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College Picks: Big games mark Saturday schedule
By Ralph D. Russo, AP College Football Writer
Thursday, October 09, 2008 | No comments posted.
Even before the season, Oct. 11 was circled on the calendars of many college football fans. Now that six weeks of football have been played, Saturday’s schedule looks even better.
Three games matching six ranked teams, including four of the top five, will surely rock the national championship race, starting in Dallas at the Texas State Fair.
Oklahoma and Texas renew the Red River Rivalry, and once again the stakes are enormous. Both Big 12 South rivals are ranked in the top five. The loser not only will have its national title hopes take a hit, but just getting to the conference champion game becomes a tricky task.
Under Bob Stoops, Oklahoma is 6-3 against Texas and coach Mack Brown, but the Longhorns have won two of the last three.
The game could also produce a Heisman Trophy front-runner. Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford is second in the nation in passer rating, while Texas quarterback Colt McCoy has completed 79 percent of this throws and leads the team in rushing.
In the Southeastern Conference, the last two national champions meet in Florida’s Swamp. The Gators, who won it all in 2006, have already lost a home game. That should make for one desperate group awaiting the arrival of defending champion LSU.
The Tigers beat the Gators and Heisman winner Tim Tebow last season, converting five fourth down opportunities and rallying to win 28-24.
While it was obvious OU-Texas and LSU-Florida were going to be big games, Oklahoma State-Missouri is an unlikely headliner.
The Cowboys have practically matched the high-scoring Tigers point for point. Oklahoma State is No. 3 in the country in scoring at 52.6 per game. Chase Daniel, another Heisman contender, and Missouri is second at 53.4.
The picks:
Today
Clemson (plus 21⁄2) at No. 21 Wake Forest
Week 7 is here and the ACC is still impossible to figure out ... CLEMSON 24-21.
Saturday
No. 1 Oklahoma (minus 61⁄2) vs. No. 5 Texas at Dallas
The better team usually wins the Red River Rivalry, and that would be ... OKLAHOMA 33-21.
No. 17 Oklahoma State (plus 131⁄2) at No. 3 Missouri
In matchup of great offenses, go with better defense ... MISSOURI 55-38.
No. 4 LSU (plus 6) at No. 11 Florida
Tigers’ tough D-line vs. Gators’ shaky O-line ... LSU 27-24.
No. 6 Penn State (minus 5) at Wisconsin
Can Badgers get ready for big game after two straight losses? ... PENN STATE 28-20.
Nebraska (plus 21) at No. 7 Texas Tech
Last time here, Huskers handed worst loss ever, 70-10. ... TEXAS TECH 69-10.
Arizona State (plus 261⁄2) at No. 8 Southern California
Even good Sun Devils’ teams usually roll over against Trojans ... USC 45-13.
New Mexico (plus 231⁄2) at No. 9 BYU
BYU’s Max Hall builds his Heisman resume ... BYU 50-17.
Tennessee (plus 121⁄2) at No. 10 Georgia
Just what Vols didn’t need — to face a ticked off bunch of Bulldogs ... GEORGIA 28-14.
Purdue (plus 19) at No. 12 Ohio State
The Beanie and Terrelle show has rejuvenated Buckeyes ... OHIO STATE 39-13.
No. 13 Vanderbilt (minus 21⁄2) at Mississippi State
Can Commodores avoid letdown? ... VANDERBILT 17-10.
No. 14 Utah (plus 231⁄2) at Wyoming
Cowboys have worst offense in Mountain West ... UTAH 35-10.
No. 15 Boise State (minus 111⁄2) at Southern Miss
Broncos pounded Golden Eagles, 38-16, in Boise last season ... SOUTHERN MISS 38-30.
Colorado (plus 14) at No. 16 Kansas
Home team has won eight of 11 in the series ... KANSAS 35-17.
Arkansas (plus 19) at No. 20 Auburn
If Tigers can’t find some offense this week, it could be long season ... AUBURN 28-14.
Notre Dame (plus 71⁄2) at No. 22 North Carolina
The echoes are stirring ... NOTRE DAME 28-23.
No. 23 Michigan State (plus 21⁄2) at Northwestern
Perfect Wildcats still looking for recognition ... MICHIGAN STATE 21-20.
No. 25 Ball State (minus 16) at Western Kentucky
High-scoring Cardinals enjoy first game as ranked team ... BALL STATE 44-24.
Three games matching six ranked teams, including four of the top five, will surely rock the national championship race, starting in Dallas at the Texas State Fair.
Oklahoma and Texas renew the Red River Rivalry, and once again the stakes are enormous. Both Big 12 South rivals are ranked in the top five. The loser not only will have its national title hopes take a hit, but just getting to the conference champion game becomes a tricky task.
Under Bob Stoops, Oklahoma is 6-3 against Texas and coach Mack Brown, but the Longhorns have won two of the last three.
The game could also produce a Heisman Trophy front-runner. Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford is second in the nation in passer rating, while Texas quarterback Colt McCoy has completed 79 percent of this throws and leads the team in rushing.
In the Southeastern Conference, the last two national champions meet in Florida’s Swamp. The Gators, who won it all in 2006, have already lost a home game. That should make for one desperate group awaiting the arrival of defending champion LSU.
The Tigers beat the Gators and Heisman winner Tim Tebow last season, converting five fourth down opportunities and rallying to win 28-24.
While it was obvious OU-Texas and LSU-Florida were going to be big games, Oklahoma State-Missouri is an unlikely headliner.
The Cowboys have practically matched the high-scoring Tigers point for point. Oklahoma State is No. 3 in the country in scoring at 52.6 per game. Chase Daniel, another Heisman contender, and Missouri is second at 53.4.
The picks:
Today
Clemson (plus 21⁄2) at No. 21 Wake Forest
Week 7 is here and the ACC is still impossible to figure out ... CLEMSON 24-21.
Saturday
No. 1 Oklahoma (minus 61⁄2) vs. No. 5 Texas at Dallas
The better team usually wins the Red River Rivalry, and that would be ... OKLAHOMA 33-21.
No. 17 Oklahoma State (plus 131⁄2) at No. 3 Missouri
In matchup of great offenses, go with better defense ... MISSOURI 55-38.
No. 4 LSU (plus 6) at No. 11 Florida
Tigers’ tough D-line vs. Gators’ shaky O-line ... LSU 27-24.
No. 6 Penn State (minus 5) at Wisconsin
Can Badgers get ready for big game after two straight losses? ... PENN STATE 28-20.
Nebraska (plus 21) at No. 7 Texas Tech
Last time here, Huskers handed worst loss ever, 70-10. ... TEXAS TECH 69-10.
Arizona State (plus 261⁄2) at No. 8 Southern California
Even good Sun Devils’ teams usually roll over against Trojans ... USC 45-13.
New Mexico (plus 231⁄2) at No. 9 BYU
BYU’s Max Hall builds his Heisman resume ... BYU 50-17.
Tennessee (plus 121⁄2) at No. 10 Georgia
Just what Vols didn’t need — to face a ticked off bunch of Bulldogs ... GEORGIA 28-14.
Purdue (plus 19) at No. 12 Ohio State
The Beanie and Terrelle show has rejuvenated Buckeyes ... OHIO STATE 39-13.
No. 13 Vanderbilt (minus 21⁄2) at Mississippi State
Can Commodores avoid letdown? ... VANDERBILT 17-10.
No. 14 Utah (plus 231⁄2) at Wyoming
Cowboys have worst offense in Mountain West ... UTAH 35-10.
No. 15 Boise State (minus 111⁄2) at Southern Miss
Broncos pounded Golden Eagles, 38-16, in Boise last season ... SOUTHERN MISS 38-30.
Colorado (plus 14) at No. 16 Kansas
Home team has won eight of 11 in the series ... KANSAS 35-17.
Arkansas (plus 19) at No. 20 Auburn
If Tigers can’t find some offense this week, it could be long season ... AUBURN 28-14.
Notre Dame (plus 71⁄2) at No. 22 North Carolina
The echoes are stirring ... NOTRE DAME 28-23.
No. 23 Michigan State (plus 21⁄2) at Northwestern
Perfect Wildcats still looking for recognition ... MICHIGAN STATE 21-20.
No. 25 Ball State (minus 16) at Western Kentucky
High-scoring Cardinals enjoy first game as ranked team ... BALL STATE 44-24.
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