Ohio State Football: Picking against the spread one last time in 2018
There are interesting games involving top ten teams during the bowl season. Hopefully I can at least end the year by picking the Ohio State football game correctly.
There are terrific games on tap as the Ohio State football team travels to Pasadena to play the Washington Huskies, the playoff begins and other top ten teams face strong opponents.
My last picks against the spread put me below .500 for the first time in the last three years. I hope I will end the year on a high note.
Alabama (1) by 14 over Oklahoma (4): Now we will get to see what the high-powered Oklahoma offense the College Football Playoff Committee was so enamored with can do against a real defense. Alabama is No. 10 in the country in total defense only allowing 295.4 yards per game and is only giving up 14.8 points per game which is 4th best.
Nobody prepares for an explosive offense better than Nick Saban so the Sooners will often have trouble moving the ball. Kyler Murray will make some plays but don’t expect him and his teammates to come close to their 49 point per game average.
Alabama is scoring 47 points per game and the Oklahoma defense hasn’t been able to stop anybody. The Crimson Tide will cover and the CFP Committee will have egg on their faces for including the Sooners in the final four.
Clemson (2) by 12 over Notre Dame (3): Clemson is averaging 45.4 points per game and only giving up 12.7. Notre Dame is averaging 33.8 and allowing 17.3.
This could be a grind it out kind of game early but QB Trevor Lawrence and the other talented players on offense will take over at some point and the Tigers will cover the spread.
Georgia (5) by 13.5 over Texas (15): Texas couldn’t score 30 points against Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game and Georgia is only allowing 18.5 ppg. The Bulldogs are averaging 39.2 points per game and the Longhorns allow about 26 per game. I think this will be another rough game for a Big 12 team so I’ll take Georgia and lay the points.
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Ohio State (6) by 7 over Washington (9): This will be a classic battle between an outstanding offense and a strong defense. Since the Ohio State offense put up 55 of the 62 points against Michigan, I think Washington may have problems stopping Dwayne Haskins and his talented skill position players. I have the Buckeyes covering.
Michigan (7) by 6 over Florida (10): This is a hard one to call with all the noise surrounding the Michigan football program. Will the players be focused for this game? It’s hard to tell but I think the stout Wolverine defense will be too much for the Gator offense. I’ll go with Michigan and give the points.
LSU (11) by 7.5 over UCF (8): This is a difficult game for me to pick because I have followed LSU quarterback Joe Burrow since high school but I’m not sure who wins this game. With that said, I will take UCF and the points.
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There you have it, my last picks against the spread of games involving top ten teams in 2018.