Weekly Picks: Week 9

As we're entering the final stretch of the season, we're finally figuring out the real identities of college footbal teams across America. The last three weeks, the number one ranked team has fallen, upsets are abound, and the BCS picture has become more and more clear each and every week (or has it?). Will the surprise teams of this year be able to continue their hot streaks (Mizzou, Mich St, Auburn) and keep their National Title hopes alive or will they falter. The truth is that I don't know what will happen, but what I do know is that we have five big games on the slate this week and I've never been so excited for a set of weekly picks.


5 Michigan State vs 18 Iowa

Entering the season Iowa was selected as a dark horse National Title contender while Michigan State was merely an afterthought. After three close calls, one comeback victory, and two trips to the hospital, Coach Dantonio has his Spartans vying for a position in the National Title Game. Win out and they are in, but their final stretch begins today in Iowa City.

Ali's Pick: While most college football experts are calling for the upset tonight, they are focusing on how Michigan State struggled in pass defense last week, how they struggled running the ball their last two contests, and pointing out the fact that the magic will run out soon. Well I'm not most analysts, the Spartans get back their Thorpe watchlist defensive back in Rucker just in time for this contest against Iowa's passing attack, the same analysts said that Wisconsin would struggle running the ball and lose (which they struggled running the ball and won), and the same analysts had picked Iowa and Ohio State's defensive lines as indestructible units that would lead their teams to a Big Ten Championship. I'm sticking with the facts this week, Michigan State will continue to roll this week, expect great things from Kirk Cousins down the stretch.

Michigan State 33 -- 24 Iowa

Steve's Pick:  There is so much to like about this Spartans team.  They won on an unforgettable fake field goal.  They dominated the Badgers while their coach was in the hospital.  Their coach survived a massive heart attack after the most gutsy play call of his career.  This Michigan State team is classic magic, a team of fall, a team of nostalgia.  Unfortunately this is just the sort of dream season Iowa loves to ruin.  But, I see a little more magic coming from the arm of Kirk Cousins.  I see the Spartans defense bring a little swagger.  Dare I say, I see Roses?  Iowa is coming off of a tough loss, and Michigan State continues to impress.  This is an important game for the Spartans who are still a longshot to compete in the National Championship game.  A National Champion contender will take the game to the Hawkeyes, and dominate, and that's exactly what I expect Michigan State to do.  It's hard to call it a stunner, when the number 5 team in the country wins, but I expect a stunner in Iowa City, as Kirk Cousins leads Sparty to a surprisingly dominant win.

Michigan State 31 -- 10 Iowa

Matt's Pick: Did everyone forget it took a fake field goal to beat the struggling Notre Dame fighting Irish? What looked like a quality win has diminished after Notre Dame lost in embarrassing fashion to an ok Navy squad. I know Michigan State beat Wisky, but I still have my doubts about this team and you can only rely on fake punts and field goals for so long. I'll take a solid team with great offensive and defensive lines to get the job done over a team that is using gimicks to squeak out victories. Michigan State is a great squad, but I think Iowa has too much talent to lose for the 3rd time this season.

Iowa 28--Michigan State 17

7 Missouri vs. 14 Nebraska

Mizzou is off to hot start and is fresh coming off an upset over rivals Oklahoma, which has launched them into national title talks as well. It seems as if they have finally found a defensive unit to support their always prolific offensive attack in 2010. With that being said, Nebraska seemed to finally open it up last week and let their young quarterback throw, we know he can run, but can he continue on this success and carry it on for the rest of the season. The winner of this match-up will definitely be on track for a spot in the Big 12 championship game.

Ali's Pick: This one is definitely a tough game to pick because Mizzou looked good, and I mean real good last weekend, but was Oklahoma who we thought they were? And if any team has looked like a solid team all around this year it has been Nebraska (Oregon, Auburn, and Mich State) with their explosive offense and solid defensive play. If Nebraska can balance their attack and set the tempo I believe that they will win the game, however they have been rather inconsistent since entering conference play. Mizzou has also struggled running the ball all season long and runs most of their plays out of the gun, no huddle, Peyton Manning style. I say the Huskers shut down the run, and force Gabbert to make some mistakes and win this one in style.

Nebraska 38 -- Mizzou 24

Steve's Pick:  Is 2010 the year of the Tiger (well certainly not that one)?  Missouri is sure hoping it is, and so far they've put the team on the field to support that.  Dominating the Sooners was one thing, but a repeat performance the very next week?  Doubtful.  Nebraska is still one of the best teams in the country.  I would argue that the Cornhuskers are a better team than the Sooners, and that's what makes this matchup so intriguing.  Mizzou looks so good, and few experts are picking them.  It's such a predictable let down game, that I can't imagine Mizzou not bringing it.  But you know Nebraska is amped for this one, and they want to win the Big 12 so badly this year, I can't imagine anything shy of a big win.  I think Nebraska's running attack and defense win this tight game for the Cornhuskers.

Nebraska 28 -- 27 Mizzou

Matt's Pick: I think will be the best game of the day. I'm going more on gut with this pick being that I have not seen much of either squad. Mizzou looked impressive last week against Oklahoma and I love their uptempo no huddle style. With that said, I am an old school believer that the team that can run the ball and play defense is going to triumpth over any high powered offense.

Nebraska 31--Mizzou 28


3 Auburn vs. Ole Miss

Auburn came into the season with a lot of questions, while Ole Miss seemed to have finally found a QB to run the show in a Houston Nutt offense. The question remains, can Auburn be consistent week in and week out, and can Cam Newton continue to lead his team to victory in close match-ups. Or will Auburn play to the level of their competition and position themselves for a possible letdown against a coach who has a reputation for pulling off the upset.

Ali's Pick: If any offense has the opportunity to challenge the defensive style of Auburn, it has to be the offense of the Ole Miss Rebels. However, I believe that Auburn's defense has gotten plenty of practice against a bigger and better version of Jeremiah Masoli in practice against Cam Newton. I say that Auburn continues to roll and piles up the points this week in an effort to avoid the upset.

Auburn 37 -- 20 Ole Miss

Steve's Pick:  I've become aware of two things since moving south and watching far more SEC games than I did in Pennsylvania:  1) Cam Newton is the most clear Heisman frontrunner since 2002 (I still don't understand how LJ didn't win in 2002), and 2) Auburn is not the best team in the SEC, they're just the only team in the SEC that's undefeated.  In order to win the SEC, you don't have to have the best team, you just need to grind out a few tighter-than-expected wins against inferior teams, dominate the games against vastly inferior teams, and then win the few big ones.  Auburn has one the last few big ones (over Arkansas and LSU- who was also vastly overrated), and has squeaked out a few tighter than expected games (see South Carolina, and Alabama v. South Carolina), which has put them in a position to dominate this week against Ole Miss.  And dominate they will.  Newton will show himself as the Heisman favorite heading into the last few weeks, and the next few weeks will set up a classic game in the deep South on a Friday night at the end of November.  The winner of that game, will win the SEC Championship Game, and secure a berth in the National Championship game.

Auburn 38 -- 14 Ole Miss

Matt's Pick: This one will be closer then the experts think. Auburn has to be in for a let down after a tough stretch of games. However, Cam Newton will do enough to squeak out a victory and remain undefeated.

Auburn 21--Ole Miss 17


8 Utah vs. Air Force

Utah is coming off two very impressive performances, but then again, is crushing two rebuilding programs in CSU and Wyoming really that impressive of a feat? While Utah has been cruising throughout their first seven games of the season, Air Force has been tested week in and week out facing a little bit stiffer competition, with games against the likes of San Diego State, Oklahoma, and TCU. I think this will be the week where we find out if Utah is legit, or if TCU remains the lone horse in the MWC.

Ali's Pick: I'm going to keep it straight and simple, while Utah has not faced the quality of competition that Air Force has, they still have all the pieces of a good looking team. However, I do not think that Utah has face a rushing attack as good as Air Force or even a defense that moves around the ball like Air Force. I see it as a grind it out type game and Air Force wins this in a close one. Look for Tim Jefferson to have one of the best games of his career, as the QB will run for over 100 yards in tonight's contest.

Air Force 31 - 27 Utah

Steve's Pick:  Crazy other guys are picking Air Force.  Go Utes!

Utah 31 -- 21 Air Force

Matt's Pick: Air force's rushing attack is tough for any team to prepare for. Utah has looked good this season but I feel the upset here.

Air Force 34--Utah 28


1 Oregon vs. 24 USC

Will the curse of being number one catch up to the Ducks tonight or will they continue to post Basketball type numbers against this USC defense. The Ducks have come out of the gate hot this season, the questions about replacing Masoli are long gone, and LaMichael James is often being referred to as LaHeisman as he makes his case for the best player in college football today. That does not mean that USC should be overlooked, as they are two last second field goals away from being undefeated themselves. Most are expecting this game to be somewhat of a shootout, I don't know if I'm going to jump on that bandwagon just yet, but what I do know is that Oregon will come out of the tunnel in some great looking uniforms.

Ali's Pick: I have some great friends that have been loyal Oregon fans since day 1, and I have seen them go through some heartbreak with some devastating losses at the hands of USC during the Pete Carroll era. I am going to say that that trend is going to be reversed tonight. I'm a believer in Oregon this year, I called for them to get upset by Stanford a few weeks back, but since then I have eaten my words and jumped on the Duck Express, and the final destination is the BCS Title game.

Oregon 56 -- 31 USC

Steve's Pick:  Remember what I said about Cam Newton being the clear Heisman favorite?  Well, the only guy who could steal it from him will be on the field in this one.  LaMichael James is almost as scary good as the Ducks offense.  Remember what I said about Michigan State and magic?  Well, every part of this season feels like redemption for the Dennis Dixon year for Oregon.  Is there any name that causes the same feeling within an entire fan-base as Dennis Dixon does for Oregon fans.  There is the moment of nostalgic joy, followed by the punch in the gut of heart-wrenching agony of what if?  Matty B might bring it in this game (Dude has scary poise), but the Ducks are out to prove a point.  They aren't the little boy of the Pac-10 any more.  They've won the games they should have lost (how did Stanford not coast to a win?).  They've got the skills, and their football team's offense will average more points that Penn State's basketball team's offense.  They win this game big.

I love Chip Kelly.

Oregon 45 -- 24 USC

Matt's Pick: Call me crazy but i'm praying that Oregon goes undefeated and keeps Alabama from getting to another national championship. Oregon has its work cut out for it today when it faces USC. Matt Barkley is quitely having the best season for a quarterback that knowone is talking about. Both of these teams will light up score board early and often but in the end Oregon will come out on top.

Oregon 48--USC 34


As usual, enjoy this week's predictions and let us know what you think in our comments section. If you have any predictions of your own feel free to post them below. Have a good and safe Halloween weekend and try not to eat too much candy while you're obsessing over your favorite team.

WE ARE.........................................