We were rolling along and then . . .
Iceberg, Captain!
Only Jimmy Burch, who correctly picked seven of 12 games against the spread, finished better than .500 last week.
We’re due for a bounce back.
Standings
Marjorie Lewis 54-40-2 (6-6)
Anthony Andro 53-41-2 (6-6)
Art Garcia 53-41-2 (1-11)
Jan Hubbard 52-42-2 (5-7)
John Henry 52-42-2 (4-8)
Jimmy Burch 49-45-2 (7-5)
Richie Whitt 48-46-2 (6-6)
Matt Mosley 48-46-2 (5-7)
Carlos Mendez 47-47-2 (6-6)
Gil LeBreton 47-47-2 (2-10)
MARJORIE LEWIS
Last week: 6-6
Season: 54-40-2
Texas at TCU +1 1/2 — Sub-par defenses. The shootout goes to Texas. Pick: Texas
Mississippi State at Texas A&M -10 — Mississippi State is struggling. Pick: Texas A&M
Oklahoma at Kansas State +23 1/2 — Jalen Hurts would never say it, but certainly he’s also playing for a Heisman. Pick: Oklahoma
Oklahoma State at Iowa State -10 1/2 — Iowa State wins this, but I’ll take the points. Pick: Oklahoma State
Texas Tech at Kansas +4 — Kansas may be thinking about what might have been. Pick: Texas Tech
North Texas at Charlotte +4 — North Texas is the better team and it will show. Pick: North Texas
Wisconsin at Ohio State -14 1/2 — Too many points. Pick: Wisconsin
Auburn at LSU -11 — Better offensive line and better quarterback. Pick: LSU
Notre Dame at Michigan EVEN — Not sure why Michigan is still getting so much respect. Pick: Notre Dame
Arizona State at UCLA +3 1/2 — Arizona State tends to lose one or two it shouldn’t. Might win this one, but will not cover. Pick: UCLA
Eagles at Bills -1 1/2 — This one goes to the better defense. Pick: Bills
Panthers at 49ers -5 1/2 — Defense will not stop Christian McCaffrey but it will slow him down. Pick: 49ers
ANTHONY ANDRO
Last week: 6-6
Season: 53-41-2
Texas at TCU +1 1/2 — Can a win serve as a wakeup call? Maybe for Texas it can as after all it was Kansas. Pick: Texas
Mississippi State at Texas A&M -10 — Maybe this is a game the Aggies can actually dominate. I don’t think that’s the case. Pick: Mississippi State
Oklahoma at Kansas State +23 1/2 — Oklahoma screwed me over last week, but I’m not letting it happen again. Pick: Oklahoma
Oklahoma State at Iowa State -10 1/2 — Seems like a lot of points to be giving up. Pick: Oklahoma State
Texas Tech at Kansas +4 — Kansas had its moral victory last week. Pick: Texas Tech
North Texas at Charlotte +4 — The Mean Green coin flip is going Denton’s way. Pick: North Texas
Wisconsin at Ohio State -14 1/2 — Wisconsin can’t be as bad as it was last week, and who has Ohio State played. Pick: Wisconsin
Auburn at LSU -11 — Heisman frontrunner in Baton Rouge? Auburn will keep it close. Pick: Auburn
Notre Dame at Michigan EVEN — Jim Harbaugh looks awful in khakis. Pick: Notre Dame
Arizona State at UCLA +3 1/2 — UCLA isn’t that good at all. Pick: Arizona State
Eagles at Bills -1 1/2 — Carson Wentz has continued to regress and the Bills can play D. Pick: Buffalo
Panthers at 49ers -5 1/2 — The Kyle Allen magical tour hits a snag. Pick: San Francisco
ART GARCIA
Last week: 1-11
Season: 53-41-2
Texas at TCU +1 1/2 — Make or break for the Frogs. Pick: TCU
Mississippi State at Texas A&M -10 — Even though the Ags don’t deserve a double-digit spread, they’ll cover. Pick: A&M
Oklahoma at Kansas State +23 1/2 – – There’s no slowing down the Sooners. Pick: OU
Oklahoma State at Iowa State -10 1/2 — The Mullet can’t afford another trim. Pick: OSU
Texas Tech at Kansas +4 — The Jayhawks won’t let this one slip away. Pick: KU
North Texas at Charlotte +4 — Mean Green get back to .500. Pick: UNT
Wisconsin at Ohio State -14 1/2 — The Badgers took the steam out of this showdown with last week’s awful loss. Pick: OSU
Auburn at LSU -11 — There’s no slowing down Joe Burrow and his Tigers. Pick: LSU
Notre Dame at Michigan EVEN — Both teams need it, just Irish need it more. Pick: ND
Arizona State at UCLA +3 1/2 — What the heck is Chip doing? Pick: ASU
Eagles at Bills -1 1/2 –– Maybe Orlando Scandrick was the problem. Pick: Eagles
Panthers at 49ers -5 1/2 — San Fran and Kyle Allen are unbeaten. Which streak ends? Pick: Panthers
JAN HUBBARD
Last week: 5-7
Season: 52-42-2
Texas at TCU +1 1/2 — Frogs have advantage of home game, but a strong Texas team will overcome that. Pick: Texas
Mississippi State at Texas A&M -10 — Aggies need two wins to be bowl eligible. They get one this week, then next week, they have an easy week with UT-San Antonio visiting Kyle Field. Pick: A&M
Oklahoma at Kansas State +23 1/2 — Sooners have played only two road games – but they’ve won those by an average of 29.5 points. Pick: Oklahoma
Oklahoma State at Iowa State -10 1/2 — Cowboys have been feisty at times, but Iowa State is ranked 23rd and is tough at home: Pick: Iowa State
Texas Tech at Kansas +4 — Jayhawks had promising 2-1 start but have now lost four straight. Make that five. Pick: Texas Tech
North Texas at Charlotte +4 — The 3-4 Mean Green has a relatively easy schedule the rest of the way, so qualifying for a bowl is possible. Pick: North Texas
Wisconsin at Ohio State -14 1/2 — Badgers looked menacing until last week when they lost to an Illinois team that was 0-3 in the Big Ten. Columbus s not a place to get well. Pick: Ohio State
Auburn at LSU -11 — Yes, Death Valley is a daunting place to play, but the spread is unusually high. Pick: Auburn
Notre Dame at Michigan EVEN — Rumors floating about Jim Harbaugh returning to the NFL. Probably doesn’t motivate his players to play hard for him. Pick: Notre Dame
Arizona State at UCLA +3 1/2 — After struggling much of the season, UCLA had an impressive win at Stanford. But the matchup between Chip Kelly and Herman Edwards goe to the Herminator. Pick: Arizona State
Eagles at Bills -1 1/2 — Struggling Eagles meet a Bills team that hasn’t looked this good since Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas left. Pick: Buffalo
Panthers at 49ers -5 1/2 — Kyle Allen is 4-0 and there are whispers that he may continue as the starter when Cam Newton is fully recovered from a shoulder injury. The 49ers defense, however, has been suffocating so Mr. Allen may spend a lot of time on his back this week. Pick: San Francisco
Last week: 4-8
Season: 52-42-2
Mississippi State at Texas A&M -10 — How many Aggies does it take to cover 10 points. More than what’s on the roster. Pick: Mississippi State
Oklahoma at Kansas State +23 1/2 — The only thing that seems to be able to stop the Sooners in this conference is a wide turn. Pick: Oklahoma
Oklahoma State at Iowa State -10 1/2 — Iowa State is coming into its own … finally. Pick: Iowa State
Texas Tech at Kansas +4 — The Techsters have shown good ups in bouncing back after losses. The Red Raiders lose but get better. This thing is looking up in Lubbock. Pick: Texas Tech
North Texas at Charlotte +4 — This is a road game the Mean Green really need to go get. Pick: North Texas
Wisconsin at Ohio State -14 1/2 — Badgers showed vulnerability last week in bad loss to Illinois. Is Ohio State really two-plus touchdowns better than Wisconsin? Probably. Buckeyes are very good. Pick: Ohio State
Auburn at LSU -11 — This game marks Auburn’s fourth on the road in its last five games and third straight. This one in a hornets next, where Auburn hasn’t won in its last nine tries. Road hard catches up to all of us. Pick: LSU
Notre Dame at Michigan EVEN — Notre Dame is riding a four-game losing streak in the Big House. They can try again the year after next. Pick: Michigan
Arizona State at UCLA +3 1/2 — Herm Edwards’ ranked Sun Devils get to six wins against the rank Bruins. Pick: Arizona State
Eagles at Bills -1 1/2 — There’s nothing to like about the Eagles right now. Pick: Bills
Panthers at 49ers -5 1/2 — If we’ve learned one thing through the first six or seven weeks of the season, it’s that the 49ers will be a tough out. Pick: 49ers
JIMMY BURCH
Last week: 7-5
Season: 49-45-2
Texas at TCU +1 1/2 — Anything can happen in this battle of two struggling defenses. So I will take the team with stability at quarterback. Pick: Texas
Mississippi State at Texas A&M -10 — The Aggies win, but I am not convinced they cover a double-digit spread. Pick: Mississippi State
Oklahoma at Kansas State +23 1/2 — The Sooners are the most complete football team in the Big 12 and need to keep reinforcing that message to members of the CFP selection committee with lopsided wins. Pick: Oklahoma
Oklahoma State at Iowa State -10 1/2 — Iowa State seems to be building steam for the November stretch run in the Big 12 race. Pick: Iowa State
Texas Tech at Kansas +4 — Kansas is good enough to beat a Big 12 opponent in Les Miles’ inaugural season and Texas Tech seems like a likely candidate. Pick: Kansas
North Texas at Charlotte +4 — The Mean Green’s performances have been up-and-down all season. I’m counting on this to be an “up” week. Pick: North Texas
Wisconsin at Ohio State -14 1/2 — The Badgers fall but make the Buckeyes sweat heavily in the process. Pick: Wisconsin
Auburn at LSU -11 — Auburn will start a freshman quarterback against an undefeated LSU team in Death Valley. Not a good recipe for success. Pick: LSU
Notre Dame at Michigan EVEN — Michigan is fortunate to have only two losses at this point of the season. Notre Dame is a play away from being undefeated. Pick: Notre Dame
Arizona State at UCLA +3 1/2 — Time to confess: I laughed when Arizona State lured Herm Edwards out of the ESPN studio to coach its football team. I’m not laughing now. Pick: Arizona State
Eagles at Bills -1 1/2 — The Bills are simply the better team … I think. Pick: Bills
Panthers at 49ers -5 1/2 — The 49ers are playing the best complimentary football in the NFL this season. Pick: 49ers
RICHIE WHITT
Last week: 6-6
Season: 48-46-2
Texas at TCU +1 1/2 — Red facemasks notwithstanding, TCU’s offense not punchy enough to knockout Longhorns’ horrendous secondary. Pick: Texas
Mississippi State at Texas A&M -10 — Aggies shouldn’t be favored by anyone in the SEC by double digits. No one. Pick: Mississippi State
Oklahoma at Kansas State +23 1/2 — Until convinced otherwise, OU beats everyone by 35-plus. Pick: Oklahoma
Oklahoma State at Iowa State -10 1/2 — Cowboys looked like a young team in a gut-punch home loss to Baylor. They’re walking into an ambush in Ames. Pick: Iowa State
Texas Tech at Kansas +4 — Will be Jayhawks be heartened or heartbroken by last-second loss in Austin? Not the latter. Pick: Kansas
North Texas at Charlotte +4 — Despite last week’s unimpressive win, Mean Green are only a shadow of last year’s bowl team. Pick: Charlotte
Wisconsin at Ohio State -14 1/2 — Badgers’ defense was exposed as a fraud last week. Buckeyes and Justin Fields run wild. Pick: Ohio State
Auburn at LSU -11 — Auburn is for real. But LSU is real good. Pick: LSU
Notre Dame at Michigan EVEN — Wolverines are decent when picking on someone their own size. Irish fit that mold. Pick: Michigan
Arizona State at UCLA +3 1/2 — Bruins stunned Stanford, but that was merely a hiccup. Pick: Arizona State
Eagles at Bills -1 1/2 — Philly looked hapless in Arlington and the Bills may be just as good as the Cowboys. Pick: Bills
Panthers at 49ers -5 1/2 — Surprise story of the NFL season rolls to 7-0 behind no one you’ve ever heard of. Pick: 49ers
MATT MOSLEY
Last week: 5-7
Season: 48-46-2
Texas at TCU +1 1/2 — This is the weirdest line in the country. I know the Horns nearly lost to the Jayhawks at home, but have you seen this Horned Frogs offense? The Reagor Family has had enough! Pick: Texas
Mississippi State at Texas A&M -10 — Even the Ags can’t mess this one up. Coach Moorehead is struggling. Finebaum tried to offer assistance while in Starkville, but nothing has changed. Pick: Texas A&M
Oklahoma at Kansas State +23 1/2 — I hate this line in every possible way. They are begging me to take the WIldcats at home. I refuse to do it. Pick: Oklahoma
Oklahoma State at Iowa State -10 1/2 — Mike Gundy has had a rough week following the homecoming loss to the BAYLOR BEARS. Pick: Oklahoma State
Texas Tech at Kansas +4 — Jayhawks are coming off a quality loss. Tech is reeling after whining too long about a missed call in Waco. Pick: Texas Tech
North Texas at Charlotte +4 — Why must we continue to pick Mean Green games? Is there a staffer who attended UNT? I meant to follow Charlotte this season, but have fallen short. Pick: Charlotte
Wisconsin at Ohio State -14 1/2 — Badgers messed everything up with up with that loss to Illinois. FOX had planned it all out for its BIG noon game. I think Wisconsin will battle a bit. Pick: Wisconsin
Auburn at LSU -11 — I will not trust Bo Nix on the road again. It’s not happening. Pick: LSU
Notre Dame at Michigan EVEN — Two of the most overrated coaches of their time. I suppose this would be a big win for Harbaugh. Pick: Notre Dame
Arizona State at UCLA +3 1/2 — The battle of failed NFL head coaches. Give me Herm. Pick: Arizona State
Eagles at Bills -1 1/2 — I sense desperation. The Bills are not going to keep winning. Give me Wentz over Allen and Beasley. Pick: Eagles
Panthers at 49ers -5 1/2 — Does it feel like Kyle Allen has been 4-0 for three weeks? I admire the man, but these Niners are the real deal. BUT they will not cover. Pick: Panthers
CARLOS MENDEZ
Last week: 6-6
Season: 47-47-2
Texas at TCU +1 1/2 — I see a lot of 11 running around, twice into the colored grass. Pick: Texas
Mississippi State at Texas A&M -10 — This is a healthy spread, but there’s not much inspiring about Mississippi State. Sorry, Dak. Pick: Texas A&M
Oklahoma at Kansas State +23 1/2 — K-State plays slow, but it won’t take the Sooners long. Pick: Oklahoma
Oklahoma State at Iowa State -10 1/2 — The solid Iowa State team everybody was waiting for is here. Pick: Iowa State
Texas Tech at Kansas +4 — Kansas is making strides. Still more athletes on the Tech roster. Pick: Texas Tech
North Texas at Charlotte +4 — I’m having to learn too much about teams like Charlotte for this exercise. Pick: North Texas
Wisconsin at Ohio State -14 1/2 — Wisconsin is good. Ohio State is better, and that’s saying something. Pick: Ohio State
Auburn at LSU -11 — Give me the future pro quarterback in the present pro offense. Pick: LSU
Notre Dame at Michigan EVEN — Somehow, Michigan trips up. Pick: Notre Dame
Arizona State at UCLA +3 1/2 — I like the coaching edge on the ASU sideline. Pick: Arizona State
Eagles at Bills -1 1/2 — Eagles are leaking oil on defense. Bills make things happen on offense. Pick: Bills
Panthers at 49ers -5 1/2 — Kudos to Kyle Allen. He’s been really good. But look what he’s up against now. Pick: 49ers
GIL LeBRETON
Last week: 2-10
Season: 47-47-2
Texas at TCU +1 1/2 — The Vegas point spread for this one has to be a tease. The Frogs haven’t played at Texas’ level all season. Unless the Texas we saw last week against Kansas shows up again. Pick: Texas
Mississippi State at Texas A&M -10 — Bulldogs played their best game of the season last week and still lost by 23 at home. Aggies have to win to assert their title of fourth-best team in SEC West. Pick: A&M
Oklahoma at Kansas State +23 1/2 — Even without the chuck wagon, the Sooners will run through the Kansas plains. Pick: Oklahoma
Oklahoma State at Iowa State -10 1/2 — The Cyclones are three points short of being undefeated. Watch out in two weeks, Sooners. Pick: Iowa State
Texas Tech at Kansas +4 — Les Miles finally learned that firing an offensive coordinator in mid-season isn’t that bad. Pick: Kansas
North Texas at Charlotte +4 — I’m hesitant to trust that Mean Green defense, but internet info on Charlotte is sketchy, at best. Pick: UNT
Wisconsin at Ohio State -14 1/2 — Badgers rebound and keep it close in Columbus, maybe even win outright. (That’s not a typo) Pick: Wisconsin
Auburn at LSU -11 — War Eagle gets a break with game being at 2:30 (LSU fans well-lubricated at night games). I think LSU will win the game but Auburn’s pass rush will keep the final score close. Pick: Auburn
Notre Dame at Michigan EVEN — Irish nothing special and Harbaugh has his team playing well over last four weeks. Pick: Michigan
Arizona State at UCLA +3 1/2 — This is strictly a hunch in favor of the home team. Pick: UCLA
Eagles at Bills -1 1/2 — Eagles put on a sorry show in Arlington, and I don’t expect it to get much better against the pretty good Buffalo team. Pick: Bills
Panthers at 49ers -5 1/2 — San Francisco defense has been outstanding and should be enough to win the game. But 49ers are giving too many points. Pick: Panthers
