Stanford Steve and The Bear: Week 11 college football picks, bets, nuggets
"Stanford Steve" Coughlin and Chris "The Bear" Fallica cover the college football season as only they can, offering their top picks, betting nuggets and totals worth wagering on.
Records:
The Bear (Last week: 3-3. Season: 19-31)
Stanford Steve (Last week: 5-1. Season: 31-23)
Note: All lines are from Caesars Sportsbook.
The Plays
No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners (-5.5, 62) at No. 13 Baylor Bears
Fallica: I like the fact the number dropped .5 point and I like the fact OU played what I think was its most complete game of the season in its last game vs. Texas Tech.
Caleb Williams has been the biggest impact player in college football this year and I sense he again will have a Heisman-worthy moment Saturday in the early kick in Waco. OU is well aware this is an upset trap and that it has its future in its hands and I suspect they will show up off the idle week with a great effort.
Pick: Oklahoma -5.5
Georgia State Panthers at Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (-10.5, 52)
Stanford Steve: It looks as if
Grayson McCall, the Chants quarterback, will be out for this one. He didn't play last week and
Bryce Carpenter stepped in and got the job done in what were horrific weather conditions. When I look at the Panthers, I really like what their head coach Sean Elliott does week in and week out in getting his team prepared to play. They battled Auburn earlier in the year and could have won (led in 4th quarter) and last game they gave Louisiana all they could handle, eventually losing 21-17. I think the Panthers hang around here. We'll take the points and the road team.
Pick: Georgia State +10.5 (Coastal Carolina 21, Georgia State 17)
No. 11 Texas A&M Aggies (-2.5, 56.5) at No. 15 Ole Miss Rebels
Stanford Steve: The Aggies have a big advantage on both lines of scrimmage in this matchup. Most of the time a good offensive line and defensive line travel for road games.
Matt Corral probably still won't be 100% but he is still as talented as there is, but will he be able to avoid trouble when it arises? We'll have to wait and see. I do expect Ole Miss to come out on fire and take chances all over the field, so A&M will have to withstand the early fury, but I think they can with controlling both lines of scrimmage. We'll take the road team and give the points
Pick: Texas A&M -2.5 (Texas A&M 30, Ole Miss 24)
Washington State Cougars at No. 3 Oregon Ducks (-14, 57)
Fallica: Tricky spot for Oregon, which has been an awful favorite under Mario Cristobal, especially at Autzen Stadium. Last week the Ducks beat their biggest rival in an ugly, bad weather game in Seattle which saw
Anthony Brown struggle. Next week is one Oregon must have in Utah if it is to keep its playoff hopes alive. In comes pesky two-touchdown dog Wazzu, which has played very well since Nick Rolovich's firing. Much credit to the coaches that remain getting the Cougs ready to play, and the players who have rallied. It might not be enough to pull the outright upset, but I think 14 is a tad high.
Pick: Washington State +14
No. 5 Cincinnati Bearcats (-23.5, 57) at South Florida Bulls
Fallica: One of these weeks the Bearcats will put a complete game together. Last week may have been a bit too much for them -- first week of the rankings, GameDay in town -- now they face one of the worst teams in the league. They know where they stand in the CFP -- they actually moved up a spot despite the scare -- and should be able to name their score vs. the Bulls.
Pick: Cincinnati -23.5