#NicksPicks originated on the campus of Ohio University with a college student who simply believed they were very good at picking College Football games straight up. After a year hiatus, Nick has brought back his patented Saturday morning over-a-cup-of-coffee-rapid-fire picks. Got it? Good. Grab your mug and let’s get our Saturday rolling!
Season: 44-33 (57%) | Last Week: 6-2
The November chaos is coming. Michigan State could easily have three losses by the end of the month, Cincinnati may close the door themselves for the Committee, heck Auburn may even play themselves into the playoff picture with wins over Texas A&M, Alabama, and then Georgia. Oh boy it’s time for the real refining to begin and November means it’s time to pick any game with a sniff of impacting the College Football Playoff picture. It’s go time ya’ll!
12pm
Missouri @ 1 Georgia (-38.5) | O/U 59.5
Georgia will not be challenged until Atlanta. Let’s just say it as it is. The looming question remains at Quarterback. Stetson Bennett is getting the job done and is frankly completing passes at an unreal rate but will this style hold up against Alabama in a month’s time?
Georgia 45-13 | ATS: No play
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5 Ohio State (-14.5) @ Nebraska | O/U 67.5
Why are the Buckeyes only two touchdown favorites you ask? Nebraska is a much better team run they record would indicate and are already 2021’s one score-loss King. Ohio State didn’t push around Penn State nearly as much as anticipated last week and I’m not certain they will have their way with the Huskers either. Nebraska keeps it close and shows Scott Frost is deserving of another year.
Ohio State 38-27 | ATS: Nebraska +14.5
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9 Wake Forest @ North Carolina (-2.5) | O/U 77
A P5 top-10 team as underdogs on the road at a 4-4 foe? There’s a lot to process here. Back to the basics. Wake has benefitted from a weak schedule, a weak ACC, and some quite frankly lucky breaks to this point. It begins to unravel in Chapel Hill. The Heels are talented, showed a lot of fight on the road in South Bend last week, and will be ready to go for this in-state bout. It’s like they always say: Vegas has the right team favored.
North Carolina 41-35 | ATS: UNC ML
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SMU (-4.5) @ Memphis | O/U 70.5
Sonny Dykes to TCU? Mustangs distracted after a brutal late-game loss to a solid Houston team last week? Cincinnati needs a good SMU showing here and that’s why it’s on our board. I like the Stangs in a very close fashion.
SMU 35-34 | ATS: Memphis +4.5
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3:30pm
3 Michigan State (-3) @ Purdue | O/U 53.5
The Purdue Spoilermakers aren’t going to do it again are they? Oh yes, yes they are. The spot feels too right, Michigan State continues to exceed expectations, and November is coming for these remaining undefeated teams. Purdue has their way with the poor Michigan State secondary and Kenneth Walker is held to just two scores (lol). Purdue because why not.
Purdue 28-27 | ATS: Purdue +3
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Tulsa @ 6 Cincinnati (-22.5) | O/U 55
College Gameday rolls into Cincinnati for the first time on Saturday despite the CFP Committee rankings the Bearcats at #6. UC needs chaos and today may be the perfect storm assuming they can hold up their end of the bargain. Bearcats will be locked in, juiced, and Luke Fickell’s team will look much more like last year’s team who throttled lesser opponents. Gotta have a massive win here.
Cincinnati 42-14 | ATS: No play
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Navy @ 10 Notre Dame (-21) | O/U 47.5
#10 Notre Dame don’t have a realistic path back to the Playoffs, right? It surely doesn’t seem like it, but once again this is another team that must keep winning for Cincinnati to stand a fighting chance. The Fighting Irish are quietly getting better and better and I expect Kyren Williams and co. to get it done. Love the Irish and want no part of this ATS.
Notre Dame 31-14 | ATS: No play
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11 Oklahoma State (-3.5) @ West Virginia | O/U 49
How many upsets can I pick on the first Saturday in November? As many as I dang well please! Oklahoma State’s pretending ends in Morgantown. All paths lead to country roads.
West Virginia 27-21 | ATS: WVU +3.5
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12 Baylor (-7) @ TCU | O/U 58
Baylor joins the list of teams with everything in front of them in November and this is a classic look-ahead spot with a hot-date with Oklahoma looking next week. Luckily for the Bears, the Horned Frogs will be anything but focused with the sudden departure of program legend Gary Patterson. Dave Aranda continues to get it done and all eyes will be on Waco next week.
Baylor 31-23 | ATS: No play
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13 Auburn @ 14 Texas A&M (-4.5)| O/U 49.5
There are a handful of teams that truly control their chance at the CFP and heck Auburn is one of them. The two-loss Tigers control their destiny in the SEC West and would boast wins over A&M, Alabama, and Georgia en route to the Playoffs as the first two-loss team to break into the the final four. Seems highly unlikely especially with the Aggies coming off a bye week preceded by their best football of the year. Everything scream the Aggies here but I’m a believer of Harsin, Nix, and the idea that this Auburn team is already playing with house money.
Auburn 28-27 | ATS: Auburn +4.5
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7:00pm
LSU @ 2 Alabama (-28.5) | O/U 67
Alabama by a million. LSU has talent. Not nearly enough. Alabama covers. It’s just math.
Alabama 49-14 | ATS: Bama -28.5
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7:30pm
4 Oregon (-7) @ Washington | O/U 51
What does the PAC-12 do? Whatever is worst for its conference and their national image. Oregon has been sleepwalking and begging for a second bad loss for over a month and despair whatever the committee kinda sorta thinks about the Ducks—it’s over.
Washington 26-24 | ATS: Wash +7
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Indiana @ 7 Michigan (-20.5) | O/U 51
After blowing a 16 point lead last week I expect Michigan’s schedule to take care of any remaining outside playoff chances, but not here. Michigan runs the football like they do and Indiana does what 2021 does.
Michigan 35-17 | ATS: Who cares?
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Clemson (-4) @ Louisville | O/U 46
Do we trust either one of these teams? Absolutely not! I know I’ve been extremely low on the Cards this year (5-7 preseason prediction 🥵) and I really want to trust the good recruiting vibes to carry the birds to a needed victory…but it’s still Clemson. Much like against Kentucky in recent years, when I see I’ll believe it. It’ll be ugly. They’ll be plenty of turnovers, Malik will still ball out, but the Cards will come up short—again. Holy Spirit activate.
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