Lowell's Locks: Week Two

A solid start to the season has the Locks sitting 4-2 after week one. The good? Notre Dame holding on into the fourth exactly as I predicted, covering the spread against Ohio State in a slopfest. The bad? Oregon looked like a Pee-Wee football team in Atlanta against Georgia, and LSU has somehow gotten worse since llast season with Brian Kelly at the helm. Everything else played out about how I figured. 

Let’s go be great in week two. 

Saturday, September 10th

#1 Alabama (-20) at Texas:

Is Texas back? Maybe. That depends on your definition of back. Are they ready to take down Bama with a freshman quarterback at the helm? Yeah, probably not. Sure, Texas will hit on some big plays that will make you think they can really do this thing, but Alabama will shut all that talk down in the second half as Will Anderson and co. take things over. Bryce Young begins his campaign for back-to-back Heismans with this game.

Lowell’s Lock: Alabama covers -20

#24 Tennessee (-6) at #17 Pittsburgh:

This one should be a barn burner. Both defenses are less than stellar, but both offenses are high-octane. Pittsburgh managed to hold on in a shootout against West Virginia, but Hendon Hooker brings a whole different skillset than JT Daniels did. Can Pittsburgh get enough stops to keep up in this one? I’m not so sure.

Lowell’s Lock: Tennessee covers -6

Iowa State at Iowa (-3.5):

Iowa somehow managed to win 7-3 last week over South Dakota State- With two safeties and a field goal accounting for the 7. Iowa State has lost six straight in this series, and if there’s ever a time for them to get off the snide, it’s this week. Iowa is never great offensively, but it seems like their offense has gone into overdrive, being awful this season. Take the Cyclones to cover in a tight one.

Lowell’s Lock: Iowa State covers +3.5

#20 Kentucky at #12 Florida (-5):

Kentucky didn’t look super impressive against Miami (OH) last week, but had a workmanlike performance and got out with the win. Florida got off to a hot start by beating top ten Utah in Billy Napier’s debut as head coach. Anthony Richardson vs. Will Levis should be a lot of fun in this one as well, but Kentucky only has one win in Gainesville since 1979. Look for Florida to come up with another late-game stop to start 2-0. 

Lowell’s Lock: Florida covers -5

South Carolina at #16 Arkansas (-9):

Arkansas controlled Cincinnati last week on their way to a win over the group of five power. South Carolina had to pull away from Georgia State in the second half. There’s some potential for this South Carolina offense and Spencer Rattler to be better than they were, but it’s not going to get easier this week for an offensive line that got abused last week. Arkansas controls this one throughout. 

Lowell’s Lock: Arkansas covers -9

Furman at #5 Clemson (-44.5):

If the Tigers wanted to, they could have this spread covered by half. Instead, expect the Tigers to roll all kinds of guys in and out of this one, including a healthy rotating of the quarterbacks. The Tigers cover, but it may be in a way that isn’t particularly pretty. 

Lowell’s Lock: Clemson covers -44.5