(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Welcome back to the Upside Play’s college football games of the week. Here we’ll provide analysis for our games to watch for, including 4 of our writers picks for each game. We feature some big time matchups as 4 of the 5 games include top 25 ranked squads going head to head, including a #1 vs #7 showdown on Saturday night.
Current Lines: UF -6.0 / O/U 58
Florida’s Offense has been cookin’ so far in the 2020 season as the Gators are 2-0 and averaging 44.5 points per game. Senior QB Kyle Trask has 10 TD’s to just 1 INT and a top 10 FBS Completion percentage at .718. Florida has converted every Redzone opportunity so far this year, scoring TD’s 10 out of the 11 attempts. A&M hasn’t looked as good as expected this year as they are coming off of a 52-24 loss to Alabama. Kellen Mond has led the way for this struggling offense with 4 TD’s and 1 INT. The Aggies will need to slow down the Gator’s lethal air attack if they want any chance of an upset.
Vince: UF -6.0
Maher: UF -6.0
Ryan: UF -6.0
Patrick: UF -6.0
# 19 Virginia Tech (2-0) @ North Carolina #8 (2-0) (9:00 AM PT)
Current Lines: UNC -3.5 / O/U 57.5
UNC heads into this matchup as favorites but this ACC showdown is a toss up. VT is a running ball club and isn’t afraid to let you know it. Senior RB Khalil Herbert has some crazy stats through the first two weeks: 3 TD’s, 312 Yards, on just 26 carries for an absurd average of 12.0 YPC. Defensively the Hokies have forced 3 INT’s but have been carried by their offensive output thus far giving up 27.5 a game. The UNC Tarheels started the year off with a bang stomping on Syracuse 31-6 but were challenged last week against Boston College in a 26-22 Win. This Tarheel defense is going to need to force VT to throw the ball if they want to stay inside the top 10.
Vince: UNC -3.5
Maher: UNC -3.5
Ryan: VT +3.5
Patrick: VT +3.5
#22 Texas (2-1) @ Oklahoma (1-2) (9:00 AM PT)
Current Lines: Oklahoma -3.0 / O/U 72
It’s been a disappointing year for both of these Big 12 juggernauts so far in 2020 as both have huge losses to teams they were favored to beat by at least one score. This game is crucial to Texas’s BCS Playoff contention as if they slip to 2-2 they can kiss a title shot goodbye. Texas QB Sam Ehlinger has been locked in throwing the ball 109 times in just 3 games this year for 14 TD’s and 924 yards. Freshman Spencer Rattler has made some bad decisions, but the penalties and turnovers have plagued OU. With a 1-2 record the Sooners have been a major disappointment so far, they're going to need their defense to provide some sparks and give young QB Spencer Rattler good field position if they want to be successful.
Vince: OU -3.0
Maher: OU -3.0
Ryan: Over 72
Patrick: OU -3.0
Current Lines: UGA -12.5 / O/U 42.5
Feels like 98?? Will this be the year Tennessee can make a run in the SEC? They’ve shown a very well balanced attack so far with 33.0 PPG led by Senior QB Jarrett Guarantano. The Georgia Bulldogs have been scary good defensively, giving up just 8.0 PPG, and forcing 4 turnovers through two games played. Stetson Bennett looks like he’s their guy under center for the long haul as D’Wan Mathis didn’t get a rep last week against Auburn. The Bulldogs are huge favorites going into Saturday’s matchup at -12.5 and look to continue their SEC dominance in 2020 and improve to 3-0.
Vince: Over 42.5
Maher: Georgia -12.5
Ryan: Over 42.5
Patrick: Georgia -12.5
Current Lines: Clemson -15.0 / O/U 60.5
The game of the week features two ACC heavyweights as Miami is going into Memorial Stadium to take on the #1 ranked Tigers. The Clemson offense has been rolling under future top 5 pick Trevor Lawrence as they are averaging 42.3 PPG. The Star QB has 7 TD’s and 848 Yards through 3 games this year, as well as a 90.9 QBR which is good for 5th in the country. D’eriq King has been a dual threat QB for the Hurricanes and has brought their offense a ton of success in 2020. He has over 150 yards on the ground, 736 through the air, and a 67% completion percentage through 3 games. Clemson is heavily favored at home this week, Miami is going to be near perfect to take out the 15 point favorites.
Vince: Clemson -15.0
Maher: Clemson -15.0
Ryan: Miami +15.0
Patrick: Over 60.5
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* Cover Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
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