This week, things get tougher. Though there aren't a lot of great games in the ACC, there should be a lot of close, hard-fought games that should be very exciting.
Overall, the picks are 95-19 (83%).
On to this week's picks - remember, the Reject is the loser.
Games In The ACC
South Florida (3-0) at Florida State (2-1, 0-1 in ACC)
The Big Bullies from Tampa take the dogey trail up to Tallahassee Saturday to lock horns with a bunch of risen Seminoles, but Jim Leavitt's herd are gonna be a horn short because quarterback Matt Grothe was lost for the season with a torn ACL. The Bulls will find it difficult to butt the tribe without its main ringleader. Bobby Bowden and the Seminoles went west last weekend and found out a lot about themselves, and they ain't about to come back home and lay a dud for the home crowd.
Rod's Reject - South Florida
Pittsburgh (3-0) at N.C. State (2-1, 0-0 in ACC)
Dave Wannstedt and the Big Cats from Steel-Town head into Raleigh, lookin' to pounce on a pack of wild dogs. But Tom O'Brien and the Wolfpack don't take kindly to any visitor tryin' to come bust up the pack, and they will be ready to defend the home turf.
Rod's Reject - Pittsburgh
Rutgers (2-1) at Maryland (1-2, 0-0 in ACC)
The Scarlet Knights get all armored-up and head to College Park with a spear sharp enough to puncture a turtle shell, and Ralph Friedgen and the Terps may not be strong enough to fend off the attack. The Ground Crawlers have been slow movers this year, and nothing on the radar says that's gonna change anytime soon. Maryland will be angry and hungry for a win, but I just don't think they'll have enough to get it done.
Rod's Reject - Maryland
Wake Forest (2-1, 0-0 in ACC) at Boston College (2-1, 0-1 in the ACC)
Prayer meeting on Saturday at Chestnut Hill as Jim Grobe and his Elders look to have a revival against a bunch of Nation Birds. But Frank Spaziani and the Golden Eagles have their own prayer request as they hope for some divine intervention for their offense. The Demon Deacons will put up a good fight, but its the Eagles who'll find their prayers answered.
Rod's Reject - in a close one - Wake Forest
Miami, Florida (2-0, 2-0 in ACC) at Virginia Tech (2-1, 0-0 in ACC)
The Big Wind from Coral Gables is making plenty of waves this year, and hope to make landfall again this Saturday in Blacksburg. But Frank Beamer and the Hokies have been known to put up some walls that will stop the surge from pouring in, and they will have to do just that to ride out the storm. Randy Shannon and the Canes are for real, but won't have quite enough gusts in them to blow over this bunch of Gobblers.
Rod's Reject - in an Upset - Miami, Florida
North Carolina (3-0, 0-0 in the ACC) at Georgia Tech (2-1, 1-1 in the ACC)
Butch Davis and the Blue Billies knock heads with a stubborn Bumble Saturday in Atlanta, and the bees will get mad as hornets when the Billies try to do their buttin'. Paul Johnson's Yellow Jackets got some Raid sprayed on them last week, and a tough, 3-game stretch may take its toll on the Big City Bees. The Tar Heels may have figured out how to stop the Jacket ground attack, and that will be the difference.
Rod's Reject - in an Upset - Georgia Tech
Games In The SEC
Arizona State (2-0) at Georgia (2-1, 2-0 in SEC)
Dennis Erickson and the Sun Devils from Tempe invade Sanford Stadium Saturday, and what they will find when they get their will make them want to lose their religion. Mark Richt and the Athens Clayhounds ain't got a lot on the stop side just yet, but the points sure do ring up for their offense. The Sun Devils are 2-0, with wins versus Idaho State and Louisiana-Monroe, but they will have a devil of a time with Georgia and they'll find out quickly that their pitchforks ain't gonna be sharp enough to get the job done.
Rod's Reject - Arizona State
Ohio (2-1) at Tennessee (1-2, 0-1 in the SEC)
Frank Solich and the northern Bobcats go on the prowl in Knoxville Saturday, but they will find a lot of angry freedom fights pointing guns at 'em when they get there. Lane Kiffin and the Volunteers will be ready to get the Knoxville Navy back afloat, an will have an easy time doing it this weekend.
Rod's Reject - Ohio
Ball State (0-3) at Auburn (3-0, 0-0 in the SEC)
Don't look now, but the War Eagle is starting to soar as Gene Chizik and the Tigers have pounced out to an undefeated start, raising a lot of hopes on the Plains. The visiting Ball State Cardinals ain't gonna be able to do too much about crashin' the party, either. The War Eagles fly high, and begin preparations for a high-flying attack at Tennessee next week.
Rod's Reject - Ball State
Florida (3-0, 1-0 in the SEC) at Kentucky (2-0, 0-0 in the SEC)
Urban Meyer and the Toothy Crew look to leave last week's (and this week's) boxing match with Tennessee behind as they look to de-fur the Wildcats Saturday evening in Lexington. Rich Brooks and the Blue Cats will have their claws flared, ready to inflict some damage, but the Gators will start chompin' early, and it will last a while, too.
Rod's Reject - Kentucky
Vanderbilt (1-2, 0-2 in the SEC) at Rice (0-3)
The Ship Steerers set sail for Texas Saturday and all cannons will be aimin' to take down the Hooty Hoots from Rice. Lucky for Bobby Johnson and the 'Dores...the sights on the guns will be perfectly set to get the job done. Daid Bailiff's Owls ain't too good at flyin' away from danger, and they will find it even harder to dodge a cannon-shot in Houston Saturday night.
Rod's Reject - Rice
LSU (3-0, 1-0 in the SEC) at Mississippi State (2-1, 1-1 in the SEC)
Dan Mullen and the Maroon Bullies hope to make headlines Saturday as they hope to skin the Tigers in Starkville, and they may actually make a few believers early in the game. But Les Miles and the Baton Rouge Bengals have too much pride to be chased and beaten by this bunch of Bulldogs, and whatever good the Bulldogs can do won't be able to last the whole game.
Rod's Reject - Mississippi State
Arkansas (1-1, 0-1 in the SEC) at Alabama (3-0, 0-0 in the SEC)
This mid-afternoon tilt will be the most interesting game in the SEC this week as Bobby Petrino and the Wild Hawgs try to snort up a win at Alabama. Well, you better believe the Hawgs have the potential to pull the upset as the Razorback Offense is serious stuff, but the Hawgs ain't rooted out too much on the defensive side, and that's what Nick Saban's Tide will take advantage of. The Crimson Tide will roll, but it ain't gonna be without a scare.
Rod's Reject - Arkansas
Other State Games in South Carolina
North Greenville (0-4) at Charleston Southern (0-3)
The Crusaders from the upstate head down I-26 Saturday in search of their first win of the season, but they're gonna run into a bunch of Buccaneers who are after the same prize. Jay Mills and the Ship Bandits have had to sail some rough waters this year (Florida, Wofford, South Florida), but the hard work pays off this weekend as the Bucs get their first in of the year.
Rod's Reject - North Greenville
Presbyterian (0-3) at The Citadel (1-1)
Harold Nichols and the Blue Stockings also make the I-26 trip this weekend as they invade South Carolina's Mother City to take on the Citadel, and they're gonna darn-near out of luck in trying to get their first victory of the year. Kevin Higgins and the Bulldogs went up to Ivy-Town (Princeton) last week and showed them who's boss, and I think they're gonna get the same results this weekend at Johnson-Hagood Stadium.
Rod's Reject - Presbyterian
Wofford (1-2) at Chattanooga (2-1)
Mike Ayers and the Terriers have had a hard time gettin' some wins this year, but that's gonna happen when you play at South Florida and at Wisconsin. The Terriers hit the road again Saturday for a quick trip to Chattanooga, and they might just find some success this week on the road. Russ Huesman and the Mocs ain't gonna be a pushover, and Wofford will have to play hard the whole game to get the win...and so they will.
Rod's Reject - Chattanooga
The State of South Carolina - The Big Two
TCU (2-0) at Clemson (2-1, 1-1 in the ACC)
Gary Patterson and the Purple Frogs hop into Death Valley Saturday afternoon, lookin' to put a few of their Horns into the Tiger's Tail. But what they find when they get there won't make them feel too froggy. Dabo Swinney and the Tigers are still lookin' for their entire offense to click, and I don't think they will find all the answers this week against a tough TCU defense. But the Tigers have speed to burn, and a defense that ain't too shabby, either. When all is said and done, TCU will end up playin' a game of Frogger against the Tigers, and they ain't gonna be able to hop out of the way of the traffic quick enough. Splat...maw, get the spatula, there's a dead frog in the road.
Rod's Reject - in a close one - TCU
Mississippi (2-0, 0-0 in the SEC) at South Carolina (2-1, 0-1 in the SEC) - Thursday Night
Houston Nutt and the Rebel invade the Poultry Plant Thursday Night with a gaudy #4 ranking and one of the top gunslingers in the South in Jevan Snead. This bunch of Rebels are gonna be tough to deal with, and will bring plenty of ammo with them when they get here. Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks have a great opportunity for a signature win, with a chance to beat a team ranked this high since 1981. Williams-Brice will be loud and the Yard Birds will be ready, and memories of beating #8 Kentucky in 2007 will be dancin' in everybody's heads. When it comes to these kind of games, though, you gotta look at who's got the advantage at quarterback, defensive line, and secondary. Two out of the three go to Mississippi for this game, with maybe the secondaries being equal. Injuries on the G-cock d-line, and too much Snead, will be too much for USC to overcome.
Rod's Reject - in a close one - South Carolina
Other Losers
North Carolina Central will lose to Duke
Fresno State will lose to Cincinnati
Southern Miss will lose to Kansas
Indiana will lose to Michigan
Nevada will lose to Missouri
Illinois will lose to Ohio State
Bowling Green will lose to Boise State
Central Florida will lose to East Carolina
Army will lose to Iowa State
Marshall will lose to Memphis
San Diego State will lose to Air Force
Oregon will lose to California
Colorado State will lose to BYU
Washington will lose to Stanford
Louisville will lose to Utah
UTEP will lose to Texas
Purdue will lose to Notre Dame
Iowa will lose to Penn State
Washington State will lose to USC
Louisiana-Lafayette will lose to Nebraska
Western Kentucky will lose to Navy
| free hit counters |
No comments:
Post a Comment