Givanni Damico | November 9th, 2019
I rebounded last week, going 6-3 in Week 10. That brings my year-to-date pick record for locks to 22-21 (.512). My goal is to end the season with a winning percentage of .600 so I have some work to do. Here are my eight locks for the week.
Clemson -34 at NC State
A salty Tigers team who was just ranked outside of the top four takes on struggling Wolf Pack team. Dabo Swinney and the Tigers are going to pour it on and prevail with ease.
Purdue +2 at Northwestern
Although Purdue has had its struggles this year, Northwestern is a team that promotes little if any offense. Their defense can wreak havoc, but if their offense can’t get in the end zone then the defense is wasting its time out there. Plummer should be able to lead the Boilermakers to an easy victory over the Wildcats.
Wake Forest -2.5 at Virginia Tech
Wake Forest has played very good football this season, losing only one game by three to Louisville. Virginia Tech is very inconsistent and they don’t have the defensive firepower to stop the Demon Deacons.
Illinois +14.5 at Michigan State
I don’t know that Illinois pulls off another upset over a Big Ten rival, but they should certainly be able to cover this spread. Michigan State’s offense has been abysmal as usual and their defense lost their leader in Joe Bachie to a drug suspension. Illinois could be celebrating another huge conference victory after Saturday.
Wyoming +14.5 at Boise State
Sure, the Cowboys will be on the road on the blue turf, but Wyoming has only lost two games this year by a combined seven points. They always hang around. Boise State doesn’t normally blow their opponents out, so Wyoming should be in it for the entire game.
Liberty +17 at BYU
This is the third week in a row that I’ve bet on Liberty and so far I’m 1-1. BYU’s offense is nothing to write home about, while Liberty has an electrifying unit. They may not win outright, but they should be able to keep the deficit to two touchdowns.
LA Tech -4.5 vs. North Texas
Looking at common opponents, North Texas got blown out by Southern Miss. LA Tech blew out Southern Miss. This is not a reliable way to look at things, but Tech has played well on both sides of the ball this year. Mason Fine has done well for UNT, but he can’t keep his team in the game at all times.
Iowa +9 at Wisconsin
Iowa has lost two games this season. They lost by seven to Michigan on the road and by five to a Penn State team (in Iowa) who is now ranked four. Their defense keeps them in every game and they should be able to slow down Jonathan Taylor like the Buckeyes did.
GAME PICKS
2 LSU at 3 Alabama -6
My Pick: Alabama
This is the big game that everyone has been waiting for. My reasoning for picking Alabama is simply that LSU has struggled stopping the slant route this season. Alabama runs this route to death using Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, and Devonta Smith to gain plenty of YAC. Alabama will hold their own on defense.
4 Penn State -6.5 at 17 Minnesota
My Pick: Penn State
Minnesota has won plenty of close games this year. They could have very easily started 0-3. They don’t have the firepower on either side of the ball to hang with Penn State, but they most certainly won’t get blown out.
12 Baylor -2.5 at TCU
My Pick: Baylor
Baylor has been squeaking out victories and they’ll do it again. A field goal will be the deciding factor in a game against the inconsistent Horned Frogs.
18 Iowa at 13 Wisconsin -9
My Pick: Wisconsin
I don’t believe Wisconsin will allow itself to drop three in a row. While Iowa will cover the spread, the Wisconsin defense will slow down Nate Stanley and the Hawkeyes’ offense. Jack Coan and Taylor will do just enough on offense to get the job done.
Vanderbilt at 10 Florida -27
My Pick: Florida
East Carolina at 25 SMU -21.5
My Pick: SMU
UMass at Army -34
My Pick: Army
Western Kentucky at Arkansas -1.5
My Pick: Arkansas
Texas Tech -2.5 at West Virginia
My Pick: Texas Tech
Purdue at Northwestern -2
My Pick: Purdue
Florida State at Boston College -2.5
My Pick: Boston College
Georgia Tech at Virginia -16
My Pick: Virginia
UTSA at Old Dominion -3.5
My Pick: UTSA
Charlotte -12.5 at UTEP
My Pick: Charlotte
Stanford -3 at Colorado
My Pick: Stanford
South Alabama at Texas State -7
My Pick: Texas State
16 Kansas State at Texas -7
My Pick: Texas
19 Wake Forest -2.5 at Virginia Tech
My Pick: Wake
UConn at Cincinnati -35
My Pick: Cincy
Georgia Southern -3 at Troy
My Pick: Georgia Southern
Louisville at Miami -6.5
My Pick: Miami
USC -2 at Arizona State
My Pick: USC
UAB at Southern Miss -7.5
My Pick: Southern Miss
Illinois at Michigan State -14.5
My Pick: SUPERDOG ILLINOIS
New Mexico State at Ole Miss -28
My Pick: Ole Miss
North Texas at LA Tech -4.5
My Pick: Tech
Georgia State -2.5 at UL Monroe
My Pick: Georgia State
FIU at FAU -10
My Pick: FAU
Missouri at 6 Georgia -16.5
My Pick: Georgia
Washington State -7.5 at Cal
My Pick: Wazzu
Utah State at Fresno State -5.5
My Pick: Fresno State
Appalachian State at South Carolina -6
My Pick: South Carolina
5 Clemson -33.5 at NC State
My Pick: Clemson
15 Notre Dame -8 at Duke
My Pick: Notre Dame
Tennessee at Kentucky -1.5
My Pick: Kentucky
Liberty at BYU -17
My Pick: SUPERDOG LIBERTY
Iowa State at 9 Oklahoma -14.5
My Pick: Boomer Sooner
Wyoming at 22 Boise State
My Pick: Boise State
Nevada at San Diego State -17
My Pick: SDSU
SJSU at Hawaii -7.5
My Pick: Hawaii
Questions and comments?
thescorecrowsports@gmail.com
Follow Us on Twitter @thescorecrow
Follow Us on Reddit at u/TheScorecrow
Follow Us on Facebook at The Scorecrow
Follow Us on Instagram at The Scorecrow
Facebook Group where you can read and post articles at The Scorecrow
Reddit Group where everyone can post without fear of being banned at The Scorecrow
Follow Givanni Damico on Twitter @giodamico15
Main Image Credit: [getty src=”1184034186″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”com”]
