By: Nick Radivoj

We enter Week 10 of the College Football season which also brings us the first ranking of the College Football poll. A shake up inside the Top 3 as Tennesssee finds themselves atop the College Football landscape for the first time in decades. Before jumping into Week 10 action let’s recap the week that was. Week 9 brought us a 4-5-1 record on the week bringing us to 48-41-1 (54%) on the season. We have multiple exciting Top 10 matchups this weekend so let’s not waste anymore time and jump in to the action.

Texas Tech (4-4) at #7 TCU (8-0)

When: 12 PM on 10/5

Line: TCU -9.5

O/U: 69.5

TCU has been one of the more exciting revelations in College Football this season behind their high-powered offense. U OC Garrett Riley might have a familiar name to most as he is brother of offensive mastermind Lincoln Riley. Garrett has shown that the apple hasn’t fallen far from the family tree as TCU displays one of the best offenses in football week in and out. TCU has aspirations of bigger things in the playoffs but needs to play one week at a time as we’ve seen throughout this season that any team can fall on any given Saturday. TCU went on the road and won by 10 last weekend behind QB Max Duggan’s big day but the score may be a little misleading as the game was close the entire time and got stretched to 10 points with under a minute left to play. Texas Tech got throttled by Baylor at home by 28 points and I’m unsure how we don’t see more of the same this week as they travel on the road to face an undefeated TCU team. I was leaning towards a potential under here but see this Horned Frogs team winning by double digits against their in state rival.

The Play: TCU -9.5

#17 North Carolina (7-1) at Virginia (3-5)

When: 12 PM on 11/5

Line: North Carolina -7.5

O/U: 59

It’s looking like a potential North Carolina Clemson matchup awaits us in early December to determine who will win the ACC. North Carolina behind first year starting QB Drake Maye has looked every bit the part this year on offense but seem to struggle on the defensive side of the ball. Virginia has been one of the bottom teams in the ACC this year and doesn’t have the weapons on offense to be able to expose North Carolina consistently throughout the 60 minutes of this contest. This line started at 9.5 earlier in the week with money coming in on the Cavaliers to bring it back down to 7. I will gladly take one of the high powered offenses in the ACC to run away with this one as Virginia won’t be able to hold serve against the Tar Heels. Virginia couldn’t surpass 12 points with 4 overtimes against Miami last Saturday while North Carolina can put up over 12 points in under 4 minutes.

The Play: North Carolina -7

Florida (4-4) at Texas A&M (3-5)

When: 12 PM on 11/5

Line: Texas A&M -3

O/U: 54

This play is based more on outside factors of a program needing a win more than what is displayed on the field. Jimbo Fisher got more out of QB Conner Weigman than he’s gotten all year from Max Johnson or Haynes King so Texas A&M may have finally found their stride on offense. Both teams are coming off losses from last week but while A&M can stay at home Florida has to return from Jacksonville then head west to play this game in College Station. Florida QB Anthony Richardson seemed a little hobbled against Georgia beind a minimal threat on the ground to run and without that threat he becomes very one dimensional ass a limited passing QB at this point in his career. Jimbo and this Aggie program needs a win and can’t fall to 3-6 after the strides they had in last years recruiting cycle.

The Play: Texas A&M -3

#1 Tennessee (8-0) at #3 Georgia (8-0)

When: 3:30 PM

Line: Georgia -8.5

O/U: 65.5

After 8 weeks of undefeated football, I finally am a believer of this Tennessee football team. They may not pull off the upset inside Athens, but I think they keep this one within the number. Unfortunate for Georgia as they lose one of their top defensive players in Nolan Smith for the season before their biggest game of the year. Nolan is a key contributor to Georgia’s defense and one of the biggest leaders as this is his 4^th year in the program. Meanwhile, Tennessee got star WR Cedric Tillman back from an ankle injury to pair with breakout speedster Jalin Hyatt. QB Hendon Hooker has displayed a mastery of this offense as he can beat you threw the air and then pick up first downs on the ground when everything is defended perfectly on the back end. Georgia’s speed on defense will be something that Tennessee hasn’t faced all year but when their hurry up offense gets going it’s hard for anyone to stop. Georgia will need their offense to snap back into shape as QB Stetson Bennett has looked shaky over the past few weeks throwing a pair of interceptions last week against Florida. Florida doesn’t have the offensive firepower to take advantage of mistakes but this Volunteer defense does.

The Play: Tennessee +8.5

#18 Oklahoma State (6-2) at Kansas (5-3)

When: 3:30 PM on 11/5

Line: Oklahoma State -2

O/U: 65.5

Oklahoma State is looking for revenge on the state of Kansas in this game as they suffered a beat down of 48-0 by the hands of Kansas State last week. QB Spencer Sanders was under pressure all afternoon by Wildcat defenders but should face an easier time in this one as Kansas doesn’t have nearly as talented a defensive line as their in state counterparts. Kansas showed to have offensive firepower earlier in the season behind QB Jalon Daniels but have since been quieted after his injury. Backup QB Jason Bean has shown flashes at times but still doesn’t show the hold of the offense that Daniels had earlier. Mike Gundy and the Cowboys team get back on track going 1-1 inside the state of Kansas.

The Play: Oklahoma State -2

#6 Alabama (7-1) at #10 LSU (6-2)

When: 7 PM on 11/5

Line: Alabama -13

O/U: 58

These teams share a few tings in common coming into this game in that they are both coming off of a bye and both have their lone SEC loss handed to them by Tennessee. No favors were handed here to Alabma as they go into a hostile environment at night in Death Valley to take on a Top 15 ranked LSU team. LSU has progressed all year under first year HC Brian Kelly but will have one of their tougher tasks ahead of them in slowing down former Heisman winning QB Bryce Young. Bryce has showcased why many think he will be a top QB in next years NFL Draft and this Alabama team could very well find themselves with a few more losses were in not for his late game heroics. Alabama’s defense got back on track prior to the bye and I expec tt a good game plan to keep LSU’s offense under transfer QB Jayden Daniels in check. A night game will surely have an impact on Bama’s offense which has shown signs to struggle on the road as they don’t clearly have a number one WR to lean on week over week. Points at a premium here.

The Play: Under 58

#24 Texas (5-3) at #13 Kansas State (6-2)

When: 7 PM on 11/5

O/U: Texas -2.5

O/U: 54.5

In Sark I trust. I’m laying the points here with the Longhorns as I have full faith in Coach Sark and star QB Quinn Ewers to pull this one off on the road. Defensive Coordinator Gary Patterson will surely have a good game plan up his sleeve to be able to quiet this Kansas State offense who seems to be able to move the ball despite who is behind center these days. Teas’ offensive line will have a tough test ahead of them as Kansas State has one of the better defensive lines in the Big 12 which was on display last week sacking Oklahoma State QB Spencer Sanders repeadtedly throughout the afternoon. With all of that being said, I trust Coach Sark’s playcalling here to have players running wide open just as he did as OC for Alabama. Texas is a talented young team who struggles to close out games at the end but look to change the narrative here.

The Play: Texas -2.5

#4 Clemson (8-0) at Notre Dame (5-3)

When: 7:30 PM on 11/5

Line: Clemson -4

O/U: 44.5

This play would have easily been the under if I were able to release this earlier in the week. Total sat at 47.5 earlier in the week before being bought down to the current total of 44.5. I’m with the people here as I’m expecting a defensive minded and ground game type of game. I don’t expect Dabo to come out throwing the ball with DJ Uiagalelei but rather maintain and establish the ground game. DJ has shown in his time as a starter to both show flashes of great play but then make boneheaded mistakes giving everyone doubts when he drops back to pass. Clemson’s stout defensive line will set the tone for them on defense but it is the secondary which scares me in this contest as they have been the weak link on defnese throughout the year. If Clemson has any playoff hopes they need to come out of South Bend with a win here but this game will be a fight until the end. Clemson wins by 3 but Notre Dame proves to be a great team with the cover.

The Play: Notre Dame +4

Florida State (5-3) at Miami (4-4)

When: 7:30 PM on 11/5

Line: Florida State -7.5

O/U: 53

A major battle inside the state of Florida for these once top football programs. Both teams hope to have found their head coaches for the future in Mario Cristobal for Miami and Mike Norvell for Florida State. Patience is a virtue for these fan bases as it takes time to establish a culture and get your guys in the building to then win some football games. With all that being said, Miami has struggled to score points against Power 5 defenses as they barely managed to score 14 last weekend in a 4 overtime win over Virginia. No disrespect to Virginia but they aren’t exactly the 1985 Chicago Bears. Although they have struggled on offense, Miami has sent out a stout defense to keep their team within arms reach and I expect that to continue here. I would have loved to grab the touchdown and hook with the Hurricanes here but as I still believe they are far away from the talent Florida State has on the offensive end I will play the under. Miami’s defense will be able to keep the Seminoles in check but if they pop off for a few scores Miami’s offense does not have the firepower to keep it within 7.

The Play: Under 53

#20 Wake Forest (6-2) at #21 NC State (6-2)

When: 8 PM on 11/5

Line: Wake Forest -4.5

O/U: 54

Rather unusual weekends for these two teams last weekend as Wake Forest ended up getting routed by Louisville on the road and NC State managed a come from behind win in the 4^th quarter. NC State has missed their star QB Devin Leary since his injury earlier in the season but have managed to find wins behind their strong defensive line and care for the ball on the offensive side of the ball. Wake Forest has shown signs of offensive explosion over the course of the year but was quieted last weekend against the Cardinals. NC State’s key to the game will be not not lose it on the offensive side of the ball and give their defense a chance to make plays. Every drive should end for a kick for this Wolfpack team whether it be a point after, field goal, or punt. Wake Forest runs a mesh point style offense where it drags out the run pass option as long as it can making the opposing defense to commit one way or the other. This results in some illegal man downfield penalties but big explosion plays as well. I trust NC State’s strong defensive line to blow up the mesh point and create havoc for Sam Hartman and the Deacons throughout the night. Yet again points will be at a premium.

The Play: Under 54