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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: Well, I'm over .500 now. Yippee for me.

Not in action: #3 Nebraska, #22 Alabama, #25 Notre Dame

#1 OHIO STATE (-22.5) vs. #19 Missouri

Missouri threw a scare into Nebraska last year, can they do the same to the Bucks this season ? Nope ...

Pick: OSU

#2 Florida (-4) at #6 TENNESSEE

Turnover near the top has allowed Florida to sneak their way all the way up to #2. In the ultimate irony, however, UT finally breaks the Gator jinx the year after Manning leaves.

Pick: Vols

#4 KANSAS STATE (-25) vs. Texas

Texas QB out 4-6 weeks with a broken hand.

Pick: KSU

#5 UCLA (-25) at HOUSTON

After rolling over yet another Texas team to go 4-0 in the past two years, UCLA AD Peter Dalis announces plan to petition B-12 South for membership.

Pick: UCLA

#7 Louisiana State (-7) at AUBURN

OK, we've established that Auburn has a defense ... but they have yet to show any sort of competency on the offensive side of the ball. If it wasn't on the plains, I'd say LSU by about 30.

Pick: LSU

#8 Penn State (-25) at PITTSBURGH

Last year Pitt was up while PSU was down, and Pitt made a game of it. This year, PSU is one of the two remaining B-10 teams with legit MNC hopes. They will not disappoint.

Pick: PSU

#9 WASHINGTON (-9) vs. Brigham Young

BYU ... running the ball ? Truly it must be getting mighty cold down South. Could be an interesting game as the Cougars really manhandled Arizona State last weekend.

Pick:  UW

#10 WAHOO STATE (-16.5) vs. Clemson

With loss here, Cavaliers likely headed for a 2-9 season.

Pick: Virginia

#11 FLORIDA STATE (-27.5) vs. Dook

This is the first week since they joined the conference that the Seminoles have _not_ been the highest-ranked team in the ACC. Boy would I hate to be a Blue Devil next Saturday !

Pick: FSU

#12 GEORGIA (-14.5) vs. Wyoming

It's rare that a good SEC team is willing to play a decent OOC opponent. Too bad that this is looking like a down year for the 'Pokes.

Pick: Georgia

#13 SYRACUSE (-41) vs. Rutgers

A 41 point spread ? If it was anyone but Rutgers, I'd jump on it in a heartbeat.

Pick: Syracuse

#14 WISCONSIN (off) vs. UNLV

Wisconsin at #14 ? Poll dynamics in action. No line in this one ... setting a line in Vegas on a game involving a Nevada team is illegal. I'm just picking the winner here.

Pick: Badgers

#15 COLORADO (-22) vs. Utah State

So which Buffs team will show up ? The one that smacked the snot out of Colorado State ... or the one that needed to come back against Fresno State? My guess is the later. But USU is so bad it won't make a difference.

Pick: Colorado

#16 Southern Cal (-15.5) at OREGON STATE

Oregon State is 2-0. I know this, because I watched the Guinness World Records show on Fox.

Pick: USC

#17 ARIZONA (-9.5) vs. Iowa

To resolve QB controversy, coach Dick Tomey to install new split-QB variant of the T-formation during practice this week.

Pick: Arizona

#18 Texas A&M (-3) at SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

Sniff sniff ... what's that I smell ? Upset ...

Pick: USM

#20 WEST VIRGINIA (-20.5) vs. Maryland

WVU is better than #20. Maryland to be the demonstration model.

Pick: 'Eers

#21 Virginia Tech (+3) at MIAMI(FL)

Miami will lose for the 4th year in a row, and all week we'll hear nothing but: "Butch Davis should be fired", "We should have won except for _____", and "Tech just got lucky". That and the obligatory "Yeah ? Well we've won 4 MNCs !"

Pick: Hokies

#23 OREGON (-23.5) vs. San Jose State

Ducks look sharp on offense. They won't win the P-10 this year, but they'll ruin it for someone ...

Pick: Oregon

#24 NC State (-6.5) at BAYLOR

I doubt that NCSU is for real ... but then again, neither is Baylor.

Pick: NCSU

BOSTON COLLEGE (-19.5) vs. Temple

I was wrong. In scheduling Akron the Owls were aiming too high. Temple 1000 anyone ?

Pick: Boston College 

Things to Look For

Game of the Week to Watch:  Florida vs. Tennessee

Upset Special:  Southern Miss. over Texas A&M

Last week: 11 - 8

Season to Date: 21 - 18 - 1

Upset Special: 0 - 2 (But Cal sure gave UNL a run for 3 quarters!)