The penultimate week of the college football season is almost always the worst of the entire year due to the scheduled byes the SEC throws in at the end of the season. I am so<\/i> excited for the SEC to finally implement its nine-game conference schedule so we don\u2019t have to sit through Texas A&M vs. Samford at the absolute climax of college football.<\/p>\n
Before anyone gets angry, I\u2019m perfectly fine with teams throwing cupcakes on their schedule. I just don\u2019t want to see those cupcakes when every other power conference is deep in the heart of their league slates. And honestly, the SEC better put up a better fight against the Big Ten this bowl season \u2014 if they struggle again, the whole \u201cSEC gauntlet\u201d narrative is really going to start losing its luster.<\/p>\n
Rant aside, let\u2019s get to the picks for the very few ranked games we have this week.<\/p>\n
#22 Missouri vs. #8 Oklahoma (-7.5) \u2014 Total: 42.5<\/h2>\n
There\u2019s been no team I\u2019ve believed in more this season than Missouri. They\u2019ve been so<\/i> close to a season-defining upset, and this feels like the perfect time to finally get one. Oklahoma is riding sky-high after a massive win in Tuscaloosa last week, and that sets up an enormous letdown spot here.<\/p>\n
Oklahoma\u2019s defense is obviously elite, but my biggest takeaway from last week was Alabama constantly shooting itself in the foot. If Beau Pribula can simply play a clean game, Mizzou can lean on Ahmad Hardy in the run game, go into Norman, and pull off the upset.<\/p>\n
I love Missouri and the over in this spot.<\/p>\n
Picks: Missouri (+7.5) and Over 42.5<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/section>\n Our Current Best Offers<\/span><\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n T&Cs apply, 18+<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 2<\/p>\n T&Cs apply, 18+<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 3<\/p>\n T&Cs apply, 18+<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 4<\/p>\n T&Cs apply, 18+<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n The crown jewel of the week<\/a> is a de facto playoff game. USC and Oregon \u2014 former Pac-12 powers \u2014 both control their own destiny. Win this game and you\u2019re basically punching your playoff ticket, as neither faces anything daunting in the final week.<\/p>\n In recent weeks I\u2019ve identified trap lines and still fallen for them. Not doing that this time. Even though USC is catching a ton of points, and even though the total feels high for an Oregon offense that hasn\u2019t always been consistent, I\u2019m going to use my gambling brain and not overthink it.<\/p>\n Dante Moore had his best performance of the year last week against a solid Minnesota team. If he can carry that momentum over, I think Oregon can outpace USC in a shootout.<\/p>\n Pick: Oregon (-10.5)<\/strong> Our Current Best Offers<\/span><\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n T&Cs apply, 18+<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 2<\/p>\n T&Cs apply, 18+<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 3<\/p>\n T&Cs apply, 18+<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 4<\/p>\n T&Cs apply, 18+<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n This is one you simply don\u2019t overthink.<\/p>\n Despite a decent record, Cincinnati is not very good. They\u2019ve padded their wins against the bottom tier<\/a> of the Big 12 and been blown out whenever they face anyone competent.<\/p>\n BYU was wildly disrespected last week, favored by just 2.5 against a TCU team they crushed at home. TCU is still better than Cincinnati \u2014 so why wouldn\u2019t BYU roll again here? They\u2019ve picked up a few solid road wins already, and this should be another.<\/p>\n Take BYU, and maybe even look at an alternate spread.<\/p>\n Pick: BYU (-2.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n 2025 Record:<\/strong> 36\u201336<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Our Current Best Offers<\/span><\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n T&Cs apply, 18+<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Underdog\"](\"https:\/\/deadspin.com\/casinos-logos\/350x350\/Underdog-ffffff.png\")
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#15 USC vs. #7 Oregon (-10.5) \u2014 Total: 59.5<\/h2>\n
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#11 BYU (-2.5) vs. Cincinnati \u2014 Total: 54.5<\/h2>\n
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