I love college football…there’s no ifs, ands, or buts…but what Alabama is doing to the sport is definitely hurting it big time. When a team, who is that dominant, so much so that their QB hadn’t played a 4th quarter snap into November, goes into the #3 ranked team’s home stadium and whoops them 29-0…it’s not good for the sport. Honestly…can anyone beat the Crimson Tide this year? Clemson with a true freshman QB? Notre Dame with a solid offense and defense but nothing that stands out? Michigan, who has rounded into form but may not have a terribly consistent offense?
Or how about this one…a team I thought could give the Crimson Tide a really close game in Tuscaloosa at the start of the season – Mississippi State. Take a look below to see if the other experts and I are giving the Bulldogs a chance to shock the world this weekend!
Fanatic Guest Picker Standings:
Week 1 – Chris Schubert: 8-2 SU, 7-3 ATS
Week 2 – Wesley Franco: 7-3 SU, 6-4 ATS
Week 3 – Shawn Crespin: 5-5 SU, 5-5 ATS
Week 4 – Jeff Hoodzow: 9-1 SU, 6-4 ATS
Week 5 – Mike Bauer: 8-2 SU, 6-4 ATS
Week 6 – George Sarafin: 5-5 SU, 3-7 ATS
Week 7 – Mike Muraco: 5-5 SU, 4-6 ATS
Week 8 – Randy White: 5-5 SU, 5-5 ATS
Week 9 – Wesley Franco: 6-4 SU, 6-4 ATS
Week 10 – Wesley Franco: 6-4 SU, 3-7 ATS
Hey…don’t look now but the guy who writes this blog has come out of nowhere and is within striking distance of winning both the straight up and spread picks with four weeks to go!!
| Eric Cohen | Jon Bell | Shane Dale | Steve Malina | (Fanatic Staff Guest Picker) Wesley Franco |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
@eacohen83 |
@koshercoach |
@shanedaleabc15 |
@beardownsteven |
@ProducerWes |
|
| Last Week (SU) | 8-2 | 6-4 | 8-2 | 8-2 | 6-4 |
| Last Week (ATS) | 5-5 | 5-5 | 2-8 | 7-3 | 3-7 |
| Season (SU) | 63-37 | 58-42 | 62-38 | 65-35 | 64-36 |
| Season (ATS) | 51-49 | 46-54 | 47-53 | 46-54 | 51-49 |
| UCLA at ASU (-12.5) | ASU 37-20 | ASU 24-10 | ASU 34-24 | ASU 38-31 | ASU 35-14 |
| Fresno State (-2.5) at Boise State | FRES 34-30 | BOISE 21-20 | FRES 34-31 | BOISE 27-26 | BOISE 38-30 |
| Ohio State (-3.5) at Michigan State | OSU 30-17 | MSU 24-21 | OSU 27-26 | OSU 37-30 | MSU 27-24 |
| Oklahoma State at Oklahoma (-17.5) | OK 45-28 | OK 52-40 | OK 41-27 | OK 42-20 | OK 35-31 |
| Washington State (-5.5) at Colorado | WSU 34-28 | WSU 38-24 | COL 28-27 | WSU 34-27 | WSU 27-20 |
| Mississippi State at Alabama (-24.5) | ALA 34-13 | ALA 38-13 | ALA 30-10 | ALA 38-10 | ALA 48-17 |
| Oregon at Utah (-3.5) | UTAH 24-19 | UTAH 34-20 | ORE 31-28 | ORE 27-24 | UTAH 28-25 |
| Auburn at Georgia (-13.5) | GA 31-16 | GA 24-17 | GA 24-13 | GA 34-20 | GA 35-10 |
| Florida State at Notre Dame (-17.5) | ND 34-14 | ND 38-20 | ND 41-17 | ND 45-18 | ND 38-21 |
| Clemson (-19.5) at Boston College | CLEM 34-24 | CLEM 41-17 | CLEM 31-23 | CLEM 44-31 | CLEM 42-10 |
This Week’s Bold Prediction:
EC: New Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt may never have heard of asparagus…but he’s going to find a way to get his team to a bowl game by pulling another shocking upset – this time over top-10 ranked Kentucky at home on Saturday. Vols 24, Wildcats 21.
JB: Despite warnings to the contrary, EC will be stunned by the Badgers lackluster performance against Penn State in Happy Valley on Saturday and will send a flurry of “JB…” texts as though the recipient is a) surprised; b) didn’t already warn him that this is the the most underachieving Badgers team since 2008; c) told him to bet big on the Nitney Lions now that he can gamble again; d) all of the above.
Real Bold Prediction: Clemson, Michigan and (maybe) Georgia are the only teams who realistically can challenge Bama. Why? Offense. While LSU may have one of the nastiest defenses in the game, if you can’t move the ball against an elite team, you don’t stand a chance. While the Big Ten in general has been down this year, Michigan is rolling and could pose a realistic threat to both Bama and Clemson in the playoffs.
SD: Nebraska will unleash some frustration by winning at Illinois by at least four touchdowns.
SM: North Carolina shows signs of life after being completely pathetic this season and beats Duke who is suffering from false confidence after defeating Miami last week.
WF: Ohio State has been looking like they don’t know how to start a football game or lead going into the half, even against a bad Nebraska team. Something is not right and Michigan State’s not afraid to take care of things at home. Michigan State pulls the UPSET.
Bonus Prediction: Upset in the making…BYE WEEK 14, UofA 2.
(Editors Note: Not funny Wesley!!!)
Cohen’s Weekly College Football Playoff Bowl Forecast:
(Changes from last week in blue)
Peach: Texas vs. LSU
Fiesta: West Virginia vs. Central Florida
Rose: Ohio State vs. Washington State
Sugar: Oklahoma vs. Georgia
Cotton (semifinal): Alabama vs. Michigan
Orange (semifinal): Clemson vs. Notre Dame
National Championship Game Prediction: Alabama over Clemson
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Cohen's Corner 