[NU Sports] PIGSKIN PICKS - Week 3

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Not a bad few days of football last week – exciting Big Ten games (some good games, some unnecessarily close!) and all the NFL prime time games came down to the last minute, from Thursday through Monday.

And Notre Dame lost!

Who could ask for anything more? Well, this weekend may lack the mega-matchups in the Big House and Shoe of last week, but the overall depth of good games should be better. The Big Ten middle pack has some danger games and a lot of the BCS buster darlings face stern tests. I didn’t even have to put the games involving the top three ranked teams on the slate – they’re all on TV, and some might even be good (USC @ UDub is interesting as the Huskies have impressed and outside of the final drive, SC looked sluggish last wee) … but really, was anyone going to pick the Vols in the Swamp or Texas Tech to pull the upset in Austin???

So let’s get to a lineup of close games and some picks that should separate the pack a bit in our contest this year …

Picks due by kickoff Thursday!

PIGSKIN PICKS – WEEK 3
======================
Name: 

BIG TEN
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GAME 1: Indiana @ Akron
WINNER: 

GAME 2: Arizona @ Iowa
WINNER: 

GAME 3: Eastern Michigan @ Michigan
WINNER: 

GAME 4: Michigan State @ Notre Dame
WINNER: 

GAME 5: California @ Minnesota
WINNER: 

GAME 6: Ohio State vs. Toledo (@ Cleveland)
WINNER: 

GAME 7: Temple @ Penn State
WINNER: 

GAME 8: Northern Illinois @ Purdue
WINNER: 

GAME 9: Wofford @ Wisconsin
WINNER: 

NATIONAL
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GAME 10: Georgia Tech @ Miami (Fla.)
WINNER: 

GAME 11: Boise State @ Fresno State
WINNER: 

GAME 12: Nebraska @ Virginia Tech
WINNER: 

GAME 13: Florida State @ Brigham Young
WINNER: 

GAME 14: Cincinnati @ Oregon State
WINNER: 

GAME 15: Utah @ Oregon
WINNER: 

MY PICKS
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* INDIANA 26, Akron 17 – Another ugly win for IU, but 3-0 is 3-0, right? I’m still not sure the Hoosiers will win a league game, but I do like their D-line more each week.

* ARIZONA 24, Iowa 21 – This could be one of the better games of the day and just like the two Pac 10/Big Ten games last week (why aren’t there MORE of those in September!!!), it’s a close win for the Pac 10 as Iowa’s living on the edge and Zona’s better than a lot of people think this year.

* MICHIGAN 42, Eastern Michigan 17 – There’s a chance for a letdown, but I think the ND win was a turning point for the Maize and Blue on their way to a big season.

* NOTRE DAME 37, Michigan State 30 – I’d love to see Sparty continue their mastery over the Irish, but after watching CMU carve up MSU last week, I think the F’ing Irish will probably do the same in South Bend. Gag.

* CALIFORNIA 41, Minnesota 21 – The Gophers have a beautiful new stadium, but they seem to have left their offense in the Dome … they need the Weber-Decker connection to show up again if they have any hope against Cal, who has been the most impressive Pac 10 team so far.

* OHIO STATE 35, Toledo 7 – The defense deserved the win last week, but Pryor made the big mistake early and looked lost late – Tressel will probably open up the offense now, a week too late.

* PENN STATE 56, Temple 3 – After a sluggish win last week, JoePa’s team gets back on track with a thumping of Temple.

* PURDUE 38, Northern Illinois 23 – A week ago, I’d have picked the Huskies, but the spunky Boilers have impressed me so far (either that or Oregon is really, really bad).

* WISCONSIN 34, Wofford 10 – If the Badgers merely scrape by in this one, then Bielema may not last through November.

* MIAMI 41, Georgia Tech 27 – Should be a fun shootout between ACC leaders and while I like GaTech’s effort, the Canes are a step above in talent.

* BOISE STATE 30, Fresno State 27 – The Bulldogs are never an easy win, but the Broncos know that this is their toughest test remaining and come through late.

* VIRGINIA TECH 26, Nebraska 14 – Last week it was the Big Ten, this week the ACC has some big-time respect games and none bigger than this showdown. The Hokies get back in the big win column at home over a spunky Husker squad.

* FLORIDA STATE 17, Brigham Young 13 – Another big test for the ACC, and something tells me that it’s midnight in Provo and the game Cougars are going to come up just short against the talent-rich but disorganized Noles.

* OREGON STATE 45, Cincinnati 28 – A big game for the Big East to get respect here, but the Beavers at home roll.

* UTAH 23, Oregon 20 – Another tough call and it could be curtains for Utah’s BCS bid as they’ve opened sluggish … but Oregon has just not looked like a good team this year and they fall at home.

And off the board …

* NORTHWESTERN 28, Syracuse 24 – The Cats need to bring the team that played the first six quarters of the year to western New York and not the one that stunk up the place the last two quarters against EMU because the ‘Cuse has proven they won’t go down without a fight this year. (Also, are they trying to rival Notre Dame for wannabe Big Ten member with this scheduling?). NU always seems to have a road trap in the nonconference slate – last year we barely survived and hopefully we’re able to escape this year.

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



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