Clemson Football: The picks are in! Staff picks for Week 10

Each week this season (except last week) the RubbingtheRock.com staff will pick the score of the Clemson football game against the spread and we’ll also pick a wild card game in a “friendly” competition.

The staff managed a solid 5-3 record against the spread in week 8, including 2-2 on the Clemson – Syracuse game.

The points race looks like this:

Chancey 221.37
Houston 136.37

Marty (-163.63)

Beef (-354.54)

It’s a two-man race with 4 weeks to go.

We’re using a spread of Clemson -4.5.

Without further ado, here are the picks for week 10.

John Chancey (10-6, 9-6 ATS)

Notre Dame is not a bad team. They have wins against North Carolina and Syracuse, and I am sure those are two games the Tigers are reviewing closely. The only thing that gives me pause is that I am just not sure how DJ responds to the hiccup weekend before last. I think Clemson will want to run, and I think they will if DJ can keep the Irish honest with his arm.

Chancey’s wild card pick is North Carolina -7.5.

Houston Burnett (9-6-1, 8-6-1)

Baby Huey is back with the picks after the bye week. There is much hand ringing over the trip to South Bend, as there should be. The Tigers are coming off one of their worst offensive performances of the season. But the bye came at the perfect time. Notre Dame wants to run the ball, if they aren’t able to, then things get dicey for the Irish. Clemson wins, covers and the score will be closer than what the game actually is.

Houston’s wild card pick is Vanderbilt +7.

Marty Coleman (8-8, 7-8 ATS)

Early in the week when this line was 3.5, I was hoping it’d go down to 3 or even 2.5 and I’d take the Tigers there.  That never happened, so here we are with me taking the Irish to cover and the Tigers to win.  As Captain Obvious I’m obligated to point out that the key is likely how D.J. Uiagalelei plays.  I’m also concerned about how the Tigers cover Michael Mayer.  In the end, the Tigers get it done on the road and the world questions why they’re ranked No. 4 next week.

Marty’s wild card pick is Tennesee +8.5.

Casey “The Beef” Cregan (7-9, 6-9 ATS)

5-3 Notre Dame is scary, and I’m not sure why.  They have a QB who isn’t good and unproven WRs who’ve shown flashes, but nothing consistent.  However, they have a great TE and a stable of RBs.  Oh, and their defense is solid…up until you get in their red zone where they are dead last (tied with Rutgers) for defensive red zone percentage. (100%, Yikes!).  I like Will Shipley to lead this offense into South Bend and come out with a close victory.

Casey’s wild card pick is Georgia -8.5.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change