Greetings from the Columbus, Ohio airport. I’ve got a few minutes before my flight and wanted to take advantage in getting the GCR predictions posted – I know you are waiting with bated breath (he types as sarcastically as possible). the games tonight should both be a bit lopsided but if you get a chance to watch Coastal Carolina (19) in action, they are very good. Traveling to Arkansas St (229), it won’t be a game for long, so get there early. Kickoff is at 7:30 (all times Eastern) on ESPNU.
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Around the noon hour on Saturday there are two games that have my attention. First, Arkansas (9) hits the road again after the humiliating loss to Georgia (1) to take on the offensive minded Mississippi (28) team coming off a spanking at Alabama (3). Both teams need this win to stay in the top half of the always difficult SEC West. Vegas really likes the Rebels -6.0, but the GCR sees Arkansas as the bounce back team 60.5%. Oklahoma (11) travels to Texas (13) in a match up of Big 12 escapees and future SEC foes. Both Vegas and the GCR think it will be a close Sooner victory -3.5, 55.7%.
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Midday we have what would be fun to watch if you need a laugh. No undue disrespect – I said “undue” – to the teams involved, but when UCONN 0-6 (196) takes on UMASS 0-5 (130) AND Vegas and the GCR disagree, it’s just silly. One of these teams will avoid a winless season, but it will be butt-ugly. Vegas likes UCONN -3.5, but the Minutemen will “prevail” 79.2%. Wisconsin will beat Illinois, Georgia will beat Auburn, and Wake Forest will best Syracuse (stifled yawn). If you aren’t a fan of those 6 and just can’t watch high school (sorry, not sorry) football, Virginia (59) at Louisville (56) may be a game to watch. This cross divisional matchup should be close – Vegas has the Cardinals -2.5 and the GCR agrees 56.2%. The big game, though, in the afternoon has playoff implications when Iowa (2) hosts Penn St (7). Iowa is the only Big 10 West undefeated and Penn St is one of 3 in the East – Michigan (6) and Michigan St (10) – and have a dogfight ahead of them. Iowa does not face either of the Michigans. The Hawkeyes probably still win the division with a loss, but would have to win the league to be included in the playoffs. Unless the Nittany Lions can sweep a tough East, they must win this game to be relevant. Expect a hard fought game on both sides as Penn St…loses 57.1%. Vegas thinks so too with Iowa -2.0.
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In the evening, there are 3 games I like and they all start at 7:30. Notre Dame (33) at Virginia Tech (68). Notre Dame’s loss to Cincinnati (14) will keep them out of the top 4, but they are still in the running for a NY6 bowl. The Hokies have been a bit unpredictable but share the lead in the ACC Coastal with Pittsburgh (34). The ACC needs a big win (even it’s against their half-brother Irish) to avoid another embarrassment (man, I’m being blunt today, but it’s true). Vegas has the Irish in a close one -1.0, but the GCR sees a little more separation – Notre Dame 65.3%. At the same time, LSU (69) travels to Lexington to take on undefeated Kentucky (5). Obviously, the Wildcats have to keep winning to be in the same conversation with Georgia and Alabama, and the Tigers already have 2 losses, but a beat down would mean a lot. Vegas thinks they are close to equal with Kentucky -3.5, but the GCR is looking for a little more – Wildcats 79.4%. As if those weren’t enough, Michigan (6) travels to Lincoln to take on an improving Nebraska (57) team. The Cornhuskers lost to Illinois (101) in the first game of the season, but stayed within 7 at Oklahoma and trounced Northwestern (122) 56-7. Michigan beat Wisconsin (42) for the first time in Madison in over a decade and, like Penn St and Michigan St, have to win to keep pace. Like the other games, Vegas is calling for a very close one Michigan -3.5 and the GCR gives them a bigger differential 71.0%.
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Those are the games of the week. I hope your team does well unless they are playing my team. Thank you for reading. As a parting gift, here are all of this weekend’s games with the GCR predictions – upsets (compared to Vegas) highlighted in yellow. G
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