Pliers' Picks - Week 4 [9/18/2008]

So I went 4-4 again last week. Crappy. At least the Cyclones found a miracle saftey to cover their game. And I was a half point away from being 6-4 with that godforsaken Clemson game. From now on, I just have to avoid Clemson, Pitt, and NC State altogether. They are the sunshine to my endive. Anyway, onto week 4. Enjoy.

Miami getting 3 at TEXAS A&M. The Aggies are going to need that 12th man since Miami is VERY athletic and Texas A&M's cupboard is more barren than the Vladivostok tundra. The new UM QB is an emerging star, and I like Randy Shannon's defense. Francione really ran the Aggies into the ground, and despite a top-3 homefield advantage in Collegeville, the Hurricanes are going to pound the Aggies all day. Miami 35, Aggies 17.

PURDUE by 10 vs. Central Michigan. I like Curtis Painter, and Purdue almost beat a very good Oregon team last week but fell just short. I like their hunger and I love their home field advantage. Purdue 31, Chippewas 14.

Temple getting 28 vs vs PENN STATE. Poor JoePa. His best defensive player got caught with a half a nosehair of ganja in his apartment, and now he is suspended until god knows when. Stupid college kids. What can you do? And what is JoePa supposed to do? If Mo Evans decides to say, "fuck it, Im outta here, Im gonna be a top-15 pick anyway. MY TIME!", there is no recourse. Anyway, PSU wins this one big, just like their usual blowout game against the Awful Owls, but I like the moxie of this Temple team more than in the past. Add the PSU blowout last week that will make them a little lazy this week, and the fact that PSU has a big game against Illinois next week, and I think this one stays within 3 TDs. Penn State 38, Temple 24.


MISSOURI by 34 vs. Buffalo. No other reason for this pick than it's the first half of the season and it's time to get on the Daniel/Maclin/Pinkel train. Mizzou is a great team to bet on since Pinkel is such a cockbag that he pulls stunts like the fake FG for a TD last week...when they were already up by 25 or some god awful number. What an asshole that guy is. Mizzou 51, Buffalo 14. Did I just take Temple up there? Really? Hmm...

Va Tech getting 3 at NORTH CAROLINA. UNC looked good last week, but I'm not sure they know how to win the big game. Their home field advantage is mediocre at best, and Va Tech knows that they are in "save the season" mode after dumping a loss to an surprising but overrated ECU team the first week of the year. This one will be VERY low scoring, that's a given. Va Tech 21, UNC 18.

The UNDER on the Va Tech/UNC game at 44.5. See my other notes. Then realize that Butch Davis and Frank Beamer can coach some defense. And then realize that a bunch of poorly educated hillbilly kids are better at running around and tackling then they are at reading defenses. Va Tech 21, UNC 18.

Rutgers by 6 at NAVY. I love the midshipmen, but Paul Johnson was the keel that made that ship float. Rutgers is better than they have been playing, although Mike Teel is more of a stiff than Bernie. Rutgers 35, Navy 24.