[NU Sports] PIGSKIN PICKS - Week 2

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

First week down! Great to see the Cats win one without Persa, but sure hope Dan gets back ASAP for the Big Ten slate.

Standings may be out as early as tonight, but few surprises (and few competitive games) in the first week ... week two should be a bit different with two BIG matchups in Big Ten country! Michigan and Notre Dame meet in the Lightning Bowl under the lights and that should be incredible ... and while it's not under the lights (why?????), Alabama's visit to Happy Valley should be a good yardstick for JoePa's team. Last year they got intimidated with a new QB and hostile crowd, but with the Tide coming to State College, they may be waiting to spring a surprise.

Some good national games as well, with the opening of SEC conference play (all the better to mask their weak non conference schedules by ... spreading those cupcakes out so people continue to buy into the league's mythical status) and some danger games for Georgia and Auburn at home ... plus an unofficial "Pac 12 vs. Big XII" challenge involving two overrated Big XII schools and two underrated Arizona schools. And a Pac 12 opener for the Utes in LA. So we'll wind up cutting the Arizona-Okie State game Thursday night (there happens to be a much more important game that night - GEAUX SAINTS!!!) and have the week 2 slate due by kickoff in Sun Devil Stadium on FRIDAY night.

NU PIGSKIN PICKS - WEEK 2

############################
Name: 

BIG TEN
=======
GAME 1: South Dakota State @ Illinois
WINNER: 

GAME 2: Virginia @ Indiana
WINNER: 

GAME 3: Iowa @ Iowa State
WINNER: 

GAME 4: Notre Dame @ Michigan
WINNER: 

GAME 5: Florida Atlantic @ Michigan State
WINNER: 

GAME 6: New Mexico State @ Minnesota
WINNER: 

GAME 7: Fresno State @ Nebraska
WINNER: 

GAME 8: Toledo @ Ohio State
WINNER: 

GAME 9: Alabama @ Penn State
WINNER: 

GAME 10: Purdue @ Rice
WINNER: 

GAME 11: Oregon State @ Wisconsin
WINNER: 

NATIONAL
========
GAME 12: Missouri @ Arizona State

WINNER: 

GAME 13: Mississippi State @ Auburn
WINNER: 

GAME 14: South Carolina @ Georgia
WINNER: 

GAME 15: Utah @ Southern California
WINNER: 

MY PICKS
========
GAME 1: ILLINOIS ... Zookers continue to pad the stats against creampuffs
GAME 2: INDIANA ... Wilson can't lose two in a row, can he? Indiana needs this one big time
GAME 3: IOWA ... If they beat their pesky rival, schedule is set up for a big run
GAME 4: MICHIGAN ... UM's defense looked better, ND's looked a lot better, but UM still has Robinson
GAME 5: MSU ... Sparty was sluggish in opener, but should win again with FAU
GAME 6: MINNESOTA ... Gophers impressive in LA, now should coast at home
GAME 7: NEBRASKA ... Fresno won't be afraid of Lincoln, but they won't win either
GAME 8: OHIO STATE ... Could be another shutout heading to Miami for the "Ineligi-bowl" - love that term, ESPN!
GAME 9: ALABAMA ... This one will be close and I hope PSU wins, but they made the mistake of not making it a night game for the White Out!
GAME 10: PURDUE ... Another close call for Boilers, but they get Rice in between big Texas and Baylor games
GAME 11: WISCONSIN ... This one looked a lot more interesting before the Beavers got smacked down by Sac State last week - 70-0?
GAME 12: ARIZONA STATE ... Mizzou (and the whole Big XII) are overrated and the Devils are waiting for a big win to announce their arrival
GAME 13: MISSISSIPPI STATE ... Tigers got lucky last week, but won't escape twice - should have saved some $$ from last year's QB payoff
GAME 14: SOUTH CAROLINA ... It'll be close, but Dawgs are disheartened and Gamecocks were on fire scoring last week
GAME 15: UTAH ... SC exposed, plus this is Utah's toughest road game (maybe @ Arizona) and obstacle to hosting Pac 12 title game

And off the board ...

* NORTHWESTERN 34, Eastern Illinois 24 ... It won't be easy (never seems to be with NU), but the Cats have confidence now that they can win with or without Persa and both the O and D showed an aggressive streak in the second half (well, before shutting down in prevent at the end ... grrrr!) that actually saw them BUILD on a lead for the first time in a long time. Cats win the home opener.

Picks due by Friday!
GO CATS!!!
-SjT
 
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
________________________________