Week 5 picks

By Tim Cottrell
Sports Writer/Designer
Published: September 25, 2008

I fulfilled my promise of missing half the big games, and now were on to Week 5

Last Week: 17-5
Overall: 82-15

and now for this week’s picks (as always, AP Top 25 and SEC games):

Today
No. 1 USC at Oregon State
The Trojans have struggled in Corvallis in recent years, but this year’s Beavers are really bad. USC 40, Oregon State 14

Saturday
No. 24 TCU at No. 2 Oklahoma
The Horned Frogs beat the Sooners in their last trip to Norman. Don’t look for a repeat. Oklahoma 38, TCU 17

No. 8 Alabama at No. 3 Georgia
This is a bit of a flip-flop from Tuesday’s column (scroll down to the end), but I think Bama pulls the upset (more on that tomorrow). Alabama 19, Georgia 16

Ole Miss at No. 4 Florida
The Rebels gave the Gators some trouble last year in Oxford, and are better this year. But they’re in the Swamp this time. Florida 42, Ole Miss 24

Mississippi State at No. 5 LSU
This has the potential to be really, really ugly. LSU 31, Mississippi State 0

Arkansas at No. 7 Texas
The Hogs are in big trouble here. Texas 48, Arkansas 7

No. 9 Wisconsin at Michigan
Michigan’s defense will be the only thing preventing this from getting out of hand. Wisconsin 20, Michigan 7.

No. 22 Illinois at No. 12 Penn State
PSU has looked great so far, but has played nobody. And they’ve been horrendous against ranked teams in recent years (6-14 since 2003). The Illini have already faced the best team they’ll see all year in MIssouri, and hung with them. Illinois 28, Penn State 24

No. 13 South Florida at N.C. State
Don’t look for the Wolfpack to pull off a second-sraight home upset. South Florida 24, N.C. State 7

Minnesota at No. 14 Ohio State
The Gophers are somehow 4-0. That stops this week. Ohio State 31, Minnesota 10.

Tennessee at No. 15 Auburn
At its worst, this game could be an affront to football. At its best it might be a good game. Auburn 16, Tennessee 7

Navy at No. 16 Wake Forest
The Deacs will be in slight letdown mode after their win at FSU. Wake Forest 31, Navy 21

Weber State at No. 17 Utah
I decline comment. Utah 52, Weber State 7

Maryland at No. 20 Clemson
This game really has the potential to go either way (as most ACC games do, since almost everyone is so poorly coached). Clemson 30, Maryland 24

Houston at No. 23 East Carolina
The Pirates really shouldn’t still be ranked. East Carolina 26, Houston 14

No. 25 Fresno State at UCLA
It kind of depends on which Bruins show up, but Fresno should win this one. Fresno State 24, UCLA 16

Western Kentucky at Kentucky
Not sure if you’re aware, but this is apparently a rivalry. Kentucky 34, Western Kentucky 10

UAB at South Carolina
This game will be an affront to football. South Carolina 27, UAB 0