Stop me if you've heard this one before, but Texas A&M completely screwed me last week. We're through, Aggies.
Kansas (+35) at Oklahoma
The Sooners firmly established themselves last week as one of the best teams in the nation. Meanwhile, the Jayhawks aren't showing much progress under imposing head coach Chaz Weis.
For OU, however, this game is sandwiched between its main rival, Texas, and a visit from undefeated Notre Dame. Count on an uneven performance out of the Sooners and a late KU touchdown to swing the cover to the visitors.
Pick: Weis' boys sneak it in through the back door.
Indiana at Navy (-2.5)
Hell of an effort last week by the Hoosiers, coming within a field goal of Ohio State. Yet, playing above your heads one week tends to come around later.
Navy's move to Keenan Reynolds at quarterback seems to have jumpstarted the Midshipmen offense. Will the Hoosiers be adequately prepared to stop the triple option? Might not matter – IU can't stop the run, period.
Pick: Navy.
Stanford at California (+2.5)
"The Big Game." Or so I've been told. I've seen more than enough Stanford football in the last few weeks to know that slapping a fancy name on this game isn't enough to convince me to watch it. (And when you think about it, "Big Game" is a pretty poor effort from these two supposed groups of brainiacs.)
Anyway, the Cardinal's upset of USC likely inflated the consensus opinion of Stanford. Cal, on the other hand, has played well the last two weeks and looks to be hitting its (admittedly limited) peak after back-to-back big wins.
Fortunately, you don't have to watch it to bet it.
Pick: Berkeley.
Middle Tennessee State (+19.5) at Mississippi State
Check it – have you seen Mississippi St. play? That team beating anyone by 20 points seems like a major stretch.
The Bulldogs have Alabama on deck. I'll go the other way.
Pick: Just enough out of MSU, which, ironically, isn't enough.
Iowa State at Oklahoma State (-13.5)
On balance, the Pokes aren't two touchdowns better than the Cyclones. Seeing as ISU ruined the best season in OSU history a year ago, however, this defines "revenge game."
Stillwater will be rocking on Saturday. OSU will be out for blood.
Pick: OSU by plenty.
(Last Week: 2-3; Overall: 17-18)
