Here is this week’s edition between myself and Jerry going head-to-head in picking college football games. Five top 25 games, I pick Big Ten/Pac-12 games with Mr. Durney tackling ACC/SEC contests. With that said here are this week’s picks for you the reader.
Top 25 Games –
Thursday: 8 Stanford Cardinal (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12) @ Washington Huskies (2-1), 8 pm/ESPN
Mike – This has trap game written all over it with both Stanford and Washington both having last week off. The Huskies are staging a “blackout” tonight in Seattle but at the end of the day I think the Cardinal out physical UDub like LSU did a few weeks ago. The Pick: Stanford 27 Washington 14
Jerry – Tempted to take Keith Price and the Huskies on Thursday at Century Link Field but the Cardinal have earned the benefit of the doubt. The Pick: Stanford 27 Washington 16
Note: Both of us are 0-1 after Thursday night
25 Baylor Bears (3-0) @ 9 West Virginia (3-0), 11 am/FX
M – Defense might be optional in West Virginia’s Big XII opener (WVU fans watch the couch burning PSA) in Morgantown. I’ll take Geno and the ‘Neers to keep winning against the defenselessly hapless Bears. The Pick: West Virginia 48 Baylor 24
J – The Mountaineers “Welcome to the party, pal” moment in Big 12 play comes against a very good Bears squad. I think Baylor makes this very interesting, but Geno Smith will tip the scales. The Pick: West Virginia 41 Baylor 34
14 Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0) @ 20 Michigan State Spartans (3-1), 2:30 pm/ABC
M – Braxton Miller and the Bucks have yet to play on the road this season so this will be interesting to how they handle their first test away from the shoe. Expect your typical low scoring defensive Big Ten game here in East Lansing. The Pick: Ohio State 17 Michigan State 10
J – People have forgotten about Michigan State since the loss to Notre Dame, but their defense is still among the best in the country. Braxton Miller has plenty of talent at QB for the Buckeyes, but I need to see him prove it in spots like this one on the road. The Pick: Michigan State 27 Ohio State 17
12 Texas Longhorns (3-0) @ Oklahoma State Cowboys (2-1), 6:50 pm/FOX
M – I still don’t have a grasp on the ‘Horns but David Ash has played well this season in three games (against soft opponents). I’d pick Oklahoma State but they will still be without their QB I believe and Texas will D ‘em up. The Pick: Texas 31 Oklahoma State 24
J – The Longhorns have looked much improved this year but Stillwater can be a treacherous place to visit and this will be the first true test for the Texas defense. The Pick: Oklahoma State 34 Texas 30
19 Louisville Cardinals (4-0) @ Southern Miss Golden Eagles (0-3), 7 pm/CBS Sports Network
M – Teddy Bridewater has been fun to watch so far this season and Southern Miss hasn’t done what has been expected yet. I’ll take the Cardinals to continue their unbeaten start at “The Rock”. The Pick: Louisville 35 Southern Miss 14
J – Charlie Strong is continuing to prove that maybe it’s been the assistants that have made Urban Meyer look so good. On the flip side, I wonder if Larry Eustachy tailgates with the folks in Hattiesburg. The Pick: Louisville 30 Southern Miss 10
Mike’s Games (B1G/Pac-12) –
Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-0) @ Iowa Hawkeyes (2-2), 11 am/ESPN2
Trust me I love to see Iowa struggle and Minnesota do well in addition to this being Floyd of Rosedale (one of the best Rivalry trophies in all the land) weekend. Call me crazy but I say the pig stays in the Twin Cities for another year. The Pick: Minnesota 14 Iowa 10
Arizona State Sun Devils (3-1, 1-0 Pac-12) @ California Golden Bears (1-3, 0-1 Pac-12), 3 pm/Pac-12 Network
I know record wise this looks like a mismatch but I remain convinced that Cal is better than their record with losses to unbeaten Nevada, at Ohio State and at USC. That being said I think Sparky takes down the steady Golden Bears. The Pick: Arizona State 38 California 31
Wisconsin Badgers (3-1) @ 22 Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1), 7 pm/ABC
Both teams will take part in the Adidas “Unrivaled” series Saturday night in Lincoln which is also homecoming for the Huskers (strange last week NU beat Idaho St 73-7 which was more homecoming like and after a road game). This game also has REDvenge written all over it for what the Badgers did to the Blackshirts in Madison last season and Wisky has started the verbal war of words. The Pick: Nebraska 27 Wisconsin 21
18 Oregon State Beavers (2-0, 1-0 Pac-12) @ Arizona Wildcats (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12), 7 pm/Pac-12 Network
Oregon State has been ruining Heisman trophy chances the first team weeks of the season but in this one they’ll get to dent Arizona’s good feelings some more. The Wildcats will bust out their Copper helmets but the Beavers won’t be impressed. The Pick: Oregon State 24 Arizona 10
2 Oregon Ducks (3-0, 1-0 Pac-12) v. Washington State Cougars (2-2, 0-1 Pac-12) @ Century Link Field in Seattle, 9:30 pm/ESPN2
This game will be the third at Century Link Field in Seattle this week and likely the biggest blowout of the three. Washington State LOST TO COLORADO! So how do they keep up with the number two Oregon Ducks? The Pick: Oregon 56 Washington State 10
Jerry’s Games (ACC/SEC) –
Missouri (2-2) @ UCF (2-1), 11 am/Fox Sports Net
I’m taking the Knights here and it’s not an indictment on Mizzou. Living in UCF territory I can tell you that facing any BCS conference team carries extra significance for the program as they look to make that transition to the next level. The team and fans have an extra bit of energy. In almost all cases, these games have been on the road or a bowl game. This is probably the second biggest in the history of Bright House Networks Stadium, Colt McCoy and Texas opening the joint in 2007 still your leader, and Blake Bortles has been a revelation at QB. The George O’Leary Era sees another peek. The Pick: UCF 30 Missouri 24
North Carolina State (3-1) @ Miami (FL) (3-1, 1-0 ACC), 11 am/ESPNU
Both teams slept on thanks to early losses but this will be chance for Miami to runaway with the lead in the ACC Coastal with a 3-0 conference record if they can get the win at home. For the Wolfpack, its the first true test for their defense, who failed them several times last year. Also worth watching is to see if Miami fans can continue their bandwagon nature by packing Lauren Tannehill Stadium (or whatever it’s called this week) following their OT win at Georgia Tech last week, since their previous home game had maybe 57 fans. (SHOTS FIRED) The Pick: Miami 31 NC State 14
Arkansas (1-3, 0-1 SEC) @ Texas A&M (2-1, 0-1 SEC), 11 am/SEC Network
You know what the John L. Smith Era in Fayetteville has made me do? SMIIIIIIIIIIILE!!!!!!!! The Pick: Texas A&M 30 Arkansas 26
Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 SEC), @ 5 Georgia (4-0, 2-0 SEC), 2:30 pm/CBS
Two teams who are notorious for coming up small in big spots. Are you sure this can’t end in a tie? Jokes aside, the QB duel between Tyler Bray and Aaron Murray will be fun to watch. When in doubt, go home. The Pick: Georgia 36 Tennessee 24
4 Florida State Seminoles (4-0) @ South Florida Bulls (2-2), 5 pm/ESPN
FSU’s offense was able to trade punches with one of the nation’s best and the defense rose to the occasion in the 2nd half of last week’s win over Clemson. Conversely, USF just lost to Ball State. On top of all that, don’t doubt that the FSU senior class would love to get revenge for a 17-7 loss in Tallahassee in 2009 which expedited the process of Bobby Bowden’s forced retirement later in the year. The Pick: Florida State 45 South Florida 17
Season Total – Jerry (32-9) and Mike (27-14)
Last Week W/L – Jerry (8-2) and Mike (7-3)
Week 5 – Jerry (0-1) and Mike (0-1) – Bith had Stanford at Washington
Last Week’s Results
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