Last week, I went 7-3 in my college picks and 7-1 in my NFL picks and now stand at 37-12 on the year.
San Diego State at No. 22 Michigan, Noon Big Ten Network
The only reason I'm bringing up this game is that Michigan's coach, Brady Hoke, is playing his old team, SDSU. What are the chances of that in his first season with the Wolverines? The Aztecs are actually 3-0, as are the Woverines, but SDSU's wins came over Cal Poly, Army, and Washington State. Winning in the Big House will not be easy and Hoke has his team playing pretty well.
Michigan 31, San Diego State 17
North Carolina at No. 25 Georgia Tech, Noon ESPN
This is an interesting game ACC and Virginia-wise. North Carolina, with the exception of a tight game against Rutgers (because of five turnovers) has moslty cruised in its first three games. The Yellow Jackets have as well, scoring an incredible 59.3 points per game against the likes of Western Carolina, Middle Tennessee, and Kansas. We are about to see which of these teams, if either, is for real. UNC's defense is supposed to be stout, but Virginia successfully ran on them for 150 yards, so I think Georgia Tech should have no problem rackig up yards with its triple option offense. There is no doubt though this is the stiffest test for the Jackets so far this season. UNC should be able to move the ball and score points, but I just don't know if it'll be able to keep up with the Jackets' scoring barrage.
Georgia Tech 34, North Carolina 27
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh, Noon ABC
This is a tough game to pick. The Panthers have had trouble closing out games. Maine almost made a comeback on them two weeks ago and then last week, Iowa successfully came back and beat Pitt 31-27 after being down 27-10 early in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame, meanwhile, probably has a good chance of being 3-0 but is 1-2 because of 10 turnovers in its first two games, which were close losses to South Florida and Michigan. Last week, the Irish got off the schneid in a big way, clobbering No. 15 Michigan State 31-13. I think this will be a very close game, but I like the Irish to pull it out as long they keep the turnovers to a minimum.
Notre Dame 31, Pittsburgh 28
Temple at Maryland, 12:30 p.m. ESPN3.com
I like Maryland at home in this one because its offense will be too strong for the Owls. Maryland should be on upset alert though. Former coach Al Golden (now at Miami) left Temple in a good position and it gave Penn State all it could handle last week.
Maryland 31, Temple 21
No. 14 Arkansas at No. 3 Alabama, 3:30 p.m. CBS
The 3:30 time slot has a slew of great games Saturday, and it includes Virginia's tilt vs. Southern Miss. Arkansas defeated its first two opponents this season by a combined score of 103-10, but the games were against Missouri State and New Mexico. Last week, Arkansas struggled to put away Troy and won only by 10. Alabama had to play at Penn State already this year and handled the Nittany Lions in Happy Valley 27-11. This is Arkansas' first road game of the year and I don't think it will be able to adjust to the SEC schedule quickly enough in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama 27, Arkansas 17
** Game of the week: No. 7 Okalahoma State at No. 8 Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m. ABC
The question in this game is will these teams combine for over 70 points? 80? More? Both offenses rank in the top 18 in the nation (Ok. State at No. 2 and A&M at No. 18) and the question will is which defense will be able to make a play? Well, A&M's defense ranks 15th nationally right now --albeit against the likes of Southern Methodist and Idaho -- while Ok. State's 'D' is 92nd in the nation. Ouch. With the 12th man behind them, I like the Aggies to win what will surely be an exciting matchup.
Texas A&M 42, Oklahoma State 38
No. 11 Florida State at No. 21 Clemson, 3:30 p.m. ESPN
Clemson successfully ended Auburn's 17-game winning streak last week in Death Valley, but the Seminoles are going to be a stiffer test. Auburn is the defending national champs, but this is not the same Auburn team. The Seminoles, meanwhile, hung in tough against No. 1 Oklahoma last week and held the Sooners offense to 23 points in a 23-13 loss. FSU could be without starting quarterback EJ Manuel, who is questionable with a separated shoulder, so that could factor in. Two receivers for FSU could also be out. The injuries and homefield advantage might swing this one in Clemson's favor, but I just don't know if I trust the Tigers enough yet. Two weeks ago, they nearly lost to Wofford at home. I look for the 'Noles to win a close one.
Florida State 27, Clemson 24
No. 13 Virginia Tech at Marshall, 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
The Hokies haven't visted Marshall since 1940. The crowd will surely be raucous in what is probably the Thundering Herd's biggest home game in years. They won't be up to the tall task, though. Marshall was blown out 44-7 by Ohio last week. That is not a good formula for beating the Hokies. Tech, however, has had trouble putting away inferior teams so far this season so Marshall has a chance to make it interesting at least for a little while.
Virginia Tech 38, Marshall 10
Vanderbilt at No. 12 South Carolina, 7 p.m. ESPN2
Vandy is off to a 3-0 start so there is a buzz building around the Commodores. South Carolina barely edged Navy last week at home, but the Gamecocks are the stiffest test for a surprising Vandy squad. I like South Carolina, but I think the Commodores keep it close. Former Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin, who is now the coach at Vandy, seems to have that program headed in the right direction.
South Carolina 27, Vanderbilt 20
Missouri at No. 1 Oklahoma, 8 p.m. FX
The Tigers bounced back in a big way from their loss two weeks ago to Arizona State with a 69-0 romp over Western Illinois. In Norman, Mizzou won't able to do enough to slow down the Sooners offense and OU wins convincingly.
Oklahoma 38, Missouri 21
No. 2 LSU at No. 16 West Virginia, 8 p.m. ABC
Apparently, the city of Morgantown's Fire Department has asked residents to move furniture and other combustibles inside their houses. Good to see they are preparing for what will happen if West Virginia actually pulls this one off. LSU's defense has been scary good so far this year though. And Morgantown is crazy, but LSU is a road tested team that has seen the toughest of the tough environments in the SEC.
LSU 24, West Virginia 17
No. 23 USC at Arizona State, 10:15 p.m. ESPN
Arizona State reached the top 25 two weeks ago by beating Missouri in overtime then fell out last week with a loss at Illinois, a quality team. ASU is back at home this week and is favored at home over the Trojans, who have been underwhelming in defeats of Minnesota, Utah, and Syracuse so far this season. I am actually going to go out on a bit of a limb and pick the Sun Devils in this one.
Arizona State 24, USC 23
Southern Miss at Virginia, 3:30 p.m. ACC Network
Virginia returns home this week to face Southern Miss of Conference USA. The Golden Eagles crushed Southeastern Lousiana last week 52-6, but lost to Marshall 26-20 two weeks ago and barely beat Louisiana Tech in its first game of the season. Southern Miss has the 14th best rush defense in the country right now, but I think a lot of that probably has to do with the opponents the Golden Eagles have faced. North Carolina, too, was supposed to be stout on run defense and UVa was able to gain yardage on the ground against the Heels. In the air, Southern Miss ranks 73rd in pass defense so I'm not worried about the UVa's offense, as long as it scores more touchdowns than field goals. I think this game could be close so seven instead of three points will be important. Virginia scored 34 points in a 37-34 loss at Southern Miss in 2009, and that was when the Hoos offense was dysfunctional. So I don't think moving the ball and (hopfully) scoring points will be that difficult, it's the defense I'm worried about (I think I'm sounding like a broken record with that refrain). Southern Miss has a returning senior quarterback, Austin Davis, who has thrown four TDs but four INTs so far this season and has a completion percentage of 56.9. On the ground, the Golden Eagles rank 39th nationally, gaining 187 yards per game, just behind UVa's 190 per game. Two years ago, Southern Miss had a senior running back, Damion Fletcher, who carved up the Hoos defense and that was an Al Groh defense. Not one of his better editions, mind you, but still, last year's and this year's defense hasn't proven to be as good as those Groh defenses yet. Like I was in 2009, I am more worried about the Golden Eagles' ground attack than their passing attack.Virginia hasn't proven too many times during Mike London's tenure that it can stop the run. I expect this to be a close game into the fourth quarter and UVa will have a hard time putting the Golden Eagles away or Virginia may even have to make up a little ground at the end. I like Virginia to pull through because this is a team that is desperate for a bowl berth and a loss to Southern Miss would make it very difficult to get to six wins.
Virginia 27, Southern Miss 23
San Diego State at No. 22 Michigan, Noon Big Ten Network
The only reason I'm bringing up this game is that Michigan's coach, Brady Hoke, is playing his old team, SDSU. What are the chances of that in his first season with the Wolverines? The Aztecs are actually 3-0, as are the Woverines, but SDSU's wins came over Cal Poly, Army, and Washington State. Winning in the Big House will not be easy and Hoke has his team playing pretty well.
Michigan 31, San Diego State 17
North Carolina at No. 25 Georgia Tech, Noon ESPN
This is an interesting game ACC and Virginia-wise. North Carolina, with the exception of a tight game against Rutgers (because of five turnovers) has moslty cruised in its first three games. The Yellow Jackets have as well, scoring an incredible 59.3 points per game against the likes of Western Carolina, Middle Tennessee, and Kansas. We are about to see which of these teams, if either, is for real. UNC's defense is supposed to be stout, but Virginia successfully ran on them for 150 yards, so I think Georgia Tech should have no problem rackig up yards with its triple option offense. There is no doubt though this is the stiffest test for the Jackets so far this season. UNC should be able to move the ball and score points, but I just don't know if it'll be able to keep up with the Jackets' scoring barrage.
Georgia Tech 34, North Carolina 27
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh, Noon ABC
This is a tough game to pick. The Panthers have had trouble closing out games. Maine almost made a comeback on them two weeks ago and then last week, Iowa successfully came back and beat Pitt 31-27 after being down 27-10 early in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame, meanwhile, probably has a good chance of being 3-0 but is 1-2 because of 10 turnovers in its first two games, which were close losses to South Florida and Michigan. Last week, the Irish got off the schneid in a big way, clobbering No. 15 Michigan State 31-13. I think this will be a very close game, but I like the Irish to pull it out as long they keep the turnovers to a minimum.
Notre Dame 31, Pittsburgh 28
Temple at Maryland, 12:30 p.m. ESPN3.com
I like Maryland at home in this one because its offense will be too strong for the Owls. Maryland should be on upset alert though. Former coach Al Golden (now at Miami) left Temple in a good position and it gave Penn State all it could handle last week.
Maryland 31, Temple 21
No. 14 Arkansas at No. 3 Alabama, 3:30 p.m. CBS
The 3:30 time slot has a slew of great games Saturday, and it includes Virginia's tilt vs. Southern Miss. Arkansas defeated its first two opponents this season by a combined score of 103-10, but the games were against Missouri State and New Mexico. Last week, Arkansas struggled to put away Troy and won only by 10. Alabama had to play at Penn State already this year and handled the Nittany Lions in Happy Valley 27-11. This is Arkansas' first road game of the year and I don't think it will be able to adjust to the SEC schedule quickly enough in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama 27, Arkansas 17
** Game of the week: No. 7 Okalahoma State at No. 8 Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m. ABC
The question in this game is will these teams combine for over 70 points? 80? More? Both offenses rank in the top 18 in the nation (Ok. State at No. 2 and A&M at No. 18) and the question will is which defense will be able to make a play? Well, A&M's defense ranks 15th nationally right now --albeit against the likes of Southern Methodist and Idaho -- while Ok. State's 'D' is 92nd in the nation. Ouch. With the 12th man behind them, I like the Aggies to win what will surely be an exciting matchup.
Texas A&M 42, Oklahoma State 38
No. 11 Florida State at No. 21 Clemson, 3:30 p.m. ESPN
Clemson successfully ended Auburn's 17-game winning streak last week in Death Valley, but the Seminoles are going to be a stiffer test. Auburn is the defending national champs, but this is not the same Auburn team. The Seminoles, meanwhile, hung in tough against No. 1 Oklahoma last week and held the Sooners offense to 23 points in a 23-13 loss. FSU could be without starting quarterback EJ Manuel, who is questionable with a separated shoulder, so that could factor in. Two receivers for FSU could also be out. The injuries and homefield advantage might swing this one in Clemson's favor, but I just don't know if I trust the Tigers enough yet. Two weeks ago, they nearly lost to Wofford at home. I look for the 'Noles to win a close one.
Florida State 27, Clemson 24
No. 13 Virginia Tech at Marshall, 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
The Hokies haven't visted Marshall since 1940. The crowd will surely be raucous in what is probably the Thundering Herd's biggest home game in years. They won't be up to the tall task, though. Marshall was blown out 44-7 by Ohio last week. That is not a good formula for beating the Hokies. Tech, however, has had trouble putting away inferior teams so far this season so Marshall has a chance to make it interesting at least for a little while.
Virginia Tech 38, Marshall 10
Vanderbilt at No. 12 South Carolina, 7 p.m. ESPN2
Vandy is off to a 3-0 start so there is a buzz building around the Commodores. South Carolina barely edged Navy last week at home, but the Gamecocks are the stiffest test for a surprising Vandy squad. I like South Carolina, but I think the Commodores keep it close. Former Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin, who is now the coach at Vandy, seems to have that program headed in the right direction.
South Carolina 27, Vanderbilt 20
Missouri at No. 1 Oklahoma, 8 p.m. FX
The Tigers bounced back in a big way from their loss two weeks ago to Arizona State with a 69-0 romp over Western Illinois. In Norman, Mizzou won't able to do enough to slow down the Sooners offense and OU wins convincingly.
Oklahoma 38, Missouri 21
No. 2 LSU at No. 16 West Virginia, 8 p.m. ABC
Apparently, the city of Morgantown's Fire Department has asked residents to move furniture and other combustibles inside their houses. Good to see they are preparing for what will happen if West Virginia actually pulls this one off. LSU's defense has been scary good so far this year though. And Morgantown is crazy, but LSU is a road tested team that has seen the toughest of the tough environments in the SEC.
LSU 24, West Virginia 17
No. 23 USC at Arizona State, 10:15 p.m. ESPN
Arizona State reached the top 25 two weeks ago by beating Missouri in overtime then fell out last week with a loss at Illinois, a quality team. ASU is back at home this week and is favored at home over the Trojans, who have been underwhelming in defeats of Minnesota, Utah, and Syracuse so far this season. I am actually going to go out on a bit of a limb and pick the Sun Devils in this one.
Arizona State 24, USC 23
Southern Miss at Virginia, 3:30 p.m. ACC Network
Virginia returns home this week to face Southern Miss of Conference USA. The Golden Eagles crushed Southeastern Lousiana last week 52-6, but lost to Marshall 26-20 two weeks ago and barely beat Louisiana Tech in its first game of the season. Southern Miss has the 14th best rush defense in the country right now, but I think a lot of that probably has to do with the opponents the Golden Eagles have faced. North Carolina, too, was supposed to be stout on run defense and UVa was able to gain yardage on the ground against the Heels. In the air, Southern Miss ranks 73rd in pass defense so I'm not worried about the UVa's offense, as long as it scores more touchdowns than field goals. I think this game could be close so seven instead of three points will be important. Virginia scored 34 points in a 37-34 loss at Southern Miss in 2009, and that was when the Hoos offense was dysfunctional. So I don't think moving the ball and (hopfully) scoring points will be that difficult, it's the defense I'm worried about (I think I'm sounding like a broken record with that refrain). Southern Miss has a returning senior quarterback, Austin Davis, who has thrown four TDs but four INTs so far this season and has a completion percentage of 56.9. On the ground, the Golden Eagles rank 39th nationally, gaining 187 yards per game, just behind UVa's 190 per game. Two years ago, Southern Miss had a senior running back, Damion Fletcher, who carved up the Hoos defense and that was an Al Groh defense. Not one of his better editions, mind you, but still, last year's and this year's defense hasn't proven to be as good as those Groh defenses yet. Like I was in 2009, I am more worried about the Golden Eagles' ground attack than their passing attack.Virginia hasn't proven too many times during Mike London's tenure that it can stop the run. I expect this to be a close game into the fourth quarter and UVa will have a hard time putting the Golden Eagles away or Virginia may even have to make up a little ground at the end. I like Virginia to pull through because this is a team that is desperate for a bowl berth and a loss to Southern Miss would make it very difficult to get to six wins.
Virginia 27, Southern Miss 23
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