Central Michigan @ Kentucky: I know what you’re thinking. “Geez Western Kentucky and now Central Michigan??!” Well, let’s put the rumors to bed now. There is no truth to the school of thought that Kentucky is trying to win some sort of mythical directional national championship. OUR PICK: Kentucky should, I stress SHOULD, win this game. That is assuming Morgan Newton doesn't have trouble being a quarterback again.. I hope they play this one in Nashville too…makes too much sense not to do that again right?
Mississippi State @ Auburn: Definitely an elimination game. Oh sure, it’s most likely an SEC West division elimination game, but let’s be honest no one actually thinks either of these teams was going to win the division. No, more importantly it’s a “Don’t have to pay attention to us anymore” elimination game. Honestly, whoever loses this game will disappear for the rest of the year and be “that team” that seems to spend the rest of the season in the Others Getting Votes section of the USA Today poll. OUR PICK: Mullen’s offense should keep rolling, Bulldogs over the Tigers in the battle of generic team names.
Alabama @ Penn State: This one is the easiest game to pick all week. I’ll just give the edge to the team with the experienced singular starting QB. What’s that?? Both coaches are picking a starting QB about as well as…well I don’t know they just aren’t very good at it right now. Seriously, Joe and Nick, come on. This isn’t Rocket Surgery, pick one. I’d be willing to bet they wish this was like NCAA Football the video game, where they can just pick the guy with the higher overall rating number. OUR PICK: Should be a close one, but I think Alabama has a slight talent edge and that will win out. Tide in a close one.
Cincinnati @ Tennessee: I will pay only slightly more attention that I did to last week’s Vols game. Which is to say, I may actually wait to see the score go by on the bottom line. You saw the bold prediction last week (UT in 2012, get the t shirts now) but Tennessee should still win this game. If you’re Dooley’s gang, you CAN NOT lose a home game to a below average Big East team. I’m sorry. Zach Collaros is a solid QB for the Bearcats but losing their top WO’s from last year could spell doom, even with stud RB and future high draft pick Isaiah Pead in the backfield. OUR PICK: Vols should start the season 2-0 for the first time since 2006.
South Carolina @ Georgia: The Gamecocks did not start well last week but more than made up for it once Stephen Garcia entered the game (no seriously…great move Steve). The Bulldogs lost what amounted to a home game for a superior Boise State team (you heard it here first…well maybe not first but you heard it here damnit) and are looking to avoid an 0-2 start that would make Mark Richt’s seat hotter than a jalapeno in the middle of Assembly St. Ok I just made that saying up, but you know how hot I’m talkin about. OUR PICK: Gamecocks to win. If you are a Carolina fan, you have to have confidence this year is the year, and you should not be celebrating everytime the Gamecocks beat a team they historically don’t do well against (Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, the other school in South Carolina).
Southern Illinois @ Ole Miss: I do like the Saluki mascot more than the Rebel mascot. Especially now that the Ole Miss mascot is a bear (????) but I do think Ole Miss has more talent. Southern Illinois will need all their great players in this one. Players like Brandon Jacobs and, um, well I’m sure there’s someone else in there somewhere. Plus there’s no way Ole Miss will lose to a 1-AA team at home right? What’s that 2010 Jacksonville State? OUR PICK: Ole Miss will bounce back and get a win before having to play big boy football again.
New Mexico @ Arkansas: Arkansas’s strength is their offense. Which is bad news for the Lobos cause their weakness is, well, everything. The great Mike Locksley project is just not working New Mexico, I’m sorry. When 2 wins would be a season high and you are in year three…that’s not good coach. OUR PICK: Arkansas will dominate. Don’t watch this game.
UAB @ Florida: I know the Mr. and Mrs. Gamblin Boss will be tuned into this one. SEC fans? Hardly the reason. They are proud, card carrying members of Blazer Nation (no Blazer Nation? Blazer Region? Blazer State? Ok fine, Blazer Township?? Ok Blazer Township it is). They are, in essence, the spark that ignites the Blaze (that’s UAB’s ad campaign…I’m not kidding either)!! Anyway, they will probably be the only two people tuning into this game. I literally know nothing about UAB other than their coach is Neal Callaway and they play in Legion Field. That’s it, that’s the list. OUR PICK: If Florida has any trouble with this team, Mike Slive is going to make them turn in their SEC membership card. Florida big.
UConn @ Vanderbilt: This is probably the second most intruiging game of the week. Both teams have a new coach and both won last week, but they were both against 1-AA teams. Vandy has a more exciting offense, while UConn’s defense is probably a little better. I think Vandy has an overall bigger upside under their new coach, but I think they are still a year or two away from being truly competitive. OUR PICK: UConn should win this one, but I think this might be a good game. After all, you don’t just walk into…whatever Vanderbilt’s stadium name is (Jay Cutler Field??) and get an easy win. Well, unless you are every SEC team that’s ever played there. UConn in a close one.
N’Western State @ LSU: This should actually be a pretty good game too. If Dan Persa is healthy, he missed last week’s win over BC, then the Wildcats should have a chan…wait what? Ohhhhh LSU is playing Northwestern STATE. Ah, I see. Well that changes everything. Don’t watch this game. OUR PICK: LSU should roll big. If not, read “Our Pick” from the Florida game.
South Florida High School Football Show Sun Belt Game of the Week:
Memphis @ Arkansas State: Here’s a fun fact, the University of Memphis is 78 miles SOUTH of Jonesboro, AR (home of the Red Wolves), I did not know that. Hugh Freeze, aka Michael Oher’s high school coach, is in his first season at A-State. They actually have a pretty good offense, experienced QB and solid WO, and I think will put up a lot of points against the Fightin Deangelo Williamss…ssssss. On a related note, I’m pretty sure this will be the last time Memphis is featured on our picks of the week. I don’t know, two straight weeks seems like way too much Tiger football. OUR PICK: Arkansas State should score a victory for the Sun Belt.
Service Academy Game of the Week Presented by the Who Loves a Bargain Blog:
San Diego State @ Army: Boy these two teams hate each other. Just absolute natural rivals here folks. I love Coach Rich Ellerson’s offense at Army. Just wishbone as all get out, and yet still produced a prolific receiver (New York Giants WO Ramses Barden) when he was the head coach at Cal Poly. As always their defense will be suspect, you just can’t recruit enough big bodies to a service academy. San Diego State is in their first year under former New Mexico coaching great, Rocky Long. Hey, how’d forcing him out workout for you Lobos? Yeah, about as well as Ole Miss getting rid of Cutcliffe. Let’s face it though, if you can’t root for West Point this weekend, then you are terrible…unless you went to Navy. OUR PICK: Upset special of the week. Army wins it at home.
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