5-at-10: Fab 4 picks, SEC items of interest, Titans big test, Rushmore of fast food restaurants

Fab 4 picks

Last weekend was amazing. Top to bottom.

In truth, one of the reasons that the dudes coaching your college football team are making more money in a year than we will make in our lives, is because they have to handle the fallout from amazing.

Kirby Smart has to handle the amazing letdown of Georgia playing its worst game on its biggest stage to date. So does Brian Kelly and Gary Patterson. Gus Malzahn and Mark Richt have to try to avoid let downs after a week of love-fests with everyone telling their players how awesome (some would say rat poison) they are.

So it goes.

When hunting entertainment - and, as always we make these picks for entertainment purposes only - those emotional roller coasters must be considered.

MTSU minus-3 over Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers are 2-7-1 against the number, theoretically hollowing out that 5-5 record when in comes to entertainment ventures. Also, know this: MTSU is 3-1 over and against the number with quarterback Brent Stockstill on the field this year. Stockstill in four games has a 10-3 TD-to-interception ratio; the other Blue Raiders to take a snap at QB have a 7-to-9 ratio. Buy the half, and remember this game is Friday, so get a jump start on your entertainment this weekend.

Iowa minus-7 over Purdue. We almost mentioned Georgia Tech here, but we're going with Iowa for two reasons that actually fold into one reason. Iowa has been excellent at home this year - we all remember what they did to THE Ohio State at Kinnick Stadium a few weeks ago, right? - and Purdue is winless on the road in conference play. Another line that is teetering on a magic number as of Thursday morning - it started at 8.5 and has dropped on Vegasinsider.com - so invest wisely and buy the hook.

Army plus-3 over North Texas. Yes, North Texas is 7-3, but that record is a little hollow, considering the record includes one-score wins over UAB, UTSA, Old Dominion and Louisiana Tech that could have gone either way. Now know that former Georgia Southern coach Jeff Monken has Army staring at a potential 10-win season. Buy the half to be safe, but here's saying the wrong team is favored in this one.

N.C. State plus-2 over Wake Forest. Here's another game in which it feels like the wrong team is favored. Each offense has firepower - yes, UT fans, Wake has an explosive Claw-fense, operated by former Vols OC Dave Clawson. That said, Wake has exploited weaker defenses in recent weeks but has struggled against the better defensive fronts. N.C. State has one of the best groups along the defensive lines in the country.

TCU minus-7 over Texas Tech. Yes, the loss to Oklahoma was painful, and yes it derailed college football playoff dreams for the Frogs. But, TCU still is in the mix for a spot in the Big 12 title game and another shot at the Sooners. Tech has struggled against team with better talent, and be very sure that TCU has much better talent, especially on defense, where the Frogs rank 13th nationally, allowing 309 yards per game. (And yes, but the half.)

Arizona State minus-7 over Oregon State. Another number right there on the magic button. We'll buy the half and know that the weather - in the 50s for a noon kick local time - will not be an issue for the visiting Sun Devils. Also know that running the football travels well, too, and Oregon State is allowing 5.7 per carry in Pac 12 play. Giddy-up.

Last week: 3-3 against the spread (50 percent)

This season: 37-23-1 against the spread (61.7 percent)

photo Tennessee associate head coach and defensive line coach Brady Hoke makes his way back to the locker room before an NCAA football game between Tennessee and Southern Mississippi at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, in Knoxville, Tenn.

SEC items of interest

First down. Brady's bunch. After the tumultuous weekend in which Butch Jones was finally shown the door, the Tennessee Vols and the league's worst run defense welcome LSU and Derrius Guice to Neyland. Guice has 494 yards rushing and four TDs in his last three games. One of the main areas of frustration and futility in a season filled with them for Tennessee has been its defense against the run. The Vols rank 126 out of 129 FBS teams with 256.9 rushing yards allowed per game. So maybe promoting Brady Hoke to interim head coach will solve two problems. First, it means Butch will no longer be making calls using his Brick by Brick head. Secondly, with his newfound responsibilities, whomever is looking after the defensive line in Hoke's place can not do any worse.

Second down. Bowl positioning. The league looks like it will fall short of its normal bowl allotments. Florida is 3-6 with two games left, so it can not get to the six wins needed to guarantee a postseason invite. Ole Miss is 5-5 but has put itself on a self-imposed bowl ban because Hugh Freeze watched one too many Rick Pitinio "recruit" videos. Tennessee, Vandy and Arkansas are 4-6 and would need to win out to make the postseason. UT and Vandy each need to win out and are home underdogs against LSU and Missouri, which needs one more win to become the ninth SEC bowl-eligibile team. Assuming at least one SEC team is in the playoff and at least one more is in the pool of six, the SEC is going to have a hard time filling its allotment this year.

Third down. Everyone gets to play. How bad is the week before Thanksgiving in which SEC teams traditionally feast on direction schools and money games? Georgia-Kentucky is the CBS 3:30 game this week. Yes, the Georgia team that was throttled at Auburn and is a three-TD favorite over the Wildcats is center stage. So, know two things will happen this weekend. One, there will be a slew of guys playing for your team that you have to check the program to get their names right. Secondly, one of the group of Mercer, Louisiana-Monroe, UAB or Wofford will scare somebody well into the second half.

Fourth down. Alabama in prime position. Normally, about this point in the week as the top-ranked Tide get ready for an overmatched foe like Mercer, Nick Saban is crowing about rat poison or the process or responsibility for excellence. You know the routine. Well, Uncle Nicky spent Wednesday practicing his "open-mic night" routine on ripped jeans. He even cracked himself up on the podium. Heck, who knew Saban even had teeth.

photo At left, in a Nov. 5, 2017, file photo, Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) looks to throw a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn. At right, in a Nov. 12, 2017, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis. Stylistically, the Steelers may be the most unimpressive 7-2 team in the NFL. It's a problem the AFC North leaders can live with, though they will be tested on Thursday against Tennessee (6-3). The Titans have won four straight and can send a message they're a legitimate threat. (AP Photo/File)

Can Titans do it?

If you have not noticed, the Tennessee Titans are 6-3.

Yes, really.

They are tied atop the AFC South. But are they good?

Yes, in the NFL, you are what your record says you are, and 6-3 denotes good. But the Titans have a negative point differential. And if we asked you, "what do the Titans do very well?" the answer, like these Titans, is not overly clear.

Yes, the offensive line has, at times been great. (And those times often coincide when Taylor Lewan is not getting 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalties.)

And yes, Marcus Mariota has shown signs of being a possible franchise QB. But are they ready for this. Short week at Pittsburgh against arguably the most talented set of playmakers in the league?

We'll see tonight and the answers we get against the Steelers could go a long way in answering the primary question of whether the Titans are contenders for real or just in record.

This and that

- Joel Embiid scored 46 points in Philadelphia's 115-109 win over Los Angeles. It's the most by a 76ers player since Allen Iverson scored 45 against the Heat in 2006. And speaking of Iverson, thought this number from ESPN Stats and Info was interesting: Before Wednesday, Iverson was responsible the last 35 games i which a Philadelphia player scored 44-or-more points.

- Speaking of last night's Sixers-Lakers showdown, how about this stat on the Lakers point differential Wednesday: With Lonzo Ball on court, Lakers -18; With Lonzo Ball on the bench, Lakers +12

- Roy Williams is now the first coach in NCAA basketball history to win 400 games at two schools after landing the milestone win at UNC this week. He won 418 games in 15 seasons at Kansas.

Today's question

Well, there's a lot to get to, right?

First and foremost, this is the last call for a growing mailbag.

Secondly, on this day - Nov. 16 - the first Space Shuttle flight was completed in 1982.

In 1824, New York's Fifth Avenue opened for BID-ness for the first time.

Burgess Meredith - who played Mick in the Rockys and the Penguin on TV's Batman - would have been 110 day.

Also, today is national fast food day, so there's that. Rushmore of fast food restaurants? Go.

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