Not Your Father’s Fighting Irish

BALTIMORE, Maryland–

 September 23, 2023

John Fredericks 

2023 ATS (Against the Spread) Record 

College Football: 15-7

NFL: 18-13-1

Now we are getting down to brass tacks in college football! There are a host of signature games this weekend and I’m fired up. Is Notre Dame for real? Is Coach Prime about to get a reality check? Can Alabama fall out of the top 25? Is it the PAC 2?

Lets get rolling now and make some green for the scene.

Rutgers at Michigan (-24) 

Michigan is vying for national championship, their head coach is back from a three game suspension and he will be pacing the sidelines in front of 90,000 GO BLUE faithful.

Michigan has slapped down Rutgers in eight straight games and today’s beat down will mark nine. Can Rutgers keep up? Maybe for the first half, then there smaller defensive line wears down. No upset here.

Pick: Michigan (-24) 

Florida State at Clemson (+2) 

I really can’t get over the Boston College debacle for FSU. The Golden Eagles had like 50 penalties and took it down to the wire. The Seminoles might not be that good.

Now they go to Death Valley where they have not played well over the years, losing seven in a row overall to Clemson.

This is an ACC showdown game with significant playoff ramifications. It looks like the Tigers have exorcised that disastrous Duke loss from their psyche.

It’s now or never for Dabo Swinney’s team. Their offensive line is back healthy and look for running back Will Shipley to post up a 100 plus on the grass.

Pick: Clemson (+2) 

Bonus Prop Bet: Will Shipley +110 Anyway Touchdown 

Colorado (+21) at Oregon 

I’ve got the receipts and I’m going with Coach Prime and taking the wood! You either believe or you don’t! I believe in this brand of misfit players Deion has brought together.

Everyone is waiting for the crash. Just ask TCU.

Pick: Coach Prime (+21) 

Texas Tech at West Virginia University (+5.5) 

WVU’s defense is downright nasty and another 65,000 fans will be packing Morgantown going crazy as the Mountaineers and their embattled coach Neal Brown try to get the Red Raiders monkey off their back.

Brown has never beaten Texas Tech but he’s coming off an inspiring and dominating win over Pitt last week.

This is going to be one UGLY game. Take the points and sing Take Me Home, Country Roads.

Pick: WVU (+5.5) 

UCLA at Utah (-3.5) 

If you think I am betting against this beast of a team at home in Salt Lake you’re nuts. The Utes have given up a paltry 31 points in three games and their defense against the run has been crazy good: opponents are averaging 2.8 yards per carry.

The Bruins run the football so something has to give. The public is all over UCLA, betting them down from minus 5.5 to minus 3.5 since Wednesday. The public always loses.

Pick: Utah (-3.5) 

Oregon State Beavers (-3) at Washington State 

I’ve got BEAVER FEVER!

The Beavers are monsters up front. They come into Cougar-Land with the second best run game in college football. This is trench warfare and the Beavers are bigger, stronger and better than WSU.

Oregon State’s Running back Damien Martinez has notched nine 100+ yards games in a row. Why stop now?

Pick: Oregon State (-3) 

Iowa at Penn State (-14.5) 

Coining a phrase on our Godzilla Wins radio show today from GodzillaWins.com writer and assistant editor Dan Angell: “Has Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds outlawed offense in the state?”

As much as I dislike Penn State head coach James Franklin for running up scores late in the game against week opponents – -I love laying points on him against week opponents — because he runs up the score. It’s either cognitive dissidence, hypocrisy — or both. Either way I’m cashing the ticket. Penn State is the better team and toss in some home cooking.

Pick: Penn State (-14.5) 

Ohio State at Notre Dame (+3.5) 

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These are not your father’s Fighting Irish. Sam Hartman is the real deal and this team can win the whole thing. Ohio State has played no one. Today they go to South Bend and find out who these Irish are.

Pick: Notre Dame (+3.5) 

Ole Miss (+7) at Alabama 

Alabama gets knocked out of the top 25 today. Think about that.

The Tide is worse than meets the eye. Ole Miss is better than you think.

Lane Kiffin will be celebrating with some popcorn. Go Rebs!

Pick: Rebs (+7)