[NU Sports] PIGSKIN PICKS - Week 1

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

That's right, the smell of pigskin and tailgates is in
the air, I hear the fight songs blasting from marching
bands and the stench of another stangant baseball
season is being replaced with the pure excitement, joy
and pageantry that is college football!

That's right, time for some pigskin picks! The annual
Big Ten preview, SjTop 25 and hall of fame stuff will
be out by Labor Day hopefully, but with the 12-game
schedule we have a full slate for week one so let's
get to it!

In addition to the Cats, Minny kicks off Thursday
night so all picks are due by kickoff Thursday. As
always, feel free to let me know if you want to be
dropped from the list or pass this e-mail along if you
have anyone else to add. Let the games begin!

PIGSKIN PICKS: WEEK 1
#####################
Name: 

BIG TEN
=======
GAME  1: Minnesota @ Kent State
WINNER: 

GAME  2: Eastern Michigan @ Illinois
WINNER: 

GAME  3: Western Michigan @ Indiana
WINNER: 

GAME  4: Montana @ Iowa
WINNER: 

GAME  5: Vanderbilt @ Michigan
WINNER: 

GAME  6: Idaho @ Michigan State
WINNER: 

GAME  7: Northern Illinois @ Ohio State
WINNER: 

GAME  8: Akron @ Penn State
WINNER: 

GAME  9: Indiana State @ Purdue
WINNER: 

GAME 10: Wisconsin vs. Bowling Green (@ Cleveland)
WINNER: 

NATIONAL
========
GAME 11: Nevada @ Fresno State
WINNER: 

GAME 12: California @ Tennessee
WINNER: 

GAME 13: Southern Cal @ Arkansas
WINNER: 

GAME 14: Notre Dame @ Georgia Tech
WINNER: 

GAME 15: Florida State @ Miami (FL)
WINNER: 

And my picks ...
================
* MINNESOTA 49, Kent State 14
--- No MAC attack for the Gophers as they plug in
Running Back version 2.0 into their backfield and roll
over the Flash.

* ILLINOIS 20, Eastern Michigan 10
--- Don't laugh, but the Illini could be a bowl team
this year ... of course, we won't know much after this
week as the Eagles are one of the MAC's worst.

* INDIANA 34, Western Michigan 17
--- Basketball on grass might move south in the
Hoosier state this year as the pass-happy Hoosiers
will need to score a lot of points. They will this
week, at least.

* IOWA 24, Montana 3
--- What, no MAC team left for the Hawks? Folks in
Iowa City are already gassing up the RVs for prime
time at the end of September and a visit from #1 OSU,
but they best not overlook their typical September
traps before then ... the Griz won't be one of those
traps, though.

* MICHIGAN 41, Vanderbilt 0
--- The last time Lloyd Carr came into a season with
this much pressure after an appearance in the Alamo
Bowl, well, it was 1997. History could repeat itself
as the D will be stingy and the O is loaded. No Cutler
= no hope for the Dores in this cakewalk.

* MICHIGAN STATE 52, Idaho 7
--- Sparty loves those September games, baby!

* OHIO STATE 26, Northern Illinois 14
--- The MAC's best should be no match for the Big
Ten's best in the Shoe, but the Huskies will test the
young Buckeye D and the OSU O will have to work out
some kinks ... a good prep game for Texas.

* PENN STATE 48, Akron 13
--- Zippity doo dah, zippidy eh? All that will be
zipping here is PSU's track-star wideouts against
Akron's secondary. Big game for Morelli ... will he
carry that confidence into South Bend next week?
Because the Lions have the speed at the skill
positions to give the Irish defense fits, ala OSU in
the Fiesta.

* PURDUE 30, Indiana State 6
--- One thing you can say with certainty about Tiller
... he beats the teams he's supposed to beat.

* WISCONSIN 37, Bowling Green 17
--- Cleveland may turn into Camp Randall East for this
"home" game for the BUGS, but the Falcons will keep it
close for a half at least before Bucky pulls away.

* FRESNO STATE 31, Nevada 27
--- Should be a dandy of a game, but the Bulldogs are
tough at home.

* TENNESSEE 25, California 21
--- I know the Bears are itching to prove this is
their year, but there's still something about heading
into Rocky Top and 100,000+ in orange that can be
intimidating ... SEC speed pulls the upset.

* MIAMI (FL) 13, Florida State 12
--- These games have been ugly in recent years with
the speed at D overwhelming any offense in a first
game full of errors - fewest turnovers wins, and I
think the Canes get that done at home ... but a
rematch in the ACC title  game will likely go the
other way.

* USC 27, Arkansas 17
--- Not the cakewalk last year's game was in L.A. with
Leinart and Bush, but SC still escapes SEC land with a
victory and some good experience for the young
starters.

* NOTRE DAME 28, Georgia Tech 24
--- Soooooo tempted to go with the upset here, but
can't. The Irish gag-o-meter is in full effect with
smug ole Charlie and the #1 hype machine in full
effect despite the Irish having really only one
quality win last year. Tech will be tough at home, but
that darn luck bounces Notre Dame's way in the fourth.
Ick.

And off the board ...

* NORTHWESTERN 35, Miami (OH) 27
--- It's still too early to tell whether all the
off-season emotion will be a focusing rally cry or a
huge weight for the Cats this year, and MAC teams are
always a tough out, but amid a sea of emotion in
Oxford, I think Fitz puts the ball in Sutton's hands
and the experienced O-line gets enough yardage for the
win.

Remember, picks due Thursday by kickoff!
GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!

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