Last week I thought I had it figured out. It seemed like all I had to do was pick the teams from Alabama and I’d be home free.
Boy, was I wrong.
For the first time this season, I picked the Crimson Tide to cover the spread in their game against North Texas. I walked away from the contest sorely disappointed when they won, 41-0, falling 4.5 points short of covering the spread.
On the other hand, things in Tuscaloosa, Ala., weren’t nearly as gloomy as they were in Auburn. The Tigers not only failed to cover the spread, but failed to extend their 17-game winning streak, which had been the nation’s longest.
They also lowered my season record on teams from Alabama to a pitiful 1-5.
I won’t be completely negative about last week, though. I did stave off a late Tennessee comeback attempt to cover with Florida, Ole Miss flopped on a much grander scale than I ever expected against Vanderbilt and Oklahoma held on to knock off Florida State.
I hope this week I can channel former Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and finally figure out where to side in regards to the Tide.
 
 
Pittsburgh +6.5 over Notre Dame
Notre Dame finally got off the schneid last week when it took down Michigan State.
But the high times for the Golden Domers won’t last. Pittsburgh has a power rushing attack led by junior running back Jay Graham, who has 419 yards and six touchdowns in three games.
His ground and pound attack will send Notre Dame to 1-3 for the season.
 
Arizona State +2.5 over USC
In Lane Kiffin’s second season as USC head coach, he is beginning to feel the ramifications of the NCAA sanctions imposed on his team before last season.
Now the Trojans must travel to Tempe, Ariz., to take on a very talented Arizona State team.
 
And USC simply doesn’t have the offensive weapons to take down the Sun Devils.
 
Florida Atlantic +33.5 over Auburn
Auburn has no defense.
I’ve played video games where I can’t put up the kind of numbers teams are tallying on Auburn right now.
While the Tigers will rebound from their first loss in more than a year, they won’t be able to slow down Florida Atlantic enough to cover a massive spread.
 
Mississippi State -19.5 over Louisiana Tech
Mississippi State looks to rebound from its 19-6 loss against LSU in which the Bulldogs’ potent rushing attack was held to just 52 yards from scrimmage.
Playing another team from Louisiana is the perfect remedy.
Bulldogs coach Dan Mullen will get his offense rolling early and often in this one as his team cruises to victory.
 
 
Florida -19.5 over Kentucky
Kentucky is bad. Very bad.
And Florida has skill players that look like they can run with Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt.
The Gators will have no issue covering a nearly three touchdown spread here.
 
 
Georgia -9.5 over Ole Miss
This pick isn’t implying that Georgia has improved drastically over the past three weeks. It’s more saying that Ole Miss is really that bad.
The Rebels were embarrassed 30-7 last week at Vanderbilt, and Rebels coach Houston Nutt seemed to be clueless as to how to right the ship.
 
Vanderbilt +16 over South Carolina
Vanderbilt may be the most improved team in the country.
Commodores head coach James Franklin has brought an attitude to his team that I haven’t seen in Nashville in my lifetime.
The Gamecocks were sluggish last week against Navy, pulling out a 24-17 victory.
South Carolina sophomore running back Marcus Lattimore will be able to carry his team to a nail-biting victory.
 
 
Oklahoma State +4.5 over Texas A&M
This game will be a good old-fashioned wild West shootout.
And I never bet against a Cowboy in a shootout.
 
Alabama -12 over Arkansas
Yes, I’m going with the Tide again.
Arkansas couldn’t beat Alabama last year in Fayetteville when it had former quarterback Ryan Mallett on the roster.
This season, sans Mallett, the Razorbacks will struggle to move the ball against Alabama’s stonewall defense, and the Crimson Tide will score enough to keep this game out of reach.
 
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LSU -6 over West Virginia
Saturday’s primetime game will be a tight one for three quarters.
But LSU’s depth, especially at running back, will wear down the Mountaineers’ 3-3-5 defensive scheme to pull away in the fourth quarter.
Last week: 6-4
Season record: 19-11
 
Rob Landry is a 23-year old mass communication senior from Mandeville, La. Follow him on Twitter @RobLandry85