Week 10 CFB ‘Expert’ Picks

I always feel badly calling for someone else to be fired from their job. But the truth is – no matter your profession, if you aren’t cutting it, it’s time for you to go.

D-day finally happened for Arizona Wildcats’ defensive coordinator Marcel Yates, whose lackluster schemes were being torched by seemingly everyone in the Pac-12 for the last several years. When the Wildcats rank behind defensive ‘powerhouses’ (and I say that in jest) Kent State, Georgia State, Rutgers, Washington State and many more, you know there’s a big problem.

The biggest issue I had with Yates’ defenses was his unwillingness to bring consistent pressure on the quarterback. By rushing only three, QBs could stand back there for six seconds until an opening in the secondary opened up. I understand that Arizona’s personnel has been lackluster…but isn’t that more reason to want to blitz and rush the QB into quick and ideally poor decisions?

As a diehard UofA fan, it’s been maddening watching crappy defensive football for the better part of a decade.

I don’t know if interim-DC Chuck Cecil is the long term fix…but no Wildcat football alum seemingly loves his school more than Cecil. And based on his playing days, I expect that defense to be playing with fire for the remaining four games (and hopefully a fifth) in 2019.

With an upcoming schedule of Oregon State at home, Oregon on the road, Utah at home, and ASU on the road, the Wildcats’ bowl chances appear slim. But I’ll predict this – assuming they take care of business semi-convincingly at home this weekend, Arizona will pull an upset in late-November and secure a spot in the nearby Cheez-It Bowl.

On to the picks, where our guest picker, Jason “Chief” Carter went 6-4 SU and 4-6 ATS last week in the season debut for our 5th picker. I still trail Steve by a single win straight up though I’ve taken over the ATS lead with a pathetic .500 record. Time to continue my ascent in Week 10!

Glad to have a quality 1580 The Fanatic texter and tweeter, JROD join us as this week’s guest picker!

Week 10 Picks

This Week’s Bold Predictions

EC: As suggested above…I think the first part of my prediction comes true for Arizona Wildcats fans this weekend on Homecoming. Chuck Cecil’s defense is much more aggressive than his predecessor and while Oregon State still scores plenty, the Wildcats force three turnovers en route to a fairly comfortable win. Will it be their last one until next September? Let the debating begin…

JB: There are no do overs in college football. Jake Fromm struggles in a low scoring ‘Cocktail Party’ loss to the Gators, making Georgia fans grimace at what might have been with Heisman candidate Justin Fields regularly putting up gaudy numbers for the Buckeyes and Washington’s QB Jacob Eason leading the Huskies over Utah. Also, after another chaotic week, nobody “gets” the PAC 12. 

SM: Even though he does not deserve it, Khali Tate starts and has a monster game throwing and passing the ball. He rushes for more than 100 yards and two scores on the ground and throwing for an additional three leaving Coach Sumlin and the Wildcat fanbase confused about what to do the rest of the season.

WF: UCLA is bad… I’m still mad. Bye weeks are bad for gloomy fans, and it gets gloomier as Colorado easily manhandles UCLA.

JROD: USC beats a top 10 team for the 2nd time this season. They are riding high, playing for Coach Helton, and this week, they will not disappoint. They beat Oregon in a close game, ending any chance of a PAC-12 playoff team (sorry Utes fans). This win by USC solidifies Helton’s return next season.

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