College football Week 8 predictions: Best bets, picks against the spread
It IS too early to know who Arch Manning will become.His uncle, Eli, is a reminder.
As a junior at Ole Miss, Eli threw 15 interceptions and ranked 45th in college football in quarterback rating.As a fourth-year NFL starter, he tied for the most interceptions in the league and had never won a playoff game before one of the most improbable title runs of all time.In Arch’s first season as a starter, he led Texas to 10 wins — including three over top 10 teams — producing 19 total touchdowns and two interceptions in the final six games of the season.
The talent that allowed him to guide a comeback win over Ohio State hasn’t left, but his confidence, poise and awareness have vanished in the past month.Back-to-back upsets were sealed by Manning’s three fourth-quarter turnovers.Texas was in position for losses that never should have happened because of an offense that ranks 89th in the nation in yards per play (5.2), led by a fourth-year quarterback averaging under 200 yards passing in his past five games.Before Manning was the nation’s top high school recruit, Trinidad Chambliss was a zero-star prospect who didn’t receive any FBS scholarship offers.
He ended up at Division II Ferris State, where he won two national championships, then became the backup at Ole Miss.Only after an injury to Austin Simmons did the Rebels stumble into the most dynamic quarterback in the country, who then led them to within two wins of a national championship.When this season began, Manning and Chambliss were two of the top three Heisman favorites.
The Ole Miss superstar remains in the same position — Manning now holds 300/1 odds — leading a top 10 offense to 37.5 points per gameWho would choose the chosen one now? Who would bet against the player who has willed himself into a future first-round pick?Who would even think of giving points to Ole Miss (+3.5)?The Panthers have lost back-to-back games since Pat Narduzzi’s latest unbecoming rant — “We’ve got a hell of a ...