Well I guess I should know better than to make a bet against the scarlet and gray, but 3-1 on the picks was a nice recovery. It’s nice to see teams like Notre Dame and Georgia barely cover to know there is more parity in the sport with NIL, and Toledo cover comfortably in bounce back fashion. The Buckeyes are resting this week but we have a bevy of ranked matchups to mull over. Remember, if you must bet more, put it on the team playing Michigan and forget parlays.

Prediction 1: Circle the wagons Sooners, this is an SEC game you joined the conference for. #8 Ole Miss travels to Norman to take on #14 Oklahoma (-5.5) in the new SEC. While the Sooners will enjoy the home field advantage, I see these teams as more evenly matched, and I really want another Lane Kiffin sound bite to remember from the post game presser. Take Ole Miss and the points.

Prediction 2: I recently asked #15 Missouri to, “Show Me” something as their state nickname implies, and they failed. This week they visit #10 Vanderbilt (-2.5) and I don’t have any more confidence that something great is going to come out of Missouri. Vanderbilt is the far better storyline this year, and with this basically being a pick-em game, I’m going with the academic school that’s giving up points. Vandy to cover.

Prediction 3: In our deep fried, big bucket, double bypass game of the week, the Aggies of #3 Texas A&M (-2.5) head down to Baton Rouge to take on #20 LSU. The thing you have to ask yourself with this matchup is this: Do I take a better team on the road to knock Brian Kelly out of the rankings for the price of less than a field goal? The answer is yes, allow the viewing of Kelly’s anguish to make your Saturday night more enjoyable. Texas A&M to cover.

In all that SEC talk, I didn’t forget about those in midnight blue who hail from fair Toledo. They go across the country to face a Washington State (-1.5) team that isn’t ready for Tucker Gleason. He threw four touchdowns and no interceptions last week in a rout, and it would be foolish to think he can’t engineer another victory. Here in Columbus Tommy’s remains the tailgate option of choice, stay classy and get your mind right for next week.

Summary:

Ole Miss and the points +5.5

Vanderbilt to cover -2.5

Texas A&M to cover -2.5

Toledo and the points +1.5

Record: 19-10-1