Blacksheet

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Guys, if you have checked out this thread before you can see that a lot of work goes into it. I'm looking for a few volunteers to help shoulder the load. I work full time and and find it hard to post all this info and get my own bets in, so a little help is not asking too much.

P.S. Wayne or bettorschat please sticky, thanks.

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Mejia Ncaa

By Tony Mejia
SportsLine.com Staff Writer Weekly predictions of the nation's Division I college football action.
Last week: 46-14(SU) | Season record: 100-23 (SU) (81.3 %)


Projected Scores
Week 5
UNLV 31 Utah State 12
Oregon State 27 Arizona State 24
San Diego State 30 Nevada 17
New Mexico 13 New Mexico State 9
Southern Mississippi 38 Tulane 10
San Jose State 17 Southern Methodist 16
Western Michigan 38 Ball State 14
Arkansas State 28 Louisiana-Monroe 17
Texas 34 Rice 6
South Carolina 20 Troy 17
Tulsa 31 Southwest Missouri State 10
Toledo 38 Temple 34
Tennessee 33 Louisiana Tech 10
Baylor 20 North Texas 13
Texas Christian 28 South Florida 10
Southern California 40 Stanford 13
La.-Lafayette 26 Middle Tennessee 24
Ohio 38 Buffalo 23
Cincinnati 23 East Carolina 13
UAB 27 Memphis 24
Florida 41 Kentucky 27
Eastern Michigan 40 Eastern Illinois 21
Wisconsin 20 Penn State 17
West Virginia 45 James Madison 6
Virginia 34 Syracuse 7
Michigan 21 Iowa 13
Florida State 37 Clemson 10
Arkansas 16 Alabama 13
Oregon 52 Idaho 7
Notre Dame 31 Washington 20
Texas Tech 38 Kansas 27
Washington State 23 Arizona 10
Colorado State 44 Montana State 14
Utah 38 Air Force 17
Mississippi 20 Wyoming 10
Auburn 45 The Citadel 0
Louisville 35 North Carolina 20
Navy 21 Vanderbilt 17
Pittsburgh 41 Furman 7
LSU 34 Mississippi State 3
Wake Forest 30 Boston College 20
Virginia Tech 31 North Carolina State 14
Maryland 34 Duke 14
Connecticut 31 Army 6
Michigan State 21 Indiana 17
Purdue 48 Illinois 14
Boise State 34 Brigham Young 17
Bowling Green 31 Northern Illinois 24
Miami (FL) 40 Houston 3
Kent State 27 Akron 17
Minnesota 38 Northwestern 21

[Blackbeard]

Harmon Forecast NCAA

Game of the Week
*Florida State 24, Clemson 14
We're picking the Seminoles by 10 over Clemson, but this may be anybody's game. Last November, in Clemson, S.C., the Tigers, then unranked, shocked then-No. 3 F.S.U. 26-10, giving Tommy Bowden his first win over his father in five tries, and in the process ending Florida State's chances for a national championship.


Week of Sept. 25
Major Colleges - Div. I-A
*Arkansas 27 Alabama 16
*Auburn 54 The Citadel 6
*Boise State 36 Brigham Young 12
Boston College 21 *Wake Forest 17
Cincinnati 21 *East Carolina 19
*Colorado State 28 Montana State 8
*Connecticut 39 Army 7
*Eastern Michigan 26 Eastern Illinois 10
*Florida 30 Kentucky 15
*Florida State 24 Clemson 14
*Kent 19 Akron 17
*L.S.U. 42 Mississippi State 7
*Louisiana-Monroe 21 Arkansas State 16
Louisville 16 *North Carolina 14
Maryland 29 *Duke 13
Memphis 21 *Alabama-Birmingham 14
Miami 33 *Houston 10
*Michigan 27 Iowa 15
Michigan State 26 *Indiana 7
Middle Tennessee State 21 *Louisiana-Lafayette 20
*Minnesota 31 Northwestern 14
Mississippi 28 *Wyoming 10
*Navy 22 Vanderbilt 13
*Nevada-Las Vegas 28 Utah State 12
New Mexico 35 *New Mexico State 13
North Texas 22 *Baylor 16
*Northern Illinois 20 Bowling Green 19
*Notre Dame 24 Washington 23
*Ohio 24 Buffalo U. 9
*Oregon 34 Idaho 7
Oregon State 19 *Arizona State 14
*Pittsburgh 40 Furman 7
Purdue 28 *Illinois 7
*San Diego State 28 Nevada 14
San Jose State 20 *Southern Methodist 14
*South Carolina 29 Troy State 8
Southern California 38 *Stanford 6
Southern Mississippi 24 *Tulane 12
*Tennessee 42 Louisiana Tech 9
*Texas 44 Rice 7
*Texas Christian 23 South Florida 14
Texas Tech 25 *Kansas 14
*Toledo 21 Temple 13
*Tulsa 35 SW Missouri State 10
*Utah 34 Air Force 21
*Virginia 20 Syracuse 12
*Virginia Tech 26 North Carolina State 20
Washington State 30 *Arizona 10
*West Virginia 49 James Madison 6
Western Michigan 17 *Ball State 15
*Wisconsin 27 Penn State 14

[Blackbeard]

DUNKEL INDEX(COURTESY OF FRANKB03)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Kent State* 79.1 (12) Akron 67.0
Total Points: 65 1/2
Miami, FL 107.7 (30) Houston* 77.5
Total Points: 49 1/2

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Bowling Green 93.2 (6) Northern Illinois* 87.4
Total Points: 60 1/2
Boise State* 104.6 (25) BYU 79.3
Total Points: 62

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Michigan* 107.9 (12) Iowa 96.2
Boston College 98.5 (8) Wake Forest* 90.2
Purdue 106.2 (30) Illinois* 76.0
Connecticut* 89.8 (31) Army 58.8
Michigan State 88.2 (4 1/2) Indiana* 83.6
Virginia Tech* 103.9 (6) North Carolina St. 97.8
Florida* 102.8 (16) Kentucky 86.7
Navy* 93.1 (15) Vanderbilt 78.3
Louisville 89.7 (3) North Carolina* 87.0
Texas Tech 98.2 (7) Kansas* 91.2
Mississippi 82.8 (3) Wyoming* 79.9
Utah* 100.6 (14) Air Force 86.4
Notre Dame* 95.6 (11) Washington 84.7
Virginia* 107.5 (20) Syracuse 87.4
Florida State* 106.6 (14 1/2) Clemson 92.2
Washington State 96.9 (11) Arizona* 86.2
Wisconsin* 97.2 (7 1/2) Penn State 89.7
Maryland 99.8 (18) Duke* 82.0
Temple 79.8 (1) Toledo* 78.5
Cincinnati 78.8 (6) East Carolina* 73.0
Memphis 88.1 (6) UAB* 82.0
USC 116.7 (24 1/2) Stanford* 92.1
Arkansas* 104.0 (7 1/2) Alabama 96.5
Ohio* 74.8 (14) Buffalo 60.7
Southern Mississippi 94.9 (23 1/2) Tulane* 71.4
TCU* 88.2 (11) South Florida 77.1
Texas* 109.6 (27 1/2) Rice 82.2
Tennessee* 106.0 (31) Louisiana Tech 74.9
San Jose State 65.2 (3 1/2) SMU* 61.6
Western Michigan 71.3 (3) Ball State* 68.5
LSU* 109.9 (34 1/2) Mississippi State 75.4
San Diego St.* 93.9 (19) Nevada 74.9
Minnesota* 103.2 (15 1/2) Northwestern 87.8
Arizona State* 101.4 (3) Oregon State 98.1
North Texas 73.0 (5 1/2) Baylor* 67.4
Oregon* 91.7 (29) Idaho 62.7
UL-Monroe* 66.0 (0) Arkansas State 65.7
UL-Lafayette* 76.6 (2 1/2) Middle Tennessee St. 74.2
South Carolina* 98.1 (18) Troy State 80.0
New Mexico 94.9 (19) New Mexico St.* 76.0
UNLV* 78.8 (14) Utah State 65.1

[Blackbeard]

College football news staff picks

http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2...taff_Picks.htm

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College football news fearless predictions

http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2...redictions.htm

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NY Post NCAA staff predictions

http://nypost.com/sports/betting/collegepicks.htm

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Vegas Vic

Wiseguy Move Of The Week
Louisville -7.5 over NORTH CAROLINA
The Cards are in control of the ACC with 10 ATS ****** in last 11 tries. (9/23)

Underdog NFL Game Of The Week
Jacksonville +6 over TENNESSEE
From the beginning of the season, I’ve said the Jaguars get no respect with a solid defense and burgeoning offense. Look for this young team to upset the gray-haired Titans. (9/22)

Underdog College Game Of The Week
Northwestern +15 over MINNESOTA
Minnesota will be looking past Northwestern but the Wildcats will scratch their way into this game. (9/21)

College Early Bird Special
-Iowa +12.5 over MICHIGAN
Point value with the Hawkeyes. Michigan was 6-1 vs. the points at home last year and had covered 11 of last 15 as favorite before this season. That has all changed now. In a close game I choose the better coach. (9/20)

Daily Free Picks

[Blackbeard]

USA Today/Eric Smith

Don't expect an upsetting weekend on the gridiron
Two straight weeks of upsets and wild endings have provided loads of entertainment and reshaped the landscape in college football. Out of the early Orange Bowl picture are Florida State, LSU, Michigan and Florida. In their void, West Virginia, Auburn, Tennessee have stepped into the Top 10.


Florida State and Michigan were casualties by their own wounds. But you have to feel for LSU and Florida. Both became victims of the latest in the long line of SEC officiating fiascos.

The Tigers were hurt by a questionable call that allowed Auburn to kick the game-winning PAT. Defender Ronnie Prude was judged to have committed a personal foul for landing on an Auburn player while trying to block the kick. John Vaughn made the most of his second chance and converted the final point in a 10-9 win.

The Gators suffered a worse fate. Not only did they get a bad call with the lone personal foul when receiver Dallas Baker got in a scuffle with defensive back Jonathan Wade. But then the referees failed to wind the clock in the final minute when the ball was set for play, allowing Tennessee to save 25 seconds and earn enough time to kick a game-winning field goal.

SEC coordinator of officials Bobby Gaston acknowledged the LSU call was questionable and admitted the mistake against Florida, but that is of little consolation — both teams now face uphill fights in the SEC and on the road to Miami.

This weekend should be one more for the fans of the status quo. No national championship contender faces a duanting challenge, and there are just a few conference matchups that may shape the BCS picture.

The two big headliners of the weekend come with the start of the Big Ten season. The balanced field of contenders in the league will start to sort out with Michigan hosting Iowa and Penn State traveling to Wisconsin.

In the ACC, the top game will be the sixth edition of the Bowden Bowl in Tallahassee. Florida State and Clemson both already have one loss in the league, so the loser likely will be out of contention before the end of September.

No. 1 Southern California at Stanford, 7 p.m.

The Trojans are starting to find their groove after starting slowly against Virginia Tech. Stanford, too, has been impressive the past two weeks. But this is not San Jose State or BYU coming to Palo Alto. Southern California 42, Stanford 21.

No. 4 Miami (Fla.) at Houston, 7:45 p.m. (Thursday)

Houston is one of the big disappointments in the early season. This will be their chance for redemption against a Miami squad that may be looking ahead to its first road ACC game next week. Miami (Fla.) 35, Houston 20.

No. 5 Texas vs. Rice, 7 p.m.

Mack Brown and Texas relish another opportunity to beat up on a weaker in-state foe. Texas 45, Rice 17.

No. 7 West Virginia vs. James Madison, 4 p.m.

Gary Clark and Charles Haley won't be walking through that door to help out James Madison this week. West Virginia 44, James Madison 7.

No. 8 Tennessee vs. Louisiana Tech, 7 p.m.

Huge letdown likely for the Volunteers after their controversial defeat of Florida — especially with Auburn headed to Knoxville next week. Tennessee 35, Louisiana Tech 16.

No. 9 Auburn vs. The Citadel, 2:30 p.m.

The Citadel should provide plenty of opportunities for Auburn and John Vaughn to correct the point-after touchdown woes that nearly cost the Tigers against LSU. Auburn 47, Citadel 13.

No. 11 Florida State vs. Clemson, 3:30 p.m.

Tommy Bowden likely saved his job after beating Florida State last year. Now, Clemson is staring at a 1-3 start without another upset of the Seminoles. Don't think that dad will gift-wrap a second win, even if it would relieve some pressure on his son. Florida State 34, Clemson 19.

No. 12 Virginia vs. Syracuse, 3:30 p.m.

Just when Paul Pasqualoni and Syracuse started to find some momentum, they have to travel to one of the rising teams in the country. Virginia 34, Syracuse 10.

No. 13 LSU vs. Mississippi State, 12:30 p.m.

Nick Saban hopes his team can follow this similar path of last year, when an early loss to Florida served as a wake-up call. The Bulldogs present a good opportunity to start the comeback on the right foot. LSU 40, Mississippi State 14.

No. 14 Utah vs. Air Force, 3 p.m.

The Utes and Falcons have played three classics in a row with the total margin of victory at seven points. Air Force would be happy to have this game decided by three times that figure. Utah 42, Air Force 21.

No. 15 Purdue at Illinois, noon

Kyle Orton quietly has moved himself into Heisman consideration and the Boilermakers have cemented themselves as a contender in the Big Ten by outscoring their opponents by 50 points in both of the first two games. Purdue 40, Illinois 20.

No. 16 Florida vs. Kentucky, 6 p.m.

Anger should be the prime emotion in the Gators' locker room. If it is, feel sorry for the Wildcats. Florida 31, Kentucky 17.

No. 18 Michigan vs. No. 24 Iowa, 3:30 p.m.

Two mediocre offenses with inexperienced quarterbacks and two excellent defenses make points a premium. Michigan 20, Iowa 10.

No. 19 Minnesota vs. Northwestern, 9 p.m.

The Gophers get their last breather before their difficult October stretch that will decide whether they are contenders or pretenders. Minnesota 38, Northwestern 21.

No. 20 Wisconsin vs. Penn State, 5:45 p.m.

Road struggles for the Nittany Lions should continue with the Badgers defense ready to tee off on Zack Mills. Wisconsin 21, Penn State 14.

No. 21 Boise State vs. BYU, 10 p.m. (Friday)

Twenty years ago, BYU would have been the team leading the nation in scoring and averaging 317 yards in the air. Boise State 42, BYU 24.

No. 22 Louisville at North Carolina, 1:35 p.m.

No chance for the Tar Heels to enjoy their confidence-building defeat of Georgia Tech with Louisville coming to town. Don't be surprised if UNC makes it two in a row. Louisville 30, North Carolina 28.

No. 23 Maryland at Duke, noon

Duke finally gets to play its home opener, but won't like the prospect of facing a Maryland team that will be looking to rebound from its loss to West Virginia. Maryland 30, Duke 16.

Last week's record: 15-3 (ats 8-8-1)

Season record: 51-10 (ats 29-25-1)

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[Blackbeard]

MSNBC Predicitons 101/ John Tamanaha

No. 4 Miami
at Houston (Thur.)
These Thursday night games are extremely tough to tackle after a short week of preparation or recuperation. It's a lot easier when you are the Miami Hurricanes though.

The football factory is at it again. Losing four starters to the NFL's first round hasn't seemed to hurt defensive coordinator Randy Shannon too much (neither does "recruiting showcases" such as this game). His unit has yet to allow a touchdown this season and is yielding only 174 yards of total offense per game.

While Miami had the luxury of resting its starters after storming to a 34-0 halftime lead over Louisiana Tech last week, Houston was in a 60-minute battle and needed two late scores to avoid being upset by Army.

Expect some highlights in this one -- long run, blocked punt, return for touchdown, defensive score -- but just from one of the teams.

Weather updates: Click here

Opening point spread: Miami by 25.5

Pick: Miami 49-7



BYU
at No. 21 Boise St. (Fri.)
If we were talking about "BYU Classic" this would be a fun one. But we aren't.

Last year's bout between these two was more about the weather than the result as Boise State prevailed in the snow, 50-12. We can't imagine it being much different this time around up on the Smurf Turf, where the Broncos have lost once since 1999.

While Boise State has led the nation in scoring for the past two seasons, BYU has been spiraling. The Cougar offense is averaging only 13 points per game and a meager 30 yards on the ground. BYU quarterbacks have thrown eight interceptions and only two TD passes.

The Cougars' first trip to Idaho in 50 years will be very forgetful as the country's longest winning streak extends to 15 in an easy one.

Weather updates: Click here

Opening point spread: Boise State by 18

Pick: Boise State 56-14




Iowa at No. 18 Michigan
Both teams were probably guilty of looking ahead to this one, which pits the past two Big Ten champs against one another in the league-play opener.

Last week, Iowa was demolished in the desert by Arizona State, 44-7, avoiding a shutout with a punt return for a score on the last play of the game. Michigan didn't suffer a defeat, but the close call with San Diego State was troubling.

Can't really fault the Wolverines for having the Hawkeyes on their minds. They lost their last two to Iowa, including a humiliating 34-9 defeat in the Big House two seasons ago.

Although Michigan's performances weren't totally satisfying in its two previous games at home, the Wolverines did forced 10 turnovers and could keep that trend going against Iowa's unimpressive and injury-riddled offense led by sophomore QB Drew Tate.

In their stunning loss to the Sun Devils, Iowa got outgained, 517-105. It's not the kind of effort you want in your pocket as you enter Ann Arbor, where a pair of capable freshmen -- QB Chad Henne and TB Mike Hart -- are making some noise.

Weather updates: Click here

Opening point spread: Michigan by 13

Pick: Michigan 31-6




Washington at ND
Things are looking bleaker by the minute for Husky head coach Keith Gilbertson. After watching his defense get shredded in the first two games of the season at home, he probably won't want to watch after a few quarters at Notre Dame Stadium, where his young offense will likely find the going tough.

If Irish freshman RB Darius Walker and the rejuvenated Ryan Grant can combine to do half of what UCLA's Maurice Drew did to the Huskies last week (26 carries for 322 yards and five touchdowns), Tyrone Willingham should find his seat too be a bit cooler once again.

A letdown by the Irish, who have posted back-to-back victories over both of the Big Ten's Michigan schools, is unlikely since Willingham has never beaten Washington. While coaching at Stanford he was winless in five meetings. But more important than the headman's motivation is the fact that these are not the same Huskies.

Weather updates: Click here

Opening point spread: Notre Dame by 10

Pick: Notre Dame 38-14




Alabama at Arkansas
When wins are inevitable the important thing is getting away healthy. Alabama didn't accomplish that last week when a 52-0 victory over Western Carolina cost the Crimson Tide their starting quarterback Brodie Croyle, who tore the ACL in his right knee.

That puts sophomore Marc Guillon into the saddle as the Tide rolls into Fayetteville. Don't take him lightly. Due to injuries to Croyle and Spencer Pennington, Guillon got most of the work during spring practice. Since then, he moved past Pennington on the depth chart and showed chemistry with the first team against the Catamounts.

Inexperience is not an uncommon thing for Alabama. Twenty-three of the 44 players on its opening day depth chart had never played in a game before. The Tide has done well so far, but has yet to face a challenge (we thought Mississippi State was, but were apparently mistaken).

Led by multidimensional QB Matt Jones, Arkansas is more battle-tested by virtue of its 22-20 loss to Texas and should continue the momentum it has versus Alabama. In last season's match-up, the Hogs trailed, 31-10, midway through the third quarter, but stormed to a 34-31 victory in double overtime.

Weather updates: Click here

Opening point spread: Arkansas by 6.5

Pick: Arkansas 27-24




Clemson
at No. 8 Florida St.
Ranked as high as No. 15 in the preseason polls, Clemson has been a major disappointment this season. If not for a double-overtime victory over Wake Forest, the Tigers would be 0-3. Junior QB Charlie Whitehurst, who threw for 3,561 yards last season, seems to have taken a step back, throwing seven interceptions so far in 2004.

Florida State has its issues at quarterback, but Chris Rix bounced back to lead his team to a solid 34-7 victory over an underrated UAB team last week. The defense also did its job, pushing the Blazers backward for minus-24 yards rushing.

Bowden Bowl VI hype means much less to the Seminole players than the embarrassing 26-10 setback they endured last season in Death Valley. They will be out for revenge in front of the home folks at Doak Campbell Stadium and Bobby has not shown any inclination to letup against Tommy's teams in the past.

After struggling against much weaker competition up to this point, the last thing Clemson needs is to face one of the best teams in the country.

Weather updates: Click here

Opening point spread: Florida State by 19

Pick: Florida State 37-7




PSU at No. 20 Wisconsin
It is apparent that Penn State is far from good after committing six turnovers in its win over Central Florida last week. Furthermore, in their only test against a respectable opponent this season, the Nittany Lions were soundly beaten at Boston College.

Penn State might be better off starting Michael Robinson at quarterback this week against Wisconsin. He filled in for an injured Zack Mills in last year's battle with the Badgers and passed for 379 yards and two touchdowns, but was unable to overcome extremely poor special teams play in a 30-23 loss.

The Badger defense, which has allowed just one TD in three games this season, is one of the nation's best. The offense has struggled as it adjusts to a new QB and the injury to RB Anthony Davis. But highly touted signal caller John Stocco is ready for a breakout performance and RB Booker Stanley eased the pain of Davis' loss with 135 yards on 30 carries in a surprising struggle against Arizona last week.

With Mills turning the football over while under no pressure numerous times already this season, he will no doubt get Badgered into coughing it up in this one.

Weather updates: Click here

Opening point spread: Wisconsin by 3

Pick: Wisconsin 24-7



San Jose St. at SMU
San Jose State evened its record with a 47-26 victory over Morgan State last week. Believe it or not, defeating Division I-AA schools is something that has proved difficult for a handful of I-A squads this season. The Spartans took care of the Bears by scoring 26 unanswered points in 12 minutes, showing that they could explode for big plays against an overmatched defense, which is what they will face this week.

As lowly as San Jose State is, this young SMU squad operates at an even lower level, carrying with it the nation's longest losing streak at 15 games. The Mustangs have a banged up defense that is surrendering 521.3 total yards per game. The SMU offense isn't much better, having scored a total of 20 points in three games. Incredibly, the Mustangs were shut out by TCU 44-0, a week before the Frogs let Texas Tech explode on them for 70 points.

After taking a 24-0 lead at halftime last year, the Spartans cruised to any easy 31-14 victory over SMU. With this being one of the last chances for San Jose State to post a win this season, look for the Spartans to get the job done in similar fashion.

Weather updates: Click here

Opening point spread: SMU by 2

Pick: San Jose State 35-14



Northwestern
at No. 19 Minnesota
Even though decimated by injuries, Northwestern's defense came through at the very end of last week's 20-17 victory over Kansas. The Wildcats were able to hold the Jayhawks to just 47 yards on the ground, but now face a seasoned and powerful Minnesota ground attack that has amassed 1,078 yards in just three games and is averaging 6.7 yards per carry.

The Golden Gophers may have the top backfield tandem in the nation with Marion Barber III and Laurence Maroney, who combined for 333 rushing yards in a solid victory over Colorado State last week.

The Wildcat offense is smartly engineered by junior QB Brett Basanez, who has accounted for seven touchdowns and thrown just one interception. He also has the option of handing the football to RB Noah Herron, who has a knack for the goal line and gives Northwestern a dependable running game.

Minnesota's bend-but-don't-break defense won't keep the Wildcats out of the end zone, but the Gophers are sure to have their bats juiced as they return to the Homerdome.

Before last year's lopsided 42-17 Gopher win, these two played three straight games decided by six points or less. Look for that trend to come back into play.

Weather updates: Click here

Opening point spread: Minnesota by 15.5

Pick: Minnesota 41-36



No. 1 USC at Stanford
Both teams are undefeated and coming off a pair of lopsided victories, but that's where the similarities end.

Stanford's romps over San Jose State and BYU at home only tell us that the Cardinal would be a possible contender in the WAC or MWC. They don't have the balance on offense or the athletes on defense to get in USC's way.

The juggernaut that is the Trojans will have a letdown at some point in the season (and probably survive with a tight victory), but it won't be this week as Pete Carroll has his club focused on its Pac-10 opener and defending its league title.

USC has thrashed Stanford in each of the past two meetings (44-21 and 49-17) and that should happen again in Palo Alto, where the stadium will be populated with loads of Trojans supporters and quiet Cardinal fans.

Weather updates: Click here

Opening point spread: USC by 20.5

Pick: USC 45-14



Total: Outright 21-8; Against spread 18-10-1
Week 3: Outright 8-2; Against spread 8-1-1
WW: W. Va. 27, Mary. (+6) 24 (WV 19-16, OT)
WW: Nebraska (-4) 26, Pittsburgh 3 (NU 24-17)
LL: TCU (+7) 41, Texas Tech 28 (TT 70-35)
WT: Auburn (-1) 24, LSU 13 (Auburn 10-9)
WW: Ohio St. (-2.5) 24, N.C. St. 7 (OSU 22-14)
WW: Notre Dame (-3) 23, Mich. St. 13 (ND 31-24)
WW: UCLA (Even) 31, Wash. 24 (UCLA 37-31)
LW: Florida (+4) 34, Tennessee 21 (Tenn. 30-28)
WW: USC (-26) 41, BYU 3 (USC 42-10)
WW: Arizona St. (-1) 24, Iowa 14 (ASU 44-7)

Week 2: Outright 6-4; Against spread 5-5
Week 1: Outright 7-2; Against spread 5-4

Key: W/L outright, W/L vs. spread, pick, final score

[Blackbeard]

Foxsports NCAA fearless predictions

Clemson at No. 8 Florida State
Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET
Line:
FSU -17.5


The latest edition of the Bowden Bowl will have a bit of a nastier streak than normal as each side desperately needs this win and can ill-afford to show any family love. The suddenly-grouchy Bobby Bowden and his program are still feeling the stings of criticism after the Miami loss and needs a win over a name team to avenge last year's stunning 26-10 defeat to the Tigers. For Tommy Bowden, it's time to win or see the program slip back into mediocrity with one of the nation's most brutal schedules ahead and coming off a two-game losing streak. Each team has one conference loss so the loser is, for all intents and purposes, out of the ACC race. For Clemson, a loss might mean bu-bye to any bowl hopes.


Prediction: Florida State 34 ... Clemson 13
Complete Preview | GameTrax


No. 4 Miami (FL) at Houston
Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET
Line:
Miami -29

Miami might be 2-0 and once again among the college football elite, but no one's thinking Orange Bowl quite yet. The defense and special teams are there, but the offense isn't scaring anyone. Before heading into the heart of ACC play, Brock Berlin and the boys need to get rolling and have a nice chance to work on anything they want in a nationally televised uber-scrimmage against Houston. The Cougars are coming off a win over Army and just want to hang around as long as possible. Miami on national TV will stonewall the Cougar offense while the offense sputters its way to a five-touchdown day.


Prediction: Miami 49 ... Houston 6
Complete Preview | GameTrax

BYU at No. 21 Boise State
Friday at 10 p.m. ET
Line:
Boise State -21

It wasn't all that long ago when BYU was the explosive hot-shot non-BCS conference school looking to bust in on the big boys' parade. But ever since the 72-45 loss to Hawaii in 2001 destroying a 12-0 season, Cougar head coach Gary Crowton has gone 10-19, including a 50-12 loss to Boise State, and BYU football has slipped from the ranks of the relevant. Now Boise State is new poster-team for explosive program that wants a shot at the big time. With the Fresno State showdown the only other game left on the schedule that's even remotely respectable, the Broncos need to win in impressive fashion.


Prediction: Boise State 48 ... BYU 31
Complete Preview | GameTrax


No. 23 Maryland at Duke
Saturday at Noon ET
Line: No Line

Maryland played a sloppy, inconsistent game against West Virginia and still went to overtime. The Terps aren't getting a whole bunch of national respect, but this is a typical Ralph Friedgen team that'll be a major player as the ACC season gets rolling; but it all has to start now in their ACC opener. Duke wants to be more than a mere speed bump after losing its first three games and coming off a 41-17 drubbing from Virginia Tech. This is Duke's home-opener and a chance to turn around the fortunes of another lost season.


Prediction: Maryland 34 ... Duke 14
Complete Preview | GameTrax

No. 5 Purdue at Illinois
Saturday at Noon ET
Line:
Purdue -20.5

So just how good is Purdue? After ripping up Syracuse and Ball State for 110 points, the college football world is curious to see if this really is a Big Ten title contender. We all might have to wait another week to find out until the Notre Dame showdown as Illinois appears destined for another lousy season. After blowing up Florida A&M 52-13, the Illini dropped a home game to UCLA and struggled to get by Western Michigan. This is Purdue's first road game, and it's a major test for Illinois head coach Ron Turner.


Prediction: Purdue 44 ... Illinois 17
Complete Preview | GameTrax


Mississippi State at No. 13 LSU
Saturday at 3 p.m. ET
Line:
LSU -29.5

So what's more painful, losing to Maine 9-7 or losing to Auburn 10-9? Mississippi State and LSU are each coming off brutal defeats and each has to regroup in a hurry. For Sylvester Croom's Bulldogs, the key will be to come up with a good performance and gauge just how far the program is behind the top teams in the SEC. With all due respect to the Bulldogs, LSU needs to use this game to tune up its struggling offense before it faces Georgia and Florida over the following two weeks. Mississippi State will battle hard, but it won't be nearly enough against a tough and angry LSU defense.


Prediction: LSU 45 ... Mississippi State 7
Complete Preview | GameTrax

No. 24 Louisville at North Carolina
Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET
Line:
L'Ville -7.5

So you say you like offense, huh? This one isn't for the weak-kneed as North Carolina's 14th ranked offense goes against Louisville's ninth ranked attack in a game that should produce over 1,000 yards of total offense and around 80 points. Louisville is looking to go BCS busting with a chance to beat the second of the three BCS conference teams on the schedule with number three, Miami, coming up. North Carolina overcame a 56-24 loss to Virginia by shocking Georgia Tech 34-13. A win over Louisville would officially make the Tar Heels the biggest surprise team of the young season.


Prediction: Louisville 48 ... North Carolina 40
Complete Preview | GameTrax


The Citadel at No. 9 Auburn
Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET
Line:
No Line

If you're really excited about seeing the Auburn backups, this is the game for you as only a total disaster would prevent the Tigers from having this won in about five minutes. This will be a great chance for the West Coast offense to do some tinkering. Auburn won't have to worry about any missed extra points.


Prediction: Auburn 58 ... The Citadel 0
Complete Preview | GameTrax

Air Force at No. 14 Utah
Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET
Line:
Utah -21

Coming off a 27-10 win over UNLV, Air Force is thinking it has an outside shot at the Mountain West title if it can keep on improving. The good news is that it'll know if it's a real player after this weekend. The bad news is that it has to face Utah. The Utes are looking more and more like the real deal.


Prediction: Utah 40 ... Air Force 16
Complete Preview | GameTrax


Iowa at No. 18 Michigan
Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET
Line:
Mich -13

Michigan in 13-3 in the Big Ten over the last two years with two of those losses coming to Iowa. Among the favorites for the Big Ten title coming into the season, the Wolverines and Hawkeyes look extremely shaky for the exact same reason: offense. Iowa's inexperienced O took it on the chin last week in a 44-7 shellacking from Arizona State (the defense didn't exactly have a good game either), while Michigan is still trying to find some consistency after struggling to get by San Diego State. In a deep and talented Big Ten, the loser in the conference opener will have an major hill to climb to keep any title dreams alive.


Prediction: Michigan 27 ... Iowa 10
Complete Preview | GameTrax

Syracuse at No. 12 Virginia
Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET
Line:
UVA -25

No one, not even USC, Oklahoma or Georgia, have played better over the first three games of the season than Virginia outscoring Temple, North Carolina and Akron by a combined score of 151 to 48 (that's an average score of 50.3 to 16.) While the Tar Heels looked good beating Georgia Tech and might not be all that bad, this week's game against Syracuse represents the best test yet for the suddenly mighty Cavs. Syracuse picked itself up off the mat after a horrible outing against Purdue and won its last two games highlighted by a 19-7 victory over Cincinnati. This would be a huge win for head coach Paul Pasqualoni.


Prediction: Virginia 38 ... Syracuse 13
Complete Preview | GameTrax


James Madison at No. 6 West Virginia
Saturday at 4 p.m. ET
Line:
No Line

Why to watch: So you think West Virginia's 3-0 start is impressive, James Madison is 2-0 winning its first two games by a combined score of 77-7 over Lock Haven and Villanova. The Mountaineers aren't going to blow the Orange Bowl dream here, but there might be a bit of a concern coming off the Maryland overtime win and with Virginia Tech coming up. James Madison could stay around a lot longer than Mountaineer fans would like. This is a good team that'll pull off the shocker if West Virginia leaves early for Blacksburg, but Rasheed Marshall won't let that happen. James Madison could stay around a lot longer than Mountaineer fans would like.


Prediction: West Virginia 31 .. JMU 14
Complete Preview | GameTrax

Penn State at No. 20 Wisconsin
Saturday at 9 p.m. ET
Line:
Wisc -3

Ohio State and Michigan are considered by many to be the front-runners for the Big Ten title, Purdue and Minnesota are a half-step behind, and Iowa, Penn State and Wisconsin appear to be the X factors. Penn State is just good enough to make some noise, but not even Joe Paterno is quite sure how good this team is. Wisconsin appears to be treading water until its star RB Anthony Davis returns struggling on offense and relying on the defense and a little luck surviving Arizona thanks to a missed Wildcat field goal. Davis is expected to be back next week from his eye injury, so the Badgers want to get past the Big Ten opener and then hope to go on a run.


Prediction: Wisconsin 20 ... Penn State 16
Complete Preview | GameTrax


Kentucky at No. 16 Florida
Saturday at 6 p.m. ET
Line:
Florida -19

Hopefully this will be as good as last year's 24-21 classic won by Florida after the Gator defense came up with a few huge late plays and QB Chris Leak had his official coming out party throwing for 268 yards and two touchdowns. This year the two teams are in very different moods. Kentucky obliterated Indiana 51-32 while Florida is still grousing over being on the wrong side of a few big calls in a bitter 30-28 loss to Tennessee.


Prediction: Florida 41 ... Kentucky 20
Complete Preview | GameTrax

Louisiana Tech at No. 11 Tennessee
Saturday at 7 p.m. ET
Line:
Tenn -23.5

Tennessee is coming off a thrilling win over Florida staying around the national title hunt and cementing itself as one of the favorites for the SEC title. Louisiana Tech is in game two of the nation's most murderous four-game stretch losing to Miami 48-0 and facing Fresno State and Auburn in the following two weeks. This is a decent enough Bulldog team to keep it interesting if the Vols are looking ahead to Auburn.


Prediction: Tennessee 37 ... Louisiana Tech 10
Complete Preview | GameTrax


Rice at No. 5 Texas
Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on FSN
Line:
Texas -32.5

The nation's number one rushing offense (Texas) and the nation's number one run defense (Rice) square off in a game that should be one of the day's fastest. Rice has been solid to start the season beating Houston and running all over Hawaii, while Texas blew out North Texas before struggling to beat Arkansas 22-20. Texas is the real deal and got to spend two weeks preparing for the Owls. Rice is much better than last year when the Longhorns won a 48-7 laugher, but this will still be the UT in a walk.


Prediction: Texas 38 ... Rice 10
Complete Preview | GameTrax

No. 1 USC at Stanford
Saturday at 7 p.m. ET
Line:
USC -21.5

Almost no one has noticed how Stanford has gone 2-0 to start the season in impressive fashion. One of the Pac-10's doormats last season, the Cardinal has had two weeks to prepare and get fired up for the nation's No. 1 team and s looking to make a major statement. Considering the Trojans beat Virginia Tech, Colorado State and BYU by a combined score of 115 to 23, their performances have still left college football observers wanting a little bit more. How come it takes so long to get revved up?


Prediction: USC 42 ... Stanford 20
Complete Preview | GameTrax


Northwestern at No. 19 Minnesota
Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on FSN
Line:
No Line

Minnesota has gone from being a neat little curiosity to a full-fledged Big Ten power. Many had Toledo beating the Gophers in a week one upset special. 63-21 Minnesota. Many said Sonny Lubick and Colorado State couldn't lose three in a row and the Gophers would struggle on the road. 34-16 Maroon & Gold. If Minnesota really is that good, it'll tear up a flawed, but interesting, Northwestern. The 'Cats suffered through missed FGs to lose to TCU in the opener, played the same ASU team that destroyed Iowa tough in a 30-21 loss, and beat a hot Kansas team 20-17.


Prediction: Minnesota 38 ...Northwestern 24
Complete Preview | GameTrax

Oregon State at No. 22 Arizona State
Saturday at 10 p.m. ET
Line:
ASU -7.5

In case you missed it, and judging by the latest Coaches' Poll, the college football coaches did, Arizona State came up with one of the most impressive performances of the young 2004 season blowing out Iowa 44-7 last week. Some are even suggesting ASU can start thinking about the Orange Bowl (probably not looking ahead to a schedule that takes the Sun Devils to Oregon, USC and Cal.) All the lofty goals and hopes could quickly go down the drain against a good Oregon State team that finally got its first win in a crazy season beating New Mexico 17-7.


Prediction: Arizona St. 31 ... Oregon St. 17

[Blackbeard]

Harmon Forecast NFL

Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004
*Atlanta 30 Arizona 10 - The Falcons' third NFC West opponent in a row, Arizona, is the one least likely to stop Atlanta's ground-gobbling running game. The last time they met, three years ago, the Falcons beat the Cardinals 34-14.
Baltimore 20 *Cincinnati 17 - The Ravens' third AFC North opponent in a row, Cincy, may not slow Baltimore's backs, either, but the Bengals can score on the Ravens -- as they did in 2003, winning 34-26 before Baltimore struck back, 31-13.
*Denver 27 San Diego 12 - Until they rustle up some defense, the Chargers are no threat to the Broncos, especially at Mile High. Denver QB Jake Plummer had his way with S.D. last year, throwing six TD passes in 37-13 and 37-8 wins.
*Indianapolis 29 Green Bay 23 - Despite the Packers' collapse against the Bears last week, this still looks like a great matchup: The Colts are giving up all kinds of yards through the air. It's been four years since the teams' last face-off.
*Kansas City 22 Houston 16 - For what it's worth, the Texans have better stats than the Chiefs on both sides of the ball, but pride will play a role here. K.C. scored 28 points in 11 minutes on the way to a 42-14 win over Houston in '03.
*Miami 16 Pittsburgh 14 - This one is anybody's guess, because both the Dolphins and Steelers are better on defense than offense, and that usually means a game decided by a crucial turnover or two. The clubs haven't met in six years.
*Minnesota 31 Chicago 14 - If the Vikings are going to be contenders, their reworked defense has to shut down so-so offenses like the Bears'. Chicago gives as good as it gets against Minnesota, splitting the series the past two seasons.
*N.Y. Giants 21 Cleveland 19 - With the Giants and Browns still sizing up new QB's, it's noteworthy that neither team has anything resembling a solid secondary. In a very occasional series, the Giants have won three straight since '85.
*Oakland 14 Tampa Bay 9 - What happens when two angry teams go at it, with Warren Sapp in the middle, playing against his former club? This could get ugly. Oakland has taken four of six in the series, but T.B. won the '03 Super Bowl.
Philadelphia 32 *Detroit 16 - The Lions are winning without a lot of offense, and that won't be good enough against the Eagles, who may blow this one wide open. In another very occasional series, Philly has taken three in a row since '86.
*St. Louis 23 New Orleans 20 - The Rams' struggling running game has no excuses against a defense like the Saints'. St. Louis and N.O. haven't met since they said goodbye to the old NFC West in '01, but each won five of their last 10 games.
*Seattle 26 San Francisco 7 - It was as if a chapter of NFL history ended last year, and another began: After winning only two of their first eight games against the 49ers, the Seahawks swept them, 20-19 and 24-17. This won't be so close.
*Tennessee 26 Jacksonville 19 - Carrying their second-half-of-'03 momentum into this season, the Jaguars are feeling good, but the Titans have dominated them, winning 10 of their last 12 games, including a sweep last year, 30-17 and 10-3.
Monday, Sept. 27, 2004
*Washington 21 Dallas 16 - Dominance? The Cowboys swept the Redskins for the fifth time in six years in '03. Tonight it's Dallas's NFL-leading offense against Washington's league-leading defense -- and we're going with Joe Gibbs' D.

[Blackbeard]

HBO: Inside the NFL host picks(SU)

http://www.hbo.com/apps/inflpicksgame/hostpicks.do

[Blackbeard]

NY Newsday/Ed Mcnamara

BY ED MCNAMARA

September 24, 2004


Best bet: Raiders

Flawed but functional
Browns (1-1) at Giants (1-1)
Line: Giants by 3. Over-under: 37
Not to be negative about Big Blue, but when you have a plus-6 turnover differential, you're supposed to win by 26 or 36, not 6. The Giants aren't as bad as they looked against the Eagles, and they should beat most of the bad teams and be competitive with the mediocre ones. With trips to Green Bay and Dallas up next, they'd better take advantage of a shot at the battered Brownies.
The pick against the spread: Giants.

Marquee Matchups
Eagles (2-0) at Lions (2-0)
Line: Eagles by 41/2. O-U: 44
Wayne the Lions fan is having vivid dreams about seeing his guys in the Super Bowl. But when conscious and lucid, he admits he doesn't expect to be 3-0. He hopes the Eagles' defense is weary from spending most of Monday night on the field against the Vikings. Donovan McNabb, Terrell Owens and Brian Westbrook will boost their stats for Philly (7-1 ATS away last season).
The pick: Eagles.

Jaguars (2-0) at Titans (1-1)
Line: Titans by 6. O-U: 351/2
Fun fact: Jacksonville is the first team since the 1942 Chicago Cardinals to total only 20 points and be 2-0. The Jags have taken living dangerously to the edge and beyond, and it should catch up with them here. Tennessee is kicking itself for its second-half collapse against the Colts, and the Titans won't have two straight duds at home.
The pick: Titans.

Packers (1-1) at Colts (1-1)
Line: Colts by 6. O-U: 481/2
Why do domes bring out the worst in Brett Favre? Though tougher than The Abominable Snowman when it's freezing, he's 11-22 indoors in his glorious career. The Colts' offense still looks like the league's best, even if RB Edgerrin James (ankle) sits this one out. Dominic Rhodes is a capable backup, and Peyton Manning should torch Green Bay's suspect secondary.
The pick: Colts.

Cowboys (1-1) at Redskins (1-1)
Line: Redskins by 2. O-U: 351/2
Are you ready for some nostalgia? ABC has 97 editors going through old tapes to hype The Must-See Prime-Time Rematch of Eternally Legendary Coaching Archrivals. Relive the glory days of Joe Gibbs and Bill Parcells, when they were young, hairier and trimmer. Watching these bumbling teams will be no thrill. They totaled 11 turnovers (a hideous seven by the 'Skins) last week, and expect at least five here. Dallas won and covered 11 of its last 12 overall against Washington, including a sweep last year.
The pick: Cowboys.

Around the League
Cardinals (0-2) at Falcons (2-0)
Line: Falcons by 10. O-U: 421/2
Atlanta was a wise-guy pick to do some damage last year, but losing Michael Vick for most of the season was a crusher. Vick is racing around like a demon again, and the Falcons' defense is OK. Arizona has lost nine straight (one cover) on the road, and there's blowout potential here.
The pick: Falcons.

Steelers (1-1) at Dolphins (0-2)
Line: Dolphins by 1. O-U: 331/2
Jamaican entrepreneur Carlos Ganja notes that without his pal Ricky Williams, Miami is 0-2 for the first time since 1988. The Dolphins' offensive line (The Stinky Fish) is a wreck, and Miami is in a 1-8 ATS slump at home. Steelers rookie QB Ben Roethlisberger makes his first start, almost always a go-against angle, but I can't take the Dolphins in their sad state.
The pick: Steelers.

Texans (0-2) at Chiefs (0-2)
Line: Chiefs by 71/2. O-U: 471/2
As penance for saying that whiny RB Larry Johnson should "take the diapers off," Dick Vermeil will wear an official NFL Properties diaper with a Chiefs logo. K.C. can't tackle or cover, and its once-unstoppable offense has slipped. Johnson may start for Priest Holmes (questionable, ankle). Houston's defense also stinks, but the Texans will score on the Chiefs. Domanick Davis (four lost fumbles) could run all day if he can keep the ball.
The pick: Texans.

Saints (1-1) at Rams (1-1)
Line: Rams by 7. O-U: 471/2
Which team is less trustworthy? Neither has covered this season. The Rams no longer are "The Greatest Show on Turf" and they're having problems on both lines. Even without RB Deuce McAllister (ankle), the Saints' offense is dangerous. New Orleans covered 10 of its last 16 road games, including 3 of 4 in St. Louis.
The pick: Saints.

Ravens (1-1) at Bengals (1-1)
Line: Ravens by 3. O-U: 341/2
Losing excellent TE Todd Heap (ankle) makes the Ravens' poor passing game worse, if that's possible. Against the Bengals' atrocious defense, that may not matter. At least Cincinnati's 'D' is perfectly balanced, allowing 219 yards passing and 219 rushing a game. It's time for a breakout performance by Jamal Lewis, and Baltimore will force young Carson Palmer into turnovers.
The pick: Ravens.

Bears (1-1) at Vikings (1-1)
Line: Vikings by 9. O-U: 441/2
Looks like a spot for the old Letdown/Rebound Theory. The Bears may be flat after the upset at Lambeau, where they lost S Mike Brown and CB Charles Tillman. Expect highlights by Randy (It's Always All About Me) Moss. Minnesota is 3-0-1 ATS in the last four meetings and will be psyched up to rebound from a frustrating loss in Philly.
The pick: Vikings.

Chargers (1-1) at Broncos (1-1)
Line: Broncos by 10. O-U: 461/2
Ah, the age-old question: Do you take the superior team or the big points? Well, it all depends. Last year, double-digit favorites were 10-9 ATS, but Denver was 0-3 spotting 10 or more. The Broncos no longer are scary at Mile High (3-5 ATS last season). In what shapes up as a shootout, San Diego might scrounge a back-door cover. The pick: Chargers.

49ers (0-2) at Seahawks (2-0)
Line: Seahawks by 10. O-U: 44
The 49ers, consensus preseason pick as the NFC's worst team, have covered twice. Picking winners isn't tough (I'm 22-10 doing that), but trying to beat the spread is a masochistic obsession. Let's get crazy and draw conclusions from comparative scores. After the Saints lost by 14 to Seattle, they beat the 49ers by 3. That must mean the Seahawks are 17 points better than the Niners, right?
The pick: Seahawks.

Bucs (0-2) at Raiders (1-1)
Line: Raiders by 3. O-U: 34
It's the Jon Gruden Bowl, the Raiders' first chance to get even with their former coach since he humiliated them in the Super Bowl two seasons ago. Why watch: To see how the bizarrely dressed freaks in "The Black Hole" decorate and abuse their Chucky dolls. The Bucs' rebuilt defense has allowed only 19 points, but their offense still hasn't crossed the goal line. If any Raider tramples Gruden on the sideline, vengeful Al Davis will pay a large bounty.
The pick: Raiders.

[Blackbeard]

CBS Sportsline expert picks

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/NFL_SC-PRED