This is a bittersweet blog for me. The idea for the Digest came to me hours before Week 1 kickoff. I drafted up a quick couple of picks – and have been on a roll ever since. The Digest will be living on through other facets of sports, of course, because that’s what us Degenerates are all about. So, as Train once said - This Ain't Goodbye. But, the fact that we are entering the final weekend of regular season College Football brings a single tear to my eye.
This season was special. The storylines and upsets that I predicted. The coaching styles being changed mid-season, just in spite of the Digest’s outlook on the game (see Coach O and Miami). I single handedly flipped the world that is College Football, upside down. And here we are, 14 weeks later, and still laughing uncontrollably in the face of every pimple popping nerdo in Vegas. So, with a Millar Lité in hand (timestamp 10:12am EST), Championship Weekend…
(20) Memphis vs. (14) UCF: Under 85.5
THICK SACK ALERT. Are these two of the top offenses in college football? Yes. Could this game easily breach 100 total points? Yes. Am I scared of either of these two points? Absolutely fucking not. I couldn’t be more willing to unzip the fly and throw it down on the under. 85.5 to open!? Are you kidding me!? Going to be a doozy, but you got to think there will at least be some semblance of defense in this game. It’s a championship game for crying out loud!
Final Score: UCF 45, Memphis 37
(11) TCU vs. (3) Oklahoma: Oklahoma -5.5
Degenerates, you will pick up on a common theme for the remainder of the picks today. The opening lines from Vegas are straight up DISRESPECTFUL. Earlier this season Oklahoma routed the Horned Frogs, who at the time were one of the best offenses in the league, 38-20. On a neutral field, Oklahoma opens with less than a touchdown? Baker Mayfield saw that and I guarantee he proceeded to run to the gym to get a quick pump on. Any senior on the Sooner’s looking at that line must be FURIOUS. This is an easy one. TCU won’t be able to handle one of the most diverse offenses in the nation, and Oklahoma will be heading into the college football playoff easy breezy.
Final Score: Oklahoma 42, TCU 21
(6) Georgia vs. (2) Auburn: Auburn -2.5
Another WILD line to open. The Tigers not only embarrassed this same Bulldogs team just a couple of weeks ago, but they are coming off beating the number one team in the nation. DISRESPECTFUL. Now, I’m not saying this going to be easy, in fact – this may be the toughest game for Auburn yet. They put it all on the line physically last weekend against Alabama, and that will play a toll. The injury to Kerryon Johnson is HUGE, leaving him limited this weekend. But I still believe in this team, especially the defensive front going against a freshman QB in Fromm. It will be a tight, bold nose SEC matchup, but I’m still screaming War Eagle.
Final Score: Auburn 24, Georgia 21
(7) Miami vs. (1) Clemson: Clemson -7.5
Losing to Pitt after Turkey Day is BANANAS. I don’t know how you recover from that? I don’t know if you DO recover from that. Miami is toast bread after that game, plain and simple. Clemson is on its late season surge per usual, and it will not be stopping today. Welcome to the College Football playoff again Tigers.
Final Score: Clemson 34, Miami 17
(8) Ohio State vs. (4) Wisconsin: First Half Wisconsin +3
This line is currently sitting at Ohio State -6. Must I say it again? DISRESPECTFUL! The Badgers have had arguably the easiest schedule in the Big Ten. And they don’t have anything really special about them, they are just a consistent football team who likes the run the ball and run the ball some more. With all of that said, they are still holding the longest active win streak in college football and on a neutral field they are underdogs by a touchdown!? I feel bad for Wisconsin to be honest, because I think Ohio State will win this game. Ohio State is a second half team. Urban Meyer figures you out in the first half, lets you get your hopes up, only to crush your dreams of any potential playoff birth in the second half. The Badgers will use up their entire playbook in the first, trying to get a quick and early lead here. But that’s exactly what the Buckeye’s want them to do.
Final Score: Ohio State 30, Wisconsin 24.
Oh, and Vegas? Why share my thoughts on your lines this week when I can get a little help from my friend Susie Greenberg to do it for me...