TJ’S PICK 3 OF 2022 WEEK 10
Week 9: 3-0 overall 1-2 ATS Season Record: 18-9 Overall 10-17 ATS
Rankings are from sportsvivaldraft.com Top 25 and point spreads are from FanDuel
GAME 1
Tennessee @ Georgia (Athens, GA) Georgia -8.5 O/U 65.5
Tennessee is 8-0 and ranked #3 in this week’s poll. The Vols are led by senior quarterback Hendon Hooker who has completed an amazing 71.2% of his passes for 2,338 yards, 21 touchdowns and only one interception. He’s also chipped in 338 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore running back Jaylen Wright has 478 rushing yards and five touchdowns while junior running back Jabari Small has 475 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Jaylin Hyatt has been playing lights out this season, grabbing 45 passes for 907 yards, fourth in the country and he leads the nation with 14 touchdowns. Junior wideout Bru McCoy and sophomore wideout Ramel Keyton have combined for 50 catches for 808 yards and five touchdowns. The Tennessee defense has been bad at times this season. They are giving up 21 points per game and 393.6 yards per game while getting 21 sacks, nine interceptions and seven fumble recoveries. Senior defensive back Trevon Flowers has 46 tackles, one sack, one pass deflection, two interceptions and one forced fumble. Senior defensive lineman Byron Young leads the Vols with five sacks.
Georgia is 8-0 and ranked #1 in this week’s poll. Senior quarterback Stetson Bennett has completed 67.8% of his passes for 2,349 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions. Junior running back Daijun Edwards has 440 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Senior running back Kenny McIntosh has 332 yards and six touchdowns. Sophomore all-world tight end Brock Bowers has 31 catches for 547 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Ladd McConkey has 33 catches for 413 yards and two touchdowns. The Georgia defense, as usual, has been outstanding! The Bulldogs are giving up only 10.5 points per game, 22.6 yards per game while getting 10 sacks, six interceptions and three fumble recoveries. Sophomore linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson leads with 40 tackles and has two sacks and one pass deflection. Freshman defensive back Malaki Starks has 30 tackles, five pass deflections and two interceptions.
Prediction:
Tennessee’s offense has been rolling over all their opponents. But Georgia’s defense has been one of the best in the country. Star linebacker Nolan is out for the Tennessee game with a shoulder injury, and it was just reported that Smith will miss the rest of the season with this injury. Tennessee’s defense has been a weakness all season but last week held their own in shutting down Kentucky’s Will Levis, who is being looked at as a potential first round pick in next year’s NFL Draft. Georgia has the home field advantage, but Tennessee has won on the road this season and I don’t think this week will be any different.
Tennessee: 43 Georgia 40 take Tennessee getting the points and the over.
GAME 2
Houston @ SMU (Dallas, TX) SMU-2.5 O/U 66.5
Houston is 5-3 and unranked in this week’s poll. Senior quarterback Clayton Tune has completed 67.7% of his passes for 2,208 yards, 21 touchdowns and four interceptions. He’s also tied for second on the team with 275 rushing yards and first with three rushing touchdowns. Freshman running back Brandon Campbell has 359 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Nathaniel Dell has 60 catches for 739 yards and is tied for second in the nation with 10 touchdowns. Senior wideout Kesean Carter has 23 grabs for 297 yards and three touchdowns. The defense has been bad, giving up 31.1 points per game and 404.9 yards per game while getting 22 sacks, seven interceptions and three fumble recoveries. Senior linebacker Donavan Mutin has 48 tackles and two pass deflections. Senior defensive back Gervarrius Owens has 45 tackles, four pass deflections, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Senior defensive lineman Derek Parish leads the Cougars with five sacks.
SMU is 4-4 and unranked in this week’s poll. Senior quarterback Tanner Mordecai has struggled this season, only completing 60.8% of his passes for 2,121 yards, 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Mordecai is listed as day to day with a concussion. Junior running back Velton Gardner has 277 rushing yards and one touchdown. Senior running back Tre Siggers has 229 rushing yards and four touchdowns but is also day to day for undisclosed reasons. Senior wide receiver Rashee Rice leads the nation with 982 receiving yards on 62 catches and has six touchdowns. The next closest Mustang has 45 less catches than Rice as sophomore wideout Moochie Dixon has 17 catches for 241 yards and two touchdowns. The defense has been even worse than Houston’s defense, giving up 30 points per game, 421.4 yards per game and have 20 sacks, four interceptions and seven fumble recoveries. Senior linebacker Jimmy Phillips, Jr. has 46 tackles, one sack and four pass deflections. Senior safety Nick Roberts has 40 tackles, one pass deflection, one interception, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Senior Nelson Paul leads the Mustangs with four sacks.
Prediction:
This is my kind of game! Air Raid versus Air Raid! If Tanner Mordecai can’t go SMU will be down to their 3rd string quarterback, freshman Kevin Jennings, as 2nd stringer Preston Stone is out for the season with a broken collarbone. Clayton Tune has the Houston offense steam rolling through, but the Cougar defense is bad. Houston will struggle to cover Rashee Rice, no matter who is in at quarterback.
SMU: 48 Houston: 41 lay the points with SMU and take that over!
GAME 3
Oregon State @ Washington (Seattle, WA) Washington -3.5 O/U 57.5
Oregon State is 6-2 and ranked #23 in this week’s poll. Junior quarterback Chance Nolan is the leader with 939 yards, seven touchdowns and eight interceptions. However, Nolan has been out since October 1st against Utah with a neck injury. 3rd year freshman quarterback Ben Gulbranson has started the last three games, completing 61% of his passes for 818 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. Freshman running back Damien Martinez leads with 517 yards and five touchdowns. Junior running back Deshaun Fenwick has 356 yards and four touchdowns. The Beavers have a rarity in today’s football world as senior linebacker Jack Colletto plays both offense and defense. Collette leads the Beavs with six rushing touchdowns on 83 yards and has 19 tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Senior wide receiver Tre’Shaun Harrison has 34 catches for 477 yards and three touchdowns while sophomore wideout Anthony Gould has 23 grabs for 386 yards and three touchdowns. The Beaver defense has been decent, giving up 22.8 points per game and 350.9 yards per game while getting 13 sacks, 10 interceptions and four fumble recoveries. Junior defensive back Kitan Oladapo has 46 tackles, 30 solo, 2.5 sacks and five pass deflections. Senior defensive back Jaydon Grant has 43 tackles, one sack, four pass deflections, three interceptions and one forced fumble.
Washington is 6-2 and is unranked this week. Junior quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. leads the nation with 2,934 passing yards while completing 67.8% of his passes for 22 touchdowns and four interceptions. Senior running back Wayne Taulapapa has 449 yards and four touchdowns while chipping in 199 receiving yards and one touchdown through the air. Sophomore running back Cameron Davis has 329 yards and 10 touchdowns. Sophomore wideout Rome Odunze has 50 catches for 756 yards and six touchdowns while fellow sophomore wideout Jalen McMillan has 45 catches for 611 yards and six touchdowns. The Huskies’ defense has been ok, giving up 27.6 points per game and 367 yards per game and have 25 sacks, six interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Senior safety Alex Cook leads with 55 tackles. Senior linebacker, and Pitt transfer, Cam Bright has 41 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one interception. A pair of defensive linemen, senior Jeremiah Martin and sophomore Bralen Trice have combined for 12.5 sacks.
Prediction:
Oregon State has been grinding out wins on the back of that defense. The Beaver offense has had some trouble this season, but Gulbranson has shown some signs that he can be successful. Washington’s offense has been great behind Michael Penix, Jr. while the defense has been just good enough. Oregon State will try to slow down this game, but I think Washington will pull out the win at home.
Washington: 31 Oregon State: 24 Lay the points with Washington and take the under.