Weekend Picks, Week 9

By Tim Cottrell
Sports Writer/Designer
Published: October 29, 2009

Another middling performance last week, but at least this week we finally have at least one compelling top 25 game in every corner of the country. save the decadent liberal Northeast, of course.

And lots of top 25 teams on the road could mean some upsets, though I’m not really going that direction.

Last week: 18-6
Overall: 147-44

And now, this week’s picks. As always, AP Top 25 and SEC games.

Tonight
North Carolina at No. 14 Virginia Tech
This looked like a marquee matchup back in the summer. Not so much now. Virginia Tech 27, North Carolina 7

Friday
No. 20 West Virginia at South Florida
This looked like a marquee matchup just a couple weeks ago. West Virginia 34, South Florida 20

Saturday
Georgia vs. No. 1 Florida (At Jacksonville, Fla.)
I would think upset if Georgia had a pulse. Florida 23, Georgia 7

No. 3 Texas at No. 13 Oklahoma State
The Cowboys could pull this off, but I’m not banking on it. Texas 37, Oklahoma State 31

No. 4 Southern Cal at No. 10 Oregon
I’m going to go against my “Don’t pick against USC in a big game” rule here. They just don’t seem to have it this year. Oregon 23, USC 20

No. 5 Cincinnati at Syracuse
Blowout city. Cincinnati 41, Syracuse 17

San Jose State at No. 6 Boise State
Man, Boise State really needs to find a way to go to the Mountain West and bring Fresno State and Hawaii with them. Boise State 42, San Jose State 14

Indiana at No. 7 Iowa
My “Team of Destiny” tag on Iowa may have to be removed if they keep getting people hurt. Iowa 17, Indiana 7

UNLV at No. 8 TCU
Utah is the only big hurdle the Frogs have left to clear. TCU 31, UNLV 3

Tulane at No. 9 LSU
It’s hard to believe this was a rivalry once. LSU 42, Tulane 10

No. 11 Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt
The Jackets continue to make mince meat of the softer side of the SEC. Georgia Tech 35, Vanderbilt 7

No. 12 Penn State at Northwestern
This would be a prime candidate for a loss in the 2006-07 versions of the Nittany Lions. Don’t think it will be this time, but you never know. Penn State 28, Northwestern 13

Southern Miss at No. 15 Houston
A tribulation-free Golden Eagles squad might have a chance here. Not the version they’ll be bringing, though. Houston 42, Southern Miss 33

New Mexico State at No. 17 Ohio State
One last chance to right the ship before murderer’s row. Ohio State 37, New Mexico State 3

No. 18 Miami at Wake Forest
Some upset potential here. Miami 30, Wake Forest 24

Wyoming at No. 19 Utah
The Cowboys are frisky. Utah 30, Wyoming 27

No. 21 South Carolina at Tennessee.
This is actually a fairly big game, believe it or not. Tennessee 20, South Carolina 14

Kansas State at No. 22 Oklahoma
I have a feeling the Wildcats will more closely resemble the team that lost to Louisiana-Lafayette than the team that drilled Texas A&M here. Oklahoma 41, Kansas State 10

No. 24 Mississippi at Auburn
Things aren’t looking good on the Plains right now. Mississippi 31, Auburn 14

Washington State vs. No. 25 Notre Dame (At San Antonio)
If this one comes down to the final seconds the Irish have some serious problems. Notre Dame 38, Washington State 13

Eastern Michigan at Arkansas
The Hogs finally can get on a roll now that the schedule softens somewhat (and that’s still having South Carolina, Mississippi State and LSU remaining). Arkansas 62, Eastern Michigan 14

Mississippi State at Kentucky
Fairly even matchup, but State can actually score (I know, I’m surprised, too). Mississippi State 24, Kentucky 21