Picks for 11/1/26
Happy New Year!
College Football Playoffs
NOON EST
Rotation # 259
Oregon -2.5 over Texas Tech (win)
Texas Tech is the higher-ranked program yet finds itself the underdog in this matchup. Did you know Texas Tech is the number one team in college football against the spread? They will be heavily bet on today as the underdog. The Red Raiders did an outstanding job after finishing in the middle of the BIG 12 last year, and they had a wonderful turnaround, bringing in new offensive and defensive coordinators to start the season. I am taking nothing away from the Red Raiders, but their schedule was favorable. Texas Tech has an outstanding defensive line that can rotate through hockey line changes without missing a beat. The linebackers are as good as it gets. Playoff teams that get the first-round bye are 0-5, as the long layoff affects their performance. The bottom line in this contest is that Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire has to prove he can beat Oregon coach Dan Lanning, who is coming off a flawless campaign a season ago and has just one loss this year. Oregon QB Dante Moore has enough mobility to make the Tech defense keep an eye on him. Texas Tech QB Behren Morton is not a threat at all to take off. Oregon has a massive offensive line that will challenge the Red Raiders defensive line. The key to this game is in the trenches. Noah Whittington will get the ball a lot and will look to soften up the defense enough for the Ducks to air it out. Take Oregon.
NOON EST
Rotation # 259
Oregon -2.5 over Texas Tech (win)
Texas Tech is the higher-ranked program yet finds itself the underdog in this matchup. Did you know Texas Tech is the number one team in college football against the spread? They will be heavily bet on today as the underdog. The Red Raiders did an outstanding job after finishing in the middle of the BIG 12 last year, and they had a wonderful turnaround, bringing in new offensive and defensive coordinators to start the season. I am taking nothing away from the Red Raiders, but their schedule was favorable. Texas Tech has an outstanding defensive line that can rotate through hockey line changes without missing a beat. The linebackers are as good as it gets. Playoff teams that get the first-round bye are 0-5, as the long layoff affects their performance. The bottom line in this contest is that Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire has to prove he can beat Oregon coach Dan Lanning, who is coming off a flawless campaign a season ago and has just one loss this year. Oregon QB Dante Moore has enough mobility to make the Tech defense keep an eye on him. Texas Tech QB Behren Morton is not a threat at all to take off. Oregon has a massive offensive line that will challenge the Red Raiders defensive line. The key to this game is in the trenches. Noah Whittington will get the ball a lot and will look to soften up the defense enough for the Ducks to air it out. Take Oregon.
College Football Playoffs
4:00 PM EST
Rotation # 261
Alabama +7.5 over Indiana (loss)
Alabama was looking like a lost puppy in the SEC Title Game, but they are much healthier since they got their top running backs in the lineup. Curt Cignetti has done nothing but win since taking over the Hoosiers program, but I am not sure his team is ready to be massive favorites in a college football playoff setting. Will the long layoff hurt the Hoosiers like it has every other team that received a bye in the first round of the new college football playoff format? I don’t question that Indiana can win this game, but winning by a large margin is a tough ask against a program like Alabama. The Crimson Tide is fresh off a road victory at Oklahoma, where they dominated the second half in a hostile environment and showed true character after getting down early. The Hoosiers will be without Kellan Wyatt and Stephen Daley today, which will lessen their chances of getting after the quarterback. Alabama will look to take advantage in the trenches as its offensive line is massive, going against an undersized Hoosiers defensive line. The Tide should make the game boring and try to win the time of possession. Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza has been sensational this year, and I don’t put it past him to lead his team to a win, but the Tide getting this many points has value. Take Alabama.
4:00 PM EST
Rotation # 261
Alabama +7.5 over Indiana (loss)
Alabama was looking like a lost puppy in the SEC Title Game, but they are much healthier since they got their top running backs in the lineup. Curt Cignetti has done nothing but win since taking over the Hoosiers program, but I am not sure his team is ready to be massive favorites in a college football playoff setting. Will the long layoff hurt the Hoosiers like it has every other team that received a bye in the first round of the new college football playoff format? I don’t question that Indiana can win this game, but winning by a large margin is a tough ask against a program like Alabama. The Crimson Tide is fresh off a road victory at Oklahoma, where they dominated the second half in a hostile environment and showed true character after getting down early. The Hoosiers will be without Kellan Wyatt and Stephen Daley today, which will lessen their chances of getting after the quarterback. Alabama will look to take advantage in the trenches as its offensive line is massive, going against an undersized Hoosiers defensive line. The Tide should make the game boring and try to win the time of possession. Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza has been sensational this year, and I don’t put it past him to lead his team to a win, but the Tide getting this many points has value. Take Alabama.
College Football Playoffs
8:00 PM EST
Rotation # 263-264
Ole Miss/Georgia Over 55.5 (win)
Ole Miss is certainly capable of the upset, but I don’t know if I want to bank on them with Lane Kiffin off to LSU and Charlie Weis Jr. heading there after the season. People can say there are no distractions, but that’s hard to believe. Trinidad Chambliss played at Division 2 Ferris State a year ago, and he wasn’t even the starting QB to start the season. He is as good as anybody. Kewan Lacy averages over 100 yards per game on the ground, and the Rebels have one of the best receiving rooms in college football. Georgia QB Gunner Stockton is completing over 70% of his passes and has turned into a mobile QB, which is something he wasn’t capable of a year ago. Georgia has a great rushing attack behind Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens, and like Ole Miss, has endless talent at the receiver position. The Rebels are a little healthier and could very well win this game, but it’s not an easy task to outcoach Kirby Smart. Look for both offenses to move the ball well in perfect indoor conditions. Take the Over.
8:00 PM EST
Rotation # 263-264
Ole Miss/Georgia Over 55.5 (win)
Ole Miss is certainly capable of the upset, but I don’t know if I want to bank on them with Lane Kiffin off to LSU and Charlie Weis Jr. heading there after the season. People can say there are no distractions, but that’s hard to believe. Trinidad Chambliss played at Division 2 Ferris State a year ago, and he wasn’t even the starting QB to start the season. He is as good as anybody. Kewan Lacy averages over 100 yards per game on the ground, and the Rebels have one of the best receiving rooms in college football. Georgia QB Gunner Stockton is completing over 70% of his passes and has turned into a mobile QB, which is something he wasn’t capable of a year ago. Georgia has a great rushing attack behind Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens, and like Ole Miss, has endless talent at the receiver position. The Rebels are a little healthier and could very well win this game, but it’s not an easy task to outcoach Kirby Smart. Look for both offenses to move the ball well in perfect indoor conditions. Take the Over.