Football expert Phil Steele is the owner and publisher of Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, regarded as the college football bible. Get in-depth coverage of college and pro football 24/7/365 at PhilSteele.com.
FLORIDA (+2.5) over Lsu
This same Florida/Texas duo went 2-0 for us three weeks ago. The Gators are the better team and are a home dog because they went only 7-6 last season, while the Tigers went 13-1 and played in the national title game.
The reality is Florida is the more experienced team, has a large edge at quarterback with Jeff Driskel over Zach Mettenberger, and is battle-tested with road wins at Texas A&M and Tennessee. Add in a bye and double revenge motive and the Gators are clearly the play.
TEXAS (-6.5) over West Virginia
Historic, unstoppable and X-Box like are the descriptions I have heard describing the West Virginia offense. What has been historic is the Mountaineers’ defense, which is allowing 474 yards per game and at that pace it would finish 64 yards per game worse than any season in the last 20 years! The best value, however, comes from them having to travel for the first time this season, facing my No. 11 defense before 100,000.
LAST WEEK (NCAA): 1-1.
SEASON: 5-5.