Six Pick: Week Two

That felt gooooood. Let's do another 14 more weeks. The shock (ongoing conference expansion) and awe (Maryland's uniforms) certainly kept Twitter abuzz for week one. This week I hope it's more about close games like the TCU-Baylor classic. Luckily, over the horizon are a large number of high quality games, so keep your eyes up and clicker close. To those paying attention, Notre Dame vs Michigan and South Carolina vs Georgia did not make this week's cut. The Irish and dawgs have to earn the right to make the Six Pick again. Though the Michigan throwback compilation by Adidas is almost badass enough to garner that spot.

Well my weekend plans are up in the air. As of this past Monday, I was Los Angeles bound for work. Using some marriage capital, I got the OK to head out a day early to catch Utah vs USC in the Coliseum. I am not going to lie, I was pretty geeked to see the legendary Coliseum and bum some fantastic West Coast IPAs in the parking lot. All sadly is for naught, as someone on the left coast dropped the ball. That does leave me with time and opportunity to go to ECU to see the Hokies take on the Pirates. Though there is a let down if you consider I am trading L.A. for Greenville. I've been to Greenville multiple times, visiting (getting torqued) family and friends who were attending ECU. This gives me some insight for my fellow Hokies heading down for the game. Go to B's BBQ, this is not a suggestion. It's a hole in the wall, where they have no time for websites or even telephones, they are all about pork and fried chicken. That 10 minutes added to the front end of your trip is well worth it as they are the best Eastern Carolina BBQ in town. Have thick skin, the Pirate fans are a faithful, delusional and enthusiastic bunch, some who will surely spit some anger your direction. Look with amusement, then carry on. Also, if scalping tickets, do not buy seats in the upper deck, those seats stank, I'd rather watch at a bar.

Thursday, September 8th

Arizona at 9 Oklahoma State -14 8:00 pm ESPN

Let's start with the two Mikes. The antics of Arizona Coach Mike Stoops when things don't go as planned, oft times this leads to his team losing focus and spiraling out of control, this is TV gold. Stoops only ranks behind Brian Kelly and Bo Pelini in OMG dickhole moments. On the other side we have Mike Gundy, he of “I'm a man, I'm 40!” infamy, but he's rather subdued on the sideline in comparison to Stoops. One can't mention Oklahoma State without mentioning the man who makes it go, T. Boone Pickens. A small list of things T. Boone has accomplished:

• Modernize and add 15k more seats to the football stadium. Done.
• Call Phil Knight, talk Hedge funds then tell him to Nikefy the Cowboys to keep them relative in their state. Done.
• Tell the Sooners they aren't going west, south or north without TheeotherOSU tagging along. Done.
• Kick a few hundred people out of their homes so the university can add an athletic village? Done.

We ball out when we get great seats and free drinks to the game. T.Boone balls out by buying the game, then leaving early after securing it's outcome, so he can buy something else that's shiny. Boss.

What to Watch For: This sets up to be a nice quarterback/wide receiver battle between Arizona's Nick Foles & Juron Criner* and Okie State's Brandon Whedon & Justin Blackmon, all four are considered first team quality for their respective conferences. Arizona has the slight edge on defense, more play makers and wide open style on offense. I expect tons of points and Dana Holgorsen mentions.

*Criner has missed practice time this week and may not be at full strength or able to go.

Pick: How bout dem Cowboys. Between home field and Criner being banged up, I'll take Okie State and the 2 touchdown spread.

Friday, September 9th

21 Missouri at Arizona State -7.5 10:30 pm ESPN

Friday night is the new Thursday night at the World Wide Leader. ESPN coming strong with games when we should all be out getting our drinks on. When we talk Arizona State football we talk about one thing, the Sun Devils scoring a ton of points so the dirty ole cameramen can pan the stadium for the seemingly endless amount of talent situated in Tempe each season. Even the SEC must respect. I'd talk about the game but most you just want to look at the picture again.

What to Watch For: Arizona State is a dark horse to win the Pac-12 South, due to so many returning starters from last season. Missouri is going to be a strong test for them, likely better than anyone in their division. The Tigers don't feature that high octane offense of Chase Daniels and Jeremy Maclin anymore, instead head coach Gary Pinkel decided to go against the Big 12 grain and tried winning with defense. It worked out reasonably well last year. I don't want it to work reasonably well on Friday, see two paragraphs up.

Pick: Missouri. Last week taught me, don't bet on the Pac-12. Noted.

Saturday, September 10th

16 Mississippi State -7 at Auburn 12:20 pm SEC Network or ESPN3

Your eyes do not deceive you ... the Bulldogs of Mississippi State are a touchdown favorite to beat the defending National Champions Auburn Tigers. I am well aware that Auburn lost a lot, namely the best offensive and defensive players in the SEC. That pales from how far Dan Mullen has taken MSU in 3 years. The boys from Starkville are likely the 5th best team in the SEC and it's not because the conference has slipped. Having to come from behind and win in the last 30 seconds to beat Utah State does not inspire confidence from the fans.

What to Watch For: Auburn's resolve and Mississippi State's more balanced attack. Will Auburn nut up, get smarter, better and tougher play against a good opponent? Will the once limited Bulldogs' offensive attack continue to get better, making opponents pay for overloading the box to stop Mullen's well crafted ground attack.

Pick: Mississippi State to win and cover. I know Auburn will play with more focus and energy, but they are going to be playing with less mature proven talent as well.

***
3 Alabama -10 at 23 Penn State 3:30 pm ABC

This is a Joe Pa, circa 1990 and yeah, he was an old guy then too. This was the last year one of his Penn State teams beat Alabama. The Tide are one of few teams that have held a mastery of Joe Pa, with a 8-5 record including one National Championship Game victory in 1979. A nice history of the school's games can be heard every other week on ESPNU's College Football podcast with Ivan an Beano. The inbetween weeks are about which Notre Dame team was the best of all time according to Beano.

What to Watch For: A lot is being made about who is going to win the quarterback job at each school, but that's just window the dressing and filler. The truth is Alabama's defense is going to lock that (not really) spread HD Penn State offense up just like last year. In between punts Alabama is going to push the Nitany Lions around, Trent Richardson is going run for 100 yards and one or both of the Tide quarterbacks is going to hit a timely deep pass. The best Penn State can hope for is JoePaPa doesn't get trucked on the sideline.

Pick: Alabama by a whole lot more than 10.

***
11 Virginia Tech -20 at East Carolina 3:30 pm FSN

Many of you will have no clue about this next statement, but 21 years ago East Carolina was a superior program to Virginia Tech ... hurts your head to think about that doesn't it. A lot has changed, but one thing that has not are the Pirate fans. For those of you going, expect them to be bombastic. Be prepared to see a many trucks flying pirate flags with multiple shirtless guys riding in the back chugging beers and yelling obscenities at the Hokies (the meaning of the F bomb changes depending on your sexual makeup.) I personally like to squint my eyes when they drive by pretending the shitty Ford Rangers are barely seaworthy small boats and their beer bongs are AK-47's, then imagining them as Somali pirates. It's not a stretch, apparently the Big East conference agrees.

What to Watch For: Logan Thomas' composure in a newly expanded Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium that will be loud and hostile. Like every VT game, I expect a whole lot of running the ball, even more so with this being Logan Thomas' first road start. Running the offense and not getting rattled are as important as any throwing technique issues he currently has, Frank will rely on David Wilson to do the rest. The defense can expect to be tested with 50+ quick throws, wrapping up when tackling is imperative.

Pick: East Carolina and the points. VT will win by a couple of touchdowns, but expecting back-to-back total beat downs is a bit much.

***

Utah at USC -9.5 7:30 pm Versus

The first official Pac-12 game is Utah at USC, a very solid matchup, blah, blah, blah BLAH. When I watch the game I will only see a great college football experience snatched away from me. There are no jokes, no fun, nothing but emptiness … sobbing. Maybe I should go to East Carolina after all.

What to Watch For: Grit vs Stars. USC isn't deep and is fairly young, but most of their kids were four and five stars recruits coming out of high school, whether they play at that level or not. Kyle Whittingham at Utah built his program (with a little help from Urban Meyer) on grit and toughness. There is a talent difference, but there is also a want it difference. USC is at a Miami Hurricanes like crossroads, are the kids there to spend 3 years before heading to the NFL or are they there to win football games?

Pick: Utah getting the points and winning out right. Flaws be damned, the Utes are showing up on Saturday to win a football game.

Beer of the Week: Terrapin Rye Pale Ale

A few more weeks of hot tailgating weather, perfect for pounding light, crisp Pale Ales. This is a solid choice to put an afternoon's work on.

Make your picks against the spread below.

Quick Pick Recap:

Arizona at Oklahoma State -14
Missouri -7.5 at Arizona State
Mississippi State -7 at Auburn
Alabama -10 at Penn State
Virginia Tech -20 at East Carolina
Utah at USC -9.5