Picks for 10/3/26
College Football
Stanford +14.5 over Wake Forest (loss)
Rotation #133 / NOON ET
Wake Forest is the better overall program right now, but I am not sure they should be this big of a favorite today. Stanford has an experienced offensive line and should get a few key players back this afternoon. Micah Ford is a strong running back who should help move the sticks. Wake Forest has an undersized offensive line and no true home-run hitter in the backfield. The Cardinal will be without Jahsiah Galvan, but they have a very good linebacker corps. I believe this game is a little overvalued in the Demon Deacons’ favor. Take Stanford.
Stanford +14.5 over Wake Forest (loss)
Rotation #133 / NOON ET
Wake Forest is the better overall program right now, but I am not sure they should be this big of a favorite today. Stanford has an experienced offensive line and should get a few key players back this afternoon. Micah Ford is a strong running back who should help move the sticks. Wake Forest has an undersized offensive line and no true home-run hitter in the backfield. The Cardinal will be without Jahsiah Galvan, but they have a very good linebacker corps. I believe this game is a little overvalued in the Demon Deacons’ favor. Take Stanford.
College Football
Ohio State -14.5 over Iowa (win)
Rotation #185 / 3:30 PM ET
Iowa can be a frustrating team to watch, as Kirk Ferentz plays a unique brand of football, focusing on defense and special teams to set up a conservative offense. The Hawkeyes are coming off an emotional, last-second victory at Michigan last week. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say they are focused because it’s Ohio State on the card, not Ohio. The Buckeyes are the superior program and have more talent in the trenches. Their receivers have a physical edge that is hard to stop. Jeremiah Smith is a nightmare to defend, which also opens things up for the other receivers. Iowa misses a player like Kaden Wetjen, now with the Steelers, who could flip field position and score instant points in the return game. I don’t see Iowa finding a massive special teams edge, as they did a total rebuild of the unit in the spring. The spread is high, but I expect Ohio State to pull away eventually, and as seasoned as Ferentz is, his style isn’t about playing catch-up. Take Ohio State.
Ohio State -14.5 over Iowa (win)
Rotation #185 / 3:30 PM ET
Iowa can be a frustrating team to watch, as Kirk Ferentz plays a unique brand of football, focusing on defense and special teams to set up a conservative offense. The Hawkeyes are coming off an emotional, last-second victory at Michigan last week. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say they are focused because it’s Ohio State on the card, not Ohio. The Buckeyes are the superior program and have more talent in the trenches. Their receivers have a physical edge that is hard to stop. Jeremiah Smith is a nightmare to defend, which also opens things up for the other receivers. Iowa misses a player like Kaden Wetjen, now with the Steelers, who could flip field position and score instant points in the return game. I don’t see Iowa finding a massive special teams edge, as they did a total rebuild of the unit in the spring. The spread is high, but I expect Ohio State to pull away eventually, and as seasoned as Ferentz is, his style isn’t about playing catch-up. Take Ohio State.
College Football
Texas Tech -13.5 over Colorado (win)
Texas Tech/Colorado Over 49.5 (loss)
Rotation #173 / 7:30 PM ET
We have a two-part play, and as always, no parlays. Texas Tech is the superior program. Joey McGuire is now in his fifth season as head coach and has full control of his program. The Red Raiders have outstanding running backs who help open up the passing game. The Buffaloes’ secondary is a mess due to injuries. I also like the Over because Colorado plays with pace. The Buffaloes changed quarterbacks last week, so Utah transfer Isaac Wilson will get more snaps now. I am confident the Red Raiders’ experienced front seven can bait him into a few bad throws as he gets used to this new system. Colorado’s pace helps create quick scores, but it also leads to mistakes and quick points the other way. The Red Raiders are far better in every area of play and should get a double-digit road win. Take Texas Tech. Take the Over. No parlays.
Texas Tech -13.5 over Colorado (win)
Texas Tech/Colorado Over 49.5 (loss)
Rotation #173 / 7:30 PM ET
We have a two-part play, and as always, no parlays. Texas Tech is the superior program. Joey McGuire is now in his fifth season as head coach and has full control of his program. The Red Raiders have outstanding running backs who help open up the passing game. The Buffaloes’ secondary is a mess due to injuries. I also like the Over because Colorado plays with pace. The Buffaloes changed quarterbacks last week, so Utah transfer Isaac Wilson will get more snaps now. I am confident the Red Raiders’ experienced front seven can bait him into a few bad throws as he gets used to this new system. Colorado’s pace helps create quick scores, but it also leads to mistakes and quick points the other way. The Red Raiders are far better in every area of play and should get a double-digit road win. Take Texas Tech. Take the Over. No parlays.
College Football
Cincinnati/Arizona Over 55.5 (loss)
Rotation #179-180 / 11:00 PM ET
Arizona is the better overall program right now. Noah Fifita is an experienced veteran quarterback, and he has great running backs, led by Ismail Mahdi. Fifita will look to pick apart a Bearcats secondary made up entirely of small conference transfers. We can’t count Cincinnati out because they have good size at receiver and will look to attack a Wildcats secondary that isn’t very experienced and lacks depth. The Bearcats are very good at running the football, which opens up the playbook. JC French is another senior quarterback with plenty of experience dating back to his time at Georgia Southern. He can also move the sticks with his legs, making this offense hard to figure out. Look for both teams to do enough to make this a higher-scoring game. Take the Over.
Cincinnati/Arizona Over 55.5 (loss)
Rotation #179-180 / 11:00 PM ET
Arizona is the better overall program right now. Noah Fifita is an experienced veteran quarterback, and he has great running backs, led by Ismail Mahdi. Fifita will look to pick apart a Bearcats secondary made up entirely of small conference transfers. We can’t count Cincinnati out because they have good size at receiver and will look to attack a Wildcats secondary that isn’t very experienced and lacks depth. The Bearcats are very good at running the football, which opens up the playbook. JC French is another senior quarterback with plenty of experience dating back to his time at Georgia Southern. He can also move the sticks with his legs, making this offense hard to figure out. Look for both teams to do enough to make this a higher-scoring game. Take the Over.