Iowa Football: Week 10 games to care about while Hawks on bye week

IOWA CITY, IOWA- AUGUST 31: Head coach Kirk Ferentz of the Iowa Hawkeyes argues a call in the second half of the match-up against the Miami Ohio RedHawks on August 31, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- AUGUST 31: Head coach Kirk Ferentz of the Iowa Hawkeyes argues a call in the second half of the match-up against the Miami Ohio RedHawks on August 31, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 29: Jordan Scarlett #25 of the Florida Gators is tackled by Khaleke Hudson #7 of the Michigan Wolverines in the second quarter during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 29: Jordan Scarlett #25 of the Florida Gators is tackled by Khaleke Hudson #7 of the Michigan Wolverines in the second quarter during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

Ranked vs. Ranked Games

#8 Georgia at #6 Florida

Point Spread: Georgia -6.5 

Rooting Interest: Georgia. Look, neither team actually has a resume that should put them in consideration for the College Football Playoff at this point of the season.

My guess, however, is that the resume is not that important to the Playoff Committee. Georgia has a game at Auburn that I think they could lose. Ideally, Georgia wins this game and loses at Auburn making both SEC East contenders two-loss teams. This, in effect, reduces the possibility of two SEC teams in the College Football Playoff.

Point Spread Pick: Florida +6.5. I am not willing to pick Florida to win outright, but I do think six and a half points is a bit too generous of a spread. Georgia lacks the skill players to truly threaten the Florida defense. I see this game being decided by three or four points.

#15 SMU at #24 Memphis

Point Spread: Memphis -5.5

Rooting Interest: Memphis. I may be in the minority, but I think SMU is criminally underrated. They are not like undefeated Appalachian State. They have decent wins. They have won on the road. If you are rooting for a Cinderella story in the College Football Playoff, I wouldn’t blame you for pulling for SMU.

I am not rooting for that this year, as I am still delusional. I still believe that there is a slim, outside chance that Iowa football sneaks into the College Football Playoff. Even teams like SMU pose a threat to that ridiculously unrealistic hope of mine.

Point Spread Pick: SMU +5.5. I seriously must be missing something here. SMU has won on the road. Memphis is good, but not great. Why exactly are the Memphis Tigers favored? SMU will almost certainly beat a five-and-a-half-point spread. I would not be surprised if they won the game outright.

Week 0 Point Spread Pick Record: 2-0

Week 1 Point Spread Pick Record: 4-6

Week 2 Point Spread Pick Record: 7-4

Week 3 Point Spread Pick Record: 3-9

Week 4 Point Spread Pick Record: 3-4

Week 5 Point Spread Pick Record: 6-2

Week 6 Point Spread Pick Record: 5-3

Week 7 Point Spread Pick Record: 6-3

Week 8 Point Spread Pick Record: 3-4

Week 9 Point Spread Pick Record: 4-5

Season Point Spread Pick Record: 43-40