College Football 2012 Picks: Week Five
Last week was a rough one for us. A missed field goal here and a late touchdown to backdoor cover there led to a 2-4 week, dropping us to 13-11 ATS on the season. Here is where we bounce back.
Kentucky (+21) vs. South Carolina: The Gamecocks have improved since Vanderbilt, in large part because they have not left home. The Wildcats are bad, but not as bad as people think. Kentucky likes to throw. The Gamecocks are allowing 7.0 yards per attempt, placing them outside the Top 50 vs. FBS. This is a trap game for South Carolina with Georgia, LSU and Florida the next three weeks. Every Spurrier game in Lexington has been within a touchdown, including a 31-28 upset by Joker Phillips in 2010. Kentucky gives South Carolina a closer game than they are expecting.
Baylor (+11.5) at West Virginia: Baylor and West Virginia are nearly identical statistically. They are one point apart in SRS. The only difference is the public and the polls were much higher on the Mountaineers heading into this season. The Bears have the offense to match West Virginia blow for blow. In fact, they are averaging more yards per play against FBS teams. We would have the Mountaineers slight favorites at home. There’s no tangible reason the line should be that high.
Boston College (+9) vs. Clemson: Clemson kept people intrigued with some highlight reel plays and a backdoor cover against Florida State. We’re not sold. Their defense is awful, ranking 112th nationally in yards per play. This is a trap week after a tough FSU loss and with Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech the following two weeks. Boston College is coming off a bye week. The Eagles are accustomed to high-tempo offenses after playing Miami and Northwestern. They also have a sneaky good pass defense. They rank second nationally with only three pass plays of 20 yards or longer allowed this season.
Wisconsin (+11.5) at Nebraska: The Cornhuskers have put up some sick offensive numbers against Southern Miss (108th vs. FBS), Arkansas State (93rd vs. FBS) and Idaho State (FCS). They looked more pedestrian against UCLA. They also have struggled against the run, ranking 87th nationally in yards per carry allowed against FBS teams. Wisconsin has been solid defensively. The Badgers are starting to find some offensive stability with new quarterback Joel Stave. Ball or no Ball, Wisconsin will sustain drives and keep this one tight.
Cincinnati (+6.5) at Virginia Tech: Not liking the Hokies seems wrong, but they still have not shown they can score against a decent FBS team. We have not seen much of Cincinnati this season, but from what we saw against Pitt the Bearcats can make big plays with their speed at skill positions. They also, worryingly for Virginia Tech, can get to the quarterback. They sacked Tino Sunseri six times. If Cincinnati can score 14 points, can Va Tech put up 21? Cincinnati keeps it close.
Iowa (-7) vs. Minnesota: The Gophers have led a charmed life in 2012. They have not left home. Their four opponents have two FBS wins combined, none by more than six points. They now go on the road, without their starting quarterback. There is no sugar-coating how bad the Hawkeyes have been. This is as close to must win as Ferentz has with a $21 million buyout. Iowa players will be pissed off after Minnesota upset them the last two years. This line has not moved, despite nearly 80 percent of money coming in on Minnesota. We’ll take Iowa to make a statement…and win by 10.
[Photo via Presswire]

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95 Responses to “College Football 2012 Picks: Week Five”
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September 27th, 2012 at 3:50 PM
I remember that game, it was right after they beat #1 defending-champ Alabama at home. They had the ball in FG range ready to tie when Garcia threw an inexcusable pick.
September 27th, 2012 at 3:50 PM
Wisconsin is getting 11.5 points. wow. I know the Badgers have looked like a steaming turd, but Nebraska is nothing special.
September 27th, 2012 at 3:53 PM
i agree with your comments on baylor, but for some reason, i think we are going to get our asses kicked.
September 27th, 2012 at 3:55 PM
Ferentz really is an amazing coach
September 27th, 2012 at 3:55 PM
i agree with your comments on baylor, but for some reason, i think we are going to get our asses kicked.
It’s Phil Bennett. He does that to people.
September 27th, 2012 at 3:57 PM
A couple close ones I opted not to trust: Colorado (+19) vs. UCLA, Washington State (+30.5) vs. Oregon and Tennessee (+13.5) at Georgia.
September 27th, 2012 at 3:58 PM
Oregon and Tennessee (13.5).
For 2013??
September 27th, 2012 at 4:00 PM
aTm -13.5 and the over is probably a decent bet.
Go Hogs.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:03 PM
California is getting a point at home against ASU. I think I can count the number of times ASU has won in the state of California the last 15 years on one hand.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:03 PM
Tennessee (+13.5) at Georgia.
Comment editor ftw
But seriously, smart choice. No one ever knows how this game will go. Doesn’t matter who the better team is
September 27th, 2012 at 4:04 PM
Combined Dooley + Richt factor = stay away.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:05 PM
Seems standard.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:09 PM
Tempted to take Nebraska at +11.5. Wisconsin’s defense stinks, so Nebraska should be able to put up points. Wisky don’t have the running threat a QB like UCLA, allowing an average Nebraska defense to key Ball. I could see 28-10.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:10 PM
I can’t fathom Kentucky scoring a single point in this game. Duffy, I don’t think you realize how gawd awful UK is. They are putrid.
I was in attendance.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:12 PM
The Wildcats are bad, but not as bad as people think
Actually, they are probably worse than people think. I don’t think they would be favored over a single other BCS team at a neutral site.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:15 PM
Colorado (+19) vs. UCLA
The Neuheisel (sp?) Bowl! This is the best one of these I’ve read here, Duff Man. Good stuff this week. As for the picks you didn’t expound upon, I’m fully expecting Oregon to pile up about 80 this week. The offense is getting more used to Mariota and I think this is the week they finally put it all together.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:15 PM
I’m hoping that they reschedule the Arkansas-Kentucky game to a tuesday afternoon and hope no one notices.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:15 PM
I put here. Yeah.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:15 PM
Actually, they are probably worse than people think
Agreed. I couldn’t keep my eyes off that UF disaster. Mainly because there was no other games on, but it was astonishing how bad that team is
/prepares to get nervous they beat TN again
September 27th, 2012 at 4:17 PM
Actually, they are probably worse than people think. I don’t think they would be favored over a single other BCS team at a neutral site.
Memphis
September 27th, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Actually, they are probably worse than people think. I don’t think they would be favored over a single other BCS team at a neutral site.
Memphis
They really shouldn’t even have a football team anymore.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:19 PM
I put here. Yeah.
JFC
September 27th, 2012 at 4:19 PM
As for this:
The Gamecocks are allowing 7.0 yards per attempt, placing them outside the Top 50 vs. FBS.
I suggest you take a closer look at this:
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/team/648/passing/defense/gamelog.html
The fact that they are giving up 7.0 is meaningless. The Vandy game was skewed by one long TD. ECU and UAB picked up most of their yardage after the game was far out of reach. Mizzou averaged 5.6, which would place SC in the top 15 nationally, and is far more indicative of the type of defense they have. If UK averages over 5.5/attempt, I will be stunned.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:19 PM
The Gophers actually have been out of the state. They won a triple OT game at UNLV in week one.
Say what you will…but a road win against Iowa would put them at 5-0 and (possibly) a top 25 ranking.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:20 PM
Duff man,
(1) I salute your commitment to the idea of Kentucky sporting enough of a football team to give South Carolina a game. You forget two things. These guys lost to Western Kentucky…at home
(2) They scored 0 points on a Florida defense (without Max Smith, but he’s no Slinglin’ Sammy Baugh himself), that is probably close to South Carolina in terms good good-ness-ful-ness.
I wish you well in your faded belief that Wildcat basketball season hasn’t started.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:20 PM
I put here. Yeah.
Somewhereoverthedwaynebowe signal has been lit
September 27th, 2012 at 4:20 PM
I’m liking TCU laying 17 against SMU.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:20 PM
They aren’t in a BCS conference yet.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:21 PM
Settle down, Duffy. Remember Sunseri is absolutely terrible. I dont think the Cincy > Pitt + Pitt > Va Tech = Cincy > Va Tech rule applies.
If Cincy is good and you doubt Va Tech, go for it. But leave any Pitt result out of your thinking. Looking at that +6.5 is nice if you think Cincy is as good as Va Tech.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:21 PM
Don’t have the balls to pick the MSU/OSU game eh? GO BUCKEYES. Going up north this weekend so I’ll probably miss it live.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:23 PM
Syracuse vs the bye. Bye at -15
September 27th, 2012 at 4:23 PM
No way. BC is terrible. I follow a bunch of BC accounts, and nobody is expecting it to be close.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:24 PM
Oh goodie, a forced injection of politics and baseless self-satisfaction. Yay!
September 27th, 2012 at 4:24 PM
The Gamecocks are allowing 7.0 yards per attempt, placing them outside the Top 50 vs. FBS.
meaningless stat
September 27th, 2012 at 4:26 PM
meaningless stat
/oops I see JayV covered this
//hits refresh
September 27th, 2012 at 4:26 PM
I’m liking TCU laying 17 against SMU.
[sighs]
Yeah, me too.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:27 PM
Oh goodie, a forced injection of politics and baseless self-satisfaction. Yay!
Soused puts non-sequitur links in the comment section at least once a day. Where have you been?
September 27th, 2012 at 4:28 PM
SMU won the “night life” section of the Playboy poll. Apparently all of the Dallas metro bars count towards their rankings.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:29 PM
I don’t usually click his links, my bad. Same reason I unfollowed him on twitter… dead horse and all that.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:29 PM
Even though it says @Cinci for some reason, the game is at Fedex field. Not that it helped us vs Boise.
/sadface
September 27th, 2012 at 4:30 PM
I agree but I’m staying away. Florida St seems like a good play this week. Looking at a revenge game from last year, and So Fla has a laughable home field advantage (just from watching the crowd in the RU-SF game)
September 27th, 2012 at 4:30 PM
SMU won the “night life” section of the Playboy poll. Apparently all of the
Dallas metro bars count towards their rankingsBLOW.made more better
September 27th, 2012 at 4:31 PM
damn it
September 27th, 2012 at 4:32 PM
/Patiently waits for Ty to finish telling us about the blow
September 27th, 2012 at 4:33 PM
SMU won the “night life” section of the Playboy poll. Apparently all of the Dallas metro bars count towards their rankings.
This is the land of the $30,000/year millionaire. We’re right in the middle of Dallas in the Park Cities but also right by major freeways, so there’s easy access to all the bars and clubs a student at a $60,000 a year school could possibly want to go to.
So ‘yes’, to answer your question. Though if you want to come to Dallas and go to a non-metro bar, then go to the Loon on Lemmon between McKinney and Cole. Strongest drinks in the city by a mile. And they use actual rocks glasses instead of the ‘thimble’ type glasses that other bars use.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:33 PM
Oh goodie, a forced injection of politics and baseless self-satisfaction. Yay!
That was political?
September 27th, 2012 at 4:34 PM
Apparently all of the BLOW
/Patiently waits for Ty to finish telling us about the blow
Yeah…..
September 27th, 2012 at 4:36 PM
Now that WVU has accomplished its annual phlegm-blowing but managed to hang on for the win against Maryland, I could see them winning big here.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:37 PM
You can stop right there.
Comments/links I see, are automatically tinged with that commenter’s history, to me. So if someone posts over and over insulting anyone anti abortion, exempli gratis… I’ll automatically assume anything relating to abortion is meant as critical of those people.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:37 PM
The Loon fucking sucks. Unfriendliest bar by far Uptown. It’s like Always Sunny without the yuks in there.
Go to The Quarter at McKinney and Hall instead.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:40 PM
The Loon fucking sucks. Unfriendliest bar by far Uptown. It’s like Always Sunny without the yuks in there.
Go to The Quarter at McKinney and Hall instead.
You can’t go there on Saturday, it gets packed in 5 minutes. Go on a Thursday at like 7. You’ll get a table easily. And as for unfriendly staff, I’ve never had that experience there. I only notice that they pour drinks to the lip of the glass.
Quarter is ok, but far more pretentious. Also the parking over there sucks ass.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:41 PM
I don’t like people who are either rich and want to show it, crowded areas, traffic, bad drivers, douchebags with big trucks, poor people who pretend to be rich, or people with attitudes of superiority. A visit to Dallas is unlikely to be in my future.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:41 PM
Apparently all of the BLOW
/Patiently waits for Ty to finish telling us about the blow
Yeah…..
wasn’t making fun, just an explanation for the Nightlife Rating…is this some kind of internet intervention?!?!?!?
September 27th, 2012 at 4:42 PM
I don’t like people who are either rich and want to show it, crowded areas, traffic, bad drivers, douchebags with big trucks, poor people who pretend to be rich, or people with attitudes of superiority. A visit to Dallas is unlikely to be in my future.
My period of mourning has already begun.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:42 PM
/
September 27th, 2012 at 4:44 PM
I don’t like people who are either rich and want to show it, crowded areas, traffic, bad drivers, douchebags with big trucks, poor people who pretend to be rich, or people with attitudes of superiority. A visit to Dallas is unlikely to be in my future.
You just broke the spreadsheet
September 27th, 2012 at 4:45 PM
You just broke the spreadsheet
SC isn’t around anymore to keep it up to date.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:50 PM
Pretentious? Never experienced it there. Just no-bullshit vibe and the friendliest bartenders I’ve met yet in Dallas.
As for parking, that’s the benefit of living Uptown — no driving to bars or, better yet, home from bars.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:50 PM
I’m pretty sure my ‘dislikes’ section was already filled to the limit, anyway. I’m already somewhat of a recluse, staying at home working on the house most of the time, keeping as many trees/walls between me and the neighbors. At times I walk around the front yard with a rifle shooting random shots into the ground and I just got a stock of handgun ammo in the mail.
/put that in your precious spreadsheet
September 27th, 2012 at 4:51 PM
Pretentious? Never experienced it there. Just no-bullshit vibe and the friendliest bartenders I’ve met yet in Dallas.
As for parking, that’s the benefit of living Uptown — no driving to bars or, better yet, home from bars.
I forgot that you live in that area anyway. I don’t and everything is valet up there at night. And the valets are dipshits.
The bartenders are friendly at the Quarter, but I’m talking more about the vibe and the clientele. Highly pretentious.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:52 PM
I’m pretty sure my ‘dislikes’ section was already filled to the limit, anyway. I’m already somewhat of a recluse, staying at home working on the house most of the time, keeping as many trees/walls between me and the neighbors. At times I walk around the front yard with a rifle shooting random shots into the ground and I just got a stock of handgun ammo in the mail.
/put that in your precious spreadsheet
you mad bro? everything allright at home?
September 27th, 2012 at 4:52 PM
Took me three tries to spell this word correctly this morning. Congrats.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:53 PM
you mad bro? everything allright at home?
It will be once his fortress of solitude is complete.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:53 PM
Prime Bar has free valet at night. Don’t know about any others.
Have you checked out the new Kung Fu Saloon on Cedar Springs yet? Haven’t had a chance myself.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:53 PM
so you’re saying nada is a pretentious asshole…got it.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:54 PM
That well could be, but I’m usually outta there by 7 or 8 at the latest and headed home.
/ SROD’d
September 27th, 2012 at 4:55 PM
There’s nothing pretentious about my assholery.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:55 PM
Have you checked out the new Kung Fu Saloon on Cedar Springs yet? Haven’t had a chance myself.
No I haven’t. The last time I was at a bar in the Cedar Springs area, it was The Grapevine. Also known as the gayest-not-actually-a-gay-bar-bar in existence. Friends of my wife like to go there a lot.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:56 PM
That well could be, but I’m usually outta there by 7 or 8 at the latest and headed home.
Aha, I get it now. You get out of there before the SMUers arrive. Quite smart I must say.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:56 PM
https://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/twitter-most-retweets_b29141
Holy shit people retweet some stupid fucking things. What is wrong with the world?
/builds another wall
September 27th, 2012 at 4:56 PM
Do you go by the name “Monster Is Meth” in TBLAD?
September 27th, 2012 at 4:57 PM
Less smart than just old.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:58 PM
I’ve seen that place, on Maple. Guys I work with call that area the Gayborhood.
September 27th, 2012 at 4:59 PM
Some very exciting progress happening this weekend. Just bought 1000 sq feet of landscaping cloth/weed barrier.
/i’m very lame, in case y’all weren’t aware
September 27th, 2012 at 5:00 PM
so you’re saying MS621 is a gay black dude…got it
September 27th, 2012 at 5:01 PM
Picked the WIS/NEB and Iowa/MINN games over the OSU/MSU game? Probably two of the three best teams(I know, not saying much) in the B1G and easily the most noteworthy game of the three. I haven’t looked at the spread yet but imagine MSU is favored by 2.5 to 3.5.
September 27th, 2012 at 5:01 PM
we already knew half of that
/wwos’d
September 27th, 2012 at 5:02 PM
/updates spreadsheet
September 27th, 2012 at 5:02 PM
I think the goal is to pick the ‘easiest’ games, not the most important. Can’t you tell by the 13-11 record???
September 27th, 2012 at 5:07 PM
I’ve seen that place, on Maple. Guys I work with call that area the Gayborhood.
I had a lesbian friend who used to live near there, near the Toll Way, down Oak Lawn. She was a regular at the old Sue Ellen’s. I went there once with her. You’ve never lived until you’ve gotten drunk while a bunch of bull dykes stare at you angrily from behind the bar.
September 27th, 2012 at 5:09 PM
I pick the recreational bets I like, which count whether it is a big game or not.
September 27th, 2012 at 5:10 PM
No ‘smart’ gambler is going to pass up a good deal on a mediocre team to pick a high-profile matchup that could go either way.
September 27th, 2012 at 5:11 PM
Also WWOS (?)
Sunseri is 15th in passer rating, 9th in yards per attempt. 8/2 TD to INT ratio, completing 67 percent of his passes. Watch your own damn team.
September 27th, 2012 at 5:11 PM
Can it be a coincidence that post concerning Will Smith just went up?!
September 27th, 2012 at 5:12 PM
Can it be a coincidence that post concerning Will Smith just went up?!
Ah yes. The white Tom Cruise.
September 27th, 2012 at 5:12 PM
/replays loss to Youngstown State
September 27th, 2012 at 5:12 PM
I did. That’s how I know he’s terrible. YOU watch my own damn team. He may have improved some this year, but last year he was an abomination, and no stats will convince me otherwise.
September 27th, 2012 at 5:13 PM
but last year he was an abomination,
The fact that Todd Graham is a horrible overrated coach might have something to do with that.
September 27th, 2012 at 5:15 PM
I actually got tanked one night at a dyke bar in Charleston, W.Va. The regulars were actually pretty nice to me.
About half an hour after I left, someone put the moves on someone else’s lipstick bitch, and the pool cues started smashing. Brawl spilled out in the street, and something like 40 angry lesbians ended up in jail.
September 27th, 2012 at 5:16 PM
I hope so. But was an inauspicious start. And even in a bad offense, I don’t think the plays are named “take a sack left, tack a sack right, and throw it to the guy in the other jersey”.
September 27th, 2012 at 5:20 PM
I don’t know, but if Cincy scores 14 points, Va Tech only needs to score 15 or more.
/math’d
September 27th, 2012 at 5:23 PM
I actually got tanked one night at a dyke bar in Charleston, W.Va. The regulars were actually pretty nice to me.
That was my experience at Sue Ellen’s. The bartenders though, who were older and had a lot more experience in man hating, either refused to serve me or did so with a palpable sense of disgust.
September 27th, 2012 at 5:42 PM
Me and a buddy were at the dyke bar because he was friends with the owner, and she didn’t mind having us over every once in a while. That’s probably why we were treated well.
September 27th, 2012 at 5:51 PM
Shut the front door!
“Over? Did you say “over”? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!”
Go, Tigers, Go.
September 28th, 2012 at 10:15 AM
The Loon kicks ass. Also, Corner Bar or GTFO.