Hello friends, welcome back to the Money Back Guarantee. Week 7 was a huge bounce back week for the blog. We went 4-1 +2.7 units. This brings us to 20-17 +1.32 units. We also got back to winning ways with the best bet Texas was easy in the Red River Shootout. As thing stands the best bet is 8-1 +6 units. Feels good to be back in the green.
Before we get to the picks let’s do a little Booster Club talk.
Notre Dame dominated NC State on Saturday, but it wasn’t without flaws. The Irish had a chance to put the hammer down and go up 14-0 on the Wolfpack in the first quarter. On a 4th and 1 on the Wolfpack 7 Mike Denbrock called wildcat AGAIN. Mike for the love of God enough with the wildcat. With that said the Irish dominated the 2nd half. All of a sudden Notre Dame is rounding into form, especially on defense. Boubacar Traore had 2 sacks, the defense had 3 picks. Now we head into the USC game with the Irish playing their best ball of the season. More on that later.
Around the country Indiana stunned Oregon in comprehensive manner. Cignetti gets his signature win as a Hoosier in Autzen Stadium. Down in Dallas Texas shocked their season to life by dominating the Sooners. Venables stuck by his guy John Mateer for the whole game. I honestly don’t think it would have mattered. The Longhorns defense was fantastic. Mateer whose best quality is using his legs to extend plays was contained all game.
The biggest story of the week by far is the end of the James Franklin era in State College. Franklin was relieved of coaching duties after a 3rd straight loss to Northwestern on Saturday. The Nittany Lions also lost Drew Allar for the remainder of the season. The story is Franklin. Following the sanction years Franklin did a wonderful job bringing the Nittany Lions back to national relevance after you know what went on. It culminated in a Big Ten Championship in 2016. Following this season Penn State never quite hit those heights again. They would fall behind the Buckeyes, and eventually Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines. I think Franklin will end up in another job pretty quickly if he wants to but the real question is where does Penn State go? There’s a lot of talk about Matt Rhule, former Penn State linebacker. He bleeds that program. And he has a connection to AD Pat Kraft from his Temple days. But in 2025 is that really the route you want to go? Rhule has struggled to get Nebraska going. I think Penn State should hunt for a young hungry coach. College football has changed and I know Rhule has the reputation of bringing teams to the next level but it’s 2025 not 2015. Give Barry Odom a call at Purdue.
Let’s get to the picks. Let me just say, I love the board this week.
Nebraska @ Minnesota +7.5 O/U 47.5
Speaking of Matt Rhule his Huskers head up to Minnesota to play the Gophers. I wonder if the outside noise bothers the Cornhuskers? I’m also not a believer in this Nebraska team. I really doubt their defense and question them in the trenches. I’ll take Minnesota +7.5 -102.
Mississippi State @ Florida +9.5 O/U 50.5
There’s a lot of smoke coming out of Gainesville.
Maybe I’m falling for a trap but I think Mississippi State comes out on fire against a Gator team that has been through the wringer this season. Give me Hail State +9.5 -110.
Washington @ Michigan -5.5 O/U 50.5
Washington heads east to Ann Arbor to face off with a Michigan team coming off a beating at the hands of the Trojans. Justice Haynes got banged up and the Michigan defense largely had no answer for USC. The score was kind to the Wolverines, who came up with 2 turnovers deep in their territory. I think Washington gives Michigan a competitive game on Saturday. I know the record for west coast teams coming east in the Big Ten isn’t great but we’ll take the Huskies +6 -108.
USC @ Notre Dame -9.5 O/U 61.5
One of the great rivalries in college sports. USC and Notre Dame golden helmets against the spirit of Troy. Countless champions, all Americans and Heisman trophy winners. Matter of fact as I write this today is the anniversary of the legendary Bush Push game at Notre Dame Stadium. Fighting Irish fans, cover your eyes.
This is the first college football game I truly remember being excited for all week and watching start to finish. The game where I truly became a college football fan. Fast forward to today Jayden Maiava leads a high flying USC offense to South Bend to face the Irish. But SC has some injury problems coming into this matchup. Most notably their two top running backs Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders will be out.
The key to this matchup for the Irish will be defending the Trojans two big time receivers. Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane have been torching defenses all season. I expect Leonard Moore to matchup with Lane since he’s more of a classic boundary receiver. Lemon presents different challenges since he can move all over the offense. Line him up outside, in the slot or hand it off to him on a reverse Lemon is a problem.
With that said the Irish offense presents huge challenges of its own to the Trojan defense whose secondary has been an issue throughout the season. I think CJ Carr and this offense can have a day on Saturday. I think Notre Dame makes a statement on Saturday and inserts themselves back into National Championship conversations. Give me the Irish -9.5 -110 Saturday night in South Bend.
Best Bet
Missouri @ Auburn +1.5 O/U 43.5
Auburn is coming off a very disappointing loss to Georgia in a huge rivalry game. Then they had some controversy with a senior captain running back Damari Alston was kicked off the team. Again, I hate the vibes in Auburn. I think Freeze is a dead man walking. Jackson Arnold is totally lost back there. I think Mizzou bounces back from a disappointing home loss to the Tide on Saturday. Give me Missouri -1.5 -110.
On twitter you can find Mike @Mike_Sheerin, Tyler @TMon_19 and Sean @SeanMartinNFL. Subscribe to the site by hitting the follow button in the bottom right corner and entering your email address. Check out our Instagram feed @thebroadwaybreakdownsports for special gameday and promotional content. Our podcasts are available on Spotify. Visit the Rangers Ed Shop by clicking the link on our homepage. Check out our mailbag page to join the conversation here on the site and on our partners show, The Rangers Ed Podcast! We’ll be back with more soon.
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