By: Chad Wilson – Editor – GridironStuds Blog
Twitter: @GridironStuds
Well I just have not been able to shake the 1-2 bug of late. Three straight weeks of this disease has dropped me to 15-12 overall. The only team to handle their business for me last week were the embattled Buckeyes who awkwardly dominated Penn St. I took losses point spread wise thinking that Auburn could hang long enough vs. Georgia and that Boston College could do the same vs. Clemson. Both Georgia and Clemson asserted themselves as college football playoff teams. Let’s see if I can take some Nyquil and put this 1-2 bug to sleep this week. This might be the ugliest slate of games we’ve had thus far this season. I just wanted to point that out.
Cincinnati @ UCF
UCF has this long winning streak going and we all know it. We all know it because it’s impressive and because UCF keeps speaking loudly about it. We’ve seen this before however. Ever so often, a mid-major will put together a nice run and through the media, start putting pressure on the voters to include them in with the big boys. At first they draw energy from it but at a certain point, it becomes a distraction and provides pressure. Pressure is what Cincinnati will bring in this game vs. a UCF offensive front that is not all that good. The lack of vigor and talent up front has been masked by the hurry up offense that the Knights run to perfection. That hurry up offense won’t be something new for Cincinnati to face so I think they will be able to stand in the paint. I think the 7 point spread is a bit too large for UCF. Yes they have been winning but in games like this, they have needed every minute on the clock to complete the mission. I am not really seeing why that would be any different in this game. I would not be surprised to the see the streak end here but I am not expecting it. This is a home game for UCF and Cincinnati’s offense does have that ability to come up short in a key moment. I think it’s a fight to the death that UCF wins very very late . UCF win 37 to 35.
Syracuse vs. Notre Dame
Notre Dame is having one heck of a season as we all can see. Somehow though, it seems to be losing a bit of steam. The media members and oddsmakers are seemingly expecting more and more with each passing week. Last week the Irish staggered through their game vs. a miserable Florida St. squad. As we push further through the season, the less impressive the Notre Dame wins seem to look as their previous opponents don’t look so hot. If I am a Notre Dame fan, I am concerned about the lack of quality comp over the last few weeks. Syracuse is battle tested. They played Clemson tough on the road, played at Pittsburgh and got a solid W vs. NC State. Don’t tell me that Trevor Lawrence got hurt in that Clemson game because they were giving the Tigers the business while he was in there and they were the ones who put him on the shelf. Dino Babers has the boys playing hard. This kind of game can be a program changer for the Orangemen and I can see them coming with a lot of fire. I think the Orangemen have been overlooked a bit this season and here’s a chance for a coming out party. With that said, I think they come up just a bit short in this contest. The Irish are solid with Ian Book at the controls and they are better in the trenches than Syracuse. I like Notre Dame for the win but I don’t like them giving all the points. Notre Dame wins 33-30.
Iowa St. @ Texas
If you’ve been following this column all season, you know that I have not been long on the Longhorns. The one time that I decided to back them, they reminded me that I am not long and went real short vs. Oklahoma St. Truth is that Texas has not played well the last three weeks. It’s almost as if their head coach has been distracted or something. Hmmm. Nevertheless, each feeble performance each week brings further angst. Enter the scrappy Iowa St. Cyclones looking to put a bull head on the mantle. These pack of Cyclones play hard and they play for 60 minutes. They won’t run from and they won’t back down from Texas especially in light of how Texas has been playing. Oddsmakers have thrown out some bait by making Texas a slim 2.5 point favorite. That number is screaming for the public to jump on Texas. I am going to go the opposite way. Today, I think scrappy gets a victory, a full victory. Take Iowa St. 30-27 over Texas
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.
