Picks for Oct. 1st Games

The season record crawled above .500 with a 3-1 finish last week (way to be terrible on the field as well as in your uniforms, Maryland).  Try to keep it rolling this weekend and improve on the 8-7 overall mark.

Penn State -14.5 at Indiana - I've written about how inept Penn State's offense is and giving two touchdowns on the road may be a lot, but the Hoosiers have lost to Ball State, Virginia and North Texas (let that sink in).  No run defense or pass rush for Indiana and the Nittany Lions should be able to take advantage.  It won't be pretty, but JoePa's boys should cover the number.

at Boise State -26.5 Nevada - Payback time.  Nevada is not the team they were last year.  They struggled to beat San Jose State, got absolutely torched by Oregon and blew a game late against Texas Tech last week.  Boise State is going to be similar to Oregon as they pile up the points on the Wolfpack.  If you can get a first half line under 18, take Boise to cover that as well.  Kellen Moore will cut them up early and often.

Georgia Tech -10 at North Carolina State - Think NC State Coach Tom O'Brien would like to have Russell Wilson back?  The Wolfpack has done well Liberty and South Alabama; teams with a pulse, nothing.  The Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech rolls it up in Raleigh.

at Stanford -21.5 UCLA - UCLA beat San Jose State 27-17.  Stanford beat San Jose State 57-3.  UCLA hasn't beaten a good team in a long time.  Stanford hasn't been in a close game against a bad team in a long time.  And after a bye week, the Cardinal will want to get Andrew Luck's Heismann campaign back on track as they light up the over matched Bruins.

at Middle Tennessee State -22.5 Memphis - Bonus game this week.  The Memphis Tigers are incredibly bad.  Somehow, they managed to beat the Blue Raiders last year for their lone win of the year.  Another case of payback and the Tigers will lose.

Great primetime games this weekend with Alabama vs Florida and Nebraska vs Wisconsin (like the Gators to pull the upset and the Badgers to get by the Huskers).  Enjoy.