Sept 13th College Picks

Notre Dame – Michigan: Has this game been less hyped more than it is this year? Notre Dame looked AWFUL against San Diego State, and Michigan hasn’t grasped RR’s offense yet. The game is in South Bend but I don’t think that matters. Jimmy Claussen doesn’t look like the best HS player from a few years ago. Michigan doesn’t look like Michigan, but from what I’ve seen they have more players. Michigan 24 – Notre Dame 6.

Penn State – Syracuse: Remember in the late 90’s when the Orange dominated the Big East and were in BCS bowls beating up on other leagues? What happened? Penn State looks to be up there with (a healthy) Ohio State as tops in the Big Ten. The Orange don’t come close in this one. Penn State 45 – Syracuse 13.

BYU-UCLA: How many times have these teams played in the past 16 mos? BYU is the girl with the curl pick to bust the BCS. UCLA is trying to get back to Pac 10 and National prominence with Rick Neuhiesel running the show. A win here is another notch up the ladder. I think a lot of points will be posted. UCLA comes up a field goal short. BYU 38 – UCLA 35.

Ohio State – USC: The Collision in the Coliseum. Yes ESPN has to name EVERYTHING. These early season match-ups between big time schools are what college football needs more of! Please all BCS schools take note of what these 2 teams are doing. Schedule somebody’s, not nobodies. That being said if Beanie Wells was healthy, this is a completely different game. Ohio State struggled with Ohio with out him last week. If he doesn’t play, its UGLY. USC will roll over and go to 12-0 and the BCS Championship game. USC 44 – Ohio State 17.

And now the BIG GAME

Iowa State – Iowa: Battle for the CyHawk trophy. Iowa is 1-9 vs the spread the last 10 years. The game is a lot closer since 1998 when Iowa State broke the 15 year reign of the Hawkeyes. Iowa has looked dominant in their first 2 wins vs Maine & FIU (please see Ohio State/USC) and Iowa State has looked improved vs SDSU and Kent State, minus some ball control issues. Iowa’s settled on Ricky Stanzi as starting QB now, and I-State still has the 2 headed monster at QB in Arnaud and Bates. Weather looks like it will be a BIG factor too with 90% chance of rain, and heavy rain. That being said, this game will be won in the trenches. The big uglies going at it, and with the game coming down to that, the edge goes to the Hawkeyes. Iowa’s DL is the best in the Big Ten and one of the tops in the nation. Iowa has a huge edge there. On the other side, the Iowa OL is trying to get back to what it was, and it’s on its way there. Iowa State’s DL is average in the Big XII. I think you see a lot of Shonne Greene and Iowa’s lines dominate. Iowa State will cover the spread but the Cy-Hawk Trophy goes back to were it belongs. Iowa 27 – I State 17.