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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: Not too many really juicy games on tap for this week. Makes one wonder why no one bothered to pick up the VT-Clemson matchup ... oh well.

Not in action: #10 Washington, #20 West Virginia, and #24 North Carolina

#1 Ohio State (-36.5) vs. Toledo

OSU plays one of the "lesser" Ohio schools pretty much every year. The MAC school gets a sellout, and OSU gets the win. Keeps everyone happy.

Pick: OSU

#2 Florida State (-24.5) at NC State

"If there's nothing wrong with [using creatine], that's fine with me. I wouldn't know one of those creatines if he walked in my office." - Saint Bobby

Pick: FSU

#3 Nebraska (-22.5) at California

Louisiana Tech set an all-divisions NCAA receiving record against the Huskers in week one. Last week UAB had a chance to be within 21-14 in the 3rd quarter until they self-destructed. California is a real I-A team. This is what's called "setting one's self up for an upset".

Pick: Cal

#4 Florida (-44.5) vs. NE Louisiana

"I am Godzilla! You, are Japan!"

Pick: Florida

#5 Kansas State (48.5) vs. Northern Illinois

Kansas State = Harlem Globetrotters ... NIU = Washington Generals. The Wildcats could win this one by 100 if they try.

Pick: KSU

#7 UCLA (-10.5) vs. #22 Texas

Yes, Texas won in a blowout. But you've got to be worried when you give up 36 points to someone like New Mexico State. Unlike NMSU, you see, UCLA has a defense. Still, this could be an interesting game as I'm sure the Longhorns have not forgotten the 66-3 trashing they were given last year.

Pick: UCLA

#8 LSU (-43.5) vs. Arkansas State

ASU almost won a legitimate I-A game last weekend. I'm pretty sure they've never done that before. They're not going to do it this week either.

Pick: LSU

#9 Penn State (-38) vs. Bowling Green

There are good MAC teams, and there are bad MAC teams. North Carolina AD Dick Baddour doesn't know the difference, PSU AD Tim Curley does. The thing is, Joe Pa doesn't usually like to play RUTS games ... too bad for the bookies.

Pick: BGSU

#11 Notre Dame (-7) at Michigan State

What do you do when your players don't have the speed necessary to run a high-octane passing attack? Simple, you run the option. The service academies have been doing this for years ... Bob Davie just caught on. When asked about his teams "disappointing" start, MSU coach Nick Saban was quoted as saying "0-2? Disappointing? Why should I care? I'm a hot item as a future NFL coach!"

Pick: University of NBC at South Bend

#12 Wahoo State (-28.5) vs. Maryland

With loss here, Cavaliers likely headed for a 1-10 season

Pick: Virginia

#13 Georgia (-5) at South Carolina

There is an excellent chance that the whole of the Carolinas will go winless in I-A this week.

Pick: Georgia

#14 Michigan (-10.5) vs. #18 Syracuse

'"It defies explanation how we can come so close in these openers and not get it done. 'It's the same old song and dance over and over and over again.'' -- Syracuse FB Ron Konrad.

The road opener will be no different. SU will keep it close, but will find some way to lose in the end.

Pick: Syracuse

#15 Arizona State (-6.5) at BYU

Poorly coached teams can fall into a funk after an early setback like ASU had in their opener (see '97 Syracuse). ASU is not a poorly coached team, and has much better talent than does BYU this year.

Pick: ASU

#16 Colorado (-22) vs. Fresno State

Was last year just a hiccup for the Buffs? Or was the cream of the WAC simply no match for the big boys once again? Unfortunately, Fresno State will offer no real insight ... or competition.

Pick: Colorado

#17 Wisconsin (-16) vs. Ohio University

There might be one team in the nation more dependent on the run than Wisconsin ... and that team would be Ohio. In a victory over Western Michigan last year, the Bobcats only attempted three passes in the entire game. OU "opened up" it's offense last week by attempting a whopping 11 passes ... 6 of which were caught ... 3 by the other team.

Pick: Wisconsin

#19 Texas A&M (-22.5) vs. Louisiana Tech

Louisiana Tech has all the components of a truly great football team ... except a running game ... and a defense. On the other hand, Texas A&M doesn't have many horses on offense, and probably can't keep up in a shoot-out. If the Aggie defense misses one too many assignments there could be some unhappy people in College Station.

Pick: La Tech

#21 Arizona (-8) at Stanford

Arizona doesn't have a QB controversy. After all, they named a starter ... then pulled him ... with a lead ... in the first quarter.

Pick: Zona

#23 Southern Cal (-19.5) vs. San Diego State

How's this for trivia: Mark McGwire was a pitcher in his college days at USC. Brother Dan was a Heisman candidate QB for SDSU. That is far and away the most interesting thing about this game.

Pick: USC

#25 Missouri (-16.5) vs. Kansas

If you've got a choice between watching corn grow, and watching KU football ... I say watch the corn.

Pick: Mizzou

Virginia Tech (+3) at Clemson

As Hokie Chris noted ... Clemson only managed two offensive touchdowns against mighty Furman.

Pick: Hokies

Boston College (-23) vs. Rutgers

For those who missed it, Rutgers actually won last week ... technically. Now, finding that I-AA competition may not be as easy as they thought, they've decided to resume their old position as I-A whipping boy.

Pick: Boston College

Miami (-14) at Cincinnati

Miami will win by about 30 points, and we'll be hearing all week "The Canes are back, baby!"

Pick: Miami

Temple (-9) vs. Akron

Hmm ... Temple just might have gone out and found a team worse than they are. Well, bully for them!

Pick: Temple

Things to Look For

Game of the Week to Watch:  Syracuse vs. Michigan

Upset Special:  Cal over Nebraska (La Tech over aTm a close second)

Last week: 8 - 8 - 1

Season to Date: 10 - 10 - 1

Upset Special: 0 - 1