Prediction Outcomes, Week 14

Rutgers (+2.5) @ Louisville: Louisville 41-38 The Scarlet Knights are headed to a bowl game no matter what happens tonight, while the Cardinals are staying home this season. Both teams have had a disappointing year, considering they were supposed to be near the top of the Big East, if not the rankings. Rutgers still has Ray Rice, while Louisville still doesn't have a D.
Rutgers by 10 = Apparently Rutgers D needs some work too. At least they have an extra few weeks to work on it.

Army (+14.5) @ Navy: Navy 38-3 This one's always big, and though the Midshipmen are 7-4 and the Black Knights are 3-8, this is a game where records go out the window. Well, they at least lean out of it. Maybe.
Navy by 17 = Navy goes 8-4 this season with a win over Notre Dame. Well done men, well done.

UCLA (+20) @ USC: USC 24-7 Conventional wisdom says that the Trojans are looking for some major revenge against the Bruins, who ruined their trip to the national championship last season. Conventional-er wisdom from this season says that the Trojans 1) usually have unnecessarily high spreads to cover, and 2) rarely cover them.
USC wins, but UCLA covers the spread = That was some dominant D by the Trojans.

Oregon State (+0) @ Oregon: Oregon State 38-31 No line on this one? Well, how can you not call a rivalry game called the Civil War? The Beavers are 5-1 in the last two months, their only loss coming to USC, while the Ducks are falling, having lost their last two. Any ranking that has Oregon in the top 25 is awfully kind - everyone knows they're not the team they were a month ago.
Oregon State by 10 = You know, the Ducks played better in this one than I thought they would. That many points after basically getting shut out the past two weeks? They might be a sleeper pick in their bowl game.

California (-13.5) @ Stanford: Stanford 20-13 The Golden Bears have been rather sad the second half of the season, while the Cardinal have been pretty sad for most of it. Even though they're bowl eligible, the Bears need this one to stop their horrendous slide. DeSean Jackson might not play? C'mon, it's the Big Game - he's gonna play. (How well, who knows...)
California wins, but Stanford covers the spread = And the Bears fall from grace is complete.

Pittsburgh (+28.5) @ West Virginia: Pittsburgh 13-9 This one's tricky. No really it is, mainly because of the high spread. The Mountaineers don't need style points anymore - win and they're in the title game. So it would be smart of them to pull their starters to make sure they don't get injured once the game is in hand, yeah? This is the Backyard Brawl, remember. That's how I see it going - WV builds a big lead, the Panthers come back to make it semi-respectable at the end.
West Virginia wins, but Pittsburgh covers the spread = Now I don't know if West Virginia wins if White plays the whole game, but it seems to me the stories of the year are injuries as well as upsets. Dorsey, Dixon, Booty, Bradford - there have been a ton of injuries which have impacted the national championship picture. Gotta give credit to Pitt though - they came ready to play and showed it throughout. Couches everywhere breathed a sigh of relief.

Arizona (+6.5) @ Arizona State: Arizona State 20-17 This one's for a trip to the Fiesta Bowl for the Sun Devils (most likely), while the Wildcats need it to become bowl eligible. Recently, the Sun Devils got spanked by USC, while the Wildcats had solid wins over UCLA & Oregon. But Erickson (and the Pac 10) have too much on the line here.
Arizona State by 7 = Quite the battle, and you've gotta feel a bit bad for Arizona - the way they've played the past month, it's too bad they won't go to a bowl.

Washington (+14) @ Hawaii: Hawaii 35-28 Unlike the Mountaineers, the Warriors could still use some style points - a weak showing against the Huskies, even with a win, puts their BCS bowl hopes in jeopardy. They need to win big, and they will.
Hawaii by 21 = With all the craziness yesterday, the Warriors should get to a BCS bowl. You can argue with their schedule, but you can't argue with their record.

Virginia Tech (-5) vs Boston College: Virginia Tech 30-16 The Hokies are finishing up another solid season, and their theme for this game is FINISH. If they Eagles don't beat them in the last 2 minutes in October, Beamer's boys are 11-1 and in the title conversation. Can the Eagles pull off the upset again, this time on neutral field? I think the Hokies will be ready for Ryan this time - look for the D & Special Teams to be flying all over the field.
Virginia Tech by 10 = Nice job, Hokies. They should give West Virginia one hell of a fight in the Orange Bowl.

Tennessee (+7.5) vs LSU: LSU 21-14 The Vols have been hanging by a thread their last two games, but they are 5-0 since the last part of October. The Tiger's seem a little shaken - losing last week, Miles going to Michigan, Flynn possibly not playing... can the Vols stun them? It's possible, but unlikely.
LSU by 10 = Nice try by Tennessee, but playing 4 OT's last week showed at the end of this one. The Tiger's D vs Hawaii's O should be a phenemonal matchup in the Sugar Bowl. (Psst - I'll bet Miles still goes to Michigan within 6 weeks...)

Oklahoma (-3) vs Missouri: Oklahoma 38-17 The other title game this week, this time involving the Tigers. They'd love to be able to avenge their only loss this season, while you can bet the Sooners are still looking to proclaim their mastery over the Big 12. Of all the picks this week, this one really could go either way - I don't know that I'd be surprised by a blowout either way, which makes picking the thing tough.
Oklahoma by 7 = Or a few more, give or take. Think the Sooners wanted to make a statement with this game? Yeah, me too. Stoops is just a bear of a coach.

Solid day today. I was 8 for 11 straight up (72.72%) and 7 for 11 against the spread (63.63%).
Totals for the season: 116-56 straight up (67.44%), 84.5-87.5 against the spread (49.13%)

My picks for the bowl games will probably be the day before or the day of each game, just FYI.

Prediction Outcomes, Week 13

Southern California (-3) @ Arizona State: Southern California 44-24 The Trojans are back in the Rose Bowl hunt - all they need are two wins and an Oregon loss, while the Sun Devils are looking for their first trip to Pasasdena in over ten years. If they can balance some solid passing with a running attack that the USC should stifle pretty well, they might have a good chance.
USC by 10 = That's the way people expected the Trojans to play all year. Better late than never I guess.

Mississippi (+7) @ Mississippi State: Mississippi State 17-14 The Bulldogs have had a successful season under Croom, knocking off Auburn & Alabama this year, and they're likely going to a decent bowl. The Rebels are down again, having only beaten Memphis, Louisiana Tech, and Northwestern State. Yikes. The Bulldogs should cruise at home.
Mississippi State by 14 = Nice win for the Croomers to get to 7-5 and a decent bowl game. The comeback was sharp.

Arkansas (+13.5) @ LSU: Arkansas 50-48 I think the Razorbacks have a decent shot in this one. The Tiger's vaunted defense is giving up points and yards at an alarming rate (for the #1 team in the land, that is), and McFadden and Jones can flat out run the ball, as we all know. LSU can score too though, so this one should be a shootout.
LSU wins, but Arkansas covers the spread = Well, Les Miles is going to have a lot less pressure in the weeks before he takes the Michigan job, that's for sure. Playing on the edge finally caught up with the Tigers, while the Razorbacks finish the season 5-1 to pull themselves back into a good bowl game.

Texas (-6) @ Texas A&M: Texas A&M 38-30 A loss by Oklahoma and a win for the Longhorns put Texas in the Big 12 Championship, and that's gotta be a motivating factor for Mack Brown's boys. The Aggies just haven't played up to their potential this year, and this will most likely be the last home game for Coach Fran.
Texas by 10 = The Aggies really do have the Longhorn's number, huh? That loss'll hurt, probably dropping Texas from BCS contention.

Boise State (+3) @ Hawaii: Hawaii 39-27 The Warriors rely on home-field advantage more than any team in the country, and they're gonna need it this week against the Broncos. This is a great non-BCS matchup and should be a really entertaining game.
Hawaii by 7 = Yup, it was a great game.

Missouri (+1.5) @ Kansas: Missouri 36-28 Flat. Out. Brawl. Neither of these teams have been anywhere close to the Big 12 Championship game ever, and they're both foaming at the mouth wanting to get there next week. Throw in the fact that they're both still eligible for the National Championship game? Dont' be surprised if this one spills over into Nebraska & Iowa.
Kansas by 7 = Kansas's struggles early really hurt them, since Missouri just kept punching the whole game. Even though the Jayhawks season is over, they should get into a good BCS bowl and scare the bejeezus out of whoever their opponent is. Great win for the previously-unable-to-get-over-the-hump Tigers. That win will pay dividends for years to come.

Clemson (-3) @ South Carolina: Clemson 23-21 Two teams that had high hopes for this season but have faltered down the stretch. Spurrier will be back next year - will Bowden? This game might go a long way in deciding that.
South Carolina by 7 = In thinking about it, there are some good coaches already available on the market, but I don't think Clemson is going to be able to find anyone better than Bowden - he's a good fit for them. Spurrier's name will come up with other coaching jobs, and I have to think he's going to listen to some of them (as long as they're in the southeast). This was supposed to be his year, and it's a major disappointment to finish 6-6, not to mention lose your last 5 games.

Virginia Tech (-3.5) @ Virginia: Virginia Tech 33-21 This one is for the right to play in the ACC Championship game next week, and both teams are feel-good stories this year. You can't not pull for the Hokies, and the Cavs are enjoying one of their best seasons ever. I like the Cavaliers in this one, at home, good in close games.
Cavaliers by 6 = Well, the Cavs would've been good in a close one at the end. But it wasn't. Shoulda thought of that. They still had a great season, as did the Hokies.

Alabama (+6) @ Auburn: Auburn 17-10 Will Saban lose 4 in a row? That would be a catastrophic event on the scale of... well, he already went the 9/11 & Pearl Harbor route... maybe the extinction of the dinosaurs? It doesn't matter - the savior is going to look awfully bad in Tuscaloosa if the Tide don't win, especially since they probably won't go bowling.
Auburn by 10 = Saban is looking awfully Weis-ish, isn't he? In reality, it's going to be tough for any coach to come to a new school and win 9 or 10 games his first season. But for some reason, the Alabama folks thought the combination of Saban's genius (overrated) and their tradition (semi-dormant) would work magic. They should be a lot better next year. Like Tommy Bowden and Clemson, Tommy Tuberville is a great fit for Auburn, and they should do anything to keep him.

Florida State (+14) @ Florida: Florida 45-12 So the Seminoles are going to "plant" Tebow, huh? Two things - one, Tebow hasn't been planted by anyone this year (the Dawgs came the closest, and he still scored 3 TD's against them), and two, the Seminoles haven't planted anyone themselves (Boston College, you say? Ryan still passed for over 400 yards against them.)
Florida by 17 = Dadgumit, I hate being right.

Oklahoma State (+13) @ Oklahoma: Oklahoma 49-17 Stoops must be seething that they blew their National Championship game hopes last week. Now the Sooners get to play spoiler, and you can bet they're going to try to use this game as a tune-up for the Big 12 Championship next week. That's if Bradford can play. If he can't, you can bet the Cowboys are going to be smelling blood. (Saturday AM Update: looks like Bradford is cleared to play.)
Oklahoma by 17 = Another slugfest next week with Missouri is now on the docket. After losing two they shouldn't have, the Sooners will be ready. After losing to Oklahoma earlier in the season, the Tigers will be ready too. Should be a great game.

Oregon (-1.5) @ UCLA: UCLA 16-0 The Ducks just aren't the same team without Dixon, and the Bruins are still needing at least one more win to become bowl-eligible.
UCLA by 7 = Don't look now, but with a win over the Trojans and an Arizona win over Arizona State (not out of the question), the Bruins are in the Rose Bowl. How do you think that'll effect Dorrell's firing?

More picks? Okay, why not. There's lots to choose from during the real rivalry week I suppose.

Washington State (+6) @ Washington: Washington State 42-35 This one's for pride, since both the Huskies and the Cougars are 4-7. Who can end their Pac10 season (Washington is still @ Hawaii next week) on a high note? Tricky call, but the Huskies are coming off a solid win against Cal, while the Cougars lost bad to Oregon State.
Washington by 7 = Yeah, maybe I should've stuck with just one helping. Going back for seconds hasn't started well. At least the Huskies get to play in Hawaii next week.

Georgia (-4) @ Georgia Tech: Georgia 31-17 The Dawgs are playing as good as anyone in the country right now, while the Yellow Jackets have a couple wins against North Carolina & Duke in the last two weeks and haven't really beaten anybody all season. And Tech is only a 4 point underdog? Seriously? I just don't get it.
Georgia by 17 = Well, the Dawgs win, but they don't get to go to the SEC Championship game. Which actually might help them, since they're sitting BCS-pretty at 10-2, blowing people away at the end of the season.

UConn (+17.5) @ West Virginia: West Virginia 66-21 The Mountaineer's National Championship hopes are still alive, but just barely. They really need some chips to fall their way in other places, but the only thing they can control is themselves. If they can hang onto the ball, they should be able to put on a show, though the Huskies are one of the major surprises this year at 9-2. 18 is a lot to make up against a 9-2 team, but the Mountaineers have both the offense and defense to do it.
West Virginia by 20 = That was a bit of a statement. It'll help with the polls (the Mountaineers will be in the Top 2 after LSU's loss) and with the computers (beating a 9-2 team). One more win & they're in.

Tennessee (+3) @ Kentucky: Tennessee 52-50 If the Vols win they play LSU next week, if not the Dawgs do. But the Wildcats are looking to make a statement - they haven't beaten the Vols since 1984, and if there was a season they have a good shot, it's this one.
Tennessee by 6 = That was a fantastic game. You've gotta feel for Kentucky.

Notre Dame (+3.5) @ Stanford: Notre Dame 21-14 I'm more curious to see if the Stanford band is allowed anywhere near the stadium.
Notre Dame by 7 = A high note for the Irish to end their season on. At least they didn't lose 10 this year, I suppose that's good.

Well, picking those extra ones quite helped. Ending a season on a strong note will make up for my lousy picks in October and early November, so let's keep this up, shall we?
Both straight picks and against the spread I was 11 for 17 (64.71%).
Season Totals: 108 of 161 straight up (67.08%), 77.5 of 161 against the spread (48.13%).

Prediction Outcomes, Week 12

Oregon (-12.5) @ Arizona: Arizona 34-24 The Ducks know they have their work cut out for them in getting to the NC game - LSU is there if they win out, and it's going to be a tight race if one of the three Big 12 teams in the top 5 wins out. So the order of the day is style points, something that is achievable in the desert against the Wildcats.
Oregon by 17 = The Ducks were on their way until Dixon got hurt, but their defense collapsed too, which really hurt them. And so next week's game between Arizona State and USC will decide the Pac 10 championship.

West Virginia (-6.5) @ Cincinnati: West Virginia 28-23 The Bearcats are sitting pretty at 8-2, and should find themselves in a decent bowl game, which is a move up for them. The Mountaineers should be in for a fight, but they seem like they've got something to prove... I wouldn't want to get their offense mad.
West Virginia by 14 = Turnovers are really hurting the Mountaineers, especially when they need to not just play good but look good.

Vanderbilt (+11.5) @ Tennessee: Tennessee 25-24 Back in 2005, the Commodores beat the Vols in Knoxville. Can they do it again? Maybe? Could it happen? Nope.
Tennessee by 13 = But the Commodores came damn close. Doink.

Oklahoma (-8) @ Texas Tech: Texas Tech 34-27 The Sooners still have a shot at the NC game, but they'll have to win out to stay alive. The good news is that their schedule is easier than Missouri's or Kansas's, mainly because those two have to play each other. Mike Leach and the Red Raiders have been a bit rattled all week - have they spent too much time complaining and not enough training? The Sooners won't let it be close enough for the refs to make a difference.
Oklahoma by 17 = Yeah, that wasn't close at all, at least until the Sooners decided to start playing in the 4th quarter.

Duke (+6) @ Notre Dame: Notre Dame 28-7 This one's gonna be ugly, you can just feel it.
Duke by 3 = The Irish Cover the Spread! The Irish Cover the Spread!

Kentucky (+7.5) @ Georgia: Georgia 24-13 I gotta say, I'm feeling a bit better about the Dawgs since they've been on a tear. They should be able to hold off the Wildcats. (Psst - I had the epiphany that the Dawgs will usually do the opposite of what I predict, so I'm putting that hypothesis to the test this week. I really think it'll be close and possibly even a loss, but that's on the down low. Shhh.)
Georgia by 14 = Another Dawg theory out the window.

Boston College (+7.5) @ Clemson: Boston College 20-17 Alright, this one's basically for the ACC Atlantic Division. Who wants it more? The Tigers are climbing, while the Eagles are tumbling.
Clemson by 10 = Well, it appears the Eagles tumbled their way into the ACC Championship game. Well done guys, good rebound in a tough environment.

Wisconsin (-14) @ Minnesota: Wisconsin 41-34 Hmmm... I want to take the Badgers by a lot, but they've been shifty this year. Good thing the Golden Gophers haven't.
Wisconsin by 17 = The Badgers have won some really ugly games this year - I'm curious to see how they'll do in their bowl game.

Missouri (-7.5) @ Kansas State: Missouri 49-32 The Wildcats are hard to pin down this year too. A good win (@ Texas), some bad losses (@ Iowa State, @ Nebraska), but they're 1-3 in their past 4 games. The Tigers' only blemish is a loss at Oklahoma - other than that they're looking great. Like Oregon, they need style points.
Missouri by 17 = Another solid win for the Tigers. Next week vs Kansas is going to be huge.

California (-7) @ Washington: Washington 37-23 Oh, how the Bears have fallen. A month ago they were on the verge of being #1, but they've only won one game since. They're already bowl eligible (and will be even more so after they beat Stanford in the last week of the season), but if they don't win this one they have a serious chance of being left home during the holidays at 7-5 because of their second-half implosion. The Huskies will most likely be without their star QB, which doesn't bode well for them.
California by 10 = Solid win for Washington, and Cal's slide continues.

Iowa State (+26.5) @ Kansas 45-7 This one depends on the Cyclones. They've looked really bad at times this season, losing to Kent State and D1-AA Northern Iowa, but they've beaten Kansas State & Colorado in consecutive weeks this November. So which team will show up? Kansas doesn't really have anything to prove - win out and they should be in the NC game. I'm not saying they'll play it cautious, but I think it could be closer than the spread if the ball bounces the Cyclone's way.
Kansas wins, but Iowa State covers the spread = No bounces, no way Cyclones.

North Carolina (+10) @ Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech 27-25 I must admit, I'm tempted to call the Tar Heels number on this one. Just a gut feeling. But I think the gut is just getting ready for Thanksgiving.
Georgia Tech by 13 = Mmmm, turkey.

Another week, another brutal round of picks. This has been a hell of a season for choosing games.
Straight up I was 7 of 12 (58.33%)
Against the Spread I was an absolutely pathetic 2 of 12 (16.67%)
Yearly Totals: 97 of 144 (67.36%) straight up, 66.5 of 144 (46.18%) against the spread.

Prediction Outcomes, Week 11

Michigan State (+4) @ Purdue: Michigan State 48-31 The Spartans have gotta be spent after their emotional game against Michigan, while the Boilermakers lost a close one at Penn State. I like the home team here.
Purdue by 7 = I like wrong.

Virginia (+3.5) @ Miami (FL): Virginia 48-0 The last hurrah at the Orange Bowl, huh? The Hurricanes have had an up and down season, while the Cavaliers have had a great season but have dropped some games they should've won. Will the emotions of the day get to the Canes? Maybe a little, but it'll probably help them.
Miami (FL) by 6 = Wow, that was one hell of a sendoff.

Wake Forest (+9) @ Clemson: Clemson 44-10 Hmmm, these teams are pretty evenly matched. The Demon Deacons have a solid season going again, and their only bad loss (in retrospect) was to Nebraska at home. The Tigers lost to the Techs but otherwise have been blowing people away. I don't think Clemson's looking ahead to BC anymore, so they should be focused at home.
Clemson by 13 = Right on the mark, give or take a few TD's.

Air Force (-3.5) @ Notre Dame: Air Force 41-24 Only 3.5? To the Fighting Irish? Gotta take the Falcons in this one.
Air Force by 10 = Still surprised at the 3.5

Alabama (-5) @ Mississippi State: Mississippi State 17-12 This one's a bigger deal than it seems at first. All that "yeah, but it was a good loss" mojo after last week's game against LSU will rapidly disappear if the Tide lose another one, while the Bulldogs realistically need to win 2 of their next 3 (including @ Arkansas & vs Ole Miss) to go to a bowl game. I like the Fightin' Croomers, but Saban's boys will be too much here.
Alabama by 10 = Uh-oh. The Tide seems to be going out. Great win for the boys from Starkville.

Michigan (-3) @ Wisconsin: Wisconsin 37-21 Well, I've picked the Badgers to either beat (Penn State) or play with (Ohio State) the other Big 10 baddies, but the've got Michigan at home. The Wolverines need this one to keep their roll going, and it would be easy to pick them by a lot, but I'm not so quick with that assessment. This one will be close until the end.
Michigan by 7 = Well, it was close, despite the score. The Big 10 is kicking me this week.

Illinois (+15.5) @ Ohio State: Illinois 28-21 This was an easy win for the Bucks at the beginning of the season, but the Illini are 7-3. If Ohio State goes without a close call in these last two games, their toughest victory will have been by 7 at Michigan State.
Ohio State wins, but Illinois covers the spread = Wow, great win for Illinois. Who would've thought that with 3 weeks left in the season, the last undefeateds would be Hawaii & Kansas?

Florida (-7.5) @ South Carolina: Florida 51-31 Spurrier wants this one bad. He's at home, the Gators are down this year, last year was a really close loss he wants to avenge, and he needs it to halt his 3 game losing streak. I'm calling the upset.
South Carolina by 3 = I guess just wanting it isn't enough, huh?

Southern California (-4.5) @ California: Southern California 24-17 This is another Defense (USC) vs Offense (Cal) matchup, kinda like the one the Trojans had against Oregon. But the Bear's offense is sputtering, while the D of Troy is holding strong. Should be a great game, and I think the Trojans will play better overall, but as usual mistakes will cost them, and Jackson will hurt them.
California by 6 = Gutsy performance by both teams. It's gotta be frustrating playing in that type of weather. I just saw it on TV and I'm frustrated.

Fresno State (+17.5) @ Hawaii: Hawaii 37-30 Pat Hill likes a challenge. The Warriors at home with something to prove counts as one.
Hawaii by 24 = I'm curious to see who Hawaii will play in a BCS bowl.

Louisiana Tech (+36.5) @ LSU: LSU 58-10 You know my hesitancy to give away so many points, so this pick should be no surprise. The Bulldogs have shown some fight in their losses, all to big-time opponents. The should be able to keep it closer than 5 touchdowns.
LSU wins, but Louisiana Tech covers the spread = That's better, Tigers. Solid win.

Texas Tech (+6.5) @ Texas: Texas 59-43 The Horns had a great come from behind win last week and are running solid, while the Red Raiders need to get back on track (beating Baylor doesn't count).
Texas by 14 = Lotta points, but that's not unexpected.

As usual, it's carnage.
Straight picks I was 5 of 12 (41.67%), Against the spread I was 4 of 12 (33.33%). Damn.
Season Totals: 90 of 132 (68.94%) Straight picks, 64.5 of 132 (48.66%) Against the spread.

Prediction Outcomes, Week 10

Virginia Tech (+3) @ Georgia Tech: Virginia Tech 27-3 Another Thursday night game for the Hokies, but they're getting points this week... They're on the road, sure, but the Yellow Jackets? This one feels funny, but I've gotta think Virginia Tech is going to rebound.
Virginia Tech by 7 = That's the way to pick yourselves up, Hokies.

Cincinnati (+5) @ South Florida: Cincinnati 38-33 Both these teams started the season 6-0 but have lost their last 2. Which one can rebound and get their momentum back? The Bulls have bigger wins, are playing at home, and have more weapons.
South Florida by 10 = Ouch. South Florida is falling hard, while Cincy is regaining some of their season.

South Carolina (+4.5) @ Arkansas: Arkansas 48-36 The Gamecocks need this one to have any chance in the SEC East, while the Razorbacks need to keep their season (and McFadden's Heisman hopes) from taking another major hit.
South Carolina by 7 = A tough loss for the old ball coach. The Gamecocks had a solid start to their SEC East quest, but after a few stumbles they’re out of it.

Nebraska (+18.5) @ Kansas: Kansas 76-39 Ah, Kansas. The Jayhawks can pile up the points, though they haven't in the past two weeks. The Huskers can't, especially now that their QB is out for the season. It's a big spread, but I can see the Jayhawks covering.
Kansas by 21 = Damn, that was a whuppin’.

LSU (-7.5) @ Alabama: LSU 41-34 This is a big one in the south - if Alabama can somehow pull out the win, they've got the inside track to the SEC West. Not gonna happen though.
LSU by 10 = LSU seems to be having some problems…

Arizona State (+7.5) @ Oregon: Oregon 35-23 Even though Carpenter says he's going to play, he's not going to be 100% this week. The Ducks showed a solid defense against USC last week and should be able to contain the Sun Devils.
Oregon by 10 = …while Oregon is just steamrolling good teams right and left.

Texas A&M (+21.5) @ Oklahoma: Oklahoma 42-14 This would be a huge win for embattled Coach Fran - expect the Aggies to throw everything they've got at the Sooners. If Lane goes for 100 yards, the upset could happen. But it won't.
Oklahoma wins, but Texas A&M covers the spread = C’mon, Aggies. You’re getting over 20 points, the least you can do is keep it close. Argh.

Wisconsin (+16) @ Ohio State: Ohio State 38-17The Buckeyes have played big this year, but they're not immune to the down week. This one could be close.
Ohio State wins, but Wisconsin covers the spread = Well, it was close for 3 quarters. The Buckeyes know how to finish, I’ll give them that.

Washington (-3.5) @ Stanford: Washington 27-9 Oh, a tricky one. The bottom of the Pac 10 isn't a fun place to be, as both these teams know. They both really need this one, and I've got a feeling the battle-tested Huskies are going to get a break.
Washington by 7 = Nice win for Willingham at his old stomping grounds.

Michigan (-4) @ Michigan State: Michigan 28-24 The Wolverines are on a major roll, with or without their starters. If Hart runs well, this could be a blowout.
Michigan by 10 = The Wolverines continue to just get it done. As usual, the battle with Ohio State will decide a lot, both in the Big 10 and nationally.

Troy State (+16.5) @ Georgia: Georgia 44-34 I know, I know. But the Dawgs are the picking equivalent of crack. Giving up only 16.5 to Troy? At home? After pasting the Gators last week? I just can't stay away! Help!
Georgia by 24 = (Curled up in the corner, quietly whimpering.)

Florida Intl (+17.5) @ Arkansas State: Arkansas State 27-24This last one's a tossup. Some weeks it's easy to find 12 or more games to pick, some it's really tough to find the good matchups. Since that's the case, why not give a little love to the Sun Belt? They could use it, I'm sure. I have the Golden Panthers dead last in my rankings, while the Indians sit at #96. 17.5 seems like a lot of points to give up, but Florida Intl can't put points on the board. This is a gut pick - I'll go with it.
Arkansas State by 21 = Ah, well. The gut isn’t always right.

An odd weekend – as good as I was straight up (10 for 12, 83.33%), I was that bad against the spread (4.5 for 12, 37.5% including the Michigan push). The spread is just hurting, jeez.
Season Totals = 86 of 120 (71.67%) straight up, 60.5 of 120 (50.42%) against the spread).

Prediction Outcomes, Week 9

Boston College (+3.5) @ Virginia Tech: Boston College 14-10 As far as Thursday night games go, this one's huge. I admit, I'm still not sold on the Hokies. Sure they're 6-1, but the only decent team they've beaten is Clemson. Though the same can be said of the Eagles, who've basically just played Georgia Tech. Both teams schedules are pretty tough from here on out, and this game will tell a lot about which is capable of running the gauntlet.
Virginia Tech by 7 = Phenominal comeback by Boston College - you gotta feel for Beamer & the Hokies.

Boise State (-3) @ Fresno State: Boise State 34-21 The Bulldogs have beaten the teams they're supposed to, as have the Broncos. You know Pat Hill wants this one bad, and the boys in blue won't have the smurf turf to break their fall.
Fresno State by 6 = Solid win for the Broncos, and they're looking good after a rough start to the season.

South Florida (-4.5) @ Connecticut: Connecticut 22-15 Few casual fans are going to be rooting for the Huskies this week after that fair catch debacle. The Bulls are itching to re-prove themselves and should open up a can.
South Florida by 17 = Wow, I'm really off this week.

Duke (+17.5) @ Florida State: Florida State 25-6 The Seminoles are losing games they're supposed to win but they have a couple good victories. This is their last truly easy game of the year, but 17.5 is a lot of points. At the same time, it's Duke - I wouldn't really have been all that surprised at 28.5.
Florida State by 24 = Ah, that's better. Thanks Duke.

Iowa State (+28.5) @ Missouri: Missouri 42-28 Speaking of 28.5... This is a tricky call, much more so than an almost-30 point spread usually is. The Cyclones could play a solid game and keep it close, as they did against the Sooners last week. Or they could tank like they did against Northern Iowa. Missouri is looking tough, but they're not getting a lot of press...
Missouri wins, but Iowa State (barely) covers the spread = Missouri is just rolling.

Kansas (-3) @ Texas A&M: Kansas 19-11 The Aggies are up and down this year - some good wins, some bad losses. Kansas is still flying high - what's their secret? They've gotta fall sometime. (I keep saying that, don't I?)
Kansas by 7 = Great win for the Jayhwaks. I'm turning things around a bit here...

Arizona (+4) @ Washington: Arizona 48-41 The Huskies have played a brutal schedule this year, and things aren't going to get much easier than Arizona. The Wildcats are a tossup - I'm smelling a blowout, one way or another.
Washington by 17 = Maybe I shouldn't speak so soon. Ouch.

Florida (-8.5) v Georgia: Georgia 42-30 It's rather appropriate that the week before Halloween I include Georgia, since picking a Dawgs game usually scares the hell out of me. And I'm going with the cocktail party, nonetheless. I'm feeling good about the Gators here though - the Fightin' Tebows are rebounding nicely from those two losses.
Florida by 10 = I'm seriously considering never picking another Dawgs game. Ever.

Virginia (-3) @ NC State: NC State 29-24 I don't know which is more shocking, that the Cavaliers are 7-1 or that they're only giving up 3 points to the inept Wolfpack. Three points? Really?
Virginia by 17 = Wow. As bad of a pick as this was for me, it's an awful loss for the Cavaliers.

South Carolina (+3) @ Tennessee: Tennessee 27-24 The Old Ball Coach needs this one to avert a major slide down the rankings after being as high as #6. The Great Pumpkin needs this one to avert falling to .500. As I said, it's Halloween week.
Tennessee by 7 = Who would've thought that Tennessee would be in the SEC East driver's seat after this one? I'll take the push this week - I need it.

West Virginia (-6) @ Rutgers: West Virginia 31-3 I'm guessing some people wrote off the Mountaineers when they wrote off White & Slatons' Heisman hopes. But they're still one of the most explosive offenses in the country. The Scarlet Knights are coming off a big win over South Florida, but I'm seeing a letdown at home.
West Virginia by 10 = Nice job, Mountaineers. Tough break, Rutgers.

Ohio State (-4) @ Penn State: Ohio State 37-17 And finally the big one of the week. JoePa is just one career win behind Bobby Bowden now, as much as he says it doesn't mean anything to him. And this would be a huge win for the Nittany Lions. I picked them to lose to Wisconsin, and they blew the Badgers out. This will be the Buckeye's first true test of the season, and I have a feeling they'll perform well. They always have the backing of the whole state of Ohio, but they'll be getting all the attention since the Indians blew it against the Red Sox.
Ohio State by 7 = In a way, I kinda feel bad for the Buckeyes. They're fantastic, yet their National Championship game implosion has really affected their credibility this year. Add to that the fact that the Big 10 is really down this year and you've got a whole lot of hesitant voters and a skeptical public. The only way that will change is if they win the whole thing this year.

Yet another rough week. After starting the season strong, I've fallen pretty flat for the past month. Sigh.
Straight Wins I was 6 of 12 (50%), and
Against the Spread I was 5.5 (with the push) of 12 (45.83%).
Season Totals = 76 of 108 (70.37%) Straight Wins, 56 of 108 (51.85%) Against the Spread.

Prediction Outcomes, Week 8

Mississippi State (+24.5) @ West Virginia: West Virginia 38-13 This one's a bit tricky. The Bulldogs are 3-0 in non-conference play, and West Virginia is a bit banged up. The Mountaineers should have enough firepower to pull out the win at home, but probably not by 24.
West Virginia wins, but Mississippi State covers the spread = Ah, jeez. Listen, I understand that when you're down 31-13, a 2-point conversion makes it a two possession game, while the extra point makes it three possessions. I get it, and props to Croom for knowing his math, but it doesn't help cover the spread any.

Penn State (-7.5) @ Indiana: Penn State 36-31 The Nittany Lions are rolling after two straight blowout victories. The Hoosiers are looking shaky after starting off the season on an emotional high.
Penn State by 14 = C'mon now.

Wake Forest (-3.5) @ Navy: Wake Forest 44-24 Don't look now but the Midshipmen are 4-2 and on a three game winning streak. The Demon Deacons are rebounding from 0-2 themselves, winning their past four including last week against Florida State. If this one's close, Jim Grobe's team won't lose their cool.
Wake Forest by 7 = Solid win for the Deacs.

Kansas (-4) @ Colorado: Kansas 19-14 I know the Buffs took down Oklahoma, but can they take down a second undefeated team this season? I'm hesitant to pull the trigger on them, but the Jayhawks have played the weakest of schedules this year and it's only going to get harder for them.
Colorado by 7 = The Jayhawks? Really? I'm happy for them

Texas A&M (+1.5) @ Nebraska: Texas A&M 36-14 Both of these coach's are probably gone at the end of the season - maybe they should just switch jobs. Nah.
Texas A&M by 7 = Bye-bye, Bill.

Southern California (-18.5) @ Notre Dame: Southern California 38-0 Trojans, Trojans, Trojans. For some reason the bookies still love you. Was Stanford the beginning of the end, or can you continue the sick streak you've been on for 5+ years? I know you hardly ever cover the spread, but you need this one. Bad. Lucky it's against the Irish.
Southern California by 24 = Solid win - now the Trojans get into the meat grinder of their schedule.

Miami (FL) (+5.5) @ Florida State: Miami (FL) 37-29 Up and down for these two this season. Just when you thought the Seminoles found a QB, they blow it against Wake Forest. The Hurricanes are looking rough after losses to North Carolina and Georgia Tech.
Florida State by 10 = Both these teams have three losses and we're not even out of October. My how the once mighty have fallen.

Florida (-7.5) @ Kentucky: Florida 45-37 The Wildcats? Really? They've gotta be emotionally spent after beating LSU last week. Two big wins in a row would be huge for their program. Don't look now, but the Gators are on a two game losing streak - three would be really, really painful for Meyer.
Florida by 10 = See that, Mississippi State? That's how you cover the spread - let them score in the last seconds but don't let them kick the extra point. Well done, Gators.

Cincinnati (-10) @ Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh 24-17 I still believe in the Bearcats.
Cincinnati by 17 = That'll teach me - ouch.

Virginia (+4) @ Maryland: Virginia 18-17 The Cavaliers & Terrapins are a combined 10-3. Who woulda thunk? This one might come down to the last play.
Maryland by 7 = Nope, though it was close til the end. The Cavaliers are putting together a fine season.

Oregon (-13.5) @ Washington: Oregon 55-34 The Huskies brutal schedule continues, while the Ducks are just sailing along.
Oregon by 21 = Right on the money.

Tennessee (-1) @ Alabama: Alabama 41-17 This is why the Tide brought Saban to Tuscaloosa - to beat the tar out of Fulmer and the Vols. Things are gonna get ugly at one SEC school...
Tennessee by 3 = Fulmer's seat is starting to get awfully hot...

Well, I'm still hovering around .500 - not too good, but the way this season has gone I guess it's somewhat understandable.
Straight up I was only 7 for 12 (58.33%)
Against the spread I was 5 for 12 (41.67%) for the second week in a row
Season Totals: 70 for 96 (72.92%) Straight up, 50.5 for 96 (52.60%) Against the Spread.

Prediction Outcomes, Week 7

Purdue (+5.5) @ Michigan: Michigan 48-21 The Boilermakers got stomped by Ohio State last week, giving them their first loss on the season, while Michigan is slowly building a solid comeback.
Michigan by 10 = Yup.

Louisville (+10.5) @ Cincinnati: Louisville 28-24 Will the Bearcats continue their winning ways? They've been phenominal in the turnover department, can put points on the board, and have a good D. Can you believe Louisville is getting double-digit points from them? Yeah, I can too.
Cincinnati by 14 = Ouch.

Illinois (-3.5) @ Iowa: Iowa 10-6 The Fightin' Zookers are still looking solid, and they're possibly even better than their #18 ranking. Iowa is still too shaky, though a win at home would help them turn around their season in a big way.
Illinois by 7 = Oof.

Boston College (-14.5) @ Notre Dame: Boston College 27-14 There are two ways a green quarterback can play - Amazingly, as Stanford's Tavita Pritchard did against USC, or poorly, as UCLA's McLeod Bethel-Thompson did against Notre Dame last week. Lost in all the hullabaloo over the Irish's first win was that they managed only 140 yards of offense in the game. The Eagles should dispose of them handily.
Boston College by 21 = Awww...

Auburn (+3) @ Arkansas: Auburn 9-7 This is a tricky one to pick. Both teams are having a difficult go of it this season, but Auburn has a few quality wins under it's belt.
Auburn by 10 = Ah, that's better.

Missouri (+10.5) @ Oklahoma: Oklahoma 41-31 Another tough game for the Sooners, while the Tigers are riding a high after crushing Nebraska. I'm not confident calling the Tigers to win, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did.
Oklahoma wins, but Missouri covers the spread = Ooh, barely under the spread.

Arizona (+22.5) @ Southern California: Southern California 20-14 If the Trojans lose this one, they have a good shot at finishing under .500 for the year. They need to rebound in a big way, I understand, but why do people keep insisting that they give away so many points???
Southern California wins, but Arizona covers the spread = There we go, that's the spot.

South Carolina (-7.5) @ North Carolina: South Carolina 21-15 The Gamecocks are on a roll and should handle the Tar Heels easily.
South Carolina by 17 = Until the 4th quarter. I forgot to mention that part.

Alabama (-6.5) @ Mississippi: Alabama 27-24 Alabama has had some hard losses as of late, but there's nothing like a game against the Bulldogs to get your reserves some practice.
Alabama by 14 = Argh.

Wisconsin (+7) @ Penn State: Penn State 38-7 The Nittany Lions are seemingly back on track after two consecutive losses, but don't let the Iowa win fool you. The Badgers are still the better team.
Wisconsin by 7 = Apparently not. My bad.

Oregon State (+14.5) @ California: Oregon State31-28 How will the Bears respond now that they're in the Pac 10 driver's seat? Probably pretty well. Poor Beavers.
California by 21 = To be honest, I probably still wouldn't have picked the Beavers to cover had I known Longshore would be out.

Central Florida (+12) @ South Florida: South Florida 64-12 The Bulls had a bit of a letdown last week against Florida Atlantic, so look for them to regain their focus against an erratic Knights team.
South Florida by 14 = Good to end on a high note.

Picking these last two weeks has been crazy, and this whole year is shaping up to be one big surprise after another.
Straight Wins I was 8-12 (66.67%)
Against the Spread I was another measley 5-12 (41.67%)
Season Totals: 63 for 84 (75%) Straight Wins, 45.5 for 84 (54.17%) Against the Spread.

Prediction Outcomes, Week 6

Cincinnati (+3.5) @ Rutgers: Cincinnati 28-23 The Bearcats have looked good all season, playing a few good teams, while the Scarlet Knights has looked iffy playing even worse teams. Rutgers does have the home field advantage, but Cincy has proved they can win on the road.
Cincinnati by 10 = Yup. Who woulda thought the Bearcats would be 6-0 to start the year?

Wisconsin (+2.5) @ Illinois: Illinois 31-26 Since when does the non-ranked team give points to the #5 ranked team? Something's fishy here... Is it that Wisconsin really shouldn't be ranked that high? Or is it that Illinois should be in the top 25? Probably a little of both, but I don't know if I'm ready to jump on the Zookers bandwagon just yet...
Wisconsin by 7 = Okay, I'm ready now.

Oklahoma State (+6.5) @ Texas A&M: Texas A&M 24-23 How much will all the hullabaloo surrounding Coach Fran affect the Aggies this week? You know Gundy is just happy that the controversy doesn't revolve around him here. The Cowboys are improving, but the Aggies are at home where they're 4-0 this year.
Texas A&M by 7 = Coach Fran's seat is still warm, but it's cooled down a bit. At least for a couple days.

Kansas (+3.5) @ Kansas State: Kansas 30-24 One team will continue their catapult, the other is in for some heartbreak. The edge goes to the Wildcats because their schedule has been respectable, if not tough, going to Auburn & Texas. The Jayhawks opponents are 3-15.
Kansas State by 10 = Nice win by the Jayhawks. I'm curious to see if they can keep it up against the now-respectable Big 12 North.

Virginia Tech (+5.5) @ Clemson: Virginia Tech 41-23 Another night game at Death Valley, but both of these teams are looking awfully shaky and seem to be hanging on to their seasons by a thread. Can the Tigers overcome last week's disappointing performance at Georgia Tech? I'm not so sure.
Virginia Tech by 7 = Beamer Ball at it's best.

Oklahoma (-11.5) v. Texas: Oklahoma 28-21 This one's a tough choice, since it seems like it really could go either way. I think it's going to be closer than the spread indicates though.
Texas by 6 = That was about the best either team could hope for. Oklahoma's back in the Top 10, while Texas is maybe Top 25.

Nebraska (+6.5) @ Missouri: Missouri 41-6 This one should end up being a shootout, since neither D is all that great. It'll be close, but the gut says go with the Tigers this week.
Missouri by 7 = Did the Tigers find some D, or did the Huskers lose their O?

Florida (+8.5) @ LSU: LSU 28-24 LSU Offense - check. Florida Offense - check. LSU Defense - check. Florida Defense - hmmm...
LSU by 14 = The Tigers pulled it out at the end there. Better than average showing by the Gators though.

Ohio State (-7.5) @ Purdue: Ohio State 23-7 The Buckeyes are well-tested so far this season, while Purdue has had some defensive struggles against relatively weak teams. This might be close for a while, but I'm thinking the Boilermakers finally get their bubble burst.
Ohio State by 10 = Yup.

South Florida (-16.5) @ Florida Atlantic: South Florida 35-23 Only 16.5? Seems rather low to me. (Is there a Owl echo in here?)
South Florida by 27 = Wow, Bulls. Your credibility just took a bit of a hit. Bad.

Stanford (+39.5) @ Southern California: Stanford 24-23 Look, I know that the Trojans can be explosive. And if there was any game where they could open up their offense and dominate with their defense it's this one against the Cardinal at the Coliseum. But they've only covered the spread in 2 of their 4 games this year. This one's trickier than anticipated, and it kinda looks to me like LSU last week vs. Tulane: the Trojans will struggle early then turn in on in the 2nd half, but not enough to make up 39.5 points.
Southern California wins, but Stanford (barely) covers the spread = This whole season for you Trojan fans must have felt like riding in a Ferrari with someone who couldn't shift past 3rd gear. Well, that guy just wrapped it around a telephone pole.

Arizona State (-9) @ Washington State: Arizona State 23-20 I thought that the Cougars were looking up before they really stank against Arizona. But they've got Arizona State at home, and the Sun Devils are bound to lose one game they're supposed to win this year. This is one of the last games of their season where the Sun Devils will be favored. I'm picking the upset here.
Washington State by 3

Well, kind of a mix-n-match week here. Same against the spread as straight up for the first time this year. Interesting.
Both Straight Up & Against the Spread I was 7-12 (58.33%)
Season Totals: 55-72 (76.39%) Straight Up, 40.5-72 (56.25%) Against the Spread.

Prediction Outcomes, Week 5

LSU (-40.5) @ Tulane: LSU 34-9 As usual, I'm leery about giving away so many points. Sure the LSU D will shut Tulane down, but they're away from Death Valley and won't need to score that many points to win.
LSU wins, but Tulane covers the spread = Yup.

Oklahoma (-22.5) @ Colorado: Colorado 27-24 I picked against Oklahoma with the spread last week and it bit me in the ass. I don't think Colorado will be able to stop them, and the Sooners should pile on the points as usual.
Oklahoma by 28 = Okay, well now I know that if I actually want to get bitten in the ass, all I have to do is pick an Oklahoma game.

Southern California (-20.5) @ Washington: Southern California 27-24 The weather actually might play a difference in this one. If it rains, USC will have to run the ball down Washington's throats. If it is sunny, they'll be able to pass too.
Southern California by 21 = That was one of the ugliest games I've seen in a long time from the Trojans. They were racking up penalties like they were trying to get their yearly quota out of the way in one game. Sheesh.

Michigan (-16.5) @ Northwestern: Michigan 28-16 Michigan is hitting their usual stride. So is Northwestern.
Michigan by 21 = Nice game back for John Henne. Think ESPN will roll out the "Game of the Year" junk for the game with Ohio State this year? Not even if both of them win out until then.

Louisville (-9) @ N.C. State: Louisville 29-10 I know Louisville doesn't have a D, but NC State doesn't have an O or a D. And giving up only 9 points? I'll take the Cardinals, as ugly as they are.
Louisville by 14 = Yup. Maybe Louisville can start to turn their season around here - they should be favored in all four of their October games.

Clemson (-3) @ Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech 13-3 I've got a feeling Clemson's gonna have an easy time with the Yellow Jackets...
Clemson by 14 = Or maybe that should be the other way around. Just when I was feeling good about the Tigers.

Kent State (-1.5) @ Ohio: Kent State 33-25 This is my weekly gut tossup. The gut says go with the Golden Flashes.
Kent State by 7 = So it wasn't just heartburn.

Washington State (+2.5) @ Arizona: Arizona 48-20 I know they struggled against USC last week, but the Cougars are still a solid team. More so than the Wildcats at least.
Washington State by 10 = The Wildcats put up more of a fight than I thought they would. Well done.

Mississippi State (+13.5) @ South Carolina: South Carolina 38-21 I can see the Bulldogs pulling off the upset here - they should at least keep it close.
South Carolina wins, but Mississippi State covers the spread = Not close enough, as far as the spread's concerned.

Mississippi (+15.5) @ Georgia: Georgia 45-17 This one could probably go either way as well, since both teams are coming off solid performances. (Sure the Rebels lost, but they kept Florida close - that's gotta count for something.) This is a risky pick, partly since it involves Georgia...
Georgia wins, but Mississippi covers the spread = See above. (That'll teach me to think about revising my opinion of the Mississippi schools.)

Florida Atlantic (+21.5) @ Kentucky: Kentucky 45-17 Only 21.5? Seems rather low to me.
Kentucky by 28 = On the money.

Notre Dame (+22.5) @ Purdue: Purdue 33-19 All that progress Charlie mentioned last week? Down the drain. The Irish might score a few, but the Boilermakers will score a lot.
Purdue by 28 = Your 5-0 isn't looking so great, Boilermakers.

Ouch - Another tough week for the spread.
Straight picks I was 9-12 (75%).
Against the Spread I was a meager 4-12 (33%).
Season totals: 48-60 (80%) Straight Wins, 33.5-60 (55.83%) Against the Spread.

Prediction Outcomes, Week 4

Texas A&M (+1.5) @ Miami (FL): Miami (FL) 34-17 An intriguing matchup, especially for a Thursday night. Should be a competitive game though, with both teams trying to gain some solid footing for the rest of the season. (Sure A&M is 3-0, but look who they've played.)
Miami (FL) by 7 = Yup.

Oklahoma (-23.5) @ Tulsa: Oklahoma 62-21 Oklahoma is on a mission so far this year, but Tulsa is also undefeated and can put points on the board too. Oklahoma will roll, but Tulsa will score some garbage points to beat the spread.
Oklahoma wins, but Tulsa covers the spread = Oklahoma is just looking fierce.

Penn State (-2.5) @ Michigan: Michigan 14-9 Penn State has looked good against horrendous competition, but they haven't seen a running back like Hart yet this season. Michigan desperately needs to keep their positive momentum going and will have the Big House behind them.
Michigan by 10 = the Wolverines are looking more like their old selves, but they won't be able to ride Hart forever...

South Carolina (+16.5) @ LSU: LSU 28-16 The ol' ball coach is the X-factor here. You know he's going to pull out every trick he knows against the Tigers. It won't be enough though - Tiger's cruise.
LSU by 17 = Off on the spread, but the Tiger's D is still looking superb.

Baylor (-3.5) @ Buffalo: Baylor 34-21 How much do you want to bet both teams scheduled this one thinking it would be an easy, cupcake win?
Baylor by 7 = Yup.

Kentucky (+7) @ Arkansas: Kentucky 42-29 In the past few years, this would've gone to Arkansas hands down. But they're struggling a bit, and Kentucky is looking great. Can D-Mac keep his Heisman campaign on track? Probably.
Arkansas by 10 = Well, I'm not so sure about McFadden anymore. He's still phenominal, but the Razorbacks just aren't getting it done anywhere else.

Rice (+38.5) @ Texas: Texas 58-14 38.5? Have they seen how Texas has been playing lately? I mean, I know it's Rice, but jeez. Texas needs to run away with this one - their poll position can't afford a 4th straight mediocre game.
Texas wins, but Rice barely covers the spread = That's more like it, Horns. They'll start really hitting their stride just in time to get demolished by Oklahoma.

New Mexico State (+16.5) @ Auburn: Auburn 55-20 Again, this usually would go to Auburn hands down. But losing your last two games at home (and nearly getting beaten in Week 1) doesn't make you an easy pick, Tigers. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and think you'll get back on the horse this week.
Auburn by 21 = Well, the Tigers are back to .500. Take what you can get.

Georgia (+3.5) @ Alabama: Georgia 26-23 Tricky pick, this one. Georgia always breaks my heart, but they're more solid than the Tide who are still riding the Saban wave.
Georgia by 7 = Yup.

Iowa (+7.5) @ Wisconsin: Wisconsin 17-13 Two teams that need this one - bad. Sure Wisconsin is undefeated, but they've looked shaky (the Citadel?). Poor Iowa (Iowa State?)
Wisconsin by 14 = The whole Big 10 is looking really mediocre this year, much more so than their non-conference record shows.

Washington (+6.5) @ UCLA: UCLA 44-31 Which one of these teams can rebound from a tough loss last week? I'm still liking the Huskies this year.
Washington by 7 = Eh, went the wrong way on this one. Nice comeback win for the Bruins, while the Huskies look to be going on a losing streak.

Washington State (+26.5) @ Southern California: Southern California 47-14 This could be a close one - USC always has at least a couple scares in the Pac 10 each year. But they're confident from last weekend and should be able to get their passing game going.
USC wins, but Washington State covers the spread = USC looked solid again tonight, but I'm curious how they'll do against Cal & Oregon.

Really off against the spread this week. Kinda disappointing.
Straight wins = 10/12 (83.33%)
Against the Spread = 5/12 (41.67%)
Season Totals: Straight wins = 39/48 (81.25%), Against the Spread 29.5/48 (61.46%).

Prediction Outcomes, Week 3

Cincinnati (-7) @ Miami (OH): Cincinnati 47-10 Another in our series of backyard rivals. The Bearcats are looking like they can hold their own in the tough Big East, while the Redhawks have played some close ones against so-so competition. The Bearcats will roll because of their surprising D.
Cincinnati by 14 = Yup.

Ohio (+21.5) @ Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech 28-7 Virginia Tech is the sentimental favorite this year, and you've gotta admire Frank Beamer for handling tough situations with class. But the Hokies haven't looked all that good this year, Ohio has had some easy competition to go 2-0, and they have a good chance to pull the upset.
Virginia Tech wins, but Ohio covers the spread = No upset, but Ohio still covered (barely). The Hokies seem back on track.

Tennessee (+7.5) @ Florida: Florida 59-20 This will be Florida's first true test of the season after two cupcake games, while Tennessee has already played in a huge game against Cal. Look for the Vols to jump out to a quick lead, but they won't be able to hold it against the solid Gators.
Florida by 14 = The Gators are looking more than solid. That game with LSU is going to be huge.

Ohio State (-3.5) @ Washington: Ohio State 33-14 Huskies D-Line Coordinator Randy Hart was part of the 1968 Buckeye National Championship team and coached at Ohio State for a long time. You can bet he's going to have his guys invested in this one. The Buckeyes are looking very beatable this year, but they will probably hit their stride at some point.
Ohio State by 7 = Nice road victory for the Buckeyes. The Huskies will have a tough time rebounding with their schedule.

Notre Dame (+8) @ Michigan: Michigan 38-0 As bad as Michigan has looked on D, Notre Dame doesn't have the tools to run the type of offense that can beat them. Look for Mike Hart to have a huge day with Chad Henne sitting out.
Michigan by 17 = Notre Dame might pull a Duke this year.

Florida Intl. (+32.5) @ Miami (FL): Miami (FL) 23-9 We all remember what happened when these teams met last year, but I don't expect any brawl problems. This is the Canes chance to get their season back on track, so look for them to be on their best behavior. Florida Intl. might get a little steamed when they start getting pasted.
Miami (FL) wins, but Florida Intl. covers the spread = Yup.

Arkansas (+3) @ Alabama: Alabama 41-38 This should be a good game with the winner having the inside track to 2nd place in the SEC West. In all likelyhood, one of two situations is going to take a major hit, either McFadden's Heisman chances or the Tide's love affair with Saban.
Alabama by 7 = Well, both Saban & McFadden are still on track. Great game.

Fresno State (+16.5) @ Oregon: Oregon 52-21 Oregon is looking tough, but admittedly against so-so competition. Fresno State took Texas A&M down to the wire, but I'm not sure they can hang with the Ducks for four quarters.
Oregon wins, but Fresno State covers the spread = Oregon proves that the Michigan game was no fluke. The Ducks are looking solid, going 3-0 in non-conference play.

Louisville (-6) @ Kentucky: Kentucky 40-34 This one's gonna be a shootout, no question about it. Both the Cardinals & Wildcats can put points on the board, and their D's are more than shaky. Louisville's played in bigger games than Kentucky and should have more poise at the end, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Wildcats pull the upset at home.
Kentucky by 3 = Yup.

Southern California (-10.5) @ Nebraska: Southern California 49-31 After two weeks off, USC should have their kinks worked out and be ready to play. Nebraska looked beatable at Wake Forest, and they're gonna need to play a mistake-free game to have a chance.
Southern California by 17 = The Trojans laid more of a beatdown on Nebraska than the score indicates. Their third quarter continues to be their best.

Boston College (+6.5) @ Georgia Tech: Boston College 24-10 These two are looking like the cream of the ACC crop, but that's not saying much. It should be a good game though, with the victor having jumped a major conference hurdle. We might see this matchup again in December.
Boston College by 7 = Yup.

Florida State (-5) @ Colorado: Florida State 16-6 Florida State is still sputtering, even with their new/old coaches and schemes. Colorado is playing solid despite losing last week. They should have no problem with the Seminoles at home.
Colorado by 7 = Missed big on this one. The Seminoles still have a lot of work to do, but maybe this win can jump start their season.

Really on the mark this week.
Straight wins I was 11 of 12 for 91.67%
Against the Spread I was 9.5 (with the push) of 12 for 75%
Season Totals: Straight Wins 29-36 (80.55%), Against the Spread 24.5-36 (68.05%)

Prediction Outcomes, Week 2

West Virginia (-24.5) @ Marshall: West Virginia 48-23 I'm usually pretty leery of giving so many points to a backyard rival, but West Virginia can put points on the board. This is their D's chance to get off to a better start against a team that only scored 3 points last week.
West Virginia by 31 = Whoever is going to win the Big East between West Virginia, Rutgers, and Louisville is the team whose D can actually slow down the opposing offense. Right now, both all three of their D's need some work.

Miami (FL) (+10.5) @ Oklahoma: Oklahoma 51-13 Both these teams looked solid in their first games, so this should be a good matchup. Oklahoma gets the edge because they're at home and have a more proven coach.
Oklahoma by 13 = Or more. That's fine. The Sooners are looking great so far this season.

Alabama (-3.5) @ Vanderbilt: Alabama 24-10 Nick Saban may well turn things around at Alabama, but at some point they're going to lose and the Tide faithful will come crashing back to reality. Vandy is working their way up and got a taste for upsets last year at UGA. They'll come close, but Alabama will pull away at the end.
Alabama by 7 = Yup.

Duke (+17) @ Virginia: Virginia 24-13 We know Duke's bad, but Virginia is looking pretty shabby themselves. I dont' even know if they can put up 17 points, much less cover the spread.
Virginia wins, but Duke covers the spread = Yup.

Oregon (+8) @ Michigan: Oregon 53-14 This is the most intriguing matchup of the week. Oregon's Dennis Dixon is a mobile quarterback, and you can bet Mike Bellotti will be studying App State's victory. It could be a close game, but I'm betting that one way or another it'll be over by the end of the third quarter.
Michigan by 17 = Well, I was on the mark calling a blowout, but I went the wrong way with the pick. App State and Oregon have provided a blueprint for how to beat the Wolverines - could they finish the year under .500?

Boise State (-3) @ Washington: Washington 24-10 Definitely an intriguing matchup after Washington's win last week. Can the Huskies D stop the Broncos? They should be solid enough, but Boise State's D is good too - they'll hold Washington in check.
Boise State by 10 = I guess Washington's D can corral the Broncos. The Huskies are looking good, and I wouldn't put it past them to give an iffy Ohio State a run for their money next week.

TCU (+9) @ Texas: Texas 34-13 People have been looking at this one as an upset in the making for weeks now, butI'm not biting. (Look where it got me last week with Oklahoma State.) Yeah, the Longhorns running game has issues, so look for McCoy to just start slinging it.
Texas by 14 = Yup.

Kent State (+13) @ Kentucky: Kentucky 56-20 Last week was a good win for the Golden Flashes. But Iowa State with a new coach is a few steps below the Wildcats who are looking solid this year.
Kentucky wins, but Kent State covers the spread = Iowa State is apparently whole floors below the Wildcats, as they lose to a D1-AA team. Kentucky is looking solid though, and they might throw a scare into some SEC teams.

Colorado (+15) @ Arizona State: Arizona State 33-14 Arizona State is looking solid, but I'm still not sold on them. At least not for 15 points.
Arizona State wins, but Colorado covers the spread = Nice comback by the Sun Devils who looked sluggish at first. The Big 12 North is looking awfully shaky... as usual.

South Carolina (+5) @ Georgia: South Carolina 16-12 Georgia was looking good last week, South Carolina not so much. Any chance the Dawgs get to beat up on Spurrier they'll take.
Georgia by 17 = Ah, jeez. Georgia, you're just too moody. You've always been. I never know what I'm gonna get with you.

South Florida (+7) @ Auburn: South Florida 26-23 Another upset people have been talking about. I can't simply dismiss this one though - the Bulls gets the nod on offense, and though the Tigers D should hold them back a bit, I don't know if their own offense can keep them in it.
South Florida by 10 = Auburn was lucky they even got to OT, with all the sloppy turnovers they had. The Bulls hung in there with their kicking troubles though and got a great win in a tough road game. Another notch in the Big East's belt.

Virginia Tech (+13) @ LSU: LSU 48-7 The Hokies had a bit of a rough time with ECU, though understandably so. They're gonna be really pumped to play this one. But LSU's D is just too ferocious, especially at home.
LSU by 17 = Not to take anything away from the Tigers, who looked every bit their #2 ranking, but I have a feeling Virginia Tech is going to struggle this year. They're lucky they're in the ACC.

Almost the same as last week.
Straight wins I was 9-12 again for 75%
Against the Spread I was 7-12 for 58.33%
Season Totals: Straight Wins 18 for 24 (75%), Against the Spread 15 for 24 (62.5%)

Prediction Outcomes, Week 1

Before I get to this week's predictions on Friday, let's see how I did last week. Green are picks I got right, red are picks I got wrong, italics are my pre-game comments.

LSU (-20) @ Mississippi State: LSU 45-20 The Tiger's offense will need some time to adjust this season, but their D will be good enough to not only shut the Bulldogs down but probably put some points on the board too.
LSU by 21 = LSU looked fine, but Miss. State looked awful. The only bright spot was their 1st half running game & O-line.

Washington (-3.5) @ Syracuse: Washington 42-12 Both Ty Willingham and Greg Robinson need a strong start to their third season at their respective institutions. Only one of them gets it.
Syracuse by 9 = Solid game for Washington, and it was the only loss for the Big East this weekend.

Washington State (+14) @ Wisconsin: Wisconsin 42-21 The Badgers should pick up right where they left off last season. So might the Cougars.
Wisconsin by 17 = Yup.

Georgia Tech (+2) @ Notre Dame: Georgia Tech 33-3 Both of these teams are kind of in the same boat - coming off tough bowl losses, new QB's, so-so D's. The Yellow Jackets have the revenge factor in their corner though.
Georgia Tech by 7 = Wow, Notre Dame is going to be bad this year.

Oklahoma State (+6) @ Georgia: Georgia 35-14 Georgia's phenominal at home against non-conf opponents, but I don't know that their D will be able to contain the Cowboy's offense.
Oklahoma State by 10 = Missed this one big. The Bulldogs contained as well as put up some points of their own. They're looking like a solid Top 10 team to start the year and could be off to something special.

Kansas State (+13.5) @ Auburn: Auburn 23-13 I applaud both K-State and Auburn for having at least one non-cupcake on their non-conference schedule. This one might be close.
Auburn wins, but K-State covers the spread = K-State blew it at the end, and Auburn's got some work to do if they're going to score more than one offensive TD a game.

Tennessee (+6.5) @ California: California 45-31 Cal's been wanting to play this game for a year solid. They should come out firing and will hold on for the win.
California by 7 = USC's visit to Cal in November is looking to be a monster battle. The Bears looked solid in all facets, though their tackling leaves a bit to be desired. The Vols looked really good themselves - they should be set up for a run at the SEC East title.

Idaho (+46) @ Southern California: Southern California 38-10 I see the Trojans getting off to a somewhat slow start on Offense. Sure Booty's back, but the RB's and WR's are inexperienced. They'll win handily, and their D will shut Idaho down, but 46 points is a lot of ground to make up.
USC wins, but Idaho covers the spread = Yup.

Florida State (-3.5) @ Clemson: Clemson 24-18 Death Valley at night? That's good for at least a touchdown.
Clemson by 3 = Yup. (That was one of the worst excuses I've ever seen for rushing the field. C'mon Tigers, you're better than that.)

Colorado State (+2.5) v Colorado: Colorado 31-28 Was Hawkins a flash in the pan at Boise State? It's looking like it, seeing how they each performed last year. But the Rams just aren't looking good.
Colorado by 10 = Close enough.

Appalachian State (+27.5) @ Michigan: App State 34-32 The big bad Wolverines take on the reigning D1-AA Champs. But Henne & Co. are on a mission this year.
Michigan by 35 = That'll do, Mountaineers. That'll do. (Tearing down their own goalpost was genius.)

Marshall (+18) @ Miami (FL): Miami 31-3 The last season opener in the Orange Bowl. I'm not thinking it'll have much of an impact on the actual game. Might be closer than it looks on paper.
Miami wins, but Marshall covers the spread = Nice win for Randy Shannon. Next week versus Oklahoma should be a good game.

Not too bad this week.
Straight wins I was 9 for 12 (75%)
Against the Spread I was 8 for 12 (66.67%)
Season Totals: same.