Good teams win, great teams cover Part VIII

Time for another week of picking against the spread. Before we get into it, here are the standings
Rutz: 24-22-1
Joe: 21-25-1
Jeff: 17-25-1
Ryan: 17-28-1
Brad: 14-32


Jeff
Panthers (-4.5) vs. Lions

I think the Panthers are the better team and will win by a TD.

Saquon will be ready to go against a suspect Tampa defense, Jeff says (Photo creds to Deadspin)

Giants (-1.5) vs. Bucs
Tampa's is 28th in the league in total defense. That unit won’t be able to stop Odell and Saquon.

Broncos (+7) vs. Chargers
I think Denver are better than people think and will keep this game close in LA.

Saints (-8) vs. Eagles
After watching the Saints in person, I know they are the best team in the league.

College
Maryland(+14.5) vs Ohio State
Ohio State plays to the level of their opponent and this date with the 5-5 Terps will be no different

Notre Dame(-10.5) vs Syracuse

The Leaperchaun could be pretty active Saturday night (photo creds to Syracuse.com)

ND is one of the best teams in the country and it will dominant Syracuse

West Virginia(-4.5) vs Oklahoma State
Easy pick here. Will Grier keeps on rolling.

Boston College(-1.5) vs Florida State
Another easy pick.

Georgia Tech -7 over Virginia
The Yellow Jackets rounding into form. They should control the clock with the triple option and win easily.

Citadel +52 over Alabama
I feel like Crimson Tide will nap for this one and not lay on the points.

Rutz
College
Georgia Tech -7 over Virginia
The Yellow Jackets rounding into form. They should control the clock with the triple option and win easily.

Citadel +52 over Alabama

I feel like Crimson Tide will nap for this one and not lay on the points.

Ohio State -14.5 over Maryland.
Everyone wants to write Ohio State them off at the moment, and this is when they Bucks start playing good ball. Buckeyes crush them by 25.

Kyle Shurmer's done a decent job at quarterback this season. His dad is still a crappy coach (Photo creds to Saturday Down South.)

Vanderbilt -2.5 over Ole Miss. 
This will be a shootout that we finally win. The Commodores have talent and have trouble closing out, but they'll finish it this time.

Bears -2.5 over Vikings
I can't wait for this one. I see a great game that Chicago wins because they are coming together.

NFL
Pittsburgh -5.5 over Jacksonville

AB is ready for revenge, as are the rest of the Steelers (Photo creds to Behind the Steel Curtain.)

Could be a trap, but the Steelers are killing it. This is also a nice revenge opportunity after last season's playoff debacle.

Tennessee +2 over Indianapolis
Famous last words but Titans look pretty good!

Kansas City +3.5 over LA Rams
KC has a dicy defense, but if this is a track meet, I give the Chiefs the edge.

Brad
College

Dwayne Haskins is ready for a big day. According to Brad, Ohio State doesn't "Fear the Turtle" (Photo creds to Cleveland.com)

Ohio State -14 over Maryland
The only reason Ohio State lost to Purdue was that it was a night game.  Ohio State hasn't lost a noon game since 2011.  That's seven years. 

Syracuse +10.5 over Notre Dame
I expect Notre Dame to win by 10 on the dot.   

Liberty +28.5 over Auburn 
Roll Tide.   

Texas A&M - 16.5 over UAB 
UAB is ranked in the coaches poll and made a big deal about it.  It will be short lived.  That's the way it goes.

NFL
Steelers -5 over Jaguars
As the Steelers have shot up, the Jags have plunged.  I expect a big revenge game in Jacksonville. 

Cardinals -5.5 over Raiders 
The Raiders have thrown in the towel and the Cardinals contended against the Chiefs last week. Big day for Josh Allen

Photo creds to Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs +3.5 over Rams  
I expect the KC to win straight up.  It will be high scoring, so advantage Pat Mahomes. 

Chargers -7 over Broncos 
I mean come on.

Joe 
College
Middle Tennessee (+16) vs. Kentucky
I love Kentucky. Bennie Snell and Josh Allen are two of my favorite players in college football. The Wildcats have been lacking the past few weeks, however, and Middle Tennessee is good enough to cover a 16 point spread.


Minnesota (-2.0) over Northwestern
The Big 10 West is such a cluster. Every week a team that appears to be in the driver's seat goes down, and the Wildcats will be that team this week.

Washington State (-10.5) over Arizona

Hossess (Photo creds to USA Today FTW)

Mike Leach is awesome. Gardner Minshew is terrific. Put the two together, and you have a team fighting for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Take the Cougars, bay bay.

Penn State (-27) over Rutgers
Rutgers shouldn't be allowed to play in the Big 10. Penn State's had a disappointing season, and I expect this team to come out fired up these last two games. Lions by 40.


NFL
Falcons (-3.5) over Cowboys
I don't expect a team as inconsistent as Dallas to get two straight big wins on the road. Both of these teams have been disappointing, but take Matty Ice in the dome.

Texans (-3.5) over Redskins 
Washington's defense low-key got carved up last week, but because Tampa Bay couldn't finish in the red zone, the Redskins escaped with a win. They won't get away with that against DeShaun Watson.

Houston has been one of football's hottest teams for the past month and 1/2, while Washington is lucky to be 6-3. The Texans also have the advantage up front, with their defensive line going against a banged-up Redskins O-line. Houston by 10.

Cardinals (-5.5) over Raiders
Oakland should be, and probably is, wanting to lose at this point. More L's, higher picks. Not hard to figure out. While Arizona is only one game better than the Rha-duhs, it's essential for this team, and Josh Allen in particular, to finish strong and give positive vibes going into 2019.

Steelers (-5.5) over Jags

Jalen Ramsey will get his (Photo creds to USA Today FTW)

Jalen Ramsey will get his.
Ryan
College
Citadel +52 against Bama
No upset brewing here (obviously) but given Tua's scare last week, Alabama will not risk injury to any important players here.

Duke +28.5 against Clemson
This line surprised me.  Duke can put points on the board.  I don't expect them to win, but i don't think they lose by  4 TDs.

Syracuse + 10.5 against ND
I just don't like ND.

Iowa State + 2.5 against TX
TX continues to struggle to get over the hump.

NFL
Atlanta -3 over Dallas

Back in the dome, Atlanta gets back to their winning ways.  They just ran into a buzzsaw last week (aka the Browns, best team in football.

Steelers -5.5 over Jaguars
Steelers should win this by 2 TDs or more.  Jacksonville is having a rough season, and Pittsburgh is clicking and no longer has to deal with the Bell distraction...I should put some real money on this one.

Chiefs +3.5 against Rams
Don't really have a strong feeling on this one, but want to pick it because it's the best game of the week. I don't think the Rams have a good home field advantage, and KC can score a lot of points.