Jarvis Benjamin Variety Hour

Penn State/Ohio State? Dud. Straight up. But hey; that’s Big 10 football. The new home of known football guys, Lincoln Riley and Chip Kelly. SMH. One of these weeks I’ll get into realignment and open that can of worms. Fortunately for you readers: not yet. 

The skid continued last week, 2-4: in what was supposed to be a bounce back spot. The year falls (again) to 33-26-1 (55% (still profitable)). This week’s card had a disgusting Wednesday night over to start us 1-0. My goal is to end up back over 60% for the year. X : @JBV60SHOW

Here are the Top 25ish teams in the country:

1. Michigan Wolverines (8-0) This Week: IDLE: Does anyone actually care about this sign stealing stuff? Be honest. At first I thought this would be something where Jim Harbaugh would self-impose a four game suspension in non-conference play in 2035; if there was going to be any ‘punishment’ for this ‘scandal’. No; I don’t think there deserves to be a punishment, or will be one for that matter; but, it seems like the Ryan Day’s of the world are refusing to let this go.  By no means am I a Michigan man (GPA far too low in high school); but I am team Michigan here. This is an absolutely pathetic goose chase. My man Coach Prime said it best. Remember people: Nobody roots for goliath. 

2. Georgia Bulldogs (7-0) This Week: -14.5 @ Florida (5-2): The first test for Georgia in the non-Brock Bowers part of the season is a big one at the Swamp. To be totally honest: I don’t think that Georgia will be impressive on offense at all. This game smells like a rat, however. 14.5 feels like a ton of points for two teams that the masses think are closer than that. I’m staying away; but it feels a little bit like when Georgia played Kentucky earlier in the year. Everybody is low on the Dogs…You know how that goes.     

3. Florida State Seminoles (7-0) This Week: -20.5 @ Wake Forest (4-3): If anyone needed any more proof, last week was it. The Noles are the class of the ACC (by at least 14.5 points, Zing!). Jordan Travis, Trey Benson and the dynamic duo out wide have combined for a lethal offense. Jared Verse (Top-10 pick, I promise) is leading a formidable defense FROM THE FRONT. I’ve said it before; college football is better when Florida State is good. There’s just something about the colors and the tradition. Florida State is VERY good.         

4. Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0) This Week: -14.5 @ Wisconsin (5-2): As good as Ohio State’s defense played vs Penn State; the Nittany Lions offense was even worse. I am not attempting to take away from JT (Not even going to try and spell his last name without looking it up), Steele Chambers and the boys running all over Drew Allar in ANY WAY. But the first thing I thought of once the game in Columbus was, ‘Damn. Both of these teams are going to get slaughtered by Michigan.’ I just tell the truth, people. This was definitely an impressive win for the Buckeyes; just not all that surprising (and certainly not done in overwhelming fashion).   

5. Washington Huskies (7-0) This Week: -26.5 @ Stanford (2-5): Wow, that was close. The Huskies did not look good on a rainy Saturday night in Seattle vs the Sun Devils last week. However, they did what they had to do and stayed unbeaten. I bet you won’t hear Kalen DeBoer complaining. While this game should feel like a get-right spot for Washington, they have to play USC next week; which has me thinking it’s more of a look-ahead spot. #Think about it. The (still?) Heisman favorite (I think?) and his team should pass this test relatively easily.      

6. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1) This Week: OPEN: My SEC champion did not look good in the first half last week, that’s for sure. 27-0 in the second half is pure dominance; and the Tide had Joe Milton chasing the game before he even knew what hit him. LSU will come to Tuscaloosa after the bye, in what should be a great game. I’ll get into it more next week; but it’s going to be Saban, big. Line prediction: Bama -14.5.     

7. Oklahoma Sooners (7-0) This Week: -10 @ Kansas (5-2): Yuck! Oklahoma very barely got through UCF last week, and Brett Venables can exhale, for now. If the Sooners don’t lose this week or next week @ Oklahoma State, I see them running the table before the Big 12 Championship game. That is a lot easier said than done. Kansas will be ready for them; and this game should be very entertaining. Brett Venables is going to need to channel his old school Clemson defenses for a full 60 minutes this week.     

8. Oregon Ducks (6-1) This Week: -6.5 @ Utah (6-1): Full disclosure: I expect Oregon to lose this week to Utah. Yes, I probably want that to happen more than I think it will happen, but I still think the Ducks will drop this game. Bo Nix has, quite frankly, overstayed his welcome. Last week he made his 54th career start, which is the most ever by a quarterback. Get a job brother. Oregon couldn’t keep an all-but-dead Wazzu team on the mat last week; and the Ute defense will provide way more resistance. Buckle up, Eugene (and Fairfield) it is going to be close.  

9. Texas Longhorns (6-1) This Week: -17.5 vs. BYU (5-2): My Jarv-Heads out there know that I am on Texas to cover the big number this week, sans Quinn Ewers. For all you casuals out there: no, it won’t be Arch Manning that plays next week (unless shit really hits the fan). The logic for backing a Top 10 team laying 3+ scores with their backup QB? The masses are low on the Horns after escaping Houston last week. The Cougars are coming off a strong (new) conference win over Texas Tech. Sometimes it’s too easy.      

10. Oregon State Beavers (6-1) This Week: -3.5 @ Arizona (4-3): Let me just start this off by saying there could be a well respected Game of the Year in Tucson on Saturday night. Incredibly difficult spot for DJ and the Beavs this week. They continue to prove me wrong; the Beavs are passing tests left and right. Yeah, the early season loss to Wazzu will (and does) probably leave a few regrets come the end of the year; but the Beavs seem to be for real so far. It will certainly not be easy this week.     

11. Utah Utes (6-1) This Week: +6.5 vs. Oregon (6-1): Four Pac-12 teams in the Top 11 is three more than I thought there would be at this point in the season, if I’m being totally honest. Kyle Whittingham confirmed my scoop from last week, that Cam Rising will not return this season for the Utes. Definitely is a little bit disappointing for Ute-Nation, but onward and upward. Even as big of a Cam Rising guy as I am, I am not sure Utah’s ceiling (#4 seed in CFP) has changed much without him. #Think about it.  

12. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-2) This Week: -20.5 vs. Pittsburgh (2-5): I expect the Irish to stomp Pitt this week. Admittedly, it is a little bit of a look-ahead spot, with a trip to Death Valley next week. I just don’t think Pitt has nearly enough in the trenches to keep this game remotely close. Irish fans are still rooting for chaos; and will probably continue to rise with every giant that drops games. Most likely: NY6 bound.         

13. Penn State Nittany Lions (6-1) This Week: -32 vs. Indiana (2-5): As I alluded to earlier; this game sucked. Penn State was able to do close to nothing on offense for the entirety of the game. Which is truly a shame, because the Penn State defense was able to keep Ohio State in check for the whole game. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Nittany Lions running the ball on nearly every first and second down; but hey, what do I know. Penn State will most likely stomp Indiana this week to get-right. But that doesn’t really mean anything now. At this point, the only chance they have is to knock off Michigan; which will not happen.   

14. Ole Miss Rebels (6-1) This Week: -24.5 vs. Vanderbilt (2-6): Ole Miss got past the rat line last week, taking care of business @ Auburn. The Rebs have a  tough road to finish with one loss, with a trip to Athens coming up on 11/11. I’m not saying that they can’t beat Georgia; but no, I don’t think they will. As for Vandy? Lane Train covers the big number, if I had to guess. Guys who like running the score up, like running the score up. #Think about it.            

15. LSU Tigers (6-2) This Week: OPEN: 62-0 over Army was about what was to be expected last week. As I mentioned earlier, LSU travels to play Alabama next week, in their (probable) Super Bowl. After that, it gets easier for the Tigers. But, I’d say the season will be all but over before then. LSU does not deserve a NY6 game. LSU will not get a NY6 game unless they beat Alabama. Fact.    

16. Missouri Tigers (7-1) This Week: BYE: Eli Drinkwitz is an incredibly weird bird. That might have something to do with why I can’t get behind Mizzou this year, but that’s neither here nor there. I have a lot of trouble putting respect on the name of a team that lost to this year’s LSU Tigers. Tough to do! Mizzou plays @ Georgia next week off the bye. This game will be entertaining, the only question is for how long. Line prediction: Georgia -16.5 (pending losing this week).   

17. Air Force Falcons (7-0) This Week: -12.5 @ Colorado State (3-4): Yes, Air Force is undefeated AND they beat the team that beat Fresno (Jarvis’ best MWC team). No, I still don’t really buy it. I’m not going to pick which game their first loss comes in; but I’ll narrow it down for all my Jarv-Heads out there. Two weeks from now against Army (somehow) or four weeks from now against UNLV. It definitely won’t be the Rams from Colorado State. I know that for sure.   

18. North Carolina Tar Heels (6-1) This Week: -11.5 @ Georgia Tech (3-4): Last week I said that the Virginia team total would go over, and it did. (The QB I like didn’t even play; but that’s neither here nor there.) I definitely did not have Mack Brown losing to what is probably the worst Power 5 team in the country on my bingo board. That has to be incredibly disappointing for everyone in Chapel Hill. UNC still has to play Clemson and Duke in November, so the ACC Championship is certainly not out of the picture (or guaranteed for that matter). I expect the Heels to get there; somehow.        

19. UCLA Bruins (5-2) This Week: -17 vs. Colorado (4-3): UCLA is about as middle-of-the-road as they come, to be totally transparent. They are probably the best team in the second tier of the Pac 12, and for that? They will be rewarded with an average bowl game that Chip Kelly surely will not care about. Saturday night will be a rather fun game I think, as the Bruins host Coach Prime. I’m not sure if the Buffs will win another game all year; but they should be in this one for a while.   

20. James Madison Dukes (7-0) This Week: -20 vs. Old Dominion (4-3): The Dukes are inevitable. They are going to win the Fun Belt, and as I mentioned last week, hopefully the NCAA will smarten up and let them in a bowl game. If not, it would be one of the bigger fumbles by the NCAA that I can recall. Jarvis, what stands out? The run defense. I like to say that run defense is all about effort; JMU has let up just over 250 yards on the ground through 7 games. That requires a TON of effort.  

21. Tulane Green Wave (6-1) This Week: -10.5 @ Rice (4-3): I’m not sure that the Green Wave will be playing in a NY6 bowl for the second year in a row; but this program is certainly on the rise. I’d have to imagine that QB Michael Pratt will be a pro next year; and with him leading the team, Tulane is in the driver’s seat for the AAC Championship. That kid has won his last nine starts. Very impressive.  

22. Louisville Cardinals (6–1) This Week: -4 vs. Duke: The mainstream media wants you to believe that Jeff Brohm and his fighting Cardinals are going to rebound off the Bye and beat the perennial ACC powerhouse Blue Devils this week. Spoiler Alert: They won’t. If you’ve been reading all year, you know that I have been waiting for Louisville to get what was coming to them. Pitt formed the snowball in their hands two weeks ago. Riley Leonard and that Duke running game are going to roll that snowball down the hill this week. Cya in your bowl game, Louisville. 

23. Fresno State Bulldogs (6-1) This Week: -7.5 vs. UNLV (6-1): Welcome back, Mikey Keene and the Bulldogs! This might still be the best team in the Mountain West, after a short time off the mountaintop. (Pun intended). However, I think that UNLV is about as live as a dog can be this week. The Rebels are sneakily very good, and received votes for the Top 25 this week! A win certainly puts them there. I’m not sure if UNLV has enough to get past Fresno, @ Fresno. But it surely will be close.    

24. Toledo Rockets (7-1) This Week: OPEN: This is the best team in the MAC. The Rockets only loss was Week 1 to Illinois (yes, that Illinois) by 2 points! #MACtion returns next Tuesday!

25. Liberty Flames (7-0) This Week: -4 @ Western Kentucky (4-3): Jamey Chadwell has those boys down in Lynchburg PLAYING. The only bad thing for Liberty this year? Their story book undefeated season will come crashing down at the hands of the all-powerful University of Texas at El Paso in the last week of the season. 

26. Miami Hurricanes (5-2) This Week: -19 vs. Virginia (2-5): For my money, this is the most confusing team in the country. 

27. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-2) This Week: BYE: Bowling! Enjoy the week off. I am truly excited to see the Scarlet Knights in a bowl game. 

28. Duke Blue Devils (5-2) This Week: +4 @ Louisville (6-1): Woof. #JarvisKnew that the hook last week was fool’s gold. 

29. Iowa Hawkeyes (6-2) This Week: IDLE: Pretty much a double shame spot this week. #Refs? 

30. USC Trojans (6-2) This Week: -11 @ California (3-4): I’ve got Caleb calling it quits for the season priced around +275 (and dropping). 

Oregon/Utah and Oregon State/Arizona – my choices for Game of the Week. In what is something I hoped to not have to do every week; the Devils have started 1 (one) game on time. I guess I needed to specify: it should be every time.  

200 years too late. 

Be Well.

JB