LSU vs Alabama: Who are the experts picking to win?

Does anyone dare pick LSU?

In recent years this was a huge game in the eyes of the SEC, however, it has lost its luster. Not because of anything going on in Tuscaloosa, but because of the mediocre football being played in Baton Rouge.

“I knew if we won that game, we had a chance,” Orgeron said about the 2019 title run. “Things are different now but it’s still LSU-Alabama. My job is to get these guys to play as hard as we can and we’re going to be prepared.”

You hope they are prepared and have a better showing than they did a year ago, LSU lost by 38 points to the eventual national champions. This game features the last two champs, but no one is really talking about the game from a national perspective.

“We had one of the best seasons in football and then we got locked up it seemed like for almost a year,” Orgeron said. “I would have liked to have gone out recruiting and doing the things that we want to do, but I can’t say it made that much of a difference in what’s happening now.”

With so many doubting the Tigers, for good reason, is anyone picking them to shock the world? With the number of top 25 teams falling this season, it has shades of 2007 all over again. That season, LSU beat Alabama by one touchdown. Here’s hoping that they can do the unthinkable.

The experts weigh in.

Colts vs. Jets: NFL experts make Week 9 picks

NFL experts make their picks for the Week 9 matchup between the Colts and Jets.

The Indianapolis Colts (3-5) and New York Jets (2-5) are all set for a prime-time bout at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday night.

In what will be Frank Reich’s first Thursday night game at home since becoming the head coach of the Colts, Indy is favored pretty heavily in this Week 9 matchup.

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Here’s how the experts around the league are picking this matchup:

Expert Pick Score (if applicable)
Nate Davis (USA TODAY) TBD
Mike Jones (USA TODAY) TBD
Jarrett Bell (USA TODAY) TBD
Mike Clay (ESPN) Colts N/A
Gregg Rosenthall (NFL Network) Colts 31-20
Bill Bender (Sporting News) Colts 27-17
Dave Richard (CBS Sports) Colts N/A
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Colts 31-19
Gary Phillips (Jets Wire) Jets 27-17
Bleacher Report Colts 26-21

The Colts narrowly lost to the Tennessee Titans in Week 8 in overtime while the Jets shocked the world with an upset win over the Cincinnati Bengals at home.

The Colts will be without wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, who is still in the league’s concussion protocol, and without their top safeties in Khari Willis and Julian Blackmon.

This should be a game the Colts handle with relative ease but given that it’s the NFL—and Thursday night—anything can happen.

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Texas vs. Iowa State: Who the experts are picking to win

“Iowa State has enough weapons to mount a similar comeback, if needed.”

After three consecutive losses, Texas will travel to Ames in Week 10 to face Iowa State. Continue reading “Texas vs. Iowa State: Who the experts are picking to win”

Texas vs. Baylor: Who the experts are picking to win

“Texas is 4-0 when allowing offenses to run for fewer than 200 yards, and it’s 0-3 when allowing 200 or more.”

Texas will travel to Waco to face No. 16 Baylor in Week 9. Continue reading “Texas vs. Baylor: Who the experts are picking to win”

Colts vs. 49ers: NFL experts make Week 7 picks

NFL experts make their Week 7 picks for the matchup between the Colts and 49ers.

The Indianapolis Colts (2-4) are preparing for their second prime-time game of the season when they visit the San Francisco 49ers (2-3) at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday night.

Now as 4.5-point underdogs on the road, the Colts will be looking to put consecutive victories together for the first time this season even if they have to do so without a number of impact players.

Here’s how some of the experts around the league feel about the Week 7 matchup:

Expert Pick Score (if applicable)
Nate Davis (USA TODAY) Colts 23-20
Mike Jones (USA TODAY) 49ers 27-24
Jarrett Bell (USA TODAY) Colts 24-20
Mike Clay (ESPN) 49ers N/A
Gregg Rosenthall (NFL Network) 49ers 24-23
Bill Bender (Sporting News) Colts 26-23
Dave Richard (CBS Sports) Colts N/A
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) 49ers 28-17
Kyle Madson (Niners Wire) TBD TBD
Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated) TBD TBD
Bleacher Report 49ers 24-21

Over at Tallysight, the majority of experts are siding with the 49ers as of this writing. 64% of the analysts are choosing the 49ers to come out with a win over the Colts while 66% believe Indy covers the 4.5-point spread. So they are expecting a close game.

The Colts will be without safety Julian Blackmon, who tore his Achilles in Wednesday’s practice. They could also be without wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and right tackle Braden Smith. The status of left guard Quenton Nelson, who is eligible to return from the injured reserve list, is still up in the air.

With another divisional matchup set after this week, the Colts must find a way to come out with a win even though the experts around the league don’t believe it will happen.

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LSU vs Ole Miss: Staff predictions and expert picks

Staff predictions and expert picks for LSU-Ole Miss

There is a chance that Matt Corral doesn’t play in this game, there is a chance that Lane Kiffin isn’t being honest about the health of his quarterback. It is tough to tell what will actually transpire.

That has been how this season has gone for LSU. Just when you think you have a grasp on this team, they surprise you. No one really gave them an opportunity to win last week, yet they did.

As we march towards Saturday’s showdown with the Ole Miss Rebels, we weigh in with our staff predictions. Plus who are the experts taking in this SEC showdown in Oxford, Mississippi?

Colts vs. Texans: NFL experts make Week 6 picks

The majority of experts believe the Colts will come out with a win over the Texans in Week 6.

The Indianapolis Colts (1-4) will be looking to get out of a rut when they host the Houston Texans (1-4) at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday for a Week 6 matchup.

The first time these two teams meet this season, this matchup will determine the second-place team in the division for the time being. The Texans currently have the upper hand given their superior divisional record to this point.

The oddsmakers have the Colts entering the weekend as massive favorites in this matchup, let’s take a look at who some of the experts around the league are siding with in Week 6.

Expert Pick Score (if applicable)
Nate Davis (USA TODAY) Colts 24-16
Mike Jones (USA TODAY) Colts 22-16
Jarrett Bell (USA TODAY) Colts 27-18
Mike Clay (ESPN) Colts N/A
Gregg Rosenthall (NFL Network) Colts 28-20
Bill Bender (Sporting News) Colts 29-22
Dave Richard (CBS Sports) Colts N/A
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Colts 30-17
Mark Lane (Texans Wire) Colts 26-13
Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated) Colts N/A
Bleacher Report Colts 23-17

It seems to be pretty much a clean sweep for the Colts. Over at Tallysight, 96% of analysts are siding with the Colts in this matchup.

This is a game the Colts should win. Even with their issues with an inconsistent pass rush and injuries to key positions, the Colts have to prove they can overcome that against the Texans.

If somehow the Texans wind up with an upset at Lucas Oil Stadium, serious questions will be raised about the direction of the organization.

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LSU vs Florida: Is anyone taking the Tigers to win?

Staff predictions and expert picks for the LSU-Florida game in Death Valley.

The kick-off between the LSU Tigers and Florida Gators from Tiger Stadium is fast approaching.

While the game doesn’t seem to have the same luster of year’s past, this couldn’t be a more important game for head coach Ed Orgeron. LSU sits at 3-3 (1-2) and desperately needing a win as their gauntlet stretch of ranked opponents continues.

Following the Florida matchup, Ole Miss, Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas A&M all get their shot to disappoint the Tigers. Each team is currently ranked in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll as we head into week seven.

The Bayou Bengals limp into this game without Derek Stingley Jr, Andre Anthony, Eli Ricks, Ali Gaye, Joseph Evans, Major Burns, Kayshon Boutte, John Emery Jr, the list goes on. This is the biggest test for Coach O, can he find a way to pull off a victory when everyone has counted them out?

We give our predictions as well as look at who the experts have in this SEC showdown in the early Saturday window.

Who the experts are taking in Washington vs. Saints

Who are the experts taking in the Week 5 game between the Washington Football Team and the New Orleans Saints?

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The Washington Football Team hosts the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at FedEx Field in a battle of 2-2 NFC teams.

Washington enters the game coming off a thrilling win over the Falcons in Week 4, while the Saints lost in overtime to the New York Giants. The Saints opened the week as favorites, and that has remained the case throughout the week.

Washington enters this week with plenty of injuries. Last week, the team placed two starters, including tight end Logan Thomas and a key backup, on injured reserve. The team will also be without two wide receivers, with other critical starters questionable.

Will those injuries play a role in who wins this game? The experts certainly favor the Saints. And while this may have been a toss-up game before, the injuries certainly favor New Orleans.

According to the folks over at NFL Pickwatch, 67% of the picking experts believe the Saints will win on Sunday. Cynthia Frelund, the NFL Network analytics expert, says her model favors a Washington win.

So, who is right?

Only time will tell. Washington certainly needs a strong performance from its defense to pick up a win over the Saints, or quarterback Taylor Heinicke will have to carry the team once again.

Colts vs. Ravens: NFL experts make Week 5 picks

NFL experts are siding heavily with the Ravens over the Colts in Week 5.

The Indianapolis Colts (1-3) are set to take the national stage for the first time this season when they visit the Baltimore Ravens (3-1) at M&T Bank Stadium on Monday night.

After getting off to a slow start, the Colts finally got their first win against a struggling Miami Dolphins team. The Ravens also got off to a slow start, losing their first game in overtime. However, they bounced back in a big way to win their last three games.

Here’s how some of the experts around the league see this prime-time game shaking out:

Expert Pick Score (if applicable)
Nate Davis (USA TODAY) Ravens 27-17
Mike Jones (USA TODAY) Ravens 27-20
Jarrett Bell (USA TODAY) Ravens 31-24
Mike Clay (ESPN) Ravens N/A
Gregg Rosenthall (NFL Network) Ravens 27-16
Bill Bender (Sporting News) Ravens 30-18
Dave Richard (CBS Sports) Ravens N/A
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Ravens 30-13
Kevin Oestreicher (Ravens Wire) Ravens 27-20
Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated) Ravens N/A
Bleacher Report Ravens 28-17

It shouldn’t be a surprise that the Ravens are favored heavily in this game. At the time of this writing, 96% of analysts over at Tallysight are choosing the Ravens to come out with a win in this game.

The Colts simply have too many injuries at key positions to deal with while also finding a way to stop a complex blitzing scheme from Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. Not to mention, the Ravens offense has been one of the most explosive units in the NFL to open the season.

The Colts have struggled against top competition this season, and the experts around the league envision that trend continuing in prime time.

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