- Scott Van Pelt joined ESPN in Spring 2001 as the network’s lead professional golf reporter. He has since become a SportsCenter anchor, primarily hosting the 11 p.m. ET edition while remaining the lead reporter and host of the network’s coverage of golf’s grand slam events. In April 2008 he was named co-host of ESPN Radio’s Tirico & Van Pelt weekday show (2-4 p.m. ET on weekdays). A native of Brookville, Md., Van Pelt graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in radio/television and film.
College football season is back and that also means, Scott Van Pelt Winners are back! SVP went 19 games over .500 last year… that’s right, he won 19 more games than he lost. Even with the juice on the losses, that’s one heck of a profit for last season. Can he do it again? Well, he’s going to try each and every Thursday night on the SportsCenter With SVP. And if you don’t catch it on TV, well, we are here to give them to you on ESPN.com every Friday morning. We are kickstarting 2022 Friday night in Boulder. Here are the picks!
Friday
TCU (-13.5, 46) at Colorado
10 p.m. ET on ESPN, Folsom Field, Boulder, CO
Van Pelt’s pick: Colorado (+14)
We have to start to climb the mountain all over again, so with that in mind, how’d you like to climb the mountain in Boulder with me and take a team who was 4-8 last year, awful on offense and catching a bunch of points at home. That sound fun? Not really, Scott. Yeah, I know, but we’re doing it, and we are buying up a half-point. We’re on Colorado on a Friday night which puts the whole weekend mood in jeopardy. Nothing worse than going to bed 0-1.
SVP: 2-0 all-time picking Colorado in non-conference games
Saturday
No. 13 NC State (-11.5, 51.5) at East Carolina
12 p.m. ET on ESPN, Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Greenville
Van Pelt’s pick: East Carolina (+11.5)
Right back at it with a Noon Saturday kickoff in Greenville, South Carolina. What better way to get your first CFB Saturday started then yelling NO QUARTER at the top of your lungs. NC State is good, yes, but the Pirates are getting double digits at home and this is how we do things. Always has been.
SVP: 35-24 all-time picking AAC teams
No. 23 Cincinnati at No. 19 Arkansas (-6.5, 53.5)
3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville
Van Pelt’s pick: Cincinnati (+7)
Couple dogs that scare the heck out of me next. Am I bringing Iced tea or liquor to the party? I don’t know, Coach Pittman, let’s mix them together and take the points with Cincinnati against Arkansas, but buy it up a half-point to 7. If it goes bad, we just punt on the Iced tea.
SVP: 16-4 picking ranked vs. ranked last season
No. 24 Houston (-4, 62) at UTSA
3:30 p.m. ET, Alamodome, San Antonio
Van Pelt’s pick: UTSA (+4)
Last year, you folks in the 2-1-0 know that we were repping the Triangle of Toughness (selfless, perfect effort, integrity, passion and toughness). Well, beep beep, we’re riding with the Roadrunners plus a small number against a scary Houston team. Seems like the world likes the ‘Coogs, I get it, but…Triangle of Toughness. We’re UTSA plus in this one.
SVP: 3-0 all-time picking UTSA
No. 7 Utah (-3, 51.5) at Florida
7 p.m. ET, on ESPN, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville
Van Pelt’s pick: Florida (+3)
It’s a little early for a ‘hold on to your butts’ game, but I’m hanging on for dear life Saturday night in the Swamp. This game is legitimately fascinating — Utah is a top-10 team, they are rugged, and they are not afraid. But certain spots just speak to me and this one whispers… Gators.
SVP: 7-3 all-time picking SEC in non-conference games
Louisville (-4.5, 57.5) at Syracuse
8 p.m. ET, on ACC Network, JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY
Van Pelt’s pick: Syracuse (+4.5)
In a shocking turn of events, two more home dogs. Syracuse is catching 4.5 vs. Louisville. The Orange lost the last two to the Cards by a combined 71-3. Not very good. I think the Orange keep it close here. Why? I don’t really have any — y’know — FACTS or anything.
SVP: 2-0 picking Week 1 conference games
SMU (-11.5, 68.0) at North Texas
7:30 p.m. ET, Apogee Stadium, Denton, TX
Van Pelt’s pick: North Texas (+11.5)
We end our week in Denton, Texas. Never been there, but my heart will be with the Mean Green, who are already 1-0 on the year. I expect them to trade scores with SMU and stay within 11.5 points.
SVP: 6-2 all-time picking against SMU
So, we open with 7. Open road in front of us — let’s ride.
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