Here are my picks for the early games
12:00 Miami @ North Carolina State
The Wolfpack is peeking at the end of the season in an attempt to go to a bowl. They thrashed tobacco road rival UNC last week for the third win in row. Miami has been hot as well, winning 5 in a row before last week’s loss to Georgia Tech.
ATS is a little different story: NCSU is 8-2, including 7-0 ATS in last seven conference games. The U is only 5-5 ATS this year. Against ACC conference opponents they have been even worse, 7-17-1 last 25. I think the Pack having home field will be a huge advantage today as they attempt to get bowl eligible.
Deadly Pick – NCSU +2
12:00 South Carolina @ Clemson
Clemson has been playing better after ditching Bowden, winning 3 of the 4 games since his departure. The defense has been playing well in those games giving up an average of 10 points in the wins. The only real blemish coming in the 4th quarter of the Florida state game, allowing a couple of late TD’s that sealed their fate.
USC Defense had been giving up only 17 points per game until they ran into the Gators two weeks ago and got steam rolled (you can bet the ole ball coach has been chewing some ass since that debacle)! On the USC offense - Spurrier has been trying to use a QB rotation program between Smelley and Garcia the last couple of games. However it looks like this game is pretty much on Smelley, as Garcia has been battling the flu. Smelley has proven to be very inconsistent this year, throwing only 2 TD’s in his last four games.
Finally, looks like this year’s state supremacy game will played in the pouring rain. Two underachieving teams with decent defenses playing in these conditions could make this one a turnover prone mess!
Deadly Pick – UNDER 41
More later……….