College Football Picks 2018: Week Five

(#4) Ohio State Buckeyes @ (#9) Penn State Nittany Lions

Juwan Johnson, Penn State

The Big Ten East is arguably the toughest division in college football, and this battle between Ohio State and Penn State should decide who the favorite is going to be out East. Ohio State has looked basically unstoppable, guided by big-armed quarterback Dwayne Haskins, whose early play has people believing he is a serious Heisman contender. Aided by a 1-2 punch at tailback, with sophomore J.K. Dobbins and junior Mike Weber and a dangerous receivers corps, the Buckeyes' offense has been flaming hot. Penn State can also put up points in a hurry, as veteran quarterback Trace McSorley has kept the unit chugging along, even without Saquon Barkley and offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne. Miles Sanders has done an admirable job replacing Barkley's production at running back, while Juwan Johnson and big-play threat K.J. Hamler do damage on the perimeter. So, its pretty clear both teams are going to put up big yardage and plenty of points (they are first and second in the country in scoring offense), but will they be able to stop the opponent? Penn State is still reeling from an off-season where they lost nine starters, including everybody in the secondary. James Franklin has done a great job of getting young guys to step up in the defensive backfield, but they have yet to face a quarterback with the skills Haskins has yet in 2018. With his huge arm and home run potential, PSU could really struggle. Their best hope is to force the youthful QB into mistakes and force some turnovers, but in order to do that they have to apply pressure, which is not easy against a good Ohio State O-Line. I have more confidence in the Buckeyes' defense, which has one of the country's elite defensive lines, even with All-American end Nick Bosa out for a number of weeks. Ohio State has a secondary with more experience and depth than the Nittany Lions, but McSorley should still be able to find some ways to get his wide outs open in space. This is going to be a competitive game, and either team has a very good chance to come out with a decisive victory. I lean towards the Buckeyes, because the defense is more proven, and they've looked more impressive over the season's first few weeks. With that being said, going into Happy Valley and coming out with a win is never easy, and Penn State should offer plenty of resistance here.
The Pick: Ohio State, 41 Penn State, 34

(#7) Stanford Cardinal @ (#8) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
After beating Oregon in a thriller last Saturday, Stanford is now the Pac-12's best hope to return to the Playoff for the first time since Washington in 2016. However, in order to do just that, they need to be nearly flawless and go on the road and beat a very good Notre Dame squad. Stanford doesn't have the elite offense other times may have, but they still move the ball and don't turn it over. It will be interesting to see how the offensive front handles the Notre Dame pass rush, which has been absolutely dominant so far this year. The Cardinal will still lean heavily on star running back Bryce Love, who is finally 100 percent after dealing with injuries earlier on this season. K.J. Costello, Stanford's sophomore signal-caller, has made serious strides in 2018 and should be able to have some serious success in the play-action game. The Irish defense is led by linebacker Te'Von Coney, but the pass defense has been inconsistent, which should bode very well for the Cardinal. ND's offense is looking a little bit different with Ian Book now under center, taking over for Brandon Wimbush, who is a superb runner but struggles to get the ball down the field consistently. Book seems to energize the Irish offense, which has incredibly one-dimensional under Wimbush. He should be able to find his top couple targets, Miles Boykin and Chase Claypool, but ND should still keep the ball moving on the ground primarily, where speedster Tony Jones has proven he can open things up. Stanford's defense has long been stingy under David Shaw, but it has had some struggles this season. It still has a number of playmakers and proven run-stoppers, but the Cardinal are very prone to the big play, something Book has proven he can help create. Contrary to the Ohio State-Penn State duel, this game should not be very high-scoring. It should be a hard-fought game with two teams taking blows at the other. Love could help open things up for Stanford's offense, but this Irish defense is no Pac-12 defense. The Irish should be able to contain the Cardinal enough here to give the home folks a huge victory.
The Pick: Notre Dame, 27 Stanford, 23

(#20) BYU Cougars @ (#11) Washington Huskies
Already equipped with one of the biggest upsets of the season when they took down Wisconsin, BYU hopes to cause more chaos as they go to Seattle to take on the Washington Huskies. The real key for the Cougars major improvement from 2017 has been a defense that is aggressive and versatile. That defense is going to face quite a stiff challenge against a Huskies' offense that has proven they can move the ball. Veteran quarterback Jake Browning still struggles when the pass rush gets in his face, but he still can get the ball down the field and UW is not short of offensive weapons. Running back Myles Gaskin is among the most underrated players in the entire country, and receivers Aaron Fuller and Ty Jones have proven they can open things up. The real key, however, will be how Washington's offensive line plays in this game. They struggled against Auburn, but that was without their anchor, left tackle Trey Adams, and BYU doesn't quite have the athletes Auburn possesses. The Huskies also have quite the great defense, allowing just under 13 points per game. Greg Gaines is a formidable force in the heart of UW's defensive line, while the secondary includes All-Americans in safety Taylor Rapp and cornerback Byron Murphy. For BYU, their offense has been decent for much of the season, but they aren't very explosive. BYU also has a veteran quarterback, in Tanner Mangum, and a quality rusher in Squally Canada, but they still will need to find a way to handle Washington's pass rush and not turn the ball over, which is always difficult against the Huskies. BYU's improvement from a 4-7 2017 has been one of the cooler stories so far of the college football season, and bringing down a Pac-12 power would only make it better. Yet, this is not going to be like the Wisconsin game; the Huskies will be prepared for the Cougars and they have better weapons up and down their roster. I like Washington to keep their Playoff hopes alive by rolling past the 20th-ranked Cougars.
The Pick: Washington, 34 BYU, 20

Other Picks
Ole Miss @ (#5) LSU: LSU, 30 Ole Miss, 26
(#19) Oregon @ (#24) California: Oregon, 38 California, 30
(#12) West Virginia @ (#25) Texas Tech: West Virginia, 45 Texas Tech, 35
Syracuse @ (#3) Clemson: Clemson, 35 Syracuse, 21
Florida @ (#23) Mississippi State: Florida, 27 Mississippi State, 24

Current Picks Record: 24-8

College Football Picks 2018: Week Four

Justin Herbert, Oregon

(#7) Stanford Cardinal @ (#20) Oregon Ducks
Two undefeated teams clash in Eugene this Saturday, as the seventh-ranked Cardinal travel to Oregon to deal with the Ducks. Both of these teams have serious Pac-12 Title hopes, and possibly even Playoff aspirations, but there is little margin for error in this conference. Stanford has played quality football over the first three weeks, even without star running back Bryce Love being up to his usual tricks (165 yards over the first two weeks, missed last week's game). K.J. Costello has stepped up in a big way at quarterback, looking more confident and poised than a season ago. He could take advantage of an Oregon secondary that is very talented, but still prone to letting up the big play. Love should also be 100 percent in this game, so there is still plenty of hope he could have a big day, considering what he did to the Oregon defense last season. The real strength of this Stanford team has to be their defense, which is allowing just 7.7 PPG, albeit against relatively weak competition. It will be interesting to see how the Ducks choose to attack that defense, likely through the air. The Cardinal have experience in the secondary, but they haven't faced a quarterback like Oregon's Justin Herbert, who has attracted tons of attention from NFL scouts. Herbert has not been incredibly efficient over the first three games of the season, but his numbers have been strong (840 yards, 12 touchdowns) and he has a ton of weapons to work with on this Oregon offense. At running back, the Ducks feature a three-headed monster that includes C.J. Verdell, Tony Brooks-James and Travis Dye, all who have different strengths. Stanford has long had a stifling rush defense under David Shaw, but they are the least experienced and thinnest they've been on the defensive front in some time. If the Ducks' O-Line can get some serious push, this offense is going to have success. This is going to be a very interesting game for Oregon because it is their first serious test of the season. They have the talent and home field advantage to come out on top, but their defense still worries me. This Stanford offense is the most versatile and most explosive it has been in years, and the Ducks' defense looked flat last week against San Jose State. I like the Cardinal to go on the road and contain Oregon's explosive weapons enough to come away with an important victory in the crowded Pac-12 North.
The Pick: Stanford, 30 Oregon, 24

(#22) Texas A&M Aggies @ (#1) Alabama Crimson Tide
After missing out on their first opportunity to take down a Top 5 team by losing to Clemson, Texas A&M hopes to go on the road and shock the nation's No. 1 team. The Aggies are going to have to find a way to contain Alabama's explosive offense, which is headed by the nation's Heisman favorite, Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa has been nearly unstoppable over the season's first three weeks, and he has weapons to work with everywhere. Wide outs Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs open things up on the outside, but Alabama can always hit you hard with their ground game, namely workhorse Damien Harris. Texas A&M has made huge strides defensively under new coordinator Mike Elko, but this Tide offense is as balanced and explosive as you can get, the Aggies are going to have to play great. They are also are going to have a find way to put up points against Alabama's stingy defense, which has been a big problem for A&M in their last few meetings with 'Bama. Quarterback Kellen Mond has played very well early on, but Alabama is always a different beast. How will Mond handle the defensive pressure the Tide consistently apply? Mond will be aided by veteran running back Trayveon Williams, who has had a great start to 2018. With that being said, its a much different story facing the Alabama defensive front than some of the other defenses he has seen to this point. Will the Aggies' offensive line, which has talent but is still pretty inexperienced, be able to hold up against Raekwon Davis and company? It is going to be their stiffest challenge of the entire season, but Jimbo Fisher should be creative in handling that pressure with screens and differing blocking packages. This Texas A&M team is significantly improved from the one that ran out of steam against 'Bama in this matchup, but it is a different beast going into Bryant-Denny Stadium then getting the Tide in the friendly confines of Kyle Field. Mond and Williams should do enough to keep the offense chugging, but the real worry is the defense, which has been very improved, but faces one of the top offenses in the nation here. The Aggies should be able to give the Tide a run for their money, but its hard to imagine them overtaking the Tide in the debut season of Fisher.
The Pick: Alabama, 41 Texas A&M, 30

(#2) Georgia Bulldogs @ Missouri Tigers
Over the first three weeks of the season, Georgia has looked like the overwhelmingly favorite in the weak SEC East, but they aren't just a lock to win the division just yet. They face a very interesting test this Saturday, as they travel to Columbia to take on the undefeated Missouri Tigers. Missouri is guided by their NFL prospect quarterback, Drew Lock, who has put on a show in 2018, with 1,062 yards and 11 touchdowns so far on the season. Lock has a huge arm, and a top notch target to throw to in senior Emanuel Hall, with 460 yards on the season. Lock will be the biggest challenge this Georgia defense has faced since last year's Rose Bowl, when they struggled to contain Heisman winner Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma. Even so, this Bulldogs defense should be up to the task, with a number of physical defenders in the front seven and a number of veterans on the back-end, headed by shutdown corner Deandre Baker. Lock has proven to be turnover prone throughout his career, which could be especially concerning for Mizzou against a UGA defense that knows how to force turnovers and capitalize on them. The Tigers' defense will also be up for a tall order against a Georgia offense that looks even better than it was in 2017. Sophomore quarterback Jake Fromm has been able to get the ball down the field more effectively this season, and he has some really potent playmakers, namely Mecole Hardman and Terry Godwin. With those weapons on the outside opening things up, and backs D'Andre Swift and Brian Herrien punching up the middle, Missouri's defense is going to be stretched very thin. Missouri head coach Barry Odom was a former linebacker for the Tigers, but he still has yet to rebuild on that side of the ball, as they are letting up 380 yards per game against meager competition. Georgia is going to put up points here, even in such a difficult environment. Lock may be able to keep Mizzou in the mix here, but I just don't smell an upset coming. I like the Bulldogs to continue their push towards another division title.
The Pick: Georgia, 35 Missouri, 21

Other Picks
(#17) TCU @ Texas: Texas, 28 TCU, 27
(#14) Mississippi State @ Kentucky: Mississippi State, 37 Kentucky, 28
Arkansas @ (#9) Auburn: Auburn, 42 Arkansas, 20
Florida @ Tennessee: Florida, 24 Tennessee, 21
(#18) Wisconsin @ Iowa: Wisconsin, 34 Iowa, 28

Current Picks Record: 17-7

Post-Week Three College Football Power Rankings

Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

1. Alabama Crimson Tide -- There is still plenty of tough SEC opponents to evade en route to another shot at a National Title, but the Tide look nearly unstoppable. This could be the best offense Nick Saban has had since arriving in Tuscaloosca a decade ago.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes -- With balance and depth throughout their lineup, the Buckeyes may be the biggest threat to Alabama in the entire country. New QB Dwayne Haskins has played like a serious Heisman threat, and the return of Urban Meyer on the sideline should only help OSU.
3. Georgia Bulldogs -- Middle Tennessee was no match for Georgia this weekend, as the Bulldogs rolled to a decisive 49-7 victory. A tough road game against Missouri looms, but UGA still looks like the overwhelming favorite in the mediocre SEC East.
4. Clemson Tigers -- The Tigers are the overwhelming favorites in the ACC right now, and a close road win against Texas A&M should boost their resume. With that being said, Clemson does not play a ranked team the rest of the way, with the lone exception being Boston College. That could certainly hurt their Playoff chances down the line.
5. LSU Tigers -- Despite entering the year with serious questions about their offense and the future of the program, LSU is currently the only team in the nation with two Top 10 victories to their name. Four ranked opponents still await, but the Tigers have clearly alerted the conference that they are ready to contend for a conference title.
6. Oklahoma Sooners -- The Sooners have not played the most difficult schedule in college football (their opponents are a combined 2-6) but their offense has still looked lethal. The loss of back Rodney Anderson for the season hurts, but OU is still the favorite in the Big 12.
7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- They aren't blowing out opponents, but Notre Dame has still looked quite strong en route to a 3-0 start. Defensively, new coordinator Clark Lea has possibly even been an improvement over Mike Elko, now with Texas A&M.
8. Stanford Cardinal -- Even though reigning Heisman runner-up Bryce Love has not been up to his usual tricks, the Cardinal still look like quite the Playoff threat. QB K.J. Costello continues to improve, and the defense has been resurgent following a tough 2017.
9. Penn State Nittany Lions -- After a narrow win against Appalachian State to begin the season, the Nittany Lions have not missed a beat, posting totals of 51 and 63 points. A scary late September and early October stretch should decide whether PSU is ready to truly contend for a Big Ten title, or simply a pretender at this point.
10. Auburn Tigers -- Auburn was unable to get the job done at home this Saturday, losing in a thriller to LSU. However, the Tigers still remain a very real threat in the SEC West, with a veteran QB and a defensive front as good as anybody's in the country.
11. Washington Huskies -- After losing their season opener to Auburn, Washington has looked strong the last two weeks. They went into Salt Lake City and overpowered a good Utah team, guided by a defense that has been terrific all year long.
12. West Virginia Mountaineers -- The Mountaineers' game with NC State was cancelled this past week, which may not be a bad thing for WVU, who would've had to go on the road against a strong Wolfpack squad. Opening Big 12 play against Kansas State should be a breeze for WVU, who continues to look superb offensively.
13. Mississippi State Bulldogs -- With Alabama, LSU and Auburn getting most of the attention in the SEC West, Mississippi State has slid into their usual spot as the division's dark horse, but they should not be overlooked. New head coach Joe Moorhead has the offense chugging along, and the defense could be one of the nation's most underrated units.
14. Oklahoma State Cowboys -- This was supposed to be a rebuilding season in Stillwater, but that certainly has not been the case early on. The 'Pokes looked wonderful in a home victory against one of the best Group of Five teams in the entire country, Boise State. They look like they could start the season 9-0 before they hit the bulk of their schedule, which will feature three straight games against ranked opponents.
15. UCF Knights -- The reigning "National Champions" have yet to face a big-time opponent, but that hasn't stopped UCF from impressing. Big-armed QB McKenzie Milton has been absolutely terrific, and the defense appears like they have moved on quickly from their heart and soul, former linebacker Shaquem Griffin.
16. Virginia Tech Hokies -- Virginia Tech's season-opening beatdown of Florida State looked extremely impressive at the time, but the win has soured over time. FSU doesn't look like a threat in the conference whatsoever, meaning VT still is searching for a signature win. Even so, with how weak the ACC Coastal looks, the Hokies should be in a good spot.
17. Wisconsin Badgers -- Despite playing in front of their home crowd, Wisconsin looked flat and unmotivated in a bad loss to BYU. Even so, the Badgers are a tentative favorite in the Big Ten West, thanks to losses by a number of teams in the division, namely Nebraska, Purdue and Northwestern.
18. TCU Horned Frogs -- TCU did come up short this past Saturday against Ohio State, but their performance was actually very impressive, as they competed with Ohio State for nearly the entire 60 minutes. QB Shawn Robinson has the offense rolling, and the Horned Frogs could make the case for the best defense in the Big 12, despite an off-showing against the Buckeyes.
19. Oregon Ducks -- New head coach Mario Cristobal has Oregon off to a hot 3-0 start, but none of their victories have been against Power Five competition, and they looked underwhelming this past weekend against San Jose State. Even so, a battle with Stanford awaits, and a win there would likely assert the Ducks as the favorite in the wide-open Pac-12.
20. Texas A&M Aggies -- A&M was unable to get a signature win over Clemson at home two weekends ago, but the fact the Aggies gave the Tiger such a challenge will actually likely earn them more respect with the Playoff Committee. The question is: can they compete this weekend with Alabama, but actually come out on top?
21. Michigan Wolverines -- The Wolverines have recovered nicely from their loss to Notre Dame on the season's first week, but pounding Western Michigan and SMU isn't going to silence any doubters of UM and Jim Harbaugh. This Saturday's meeting with Nebraska and Scott Frost will really tell us what this Wolverines' squad is actually capable of in 2018.
22. Iowa Hawkeyes -- Quietly, Iowa has been playing superb football to open up 2018 3-0, which included a solid non-conference win over arch rival Iowa State. The defense will have to play well once again this weekend, as the collision with Wisconsin could end up deciding the division.
23. Miami Hurricanes -- Much like Michigan, Miami has done a pretty fine job recovering from a rough performance the first week of the season. The defense has been strong and the offense has its moments, but is veteran QB Malik Rosier really the guy to lead this team to an ACC Title? It is something Mark Richt has to consider as the schedule heats up.
24. Michigan State Spartans -- MSU still remains a factor in the Big Ten despite a non-conference loss on the road to Arizona State, but things will not be easy. The offense, expected to be one of the best in the Mark Dantonio era, has been flat and lacking big plays. Unless that changes, any hopes of returning to Big Ten Title conversations are unrealistic.
25. Missouri Tigers -- With Florida and Tennessee still clearly rebuilding, Missouri looks ready to be Georgia's biggest challenger in the SEC East. QB Drew Lock has picked up right where he left off in 2017, with 11 touchdowns early on. The Tigers have already beat two strong non-conference foes in Wyoming and Purdue.

Others to Consider
Duke Blue Devils
Boise State Broncos
Boston College Eagles
Kentucky Wildcats
Texas Longhorns
BYU Cougars
Colorado Buffaloes
Syracuse Orange

College Football Picks 2018: Week Three

(#4) Ohio State Buckeyes vs. (#15) TCU Horned Frogs (neutral site)

J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State

After pounding Oregon State and Rutgers to begin 2018, fourth-ranked Ohio State gets their toughest test of the season in the form of TCU, who has also rolled in their first two games. The two teams will collide in AT&T Stadium, both with Playoff aspirations in the back of their mind. This will be the last game for the Buckeyes before Urban Meyer returns from suspension, and it will certainly be no breeze. TCU has plenty of explosive weapons to work with, headlined by do-it-all wide out KaVontae Turpin and young QB Shawn Robinson, who leads the team in passing and rushing. Robinson has looked good replacing last year's starter, Kenny Hill, but he faces an Ohio State defense with a ferocious pass rush and experience in the secondary. TCU's offensive line is solid, but can they keep Robinson upright against Nick Bosa and company? If not, the Horned Frogs could definitely struggle to find any offensive rhythm, especially for an offense not known for being very balanced. The hope is that a physical TCU defense can do the same thing to Ohio State's own signal-caller, Dwayne Haskins. Haskins has looked superb over the first two games, but this is the defense he has seen as the Buckeyes starter. Playmaking defenders like Ben Banogu will constantly hound Haskins, but this Buckeyes' O-Line seems to be in better shape than the TCU front. Yet, it may not be Haskins at all leading the way offensively for OSU, but instead their 1-2 punch at tailback, with Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins. The pair has looked unstoppable for much of the first few weeks, and the Horned Frogs defense is okay, but far from a strength. With TCU wary of Haskins' arm strength and the deep throw, this ground attack could have some major success. It will be intriguing to see what the environment ends up being like here. This is essentially a home game for TCU (College GameDay will be on their campus), but the Buckeyes always travel well, and they should be motivated for this game. Even if the "home" fans can give the Horned Frogs a lift, I still lean Ohio Stat here. They've looked nearly flawless early on, not missing a beat without Urban, and they can hurt you in so many ways. Unless Robinson can somehow manage the game of his life against a top-notch defense, the Buckeyes should be able to boost their Playoff resume with a victory here.
The Pick: Ohio State, 35 TCU, 21

(#12) LSU Tigers @ (#7) Auburn Tigers
While the Big Ten East may have something to say about it, the SEC West has looked like the best division in college football over the season's first two weeks. Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Mississippi State could all be Playoff threats, and Texas A&M and Ole Miss have impressed as well. The division will start to figure itself out this weekend, with LSU going into Jordan-Hare to meet Auburn in what should be a typical hard-hitting SEC battle. LSU opened up their 2018 with a surprisingly dominant showing against Miami, but they are still not without questions. Quarterback Joe Burrow, an Ohio State grad transfer, has impressed, but the passing game still doesn't exactly strike fear into opponents. Running back Nick Brossette has impressed in replacing the departed Derrius Guice, but he will have to run against an Auburn defensive front that is as good as anybody in the entire country. LSU must find a way to block a defensive line that includes guys like Derrick Brown and Dontavius Russell, two All-American talents. It will be an interesting challenge for this LSU offense, but their defense should be able to keep them in it no matter what. They are led by one of the country's premier linebackers, Devin White, along with a stingy secondary that knows how to force turnovers. Jarrett Stidham and the Auburn offense looked pretty good against Washington in their opener, but this LSU defense is a little bit more physical and slightly more experienced. Stidham has been known to get turnover-prone when you get in his face, so LSU DC Dave Aranda should bring the heat early and often here. Auburn's offensive line is still reloading after being hit hard by attrition over the off-season, so they could be in store for a tough week blocking LSU. It is still hard to get a read on just how good LSU is right now; there is no denying their talent and their season-opening win was as impressive as you can get. With that being said, I just can't imagine them going on the road and beating Auburn just yet. There are still too many questions about the LSU offense, and Gus Malzahn should be creative in how he attacks the other side of the ball, giving Auburn yet another impressive early-season victory.
The Pick: Auburn, 26 LSU, 20

(#17) Boise State Broncos @ (#24) Oklahoma State Cowboys
Despite playing in the WAC and Mountain West for years, Boise State is no stranger to facing big-time opponents in the non-conference and they get just that this weekend on the road against Oklahoma State. The Cowboys are still figuring things out offensively without QB Mason Rudolph and wide out James Washington, but that hasn't stifled them too much, as they are still averaging 56.5 PPG, albeit against weak competition. Former walk-on Taylor Cornelius has had some ups-and-downs as the Cowboys' starter early, and he faces a challenge against a deep and veteran-laden Boise State defense. He'll need help from a rebuilding offensive line and one of the country's most underrated backs, explosive Justice Hill. Boise is a much more physical team than most of the teams Oklahoma State faces in the Big 12, so it should be an interesting challenge for Mike Gundy and this OSU staff. The Cowboys should still be able to put up points, but the long-time challenge for them has been stopping their opponent from doing just the same. The Broncos have not missed a beat offensively over the first two weekends, as veteran QB Brett Rypien has played terrific and a number of playmakers have emerged. This is an incredibly balanced Boise offense that doesn't turn the ball over, which is a major concern for an Oklahoma State defense that needs to force turnovers to have any chance. OSU will likely try to dial up the blitz to make Rypien off-balance, but the four-year starter doesn't get rattled by much. Even with UCF still undefeated and eager to prove last year was no fluke, I firmly believe Boise State is the top Group of Five team in the nation in 2018. Going into Stillwater to face a solid Cowboys team is no easy task, but the Broncos are so talented and so experienced. They should be able to come away with a huge road victory here, in a game sure to keep the scoreboard operators quite busy.
The Pick: Boise State, 45 Oklahoma State, 37

Other Picks
Vanderbilt @ (#8) Notre Dame: Notre Dame, 31 Vanderbilt, 17
(#5) Oklahoma @ Iowa State: Oklahoma, 44 Iowa State, 35
(#22) USC @ Texas: Texas, 28 USC, 24
(#1) Alabama @ Ole Miss: Alabama, 34 Ole Miss, 30
(#10) Washington @ Utah: Washington, 35 Utah, 33

College Football Picks 2018: Week Two

Jake Fromm, Georgia

(#3) Georgia Bulldogs @ (#24) South Carolina Gamecocks
The SEC East race takes center stage as the division's favorite, Georgia, goes on the road against their biggest challenger, South Carolina. The Bulldogs had no troubles in their opener, rolling to a 45-0 victory over an FCS foe, Austin Peay. South Carolina will obviously present quite a different challenge, as their physical defensive front and swarming secondary will be difficult to put up points on. Georgia will need a big game from quarterback Jake Fromm to open up this offense, because the Gamecocks' defense will likely stuff the box because of their fear of back D'Andre Swift. Fromm has plenty of help on the outside in the form of receivers Mecole Hardman and Demetris Robertson, but South Carolina knows how to turn the ball over and it is never easy to run an offense in a hostile environment on the road in the SEC. On the other side of the ball, the Georgia defense, which is still rebuilding from their losses in the off-sesason, will face a tough test. South Carolina has a gunslinger of their own in Jake Bentley, and one of the best playmakers in the conference, wide out Deebo Samuel. Samuel's explosiveness is detrimental to any defense, but the Bulldogs should be able to counter him with superb corner Deandre Baker and a number of other weapons on the back-end. The real important part of this game is going to be how South Carolina can run the football, something they have struggled with for a long time. The Bulldogs have proven they can stop the run, but they will have to stop back Rico Dowdle, who managed over 100 yards in the opener. This has a chance to be a huge trap game for a Georgia team with National Title aspirations, as going on the road in this conference is tough for anybody, let alone facing a Top 25 team. With that being said, I think UGA has enough to find a way to overcome the 'Cocks here. As long as they can stretch the field with some passing plays and open things up and not turn the ball over, they have the tools to take down South Carolina in what should be a very competitive game.
The Pick: Georgia, 28 South Carolina, 24

(#17) USC Trojans @ (#10) Stanford Cardinal
Conference play also heats up in the Pac-12, as one of the favorites in the North Division, Stanford, gets the favorite in the South, USC, at home. The Trojans were far from perfect in their season-opening victory against UNLV, but that was to be expected, as they break in a number of youngsters on both sides of the ball. True freshman J.T. Daniels is the most notable new face, as the talented young signal-caller faces off against an experienced and deep Stanford defense. Daniels will need a good showing from an inconsistent offensive line, which will have to deal with an aggressive Cardinal pass rush. USC is also hopeful they can open things up with the help of young wide out Amon-Ra St. Brown. A consensus five-star recruit, St. Brown had 98 receiving yards and a touchdown, and he could be in store for a big game without any Stanford corner that appears able to cover him. However, the big X-factor for this USC team will be a defense that was very underwhelming in the first week. The Trojans allowed 308 yards on the ground to a UNLV offense not known for being the most explosive. That porous rush defense will now have to deal with the reigning Heisman runner-up Bryce Love. Love struggled to find lanes in the opener, but he still is a player that absolutely gash defenses when he gets it going. Unless USC's rush defense suddenly turns it completely around in the span of a week, they could be in store for a really tough game. The Trojans must also find a way to get in the face of Stanford quarterback K.J. Costello. After a rocky first season as starter, Costello looked poised and confident in the Cardinal's win over San Diego State. Costello could be absolutely potent running the play action with how much USC will have to focus on what Love can do. By the end of the season, once they mature and grow, I think USC is going to be clearly the best team in the Pac-12 South. With that being said, they still have a ton of issues they have to figure out, and Daniels could be in store for a rude awakening in his conference debut. I just don't see this youthful team going on the road and beating a really strong Stanford squad.
The Pick: Stanford, 31 USC, 21

(#2) Clemson Tigers @ Texas A&M Aggies
UGA is not the only top team that has to go on the road this weekend against a sneaky SEC opponent, as the second-ranked Clemson Tigers have to travel to College Station and go up against Texas A&M. This is the first real test for a Clemson team with lofty expectations after they rolled through Furman 48-7 in the opener. Kelly Bryant is set to be the starter at quarterback, even though highly touted true freshman Trevor Lawrence saw a ton of snaps. There is a good chance we could see both again; Bryant utilized for his mobility and Lawrence for his huge arm. The two quarterback system could keep the Aggies' defense, led by former Notre Dame DC Mike Elko, off balance and work out in the Tigers favor. A&M will also have to find a way to contain speedy running back Travis Entienne and a host of dynamic receivers Clemson has to offer. However, the greatest challenge for this Aggies team will be dealing with Clemson's other-worldly defensive line. Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins and Austin Bryant are all primed and ready to cause chaos against an A&M offensive line that is inexperienced and still figuring out some starting spots. That line will also have to open up running lanes for star back Trayveon Williams, who had a splashing start to 2018 with 240 yards in their win over Northwestern State. Clemson's rush defense is good, but not great, so there are opportunities for Williams to carry on that momentum here. Though, the biggest hope for an upset is a huge performance from Kellen Mond at quarterback. He will have the home crowd behind him, and be playing a Clemson secondary still retooling in some spots. If he can stay on his feet and make some big throws, the Aggies certainly have a good chance at pulling off a big upset. Another thing to watch is the coaching factor here. Jimbo Fisher is now on the sidelines in College Station, and he knows plenty about Clemson and Dabo Swinney. It will be interesting if the Tigers try to be creative and change things up, or just stick with what has been working. I don't see the probability of an upset here being as high as the UGA-South Carolina duel, but this Aggies team looked superb in the opener (granted, against an FCS school). If they can keep the momentum going, I would not completely rule out the No. 2 team in the country faltering here.
The Pick: Clemson, 34 Texas A&M, 23

Other Picks
(#15) Michigan State @ Arizona State: Arizona State, 28 Michigan State, 27
(#13) Penn State @ Pittsburgh: Penn State, 38 Pittsburgh, 24
Kentucky @ (#25) Florida: Florida, 24 Kentucky, 21
Rutgers @ (#4) Ohio State: Ohio State, 52 Rutgers, 20
(#18) Mississippi State @ Kansas State: Mississippi State, 31 Kansas State, 17

Current Picks Record: 4-4

College Football 2018 Week One Reaction

Aaron Fuller, Washington

After a lengthy off-season, we were finally treated to five straight days of college football this past week and we learned quite a bit of things. There plenty of disappointing showings from big-time programs, while some smaller schools deserve recognition. We still obviously have plenty of time to sort out the Playoff, but the first week was still critical in helping determine the four-team field this winter.

There was no more disappointing offensive showing in the season's first week than Michigan's offense, which struggled to find any momentum in a 24-17 loss. All off-season, the hype surrounding new QB Shea Patterson was overwhelming, but the Ole Miss transfer had a rocky debut. It was not all his fault, to be fair, as he is dealing with the loss of one of UM's top receivers (Tarik Black, out for the year) and the offensive line had a terrible showing. With that being said, none of those issues are going to be solved in one week. This team is going to need some time to figure it out, and Patterson still needs to adjust to an offense much different than the one he ran at Ole Miss. I'm still a believer that Jim Harbaugh can bring Michigan back to an elite level nationally, but these are the types of games he has to win to do just that. It may have only been one game, but the Wolverines lackluster offensive output raises concerns that they'll be able to survive in college football's toughest division.

On the other side, fellow Big Ten East member Maryland had themselves a superb opener after a tough off-season. Motivated by the loss of deceased Jordan McNair, the Terrapins came out with a focus, and survived a late run by Texas to win 34-29. Interim head coach Matt Canada is eager to restore his reputation following a brutal one year experiment at LSU, and he was creative and innovative in how he attacked the Longhorns' defense, expected to be one of the best in the Big 12. Now, it will be interesting to see whether Maryland can continue that momentum one for an entire season, which they weren't able to do a year ago when they shocked the 'Horns. The key will be staying healthy; they lost two quarterbacks and plenty of other pieces within the first few weeks of the 2017 campaign. If they can do that, the opportunity is there for them to move up the ladder in the East, even with the powerhouse programs in front of them. Again, overreacting to one game is always dangerous, but the Terps look like they have the talent and versatility to be the Big Ten's most intriguing dark horse.

Even though they ended up losing, I was very impressed with Washington's performance in their opener against Auburn. The Huskies had to go basically on the road in Atlanta where the fans were mostly Tiger supporters and gave them a run for their money before faltering 21-16. The defense played pretty well for the most part, but the offensive performance was even more promising in my opinion, even though just 16 points were put on the board. The offensive line faced one of the best pass rushes in the entire country without their unquestioned leader, left tackle Trey Adams, and still managed to keep Jake Browning upright for much of the game. Also promising was the play of the receiver group, which was an issue in 2017. Aaron Fuller came out and looked like the top target, something they lacked so often a season ago. Even though they did lose, the Committee has to respect the fact that they scheduled a strong non-conference opponent and if they are able to run through the Pac-12, their Playoff hopes are still very much alive.

Maybe the most surprising showing of the entire weekend came on Labor Day, as Virginia Tech absolutely pummeled a Florida State breaking in the Willie Taggart era. The Hokies certainly were expected to be a major factor in the ACC, but a rebuilding defense and some questions on offense made it appear as though the opener against the Seminoles could be a tough one. However, the Hokies came out and put together a superb showing, holding FSU to just one single field goal. Defensive coordinator Bud Foster also managed to force five turnovers, and the thin secondary looked superb. On the other side, QB Josh Jackson, who was incredibly streaky throughout last season also looked much improved, and VT easily could've put up more than the 24 points they managed. With Miami and Florida State, the two teams expected to be the biggest challenger to Clemson in the conference underachieving in the first weekend, Virginia Tech now looks like the biggest threat to a fourth straight ACC Title for Clemson.

College Football Picks 2018: Week One

Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan

(#14) Michigan Wolverines @ (#12) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
College football is finally back, and with it comes one of the best rivalries in the sport: Michigan against Notre Dame. Both teams enter 2018 with plenty to prove: Michigan wants to prove last year's 8-5 record was simply a fluke and they have a legitimate Playoff-caliber team on deck, while ND is entering the year hoping for their first back-to-back double-digit win seasons since the early 1990s. Michigan will trot out one of the game's best defenses, led by a defensive front that includes All-American candidates Chase Winovich, Rashan Gary and Devin Bush. That front seven will counter an Irish ground game that was superb a season ago but must make do without leading rusher Josh Adams. With that in mind, Irish QB Brandon Wimbush is going to have to step up as a passer if ND wants to have any success moving the ball. Wimbush does have a strong arm and very capable receivers but Michigan DC Don Brown is an expert at making quarterbacks uncomfortable, and the Irish O-Line is rebuilding. If the offense does indeed struggle to put up points, the Irish hope they can fall back on their defense, which has plenty of its own talent. However, they are breaking in a new coordinator (former LBs coach Clark Lea) and its reasonable to expect some slight transition period for that unit. Wolverine fans are hopeful their own offense will find rhythm after having one of the Big Ten's least explosive groups last season. Shea Patterson has been receiving all the hype since arriving from Ole Miss, and he has talent to work with outside. If this offense can't get it going, its fair to wonder if any group under Harbaugh in Ann Arbor can. This is going to be a fun game between two pretty evenly matched opponents. Rivalry games are always interesting, but I think Michigan comes out and takes it. They have the defense to put them in good position every single game, and I really do think the offense will live up to the hype. A road victory against the nation's 12th team gives Harbaugh and the Wolverines a major Playoff boost right away.
The Pick: Michigan, 30 Notre Dame, 20

(#6) Washington Huskies vs. (#9) Auburn Tigers (neutral site)
While Michigan-Notre Dame will be huge, the biggest game of the weekend has to be the Chick-fil-A kickoff between the Pac-12 favorite, Washington, and an Auburn team with lofty expectations of their own. The Huskies have all the pieces back offensively to be absolutely potent on that side of the ball but it will be interesting to see which Jake Browning comes out at quarterback. Browning was a little bit off a year ago but if he returns to his 2016 form, UW is every bit a legit National Title threat. Running back Myles Gaskin will take some pressure off Browning as will a good offensive line, but he will still have to face off against an Auburn D-Line that is loaded with talent and getting better. The Tigers defensively still are vastly underrated, and they should be able to hang with Washington in that aspect. On the other side of the ball, Auburn signal-caller Jarrett Stidham goes up against a Husky secondary with all four starters back, namely shutdown corner Byron Murphy and game-changing safety Taylor Rapp. That will be a stiff challenge for the second-year starter, but he does have the advantage of a veteran receiver corps to throw to. An interesting part of this game to watch will be the coaching duel. Chris Petersen and Gus Malzahn are two of the best in the business, but Petersen is breaking in a new defensive coordinator and Malzahn may have some tricks up his sleeve for the opener. This is a huge, huge game for not only Washington but all of the Pac-12; a loss here and the conference's Playoff hopes become seriously diminished, no matter what the Huskies do the rest of the way. Petersen is usually a good bet for a win in an opener, but this game is right in Auburn's backyard and they should be motivated following a stunning loss in last year's Peach Bowl. I like the Tigers in a close, back-and-forth thriller.
The Pick: Auburn, 31 Washington, 27


(#8) Miami Hurricanes vs. (#25) LSU Tigers (Sunday, neutral site)
The fun doesn't simply end Saturday, as we will see college football on Sunday and Labor Day this year, and some really good football at that. Miami hopes to have a big encore for last season's breakthrough that saw the "Turnover Chain" become one of the biggest phenomenons in the sport. They will look awfully similar to that 2017 team in this opener, with veteran QB Malik Rosier leading the offense, although a healthy Ahmmon Richards at receiver will be huge. Rosier is an interesting player to watch here. The senior has the talent to be a top-end quarterback but he still struggles with turnovers and he'll be facing a feisty LSU secondary that includes my projected Jim Thorpe Award winner, corner Greedy Williams. Miami's average ground game must also deal with a very strong LSU defensive front, which includes tackling machine Devin White. Even so, Mark Richt is a great coach and Miami is a balanced, skilled offense. They should find ways to put up points on the scoreboard. That will be the challenge for the Tigers, whose longtime offensive woes are once again the X-factor for this season. Head coach Ed Orgeron is hopeful Ohio State transfer Joe Burrow can be the solution at quarterback, but he doesn't have his usual star tailback to fall back on as senior Nick Brossette, who is untested, is the slated feature back. With that being said, LSU may have their best receiver group since Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry were on campus, and the Hurricanes' secondary is recovering from some losses in the off-season. I've gone back and forth on this one, but I'll stick with Miami to get the job done in this neutral site duel in Arlington. LSU has the talent to be a Top 10 team and the defense won't give the 'Canes any thing easy but Burrow will have to adjust to this offense, and the Miami defense is no pushover.
The Pick: Miami, 24 LSU, 17

Other Picks
(#20) Virginia Tech @ (#19) Florida State: FSU, 28 VT, 23
Louisville vs. (#1) Alabama (neutral site): Alabama, 38 Louisville, 20
Oregon State @ (#5) Ohio State: Ohio State, 45 Oregon State, 13
(#17) West Virginia vs. Tennessee (neutral site): WVU, 38 Tennessee, 24
BYU @ Arizona: Arizona, 35 BYU, 22

Current Picks Record: 0-0