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Gene Menez
Gene Menez
DE-GENE-RATE
Sports Illustrated's former college football editor, Gene Menez specializes in college sports and horse racing. During his 14-year tenure at the magazine, he served as a reporter and editor, covering an array of sports and providing handicapping analysis of horse racing's Triple Crown. In the 2015 Kentucky Derby, Menez accurately gave out the superfecta (American Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund and Frosted), which paid $1,268.20 for a $2 bet. In the '17 Derby, he nailed the winner (Always Dreaming) and hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet. Menez has continued to supply winning horse picks since joining SportsLine in 2019. For Gene Menez media inquiries, contact SportsLine@CBSInteractive.com.
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CFB | TCU 7 @ Georgia 65 | 01/10 | 12:30 AM UTC

TCU +13.5

LOSS

ANALYSIS: After contemplating this game for more than a week, I landed on TCU. The biggest reason? Georgia's pass defense has struggled in the last two games, giving up 425.0 passing yards a game and 9.88 yards per attempt and seven passing touchdowns. On Monday the Bulldogs face a receiving corps that is one of the best -- if not the best -- in the country. And if Georgia deploys more resources to stopping the pass, I expect quarterback Max Duggan to have a big game on the ground. Frogs punt returner Derius Davis could also have a game-changing play or two against a Bulldogs special teams unit that ranks second to last in the country in yards allowed per punt return (18.3). I'm taking TCU.

+290 4-1 IN LAST 5 CFB ATS PICKS
+290 4-1 IN LAST 5 CFB ATS PICKS
+90 2-1 IN LAST 3 TCU ATS PICKS

CFB | LSU 30 @ Georgia 50 | 12/03 | 9:00 PM UTC

Georgia -17.5

WIN

ANALYSIS: I don't buy into the narrative that this game does not matter to the Bulldogs because they're already in the CFP and have bigger goals. The SEC title is a goal for them because they didn't win it last year (and haven't won it since 2017). Also, I think the health of LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Tigers secondary could play a big role in this game. Georgia wins big.

+290 4-1 IN LAST 5 CFB ATS PICKS
+290 4-1 IN LAST 5 CFB ATS PICKS

CFB | Kansas State 31 @ TCU 28 | 12/03 | 5:00 PM UTC

OVER 61

LOSS

ANALYSIS: Both of these offenses are rolling. Kansas State has averaged 47.7 points a game in the three games that quarterback Will Howard has started. Meanwhile TCU is coming off a 62-point effort against the best defense in the Big 12, Iowa State. Earlier this season these teams combined for 66 points, and that was before the Wildcats offense really got going. I love the Over.

+70 4-3 IN LAST 7 CFB PICKS

CFB | West Virginia 24 @ Oklahoma State 19 | 11/26 | 5:00 PM UTC

West Virginia +8

WIN

ANALYSIS: The Cowboys haven't been the same since beating Texas. They have lost three of four since and are averaging just 12.3 points per game over that span. Quarterback Spencer Sanders is playing hurt, and it shows. And give West Virginia credit; the Mountaineers have played hard down the stretch despite the season being lost. I just think West Virginia has a bit more juice than Oklahoma State has right now.

+290 4-1 IN LAST 5 CFB ATS PICKS
+290 4-1 IN LAST 5 CFB ATS PICKS
+80 3-2 IN LAST 5 OKLAST ATS PICKS
+300 3-0 IN LAST 3 WVU ATS PICKS

CFB | Kansas 27 @ Kansas State 47 | 11/27 | 1:00 AM UTC

Kansas State -11

WIN

ANALYSIS: Now that Texas has beaten Baylor, Kansas State knows it must beat Kansas in order to reach next week's Big 12 title game. The Wildcats offense has been explosive with Will Howard under center, averaging 42.3 points in his last three games. Kansas State won all three games. Meanwhile Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels looked rusty in his return last week in the blowout loss to Texas. Give me the Wildcats.

+290 4-1 IN LAST 5 CFB ATS PICKS
+290 4-1 IN LAST 5 CFB ATS PICKS