Scully's NCAAF Week 10 picks: Young will keep Tide rolling against listless LSU

SEC powers Georgia and Alabama are top contenders for the four-team College Football Playoff, and November games will determine the worthiness of the remaining hopefuls.

Our Week 10 picks have pegged a pair of well-respected, but vulnerable favorites in Clemson and Ohio State, and we will roll with the Tide. Let’s bet some winners!

LSU vs. Alabama

LSU players appear to have checked out on the season, and Alabama will light up the scoreboard. The Tide never squanders an opportunity to bury foes who show up with dysfunction.

With zero sense of timing, LSU officials announced they had agreed to part ways with coach Ed Orgeron following a huge upset win over Florida in Week 7. Talk about a momentum killer – they could have waited until the end of the season!

The decision may have satisfied fans and boosters, but not the players. Most loved Coach O, and the team put up little fight in a lopsided loss at Mississippi the following week. A number of players reportedly didn’t show up for practice during the bye week, and we won’t see an optimal performance from the Tigers on the road Saturday.

Alabama routinely covers big numbers in this series (6-2 against the spread in the last eight games vs. LSU). Lay the points with the Tide!

Pick: Alabama -28.5

Ohio State vs. Nebraska

I'm not laying this many points with overvalued Ohio State. The Buckeyes have crushed opponents with limited offenses, but Nebraska is efficient at passing (266.7 passing yards per game) and running (203.4 rushing yards per game) the football.

Ohio State was lucky to escape Penn State as a 19.5-point home favorite last week, allowing Penn State to convert 11-of-16 third down conversions while moving the ball up and down the field, and it’s a rare rebuilding year for Ohio State’s soft defense.

Three turnovers eventually proved too difficult to overcome for Penn State, which was exiting a loss to Illinois, and Oregon rolled for 500+ total yards when defeating Ohio State in Columbus earlier this season.

Nebraska can’t win close games, losing their last three outings against three bowl teams (Michigan, Minnesota, and Purdue) by one score or less. They’ve been competitive in every game this season, including close losses to Michigan State and Oklahoma, and the Cornhuskers will be no cupcake for the Buckeyes.

Nebraska may not win, but their offense will ensure a cover against Ohio St.

Pick: Nebraska +15

Clemson vs. Louisville

Clemson squeaked by at home last week, but their anemic offense doesn’t travel well. Louisville has the offense to win straight up, and the Cards will cover if overvalued Clemson prevails by a field goal or less.

The Tigers relied upon poor quarterback play from the opposition in narrow wins over Boston College, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Syracuse this season, but they won’t have that luxury against Louisville.

One of the top playmakers in the ACC, quarterback Malik Cunningham provides Louisville with a significant edge in this matchup. Cunningham will be motivated for a better showing after a tough loss at N.C. State last week, and I like the improvement from the Cardinals’ young defense in recent weeks.

It’s no fluke that Clemson is averaging only 17.3 points per game against FBS teams – they have one of the worst offenses in the nation. Take the points with Louisville!

Pick: Louisville +4.5

Baylor vs. TCU

One of the most respected coaches in college football, Gary Patterson resigned this week, ending a 22-year tenure at TCU. The reeling Horned Frogs won’t be able to hold the fort against Baylor.

The Bears must avoid looking ahead to their matchup against Oklahoma next week, but their defense will be the difference against low-scoring TCU, which has lost its last three games by 17.3 points per contest.

Baylor features the Big 12’s best rushing offense, and quarterback Gerry Bohanon gets better every week for the surging Bears. We’ll lay a manageable number with Baylor.

Pick: Baylor -7