I’d say I am switching things up this week but switching things up would require me actually having a concrete format. We are just days away from the launch of V3 and I really don’t see any reason to stick to something now. I promise you once the blog format is in full effect there will actually be some consistency, seriously.
Unrelated Chatter: It’s cold (78 degrees), rainy and crappy outside today here in Gainesville, FL yet I could not be happier. By this time tomorrow the New York Mets can be National League East champions for the first time since 1988 when yours truly was just 4 years old. Yes the Mets have since been to the playoffs and even made a trip to the World Series in 2000 but winning the division just feels different; it’s a statement…The backup punter for Northern Colorado has allegedly stabbed the starting punter in the leg in hopes of stealing his job. Silly punters, first they think they are football players and then they try to get arrested like football players. What will they think of next?…I was very disappointed in my hometown New Yorkers for not giving Trish Stratus a bigger ovation this past Monday on Raw. You can say whatever you want about women’s wrestling but there aren’t many in the business who have worked harder to get where they are than Trish. Hopefully the fans from my home away from home and Trish’s hometown of Toronto take care of her a lot better this Sunday night in her retirement match…I gave the new Def Comedy Jam a try this past Sunday night and I was not disappointed. I had very low hopes for the show but the 3 comedians were all hysterical. It’s a shame Mike Epps is the host because he could very well be the least funny man in America. Also on the show was the younger brother of Chris Rock, Tony Rock. If you have not seen him perform I highly recommend you give him a chance.
Alright enough of the small talk, let’s get onto the action. I don’t think I can ever remember a bigger regular season Saturday than the one we have coming up this weekend. Seven games feature 14 ranked teams and while it is still early, this might be the date we look back on when discussing the national title picture in December. Format change alert: as I mentioned earlier I will be doing things differently this week. I will not be picking 10 games this week and will just be doing the 7 key games. This will allow me to focus more on those games and provide a little more content and insight. Surely this has nothing to do with the fact that I went a lowly 3-7 last week, I assure you.
On a quick side note, don’t say I didn’t warn you about Rutgers. That 33-0 trouncing against Illinois last week is just a sign of what’s to come.
Week 3 Picks (Spreads courtesy of wsex.com)
(Season Record vs. The Spread: 19-15, Last Week: 3-7)
# 24 Texas Tech at # 20 TCU (+1.5): If I were to tell you that TCU has the country’s longest winning streak, you would probably tell me that I have been drinking. Well I have been drinking but TCU does indeed have the longest winning streak in America at 12 games. This one has potential shootout written all over it. Texas Tech is known for lighting up the scoreboard while TCU is home to one of the most underrated players in college football in running back Aaron Brown. TCU was absolutely smoked by Texas Tech two years ago and there is no doubt that the players who were on the team then are thinking revenge. These are two good programs and after this weekend we might see one elevated to very good. I went back and forth a few times with this game but in the end I feel that TCU should be able to pull it out at home.
TCU 38 – Texas Tech 34
#15 Oklahoma at #18 Oregon (-4.5): Not only is this game a battle of two outstanding running backs (Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson and Oregon’s Jonathan Stewart), but it is also a battle of two teams that I am not quite sure what to make of them. Oregon is a team who lost their best player on both sides of the ball yet the media cannot stop talking about how quietly talented they are this year. Oklahoma is a team that was a national title contender before the loss of Rhett Bomar and still may be if Paul Thompson continues his terrific play. The decisive factor for me in this one was the location of the game, Autzen Stadium. Auzten is widely regarded as one of the loudest, if not the loudest stadiums in college football. The frenzied crowd could play quite a big role with a quarterback as inexperienced as Thomspon is. The running game should take over for both teams but Oregon might want this one a little more after losing to Oklahoma in the Holiday Bowl last season. Either way expect a close one.
Oregon 27 – Oklahoma 20
#17 Miami at #12 Louisville (-4.5): My oh my how the times have changed. These two teams played a few years ago and it was in that game that Louisville began to earn the country’s respect. Miami was victorious on that day but will not be victorious this coming Saturday. Louisville showed no ill effects of missing Michael Bush this past weekend (granted it was versus Temple), and should be alright without him versus Miami. The Miami defense has looked excellent but the offense leaves a lot to be desired. Miami is a program that is in serious trouble right now and is bordering on irrelevant. A win here would quiet the Canes’ doubters but a loss just adds fuel to the fire. Since Larry Coker has had his guys and not Butch Davis’, the program has not been the same. I think Louisville makes a statement in this game and the firing of Larry Coker becomes even more inevitable. Butch Davis is currently out of work, coincodence? I think not…
Louisville 31 – Miami 21
#7 Florida (-3.5) at #13 Tennessee: For the record I am a student at the University of Florida but I will throw my biases out the window on this one. The first thing that surprised me here was the point spread. Florida being the favorite was a little bit of a surprise but I think the fact that the spread is as high as it is is the real shocker. One or two points maybe, but more than a field goal favorite on the road seems like a lot of points. Tennessee played extremely well vs. California and then threw a stinker up against Air Force last week. Add into the mix that Tennessee lost two players on defense and I guess the line begins to make a little more sense. I will not be traveling to Knoxville for this one but I did attend the first two UF games and can tell you that the Gators look good, national title good. The defense has been all over the place and the offense is coming along nicely. Keep an eye on #8 for Florida, Percy Harvin. He is a true freshman and you can just feel the electricity every time he touches the ball. This should be his coming out party and if the Volunteers cannot find a way to contain him then this one might turn into a blowout.
Florida 33 – Tennessee 24
#19 Nebraska (+18.5) at # 6 USC: USC has done a pretty good job of quieting the doubters thus far and looked like a team on a mission against Arkansas. Nebraska has looked good too thus far and while I won’t go as far as saying Nebraska will win this thing, they certainly have a chance. I think Nebraska will keep this one close for a while but probably will not be able to keep up with the athletes that USC has. If Nebraska can turn this thing into an old fashioned slobberknocker (credit Jim Ross), then it will increase their odds of winning. If they want to get into a flashy football game with USC then they are asking for trouble. USC is coming off of an idle week and it might hurt them due to less game experience for JD Booty. On a side note, I really enjoy typing JD Booty.
USC 34 – Nebraska 20
#11 Michigan (+6) at #2 Notre Dame: Last week I stated that the Notre Dame/Penn State game would be close but might turn into a blowout if the Notre Dame offense caught up to their defense. Well the offense looked terrific and Notre Dame did blow out Penn State. The Notre Dame defense returned back to normal though and didn’t look all that great. I’ve been telling anyone who will listen that Michigan is for real this year and I don’t think they can look much more for real than if they walk out of South Bend with a victory. For that to happen though Michigan needs for Chad Henne to stop playing like Chad Henne. Henne has a ton of talent but never seems able to put it all together. Running back Michael Hart should be able to shoulder the load though for the Wolverines as the Notre Dame run defense is downright terrible. The past two weeks I have said that Notre Dame would win in a close one but I am changing things up this week as Michigan pulls off the upset.
Michigan 27 – Notre Dame 24
#6 LSU (+3.5) at #3 Auburn: Wow, what a game! I am extremely excited that this game is being played at 3:30 so that I can watch it and know what the deal is going into Florida/Tennessee (8pm). This is a game that features two outstanding football teams and I think it will go down to the wire. Auburn kicker John Vaughn missed 5 field goals last year in the 3 point loss to LSU (ouch), but gets his chance for redemption here. How fitting of an ending would it be if Vaughn sinks one through the uprights as time expires? Hey, it could happen. Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox was awful in Baton Rouge last year and I think he joins Vaughn in redeeming himself here.
Auburn 20 – LSU 17
Alright well be sure to fire up the BBQ, fill up the cooler with beer and only leave your couch for food, alcohol or the bathroom. Enjoy the slate of games Saturday, I know I will.
