The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Falcons cover, Bulldogs don's but still win
The Braves were finished after a nightmarish first inning. The Falcons have been outscored by 50 points in the first half of five games. Georgia Tech has yet to score in the first quarter of five games.
Welcome to Atlanta, where the players play, eventually. Just give them some time to get going, OK?
Weekend Predictions isn’t one to talk. I finally got my Falcons (1-4) pick against the spread right last weekend. It only took me four weeks to figure out they can’t be trusted even when getting points.
I’ve yet to learn the same lessons with Georgia Tech (1-4). Honestly, I have no idea what to make of the Yellow Jackets. Last weekend they couldn’t stop North Carolina on third down, known as “Money Down” at Tech. The Tar Heels took Tech’s cash and left town.
Meanwhile, the Georgia Bulldogs (5-0) are kind of boring. They turned back a challenge from Notre Dame and have been an efficient machine in their other games. Kirby Smart is urging fans to arrive early for the noon game Saturday. At least their team doesn’t blow it from the start.
Falcons (-2½) at Cardinals
The Falcons are talking about simplifying Dan Quinn’s defense, which already is simple. The Falcons have been pretty good stopping the run. That’s hardly mattered because every QB has carved them up except for Kirk Cousins, who didn’t have to because the Vikings ran at will. Arizona’s defense is bad, too, so I’m living dangerously and picking the Falcons to cover as a road favorite.
South Carolina (+24) at No. 3 Georgia
Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp wore glasses during his team’s victory over Kentucky and still had them on when addressing media this week. Now he’ll have a clearer view of his team getting blown out by the Bulldogs. I’m just kidding. They are reading glasses, so Muschamp will have a clearer view of plays that won’t work. Seriously, Muschamp’s team has been pretty good on defense, so I’ll take the Gamecocks to cover.
Georgia Tech (+17½) at Duke
How is David Cutcliffe still coaching at Duke? The Blue Devils are 49-34 with three bowl victories since 2013, which seems impossible. Cutcliffe was SEC Coach of the Year at Ole Miss in 2003 after running Tennessee’s offense during the 1998 national championship season. Now ex-Duke QB Daniel Jones is starting as a rookie for the Giants. I’ll still take the Jackets with the points, because eventually I’ll luck up and be right.
Georgia State (+4½) at Coastal Carolina
It hurt my soul to pick the wrong side when GSU beat Arkansas State as a home underdog last weekend. Now the Panthers are on the road against Coastal Carolina, which isn’t much better defensively than Arkansas State. I liked the Panthers in this one until the line made a late move one point in Coastal Carolina’s favor, so I’ll take the home team to cover.
SEC games of interest
No. 1 Alabama (-17) at No. 24 Texas A&M
The Advocate reports Nick Saban and his wife, Terry, recently sold an apartment complex they owned in Baton Rouge. Frankly, the only reason I mention that is to note Saban was head coach at LSU when they bought the property, Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher was his assistant, and Saban still hasn’t lost to a team coached by a former aide. Fisher owns two of the 17 losses by ex-Saban assistants against their former boss. This one makes it 18. Bama covers. No. 7 Florida (+13½) at No. 5 LSU
Per ESPN, Florida and LSU are feuding about which school is the real Defensive Back University, based on NFL players produced. “We didn’t have to advertise it,” Panthers cornerback Eric Reid said. I suppose that’s why he and other ex-LSU defensive backs in the NFL wear “DBU” T-shirts. The expectation seems to be LSU QB Joe Burrow will carve up the Gators, but this is the best defense he’s faced this season. I’ll take the Gators and the points.
ACC games of interest
Florida State (+27) at No. 2 Clemson
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney dusted off his “ROY bus” mantra, which means “rest of y’all bus” because Clemson is among a pack of teams chasing Bama. Running back Darien Rencher told The State: “We thought we were done with it, but I guess he’ll probably make a new logo and give us a shirt soon like he always does.” Man, I didn’t want to make a Falcons T-shirt joke for a third consecutive week, and then Dabo just serves it up. I like FSU to cover.
Other college games of interest
No. 6 Oklahoma (-10½) vs. No. 11 Texas (Dallas)
Texas safety B.J. Foster added some spice to The Red River Showdown when he issued a warning to Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts. “He’s gonna have to slide, or it’s not gonna be good for him,” Foster told media in Austin. But why should Hurts run when he can just stand in the pocket and pick apart the shaky Longhorns pass defense? I’ll take Oklahoma and give the points.
NFC South
Saints (+1) at Jaguars
Here’s a tidbit for any Falcons fans not sufficiently bummed out by this season: After three starts, Saints backup QB Teddy Bridgewater has a better passing rating (99.5) than Matt Ryan (95.1). The value of that statistic may be dubious, but Bridgewater also has more yards per attempt than Ryan, a lower interception percentage and an equal TD percentage. New Orleans covers.
Panthers (-2½) vs. Buccaneers (London)
The Panthers have won all three games with QB Kyle Allen starting in place of Cam Newton (foot). Regarding the notion the Panthers are better with Allen, former running back DeAngelo Williams told ESPN: “This is not an offense geared toward a mobile quarterback like Cam.” So, the Panthers have coordinator Norv Turner running his preferred scheme for Allen, and Carolina is winning. I can’t see how this can go bad when Newton returns. Bucs cover.
Last week: 6-6 (45-28-3 season)