LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — It’s Rivalry Weekend and, truth be told, there has not been much of a rivalry between Eric Crawford and me picking college football games this season.
Eric has been ahead of me in wins and his bankoll most of the way. Unless I rally over this and next weekend, EC will take the crown, which will likely result in a free lunch.
But we’re both positioned with an opportunity to finish above .500 with solid performances over the final two weeks. Picking against the spread, finishing at .500 is no stroll in the park.
Lots of excellent games to choose from this week. I wish we could have included Texas at Texas A&M, Notre Dame at USC, Auburn at Alabama and Georgia Tech at Georgia.
But the five games that we’re picking will be enough of a challenge.
Season Update
- Eric Crawford: 1-4 last week, 35-30 for the season. Bankroll is $1,325, after starting with imaginary $1,000.
- Rick Bozich: 2-3, last week, 32-33 for the season. Bankroll is $975.
This Week’s Picks
Louisville (-3.5) at Kentucky, Saturday, Noon.
- Crawford: $25 on Kentucky. Look, I think the way Louisville is trending, it should win this game. I also thought Louisville should’ve won last year’s game. It didn’t. And until it does, I’m picking Kentucky. The Wildcats have talent, especially defensively, and have had a knack for beating Louisville. The Cardinals have looked tentative against Kentucky in recent years, and made too many mistakes.
- Bozich: $25 on Louisville. The Cards can score. The Wildcats can’t. The Cards are playing to end a 5-game losing streak in the series. The Wildcats are playing to make the Governor’s Cup a permanent fixture at Kroger Field. The Cards are better and should be more motivated to win. Louisville’s defense is coming off its best effort this season — and facing a freshman QB.
Purdue (+29) at Indiana, Saturday, 7 p.m.
- Crawford: $25 on Indiana. Indiana needs to make a statement. It’s a lot of points, but the Hoosiers, if they’re a legit playoff team against a one-win Purdue team that has lost 10 straight, should deliver them.
- Bozich: $50 on Purdue. That’s too many points in a rivalry game that will be played in temperatures likely to be in the mid-20s by kickoff Saturday night. The Boilermakers are playing to wreck Indiana’s chances of making the College Football Playoff. They looked competitive last week against Michigan State. The Hoosiers are at risk of being flat after that deflating loss at Ohio State. IU wins but not by more than four touchdowns.
Michigan (+20.5) at Ohio State, Saturday, Noon.
- Crawford: $25 on Ohio State. Again, probably too many points to give. But Ohio State is playing for seeding, and Michigan is playing for pride. I’ll go with the Buckeyes.
- Bozich: $50 on Ohio State. The Buckeyes have lost three straight to Michigan, which doesn’t have a quarterback and won’t be able to move the ball. All Ryan Day has heard for 3 years is how he needs to beat Michigan. He’ll try to beat them by as much as possible because anything less won’t satisfy the Ohio State faithful.
South Carolina (+2.5) at Clemson, Saturday, Noon.
- Crawford: $25 on South Carolina. I don’t trust Clemson’s offense, even at home, and South Carolina is working on a very solid season.
- Bozich: $25 on South Carolina. Both teams are trying to back door their way into the playoffs. Clemson’s best win is over … Pitt or Virginia Tech? The Gamecocks have won five straight and beaten a pair of Top 25 teams. Advantage Shane Beamer.
Tennessee (-11) at Vanderbilt, Saturday, Noon.
- Crawford: $25 on Tennessee. The Commodores have been a great story this season and Tennessee has disappointed at times. But I don’t see the Vols faltering in this rivalry game. They’d never hear the end of it.
- Bozich: $25 on Vandy. The Commodores beat Alabama and played Missouri, Texas and LSU within a touchdown. I’ll go with the home team to cover, not win. Of Vandy’s five losses, only one has been by 11 or more.
Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All rights reserved.