Picks for the Weak: Week 7

Welcome back to another fun outing of the Picks for the Weak! This week’s episode holds intrigue, suspense, and a whole lot of nothing in terms of quality games.

That’s right, outside of the game in Madison, there’s little on that will inspire much desire to avoid your family, your chores and your housework for a day of nothing but College Football Bliss. Guess this is the weekend to finish off the honey-do list early and save up some brownie points for later.

There are a couple of games that will at least pique your curiosity. Iowa travels to Michigan to become the new “best defense that Michigan’s offense has faced to date”. You just know that this will be coupled with plentiful crowd shots of tearful Michigan fans. Don’t let it tug at your heartstrings too much.

There’s also yet another SEC game facing two ranked opponents.  Arkansas is traveling to Auburn in a battle that will showcase all of that incredible SEC power!  Look at those slow plodding running backs!

Wait…that doesn’t look right…

We’ve chosen a slate of games for your appreciation.  Of course, when you notice Syracuse in the first matchup, you’ll know why I said it was a slow week.  Catch the picks after the jump!

Saturday, October 9th

Pittsburgh at Syracuse

Syracuse made the list?  They’re in one of the top 10 games that are most intriguing this week?  Screw this, I’m just gonna go sleep in until 7pm.

Syracuse is currently 4-1 on the season, but hasn’t played enough teams with a legitimate pulse to make them actually worthy of the record.  Pittsburgh has lost a couple games (at Utah, Miami (FL)) and could be more dangerous than we give them credit for.  Except that Wannstedt is coaching.

Even the Mustache couldn’t screw this one up.

Eric: Pittsburgh 24, Syracuse 14

Computers: Pittsburgh 25, Syracuse 22 (66.3%)

#21 Missouri at Texas A&M

We keep highlighting the Texas A&M games this season.  That must mean we’re closet Aggie fans or something.  (We’re not)

With Illinois suddenly surging in a big way it is making Missouri look like a much better team than we generally give them credit for.  Illinois’ second half collapse was in large part to Missouri’s defense taking control of the game.  You might ask if Missouri has earned their 5-0 record so far this season.  Their only tough games came against Illinois, and 3-2 Colorado (who Mizzou shutout), certainly nothing to sneeze at the way those teams are playing this year.  Heck, Dan Hawkin’s might even save his job!

A&M’s defense is still not good enough to keep opponents from outscoring their offense.  Mizzou will take this one.

Eric: Missouri 26, TAMU 20

Computers: TAMU 35, Missouri 27 (72.3%)

#24 Oregon State at Washington

The Beavers are ranked again after an impressive win over Arizona last week.  Oregon State is clearly a dangerous team and will hang tough with everyone in the PAC-10 this year.  The question, though, is will they be able to secure victories.  That might not be an issue in this one, as Washington is playing at an unimpressive level at the moment, despite Jake Locker’s presence in the backfield.

The Huskies will be ready, but the Beavers will prevail.

Eric: Oregon State 30, Washington 28

Computers: Oregon State 31, Washington 25 (75.2%)

California at USC

Has anyone in the PAC-10 looked worse than USC?  Excluding Washington State.  Well, ok, UCLA is pretty bad.

California snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against Arizona a couple weeks ago.  If their offense had managed to score touchdowns instead of field goals the game would have been very different.

USC is a complete enigma right now, not the least because no-one is talking about them – and for good reason.  They’ve had two close losses to Washington and to Stanford, and have looked terrible in just about every game they’ve played.  To be perfectly honest, it’s likely a miracle that they have a winning record.

The slide will continue.  It will be a fight, but California will prevail in the end.

Eric: California 35, USC 32

Computers: California 29, USC 28 (53.5%)

#20 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech

T. Boone Picken’s University (TBPU) makes another appearance this year.  This time they have to face the wildly inconsistent, but surprisingly good, Tommy Tuberville Texas Tech Team (5T).  I think Tommy is finally getting a handle on how his team plays and what they want to do as a team, which is going to make 5T tough to beat going forward this year.

I’m going with Tommy’s Team

Eric: 5T 42, TBPU 35

Computers: Oklahoma State 38, Texas Tech 34 (66.3%)

#15 Iowa at Michigan

The wheels have finally fallen off of the vaunted Michigan “Return to Glory” bus.  Just like last year, Michigan went undefeated and then ran into Sparty.  This week, the Wolverines have to take on an Iowa team that is the polar opposite of themselves – a fantastic defense, and an ok offense.  Iowa’s offense is generally pretty good, but simply has those days where it looks like they’ve never played football before.

Of course, when you play Michigan’s defense it suddenly looks like you’re the superbowl champions.

Iowa will roll with no problem at all, and Denard’s Heisman hopes will sink even further into the nether regions.

Eric: Iowa 24, Michigan 7

Computers: Iowa 34, Michigan 22 (86.1%)

Texas at #5 Nebraska

There’s not a whole lot to say about this one.  Nebraska is very very very good, and Texas is no-where near as good as they were last year, which was still not as good as Nebraska is this year.

Nebraska takes care of business at home, and by a score that sends a message about last year’s Big 12 Championship game.

Eric: Nebraska 38, Texas 20

Computers: Nebraska 23, Texas 19 (55.4%)

Illinois at #13 Michigan State

This one is more of a trap than Michigan State probably realizes.  Most of the MSU fans up here are a little worried about this one – and rightly so – but Illinois is playing with a lot of confidence right now, and MSU is rolling off an emotional win over their rival.  The usual buzzword here is “letdown”.

However, I actually believe Penn State is worse than people are thinking, and that OSU suffered more from the wind hurting their gameplan than anything Illinois did.

Michigan State will win, but perhaps not as comfortably as their fans will prefer.

Eric: Michigan State 24, Illinois 20

Computers: Michigan State 40, Illinois 19 (89.1%)

#12 Arkansas at #7 Auburn

Surprise!  Auburn is one of the few undefeated teams left in the SEC this year.  Pop quiz as to whom the other one is.

Answer is of course the Lucky Les Miles Fan Club…also known as LSU.

Arkansas, however, has been a solid if not spectacular team that simply whiffed against Alabama a couple weeks ago.  There is a very good chance they could pull off the upset here over Auburn.  Of course, SEC fans will simply use the parity in the conference as proof towards why it’s the best conference.

And if Auburn wins, the SEC is still the best conference because Auburn is so amazing that no-one can beat them.  Isn’t it funny how it always seems to work?

Eric: Arkansas 21, Auburn 18

Computers: Arkansas 40, Auburn 39 (61.4%)

#1 Ohio State at #18 Wisconsin

With Oregon State and T.Boone Pickens University on the list, I just had to put OSU up here and get the OSU trifecta.

This will be OSU’s second big test of the season, having passed their first against a solid (but not great) Miami (FL) team.  Wisconsin has only played two teams with a pulse so far this year and barely escaped the first (20-19 over Arizona State) and fell flat in the second (10 point loss at Sparty).

The Buckeyes will be facing a real power running team for the first time this season, finally testing the defensive line in a big way.  Last year’s game went OSU’s way, despite a 250 yard passing day from Scott Tolzien (Wisconsin QB).  I expect Tolzien is going to have to beat OSU with his arm again this year, and as per usual for a Wisconsin quarterback, will be unable to do it.

Eric: Ohio State 31, Wisconsin 21

Computers: Ohio State 30, Wisconsin 23 (79.2%)