Welcome back to another rendition of the Cover 4. 

We gave you three winners last week. We’d love to give you five this week to make up for the miss, but that’s not how this works. Our cornerbacks are weak and our linebackers can’t run. If we try to go man, we’ll get torched.

The Cover 4 is part of Confidence Picks presented by Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans

Here’s the procedure this time around: Crank the “Enter Sandman,” start ringing the cowbell, and hammer Syracuse and Liberty as short road favorites.

? Virginia Tech (+7) vs. Notre Dame

Saturday, 7 PM CT | Blacksburg, Va., Lane Stadium

If we’re confusing you with our dueling takes on Notre Dame, well, you’re surely not alone.

The Notre Dame backfield has gone from the home of an inaccurate—if occasionally spectacular—quarterback and a pair of backup running backs, to one of the most dynamic duos in the country in Ian Book and Dexter Jackson.

We love them. They’re a bonafide playoff contender. And, yet, there was Bratke on this week’s episode of Bootleg, choosing Virginia Tech as his Very Good Dog.

Here’s the deal:

Since 2013, the Irish are just 1-9 in true road games against ranked opponents. That’s poor-to-quite poor. And this opponent in this stadium is no small hill to climb.

Virginia Tech looked like a different team last week, handling a solid Duke team thanks, in large part, to 332 yards and three scores from Kansas transfer Ryan Willis, who was in for injured starter Josh Jackson.

Combine Willis’ seemingly effortless emergence with a top five run defense and toss that opponent inside of Lane Stadium under the lights? That’s not a recipe for success for the Irish—or any other visitor.

The Pick: Virginia Tech (+7)

? Mississippi State (+4) vs. Auburn

Saturday, 6:30 PM CT | Starkville, Miss., Davis Wade Stadium

Mississippi State needs this win.

Last week’s loss to Florida was a brutal shot to the ego for all parties involved, and a third consecutive loss could torpedo the Bulldogs’ season before it ever really gets rolling.

Joe Moorhead didn’t just suddenly forget how to call plays. He’s been handicapped by week tackle play, an inaccurate quarterback, and a group of wide receivers with a bad case of the drops.

And if that does not sound like a strong endorsement for an offense that’s about to face Auburn’s front four, that’s because it’s not. The key here is the Mississippi State defense—one of the nation’s best—against a weak Auburn running game and a quarterback, in Jarrett Stidham, who has looked subpar when he faces pressure.

What’s better than a home dog getting points? A home dog getting points against a shaky opponent in front of a very irritated collection of 60,000 fans with cowbells in their hands.

The Pick: Mississippi State (+4)

Syracuse (-3.5) at Pittsburgh

Saturday, 11:20 AM CT | Pittsburgh, Pa., Heinz Field

This line stinks, but it’s impossible to pass on.

The Panthers can’t run the ball and, in turn, opponents have been able to pin their ears back and commit to defending the pass—which is really bad news when you’re headed up against an Orange D that has sacked opposing quarterbacks 10 times in the past two weeks.

Of course, this game will also feature a Pitt defense that has given up 2,153 yards to its five opponents this season against a strong Syracuse offense led by one of the most dynamic players in the ACC in quarterback Eric Dungey.

The Panthers need this game in a bad, bad way, sure. I also need a Bugatti. Neither is happening on Saturday.

The Pick: Syracuse (-3.5)

Liberty (-4) at New Mexico State

Saturday, 7 PM CT | Las Cruces, N.M., Memorial Stadium

This one is easy. Congrats on the free money.

New Mexico State is one of the worst teams with one of the worst defenses in all of college football.

Liberty—led by 417 passing yards from quarterback Steven Calvert—just dropped 52 points on New Mexico in a nine-point victory.

New Mexico smacked New Mexico State by 17 points in Las Cruces two weeks ago.

The Flames are going to hang half-a-hundred on the Aggies—and it’s safe to say the total is not going to be 96.

The Pick: Liberty (-4)