SuperBook Sports previews the weekend ahead

CFB: No. 5 Washington at No. 11 Oregon State

As the SEC eases into its typical, late season “scheduled win” slate, and while fans in the Midwest rest up for next week’s Ohio State-Michigan grudge match, perhaps the best matchup of the entire weekend occurs out west in the rapidly fading Pac-12. Not only is the margin between No. 5 Washington and No. 11 Oregon State razor thin – the Beavers are a 1-point home favorite – but the outcome could potentially have the most impact on the next CFP rankings.

How are the Huskies, who are barely on the outside looking in for a top-4 ranking, an underdog to a two-loss team that ranks 11th in the country? Does homefield advantage really mean that much to the Beavers? What are we missing here?

Washington is led by Heisman hopeful Michael Penix Jr., the quarterback behind a prolific offense that ranks first in the country in offensive success rate. Penix Jr.’s numbers are impressive: 3,533 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and (most impressive) just seven interceptions. Oregon State isn’t far behind though, ranking 9^th in yards per play and 8^th in offensive success rate.

Can either team stop the other’s offense? It’s quite possible that whichever defense does that first will propel their squad to victory.

Bud Parmalee’s Pick: Over 62.5

The game’s biggest question – Can either team stop the other? – is actually the answer to the question you should be asking yourself: How should this one be bet? With a higher ranking and everything to gain, it’s very tempting to make a moneyline bet (+100) on the Huskies. And if you must, that’s the lean. But a smarter play is to assume that neither D is stopping either O. A point total of 62.5 might look big on the surface but consider that Washington has only dipped below 31-points scored once this season (a strange 15-point output against Arizona State) and the hometown favorite Beavers are averaging nearly 38 points per game, the over is in serious trouble. Regardless of who wins, the scoreboard operator is in for a busy day. Take the over and enjoy the show.

CFB: Colorado at Washington State

Neither the Buffs nor Huskies are still ranked inside college football’s top-25, although both were early in the season. Colorado topped out at No. 18, while Washington State ascended all the way to No. 13. That was then. This is now, and both teams have cooled considerably.

A spot on the national championship bracket is far from at stake, but with both teams sitting at 4-6 on the season, hopes for a bowl game invite are still in play. After a 4-0 start, Washington State has now lost six-straight. Not far off, Colorado was once 4-2, but has now lost four in a row. An unprecedented loss to Stanford in which the Buffs blew a 29-0 halftime lead, and last week’s walkoff field goal against Arizona – both in Boulder – are included in the Buffs season ending slide.

Can Coach Prime salvage what began as a promising season by going into Pullman and knocking off the home-favorite Cougars, keeping his bowl hopes alive for one more week? It may not be a game of national importance, but if there one thing for certain, Prime is always entertaining.  

Bud Parmalee’s Pick: Colorado Moneyline +165

Just who exactly is this Colorado Buffaloes team anyway? The Buffs have had some of the season’s most remarkable wins, but also some of the strangest losses. A week ago, they had more than a puncher’s chance to top No. 17 Arizona and narrowly failed to do so. The Buffs can go toe-to-toe with almost anyone – it’s just impossible to tell if and when they will. Their biggest problem is that quarterback Shedeur Sanders is the most sacked quarterback in the country. Luckily, Washington State’s pass rush is mediocre at best. If Sanders is given a fair shot to make plays down the field or with his feet, he’s as good as any quarterback in the country. The same cannot be said for the erratic Cameron Ward, who’s been a turnover machine during the Cougars six-game slide. Colorado might be the most unpredictable team in America, so going chalk on this game, where WSU is a 4.5-point favorite, feels messy. Instead, go for broke in Pullman, with a moneyline bet on Coach Prime and his Buffs at a whopping +165.

NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers began the season with five straight wins. They were the team to beat and seemed unstoppable.

But in Week 6, injuries to some of their key players contributed to their first loss of the season. From there, things started to spiral out of control. A shoulder injury kept star wideout Deebo Samuel on the sidelines for two weeks and while he didn’t miss much time, quarterback Brock Purdy was dealing with a concussion that seemed to hinder his play.

The Niners headed into their Week 9 bye on a three-game losing streak. In Week 10, they were set to match up with one of the league’s top teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 5-3 49ers went in as 3.0-point favorites against a 6-2 Jaguars team on the road. They won by 31.

Needless to say, the Niners made the most of their bye week and are back to looking like the team we saw at the beginning of the year. Now, they will play at home against the 4-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Buccaneers expected some growing pains after future hall of famer Tom Brady retired. But through 10 weeks of the season, Tampa Bay is just a half a game back from being in the playoffs. They are 4-5 and after an impressive performance in Week 9, they are turning heads.

Last week, Tampa Bay stomped the Tennessee Titans, winning 20-6 at home. Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 278 yards and wide receiver Mike Evans contributed 143 of those yards on six catches. It was a dominant performance, as the Bucs covered the spread of -2.5.

Steve Quinne’s Pick: San Francisco -11.5 (-110)

It’s highly unlikely that the Tampa Bay defense will be able to hold San Francisco to single-digit points like they did the anemic Titans. It’s also highly unlikely that the Tampa Bay offense will have as much success against San Francisco’s other-worldly defense that now consists of Nick Bosa, Chase Young, Fred Warner and Charvarius Ward; that’s four like Pro Bowl selections on one defense. So while the Buccaneers may have played well last week against the now 3-6 Titans, the same result cannot be expected against the 49ers. Tampa Bay may put up a decent fight, but expect another blowout win for one of the best teams in football.

NFL: Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos

Are these the two hottest teams in football? Not only can a case be made, but it might even be undoubtedly true.

The Minnesota Vikings are on the longest win streak of any team, with five wins in a row. Meanwhile the Denver Broncos are tied for the second-longest win streak, racking up W’s that include victories over Kansas City and Buffalo along the way. It goes to show just how much can change in a matter of weeks.

If this game had been scheduled for Week 7, it would’ve been the 2-4 Vikings against the 1-5 Broncos. A garbage game between garbage teams. Now, in Week 11, it’s the 6-4 Vikings against the 4-5 Broncos in a game that could determine both of their seasons.

A win for the Vikings would not only put them one step closer to making the playoffs but also to winning the division, something everyone believed to be impossible when quarterback Kirk Cousins went down with a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 8. On the other hand, a win for the Broncos would officially put their name back in the ring of teams with a chance at the playoffs.

The remarkable winning streaks are one thing, but the main storyline of this game is centered around the quarterbacks. Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs was traded from the Cardinals prior to Week 9 following the injury to Cousins. Not expecting to play right away, Dobbs was forced into the game that same week in an unfamiliar system.

But with the help of head coach Kevin O’Connell, Dobbs was able to get the job done in improbable fashion, turning the heads of many fans around the NFL. Dobbs will be looking for his third-straight win with the Vikings on Sunday night.

For the Broncos, it’s Russell Wilson. Wilson was traded to Denver in March of 2022 in what was a blockbuster deal. However, in his first year, Wilson was more than disappointing. He threw 11 interceptions on just 16 touchdowns.

Through nine games this season, however, he has thrown for 18 touchdowns and just four interceptions. That ratio ranks second among all QBs in the NFL and his 104.0 passer rating ranks fourth among QBs.

Steve Quinne’s Pick: Denver moneyline (-140)

A win on Sunday night would already match the amount of wins the Broncos had all of last season. But who has the edge? Both teams are playing great and both teams have shocked the world in the last few games. The difference is defense. In those last three games, the Broncos have the second-ranked defense in all of football, giving up just 16.0 points. They didn’t let the Chiefs score a single touchdown and forced four turnovers against Buffalo. That type of defensive performance will need to continue as the Broncos are still very much in must-win mode. But if it does, expect Denver to come away with another narrow victory.