Picks for 11/9/24
NOON EST
Rotation # 179
Minnesota -6.5 over Rutgers (loss)
Minnesota head coach PJ Fleck and Rutgers coach Greg Schiano value possessions and bring an old-school approach to the game. Analytics are not their thing. Rutgers will be without its offensive leader, running back Kyle Monangai. Samuel Brown is out for the year, making its running back room extraordinarily young and inexperienced. The Scarlet Knights have to escape their identity, which is running downhill. Mistakes will happen when dropping back to pass more. The Gophers have looked more explosive on offense this year and generate running lanes behind their massive offensive line. Today’s game will be the first game Rutgers plays without a true identity, and it will show. Take Minnesota.
College Football
NOON EST
Rotation # 137-138
Syracuse/Boston College Over 52 (win)
Syracuse QB Kyle McCord will look for a big statistical day against a struggling Boston College defense. Boston College is coming off a bye week to prepare for today’s contest. Look for the Eagles to utilize their running game to set up quarterback Thomas Castellanos for easy passing plays. Neither defense is anything to write home about. Look for both QBs to have a lot of success in the air. Boston College is desperate for a conference win and will pull out all possible gadget plays. Look for a high-scoring game. Take the Over.
College Football
3:30 PM EST
Rotation # 161-162
Georgia/Ole Miss Over 54.5 (Loss)
I have been high on Ole Miss all year as they have more raw talent than any other team in the nation, but they are sloppy with penalties. Georgia hasn’t lost a game to any other program not named Alabama in ages. The Rebels are at home and have a legitimate shot for the upset, but I can’t remember a team that has committed more pass interference calls that hold a team’s hand down the field, as I have seen from Ole Miss. Georgia will be able to extend drives on penalties. Giving Georgia QB Carson Beck extra chances to score will, without a doubt, lead to scores. Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart has an incredible arm and has weapons all over the field. There is no doubt the Rebels will get their points, but it’s hard to beat the top program in college football when you commit the number of errors, particularly on defense, that the Rebels have. Both teams have good running games that will keep the defense honest enough to make long throws downfield. Look for a high-scoring game. Take the Over.
College Football
4:00 PM EST
Rotation # 153
Colorado -4.5 over Texas Tech (win)
Coach Prime has done a great job making Colorado competitive. The Buffaloes are already bowl-eligible and looking to play in a lucrative bowl game this season. Texas Tech has a lot of critical injuries today that will slow them down. QB Behren Morton has been playing with a hurt shoulder and hasn’t looked sharp. The Red Raiders are down a lot of talent on defense and nursing the brunt of the overall injuries. Colorado should be able to put up a decent point total on offense, which the Red Raiders won’t be able to come back from. Colorado Shedeur Sanders has been great this year and should lead his team to victory. Take Colorado.
College Football
7:00 PM EST
Rotation # 181-182
Maryland/Oregon Under 58 (win)
It will be a humid night in Eugene, Oregon, with a few showers. I don’t trust Maryland to put up a lot of offense behind a weak offensive line. The crowd will cause penalties, pushing the Terps behind the chains multiple times. Marcus Harper won’t play today for the Ducks, throwing the timing off on the offensive line. Oregon has a few critical injuries at receiver, including star Tez Johnson. The Ducks will look to get out of the day uninjured as they push to win the B1G Conference Title. Look for a lower-scoring contest. Take the Under.
College Football
7:00 PM EST
Rotation # 151
UCF +3 over Arizona State (loss)
Arizona State will be without its best player, Cameron Skattebo. The Sun Devils go as he goes. The loss of Skattebo hurts in the passing game as well. The Sun Devils had a considerable edge early in the year when they played at home when temperatures were over 100 degrees. Tonight’s weather won’t be an issue for the visiting Knights. The Knights are looking to get bowl-eligible and must win 2 of their last three. UCF is coming off a win against Arizona last week, so they have momentum. RJ Harvey will be the best player on the field, as he will break for many big runs. It will be difficult for Arizona State to compete without Skattebo, who accounted for more than half of their offense this season. Take UCF.
College Football
7:45 PM EST
Rotation # 159
Oklahoma -3 over Missouri (loss)
Oklahoma might have won big last week against FCS Maine, but it feels better than the 34-0 shutout Missouri felt last week against Alabama. Tigers QB Brady Cook will not participate today. Drew Pyne is a decent backup but lacks mobility. The Sooners will have one less runner to worry about. As a few key receivers return, Oklahoma is getting healthier in the receiving room. No other team in football was hit harder with the injury bug. Look for Oklahoma to run the ball well behind their gigantic offensive line, even without Jovantae Barnes in the lineup. QB Jackson Arnold can run, which keeps opposing defenses honest. The Sooners are getting better each week and looking to get bowl-eligible. Take Oklahoma