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Beerman's Picks O' the Week
(for Thursday, 10/8 through Saturday, 10/10)
by Beerman - posted 10/8/98

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

Last week: Will the real Nebraska please step forward ... thank you.

Not in action this week: #8 Wahoo State, #25 Tulane


THURSDAY, 10/8

#15 Virginia Tech (-7) at BOSTON COLLEGE

Nick's starting. Granted he knows the offense, and he's got a start (and a victory) under his belt. But he got moved to Safety for a reason. I have confidence in Sorensen to play a farily mistake-free game ... but I don't expect any kind of offensive miracle.

*GULP*

The VTD gonna have to shut down the Eagle attack. It's as simple as that.

We'll win, but it won't be pretty. And you know what ? I don't even care. If we can win on the road, against a decent team, on national television, with our THIRD Quarterback ... I'll be a very happy man!

Pick: Boston College


SATURDAY 10/10

Top-25 Games:

#1 Ohio State (-35.5) at ILLINOIS

Illinois won its first Big Ten game in 15 tries last weekend by defeating Northwestern. (Bye-bye Wildcats ... you were fun while you lasted!) Ohio State didn't even bring their "A" game and still whupped Penn State. OSU will have this game won by halftime.

Pick: Buckeyes

#2 Nebraska (-10.5) at #18 TEXAS A&M

Could this be a motivational thing ? Nebraska obviously has the talent to beat the good teams, but to let Okie State hold them to a grand total of 73 yards on the ground ? That's absolutely unheard of ! Texas A&M has a good defense ... a very good defense. It won't matter though, this is a big game, and the Huskers will be up to the task.

Pick: Nebraska

#3 UCLA (-6.5) at #11 ARIZONA

Anyone who stayed awake to watch that Zona-UDub game knows that the Wildcats are for real. UCLA, Zona, and Oregon are the only undefeated P-10 teams remaining ... Arizona hosts games against both. Advantage: Wildcats

Pick: UCLA

#4 Kansas State (-16.5) at #14 COLORADO

Some point to this as KSU's first real test of the season. Matter o' fact, several computer prognostications have CU as the favorite here. Of course, I said last week that CU was the biggest fraud in the top-25, and OU almost proved me right. CU will get destroyed, but it won't because KSU is that good. Not only is CU mediocre, but they are beset by a rash of injuries.

Pick: Kansas State

#5 Tennessee (even) at #7 GEORGIA

Back-to-back HUGE games for the Bulldogs. This time, however, they get to play in their own yard. Trivia note: UT QB Tee Martin has completed less than 50% of his pass attempts on the season. That will not get the job done against a dominating UGA defense. Throw in Lewis's torn ACL, and ... well ... "WOOF !"

Pick: Georgia

#6 FLORIDA (-12) vs. #12 Louisiana State

CBS having fits that it can't show both titanic SEC tilts this afternoon. Neither team is out of the SEC race yet ... but a second loss for either will probably finish the job. LSU is a good team, and smarting from a close loss to Georgia. Florida will probably win in the Swamp ... but it will be a close one.

Pick: LSU

#9 Florida State (-11) at MIAMI(FL)

Canes are not back ... though this is certainly one we'd like for them to win.

Pick : FSU

#10 WISCONSIN (-6.5) vs. Purdue

Purdue could be the toughest opponent the Badgers face until they close out the year against Micigan and PSU. I will say it again ... Wisconsin is not a top-10 team. Do not listen to the B-10 pundits who try to convinve you otherwise.

Pick: Purdue

#13 Penn State (-17) at MINNESOTA

Minnesota is 3-1 ... so is Penn State. That's where the resemblence ends.

Pick: PSU

#16 Oregon (-13.5) at WASHINGTON STATE

Quack quack, waddle waddle ... quack quack, waddle waddle ... SQUOOSH !

Pick: Oregon

#17 West Virginia (-25) at TEMPLE

Navy ran almost at will for 3 quarters against West Virginia last weekend. Temple runs a similar offense to Navy. If Temple covers the spread on Saturday, however, every Mountaineer in the country should bow his head in shame.

Pick: WVU

#19 Arkansas (-15.5) at MEMPHIS

Arkansas is the only team in the SEC West still without a loss. Go figure!

Pick: Hogs

#20 SOUTHERN CAL (-12.5) vs. California

Gotta give Paul Hackett his props. He's got the Trojans playing harder than John Robinson ever could manage. The glory days are long gone, but this game could feel like one of them ...

Pick: USC

#21 Missouri (-8.5) at IOWA STATE

Someone has to finish 3rd in the B-12 North ... and we all know how I feel about Colorado.

Pick: Mizzou

#22 Notre Dame (+3.5) at ARIZONA STATE

Talk about a ruined season ! ASU is out of the running for anything meaningful already. With any luck, they'll do the same to Notre Dame on Saturday.

Pick: ASU

#23 NC STATE (-2) vs. Georgia Tech

On paper this looks mighty even. Then again, NC State has knocked off two top-15 teams this year ... but lost to Baylor and almost to Ohio. I think the Wolfpack have their ship righted, however, and at home they'll take this one.

Pick: NC State

#24 SYRACUSE (-42) vs. Cincinnati

Entire Orange squad currently under treatment for Bipolar disorder. Last week was a down week ... poor Bearcats ...

Pick: Syracuse

Other Big East Games:

Pittsburgh (+7) at NORTH CAROLINA

Baby Blue U got off the schnide last week against a Clemson squad rated only a single spot above Rutgers by Sagarin. Coach Torbush holding an open casting call for a healthy quarterback.

Pick: UPitt


Other Things to Look For

Game of The Week to Watch: Take your pick: UF/LSU or UT/UGA

Upset Special: Purdue over Wisconsin

Last week: 10 - 11 - 1

Season to Date: 53 - 47 - 2

Upset Special: 1 - 4 (About time!)



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