After going an extremely impressive 60-8 last week I am back for this week's picks post. There are a lot of interesting matchups this weekend and no bigger, arguably, than the Top-10 ACC showdown down in Tallahassee, Florida. It's been a while since the Florida State Seminoles have been in a game with serious implications, and with them hosting the #10 ranked Clemson Tigers, it is as good as it gets. A victory for them may help catapult them into a serious discussion as a National Championship contender. Will it occur? That's the question, and that is what we're here to figure out. Let's go through the days, and the games, and my picks.
Wednesday
Kent State Golden Flashes vs. Buffalo Bulls (ESPNU, WatchESPN, 7:00 PM ET)
Pick: Buffalo
Thursday
Brigham Young Cougars vs. #24 Boise State Broncos (ESPN, WatchESPN, 9:00 PM ET)
Pick: Boise State
Friday
Baylor Bears vs. Louisiana-Monroe War Hawks (ESPN ,WatchESPN, 8:00 PM ET)
The War Hawks are back and against an FBS team. The game changes though, as this one will be at home for UL-Monroe, but don't be fooled by the fact that this Baylor team is without RGIII. They can score points with the best of them, and while I wouldn't be surprised if I'm wrong, I'll go with Baylor here.
Pick: Baylor
Saturday
Maryland Terrapins vs. #8 West Virginia Mountaineers (FX, 12:00 PM ET)
Geno Smith and the 'Neers win BIG here, and Mr. Smith strengthens his bid for a trip to NYC in December.
Pick: West Virginia
Kentucky Wildcats vs. #14 Florida Gators (SEC Network, ESPN3, GamePlan, 12:00 PM ET)
Pick: Florida
UAB Blazers vs. #16 Ohio State Buckeyes (Big Ten Network, 12:00 PM ET)
Pick: Ohio State
Virginia Cavaliers vs. #17 TCU Horned Frogs (ESPN, ESPN3D, WatchESPN, 12:00 PM ET)
Virginia picked up a big win in Atlanta last week. Can they pull off another road victory? I say no, but this one will be close.
Pick: TCU
Massachusetts Minutemen vs. Miami (OH) Red Hawks (ESPN3, GamePlan, 12:00 PM ET)
Pick: Miami (OH)
Bowling Green Falcons vs. Virginia Tech (ESPNU, WatchESPN, 12:00 PM ET)
Va Tech got blasted last week by the Pittsburgh Panthers. Methinks they bounce back with a win at Lane Stadium here. But beware the MAC.
Pick: Virginia Tech
UTEP Miners vs. Wisconsin Badgers (ESPN2, WatchESPN, 12:00 PM ET)
Wisconsin may have a lot more problems than we thought seeing as they have struggled with EVERY opponent that they have faced this season. Will they win against UTEP? Yes.
Pick: Wisconsin
Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (Big Ten Network, 12:00 PM ET)
Pick: Iowa
Ole Miss Rebels vs. Tulane Green Wave (12:00 PM ET)
Ole Miss just got pasted by Texas last week, and are one of the worst teams in the SEC. Tulane thus far, however, has looked even worse. Give me the Rebels.
Pick: Ole Miss
Army Knights vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (ESPN3, GamePlan, 12:30 PM ET)
Has it gotten this bad for Wake Forest? The answer is... not yet. A close W here.
Pick: Wake Forest
Norfolk State Spartans vs. Ohio Bobcats (ESPN3, 2:00 PM ET)
Pick: Ohio
Northwestern Oklahoma State at UTSA (2:00 PM ET)
Pick: UTSA
Connecticut Huskies vs. Western Michigan Broncos (ESPN3, 2:00 PM ET)
WMU is winless versus FBS opponents this year. That continues this week in Kalamazoo.
Pick: Connecticut
Miami (FL) Hurricanes vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (ESPN3, GamePlan, 3:00 PM ET)
Oh how bad it's gotten for Miami. Georgia Tech is on a two-game win streak, and I think the Ramblin' Wreck beats the Hurricanes by four.
Pick: Georgia Tech
Missouri Tigers vs. #7 South Carolina Gamecocks (CBS, 3:30 PM ET)
The Missouri Tigers' SEC on CBS debut takes place in the OTHER Columbia. The QB uncertainty, and complacency I've seen from Mizzou doesn't make me think they're going to pull off this upset. Hey, I could be wrong, but I doubt it. Gamecocks by 13 and Jadaveon Clowney has two sacks.
Pick: South Carolina
Oregon State Beavers vs. #19 UCLA Bruins (ABC, ESPN2, WatchESPN, 3:30 PM ET)
Johnathan Franklin and the UCLA Bruins have been turning heads this season and Jim Mora, Jr. might be making a strong bid for Coach of the Year. U-C-L-A rumbles over the Beavers in Pasadena.
Pick: UCLA
Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. #21 Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten Network, 3:30 PM ET)
Sparty avoids a hangover.
Pick: Michigan State
Idaho State Bengals vs. #25 Nebraska Cornhuskers (Big Ten Network, 3:30 PM ET)
Accurately said Nebraska would take Arkansas State to the woodshed last week. Idaho State is the next victim.
Accurately said Nebraska would take Arkansas State to the woodshed last week. Idaho State is the next victim.
Pick: Nebraska
South Dakota vs. Northwestern Wildcats (Big Ten Network, 3:30 PM ET)
Northwestern (!!!!) moves to 4-0.
Pick: Northwestern
East Carolina Pirates vs. North Carolina Tar Heels (ESPNU, WatchESPN, 3:30 PM ET)
Pick: North Carolina
Temple Owls vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (ABC, ESPN2, WatchESPN, 3:30 PM ET)
No offense to those at PSU, but I can't understand why this team gets nationally broadcasted games. Temple is the best team in Pennsylvania, so they win here in Happy Valley. Yup.
Pick: Temple
Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (ESPN3, 3:30 PM ET)
Pick: Pittsburgh
Marshall Thunderin' Herd vs. Rice Owls (3:30 PM ET)
Marshall got blown out by WVU, but also held a lead against a good Ohio team before collapsing. Meanwhile, Rice has lost to two good teams, and beat Kansas. Toss-up here, and via coin flip I go with Rice.
Pick: Rice
Virginia Military Institute vs. Navy Midshipmen (CBS Sports Network, 3:30 PM ET)
Pick: Navy
Kansas Jayhawks vs. Northern Illinois Huskies (ESPN3, 3:30 PM ET)
NIU, big.
Pick: Northern Illinois
Colorado Buffaloes vs. Washington State Cougars (FX, 4:00 PM ET)
The worst FBS program takes an L against another bad Pac-12 team.
Pick: Washington State
South Florida Bulls vs. Ball State Cardinals (ESPN3, GamePlan, 4:30 PM ET)
Pick: Ball State
Florida Atlantic Owls vs. #1 Alabama Crimson Tide (ESPN3, GamePlan, 5:00 PM ET)
Roll Tide.
Pick: Alabama
Wyoming Cowboys vs. Idaho Vandals (ESPN3, 5:00 PM ET)
Something has to give for these two winless WAC teams. I'll go with the Cowboys, even though they had a despicable loss to Cal Poly last week.
Pick: Wyoming
California Golden Bears vs. #13 USC Trojans (Pac-12 Network, 6:00 PM ET)
Fresh off of their loss in Palo Alto, USC comes back and wins this game in LA, by two touchdowns.
Pick: USC
Memphis Tigers vs. Duke Blue Devils (ESPN3, 6:00 PM ET)
This would be such a great basketball game. Dukies.
Pick: Duke
Citadel Bulldogs vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack (ESPN3, 6:00 PM ET)
Pick: North Carolina State
#2 LSU Tigers vs. Auburn Tigers (ESPN, WatchESPN)
Jordan-Hare will be rowdy, but the Tigers from the Bayou are too damn good.
Pick: LSU
#20 Louisville Cardinals vs. Florida INternational Panthers (ESPN3, 7:00 PM ET)
Pick: Louisville
South Alabama Jaguars vs. #23 Mississippi State Bulldogs (ESPN3, GamePlan, 7:00 PM ET)
Pick: Mississippi State
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Arkansas Razorbacks (ESPNU, WatchESPN, 7:00 PM ET)
Things can't possibly get worse for Arkansas... can they? Oh, yes they can. UPSET!
Pick: Rutgers
Utah State Aggies vs. Colorado State Rams (7:00 PM ET)
Utah State had a crushing loss in Camp Randall last week. I think they knock off a Colorado State team reeling from a loss to San Jose State last week.
Pick: Utah State
Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (ESPN3, 7:00 PM ET)
After I correctly picked this "upset" last week, I am going to go with my gut and say the HIlltoppers do it again.
Pick: Western Kentucky
South Carolina State Bulldogs vs. Texas A&M Aggies (ESPN3, GamePlan, 7:00 PM ET)
Pick: Texas A&M
Troy Trojans vs. North Texas Mean Green (ESPN3, 7:00 PM ET)
Pick: Troy
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs. Texas State Bobcats (7:00 PM ET)
Pick: Texas State
Alcorn State Braves vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves (ESPN3, 7:00 PM ET)
Pick: Arkansas State
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs. Toledo Rockets (ESPN3, 7:00 PM ET)
Pick: Toledo
#18 Michigan Wolverines vs. #11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (NBC, 7:30 PM ET)
Last week I said that Notre Dame was going to beat Sparty, and they did. They conquered a big demon of theirs in the process. This week, the Irish are matched up with another demon. The Michigan Wolverines have found a way to pull rainbows (that they find in South Bend often) out of their butt and prevail. This time around, I don't see it. ND conquers the Wolverines.
Pick: Notre Dame
Akron Zips vs. Tennessee Volunteers (ESPN3, GamePlan, 7:30 PM ET)
Tennessee got me excited last week, and they failed me. This week, they will win at Neyland.
Pick: Tennessee
Vanderbilt Commodores vs. #5 Georgia Bulldogs
Vandy has looked impressive this season, but the Dawgs will protect the hedges.
Pick: Georgia
#15 Kansas State Wildcats vs. #6 Oklahoma Sooners (FOX, 7:50 PM ET)
A lot of people have been predicting big things for Oklahoma this season. I'm not one of those people. A home loss seems like such a rarity for them in Norman, but I think Kansas State can muster up something large, and Collin Klein is proving me wrong. However, I think OU's losses will eventually come later on the season, and they'll prevail here. It will not be for the weak of heart, though.
Pick: Oklahoma
#10 Clemson Tigers vs. #4 Florida State Seminoles (ABC, 8:00 PM ET)
The Main Event takes place this week in Doak Campbell Stadium. A fiery crowd in Tallahassee will be behind the Seminoles and the will not let them down. Noles get a big W here.
Pick: Florida State
San Jose State Spartans vs. San Diego State Aztecs (8:00 PM ET)
Complete tossup here and I will go with the home team.
Pick: San Diego State
Syracuse Orange vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (Big Ten Network, 8:00 PM ET)
The Gophers are 3-0? Huh? You'll have that same reaction after they move to 4-0 (!!!!).
New Mexico vs. New Mexico State (ESPN3, 8:00 PM ET)
This, to be honest, is a terrible matchup. I'll go with the Lobos, but I'll probably be off the mark.
Pick: New Mexico
Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricanes (CBS Sports Network, 8:00 PM ET)
This will be fun. I think Tulsa wins in a shootout.
Pick: Tulsa
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (Big Ten Network, 8:00 PM ET)
Pick: Louisiana Tech
Utah Utes vs. Arizona State Sun Devils (Pac-12 Network, 10:00 PM ET)
Pick: Utah
Air Force Falcons vs. UNLV Runnin' Rebels (10:00 PM ET)
Pick: Air Force
#22 Arizona Wildcats vs. #3 Oregon Ducks (ESPN, WatchESPN, 10:30 PM ET)
This will be interesting. Arizona's offense has gotten signs of life thanks to Rich Rodriguez, but Oregon's offense is one of the best in football. Oregon wins in Autzen but don't be surprised if Arizona matches them early on.
Pick: Oregon
Nevada Wolf Pack vs. Hawaii Warriors (NBC Sports Network, 10:30 PM ET)
Pick: Nevada
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