Kelly Nash's CFB Picks For The Week

Every Friday morning I join Teddy Heffner host of "Talking Sports" on Fox Sports 1400. Teddy gives away tailgate package from Mathias Sandwich shop to someone who can beat our picks. The picks include point spreads so for example if a team is a 10 point underdog and they lose by 9 then they have won. If you'd like to text your picks to enter get them in before Saturday noon on the Talking Sports Text Line at 803-315-3292. Now here's this weeks games and my picks.

Wake Forest at Clemson -21

The only bad news for Clemson fans is this is another week you don’t get to play under the lights. 3:30 kickoff against a far inferior team should be a cake walk! Wake has both the 46th ranked offense and 46th ranked defense, which makes them consistent. Consistently average. Clemson has an elite offense at #9 and a good D ranked 27th. Clemson needs style points so look for Will Shipley to start off gashing them on the ground which will soften up the secondary for some easy tosses for Cade Klubnik who really needs some stats dragging the offense down with his less than 7 yards per attempt and 39th ranked overall pass offense. Huge 2nd half leads to a blowout and gaudy numbers for Clemson.

Cuse At UNC -8.5

Dino Babers told the media this week he expects Drake Maye to throw deep on his team. I’d agree. The Cuse D was exploited by a less talented Klubnik last week. A man who is expected to go in a few months into the NFL as one of the first QB’s taken should be able to carve that up. UNC announced this week that the game was a sell out as well. While 50,000 doesn’t make the noise of 80,000 it can still wreak havoc on a nervous offense and Cuse has plenty to be nervous about. The run has been strong but their passing is ranked 40th. And Syracuse is ranked 116th in penalties! There’s only 7 teams that have more yards against them! I’m with UNC to cover.

N Dame at Louisville +6.5

The Irish held off Duke last week to hand the Blue Devils their first loss. This Saturday they try to hand the Cardinals their first loss. Notre Dame technically isn’t in the ACC but they are the best team in the ACC, winning 30 in a row against ACC opponents. Their last loss was 6 years ago to Miami. So expect them to win, the question is can they cover? They average 36.5 ppg. Louisville averages 37. Uh oh! Louisville allows 17 ppg. Notre Dame allows 13. This isn’t looking like a cover. I will point out that Notre Dame’s last 2 opponents were #4 Ohio State and #19 Duke while this will be Louisville first ranked opponent in #10 Notre Dame. However I’ll stay with the home underdog.

LSU at Mizzou +6.5

Missouri is absolutely disgusted at the lack of respect. LSU is blasted by Florida State,  barely sneaks by an unranked Arkansas, then looses to a hardly ranked Ole Miss. And at 3-2 stroll into undefeated Missouri as the favorite? Eli and the boys not only are undefeated they already had a better win this year than LSU knocking off #15 K State. So what do they have to do to get some respect? Win this game. Send the Tigers to 500. Defend your home turf. Let Brady Cook, cook! He’s averaging over 300 YPG in the air and only has 1 interception to 17 TD’s! The only QB better statistically is Caleb Williams. Mizzou gives up about 3 TDs per game which is exactly what Vandy got last week so I think LSU should be good for 28. But can Mizzou score 30 or more? They have the last 3 weeks and in 4 of the first 5. I think Mizzou at least covers.

Alabama at TX A&M +2.5

Alabama is not the Defensive beast of the past. Allowing 112 YPG on the ground and 185 YPG in the air they aren’t top 20 in either stat or in overall D. A&M offense is built to win this battle and backup QB Max Johnson looked pretty comfortable against Arkansas last week. To beat A&M you have to throw and Jalen Milroe has the Tide currently ranked 105th for passing.  Everything technically says take the home underdog, but it’s Saben! I’m rolling with the Tide!

Kentucky at Georgia -14.5

Another program wondering what they have to do to get some respect!? Last Kentucky beat the breaks off of Florida and have now won that game 3 years in a row. Their RB Remahn Davis averaged over 10 YPC and almost hit 300 himself. At the same time Georgia has looked very beatable this year. Escaping last week with a last quarter TD against Auburn. Losing at the half to South Carolina. Tied with flipping Ball State after a quarter. 14.5 points is the same number Georgia was spotted over a much worse Auburn team and they won by 7. Granted that was a road game and this is in Athens at night. But still I have to think Kentucky can cover 2 TD’s!

Oklahoma vs Texas -6

Undefeated Texas and 5-0 Oklahoma meet in the Red River Showdown Saturday on a neutral field with each team looking to take the inside track to the College Football Playoff with a win, and a possible Heisman Trophy launching pad for the likes of Quinn Ewers and Dillon Gabriel. This is the last currently ranked opponent either plays this year so it is of massive importance to win. Plus it’s their hated rivals! Baker Mayfield is going to the game. And like he said in his press conference after last weeks Bucs game. “We have a bye week so the only thing I’m thinking about now is beating Texas. I can’t stand them. You go to Oklahoma just to beat Texas”. Brent Venables has the D in beast mode right now ranked 3rd in the nation! Texas ain’t shabby either ranked 12th but only 5 teams are holding opponents to single digits! That’s a vice! I’m taking the Sooners!

Tie Break Clemson Rushing Yards

Clemson has averaged 184 YPG. They only got 126 vs Syracuse. 146 vs FL State the week previous. Last week Wake Forest gave up 158 to GT and 109 to Vandy. I put all that in my blender and come up with 200 yards for Clemson on the ground this week.