College FB: Lock of the Week
A week ago, I picked Georgia Tech over Kansas as my lock.
Then proceeded to catch holy you-know-what about it.
“Oh, that’s such an easy pick,” you cried.
Apparently, we were all wrong.
Georgia Tech not only failed to cover but also failed to win. Kansas redeemed itself after an embarrassing opening loss to North Dakota State with an upset.
(Note to everyone who said my pick was easy: there is no such thing as an easy lock. Period.)
So where locks are concerned, my record is now 1-1. I like my chances to be 2-1 by this time next week. Here’s why:
Florida is a 16 1/2-point favorite at Tennessee.
That’s a big spread no matter what the circumstances. I know that Tennessee hasn’t exactly set the world on fire just yet, beating hapless Tennessee-Martin 50-0 in the opener, then getting obliterated at home by Oregon 48-13.
But I like the Ducks. I thought they would go to Knoxville and win big. Maybe not that bit, but still, I never thought that was a game the Vols would win.
And I don’t think they’ll win this week either, but I also don’t think they’ll get blown out.
That’s because Florida is not Florida of old. The Gators are 2-0 with wins over Miami (Ohio) 34-12 and South Florida 38-14, but both of those games had anxious moments. Florida didn’t play well against Miami (Ohio) and didn’t pull away from South Florida until late.
Maybe Week 3 is where the Gators turn a big corner.
But I don’t see it.
I like Florida to win, but I don’t like the Gators enough to pick them to win by double digits.
Florida 35-27.
Lock it.
College FB: Lock of the Week
Week One was a rough one for yours truly — at least where college football picks were concerned.
But my lock of the week involved TCU and Oregon State. I said that the Horned Frogs would beat the Beavers but fail to cover the spread.
Nailed it.
TCU won 30-21, but the spread was 12 1/2 points.
So, let’s try to run the locks record to 2-0 this week.
For starters, this is a great week of games. Everyone around here is talking about Oklahoma-Florida State, but check out this rundown. Michigan at Notre Dame. Miami at Ohio State. Oregon at Tennessee. Penn State at Alabama. All of these games are going to make for a fantastic Saturday.
None of them are enough of a sure thing, though, to make as my lock.
No, for that, I’m looking to Lawrence, Kan., where Kansas is hosting Georgia Tech. Looking at the Jayhawks’ schedule before this season, this is a game that I thought they would lose. After last week, I have no doubt about it.
Kansas lost to Division II North Dakota State.
And it was even worse than it looks. The Jayhawks were at home in what was supposed to be the glorious start to the Turner Gill Era. Instead, they failed to score a touchdown.
Truth be told, I nearly picked Georgia Tech, a 13 1/2 point favorite, to beat Kansas 72-3. Actually had the score typed onto my computer screen. But I changed it. I figured that losing to a Division II team would spark something in the Jayhawks. Surely, they’ve got some pride to be better. Surely, they won’t be as bad this week as they were a week ago.
So, I’m only picking Georgia Tech to beat Kansas 45-17.
Lock it.
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College FB: Lock of the Week
The college football season is getting off to a bang. Lots of intriguing match-ups. Tons of interesting picks.
It made for a tough lock of the week.
Now, I could’ve taken the easy route and gone with Oklahoma’s game against Utah State, which has no line. Same goes for Baylor’s game against Sam Houston State, Kansas’ game against South Dakota State or Texas A&M’s game against Stephen F. Austin. All of these Big 12 teams are locks, in my opinion.
But I didn’t want to start the season with something so simple.
So, my lock of the week is TCU-Oregon State.
The Horned Frogs are 12 1/2-point favorites, which seems ridiculously high to me. They are a talented bunch, but so are the Beavers. The Rodgers brothers are stellar, particularly running back Jacquizz, who is a Heisman candidate. With Southern Cal ineligible for a bowl, this Pac-10 bunch has an outside chance at making a BCS bowl.
If the game wasn’t in Texas, I might even pick Oregon State to win, but it is in the Lone Star State — at Jerry World in Arlington, to be exact — so I’m going with TCU to win.
But not to cover the spread.
TCU 34, Oregon State 31.
Lock it.
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