I just can’t believe this football season has gone so fast. We are in Rivalry Week heading to the Bowl games and the four-team playoff.
This was the perfect year for the playoff. Who knows which is the best team? We may not even figure it out for sure after the playoffs. Is it the Crimson Tide, the Seminoles, Mississippi State in an epic rematch with Alabama?
The groundwork will be laid after this weekend and there will be lots of complaints with the Final Four teams. No matter who the four are, it will be very exciting.
There are some great games this Saturday so we will get right to the meat of the matter and try sorting out some winners in these very competitive rivalries.
Thursday
(Happy Thanksgiving!)
TCU -7 at Texas (4:30 p.m. FOX 1): The “tryptophan’s” will be kicking in for this game, which should be a good one. The Horned Frogs may have hurt their chances two weeks ago with a lackluster 34-30 win over lowly Kansas as a 28-point chalk so they will need a special game in Austin vs. Texas, who beat them last year, 30-7. TCU is 11-0 ATS off a bye week and 5-0 ATS in the second of back-to-back road games. With revenge in mind and a Final Four spot in the offering, TCU will get the win and cover in huge effort. TCU.
LSU -2 at Texas A&M (4:30 p.m. ESPN): The LSU offense looks to have gone South for the winter, having scored just 13 points in their last two games, but there is a reason for that. They played Alabama off a huge win over Ole Miss and should have beaten the Tide ,losing 20-13 late. The following week they had to travel to Auburn, a horrible spot for them as they lost 17-0. LSU has gone 7-0 ATS as a road chalk of 6 or less points and A&M, who comes off an extra week of rest, has gone 0-8 with rest. LSU.
Friday
W. Kentucky +21.5 at Marshall: The Thundering Herd seems to be feeling the heat with just one game left to cap off their undefeated season as last week they just did get by UAB 23-18 as a -21 point chalk. The Hilltoppers have won and covered their last 3. I don’t think they can get the win in Huntington but they sure do have a big shot at the cover. W. KENTUCKY.
Arkansas (NL) at Missouri: Wow, what has happened to the 6-5 Razorbacks as they shut out LSU, 17-0, and came right back to blank Ole Miss, 30 -0. We will stick with the hot team in this huge game for both teams. Watching Mizzou win as a dog vs. Tennessee last week, 29-21 on turnovers, we think this is the right side. ARKANSAS.
Stanford +4.5 at UCLA: Bruins finally living up to all the preseason hype winning their last 5 and crushing USC last week. Now they are in big time revenge mode having lost to the Cardinal the last five years. For some reason UCLA likes to play weekday games as they have gone 5-0 ATS in their last five. UCLA.
Saturday
Michigan +19.5 at Ohio St.: It doesn’t matter what you did all year. All that matters is beating Michigan. The Michigan offense could only score 10 points vs. Northwestern and 16 last week at home in a loss to Maryland. Even with a win, I don’t think the Buckeyes will earn one of the final four playoff spots. OHIO STATE.
NC State +7.5 at UNC: This looks to be a real good play as we get the Wolfpack looking to avenge last year’s 27-19 loss in Raleigh. State has gone 12-0 ATS as a dog off a bye week. The Tar Heels are 0-9 ATS as favorites of 7 or higher after scoring 35 or more points. They put up 45 last week. NC STATE.
Florida +10 at Florida St.: Now, the bottom line is that the 6-4 Gators just aren’t that good, so why are the undefeated Seminoles just a 10-point favorite at home? Have the linemakers caught up with them? They have the best QB in the country in Jimmie (I like to call him that) Winston but they have only covered three games all year. FSU was life and death to beat BC last week, winning on a late field goal. The Noles are 0-9 ATS in the second of back-to-back homers when favored by 17 or less points. FLORIDA.
MISS ST. -1 at Ole Miss: The Rebels are a beaten puppy and will not be able to handle the Bulldogs’ offense. Plus they won’t be able to put enough points on the board to win. The Bulldogs are dreaming of a rematch with the Tide while Ole Miss squandered their shot in Baton Rouge and Auburn, plus were a down team at Arkansas. Just lay the small price and have a leftover turkey “sangwich.” MISS ST.
Auburn +9 at Alabama: Save the best for last. We get Nick Saban & Company in a huge revenge game. They somehow lost to Auburn last year in one goofy kind of game, 34-28. Look for the Tide offense to shut down the Tigers and keep their top spot in the Final Four as they move on to another title. We will be heading out early in the day to lay the 9 before it gets to double digits. ALABAMA.
Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving and always be thankful.
Last week: 3-2
Season: 52-41-1.
As for NFL, no selections.
Last week: 1-2
Season: 10-10.
Richard Saber, a former director of race and sports at the famed Stardust book, is GamingToday’s horse racing and sports handicapper. Follow Richard on Twitter @SabesBet. Contact Richard at [email protected].