Message Board Geniuses

A picture says a thousand words, but most of them are making fun of me for going from first to last in one fellow swoop. Meanwhile, @boardgeniuses has gone 12-1 since Week 3. Good on you!

Today we have special guest @MROH1O to help us with the Ohio State/Penn State game.

Oklahoma -1 at Iowa State

Oklahoma is over their Texas hangover, and looking to take advantage of Iowa State who is coming off of their own tough loss to the Longhorns. Iowa State had an extra week to prep, but it won’t be enough to get a win at home vs Oklahoma.

Cincinnati +1.5 at UCF

Cincinnati takes advantage of the demoralized Knights who is coming off of a 34-13 loss to ECU.

South Carolina -4 vs Missouri

South Carolina has been putting together a nice little 4 game with streak. Missouri has been playing good ball this year, but the Gamecocks take this one.

UVA +2 vs. Miami

Miami isn’t good.  They shouldn’t be a road favorite against anyone.  

UNC -3 v. Pitt

North Carolina is undervalued.  This is the easiest money of the weekend.

Colorado +13.5 vs. ASU

Neither of these teams have any business being favored by 13.5 points against anyone.  Nobody will watch this game but it should be close.  

Washington State +7 vs Utah

Is there anything more cursed than a Pac 12 After Dark game on a Thursday night on the Palouse? This may be one of the best defenses that Utah has played all year, and the Utes tend to play different on the road. Taking Cougars with the points in what will be Cam Ward’s coming out party.

USC -15.5 at Arizona

I don’t ever like to bet on my team but Arizona’s defense is a dumpster fire with former USC LB coach Johnny Nansen calling plays. I like USC coming off of a bye to fix a lot of the issues they had on defense, with a couple new wrinkles in the offense being used that we saw a glimpse of vs Utah. They don’t call them the Mildcats for nothing.

UNC -3 vs Pitt

Is Pitt still trying to act like Kedon Slovis is a good quarterback? Yes, UNC’s defense has issues, but Drake Maye is good. Very good. Heisman Trophy candidate good. There’s no way this game ends tight with UNC’s defense bending but not breaking its way to a big win. UNC is looking like a team that could affect the College Football Playoff.

Wake Forest (-4) at Louisville

I’m keeping it VERY simple this week. I am fond of Wake Forest. My wonderful wife went there, it’s a beautiful campus, and the Demon Deacon has to be one of the best mascots out there. On a mascot Mount Rushmore, you’d have to put the Oregon Duck in George Washington-style. Then maybe the BYU Cougar, Big Red from WKU, then for me it’s an old Southern Baptist preacher with a big hat. He’s not threatening, but he looks like he’d get crazy. Meanwhile, Louisville’s mascot is a cardinal. I’m going to be uppity in the team name department (thank you Hugh Roberts) and look down on the generic bird that doesn’t do anything. And it’s a name others also have so it’s a little cheapened. Anyway, I’m old enough to remember when Louisville beat us in the Fiesta Bowl so still hate y’all. I’m going Deacs.

Illinois (-7.5) at Nebraska

I’m weirded out that Illinois is ranked. I fully support it though. I like the Illini and I have no idea why. I think they’re an excuse to like the orange-blue combo because I also like Virginia. When you live in Alabama with young kids, your orange-blue combos are Auburn and Blippi so it’s the Devil’s colors. No offense Blippi but the dude’s been on my TV constantly, even on Saturdays. It also helps Illinois that its coach is Bret Bielema. The guy seems fun according to social media pics. Respect my Big Boy King. Nebraska is in the dumpster too so I’m going with Illinois.

Cincinnati (-1) at UCF

This one to me is as much about the Bearcats as it is the Golden Knights. Cincinnati has played well on the road this year with its only blemish being a close loss to an Arkansas team at full strength to open the season. UCF has been strong at home, with a scoring differential of 111-32 in its past two games. But I’ve seen Gus Malzahn up close. This one to me seems like one in which he’ll coach too tight. I can see him being too conservative and let Cincinnati hang around long enough to steal one. Luke Fickell is a gentleman while UCF is in Tampa or Orlando, doesn’t really matter just one of those second-tier Florida schools. As an Alabama fan, I cannot comment on schools laying claim to certain things, but they know they gave themselves a national title. And it just so happens my school won the CFP that year. So, Gus and UCF, I fully support your union. Y’all will stay just relevant enough to get a little attention which is all y’all really want anyway. Anyway, long story short, Bearcats.

Northwestern +11 at Iowa

The Iowa-Northwestern series is a strange one in that the road team has won the last four games. Take Northwestern with the points.

Rutgers +14 at Minnesota

Rutgers’ defense will keep them in it against Minnesota. They will keep it within two touchdowns.

Nebraska +7.5 vs Illinois

Is Illinois good or are they just the best of a bad bunch? Let’s go with the latter for this one.