2017 Six-Pick Week 10

It's the week after Halloween, which means your kids getting out of control via sugar rush. It also means having to deal with your kids getting ornery via post-sugar crash. Fun every year.

There are SEVEN ranked-vs-ranked games this week (via the AP poll), which is the most I can remember since like 2006 or so. I'm sure it's happened since, but I'm too lazy to look it up.

Special shout out to mvbone4 for coming as close to a perfect week as we've had yet, going 7-0-1 (with the Clemson-GT game being a push).

Remember, you make your picks at CBSSports.com (LINKY HERE).

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4

Penn State (-8) at Michigan State
Factoid #1: Penn State managed to blow a 15-point 4th quarter lead to Ohio State last week, instantly making everybody here in Ohio pretend as though they loved JT Barrett all along. Work has been pretty funny the last two days.
Factoid #2: Michigan State has 18 players for their 2018 recruiting class, and they expect that they'll all sign early in December. I forgot that was a thing this year.
PICK: I feel like MSU's best days are behind them. Penn State played well enough to win last week, against a better team in a more hostile environment. They cover.

Clemson (-7) at NC State

Factoid #1: Clemson debuted at #4 in the first CFP rankings. I could hear the howling next door from my OSU-alum neighbors, which was actually pretty entertaining.
Factoid #2: NC State debuted at #20 in the first CFP rankings, which is the first time they've appeared in them at all.
PICK: Last week I said I felt NC State was about to get exposed, and they did. That continues again this week. They'll hang around early, but Clemson pulls away late.

Probably inspired by hippie trips to/in the woods
Stanford at Washington State (-2)
Factoid #1: Stanford actually trailed Oregon State last week with Bryce Love out. He should be back this week.
Factoid #2: After starting 6-0 and climbing into the top 10, Wazzu's now lost 2 of 3. Welcome to the Wazzu ceiling, Mike Leach.
PICK: It feels like the wheels have come off for Wazzu. The USC win turned out to not mean as much as we thought. I'll take Stanford straight-up.

Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (-3)
Factoid #1: Oklahoma's now lost 4 of their last 5 against the spread.
Factoid #2: Oklahoma State hasn't beaten a currently-ranked team.
PICK: Good luck making any sense of Bedlam this year. Oklahoma's been very shaky week-to-week after the Ohio State win. I think that continues here against a better opponent, and they escape Stillwater with a 4-point win.

Texas at TCU (-7)
Factoid #1: After a horrid start against Maryland, Texas has been surprisingly competitive in the Big XII via a stout defense. I know, I know!
Factoid #2: TCU got knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten last week at Iowa State. Amazingly, they could end up playing Iowa State again in the inaugural Big XII Title Game. I know you all had that in your preseason predictions.
PICK: Texas has won their last 7 in a row against the spread. Tom Herman is turning them around even though everyone has forgotten about them. They'll cover.

LSU at Alabama (-21)
Factoid #1: LSU followed up the humiliating home loss to Troy by rattling off 3 consecutive strong SEC wins, including @ Florida, Auburn, and @ Mississippi State.
Factoid #2: Nick Saban trotted out the "poison" line again this week, referring to the CFP rankings this time. I'm going to enjoy when he retires.
PICK: Bama wins handily, but doesn't quite cover.

VT (-3) at Miami
Factoid #1: VT is 14-8 against Miami since 1995.
Factoid #2: Since knocking off the worst FSU team in over 40 years, Miami is 0-3 against the spread.
PICK: Sounds like Malik Rosier might still be suffering from a shoulder problem. Not good against Bud's defense. Hokies win & cover.

Arizona at USC (-7)
Factoid #1: It is illegal to practice hypnotism in parts of Arizona. I don't know why this is a thing.
Factoid #2: I am required to include USC in the Six-Pick every week. At least it feels that way.
PICK: I've been picking against USC all year, and I'm not going to stop now. Khalil Tate will do enough for Zona to at least cover.

DRINK OF THE WEEK:

Basil Hayden's is one of those bourbons I think I heard about long before I ever tried it. Blanton's, Angel's Envy, and other top-shelf stuff caught my eye in the store long before this bland-looking bottle ever did. Then I tried it. Wow. Definitely not a house whiskey, but man is it great for special occasions.

Remember, we're making our picks on CBSSports.com (LINKY HERE), though feel free to let everybody know what the correct answers will be in the comments.