Today's Picks

Sorry for the delay. Down to 23-15. I like: No Ill +3.5 at BC, Tennessee -1 at Florida, TCU -5.5 at TT, Arkansas +7 hosting A&M, Arizona +2 hosting UCLA, Utah +10.5 at Ore, ASU +5.5 hosting USC. Good luck

Tonight's Pick

I enter the evening 23-14 and am contemplating two tough games tonight. I do not know how anyone can be excited about their pick for the Boise at Virginia game. Boise is one of the better teams to travel east over the past few years, including a win down the road from Virginia in Blacksburg in 2010. This Boise team is solid but not exemplary, however. UVA, on the other hand, is playing for a salvaging of the season after the heartbreaking loss to ND. they have been so good at home recently that I cannot pick against them on a Friday night. so i will pass. I am going out on a limb by picking Oregon State tonight, at home against Stanford, to hang close before losing. The Beavers are young and rebuilding under new coach Gary Andersen, who knows how to slow an offense down enough to hang with a better foe. True Michigan did blow them out two weeks ago, but that game was close until a disastrous punt snap allowed the wolverines to begin pulling away. Stanford had a huge win late Saturday night on the road and now has to go on the road again on a short week to play a team they blew out last year with a ranked Arizona on deck. Pick: Oregon State +16

Look Back at a Classic Upset

What's great about an upset is that it sits there, forever, in black and white. As long as college football matters--and there is no sign of that abating any time soon--the fact that the University of Louisiana-Monroe beat Alabama 21-14 on November 17, 2007 will always be recorded in the books. And since those two teams meet up this Saturday for the first time since that game, the upset is back in the news. And as someone who does not like Nick Saban, that is a welcome discussion any and every time. What is great about that result was that La-Monroe had a mediocre season. They went to Tuscaloosa with a 4-6 record with one of the team's losses coming to a North Texas team that finished the season 2-10. The Redhawks themselves finished the season 6-6. Despite the big win head coach Charlie Weatherbie only lasted two more before being fired. Of course, that was not a great Alabama squad by any stretch of the imagination, finishing the season 7-6 including a four-game losing streak in November. John Parker Wilson was the embattled QB and Terry Grant was the leading rusher with only 891y. Still Nick Saban was not happy that day and probably is not happy any time someone brings up that game. Knowing that makes me happy. I love a good upset.

Today's Picks

With the season mark at 18-7 I am feeling good. I like a lot today so here's hoping the luck continues. Temple -11 at UMass. Michigan -35 hosting unlv South Carolina +16.5 at Georgia LSU -6.5 hosting Auburn Va Tech -6.5 at Purdue Nebraska +3 at Miami Utah State +7 at Washington Texas Tech +11 at Arkansas Colorado State +3 versus Colorado Kentucky +3.5 hosting Florida Western Kentucky +1 at IU Iowa -5.5 hosting Pitt BYU +14 at UCLA Utah -14 at Fresno Good luck.

Tonight's Pick

I am red hot this September as I have opened the season 17-7. But that is in the past so let's remain focused. Tonight I am going with Louisville, although I will be rooting hard for head coach Bobby Petrino to open the season 0-3 with the Cardinals. Still, they are a desperate team and playing at home on a Thursday. clemson is not as good as their ranking. Pick: Louisville +6.5

How Much Lower Can Rutgers Sink?

With multiple players being suspended for accused criminal activity the Rutgers football program will soon be holding open tryouts. Well, maybe not. But the ability of the squad to compete with the upper echelon of the Big Ten, already pretty shaky before the suspensions, is now looking near impossible. Truthfully wins and losses matter little at the moment. The program needs to get a hold of the situation before anyone else gets hurt and then go about earning respect as a team that plays hard and does the right thing off the field. The situation is so dire now that changes have to happen. The coach and athletic director are obvious choices to go while the president himself needs to argue for his job. Someone beyond reproach needs to be hired, but current guys who both win and in the right manner are few and far between. Coaches are usually given a free pass if they win and athletic directors are fired if their hires do not win, so there is little reason to expect the good guys to get hired. Hopefully Rutgers will get the shipped straightened out although there is little reason for optimism.

Today's Picks

Sitting at 12-6 on the season I am ready for a few games today. Buffalo +17.5 at PSU Army +7 at UConn Miss State +4 hosting lsu CSU +5 hosting Minny Iowa -3 versus ISU MSU -4 hosting

Tonight's Pick

Once again the Beehive State is loaded with quality football players and tonight's Utah State-Utah game is a fine showcase. Utah looked like the Pac 12 contender it is last week in handling Michigan and they will try to control the game tonight. But tonight's opponent will have emotion on its side and better QB playing. That QB Chuckie Keeton has spent so much time injured over the years that he should view tonight's televised match-up as a chance to make up for lost time. The Aggies will stay close in this one, a game that is the last scheduled between these two rivals for the time being. Pick: Utah State +12

Conference USA Update

There is a big game tonight and I am not talking about the NFL. Western Kentucky, fresh off a two-point victory over Vanderbilt, hosts fellow Conference USA contender Louisiana Tech. The game is a huge one for the Hilltoppers after last year's surprising blowout loss at Ruston, Louisiana. The Bulldogs won that game 59-10 but one would expect the home team to come out for bear this season, especially with star QB Brandon Doughty, RB Leon Allen and three of the top four receivers from '14 back in the fold. For the visitors the key will be new QB Jeff Driskel's ability to move the ball on an improved, but still suspect, Hilltopper D that will be inspired. The environment will be crazed and I look for a Western Kentucky win (but not confident to list it as a pick).

Saturday Recap and Tonight's Pick

One of the many elements of college football that is truly wonderful is the shear number of folks who are ecstatic today because of results from this weekend. I love the NFL and am a big Giants fan, but while I would love for them to beat Dallas next Sunday night, I won't be that excited if they do as there is a long season ahead of us, including a rematch, and one game does not make or break a team. There is no way I will feel as happy Sunday night with a win as fans of Temple remain today two days after their school's historic victory over Penn State. BYU fans will always remember Saturday's incredible finish, even if the Cougars will have to continue the season without injured star QB Taysom Hill. Most of the other winners who impressed did not have victories as huge as BYU and Temple, but fans of Northwestern, Notre Dame, Auburn and Texas A&M among hundreds of others, cannot wait to continue a promising season. We may have another momentous win tonight if Virginia Tech can repeat their upset of Ohio State. The problem for the Hokies is that OSU's offense is so much better today than last September. I rally do not see the Hokies be able to hang in once the Buckeyes get rolling. Close at the half but then comfortable by game's end. Pick: OSU-14. After a good Saturday I sit at 10-6 for the season.

Today's Picks

FORDHAM!!!! Okay I got that out of my system. Down to 3-3 after Boise allowed Washington back into last night's game. For today: UCLA-14.5, Northwestern +11, ASU +3, BYU +6.5, Bowling Green +21.5, La-Lafayette +17, Georgia So +19.5, ND-9.5, Bama-12. My hunch pick is Temple +6.5

Tonight's Pick

Well I went 3-2 on opening night and will not mention the loss by .5 pts on a late TD. Anyway, the games are weak today--apart from the Fordham at Army rematch--but I do have a selection for the late game baring of mild interest. And the main story in the build up to that game concerns a coach returning to the team he recently left. I must admit i find those stories boring. But I am excited to see the jilted team, Boise State, begin what could well be a special season. The Broncos welcome back former head coach Chris Petersen, who is leading his new charges, the Washington Huskies,in year two of what is not a rebuild but a rearranging. And that is the problem. Washington is very young (9 returning starters) and is creating a new identity. Boise is experienced (17 returning starters) and itching to beat the Pac 12 one more time, especially the Pac 12 program that poached their coach. While I believe that Washington can hang for a bit, this game could blow open in the 3rd Q. Pick: Boise -11.5

Opening Night Recap

While the level of play last night was typical for first weekend football (i.e., the kids need some work) there was at least plenty of excitement. Here are some quick thoughts: Michigan has a lot of work to do--but we all knew that already. South Carolina survived but do not look like SEC East contenders. Arizona needs the injury bug to move on or it will not remain in the top 25. Contenders in need of style points should not play at Minnesota. Horrible work by officials at end of Colorado-Hawaii game is an embarrassment. Great win for long-suffering Hawaii coach Norm Chow nonetheless. Same too for Ron Turner as his FIU Panthers upset 17-pt favorite UCF.

College Football Kicks Off

Here we are opening up what promises to be another exciting college football season, and I am ready for the action. Actually the season kicked off in fine fashion Saturday with Montana's 38-35 win over four-time defending champion of FCS North Dakota State. That game ended on a winning TD run on the final play and while I cannot promise continued excitement of that enormity, I will say that this season should be a good one. Tonight will not shake up any early season rankings, but there are a few games of interest. Out in Salt Lake City, the Jim Harbaugh run at Michigan begins with a tough one versus the Utes, a team that had their way with the Wolverines last year in Ann Arbor. While I--and, well, everyone--expect Harbaugh to eventually do well at his alma mater, this first test is just too tough. Michigan will play smash mouth in an attempt to keep turnovers down but the Utah front seven, that dominated in last year's game, is experienced and loaded for bear. The Michigan D should be fine this year too, but Utah's offense features stud back Devontae Booker, who rushed for 1,512y, and veteran QB Travis Wilson. Michigan hopes to spring the dynamic play-making ability of CB and returnman and offensive surprise Jabril Peppers on opponents this season, but he should be somewhat negated by Utah's superb special teams and veteran QB. Pick: Utah covers -6. The first game on the schedule tonight is South Carolina versus North Carolina in Charlotte. This game pits two of the more disappointing teams in the country last season, but one of them, SC, has a big edge in track record as the vets on the squad know what it takes to win more than ten games in a season. They will begin their 2015 campaign the right way with a win over the still-struggling Tar Heels, who have to rebuild their disastrous D from last year. New DC Gene Chizik has too much work to do to stop the Gamecocks, who just need a decent game from new starting QB Connor Mitch. The Gamecocks two-headed run tandem of David Williams and Brandon Wilds will keep the chains moving, while stud WR Pharoh Cooper will be tonic to a young QB. UNC has a fine offense themselves, with stud QB Marquise Williams leading a unit that returns 10 starters, but they will not be able to score enough against a SC D that is improved from '14 to offset the weaknesses on their own D. Pick: SC -2.5 While Vanderbilt should show some improvement after an awful year in 2014, they will be hard-pressed to contain the explosive Hilltoppers who will be pumped up to open in an SEC stadium. Stud QB Brandon Doughty returns at the helm of an offense that scores in bunches. Pick WKU -2.5 That is three favorites in a row and so I owe you a dog. And so I am going with Minnesota at home. Normally picking a solid Big Ten team at home coming off an 8-win season would not be too ballsy, but in doing so I am going against highly-ranked TCU. Making it easier is that I am getting 16.5 points. Look, TCU knows it has to play well tonight on ESPN, but any motivation from not making the playoffs last year was used up when they blew out Mississippi in the Peach Bowl. The Gophers were banged up last year in losing at TCU by 23. This year they have the motivational edge in that nobody gives them a shot, despite the talent being nurtured by coach Jerry Kill and his staff. Plus they play really well at home--just ask OSU. Pick: Minny +16.5 For those of you on the West Coast--or insomniacs out East, the late Colorado at Hawaii game should be fun. Both teams are improved but I am a big fan of Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre and feel that they can pull away from the home team late as WR Nelson Spruce proves unstoppable. Pick: Colorado -7.5