Hlastradamus: Taking road-tested Hawkeyes and 3 points

There's no cherry-picking this week, for college football teams or forecasters.

The supply of games is limited on the first weekend of December. You have to be sharper than the average presidential candidate to prosper.

That's where Hlastradamus is at his best. Without five dozen games to cloud his crystal ball, he can lock in on winners, winners, and yes, chicken dinners. Let us proceed.

Iowa +3

vs. Michigan State

The prophet fully respects the might of the Spartans. But this is science, not whim.

And Hlastradamus sees that Iowa is 5-0 against the spread away from Kinnick Stadium, while Michigan State is a pedestrian 2-3 against the spread outside of East Lansing.

Granted, one of those two road-covers was at Ohio State. That's kind of impressive.

But the seer has a rule-of-thumb, which is you take three points at a neutral site if they're given to a team that has done nothing but win for 12 games.

North Carolina +6

vs. Clemson

Clemson has done nothing but win for 12 games, but it is a favorite.

However, the Tar Heels are 8-4 against the spread, while Clemson is but 5-7. The Heels have won 11 in a row. And, Marcus Paige is back from injury and has come back strong.

OK, Paige is a basketball player. But basketball makes the world go-round at North Carolina, and with Paige helping his team past Maryland, all is right in Chapel Hill.

Stanford -4.5

vs. USC

The game's at Stanford. USC has lost four times, including by 20 points at Oregon two weeks ago.

There should be no questions.

But the prophet also wants you to know Stanford is 8-4 against the spread, while USC is a mere 6-6.

Also, the Rose Bowl is a powerful entity with cosmic powers, and the Rose Bowl doesn't want to have to accept a four-loss Trojans team. Especially since USC fans will just drive to the game and pollute the beautiful San Gabriel Valley with their gas-guzzlers instead of drop in from northern California and leave money all over Pasadena.

Stanford's anarchy-first marching band, however, is always a concern.

Houston -6

vs. Temple

The winner claims the American Athletic Conference title and goes to a big-boy bowl game.

By the way, should Iowa fall badly against Michigan State and cede the Big Ten's Rose Bowl spot to Ohio State, would you be grabbed by an Iowa-Temple Peach Bowl?

Hlastradamus doesn't need you to tell him the answer is 'Heck, no!” He's a prophet, for crying out loud. He already knows this stuff.

But since he told you Iowa would cover against Michigan State, you needn't worry about horrifying bowl news on Sunday morning.

Oh by the way, Houston's a better team than Temple, it's playing at home, and will win by more than 6,

Alabama -17.5

vs. Florida

Florida's last two games were an overtime win against Florida Atlantic and a 27-2 loss at home against Florida State.

This is what the SEC trots out for its championship game? Hlastradamus is appalled!