Bruce's Picks (2 Live)
Bruce's Past Picks
It's a backyard battle here for the "Wagon Wheel" as these schools sit only 15 or so miles apart near the Pro Football HOF in northeast Ohio. Revenge for the Golden Flashes after getting pummeled 38-17 by the nearly ZIps a year ago when everyone was pummeling KSU. Things are better this season under new HC Mark Carney but are drawn a bit more to an Akron side playing its best since Joe Moorhead took over a few years ago and just two wins from bowl eligibility. Well-traveled QB Ben Finley is providing competent leadership and the Zips are balancing the offense nicely with RB Jordan Gant, closing in on 1000 YR. Play Akron.
Back-to-back losses to Boise State and New Mexico have slowed UNLV's progress this season. Still, a better bowl bid might await with a fast finish, and HC Dan Mullen wants to keep his CV as shiny as possible while he looks for a bigger job in November. Rather, this is more a vote against a directionless CSU side and program at a crossroads after hitting the eject button on Jay Norvell in mid-October. The Rams don't have a viable Mountain West QB since benching Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi (who since entered the portal), and the Rams didn't even show up for their first game under interim Tyson Summers, against rival Wyo no less, which stormed to a 28-0 win two weeks ago. Play UNLV
The Golden Bears are understandably frustrated, though they've had shots to win the past two weeks vs. VPI and Virginia. . Yet we're not sure it's in the character of the 'Ville to run up a score on competent ACC opposition, of which we believe Cal still qualifies. The Cards have trouble handling big numbers, most recently a couple of weeks ago at home when one-win BC pushed the 'Ville into the 4th Q of an eventual 38-34 Cards win. If Cal can get its ground game going even somewhat with ex-NC State Kendrick Raphael, giving QB Javon-Kearse Sagpolutele more time to throw, the Bears might even put up a good fight, and look good business to us at this highest-of-teens price. Play Cal
Quite a streak at the moment for Air Force, which has played four straight games, decided by exactly three points. A look at the remaining schedule suggests it is hardly impossible for the Falcs to win out and get bowl-eligible, especially considering they last season when closing with four straight wins. Troy Calhoun's option has a capable pilot in big-play Liam Szarka, and the Falcs as usually ranking high in national rush stats (2nd at 270 ypg). The Spartans have played in the same pattern, losing several close games, though they did recover to top Hawaii 45-38 last week. Still, San Jose has lost four one-score games this season, and has had problems holding leads. Play Air Force.
After a slow start, something good seems to be happening with Coastal, its offense suddenly revived in a current three-game win streak. Scoring 38 ppg across the past three games, the attack has streamlined behind dual-threat QB Samari Collier. It's been the running game, however, that has really erupted for the Chants, bettering 200 yards on the ground in each of the three wins, with Collier's contributions on the ground a contributing factor. Just as appealing is the chance to go against GSU, which rarely covers spreads even though Dell McGee's side is putting up a fight most weeks. Nonetheless, only two spread covers since an upset over Vandy in late September of 2024 suggests the Panthers remain on the go-against list. Play Coastal Carolina
Perhaps Kansas has plateaued under Lance Leipold, and while the Jayhawks should return to a bowl after missing last season, they've not advanced from their breakthrough 2022 & '23 campaigns. A recent string of spread Ls, including last week vs. lowly Oklahoma State, is a reminder, and worth noting KU'sdefense has consistently failed this season in the biggest games, back to early September at Missouri. Allowing just above 40 ppg in the four losses is an indicator where the problems lie. Meanwhile, Arizona is a couple of plays from sitting at 7-1 into November, and a revived QB Noah Fifita is looking more like he did in his frosh year of 2023, and sporting a splendid 21/4 TD pass-interception ratio this season. Play Arizona
We saw how Boise State and Nebraska imploded last Saturday after both of their starting QBs went down. Missouri, however, doesn't seem to have that issue with frosh backup Matt Zollers, who came out firing against Vanderbilt after starter Beau Pribula went down, and had the Tigers within inches of forcing OT or perhaps winning the game vs. the Dores when a last-second pass ended up inches short of the Vandy goal line. The Tigers play big-boy football and so does A&M, but staying unbeaten for an entire season while navigating the various SEC landmines is tricky. The Ags had two close calls already on the road this season at Notre Dame (no shame there) and Arkansas, and this might be no different. Play Missouri
Delaware was punching above its weight in its FBS debut until recently, underlined by the 59-30 blowout loss at Liberty last week. Four straight spread losses suggests depth concerns in this transition year from FCS to FBS are starting to appear. The Blue Hens' offense has become increasingly imbalanced as the campaign progresses, with QB Nick Minicucci now passing the ball roughly 50 times per game and risking Tommy John surgery with the ground game all but disappearing. La Tech is well good enough to take advantage, as its 55-point explosion last week vs. Sam Houston indicates. Sonny Cumbie's side has also been good value lately, covering 11 of its last 13 regular-season games. Play La Tech.
For Mizzou State, we wonder about depth issues, and if the Bears aren't about to start wearing down (it already seems to be happening with fellow ex-FCS promoted U-Dee). For MSU, it's three wins on the spin, so we're going a bit against recent flow, but squeezing by vs. the bottom tier of C-USA is a bit different than doing the same in Lynchburg. That's because Liberty looks ready for a late-season run with three wins in a row, including a 59-30 rout of aforementioned Delaware last week. QB Ethan Vasko is off of his best game of the season, tossing a pair of TDs vs. the Blue Hens, while unstoppable RB Evan Dickens motored for a big 213 YR. Play Liberty
Apologies to Pudge the cat, but BGSU's season has begun to go sideways as first-year HC Eddie George and his team seem to have lost some of the mojo they had earlier this season. Three straight losses, including a couple of wretched efforts vs. Central Michigan and Buffalo at home, are a signal that the Falcs are falling into the abyss. Shaky QB play, even with early-season starter, the well-traveled Drew Pyne, back in action last week vs. the Bulls, couldn't prevent another shallow display. More to like with EMU, which put up good battles the past two weeks vs. MAC powers Miami-O and Ohio U, as former Michigan State transfer Noah Kim seems to be giving Chris Creighton's offense a real boost. Play EMU
Georgia continues to fly awfully close to the flame, its Perils of Pauline act causing supporters to have defibrillators nearby. Rallying again from behind last week to nip Florida in Jacksonville by a 24-20 count is simply the latest great escape authored by QB Gunner Stockton. This one in Starkville figures close, too, as MSU has proven it can stay competitive even when it doesn't win in the SEC. Jeff Lebby's side closed last season covering five of tis last seven SEC games, and is doing more of the same this season. Finally, a breakthrough last week in the SU win column with the rousing 38-35 success at Arkansas. MSU played UGa tough last season, too, covering handily as 34-point dog at Athens. Play MSU
The Trojans can thank their lucky stars Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola got injured in the second half last week at Lincoln with the Huskers up 14-6 and driving inside of USC territory. Nebraska's offense would then effectively stop as freshman QB TJ Lateef couldn't throw the ball downfield, netting just 7 passing yards the rest of the night, while USC rallied to a 21-17 win. Northwestern hasn't played SC at the Coliseum since 1969 (I know, I was there!), but it's a better Northwestern team, and better than last year too, more resembling David Braun's 2023 overachievers, only this time with a real QB in the fold (SMU transfer Preston Stone) while a gnarly defense has helped NU to five straight covers.
Plenty of angles supporting Miami-O, not the least of which is revenge after getting buried 38-3 by Ohio in the MAC title game last December. Status quo in this series prior, however, was to ride the RedHawks, who won and covered both reg season meetings in 2023-24. Once again, Chuck Martin has Miami straightened out for the stretch run, now 19-3 SU and 16-6 vs. the spread in MAC action into the weekend. Also, ex-Baylor/Toledo dual-threat transfer QB Dequan Finn now making his presence felt for Martin after positing his best numbers of the season (312 yards of total offense) in the 26-17 win over WMU. Wins and covers in five straight suggest Martin has Miami primed again for the stretch. Play Miami-O.