College football Week 7: Joe vs. the Pro
It’s a Rio de Janeiro version of Joe vs. the Pro this week with Joseph Goodman in Brazil with the Miami Heat. Notre Dame has Touchdown Jesus. In Rio, Joe is channeling the power of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in the hopes of turning around his season of picking college football games. After opening the season strong, Joe has lost every week and last week went 2-6 against the spread. Overall, he’s 30-17 straight-up and 18-29 against the spread. The Pro, Lee Sterling of Paramount Sports, went 4-4 straight-up and 4-4 against the spread last week and is now 36-11 straight-up and 30-17 against the spread. On to the picks!
Florida State vs. Syracuse, FSU by 23.5
Joe | The Noles survived college football’s Top 10 apocalypse last week and have another easy week in the ACC. FSU 42, Syracuse 17 |
Pro | Seminoles intercepted 26 passes last year and beat Orange 59-3. The gap is closing on the two teams but Syracuse starts a backup QB and he might throw 2-3 interceptions in this game. FSU 48, Syracuse 17 |
Miami vs. Cincinnati, Miami by 14.5
Joe | The Canes aren’t very good this season, so this line speaks volumes of how far Cincinnati has fallen. Miami 35, Cincinnati 15 |
Pro | Canes “D” has trouble vs. power running teams but Cincinnati has rushed for 100-plus yards only once in four games and is minus its top two RBs due to injury. Miami 52, Cincinnati 21 |
Baylor vs. TCU, Baylor by 8.5
Joe | The Horned Frogs proved themselves last week in the eyes of poll voters, but Vegas isn’t as easily impressed. TCU 28, Baylor 21 |
Pro | Tough to go against Bears, who have won and covered 12 straight at home, but TCU has superior athletes and its 4-2-5 defense is built to slow down spread offenses. TCU 41, Baylor 35 |
Auburn vs. Mississippi State, Auburn by 3
Joe | The Bulldogs might be the best team in the country. Mississippi State 35, Auburn 31 |
Pro | Both QB are dual threats but Bulldogs’ front 7 is a little more stout, allowing just 98 YPG and only 2.8 YPC this season. Mississippi State 35, Auburn 30 |
LSU vs. Florida, LSU by 1.5
Joe | This one has potential to be one of the year’s best games between two bad teams. Those are always treats. LSU 24, Florida 21 |
Pro | We know what the Gators are about but the Tigers can improve significantly and their WRs Dural and Dupre own significant edges against a secondary that is still learning on the fly. LSU 24, Florida 17 |
FIU vs. UT-San Antonio, UTSA by 12
Joe | FIU has improved impressively from week to week. UTSA has done the opposite. FIU 30, UTSA 28 |
Pro | Road Runners return 10 starters on defense and could confuse FIU freshman QB McGough. FIU “D” with 15 takeaways the last four games probably can’t continue to count on so many gifts. UTSA 27, FIU 12 |
Texas A&M vs. Ole Miss, Texas A&M by 2
Joe | Bo Wallace is getting all the love in Mississippi after upsetting Alabama, but the Rebels’ defense might be the best in the nation. Ole Miss 35, Texas A&M 28 |
Pro | Ole Miss doesn’t have the power running attack of Arkansas so Aggies should be able to hold their own in the trenches. Playing at home and Ole Miss coming off a huge upset of Alabama tip the scales. Texas A&M 38, Ole Miss 32 |
East Carolina vs. South Florida, ECU by 15
Joe | USF has improved, but not quick enough to hold back the Pirates’ marauding defense. ECU 42, USF 25 |
Pro | Shane Carden leads a high-powered Pirate offense. Bulls scoring just 12.3 past 19 games. Give me ECU for the max. ECU 45, USF 14 |
This story was originally published October 9, 2014 at 8:55 PM with the headline "College football Week 7: Joe vs. the Pro."