[NU Sports] PIGSKIN PICKS - Week 8

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

I think we’ve all been spoiled a bit by this college football season and the slate of quality games the past few weeks (and those of us who may not have been spoiled by the college game have enjoyed the NFL so far – CRY ELI CRY! WHO DAT?! ☺ )

This week certainly has games with big-name teams and storied pasts, but no big marquee matchup for this season. But these are usually the kind of weeks that lead to some separation in the standings, so we’ll see how it works out.

No early game this week (Wednesday night is just a reminder of why Houston has no business even sniffing the top 25 … Thursday is just sad), so get those picks in by kickoff Saturday! Happy Homecoming for those of you traveling back to Evanston and GO CATS!!!

PIGSKIN PICKS – WEEK 8
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Name: 

BIG TEN
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GAME 1: Illinois @ Purdue
WINNER: 

GAME 2: Iowa @ Michigan State
WINNER: 

GAME 3: Penn State @ Michigan
WINNER: 

GAME 4: Minnesota @ Ohio State
WINNER: 

NATIONAL
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GAME 5: South Florida @ Pittsburgh
WINNER: 

GAME 6: Oregon State @ Southern Cal
WINNER: 

GAME 7: Tennessee @ Alabama
WINNER: 

GAME 8: Auburn @ Louisiana State
WINNER: 

GAME 9: Texas Christian @ Brigham Young
WINNER: 

GAME 10: Boston College @ Notre Dame
WINNER: 

MY PICKS
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* PURDUE 38, Illinois 20 – On paper, the Illini should roll … but the Boilers are playing with heart while the Illini have quit on their coach and season.

* IOWA 22, Michigan State 16 – This one’s a dangerous trap game under the lights for the Bumblebees … but they’ve shown composure all year and will come through again in the clutch to dash Sparty’s upset hopes.

* PENN STATE 35, Michigan 27 – A tough call because Michigan’s always a mental block for the Nits and the Wolverines could play the role of big-time spoiler to PSU’s Pasadena and BCS hopes. But the Lions have found enough O in recent weeks to match Michigan and Forcier, and the PSU D is getting healthy.

* OHIO STATE 23, Minnesota 7 – The Buckeye D is all-world while the offense is all a mess … in the Shoe, they take out their frustrations on the Gophers.

* SOUTH FLORIDA 24, Pittsburgh 17 – Tough call here as the Bulls come north, but I just can’t believe in a team that got clobbered at NC State.

* SOUTHERN CAL 42, Oregon State 13 – The Trojans are starting to hit their stride and get big revenge on the Beavers before their big game at Oregon.

* ALABAMA 20, Tennessee 16 – Not sure I’m as big of a Bama backer as everyone else who lept them is (though it’s fun to see just because it ticks off St. Urban) – the squeak by a game Vols squad here.

* LSU 26, Auburn 23 – One team is all O, the other all D … but in Death Valley, I’ll go with LSU. This game always seems to come down to a field goal.

* BYU 31, Texas Christian 21 – Showdown in the WAC, but after BYU lost to FSU, there’s not the same BCS implications. The Utes and Cougars have played tough foes – TCU hasn’t so far.

* BOSTON COLLEGE 37, Notre Dame 33 – Please St. Flutie, rid us of this curse that is the 2009 Irish. Banished from polls after losing to Michigan and barely beating the Big Ten’s lower rung, their coach whines and they magically appear in the top 25 … only to lose to SC yet again … but still, they’re hanging around that top 25 spot and we need to end the NBC B(C)S hype once and for all. They are not back. Please Doug!

And off the board …

* NORTHWESTERN 34, Indiana 27 – The road to Ford Field begins here! It would be a lot more exciting for both schools’ fans if that had been said eight months ago. Even though the stands are usually empty, these two have played a pretty entertaining series in the last 10-15 years and play hard. Both need this to keep their bowl hopes alive and both have been wildly inconsistent this year. But it’s our homecoming and we owe them for that clunker of a game last year!

Picks in by Saturday kickoff!
GO CATS!!!
GEAUX SAINTS!!!
-SjT


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