College Football Picks

The Iowa State Cyclones started this season as a potential College Football Playoff team, but are now just hoping to put an end to their 3-game losing streak when the Arizona State Sun Devils come to visit this weekend. Iowa State’s losing streak includes a 38-30 loss at Cincinnati, a 24-17 loss at Colorado, and a 41-27 loss at home against BYU last weekend. Quarterback Rocco Becht has struggled during the streak, throwing for 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Arizona State hasn’t won much in their last 3 games, either. In fact, the Sun Devils lost 2 of their last 3 games, and now sit with a conference record of 3-2. Arizona State’s last game was a 24-16 loss to Houston in which the Cougars scored the first 24 points of the game while holding the Sun Devils scoreless until the fourth quarter. Last year’s Big 12 championship matchup is now just two teams trying to get back to their winning ways.

The main storyline for this game is that Arizona State’s starting QB Sam Leavitt won’t play, as he went down with an injury against Houston. Leavitt has thrown for 1,628 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He was one of the main contributing factors towards Arizona State’s Big 12 championship last season. Replacing Leavitt will be senior quarterback Jeff Sims. The most prominent time in Sims’ career was in 2020 and 2021 when he started for Georgia Tech. Sims has thrown for over 5,000 yards in his college career, so he certainly will be able to comfortably fill the role this Saturday.

I have reasonable concerns with the Cyclones and their consistency. There are times where they show their greatness, and there are other times where seemingly nothing goes right for this team. In both losses against Cincinnati and BYU, the Cyclones fell into a hole in which they allowed their opponent to go on a scoring run of 20 or more unanswered points. Overall, they rank as a middle of the pack offense and defense, and I don’t believe they have done enough to merit being over a touchdown favorite. 

Arizona State vs Iowa State prediction: Arizona State Sun Devils +7 (-110) is available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Army Black Knights head to Colorado Springs looking to get a leg up for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, awarded to the winner of the annual college football series among the three United States military academies. Army has won 4 of the past 5 meetings with Air Force, and it has won the past 2 trips to The Springs, including a 23-3 win as an 18-point underdog on November 4, 2023 in the most recent visit. However, more important than the side is the total, which has cashed low in 11 consecutive meetings in this series dating back to November 2, 2014.

Army has cashed low in 4 straight games, while going 5-2 to the under this season. The Black Knights have allowed 18.0 points per game (PPG) in the past 4 games, and they’re averaging a very modest 19.5 PPG on offense in the span. For Air Force, QB Liam Szarka, pun totally intended, have been high-flying on offense. The over was 6-0 in the first 6 games before an under result last time out 2 weeks ago in a 24-21 win over Wyoming. It was the first time Air Force was held below 31 points on offense, and the first time it allowed 34 or fewer points in a game against an FBS opponent. Based on the series trends, and the rivalry situation, look for a little more defense than Air Force has been showing lately.

Army vs Air Force prediction: Under 49 (-110) at time of publishing. Playable to 47.5.

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The Baylor Bears are 0-5 against the spread in their last 5 conference matchups entering Saturday’s meeting with the UCF Knights. While the spread has seen some interesting line movement in the Knights’ favor, I’ve got my eye on the total in this one. The UCF offense has been inconsistent all season, but the defense has posted some quality performances and has some intriguing underlying numbers.

The Knights rank top-25 in defensive success rate and have been particularly good limiting the passing game, something Baylor has leaned on heavily behind QB Sawyer Robertson this season. While Baylor’s defense hasn’t had much to write home about, the Knights have struggled in finishing drives this year, ranking 121st in points per quality drive. These offenses are certainly capable of putting up points, but I’m taking the under on what I believe is a high line for this matchup.

UCF vs Baylor prediction: Under 59.5 (-105) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number to -115.

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The prevailing storyline here is 2 teams headed in opposite directions. Clemson has been this year’s disappointment — a preseason darling that some pegged as the best team in the country and a sure bet for the national title. Instead, the Tigers have stumbled to a 3–4 mark, and the calls for Dabo Swinney to ride off into the sunset have gotten louder by the week.

Duke, on the other hand, has earned plenty of respect despite sitting at 4–3. The Blue Devils’ losses came against an undefeated Georgia Tech and a one-loss Tulane team, games in which Duke looked more than competent. Against a top-10 Illinois squad, it was the Blue Devils’ own turnovers that did them in. Still, Duke has crushed NC State, Cal, and Syracuse in succession — 2 of those on the road — and the momentum still seems to be on their side, even after they fell to GT by 9 in their last showing 2 weeks ago.

It’s easy to grab the Dukies plus the field goal and the hook against a listless Clemson, but that’s the trap. The Tigers host this one in Death Valley, and the path to a 9-win season and a bowl berth remains very real with negotiable games ahead against FSU, Louisville, Furman, and South Carolina. It starts Saturday in Memorial Stadium. Side with the hosts.

Duke vs. Clemson prediction: Clemson Tigers -3.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at number posted.

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Both teams are known for their defensive acumen and the disruptive play of their defensive fronts. Each side prefers to establish the run and control tempo, which is always a recipe for an under before we even dig into the details. These are physical, methodical teams that thrive on wearing opponents down rather than lighting up the scoreboard.

Turnovers will play a factor, too. Both Clemson and Duke have been prone to mistakes, but they also feed off takeaways — which often lead to short fields and stalled drives rather than shootouts. It’s hard to envision how either offense finds a path to 55 total points when each has struggled to score consistently against quality defenses.

Clemson’s offense has looked ordinary when facing resistance, and Duke’s production dips noticeably against opponents that can match their line play. When either team has met a defense capable of pushing back, they’ve both struggled to break the 21-point threshold.

This one shapes up as a grind-it-out contest — long drives, field position battles, and plenty of punts. Defenses dictate the pace from start to finish. The under is the prudent play here, and 55 feels a touch too generous.

Duke vs. Clemson prediction: Under 55.5 (-110) available at  time of publishing. Playable to Under 55.

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This matchup has all the makings of a scoreboard thriller. Both Miami and SMU boast potent offenses that average north of 30 points per game, and with that kind of firepower on both sidelines, this could easily resemble a basketball game on turf. The total sitting at 51 feels a bit light considering the pace and explosiveness each team brings.

Miami’s defense has earned the “elite” label in some circles, but that reputation deserves scrutiny. Their best numbers have come against a soft early schedule — opponents like Bethune-Cookman (FCS), USF, Florida, and Stanford were all held to single digits. The outlier? A 12-point effort by the Bulls that still didn’t tell us much. Against teams capable of consistently moving the football — Notre Dame and Florida State, for example — the Hurricanes surrendered 21 points or more, squeaking out wins by a combined nine points.

SMU’s ground game mirrors the power and balance of both the Irish and the Seminoles, meaning Miami’s defense is unlikely to pitch another near-shutout. On the other side, the Hurricanes should find plenty of success against a Mustangs defense ranked 112th in Total Defense.

Expect explosive plays, quick scoring drives, and limited resistance on both ends. The Over is the play here — and it might be cashed well before the fourth quarter.

Miami vs. SMU prediction: Over 51.0 (-110) available at  time of publishing. Playable at number posted.

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The Miami Hurricanes have proven they’re far from bulletproof. After tossing 4 interceptions in a costly loss to Louisville — a defeat that came as 13-point home favorites — the Canes now face another tricky matchup against a sneaky SMU squad. On paper, this looks like another opportunity to clobber for Miami, after all they scored 42 unanswered against Stanford last week. However, bettors should beware: the Mustangs are far more dangerous than their recent loss to Wake Forest suggests.

SMU may have fallen off the national radar, but this is still a team with firepower and pride. They rolled through much of last season and are eager to prove that their success wasn’t a 1-year wonder. With the game in Dallas, the atmosphere will be electric, and SMU will be amped to showcase its talent on a bigger stage.

Miami’s offense remains explosive, but turnovers and inconsistency have been recurring issues for QB Carson Beck. Laying nearly 2 touchdowns against a motivated, well-coached team like SMU feels like too tall an order. The Hurricanes could very well win, but the spread gives plenty of room for the Mustangs to cover — and possibly more.

SMU on the money line might tempt the bold, but the smart play here is to grab the points and ride with the Ponies.

Miami vs. SMU prediction: SMU Mustangs +12.5 (-110) available at  time of publishing. Playable to +12.

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One of the most consequential games of the weekend in terms of conference title and College Football Playoff implications comes in the American, where the North Texas Mean Green are set to host the Navy Midshipmen in a massive clash in the Group of 5. Both teams have combined for a record of 14-1 to this point, and these are a couple of offenses that are absolutely humming at the moment. With that in mind, while I lean toward backing North Texas as the side in this game, I’m much more enthused about taking the over on Saturday.

Both teams approach offense in very different ways, but each team has been very successful in scoring plenty of points on any and all opponents this season. Navy’s offense is a unique look and it has successfully flummoxed opponents all season long, to the tune of over 37 points per game to this point. We can expect that success to continue for Drew Cronic’s unit against a North Texas defense that ranks 90th in success rate allowed, 106th in rushing success rate allowed and 111th in points allowed per quality drive (CFB-Graphs). On the other side, the Navy defense is certainly not the strength of the team, and the Midshipmen will have a difficult task on their hands against Drew Mestemaker (21 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions this season) and a Mean Green offense that is a top 15 unit in success rate, early downs EPA and points per drive. This should be a shootout with both teams scoring 30+ points in a game that could come down to the wire. The over is the only way I can look in this massive matchup.

Navy vs North Texas prediction: Over 65 available at time of publishing. Playable to 65.5

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A matchup that was thought of as a potential game of the year is now merely an afterthought to some, as Penn State heads to Columbus to play the Ohio State Buckeyes in the midst of a 4-game losing streak this Saturday. Before the season, when James Franklin was still employed and QB Drew Allar was healthy, the Buckeyes were merely 3.5-point favorites over the Nittany Lions on the lookahead lines, but much has changed since then. Penn State dropped back-to-back games as 3-touchdown favorites and lost its head coach and quarterback in the process. Now, the Nittany Lions are fighting just to make a bowl game much less the College Football Playoff. In order to do that, they will have to win 3 of their remaining 5 games. Considering they play #1 Ohio State this week and #2 Indiana next week, notching 3 wins over the last month or so of the season isn’t exactly going to be easy.

Obviously, this is a massive jump in price considering the circumstances. My numbers show value on Penn State at this price, but I don’t trust that the numbers can adequately quantify the emotional letdown this team – once seen as one of the National Championship favorites – has endured. You could argue the talent is still there to give Ohio State a game, but I have a hard time seeing it. The Nittany Lions failed to surpass 300 total yards in consecutive games against Northwestern and Iowa, and now they have to play against arguably the best defense in the country – one that has surrendered more than 10 points just once and has allowed a total of just 12 first-half points through 7 games. 

The Nittany Lions still have defensive playmakers from a talent perspective, but I question how bought-in this team is. Maybe they will view this as their Super Bowl, but recent defensive trends suggest the Buckeyes should be able to move the ball at-will against this unit. Since Week 5, Penn State’s defense ranks 79th in both PPA per play and points allowed per quality drive. Going one step further, the Nittany Lions have been downright awful on standard downs and against the run recently, sitting 100th in standard downs PPA and 128th in PPA per rush. To make matters even worse, Penn State sits 135th (second-to-last) in havoc generated since the end of September, having forced just 2 turnovers dating back to the Oregon game – a fumble recovery against Northwestern and a fortunate interception on a pass from Iowa QB Mark Gronowski that bounced off his receiver’s hands and was not deemed a turnover-worthy play per PFF.

With OSU QB Julian Sayin budding into a star before our eyes, going up against a Penn State defense that has shown vulnerabilities and failed to force opponents into mistakes, I am inclined to ignore my projections and side with the Buckeyes – and that’s not even accounting for the other side of the ball. How is Penn State going to move the ball on this OSU defense if it can’t move the ball consistently against Northwestern or Iowa? While I admit this is a ton of points to lay, I see a comfortable Buckeye win here more than I do a competitive effort from Penn State. For what it’s worth, Ohio State is 9-1-1 ATS as a home favorite of at least 20 points against conference opponents since 2021, 4-1-1 ATS over the last 3 years.

Penn State vs Ohio State prediction: Ohio State Buckeyes -20 (-115) available at Fanatics at the time of publishing. Playable to -21 (-115).

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Accurately predicting these mid-40s totals in Ohio State games is tough. On one hand, the Buckeyes are so stout defensively; only one team has surpassed 10 points against them this season. On the other hand, this offense can light up the scoreboard and surpass 43 points alone on any given Saturday. However, for this particular matchup, I lean to the under, as I expect it to be a struggle for Penn State to score. 

Penn State’s offense has dropped off a cliff in recent weeks – understandably so – and hasn’t been able to put itself into enough scoring opportunities for me to trust it against this OSU defense. For reference, the Nittany Lions have driven past the opposing 40-yard line just 18 times outside of garbage time in 4 games since Week 5, which ranks 113th nationally around teams like Kentucky, Syracuse, and Middle Tennessee. If you think about it, that averages out to be just about 1 scoring opportunity per quarter since Week 5 against a group of teams that includes UCLA, Northwestern and Iowa. 

Meanwhile, Ohio State has allowed just 11 opposing, non-garbage-time drives to pass its own 40-yard line in 4 games since Week 5 – good for a tie at 2nd nationally just behind Toledo. When opponents are fortunate enough to make it into scoring range against this defense, they have trouble even coming away with a field goal – as the Buckeyes have surrendered just 2.36 points per quality drive since the end of September. Predictably, opponents also have trouble scoring from the red zone against this defense; the ‘Bucks have surrendered just 2 touchdowns on 12 opposing red-zone trips. Given all this information, it wouldn’t surprise me to see yet another team fail to surpass 10 points against the vaunted Ohio State defense. This has the feel of a 31-6 type of game, so I lean to the under here.

Penn State vs Ohio State prediction: Under 43.5 (-110) at the time of publishing. Playable to 43. 

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We head to the B1G for an early kickoff Saturday between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini. This is a matchup between one team that has fallen apart of late versus a team that probably never had it together in the first place, and that is a tough spot for bettors. Illinois, who thought they had a shot at a playoff spot coming into the season, has taken 3 conference losses already—Indiana, Ohio State, and Washington. While there is no shame in losing to those teams, they were whipped soundly in each case. Rutgers, on the other hand, sits at 1-4 in the conference, earning its first conference win last week at Purdue. Rutgers is not a good football team, but it is perfectly possible that they can stay within 12 points in this spot. I will take Rutgers with the points at +12.5.

The weather is not looking great for this 11am kickoff in Champaign. Temperatures are expected to be cool, and the wind is likely to be up in the 20-30 mph territory with some rain chances developing – making the points more valuable. That is bad news for teams that like to throw, and that won’t make for great conditions for Luke Altmyer and his Illini receivers. This game could turn out to be ugly. Of course, both defenses are awful, and that has given us an expected point total north of 60. Given the matchup, it should be both teams that are moving effectively. While this Rutgers team got blasted by Oregon and Washington, they hung around with Iowa and Minnesota, both of whom are pretty solid teams. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rutgers is in this game late, and maybe even gives the Illini a scare. Give me the points in what I think will be an ugly game.

Rutgers vs Illinois Prediction: Rutgers Scarlet Knights +12.5 (-110) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Vanderbilt Commodores continued their fairytale season with a win at Missouri last week 17-10, though they were outgained by the Tigers and converted just 3 of 10 third downs. Now 7-1, the ‘Dores will hit the road for the first time in nearly a month to take on the Texas Longhorns in a revenge spot after Vanderbilt nearly upset Texas as 17-point underdogs in Nashville last year. It will be the 4th ranked game in a row for Vandy, a program not used to playing meaningful game after meaningful game in recent memory.

On the other sideline, Texas miraculously kept its season alive last week with a 17-point, second-half comeback victory at Mississippi State – a game that was won in overtime. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, QB Arch Manning is in concussion protocol for a hit he sustained in that game. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said he practiced on Wednesday, but it was a light practice given that he has yet to be fully cleared. It’s not impossible for a QB to clear concussion protocol in under a week, as South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers did it earlier this year after sustaining a concussion in his game against this very Vanderbilt team. 

Also practicing Wednesday was Texas S Michael Taafe, who missed the Mississippi State game but has practiced twice this week already. I’d expect him to be back at the very least, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see both of these guys play given Texas’ season is on the line every week from here on out. 

I’ve been on Vandy the last couple of weeks, and I’ve tried to look for reasons to jump off them this week but I just can’t find much reason to. Obviously, Arch Manning playing would be huge for the Texas offense, but let’s not pretend like the ‘Horns have been world-beaters this season. They barely beat Kentucky and Mississippi State on the road, lost at Florida, and only put up 27 points on UTEP at home. Moreover, they are just 70th in yards per play season and 125th in points scored per quality drive over the last 5 weeks. 

If the run game looked stronger in recent weeks, I would be more inclined to back Texas here, but even that aspect of this offense has been off. The Longhorns put up just 72 total rush yards and 2.3 yards per carry against Mississippi State on the heels of just 47 rush yards and 1.7 yards per carry at Kentucky, and they’re sitting 105th in PPA per rush and 125th on standard downs PPA over the last 5 weeks. That’s not going to cut it against this Vandy team, who will milk time of possession with a strong run game of its own. I’ll consider it a lean at the current number until we know more about Manning, though I expect him to play and would think the line will move past 3 and even potentially 3.5 with that official news later in the week. Hold off for now, but keep Vanderbilt on your list.

Vanderbilt vs Texas prediction: Vanderbilt Commodores +2.5 (+100) at the time of publishing. Playable at that number or better.

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Vanderbilt games were extremely high-scoring in non-conference play, but every conference game has gone under the total except for the LSU game. In fact, the ‘Dores failed to reach 20 points in 2 of their last 3. It makes sense given the step up in class against SEC defenses, but the Commodores also play at a methodical pace – ranking 131st in seconds per play against FBS opponents this season. 

Texas, on the other hand, has been nowhere near as efficient as Vanderbilt offensively (it’s still very weird to see that written, but I digress). In fact, the Longhorns have been bad on the ground in the games leading into this one, as in, outside the top 100 bad. When they manage to get the ball into scoring range recently, they haven’t consistently been able to punch it into the endzone – averaging just 2.6 points per trip over the opposing 40-yard line. 

Given the methodical pace of Vanderbilt’s offense and the inefficient performance of Texas’, as well as the significance of this game for the postseason race, I envision this being an old-school low-scoring SEC battle. Oddsmakers seem to agree given the low total. Under or pass here.

Vanderbilt vs Texas prediction: Under 45.5 (-115) at the time of publishing. Playable to 45.

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We head to Houston for an early kickoff in what is suddenly a meaningful Big 12 game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Houston Cougars. While West Virginia finds themselves at the bottom of the conference standings at 0-5 and desperate for a win, the Cougars are right in the thick of the hunt for a conference crown. They are a surprising 4-1 after upending Arizona State on the road last week. With a schedule that avoids both Utah and BYU, among others, and Texas Tech already in the rearview, they have a favorable path going forward, and this team really is pretty good. That said, I think they are getting too much respect in the betting market this week, and this looks like a classic win-no-cover spot to me. I will take West Virginia +13.5.

Houston is a team with a solid defense and an adequate offense behind A&M transfer Conner Weigman. Weigman is a true dual-threat guy who is probably more dangerous with his legs than his arm. West Virginia has been respectable against dual-threat QBs, but the real key factor in this game is the Mountaineer offense. We know that Rich Rodriguez will eventually figure out a substantial offensive attack, but to this point in the season, he has more or less been holding open tryouts at quarterback. There has been way too much “panic and run” in this offense so far, but we saw some signs of life last week – as Scotty Fox Jr. got a shot. He stayed in the pocket, threw 41 times, and eclipsed 300 yards against TCU. I am not saying they have found the answer just yet, but I am suggesting that a little bit of offensive competence could definitely keep this game closer than the Cougs want it to be. Houston is usually not a team that will blow anyone out, and this could be a tricky spot to navigate.

West Virginia vs Houston Prediction: West Virginia Mountaineers +13.5 (-110) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The 16th-ranked Louisville Cardinals will try to keep pace with the top teams in the ACC with a win this Saturday when they travel to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies. Louisville has only lost 1 game this season. It was on October 4th when they fell in overtime against Virginia. The loss put the Cardinals behind Virginia and Georgia Tech in the conference race, 2 teams that have yet to lose a conference game. The Cardinals need to continue winning if they want to compete for an ACC championship. Their last win was a 38-24 win over Boston College. Running back Isaac Brown had a big game, rushing for 205 yards and 1 touchdown. Virginia Tech currently has a losing record, but the Hokies are still 2-2 in the ACC. Their conference wins were against North Carolina State and last week against California. The Hokies needed double overtime, but they eventually walked away with the win 42-34. Virginia Tech dominated the rushing game against California with a 357 to 39 yard advantage.

Louisville has never beaten Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium, but the Cardinals are certainly equipped to break that streak this Saturday. But with any streak-breaking game, I don’t think that it will come easy. Virginia Tech fired their head coach Brent Pry earlier this season after an 0-3 start. With offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery stepping in as the interim head coach, the Hokies have shown progression and won 3 of their last 5 games. Their defense has been their weakness against high-powered offenses, but they have shown improvement, especially on their home field.

While Louisville has been great this season, I wouldn’t consider their offense high-powered or explosive. Quarterback Miller Moss has been efficient this season, throwing for 1793 yards and 10 touchdowns. He will be matched up against Virginia Tech’s quarterback, Kyron Drones. Drones is a dual threat quarterback who can extend plays with his legs. He has thrown for 1516 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. After wins against Miami and Boston College, Louisville is due for a challenge. Louisville will still likely win this game, but I don’t think it comes easy in Lane Stadium.

Louisville vs Virginia Tech prediction: Virginia Tech Hokies +10.5 (-110) is available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The UNLV Rebels are 0-2 against the spread as home favorites this season, welcoming in a New Mexico Lobos squad that has put together some entertaining results in 2025. The Lobos offense has proven to be a capable unit, ranking 24th in quality drive rate and 36th in points per quality drive. On the contrary, the UNLV defense has struggled to stall drives and ranks 123rd in points per quality drive allowed.

The Rebels have primarily struggled against the run, ranking 113th in EPA/rush defensively – which likely won’t bode well against a New Mexico team that likes to run the football. Offensively, we know the UNLV offense is capable of lighting up the scoreboard, ranking 17th in points per game (37.1), but the defense is incredibly unreliable and the Lobos are certainly capable of keeping this one close. I’ll take the Lobos to cover on the road.

New Mexico vs UNLV prediction: New Mexico Lobos +4 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable down to +3.5 (-110).

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The Michigan State Spartans are currently winless in the Big 10 with a conference record of 0-5. The Spartans will try to break that streak this weekend when they travel to Minnesota and battle against the Golden Gophers after going through a brutal conference gauntlet. In order, their losses have come at USC, at Nebraska, at home versus UCLA, at Indiana, and at home against Michigan. The only game in which the Spartans were favored over this run was against UCLA. Quarterback Aidan Chiles went down with an injury in that game, and Michigan State lost 38-13.

Minnesota lost its last game in Iowa 41-3. The Golden Gophers have a conference record of 3-2, but their 2 losses have come by nearly 40 points. Minnesota requires its running game to be productive if it wants to compete. In the 2 conference losses, the Golden Gophers only ran for an average of 19 yards.

This game feels like it is now or never for the Spartans to pick up their first conference win. Remaining conference games on the schedule include Penn State, Iowa, and Maryland for the Spartans. While Michigan State has lost all 5 games by double digits, the Spartans have remained competitive, and they made those games interesting at times. Chiles has thrown for 1392 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He has all the tools to compete with the Gophers defense. The problem with Michigan State has been its consistency. Quarterback and offensive line play has shown glimpses of positivity, but they have not been able to compete for a full 60 minutes.

Against a team that works as slow as Minnesota, if Michigan State can attack the Gophers corners early, it may open up holes for its running backs later on. The game plan will be clear for Michigan State. If the Spartans can limit the Gophers mediocre running game, they should be able to control time of possession and get their first conference win against a Gophers team that might not be as good as their record entails.

Michigan State vs Minnesota prediction: Michigan State Spartans +3 is available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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Piggy-backing off the point spread play, the question here is simple — is there a realistic pathway for this total to go over? For that to happen, Notre Dame would either need to completely blank Boston College and still push near 50 points themselves, or this game would have to turn into an unlikely shootout. Neither scenario seems particularly plausible.

As mentioned in the point spread play, Notre Dame’s ambitions are greater than this contest. This looks more like a tune-up than a statement game. The Irish aren’t likely to push tempo or risk injury just to pad the scoreboard. On the flip side, Boston College will bring their best but how much of that turns into scoring when the Irish depth chart gets emptied? Sure, the Eagles may get a couple of junk-time scores but if they stay within range of covering, we are likely going Under while doing so.

And even if Notre Dame dominates the stat sheet, it’s hard to see this turning into a high-scoring affair. The Irish defense is strong enough to limit Boston College’s output, while their own offense figures to downshift once the outcome is no longer in doubt.

The numbers don’t add up to a shootout here. The spot situationally speaking sets up to where the Under cashes comfortably.

Notre Dame vs. Boston College prediction: Under 56.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to Under 56.

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Two questions come to mind here: does Notre Dame care enough to run this up, or is this simply a dress rehearsal for bigger things ahead? And if the Irish do jump out to a big lead early, how long before the 2nd and 3rd-stringers start seeing the field — giving Boston College a chance or 2 to sneak in some late scores? For Notre Dame to cover nearly 4 touchdowns, they’d need to approach 50 points or play close to a flawless defensive game. Are either on the checklist? Probably not.

With a potentially undefeated and ranked Navy on deck, this doesn’t feel like a “statement” spot for the Irish. Motivation will be limited, and it’s unlikely Marcus Freeman wants to risk injury or show too much before the stretch run.

Boston College, on the other hand, sits at 1–7 and will treat this as their bowl game. Expect maximum effort and a willingness to empty the playbook. Notre Dame may dominate early, but sustaining that intensity for 60 minutes against a desperate opponent is another matter entirely.

The number is simply too big given the circumstances. The Irish win comfortably, but not emphatically. Grab the points and ride with the Eagles.

Notre Dame vs. Boston College prediction: Boston College Eagles +29 (-110) available at  time of publishing. Playable at number posted.

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The Pittsburgh Panthers currently sit near the top of the ACC standings with a record of 6-2 and a conference record of 4-1. They will try to continue their 4-game winning streak with a road victory against the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday. Pittsburgh enters this contest off an offensive explosion in a game in which it defeated North Carolina State 53-34. Freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel threw for an impressive 423 yards and 3 touchdowns in the win. Heintschel replaced Eli Holstein earlier in the season, and the freshman has filled in well, accumulating over 1,200 yards passing in 4 starts.

Stanford has a losing record, but the Cardinal are currently 2-3 in conference. They lost their last game 42-7 against Miami, but prior to that, they beat Florida State 20-13 at Stanford Stadium. The Cardinal are currently 3-0 on their home field. Quarterback Ben Gulbranson is the Cardinal quarterback. He has thrown for 1585 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions this season.

The Panthers have a gauntlet of ACC games ahead of them after their game against Stanford. On the schedule following this game is Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, and Miami. On paper, this is a dangerous look ahead spot for Pittsburgh against a Stanford team that already beat Florida State, but I think Pittsburgh will be ready for the challenge and well-prepared.

The offense for Pittsburgh has been on fire in the past 4 weeks. The Panthers have scored 165 points during the winning streak, and Heintschel was just named ACC Rookie of the Week after becoming the first freshman in any Power Four school to throw for 400 yards and 3 touchdowns in a single game this season. Heintschel should be able to continue his run against a Stanford team that ranks 132nd in the FBS against the pass by allowing an average of 292 yards passing per game. I don’t see the Stanford defense being the unit to slow down Pittsburgh’s offense.

Pitt vs Stanford prediction: Pittsburgh Panthers -14.5 is available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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One of the marquee games in the Big 12 on Saturday comes in the Little Apple, where the Kansas State Wildcats will host the Texas Tech Red Raiders in a spot that could be extremely tricky for a Texas Tech team that has had its struggles on the road of late. After all, Joey McGuire’s team has already lost outright to Arizona State on the road as a favorite of just over a touchdown, and the Red Raiders will likely be making another quarterback change heading into this game following the loss of Will Hammond for the remainder of the season. Yes, starting quarterback Behren Morton is back under center, but it remains to be seen if he’s fully healthy, and he also hasn’t played all that well in conference play when he has been healthy this season. He’ll be going up against a Kansas State defense that hasn’t been anything special, but the Wildcats might have turned a corner of late, having allowed just over 24 points per game over the last month and they’re coming off an effort where they held Kansas’ explosive offense to just over 3 yards per play.

On the other side of the ball, it’s been a trying season for Chris Klieman’s team on offense, but there have been glimpses of hope in recent weeks as the Wildcats have seemed to find their footing in Big 12 play. Avery Johnson struggled mightily in September, but he also has 12 total touchdowns to just 1 interception over the last month and he should be able to throw the ball a bit against a Texas Tech secondary that is the weakness of this defense, as much as it has any clear weakness on paper. There is proof of concept for how to attack what has been an excellent Red Raiders unit, and I expect Klieman and his staff to refer to the Arizona State game and look to get Jayce Brown (577 yards, 4 touchdowns) the ball early and often in this one. While I have questions about Kansas State’s ability to stay in the fight if it gets down big early on, I’ll trust in the spot and this coaching staff to keep this game within one score on Saturday.

Texas Tech vs Kansas State prediction: Kansas State +7.5 available at time of publishing. Playable to 7.

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We’ve got a fascinating ACC matchup on our hands between a couple of very different teams, as the Virginia Cavaliers will take on the California Golden Bears from Berkeley. On paper, this has all the makings of a tough spot for a Virginia team that has not exactly been convincing in its recent victories, while Cal has the chance to get back on track following a loss in double overtime at Virginia Tech.

Few teams across the country this college football season have run as well as Virginia. While this has undoubtedly been a very impressive campaign for Tony Elliot’s team, the Cavaliers should have some significant regression coming before this regular season is over. Yes, Virginia is 7-1 on the year and currently sits near the top of the ACC standings, but the last few weeks have yielded some pretty misleading results for the Cavaliers. For starters, Virginia knocked off Florida State in overtime in a game that could’ve gone either way back on September 26. The Cavaliers then took down Louisville the next week in overtime, a game in which Virginia was +3 in the turnover battle. Fast forward to October 18 and the Cavaliers defeated Washington State at home by 2 points on a safety late in the 4th quarter (while also finishing +2 in turnovers). Most recently, Virginia was once again +2 in turnovers in a 1-point victory in overtime against North Carolina a week ago, despite the fact that the Cavaliers were outgained by nearly 100 yards and averaged just 3.8 yards per play against a poor Tar Heels defense.

It’s safe to say that Virginia can’t keep this up for much longer, and a trip out west is a great time to fade this team that’s been dancing through the raindrops for weeks. The matchup against California is one that could presents some challenges for the Virginia offense, as the Bears are a top 40 defense in success rate allowed, points per quality drive, early downs EPA and 3rd and 4th down success rate. On the other side of the ball, true freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele has been up-and-down of late, but he is more than capable of seeing plenty of success against a Virginia defense that 95th in early downs EPA allowed and 109th in points per quality drive allowed. This has all the makings of a contest that should come down to the wire on the West Coast, and it’s only natural that my inclination is to back the underdog in this spot.

Virginia vs Cal prediction: Cal +6.5 available at time of publishing. Playable to +4.5

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The Central Michigan Chippewas make their way down from Mount Pleasant to historic Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo for this Mid-American Conference rivalry game on Saturday. These schools really do not like each other. Central Michigan enters the game on a roll, too, needing just 1 win for bowl eligibility. It has won four of the past 5 games, while also going 4-1 ATS in the span. That includes a 38-13 pounding of UMass last weekend as a 16.5-point favorite. On the road, CMU is just 2-3 straight up and ATS, but two of those wins are outright victories as an underdog.

Western Michigan has a little more work to do to attain bowl eligibility after a tough 26-17 loss at Miami (OH) last week, snapping a 4-game win and cover streak. After starting 0-3 SU with losses to Michigan State, North Texas and Illinois, Western came alive in the early conference schedule, allowing a total of just 16 points in the first 3 wins, before allowing the 26 to the Redhawks last week. When these teams get together, particularly at Western Michigan, plenty of points are sure to follow. The over has cashed in 4 of the previous five meetings on the Waldo Stadium turf. Let’s lean high in this latest installment, especially with such a low number on the board.

Central Michigan vs Western Michigan prediction: Over 42.5 (-110) at time of publishing. Playable to 43.5.

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The Arkansas Razorbacks have dropped 5 straight games amidst a head-coaching change, with former front man Bobby Petrino filling in as interim after Sam Pittman was fired, but the train is still well off the tracks. This is a less-than-ideal matchup stylistically for the Razorbacks considering Mississippi State loves to run the football — ranking 45th in rush play percentage — while Arkansas boasts the 128th ranked rush defense in FBS. Whether it be in early-downs scenarios or red-zone situations, this Arkansas defense is one of the worst units among Power 4 programs. 

Mississippi State has the best success rate when running the football in the country, and the Bulldogs are more than capable of making plays through the air behind QB Blake Shapen. The Arkansas secondary hasn’t been much better than the front seven, as the Razorbacks sit 115th in EPA/dropback. Arkansas has given little-to-no reason to back them this season, while the Bulldogs have gone 4-1 against the spread in a stretch that consisted of 3 top-25 matchups. With all things considered, I’ll take Mississippi State to cover on the road.

Mississippi State vs Arkansas prediction: Mississippi State Bulldogs +4.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number or better.

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The Arizona Wildcats hit the road looking to turn things around after dropping the past 2 games against BYU and Houston. The BYU was particularly tough, coming in overtime. The defense started out hot in the non-conference schedule, but it isn’t Desert Swarm anymore. Arizona has allowed at least 31 points in 3 of the past 4 games, with the lone exception coming in a 41-13 win over lowly Oklahoma State. The Over is 3-1 in the past 4 games, too. And, for same-game parlay bettors, the Wildcats are just 1-3 ATS in the 4-game span, so keep that in mind.

For Colorado, it was waylaid by Utah last weekend, falling 53-7 in Salt Lake City, coming nowhere near a cover as a 14-point ‘dog. The over (50) cashed, halting a 3-game run to the Under. The defense has allowed at least 24 points in 3 of the past 4 games, and an average of 32.3 PPG in the 4-game span, and 30.8 PPG in the past 6 outings. The offense is also good for 20 or more points in 7 of 8 games this season, so this could be a high-scoring, entertaining Pac-12 battle between two teams desperate for victories.

Arizona vs Colorado prediction: Over 52.5 (-110) at time of publishing. Playable to 53.5.

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This one is about finding value where the market isn’t looking. Purdue has no public appeal — a 2–6 team that finished dead last in the Big Ten a season ago — so the betting market naturally pushes against it. Michigan, on the other hand, is still very much alive in the playoff hunt if it can win out and take down Ohio State. That’s the storyline everyone knows, and it’s baked heavily into this number.

The Wolverines are college football royalty, and with that brand name comes a premium. You’re paying for the helmet decal, not the matchup. Purdue doesn’t need to be special here; they just need to be competent. Michigan likely wins comfortably, but covering 3 full touchdowns requires 4 solid quarters of focus — and that’s a tall ask against a scrappy opponent looking to play spoiler with nowhere to go but upwards.

There is no need to overanalyze stats or personnel in this one. The value sits quietly under the rug with the Boilermakers. Take the points, close your eyes, and don’t ask questions.

Purdue vs. Michigan prediction: Purdue Boilermakers +21 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at number posted.

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We can correlate the Gamecocks with our take on the total in this matchup. If we’re expecting a high-scoring game, the academic move is to take the points — and that’s exactly what we’re doing here. In a contest where both teams are capable of trading scores, that +12.5 cushion suddenly looks very attractive.

Ole Miss can put up points, no question about it. But as we mentioned in the total analysis, the Rebels defense hasn’t exactly been airtight. They have feasted on inconsistent or one-dimensional offenses — Oklahoma, Kentucky, LSU, Washington State, Tulane — but against teams with legitimate firepower like Georgia or Arkansas, they’ve surrendered 35 or more points and split those results. That’s not a formula for comfortably covering double digits.

South Carolina fits the mold of the kind of team that can stress this defense. When LaNorris Sellers gets going, the Gamecocks can generate chunk plays and sustain drives. Combine that with an Ole Miss defense that struggles to get off the field, and you have a recipe for a back-and-forth affair where every possession matters.

If this turns into the shootout we expect, the amount of points here is simply too generous. The Gamecocks stay within striking distance, and could make things very interesting late. They may even pull the upset. Take the points.

South Carolina vs. Ole Miss prediction: South Carolina Gamecocks +12.5 (-110) available at  time of publishing. Playable to +12.

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We see the most value on the total in this matchup. Everyone knows what Ole Miss can do offensively — they move fast, score in bunches, and can light up a scoreboard in a hurry. The real question is whether their defense can stop anyone. Before you answer “yes,” take a look at who they’ve actually contained.

Oklahoma? A team plagued by inconsistency. Kentucky? Not exactly an offensive juggernaut. LSU? Struggling to find rhythm all season and now without its head coach. Washington State and Tulane? Solid mid-tier offenses, but not the kind a ranked Rebels team should be sweating.

When Ole Miss has faced legitimate offensive threats — teams like Georgia or even Arkansas — the results tell the story. They’ve allowed 35 or more points in both, splitting those games 1–1. South Carolina fits that same mold when LaNorris Sellers gets rolling. The Gamecocks can move the ball, stretch the field, and they’ll find cracks in this Ole Miss defense just as others have.

With both offenses capable and neither defense built to dominate, this has all the makings of a track meet. Expect plenty of fireworks and little resistance. The over 54.5 looks very live — and 60 points looks elementary in this contest.

South Carolina vs. Ole Miss prediction: Over 54.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to 55.

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Can someone explain this line, please? A 4–4 NC State team isn’t even getting a full touchdown at home against an undefeated Georgia Tech squad that could easily be sitting inside the top 5 of the national polls. Yes, it’s a rivalry game, but on the surface, this number makes no sense. The Jackets have been rolling everyone in their path, and just 2 weeks ago, they thrived as a ranked underdog versus Duke, winning by 9 in a game that was never in doubt. Surely, lightning can’t strike twice — or can it?

NC State is coming off a 53-point drubbing by Pitt, and the game before that, the Pack were handled easily by Notre Dame, 36–7. Notre Dame incidentally is also ranked, so how are the Pack a threat here to an even better opponent? On paper, their profile hardly screams “live underdog.” Yet this line is begging you to take Georgia Tech, which should always raise an eyebrow. Either this is a massive oversight and the Ramblin’ Wreck are the steal of the week, or the oddsmakers are telling us something. We know that Vegas isn’t a charity shop, so we are inclined to lean to the latter.

In rivalry games, logic often goes out the window — records and rankings are irrelevant, and this feels like one of those spots. The Wolfpack have nothing to lose, and in front of a home crowd in Raleigh, they’ll empty the tank. Upset alert on high — take NC State outright.

Georgia Tech vs. NC State prediction: North Carolina State ML (+180) available at  time of publishing. Playable at number posted.

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It has been a rough season for the Kentucky Wildcats. Big Blue Nation is currently winless in the SEC at 0-5, and its 2 wins on the year were against MAC schools. After narrowly losing to Texas at home in overtime, the Wildcats played host to Tennessee last week and had their doors blown off. The Vols scored 56 in their 21-point victory, gained over 500 yards and committed zero turnovers. Meanwhile, Kentucky was at least solid offensively with 476 yards, but the 2 turnovers helped Tennessee build what proved to be an insurmountable lead.

Auburn will return home to host this flailing Kentucky team after finally snapping a 4-game losing streak. With the whole world against them, Auburn went into Arkansas and beat the Razorbacks 33-24 thanks to 4 Arkansas turnovers and a 23-3 second half scoring edge for the Tigers. It was Auburn RB Jeremiah Cobb that stole the show, rushing for 153 yards on 28 carries in the win.

This game will likely be heavily influenced by the run game of both teams. Kentucky and Auburn both reside in the top 60 in rush rate outside of garbage time since Week 5, and neither offense has been explosive in that time. In fact, both the Wildcats and the Tigers are 125th or worse in explosiveness per play since the end of September. With below-average passing attacks, it’s going to be a struggle to get into scoring range for both teams. Even when they get into scoring range, they’ve proven they can’t be trusted to find the end zone – as Kentucky is 93rd in points scored per quality drive since Week 5 while Auburn ranks 126th. Despite both teams playing in high-scoring games last week, I’m expecting this one to be a slog.

Kentucky vs Auburn prediction: Under 45.5 (-115) at the time of publishing. Playable to 45.

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It’s a game that is flying under the radar given the brands involved in this game, but Saturday’s matchup between USC and Nebraska is a de-facto College Football Playoff elimination game for both teams. The Trojans certainly have the much stronger resume to this point and they certainly look like the better side between these teams. However, there is something to be said for the fact that Lincoln Riley and this coaching staff have struggled mightily over the last two seasons when leaving the West Coast.

Earlier this season, we saw USC lose to Illinois as a road favorite of nearly a touchdown in Champaign, and that’s been par for the course with recent history. In fact, the Trojans have yet to cover the spread as a road favorite in the eastern or central time zone since joining the Big Ten. That certainly raises some alarm bells in my head when breaking down this matchup, especially since this is a night game in one of the best home environments in the nation. Furthermore, the clear advantages that USC should have in this game on the ground could be negated a bit by the fact that the Trojans will be without their top 2 running backs in this game, along with their left tackle. The Trojans passing offense is one of the best in the nation (5th in passing success rate, 4th in EPA per pass), but the Nebraska secondary is actually the strength of its defense, with the Cornhuskers sitting inside the top 20 in passing success rate allowed and EPA per pass (CFB-Graphs). We can fully expect USC to score in this game, but that might not be enough to win by margin.

While I have no real questions about the USC offense, the Trojans defense is another story. Defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn has done a very solid job with revamping this unit, but USC is still a team that can be had in the trenches, with the Trojans sitting at 117th in rushing success rate allowed and 85th in Early Downs EPA. That should be music to the ears of the Nebraska offense, with the Cornhuskers sitting inside the top 20 in rushing success rate and 24th in quality drives created. Nebraska has struggled against tougher competition this season, but the USC defense has allowed plenty of possible scoring drives (76th in quality drives allowed), so there should be opportunities for Dylan Raiola and company to cash in on scoring opportunities. I have to take the full touchdown with the home ‘dog.

USC vs Nebraska prediction: Nebraska +7 available at time of publishing. Playable to 6.

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While my projections on this game call for a total of around 57.5, this is a game where I do not want to be on the under given the potency of both offenses, and the questions I have with both defenses. As previously mentioned, the USC offense has been one of the best units in the nation to this point in the season, with the Trojans sitting inside the top 5 in passing success rate allowed, EPA per play and points per drive. It’s hard to argue with the results, especially when USC has been able to score on some rock solid defenses (Michigan and Notre Dame) in recent weeks. Therefore, while the Nebraska secondary is certainly solid, the Cornhuskers haven’t had to face a passing attack like this, and the Trojans should stretch and challenge this blackshirts defense. On the other side, Nebraska’s offense is operating at a top 20-25 level and it’s not as if USC’s defense has been a brick wall in Big Ten play. The Cornhuskers should be able to crack at least 27 points in a game that feels like it could come down to the final few possessions.

Over 58.5 available at time of publishing. Playable to 59

We look to Tallahassee on Saturday night as the Wake Forest Demon Deacons take on the Florida State Seminoles. The Seminoles are 10-point favorites despite being winless in conference play. They are now 0-4, losers of 4 straight games, and they do not look good at all. Meanwhile, the upstart Demon Deacons have won 3 in a row and are knocking on the door of bowl eligibility. Wake is still not getting much respect though, and Florida State is still getting way too much respect for my liking. I am happy to see the ‘Deacs catching 10 points on the road, and I will happily play that.

Wake will be overmatched in terms of pure athletes, but this is a team that can compete. Its defense, and in particular its passing defense, is really solid – having held a really good SMU offense under 250 yards last week. The Deacons generate a good pass rush, cover well on the back end, and they force turnovers. If their offense can give them anything at all, they can stay in this game.

My problem with FSU is that it seems like Mike Norvell is consistently being out-coached, especially the longer each season draws on. The Seminoles are so dependent upon the transfer portal that I have significant concerns about the internal player development, and they seem to have gotten worse since opening week when they looked so strong and fast against Alabama. In short, I don’t trust this team, and I would not be at all surprised to see them struggle to put away Wake Forest. Give me the points with the underdog here.

Wake Forest vs Florida State Prediction: Wake Forest Demon Deacons +10 (-110) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Washington State Cougars head to Corvallis, Oregon to face the Oregon State Beavers in a matchup between the final figures standing from what was once a well-respected conference. This is the first of 2 meetings between the Pac-12 programs, and one that calls for more offense than one might expect. Neither team has lit up the scoreboard this season, but when looking at Washington State in particular, the Cougars have taken advantage of scoring opportunities.

Washington State ranks 19th in FBS in points per quality drive, and the Beavers defense hasn’t done much to stop opposing offenses in scoring opportunities, ranking 119th in red zone defense. Furthermore, the Beavers haven’t created much chaos, tied for 127th in FBS with only 8 sacks in 8 games while only forcing 5 takeaways all year – good enough for a tie for 121st in the country. Coincidentally, one of the teams tied at 121st with only 5 takeaways is this Cougars squad. Washington State ranks 115th in quality drive rate allowed and 116th in points per quality drive defensively; Oregon State should have plenty of scoring opportunities if they can limit turnovers. This matchup has seen at least 55 combined points in 4 of the last 5 matchups, and I’ll back another relatively high-scoring matchup on the over.

Washington State vs Oregon State prediction: Over 47.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number or better.

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The primetime game in the Big 12 features the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Utah Utes. College GameDay is heading to this game, and the crowd will be extra rowdy after partying all day. This is a crucial game in the Big 12, as Cincinnati is 5-0 in conference play with several tough games to go (BYU, at TCU), while Utah is 3-2 and cannot afford a loss if it it has any hope of climbing back into the race. The status of Utah QB Devon Dampier is very unclear, as Utah continues to ignore the conference’s new rules on injury transparency, so keep an eye on that on Saturday. Regardless, I think this Cincinnati team is definitely not a fluke, and even in what is probably the toughest road venue in the conference, I like catching 10 points with the Bearcats. Give me Cincinnati +10.

This game is strength on strength, as the Bearcat offense faces the best defense they will see all season. Cincinnati is a balanced attack that wants to run the football a ton, but if you stack the box on the Bearcats, they love to go vertical. It is a tough attack to stop, but Utah is a top-10 defense. On the other side, Utah is definitely run-first, and almost all of its passing attack is within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage or outside the hashes. I think Cincinnati can focus enough attention in those places to slow the Utes down. This game really comes down to whether the Bearcats can move the ball against an elite defense in a hostile road environment. I do not think Cincinnati will win this game, but I do think this game is a one-possession battle most of the night. I’ll take the points.

Cincinnati vs Utah Prediction: Cincinnati Bearcats +10 (-110) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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This game should be a fast-paced, up-and-down contest, and I do not expect to see a lot of punting. As I wrote in the spread column, this game is strength vs strength, as the Utah defense is a top-10 unit and the Cincinnati offense is one of the better attacks in the country. Cincinnati has also jumped on opponents early, dominating the first quarter all season long. This is a balanced attack that is hard to stop. On the other side, we may not know about the availability of Devon Dampier until kickoff time, but given that the Utah attack is so run-centric, it might not matter a ton who is playing QB. Utah should still be successful.

It seems to me that this game goes 1 of 2 ways. It is possible that Utah overwhelms the visiting Bearcats and puts them in their place, much the way they did Colorado last week, and we could end up with a lopsided 38-20 kind of game. Or, as I suspect will happen, both offenses will be successful, and we end up with a 31-28 type of game. What I do not expect is a defensive stalemate here. I think there are a lot more paths to the over than to the under, and I will take that action.

Cincinnati vs Utah Prediction: Over 56 (-110) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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