Weekend Preview - CFB Week 3 & NFL Week 2

In Memoriam.

"We've got one more game until we're all done with Week 1 and those two contenders are facing off tonight, I'm hoping for a big game and an even bigger let down from Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers if I'm lucky. Have a great week everyone!" 

The last two sentences from my weekend recap on Monday. I was hoping for a let down performance but even I wasn't ready for the catastrophe that was ahead of the New York Jets that night. The good news for that team is their defense still looks strong and found a way to carry Zach Wilson to a win, the bad news is they'll have to find a way to do that every week if Nathaniel Hackett isn't able to fix Zach Wilson. Nathaniel Hackett. Zack Wilson. I hope you enjoyed that win this week jets fans...

Let's look into what's in store this week!

CFB Week 3

That is certainly something to say about the opposing coach when you're getting ready to play an in-state rival whose entire philosophy is about not caring what old dudes think of him and silencing his critics. I understand it's not an easy job taking on the hype freight train that is Colorado and Deion Sanders right now, but I also think Jay Norvell could've chosen about 10 other things to not give Deion bulletin board material before the game. There's something to be said about zigging when everyone else zags, but I don't think this is one of those times. In fact I think a lot of his own players might not be a fan of him saying this. Couple in that I've already seen a video of Sanders talking to his players about how they've made it personal and I'm taking (18)Colorado -23 with my first pick of the week. The slate to me really thins out after that with 0 top 25 matchups and the top 6 teams all being favored by at least 25. I'll also take (17)Ole Miss -17.5 against an unknown Georgia Tech team. We're still yet to see if Coach Key can improve the Tech program, so far they've played about to expectations but going on the road to an SEC opponent will be a major hurdle for this team. Ole Miss could be caught in a let down spot this week, they're coming off a road top 25 win at Tulane and have a road trip next weekend to play Alabama, but I'm a believer in what Lane Kiffin is building and think they could cover this number in the first half. My last pick of the week is a dealer's choice, pick your favorite playoff hopeful team playing an inferior opponent and ride with it:

South Carolina vs (1)UGA -27.5, Bowling Green vs (2)Michigan -40.5, (3)FSU -26.5 vs BC, Wyoming vs (4)Texas -29.5, Western Kentucky vs (6)Ohio State -29. You could convince me on any of these so throw a little on whoever you think is the best right now and enjoy watching them. One final author's note/prediction, something about this board with no top 25 matchups and heavy favorites up top makes me feel like we might be in for one of those wild weekends in college football. This feels like a bit of a jinx on myself since I'm headed to Athens for one of those top matchups but you've been warned as well.

NFL Week 2

Not even Aaron Rodgers' injury was able to help hide Josh Allen's rough week 1 performance as he was out quarterbacked by a mormon in a headband on Monday night. Allen wasn't the only big name QB to struggle out of the gates week 1 as Joe Burrow had a disappointing performance against the Browns and Justin Herbert failed when the game was on the line in a loss to the Dolphins. Luckily for them the season isn't decided in week 1, well I guess unless an older QB who you had hyped as the savior of the franchise for months had an achilles rupture four plays into the first drive, but I do see a lot of bounce back potential for these guys this week and going forward. The Bills will travel back to Buffalo to take on the Raiders this weekend and there's no way this team gets off to an 0-2 start. I'm looking for Josh Allen to be back to his big-time play ways and put up some big numbers so I don't see them having any problem covering a big spread, give me Bills -8. The Chargers wish they could blame their loss on being on the road, but they still have an easier matchup this weekend playing at Tennessee. Tennessee did not impress in their week 1 game losing to the Saints on so will also be looking for a get right game, but unfortunately I think they'll be going home to a buzz saw in a Chargers team with a chip on their shoulder. I see the Chargers defense being able to keep the Tennessee offense in check and won't have Tyreek to worry about so I like Chargers -2.5. Back to the mormon in a headband, he will be going off against the only defense that was able to shut out its opponent in week 1, the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys will surely be a public betting favorite after their 40 point win and Vegas has put the spread at 8.5 for that reason, but I think this defense has a good shot of making Wilson's life hell on Sunday so I'll take Cowboys -8.5 and Under 39 since I think the Jets also have a very talented defense that will be doing everything they can to keep hopes alive. Finally there is an underdog moneyline I like too for all the plus sign junkies. While the Packers are not a heavy dog at +110, I love this one for its value. The Packers defense was able to find a way to slow down the Bears' rushing attack that finished last season red hot so I like their matchup with a running team like Atlanta and while the sample size for both these QB's is small, I give the edge to Jordan Love over Desmond Ridder in a head to head. Packers +110. For those keeping track at home that is 5+ bets on favorites against the spread this weekend and also a warning that I think this weekend will have some upsets. It should be a fun one, hope everyone enjoys it!

-Joe