College Football Pick-Em: Week 4

Last week's pick went pretty well, expect for the upset special.   This week features some huge SEC games and an important home stand for Boise State (your 2010 BCS National Champions).  Here are the picks for Week 3:


Wake Forest at Florida State-These two teams had opposite showings last week.  The Seminoles bounced back from their loss in Norman with a strong victory over BYU.  The Deamon Deacons were utterly dominated by Stanford and have yet to show any ability to stop a good offense.  The Noles have a great offense and should be able to win this game easily.  Florida State 37, Wake Forest 21

North Carolina State at Georgia Tech- The Wolfpack have looked very strong this year and should make a real game out of this one.  Russell Wilson is an excellent quarterback and has yet to throw an interception.  However, the Yellow Jackets are still trying to forget their loss at Kansas and Paul Johnson will not allow another slip-up against an inferior opponent, especially one in-conference.  Joshua Nesbitt and Anthony Allen finally got the option running properly last week against North Carolina and they should continue their stellar play this week.  Plus, the game is a white-out and Bobby Dodd Stadium should be rocking.  Georgia Tech 27, North Carolina State 21

South Carolina at Auburn-This SEC showdown will be a match-up of strength versus strength.  The Tigers have the SEC's #1 rushing offense and the Gamecocks have the SEC's #1 rushing defense.  The key to the game for the Tigers will be whether Cam Newton can break free and run on the Gamecocks.  On the flip side, South Carolina will need to feed freshman phenom Marcus Lattimore the ball as much as they did in their win against Georgia (37 carries).  I like both of these teams and have gone back and forth on this pick more than a few times.  Ultimately, the winner will be whichever team's Heisman candidate produces more, Cam Newton or Marcus Lattimore.  Auburn 19, South Carolina 16

Oregon State at Boise State- None one in the country scheduled a more difficult early season out-of-conference schedule than the Beavers.  They opened the year against TCU in Jerryworld and now they travel to Boise to play the Broncos on the Smurf Turf.  I really like Oregon State and think they will win the Pac-10, but they just aren't as good as TCU or Boise State.  The Rodgers' brothers will get their yards, but the Broncos will win the game.  They know this is their last, best chance to show the voters they are worthy of a national title shot.  Plus, Boise State simply doesn't lose at home.  Since 1999, the Broncos are 71-2 at home!  Boise State 36, Oregon State 24

Upset Special: Alabama at Arkansas- The Tide have looked outstanding thus far and they will certainly be the more talented team in Fayetteville.  Their defense is suffocating and their running game appears unstoppable.  However, the Razorbacks have a secret weapon the Tide can't counter, Ryan Mallet.  Mallet is arguably the best quarterback in the country and he should still be able to sling it against Alabama.  The Crimson Tide have shut down many different types of offenses since their return to dominance but they haven't played a great stand-in-the-pocket-and-throw-it-down-your-throat team like Arkansas.  Alabama's secondary is very young and will be tested heavily.  This is the biggest home game in Fayetteville in at least 5 years.  The crowd will be rowdy and the team will be excited.  It will take some 4th quarter heroics by Mallet, but Arkansas will pull the upset.  Arkansas 29, Alabama 27

Week 3 Record: 4-1
Overall Record: 12-3