Lots of good games on tap for Saturday, so I'll try to touch briefly on a lot of them. I went 4-4 last week in picks, and am now 13-7 on the year. I'm 1-1 in NFL picks so far.
Wake Forest at No. 5 Florida State, Noon ESPN
Wake Forest has, incredibly, won four of the last six meetings in this one. The Demon Deacons beat FSU 35-30 last year, 12-3 in 2008 at FSU, 24-21 in 2007, and 30-0 at FSU in 2006. Something about Wake must not sit right with Florida State. Wake Forest barely beat Liberty two weeks ago, and then edged UNC last week. Florida State has thus far been untested, beating two FCS squads by a combined score of 124-3. That could hurt the Seminoles, who will now have to turn up the intensity after sleeping the past two weeks. And Wake won't be intimated by FSU or by being in Tallahassee. They have solid squad led by a quarterback in Tanner Price who has beaten the 'Noles before. This FSU squad promises to be different, though, so I'll trust them in this one. It should definitely be closer than the line, however, where FSU is favored by 28 points.
Florida State 38, Wake Forest 28
No. 13 Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh, Noon ESPNU
Virginia Tech has lost its past two meetings in Pittsburgh but this is a bad-looking Panthers team. They were dumped 31-17 by FCS-level Youngstown State two weeks ago then got blasted by Cincinnati 34-10 last Thursday. Even with a struggling Hokies offense, I can't see Pitt hanging around in this one for too long.
Virginia Tech 24, Pittsburgh 7
Connecticut at Maryland, 12:30 p.m. ESPN3.com
Maryland coach Randy Edsall faces his old UConn team in this one. The Terrapins are somehow 2-0 after barely skimming by William & Mary and then beating a strong Temple team last week. The Huskies shut out FBS newcomer Massachusetts then was beaten 10-7 by N.C. State last week. Kind've a tossup game I think. If Maryland gets to 3-0, they could have a shot at surprising some people this year.
Maryland 16, Connecticut 13
No. 1 Alabama at Arkansas, 3:30 p.m. CBS
It is a shame that Arkansas lost at home last week to Louisiana-Monroe because this would have been a huge game between top-10 teams. Instead, it is looking like a possible Alabama blowout win. It is a shame the trouble ex-Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino got in over the offseason but now his team is paying the price. Razorbacks starting quarterback Tyler Wilson might not even be able to play because of an injury. At this point, it would be quite shocking for the Hogs to beat the Crimson Tide.
Alabama 38, Arkansas 17
North Carolina at No. 19 Louisville, 3:30 p.m. ABC, ESPN2
Another tossup game for me. I don't know a lot about Louisville but they it has a solid-looking sophomore quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater who has completed 49 of 60 passes so far this season for two touchdowns and zero interceptions. The Cardinals have been untested thus far, however, defeating Kentucky and Missouri State. North Carolina pounded FCS quad Elon 62-0 in Week 1 but then lost to Wake Forest last week. I'll take the Cardinals at home in a tight one.
Louisville 27, North Carolina 24
No. 18 Florida at No. 23 Tennessee, 6 p.m. ESPN
The Gators edged Texas A&M last week in the Aggies' SEC opener. I picked A&M and I think I'll pick against them again. I just like the Vols so far. Their offense has been very strong. Quarterback Tyler Bray has a huge arm and has completed 45 of 61 passes for 643 yards and six touchdowns already this season while wide receiver Justin Hunter has 17 catches and three touchdowns. They scored 35 points in a win over N.C. State in Atlanta two weeks ago and then scored 51 last week in beating Georgia State. It is hard to tell if that N.C. State victory is that good, however, because the Wolfpack has struggled a bit. Still, I think Tennessee wins this one at Neyland Stadium with a raucous crowd carrying them to a win.
Tennessee 26, Florida 24
No. 2 USC at No. 21 Stanford, 7:30 p.m. FOX
The Trojans have not beaten the Cardinal since 2008, including a triple-overtime thriller last year. Post-Andrew Luck, however, I think Matt Barkley and the Trojans get back on the winning side of things in the rivalry.
USC 35, Stanford 24
No. 20 Notre Dame at No. 10 Michigan State, 8 p.m. ABC
I think people got a little too excited about the Fighting Irish out of the gate when they pounded Navy in Ireland. Last week, they were able to sneak by Purdue, 20-17. Michigan State, however, has one of the best defenses in the country. It should be a close game, however, as recent games in this rivalry have been. The last time this game was played in East Lansing, Michigan State won 34-31 in overtime on a gutsy fake field goal call. Last year, Notre Dame got a measure of revenge in South Bend by winning 31-13.
Michigan State 24, Notre Dame 20
Virginia at Georgia Tech, 3:30 p.m. ESPNU
After eeking out a win over Penn State, the Cavaliers travel to take on the Yellow Jackets in another matchup between Virginia and its old coach, Al Groh, who is 2-1 against UVa since taking over as Georgia Tech's defensive coordinator. Last year, Virginia upset undefeated and No. 12-ranked Georgia Tech 24-21 by punishing Groh's 3-4 defense for 407 total yards, 272 of which were on the ground. The Cavaliers held the Jackets to 296 yards, way below their season average, and picked off quarterback Tevin Washington twice. UVa's defense, however, had two weeks to prepare for Georgia Tech's triple option offense and this week, it only has one so that could affect how well it can stop the Jackets this time around (although coach Mike London did mention how the coaches had time in training camp to prepare for the first three opponents of the season). Georgia Tech lost to Virginia Tech 20-17 in overtime in Blacksburg two weeks ago then rolled Presbyterian 59-3 last week. One of the keys to beating Georgia Tech is scoring first, and Virginia definitely did that last year by getting out to a 14-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets eventually tied up the game at 14 but still, scoring first allowed Virginia to dictate the tempo of the game more. If Georgia Tech gets out in front, it will just run, run, run the ball down defenses' throats and pick up first down after first down on clock- and soul-sucking drives. Hopefully, Virginia cleans up its act on offense this week. Last week, a fumbled snap, an interception, a sack and a fumble, and just a plain ol' fumble gave Penn State four turnovers. Luckily, the defense held strong and minimized the damage. If that happens this week, however, I can't see the Wahoo 'D' turning back Georgia Tech's offense time and time again. The Cavalier offense will have to be more efficient with the ball this week. The defense will have to contend with Washington, an experienced signal caller who knows what he doing in this offense and several other returning running backs and offensive linemen. Georgia Tech is picking up 330 yards per game on the ground in two games (fifth in the nation). Washington's also been pretty efficient with his passing so far this season, completing 17 of 26 passes for 257 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. It will be a tall task for the defense to slow down the Jackets this time around, even moreso than last year. If Virginia is to win this game, I think it will be because the offense has a bounce back week. The defense might play well, but Georgia Tech is going to get its points. I see the defense holding down the Jackets early, but fading late by not getting quite enough help from the Cavalier offense. I think it will be a good effort by UVa but the 'Hoos will come up a bit short.
Georgia Tech 30, Virginia 24
Wake Forest at No. 5 Florida State, Noon ESPN
Wake Forest has, incredibly, won four of the last six meetings in this one. The Demon Deacons beat FSU 35-30 last year, 12-3 in 2008 at FSU, 24-21 in 2007, and 30-0 at FSU in 2006. Something about Wake must not sit right with Florida State. Wake Forest barely beat Liberty two weeks ago, and then edged UNC last week. Florida State has thus far been untested, beating two FCS squads by a combined score of 124-3. That could hurt the Seminoles, who will now have to turn up the intensity after sleeping the past two weeks. And Wake won't be intimated by FSU or by being in Tallahassee. They have solid squad led by a quarterback in Tanner Price who has beaten the 'Noles before. This FSU squad promises to be different, though, so I'll trust them in this one. It should definitely be closer than the line, however, where FSU is favored by 28 points.
Florida State 38, Wake Forest 28
No. 13 Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh, Noon ESPNU
Virginia Tech has lost its past two meetings in Pittsburgh but this is a bad-looking Panthers team. They were dumped 31-17 by FCS-level Youngstown State two weeks ago then got blasted by Cincinnati 34-10 last Thursday. Even with a struggling Hokies offense, I can't see Pitt hanging around in this one for too long.
Virginia Tech 24, Pittsburgh 7
Connecticut at Maryland, 12:30 p.m. ESPN3.com
Maryland coach Randy Edsall faces his old UConn team in this one. The Terrapins are somehow 2-0 after barely skimming by William & Mary and then beating a strong Temple team last week. The Huskies shut out FBS newcomer Massachusetts then was beaten 10-7 by N.C. State last week. Kind've a tossup game I think. If Maryland gets to 3-0, they could have a shot at surprising some people this year.
Maryland 16, Connecticut 13
No. 1 Alabama at Arkansas, 3:30 p.m. CBS
It is a shame that Arkansas lost at home last week to Louisiana-Monroe because this would have been a huge game between top-10 teams. Instead, it is looking like a possible Alabama blowout win. It is a shame the trouble ex-Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino got in over the offseason but now his team is paying the price. Razorbacks starting quarterback Tyler Wilson might not even be able to play because of an injury. At this point, it would be quite shocking for the Hogs to beat the Crimson Tide.
Alabama 38, Arkansas 17
North Carolina at No. 19 Louisville, 3:30 p.m. ABC, ESPN2
Another tossup game for me. I don't know a lot about Louisville but they it has a solid-looking sophomore quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater who has completed 49 of 60 passes so far this season for two touchdowns and zero interceptions. The Cardinals have been untested thus far, however, defeating Kentucky and Missouri State. North Carolina pounded FCS quad Elon 62-0 in Week 1 but then lost to Wake Forest last week. I'll take the Cardinals at home in a tight one.
Louisville 27, North Carolina 24
No. 18 Florida at No. 23 Tennessee, 6 p.m. ESPN
The Gators edged Texas A&M last week in the Aggies' SEC opener. I picked A&M and I think I'll pick against them again. I just like the Vols so far. Their offense has been very strong. Quarterback Tyler Bray has a huge arm and has completed 45 of 61 passes for 643 yards and six touchdowns already this season while wide receiver Justin Hunter has 17 catches and three touchdowns. They scored 35 points in a win over N.C. State in Atlanta two weeks ago and then scored 51 last week in beating Georgia State. It is hard to tell if that N.C. State victory is that good, however, because the Wolfpack has struggled a bit. Still, I think Tennessee wins this one at Neyland Stadium with a raucous crowd carrying them to a win.
Tennessee 26, Florida 24
No. 2 USC at No. 21 Stanford, 7:30 p.m. FOX
The Trojans have not beaten the Cardinal since 2008, including a triple-overtime thriller last year. Post-Andrew Luck, however, I think Matt Barkley and the Trojans get back on the winning side of things in the rivalry.
USC 35, Stanford 24
No. 20 Notre Dame at No. 10 Michigan State, 8 p.m. ABC
I think people got a little too excited about the Fighting Irish out of the gate when they pounded Navy in Ireland. Last week, they were able to sneak by Purdue, 20-17. Michigan State, however, has one of the best defenses in the country. It should be a close game, however, as recent games in this rivalry have been. The last time this game was played in East Lansing, Michigan State won 34-31 in overtime on a gutsy fake field goal call. Last year, Notre Dame got a measure of revenge in South Bend by winning 31-13.
Michigan State 24, Notre Dame 20
Virginia at Georgia Tech, 3:30 p.m. ESPNU
Georgia Tech 30, Virginia 24
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