College football Week 9 – Scott Van Pelt’s Winners
6-3 last week, we’re 11 over .500 but… guys? Guys? I just want to warn you, I wrote down a lot of things this week. Like a whole lot of stuff. Sadly, as the nation’s No. 1 Sun Belt tout — none are from that conference. But you can’t force it, it just has to happen. Also, we have double-digit picks as it is. Buckle up.
Season: 38-27-2
No. 7 TCU (-7.5, 68) at West Virginia
noon p.m. ET on ESPN, Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, West Virginia
Van Pelt’s pick: West Virginia (+7.5)
Noon window is busy. West Virginia is getting 7 and the hook from TCU. The Frogs are really good, hopefully the Mountaineers don’t end up on their 3rd-string QB like everyone else does again them. Let’s go Mountaineers, let’s go drink some beers.
SVP: 22-9 all-time picking against Big 12 teams in top-10
Oklahoma (-1, 56.0) at Iowa State
noon p.m. ET, Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa
Van Pelt’s pick: Iowa State (+1)
Staying in the Big 12 to take another home team in Iowa State. They’ve lost 4 in a row, but now is the time for a Halloween stand in Jack Trice.
SVP: 7-3 all-time picking home teams vs Oklahoma
Notre Dame at No. 16 Syracuse (-2.5, 47)
12 p.m. ET on ABC, JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, New York
Van Pelt’s pick: Notre Dame (+2.5)
Things I never thought I’d say for $1,000 please… Notre Dame isn’t getting enough points from Syracuse. Line is a little suspicious. Good Orange team off a heartbreaking loss at Clemson — good time to back the Irish in the dome. I’m on ’em.
SVP: 2-0 all-time when picking Notre Dame
Miami (-2.0, 48.0) at Virginia
12:30 p.m. ET on ESPN3, Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Virginia
Van Pelt’s pick: Virginia (+2)
Staying in the ACC… we already have West Virginia. Now we are taking just plain old regular Virginia — thank God there isn’t an east or a south Virginia because this week I’d probably have them, too. Cavaliers at home plus a small spot again the Canes.
SVP: 6-3 all-time when picking Virginia
No. 8 Oregon (-17, 58) at California
3:30 p.m. ET, California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, California
Van Pelt’s pick: California (+17)
Ready for Halloween HOTYBS? Hold On To Your Butts Special from Berkley. Ducks are flying — but that’s a whole lotta Halloween candy we are handing out to the Bears at home. Trick or Treat.
SVP: 7-4 all-time when picking California
No. 10 Wake Forest (-4, 62) at Louisville
3:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network, Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, Kentucky
Van Pelt’s pick: Louisville (+4)
You know what’s a scary costume? The Demon Deacon. Enormous head — just a furious old man. Their team is scary, too. REALLY good. This line stinks. We are backing the Cards to make this a close one, which is not easy against a top-10 scoring offense.
SVP: 7-3 this season picking unranked teams against top-10 teams
Missouri at South Carolina (-3.5, 46.5)
4 p.m. ET, Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina
Van Pelt’s pick: Missouri (+3.5)
Scott — that’s six, how many more? So many more, my friend. So many more. Missouri was in the segment back-to-back weeks earlier this year and covered both. We like them on the road in Columbia against ranked South Carolina. Only three and a half, you say? Fine. We’ll take ’em.
SVP: 19-8-1 this season when picking the same team multiple times (3rd time picking Missouri)
No. 19 Kentucky at No. 3 Tennessee (-12, 63.5)
7 p.m. on ESPN, Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee
Van Pelt’s pick: Kentucky (+12)
Ok, now we get to the night games — it’s dark outside on Halloween weekend and it’s about to get super spooky because going against Tennessee is a horror show. But human nature is powerful and who’s that coming down the track? A mean machine in red and black. Next week the Vols get Georgia. And while they know Kentucky is far from a trap game, seems like this might be a lot to be laying in this spot. We’ll take the road double-digit dogs, who are actually cats.
SVP: 6-2 all-time when picking Kentucky
No. 10 USC (-16.5, 75) at Arizona
3:30 p.m., Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona
Van Pelt’s pick: Arizona (+16.5)
Have we ever had a double HOTYBS? We do now, because Arizona’s defense has given up 49 in 3 of their last 4 games. Against the mighty Trojans, we are going to be holding on to our butts in Tucson hoping the home team can avoid the blowout. Tucson Slim — you’re 0-1 in this segment, get your act together.
SVP: 7-5 all-time picking against Lincoln Riley
No. 15 Ole Miss (-2, 55.5) at Texas A&M
7:30 p.m. on SEC Network, Kyle Field, College Station, Texas
Van Pelt’s pick: Texas A&M (+2)
Last couple are the essence of this segment through the years. You’re going to hate them, it’s fine. You either see the vision — or you don’t. It’s fine either way. A&M is a mess right now — they’re an Arkansas FG that hit the top of an upright away from being on a four-game losing streak and they’re only a two-point dog at home to top-15 Ole Miss. Do the letters G.P.G mean anything to you? The General Principle Game… and on general principle, we back the Aggies here because I don’t know what else to do.
SVP: 48-34-1 all-time when picking an unranked SEC team
Pittsburgh at No. 21 North Carolina (-3, 64.5)
8:30 p.m. on ACC Network, Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Van Pelt’s pick: Pittsburgh (+3)
Finally, similar deal in Chapel Hill. Pitt has lost two of three, Carolina is on a roll, they’re ranked, yet giving just three. Sure. By now you know what to do. Say it with me — Hail to Pitt.
SVP: 8-4 all-time when picking against North Carolina
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