🍺 Weekly Recap
Best Bets sit at 3–3 on the year after a 2–1 week, but I’m still spiritually bruised from that North Carolina State meltdown. That was the worst beat of my life, and I’m officially done with them. No more Wolfpack tickets. They’re off the card until further notice.
FIU gave me a lucky cover, but I’m not convinced they’re a team I can trust going forward. Their quarterback treats the ball like it’s trying to escape, and it took a borderline heroic defensive effort just to keep that game inside the number. That’s not exactly a long‑term investment strategy.
On the other hand, I might just ride James Franklin until the wheels come off. VT looks like a team on a mission to rebuild his reputation, and until they run into someone who can actually match their intensity, I don’t see a reason to fade them.
🔥 Best Bets
Miami (OH) RedHawks at UConn Huskies
Location: Yager Stadium, Oxford, OH
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Time: 3:30 PM ET Channel: ESPN+
Opening Line: Miami (OH) -5.5
Current Line: Miami (OH) -3.5
Analysis: UConn is on the second leg of a back‑to‑back road stretch, but I’d argue Miami is actually in the worse situational spot after having Cincinnati on the ropes in last week’s Battle for the Victory Bell. That was an emotional, physical game, and this matchup carries nowhere near the same weight for the RedHawks.
There is some familiarity between Chuck Martin and Jason Candle, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is a classic let‑down spot for Miami. They are not five points better than UConn, no matter what the opening line suggested.
This should be a tight, grind‑it‑out game, and with the hook still hanging around.
Pick: UConn +3.5
Auburn Tigers at Vanderbilt Commodores
Location: Jordan‑Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Time: 3:15 PM CT (4:15 PM ET)
Channel: SEC Network
Opening Line: Auburn -8.5
Current Line: Auburn -9.5
Analysis: I’m going to keep fading this Vanderbilt team until the market finally catches up. They’re in a full rebuild and starting a true freshman quarterback, and they should realistically be 0–3 against the spread. Now Jared Curtis has to go on the road for the first time and walk into Auburn — easily the best team they’ve faced this season.
Vandy’s defense hasn’t slowed down a single FBS offense they’ve played, and they haven’t faced a team with anything resembling Auburn’s defensive capability. They don’t have an advantage on either side of the ball, and this matchup is a massive step up in class.
This game could set the tone for even bigger SEC lines down the road — lines that might actually become playable once Auburn finishes taking it to them.
Pick: Auburn -9.5
Colorado State Rams at UTSA Roadrunners
Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Channel: ESPNU
Opening Line: UTSA -12.5
Current Line: UTSA -14
Analysis: If you didn’t know, now you know — the Alamodome is where Roadrunners feast. Last year, once you throw out the rivalry game against Texas State and the triple‑option weirdness of Army, UTSA won their three remaining home games by an average margin of 34 points, including a 22‑point beatdown of Tulane, the eventual conference champion and playoff team. When UTSA gets back home, they score in bunches, and I expect more of the same in their first home game in a couple of weeks.
Colorado State is going to have a hard time keeping up, especially with starting quarterback Hauss Henjy listed as doubtful. Without him, CSU loses the only real stabilizing force in their offense, and that’s a nightmare scenario inside the Dome.
I like the Roadrunners to pour it on. Meep meep.
Pick: UTSA -14
