Week 3 brought fantastic last-minute wins, disappointing losses and two coaches getting fired. Sunday.
The wild finishes started with the Noon games on the Flats when Georgia Tech
The wild finishes started with the Noon games on the Flats when Georgia Tech
There's a good argument for Georgia Tech to be favored in eight of the remaining nine. That will have them knocking on the door for the CFP. Tech’s ability to run on Clemson’s defense and being able to gather only one sack, demonstrates once again that the Tigers are no longer dominant in the trenches.
Then the in the afternoon game Tennessee hosted Georgia. While Tech made their 55 yard FG, Tennessee missed a 43 yard FG with 3 seconds left forcing OT. UT made a FG in OT but UGA got a TD to win.
In their past three wins against power-conference opponents, Kirby Smart's Bulldogs have had to go to overtime each time. Meanwhile, Tennessee is also 0-3 vs. Georgia at Neyland and 23-0 vs. everyone else at home during the same span.
Finally in the night game slate, Notre Dame lost a thriller to Texas A&M
Once again special teams decided the game. Former starting QB turned Alabama transfer, turned Notre Dame lacrosse player, turned Notre Dame third string QB Tyler Buchner fumbled the hold on the extra point, made a miserable pass and the XP was no good.
A&M then drove the length of the field and won the game on this play.
Then the in the afternoon game Tennessee hosted Georgia. While Tech made their 55 yard FG, Tennessee missed a 43 yard FG with 3 seconds left forcing OT. UT made a FG in OT but UGA got a TD to win.
In their past three wins against power-conference opponents, Kirby Smart's Bulldogs have had to go to overtime each time. Meanwhile, Tennessee is also 0-3 vs. Georgia at Neyland and 23-0 vs. everyone else at home during the same span.
Finally in the night game slate, Notre Dame lost a thriller to Texas A&M
Once again special teams decided the game. Former starting QB turned Alabama transfer, turned Notre Dame lacrosse player, turned Notre Dame third string QB Tyler Buchner fumbled the hold on the extra point, made a miserable pass and the XP was no good.
A&M then drove the length of the field and won the game on this play.
Beck is playing behind one of the best OLs in the land year ago, a six-point lead would have been game over. This season, not so much in year one of defensive coordinator Chris Ash.
The Domers are now 0-2 and lost control of its playoff path. Stubbornly sticking to being an independent hurts Notre Dame in the playoff era. The five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed spots in the playoff, which is why three-loss ACC champion Clemson was able to sneak in last season. Without the chance at a conference title, Notre Dame had 12 games to impress the selection committee. It's blown its best opportunities.
In another key match up, the Florida defense came to play. They held LSU to just 316 of total offense and 4 for 14 on third down. Too bad QB DJ Lagway would have been better off staying on the bus. He threw five, count ‘em five, backbreaking interceptions as LSU won 20-10
Cinderella has left the ball and her slipper has been ground into sand. Miami (FL) destroyed the Bulls 49-12. With a Carson Beck playing behind one of the best OLs in the country, the Canes offense is something special.
Oklahoma rolled into the city of Brotherly Love and destroyed Temple 42-3. While star QB John Mateer gets all the attention, the defense is the real star. They have allowed just 19 total points in three games.
Texas was unable to steamroll lowly UTEP winning 27-10. Its OK to start doubting Arch Manning, he was 11 of 25 for 114 yards with one TD and one pick.
Then after all the games were over, the coaching carousel got started when UCLA and Va Tech both fired their head coaches. The Carousel spins earleir every year. And I'm sure there are more mid season ziggies coming too.
I went 1-2 last week bringing the overall record to 6-5. While I though BC HC Bill O'Brien would have the Eagles prepped for an West Coast game but I underestimated the impact of the kickoff time. BC was playing a 11:00pm body time and it showed. Doesn't bode well for the Spartans tonight.
TIme to get back on the winning track. This week I'll go with:
The Domers are now 0-2 and lost control of its playoff path. Stubbornly sticking to being an independent hurts Notre Dame in the playoff era. The five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed spots in the playoff, which is why three-loss ACC champion Clemson was able to sneak in last season. Without the chance at a conference title, Notre Dame had 12 games to impress the selection committee. It's blown its best opportunities.
In another key match up, the Florida defense came to play. They held LSU to just 316 of total offense and 4 for 14 on third down. Too bad QB DJ Lagway would have been better off staying on the bus. He threw five, count ‘em five, backbreaking interceptions as LSU won 20-10
Cinderella has left the ball and her slipper has been ground into sand. Miami (FL) destroyed the Bulls 49-12. With a Carson Beck playing behind one of the best OLs in the country, the Canes offense is something special.
Oklahoma rolled into the city of Brotherly Love and destroyed Temple 42-3. While star QB John Mateer gets all the attention, the defense is the real star. They have allowed just 19 total points in three games.
Texas was unable to steamroll lowly UTEP winning 27-10. Its OK to start doubting Arch Manning, he was 11 of 25 for 114 yards with one TD and one pick.
Then after all the games were over, the coaching carousel got started when UCLA and Va Tech both fired their head coaches. The Carousel spins earleir every year. And I'm sure there are more mid season ziggies coming too.
I went 1-2 last week bringing the overall record to 6-5. While I though BC HC Bill O'Brien would have the Eagles prepped for an West Coast game but I underestimated the impact of the kickoff time. BC was playing a 11:00pm body time and it showed. Doesn't bode well for the Spartans tonight.
TIme to get back on the winning track. This week I'll go with:
Tennessee likes to run up the score after losing to Georgia
Tennessee -39.5 vs UAB - Losing to Georgia really pisses off Tennessee HC Josh Heupel. Here’s what he did to the teams the week after losing to UGA. 2024 – Tenn 56 UTEP 0; 2023 Tenn 48 Vandy 24; 2022 Tenn 66 Mizzou 24; 2021 Tenn 60 South Alabama 14. This week they play bottom dweller UAB and their pathetic HC Trent Dilfer.
It’s a big spread but I have confidence Josh will work out his anger issues and Trent will be fully incapable of stopping him.
La Tech -2.5 vs Southern Miss – I get the love for Southern Miss. They poached Charlie Huff and half of a good Marshall roster during the offseason. It’s no surprise there’s been a quick turnaround in Hattiesburg as the Golden Eagles are 2-1.
But a look under the covers shows some issues. They beat App State but they also benefited from three interceptions on goal-to-go situations in the first half, including a fluky one they returned 99 yards for a touchdown.
The Golden Eagles can't run the ball and struggle to stop opposing ground games. Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech has the much stouter defense( allowing 12.3 PPG)
that even gave LSU fits at times in Baton Rouge.
After finishing with the best defense in Conference USA last season, Louisiana Tech once again looks elite on that side of the ball. They lead the conference in total defense and are allowing just 4.7 yards per play.
I’ll take the better defense at home and lay the points
Tennessee -39.5 vs UAB - Losing to Georgia really pisses off Tennessee HC Josh Heupel. Here’s what he did to the teams the week after losing to UGA. 2024 – Tenn 56 UTEP 0; 2023 Tenn 48 Vandy 24; 2022 Tenn 66 Mizzou 24; 2021 Tenn 60 South Alabama 14. This week they play bottom dweller UAB and their pathetic HC Trent Dilfer.
It’s a big spread but I have confidence Josh will work out his anger issues and Trent will be fully incapable of stopping him.
La Tech -2.5 vs Southern Miss – I get the love for Southern Miss. They poached Charlie Huff and half of a good Marshall roster during the offseason. It’s no surprise there’s been a quick turnaround in Hattiesburg as the Golden Eagles are 2-1.
But a look under the covers shows some issues. They beat App State but they also benefited from three interceptions on goal-to-go situations in the first half, including a fluky one they returned 99 yards for a touchdown.
The Golden Eagles can't run the ball and struggle to stop opposing ground games. Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech has the much stouter defense( allowing 12.3 PPG)
that even gave LSU fits at times in Baton Rouge.
After finishing with the best defense in Conference USA last season, Louisiana Tech once again looks elite on that side of the ball. They lead the conference in total defense and are allowing just 4.7 yards per play.
I’ll take the better defense at home and lay the points
Mateer has shown he can play against good defenses Oklahoma -6.5 vs Auburn - The Sooners have been very impressive through the first three weeks of the season. Sooner QB John Mateer has been everything Oklahoma could have asked for and then some. He's thrown for 944 yards and five touchdowns while rumbling for another 161 yards and four scores on the ground. He's the favorite for the Heisman going into the quarter turn.
Auburn’s defense has been good to this point, but they haven’t come across anything like Mateer, and were torched through the air by Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson in their opener. And we’ve already seen Mateer perform well against a good defense in Oklahoma’s win over Michigan in Week 2.
But the main reason I like the Sooners in this spot is their defense. This unit looks like it might be the best in the country. They enter this game leading the nation in defensive success rate and are fourth in opponent yards per play vs. FBS opponents.
I'll lay the short spread at home
And for all the games, spreads, picks and much much more here is the 2025 Week 4 Bettors Guide
Auburn’s defense has been good to this point, but they haven’t come across anything like Mateer, and were torched through the air by Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson in their opener. And we’ve already seen Mateer perform well against a good defense in Oklahoma’s win over Michigan in Week 2.
But the main reason I like the Sooners in this spot is their defense. This unit looks like it might be the best in the country. They enter this game leading the nation in defensive success rate and are fourth in opponent yards per play vs. FBS opponents.
I'll lay the short spread at home
And for all the games, spreads, picks and much much more here is the 2025 Week 4 Bettors Guide
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