2018 Six Pick Week 10

Apologies in advance, as we somehow ended up with 3 of this week's games being SEC. Also, no, I'm not putting the BC game up to pick. Fun Fact #0: VT hasn't beaten a ranked team in Lane since 2009.

Make your picks at http://keyplay.football.cbssports.com/opm.

November 3

There's one of these in every Basic Training class
Texas A&M
Auburn (-4)

Fun Fact #1: Since 2013, Texas A&M is 4-12 against P5 teams in November.
Fun Fact #2: But then again, the road team has won all 6 games in this series since A&M joined the SEC

PICK: Super tough call. I guess I'll take Auburn at home.

Those of you who watched the XFL back in the day: was that Frankenstein on his helmet?
Iowa
Purdue (-3)

Fun Fact #1: Iowa hasn't lost in West Lafayette since George W. Bush was president in 200X.
Fun Fact #2: Purdue's allowed 300 yards passing in 5 of their last 7 games.

PICK: Why is Purdue favored here? I'm guessing people only remember the Ohio State game and didn't pay attention to their loss to Michigan State last week. Iowa wins outright.

This was probably the last time Kentucky was this good
Georgia (-9.5)
Kentucky

Fun Fact #1: This is the highest combined ranking (6 vs. 9) in the history of this series.
Fun Fact #2: A win Saturday would put Kentucky in the SEC championship. Let me repeat that: a win Saturday puts them in the SEC Championship (!).

PICK: Kentucky's had a magical season, but this is a bridge too far. They'll cover the spread, but lose.

WVU
Texas (-2)
Weird Kentucky infiltration in Missouri

Fun Fact #1: Will Grier's averaging 2 interceptions a game in Big XII play. Remember when he was supposed to be a preseason Heisman contender?
Fun Fact #2: And I thought VT started slow. 6 of the opponent's 8 opening drives against the Texas defense have gone for scores. 5 of those were TD's.

PICK: All season I've felt like Texas was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. That happened a week earlier than I expected, but it holds here too. WVU wins.

Penn State
Michigan (-10.5)
Shaw doesn't just coach, he can do crappy magic tricks

Fun Fact #1: Who would have thought at the start of the year that Penn State would be a 2-score underdog in this game? On the plus side, 5 of their 8 opponents gave up a season-high to PSU.
Fun Fact #2: But then again, that may not be enough against Michigan's defense. They haven't given up more than 24 all year, which is just about unheard of these days.

PICK: I think Michigan stays in control the whole boring game, but that extra half-point concerns me. I'll take Penn State to cover but lose.

Alabama (-14.5)
LSU

Fun Fact #1: Vegas has done a damn good job nailing the spread for Bama's SEC games so far. Their last 4 conference games have all been within 3 points of the spread.
Fun Fact #2: And it's been the exact opposite for LSU, none of whose conference games ended up within 9 points of the spread.

PICK: LSU can't be competitive here. Right? It feels like things get weird for a half here before Bama pulls away late. I'll take them and lay the points.

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DRINK OF THE WEEK

Blue Moon Winter Wheat is basically the equivalent of Pumpkin Spice Coffee at Starbucks, in that people who don't drink the regular stuff very often still feel the need to tell you when the seasonal brew's available. I always end up talking myself into a six-pack of Winter Wheat in November, then 4 of them end up sitting in my fridge until March Madness.