Week 4 Picks

My friend Max is coming in from Ohio this weekend. He doesn’t really like football, but he likes the parties that come from football, so it should be a good time. So here are my picks for the weekend. (For the record, I do this mostly for my own personal satisfaction, so that I can say I was right later on. If you don't like football, don't feel compelled to read this whole thing. Lord knows I wouldn't.)

NC State at Georgia Tech     GT has a solid running game, make no mistake about it. Problem is, they’re sort of a one-trick pony. I don’t care of that trick is the triple option, the more times you run that play, the easier time opponents will have stopping it. NC State has had a rough couple of weeks, and I don’t expect this one to be any different, but I also don’t expect GT to take to the air. Plus, they outrank the Yellow Jackets in both points and points allowed. I’m giving this one to NC State.

Virginia Tech at Boston College     It’s unbelievable how bad VT’s been playing these last two weeks. But BC hasn’t really played at all. Weber State and Kent State? Come on. And they didn’t even play that well against those two! Here’s to VT hopefully finally having a solid game, and a W to show for it.

#1 Alabama at #10 Arkansas     This ought to be a hell of a game. Both teams have explosive offenses and stingy defenses. In the end, I think Ingram and Richardson are going to win it for Alabama. But a win might not guarantee that they keep their #1 rank put on an exceptional performance.

#16 Stanford at Notre Dame     Notre Dame is cursed. Seriously, it’s like Brian Kelly got a monkey’s paw and wished to be the head coach of Notre Dame, forgetting to mention that Notre Dame should also have a good season. THE TURKEY’S A LITTLE DRY! <-- Simpsons joke. Meanwhile, Stanford hasn’t really played anybody on par with Michigan State and Michigan Denard Robinson. They got to #16 the same way so many other overrated teams did: running up the score. I know I said last week that the Irish weren’t that good, and I still don’t think they’re that good, but I think they’re better than Stanford. Moreover, I think they’re due. Touchdown Jesus FOR THE WIN!

#12 South Carolina at #17 Auburn Auburn has had a really rough couple of weeks that really shouldn’t have been so rough. South Carolina has been playing consistently decent football. It’s going to be a close game, but I think Auburn’s going to find a way to screw it up.

Baylor at Rice    Ah, the annual contest to see who's better at losing. Baylor has actually had a decent season so far, by which I mean they put up a full 10 points against TCU. Rice has gotten blown out twice and won the other game by one point at the last minute. So I'm thinking Baylor is less likely to screw it up this week.

#24 Oregon State at #3 Boise State     Every game I've picked so far is likely to be a close one, so i thought I'd take one and put it in the "gimme" column. In Boise's never-ending quest for legitimacy in the eyes of the the BCS, they relentlessly slaughter any team that steps onto the smurf turf whose name is preceded by a rank. They do it all. the. time.


OTHER GAMES TO KEEP AN EYE ON THIS WEEKEND

Bowling Green at #21 Michigan     Theoretically, Michigan should bowl right over Bowling Green (see what I did there?). But as I’ve said before, Denard Robinson is practically a one-man team right now, something’s gotta give. I’m not putting Michigan on upset watch, but if they do get upset, I won’t be surprised.

#7 Oklahoma at Cincinnati     Oklahoma’s had two very close calls against two teams that should not have been close calls. Ironically, they played their best against their toughest opponent. Cinci’s not that good, so maybe they’ll get upset. Then again Cinci’s not that good.