Now it's time for some football.
Last week's picks churned out a 32-6 record - two that really stunned me were Georgia-Tennessee and SMU beating East Carolina.
For the 2009 season, the overall record goes to 184-40 (82%).
Got some good games this week, so let's get right to it.
Games Around The ACC
N.C. State (3-3, 0-2 in the ACC) at Boston College (4-2, 2-2 in the ACC)
These two teams help make up the ACC Atlantic Division, and that division is struggling this year - only two of its teams (Boston College and Wake Forest) even have winning records. So this game, regardless of the outcome, will continue to muddle up an already-muddled-up division race. Tom O'Brien and his Wolfpack head up to Chestnut Hill and will be ready to have a successful bird hunt. But Frank Spaziani's group of Eagles haven't gotten shot out of the sky too many times this year, and I don't think they will get hit on Saturday. The Eagles ain't lookin' to get pounded on for two weeks straight, and they will make sure they show up with their claws sharpened and in full attack mode.
Rod's Reject - N.C. State
Virginia (2-3, 1-0 in the ACC) at Maryland (2-4, 1-1 in the ACC)
Al Groh and the Sword Toters set sail for Terp-ville Saturday, hopin' to stay undefeated in the ACC Coastal Division, and all indications are that they might have a good chance of doing just that. Ralph Friedgen and the Ground Crawlers are still struggling this year, and besides one hiccup game, haven't shown many signs of beatin' that hare to the finish line. Chances don't look a lot better this week.
Rod's Reject - Maryland
Miami, Fla (4-1, 2-1 in the ACC) at Central Florida (3-2, 1-2 in Conference USA)
Randy Shannon and the Big Wind blow into Orlando this weekend and will leave a lot of damage behind when the storm finally clears. George O'Leary and the Golden Knights will be in full armor for this Sunshine State Showdown, but will end up with plenty of dings and dents in the metal when all is said and done.
Rod's Reject - UCF
Virginia Tech (5-1, 3-0 in the ACC) at Georgia Tech (5-1, 3-1 in the ACC)
Got to give the Yellow Jackets some love - nothing like scheduling your Homecoming game against the two-time defending ACC champs!! Frank Beamer and his Hokies venture into the Big City Saturday to see what they can scratch up against Georgia Tech, and I ain't sure they're gonna like what they see when they get there. Paul Johnson and his bunch of Humble Bumbles have been swarmin' pretty good lately (averaging over 472 yards per game over the last 3 games), but they may not have it as good against this bunch of Gobblers this weekend. Great game to watch - oughta be a good one.
Rod's Reject - in a slobberknocker - Georgia Tech
Key Games Around The SEC
Kentucky (2-3, 0-3 in the SEC) at Auburn (5-1, 2-1 in the SEC)
Rich Brooks and his Wounded Wildcats limp into Auburn this weekend with a few teeth knocked out, some fur missin', and an ear that's been half-chewed off, but they will be ready to give it their all against the Tigers. Gene Chizik and his Cats got their noses rubbed in it last weekend, and will come out ready for the fight against the Cats. The Tigers will come out on top, but it ain't gonna be easy.
Rod's Reject - Kentucky
Georgia (3-3, 2-2 in the SEC) at Vanderbilt (2-4, 0-3 in the SEC)
Had to double-check the win-loss record to make sure I was actually lookin' at the record of Georgia and not some other team. Mark Richt and his Dawgs have tee-teed on the carpet a little this year, but if there's ever a week to try to get things straightened out, it's this week. But Bobby Johnson and his Ship Steerers ain't gonna be no pushover, at least when it comes to the Commodores defense. Vandy ain't got much ammo in the cannons on offense, but will put up enough defense to make the Dawg fans squirm a little. Might be a little closer than some prefer, but the Dawgs will end up with the win.
Rod's Reject - Vandy
Arkansas (3-2, 1-2 in the SEC) at Florida (5-0, 3-0 in the SEC)
Bobby Petrino and the Wild Hawgs roll into Gator-ville Saturday with high hopes on knockin' the king off the mountain, and will actually be successful...for a while. The Hawgs bring the air show on offense, but may get grounded this weekend when they try to same routine against this bunch of Gators. Urban Meyer and the Toothy Crew remember the Mississippi disaster last year, and will be determine not to allow such a repeat this year...at least this week, anyway. It will take a little while, but eventually the Gators will lock the Hawgs in the death roll...and won't let up.
Rod's Reject - Arkansas
Other Key Games Around The State
Charleston Southern (2-3, 0-0 in Big South) at Gardner-Webb (3-2, 1-0 in Big South)
Buc fans will have to get up early this weekend as this game kicks at 11:30 a.m. - so get out your Frosted Flake and enjoy the first half during breakfast (by the way, this one will be televised regionally on SportsSouth). Tough road game for the Buccaneers as they take on a stubborn bunch of Bulldogs at Boiling Springs, NC. Steve Patton and his Runnin' Bulldogs will be ready, but will have to face a Bucs team that's ridin' a two-game winning streak, and beat Gardner-Webb at home last year 13-10 on a late CSU field goal. However, last year the Bucs got a lot of turnover help from the Bulldogs - and won't be that fortunate this year
Rod's Reject - in a close one - Charleston Southern
The Citadel (2-3, 0-2 in Southern Conference) at Western Carolina (0-5, 0-3 in Southern Conference)
Kevin Higgins and his Blue Bullies hit the road for Cullowee Saturday for a 4 p.m. kickoff to try to get their first conference win of the year, and this might be a good spot to get it. The Bulldogs hit some big numbers last year as they beat the Catamounts 34-14, and the Bulldogs should have enough bark and bite in them to turn in another similar performance. The Purple Cats have struggled this year, especially on offense, and the Bulldog defense will make sure that stays the same this weekend.
Rod's Reject - Western Carolina
Appalachian State (3-2, 2-0 in Southern Conference) at Wofford (1-4, 0-2 in Southern Conference)
(This game has a 3:00 p.m. kickoff and will be televised by SportsSouth.) Jerry Moore and his Mountain Men head into Spartanburg with a little 3-game winning streak, lookin' to run it to 4 games with a win against Wofford. Mike Ayers and his Terriers have had a rough time so far this year, and having to deal with the Mountaineers this weekend sure doesn't make it any easier. The Terriers are a little one-sided on offense, to say the least, as they are 3rd in rusing in the country in FCS (formerly Division I-AA) with 232 yards per game, but last in passing. The Terriers will play this one much closer than last year's 70-24 debacle, but they won't be able to get the win.
Rod's Reject - Wofford
Other Key Games Around The Nation
Oklahoma (3-2, 1-0 in the Big 12) vs Texas (5-0, 2-0 in the Big 12) at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas
Bob Stoops and the Sooner Schooner roll into Dallas Saturday for a close-to-noon showdown with the Longhorns. Mack Brown and his Steers have a lot on the line with their #3 ranking and will do everything they can to keep it, but it won't be easy against this bunch of Okies. This one will be worth watching, and could come down to the last drive of the game. When all is said and done, and all the smoke is cleared, though, you're gonna see what you thought was unthinkable - Oklahoma with 3 losses.
Rod's Reject - in a close one - Oklahoma
Southern California (4-1, 2-1 in the PAC 10) at Notre Dame (4-1)
Pete Carroll and the Horse Rider thunder into South Bend Saturday for their annual tussle with the Golden Domers and will bring with them everything in the arsenal. However, Charlie Weis and his Irish are 'bout tired of getting hammered in this affair and will have full intentions of changing the direction of this series. And they will. But only for about a half. Then the Trojans will charge ahead and finish the job, but it won't be easy.
Rod's Reject - Notre Dame
The Big Two in South Carolina
Wake Forest (4-2, 2-1 in the ACC) at Clemson (2-3, 1-2 in the ACC)
Jim Grobe and his Deacons head south to Pickens County Saturday, hopin' to give a good sermon to a bunch of wounded cats. But Dabo Swinney and his Tigers have had enough of people preachin' to them about all their wrong-doings, and they will want to come out at Death Valley at Noon on Saturday to hush all the critics. That's gonna be tough to do, though, as the Demon Deacons will bring a pretty good congregation with them. But the Tigers feel their season slipping away and they know they still have a lot to fight for. When the final horn sounds in Tiger Town, the orange-clads will go home happy, and the ACC Atlantic Division will really be a mess, but the Tigers will be closer to the top of it.
Rod's Reject - Wake Forest
South Carolina (5-1, 2-1 in the SEC) at Alabama (6-0, 3-0 in the SEC)
Steve Spurrier and his Barnyard Flock hope to rattle the world Saturday as the fly the coop and land in Tuscaloosa to do battle with the Crimson Tide, and this one oughta live up to all expectations. The Gamecocks are off to a terrific start and are bringing with them the 'New Carolina' attitude that they hope will change end-of-season slump they've suffered over the past few years. But trying to beat this bunch of Pachyderms ain't the best way to get that done. Nick Saban and the Tide are strong everywhere and finding a spot to pick on will be tough for the G-Cocks. I think the game is tight for a while, but the difference will be along the lines of scrimmage. And though USC's future looks bright, Alabama is a little ahead when it comes to o-line and d-line play - and that will be the difference.
Rod's Reject - in a good one - South Carolina
Rod's List of Other Losers
Middle Tennessee will lose to Mississippi
UAB will lose to Mississippi
Purdue will lose to Ohio State
Minnesota will lose to Penn State
Texas Tech will lose to Nebraska
Missouri will ose to Oklahoma State
Iowa will lose to Wisconsin
Northwestern will lose to Michigan State
Army will lose to Temple
Western Michigan will lose to Central Michigan
Wyoming will lose to Air Force
Miami, Ohio will lose to Ohio
Utah State will lose to Nevada
Marshall will lose to West Virginia
UCLA will lose to California
Tulane will lose to Houston
Kansas State will lose to Texas A&M
Rice will lose to East Carolina
Akron will lose to Buffalo
Colorado State will lose to TCU
New Mexico State will lose to Louisiana Tech
Hawaii will lose to Idaho
San Diego State will lose to BYU
Stanford will lose to Arizona
Memphis will lose to Southern Miss
Louisville will lose to UConn
Colorado will lose to Kansas
SMU will lose to Navy
UNLV will los to Utah
Delaware St. will lose to Michigan
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