The Washington State Football team is set to play their hated rivals this weekend. What are the best bets for rivalry week?
There is only one game Washington State football fans care about this weekend. That is of course, the 114th installment of the Apple Cup. For some this game can be made even more enjoyable if they were able to make a little money off of it. Sports betting has become a mainstay in our lives so why not embrace it and try to make some extra cash for the holidays.
It’s been a few weeks since I have given out poor gambling advice, and although I did correctly pick the result of the Washington State football game that weekend, my record stands at 2-2. Not bad considering I hit on my upset pick of TCU, but really bad considering the Huskies knocked off Oregon and Clemson smashed Louisville.
With that in the past, we set our eyes to this weekend and the glorious amount of rivalry games. The Washington State football team does not play until late Saturday night, so that gives us fans plenty of time to sit on the couch and watch the rest of the action while enjoying some Thanksgiving leftovers.
Without further ado, let’s get to my picks for this holiday weekend.
Ah, yes. The only game that truly matters on this rivalry weekend for us Washington State football fans. The Huskies come in hot, winning their last 5 games including a very impressive win in Autzen stadium just two weeks ago. But, this is the Apple Cup. Anything can happen.
I trust the Washington State defense in the friendly confines of Martin Stadium. It’s going to be frozen cold and it’s senior night for Daiyan Henley and company. I say the Cougs come out motivated, much like last years Apple Cup. This game will be a lot closer, and may shave a few years off of your life but give me the Cougs and the points. The trophy stays in Pullman for another year.
THE PICK: Washington State +2
Probably the most important game of the weekend in terms of the College Football Playoff. The Game is recognized as the most heated of all rivalry games. Ohio State and Michigan are both undefeated but are both coming off some very close calls last week to Maryland and Illinois, respectively.
The Buckeyes seem like the better team on paper, but they really have not impressed me much this season as they have in years past. Blake Corum’s injury for Michigan looms large, however, as if the star running back cannot play it’s hard to see the Wolverines winning in the Horseshoe.
Give me the Buckeyes, despite them laying the 7.5 points. Too much CJ Stroud and not enough Michigan offense in this one.
THE PICK: Ohio State -7.5
The rivalry game formerly known as the Civil War is set to be one of the better matchups in recent history for these teams. This is the best Oregon State team in many years. They whooped our Washington State football team in Corvallis and probably should have beat the Huskies in Seattle as well. Oregon, on the other hand, has been the class of the conference outside of that frightful night in Eugene against UW a few weeks ago.
Bo Nix is nursing an injury, and the Beavers are playing at home. Oregon is the better team, but Oregon State will be very motivated. Maybe it’s just me, but it smells like an upset might be brewing. Give me the Beavs at home with the 3 points.
THE PICK: Oregon State +3
For our final pick of the week, we head down to Southern California as the Trojans host their rivals, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Irish have had one of the strangest seasons of any college football team. They have lost to Stanford and Marshall, both at home, but have victories over Clemson, North Carolina and Syracuse. Very Dr. Jackyl and Mr. Hyde these Irish seem to be.
The Trojans come into the game feeling goof about themselves. They beat their other rival UCLA last weekend in an entertaining shootout and are poised to gain entry into the playoff if they were to win out.
Sorry, USC fans, that won’t be happening. Notre Dame adds to their impressive wins, and ruins USC’s season with a win on Saturday night.
THE PICK: Notre Dame ML