Ricky Dimon
Show Bio
Another week of college, another case of Georgia looking like by far the best team in the nation…
While the Bulldogs dominated (again), many other top 10 teams either lost outright or struggled in unimpressive victories. Michigan State and Wake Forest fell from the ranks of the unbeaten. Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State, and Cincinnati all won by no more than 10 points even though none faced an opponent with a winning record.
Let’s reflect on what transpired this week on the college football gridiron and what it means moving forward.
No Anderson, no problem for Georgia
Just about the only thing that could derail the Dawgs this season is off-the-field issues. But even those may not be enough to do any real damage. Their first such incident came when linebacker Adam Anderson was suspended indefinitely earlier this week. The projected first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft missed Saturday’s contest against Missouri, but it hardly mattered. Georgia held its 6th opponent to a single-digit total, as it routed the Tigers 43-6, just barely failing to cover a -38 spread.
On the other side of the ball, former starting quarterback JT Daniels returned from injury, albeit in a backup role to Stetson Bennett. It remains to be seen how head coach Kirby Smart handles the situation under center the rest of the way, but both Bennett and Daniels being available is a good problem to have.
And it’s simply more bad news for every other team in the country.
Oregon is the second-best team
If everyone else is playing for second place (that may not be the reality of the situation, but it does feel like it in a way), Oregon may have the inside track on that distinction. It’s true that a loss to Stanford is atrocious, but no team other than UGA has a flawless resume. And it should be noted that Oregon’s setback came on the road, in overtime, and in early October. The Ducks have since got on track with 4 straight victories—most recently via a 26-16 decision at Washington.
The thing I like about Oregon is that it can win it different ways. Sometimes it is the defense getting it done, while on other occasions the offense can come out on top in a shootout. And when it is the offense shouldering the load, it can be either the passing attack or the running game. This weekend, QB Anthony Brown finished with 98 passing yards after throwing for 296 and 307 in the previous two outings. Travis Dye exploded for 211 yards and a score on 28 carries after being limited to 35 and 47 yards in the previous 2 weeks. By the way, Dye has scored 8 touchdowns in the last 4 games.
The Dye brothers leave it all on the field. Always. @oregonfootball
Travis Dye pic.twitter.com/WHF52OsteF— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) October 23, 2021
Oregon is +2500 to win the College Football Playoff, trailing Georgia (-110), Alabama (+360), Ohio State (+450), and Oklahoma (+1400). Although I’m not too enthused about putting my money on anyone other than the Bulldogs, it has to be said that +2500 represents good value on the Ducks.
At Pickswise we offer free expert College Football Picks and College Football Predictions for all games in the Power Five conferences and the top 25 teams outside of Power five, including our College Football Parlay picks each week.
