Weekly picks

Bob's Picks for Sept. 11, 2010: This week, Point Spreads are based on Danny Sheridan's Thursday spreads in USA TODAY.

Bob's picks this week Against-the-Spread (ATS) this Season: 1-3-1 (I'll a bit ashamed to claim my LSU win of last week because I picked the Tigers when they were listed at -4 points against North Carolina. After multiple suspensions of Tar Heel players came down late in the week, the spread jumped to 11, and underdog UNC covered when it lost only 30-24. Still, I'll take it.)

Here are this week's picks:

THURSDAY:

Auburn (-1.5) at MISSISSIPPI STATE: Coach Dan Mullen has the Maroon Bulldogs playing far better, but Auburn is one of those teams destined to pile up lots of points with their superb new QB Cam Newton. Where the Tigers need to improve is defense. Home team status gives Miss. State too much credit here because to win the Bulldogs will need to slug it out in something like a 45-41 game. I can't see it. PICK: Auburn -1.5

SATURDAY:

Duke at WAKE FOREST (-4.5): These are two teams going in opposite directions: After several fine years, the cupboard is a bit bare at Wake. The Devils' David Cutcliffe is one of the best coaches in the country who gets little notice. PICK: Duke +4.5

Georgia at SOUTH CAROLINA (-3.5): No other early season conference match-up will shape the rest of the season as this game should. The winner very likely will become the sole contender with Florida for the SEC East title. The Gamecocks looked great against Southern Miss last week, but Georgia really has the superior talent. PICK: Georgia +3.5

Miami (Florida) at OHIO STATE (-8.5): So much depends on Miami QB Jacory Harris and how he handles the noise and pressure of Ohio Stadium. There is more pressure on the no. 2 Buckeyes, so Miami will be free to play with defensive abandon and hjave Harris fling it all over the field. Ohio State is likely to prevail, and so it is simply a hunch that the loose Hurricanes can keep it close. PICK: Miami +8.5

Stanford (-6) at UCLA: The Bruins looked fairly inept on both offense and defense against Kansas State last week. This is no time to take on Stanford and star QB Andrew Luck, not to mention a pretty good run attack that will replace Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart with three able bodies. Play a little defense and Stanford could be bound for the Rose Bowl this year. PICK: Stanford -6

Paul's Picks:

My overall standing is too poor to report. Meanwhile the NCAA has halted their inquiry into the North Carolina program to investigate Bob's picks for the season, which include the LSU win mentioned above and a win Thursday night that we are listing today.

Georgia Tech (-14) at KANSAS: New coaches, like Kansas head man Turner Gill, prefer road games the first year because the pressure is lessened. Add in an opening loss to North Dakota State and Jayhawk fans may be soon be clamoring for a return of Mark Mangino. Meanwhile, the Yellow Jackets went 5-1 on the road last year including romps over Virginia, Duke and Vandy (i.e., teams in Kansas's stratosphere). Pick: Georgia Tech -14.

Florida State at OKLAHOMA (-7.5): The Sooners defense will have to look a lot better this week than the one they trotted out in the opener against Utah State. The Seminoles defense, meanwhile, must prove that it can cover this strong a group of wide receivers. This should be a shoot-out and I think the better quarterback (Ponder of FSU) tops the home advantage. Pick: FSU +7.5

Colorado at CAL (-9): I am still not buying Colorado and will continue to pick against them, especially on the road where they have lost seven straight versus non conference BCS teams. The Bears feast on non conf visitors and have the talent to blow this game open. Pick: Cal-9

Penn State at ALABAMA (-11.5):This spread has gone up, and for good reason. Penn State has a teenager at quarterback and questions on the offensive line. Enough said. Pick: Alabama-11.5