2.5* Marshall +1 Best line I could find. Did Appalachian State really schedule the Citadel and Robert Morris in the middle of their season? During conference play? Yes, they did. IMO App. State is not what they used to be. Their A&M upset is not looking that impressive, and they got totally dominated 2nd half by JMU. They also lost to Texas State and a weaker CCU team on the road. Marshall is like the perfect bowl team, great at running the ball and at pass and run defense. Last week, they got super conservative vs. ODU, knowing that FGs would suffice since their D and running game would continue to shine. However, their OC has already made it clear that they can't play vanilla vs. App. State. Expect their freshman QB and game plan to open it up more. For Marshall, both players and fans, beating perennial favorite App. St. is a BIG thing and one that will motivate them to play their best.
2.5* Wake Forest -3.5 (-115) Most books have this around 4, and is that indication that the public is on UNC, and that the books need more bets on them too? Isn't Drake Maye and their 8-1 record proof that they are a very strong team? Not buying it. UNC's defense is bad, and Wake should really torch them. Wake at home, and really needing to win and win with emphasis. I also don't trust Mack Brown and UNC to finish the season looking anything like an 8-1 team. Look at how many games they lost with Sam Howell and his great RBs and WRs over the last few years. Wake has pretty good pass defense and yet has played a tough schedule. UNC hasn't played Clemson, NC State, Louisville, FSU or Syracuse. ND was their toughest game, and even though ND is down this season, they gave up 576 yards to them and lost handily.
2.5* Miss. St. +16.5 Going against Georgia is hard to do. But after their Tennessee win, can they have a semi-letdown? Can the MSU defense, which is pretty good, make them work hard to put points up? I'm betting yes. Georgia has some key injuries that Kirby Smart is probably thinking that he can provide extra healing time until the SEC Championship. I also think their D is still great, but losing so many players to the NFL has made them less dominant there. MSU can move the ball down the field, but in the red zone (like last year), they often fail to convert drives into TDs. Really hoping Leach, the OC and Will Rogers have something to help that issue. Hope the cowbells can at least make the Georgia offense a little less able to communicated and play off a bit. Maybe too much hoping, but I think it's a solid play.