Jarvis Benjamin Variety Hour

Last week delivered. Plain and simple Awesome mini-slate on Friday night paired with Saturday’s marathon? Truly: all you can ask for. Top 10 teams playing close games, multiple games with totals ending in the 80s or 90s #PlayDefense, and *whispers* another realllllly solid slate this week? Sign me up. 

Weekly self-horn-toot section: 5-1 last week. I‘m good at this, people. Brings the season up to 26-15-1 (61.9%) and the career CFB to 140-89-2 (60.6%). Not bad. Not bad at all. The only thing I hope from this is that there is 1 (one) person that is taking these picks. If you’re out there; show yourself!

To follow are the actual 25ish best teams in college football:

1. Georgia Bulldogs (5-0) This Week: -14.5 vs. Kentucky (5-0): The only reason the Bulldogs did not fall in these rankings is because of how predictable the look-ahead spot last week was. Georgia has not started 1 (one) game on-time yet this year. Eventually, against a strong opponent, this WILL come back to bite them. Not yet though. Georgia hosts the undefeated Wildcats this week, who they have not lost to in the last thirteen meetings. Georgia hasn’t covered in the last four, however. I like (another) wake-up call for the Dogs to end that losing streak against the number. 

2. Michigan Wolverines (5-0) This Week: -20.5 @Minnesota (3-2): Michigan hasn’t played anyone looks really good so far. The Wolverines have put up over 30 and allowed less than 7 in every game so far. That’s pretty good. No argument there. In my humble opinion: ECU, UNLV, Bowling Green, Rutgers and Nebraska are teams that the premier program in the Big 10 SHOULD put up 30+ and allow less than 7 to. But hey, that’s just me. Michigan will probably be greater than a two-touchdown favorite in every game up until they play Penn State. Exhilarating.   

3. Texas Longhorns (5-0) This Week: -6 vs. Oklahoma (5-0): Hold Jayhawks under 30 to preserve the streak, in a HUGE look-ahead spot? Check. Texas rocks. Quinn Ewers will be a first round pick and I wouldn’t be surprised if Adonai Mitchell joins him. The biggest test of the year so far (and all year, potential CFP withstanding) is this week for Coach Sark’s boys. Last year: the Horns won Red River in DOMINANT fashion (49-0); I imagine it will be much closer this year. Chaos feels like it’s coming.         

4. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0) This Week: -18.5 vs. Maryland (5-0): Ohio State has never lost to Maryland (real, ‘had to double check stat of the week™ ). I feel like the Terps always come to the Shoe in the early season with high expectations, though. I expect points in this game. And I expect a lot of them to come from Ohio State. Have you ever watched a baseball game, and the guy in the on-deck circle has a weight on his bat? That’s what Notre Dame’s defense was for Ohio State. It’s the Bucks, handily. AND it’s Emeka Egbuka props. 

5. Florida State Seminoles (4-0) This Week: -24 vs. Virginia Tech (2-3): The last time the Hokeis came to Tallahassee they were led by Seminole legend, Willie Taggart. They will not be this time; but they might look like they are. FSU is going to win this game by 100 points. For my money, Virginia Tech is the worst team in the ACC (shoutout Anthony Colandrea) and for more of my money: Florida State is the best team in the ACC (shoutout Dabo! Zing!). This game is a mismatch of giant proportions. Hold on tight Hokie Nation.  

6. Penn State Nittany Lions (5-0) This Week: Idle: Fake knee to cover the spread? Flex on ‘em, Jimmy Franklin. I’d truly end it there if I could. ZooMass is next for the Nittany Lions and then the season can (actually) begin, traveling to the Shoe.  Penn State’s secondary is SO good, I cannot wait to watch them matchup with Kyle McCord and those Buckeye wide receivers. That behemoth of a football game is officially two weeks(ish) away. 

7. USC Trojans (5-0) This Week: -21.5 vs. Arizona (3-2): There’s that Lincoln Riley defense!!! Colorado’s offense is obviously nothing to make fun of, but 41 points against, from that team, for a team that has playoff aspirations??? Not great, Jim! USC needs to clean it up quickly. Arizona is frisky enough to keep this game close; and it won’t get easier for the Trojans who have to travel to South Bend next week (and then play Utah, Washington and Oregon in three of the next four weeks). Defensive adjustments are needed, and fast, to say the least. 

8. Oregon Ducks (5-0) This Week: Bye: What’s a little bit funny, is Oregon was losing against Stanford well into the second quarter. What’s even funnier is the way they flipped the switch. 6-0 Stanford quickly turned into 42-6. Bo Nix and the Ducks get a week off to prepare for a GIANT game next weekend in Seattle. Official line prediction: Washington +1.5  More on that below! 

9. Washington Huskies (5-0) This Week: Open: Similar, but different. The Huskies got past Arizona, and that’s all they did. I had Arizona plus the points (thank you), so you can’t really consider me surprised; but I did not think it would be a seven point game when all was said and done. Regardless, Washington got the job done and preserved their undefeated record. Oregon @ Washington has been high on my list of games I am excited to watch this year; and it just keeps climbing. The Ducks are 15-3 vs. Washington historically; I bet Kalen Deboer is preaching that.

10. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1) This Week: -2.5 @Texas A&M (4-1): Undoubtedly will catch heat for this one, but here we are. Mississippi State is probably not top-half of the SEC; but I was impressed with the Tide last week. When Jalen Milroe is running the ball and not forcing the issue; this offense is pretty close to unstoppable. The last time Alabama came to Texas A&M, they lost. I like the Tide to roll (pun intended) and make their ‘jump’ into ‘contender’ status after this week.  

11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-1) This Week: -6.5 @Louisville (5-0): Personally, I learned a lot about Sam Hartman on Saturday night. That drive to win the game, down the Blue Devils, and essentially save the season was truly special. Combine that with the icing on the cake: Audric Estime 30 yards to the house. Chef’s Kiss. No rest for the weary, as the Irish travel to Louisville to take on another undefeated ACC Goliath this week. Notre Dame may set the record for most trap lines in a season. (Almost every week so far?)  Good teams win…

12. Oklahoma Sooners (5-0) This Week: +6 @Texas (5-0): Since I didn’t directly say it earlier, I’m on Oklahoma in this game. Neutral field (shoutout JerryWorld), revenge factor, #Dillon for Heisman are just a few of the reasons I think the Sooners will stay close, and maybe even win this game. Stop me if you’ve heard this before; OU showed up, scored a 50 burger and left with a cover. Dillon Gabriel + Brett Venables vs. Quinn Ewers and Sark in a cage match; who you got? The answer is easy.     

13. Washington State Cougars (4-0) This Week: +3.5 @UCLA (3-1):  The Pac 12 cannibalizing itself (I’ll get more into it very shortly) was a major win for Wazzu in the Bye week. The Cougs remain undefeated and in my opinion, have a decent chance to stay unbeaten this week. A trip to UCLA will not be easy, and in typical Pac 12 fashion, I’m sure the Bruins will keep it close and definitely can pull the upset. The line probably says all you need to know.     

14. Utah Utes (4-1) This Week: Idle: I was wrong about my Utes last week; that’s for sure. Part of me thinks that Cam Rising’s next snap will be in the Mercedes Benz Superdome, iykyk. The other part of me thinks he will be a game-time-decision for the rest of the season. Neither is really a good thing for Utah. Their defense is pretty damn good and kept them in the game for about as long as they humanly could in Corvallis last week; but the offensive ineptitude without Rising was far too much to overcome, as the Mets lost again, falling to 22-140, all but sealing their plans to disband next year. Wait what?    

15. North Carolina Tar Heels (4-0) This Week: -8.5 vs. Syracuse (4-1): Truthfully, I can’t really decipher between this ACC team and the one directly below. Fortunately for me, they meet next week! UNC needs to be careful not to look past Syracuse this week, although I’m not sure if those two teams are really in the same league (pun intended). Will watch rather than invest in this game; but would probably roll with Mack Brown and Drake Maye by double digits.      

16. Miami Hurricanes (4-0) This Week: -21 vs. Georgia Tech (2-3): Two teams, two lookahead spots, and two far different opponents. The Canes can (and probably will) sleepwalk past Georgia Tech as they look ahead to the Tar Heels. That game is in Chapel Hill and if Washington/Oregon is on Fox, I see that game being the host of College Game day (big brain prediction). This is the insight you will ONLY get on jarvisbenjamin.com.

17. Fresno State Bulldogs (5-0) This Week: -5.5 @Wyoming (4-1): I personally love to see Fresno getting some national love! Last week on Bad Beats with @SVP and this week on channel 5 in primetime on the road in conference! What a week for this program. It’s possible that this is the toughest game left on the schedule for the Bulldogs. A home game vs. Boise late in the season surely will not be easy; but that is far easier than this. Wyoming is tough on defense and wants to control the clock. Tough number at time of writing; but pulling for Fresno to win the game.    

18. Kentucky Wildcats (5-0) This Week: +14.5 @Georgia (5-0): This is a solid football team. The Cats were done with Florida almost instantly, leading 16-0 after the first quarter. Ray Davis ran for 280 yards. Yes, you’re reading that right. For reference: Florida had 313 as a team. Devin Leary will probably have a tough week this week; but the Cats will be giving Kirby and the Dogs everything they have.

19. Oregon State Beavers (4-1) This Week: -9.5 @California (3-2): I’m publicly low on DJ so, by association, that makes me low on the Beavs’ ceiling. However, Oregon State can run the ball with the best of them, essentially taking major decisions/opportunity to screw up out of DJ’s hands. It works pretty well. @Cal then they host UCLA before going to Colorado and Arizona. Probably will get to 8-1 heading into a mini-homestand vs. Stanford and, wait for it, Washington. Should be two one-loss Pac 12 teams DUKING it out. 

20. Ole Miss Rebels (4-1) This Week: -11 vs. Arkansas (2-3): Defense who? Lane Kiffin has never heard of them. Lane Kiffin has also never heard of quitting. A 21-7 margin in the fourth quarter was enough to get the Rebels past Brian Kelly and LSU last week. Jaxson Dart balled out and Quinshon Judkins ran wild; but this is probably Ole Miss’s Super Bowl. With that defense? They’ll be fortunate to make the SEC championship game. (They aren’t.)

21. Duke Blue Devils (4-1) This Week: Bye: Riley Leonard certainly gave everything he had against the Irish last week, legitimately being carried off the field as the game ended. Duke is fortunate to have the open date this week, as Leonard will have some time to recover from whatever injury(ies) are ailing him. Weirdly, it feels like the Blue Devils have done enough to hang around in the other rankings for the rest of the year. I’m not sold. It’s almost basketball season anyway.

22. Missouri Tigers (5-0) This Week: +6.5 vs. LSU (3-2): Mizzou won (and covered) last week against SEC powerhouse Vanderbilt; and follows that up with the test of the season so far at home against another set of Tigers. The boy Brady Cook is interception-less in his last 348 attempts; which is objectively impressive. He is about a hundred passes away from the FBS record. I am not sold that Mizzou has enough to get the job done here; which the line alludes to a bit. Feels a lot like Syracuse last week. #Think about it.    

23. Wisconsin Badgers (3-1) This Week: -14 vs. Rutgers (4-1): I can’t in good conscience put the Badgers ahead of Missouri this week; but they’re there in spirit. Let the record show: there is a sizable gap between Wisconsin and every team listed below (and those not *cough* Deion). I don’t love laying two touchdowns this week against the pesky Scarlet Knights, but Wisconsin wins this game pretty easily. Let the record also show I’ve changed the spelling of conscience three times. I’m still not sold.

24. Maryland Terrapins (5-0) This Week: +18.5 vs. Ohio State (4-0): Tua Jr. is baaaaack!! I’d still take him over his brother; which is mostly due to him being right-handed, but I digress. Another year, another 4-0 start for Mike Locksley. Only this time, it’s 5-0! Michigan State and Indiana posed no problem to the Terps, to the surprise of no one. The first massive test posed by the Big 10 East lays ahead of the Terps this week. Taulia should have no problem scoring; but the Terps do not have enough on the other side of the ball. 

25. Louisville Cardinals (5-0) This Week: +6.5 vs. Notre Dame (5-1): This is the sixth-worst undefeated team we have left. Wiger Toods gave it a valiant effort on Friday night; but came up short. Jeff Brohm kind of cheated the Year 1 in a program system, by bringing his thirty-year-old P5 QB with him, but alas. They ARE 5-0! The Cardinals shouldn’t be undefeated for long. It’s Marcus Freeman in a bloodbath. 

26. Kansas State Wildcats (3-1) This Week: -12.5 @Oklahoma State (2-2): Seems that dismantling UCF was not all that it was cracked up to be. Watch out Will Howard; Mike Gundy is a man. He’s 40.  

27. Tennessee Volunteers (4-1) This Week: Open: A bunch of injuries last week for the Vols; open date comes at a good time.  

28. Kansas Jayhawks (4-1) This Week: -3.5 vs. UCF (3-2): “Before we get started: there is nothing Kansas loves more than deploying both Jalon Daniels and Jason Bean in the same game. I don’t root for injuries; but if the prop ‘Two Quarterbacks (from the same team) to See Game Action’ was listed, I would be pounding it (responsibly).”  Cash it again.

29. James Madison Dukes (5-0) This Week: Line N/A vs. Georgia Southern (4-1): #Fun #Belt #Probable #Champions  

30. LSU Tigers (3-2) This Week: -6.5 @Missouri (5-0): If they don’t beat Mizzou; B-Kelly is probably back in the shame spot next week.   

Thank you, Jarv-heads for your time. Thank you, Dan Quinn for that Dallas Cowboys Doomsday Defense. Thank you, GMTF for the expectations.

Thank god the Tiki Bar is open.

200 years too late. 

Be Well.

JB