Beat My CFB Picks To Win A Tailgate Package

Every Friday morning during CFB season I join Columbia sports talk legend Teddy Heffner on his Fox Sports 1400 show around 9:15 to pick some of the biggest games of the week. If you beat my picks you may win a tailgate package from Mathias Sandwich Shop on St Andrews Rd. Text your picks and your answer for the tiebreaker to 803-315-3292

South Carolina at Texas A&M (-19.5) Preview

12:00 PM ET, ESPN

South Carolina (3-6) limps into College Station to face No. 3 Texas A&M (9-0), favored by 19.5. The Gamecocks won their bye week and fired their Offensive Coordinator.. South Carolina’s offense barely cracks 10 points against ranked foes. A&M’s rolling after a 49-25 rout of LSU, with Marcel Reed slinging 325 yards and 4 TDs despite missing RB Le’Veon Moss. The Aggies’ D is elite, allowing just 18 PPG and leading the SEC with 30 sacks.

Kyle Field’s 12th Man cranks the pressure, and A&M’s ground game (200 YPG) feasts on South Carolina’s D-line now at 4.5 YPC allowed. The only good news is it's an early kick. Texas A&M covers.

Clemson at Louisville (-3) Preview

7:30 PM ET, ESPN

Clemson (4-5) heads to L&N Stadium to battle No. 20 Louisville (7-2), favored by 3 in a primetime ACC clash. The Tigers had a great game against Florida State. Clemson’s offense bumped up to 9th in the ACC after that performance and now has them slightly ahead of Louisville for the year with an extra 71 yards for the season, but the Cardinals have played a much tougher schedule at this point against 3 ranked opponents, while Clemson has only played one ranked team. Louisville got got in a trap game last week against the Golden Bears of California and so they need to win this game in a big way. Louisville’s 13-3 last three years at home. 3 isn't much to cover. Louisville covers.

Oklahoma at Alabama (-6) Preview

3:30 PM ET, ABC/ESPN3

No. 11 Oklahoma (6-3) invades Bryant-Denny to face No. 4 Alabama (8-1), favored by 6. The Sooners should be feeling good coming off a bye week after upsetting Tennessee in Knoxville. OU’s rush is solid at 228 YPG, but their secondary struggles. Alabama rolled Missouri 38-17, with Ty Simpson carving 325 yards (5th nationally) and a 99-yard pick-six. Tide’s front seven notched 5 sacks last week.

Tuscaloosa’s night vibe, Simpson exploits their secondary and Alabama covers comfortably.

Texas at Georgia (-6) Preview

7:30 PM ET, ABC/ESPN3

No. 10 Texas (7-2) heads to Athens to face No. 5 Georgia (8-1), favored by 6 in a rematch of last year’s SEC title game. The Longhorns edged Vanderbilt 34-31, with Arch Manning efficient but the D ceding 38 points to Mississippi State earlier. Texas’ run game is stout, but their secondary’s shaky. Georgia handled Ole Miss 43-35, a few weeks ago to give the Rebels their only loss of the year and to let everyone know they're still at the top of the food chain in the SEC. Last week they rushed for over 300 yards against MS State! Dawgs D has 25 team sacks leading the SEC.

Sanford Stadium’s electric, and UGA’s trenches dominate. Texas’ defense, once elite, bends too much lately. Bulldogs pull away in the fourth. Georgia covers.

Virginia at Duke (-6.5) Preview

3:30 PM ET, ESPN2

No. 18 Virginia (6-3) travels to Wallace Wade to face Duke (6-3), favored by 6.5. The Cavs fell 31-21 to Cal, with Chandler Morris tossing 2 TDs but the D allowing 411 yards. Virginia’s pass rush (11 sacks) keeps them in games. Duke upset UConn 37-34, with backup QB Rickie Collins slinging 244 yards and 2 TDs. Blue Devils’ offense ranks 26th (38 PPG), but their D is 92nd (28 PPG allowed).

Durham’s sleepy crowd doesn’t faze Virginia, and Duke’s secondary (250 pass YPG allowed) gets exposed. Cavs’ road grit (3-1 ATS) shines. Virginia covers as dogs.

Coastal Carolina at Georgia Southern (-2.5) Preview

6:00 PM ET, ESPN+

Coastal Carolina (6-3) heads to Statesboro to face Georgia Southern (4-5), favored by 2.5 in a Sun Belt rivalry. The Chanticleers beat App State 45-37, with their balanced attack averaging 35 PPG but the D allowing 28 PPG. Coastal’s O-line held firm last week. Georgia Southern fell 35-31 to Southern Miss, with their offense popping but the D a sieve at 500 yards allowed in losses.

Paulson Stadium’s energy adds bite, and Southern’s home dog vibe (2-1 ATS) kicks in. Coastal’s secondary struggles against big plays. Eagles sneak it out. Georgia Southern covers.

Florida at Ole Miss (-15.5) Preview

7:00 PM ET, ESPN

Florida limps into Oxford to face No. 7 Ole Miss (9-1), favored by 15.5. The Gators got embarrassed 38-7 by Kentucky, with DJ Lagway throwing 6 INTs on the season and the D allowing 5.2 YPC. Ole Miss has the #2 ranked offense in the conference averaging 490 YPG!. Rebels’ up-tempo offense (42 PPG) and pass rush (8 sacks last two games) dominate.

Vaught-Hemingway’s night crowd will be wild for the final home game of the year. Ole Miss’s speed exploits the Gators’ secondary. Lagway’s turnover woes continue. Rebels cruise. Ole Miss covers big.

Tiebreaker

How many yards of offense does South Carolina get against A&M?

South Carolina is a distant last in the conference. They average 294 YPG while the next to last Gators average 341, A&M's D is not great. Going off points allowed per game they're 12th in the conference. But YPG the last few have been impressive. 285 for Mizzou, 278 for LSU. Now the game before Arkansas figured out how to put 528 on them. I know USC has a new play caller and their could be some things that haven't been seen before and I'm imagining they'll have a good first half. It's just those halftime adjustments from experienced coordinators vs a first time play caller at this level has me thinking the 2nd half won't go as well. So I'll put us right back where we started. 294 yards total.