[NU Sports] PIGSKIN PICKS - Week 2

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

No standings yet, but with the holiday and some
heading to Chi-town for the home opener, I wanted to
get the list for next week out in the mail. The Big
Ten takes a step up in competition this week with the
two biggest games of the week and our Cats head home
to face a dangerous test in the I-AA Cats ... keep 'em
focused Fitz! All picks due by kickoff Saturday.

PIGSKIN PICKS - WEEK 2
######################
Name: 

BIG TEN
=======
GAME  1: Illinois @ Rutgers
WINNER: 

GAME  2: Indiana @ Ball State
WINNER: 

GAME  3: Iowa @ Syracuse
WINNER: 

GAME  4: Central Michigan @ Michigan
WINNER: 

GAME  5: Eastern Michigan @ Michigan State
WINNER: 

GAME  6: Minnesota @ California
WINNER: 

GAME  7: Ohio State @ Texas
WINNER: 

GAME  8: Penn State @ Notre Dame
WINNER: 

GAME  9: Miami (OH) @ Purdue
WINNER: 

GAME 10: Western Illinois @ Wisconsin
WINNER: 

NATIONAL
========
GAME 11: Georgia @ South Carolina
WINNER: 

GAME 12: Arizona @ Louisiana State
WINNER: 

GAME 13: Oregon @ Fresno State
WINNER: 

GAME 14: Clemson @ Boston College
WINNER: 

GAME 15: Virginia Tech @ North Carolina
WINNER: 

MY PICKS
========
* RUTGERS 26, Illinois 20
C: This game could mean a bowl bid for the Illini, but
they didn't impress me much last year.

* INDIANA 33, Ball State 13
C: Enjoy these early wins, Hoosiers.

* IOWA 42, Syracuse 10
C: The Cuse has a long way to go to get back - Hawks
roll.

* MICHIGAN 34, Central Michigan 7
C: The Wolverines better find some heart in a hurry
before their trip to South Bend.

* MICHIGAN STATE 31, Eastern Michigan 10
C: A slow start for Sparty last week, are they tanking
it to outfox the Irish?

* MINNESOTA 35, California 31
C: The Golden Bears laid a golden egg last week and
I'm not sure they'll be able to stop the Gophers'
running attack ... plus the Minny D was always a pain
for Dunbar when he as NU's OC. Upset special here!

* OHIO STATE 28, Texas 24
C: Tressel knows he can't settle for field goals this
year against the Horns and the OSU O scores just
enough to get the big win in Austin.

* NOTRE DAME 21, Penn State 17
C: Well, a week ago I was feeling this upset special
big-time, but then the Irish and Nits both looked
so-so in their openers ... even worse, it looks like
the old Notre Dame is back. Not the good team Irish,
but the one that lucks out to squeak by in games they
shouldn't win. Score another for the leprechaun here.
Yick.

* PURDUE 45, Miami (OH) 20
C: Looks like Tiller's found his O ... but where's the
D? That won't matter this week.

* WISCONSIN 38, Western Illinois 3
C: This should be a heck of a lot easier than the BUGS
last week.

* SOUTH CAROLINA 17, Georgia 16
C: Good game, but the ole' ball coach pulls it off at
home over a rebuilding Bulldog team.

* FRESNO STATE 27, Oregon 23
C: A mild upset here, though the Bulldogs are tough at
home - the Ducks lose points for those hideous
uniforms ... just when you thought they couldn't get
uglier!

* CLEMSON 30, Boston College 20
C: A good ACC clash here, but Chestnut Hill in
September is a lot less intimidating for the southern
teams of the ACC than in November. Tigers pull away.

* LSU 44, Arizona 10
C: The Wildcats may be coming back under Stoops, but
if Cal gets rocked at Rocky Top, then U of A gets
killed in Death Valley.

* VIRGINIA TECH 26, North Carolina 14
C: The Heels have a Rutgers hangover, fall behind
early and can't catch up.

And off the board ...
* NORTHWESTERN 27, New Hampshire 17
C: The UNH Cats are a tough I-AA foe and emotions will
still be high at the home opener ... hope Fitz can
keep 'em focused again.

Remember, picks in by kickoff Saturday.
GO CATS!!!
-SjT

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

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