Last season ATS: 153-130 (72-64 National, 81-66 B1G)
Money, Cash, & Joes is back for another season after posting one of our best records last year. Since less is more sometimes, this year we are going to have a little bit of a different look.
Gone are the long write-ups of each Big Ten game with a point spread, as well as the most interesting national games of the week. Instead, picks will be a little easier to digest with some brief analysis attached to some. Since nobody needs to read a paragraph
or two about the Purdues and Northwesterns of the Big Ten, there will be some games that will have score predictions against the spread and nothing more .
Even though the format will be a little different, you can be assured that the research and care that are poured into each pick is still the same. Hopefully this season is even more successful than the 2024 season.
It all starts with a loaded opening weekend that is looking like one of the best we have ever seen.
National Games
No. 9 LSU v. No. 4 Clemson (-3.5) – Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET – ABC
This feels like a shootout between LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik. Even though I can’t stand Dabo, I think Clemson is going to be the class of the ACC this year, and should wind up with a first round bye.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see these two teams meet again in the College Football Playoff.
One thing I can’t get behind in Saturday night’s showdown is Brian Kelly in a big game. Kelly has lost his first three season openers since taking over as the LSU head coach. Something about the LSU defense on the road at night in a game against a ranked team doesn’t sit right with me.
Clemson wins the battle of Death Valley Tigers.
Clemson 28, LSU 21
Virginia Tech v. No. 13 South Carolina (-7.5) – Sunday 3:00 p.m. ET – ABC
How fun would this game have been if it was in Blacksburg? Shane Beamer returning to where he was an assistant while his dad prowled the sidelines as Hokies head coach would have been quite a storyline. Instead, Virginia Tech and South Carolina will meet in Atlanta for some reason.
There’s always a ranked team that has a little more hype than they should. South Carolina feels like that team. Virginia Tech has a solid defense that can keep quarterback LaNorris Sellers in check enough to keep the final score within a touchdown.
The Gamecocks win in a game that comes down to the wire.
South Carolina 27, Virginia Tech 24
No. 6 Notre Dame (-2.5) v. No. 10 Miami (FL) – Sunday 7:30 p.m. ET – ABC
After what felt like years on Notre Dame bringing in AARP quarterbacks from ACC schools, the Fighting Irish will start a youngster this season. C.J. Carr, grandson of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, will take the snaps for last year’s national title runner-up.
Miami will counter with Georgia transfer Carson Beck, who missed out on facing Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl last season after he was injured in the SEC Championship Game.
What will the adjustment period be for the Hurricanes with Cam Ward now in the NFL? Not only are the Fighting Irish the better all-around team, Marcus Freeman is a better coach than Mario Cristobal. Miami takes a step back this season.
Notre Dame 27, Miami 17
TCU (-3.5) v. North Carolina – Monday 9/1 8:00 p.m. ET – ESPN
Since I’m rooting for the Bill Belichick experiment to be a failure, it should be pretty obvious who I’m siding with on Monday night. South Alabama transfer quarterback Gio Lopez and the Tar Heels can’t keep pace with Josh Hoover, who threw for nearly 4,000 yards for the Horned Frogs last season.
TCU 38, North Carolina 27
B1G Games
No. 1 Texas v. No. 3 Ohio State (-2.5) – Saturday 12:00 p.m. ET – FOX
Even though these teams met back in January, things will look much different when they take the field in Columbus on Saturday.
The biggest question is will Texas be able to contain Jeremiah Smith like they did in the Cotton Bowl? Even if they do, Julian Sayin has Carnell Tate and transfer tight end Max Klare to pick up the slack. The Longhorns don’t have the luxury of shadowing Smith with Jahdae Barron like they did in January.
The difference in this game is going to be Ohio State’s defense. Arch Manning is a Heisman Trophy favorite and the consensus top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft if he decides to turn pro, but this will be his first start in a truly hostile environment. If dealing with Buckeye Nation wasn’t tough enough, he has to be aware of where Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs will be on the field.
Ohio State opens up their quest for back-to-back national titles with a hard-fought win over a talented Texas team.
Ohio State 24, Texas 17
Nebraska (-6.5) v. Cincinnati – Thursday 9:00 p.m. ET – ESPN
As fun as it is to root against Patrick Mahomes cosplayer Dylan Raiola, the quarterback will be playing with some extra juice tonight since this game will be played at Arrowhead Stadium, where the Kansas City Chiefs play. Tough to see the Bearcats keep it within a touchdown here.
Nebraska 31, Cincinnati 20
Utah (-6.5) v. UCLA – Saturday 11:00 p.m. ET – FOX
Utah could be a dark horse CFP contender this year with dual-threat New Mexico transfer quarterback Devon Dampier. Nico Iamaleava may have transferred from Tennessee to UCLA in the offseason, but his season starts much like his 2024 season ended. By being punished by a tough, physical defense.
Utah 30, UCLA 17
Rapid Fire Picks
National
No. 25 Boise State (-5.5) v. South Florida – Thursday 5:30 p.m. ET – ESPN
Boise State 35, South Florida 31
Auburn (-2.5) v. Baylor – Friday 8:00 p.m. ET – FOX
Baylor 34, Auburn 27
Georgia Tech (-4.5) v. Colorado – Friday 8:00 p.m. ET – ESPN
Georgia Tech 38, Colorado 28
Syracuse v. No. 24 Tennessee (-13.5) – Saturday 12:00 p.m. ET – ABC
Tennessee 35, Syracuse 24
No. 8 Alabama (-13.5) v. Florida State – Saturday 3:30 p.m. ET – ABC
Alabama 33, Florida State 17
B1G
Ohio v. Rutgers (-15.5) – Thursday 6:00 p.m. ET – BTN
Rutgers 34, Ohio 13
Buffalo v. Minnesota (-17.5) – Thursday 8:00 p.m. ET – FS1
Minnesota 28, Buffalo 14
Miami (OH) v. Wisconsin (-17.5) – Thursday 9:00 p.m. ET – BTN
Wisconsin 37, Miami (OH) 10
Western Michigan v. Michigan State (-20.5) – Friday 7:00 p.m. ET – FS1
Michigan State 31, Western Michigan 13
Western Illinois v. No. 12 Illinois (-45.5) – Friday 7:30 p.m. ET – Peacock
Illinois 51, Western Illinois 3
Florida Atlantic v. Maryland (-14.5) – Saturday 12:00 p.m. ET – BTN
Maryland 41, Florida Atlantic 17
Ball State v. Purdue (-18.5) – Saturday 12:00 p.m. ET – BTN
Purdue 38, Ball State 17
Northwestern v. Tulane (-5.5) – Saturday 12:00 p.m. – ESPNU
Tulane 31, Northwestern 21
Old Dominion v. No. 20 Indiana (-23.5) – Saturday 2:30 p.m. ET – FS1
Indiana 44, Old Dominion 14
Nevada v. No. 2 Penn State (-44.5) – Saturday 3:30 p.m. ET – CBS
Penn State 48, Nevada 10
Montana State v. No. 7 Oregon (-27.5) – Saturday 8/30 4:00 p.m. ET – BTN
Oregon 35, Montana State 14
Albany v. Iowa (-38.5) – Saturday 6:00 p.m. ET – FS1
Iowa 44, Albany 3
New Mexico v. No. 14 Michigan (-34.5) – Saturday 8/30 7:30 p.m. ET – NBC
Michigan 45, New Mexico 7
Missouri State v. USC (-35.5) – Saturday 7:30 p.m. ET – BTN
USC 52, Missouri State 10
Colorado State v. Washington (-22.5) – Saturday 11:00 p.m. ET – BTN
Washington 37, Colorado State 21
