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| Expect for Le'Veon Bell and the Spartans offense to make just enough plays to pull off the Top 25 upset |
Hey there guys,
It’s me again Margaret. I hope more than my parents get that joke. Anyway, here I debut my picks. Four weeks too late? So what. It’s better late than never I always say. I wish my teachers would agree with me.
I open up the week 0-1. Here I thought that the damage done to Washington’s offensive line would prove key in the end, but the Huskies defense was the real story, holding the overconfident Cardinal to just 13 points and 235 yards of offense. Not a pretty game from either side, Washington grading out with a B- and Stanford getting a D-.
Hopefully my losing trend won’t last. I am calling for a couple of woeful SEC teams to continue their downward spiral, but I don’t see too many upsets this week.
11:00 a.m.
1-3 Arkansas @ 2-1 Texas A&M (-11.5; 62.0 O/U)
SEC Network
Preview: Arkansas is bad. Johnny Manziel is doing some work for A&M. I think that A&M is much better than I originally anticipated. Aggies 38-21
3-0 #25 Baylor @ 3-0 #9 West Virginia (-10.0; 78.0 O/U)
FX
Preview: Baylor is ranked because of the starting QB for the Washington Redskins. Look, Baylor is clearly a much better football team under Art Briles than they were prior, but they’re not this good. West Virginia has a great home crowd and will remind the Bears of who they really are. Mountaineers 42-31
2-2 Missouri @ 2-1 UCF (push; 49.0 O/U)
Preview: Missouri needs to find some answers, and they need them quick. After Sheldon Richardson opened his mouth prior to the Georgia game, the Tigers have been demolished by their two SEC foes. Their offense needs some work, and they need confidence. I’m afraid they’re not going to get it after this weekend. Golden Knights 28-27
2:30 p.m.
3-1 Tennessee @ 4-0 #5 Georgia (-15.5; 60.5 O/U)
CBS
Preview: To say that Derek Dooley needs a good showing here is a bit of an understatement. People around the Volunteers program have to be wondering if the opening to the season wasn’t just a flash in the pan after a home loss to Florida and a poor showing vs. Akron. Tyler Bray has the skill to be great, but sometimes doesn’t appear to be right in the head. That’s not good heading into Todd Grantham’s defense. Bulldogs 35-21
3-1 #17 Clemson (-11.0; 56 O/U) @ 1-2 Boston College
ESPN2
Preview: This is not the Boston College I can remember. The one that used to battle Virginia Tech every year for the ACC title. The one who used to live and die with good defense. But they have a shot to look like that team this week. Clemson is coming off a tough loss, that was actually worse than the score said vs. Florida State. How they rebound is going to determine the outcome of this game. Tigers 31-21
4-0 #14 Ohio State @ 3-1 #20 Michigan State (push; 43.5 O/U)
ABC
Preview: This is the big game of the weekend. Game-day is going to be here and it’s a chance for Braxton Miller and Urban Meyer to let everyone know that they are back. A lot of people are expecting Ohio State to do that this weekend, too. I’m going the other way with it. Michigan State has developed a really good home field advantage over the last few seasons, and though it didn’t help them vs. Notre Dame earlier, I do expect it to play a role with Miller. Dantonio is the Big Ten’s Nick Saban in terms of defense and I expect for the Spartans to have a defense prepared for the mobile QB. Le’Veon Bell and Andrew Maxwell make just enough plays and the Spartans take the spotlight of the conference. Spartans 21-20
5:00 p.m.
4-0 #4 Florida State (-14.0; 54.5 O/U) @ 2-2 South Florida
ESPN
Preview: I’ve said it all summer, and I’m going to stick by it. I think that Florida State has a legitimate chance at winning the national championship this season. Their defense had some miscues against an explosive Clemson team, but they are still one of the best in the country. Add in a more consistent offense; these guys are good. South Florida has chance to shake that all up, and I think in the first half they will. But FSU is just too good. Seminoles 35-17
2-1 #24 Boise State (-30.0; 50.0 O/U) @ 2-2 New Mexico
Preview: I want you to stop and think about this, Boise State has played two games without scoring an offensive touchdown. Yeah. This Boise State team is far from the top-tier program they were in the last four to five seasons. Bob Davie is doing a good job down in New Mexico, and in a season or two they might be a team to watch in bowl season. Broncos 38-14
6:00 p.m.
4-0 #6 South Carolina (-21.0; 47.0 O/U) @ 1-3 Kentucky
ESPN2
Preview: Oh, look at that. Joker Phillips’ demise can be seen on national television tomorrow. Enjoy that Kentucky fans. Gamecocks 35-17
Towson @ 4-0 #3 LSU
Preview: Towson is actually the team looking ahead here. No, I’m serious. Bayou Bengals 49-10
3-0 #15 TCU (-17.5; 52.5 O/U) @ 1-2 SMU
Preview: Just like Boise State’s offense is no longer the same, TCU’s defense is no longer the same. Last season SMU surprised the nation by destroying TCU’s D. SMU isn’t the same this year, and I expect for TCU to get some revenge. Horned Frogs 31-17
6:50 p.m.
3-0 #12 Texas (-5.5; 70.0 O/U) @ 2-1 Oklahoma State
FOX
Preview: Texas is back. I’ve seen it in person. They have a running game, and QB David Ash is playing some good football. Oklahoma State is going to need someone to step up along the defensive line or Texas is going to run away with this football game. I do expect the Cowboys offense to be able to keep it close, remember that Ole Miss put up 31 points on the Texas D. Longhorns 35-31
7:00 p.m.
3-1 Wisconsin @ 3-1 #22 Nebraska (-11.5; 53.5 O/U)
ABC
Preview: What happened to Wisconsin? This team has question’s at QB and can’t get anything going on the ground. Nebraska isn’t exactly the great defense it used to be, but I have to wonder if the Badgers are going to be able to get 250 yards of offense. QB Taylor Martinez will start to pull Nebraska away late. Cornhuskers 31-17
4-0 #19 Louisville (-9.5; 50.0 O/U) @ 0-3 Southern Miss
CBS Sports Network
Preview: First off, what Top 25 team visits an 0-3 Conference USA team isn’t a double-digit favorite? I’m a huge supporter of Charlie Strong, but the ‘Ville is going to have to step it up if they’re going to make the step up to big boy football. Cardinals 31-21
8:15 p.m.
3-1 Ole Miss @ 4-0 #1 Alabama (-33.0; 51.0 O/U)
ESPN
Preview: I feel like ESPN doesn’t like Ole Miss. In games where the Rebels are massive underdogs they like to put them in prime time TV. Rebels QB Bo Wallace appears to be healthy, but don’t be surprised if once things start to turn ugly that they play the backup the rest of the way. Crimson Tide 45-10
9:00 p.m.
2-0 #18 Oregon State @ 3-1 Arizona (-3.0; 56.0 O/U)
Pac-12 Network
Preview: I was really surprised when the line for this game came out. Look, I know how it works. It’s situational numbers based. However, Oregon State has taken down two Top 25 teams already, so they come to a team that is Top 25 caliber and are doubted again. I mean this was going to be my upset pick! But they made Zona the favorite. QB Matt Scott appears to be semi-healthy heading into this game and the defense is going to want to prove they’re better than their last outing. Wildcats 24-23
9:30 p.m.
4-0 #2 Oregon (-28.0; 69.0 O/U) @ 2-2 Washington State
ESPN2
Preview: Late night football!!! Poor Mike Leach. But Late night football!!! Ducks 48-17
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