This Weekends Picks (October 12th)

After a 14-2 opening week, lets see if the "mojo" is still there !

Starting with the most attractive matchup of the weekend, the Southern Cal. Trojans visiting 'THE" Ohio St. Buckeyes. Okay, an upset right off the bat ! I like Ohio St. to rebound in a big way from their lackluster showing versus Navy last week. Buckeye QB Terrell Pryor will have a HUGE day throwing on the run and taking off on designed QB draws and option carries wide. The Trojans have excellent defensive speed but can be a little over agressive and over run plays that will create some nice cut back lanes for the Buckeye backs. I believe Trojan QB Matt Barkley will struggle a little especially in the opening 2 or 3 posessions leading to a possible and crucial turnover. Ohio St. defensive end Thaddeus Gibson blew me away with his speed and ability to run down the line, taking great angles to make the stop in last weeks win. A very close game but I like:
PREDICTION: Ohio St. 24-Southern Cal. 20

Here is a pretty easy one as my #1 ranked Longhors travel to to Laramie, WY to take on the Cowboys (not Dallas) of Wyoming. Now I know the Mountain West is a very good conference and "maybe" Wyoming stays with Texas for a quarter, but after that the talent takes over, Colt McCoy shines, the Texas running attack runs roughshod over the helpless Pokes and the Longhorn defense smothers RB James Davis....HOOK EM' HORNS':
PREDICTION: Texas 51-Wyoming 17

I guess I can take it easy on Urban Meyer and his Gators for starting off the season with a couple of "cream puffs". Troy can certainly score points but NOT against the Gators and NOT in the swamp. Tim Tebow might play a little more than a half and although losing freshman speedster Andre Dubose will hurt a little, Florida has more than enough speed to run up and down the field against a much slower Troy defense:
PREDICTION: Florida 48-Troy 13

This is a nice matchup and a rematch of last year as the ACC and Big East tangle at Rentshler Field (Capacity 40,000). The Huskies are breaking in a new QB and lose a ton of talent in the form of RB Donald Brown and CB Darius Butler not to mention OT William Beatty. I like Caronlina's defense to win this game. DT's Marvin Austin and Cam Thomas can stuff the run and Oklahoma transfer Jordan Nix is an up and coming contributor. This is Butch Davis' third year in Chapel Hill and the third time is a charm:
PREDICTION: North Carolina 34-Connecticut 13

Boise St. takes to the blue turf to host the Miami, OH. Redhawks. Sorry, Miami cannot suit up Big Ben so I don't think (barring a MAJOR letdown) that the Broncos will take their foot off the peddle. I like Kellen Moore to throw for a ton of yards and the Broncos running attack will make huge gains:
PREDICTION: Boise St. 41-Miami, OH. 10

The Fightin' Mormons (Okay....I'm not taking any shots at B.Y.U.) fly to New Orleans to take on that academic power Tulane. The only Waves the Green Wave will be seeing will be the ones washing over their defense in the form of QB Max Hall throwing to McKay Jacobson and maybe RB Harvey Unga will be ready to make his season debut:
PREDICTION: B.Y.U. 55-Tulane 7

Oklahoma St. welcomes in the Cougars of Houston. Now I like Cougar head coach Kevin Sumlin. He has proved he can manage an offense and does have some weapons in QB Case Keenum and RB Bryce Beall. The Cougars can move the ball, even against a very good defense, as the Cowboys showed they will be this year with their performance against Georgia last week. That being said, I don't think Houston can slow down Robinson, Bryant & Hunter (sounds like a law firm):
PREDICTION: Oklahoma St. 47-Houston 24

The traditional turf war moves to Ann Arbor, MI as "MY" 5th ranked Irish take on the surprising Wolverines of Michigan. I think this will be a close game for about 3 quarters and thats when the outside speed of the Notre Dame receivers will show their separation abilities and make some huge plays downfield for Jimmy Clausen. The MUCH improved Irish defense will confuse either freshman QB Forcier or Robinson, don't be surprised to see QB Nick Sheridan have a few snaps as a change of pace.
PREDICTION: Notre Dame 31-Michigan 16

Everyones favorite BCS buster, the Utah Utes (my apologies to the Boise St. fans) travel to San Jose St. who are still licking their wounds after getting trounced by the Trojans last week. I really think the Spartans will battle Utah all 4 quarters as San Jose St. coach Dick Tomey will get his troops ready to play. That being said, I like the QB play of JUCO transfer Terrance Cain and I think the Utah defense will be just a little too much, but this one will be MUCH closer than the Vegas people are saying:
PREDICTION: Utah 27-San Jose St. 24

Blaine Gabbert has arrived ! If the sophomore plays anything like he did against Illinois, the Missouri Tigers might sneak up on some people. As good as Gabbert and the offense was last week it was the Mizzou defense that shocked people. Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon is a potential All-American (who can also bench press 520 lbs. !). I haven't said anything about Bowling Green yet, okay....Urban Meyer started his head coaching career there...there is your Bowling Green moment:
PREDICTION: Missouri 42-Bowling Green 14

This one is a very interesting rematch from last year as U.C.L.A. travels east to play the Vols of Tennessee. New Vols coach Lane Kiffin had it easy in last weeks romp over Western Kentucky. Gotta' love safety Eric Berry (a top 10 pick in next years N.F.L. draft) and QB Jonathon Compton was void of any mistakes. Too bad this weeks opponent is not Western Kentucky. The Bruins have a very solid defense led by All-American DT Brian Price (how did the Trojans let this guy get away ???). I think this will be a very close game but even though the Bruins are traveling far, I like them:
PREDICTION: U.C.L.A. 23-Tennessee 20

How about Georgia, trying to shake off last weeks loss to Oklahoma St. taking on South Carolina. Spurriers crew looked good defensively against N.C. State last week but QB Stephen Garcia has yet to develop like "The Ballcoach" has hoped. He is prone to mistakes and forced throws...I like the Bulldog defense to win this one:
PREDICTION: Georgia 20-South Carolina 13

Only 12 games to chose from as a lot of the top teams are playing their JV schedules so there is no need in picking and I dont' see any upsets in those games.

Check back late Saturday night or Sunday for a review of these games and all the news of the college football weekend !