Recap
Oklahoma -3 vs Texas – HIT! Oklahoma 54 Texas 48
TCU Texas Tech under 61 – Miss. TCU 52 Texas Tech 31
Jets Falcons under 46 – Miss. Falcons 27 Jets 20
Niners +5 at Cardinals – Miss. Cardinals 17 Niners 10
2021 9-9
2021 NFL 4-4 2018-21 NFL 91-71-4
2021 NCAAF 5-5 2018-21 NCAAF 88-83-4
Rutgers -2 at Northwestern o/u 44.5. Kickoff Saturday 12pm
The play: Rutgers -2
Rutgers just had a 3 week stretch of playing #8 Michigan #6 Ohio St and #10 Michigan State. They now go to Northwestern who are regarded as the worst Big Ten team this season. Winning on the road is hard, but Coach Schiano is 6-0 ats on the road since his return, with two of them being this season with fans. The biggest concern for Rutgers will be health after that gauntlet stretch of the schedule.
The Rutgers defense was exposed the last two weeks. The team has a sound defense but tends to give up big 50+ yard home run plays. Northwestern lacks home run hitters and doesn’t have the athletes of the Big Ten East. The Rutgers offense isn’t clicking right now either, but it’s shown the ability to score. Quarterback Noah Vedral is a warrior but misses his #1 target in Bo Melton. Running back Isaih Pacheco will have to carry the load, and that’s nothing new for him. I look for Rutgers to control the tempo, run the ball 40 times a game, and come out with a much needed road victory. Oh and on a windy Chicago day, it helps to have the best punter in the nation in Adam Korsak. Invite him to New York!!! #Heisman
This is where Schiano earns his contract, by winning against the bottom of the Big Ten and solidifying Rutgers as a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team.
Rutgers 24 Northwestern 20
Auburn +5 at Arkansas o/u 54. Kickoff Saturday 12pm
The play: Under 54
Many of us have heard the stat where Bo Nix is a completely different quarterback home and away. With him being on the road, one would expect for Auburn to rely more on the run. Arkansas is a great defense, but they feel a little more susceptible to the run instead of the pass. Teams are getting a healthy 4.6 yards per carry on them. Ole Miss last week had a day running the ball, and then Matt Corral picked his spots for the deep pass. Except, I don’t think Nix could hit the deep pass this week.
Auburn has a front seven that controls the game. They get after the quarterback with plenty of sacks, and limit runners to 3.2 yards per carry. While Arkansas’ running game has been elite, they will need to throw more than usual. QB KJ Jefferson at times has struggled to make that 3rd down pass, as they only convert 37% of the time. I think with both of these defenses, these teams grind it out, and it will be a battle of field position.
Arkansas 24 Auburn 23
Nebraska -4 at Minnesota o/u 48. Kickoff Saturday 12pm
The play: Nebraska -4
Since week 1’s flop vs Illinois, Nebraska has looked like a decent team. They’ve competed with Oklahoma, Michigan State, and last week’s Michigan, losing by an average of 4.33 points. They are running the ball well, and dual threat quarterback Adrian Martinez has combined for 19 touchdowns and 6 turnovers. Minnesota has a very stout run defense, but I think it’s more due to who they have played. Minnesota comes into this game with their best two running backs out, and they run the ball 4th most in NCAAF at 69.75%. This Nebraska team isn’t at the top tier, but they’ve shown they are good enough to go bowling. I think they get by an injured Minnesota bunch. I like this spot as a frustrated Nebraska team to show its worth, after all of the close loses vs ranked teams.
Nebraska 28 Minnesota 20
Bengals -3.5 at Lions o/u 48. Kickoff Sunday 1pm
The play: Under 48
When people think of the Bengals they think of Joe Burrow and what a great quarterback he is. This is rightfully so, but only one Bengal game has gone over this season. Burrow has been good, but they are running the ball well and their defense has actually been solid. Joe Burrow will have to remain solid on Sunday, as the Lions are the 3rd best team on third down defense. With Burrow having voice issues, it will be hard for him to communicate in the dome as well. The Lions compete and kill drives, they are winless on the season, but haven’t really gotten blown out. I look for Detroit to establish the run, keep this game in the teens and twenties. Jared Goff has looked good at times, but it’s always best to hand the ball off to D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams. These two teams have missed their fair share of field goals this season, so when/if Goff and Burrow can’t deliver, I can see some drives ending with no points.
Bengals 25 Lions 20
Cardinals +3 at Browns o/u 50. Kickoff Sunday 4:05pm
The play: Browns -3
This is my second week in a row betting against the Cardinals. Last week I thought it was a bad spot cause of the divisional foe and the Cardinals covered. I like this spot again against the Cardinals, so maybe I can redeem myself!
This Browns defense has been solid, despite giving up plenty of points. They are getting plenty of sacks, teams are only completing 58% of their passes against them, and the run defense has allowed only 3.4 yards per carry. The Browns come in to this one frustrated after last weeks loss, where the offense scored 42 but the defense gave up 47! They are better than that, and I don’t think Murray will carve them up like how Herbert did. On the other side, this Cardinals defense is fast! But fast isn’t good when playing against the Browns. The Browns should be able to run all day on this Cardinals defense, which is more suited to stop the pass, and Baker should be able to pick his spots on play action.
Browns 31 Cardinals 24
Raiders +3.5 at Broncos o/u 44.5. Kickoff Sunday 4:25pm
The play: Under 44.5
What a week for the Raiders. What kind of distraction is it really for them. Derek Carr seems to be hurt by it, but how do his teammates feel? I have this vision that his teammates aren’t happy with Carr’s comments, and I have a gut feeling it was a weird week in practice.
Any who, the Raiders milk play clocks. Derek Carr loves to change the play at the line, and with Gruden gone I expect more of this. Then there is the Broncos defense, which is a top 10 unit. I think with it being a divisional game, these two teams will grind it out. The Broncos defense flies around, and Carr might struggle to move the chains. The Broncos rely on the run and that is where you can beat the Raiders. I expect this game to be the first 4pm game that ends this week, as the clock should continue to run.
Broncos 19 Raiders 17
Thank you,
Goose
Kowal's Korner 
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