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

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 8 PICKS

     My apologies for not putting out an article last week, I got really backed up preparing for a Calc 3 Test and writing a pair of essays as well. My last set of predictions (week 6) was rather successful for me, going 19-2. That brings my overall record to 98-16, an 86% accuracy rating. Anyways, this is a big week since we're awaiting the first release of the BCS rankings on Sunday. Any big matchup or upset can really shake the standings so it's only natural to expect things to get a little crazy as we head down the stretch. 

#10 Miami @ North Carolina: Don't be fooled by Miami's ranking and record here. Miami's road to the top ten hasn't been the smoothest of sails. A Thursday night trip to a hostile environment is the perfect atmosphere for a trap game. The Tar Heels were able to stick around with Virginia Tech last week in Blacksburg, so don't rule them out at home by any means. But the Miami offense is hot right now, scoring at least 34 points in all but one of their games thus far. At the end of the day Miami's offense is too much.      Miami 35 UNC 17

UCF @ #8 Louisville: The Cardinals really don't have many tests this year if at all, but this might be the closest thing. The Knights have a legitimate team this year, a team that beat Penn State and led South Carolina the majority of the game. But this is also the best offense the Knight's defense will go up against. This one would serve as a perfect trap game if it were in Orlando, but in Kentucky I think Teddy Bridgewater outscores UCF by double digits.                   L'ville 31 UCF 17

#11 South Carolina @ Tennessee: Both these teams have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. South Carolina put together a solid performance against Arkansas last week, but weak performances against UCF and Kentucky shouldn't be overlooked. Tennessee almost pulled off a monumental upset against Georgia 2 weeks ago, but they also can't seem to defend anyone. There is one consistency though that determines this end result....South Carolina is winning and Tennessee is losing. It may not be pretty, but Spurrier and the Gamecocks will find a way to come out with this one, thanks to a second half rally.     SC 34 Tenn 24

#15. Georgia @ Vanderbilt: Georgia is really banged up right now. Todd Gurley is expected not to play for the third straight week, the #2 running back isn't healthy either and all of Aaron Murray's favorite targets are hurt as well. The Georgia defense really can't hold anyone under 30 points either, I mean except North Texas but even they scored 21. Georgia will struggle on the road and once again all the weight gets thrown on Aaron Murray's shoulders, but this time he pulls them out of the quicksand and into the bye week.     Georgia 35 Vandy 28

#16 Texas Tech @ West Virginia: If you would have told me Texas Tech would be a top 15 competitor in late October, I wouldn't have believed you. But now looking back at their schedule, it actually isn't that surprising. TT opponents have a combined record of 12-21 and their Big 12 opponents have a combined 1-6 conference record. West Virginia could really challenge them at home, having already upset Oklahoma State earlier this year. Clint Trickett seems to have finally given WVU the offensive spark they've been looking for. The pressure keeps increasing for TT week in and week out, this is the weak their bubble bursts.     WVU 35 TT 31

TCU @ #21 Oklahoma State: It's week 8 and I really still don't have a set feeling on the TCU team. On the one hand, they show up in big games, having taken LSU and Oklahoma to the wire away from home. On the other hand, they lost to an also mysterious Texas Tech team and saw their early struggles against Kansas and even SMU early on. Oklahoma State is also inconsistent. They could easily be 5-0 but they could also be 3-2 and their best competition is still to come. I like the Cowboys at home though, especially against a TCU team that is struggling to produce offensively.      OkSt 28 TCU 16

#22 Florida @ #14 Missouri: This is a real treat as a noon matchup. If anyone had Missouri as the SEC East leader halfway through the season, I'd be very surprised. The Mizzou offense has been scoring at will, but they took a heavy blow last week after QB James Franklin suffered a season ending shoulder injury during the 4th quarter of last weeks victory over Georgia. Missouri has great faith in backup Maty Mauk, but his first collegiate start will come against one of the nation's toughest defenses. The Gators are no strangers to this situation, relying on Tyler Murphy in the absence of Jeff Driskel. I'd love to pick the Tigers and watch the Cinderella run continue, but Murphy's experience and the Gator defense will lift them to a big road win this week.     UF 24 Mizzou 14

#23 Northern Illinois @ Central Michigan: Northern Illinois find themselves quietly staying in the rankings for the second year in a row. This is much in thanks to the big play from their senior superstar Jordan Lynch, who has accumulated over 1300 yards passing, close to 700 yards rushing, and 17 total TDs in just 6 games. I don't know much about Central Michigan other than their large losses to power conference schools (Michigan and N.C. State) being outscored by a total of 107-23 in those 2 games. I expect another Heisman like day from Mr. Lynch.     NIU 38 Cent Mich 17

#24 Auburn @ #7 Texas A&M: After a 2 and a half year hiatus, Auburn has returned to the AP Top 25. They travel to College Station to take on Johnny Football and the Aggies. Texas A&M had a real scare last week against Ole Miss, Johnny Manziell in particular had a lot to deal with. A knee injury and some late turnovers put TAMU at risk, but Manziell was lights out the rest of the 4th quarter and reminded us why he was a former Heisman winner. The weekly concern however is not Manziell, but the TAMU defense, who has yet to hold a conference opponent to under 33 points. Auburn has a real opportunity to regain some fame by exploiting a weak defense and knocking off a top 10 opponent on the road, but my hunch says Manziell will pull them through the mud once again.      Tamu 45 Auburn 35

#9 UCLA @ #13 Stanford: Stanford's loss to Utah reminds us that no one is ever truly safe in college football and should serve as a good wake up call to the rest of the nation. Now they have an opportunity to come home and bounce back with a top 10 victory. UCLA has broken the top 10 for the first time since 2005 and has aspirations of climbing even higher. I really think what happened last week in Utah was just a fluke, everyone has bad games. I think a good week of practice and a refreshed mindset will do Stanford some good, and I'll make it another upset pick.     Stanford 20 UCLA 17

#18 Oklahoma @ Kansas: Bob Stoops have NEVER lost the game following the Red River Rivalry in his entire coaching tenure at OU. Don't expect a 2-3 Kansas team to change that. Oklahoma was the victim of a trap game last week, but they're still stronger, faster, and more talented than Kansas. Sooners win on the road.     OU 34 Kansas 10

#20 Washington @ Arizona State: The Huskies played the 2 best West Coast teams in their past 2 games. Washington posted an inspiring effort against Stanford, and didn't play bad against Oregon. These past 2 weeks should help slow down the game for them this week against the Sun Devils and return to their winning ways. The main objective is to not give up, there's still a lot for the Huskies to go after this season, like a Pac-12 title. Snapping out of any losing streak is tough, but this team has the players and coaches to get it done.     Wash 34 Arz St 27

Arkansas @ #1 Alabama: The Razorbacks have lost 4 in a row, not really the kind of momentum you want to have when traveling to play the best team in the country. Meanwhile the water is still warm in Tuscaloosa, where the Tide continue to dispose of opponents without much effort. The doctor ordered another big Alabama win at home this week.     Bama 45 Arkansas 7

#6 LSU @ Ole Miss: The Rebels enter the game losers of 3 straight, but those were a very tough 3 (at Bama, at Auburn, vs TAMU). LSU comes to Mississippi still with national title hopes in mind. They are ranked highest among one loss teams, but the road is not easy with Bama, TAMU, and a potential SEC title game still on the schedule. But first things first. If the Tigers can keep up the defensive effort they posted last week while continuing their offensive production, they should win this one. But it won't be for a lack of effort on the Rebels part.     LSU 35 Ole Miss 21

Iowa State @ #12 Baylor: I know I've already used the word "surprise" enough today, but we should really take a minute to appreciate what's going on here. 2 years ago, everyone would have claimed it would be a longgggggggg time before the Baylor offense was as effective as they were with Heisman winner RG3 at the helm. We were wrong. Baylor now leads the nation in total offense, averaging over 700 yards of total offense a game. Prior to last week's 35 point performance, the Baylor offense had scored at least 69 points in its first 4 games. Iowa State has nothing to slow this trend down.      BU 55 Iowa State 17

#5 Florida State @ #3 Clemson: There's a reason all the other good games this week were at noon and 3:30...it's so you wouldn't miss this. Death Valley hosts a top 5 match up featuring 3 Heisman candidates and two teams with National Title hopes. Clemson almost got caught looking too far ahead last week with Boston College leading them most of the game. Florida State enjoyed an extra week of preparation thanks to a bye. Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins have joined forces to build the best Clemson offense since...well ever actually. Famous Jameis and the Seminoles have been just as sharp, 3rd in the nation in total offense with weapons spread throughout the line up. You might be surprised to hear that these teams also feature top 10 defenses. Clemson has gotten after opponents with their pass rush while FSU has done so by keeping things tight in the secondary. There really isn't a bad pick here. Clemson has the experience and the homefield advantage. Florida State has the extra week of preperation and a bit more balance to their system. But you're asking an FSU student and Nole for life to make this pick.      FSU 38 Clemson 36

#25 Wisconsin @ Illinois: Wisconsin is like a tennis ball, where the net is like the AP top 25 with Wisconsin bouncing inside and outside of it. At this point in the match, Wisconsin has received a generous bounce inside from the tape of the net, perhaps just enough so to let the ball drop more than once. Wisconsin really made a statement last weekend against Northwestern and it might be the start of something for these new guys.      Wisc 38 Illinois 6

Washington State @ #2 Oregon: If you wanna talk about something not surprising then talk about the Oregon offense. 2nd overall and averaging roughly 325 yards/game just from the run. What is surprising is the defense, 6th in the nation and very uncharacteristic of the past Oregon teams who just wanted to outgun people. It might finally be time for someone to knock off the Tide and Oregon just might have the tools to do it. Washington State is certainly no challenge to Oregon's talent.     Oregon 56 Wash St 13

UNLV @ #17 Fresno State: Seriously though does anyone care? While UNLV is some of the better conference competition for Fresno, they're still not that great. Fresno keeps the hope for a perfect season and possible BCS bid alive.    Fresno 35 UNLV 16

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 5 PICKS

    Yes everyone, I did go 19-0 last week. Granted it really wasn't that tough of a week. Regardless, a perfect week is a perfect week and I will continue to strive for perfection. This week will be much more challenging, with almost every game being a conference game, and even 4 ranked matchups. Overall record is now 68-11 or 86% overall. 

#11 Oklahoma State @ West Virginia: Oklahoma State is flying way under the radar right now, and happily so. Meanwhile West Virginia's struggles continue after being both shutout and blown out by Maryland last week. While West Virginia may put on a more inspiring performance at home, the cards still favor the Cowboys to kick off the Big 12 season on a winning note.    OkSt 31 WV 7

#12 South Carolina @  UCF: UCF is a team people really need to start paying more attention to. Over the past few years they've recruited and put together a team that's willing to compete, and now they're 3-0 because of it, which includes a victory over Penn State. It should also be noted the South Carolina loves to toy around in these kind of games...remember the past 2 meetings with Wofford? So what does all this mean? South Carolina plays a poor half and an average 2nd half, but does just enough to win and then grab the quickest flight out of Orlando.    SC 27 UCF 24

#15 Miami @ USF: Give Miami credit, they tried to better themselves by scheduling games against all the major Florida schools. But USF is just bad right now. The Hurricanes are coming off a big offensive performance last week, hanging 77 on Savannah State. USF has a habit of playing good against good teams though, so this one may be tight for a half, but the final outcome favors Miami.    Miami 24 USF 10

Wake Forest @ #3 Clemson: The Tigers got their first conference game out of the way last week, and now they get a less talented opponent at home. Wake has struggled with the non conference games that have been thrown at them so far. Clemson should respond from last week's scare with an early statement and a big offensive performance.     Clemson 49 Wake 14

#6 LSU @ #9 Georgia: Get your popcorn out for this one. This is the best LSU offense we've seen in awhile, the pieces of the puzzle are finally falling together for Zach Mettenberger and he's getting big help in the backfield from Jeremy Hill and Terrance Magee. Georgia's offense is also dynamic, and Andy Murray proved against South Carolina that he could finally win big games. While I'd really like to pick the Dawgs at home, these are the games that LSU and Les Miles live for and that Georgia crumbles in. Expect one or two big plays to change the game and sweep it in the Tigers favor.     LSU 24 Georgia 23

#14 Oklahoma @ #22 Notre Dame: Despite their high ranking, Oklahoma has looked no better than average to me thus far. Notre Dame is getting big play from Tommy Rees and has already played a big game this year in the Big House against Michigan. Now the Irish play a less experienced team in South Bend, where the gold helmets will prevail for the 2nd year in a row.      ND 27 OK 17

#21 Ole Miss @ #1 Alabama: 2 weeks ago everyone would have thought Alabama would be untouched in their path to the national title game. Then came the Colorado State Rams, who entered the 4th quarter only trailing the Tide 17-6. Meanwhile Ole Miss is experiencing their best success since the Eli Manning era, beating good competition such as Texas and Vanderbilt. They also had a bye giving them extra time to prepare. But Alabama has a history of following up really bad performances with really amazing ones, and although Ole Miss is the new kid on the block, they're not ready for a Saturday smackdown in Tuscaloosa.      Bama 42 Ole Miss 21

#10 Texas A&M @ Arkansas: Just when it looked like Arkansas football might be back on the right track, they blew a game to Rutgers. Johnny Manziel is too much for Arkansas to handle, although it will be interesting to see the TAMU defense in it's first SEC action of the year.    TAMU 45 Ark 27

Arizona @ #16 Washington: Washington came from nowhere to being on the edge of breaking the top 15. The road hasn't been smooth, and expect this one to have it's bumps as well, but if they can stick to their gameplan and defend the homefield Washington will find themselves with a rare 4-0 record.     Wash 27 Arz 19

#20 Florida @ Kentucky: Florida lost Jeff Driskel for the season last week with a broken fibula, but the blessing in disguise for Gator's fans was the debut of Tyler Murphy. This game created a lot of hype for the kid, and after one game people were even proclaiming him the best UF QB since that Tebow guy. It was a home game against Tennessee though... Murphy now has to go do it in a hostile environment, against a head coach and a staff that know a lot about UF. But at the end of the day, it's Kentucky and the Gators have the better athletes.    UF 27 UK 13

#23 Wisconsin @ #4 Ohio State: After 4 warm up games, Ohio State finally faces some real competition. It's assumed Braxton Miller will start, but if the first few possessions don't go well then Kenny Guiton should be ready. The Badgers tend to give the Buckeyes trouble, and they'll come out motivated to continue that trend, but at the end of the day Wisconsin is inexperienced and the Buckeyes should hold their ground in Ohio, regardless of whose taking the snaps.     OSU 29 Wisc 17

California @ #2 Oregon: California couldn't slow Ohio State down 2 weeks ago. Now they face an even faster, more dynamic offense. The Ducks should run all over the Golden Bears, just like they've done to everyone else so far.     Oregon 58 Cal 21

#5 Stanford @ Washington State: Stanford put on an impressive showcase against Arizona State last week. But Washington State isn't bad either. They beat conference powerhouse USC and took Auburn to the wire in week 1. This is a new and improved Washington State, but Stanford is still the more talented team here.    Stan 35 Wasu 14

#25 Fresno State @ Hawaii: Well I'm supposed to pick all top 25 games, so I'm stuck picking this one too. Fresno...      Fresno 35 Hawaii 17

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 4 PICKS

     After a record of 15-3 last week, my overall record now stands at 49-11, slightly bumping up my accuracy to 82%. This week should be no different because unfortunately, this might be the most uneventful week of the season. Regardless, I'll go through everything and see if I forsee any upsets, here we go.

     #3. Clemson @ N.C. State: N.C. State has a habit of playing really good teams tough at home. But then again they looked pitiful last week against Richmond. Clemson looks scary good so far, and I can't see N.C. State tripping them up. Maybe it's close for a half since it's a road game on Thursday night, but Clemson's offense is too much for N.C. State in the end.    Clem 45  NCST 17

FAMU @ #4 Ohio State: Even without Braxton Miller, the Buckeyes have had no shortage of offense. Guiton has been an incredible back up, throwing 7 touchdowns in less than 2 games. No matter who takes the snaps on Saturday, the Buckeyes should roll over the Rattlers pretty convincingly.    Bucks 52 FAMU 0

FIU @ #7 Louisville: Another week, another crappy opponent for Louisville. I'll keep it short and sweet, big numbers for Bridgewater and a big W for Louisville.   L'ville 48 FIU 7

North Texas @ #9 Georgia: Things are finally clicking for Georgia after the opening week loss to Clemson. They looked much better against South Carolina, and after playing two top ten teams, they deserve a light game. And that's what this should be, a straight blowout.    UGA 45 UNT 6

Idaho State @ #17 Washington: Washington also deserves a break after playing Boise and Illinois in their first 2 games. Granted that's not too tough but it's better than most played so far. Washington benefits from playing good competition and gets by Idaho State without much effort.    Wash 45 Idaho State 13

Maine @ #18 Northwestern: Don't be fooled by their 3-0 record...Maine is still crap. It's Northwestern's last game before the Big 10 conference schedule so they may look ahead and have a slow start, but they're still way more talented then Maine's athletes.    NW 42 Maine 7

Tennessee @ #19 Florida: UF had a bye week to recover after a loss at Miami and get back on track. Tennessee got pounded by Oregon. Lately UF has had the best of the rivalry...and I expect that tradition to continue in the swamp.    UF 20 Tenn 10

Michigan State @ #22 Notre Dame: Michigan State is trying to return to the college football threat that they once were, and starting 3-0 is a good first step. Meanwhile the Irish rebounded from a loss in the big house to defeat their rival Purdue last week on the road. Notre Dame's early competition should help them prepare for this one, along with Tommy Rees' experience should help the Irish win this one at home.    ND 27 MSU 20

Purdue @ #24 Wisconsin: Last week's ending to the Wisconsin game was one of the most controversial conclusions to a football game I have ever seen. Wisconsin had the game won, I'm not even sure how you recover from that. But sports are weird like that, maybe Wisconsin can channel this as motivation and put on a big performance at home. And Purdue is coming off a tough loss as well. It should be a good fight...but I think Wisconsin needs the win more right now.    Wisc 24 Purdue 21

Louisiana-Monroe @ #20 Baylor: So far the Baylor offense is up there with the best. scoring 139 points in 2 games. While ULM is slightly more well rounded than Baylor's first 2 opponents, they just don't have the firepower to stand toe to toe with Baylor's offense.    Baylor 56 ULM 21

Bethune-Cookman @ #8 Florida State: There's no nice way of putting this...FSU's playing Bethune Cookman today and they're going to obliterate them...with both the rush and pass. Another big day for Jameis.    FSU 70 BC 3

Colorado State @ #1 Alabama: Bama finally catches a break after playing Virginia Tech and Texas A&M in their first 2 games. Handling Colorado State is nothing compared to those teams. Bama wins big.      Bama 48 Colorado State 0

#23 Arizona State @ #5 Stanford: The only ranked game of the week....and only because Arizona State won off bad officiating the week before. While I'm still not sold on Stanford as a top 5 team, I do think they're more well rounded than Arizona State, especially on the defensive side. And that will make all the difference and lead to a home victory.    Stan 27 ASU 13

Southern-Methodist @ #10 Texas A&M: The Aggies should be able to rebound from a close loss to Bama. They picked apart the nation's greatest defense of the past 4-5 years for 42 points. Expect a big day for Manziell, but more woes from the defense.     TAMU 56 SM 21

Savannah State @ #16 Miami: Miami still has some question marks offensively, but Savannah State won't be able to keep up with Miami's speed, strength, or athleticism. Hurricanes continue their hot start.    Miami 45 Savannah State 0

Texas State @ #25 Texas Tech: Texas Tech gets ranked simply because they beat an overrated TCU team at home. I'm not buying Texas Tech as a ranked team, but I am buying that they beat Texas State.    TT 35 Texas State 7

Auburn @ #6 LSU: This might actually be the best game of the weekend. LSU looks solid, actually they look better than they have in years past. Auburn might be back too, starting 3-0 and winning their first SEC game last week against Mississippi State. I think Auburn will compete and remind people of what they're capable of...but you can almost always count on LSU to make enough big plays in Death Valley to seal the deal.    LSU 27 Auburn 17

#15 Michigan @ Connecticut: Is this game really on ABC?? Connecticut won't be able to hang with the Wolverines at the current rate both teams are playing. Although Michigan almost lost to Akron last week so nothing is certain. But Michigan is a better football team at the end of the day.    Mich 31 Uconn 10

New Mexico State @ #13 UCLA: UCLA showed last week that they were a contender not a pretender. 38 unanswered to beat Nebraska on the road and this team is riding an emotional high. Expect that to carry over to this week as the Bruins pick up another W.    UCLA 45 NMST 7

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 3 PICKS

     Week 2 was a slight step backward for me, going 15-5 after going 19-3 the week before. For those of you keeping score at home, that brings my overall record to 34-8, an 81% accuracy. The weeks to come won't be as easy though. The match ups are no longer lop-sided as we move towards conference play and teams finally pick on people their own size. That's no reason for me to try to match my success rate though. Diving into week 3 headfirst.

#24 TCU @ Texas Tech: TCU rebounded from their week 1 loss to LSU and put their first deposit in the win column last week. They'd like for that tradition to continue. The Red Raiders arrive well rested off a bye and not needing to travel. This one has every reason to be on upset alert as both teams open up conference play on a Thursday night. But my gut is telling me TCU will narrowly pull it out.
TCU 17 TT 14

#5. Stanford @ Army: I will always back up the Army on the battlefield, but on the football field it's a bit harder. Stanford did what I said they would last week, slow start followed by a strong finish. Even though it's still early, there's no reason to believe the Cardinal won't easily dispose of Army on Saturday.    Stan 35 Army 7

#7 Louisville @ Kentucky: The annual in-state rivalry returns and once again it's not that exciting. You can't even call this a state championship game because Kentucky fell to Western Kentucky back on August 31st. There's no need to make a big deal about Louisville playing an SEC team or a rival, they should breeze through this one pretty casually.     L'Ville 42 Kentucky 10

Akron @ #11 Michigan: While most teams should stop playing cupcakes around week 3, Michigan deserves an easy week. Riding high off their victory over Notre Dame in the Big House Michigan should walk in with a lot of confidence, rightfully so. Using the comparison theorem: Michigan > Notre Dame > Akron = Big Michigan victory.    Michigan 35 Akron 13

Tulsa @ #14. Oklahoma: Boomer Sooner struggled with West Virginia last week, who we still really aren't sure exactly how to judge. Regardless, the Sooners advanced to 2-0 and 1-0 in the conference. Now they get the Green Wave at home. While it could be interesting for a quarter or two, Oklahoma's athletes should still be superior to Tulsa's and I don't expect any surprises on OU's turf.      OU 29 Tulsa 14

#16. UCLA @ #23 Nebraska: Well this is certainly an interesting non conference match up. The Bruins have the benefit of an extra week of rest, the Cornhuskers have the benefit of home field advantage. I think Nebraska has the better Quarterback and the best player on the field in Taylor Martinez, but I think UCLA has a better coach in Jim Mora Jr. This is a real toss up for me...I'm thinking Martinez makes big plays down the stretch and Nebraska defends the home field.     Nebraska 27 UCLA 23

#1. Alabama @ #6. Texas A&M: When the schedule first came out, this was definately the most anticipated match up of 2013. Johnny Manziell made his name in the world by taking down the Goliath Alabama last season in Tuscaloosca and nearly foiling their national title hopes. But Alabama doesn't take their rare losses lightly, remember how many times LSU crossed the 50 yard line in that 2012 national title game? Another factor I'd like to point out, Texas A&M's defense is struggling: they've allowed 31 and 28 points to Rice and Sam Houston State respectively. Alabama will have them beat on the defensive side of the ball and avenge last year's loss.       Bama 38 TAMU 27

Tennessee @ #2. Oregon: The Volunteers are used to good beginnings, but not really familiar with happy endings once the easy games are out of the way. On the other hand, the Ducks really look like contenders, and booking an ACC and an SEC team in their non conference schedule will look good upon the eyes of the voters. The Oregon offense has been picking up right where Chip Kelly left it and I don't think the Tennessee defense can keep up with it or slow it down.     Oregon 52 Tennessee 20

Nevada @ #10. Florida State: Well it's no secret anymore, Jameis Winston has some serious potential. The freshman has no chance of flying under the radar after his 27/29 5 TD Monday night debut in Pittsburgh back on Labor day. Now his task becomes a bit easier, beat a smaller school in front of the home crowd. Nevada shouldn't be taken lightly, they were only trailing UCLA by 4 at the half of week 1 before falling apart. But at the end of the day there's really no reason FSU shouldn't enjoy a big opening at Doak.     FSU 45 Nevada 13

#19. Washington @ Illinois: After crushing Boise impressively on week 1, Washington finds themselves in unfamiliar territory....the top 20 of the AP poll. They hit the job hard again by booking a Big 10 school in a non conference game. Illinois also enters the game 2-0 with some steam after their rout of Cincinatti. It's too early to tell whether Washington is pretender or contender but Saturday should give us at least a better idea. I could be sniffing upset, but I'm still feeling Washington by a tad in this one.     Wash 22 Illinois 20

#4 Ohio State @ California: Cal was no match for other Big 10 opponent Northwestern, who I still don't believe to be as good as Ohio State. Braxton Miller is listed as "questionable", but I'm confident he'll play. He could have played if they really needed him last week. Even if he doesn't Kenny Guiton has gotten some valuable reps the past 2 weeks and shown his athleticism and ability as a dual threat QB. Ohio State may start a bit shakey since they really haven't had any real competition yet, but they're still the favorite here.     Bucks 28 Cal 14

Kent State @ #8. LSU: Zach Mettenberger FINALLY put together a complete brilliant game, which is big for his confidence regardless of who he's facing. He threw more touchdowns than incompletions and it's still a great possibility that he could be in for a big Senior year. Kent State gets props because they have a habit of booking big games, they just don't have a habit of winning them. Tigers advance to 3-0.     LSU 31 Kent State 13

Vanderbilt @ #13. South Carolina: Both teams already got to play an early conference game, and they both started off on the wrong foot. But that's no reason to not watch out for either of them. South Carolina lost to a great football team on the road and all the tools are still there for a late season BCS run. Vandy has made great strides in recent years, they're competing with their big SEC opponents and last year they made it to a bowl game. At this point in time though, South Carolina is still a better team with a better coach and a better program. I like them to rebound at home.    SC 27 Vandy 14

Lamar @ #12. Oklahoma State: Oklahoma State got the offensive jumpstart that they were so desperately searching for last week, and they're really starting to gain some confidence. The Cowboys should keep the mojo going against Lamar at home and perhaps the national title whispers will begin to emerge.    OKST 45 Lamar 3

#21 Notre Dame @ Purdue: A good rivalry that's lost it's flavor over the last 6-7 years. While it doesn't look that exciting at face value, Purdue has quietly made a habit of really challenging ND as of recently. Notre Dame needs to forget about what happened last week and try to still turn this season into a productive one that they can look at and be proud of. The National Championship isn't out of question if they win out. But that only happens if they take it one step at a time. I think they'll suffer from some adversity but beat Purdue in the last quarter to steal the game.     Notre Dame 21 Purdue 17

#25 Ole Miss @ Texas: I really expected big things from Texas this year with the experience they bring to the table, but after that embarrassing performance against BYU I'm forced to rethink things. I may have also misjudged Ole Miss. I thought they were a team to watch in a few years, but they may be a "now" team. Anyways, my inaccuracies make the crystal ball quite foggy on this one, but I think I'll try to ride the SEC team to victory.     Ole Miss 26 Texas 20

Western Michigan @ #17 Northwestern: Northwestern quietly took care of 2 decent teams without anyone really noticing or acknowledging it. They feel disrespected that their entire conference pays more attention to Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and even Nebraska. Northwestern's opportunity will come as long as they remain patient and make their layups along the way to the bigger games. But they played good enough competition to be more than prepared for Western Michigan.    NW 38 West. Mich. 15

#20. Wisconsin @ Arizona State: I understand Wisconsin's competition has been poor the first 2 weeks, but posting two shutouts shouldn't be overlooked either. Arizona State has only played one game....which was also a shutout. So perhaps a defensive battle is in store for the latest of ranked games this week. Despite the loss of their coach and big players, Wisconsin's been a great team for some time now, and Arizona State is still trying to establish themselves as an NCAA force. I still believe in Wisconsin and the program they've put together.      Wisc 26 Arizona State 17

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 2 PICKS

     Last week once again showed us that nothing is certain, with the FCS uprising and knocking off 7 FBS teams last week. While the rest of the world watched in shock, I sat back and enjoyed my 19-3 record in week 1. Of the three, I gave up one for being greedy and trying to pick Nevada to upset UCLA, and in another one I could have never foreseen Eastern Washington upsetting Oregon State. I guess I'll accept the blame on the Boise game, but I'm still pretty happy overall. Anyways, week 2 provides another step up from last week's slate, with more evenly matched games and even some conference match-ups. Shall we?

Eastern Kentucky @ #8 Louisville: Teddy Bridgewater looked sharp last week against Ohio. And as bad as Ohio is, they're still probably better than Eastern Kentucky. There's a select few scenarios in which Eastern Kentucky steals a W...you know like the entire Louisville roster gets hit by an airplane or something. Cards should have no trouble on their home field.    L'Ville 45 EKU 7

#12 Florida @ Miami: Big game in the Sunshine State this weekend. Last Saturday Florida looked good, but not great in their 24-6 win over Toledo. And Miami should be really amped to play this one. Miami is eager to remind fans that they can stand toe to toe with in-state rivals Florida and Florida State, they want show they're a forreal ACC contender too and what better way to do then to take down an SEC giant. Miami will compete in their stadium, but Florida will make enough key defensive plays to leave Miami with a W.    Florida 20 Miami 17

#13. Oklahoma State @ UTSA: Oklahoma State struggled last week to get the ball rolling offensively and they still have some doubt at the QB slot. Playing UTSA will provide them another week to search for answers and find their groove offensively. Expect another slow start, but at the end of the day OKST's athletes are on a much higher tier than UTSA's and that will make all the difference.
OKST 28 UTSA 3

Tennessee-Tech @ #21 Wisconsin: Wisconsin looked sharper than I expected last week, and Tennessee-Tech really shouldn't change that. Should be another easy day at work for the Badgers up north.   Wisconsin 46 TT 6

Southeastern Louisiana @ #24 TCU: TCU will try to recover after an opening night loss to LSU last Saturday. They still haven't fully decided on a starting QB, but playing LSU early should have certainly helped the entire team prepare for much lighter competition. Unfortunately for Southern Louisiana, that means them. TCU will still struggle a bit offensively, but still generate a good amount of points and pick up their first win of 2013.    TCU 31 SE Louisiana 6

South Carolina State @ #4 Clemson: Clemson gets rewarded with a much lighter week after dethroning Georgia from the top 5 on week 1. Clemson's offense appears to be a well oiled machine once again and should post a big number on SCST. I'll spot SCST a few points since the Clemson-D is still figuring things out, but there's no danger of an upset here.     Clemson 59 SCST 16

#2 Oregon @ Virginia: What we learned from Oregon last week? No Chip Kelly= No problem. Oregon's offense is still functioning at light speed and definately much too quickly for Virginia to slow down. Although they won't score as many as last week.     Oregon 55 Virginia 13

San Diego State @ #3 Ohio State: Ohio State wasn't exactly spectacular last week either. Braxton Miller didn't even hit 200 yards and the defense allowed 20 points to Buffalo. Because of it Ohio State got jumped by Oregon in the rankings, who looked much better. Ohio State gets a second chance this week though, and there will be no mercy shown when San Diego State comes to town.         Ohio State 45 SDST 13

Buffalo @ #23 Baylor: Buffalo plays a ranked opponent for the second week in a row. But on the bright side, they actually played decent last week against Ohio State, who is much better than Baylor. Baylor arrived in the top 25 simply due to an impressive performance last week against FCS team Wofford. There's a possibility Baylor is over-confident, or Buffalo is rightfully confident, but I still like Baylor in the end.     Baylor 34 Buffalo 16

#6. South Carolina @ #11 Georgia: I went back and forth on this decision all week. Georgia is still recovering from an opening night loss to Clemson which puts a dent in their national title aspirations, but at the same time Georgia should be prepared for the big game atmosphere. South Carolina ran Georgia out of the building last year, and Georgia hasn't forgotten and what better way to avenger both last year's loss and last week's with a big win over the Cocks at home. Buttttt, I think South Carolina is a more well-rounded team, whereas Georgia is still week defensively. If South Carolina can hurlde this, they have a good looking path to at least the SEC title, but everyone takes a loss in the SEC and I just can't fathom Georgia losing 2 years and 2 weeks in a row. But I could be very very wrong.    UGA 28 SC 24

Syracuse @ #19 Northwestern: Both teams had nice tune-up games last week, with Syracuse taking Penn State to the wire and Northwestern taking down California. This week should also be very tight. Syracuse is quietly one of the most underrated teams in the NCAA, they beat Louisville last year and compete with people on a consistent basis, and part of me really wants to pick the upset.....screw it let's go.    Syracuse 23 Northwestern 19

Southern Miss @ #22 Nebraska: The Nebraska defense gave up 34 points to Wyoming last week. And Southern Miss has been a perennial bowl contender for a while now. I think this one will be a lot closer than it looks, but Nebraska's offense will still out gun USM.   Nebraska 37 USM 31

Sam Houston State @ #7 Texas A&M: Johnny Manziell's suspension is over...even though it should be longer. The focus this week should be maintaining his level of football while keeping his mouth shut simultaneously. Johnny Manziell's troubles come when he isn't taking snaps, but he is on Saturday which is bad news for SHS.    TAMU 49 SHS 17

#15 Texas @ BYU: It took Texas a quarter and a half to get going last week, but once they did they looked solid. But BYU is no slouch, they almost had Virginia last week and they've made habbits of competing with big schools. It should be low scoring, but Texas will benefit from their experience and advance to 2-0.   Texas 24 BYU 14

UAB @ #9 LSU: LSU showed last week that they've still got it. They put up 37 points on a good TCU defense. Mettenberger struggled, but at times he showed moments of brilliance, picking apart the d on long drives that used a lot of clock. If LSU can handle TCU, then UAB should be no problem. Though LSU might revert to struggles at times, they'll stay undefeated.     LSU 27 UAB 10

West Virginia @ #16 Oklahoma: Both teams open up conference play in this game. Oklahoma looked good last week, the offense scored 34 points and the defense posted a shutout. Meanwhile there's much more to worry about at West Virginia. They beat William & Mary by a measly touchdown. West Virginia hates life without Geno Smith, and if week 1 is any indicator, this one belongs to Boomer Sooner at home.   Oklahoma 27 West Virginia 9

#14. Notre Dame @ #17. Michigan: One of the most heralded rivalries in college football arrives on it's annual week 2 date. Michigan rolled last week, but Devin Gardner didn't have the best start throwing, beginning 1/5. Meanwhile Notre Dame looked solid against Temple. Tommy Rees was both accurate and efficient and playing behind Everett Golson last year didn't seem to hurt his confidence at all. Normally I love taking Michigan at the Big House, but I really liked what I saw from Notre Dame last week and I'm riding the luck of the Irish.     ND 24 Mich 21

Washington State @ #25 USC: USC had a slow start but handled Hawaii nicely last Thursday. Now they're more confident and well rested. Washington State gave Auburn a scare last week, but we're still not sure whether Auburn is good or bad. I still think they're overrated, but I'm taking the Trojans for the 2nd week in a row.    USC 31 WASU 15

San Jose State @ #5 Stanford: Stanford had what every true fan of the sport hates...a week 1 bye. So expect them to shed a little rust at the beginning, but they're still plenty better than SJSU. Fans should be a bit louder and more rambunctious for having to wait an extra week for their time. Cardinal by a lot.    Stanford 41 SJSU 10 

WEEK 1 PICKS

     Praise God, college football is finally returning on Thursday. While the opening week does provide everyone with a clean slate and a new beginning, it doesn't change the fact that every game during the college season is a must-win. Unlike previous years where the entire week 1 schedule has consisted of top ranked teams pounding non fbs teams by 50 or more, this week actually provides some appetizing matchups. Each week I'll predict all top 25 games in order of schedule. Starting now.

North Carolina @ #6 South Carolina: 

     The Gamecocks ride into 2013 with high expectations, despite losing Marcus Lattimore to the draft. But playing on Thursday night on national TV is no easy way to break into a new season either. This game will be interesting for a half, but in the end South Carolina's SEC speed, strength, and athleticism is too much for UNC to overcome on the road.    South Carolina 27 North Carolina 10

#24. USC @ Hawaii

     While I do think USC is overrated and undeserving of their position in the top 25 rankings, they should still beat Hawaii. The Trojans will break in a new QB, most likely Max Wittek, but having Marqise Lee return at wide receiver will take off some of the heat. While this early USC will sturggle to find their identity, they will still receive big plays from their star athletes and begin the season on the right note.  

USC 31 Hawaii 13

Buffalo @ #2 Ohio State

     Ohio State may get the opening day jitters seeing as it's their first time playing a game that actually means something in 2 years. The good news is they're playing Buffalo. Expect a slow first quarter before the Buckeyes get into their groove, but it will be ugly in the end.     Ohio State 42 Buffalo 3

Massachusetts @ #23 Wisconsin

     Wisconsin will embark on life without Brett Bielema sitting on the throne. The Badgers will sturggle to match their recent performance, attending 3 straight Rose Bowls and filling huge shoes. Fortunately, every good football player in Massachusetts plays on the New England Patriots, so Wisconsin will be alright for this week.    Wisconsin 28 Massachusetts 6

Toledo @ #10 Florida

     Florida returns from an off season filled with arrests and allegations, but they return a tremendous amount of talent as well. This game will start slow, with Jeff Driskel adjusting to a new group of receivers, and Toledo is no slouch either when it comes to mid-majors. But like we saw with Bowling Green last year, Florida will benefit from playing in the Swamp and create a couple turnovers to ensure an opening win.

   Florida 23 Toledo 10

Rice @ #7 Texas A&M

     We're assuming the Johnny Football will indeed be eligible on Saturday. Although he's had an off-season far more eventful than he would have preferred, he's still one of the premier players in college football. And though he may not match up to his incredible 2012 season, he should still have no trouble putting up big numbers against Rice.     TAMU 45 Rice 7

Mississippi State vs #13 Oklahoma State  (neutral location):

     This is actually a pretty juicy matchup. Both teams had heated quarterback battles during the summer, and both teams are on the uprising in their programs. I normally like picking SEC teams over non-SEC teams, but I think OkSt is better equipped offensively and will take this one by double digits.

Ok State 26 Miss State 14

Temple @ #14. Notre Dame

     Despite losing Everett Golson, Tommy Rees has played enough big minutes in an Irish uniform to help ND feel a bit more secure. Though Temple's program has made great improvements in recent years, they're not ready to compete with the big boys yet.    Notre Dame 29 Temple 13

Central Michigan vs #17 Michigan: 

     Devin Gardner has the starting job locked up now, which should allow him to play more freely then with Denard Robinson at his back heel. This is a in-state "rivalry" that Michigan has dominated for years now, and I see no reason to predict this season will be any different.      Michigan 45 Central Michigan 7

Nicholls State vs. #3 Oregon:

     Even without Chip Kelly, this is a joke. Let's not even waste time talking about it. Oregon 63 Nicholls State 3

#1 Alabama vs Virginia Tech (neutral location):

     I think Va. Tech can actually make this somewhat interesting....for a bit. Alabama will experience the normal pressures that come with defending a national title, and Virginia Tech is coming off one it's worst years and is hungry to remind the rest of the nation that it can hang with the best. This game is tight at the half, but Bama gets the last laugh with their smashmouth football.      Bama 31 Va. Tech 13

Eastern Washington vs #25 Oregon State:

Oregon State earned itself a top 25 ranking with it's cinderella run early in 2012. While their true colors will be exposed this year, I still predict they will finish in the top half of the conference, and will surely be able to manage EW on their home turf on Saturday.      Oregon State 30 E. Wash 10

Louisiana Monroe @ #16 Oklahoma:

     ULM won't back down easily. They've faithfully played top 20 teams in the first couple weeks every year so they have some experience playing in loud stadiums against elite teams. On the contrary, Oklahoma will have to break in new kid on the bock Trevor Knight at QB after losing Landry Jones. Experience can only take you so far though, and Oklahoma should still be safe in their house.     Oklahoma 27 ULM 9

#5. Georgia @ #8 Clemson:

     By far the best match-up of opening week. Both teams are going to be offensive monsters, so expect a shitload of points. The real question is...can either of them defend? I'm again going to break my SEC rule and take the Tigers. I feel like their offense it's a bit more dynamic, their defense is a bit more experienced (Georgia only returns 1 starter), and homefield will come in handy too.     Clemson 49 Georgia 41

New Mexico State vs #15 Texas:

     Texas struggled in every game they played last year, but still managed to win 75% of them. Now they're the most experienced team in the nation. While they will still struggle to establish themselves as on par with the college football elite, their experience will carry them past New Mexico without too much to worry about.      Texas 34 New Mexico 13

Wyoming @ #18 Nebraska:

     I'm expecting a big day from Taylor Martinez to kick off his senior campaign with the Cornhuskers. Does Wyoming's population even realize they have an fbs football team, do their students?? 

Nebraska 52 Wyoming 7

#12. LSU vs #20. TCU (neutal location):

     Here's another big one. However unlike the Georgia/Clemson score fest, I wouldn't expect too many points in this one. Both teams return QB's who are talented, but still have things to prove and both teams pride themselves on their defensive tenacity. Although TCU will be pumped to be playing in front of the world on opening night against an SEC powerhouse, LSU has a rich history of winning these kinds of games with the Mad Hatter in charge. Expect two or three big plays to make all the difference.     LSU 24 TCU 14

#19. Boise State @ Washington: 

Boise will try to build this up to be something it isn't, simply because their playing a Pac-12 team in prime time. While Washington will have its fair share of things to cheer about, Boise should still have enough offensively to pick up the W.    Boise 30 Washington 19

Nevada vs #21 UCLA:

Make no mistake, Nevada is no slouch and shouldn't be taken lightly. They could give the Bruins quite the scare and maybe...just maybe...have enough to pull out the big upset. The Wolfpack pride themselves in competing toe to toe with power conference teams. But UCLA is also experiencing their best success in awhile under Jim Mora's leadership. But I'm itching to pick an upset, so I'll go with the gambling state.
Nevada 31 UCLA 29

#22 Northwestern @ California:

     Northwestern is that ranked team you really never think about. This year they don't get the privilege of beating on small schools like their other Big 10 foes, but rather play across the country late at night This will be interesting, but Northwestern will be rewarded for their consistency and hard work in recent years.

NW 20 Cal 14

Ohio @ #9 Louisville:

Louisville benefits from playing the most god-awful schedule in college football. Ohio may scrap out a few scores, but Louisville is still running of the emotional high that came with pounding UF in the sugar bowl and Teddy Bridgewater should tear apart the Bobcat-D.     L'Ville 45 Ohio 13

#11 Florida State @ Pittsburg

     It pains me to say this as an FSU student...but this game will also be much closer than most anticipate. The Noles are forced with the challenges of breaking in a plethora of new starters into a hostile environment on a Monday night. Pitt will be loud and pulling for the upset to go with the day off from school, but I'd like to believe that FSU still has enough talent to overcome the adversity. Perhaps a late turnover to cue the fat lady.    FSU 27 Pitt 13

    As always, any comments or predictions of your own can be listed below or any upset alerts you think I should add to my radar. See you all next week!