Too Drunk to Fish:

Though I am taking an unexpected bye week from the Journal, I still want to give you guys my picks (I was 13-5 last week, and 4-1 on the locks; I am 39-21-1 for the season, and 13-5 on the locks) The Journal will be back, and as crappy as ever next week.

Here we go:

South Florida +7 vs. West Virginia - South Florida is primed for the upset, and you may want to think hard bout that +230 money line.

Purdue -22 vs. Notre Dame - Curtis Painter will have another huge day at the Boilers escort Our Lady to 5-Oh S&*t!

Illinois +3 vs. Penn State - Juice Williams will give Penn State fits and the Illini D will make it difficult for Penn State to establish much of a ground game. Illinois is team on the rise (they lost a close game to Missouri in week 1, and have won consecutive road games against better than normal Indiana, and Louisville killer, Syracuse).

Mississippi State +13.5 at South Carolina - After getting trounced in week one by LSU, the Bulldogs enter this game with a bit of Mo. South Carolina will suffer a bit of a LSU hangover, and two solid defenses will keep this one close.

Georgia -15 vs. Mississippi - Mississippi let Florida off the hook last week, and most likely expended a tremendous amount of energy in doing so. Georgia is due for a all-phases-of-the-game performance; look for this one to be a blowout.

CU +23 vs. OU - If I took Tulsa +23, then I am going to take the Buffs at the same number. I cannot imagine a scenario where the Buffs pull of the upset, but I can see the Buffs keeping this one reasonable. This is the best defense the Sooners have faced, and the Buffs seem to have enough pieces working to keep this one sticky until the 4th.

Syracuse -1.5 at Miami (OH) - I can't believe I am taking Syracuse as a road favorite, but this is a really bad Miami team.

Clemson -3 at Georgia Tech - Tech is in a free fall after starting the season with much hype. Clemson, who I still do not trust completely, has great speed, offensive balance, and a QB in Cullen Harper who has thrown 12 tds and ZERO interceptions.

Rutgers -18.5 vs. Maryland - After leading big at Wake last week, the Turtle turtled and lost a heart breaker in OT. The ripple effects of that loss will be seen this week as Rutgers will dominate from the first whistle.

Michigan State +7.5 at Wisconsin - At no point this year has Wisconsin looked like a BCS bowl team, but because of a generous pre-season ranking, they sit at number 9 in the country. Michigan State has looked like a differ net program under Mark Dantonio, and they will find success in Madison. PJ Hill fill find it difficult to get going against the Spartans solid run D, and Tyler Donovan cannot win this one on his own. Michigan State will win an ugly, defensive struggle, and end the Badgers dreams of a Big Ten title. Look hard at the +260 moneyline.

Cal + 6 at Oregon - Dennis Dixon is playing lights out, and Oregon will win this ballgame. However, this is too many points for Oregon to cover against a fantastic Cal team. Me thinks that the oddsmakers are putting too much stock in Oregon's win against a shattered Michigan team still recovering from an historic loss.

Florida State -1.5 vs. Bama - Florida State's defense will be the reason that the Noles win this one. However, FSU will find more success against a not-so-great Bama defense than they did against Colorado a couple of weeks ago.

Florida -18 vs. Auburn - You think Florida might have had a tough week of practice after a lousy performance against Ole Miss!?! Me too. Florida will have it all going this week.

USC -21 vs. Washington - I not sure what is going on here, but line in SC games have been strange recently. Only 10 point favorites again Nebraska, barely three touchdown favorites against Wazzu; I know they didn't cover the 8,327 point spread against Idaho, but c'mon. Whatever, I'll take the Trojans easily minus the 21 against a slipping Washington team.

Ohio State -23.5 at Minnesota - Minnesota cannot stop anyone and Ohio State is really good on defense. Birds fly. Cow moo. Horse have big...heads.

Fresno State -12 vs. La. Tech - Tough road trip for La Tech. The Bulldogs are always tough in the Valley, and kickoff is not until 10:00 EST (7:00 PST). Fresno will make a full recovery from a tough stretch which included a heartbreaking loss in College Station, and a de-pantsing in Eugene.

Cincy -15 at San Diego State - Cincy is really, really good, and have given up just 30 poins in 4 games. San Diego State is a lower-tier Mountain West team with no discernible home field advantage (you think anyone will give a rats ass about the Aztecs with the Padres in the pennant race?).

Good night ladies and gentlemen; up next: Kajagoogoo!