Saturday, September 07, 2024 Iowa State vs. Iowa (NCAAF) - 3:30 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: -2.5/-115 Iowa Rating: 8* Mike's Rivalry Game of the Week (WIN) & (WIN) Even though these same Cyclones won here last time out in 22' by a 10-7 count, Iowa has still won the last 7 of 8 SU in this series. This includes 20-13 decision last season in Ames. OC Tim Lester (who pledged his team will be aggressive & disciplined) has QB Cade McNamara humming as he threw for 251 yards with a 3/0 TD/INT ratio last week in a 40-0 beat down of the Illinois State Redbirds. I love the fact the Hawkeyes (with HC Kirk Ferentz fresh off suspension) have a strong nucleus with 18 starters back. One visible flaw stresses the visitors from Ames are pretty much one-dimensional. This spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E HC Matt Campbell & his sophomore QB Rocco Becht if they don't get off to a rolling start. Despite that & with just as many starters back, ISU is a talent-rich team that could hang in this one. It's just tough to ignore the recipient of the Cy-Hawk Trophy has been to the boys in Iowa City 47 out of 70. My bottom line points @ Iowa State's HC has a 1-6 SU record versus his intrastate rival. Here's where we'll play it! Let's jet to Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City to play the IOWA HAWKEYES (buying to + 4) for 8 Stars as well as playing a 2-Teamer with Tennessee on the ML laying -139 for 8 stars! Texas vs. Michigan (NCAAF) - 12:00 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: -7/-105 Texas Rating: 8* Mike's Saturday CFB Power Play (WIN) Neither Michigan QB (Alex Orji or David Warren) looked impressive in a 30-10 Mountain West entry win over entry Fresno State last week (out-gained the Bulldogs by a slim margin, 269-244) in a game that was highly in doubt into the second half @ 16-10. On the other hand, Texas looked sensational against Colorado State last week & rested their starters for the majority. QB Quinn Ewers has been dynamic in earlier Week 2 affairs & I believe he'll dialed that same "A" game up here. Yes, RB C.J. Baxter was lost in the pre-season. But, I don't think they'll drop off too much as waiting in the wings is this year's #1 high school RB recruit in Jerrick Gibson out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. After the early adrenalin settles, my bottom line says this. Let's go to over 107,000+ fans @ Michigan Stadium to hop all over the TEXAS LONGHORNS (buying to - 2 1/2) for 8 Stars @ -175. Tennessee vs. NC State (NCAAF) - 7:30 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: -9/-115 Tennessee Rating: 8* Mike's Saturday Night Special (WIN) & (WIN) Before we really get started, let's say these same Volunteers will be the fastest pace team (IN THE NCAA) this season on offense. Their pace is nothing short of blistering! I feel the Wolfpack is stepping up in class here. Let's take a step back to 23' & see how they faired against both regular season ranked opponents. They lost @ home to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 45-24 in this exact Week 2 spot & then went down to face the Blue Devils in Week 7 & got humbled 24-3. In fact, the last 10 tries against the SEC, NC State has gone 1-9 SU (1-5 under current HC Dave Douren). The Wolfpack QB this season is none other than Grayson McCall (in his 5th season, a transfer portal user from the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers) who hasn't faced the likes of an SEC defense & actually trailed the Western Carolina Catamounts 21-17 in the 3rd quarter last week. Numbers show they've gone a perfect 0-5 ATS vs the last 5 versus the SEC, 1-7 against the number in Game 2's & anemic 1-5 versus the spread @ Neutral site games. My bottom line points directly to the flip side @ Vols QB Nico Iamaleava (only played the first half last week& threw for 314 yards with a 3/0 TD/INT ratio) looked sharp in a 69-3 win over the Chattanooga Mocs (compiled 718 yards of offense). HC Josh Heupel's crew is a nice 6-2-1 ATS in Neutral Site games & a perfect 7-0 against the line in the non-conference favorite role. With young defenses tonight, look for some points but lean them to the chalk side here. Let's go to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte (home of the Carolina Panthers) to play the TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS on the ML @ -345 for 8 Stars & in a 2-Team parlay with Iowa + 4 @ -139 as my 8 Star Saturday Night Special! Mike's CFB Week 2 Record: 5-0 +4,000 Net Units (+$2,400 Games/+$1,600 Parlays) Mike Handzelek's 2024-25 CFB Overall Record: 5-1 for 83% +2,760 Net Units