Well, another week where I got more right than I got wrong. So I'm feeling pretty good. One of my losses was the Thursday night tilt when I am less than useless. The other game I picked wrong was NC State, which was basically just me being a bonehead. Anyways, I'm tooting the horn some more, since it was a pretty good week. Now on to the highlights:

I was right about:

The Ohio St. game. Which isn't really anything to brag about. The Spartans are terrible. Plain and simple.

I was wrong about:

The NC State game. Really, I knew better. You have Grobe, who is consistent and points his team in position to excel. Then you have Chuck Chuck who seems to spend more time working on his pecs than he does getting his team prepared to play disciplined football. Once again, coaching is the difference. A classic Wolfpack performance, or lack thereof.

I was right about:

The USC game. They refuse to blow anyone out, and this time really shot themselves in the foot. Yet, they sprang to an early 21-point lead, and never trailed. That might fly against the Sun Devils, but legitimate competition will make them pay.

I was wrong about:

The Cal defense, they looked excellent again in allowing only three points to a Cougars team which had shown some offensive life. A suffocating performance.

I was right about:

Texas A&M. Look, Franchione got them ranked, as he will every year. Are you prepared for their let-down loss? It's coming in the next week or so. Mizzou pretty much blew this game, but credit to the Aggies for smacking them in the mouth, and a hustle play that saved a touchdown and provided the winning margin. The Aggies stink, but they'll have a win or two like this every year. It's like Groundhog Day down in College Station.

I was right about Boston College, and Virginia Tech. The Hokies were exposed as total frauds and have proved to be nothing more than a product of their pathetic schedule. The Eagles, on the other hand, played their best game of the season while holding the Tech offense to 21 total yards in the second half. So long as Matt Ryan's ankle is close to 100% when they march into Tallahassee on Sat., Tom O'Brien's club will have an opportunity for a program changing type win.

I was wrong about USC. Something is definitely wrong with their offense, since they couldn't even top 30 points against the disgraceful Sun Devil defense at home. While the Trojans no longer have Lendal White, Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart, it is arguable that they have more talent at every other offensive position that in years past (especially at O-Line and Wide Reciever). Yet, even playing the dregs of their schedule they haven't been able to put it together.

I was right about the Michigan State-Ohio State matchup. Jim Tressel looked almost bored playing Nixon to John L. Smith's McGovern at East Lansing on Sat, as his Buckeyes absolutely rolled a Spartans team that has no doubt quit on their coach. Mind blowing statistic: since taking the lead 37-21 against Notre Dame, Michigan State has been outscored 111-40.

Ok, here is the play that turned me into a college football fan. Just a remarkable effort by George Teague. Two things to remember: a) a penalty negates this play, so it never actually happened, but since it made it to youtube, one can assume that others were as influenced by it as I was, and b) keep in mind that this was the national championship game (actually, the Sugar Bowl) and Alabama were huge underdogs. That's how important this effort was. Anyways, thanks youtube for keeping these moments alive.

Ok, I have been corresponding with a couple of fellow state employees about college football issues. Anyways, I thought I'd put them up here, since they involve some pretty solid research, and are the kind of debate and discussion we here at the 323 love. So if you ever have a beef, want to correct some mistake we've made (probably the big man's) or otherwise want to sound off, feel free to drop a line to our official e-mail: the323@gmail.com.

Thursday:

Anonymous State Employee A:

Dude, I HAAATE BC. Oh my God do I hate them. I was there last night, and I think it says way more about VT than it does about BC. They will now be one of the most overrated teams in the Top 25. Plus, their only two hard games remaining are against Florida State and Miami teams that are in shambles.

VT had nearly 100 yards in penalties and 4 turnovers (3 of which in their own territory), just sloppy, sloppy, sloppy football. And we're not exactly talking about a hostile place to play, Alumni Stadium is weak...and so were the Hokies. The real test for BC will be to see how they do in Tallahassee next week. I, for one, will be hoping they get absolutely throttled.

But I suppose not even a school like BC can play in the Craptastic.com Bowl out in Idaho three years in a row.

-A

Frazier:

They probably wouldn't let them anyways. Virginia wasn't allowed to return to the Continental Tire Bowl in Charlotte for a third straight year, because sponsors want to find other teams. Even though we brought good crowds and were 2-0. Which is how we ended up in Boise. And being in Boise in late December made us not care, so we didn't try, which was uber-embarrassing since we were #18 in the country, playing on blue turf during a fucking snow squall, and quitting against an unranked opponent. Yeah, Al Groh kind of sucks as a coach.

Also, I really don't like BC either. I didn't even bother watching the game, I just can't deal with either of those teams.

Also, the Eagles should be kicking themselves for that loss to NC State. The ACC is weak, weak, weak, and BC definitely has a shot to run the table. Which would have been an amazing story, and put them suddenly in the world of title talk, but that loss will leave them on the second tier (at best) no matter what they do from here on out. Of course they seem to be the kind of team that will blow another game or two just because they can't pull themselves together, so I wouldn't be surprised by a Seminole victory.

Oh, and Alumni Stadium IS weak. Anyone who says otherwise is a blatant homer.

Wednesday:

Anonymous State Employee B:

I am no Ted Ginn, Jr. apologist -- the guy needs to prove he's not the next Peter Warrick -- but don't you think if Anthony Gonzalez got double-covered every play and Ginn got single coverage, that he would tear up any team he played?

Gonzalez is going up against the second-best corner on each team, which in college ball is often a big dropoff from the best corner. They give him a huge cushion because of his speed, and he catches short passes then gains YAC. Ginn would do the same thing if Gonzalez drew a safety every play.

-B

Frazier:

Calvin Johnson gets the best coverage on the field and puts up ridiculous numbers. So does Manningham. So does Jarrett. Gonzalez is still an excellent player, and maybe they should stop rotating coverages towards Ginn so much. Also, he is dealing with two full years of unjustified hype. Remember when everyone flipped out about him and Santonio Holmes was shredding secondaries? Yeah, I do. He really hasn't shown me anything yet. And remember, Warrick was a very, very productive college player (and was doubled all year). It just turned out he wasn't actually fast. Now, Ginn is legitimately speedy, but that doesn't mean you're automatically a great receiver.

I'd love to have Ginn on my team. And I'd especially love it if everyone kept buying the hype, rotating their coverages, and allowing me to pick them apart with another excellent receiver until they realized their mistake once my team was up by fourteen. Which is why Tressel is probably more than happy to feed the media frenzy.

When Ginn tears up a team, any team, then I'll reconsider. But great receivers do it against the best the other team has to offer. If he wants to be great, he has to do that.

Thanks for supporting us. Tell your friends.

Anonymous State Employee B:

Five catches for 97 yards and a touchdown against the #2 team in the nation might not be "tearing up" Texas, but it's damn close. I see your point, though.

I'm less concerned with his putting up big numbers than I am about his jukes and fakes and general Boobie Miles-esque antics. Catch the ball and run forward, Teddy! Drop your shoulder and try to run someone over! But for goodness' sake, don't catch a quick out, jump backwards four yards and shimmy until the entire linebacker corps is sitting on your face (and telling you that they love you).

-B

Frazier:

Gonzalez DID tear up Texas, for 8 grabs, 142 yards and a score. Ginn has been over 100 yards twice this year against lesser opposition (N. Illinois and Bowling Green). And only once last year against a hopeless defense (Illinois). Ok, I skipped the Fiesta Bowl, where he was great, but that game was such an offensive showcase that it's hard to take any of those stats seriously.

Also, Jarett Dillard of the mighty Rice Owls had 9 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown against the mighty Longhorns. Austin Flynn of Iowa St. had 7 catches for 90 yards against that same D. I’m just saying, Ginn’s effort does not justify the “tearing up” tag.

Manningham has 3 100 yard games this year (Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Minnesota) and another last year as a freshman (Wisconsin). His best games have come against his best opposition this year.

Calvin Johnson has 4 100 yard games this year (Notre Dame, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland) the only games he didn't go over 100? Weak sisters Troy and Samford. He plays best against the best teams. He also had 3 100 yard games as a sophomore, and another 3 100 yard games as a freshman. I could go on (Jarrett, 10 100 yard performances in his 3 years, and in 2 national title games he has combined for 15 catches, 236 yards and 2 touchdowns, etc...) But I think I've made my point.

And you're right, Ginn and others like him are more into making highlight reel plays than benefiting their team. That's why I like guys like the others I mentioned, who make great catches and generally try to get up field. NFL linebackers will have a field day with Ginn, since they'll be on him within miliseconds if he tries any of that crap. I'd actually like to see Ginn in the running game more, but I bet they are saving that stuff for the Wolverines. He IS an electric player, just not all the time, which people tend to forget.

Yeah, you could say I've got some time on my hands.

Anonymous State Employee B:

I totally agree with all that you're saying. And I’ve got plenty of time too. Good times.

Sincerely,

The 191 (the number of Tressel's wins)

Frazier:

Thanks for the support. The 191 is always welcome at the 323. (Wow, more wins than I would have guessed).

Hunh. Well, it's official, I am retarded when it comes to college games not played on Saturday. I just can't figure them out, and I am going to stop picking them unless it's a major game. I was just way off on this one. The Hokies looked completely inept (suckers) and BC won it handily. Also, Sid Vicious, the new Eagle kicker had an admirable performance. Congratulations to him. Now, I can't be too upset since Virginia Tech got killed, but I definitely need to admit my limitations when it comes to picking games. Basically, don't listen to a thing I say if I'm not picking a Saturday game (not that you should necessarily listen to me then either).

@ BC +2.5 over Virginia Tech

I won’t even try and deny it, this is a homer pick. I will be at the game tonight, and damned if I will be rooting for anything other than a BC victory. OK, so now that my ulterior motive is out there I can get down to justifying it. Basically, this pick comes down to what I have seen on the field from each team. Both teams have but a single loss, and, frankly, each loss is looking better and better by the day (both NC State and Georgia Tech are flourishing). That aside, let’s look at the four wins each of the teams have. On the one hand we have Virginia Tech who has beaten a Division 1AA team (Northeastern), the two worst teams in their conference (North Carolina and Duke), and the barely slipped by a Cincinnati team at home that got pasted by Pittsburgh. On the other hand we have Boston College who has beaten a solid MAC team on the road that is every bit the equal of Cincinnati (C Michigan), a very talented 4-2 Brigham Young team, the best team in the ACC (Clemson), and a 1AA team (Maine). The bottom line is that I think we know how good this BC team is, but I’m not certain we can say anything definitive about Tech. Look for the Eagles to try and pass on the Hokies. While they don’t have a WR near the caliber of Calvin Johnson, the BC passing game is probably a bit better than that of Georgia Tech. Matt Ryan is certainly a better downfield passer that Reggie Ball, and the Eagles receiving corpse is deep if not spectacular. Expect Tech to bring a ton of pressure, something that has given the Eagles trouble in the past. But this is a veteran offensive line and I am betting that they give Ryan the time he needs to pick apart a Hokies secondary that looked very vulnerable against the Yellow Jackets. As a bonus, the BC kicker will be playing his first football game…..EVER. He was a soccer player in high school who walked onto the football team. Sounds like some magic might be in the air. I’ll take BC over Tech, 21-20 on a field goal at the horn.

Wake Forest +4 over @ NC State

Two things are at work with this pick: (1) Wake still isn’t getting any respect, and (2) Chuck Chuck is prominently involved. Last week against the ACC’s best, Wake thoroughly dominated Clemson for three quarters. Wake controlled the ball, they totally shut down the Clemson rushing attack, they generally played three outstanding quarters. Unfortunately a football game is four quarters and their meltdown resulted in a loss. The difference between a well coached team and a poorly coached team is what happens next. A poorly coached team folds up like a piece of origami paper (see Michigan State losing to Illinois). A well coached team rises to the occasion and gets back on track. Jim Grobe is a very good football coach, and I am betting that Wake is more of the latter than the former. If I were Grobe I would play the disrespect card all week long in getting my team jacked up for this game. Wake has been very consistent all year, and I intent to ride them until the oddsmakers take notice. Now, on to #2. NC State has had two HUGE wins in consecutive games over BC and over Florida State. A well coached team uses this as momentum to keep playing better and better (see Florida). A poorly coached team lets the success go to their head and complacency sets in. Well Chuck Chuck, which are you? The one hallmark of Amato’s tenure in Raleigh has been underachieving. He has had tons of talent and done nothing with it. With this pick I am betting that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Look for Wake to win this game on the strength of superior discipline and gameplanning. Call it Wake 24-21.

Ohio State -15 over @ Michigan State

Let’s kick this SAT style…..Jim Tressel:John L. Smith as Richard Nixon:_______. Well if you answered George McGovern then you comprehend the lopsidedness of this matchup. Call it Ohio State 112, Michigan State 3.

Missouri -2.5 over @ Texas A&M

This line looks way too low to me. Missouri has been a nice surprise this season, but unlike my esteemed co-blogger I do not believe they are doing it with smoke and mirrors. People forget that star sophomore QB Chase Daniels was one of the most touted high school quarterbacks in the nation just two years ago. Give Coach Pinkel credit for locking him up before Mack Brown could convince him to sit two years behind Vince Young (he ended up sitting two years behind Brad Smith instead). Daniels has been outstanding this season thanks in large part to an veteran offensive line that has proven quite adept at keeping him upright. In fact, the Missouri O-Line is going to be the difference in this game as they are one of the few units in the nation that are equally effective run blocking and pass blocking. Missouri took a huge step last week with an impressive 38-21 win at Texas Tech. And while critics may point out that the rest of the Tigers’ schedule has been soft (it has), it hasn’t been nearly as soft as Texas A&M’s. At least Missouri can point to their domination of Texas Tech in Lubbock as a quality win. So far this season A & M has beaten 2 service academies (Citadel and Army), two terrible teams from Louisiana (LA Lafayette and LA Tech), and one of the worst teams in the big 12 (Kansas); not to mention losing to Texas Tech at home. Missouri is just way to solid on both sides of the football to blow this one. Call it 31-17.

California -8 over Washington State

I agree with Frazier that this could be the game where people start to think Cal is better than USC. And frankly, they’ll be right. California has really come into its own recently. Nate Longshore has fully recovered from his broken leg last season, and his debacle in Knoxville to open the season, and has displayed the pinpoint accuracy on deep balls that is a mainstay of Jeff Tedford’s system. At the start of the season I thought the Bears had the most talented offense in the nation, and now they are proving it. With Desean Jackon, Lavelle Hawkins, Robert Jordan, Marshawn Lynch, and Justin Forsett, the Bears have a quintent of skill position players most NFL teams would die to have. Jackson has really been the key though. He has made huge plays in the passing game and the return game, and his 4.2 speed really stretches a defense. While Washington State is a solid, well coached team, they simply don’t have the athletes to keep up with Cal. Look for Jackson and Lynch to take over this game early, and help California coast to another easy victory 35-19.

@ Auburn over Florida

As I said, when well coached teams hiccup they come back with a vengeance the next week. Tommy Tubberville is an outstanding coach, although I bet he wishes he didn’t open his mouth about possibly getting screwed by the BCS, and I am betting that he, Al Borges, and Mike Munchamp have the Tigers ready to blow back into the national top 10 on Saturday. In retrospect, perhaps we should have seen the loss to Arkansas coming based on the previous pieces of evidence: (1) Wisconsin and Brian Coulhoun’s dominance of the Tigers in last year’s bowl game, (2) squeaking by LSU 7-3 at home, and (3) needing an interception in the endzone to escape South Carolina with a victory. Aside from the South Carolina game, which can be chalked up to absolute mastery by Steve Spurrier, what do the other teams (Arkansas included) have in common? They are all big, physical, punishing teams. The last two teams to beat Auburn, Wisconsin and Arkansas, did so by running the ball right down their throats. Florida cannot do this. LSU was able to stay in the game against Auburn because their defense was simply faster and meaner than the Tigers offense. Florida’s is not. The Gators are a soft team. They stop the run fairly well, but they have yet to face a team that will smack them right in the mouth like Auburn will. LSU hasn’t been able to run the ball all season. Trust me, this is a totally different opponent for Florida. On the other side of the ball, Florida hasn’t been able to run the ball all season long. Tim Tebow has been great on short yardage plays, but when your backup QB is your toughest runner…..well that’s not a good thing. I expect the Tigers to be ready for the Tim Tebow show and give him a healthy dose of humility and possibly even force a Tebow turnover. This is going to be a great game, with a very low score. Inasmuch, it seems worth noting that Florida still hasn’t kicked a field goal this season. I’m just saying, that could come into play in a game that figures to be as close as this one. Call it Auburn 13-7.

USC -18.5 @ Arizona State

Ugh I hate this pick. USC has shown me nothing all year to warrant a spread this high. That said, Dirk Koetter is a terrible coach until proven otherwise, and Rudy Carpenter is playing like a man looking over his shoulder at a QB who is no longer with the program (Sam Keller). Arizona State’s defense is an absolute disgrace (they look like they are playing two hand touch) and they will make USC’s offense look a lot better than they actually are. OK I’ve had enough of this game already. Call it USC 42-21.

Michigan -6.5 over @ Penn. State

Let’s be clear on something, the Manningham injury could hurt Michigan most in this game. Penn. State has a poor secondary. This we know. They also have outstanding linebackers. This we also know. Without Mannigham, Michigan is going to be forced to pound the ball with Mike Hart, which is exactly what the Nittany Lions want the Wolverines to do. Well then, you may ask, why have I picked Michigan to win the game? The answer is simple……Anthony Morelli. This guy stinks, that’s all I have to say. Tony Hunt has been outstanding for Penn State this year, but there is no way he is going to run against this Michigan front 7. That puts the game on Morelli against what is a deservedly vaunted Michigan secondary. That, my friends, is a mismatch worth of narration. Look for the Penn State defense to put forth another valiant effort (like the one they gave against Ohio State), but have to watch as it is wasted by Morelli (just like it was against Ohio State). If Michigan was smart they would alter their game plan somewhat, and resort to a shorter to mid range passing attack. While this does not play to Henne’s strengths, it would allow the Michigan offense to soften up the Penn State linebackers somewhat while getting the ball to Steve Breaston (their next best playmaker after Hart and Manningham). Either way, Michigan wins the game, but it’s not going to be a blowout that most people thing. Call it Michigan 17-3.

Back down to earth last week. So now there is no pressure, and I can make lousy picks without anyone really caring. Every week it's tough to pick so many games, since there are some that I would certainly stay away from if I were putting money on the line. Wake's line last week? Yes please! An SEC pick 'em? Hell no! So with that in mind, I'm back out to take some lumps, and hopefully sniff out a few winners.

Virginia Tech -2.5 AT Boston College

This game is pretty simple for me, and there's one reason. In a game with a line of less than a field goal, I have to look at the kickers. Well, BC doesn't have one. What do you call the back-up of a kid who consistently misses extra points? I mean, is he less than terrible? Also, I simply can't lose here. If I'm wrong, than the Hokies lose, and I get to talk shit to a bunch of in-bred rednecks whose only sense of worth in life is an underachieving football team. If they win, I still get to chalk up the W. The Hokies do their Beamer thing, and win it 24-20.

NC State -4 vs. Wake Forest

Ugh, we need to stop doing ACC games until they prove that they have any pulse as a conference. After wins over Florida St. and Boston College, the Wolfpack are looking to maintain their lead in the ACC Atlantic division. It's another home game for them, which is huge since they have had good mojo in that stadium the last couple of weeks. Also, they finally found themselves a quarterback in Daniel Evans. I think Wake has lost momentum after their fourth quarter collapse against Clemson, and the 'Pack take advantage, 28-14.

Ohio St. -15 AT Michigan St.

I am also boycotting further Spartan picks, since it's a fucking coin flip every time. Who knows which version will show up? Well, I have definitely learned to be against John L. Smith and his crew of idiots every chance I get. Ohio St. has been incredibly focused, and have thrived on opponents mistakes. Well, Sparty will definitely make some mistakes, and the Buckeyes are going to turn those into points. Lots of them. Michigan St. can't stop anyone, and certainly won't this week, Ohio St. rolls them 42-17.

Texas A&M +2.5 vs. Missouri

Mizzou ain't going 7-0. I know the Big 12 is pretty lousy, and A&M haven't exactly been great, but these are the kinds of games the Aggies tend to win. They have simply owned the middle of the Big 12 pack for years now, and that's not about to change. Remember, people occassionally think of Dennis Franchione as an excellent coach, and it's because he takes down mediocre and totally unproven undefeated teams. Then he blows a 10 point lead against Texas and ends up getting romped. It's how he rolls, and why the Aggies win, 20-13.

Cal -8 AT Washington St.

The Cougars already had that game where a national power comes to town and they keep it close. It isn't going to happen again. This is the game where the national cry that Cal is better than USC begins, because the Bears will beat Wazzou more efficiently than the Trojans did. They are one of the hottest teams in the country now, and that's going to continue on Saturday. They cruise 37-20.

Auburn vs. Florida (pick 'em)

This is the game where the SEC officially eats their own. Auburn is looking to redeem themselves after getting completely out played against Arkansas, and there will be no better opportunity than this weekend. Tubberville will be telling his troops that they still have a chance to play for the title, but it has to start with a big win over the Gators. Fortunately this one will be at Auburn, which will definitely provide a boost. I think that Auburn hits them in the mouth, and I don't think the Gators have it in them to hit back. Their schedule is simply too brutal, and this is the week where it catches up to them. Tubberville may be right, maybe the SEC does need a playoff (I don't think so) but his boys help to prove his point, and the Tigers pull it off, 17-13.

Arizona St. +18.5 AT USC

What have the Trojans done this year to warrant such a huge spread? I mean, they have been playing Pac 10 teams down to wire for the last couple of weeks, and I see no reason why they're suddenly going to break through and crush someone. I don't like what the Sun Devils are doing, and I don't think they stand a chance in this one, but the Trojans aren't blowing anyone out. USC wins, and probably won't trail for even a second of this one, but the final margin can't match the spread, Trojans walk 34-21.

Michigan -6.5 AT Penn St.

Well, the Nittany Lions won't be able to run against the top rushing defense in the nation. That leaves the fate of this game in the hands of Anthony Morelli. Well, that's a bad thing. The injury to Manningham hurts, but the Wolverine offense is very balanced, and Breaston and Arrington are competent receivers. Mike Hart will keep any defense honest, and Chad Henne has been excellent this year. Penn St. would love this win, and for the national telecast Happy Valley will be rocking. Well, until Michigan starts putting points on the board. They have blown out everyone they've played, and while this one will be closer, it won't be close enough, Wolverines keep rolling, 27-17.

Last week: 4-3-1
Season: 14-9-1

#2 Michigan

Walter: While the Manningham injury will hurt the Wolverines, they should still have enough talent to win out until Ohio State. What Manningham's loss may mean, however, is that Michigan might finally be forced to play a game where they don't win by more than two touchdowns. Learning to win close(er) games is not necessarily a bad thing. That said, with their defensive front seven and Mike Hart in tow, blowouts up until Ohio State is not out of the question.


#3 Florida

Walter: The LSU win was very nice, but I think we are going to learn a lot about Florida this week when they play at Auburn. The Tiger's are going to be jacked up to prove the Arkansas game was a fluke and that they still belong among the nation's elite. In Auburn, Florida will face the most physical offense and defense they have seen this season (LSU was fast, Auburn is just big and nasty). If the Gators go into Auburn and win they will deserve a #2 ranking, and I may have to eat some crow about calling them soft. That said, Arkansas beat Auburn by lining up and going right at them. That is a lot different than, in the words of my esteemed co-blogger, running wide reciever sweeps on first and goal.

Frazier - The Gators won a huge game Saturday, make no mistake about it, they were the better team out there. Also, their win in Knoxville is looking better and better as Cal has improved and the Vols thumped Georgia. I still worry about them being physical enough, and they have shown some USC as well, the inability to put away teams. They let Alabama hang around for far too long. They just haven't been as dominant as Michigan or Ohio St. although they have some excellent wins. Let's see how it goes against Auburn. A big, bruising victory will answer any lingering doubts about the heart of this team.

#4 USC

Walter: I do not like what I am seeing out of this team. They have been listless on offense all season, and recently they have shown an inability to stop talented passing games (Washington State and Washington). That is not a good combination in the wide open, air it out Pac-10, and it is certainly far from the blueprint that Pete Carroll has used for the balance of his tenure at USC. Getting Jarrett back will help, but the Trojans have been living dangerously and they haven't even entered the hard part of their schedule yet. True they get Oregon, Cal and Notre Dame at home, but I don't see how they win all three. Cal is the best team in the Pac-10 right now, and frankly it doesn't appear even close.

Frazier - Well, the difference between USC and Cal is that USC has trailed for 4 minutes all year, and Cal got stomped in Knoxville. Is that enough of a difference for you? The Trojans are undefeated, and while Carroll's teams have appeared listless in the past (and downright uninterested for periods last year) they have generally played their best against quality opposition. They destroyed Oklahoma for a title, and pounded Michigan for part of another, and they generally dominated ranked opponents, just like they did when they crushed Nebraska this year. I definitely have concerns about USC this year. They haven't looked great yet, and they haven't put away opponents like they need to. That being said, they are the reigning champs of the Pac 10, and will continue to be so until someone actually beats them.

This is what USC should be doing against second
class opposition. So far they have lacked that killer instinct.

#5 Louisville

Walter: If I were Bobby Petrino I would do everything I could to make sure Brian Brohm did not play in this week's game, but did play next week against Syracuse. No reason to risk his health if he is still recovering, but as a Cardinals fan I would feel a lot more comfortable against West Virginia is Brohm had some game experience. As for this week, last time the Bearcats came to Papa John's Stadium they stomped on the Cardinal at midfield before the game. Louisville proceeded to paste them by 63 points. I'm guessing they'll try a different motivating tactic this week.....it won't matter.

Frazier - Agreed, Brohm needs some game action before the epic showdown. But no reason Hunter Cantwell can't be the one to demolish the Bearcats. This team looks like it is on cruise control. I love the way they've played, the poise they've shown, and the fact that they have the best offense in the country without two legitimate Heisman candidates. Damn.

#6 West Virginia

Walter: The Mountaineers are undefeated but they have played poorly on the road all season. That is somewhat worrisome since their entire season is going to come down to a single game on the road (at Louisville). That said, if they win that game I might have to take a mulligan on my statement that they still wouldn't get into the national title game. After the Nov. 2 date with Louisville, the Mountaineers face a bear of schedule ending the season at Pittsburgh, and then at home against South Florida and Rutgers. If West Virginia wins at Louisville, keep an eye on that South Florida game. Stephen Nicholas and Ben Moffit are fast, sure tackling linebackers who could give the Moutaineers' spread offense fits. You heard it here first.

Frazier - While the SEC teams are in a battle to the death the Big East is playing out exactly as we expected. Two great teams (Louisville, WVU) one good team that will benefit from a soft conference (Rutgers) and the dregs (pretty terrible everywhere else). WVU has to get more comfortable away from those Country Roads. Still, they figure to be undefeated heading into their one game that matters. Then we'll finally see if they are really any good.

#7 Tennessee

Walter: Personally I wanted Texas ranked ahead of the Vols because I still don't really believe they are one of the seven best teams in the nation. True they beat Cal, but that was at home, the first week of the season, with the Bears QB coming off a major injury. The Georgia victory was dominating, but do we really know how good the Bulldogs are? The Vols lost their only other tough game to Florida, and while the game was close it was not as close as the score indicated (thanks to a phantom punt return penalty). Tennessee has yet to play the rest of the SEC elite, and with games against Auburn, LSU and Arkansas coming up, this high ranking may come to look foolish.

Frazier - I know the big man hates Tennessee, and that's super. But they smoked our #8 team, and absolutely destroyed Georgia between the hedges. I think Georgia is pretty lousy, but it's hard to walk into Athens and drag the home team behind the woodshed. The Vols may have lost to the Gators, but it was by a single point, while Texas got thoroughly dominated by Ohio St. Talk about a game that wasn't as close as the score indicated! The fact remains that they dominated a pair of quality teams, with 4 of their wins coming against BCS programs, while Texas has only beaten a pair (Iowa St. and Oklahoma). Maybe Texas is the better team, but they haven't proven it yet. The SEC will continue to be pretty tough, and Tennessee may take a couple of hits, but they'll definitely hit back.

#8 California

Walter: If you can't tell, I am of the belief that if the Vols and Bears played again right now, Cal would run Tennessee off the field.....even if that field was Neyland Stadium. California's offense may be the fastest in the nation, and Nate Longshore seems to have developed a near psychic connection with WR Desean Jackson that is rivaled only by the Henne-Manningham combination. What might take this team to the next level (a Pac-10 title), though, is its defense. Daymeoin Hughes continues to outproduce his own talent, and the rest of the Bears D takes its cues from him. This overachieving unit would give the Bears a chance to win every week, even if they weren't consistently scoring 40+ points. The fact that they are means that the defense gives them a chance at a blowout every week. I don't see the Bears losing the rest of the year, including the bowl game. A final #2 ranking is not out of the question.

Frazier - Wow, my esteemed co-blogger is back on the bandwagon! The Bears have looked excellent recently, although I fail to see how destroying an overrated Oregon team at home is better than destroying an overrated Georgia team on the road. Maybe this team is the one we expected to see at the beginning of the year, and maybe it's not. I still don't trust them. They beat an underachieving Minnesota team, a terrible Arizona St. team, Portland St. (enough said) the terrible Beavers and overrated Ducks. As I said, that doesn't really give me a lot to go on. I think it's a little too early to crown them anything.

This is what my esteemed co-blogger looks like when discussing

the Bears. Although he is delicious with butter and maple syrup.

#9 Texas

Walter: The Longhorns seem destined for an 11-1 record after beating up on the Sooners this past weekend, but I am at least one fan hoping they don't get even a sniff of the national title game. Texas' schedule and conference are a joke, and they proved earlier this year that they don't belong in the same stadium as Ohio State. I must say, though, that I am impressed with the development of Colt McCoy. He has a little Major Applewhite in him, and that is just about the greatest compliment I can give a Texas QB. The Longhorns all of a sudden look like a near lock to open the 2007 season as #1.

Frazier - Texas looked very good against an Oklahoma team that, frankly, hasn't. Remember, the Sooners barely escaped UAB in the opener. Their best win of the year may be at home against Washington, and both they and Oregon look overrated now. So what does Texas win tell us? I don't know. The Big 12 is looking pretty small these days. A trip to Nebraska might look difficult, but I have visions of the Trojans dismantling the Huskers dancing in my head. So maybe they'll have a sterling record heading into their bowl game, where a one-loss team from a legit conference knocks their heads off. Awesome.

#10 Clemson

Walter: The best of the rest. How good is Clemson really? Well, we don't know, and we have the ACC to blame. The Conference has been an absolute joke, and it has totally been put to shame by the previous BCS whipping boy, the Big East. Three, possibly four, Big East teams would currently be dominating the ACC (Louisville, West Virginia, Rutgers, and possibly Pitt), so I think it's time we stop with the griping about the Big East getting an automatic BCS bid. That said, the mediocrity of the ACC notwithstanding, Clemson is an incredibly talented team that is one questionable non-interception call at BC (I was there, I saw it) away from being undefeated and ranked in the top 5. They actually seem to be deserving of this spot, and they seem the best bet to break the curse of the 323 #10 spot with a game against Temple this week.....let's just hope the Tigers don't suffer an injuries, I couldn't live with myself if we cost them ANOTHER starter.

Frazier - Ugh. Look, I don't love the Tigers, in fact, I think they may actually stink, it's hard to say. But they have some talent, a good record, and I can't even consider the other Tigers (Auburn, LSU) for the way they stunk out the joint Saturday. So the best team in the ACC gets the nod, and an automatic victory over Temple for their efforts. Now, everyone say a prayer for your ACL's this week. If someone gets injured we're skipping #10 and replacing it with #11 for the rest of the year. I can't live with this on my conscience.

Ok, not as glorious as last week's effort, but another win in the books for your pal Frazier. Of course everyone was shocked at the Auburn score, and there was a lot of shaking going on all over the football spectrum. Thank god for the ever-reliable Joe T. to add some sense of stability to the proceedings. The big man and I had a bet about what his final stat line would look like. We both pretty much nailed the completion percentage, and I guessed exactly how many fumbles and picks he would be responsible for. Although I definitely short-changed him on the yards. I saw a Bulldog pull in a limp pass, and break a long run, and I knew that those forty yards would be the difference. Still, he is as terrible as terrible can be.

I was right about:

The Clemson-Wake game. The final score was about what I predicted, and the line was absolutely ludicrous. This one was the absolute lock of the week. Clemson has a ton more talent, and it eventually came through. But a solid gameplan and good execution kept the Deacs in the lead until a disastrous final quarter. More credit to Jim Grobe, he has a team of scrappers, and I love their heart.

I was wrong about:

Auburn. Yikes. Ugh. Disgusting. They were thoroughly man-handled. Darren McFadden cruised for almost 150 yards on the ground, and tore up the vaunted defense. Mustain was mistake-free, and Auburn got whipped at home. I was completely startled. It was also unsettling that they didn't start throwing the ball until it was too late. Not quite sure what Tubberville was thinking.

I was right about:

Arkansas. Wow, they grew up fast! After a terrible opening week, and a lack of impressive showings, they still looked a year away, and I was feeling that I'd jumped the gun with my preseason selection of the Hogs as a team to watch. Well, they really do have a ton of talent, and Nutt will get them to play a great game or two every year. Now he and his team both need to get more consistent. Still, probably the best win of the year so far. Unbelievable.

I was wrong about:

LSU. They got out-played on both sides of the ball by the Gators. Russell made too many mistakes, and their running game is pitiable. Their defense also failed to hold strong when they needed them to. While you can't be stunned by a Florida victory, they really made it look easy.

I was right about:

The USC-Washington game. Once again the Trojans led throughout, and escaped with a close victory. Their once comfortable lead, and command of the game almost slipped away, but a serious clock-management snafu scuttled the Huskies chances. Don't blame the officials on this one, Washington knew how much time was left, and it took a long time to wind that clock. They needed to be set with the play called the moment the ball was spotted. USC has trailed for all of 4 minutes this season, so it's hard to knock them, but they need to put teams away.

I was wrong about:

Florida. They played an excellent game, and really beat LSU everywhere on the field. It didn't help that the Tigers shot themselves in the foot (repeatedly). Still, credit where credit is due.

I was right about:

The Gators being soft. Running a wide receiver screen from a shotgun formation at your own 1 yard line is hardly the mark of a physical team. That play almost turned into 6 for LSU, and showed that the Gators need to get tougher. It's a bad sign when your backup quarterback is your fiercest runner.

I was wrong about:

Bad Michigan St. showed up on Saturday. Although they cover if they simply kick an extra point. Their desperate try for two, giving a chance for a miracle comeback, fell short. Still, I didn't think it would come to that. Whatever, it was a coin flip and I guessed wrong. I hate you John L. Smith.

I was right about:

The Texas game. Just had a bad feeling about that one. Texas won more easily than I would have normally expected, but I kind of knew it was going to happen. Still not entirely sure why.

I was wrong about:

The Longhorns, especially their defense. Peterson had over a hundred yards, but had to lug it 25 times, and was kept from winning the game for the Sooners. They looked fast and physical. Also, Colt McCoy looked solid. Still don't know what to make of them.

I was right about:

Georgia. Especially Joe T. He was abysmal against the Vols. Also, their defense was totally and utterly exposed. Yikes. I was right about them from the very beginning, and now I get to wallow in their terribleness. They suck.

I was wrong about:

The final score of that game. Holy shit was there some scoring! It's still unclear if Tenn. is that good, or Georgia is that bad. I'm still not ready to change my mind about Ainge, but I may have to give him another chance. There is still plenty of time to prove my suspicions correct.

I was right about:

Getting to ignore West Virginia for awhile. Wait, they played Saturday?

I was wrong about:

Oregon, obviously. They got lit up. Just goes to show that the football gods were angry. Also, that Arizona St. might actually be terrible. Cal absolutely shredded the Ducks. Dixon made the mistakes he's been avoiding all year, and this team got wood-shedded. A brutal loss. Let's see if Bellotti can keep this team on track.

I was right about:

Florida St. Thanks for making my overrated teams look legit. They are out of the Top 25, and it's about damn time. They are terrible. Not quite sure what's going on down in Bowden Country.

I was wrong about:

Houston. Losing to Louisiana-Lafayette is pretty low. They looked poised to break through, and then a bad loss like this one. They needed to rebound quickly after a disappointing loss against Miami, and failed too. Kolb would be hard pressed to have a better game, but he needed some help Saturday, and his team didn't deliver.

I was right about:

The Hawaii game. Loads of offense. I had it called Hawaii beating the spread 45-34, but it ended up being a push at 41-34. Still, it's hard to feel bad about that kind of close call, especially being so damned close on the final score. Nice to pick outside the BCS box from time to time.

I was right about Oregon. The team is 4-1 but they proved this past weekend, as I suspected all along, that they were not nearly as good as their record. Let's examine. Oregon opened the season with a win over a Stanford team that currently sits at 0-6 and is one of the worst teams in the nation. The Ducks followed that up by escaping with a 31-24 win at Fresno State in a game they should have lost but for a complete special teams melt down by the Bulldogs. Fresno State currently sits at 1-4 after losing to Utah State at home this past weekend. From there, the Ducks had their most impressive "win" of the season against Oklahoma at home, even though they couldn't come close to stopping Adrian Peterson and needed some home field officiating to win. By the way, Oklahoma got dominated by Texas on Saturday, leaving them at 3-2 and further denigrating the impressiveness of that win. Finally, Oregon annihilated an Arizona State team that looks completely clueless before getting waxed by California. So let's recap: Oregon has four wins yes, but the combined records of those teams is 7-14, and in the two games they played against legitimate teams (OK and Cal) they needed some friendly officiating at home to beat OK and got pasted by Cal. Oregon, you stink.

I was wrong about California. I loved them preseason, and I was right about that, but I was wrong to jump off the bandwagon after the debacle at TN. Nate Longshore has been nothing short of outstanding since the opening game (which was the first game he was playing in almost a year) and the talent is there for the Bears to unseat USC as the Pac-10's elite.

I was right about Georgia's defense. They were exposed as 100% frauds by giving up 44 points to a TN offense that is well coached, but not breathtakingly athletic. The Bulldogs have a lot of young players and will be good next year, but for right now they stink and even the most ardent SEC supporter can't argue with the323's placing them on the overrated list at the beginning of the year.

I was wrong about the TN offense. Erik Ainge has been oustanding this season, and has shown incredible improvement under David Cutcliffe. That said, if I have to hear on more story about Peyton Manning instructing Ainge to just listen to everything Cutcliffe says without asking questions I might light myself on fire.

I was right about the USC secondary. If not for a total brain fart by Ty Willingham on the last play of the game, Washington might have gotten into the endzone and knocked off the Trojans at USC. The Trojans have outstanding linebacker play, but they are going to need a lot more from the secondary and the pass rush (especially Lawrence Jackson who has been invisible this season) if they expect to beat California and Notre Dame.

I was wrong about Oklahoma. Texas' methodical play totally took the Sooners out of their game plan, not to mention that the Longhorns were the far more physical team. Peterson ran hard and punished would be tacklers, but he has no offensive line to speak of and that killed him against Texas. Oklahoma has some game breakers on offense, but the entire unit is still a work in progress. One cannot help but wonder what might have been if Rhett Bomar was still around. Not only would the vertical passing game be improved at the QB position, but at the WR position as well where the Sooners could have lined up Paul Thompson opposite Malcolm Kelly.

I was right about the line in the Wake Forest-Clemson game. Clemson won, they were the better team, but that line was just WAYYYYYY to high. We call that a gimme folks.

I was wrong about Florida. Sure LSU absolutely imploded at the Swamp, but the Gators outplayed the Tigers in every facet of that game. Still, I don't know what to make of this Florida offensive team. Is the fact that Tim Tebow is by far their toughest player a true credit to him, or an indictment of the rest of the team as soft? We'll find out on Saturday when they face an Auburn team that will be fired up to get back into the SEC title picture.

I was right about Garrett Wolfe. I'd like to take credit for starting up his heisman bandwagon, but I can't. I will settle for staking a claim to riding shotgun though.

Ok, so there seems to be a curse on the 323 right now. Our underrated players posts from last week really caused some problems. For mine, Mario Manningham got injured, and may miss signicant time: Report: Michigan's Manningham to have knee surgery. Dennis Dixon also had an up-and-down game, as his team got blown out. Cason didn't make any big plays, and Arizona got drubbed by a mediocre UCLA team. While not a total jinx, he can't be thrilled with the result.

For the big man, Auburn had it's title shots destroyed by Arkansas, as the Hogs ran roughshod over the vaunted defense, and the Tigers failed to cause Mustain, the freshman quarterback, to make mistakes. Jamarcus Russel failed to lead his troops to victory in a game they absolutely had to have, and Malcolm Kelly failed to make the big plays he needed to in order for the Sooners to survive. The only ones who escaped our uber-jinx were Garrett Wolfe, and Ian Johnson for me and James Laurinaitis for the big man. Of course Johnson and Laurinaitis didn't play any sort of legit competition, and Wolfe is a machine. Seriously, pray for the survivors next week, their number may be up. Sorry guys, maybe love from the 323 isn't always in your best interest.

After last week's successes I'm a little nervous. Frankly, I'd prefer to go out on a high note. But I owe it to myself and the 323 to keep picking games. No Thursday or Friday picks this week, which I am notoriously off on, so hopefully I can keep up the streak.

Wake Forest +17 over Clemson

Wow, talk about getting no respect. The Demon Deacons are 5-0 and playing at home. I mean, they haven't been lighting the world on fire or anything, but they are winning football games. Furthermore, Clemson has a history of being streaky (which is a nice way of saying "complete shit for long periods of time"). The Deacs first four wins came over opponents from BCS conferences. They've beat Clemson the last two times they've played them at home, and their losses at Clemson were by 7 and 8 points. That hardly justifies such an egregious spread. Jim Grobe is an excellent coach who keeps his teams in the game. They don't do anything flashy, but they execute well, and have solid gameplans. Clemson will win this game, that's not really the point, but they aren't going to go on the road and blow this team out. Let's call the final 31-24.

Washington +20.5 AT USC

The Trojans aren't blowing teams out this year. Especially with the loss of McFoy to go with Jarrett. It will make scoring points even more difficult for this bunch. Now, they'll get over 20 again, but they aren't going to WIN by twenty. That's pretty ridiculous, especially against a Washington team that is 4-1 right now and has been winning close games. That points to experience, maturity and coaching, three things that prevent getting blown out. The Huskies will play with a ton of pride, because they've been taking it pretty bad from USC for the last several years. They cover the enormous spread, 30-17.

LSU over Florida, AT Florida

I like the Tigers in this one. Jamarcus Russell has been excellent, and their defense has been one of the best in the country. After their incredible battle against Auburn it became clear that if Auburn is 1, LSU is 1A. If that game had been in Baton Rouge they might have even escaped with the victory. Florida has simply not been impressive enough. They had a nice win at Tennessee, but LSU is a whole different kettle of fish. They have the same kind of balance that Florida does, but have been more dominant. I still don't trust Leak, and I think alternating him and Tebow will finally backfire, since that sort of thing never works out. I hate picking against the Gators in the Swamp, but I just don't think they'll win. LSU gets it done, 17-10.

Texas -6 over Oklahoma

Well, my heart wants me to pick the Sooners. It really does. And Stoops has an excellent record against the Longhorns, and they boast the best player on the field in Peterson. Maybe I'm out-smarting myself with this pick. I really hate picking this game because Texas is a complete mystery to me. They are capable of almost anything in my mind. But I think their defense carries them. I think they pack the box, and force Thompson into costly mistakes. I guess I just have a bad feeling about this one. I can't explain it but I think Texas wins, 27-18.

Michigan St. +17.5 AT Michigan

We all know that the Spartan's are Jekyll and Hyde. But they are usually at their best against good competition. They play up to, and down to, the level of their opponents. They have played the Wolverines close over the last several years, and I just think that 17.5 is too much in a rivalry game. Of course if they come out flat, they will lose by fifty. But I think it's a rebound game. They took last week off due to a bad hangover, AND looking forward to this one. The Wolverines win, but Sparty keeps them on their toes, 38-30.

Tennessee over Georgia, AT Georgia

Yikes, Erik Ainge vs. Joe T. Well, I can't pick Joe T. I think I've made my bed with this one. Tennessee's defense showed that they can create turnovers, and god knows Joe T. is capable of producing them. The Georgia defense may be a fraud, since no one knows for sure. But you can't escape game after game against mediocre opponents and then expect to handle the Vols. Without a running attack the Bulldogs are doomed to trust the shakiest quarterback in the country. That's not a good thing, and their season starts to unravel, 21-13.

Oregon +7.5 AT California

The Ducks have been completely dismissed following their WIN against Oklahoma. Well, as good as Marshawn Lynch and Nate Longshore have been, Jonathan Stewart and Dennis Dixon have been equally up to the task. This should be a fun game to watch with plenty of scoring on both sides. I'm not sure who has the better defense, although Oregon did hold Arizona St. to an absolutely anemic 33 yards passing. That is a mind-boggling number. I think they have enough to pull the upset, 37-34.

Hawaii -7 over Nevada

Any team that gave my boys from Boise a run for their money gets love for me. Also, it's never easy tripping out to the island and getting ready to play a serious game. I know Nevada has plenty of talent, and this game is going to include some serious pyrotechnics, but I think Hawaii pulls away, 45-34.

Last week: 7-0
Season: 10-6

@ Wake Forest +17 over Clemson

Are you kidding me? Never before has a 5-0 team in the ACC gotten so little respect. Don’t get me wrong, Clemson is a very solid team (I watched them first hand at BC), but this game is being played at Wake Forest when the Demon Deacons football program is on the cusp of becoming nationally relevant for the first time ever. Jim Grobe has done a fantastic job this season, and he has his team believing in themselves far too much to get blown out at home. Wake’s defense has been outstanding this season, ranking ninth nationally and not having given up more than 14 points in any one game thus far. Combine that number with Wake’s ball control offense led by workhorse tailback DeAngelo Bryant, and Clemson may not have the ball enough to roll up the type of offensive numbers they have been firing out for the past few weeks. The bottom line is this, Clemson has more talent all over the field than Wake Forest, however Wake Forest has three major things going for them: (1) the emotion accompanying what is perhaps the school’s biggest football game ever, (2) home field advantage, and (3) the mounting injuries to Clemson’s front seven. Wake is going to need to run the ball to win this game. Clemson’s run defense has been fantastic this season, but you’ve got to figure that the injuries to the defensive line and linebacking corpse are going to catch up with them at some point. I bet it happens this week. Wake wins in a brawl, 21-20.

Washington +20.5 @ USC

Washington has been a very nice story this season, as Tyrone Willingham seems to have this program on track to return to national prominence. That said, wins over UCLA and Fresno State are nice, but they are not even close to being ready to beat USC. So then why am I breaking the cardinal rule and picking a road team to cover even when I don’t think that they can win the game outright? Well, it’s the volatile combination of the Huskies offense and the Trojans defense. First Washington’s offense. Ty Willingham has always been a great offensive mind, and he has truly proven it this season. What’s most interesting is just how much this Washington team reminds me of Willingham’s first Notre Dame team, right down to the quarterback. When Willingham took over in South Bend, he inherited Carlyle Holliday, a mobile QB whom nobody thought could efficiently run Ty’s west coast attack. He did. Similarly, in Washington Ty inherited Isaiah Stanbeck, a mobile QB whom nobody thought could efficiently run Ty’s west coast attack. He is. So far Stanbeck has completed nearly 60% of his passes for over 900 yards and 8 TD (with only 3 INT). And he’s really got it going lately against some pretty good competition. Stanbeck took advantage of a very good Arizona secondary for 293 yards and 2 TD, He torched UCLA for another 200 yards and 3 TD, and was very solid against Fresno State throwing for 150 yards and 2 TD. Notice something? All solid opponents, but Stanbeck’s numbers have improved each of the last three games. After watching Alex Brink torch the USC secondary last week, there is no reason to think Stanbeck can’t put some points on the board. Which brings us to the USC defense. They looked pedestrian against Alex Brink, the only legitimate quarterback they have played all season (aside from one quarter of Mitch Mustain in the opener, who, by the way, led a TD drive). Stanbeck isn’t polished enough to win the game, but he can keep it close. Call it USC 34-20.

LSU over @ Florida

Let’s make one thing clear, the better bet in this game is the under. That said, I think LSU has just a little more on offense than Florida and that is going to be the difference in this classic SEC showdown. The LSU defense has been nothing short of amazing this season. They have given up a grand total of 2 touchdowns, one of which was to Auburn on a QB sneak. Not a single team has been able to run the ball on LSU this season, and that includes an Auburn team that has arguably the best running game in the nation. Florida has been terrible running the football this season (did I mention how soft they looked up front against Alabama?) and that is unlikely to change against LSU, especially since they will be without top tailback Deshawn Wynn. That leaves the entirety of Florida’s offense on the shoulders of Chris Leak. It’s not that he isn’t capable of leading the Gators to victory, it’s just that against this LSU secondary it looks like a Herculean task. On the flip side, LSU has no running game either. They have two talented tailbacks in Justin Vincent and Alley Broussard, but both still appear to recovering from major injuries. Florida’s front seven have also been great against the run this season, so expect very few rushing yards from either side in this game. The difference in this game will be the Jamarcus Russell and the LSU passing game against a Florida secondary that all of a sudden looks very vulnerable. Sure they picked off 3 passes last week, but they still gave up 240 yards passing to John Parker Wilson and an Alabama passing offense that doesn’t have a single player who could get on the field for LSU. Further, think back to the Kentucky game when Andre Woodson, a decent QB, picked them apart to the tune of 70% passing and 200 yards. Jamarcus Russell has been outstanding this season (see my underrated players section) and he is going to be the difference in this game. LSU takes it in an absolute war 17-10.

Oklahoma +6 over Texas (at Dallas)

I’m sorry, this Texas team just hasn’t impressed me this year. In their only meaningful game of this season they looked a step slow and barely showed up. Colt McCoy may become a good passer one day, but that day is not today. One of the most underrated aspects of the Longhorns’ season has been just how much they have missed Ramonce Taylor. Every Longhorns fan to a man was not worried about losing Taylor because of the presence of both Selvin Young and Jamaal Charles. Both have been solid, but against OSU it was very clear that they missed the explosiveness that Taylor provided. This deficiency will come to forefront against Oklahoma as well. Colt McCoy is not yet an efficient vertical passer. With Taylor, the Longhorns could throw screens and swing passes and to get the ball into the hands of their best athletes. Without Taylor, this game becomes a battle of the running games. And as good as Texas has been this year, only one of these teams has Adrian Peterson, and that’s Oklahoma. Truth be told, the Sooner offense is no longer all about Adrian. Paul Thompson has done a very nice job this season, and Bob Stoops has found a true gamebreaker in WR Malcolm Kelly. Kelly has made huge plays all season (he is averaging 23 yards per catch) and has developed into a Southern version of Tedd Ginn. I expect this game to be higher scoring than most people think, with Oklahoma prevailing because of their big play ability. The line, itself is actually pretty ridiculous. Think about this, if the referees don’t totally screw up at Oregon, Oklahoma comes into this game undefeated and probably the favorite. Is a bonehead call worth 6 points? I think not. Oklahoma 28-25.

@ Michigan -17.5 over Michigan State

I don’t have a lot to say about this game. If the good Michigan State shows up, this could be an absolute classic because it would match the most talented front 7 in the Big 10 against one of the most talented offenses in the Big 10. If the bad Michigan State shows up (more likely), no Wolverine margin of victory is out of the question (seriously, they could win by 50 and it wouldn’t surprise me). The worst part about this matchup…..there’s no way to tell which Spartan team is showing up. What the hell, call it Michigan 54-10.

Tennessee over @ Georgia

That’s right folks, that two pick ‘em SEC games, and that two road teams I am picking to win outright. Let’s not mince words, I hate the Vols. I hate their stupid uniforms, I hate their stupid coach, and I hate that they were the luckiest team in the history of college football when they won the title. Still, they are better than the Bulldogs. If we have learned anything this season, it’s that Georgia cannot score on anyone. And this is somewhat surprising since they have Mark Richt, the former Seminole offensive guru, as a head coach. What is even more surprising is that the QB depth chart going into Saturday’s game reads #1 Joe T, #2 Matt Stafford, and #3 Joe Cox. What!!!!!? Let me get this straight, the entire season the Bulldogs have had one half of football when they were able to execute anything that even resembled a college offense (the second half against Colorado) and the quarterback who led those drives in number three on the depth chart! I think Mark Richt is a great coach, well I thought he was, but this is a move that is going to kill them. Look for the Georgia defense to be exposed as the frauds they are this week. It’s one thing to shut out Mississippi, and quite another to shut out Tennessee. Call it Tennessee 20, Georgia 9.

Oregon +7.5 @ California

This pick is very simple. If I go this way it’s a no lose proposition. If California blows them out, then I was right about the Ducks being America’s superfrauds. If the Ducks win, then I was wrong about them being superfrauds, but I get a mark in the win column for my weekly picks. And if California wins the game by less than a touchdown (which is actually what I think is going to happen), then I win on both fronts. Frankly, I see no other options. California takes it 35-33.

@ Hawaii -7 over Nevada

I love both of these teams. I love the offensive creativity of both Chris Ault and June Jones. I love the reckless abandon and gunslinger mentality of both Jeff Rowe and Colt Brennan. I love passing yards. I love points. I love this game. Hawaii has traditionally been very tough at home. The Hawaiin weather provides them with the perfect environment to unleash their spread offense, and huck the ball all over the field 50 times in a game. What will help the Hawaii passing game even more than the weather, will be the total ineptitude of the Nevada secondary. Exhibit A has to be the utter beat down a pedestrian Arizona State team laid on them a few weeks ago. Rudy Carpenter, who has looked completely lost the past few games, picked Nevada apart for over 300 yards and 5 TD. Colt Brennan and Devone Bess are better players than Carpenter and any of the ASU wideouts. It would be a mild upset if Hawaii wasn’t able to put up 40 points on the Wolfpack (Hawaii is averaging 43 points at home). The Nevada offense, aptly titled the Pistol Pete, is no slouch either. Jeff Rowe is a talented passer and he will keep them in the game. But in the end, Hawaii is just going to be way too much for Nevada to handle. In what will perhaps be the highest scoring, non OT game of the year, Hawaii takes it 51-37.

Last Week: 5-4
Season: 23-17-1