The Hook: 3 things to know
1. Some things never change
Despite a checkered crowd, Joey Aguilar’s (TENN) 14/14 start, and an opportunity to steal the game with a 43-yard FG to end regulation, #15 Tennessee Volunteers fell to #6 Georgia Bulldogs 44-41 in overtime. The Bulldogs secured their ninth straight over the Vols, tying the longest streak (Tennessee 1989-1999) in the SEC’s oldest series.
2. South Bend Shootout
The week 3 fireworks weren’t over. Marcel Reed’s (A&M) goal line pass to TE Nate Boerkircher with 13 seconds left propelled #16 Texas A&M to a 41-40 victory on the road vs #8 Notre Dame. This marked A&M’s first road win against an AP top 25 opponent since 2014. Notre Dame falls to 0-2 on the season, with their hopes of returning to the playoffs fading fast.
3. Palmetto State disappointments
Going into 2025, the ACC, SEC, and even CFP looked like they were going to have to run through the state of South Carolina. That looks to no longer be the case as Clemson fell 24-21 against Haynes King’s gritty Georgia Tech team while the Gamecocks were run off the field by a Vanderbilt squad that was seen by many as a major candidate to regress after their surprising 2024. Silver lining: the pair of losses decreased ticket prices for the Clemson/South Carolina game, which I will be attending at the end of November.
The Ladder: Married to the Game
Earlier this week, I returned to my college campus for a brief work trip. I grabbed dinner with one of my friends currently at the medical school to catch up. It was impossible not to immediately notice the six-carat (no idea of the exact size, but I'm giving my best guess) diamond on her finger.
After dinner wrapped up, I said my goodbyes, and on the walk back to the hotel, I began thinking: should I start to look for a ring? Or should I make a wedding-themed parlay for Saturday? Parlay it was.
No wedding is complete without:
Something Old:
At 70 years young, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz became the Big Ten’s all-time wins leader with 206, passing Woody Hayes. This parlay will start off with Iowa continuing the momentum under the Friday night lights @ Rutgers. Pick: Iowa -1.5 (-115)
Something New:
Dynamic quarterback play isn’t a new concept for Oklahoma in recent memory, but transfer quarterback John Mateer and 29-year-old first-year offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle will face newly ranked #22 Auburn. Pick: Oklahoma: -4.5 (-120)
Something Borrowed:
Southern Miss has a completely new look this year, thanks largely to the 54 transfers he brought in by Charles Huff, who brought many of the transfers (find number) from his 2024 Marshall squad. Who needs the points? Pick: Southern Miss ML (+105)
Something Blue:
Keeping it simple, Go Blue. Pick: Michigan -2.5 (-110)
Parlay: 4-leg +1241 ($10 bet results in $124.10 payout if all legs win)