NCAA 2014 Week 3 picks

Several Top 25 teams have the week off, and those who play have fairly easy opposition.

Thurs Sept 18
#6 Auburn Tigers at Kansas State Wildcats : Unless K-State plays Auburn close, they should lose their national ranking.  AUBURN by 26

Fri Sept 19
UConn Huskies at South Florida Bulls:  Neither team is having a great year, but UConn has played better.  Surprisingly, I favor them.  UCONN by four

Sat Sept 20
Top 25:
#13 Florida Gators at #1 Alabama Crimson Tide:  Roll Tide!  They should smother Florida!  The Gators had some trouble in their first game, and may have been happy that it was cancelled due to weather.  The Gators may be tired after playing so long against Kentucky (who gets a bye week as a reward).  BAMA by 24

#2 Oklahoma Sooners at West Virginia Mountaineers:  The Mountaineers had a surprisingly good game last week, but the Sooners should beat them down.  OKLAHOMA by 27

Miami Hurricanes at #7 Nebraska Cornhuskers:  Miami's only impressive game was against a FCS opponent, so expect Nebraska to roll easily.  NEBRASKA by 30

#9 Texas A&M Aggies at SMU Mustangs  Easy win for the surging Aggies.  TEXAS A&M by lots

#10 Oregon Ducks at Washington State Cougars:  The Cougars are looking for their first FBS win.  Keep looking!  OREGON by 36

Indiana Hoosiers at #12 Missouri Tigers:  The Hoosiers shouldn't give Missouri much trouble.  MISSOURI by 34

Cal Golden Bears at #15 Arizona Wildcats:  The 'Cats get an easy opponent for their conference opener.  They'll need it, as they get Oregon next.  ARIZONA by 24

Tulane Green Wave at #16 Duke Blue Devils:  Duke continues their winning ways by stomping on Tulane.  DUKE by 31

Clemson Tigers at #17 Florida State Seminoles: The Noles had an extra week to prepare, so they should finally have a strong win to escalate them to the upper levels of the Top 25.  FLORIDA STATE by 30

Virginia Cavaliers at #19 BYU Cougars:  The Cavs may give BYU some difficulty, but the Cougars should prevail.  BYU by 13

Presbyterian (FCS) Blue Hose at #20 NC State Wolfpack:  The Pack should trample the Blue Hose.  NC STATE by lots

#23 Utah Utes at Michigan Wolverines:  Michigan has not looked good, so I favor the Utes.  However, a game like this may be just the motivation the Wolverines need to produce, so watch out!  UTAH by eight

Troy Trojans at #24 Georgia Bulldogs:  Troy lost to a weak FCS team last week, so the Bulldogs shouldn't have much trouble.  GEORGIA by 31

Big Ten:
Eastern Michigan Eagles at Michigan State Spartans:  The Spartans should have an easy win to get back into stride.  MICHIGAN STATE by 27

Bowling Green Falcons at Wisconsin Badgers:  Although the MAC often plays Big Ten teams tough, this one shouldn't be too difficult.  WISCONSIN by 20

Iowa Hawkeyes at Pittsburgh Panthers:  Iowa is struggling, while Pitt is having a stellar year.  This one goes to the home team.  PITT by 18

Western Illinois (FCS) Leathernecks at Northwestern Wildcats:  Northwestern should roll easily here.  NORTHWESTERN by 26

Southern Illinois (FCS) Salukis at Purdue Boilermakers:  Purdue is not having a great year, but they should have enough power to win here.  PURDUE by nine

Maryland Terrapins at Syracuse Orange  Syracuse is on a hot streak!  Maryland often plays well against non-conference opponents, so this game may be close, but I have to favor the Orange.  SYRACUSE by ten

Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Navy Midshipmen:  These two teams seem very even, so this is likely a close game.  While I often prefer home teams in close games, I think the last team to score will be Rutgers.  Navy's ground game takes too long.  RUTGERS by four

Texas State Bobcats at Illinois Fighting Illini:  Illinois was skunked by Washington, but Texas State isn't nearly as good.  The Illini offense will set the pace early.  The defense will give up a late score or two to the Bobcats, but the Illini will have the game in hand by then.  ILLINOIS by 17

UMass Minutemen at Penn State Nittany Lions:  Penn State is the only other unbeaten Big Ten team besides Nebraska.  They will retain that distinction this week.  PENN STATE by 20

San Jose State Spartans at Minnesota Golden Gophers:  The Gophers want a strong victory after being thumped by TCU last week, but San Jose State may be a handful.  I think Minnesota will prevail in the end, but it will be a battle.  MINNESOTA by seven

Other Games of Interest:
Maine (FCS) Black Bears at Boston College Eagles:  BC gets FCS Maine after upsetting USC.  Even if they experience a letdown, they should still win this game.  BOSTON COLLEGE by 18

Marshall Thundering Herd at Akron Zips:  The MAC as a whole is struggling this season, while Marshall is knocking on the door of the Top 25.  They might get in after this week.  MARSHALL by 27

South Carolina Gamecocks at Vanderbilt Commodores:  Vandy is terrible this year.  South Carolina should finally get their point differential against FBS teams into the positive range.  SOUTH CAROLINA by 27

San Diego State Aztecs at Oregon State Beavers:  The Aztecs played North Carolina close, but I don't think they'll be as successful against the Beavers.  Oregon State has some good weapons, and the Aztec defense has some holes.  OREGON STATE by 20

GAME OF THE WEEK:  #5 Mississippi State Bulldogs at #18 LSU Tigers:  LSU might win this game, but they need to wake up.  They've played a bit lethargic so far this season.  If they don't wake up until the second half, the high-scoring Bulldogs may have established a lead they won't give up.  MISS STATE by 12