#1 FLORIDA STATE (-27.5) vs. #20 N.C. STATE

NC State scored a few offensive touchdowns against William & Mary last weekend. Whoop-de-do. Florida State scored a few more offensive touchdowns against a much better Georgia Tech squad. The Wolfpack shocked the 'Noles last year, and will only end up paying for it this weekend.

Pick: F$U

#2 Tennessee (+1) @ #4 FLORIDA

Florida's defensive problems have been masked by the fact that their offense has scored at will against inferior competition. Tennessee is most certainly not inferior competition, and will give the Gators all they want. It's the game of the week to watch folks, and it should be a beauty.

Pick: Vols

#3 Penn State (-3.5) @ #9 MIAMI (FL)

Not content simply to rough up opposing punters, LaVar Arrington seen hanging pictures of Andy Crossland, Butch Davis, and the Miami Ibis over his locker. When asked to defend the Big East referees' choice to allow Arrington to continue playing after the second time roughing up Upitt's punter, Mike Trained-Geese said only "Boy, it sure is nice that Miami's back, isn't it? Sure would be swell if Penn State decided to join our conference also!"

Pick: Miami

#5 MICHIGAN (-6.5) vs. Syracuse

Ouch.

Pick: Michigan

#7 TEXAS A&M (-30) vs. Tulsa

Boy, this just doesn't get any prettier, does it ?

Pick: Aggies

#8 WISCONSIN (-27) vs. Cincinnati

Cincinnati looked to have solved some of the problems of their 2-9 1998 campaign, after winning their season opener. In true bottom-10 form, however, they made up for it by losing to I-AA Troy State last weekend. See Dayne run. See Dayne run some more. See Dayne run even more. See Dayne on the bench by halftime.

Pick: Wisconsin

#12 OHIO STATE (-40) vs. Ohio University

The Ohio Legislature is "strongly encouraging" Ohio State to play some of the smaller state schools, in an effort to help them out financially. So the Buckeyes take on the MAC, one game each year. Does this remind anyone else of Sherman's march on Atlanta?

Pick: Ohio State

#13 GEORGIA TECH (-30) vs. Central Florida

Georgia Tech hung in there better than I thought that they would last week. UCF confirmed that Florida is having real defensive problems this year. 30 points might be a bit excessive, but GT will win in a walkover.

Pick: Central Florida

#15 ARKANSAS (-37) vs. N.E. Louisiana

Upset over the Adam Sandler South Central Louisiana State University spoof in "The Waterboy", NE Louisiana an SW Louisiana have changed their names to Louisiana-Monroe and Louisiana-Lafayette, respectively. Because that's gonna make a difference…

Pick: ULM Indians

#16 KANSAS STATE (-31) vs. UTEP

If there's one thing that Kansas State is better at than anyone else, it's RUTSing against obvoiusly outmatched opponents. Some community colleges outmatch UTEP.

Pick: Kansas State

#17 ARIZONA (-16.5) vs. Stanford

Stick a fork in 'em, cause Arizona's done. Lose badly to Penn State, have to come back late against TCU, and now beat I-A newcomer MTSU by only two touchdowns. The Pac-10 this year is looking like the WAC of old. Lots of scoring, but no defense to speak of. At home, in the desert, Zona shouldn't have too much trouble with Stanford.

#18 ALABAMA (-16) vs. Louisiana Tech

Bucking the trend, LaTech elected to not rename themselves as The University of Louisiana at Ruston. That was probably a good move. Scheduleing Alabama, on the other hand, was probably a bad one …

Pick: Roll Tide

#19 SOUTHERN CAL (-20.5) vs. San Diego State

This week USC gets to be the "Last best hope for a Pac-10 MNC contender". Should they stumble, Arizona State is next in line. After them, Oregon State is the only other Pac-10 school remaining undefeated. Yikes!

Pick: USC

#21 UCLA (-19) vs. Fresno State

The object of any defensive scheme should be to prevent the other team from scoring. How long ago should UCLA have learned this?

Pick: UCLA

#22 TEXAS (-24) vs. Rice

Well, Rice is a I-A school, but only technically. Texas should be able to name their score here, the only question is if the defense is up to the challenge of beating the spread.

Pick: Longhorns

#23 ARIZONA STATE (-29) vs. New Mexico State

It's an old football adage that someone has to lose each game. NMSU has made the noble gesture of volunteering to be that someone as often as they possibly can.

Pick: Sun Devils

#25 MARSHALL (-22) vs. Bowling Green

If it's possible, Marshall has found the soft underbelly of the MAC.

Pick: Marshall

Other Big East Games:

Boston College (-6) @ NAVY

These are the kind of games the Big East had better start winning more regularly. These are also the kind of games that Boston College has shown no ability to win in recent years. Root for the Eagles, and hope that they win, but don't be too disappointed if they blow it.

Pick: Boston College

PITTSBURGH (-31) vs. Kent State

Good for Upitt, they played the Nittany Lions tough for four quarters. Now they get their reward.

Pick: Kent

Temple (+1) @ AKRON

Oh woe. Oh terrible woe. To be an underdog to the Akron Zips.

Pick: Temple

West Virginia (-7) @ MARYLAND

The Twerps are always good for what ails you!

Pick: West Virginia