Welcome to Prediction Squad**. This season, in addition to The Schooner Pod guys making their game picks on the podcast, we are bringing on a well-rounded Big 12 opinion maker: my friend, Blake Crowley. A TCU graduate and current Baylor Law student, Blake brings in blisteringly hot takes from outside of the OU bubble. He’s a perfect addition to the squad for Big 12 and general college football content.
*Jamison’s predictions are transcribed from the Week 1 episode of The Schooner Pod
**Rebranded to The Weekend Spread in Week 5
Ole Miss v. Texas Tech (TT -2.5)
Bobby: Maybe it’s blind faith, but I see a mediocre Tech team sneaking by probation bit Ole Miss. The Red Raider offense isn’t what it used to be, but the defense is vastly improved.
Jamison: Ole Miss is not good. With that being said, I still think they’ll beat Texas Tech. It is pretty much a toss up.
Blake: I have never seen people so triggered on Twitter when Ole Miss announced the new Land Shark mascot. Honestly, I am woke on the Land Shark and it is refreshing to see that the SEC further resembles some sort of a zoo with all of their mascots (gators, elephants, multiple tigers, etc.) Give me Ole Miss.
23 Texas @ Maryland (UT -13.5)
Bobby: While I think Texas is going to be wildly overrated this season, they surely won’t blow it game one against Maryland…right? Maryland is a disaster of a program
Jamison: I don’t see Texas losing this one. I think Tom Herman is going to get his guys fired up for a revenge game. I have not heard enough about Maryland to worry about them beating Texas.
Blake: My favorite time of the year is listening to all of the “Texas is back” crowd. It is music to my ears and I love their tears when they start to lose again. Sadly, I do not think there will be a loss just yet. The 10th iteration of whatever McCoy-Shipley duo they are on now will find a way to win the game and cover the spread.
Tennessee v. 17 West Virginia (WVU -9.5)
Bobby: The Moonshine Bowl! Tennessee is a disaster and WVU is poised to make a big run this season with Will Grier at the quarterback position. If this was at Neyland Stadium, the Vols would have a chance, but alas the game is in Charlotte (???) so I think Country Roads takes out Rocky Top in an easy blow out.
Jamison: Do I have to say anything about Tennessee? They are an absolute embarrassment. Who thought Rocky Top would turn into this? We were just playing them not too long ago and then last season they were absolutely embarrassing to watch. West Virginia is going to start out hot, they are going to look great and get all the hype. They are going to stomp Tennessee into the ground.
Blake: Oh my goodness, West Virginia is returning their star quarterback and wide receiver this year, they must be so good…..NOPE. Did we forget what this combo did for them last year?!?!?!
7-6!!!!! YOU HEARD ME. 7-6!!! The national media obviously has never watched a Big 12 game in their life because if they have they know West Virginia will never win a big game and will just be up on the bottom feeders in the Big 12. This team is ABSOLUTE AND COMPLETE GARBAGE!!! Give me Tennessee to win in this one (yes, I am aware of what happened to Tennessee in the offseason, but I really think this West Virginia team is that garbage). Trust me, by the end of this weekend, y’all will think I am an oracle because of how right I will be on this pick. Load the farm on Tennessee.
Nicholls @ Kansas (No Line Available)
Bobby: GIVE ME NICHOLLLLLLLLLS!!! Nicholls wins 10-7 in a game that will barely resemble college football.
Jamison: Ohhhh man. I would love to see Kansas lose this one, but I feel like it’s not worth the laughter. I think Kansas will be “eh” this season. I’m talking two wins. Nicholls will be one of them.
Blake: Honestly, Jamison and Bobby have probably done way too much research for this game then any human should. If Jamison applied his sports knowledge correctly, he would be a fantastic sports bettor, but for some reason wastes all of his time analyzing Streak for the Cash on ESPN.com. Hate to break it to him, but he will never win. Trust their analysis for this game, but I am taking Nipples State.
FAU @ 7 Oklahoma (OU -21)
Bobby: FAU will give OU a hell of a game, but this Sooners team is too good and too aware to let the Owls leave Norman with the upset. They will however, leave with the cover.
Jamison: Don’t put anything past Lane Kiffin; if this game was at a neutral site, it would give me thoughts of that Houston game in 2016. Kiffin and (then Houston Head Coach) Tom Herman are very similar in their coaching style. The learning curve for the OU defense is high, so I think it’ll be a high scoring game. It’ll be close, but a comfortable close. OU by 17.
Blake: It is safe to say that over my lifetime, I have never gotten an OU bet correct. If my records are correct, I am about 0-31 across all Oklahoma sports. BUT I think there is a chance I reverse that streak this weekend. It would be an absolute shame, just a horrible thing if I happened to bet on OU and the curse continued. An absolute shame it would be. I will be rocking the Crimson and Cream this weekend because there is no way OU loses this game, just absolutely no way. (Editor’s Note: This will be Blake’s last appearance on The Schooner Blog if he inflicts the Crowley Curse on us yet again)
25 LSU v. 8 Miami (MIA -3.5) (Sunday)
Bobby: This is a game between two teams that are really going to disappoint this season; I just think LSU is going to be worse. As much as I love Coach O, I don’t see him lasting long in Baton Rouge.
Jamison: This is a tough one, but I’m going with LSU. I think the “Turnover Chain” era needs to stop. To be honest, I think Miami was just a fad. Last season they weren’t even that good. Plus, with Joe Burrow LSU FINALLY got a good quarterback.
Blake: Out of all the games on the board, I think this one is by far the easiest to pick. LSU might have a good defense, but their offense, specifically passing game, is absolute trash. Miami -3.5 is easy money right here.
14 Michigan @ 12 Notre Dame (ND -1)
Bobby: While I’m not yet all in on the Michigan train this season, I’m waaaay out on the perennially overrated Irish. Michigan wins big.
Jamison: I can talk all day about how good Michigan’s Shea Patterson is. If I had to put my money down on a Heisman dark horse, I would pick him to win in his first year. I think Michigan is going to run through the Big Ten and steamroll Notre Dame.
Blake: I did not know there were bowl games in September, but in this meeting of the Overrated Bowl we have two teams that severely disappoint every season. I think Jim Harbaugh is starting to notice his seat is a little warm, so I will take Michigan here to win by a field goal.
9 Auburn v. 6 Washington (AUB -2)
Bobby: This one is going to be an all time classic QB duel between Jake Browning and Jarrett Stidham. I just can’t see Washington escaping the heart of SEC country with a win against this Auburn team.
Jamison: I love Auburn this year. I think they’ll give Alabama a run for their money this year. I think Jarrett Stidham is the best quarterback in college football; he was great in JUCO, he was great at Baylor. This is his last year and I think he’ll make a name for himself. I think Washington is a really good team, I just think Auburn will be better.
Blake: Jarrett Stidham is by far the best quarterback in the nation and you cannot convince me otherwise. The former Baylor Bear is a bomber and actually knows how to throw the football further than 10 yards, a rarity in the SEC. I’ll take Auburn to win in this.
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