By: Chad Wilson – Editor – GridironStuds Blog
Twitter: @GridironStuds
Woy! Back to back to back 1-2 weeks have me in the training room. Despite that, I am still winning 58% (14-10) of these picks vs. those boys in Vegas. The problem for college football coaches and people trying to handicap games this time of year is trying to figure out who’s motivated and who’s not. The last couple of weeks I have focused strictly on the X’s and O’s only to be victimized by the emotions of 18-22 year old college aged men. Time to factor in psychology now. It’s getting late in the season. Last week’s lone winner was Alabama over LSU. I figured a 20 point win for the Tide and they won by 29. Thinking Penn St. would keep it close when they were recently eliminated from all their pre-season goals was an oversight on my part. Kentucky’s one dimension couldn’t stand up vs. Georgia. I am not mad at that pick. Let’s get off of the bench this week and sink some shots.
#10 Ohio St. @ #18 Michigan St.
We’re probably looking at two over ranked teams here. Something is definitely going on in Columbus and it’s not good. This is not the Ohio St. team that was playing the first four games of the season. I can guarantee you that the Buckeyes and Urban Meyer are not having fun but here’s the deal, everything thing they wanted in the preseason is still in reach. So that keeps them maximally engaged in the week to week outcomes. For me, that’s enough to surge them ahead of this Michigan St. team. Sparty has been weird this year struggling against lesser teams and showing up to fight vs. some of the bigger ones. Ultimately, having watched Michigan St., I don’t think they’re that good. They will fight the good fight early in this game but I think the Buckeyes’ playmakers take over to give Ohio St. a feel good type of win. Ohio St. 28 Michigan St. 17
#24 Auburn @ #5 Georgia
Here’s a game where psychology comes into play. On it’s surface, I do think that Georgia is at least two TDs better than Auburn. This is due in large part to the advantages in the trenches for the Bulldogs. Auburn’s problems this season have been up front and especially on offense. Unfortunately, the line of scrimmage is a place Georgia loves to own. However, this Dawgs team has been through back to back weeks of exhaustive preparation and emotion for games against Florida and Kentucky. No one in Athens expected to have to exert themselves like they did vs. Kentucky back when they were planning in July. As such, preparation may not have been what it should for Auburn this week causing this game to be closer than expected. Ultimately Georgia is a stronger team in many ways and will do what they have to do down the stretch. However, I think Auburn keeps it close. Georgia 23 Auburn 13
#2 Clemson @ #17 Boston College
Here goes another one. Clemson has outscored their opponents by a combined 177-33 the last three weeks. This is hard for the betting public to ignore and as such, the oddsmakers seek an opportunity to throw a little extra cheese on this pizza. That cheese serves to motivate the home team, Boston College and warp the mind of the visiting Clemson Tigers. Dabo Swinney is a good coach but he has his hands full trying to keep his young Tigers’ head on straight after mugging previous conference darlings Florida St. and Louisville in back to back weeks. That desire to chill is likely rampant and may show it’s head here. Other than the lower temperatures in Chestnut Hill, there’s no reason to chill vs. Boston College. This physical football team will not back down and has shown all season long that they can play with anyone. At 7-2 B.C. is no slouch and one of those two losses came when their best player was sidelined. I think Boston College gets real physical with the Tigers and reminds them that they are no push overs. Clemson 31 Boston College 17.
Chad Wilson is a college football recruiting expert and creator of the GridironStudsApp which allows high school football players to gain exposure to college football coaches and fans. Wilson is a former college football player for the University of Miami (92-94) and Long Beach St. (’90-’91) and played briefly for the Seattle Seahawks (’95). He is also a former youth and high school football coach for over 15 years most recently for 5-A State of Florida Champs American Heritage. He runs All Eyes DB Camp a defensive back training company located in South Florida IG: @alleyesdbcamp. Wilson’s oldest son Quincy plays in the NFL for the New York Giants and his younger son plays cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals.
