Picks for Oct. 29

A lousy week last weekend going 2-4 and dropping the season record to 19-16-1.  Tulane...how can you lose to Memphis on your homecoming?  Oh, well.  A new week and new picks and they're all road favorites.

Stanford -7.5 at USC - The Trojans are playing well and had a very nice win last week against Notre Dame.  USC is quietly becoming a pretty good team, even with the sanctions against them.  Unfortunately, they're playing the Cardinal, who is loudly becoming a great team, a team that's winning like those USC teams in 2003-2005.  Much like Washington last week, this is a huge step up in opponent for USC and they are going to get torn apart by Andrew Luck, the running game and Stanford's physical-never-stop attitude.  The Cardinal won't quit like the Fighting Irish did last week.

Oklahoma -13.5 at Kansas State - Kansas State has had a very nice season, coming into the game 7-0, and doing it without the normal cupcake schedule Cocah Bill Snyder puts together.  Oklahoma laid an egg last week at home against Texas Tech, coming out flat and having to rally to make it close (and two missed field goals away from winning it).  The Sooners still control their destiny for the Big 12 title, but they need to win out.  They take the first step today, as the defense and offense come out on fire and blow out the Wildcats.

Wisconsin -7.5 at Ohio State - The Badgers were slightly exposed last week and I've been concerned with their run defense since the opening game where UNLV was able to run on them.  But the Buckeyes aren't very good this year and Wisconsin is going to want to get the bad taste of last week's Hail Mary loss to Michigan State out of their mouth.  Russell Wilson throws for three touchdowns and Wisconsin wins comfortably.

West Virginia -6.5 at Rutgers - The Mountaineers had the stage to themselves last Friday night and were embarassed by Syracuse.  They're on national television again and get a chance to show that last week's poor play was an aberration.  Rutgers will not be able to keep up with West Virginia if the Mountaineers play like they can.  This one gets ugly early.

Central Michigan -7 at Akron - The Chippewas should have no trouble with the Zips.  Akron is averaging 16 points per game and giving up almost 36.  The Chippewas are only 2-6, but they've been scoring points in their losses.  This time, the points will be more than enough as they get their third win.