Paul Prattles On

Welcome Back! Last week I was somewhat better than the previous 2 weeks, as I was 43-16 (72.8%), making me 563-184 overall with a winning percentage of 75.3% (down 0.02% from last week). This time, it was the MAC and the Sun Belt that did me in. This week we are at 64 games, 5 more than last week, and the most since we had 70 games in Week 3. This is because there are several games against FCS teams. I'm 4-1 so far after the early games, which means I'm off to a good start (thanks to MACtion). I am barely staying above 75%, as I keep creeping ever closer to that number. Let's see if I can continue to be above 75% for the year. So... on with the picks! Thursday, November 20 Louisiana @ Arkansas State - The Ragin' Cajuns have a 29-21-1 advantage in this series, winning 6 of the last 7, including 55-19 last year, but the Red Wolves won the last time this game was played in Jonesboro. ASU is 5-5/4-2, winning 4 of their last 5, but are 2-2 at home (1-1 in the SBC). UL is 4-6...

Welcome Back! As expected, my Power Rankings did pretty well in predicting the committee rankings! My top 7 were all in the top 7 and in the 12-team bracket, I have 10 of the 12 (I have North Texas and Utah instead of Tulane and Oklahoma). Of the Committee's top 25, I have all of the top 19 in my top 25, in addition to Missouri, who the committee has at #22 and I have at 18. Where we differ is in the 20s, specifically 20, 21, 23, 24, and 25. Respectively, the committee has Tennessee (#29 in my rankings), Illinois (28 in mine), Houston (#36), Tulane (#37), and Arizona State (#33). Teams in my Top 25 that the committee left out were USF, North Texas, James Madison, Arizona, and Cincinnati. Not too shabby! Wednesday, November 19 Miami, Oh @ Buffalo - The Redhawks own a 17-9 lead in the series, but the home team has won each of the last 7 (since 2017). The Bulls are 5-5/4-2 and in a 5-way tie for 2nd place in the MAC that includes Miami. But Buffalo has lost 2 of their last 3, and are ...

Welcome Back! Before I begin, there are 3 games today. Last week I was 1-1 on the Tuesday games. Let's see if I can do better this week. Tuesday, November 18 Akron @ Bowling Green - The Falcons have a 21-10 lead in the series, winning the last 3, including 27-20 last year, but Akron's last win, in 2021, was in Bowling Green. BGSU is 3-7/1-5 and on a 4-game losing streak. The Zips are only slightly better, as they are 4-7/3-4 and winners of 2 of their last 3 with the loss last week in OT to Kent State. Akron is 1-4 on the road this season while the Falcons are 3-2 at home, losing their last 2 to CMU and Buffalo. Flip a coin. Akron wins. UMass @ Ohio - The Bobcats are 4-0 versus the Minutemen, winning in 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2018. Ohio is 6-4/4-2 but coming off a loss at WMU last week. UMass is 0-10/0-6, and losing by an average of 27.1 ppg. Bobcats win big. Western Michigan @ Northern Illinois - The Broncos hold a 27-23 lead in this series, but the Huskies have won the last 3, ...