College football Week 8: Joe vs. the Pro
Mississippi State is the best team in the country and Alabama fans are rooting for Notre Dame this weekend. No, college football’s regular season hasn’t gotten any less interesting with the College Football Playoffs.
Playoffs for major college football were long overdue, and so was Joseph Goodman in picking winners. Then he got really sick while in Brazil with the Miami Heat, ran a dangerous fever and nailed some games. He’s not going to recreate the conditions that granted him unnatural powers of prognostication, so it’s probably wise to ignore his banner week of 6-2 straight-up and 6-2 against the spread. Joe is 36-19 straight-up and 24-31 against the spread overall.
Of course, Lee Sterling of ParamountSports.com remains so far out in front in this friendly competition we call Joe vs. the Pro that nothing else really matters. The Pro went 6-2 straight-up and 4-4 against the spread last week, and is now 42-13 straight-up overall and 34-21 against the spread. On to the picks!
Marshall at FIU, Marshall by 21.5
Joe | Marshall QB Rakeem Cato doesn’t have the tidiest completion percentage (58.8 percent), but FIU’s turnover-prone offense is a whole different matter. Marshall 45, FIU 20 |
Pro | Former Miami resident Cato has thrown TD passes in 38 straight games and leads a potent offense that has scored at least 42 points in every game. FIU has an awful offense. Marshall 38, FIU 7 |
South Florida at Tulsa, USF by 1.5
Joe | The defensive building blocks of a solid foundation are beginning to form at USF. Meanwhile, it’s a good week if Tulsa holds a team to under 500 yards of total offense. USF 35, Tulsa 21 |
Pro | Golden Hurricane rush defense allowed 203 yards last week to a Temple team ranked No. 106 in rush offense. Bulls are getting better and get road win with ease. USF 35, Tulsa 16 |
Kansas State at Oklahoma, Oklahoma by 8
Joe | Kansas State is underrated as usual, but doubt QB Jake Waters and the Wildcats’ opportunistic defense at your own risk. K-State 38, Oklahoma 35 |
Pro | Wildcats are often less talented but usually better coached. Coming off bye and a recent history under HC Bill Snyder they are 10-1 as a road underdog. K-State 27, Oklahoma 23 |
Western Kentucky at Florida Atlantic, WKU by 6.5
Joe | Running back Anthony Wales gives the Hilltoppers a balanced offense that might be too much for FAU. Western Kentucky 42, FAU 30 |
Pro | QB Brandon Daughty leads an offense averaging 43 PPG with 16 TD passes that will challenge Owls with their many varied formations. FAU offense is ranked just No. 114 and won’t be able to keep up. Western Kentucky 38, FAU 20 |
Tennessee at Ole Miss, Ole Miss by 16.5
Joe | Oddsmakers appear to be a few weeks behind on Ole Miss, but this might be overcompensation. Tennessee’s defense is allowing fewer than 20 points per game. Ole Miss 28, Tennessee 25 |
Pro | Tennessee weakness an OL that has given up 23 sacks faces possibly their toughest test of the season. Rebel HC Hugh Freeze is an astounding 32-11 ATS since 2011. Romper Room Special! Ole Miss 45, Tennessee 13 |
Missouri at Florida, Florida by 6
Joe | Watch at your own risk. Florida 6, Missouri 3 |
Pro | Tigers are a team you follow after a loss going 9-2 ATS. Gators are a fade only play with a lame-duck coach who could seal his fate with a home loss. Missouri 26, Florida 24 |
Tulane at Central Florida, UCF by 19.5
Joe | Injuries continue to be a problem for the Green Wave. Also, the Green Wave continues to be a problem for the Green Wave. UCF 25, Tulane 3 |
Pro | Someone asked me to compare Green Wave QB Nick Montana to his dad Joe. The nicest thing I can say about the kid is he’s no Joe Montana. I can’t see him putting up more than a TD in this contest. UCF 35, Tulane 3 |
Notre Dame at Florida State, FSU by 11.5
Joe | #BlameJameis. Notre Dame 31, Florida State 28 |
Pro | Seminole HC Jimbo Fisher would make a good politician denying Jameis Winston signed the hundreds of autographs for money. Even the FSU faithful are having a tough time believing Winston is innocent. Fighting Irish win one for the Gipper. Notre Dame 31, FSU 30 |
This story was originally published October 16, 2014 at 4:20 PM with the headline "College football Week 8: Joe vs. the Pro."