NCAA Week 10 picks

Conference races are starting to tighten up, and games will start to get very important.  We have some doozies this week, including the Game of the Week.

Wed Nov 3
Rutgers Scarlet Knights at South Florida Bulls:  This one could go either way, but I like the way the Knights have been playing recently.  RUTGERS

Thurs Nov 4
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at #17 Virginia Tech Hokies:  The Hokies have a short week to prepare, but they know the Yellow Jackets farily well.  In most seasons, I'd figure the extra week awarded Georgia Tech would give them an edge, but the Jackets have been folding in crucial games this season.  VIRGINIA TECH

Fri Nov 5
Central Florida Golden Knights at Houston Cougars:  Another contest of evenly-matched opponents, the Cougars had a bye week last week and UCF didn't.  However, the Golden Knights played one of their best games last week, and I think they'll extend that into this game.  CENTRAL FLORIDA

Top 25
Washington Huskies at #1 Oregon Ducks:  The Ducks faced their greatest challenge in Los Angeles last week against the Trojans.  Somehow, I don't think Jake Locker and the Huskies will be a major obstacle.  ORGEON

Hawaii Warriors at #2 Boise State Broncos:  This is probably the last difficult team the Broncos will face this season, at least until their bowl game.  Although Hawaii is having a great season, the Broncos have been completely dominating their opponents.  This may be their smallest margin of victory all season, but they'll still win.  BOISE STATE

Chattanooga Mocs at Auburn Tigers:  This is the final FCS v FBS matchup of the season, and should prove no challenge for Auburn.  AUBURN

#7 Alabama Crimson Tide at #18 LSU Tigers:  LSU isn't quite up to snuff this season, but Alabama can use this as a nice warmup for the Iron Bowl, as LSU and Auburn have similar defenses.  ALABAMA

#16 Arizona Wildcats at #8 Stanford Cardinal:  Arizona is capable of upsetting the Cardinal, but Jim Harbaugh has this team playing tough and mostly error-free.  In recent years, Stanford has come apart in one game, losing it through undisciplined errors.  I don't think that'll happen this year.  STANFORD

#22 Baylor Bears at #9 Oklahoma State Cowboys:  Baylor is having an outstanding season, but Oklahoma State's offense is tops in the conference.  I don't think the Bears defense can stop them, and I don't think the Bears offense can keep pace.  OKLAHOMA STATE

#10 Oklahoma Sooners at Texas A&M Aggies:  The Aggies defense is tough, but not tough enough to slow the mighty Sooners offense.  OKLAHOMA

#11 Nebraska Cornhuskers at Iowa State Cyclones:  The Cyclones have surprised some good teams this season, but Nebraska just toppled Missouri.  Unless they get too cocky from that victory, they should hold off the Cyclones.  NEBRASKA

#12 Nevada Wolf Pack at Idaho Vandals:  Idaho is doing better than usual, but Nevada is a hot team this year.  NEVADA

#13 Missouri Tigers at Texas Tech Red Raiders:  Poor timing for the Raiders.  Missouri will be determined to make up for last week.  Tech's defense isn't strong this year, and the Tigers will want to redeem themselves after last week's loss.  This might be one of their best offensive performances.  MISSOURI

#14 Wisconsin Badgers at Purdue Boilermakers:  Purdue avoided two consecutive shutouts, but the team is struggling.  The Badgers had an extra week, although they didn't need it to prepare for Purdue.  WISCONSIN

Minnesota Golden Gophers at #15 Michigan State Spartans:  The Spartans will want to beat up on someone to relieve the frustration of last week's loss to Iowa.  That opponent will be the hapless Gophers.  MICHIGAN STATE

#19 Iowa Hawkeyes at Indiana Hoosiers:  Interesting how the ranked teams in the Big Ten who play this week (Ohio State has a bye) get to play the three worst teams in the conference.  Iowa should coast through this game, especially after dominating the Spartans last week.  IOWA

North Carolina Tar Heels at #20 Florida State Seminoles:  The Heels nearly lost to FCS William & Mary, so the Seminoles should have no trouble.  FLORIDA STATE

Arkansas Razorbacks at #21 South Carolina Gamecocks:  If anyone can stretch South Carolina's defense, it will be Ryan Mallet and the Razorbacks.  If the Razorbacks can avoid giving up the ball to the Gamecocks, they can upset Carolina.  The Gamecocks are good at forcing turnovers, though, so I'll make the safe pick.  SOUTH CAROLINA

#25 Temple Owls at Kent State Golden Flashes:  It is an uncomfortable trend that teams unused to the Top 25 fall the week after they debut.  Although that trend would put Temple in jeopardy, I don't think Kent State is strong enough to topple the Owls.  TEMPLE

Game of the Week:  #4 TCU Horned Frogs at #3 Utah Utes:  For all practical purposes, this is the Mountain West championship game.  The winner definitely has the inside track to win out and claim the conference crown, and a likely unbeaten season and possible bid for a BCS bowl.  TCU gained that right last year, but Utah is more used to it.  UTAH

Other games of interest:
NC State Wolfpack at Clemson Tigers:  Clemson started strong, but they've faltered in recent weeks.  That gives NC State the chance to chase Florida State for the Atlantic division title.  NC STATE

Louisville Cardinals at Syracuse Orangemen:  The Orangemen are having a great year, but they are always capable of slipping up.  This is a home game, though, so I think they'll want to do well for their fellow students.  SYRACUSE

Florida Gators at Vanderbilt Commodores:  It may not be a typically strong year for Florida, but they're still capable of pestering the lesser SEC competition.  FLORIDA

Fresno State Bulldogs at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs:  This battle of the bulldogs will go to Fresno, who took an extra week off to prepare.  FRESNO STATE

Arizona State Sun Devils at USC Trojans:  USC couldn't hold back Oregon in the fourth quarter, but they learned a lot about themselves in that game.  Expect Lane Kiffin to use that knowledge to move this club forward.  USC