[NU Sports] PIGSKIN PICKS - Week 9

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

PIGSKIN PICKS - WEEK 9
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We have one heck of a game in the Shoe this week under the lights. Not a shabby undercard around the league either with the Illini and Badgers meeting in the “WTF?” bowl of preseason busts and Sparty looking to finally stand up to their in-state bigger brother.

Nationally, the game I thought we’d include at the start of the year (Thursday’s Auburn-West Virginia clash) is now a mere afterthought. But the Big XII and SEC have come up with another weekend of dandies.

COLLEGE PICKS
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BIG TEN
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Game  1: Illinois @ Wisconsin
My pick: BADGERS … can Wisky really start 0-5 in league play? They can’t get into a shootout with the Illini, but I think they can run over that suspect defense of Illinois and control the clock.

Game  2: Michigan State @ Michigan
My Pick: SPARTANS … the Wolverines gave their all last week and fell short. Meanwhile, Sparty will be stinging after getting slapped around by OSU. At lest here they can prove they’re state champs.

Game  3: Minnesota @ Purdue
My Pick: GOPHERS … tough call here as I can see the Boilers sucking it up and pulling off the upset, but the Gophers are aggressive and rested after a week off and ready to get a big road win.

Game  4: Penn State @ Ohio State
My Pick: NITTANY LIONS … what a big game this will be! The Buckeyes are finally starting to click on offense and defense and the Lions struggled last week. But I think that it will help PSU to have had a close game before visiting the Shoe. They’re stronger mentally now and get a huge win under the lights.

NATIONAL
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Game  5: Oklahoma State @ Texas
My Pick: LONGHORNS … two weeks ago I would have given them no chance to survive their schedule. But after watching their confidence grow, they just might. OSU will hang around longer than Mizzou did, but they’ll eventually fall.

Game  6: Georgia @ Louisiana State
My Pick: TIGERS … should be a great clash between the two “lurkers” behind Florida and Bama in the SEC hunt. The difference is, Georgia can lose here and still beat Florida to go to Atlanta. The Tigers fall two behind Bama with a loss and know they can’t lose at home. Even though it’s not a night game in Baton Rouge, I still like the Mad Hatter.

Game  7: Alabama @ Tennessee
My Pick: CRIMSON TIDE … real tempting to go with the upset here after the two eggs Bama has laid at home. But the Vols are just bad this year. Even in this rivalry game.

Game 8: Texas Tech @ Kansas
My Pick: RED RAIDERS … both have firepower, but the Raiders have a bit more and want to head into next week’s showdown with Texas unbeaten.

Game 9: Virginia @ Georgia Tech
My Pick: YELLOW JACKETS … it shows how much the ACC has become a mess when this is the premier game instead of the slumping Hokies at the overrated Noles. Both teams are getting hot, but GaTech is at home.

Game 10: UCLA @ California
My Pick: BEARS … another tough call in terms of which Pac 10 game to pick this week. SC-Zona is the big game, but let’s get real – SC won’t take another day off in Pac Ten play and is light years ahead of anyone else in the league. And Notre Dame @ U-Dub is interesting for the coaches, but really, who cares about the Irish anymore? So it’s this “salute to mediocrity” game of the “maybe they’ll be good … nope, CRASH!” Golden Bears and the “wow, we beat Tennessee … look out, CRASH!” Bruins. Go with Cal at home.

And off the board …

NORTHWESTERN 42, Indiana 24 – We’ll need to be clicking on offense again next week because the Hoosiers can score in a hurry. Still, I think we stop them just enough to win as long as we play our game and don’t turn the ball over.

Picks in by kickoff!
GO CATS!!!
-SjT

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

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