LOUISIANA-MONROE (-1) over Wake Forest (Thursday): A casual football fan may look twice at this line with a Sun Belt team favored over an ACC team. Obviously, I not only think the right team is favored, but I feel there is solid value on the Warhawks. Last year, ULM went to Wake Forest and led 21-13 before allowing a garbage touchdown with eight seconds left while holding the Demon Deacons to 15 first downs. ULM returns eight starters on defense while Wake Forest must replace its quarterback, top two rushers and top two receivers including an NFL draft choice. Lastly, Wake Forest, which has won just six road games in five years, has an entirely new coaching staff and is implementing new schemes.
Florida State (-18¹/₂) over Oklahoma State (Saturday, at Arlington, Texas): Last year, I started the “Steele Trap” in Week 1 touting Florida State and finished the regular season by releasing the Seminoles as a selection in their ACC Championship win over Duke. This season, despite being the reigning national champion, I feel Florida State is even better than last season’s team that won all its games by an average of nearly 40 points. In Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, my “Experience Chart” ranks Oklahoma State last of all 128 FBS teams. That does not bode well versus a Seminoles’ squad which scored 45 points or more in 10 of 13 regular-season games last season while holding its opponents to 14 points or less in 11 of 13.
2013 RECORD (NCAA): 15-14-1.