COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 9 PICKS

     I was both right and wrong last week. I correctly predicted that this week would feature a lot of upsets with the first BCS standings looming the day after. However I had all the wrong upsets, with the exceptions of Florida State and Stanford, if you consider those upsets. In fact last week was my worst week to date, only going 11-8. But my overall record still remains strong at 109-24, an 82% accuracy rating. College football is heading into its homestretch, with only 10 unbeatens remaining. The BCS controversy is present as always, with a hot race between Alabama, FSU, and Oregon, an Ohio State team losing votes week after week, and a one-loss Stanford team coming out ahead of half of the unbeatens. The pressure continues to increase which means you should see that "upset alert" icon on your ESPN page pop up more and more frequently. I absolutely love it.

Wake Forest @ #7 Miami: The Hurricanes almost got trapped last week, needing a last minute drive to escape Chapel Hill with a win. While returning home will be much more comforting for Miami, you should still expect a slow start as Miami might be looking ahead to their huge match up in Doak next week. Wake Forest is streaky, they played impressively last week to easily dispose of a previously 5-1 Miami team as well as N.C. State the week prior. The problem? Wake Forest is currently 0-3 on the road. This may have a slow start, but it ends in Miami's favor.         Miami 37 Wake 20

#19 Oklahoma State @ Iowa State: Despite winning almost every week, Oklahoma State is seeing no rise in the rankings mainly due to its poor strength of schedule and the weakness of the Big 12 this year. Iowa State enters this game 1-5, and I haven't seen any real reason to believe they could knock off Oklahoma State. Cowboys win, and don't move in the ranks once again.   OkSt 35 Iowa State 10

#20 Louisville @ South Florida: This doesn't look like much on paper, but South Florida actually has a habit of playing good opponents good at home. But frankly they don't have enough on the defensive side of the ball to slow down TB and the Cardinal offense. Louisville should wanna take care of this one early after what happened last week, so I can't offer USF much of a chance here.   L'ville 56 USF 17

Connecticut @ #23 UCF: The Huskies are 0-6, but the one time they played a ranked team they almost had them beat (Michigan). UCF comes off the biggest win in its program's history, and team morale is at an all time high. UCF is confident, Uconn is not. Uconn will also have to deal with the climate change, Orlando is still in the 70s this time of year. UCF wins.    UCF 38 Uconn 7

#24 Nebraska @ Minnesota: The Golden Gophers aren't the conference slouch that we're used to them being. But they haven't been exposed to any serious competition yet aside from a blowout loss to Michigan. While Nebraska may struggle on the road, I think they have the offensive firepower to pick up a win in Minnesota this weekend.    Nebraska 31 Minnesota 20

Vanderbilt @ #16 Texas A&M: Vandy was one of the big surprises last week, mostly thanks to a poor Georgia defense. However, the Texas A&M defense is just as bad. You can expect Vandy to score in the 30's again, but I think they won't be able to slow down Johnny Manziell and the Aggie offense the same way they were able to slow down Murray and the Dawgs. It's another tight one but Johnny Football drags his team through the quicksand.     TAMU 45 Vandy 35

Tennessee @ #1 Alabama: After several weeks of "close but no cigar", the Vols finally picked up their marquee conference win last week against South Carolina. They also almost had Georgia the week prior. But can they stand toe to toe with this Alabama team? The Tide roll in with the #1 defense in the nation, allowing less than 10 points per game. It's hard to not take the Tide here in Tuscaloosa, although Tennessee may keep it interesting for a quarter and a half or so.       Bama 35 Tenn 13

N.C. State @ #2 Florida State: Florida State made the statement win of the season so far last week after putting a beatdown on the Tigers. But this is a lot more than just another game for the Seminoles. The last 4 times a ranked Seminole team has played an unranked Wolfpack team, the Wolfpack have won. The most recent meeting having been a come from behind 17-16 win in NC last year, which put the major dent in FSU's national title aspirations. FSU hasn't forgotten, and their definately amped to avenge this one. Oh...and Bobby Bowden is in town.     FSU 45 N.C. State 0

#9 Clemson @ Maryland: Clemson needs to have a short memory. What happened last week is past and can't be changed, and now it's time to move forward. Easier said than done. In a way, Clemson lost their entire season in one game: the national title, the Heisman, and the conference title are falling out of reach. It's tough to find motivation now, but they need too as one of the better ACC teams is also looking to make a statement. I think it may take Clemson a bit to get the wind back into their sails, but the offense and it's senior leaders will do enough to keep this ship afloat.    Clemson 35 Maryland 21

#10 Texas Tech @ #15 Oklahoma: Texas Tech's string of weak opponents has come to an end. We will now figure out whether the Red Raiders are pretenders or contenders as they visit OU this weekend for a top 15 showdown. My prediction...an unbeaten goes down. The Red Raiders can't handle the heat that comes in this kind of match up, especially on the road. Bob Stoops prepares Blake Bell and the Sooners for a home upset.    Oklahoma 27 Texas Tech 20

Duke @ #14 Virginia Tech: The Hokies have quietly returned to the top 15, where they used to be before the 2010s. This match up features two of the front runners in the ACC coastal standings, although Duke didn't have a conference win until their come from behind victory over Virginia last week. Don't be fooled by Duke's 5-2 record, Virginia Tech commands this one in Blacksburg.    VT 38 Duke 10

Eastern Michigan @ #18 Northern Illinois: Northern Illinois should be happy with coming out of the BCS standings at #18. The climb to a BCS at-large bid is not as steep as they thought it was. However we all know it's impossible without a perfect season. But the generous ranking should give NIU the motivation to keep going forward and take care of Eastern Michigan this week.    NIU 38 Eastern Mich 17

#12 UCLA @ #3 Oregon: The Bruins fell out of the top 10 after losing a tight game with Stanford last week, but they have an opportunity to jump right back in this week if they can find a way to pick up a win in Eugene. However no one has come remotely close this year to knocking off the Ducks, the closest effort being when Washington only trailed by a touchdown in the 4th quarter. Oregon should feel the need to put on a big performance to attract human voters and reclaim the #2 spot  over the Noles, and a big win over UCLA might just do it. Oregon wins at home.    Oregon 48 UCLA 31

#21 South Carolina @ #5 Missouri: If Conner Shaw were healthy and starting, I'd be really tempted to pick the Cocks. I do not have the same faith in Dylan Thompson. And I also have gained faith in Missouri. Even with Maty Mauk at QB, the Tigers still hung 35 points on the Gator defense last week, and now they have a really good shot of winning the SEC East, and even a national title isn't out of the realm of possibility if Mizzou runs the table and then beats Bama in an SEC title game. There's something in the water over in Missouri right now, and it's effects will carry over another week.     Mizzou 35 SC 23

#8 Baylor @ Kansas: Baylor and Texas Tech co-lead the Big 12 right now, thanks in part to really shitty schedules. Texas Tech has a showdown this week, meanwhile Baylor has practically another weak off. Kansas didn't take Oklahoma lightly last week, but they're still among the weakest Big 12 members when it comes to football. Baylor's offense it scoring at light speed rates, expect another high scoring affair with the Jayhawks.     BU 70 Kansas 10

Furman @ #13 LSU: The Tigers were another member of the club of upset victims last week, losing to Ole Miss off a last second field goal. A visit from Furman should help LSU get back on track in Death Valley. There's no room for a surprise here.     LSU 45 Furman 9

Florida-Atlantic @ #11 Auburn: Auburn's big win over TAMU last week in college station has the War Eagle nation believing again. That victory catapulted Auburn's ranking, nearly breaking the top 10. Auburn is rewarded with a cupcake home game against FAU as they try to crack the top 10 once again. Auburn will ride it's newfound confidence to an easy home victory.    Auburn 45 FAU 10

Penn State @ #4 Ohio State: If Ohio State really wants to be taken as seriously as Bama, Florida State, and Oregon, they've gotta do something more than beat the Iowa Hawkeyes by 10. Unfortunately, no one is going to give Ohio State props this week either, even though Penn State is disrespected because of their postseason ineligibility. In fact I think Penn State is going to give the Buckeyes a real scare, and remind Ohio State that not everyone is just going to back down for them. But the Buckeyes will still get the job done in a close one at home.    OSU 27 PSU 23

#6 Stanford @ #25 Oregon State: After losing its opener to Eastern Washington, Oregon State has spun off 6 straight wins, 4 of which were conference games. Aside from one measly slip up to Utah, Stanford is playing really good football right now. Stanford has also played a lot of good competition to prepare them and Oregon State has not. I like Stanford to pick up a road win.     Stanford 31 Oregon State 19

#17 Fresno State @ San Diego State: Similarly to Northern Illinois, Fresno should be really pleased with where they ended up in the BCS. They even finished ahead of NIU, and human voters are giving them the nod ahead of NIU because NIU had their chance last year. San Diego State shouldn't get in Fresno's way right now.    Fresno 45 SDST 17