home favorites having an edge in turnovers & time of possession, which should help them come out on top. Zach believes it could be a nail biter, but thinks a healthy Rams team is peaking at the right time.

My Pick: LA Rams

Zach’s Pick: LA Rams