Beat My CFB Picks For A Tailgate Package

Every Friday morning during CFB season I join Columbia sports talk legend Teddy Hefner on his Fox Sports 1400 show to pick some of the biggest games of the week. If you beat my picks you may win a tailgate package from Mathias Sandwich Shop on St Andrews Rd. Text your picks and your answer for the tiebreaker to 803-315-3292

South Carolina at LSU (-9) Preview

7:45 PM ET, SEC

South Carolina (3-2) heads to Baton Rouge to tangle with LSU (4-1), who is favored by 9 in Death Valley. The Gamecocks are coming off a bye week after stomping Kentucky, 35-13. LaNorris Sellers looked better, completing 11 of 14 for 153 yards but also ran for 81. South Carolina’s Offense is really bad this year, ranked 125th. They’re still trying to get a run game going and last week seemed to be moving to red shirt freshman Matthew Fuller who ran the ball 19 times which is more than Attaway and Faison got combined. However he still ended the night at 2.5 YPC. SC’s D allowed only 232 total yards last week. They also contributed 2 scores! They’re now up to 44th best D. LSU's offense is just not quite right. Currently ranked 82nd in the nation. Some of that might be with Garrett Nussmeier still rehabbing an abdominal issue from the opener vs Clemson. It may also have to do with replacing 4 linemen who went to the NFL after last season.  They too are coming off a bye week and Brian Kelly sounds like his QB is healed up and the line issues fixed.  The Tigers' D is elite, ranked 23rd in the nation for yards per game but only allowing 12.2 PPG (tied-6th). Everything including a night game in Death Valley says Tigers should win big. I hope I’m wrong but I’ll take them to cover.

Clemson at Boston College (-14) Preview

12:00 PM ET, ESPN

Clemson (2-3) travels to Chestnut Hill to face BC (1-3), with the Eagles getting 14 points. Last week the Tigers looked more like the team they were projected to look like in the preseason, with Cade Klubnik hitting on 22 of 24 passes, 254 yards and 4TDs! But that was against UNC who now has rumors that the Belichick experiment won't survive his first season. However Boston College is about as good as UNC this season being 1-4.

Alumni Stadium doesn't offer much of a homefield advantage when the team is good so Sat noon should be real quiet. Clemson covers easily.

Oklahoma vs. Texas (-2.5) Preview

3:30 PM ET, ABC

The Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl has Texas (3-2) favored by 2.5 over Oklahoma (5-0). The Sooners are undefeated, with John Mateer throwing for 287 yards and the team rushing 228 vs. Temple. OU's D holds foes to 180 pass YPG. Texas upset by Florida 29-21 last week, where Arch Manning threw for 246 yards but the D allowed 29 points. Longhorns' rush is solid at 172 YPG.

Neutral site, but OU's momentum and balance edge it— they've won 2 of last 3. Texas' secondary bent for 223 pass YPG. Sooners keep rolling. Oklahoma covers as dogs.

Florida at Texas A&M (-7) Preview

7:00 PM ET, ESPN

Florida (2-3) invades College Station to battle No. 5 Texas A&M (5-0), favored by 7. The Gators stunned Texas 29-21, with DJ Lagway throwing for 298 yards. So is Texas bad, had a bad week or is Florida getting good? I'm betting on the bad week for TX. A&M's undefeated, with Marcel Reed's dual-threat QB backed by a leading a top-15 D (18 PPG allowed)

Kyle Field's 12th Man cranks the noise, and A&M's ground game feasts on Florida's front (5.2 YPC allowed). Gators' road woes persist. Aggies dominate. Texas A&M covers.

Georgia at Auburn (+3.5) Preview

7:30 PM ET, ABC

No. 12 Georgia (4-1) heads to Jordan-Hare to face Auburn (3-2), getting 3.5 on the road. The Bulldogs lost 24-21 to Bama, but Gunner Stockton is 69.7% for 851 yards, 5 TDs/0 INTs. UGA's rush averages 206 YPG (26th). Auburn's 3-2 after a 24-17 loss to OU, with Jackson Arnold 16-35 for 220 yards and 10 sacks taken. Tigers' O-line is turnstile (110th sack rate).

Deep South rivalry, but Auburn's D allows 315 total YPG. Georgia's trenches control it. Bulldogs cover.

Arkansas at Tennessee (-13.5) Preview

12:00 PM ET, ESPN

Arkansas (2-3) travels to Knoxville for a noon massacre against Tennessee (4-1), who is favored by 13.5. The Hogs are 2-3, with Taylen Green sputtering in SEC play (0-1). Arkansas' O-line allowed 3 sacks last week. Vols are 4-1, torching foes with Nico Iamaleava's arm and a D allowing 18.4 PPG (32nd).

Neyland's checkerboard end zones and crowd will rattle the Hogs (1-5 road in SEC last six). Tennessee's speed overwhelms. Vols cover big.

Alabama at Missouri (+3) Preview

3:30 PM ET, CBS

No. 8 Alabama (4-1) challenges undefeated Missouri (5-0) in Columbia, with the Tigers getting 3 at home. Tide beat Georgia 24-21, with Ty Simpson at 325 pass YPG (5th) and 11 TDs. Bama's rush is 126 YPG (105th). Mizzou's 5-0, with Brady Cook efficient and a D allowing 293 total YPG.

Faurot Field's energy helps, but Alabama's talent and revenge from last year pull away. Tigers keep it close early, but Tide's depth wins. Alabama covers.

Pitt at Florida State (-10) Preview

7:00 PM ET, ESPN2

Pitt (3-2) heads to Tallahassee to face No. 25 FSU (3-2), favored by 10. Panthers beat Louisville 34-27? Wait, lost 27-34, with Eli Holstein 228 yards. Pitt's pass game is 307 YPG (15th), but D allows 19.6 PPG. FSU's 3-2 after Miami loss, with offense at 40+ PPG but D bent for 500 yards last week.

Doak Campbell's night lights fire up the Noles, and their home mark (13-3 last three years) shines. Pitt's road test exposes them. Seminoles cover.

How many picks between Teddy, Christopher Gary and myself get correct? If we all are perfect that would be 32. Double tie breaker How many does Teddy and Gary get right?

20

9