Joe D’Amico

Utah Utes.

Late Bail Out.

Game 404.

7:15 PM PST/10:15 PM EST.

I know laying double-digits this early in the college football season is always a little risky. But I’m here to tell you there is no risk involved in this matchup. Yes, Arkansas won their first game of the season against North Alabama 31-14. They were laying 40.5 points, my friends. So that was their third consecutive no cover and their seventh over their last 10 contests. Going back to last week’s game, sure they won. But this is a team that committed three turnovers against an opponent from the FCS. They also committed eight penalties against a team that wasn’t very threatening. Yes, all this, and they more than doubled the time of possession against their opponent. But they’re running into a team that was 11-2 a season ago which it does include a 44-22, December 31 Bowl victory over Nebraska. The Utes killed Idaho last week. And I realize the Vandals are not the biggest threat in the world. But this team still posted 66 points and 633 yards of offense. Quarterback Dampler finished last season, one of the hottest quarterbacks in the nation. I also feel the first FBS game after the departure of Kyle Wittingham compels this team to light up the scoreboard. Take Utah. Thank you.

Ohio State Buckeyes.

Ohio State/Texas winner.

Game 395.

4:30 PM PST 7:30 PM EST.

Being the No. 1 team in the nation and once again coming into a matchup with Texas this time an underdog cannot be sitting well with the Ohio State. Both teams won and covered their season openers against lesser opponents, despite laying big numbers. The Buckeyes ran the gauntlet during last year’s regular season winning every single outing and covering 10 of 12. In all sincerity they could’ve covered the two games they didn’t if they wanted to. The postseason came and they lost to Indiana in the Conference Championship by three points then got humiliated in the Bowl quarterfinal against Miami. Well, this season they will settle for nothing less than perfection. While I feel the Texas Longhorns are a very good team with a lot of talent and certainly will be a force to be reckoned with in the CFP. I don’t like Arch Manning in big game situations. And this Buckeyes defense is one of the nastiest and most ferocious defenses we can remember on any team in recent memory. Please remember the Buckeyes have bested the Longhorns, in three of the last four matchups straight up, covering all four meetings. This includes a January 2025 and an August 2025 matchups. Ohio State is rarely an underdog. But when they are, they have covered 16 of the last 21 games played in that role. I understand Texas has had only one home loss in the last several seasons. But they’ve also never faced Ohio State in Austin. If you’re thinking the Longhorns have revenge in their eyes, they probably do. But having revenge and getting vengeance are two separate things entirely. I just feel this is one of the toughest defenses in the country, and Manning is going to fall short here. Take Ohio State. Thank you.

Navy Midshipmen.

Las Vegas Strip Move play.

Game 387.

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

There is no doubt in my mind Navy won’t shred Florida Atlantic on the ground here. The Midshipmen once again are a strong running team as we have always known them to be. Maybe last year’s matchup only saw a 10-point victory for the Navy. But I feel the line is way short here. Not only will Navy move the chains on the ground and score points with their tremendous rushing attack. But they are also excellent against the run as well. So, they will control the clock, control the tempo, keep the FAU defense on the field, and tire them out. The Owls are atrocious. Let’s face it, since the second week of October a season ago they’ve managed to eke out just one victory. While they are pretty good against the spread, they are going to be outmanned and outclassed in this one. Take the Midshipmen. Thank you.

Clemson Tigers.

Touchdown play.

Game 386.

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

OK folks, we all know Clemson was absolutely humiliated in their opening week drubbing at the hands of LSU, 51-10. I will admit yours truly had Clemson because I felt all the distractions with LSU was going to be too much for the players. And I’m not coming back in on the Tigers this week because I feel compelled to do so. I feel this is the game they must win and win big to earn some self-confidence, get some motivation, and earn a little respect as well. You know the final game of last season Clemson took a beatdown as a favorite at the hands of Penn State. That was a December 27 Bowl game. Coincidentally enough, they scored 10 points in that game, the same number of points they put up last week against LSU. It’s no secret. Many people feel the best quarterback on the Tigers roster is Reynolds. But he is a true freshman and was asked to sit behind the established senior, Vizzina. The senior play-caller just didn’t look in sync last week. Maybe it was because the LSU Tigers are such a darn good team. But he must come out here and make his presence known. Dabo Swinney made a statement both quarterbacks will be seeing time this week. I will admit, Clemson is 0-4 ATS their last four games played as a fav of 10 or more points. But I really feel they’re in” bounce back” mode here this week. They have a smart head coach, a talented roster, and are in dire need of blowing out this opponent. Take the Clemson Tigers. Thank you.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons. (MONEYLINE)

Consensus play.

Game 323.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

Yes, maybe Purdue plays in a little bit more competitive of a conference then does Wake Forest. But the Boilermakers are absolutely atrocious. Now I’m not gonna’ sit here and pretend to tell you the Demon Deacons are a powerhouse. But one thing for sure, they looked sharp in their season-opening 38-16 victory over Akron. Please remember, a season ago, this team took down such notables as Virginia Tech, Oregon State, SMU, Virginia, North Carolina, and Mississippi State in a January 2 Bowl game. Gio Lopez is reunited with his former offensive coordinator, and I feel will light up the scoreboard in the air against the very lax defense of Purdue here. Take Wake Forest. Thank you.

Oklahoma Sooners.

Oklahoma/Michigan winner.

Game 319.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

You know, folks, you can’t always judge a team by their last performance. But I think it’s safe to say Oklahoma, who happened to crush UTEP, 51-0, comes into this game with a lot of confidence knowing Michigan won a controversial outcome, eking out a 13-12 victory over Western Michigan. On both sides of the line of scrimmage, the Wolverines not only stepped on their own toes, but couldn’t get the job done when needing big plays. Quarterback, Bryce Underwood looked like he was first-game starter. Now, normally if a respected team has a poor outing in Week, I would look to back them the following week. However, the Sooners defense is once again expected to be one of the toughest in the nation. Not only that, but beating this opponent this week, earns this team a lot of respect. I mean, they are ranked 11th in the nation right now, and although Michigan looked horrible last week, they are still a big name team in which Oklahoma will up their stock by bashing. By the way, folks, last September Oklahoma took down Michigan at home with authority, 24-13. And I think the Wolverines team of last season was more equipped than the team of this current season. Take the Sooners. Thank you.

Oregon Ducks.

Crusher play.

Game 317.

9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST.

Maybe falling from the second-ranked team in the nation all the way down to the sixth-ranked team, is going to be a wakeup call for the Oregon Ducks. Prior to the season starting, this team was touted to be one of the favorites to win the National Championship. But last week, they eked out a seven-point victory over Boise State of all opponents, a game in which they were trailing at the half, 17-14. I feel they must come out here, get a big victory, make a statement, and get themselves some self-confidence. What better team to face than the lackluster Oklahoma State Cowboys, my friends. This is a team winning just one game last season, and that was their season-opener. The following week, back on September 6 of last season, at Oregon, they were crushed 69-3. My friends, they got crushed almost every single game as they couldn’t get another victory for the rest of the season. I just feel, the Ducks must come out here and blow the Cowboys up to earn a little respect and strike a little fear in the rest of the nation. Take Oregon. Thank you.

Our opening week pulling the trigger in college football a week ago, was a successful week for us. This week I settle for nothing less than PERFECTION. So, if you’re going to follow me, bring a broom, because WE ARE SWEEPING THE BOARD. This week I have: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS WINNER. On Saturday, my first NCAAF CRUSHER, the OKLAHOMA/MICHIGAN WINNER, my first CONSENUS WINNER, my 1-0 TOUCHDOWN PLAY, my first LAS VEGAS STRIP MOVE PLAY, my BEST BET OHIO STATE/TEXAS WINNER, and my coveted LATE BAILOUT. Bring a broom and a big bag, because we are sweeping the board and will make a ton of money.

Saturday’s free winner: Alabama Crimson Tide.

Game 357.

12:30 PM PST/3:30 PM EST.

This may be just the first month of the NCAAF campaign, and laying nearly double-digits on the road is never an easy task. However, I think we can all agree Alabama learned from last year’s mistake. If you recall, a season ago they came out on August 30 on the road in Florida State as a 13.5-point favorite and got you humiliated, 31-17. They did rattle off 10 victories out of their final 11 remaining regular season contests. This does include wins and covers in all four games played on the road. This season they came out and blew up East Carolina at home, 48-10. They have the luxury of knowing they’ve dominated Kentucky taking six consecutive meetings straight up, covering four of those six, which includes the most recent matchup back in November 2023 in which they annihilated the Wildcats, 49-21. Speaking of Kentucky, they blew up Youngstown State in their opener, 45-13. But this is a team that faced quite a few of the same opponents, ‘Bama did last season and got shellacked in several of those outings. The Wildcats, under head coach March Stoops did surprise a few teams. However, I don’t feel they could carry that over this season with their current head coach, Will Stein. Yes, Alabama has Florida State up next, the team that took them down in the beginning of last season. But the SEC opener cannot be overlooked. While ECU, the team Alabama took down last week, is not a powerhouse. The Crimson Tide still produced 487 total yards, with 28 first downs. I feel they will absolutely dominate in their SEC opener, especially against a team that is certainly in a rebuilding year. Take the Alabama Crimson Tide. Thank you.