College football best bets, locks, over/unders, picks against the spread

Last week's picks went south for the column. It's time to bounce back. The game of the week is the game that matters most. There's also a favorite, an underdog and a wild card. The final game is in Inglewood, California on January 9th.

No. 3 Alabama plays No. 6 Tennessee. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is injured and it's uncertain if he'll play. Tennessee's offense is good, but the defense is not. The game is under 65.5 points. It could be low-scoring. The defense ranks 15th and 18th.Tennessee's defense has played some poor defenses. They rank 95th, 69th,. 129th and 19th in terms of efficiency.

Minnesota is the favorite at home against Illinois. Illinois lost its starting quarterback to an ankle injury in the first quarter of last weekend's win over Iowa. Three other starters left the game because of injuries. Mohamed Ibrahim will return to the Minnesota offense. Minnesota's defense leads the nation in passing success rate and expected points added per pass. The Gophers will be too much for the Illini. They are the team Bret Bielema is most optimistic about. He doesn't think any of the players injured in Iowa are going to play this week.

Nebraska is a 14-point underdog against Purdue. Purdue is coming off a 56-0 win over Indiana State. Nebraska has looked competent since Scott Frost was fired.

Purdue has won all of its games without involving a Football Championship Subdivision opponent.

Purdue went up 31-28 with 8:29 left and forced Penn State to punt twice. The Nittany Lions got the ball back one last time and went 80 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

Syracuse beats Purdue on penalties. Purdue had a chance to win it with seven seconds left.

Purdue beats Florida Atlantic 28-26 on a fumble with 46 seconds left.

Boilermakers beat Minnesota 20-10.

Maryland, Oct. 8: Purdue scores twice late to go up 31-23 but the Terps score 68 yards to win. Nebraska, October 14: Nebraska cannot stop the run, but only two teams (Indiana and Mississippi State) run the ball less than Purdue in terms of snap percentage.

No. 8 Oklahoma State plays No. 13 TCU on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. The Cowboys and Horned Frogs have allowed a lot of big plays this year. TCU is giving up 2.4 scrimmage plays that gain at least 30 yards per game. Oklahoma St.’s offense ranks seventh in terms of explosiveness on passing downs and has had 12 passing plays go for at at minimum 30.