The first BCS Rankings were released on Sunday, and to no surprise, it was Oklahoma starting at number one. Wait, that is a surprise, considering that Oregon is ranked number one in both the Harris and Coaches polls, but Oklahoma beat Oregon with computers. Plus, Boise State was not in the top two of the BCS, which hopefully will change by the end of the year. But, on to the top games of the week!
College
No. 1 Oklahoma at No. 11 Missouri
This is a very tricky game for Oklahoma, as they have looked sluggish in some games thus far this season. See games versus Cincinnati, Utah State. Plus, Mizzou is flying under the radar a bit, considering that they do fall in the shadow of the Big 12 south lying in the North division, and Blaine Gabbert seems to be having a fantastic season, and with the presence of College Gameday, the crowd is going to be even more amp'd up for this game. Prepare for the number one team to go down on the road again.
Pick: Mizzou 34, Oklahoma 24
No. 6 LSU at No. 4 Auburn
Cam Newton is Florida's loss, but Auburn's gain. Newton was on the Florida roster last year but got cut from the team for allegedly stealing a classmate's laptop and then throwing it out the window once police came to investigate. Newton has 25 total touchdowns this season and is quickly becoming the leading candidate for the Heisman trophy, but he has yet to face a defense as fierce as LSU's. LSU cannot do a whole lot on offense, but they have their own Heisman candidate in their own right with Patrick Peterson, the dynamic returner/cornerback who can stop Newton when throwing the ball. LSU will not quite have enough to stop Newton, as this game is at home for Auburn.
Pick: Auburn 23, LSU 18
No. 13 Wisconsin at No. 15 Iowa
This should be a great game between two one loss Big 10 teams, and the loser of this game will be out of the running for the Big 10 title. But, Wisconsin is coming off of a huge home win versus Ohio State and is due for a letdown game versus the Hawkeyes. Especially daunting for Wisconsin is that they must go to Iowa City, which is always a tough place to play.
Pick: Iowa 28, Wisconsin 13
No. 7 Michigan State at Northwestern
This has trap game written all over it for the Spartans. It has "trap" game written on it for four reasons. Number 1, it is at Northwestern, which is outside of Chicago and this is the first game that Michigan State has played outside of Michigan all season dating to this point. Number 2, Michigan State is going to face Iowa at Iowa next week, and could look past this game. Number 3, Northwestern has always been known as one of the worst teams in the Big 10, but they have become much better under the tutelage of former Northwestern linebacker Pat Fitzgerald. Finally number 4 is that Michigan State has a tendency to get out to very fast starts and then falling off a cliff so to speak to finish off their season. This season is seeming different for Michigan State and for that reason, I'll still pick them to win, but it will be very close.
Pick: Michigan State 23, Northwestern 21
No. 16 Nebraska at No. 14 Oklahoma State
This is looking like a very interesting game. Nebraska is coming off a tough loss against a good Texas team, and Oklahoma State is still looking good after their win against Texas Tech last week. Nebraska probably should have won against Texas last week even though they looked awful, and Oklahoma State really cannot be this good, can they? Plus, Oklahoma State needs to find a way to contain freshman sensation Taylor Martinez, which I don't think they will do.
Pick: Nebraska 31, Oklahoma State 17
Pro
Pittsburgh at Miami
Pittsburgh looked solid last week in week one of Ben Roethlisberger's return to the NFL. But, they did not look dominating versus a horrible Cleveland team. Miami, on the other hand had a good win against a sliding Green Bay team, winning in overtime. But, that was on the road and Miami has won every single game on the road thus far, losing the two they have had at home. I expect that trend to continue, as Pittsburgh is continuing to look like the class of the AFC.
Pick: Pittsburgh 27, Miami 23
Philadelphia at Tennessee
Tennessee has a "game-time" decision on which quarterback will start for them versus the Eagles come Sunday afternoon, as Vince Young suffered a sprained knee and ankle versus the Jaguars on Monday night. Kerry Collins filled in admirably for the Titans though. What the Eagles must focus on though is the league's most dynamic rusher in Chris Johnson. The Eagles have a notoriously weak running defense, and the Ttians will look to exploit that. The Eagles also have one of their most dynamic weapons in DeSean Jackson out for this game with a concussion he suffered last week versus Atlanta. The Eagles will look to their other great wide receiver Jeremy Maclin more and they should have success. The Titans will also look to continue their six game winning streak versus NFC opponents on Sunday, which I think will happen.
Pick: Tennessee 30, Philadelphia 21
New England at San Diego
New England has looked as good as ever in their first five games, going 4-1, while San Diego has gotten off to their notoriously slow start of 2-4. San Diego has reason to be concerned though, as they just have not looked all that good against lesser competition in St. Louis, Oakland and Kansas City. Granted Kansas City is in first place, but I still don't think they are for real. San Diego will need to get this win in order to have momentum going into the meat of their schedule. New England will look to continue to just move on and win games as they have done throughout the season without a whole lot of fanfare.
Tom Brady is continuing his good season without too much of a running game, and San Diego needs to stop that in order to get a much needed victory. San Diego needs to keep Philip Rivers upright and not allow him to continue to get sacked in order for them to win the game. I expect San Diego to win this game and build momentum into the meat of their schedule.
Pick: San Diego 23, New England 17
Minnesota at Green Bay
Brett Favre is returning to Green Bay for the second time as the enemy and I expect him to get booed even more this year than last year. But, will a win come along with like it did last year? Quite possibly, as Minnesota beat Dallas in the so called "panic bowl" last week. Green Bay on the other hand has been sliding ever since they got off to their 3-0 start, they have lost 3 in a row. Aaron Rodgers will need to rebound from these past three games for the Packers to go on and win the division as most had predicted, and I think that will start with this game.
Pick: Green Bay 34, Minnesota 23
New York Giants at Dallas
Dallas is continuing to look like a very over hyped team, with their loss to Minnesota and they are looking like an undisciplined team as well. Dallas is looking very undisciplined, as they have incurred unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in back to back weeks for celebrating touchdowns. Dallas will need to stop celebrating touchdowns and will need to start just putting wins up if they will have any chance at making the playoffs. Becoming the first team to go to the playoffs since 2004 with a 1-4 record to start out the season. New York on the other hand has looked very good this season in what was looking like a hot seat year for Tom Coughlin. Coughlin's sense of discipline has given the Giants a 4-2 start and they are a top of the NFC East. I expect the Giants to continue their winning ways on Monday.
New York 30, Dallas 20
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