10 best football games of the week! Week 4

This week I apologize for the delay, just have been tired the past few nights I was going to do it.
Anyway, this week in football looks amazing, as you have a true "monster" Saturday in college football, with five games featuring top 25 teams, with two of those coming between top 15 teams which could shape the national title picture a little bit better. Although, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves with that whole picture quite yet. Nonetheless, it is going to be a great Saturday full of football.
Then, the only game that folks are focusing on on Sunday is the Washington Redskins-Philadelphia Eagles game. Everyone is wondering what kind of reaction Donovan McNabb will get on his return to Philadelphia. I will give my two cents on that when I pick that game in the NFL portion of this blog. But, there are some other games which are intriguing to look at as well in the first week where byes are in effect.
Record last week: 4-1 college, and 2-3 in NFL, 6-4 overall. Still no losing record overall in the first three weeks, here's hoping trend continues.

College

No. 7 Florida at No. 1 Alabama

This is a rematch of the de facto semifinal game the past two seasons in the SEC title game. This could mean another rematch in the SEC title game this year too, which would make for another great game. The thing this time however comes that it is at Alabama and Florida no longer has Tim Tebow running the show at quarterback. But, Alabama just came back last week against another top 10 team in Arkansas in which it showed a lot of fight and courage and determination on the road no less. While Florida just completely pasted Kentucky at home and was not looking past them to this game. Florida is showing itself to be coming over some of the struggles it showed earlier in the season and starting to look like a complete team on both offense and defense. But, how can I go against the defending champions at home, at night, and a quarterback who has not lost since the 8th grade?

Pick: Alabama 27, Florida 23

No. 13 Stanford at No. 4 Oregon

This game was moved from an 11:15 start in the east to a 8 p.m. start time, and rightfully so. This game is a rematch from last season which Oregon lost at Stanford. If Oregon would have won, they may have been in the national title game instead of Texas. So, needless to say, Oregon wants revenge. Although this game has been hyped a lot, because it is airing on ABC or ESPN2 on ESPN, it is still being looked at as the second best game of the weekend, I think it will turn out to be the best game of the weekend. Both teams are legitimate top 5 teams at the moment and both have some great offenses. Question is which team will show up with enough defense to stop the other. I think that the running game, it's at home, and the fact that Oregon wants revenge from last season all play into the fact I'm picking Oregon.

Pick: Oregon 41, Stanford 38

No. 16 Texas vs. No. 8 Oklahoma (at Dallas)

The "Red River Rivalry" is the name of this classic rivalry set right in the middle of the Texas state fair in Dallas. This game is always intense, but the score has not necessarily reflected that in the past decade, as only two of the past ten meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less. The reason why it has gotten intense lately is because of how many Texas natives the Sooners have been able to nab in recruiting. I also love how the cotton bowl is evenly located and how you see Sooner Red on one side and burnt orange on the other side splitting tickets evenly between the two schools. The cotton bowl is located within 120 miles of each school as well.
But, this game is interesting as Texas literally got ran all over last week by UCLA, as the Bruins put up over 300 yards rushing and then Oklahoma barely got by Cincinnati last week. Both teams are interesting as both are 4-0, but haven't really played anyone and are just kinda getting by on talent alone, which will catch up to Oklahoma soon unless they play better. It already caught up to Texas. I believe Landry Jones and DeMarco Murray will come around this week and bring their "a" game this week against a stumbling Texas squad.

Pick: Oklahoma 21, Texas 10

No. 20 Penn State at No. 18 Iowa

Both of these teams are remarkably similar to each other, as both are one loss teams, both lost to their only road game against tough competition and both have good running games. The one thing that sets Iowa apart is that they got a 5th year senior starting at quarterback and Penn State has a true freshman at the position. Iowa also has a relenting defense which will cause Bolden said quarterback into a few turnovers. Iowa also has not lost to the Nittany Lions since 1999 in Iowa City.

Pick: Iowa 24, Penn St. 8

No. 9 Wisconsin at No. 21 Michigan State

Wisconsin does not seem like a top 10 team to me, they have just been lackluster all season, with the exception of Heisman candidate John Clay at running back. Michigan State on the other hand has a head coach who will be coming back and coaching for the first time since his heart attack two weeks ago. Think Michigan State will be playing over their heads for their coach in a home game? Yeah, that's what I thought too.

Pick: Michigan State 27, Wisconsin 17

NFL

Washington at Philadelphia

OK, to make this short and sweet I think Donovan McNabb will get cheered heavily with about 25-35% of the crowd booing him because those folks are complete idiots. McNabb will get cheered heavily when he is introduced, just as Brian Dawkins was last year. Granted Dawkins was much more beloved in Philadelphia than McNabb, but the guy still led the team to its first Super Bowl since the 1980 season. But, once the game gets started and the Redskins are out on the field, Eagles fans will boo McNabb relentlessly because they do not want him to score.
As for the game itself, I think Washington wants to play well for McNabb and to get the loss from St. Louis behind them. Unfortunately for them, they will be running into the NFC offensive player of the month in a rejuvenated Michael Vick who has thrown for over 700 yards with six touchdowns, zero interceptions and a guy who has ran for over 100 yards and a touchdown in the month of September. The Redskins defense will not be able to stop him or the Eagles receivers. McNabb will try the best he can, but his receivers and running backs are old and slow and will be covered well. McNabb will likely throw at least one interception as well.

Pick: Philly 30, Washington 13

Baltimore at Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is off to a surprising 3-0 start thanks mainly to their defense which has held teams to 11 points a game in its first three and Rashard Mendenhall who has ran for an average of over 100 yards in its first three games. That defense will need to continue to pressure Joe Flacco and the Ravens who are winless at Pittsburgh since Flacco took over the starting job in 2008. Although Ray Rice, Baltimore's great running back is likely out for the game, Flacco has receivers to throw to this time, and I think he will hook up with Anquan Boldin for another 100+ yard receiving game for Boldin. I also think that the Ravens defense will try and swarm and pressure Charlie Batch into a few mistakes.

Pick: Baltimore 17, Pittsburgh 6

Denver at Tennessee

Interesting game here, as Denver tries to avoid the worst team start since 1999. Denver has put up some good offensive stats, especially through the air, averaging nearly 350 yards a game with Kyle Orton at quarterback surprisingly enough. But, Tennessee has been very good defensively, allowing under 13 points a game on average and of course they have the best player in the game with Chris Johnson, who should continue and put up good numbers against a fairly weak Denver defense.

Pick: Tennessee 24, Denver 20

Chicago at New York Giants

Chicago is coming off a big Monday night win at home versus previously unbeaten and division rival Green Bay. New York on the other hand has been dreadful, especially Eli Manning who is tied with the ageless Brett Favre for the NFL lead in interceptions with 6. The Giants running game isn't faring so well either, with Brandon Jacobs being relegated to second string after throwing his helmet fine rows into the crowd two weeks ago. The Giants seem to be in disarray and Chicago looks to continue their winning ways.

Pick: Chicago 30, New York Giants 12

New England at Miami

Miami is coming off a tough loss to the New York Jets last week, and should be looking to continue to be tied for first place. New England meanwhile has handled the opponents it is supposed to handle like Cincy and Buffalo, but lost at the aforementioned Jets in week two. New England has also lost 7 of its past 9 road games overall, and the Dolphins kick started their "wildcat" offense against the Patriots in 2008 on their way to a division title. I expect that to continue here.

Pick: Miami 28, New England 20

Tomorrow look for the best games from the month of September!