Week 4 picks

Average week 3 (3-3-1, 14-8-2 overall) was to be expected. Not great match ups, hadn't seen many of the teams in the marquee match ups play more than a half. But I do feel pretty good about this week's games. As always these picks are for fun.

Pitt to cover at home (getting 3.5, o/u 50) against the Canes

Home underdog on the Thursday nighter is a greater power than the fact that Pittsburgh is coached by Death Spiral Dave. Jonathan Baldwin will account for enough big plays and 3^rd down conversions to give Pitt a much needed W.

NC State to cover in the ATL (getting 8, o/u 58) against Ga Tech

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Wolfpack might actually be okay. I don’t think that any team that loses to Kansas can beat anybody by 8 points. If Nate Irving can play the entire game, the Pack will have the linebackers to stifle PJ’s triple option.

The Tide to cover in Arkansas (giving 7, o/u 55.5) against the Razorbacks

The Tide’s Offense, Defense, SP teams, and coaches are better than the Razorbacks’. Mallet was a 33% passer last year in Tuscaloosa and with Marcel Dareus back in the line up the will be able to get pressure without blitzing. Finally, the Tide seems to feed off big game hype and all the talk this week about Mallet makes Saban and his team smell blood in the water.

Oregon State to cover on the blue turf (getting 17, o/u 57) against the Broncos

The Beavers played the Horn Frogs tough in Texas, and should do the same against Boise State. I was shocked to see the line this high. Mike Riley is an excellent coach and I love the gimmicky move of having their practice field painted blue. The Beavers play hard.

Stanford to cover in South Bend (giving 5, o/u 59) against the Irish

Andrew Luck is awesome, Harbaugh is awesome, and Stanford is awesome. The Cardinal offense is going to waterboard the Irish D in front of their fans for 3 and half hours. Since AJ Green is still suspended, Andrew Luck is the best player in the nation going against a defense that can’t get pressure and can’t cover his receivers. Touchdown Jesus is going to witness a massacre on Saturday. Crist and the All American Rudolph might be able to score with them for awhile but the game should be over by the start of the fourth.

Last week’s game East Lansing was symbolic of an undereported trend in college football, Notre Dame plays the most exciting games every week. Since they can’t stop anybody, their games turn into heavyweight fights with each boxer trading haymakers until the final bell.

South Carolina to cover in Auburn (getting 3, o/u 46) against the Tigers/War Eagles

I thought AllBarn was going to be good this year, they are not. I thought the GameCocks would be good this year, they are. Cam Newton is not as good as advertised and the Lattimore kid is unreal. Saturday night games usually favor the home team, but I think South Carolina can dominate time of possession and make enough important stops to run the clock out on the Tigers. Auburn has not looked impressive against far inferior teams.

USC to cover in Pullman (giving 22, o/u 56.5) against Wash State

The Cougars are terrible, USC needs an impressive win. They are going to explode the scoreboard.