As promised, here is a full slate of weekend football picks (NFL included this time). Last week's record: 5-0. Overall: 5-2.
COLLEGE
Noon
No. 12 Arkansas at Georgia
Pig Suey!! Arkansas' offense is rolling on all cylinders. Even though the Razorbacks haven't been tested yet, I think they'll overcome the somewhat mediocre Dawgs in Athens. 27-21
Massachusetts at No. 20 Michigan
I just couldn't resist. Visions of Appy State blocking a last-second Wolverine field goal in 2007 are dancing through my head. I don't think the Minutemen will pull off this upset though, as prevalent as FCS upsets of FBS teams are right now. Denard Robinson makes the UMass defense dizzy. Michigan protects the Big House, 38-13.
Maryland at No. 21 West Virginia
The Mountaineers struggled against Marshall last week. The Terps are off to a surprising 2-0 start after edging Navy and then crushing Morgan State. I think West Virginia is better than what they showed against Marshall but Maryland is also better than people thought. This is one of those games this week where I am so close to picking the underdog, but I just can't quite bring myself to it. Home team wins, 24-20.
Georgia Tech at North Carolina
Certainly an intriguing game. UNC is coming off their bye week. The Heels almost beat LSU without several starters in Week 1. The Jackets are coming off a stunning loss to Kansas. UNC edges GT 31-28.
1:30
East Carolina at Virginia Tech
Argh! The Pirates anchor their ship in Blacksburg Port where a bunch of angry landlubbers await. Or will they be angry? Everyone expected the Hokies to be angry after the Boise State loss and roll up 40, 50 points on JMU and the Dukes were having none of it. Will VT be angry or scared? How are they going to respond to the two losses so far? To the national criticism? This is where we see if Frank Beamer and his staff are worth their salt. ECU is no pushover. The Pirates have scored 100 points and are off to a 2-0 start. If VT loses this game, somebody's walking the plank in Hokie Land. VT wins, but not easily, and certainly not by the 19.5 points it is favored by. 34-26.
3:30
No. 8 Nebraska at Washington
The revitalized Cornhuskers face a dangerous PAC-10 team in the Huskies. Jake Locker is a popular Heisman pick and Washington is a pick to have a breakout season under 2nd year head coach Steve Sarkisian. Taylor Martinez is a young freshman at Nebraska getting it done under center. Huskers win in a tight one over the Huskies, 24-23.
No. 10 Florida at Tennessee
Another interesting matchup, much like the GT-UNC game. The Gators certainly seem overrated right now sitting at No. 10 after struggling against both Miami of Ohio and South Florida. The Vols got mauled by Oregon last week after putting up 50 against Tennessee-Martin in a Week 1 win. Florida wins but continues to struggle, 30-17.
7:00
Clemson at No. 16 Auburn
Tigers vs. Tigers. Another chance for the ACC to show something (Congrats to NC State for dispatching of Cincy easily tonight, gaining at least a little respect for the ACC). Neither team has been overly impressive so far in beating inferior teams by unconvincing margins. Auburn has at least went on the road and beaten an SEC team already (Mississippi State last week). Home team gets the edge but the Tigers from South Carolina keep it competitive. 28-20.
8:00
No. 6 Texas at Texas Tech
Everyone remembers 2008 in Lubbock. The Red Raiders pulled off the last-second 39-33 upset of the Longhorns on a Michael Crabtree TD, killing Texas' hopes of a national title. Texas gets its revenge in Lubbock (because Texas beat Tech 34-24 last year at home) in another thriller, 34-30.
10:30
No. 9 Iowa at No. 24 Arizona
I know both of these teams are great but I really haven't seen them play much (although with this game starting at 10:30, I'll get to see some of it after work). Both teams have solid quarterbacks--Ricky Stanzi for the Hawkeyes and Nick Foles for the Wildcats--but the defenses for both teams have given up a combined total of 22 points in four games. I like Iowa by a touch, 27-20.
NFL
1:00
Pittsburgh at Tennessee
The Steelers won a hard-fought overtime game against Atlanta last week. Dennis Dixon did just enough at quarterback and didn't make many mistakes, leading Pitt to the win. The Titans were impressive in a 34-13 drubbing of Oakland. I like the Titans to win in a close one, 20-17.
Chicago at Dallas
My Boys host da Bears in their home opener after an ugly road loss to open the season at Washington. With Jay Cutler at QB--hopefully throwing INTs--and a Dallas team that can't stay away from the yellow rag, I think miscues and mistakes will abound aplenty in this game. I like the Cowboys, who will look better than last week, but still not like a team that is going to the Super Bowl. 24-16.
4:15
Houston at Washington
The Texans are probably my second-favorite NFL team right now with former Wahoo Matt Schaub at QB (except for next week when Dallas plays them). The Texans looked like a more complete team in their win over Indy than did Washington in its win over Dallas. Arian Foster was a total beast for Houston, racking up 3 TDs and 231 yards on 33 carries. A 'W' for the Redskins covered up the fact that they looked pretty awful. Dallas outgained Washington on offense and the Skins managed only six offensive points. Houston wins, 31-14.
New England at New York Jets
What should have been a marquee Week 2 matchup doesn't look quite as shiny now after the Patriots waxed Cincy and the Jets struggled to a one-point loss against Baltimore in Week 1. The smack talk between Randy Moss and Darrelle Revis help make this one fun again. I like for New York to play better this week, but the Patriots look like a team trying to reassert themselves in the AFC East. New England wins, 27-17.
8:20
New York Giants at Indianapolis
Sunday night's game brings us the Manning Bowl. The first Manning Bowl occurred the first week of the 2006 season when Indy won at the Meadowlands, 26-21. The Colts lost to the Texans last week while the Giants defeated the Panthers. I like the Indy defense to step up this week after last week's performance and hold the Giants down enough to win 31-24.
Whew! 15 games total. After going 0-2 in Week 1 and 5-0 in Week 2, I'm going to see what I'm really made of this week.
COLLEGE
Noon
No. 12 Arkansas at Georgia
Pig Suey!! Arkansas' offense is rolling on all cylinders. Even though the Razorbacks haven't been tested yet, I think they'll overcome the somewhat mediocre Dawgs in Athens. 27-21
Massachusetts at No. 20 Michigan
I just couldn't resist. Visions of Appy State blocking a last-second Wolverine field goal in 2007 are dancing through my head. I don't think the Minutemen will pull off this upset though, as prevalent as FCS upsets of FBS teams are right now. Denard Robinson makes the UMass defense dizzy. Michigan protects the Big House, 38-13.
Maryland at No. 21 West Virginia
The Mountaineers struggled against Marshall last week. The Terps are off to a surprising 2-0 start after edging Navy and then crushing Morgan State. I think West Virginia is better than what they showed against Marshall but Maryland is also better than people thought. This is one of those games this week where I am so close to picking the underdog, but I just can't quite bring myself to it. Home team wins, 24-20.
Georgia Tech at North Carolina
Certainly an intriguing game. UNC is coming off their bye week. The Heels almost beat LSU without several starters in Week 1. The Jackets are coming off a stunning loss to Kansas. UNC edges GT 31-28.
1:30
East Carolina at Virginia Tech
Argh! The Pirates anchor their ship in Blacksburg Port where a bunch of angry landlubbers await. Or will they be angry? Everyone expected the Hokies to be angry after the Boise State loss and roll up 40, 50 points on JMU and the Dukes were having none of it. Will VT be angry or scared? How are they going to respond to the two losses so far? To the national criticism? This is where we see if Frank Beamer and his staff are worth their salt. ECU is no pushover. The Pirates have scored 100 points and are off to a 2-0 start. If VT loses this game, somebody's walking the plank in Hokie Land. VT wins, but not easily, and certainly not by the 19.5 points it is favored by. 34-26.
3:30
No. 8 Nebraska at Washington
The revitalized Cornhuskers face a dangerous PAC-10 team in the Huskies. Jake Locker is a popular Heisman pick and Washington is a pick to have a breakout season under 2nd year head coach Steve Sarkisian. Taylor Martinez is a young freshman at Nebraska getting it done under center. Huskers win in a tight one over the Huskies, 24-23.
No. 10 Florida at Tennessee
Another interesting matchup, much like the GT-UNC game. The Gators certainly seem overrated right now sitting at No. 10 after struggling against both Miami of Ohio and South Florida. The Vols got mauled by Oregon last week after putting up 50 against Tennessee-Martin in a Week 1 win. Florida wins but continues to struggle, 30-17.
7:00
Clemson at No. 16 Auburn
Tigers vs. Tigers. Another chance for the ACC to show something (Congrats to NC State for dispatching of Cincy easily tonight, gaining at least a little respect for the ACC). Neither team has been overly impressive so far in beating inferior teams by unconvincing margins. Auburn has at least went on the road and beaten an SEC team already (Mississippi State last week). Home team gets the edge but the Tigers from South Carolina keep it competitive. 28-20.
8:00
No. 6 Texas at Texas Tech
Everyone remembers 2008 in Lubbock. The Red Raiders pulled off the last-second 39-33 upset of the Longhorns on a Michael Crabtree TD, killing Texas' hopes of a national title. Texas gets its revenge in Lubbock (because Texas beat Tech 34-24 last year at home) in another thriller, 34-30.
10:30
No. 9 Iowa at No. 24 Arizona
I know both of these teams are great but I really haven't seen them play much (although with this game starting at 10:30, I'll get to see some of it after work). Both teams have solid quarterbacks--Ricky Stanzi for the Hawkeyes and Nick Foles for the Wildcats--but the defenses for both teams have given up a combined total of 22 points in four games. I like Iowa by a touch, 27-20.
NFL
1:00
Pittsburgh at Tennessee
The Steelers won a hard-fought overtime game against Atlanta last week. Dennis Dixon did just enough at quarterback and didn't make many mistakes, leading Pitt to the win. The Titans were impressive in a 34-13 drubbing of Oakland. I like the Titans to win in a close one, 20-17.
Chicago at Dallas
My Boys host da Bears in their home opener after an ugly road loss to open the season at Washington. With Jay Cutler at QB--hopefully throwing INTs--and a Dallas team that can't stay away from the yellow rag, I think miscues and mistakes will abound aplenty in this game. I like the Cowboys, who will look better than last week, but still not like a team that is going to the Super Bowl. 24-16.
4:15
Houston at Washington
The Texans are probably my second-favorite NFL team right now with former Wahoo Matt Schaub at QB (except for next week when Dallas plays them). The Texans looked like a more complete team in their win over Indy than did Washington in its win over Dallas. Arian Foster was a total beast for Houston, racking up 3 TDs and 231 yards on 33 carries. A 'W' for the Redskins covered up the fact that they looked pretty awful. Dallas outgained Washington on offense and the Skins managed only six offensive points. Houston wins, 31-14.
New England at New York Jets
What should have been a marquee Week 2 matchup doesn't look quite as shiny now after the Patriots waxed Cincy and the Jets struggled to a one-point loss against Baltimore in Week 1. The smack talk between Randy Moss and Darrelle Revis help make this one fun again. I like for New York to play better this week, but the Patriots look like a team trying to reassert themselves in the AFC East. New England wins, 27-17.
8:20
New York Giants at Indianapolis
Sunday night's game brings us the Manning Bowl. The first Manning Bowl occurred the first week of the 2006 season when Indy won at the Meadowlands, 26-21. The Colts lost to the Texans last week while the Giants defeated the Panthers. I like the Indy defense to step up this week after last week's performance and hold the Giants down enough to win 31-24.
Whew! 15 games total. After going 0-2 in Week 1 and 5-0 in Week 2, I'm going to see what I'm really made of this week.
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ReplyDeleteI loooove me some Gator!! Go UF!! =)
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