Week 14: The Picks are in!

By Kyle Magin
Going to be in attendance at the Nevada-Boise State game today with a share of the Mountain West title on the line and the last chance of seeing this pretty good rivalry for a while as the Broncos have decided to board the Titanic Big East. There are all sorts of great games today, so if it's shitty weather where you are, bundle up on the couch and grab your remote. Follow me at @kmagin50 on Instagram for some pics from the game.

Kyle says...
Last week: 2-2
This season: 25-18-1

Texas @ Kansas State -11
Texas looked anything but convincing in their loss to TCU, and I still think this is a rudderless ship. Optimus Klein, however, is making his last push for the Heisman that national pundits are seemingly more comfortable giving to Johnny Football, so I'd look for KSU to really step on the gas early. Wildcats cover. 

Boise @ Nevada +8.5
As I said, the Broncos line up today with a chance at a share of the Mountain West title on the line. There's nothing the Wolfpack and its faithful followers would love better than to sneeze in smurf soup as Boise heads for the exit, so look for a wild crowd in a nationally televised game. I'm not sure the Pack have enough to win—Boise specializes in limiting your possessions—but I think Chris Ault has enough to be great. Wolfpack cover. 

Alabama -7.5 vs. Georgia +7.5 (Atlanta)
Aaron Murray is by far the better quarterback than A.J. McCarron in the SEC title game in the Georgia Dome. But, I'd give the nod to Nick Saban's defense in preparing for the Dawgs. Bama's offense will go into management mode and win, but Georgia covers. 

Nebraska -3.5 vs. Wisconsin
Nebraska's offense is just so, so much more dynamic than Wisconsin's. The Badgers get bucked and Nebraska covers. 

Week 13: The picks are in!

By Kyle Magin

We're here at the end of things, this woefully short regular season. League titles have been sewed up or are about to be culminated, berths to lucrative bowls are on the line, and for the first time in 24 seasons, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are standing on the precipice of a national title berth. Let's get to the day's slate, shall we?

Kyle says...

Last week: 1-3

This season: 23-16-1

Michigan @ Ohio State -4

The Buckeyes are playing angry this season, and I've every reason to expect that deadbeat father excellent motivator Urban Meyer is ready to test Michigan's line play on both sides of the ball. This will mean a lot of pressure on Devin Gardner/Denard Robinson in the pocket, and that hasn't worked so well for Michigan this year. The Buckeyes cover the spread.

Oregon @ Oregon State +10

The Beavers have been very solid on both sides of the ball this year and control time of possession very effectively. With Oregon's many injuries and limited possessions to work with, Oregon State beats the spread in a knock-down drag-out. (though maybe not the Ducks)

Florida @ Florida State -7

Word has it Jimbo Fisher is looking around for a new job, and when that happens, coaches tend to have their mind set on making a great impression and get their team ready accordingly. With Florida's Jeff Driskel hurting but playing, look for FSU's fearsome D-Line to bring down the hammer early and often in an attempt to knock him out. Florida State covers. 

Notre Dame -6 @ Southern Cal

I don't buy that USC will be even comparable offensively without Matt Barkley at the helm. Their defense will see way too much of the field in ND's coronation tonight. The Irish cover. 

Big Tex says...

Last week: 4-2

This season: 20-17

Illinois @ Northwestern -19. 

Wildcats cover. 

Florida +7 @ Florida State

Gators beat the spread. 

Air Force @ Fresno State -16.5

Fresno covers. 

Idaho @ Utah State -37

USU covers. 

Virginia @ Virginia Tech -9.5

Hokies cover. 

Oregon @ Oregon State +10
Beavers beat the spread. 

Week 12: The picks are in!

By Kyle Magin

Kyle says...

This season: 22-13-1

Last week: 2-1-1

Oklahoma -12 @ West Virginia

The Sooners get all over a WVU defense that hasn't been able to stop far inferior offenses all year. Sooners cover. 

USC -4 @ UCLA

As much as UCLA has come on this season, you're going to see one fully formed offense run by USC and one still at its early stages for the Bruins in the Rose Bowl today. U of Spoiled Children covers. 

Ohio State +2 @ Wisconsin

Braxton Miller can make things happen after plays break down, and I don't believe in the second and third levels of this Wisconsin defense enough to trust them when that happens. OSU beats the spread. 

Stanford @ Oregon -20

The Ducks can smell their berth to the title game now, and Stanford will be another in a long line of victims along the way. Oregon covers. 

Big Tex says...

This season: 16-15

Last week: Idle

Kent State +3 @ Bowling Green

Washington -20 @ Colorado

Clemson -16.5 @ NC State

Ole Miss +19 @ LSU

Kansas State -12.5 @ Baylor

Stanford +20 @ Oregon

Week 11: The picks are in!

By Kyle Magin

This season: 20-12
Last week: Idle

Northwestern +8.5 @ Michigan
Vegas wants you, badly, to bet on Michigan, tightening the line up by a full point in the last day. If they play mistake-free football, Michigan covers easily. But, when's the last time they played mistake-free football? Take Northwestern to beat the spread. 

Texas A&M @ Alabama -14
I believe in Johnny Manziel. I just believe in Nick Saban a whole lot more. The Tide D-line minimizes Manziel's scrambling ability and leave a doable job for an unusually shaky Tide defensive backfield. Alabama covers. 

Oregon State +4 @ Stanford 
The battle for the Pac 12 North is a slugfest, but Oregon State keeps any margin of victory razor-thin in Palo Alto tonight. The Beavers beat the spread. 

Kansas State -6.5 @ TCU
Colin Klein and the Cats cover. 

Week 11: We're baaaack

By Kyle Magin

Wow, been awhile. It's nice to see you again. I missed you. Let's reacquaint ourselves in a comfortable manner. 

There. We're back at it, so what say we dive into a few of this week's key matchups? Hopefully we'll get back to a regular posting schedule this weekend. 

Northwestern @ Michigan -9.5

On the surface this is a very attractive line. Northwestern struggles passing the ball and is really in no shape to get into a shooting match with the Wolverines, who have the superior defense and slightly, although only incrementally, superior passing game. Both rushing attacks are deadly effective. Northwestern's key to closing the gap and covering or potentially winning will be its ability to force turnovers—27 total this season—and Michigan's propensity for losing the ball. That said, if UM gets up early, NW just doesn't have the horses to come back. 

Oregon State @ Stanford -4

Stanford does very little well except stopping you from scoring. Oregon State does that, and QB Sean Mannion excels at finding his targets deep downfield to hurt you. He's a gunslinger, with 8 TDs and 8 INTs, but does as good a job as anyone in the country of moving his team into scoring position. 

Texas A&M vs. Alabama -14

Alabama, in due deference to Denard Robinson, has not seen a quarterback with the skill set and accuracy of A&M's Johnny Manziel. Manziel, though, has seen defenses slightly below Alabama's lofty stature—LSU and Florida—and fared pretty poorly. The key for Alabama will be containing the edges and making Manziel beat you with his arm. He can do that, but it limits his fantastic ability to create on the run, and I'd never bet against a bunch of defensive backs coached by Saban losing more than just a few battles downfield. Manziel goes for 12.4-plus yards per completion, but he can pretty much rule out his fantastic running game getting their usual 250-plus yards per game. If Manziel can find his targets downfield, Alabama's A.J. McCarron will need to find his stride again after stumbling against an arguably comparable defense last week in LSU. He's got a strong running game to keep some of the heat off, but two touchdowns might be outside the realm of possibility if the Aggies can take a shot and stay on their feet. 

Penn State @ Nebraska -4

Penn State is dangerous, and playing spoiler on Nebraska's march toward the B1G title game this weekend. The Lions have struggled against mobile quarterbacks this year, though. 

Week 8: The picks are in! The picks are in!

By TNG Staff

Sorry, another in a string of analysis-free posts. The Tigers are going to the World Series, what can I say? I've been distracted. Let's get to it.

Kyle says...

This season: 17-11

Last week: 2-2

Not the best outcome last week, but you didn't lose money betting with me and you're up on the season.

Nebraska @ Northwestern +7

The Huskers' D has another thing coming if they think they'll shut down the Wildcats attack. Get down to the book and lay the Cats to keep it thisclose, if not win. Northwestern beats the spread. 

BYU @ Notre Dame -13

Robbed of their ability to throw a changeup when freshman QB Taysom Hill went down, the Riley Nelson-led BYU offense won't be able to give the Irish front line enough different looks to hold them off. ND covers easily. 

Stanford -3 @ Cal

Cal has improved since we last covered them here, but never underestimate Tedford's ability to blow a big game. Stanford covers in Berkeley. 

Michigan State +9 @ Michigan

The Spartan offense is pathetic heading into this matchup, and Andrew Maxwell is not ready for prime time. HOWEVAH, this is the best defensive front 7 outside of Alabama that Denard Robinson has seen all year, and we know how well he holds up against the rush. Spartans beat the spread. 

Marcus says...

This season: 12-12

Last week: Idle

After taking a week off, I'm back to get above .500.  Tigers in the Series though?  Life is so good.

Michigan State @ Michigan -9

MSU beats the spread if their offense gets it together.  I'm losing faith.  The Wolverines are due. Michigan covers.  Signed, Pessimistic Spartan fan in Naperville.

Western Michigan @ Kent State -3.5

After last weeks collapse in Muncie it's hard to trust the Broncos on the road.  Flashes cover.

Purdue @ Ohio State -18

The Buckeyes cover.  Braxton Miller for Heisman.

Cincinnati -5.5 @ Toledo 

A North - South Ohio battle at The Glass Bowl.   Cincy may be the tallest midget in the Big Least, but they cover against the Rockets.

Big Tex says...

This season: 12-11

Last week: 0-5

Welp, I have to admit, I was not totally expecting Big Tex to get back in the game after totally bombing every pick he made last week, including the NFL bonus, which does not count against his season record. But he's back for more and still above .500 after an oh-fer, so we'll call it a fluke and see what he has to say this week.

Louisville -6.5 vs. USF

Louisville covers. 

USC vs. Colorado +40.5

Buffs beat the spread.

LSU -3 @ Texas A&M

LSU covers. 

Oklahoma State vs. Iowa State +14

Cyclones beat the spread.

Texas vs. Baylor +11

Baylor beats the spread. 

Georgia -27.5 @ Kentucky

Bulldogs cover.

Oregon State -10 vs. Utah

Beavs cover. 

Rutgers -5 @ Temple

Rutgers covers

NFL Bonus

By TNG Staff

Big Tex took it in the pants yesterday, so he'll try to get back on the horse here.

Green Bay @ Houston -3

Denver @ San Diego +1