Six Pick: Week Three

Last week's schedule wasn't the greatest, and this week's took a hit because of upsets and lackluster play from ranked teams. I'm going to chalk most of it up to lack of motivation or travel, and let it slide. Not so fast Arkansas, I said most. The Razorbacks are one Bama beatdown away from returning to the team that fired Houston Nutt to hire Bobby Petrino, i.e complete rebuild mode. If they take the beating I expect, the Duggars have a better chance of making future Six Picks than Pig Sooie, at least I know they produce.

<sarcasm>I am starting to think ESPN has an SEC bias.</sarcasm> I am sure it shocks no one that ESPN is going to support the conference they dumped gobs of cash on, but it'll be three weeks, and 5 of the 6 teams covered at the Gameday locales are from the SEC. This includes Florida twice, mediocre Florida, and that's some bullshit. I know this isn't an elite group of games, but surely mixing it up and going to East Lansing, a game ESPN/ABC is broadcasting, would at least make it look like they aren't total shills. If Gameday has to be in Knoxville this week, they should at least do it right and broadcast off the stern of a boat in the Volunteer Navy. That's the only way I will give them a pass. Future watch, next week looks like a lock for the Clemson at FSU tilt since the other two marquee games are broadcast by NBC and Fox. Unless of course the Noles aren't back.

Thursday, 9/13/2012

Rutgers at South Florida -7.5 7:30 PM ESPN

Lou is sure to be very impartial in his pregame pick.

A Big East game!?! Well because football and Thursday night or something, the Big East makes it into the Six Pick. This will be a pretty good football game and if you listen to the clearly impartial Lou Holtz, South Florida is not only the best team in the Big East but should be top 15. To be honest, I only know a few things about each team, mostly that 8th year Bulls QB B.J. Daniels is exactly the same guy now as he was as freshman. Daniels is a very good athlete who is an inconsistent throwing QB. When his passing is off, their O looks like hot mess, when it is on they are capable of scoring on almost any team in college.

Pick: USF by a couple of touchdowns. I am betting on Daniels being on, but it's just as likely he sucks it and Rutgers gets the upset.

Saturday, 9/15/2012

Wake Forest at Florida State -27.5 12:00 PM ESPN

Now that FSU is done with the glorified scrimmage portion of their cake schedule, the path to backness is blocked by the Demon Deacons. Wake, as we all know, has beaten the Noles a few times in the last decade. Each and every time, FSU and their fans get trolled back to the arm pit of Florida. God help them if their boys choke on it again, because the jokes will come HARD and without mercy. Lucky for Jimbo he's been recruiting like gangbusters, on paper they should dominate.

Pick: Wake getting the points. This will be the first true game for the Noles. I think it may take them a bit to get in the swing of things vs live competition. FSU will win big, unless of course they are looking ahead to Clemson next week.

Alabama -21.5 at Arkansas 3:30 PM CBS

Unsure if Bros are Tide, Pig Sooie fans, the media or YES!

Last week Nick Saban lectured the media about putting the proverbial cart before the horse in crowning the Tide as future national champs and assuming Western Kentucky was an automatic W. This week after Arkansas lost to ULM he'll have to double down on his effort to keep the room from laughing. Not only did Arkansas lose the game, but they'll likely be without future NFL first round QB Tyler Wilson. That pretty much means NO ONE believes in the Razorbacks. After the Tide's so-so effort last week, one has to think the Tide is going to smoke Pig Sooie. Saban likes his pork slathered with Alabama white sauce and job vacancies.

Pick: Alabama covering. I like Crimson Koolaid.

Florida at Tennessee -2.5 6:00 PM ESPN
Things Remembered Bowl (H/T HokiESQ)

This game was the shit ... in 1997, so were:

• The Spice Girls
• Suddenly Susan
• Jerry Bruckheimer films
• Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky
• Jim Carrey's career
• QUAKE II
• Microsoft
• Stocks prices
• BCO's tolerance

I do really miss the smug look of Tennessee native Steve Spurrier's face each and every time his Gators beat Phat Fil's Vols. It was beautiful, and a memory I would like to frame.

Pick: UT covering the points. They are better on offense, just as capable on defense, playing at home and more importantly aren't at a coaching disadvantage.

Southern Cal -7.5 at Stanford 7:30 PM FOX

Silly me, I thought USC would crush everyone until Oregon and Stanford was vulnerable to falling back to their natural place in the college football world. Now it looks like we have a ball game or do we? In the pregame build up, I am sure the media will mention early and often that USC QB Matt Barkley is 0-3 vs Stanford. Really? How about Matt Barkley during a Trojan rebuilding project was 0-3 vs Heisman runner ups Andrew Luck, Toby Gerhart, future NFL offensive linemen. Those guys are long gone and so are Stanford's chances. That Cardinal defense isn't slowing down USC and their offense certainly doesn't look to have any future NFL players or coaches on it.

Pick: USC covering the points, crapping all over that line and tripling them up for shits and giggles.

Notre Dame at Michigan State -5.5 8:00 PM ABC

Dadboner would do the slow peener for Sparty women, you guys.

The best part of this game is the likelihood both of the head coaches will have a meltdown on the sidelines. Remember two years ago Michigan State's Mark Dantonio had a mild heart attack AFTER the Spartans beat ND on touchdown via a fake field goal in overtime. Imagine the severity had Sparty lost! Of course, Brian Kelly's sideline antics have been well documented and magnified due the nature of media attention Notre Dame receives. Kelly didn't do him, or the program, any favors by coming down with QB Carouselitis. Kelly now has the itchy trigger finger to swap Everett Golson for Tommy Rees whenever things don't go as planned. With MSU's stellar defense, this is sure to play it's self out over and over after fruitless trips in the redzone. There is a chance Kelly's face turns purple this game.

Pick: ND getting the points. I think this game will be very low scoring and close.

Beer of the Week

Because it's a week until Oktoberfest and Pittsburgh has a local German brewhaus. You Hokies traveling to Pittsburgh, swing by and enjoy all the offerings!

Quick Recap

Remember, these picks are against the spread.

Rutgers at USF -7.5
WF at FSU -27.5
Bama -21.5 at Arkansas
UF at UT -2.5
USC -7.5 at Stanford
Irish at Sparty -5.5

As always, good luck.