College picks, MLB Division playoff picks

Record last week: 9-4 (4-4 in NFL picks), 50-20 for the year

No. 14 Texas A&M vs. No. 18 Arkansas at Cowboys Stadium, Noon ESPN

Texas A&M let a lead slip against Oklahoma State at home last week while Arkansas got pummeled on the road by Alabama. The neutral field in Dallas should help even this matchup somewhat but I think the Aggies are more for real right now.

Texas A&M 31, Arkansas 24

Auburn at No. 10 South Carolina, 3:30 p.m. CBS

South Carolina has had some close calls this year but they find themselves still undefeated and in the top 10. I like the Gamecocks here, mainly because I have yet to see evidence of Auburn’s defense improving against quality opponents.

South Carolina 33, Auburn 27

No. 15 Baylor at Kansas State, 3:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN

Surprisingly big game early in the season in Manhattan, Kansas—Kansas State is a team off to a surprising 3-0 start. The Wildcats barely edged Eastern Kentucky 10-7 in their first game of the season, but beat Miami 28-24 last week. Baylor was expected to be good, but I don’t know if anyone thought the Bears would look this good. Baylor has scored 50, 48, and 56 points so far this season. I think KSU challenges Baylor and takes them to the brink, but eventually, QB Robert Griffin III and the Bears make a few more plays to come out on top.

Baylor 31, Kansas State 30

Michigan State at Ohio State, 3:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN

Which team can salvage an outside chance at a Big Ten title? The loser will have virtually no chance in my mind with Wisconsin and Nebraska looking like the favorites in the newly-named Leaders and Legends divisions of the Big Ten, respectively. Both teams bounced back with wins last week after losses to questionable teams on the road—Notre Dame for MSU and Miami for OSU. I’ll take OSU in this one in a tough, grind-it-out game because the Buckeyes are playing at home.

Ohio State 20, Michigan State 17

No. 13 Clemson at No. 11 Virginia Tech, 6 p.m. ESPN2

I don’t think many people thought much of this game at the beginning of the year but now it is looking like a good measuring stick for each team. Both the Tigers and Hokies are off to 4-0 starts, but scheduling quirks have helped out both, as well. Clemson has played every game at home so far while Tech hasn’t played a BCS opponent yet. If Tech blows Clemson away, that should validate the Hokies as favorites again to the win the ACC title. If Clemson wins, the Tigers might finally be ready to win the title and make a BCS bowl game. Clemson has a new offensive coordinator this year, Chad Morris, the former OC at Tulsa, who learned under Auburn OC Gus Malzahn and runs an offensive with a style similar to that of Malzahn’s. Clemson QB Tajh Boyd and the offense must be enjoying the schemes so far as it is putting up 37.5 points per game so far this season. The Hokies defense, which has been stellar thus far, should be challenged. Clemson tends to disappoint though, so I’m giving the Hokies the edge here, especially since the game is being played in Blacksburg.

Virginia Tech 28, Clemson 27

** Game of the week: No. 3 Alabama at No. 12 Florida, 8 p.m. CBS

This game, to me, is the game of the week instead of Nebraska at Wisconsin. I think it will end up being a closer contest. I’m eager to see if the Will Muschamp Gators are for real and they have the perfect opportunity to vault themselves into the BCS championship hunt with a win over a strong Alabama team in the Swamp. Neither team has really been challenged yet so it is difficult to call this one. I think though I will go out on a limb and go with the Gators in what I think will be one of the best games of the year.

Florida 35, Alabama 31

No. 8 Nebraska at No. 7 Wisconsin, 8 p.m. ABC

Nebraska is good, but it hasn’t shown me enough to let me pick it at Wisconsin, which holds one of the best home-field advantages in all of college football. This is the Cornhuskers’ first Big Ten game, and I think they will receive a rude welcoming from the Badgers.

Wisconsin 35, Nebraska 23

Idaho at Virginia, 3:30 p.m. ESPN3.com

UVa must win this game to get closer to a bowl game. I see getting to 6-6 as being pretty tough if the Cavs don’t win this one. Virginia is heavily favored and should beat the Vandals. Idaho is 1-3 and has only beaten North Dakota, an FCS school. The Vandals loss to their three FBS opponents—Fresno State, Texas A&M, and Bowling Green—all  by at least 17 points. Idaho has a 22-game road losing streak to teams from BCS conferences. Idaho does not have a good rushing attack and tends to make its yardage through the air. Hopefully, Virginia has shored up its pass defense some after last week’s first-half display against Southern Miss QB Austin Davis. Idaho has eight starters returning on defense but it has yet to hold an opponent under 32 points. Michael Rocco is expected to play at QB for Virginia, though no one knows how much after he struggled last week, throwing three INTS while also suffering a rib injury. I’d expect to see David Watford get more snaps than usual. I think Virginia will struggle early but pull away late to win comfortably and create some good feelings in Hooville.

Virginia 34, Idaho 17

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MLB PLAYOFFS
MLB's playoffs start tonight as ALDS get under way with the Rays at the Rangers (5 p.m., TBS ) and the Tigers at the Yankees (8:30 p.m. TBS). The NLDS gets under way tomorrow. Here are my picks for division series

AL
Rays-Rangers--Rays 3-2
Tigers-Yankees--Yankees 3-2

NL
Cardinals-Phillies--Phillies 3-1
Diamondbacks-Brewers-Brewers 3-2