Sept. 25th Games

Three more picks for this week after going 2-0-1 last week, and if not for USC's Lane Kiffin's obsession with going for two after each touchdown, would have been 3-0.

The picks for this week:

at Connecticut -20 Buffalo - Going into this season, I though the Huskies had a shot at winning the Big East.  An ugly opener against Michigan and a fourth quarter collapse against Temple and they're sitting at 1-2.  Buffalo is just what Connecticut needs to get things on track before conference play starts.

Georgia +1 at Mississippi State - Georgia is 0-2 in the SEC and a loss here will just about end any hopes of getting to the SEC title game.  Georgia's defense should be good enough to bottle up Mississippi State and quarterback Aaron Murray should do just enough to lead Georgia to their first SEC win.  If not, we're going to need a suicide watch in Athens.  Of course, the safe pick here is to take the Bulldogs to win.

Oregon -11.5 at Arizona State - Oregon leads the nation in scoring offense, total offense, scoring defense and total defense.  The last five times they've played the Sun Devils, they've beaten them by 23, 34, 12, 35 and 14.  Ducks cover the number by halftime and win by 20+, but if you're watching it on Fox Sports Net, stick around for a battle of hot chicks as both Oregon Cheerleaders and Arizona State coeds will be on display.

Bonus Game:

USC -21.5 at Washington State - Always a glutton for punishment, I'm taking the Trojans again this weekend.  The Cougars are terrible and have been for the past three years.  Horrible on offense, atrocious on defense, and seem like they don't have a clue what they're doing when you watch them.  USC struggles a little early but wears out the Cougars by the second half and pulls away for an easy victory.

Top 5 BBQ items to eat while enjoying a Saturday watching football:

5. Barbecued Chicken - Covered in sauce, chicken is a solid satisfier.  Goes well with any side and even good on a sandwich.

4. Pork Tenderloin - Pork absorbs seasonings like no other and a spicy/sweet dry rub makes this a solid entrant.  The way it melts in your mouth, the way each of the spices dances on your tongue, the way it make your stomach jump with joy...you can't go wrong.

3. Tri-Tip -  The subtle smell as it comes off the grill and the pleasure it gives your taste buds as it passes over your lips before it's journey to your stomach justifies the reason you're a carnivore.  On it's own or in a sandwich, this cut of meat delivers.

2. Pulled Pork - Surprisingly, it took a trip to Kentucky in 2001 for me to finally try this for the first time, and the memory of the taste of that sandwich still causes me to salivate.  The tenderness of the pork, the sweetness of the sauce with an undercurrent of heat that rose to a crescendo with each savory bite, causing me to reach for my ice cold beer to cool the fire so I could take another bite and start the cycle of pure heaven again. 

1. Baby Back Ribs - Dry rubbed or slathered in sauce, nothing can beat the satisfaction of pulling off a strip of pork from a fall-off-the-bone baby back rib, so tender even your toothless grandmother can enjoy it.  The ultimate finger food and the perfect complement to a hard-hitting prime time game and the opportunity to get in touch with your inner caveman.