Photo by Ethan Miller / Getty Images
CLEVELAND – Is there anything better than opening the football season with a winning week? “Picks With Nick” did just that, nailing four of the six selections we provided here at WTAM.com for Week 1 of the college football season and now we look to keep the momentum going for Week 2 as well as the opening week of the NFL regular season. All of our selections are against the spread (ATS) and are strictly for entertainment purposes only. Below you will find our college slate of games for Week 2. Friday morning we will post our full slate of NFL selections for Week 1.
A quick glance at our numbers on the season against the Vegas spread:
CFB: 4-2-0 (67%)
NFL: 0-0 (0%)
Total: 4-2-0 (67%)
Our picks are made against Las Vegas oddsmakers merely helping create football interactions on Facebook and Twitter, as well as online and on-air content for Newsradio WTAM 1100 and WTAM.com.
Las Vegas is seeing plenty of action this fall when it comes to football wagering at the Westgate Superbook SuperContest. Photo by Robert Mora / Getty Images.
Similar to the last two seasons, our goal is to win 53% of our picks against the spread. Las Vegas sports books, give us 11/10 odds or -110, so in order to break even in picking games against the spread (ATS) we must win 52.4% of the games we select. Winning 58% of picks ATS would place you among the most elite sports handicappers in the world. We’ll shoot for somewhere between 53% - 58% again this season.
We are again keeping our college and NFL selections separate, but we will update the results from both weekly with full transparency, seeing how we stack up against Las Vegas oddsmakers. We are coming off back-to-back winning seasons in which we hit 54% ATS in college football and the NFL combined in 2016 and 56% in both combined last season in 2017. So far, in college and the NFL combined, we are hitting 67% ATS.
Throughout the season it is important to understand that we will continually update our records in both college football and the NFL, and additionally, Newsradio WTAM 1100 and I do not condone illegal sports wagering. Any information shared on this page is strictly for entertainment purposes, as well as on-air and online content. Visitors reading “Picks With Nick” weekly selections need to understand that this is not a gambling website. WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not condone illegal sports wagering.
Week 2 opens Friday night with TCU visiting SMU and while we do not have a play in that game, let’s dive into our full slate of selections against the spread.
Below is our full slate college football picks featuring five selections ATS for Week 2:
Bill Snyder and the Kansas State Wildcats host a critical non-conference match up Saturday in Manhattan when the No. 16 ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs come to town. Photo by Frederick Breedon / Getty Images
Game: Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Kansas State Wildcats
Where: Manhattan, Kansas – Bill Snyder Family Stadium
Kickoff: 12:00 pm ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: Mississippi State -9.5
Nick’s Pick: All signs here say go with the visiting team from the SEC, right? Mississippi State has more talent and speed on both sides of the football and welcome back star quarterback Nick Fitzgerald. However, Bill Snyder-coached Kansas State teams are very familiar with this position, where they have played very well as home underdogs. The Wildcats probably don’t have enough to win this game, but they’ve certainly got the experience to keep this game close. Nick’s Pick here is Kansas State +9.5.
Game: Georgia Bulldogs vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Where: Columbia, South Carolina – Williams-Brice Stadium
Kickoff: 3:30 pm ET
TV: CBS
Spread: Georgia -10
Nick’s Pick: Pretty much the same reasoning as the game above. Yes, Georgia is the better overall team. However, giving the Gamecocks ten points in front of the home crowd in the SEC Game of the Week? That’s too juicy to pass up. Again, Bulldogs probably find a way to win (just like Mississippi State above), but South Carolina has the horses to keep this game competitive and just close enough. Nick’s Pick here is South Carolina +10.
Game: Clemson Tigers vs. Texas A&M Aggies
Where: College Station, Texas – Kyle Field
Kickoff: 7:00 pm ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: Clemson -12
Nick’s Pick: Kyle Field will be rocking and The 12th Man will make their voices known. But Jimbo Fisher doesn’t quite have the horses to hang with a team as talented as Clemson. This game could actually get ugly. Nick’s Pick is Clemson -12.
Game: Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Where: Minneapolis, Minnesota – TCF Bank Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 pm ET
TV: FS1
Spread: Minnesota -2
Nick’s Pick: This line should be higher, period. But since it isn’t…yes, the Golden Gophers find a way to at least win this game by a touchdown. The total is 48 in this game, the UNDER may not be a bad pick either. Nick’s Pick here is Minnesota -2.
Jayshon Jackson and the Cincinnati Bearcats stunned UCLA in Week 1 and now they'll set their sights on opening the season 2-0 when they battle their rival Miami (Ohio) in Cincinnati Saturday night. Photo by Harry How / Getty Images
Game: Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Miami (Ohio) RedHawks
Where: Cincinnati, Ohio – Paul Brown Stadium
Kickoff: 8:00 pm ET
TV: FOX Sports Network
Spread: Miami (Ohio) -2
Nick’s Pick: Cincinnati has won five-straight in this rivalry and the Bearcats will definitely make it six-straight after Saturday night at the home of the Bengals. The RedHawks just dropped their opener against Marshall, while Luke Fickell’s Bearcats went to the Rose Bowl and toppled UCLA. Normally, there may be potential for a “let-down” here…but not against a longtime rival. Nick’s Pick here is Cincinnati +2.
- Nick Camino
Record in college football ATS to date: 4-2-0 (67%)
Record in NFL ATS to date: 0-0-0 (0%)
Total record ATS to date: 4-2-0 (67%)
Note from Nick: All betting lines used will come from The Wynn Race & Sports Book in Las Vegas. The lines can change at any time, but we will only use lines 72 hours in advance and closer. Picks will be made based on the lines when we post.
DISCLAIMER: Newsradio WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not accept or place bets. This is not a gambling website. WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not condone illegal sports wagering. Any information shared on this page is strictly for entertainment purposes, as well as on-air and online content.