Peoria's Week 3 Picks [9/10/2008]

OK, so I went a paltry 4-4 last week. Whatever. These things happen. Keep this in mind, folks...at one point, the UFC was $44 MILLION in debt. Now they are worth $2 Billion. That's my kind of business model.

Last Week - 4-4
Overall - 10-6

Iowa St. getting 14 at IOWA. Rivalry game. These things have a way of evening out, regardless of the makeup of the teams. Iowa 21, Iowa St 17.

Michigan by 1 at NOTRE DAME. I will reiterate this - I think Jimmy Clausen is a stud. And, as my buddy Marc pointed out last Saturday, he is going to look like Jesse Ventura by the time he is is a senior. Enjoy that mop while it lasts, Mr. Clean. Anyway, the Michigan defense wins this one for the Wolverines. Michigan 24, Notre Dame 13.

FRESNO ST getting 1.5 vs. Wisconsin. This one might be a reach, and I'm definitely in love with Pat Hill, the owner of the best facial hair in all of college football. All I know is this: Fresno St. allowed only 106 on the ground to Rutgers, AT Rutgers, and Wisconsin throws the ball like Corky from Life Goes On. Plus, the Badgers have to travel 1,700 miles west to get to Fresno. And this game starts at 9:30 Central Time. I like the renegade in this one, playing spoiler for a good Wisconsin team. Barely. This one ends with a buzzer-beating TD pass or something similar. Fresno St 34, Wisconsin 31.

Oklahoma by 20.5 at WASHINGTON. Last week I was riding the Ty Willingham train, and it almost worked, had it not been derailed by a horrible Pac-10 officiating crew. This week? Letdown. And, Oklahoma is NASTY (like Janet Jackson Nasty) good. The Sooners roll, Ty starts filing his resume for 1-AA teams, and Stoopsie's expectations get nudged a little higher by the Norman faithful. Oklahoma 52, Washington 17.

Ohio St. getting 11 at USC. The "Collision at the Coliseum." You gotta love the hype, no? I except this to be a very close game, and Ohio State is far too easily written off of these games by the pundits (see below). I might even pick an upset special here if the game was in Columbus. USC 31, Buckeyes 28.
VANDY by 7 vs. Rice. This will be a very fun game to watch. Vandy is riding higher than a gay cowboy after their win at South Carolina, and Rice has two wins but has beaten NOBODY. I always like the smart kids, especially at home. One TD doesn't seem to be quite high enough. Vandy 38, Rice 14.

The OVER at 45 on the BYU/Ucla game. I know that UCLA has a third-string QB, but 45? That's just too easy. Maybe this is a trap, who knows. BYU 28, UCLA 21.

CLEMSON by 18.5 vs. NC State. Tommy B burned me earlier this year with that abortion against Alabama, but the talent level at Clemson is the same as it was earlier this year...VERY HIGH. Also, this game is in Death Valley. And NC State barely beat a 1-AA team last week. Karma is a bitch, isn't it Tom O'Brien? What a prick. Clemson 42, NC State 17.