A positive week to start off the year and your boys at Almost Varsity Sports pick up right where they left off. This train is rolling and showing no signs of slowing down in 2017
Come and get it while it’s hot.. HOT SOUP!!!
1H Tulane @ Navy (-6); 24.5
This pick jumps off the page. A team I expect to improve from last year (Tulane) vs a team I expect to fall slightly back into the pack (Navy). In week 1, the Green Wave defense played extremely well against Grambling and was able to get a lot of young players game experience early in the year. Two option offenses will milk this clock and an experienced Tulane D should get enough stops early on to keep that clock running. I see this game being close down to the wire overall and even think the live underdog has a chance at an upset here
The pick: Under 24.5 1H (3 Units)
Fresno State @ Alabama (-44.5)
After playing a physical week one game against Florida State, the Alabama defense is a bit banged up. Historically, under Saban, Alabama tends to ease up on lower tier teams after a big game. I see the same happening here. Fresno is going to put up 14-20 points and get this cover losing by about 35
The pick: Fresno State +44.5 (3 Units)
Eastern Michigan @ Rutgers (-5.5)
I love Rutgers here. Getting in some solid transfer talent, including new QB, Kyle Bolin, the Rutgers team looked much improved week one against Washington. Eastern Michigan is BAD. I have them as a bottom 20-25 team in the NCAA. I think Rutgers is improving, and while at home, they should be able to get enough cushion here for a comfortable 10-13 point win.
The Pick: Rutgers (-5.5) (4 Units)
Oklahoma @ Ohio State (-7.5)
Ohio State’s slow first half against Indiana comes down to rust, that’s it. People are looking further into this than they should. JT Barrett will lead the buckeye offense against another porous Big 12 defense. Expect a bit of a shootout here. The difference in the game will be the Ohio State defensive line. A top 3 defensive line will prove to be way too much for a revamped Oklahoma offense here. I don’t expect the blowout from last year, but I see a two touchdown win here by OSU.
The Pick: Ohio State (-7) (buy down to 7) (2 Units)
TCU (-2.5) @ Arkansas
The love for Gary Patterson on this site is well documented. He returns one of the more experienced teams (in terms of returning starters) in the country. An experienced team getting another year of coaching from a great coach is enough to turn these guys around. We have been pounding the TCU drum again this year and I’m expecting them to fight for a Big 12 title.
The Pick: TCU (-2.5) (1 Unit)