College Football Picks Against The Spread Early September 16, 2017

TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 7: The National Championship Trophy during the College Football Playoff National Championship Media Day on January 7, 2017 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

College Football Picks Against The Spread Early September 16, 2017

I had a solid week in week 2 of the college football season. It got me out of the small week one hole, and has me much better off than I was last year. I didn’t get my first positive week until October last year. The strong finish has carried over so far.

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For those of you that are new here, I put myself out there every week. For the last six years, I have picked every single college football game. Sounds easy, right? I thought so too. So I have picked them all against the spread. That significantly increases the degree of difficulty.

I take the average of the odds from the six major Vegas casinos and round that to the nearest half point. There will be no ties here. Ties are for the other football.

Some sites will sell you top ten picks for a fee. Some will even give you a couple of free picks to lure you in. This is every game picked, all for free.

This contains the picks for FBS vs. FBS games only. It is too hard to get an accurate spread on games that involve 1-AA teams.

I will assign a point value “bet” on each game, between one and five points. That way you can see just how confident I am in each pick. Look for those at the end of each line. I am up 27 points after the first two weeks so far.

This is for entertainment purposes only! I cannot be responsible for you losing any of your worldly possessions, significant others, or limbs to a loan shark. I am a simple person. I cannot have that on my conscience.

We are down to 68 games this weekend, but only 54 of them are FBS vs. FBS matchups. I will split the Saturday slate up into early and late games. Unfortunately, we have three more games canceled or postponed because of Hurricane Irma. I will show the lines on those just in case they make them up later this year.

MORGANTOWN, WV – OCTOBER 10: Mason Rudolph #2 of the West Virginia Mountaineers drops back to pass in the first quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the game at Mountaineer Field on October 10, 2015 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

Florida International at Indiana(-23.5): This line was a pretty easy one as well. There is a bit of a quarterback controversy brewing in Bloomington. That is the only thing that may have kept my bet down.

(17)Miami(FL)at (11)Florida State(-10.5) I would have put a big bet on this one. I doubt Florida State covers that big of a line without Francois. Later in the season, we will know more of what Florida State has after losing one of their best players.

Georgia Tech(-2.5) at Central Florida: They should have moved this game to Atlanta. It would have been a good one! And UCF wouldn’t be scrambling to fill their bye week.

Okay, now for the games that we know are being played!

Air Force at (7)Michigan(-23.5)(1): That’s still quite a few points. It opened four points higher, and I’ve seen it as low as 21. I get it. Air Force takes the air out of the ball offensively just like Michigan. The difference is the Falcons wont make the mistakes Cincinnati did. This still looks a bit high to me, but the Michigan defense could make me regret this pick. Give me Air Force.

(9)Oklahoma State(-12.5) at Pittsburgh(5): This is hilarious. Mason Rudolph is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. And this Oklahoma State offense has so many weapons. They are veterans and they are tested. Pitt wasn’t that close to Penn State. They just got garbage points. Cowboys by close to double this line!

(25)UCLA(-3.5) at Memphis(5): This line opened at -3 across the board and has stayed there. I will give the half here and take one later because this looks like an easy pick. Memphis was shredded by prolific passers last year, and only beat Monroe by eight. UCLA by double digits.

Northern Illinois at Nebraska(-12.5)(3): This line is down to 11 in some spots with Tre Bryant definitely out. The big news here is that it isn’t really news. Nebraska was fortunate enough to have three running backs good enough to start when the season began. I will take advantage of the panic driving this line below two touchdowns. Give me Nebraska at home.

Louisiana at Texas A&M(-23.5)(2): I’m not sure how good the Cajuns are, but I doubt they can hang with A&M. Aggies win big!

Kansas at Ohio(-7.5)(4): This looks low. Ohio is still being browbeaten on the lines for losing to Purdue. They shouldn’t be. Ohio by double digits.

(4)Iowa State(-10.5) at Akron(3): The Cyclones looked really good last week, but was it just them stepping up in a rivalry? Maybe, but this line still looks low. That Iowa State offense is good, and Allen Lazard is an impressive receiver. If he went somewhere with a gunslinging quarterback, he would get 2,000 yards. Give me Iowa State.

Connecticut at Virginia(-10.5)(3): UConn isn’t great, but the Hoos aren’t that much better. Still, at home Virginia has a decided advantage, and their defense is a lot better than UConn’s. Give me UVA.

Baylor at Duke(-14.5)(5): I honestly thought the line would be higher than this, and it likely should be. Baylor lost to Liberty and UTSA….both at home! Duke at least beat a decent Northwestern team handily. They are going to do the same to Baylor.

Coastal Carolina(-1.5) at UAB(2): Beating UMass at home is one thing. Taking down UAB at Legion Field? The ‘Cleers aren’t quite there yet, but they keep it close. I’ll take UAB.

Utah State at Wake Forest(-11.5)(2): That is quite a few points for Wake to cover a solid team by. They made Boston College look much worse than they really are last week, so I will go with Wake.

STILL WATER, OK – SEPTEMBER 10: Defensive back Amari Coleman #7 of the Central Michigan Chippewas celebrates after a NCAA football game against Oklahoma State, September 10, 2016 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Central Michigan won 30-27 on the last play of the game. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /

(10)Wisconsin(-16.5) at BYU(2): I don’t like this line. Wisconsin is capable of covering, but that doesn’t mean much. This offense isn’t even close to their potential right now. How much does BYU really have left? The Cougars have played a brutal early schedule. I think I have to take Wisconsin.

(16)Virginia Tech(-22.5) at East Carolina(3): This should be an easy one, right? Tech beat the team that just blasted ECU last weekend. I’ll take the Hokies.

SMU at (20)TCU(-19.5)(2): This looks high. This is a rivalry game, and no matter how bad the Ponies have been, they usually manage to hang around in this one. I’m not saying TCU can’t cover this – they certainly can – I’m just saying that this is like a bowl game to SMU. Give me SMU.

(23)Tennessee at (24)Florida(-4.5)(2): For Florida, five points may count as a blowout. I expect this to be close, but the Gator defense might outscore the Vols offense. Give me Florida.

Central Michigan at Syracuse(-10.5)(5): Yeah, right! Middle Tennessee State just won in the Carrier Dome. The CMU offense is almost as good as MTSU, and they have a better defense. Chippewas straight up!

North Carolina(-10.5) at Old Dominion(2): It looks like Ray Lawry will play, which is great for the Monarchs. The Tarheel defense is statistically the worst right now. Cal and Louisville have good offenses, but the Monarchs are going to be geeked out for this one on their own campus. North Carolina is the far better team, but I don’t trust this defense. I think ODU keeps it close. Closer than ten.

Notre Dame(-13.5) at Boston College(2): The Eagles really haven’t looked good anywhere this season. They are going to bring it for Notre Dame, but I’m not sure it matters. The Irish rebound here. Give me Notre Dame.

Middle Tennessee State at Minnesota(-10.5)(3): I’m a big believer in that Gopher defense. The offense is coming around. MTSU is a good team, but they haven’t faced a defense like this. I’ll take the rodents.

North Texas at Iowa(-21.5)(2): That’s a lot of points for a team like Iowa. They have the running backs to do it though. North Texas wont be able to handle Wadley or Nevada transfer James Butler. I don’t like the half, but I think I have to take the Hawkeyes.

Purdue at Missouri(-7.5)(2): This is a tough one. It’s one thing to waltz into Athens, Ohio and wipe the field with them. That’s the MAC. A Big Ten(14) team is expected to do that. This is a SEC team, and though Missouri is not great, they are solid. I like Purdue quite a bit, but I just don’t see them winning this game. I do, however, see them keeping it within a touchdown. Give me the Boilers.

Army at (8)Ohio State(-30.5)(1): That’s a ton of points against an option offense. The Buckeye D has mostly been burned on pass plays. They can still stop the run. They need a tune-up after to lackluster, especially on offense, showings to open the season. They get it here. I’ll take the Buckeyes.

Oregon State at Washington State(-20.5)(3): I was hoping the line wouldn’t be that high. However, it isn’t that much of a deterrent. Oregon State is just bad right now. Wazzu rolls!

Tulane at (2)Oklahoma(-35.5)(1): Wow, that’s a lot. Probably too many against an option offense. Oklahoma wins big, but not that big. Give me Tulane.

Kent State at Marshall(-14.5)(1): Ouch. Big numbers there for a team that isn’t really that good. There is no way I would bet this game, but since I have to………Kent, I guess.

Next: ESPN College Pick em Picks Week 3

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