There are a couple of teams with considerable College Football Playoff résumé-strengthening opportunities this weekend, none bigger than a pair of nationally ranked matchups pitting title contenders from the SEC and Big Ten. Second-ranked Georgia's trip to No. 6 Alabama should bring high drama between two unbeatens, along with No. 13 Oregon's tussle at home with No. 21 UCLA, two squads trying to claw their way closer to Ohio State and Indiana at the top of the Big Ten hierarchy. Sorting through the contenders, potential upsets and matchups that look considerably trickier than the betting lines suggest is exciting this time of year.
We've already seen how quickly September confidence can disappear at some programs. Season results: Brad Crawford (35-8 straight up, 25-17-1 ATS), Chris Hummer (35-8 straight up, 21–21-1 ATS) Y'all, it's time to celebrate Hummer moving back to .500 on the season ATS after a 6-4 week. We both took wins with Alabama's cruise at Mississippi State and North Carolina's easy cover against Notre Dame during a rain-soaked game in Chapel Hill.
Picking Miami to cover was shaky for two-and-a-half quarters before the Hurricanes laid it on the Tigers down the stretch to stay unbeaten. I whiffed on Michigan -5.5 at Minnesota. Kyle Whittingham has so much to fix in Year 1 with the Wolverines.
Hummer (Iowa +3.5): These are two of the better defenses in the Big Ten. Both Iowa and Washington are top 31 units nationally, and those defenses have carried both teams early. This game will be decided by which offense can manufacture the most points.
Usually, I'd feel good about Washington doing so. After all, the Huskies have Demond Williams Jr. at QB. But he's really struggled this season and is turning the ball over far too often.
Meanwhile, Iowa actually ranks ahead of Washington in yards per play (6.24 vs. 6.04). It might actually have more playmakers. But I do think there's value with a Huskies cover, even at 3.5 points. … Iowa 21, Washington 20.
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