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Each week this season, I will be posting a column previewing the upcoming weekend's Big East and Top-25 matchups. All rankings are from the ESPN/Coaches Poll. Picks are against the spread, and are for entertainment purposes only.

This week: It's the stretch run folks. Only 3-4 games left to determine the bowl pecking order.

Last week: 14 - 9 ... that's more like it!

Not in action this week: #14 Virginia Tech, #18 Georgia, #24 Georgia Tech

#1 OHIO STATE (-27) vs. Michigan State

To all those who thought Michigan State was supposed to be the Big-10 Sleeper this year, I say to you "GARY TRANQUILL"!!

OSU is due for a scare, however, and MSU could be just the team to do it. Cover this spread, and I can't see how anyone could possibly vote OSU anything but #1.

Pick: Michigan State

#2 Kansas State (-28.5) @ BAYLOR

From the big surprises department: Kansas State to rout another inferior opponent.

Pick: Kansas State

#3 TENNESSEE (-42) vs. Alabama - Birmingham

This game will prove whether or not Tennessee is better than Virginia Tech! :o)

Pick: UAB (I can't pick anyone to cover a 42-point spread ... it's just too much)

#4 UCLA (-16.5) @ OREGON STATE

Oregon State is one game away from .500, two from bowl qualification. Maybe next year...

Pick: UCLA

#5 Florida (-29) @ VANDERBILT

Vandy riding a 2-game winning streak ... as if that will matter !

Pick: Gators

#6 FLORIDA STATE (-17) vs. # 12 Wahoo State

With a loss here, Cavaliers likely headed for a 7-4 season.

Pick: F$U

#7 WISCONSIN (-19) vs. Minnesota

Minnesota held Michigan to -23 yards rushing on 33 carries last week. Michigan, however, does not have Ron Dayne. Badgers' preseason games finish up here, as next week they will actually be tested by a top-10 Penn State squad.

Pick: Wisconsin

#8 TEXAS A&M (-19) vs. Oklahoma

Oklahoma football is just in bad, bad shape. Texas football, however, is alive and well!

Pick: aTm

#9 Penn State (-3) @ #22 MICHIGAN

Wow ... a Big 10.5 game that actually _means_ something. You don't see too many of those this year.

Pick: Michigan

#10 ARKANSAS (-9) vs. Mississippi

Auburn almost pulled it off last week. Could the Hogs be tiring down the stretch? Ole Miss is not a bad team, and this could be the time ...

Pick: Mississippi

#11 ARIZONA (-23) vs. Washington State

Arizona completely shut down a _very_ potent Oregon offensive attack last week. Meanwhile, they ran up some points of their own. Washington State has returned to its pre-Leaf mediocrity, and is likely to be there for a while.

Pick: Zona

#13 Notre Dame (-12) @ BOSTON COLLEGE

Big East to take yet another non-conference loss here.

Pick: South Bend Institute for Sports Broadcasting

#15 Nebraska (-26) @ IOWA STATE

Saturday will not be a very fun day to be a Cyclone. Don't blame Nebraska's slip-ups on Frank Solich, massive graduation losses and a plethora of injuries have not left him much to work with.

Pick: UNL

#16 Tulane (-17) @ MEMPHIS

Can anyone explain to me how a poll ranking Tulane 94th out of 112 I-A teams can justifiably be used as a component of the Bowl Championship Series rankings ?

Pick: Tulane

#17 Syracuse (-2.5) @ WEST VIRGINIA

Now that I have smack rights for the next year or so, I have no problem rooting for WVU to take down Syracuse. If we get to (and win) a BCS bowl, our ranking will take care of itself.

In unrelated news, NFL scouts were in Morgantown yesterday, running OT Soloman Page through workouts at fullback. "We know he can block allright, and if he can hold onto the ball as well as he can hold onto that Moore kid's jersey, he might have a real future", said one NFL scout who asked not to be identified.

Pick: Syracuse

#19 MISSOURI (-6.5) vs. #25 Colorado

At #25, Colorado is still overrated. Expect Mizzou to run over, around, and through the Buffs, on the way to a 3rd place finish in the Big-12 North division.

Pick: Missouri

#20 OREGON (-6.5) vs. Washington

Ducks offense dehydrated in the desert. No prayer for Rose Bowl, Oregon now just trying to hold on in the top-25. At 5-3, calling Washington's season a disappointment would be an understatement.

Pick: Oregon

#21 Air Force (-12) @ ARMY

Air Force is the _ONLY_ school in all of I-A to score at least 30 points in every game this season. A one-point loss to TCU earlier in the year is their only blemish to date.

Pick: Falcons

#23 TEXAS (-11) vs. Oklahoma State

Mack Brown finally got the Texas defense working, and right now I can't think of many teams I would less like to go up against.

Pick: Texas

PITTSBURGH (-14) vs. Temple

UPitt attempting to crawl out of the Big East cellar, and get revenge for last year's loss to the Owls.

Pick: UPitt

Rutgers (+12) @ NAVY

At 2-1 out-of-conference, Rutgers is actually _helping_ the Big East on the national scene. Go figure ...

Pick: Rutgers

Game of The Week to Watch: Rankings say UVA @ FSU, but I'm predicting blowout city. My TV will be tuned in to Penn State vs. Michigan and Cuse vs. WVU

Upset Special: Mississippi over Arkansas

Last week: 14 - 9

Season to Date: 94 - 86 - 3

Upset Special: 2 - 7