Hello Friends, it’s great to be picking games for you guys again. I’ve got a couple picks for the appetizer that is week zero before the main course comes next week.

Last season we finished out 46-40 +2 units, not a great season but not terrible either. Hindsight 20/20 I could have played the 4 corners offense instead of giving out 10 picks the last week of the regular season. The best bet record was solid. 12-7 +3.83 units is nothing to sneeze at. But last season is behind us and it’s time to look forward to this season and the picks for this week.

Before I start picking as you all know there is another blogger on this site Tyler who does the Money Back Guarantee with me. Now Tyler and I have never spoken (to my best recollection apologies if I’m wrong) but I think we can pump this up on the site. I am challenging Tyler to a season long pick competition. Loser buys the winner a case of beer? Terms can be discussed. As said by Professor Gerald Lambeau,

I’ll be awaiting a response Tyler. Now for some picks.

San Jose State @ USC -38.5 O/U 60.5

There’s a lot of hype coming out of USC and Lincoln Riley is in need of a big season. He has himself a good looking team on paper. I think USC will run the ball a little more than people expect. I think that attack will pound SJSU early. I like USC 1H -21.5 -104. Southern Cal has the Big Ten schedule to worry about so I think they’ll go for the kill early, and pull the starters at the earliest opportunity.

NC State @ UVA -5.5 O/U 53.5

A conference game before Labor Day Weekend feels wrong to me but we have one nevertheless. I’m buying some of the hype on the Wolfpack entering this season. Despite the loss of Hollywood Smothers I think the Wolfpack offense will be just fine. CJ Bailey is just so damn talented at the QB position. If the Wolfpack o-line can hold look out. I’ll take NC State +5.5 -105.

Best Bet

North Carolina @ TCU -7.5 O/U 47.5 (N)

To say the Tar Heels football program is in turmoil feels disrespectful to turmoil. I don’t want to get too much into the off the field nonsense. There is enough out there already. I think the horned frogs come into this season ready to crash the party in the Big 12. On the other side the one thing UNC did well last season was limit big plays and play a solid bend don’t break defense. The Dublin game has proven to be a low scoring affair in seasons past. We’ll play under 47.5 -110.

That’s all I got for now thank you for reading. Stay tuned for more content in the days ahead! Check out our Instagram feed 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 friends show, The Rangers Ed Podcast! We’ll be back with more soon.