As I sit here watching Washington shutout Christian McCaffrey and Stanford at the half, I'm thinking I'm pretty smart for only picking Saturday games this week.
The Huskies were in the top 10 without playing anybody, but now they won at Arizona and are on their way to a big win over Stanford. Chris Petersen's team could very well be the team to beat in the PAC-12.
Here are my picks for Saturday's games. Overall record: 31-12 (6-4 last week).
23 FLORIDA (-11) AT VANDERBILT 11am
Pick: Florida
The Gators looked like a top flight team for a half at Tennessee, and then looked completely overmatched in the second half. Vanderbilt believes it will see the first half Gators Saturday off West End. The key for the Dores is to get off to a fast start and see if they can rattle a shaky Florida psyche. Unfortunately, I think the stout Gators' defense will corral Ralph Webb and the Dores' running game and make them one-dimensional, which should mean the Gators' offense can do enough to get them back on track.
22 TEXAS AT OKLAHOMA STATE (-1.5) 11am
Pick: OSU
This series has provided some of the wildest comebacks and finishes I've seen, especially in Stillwater. This seems like an even matchup on paper, but I give Ok State the advantage at quarterback with Mason Rudolph. Expect him and prolific wide out James Washington to connect often enough to give the 2-2 'Pokes a much needed win.
14 Miami (-7.5) AT GEORGIA TECH 11am
Pick: Miami
I'm not sure Miami is as good as its unbeaten start indicates but it's got experience, led by veteran QB Brad Kaaya, and the Hurricanes played well on the road already this year. As many times as Mark Richt had to prepare teams at Georgia to face Paul Johnson's triple-option attack the Hurricanes should be well prepared for this critical early season game in the ACC Coastal.
NORTH CAROLINA AT 12 FLORIDA STATE (-10.5) 2:30pm
Pick: FSU
After a slow start to the year Dalvin Cook finally got going last week against USF, rushing for a career-high 267 yards and two touchdowns. Expect Cook and the Seminoles to do more of the same against UNC, outdueling Mitch Trubisky and a potent Tar Heels' offense.
8 WISCONSIN AT 4 MICHIGAN (-10.5) 2:30pm
Pick: Michigan
The Badgers have been the biggest surprise of the young season, beating LSU at Lambeau Field and pounding Michigan State in East Lansing last week. Amazingly, the schedule actually gets tougher as Wisconsin now has to go to the Big House to face Michigan before getting Ohio State at home and going to Iowa. This is the week the schedule catches up to them. Wilton Speight and the Michigan passing attack will challenge that stout Wisconsin defense in a way that neither LSU or Michigan State could.
11 TENNESSEE (-3.5) AT 25 GEORGIA 2:30pm on Newschannel 5
Pick: Tennessee
Nick Chubb won't be completely healthy if he's even able to give it a go on his injured ankle, and I think the Bulldogs got exposed last week at Ole Miss. Meanwhile, the Vols head between the hedges a confident bunch having outscored Florida 35-7 in the second half of that streak busting win last week. I expect Bob Shoop's defense led by Derek Barnett to carry over their great play against the Bulldogs, and for the Vols to pull away in the second half again.
9 TEXAS A&M (-17.5) AT SOUTH CAROLINA 3pm
Pick: Texas A&M
The Aggies can't afford to look ahead to next weekend's showdown with Tennessee in College Station, but should be able to simply outclass South Carolina. OU transfer Trevor Knight has stabilized the A&M offense, and the defense is nasty led by All-American defensive end Myles Garrett.
MEMPHIS AT 16 OLE MISS (-14.5) 6pm
Pick: Ole Miss
The Tigers finally broke through and got a landmark win over the Rebels last year, but Justin Fuente's now coaching at Virginia Tech and Paxton Lynch is playing QB in the NFL. Mike Norvell and UT transfer Riley Ferguson have done a good job so far replacing them, but the Ole Miss defense is big enough and athletic enough to slow them down. I also expect Chad Kelly to have a big game after a forgettable performance a year ago in Memphis.
KENTUCKY AT 1 ALABAMA (-36) 6pm
Pick: Alabama
The Wildcats got a much needed SEC win last week against South Carolina, but this is a nearly impossible task. Even if UK can score against a stingy Bama defense, I don't think it's defense will provide much resistance to Jalen Hurts and the Crimson Tide offense.
3 LOUISVILLE (-1.5) AT 5 CLEMSON 7pm
Pick: Clemson
It's a testament to just how incredible Lamar Jackson has been this season that Louisville is actually favored in a game in Death Valley against a Clemson team that finished reached the national championship game last year. DeShaun Watson and the offense haven't quite got going yet this year, but Brent Venables' defense has reloaded. I think this is the night the Tigers put it all together, boosted by an electric crowd.
