NCAA Week 9 picks

Whoa, last week was the halfway point of college football's regular season and I missed noticing that!  This season is moving along fast! 

We have ranked teams in all three games before Saturday, although one is barely holding on.  Any upsets among those?  Possibly...

Tues Oct 26
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at #3 Boise State Broncos:  Boise State should have no trouble with this game, continuing their march to an unbeaten season and a chance at the National Championship.  BOISE STATE

Thurs Oct 28
#19 Florida State Seminoles at NC State Wolf Pack:  The Wolf Pack are hungry, and they have the power to give the Seminoles fits.  The Florida State defense is strong enough to hold back NC State for a while, but we will emerge victorious in this game?  I'll give Florida State's defense the edge, but watch for the upset here.  FLORIDA STATE

Fri Oct 29
#25 West Virginia Mountaineers at UConn Huskies:  The Mountaineers are hoping to hold onto the Top 25, but even if they win, they have to hope some of the teams behind don't do well.  UConn is down this year, but could they give West Virginia just enough of a hard time to jeaopardize their ranking?  Maybe.  WEST VIRGINIA

Top 25
#1 Utah Utes at Air Force Falcons:  Don't count out the Falcons!  Yes, they've lost a couple of games, but they are fiesty.  Utah has blown away their opponents this season.  We're not really sure how they'll react in a close game.  Air Force might keep this one close enough to make it interesting.  UTAH

#2 Oregon Ducks at #21 USC Trojans:  Oregon is looking to win out and guarantee a spot in the National Championship Game.  They have three major hurdles to overcome in order to get there, and this is the first one.  Will another top team suffer an upset?  USC doesn't get a bowl game due to NCAA sanctions, so this might be their best shot to prove themselves this year.  Oregon has a powerful offense, and USC's isn't strong enough to keep up, so the question is whether their defense can slow them down.  I don't think the Trojan defense, as it has been shown so far this season, can do that, but could they have a few tricks up their sleeve?  It's possible.  OREGON

#4 TCU Horned Frogs at UNLV Running Rebels:  I don't expect the Rebels to be a major obstacle for the Frogs here.  TCU

#5 Missouri Tigers at #12 Nebraska Cornhuskers:  Missouri faces their second ranked team in a row.  If they don't get overconfident after last week's upset of Oklahoma, and don't suffer a letdown, they should prevail here, too, setting themselves up for a potential National Championship bid, as their opponents get easier after this.  The Cornhuskers are scrappers, though, and won't give up without a fight.  This game could go to either team.  MISSOURI

#6 Auburn Tigers at Ole Miss Rebels:  Auburn should maintain their lead in the SEC West, setting up for that bout against Alabama later this season.  AUBURN

#7 Ohio State Buckeyes at Minnesota Golden Gophers:  Minnesota has their hands full with the Buckeyes coming to town.  The Gophers are looking for their first conference win.  They'll still be looking for it after this game.  OHIO STATE

#9 Michigan State Spartans at #20 Iowa Hawkeyes:  Iowa mismanaged the clock in their game against Wisconsin, and they know it.  They'll want to redeem themselves this week, so they'll be even more determined.  Watch for the upset!  It's hard for a Big Ten team to run the table, and this will be Michigan State's last real challenge.  An upset is likely here, but I'll pick Michigan State anyway - Iowa would definitely deserve the upset label if they win.  MICHIGAN STATE

#10 Stanford Cardinal at Washington Huskies:  Jake Locker is starting to look like the QB everyone hyped at the start of the season, but Stanford's stifling defense will make it hard for him.  STANFORD

#11 Oklahoma State Cowboys at Kansas State Wildcats:  K State has an impressive record, but what is more impressive is that they have allowed more points against FBS teams than they've scored.  Hosting the hot offense of Oklahoma State?  That negative margin will become even larger.  OKLAHOMA STATE

Colorado Buffaloes at #13 Oklahoma Sooners:  Oklahoma will get back on the winning track, as Colorado is suffering intensely this season.  OKLAHOMA

Utah State Aggies at #15 Nevada Wolfpack:  Nevada didn't need an extra week of practice to be able to beat the struggling Aggies.  NEVADA

#18 Arizona Wildcats at UCLA Bruins:  UCLA is capable of an upset, but Arizona is playing well, so I have to give the nod to them.  ARIZONA

Tennessee Volunteers at #22 South Carolina Gamecocks:  Tennessee woke up last week.  Can they continue that effort?  South Carolina's defense has a habit of confusing opposing offenses, and I think they'll do that again.  SOUTH CAROLINA

#23 Michigan Wolverines at Penn State Nittany Lions:  The Wolverines come off a bye week, so you know Rich Rodriquez tweaked his playbook to confuse Penn State.  I think it'll prove successful.  MICHIGAN

#24 Baylor Bears at Texas Longhorns:  Texas is having a poor year, while Baylor is having a season for the ages.  Baylor has been demolished by Texas in recent history.  How much do you think they want this win?  More than Texas does, I guarantee you, and Texas wants to remain on the winning side.  Texas will keep it close, and could cause the upset, but I like Baylor's chances to break the draught against Texas.  BAYLOR

Big Ten
Purdue Boilermakers at Illinois Fighting Illini:  Purdue has a better record, but they've played easier teams than Illinois.  Illinois' defense dominated the game against Indiana.  The offense sputtered, but that might be good.  The team can see where they faltered and fix that, so that they'll be sharper against Purdue.  ILLINOIS

Northwestern Wildcats at Indiana Hoosiers:  Indiana hasn't won a conference game yet.  They still won't.  NORTHWESTERN

Game of the Week:  Texas Tech Red Raiders at Texas A&M Aggies: These two team are fairly evenly matched.  Tech's offense isn't producing the awesome numbers that have been typical for them in recent years, but their defense has improved.  A&M's defense is sharp, but the offense has been inconsistent.  For this game, though, I think the Aggies WILL get it going this week.  TEXAS A&M

Other Games of Interest:
Miami Hurricanes at Virginia Cavaliers:  The Cavs have been sporadic this year, more often bad than good.  Miami will blow through and blow them away.  MIAMI

Northern Illinois Huskies at Western Michigan Broncos:  Northen Illinois has quietly taken charge of the MAC.  They will continue to dominate in this game.  NORTHERN ILLINOIS

Georgia Bulldogs at Florida Gators:  Georgia has rebounded from a terrible start, but Florida has power.  With an extra week to rest up and prepare, I don't think Georgia will win in the Swamp.  FLORIDA

Kentucky Wildcats at Mississippi State Bulldogs:  Mississippi State is having a colossal season.  Kentucky isn't, but they are always dangerous.  Can the Bulldogs continue their phenomenal run?  MISS STATE

Idaho Vandals at Hawaii Warriors:  Hawaii is tough at home, and they're even tougher this season.  HAWAII