WEEK THIRTEEN - Top 25 Preview (Part II: Top 10)

#1 Alabama is IDLE

#2 Texas Tech at #7 Oklahoma
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
If this game had been played a week ago it would have been a no-brainer for me. Texas Tech is playing lights out, and honestly, they have been a more impressive team on both sides of the ball than Oklahoma in 2008. Tech brought unmatched fire and desire to their play in the trenches, and Mike Leach's commitment to the running game has given opposing defenses something to think about.

BUT, the week off might have given the Red Raiders too much time to think about their success. Plus, will leaving the friendly confines of Lubbock make all those holding calls magically reappear? Despite being one of the most penalized teams in the Big XII, they seemed to get away with a lot in those two big games against Texas and Oklahoma State.

So how does Oklahoma win this game? Sam Bradford and Gerald McCoy. Bradford will keep up his remarkably consistent high level of play if the Sooner O-Line can keep his shirt clean. Gerald McCoy, one of the best defensive tackles in the nation, will have the exact opposite effect on Graham Harrell.

Oklahoma will jump out to their usual fast start and build a big first half lead, but don't ever count the Red Raiders out. They'll mount a comeback, but come up just short. If the Sooners win, get ready for the national media to go crazy giving them more credit than they deserve.
J.Pike's Pick: Oklahoma 34, Texas Tech 31

The Citadel at #3 Florida
(Saturday, 12:30 pm, Sun Sports PPV)
Gotta love the way these SEC teams schedule. This might end up backfiring on the Gators actually. If the starters play past the first quarter in this game, I think it will kill the momentum they have built up over the last several weeks. Get those backups in early and treat this game like an off week or risk losing your feel for playing against the speed of the SEC.
J.Pike's Pick: Florida 58, The Citadel 7

#4 Texas is IDLE

#5 USC is IDLE

#6 Georgia is IDLE

24 BYU at #8 Utah
(Saturday, 5 pm, The Mtn.)
The Holy War should be a good one this year. BYU has a potentially explosive offense, but will they be able to move the ball against Paul Kruger, Stevenson Sylvester, and the Utah defense? I don't think so. Utah quarterback Brian Johnson will continue the Utes magical season with another solid day, but kicker Louie Sakoda will be the hero.
J.Pike's Pick: Utah 22, BYU 16

#13 Michigan State at #9 Penn State
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC/ESPN 2)
This will be a good old fashioned Big Ten game in the cold. Expect three yards and several clouds of dust because both teams will rely on their running backs to get things done. Penn State is the better team defensively, and I think they'll be able to slow down Javon Ringer.
J.Pike's Pick: Penn State 23, Michigan State 13

Michigan at #10 Ohio State
(Saturday, 11 am, ABC)
Don't get caught up in all the blowout talk. Ohio State is good, and they'll win this game, but that defense is possibly the most overrated unit in the nation. They have some solid players, but there isn't enough speed on that side of the ball to compete on a national level. Michigan has a good enough defense to keep the score down, and I won't be surprised if the Wolverines actually have a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter.
J.Pike's Pick: Ohio State 20, Michigan 16

WEEK THIRTEEN - Preview

Michigan (+20½) over Ohio State
Call it a hunch, or call it a reaction to the widely held opinion that Ohio State is going to blow Michigan out – I feel like Michigan will cover this spread. The Wolverines aren’t as bad as their record, and Ohio State doesn’t typically blow people out. Michigan will play one good half and one bad half as usual, but I think the good half will be enough to keep the final score within three touchdowns.

Air Force (+18½) over TCU
I have my concerns over whether TCU will “show up” for this game or not. Even if they do, I’m not sure they can beat Air Force by more than 18 points. The Falcons have a pesky habit of hanging around.

Middle Tennessee (-19½) over North Texas High
There are only two more chances to bet against North Texas this season!

Other games I like, but don’t feel good enough about to give them “Lock” status:
Buffalo (+3½) over Bowling Green
Vanderbilt (-3) over Tennessee
Washington (-7½) over Washington State
Rice (-8½) over Marshall
Tulsa (-28½) over Tulane
Michigan State (+14½) over Penn State
Oregon State (+3) over Arizona
Minnesota (+5½) over Iowa

WEEK TWELVE - Top 25 Preview (Part I: 11-25)

#11 Ohio State @ Illinois

(Saturday, 11 am, ESPN)
Illinois became the first blemish on the Ohio State’s Big Ten record late last season, breaking their 20 game conference winning streak. Don’t think the Illini can’t do it again either. Why? Because they possess Buckeye kryptonite – speed. Juice Williams ran circles around James Laurinaitis and company a year ago, and he and Benn will team up to give the Buckeyes problems again on Saturday. The difference between last year and this year though is quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Pryor will be the main ingredient in holding off a motivated Ron Zook squad as the Buckeyes escape Champaigne with a win.
J.Pike’s Pick: Ohio State 25, Illinois 22

#12 Oklahoma State @ Colorado
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
Colorado is struggling right now. Thanks in large part to the growing number of injured starters, the Buffaloes have lost two of their last three ball games. Oklahoma State is coming off a beat-down suffered at the hands of Texas Tech, but the Cowboys have more than enough offensive weapons to put this game away early.
J.Pike’s Pick: Oklahoma State 41, Colorado 17

#13 North Carolina @ Maryland
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC/ESPN)
Sure, Maryland is a perfect 5-0 at home this year and has defeated all three ranked opponents they have played, but the Terps haven’t played a team like North Carolina yet. Butch Davis has his young team playing the best football of his tenure. Quan Sturdivant (77 tackles) and Trimane Goddard (6 interceptions) lead an improving defense that ranks fourth in the ACC in points allowed. Maryland on the other hand is a poor tackling team with nobody to match up with receiver Hakeem Nicks. North Carolina keeps pace with Miami in the Coastal Division by picking up a clutch road win over Maryland.
J.Pike’s Pick: North Carolina 27, Maryland 17

#14 Missouri @ Iowa State
(Saturday, 5:30 pm, FSN)
Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin are finally getting Missouri back on track. After losing two in a row to Big XII South powers Oklahoma State and Texas, the Tigers have struggled to find their rhythm. Considering Iowa State has the worst pass defense in the conference, it’s safe to assume Maclin will see a fair share of passes. If Iowa State has one advantage it’s in the return game where true freshman Leonard Johnson has shown some flash this year. He might be able to take advantage of Mizzou’s often-lackadaisical special teams to provide a spark and keep the Cyclones in this game. At least for a little bit.
J.Pike’s Pick: Missouri 44, Iowa State 20

#15 Michigan State is IDLE

#16 TCU is IDLE

#17 Pittsburgh is IDLE

Boston College @ #18 Florida State
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
Florida State is quietly putting together a solid season. After more seasons of mediocrity than ‘Nole fans care to remember, Jimbo Fisher (he’s the head coach now, right?) has paced his team to a 7-2 start. With Boston College coming to town, the Seminoles face their toughest test to date. BC linebacker Mark Herzlich is a menace who will continue making plays all over the field (even on special teams!), and he’ll make sure nothing is easy for FSU quarterback Christian Ponder. Bobby Bowden announced that five wide receivers will be suspended from this game, but none of them are Greg Carr or Preston Parker, so it won’t matter. Everette Brown (9 sacks), Derek Nicholson (10 tackles for loss) and the Florida State defense hold a significant advantage over the BC offense in nearly every category. That’s where the game will be won. The ‘Noles avoid the upset.
J.Pike’s Pick: Florida State 22, Boston College 16

Troy @ #22 LSU
(Saturday, 7 pm, Tiger Vision PPV)
LSU is on the verge of dropping out of the top 25 entirely. After losing big to Florida and Georgia, the Tigers needed a win over Alabama to maintain legitimacy. Well, the game went into overtime, but nobody watching came out of the game with any confidence at all in quarterback Jarrett Lee. Will Lee be able to find a rhythm against a respectable Sun Belt opponent? It probably won’t matter because Charles Scott and Keiland Williams should have a field day running on the nation’s 55th ranked rush defense.
J.Pike’s Pick: LSU 33, Troy 16

#23 California @ Oregon State
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC)
If for no other reason, you should tune into this game for the exciting running backs. Neither Jahvid Best or Quizz Rodgers stand much taller than an Ewok, but the pair has enough speed and athleticism to light up scoreboards and pad highlight reels. Both teams also field solid defenses, so the two mighty mite backs will have to earn their yards today. The difference in this game will actually come down to quarterback play. Cal will be going with Kevin Riley (a huge upgrade over Nate Longshore), who isn’t flashy, but just knows how to win. Lyle Moevao is inconsistent, and facing a Cal defense that leads the Pac-10 with 17 interceptions, I think he’ll make a key mistake down the stretch, probably involving a forced pass that gets picked off by Cal’s stud corner Syd’Quan Thompson.
J.Pike’s Pick: California 23, Oregon State 22

#24 Georgia Tech is IDLE

#25 BYU @ Air Force
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, CBS College Sports)
I love Troy Calhoun and the Falcons. Unfortunately this is a game where BYU’s skill will be too much for Air Force to handle. Harvey Unga, not Max Hall, will be the reason for victory. The bruising sophomore will be able to gain tough yards against the undersized Air Force front which will keep the chains moving.
J.Pike’s Pick: BYU 28, Air Force 24

WEEK ELEVEN - Top 25 Preview (Part I: 11-25)

Utah State @ #11 Boise State

(Saturday, 2 pm)
Utah State is one of the worst teams in Division 1-A and Boise is fighting for a slot in the BCS. This is a no brainer.
J.Pike’s Pick: Boise State 39, Utah State 7

#12 Ohio State @ Northwestern
(Saturday, 11 am, ESPN 2)
Northwestern can’t seem to catch a break, even when they catch a break. Coming off a big win at Minnesota a week ago that featured a game winning interception return for touchdown in the final minute, the Wildcats learned they will have to take on Ohio State without the services of tailback Omar Conteh. Conteh was filling in for Tyrell Sutton, who is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Backup quarterback Mike Kafka filled in nicely for C.J. Bacher (also injured), but I doubt he’ll run for over 200 yards against the Ohio State defense like he did against Minnesota. That doesn’t leave a lot of scoring options for Northwestern.
J.Pike’s Pick: Ohio State 24, Northwestern 13

Kansas State @ #14 Missouri
(Saturday, 6 pm, FSN)
Now that the Wildcats know Ron Prince won’t be their head coach next season, will they step up or fade away? If they decide to step up and play for their lame duck coach they have the offensive weapons to make this a game. If they don’t, Missouri, who is struggling with regaining national respect after back to back losses to Oklahoma State and Texas earlier this year, will blow them off the field. I’ll give the benefit of the doubt to Jeremy Maclin and Chase Daniel.
J.Pike’s Pick: Missouri 52, Kansas State 27

Purdue @ #15 Michigan State
(Saturday, 11 am, Big Ten Network)
What do you know? If you take Curtis Painter out of the lineup and give the ball to Kory Sheets 30 times Purdue wins. After struggling to score all season, Joe Tiller made the move to Justin Siller at quarterback (because Painter was “injured”) and gave Sheets his carries and the Boilermakers scored 48 points on Michigan. They won’t produce the same against a superior defense, but if Tiller goes with the same formula I give Purdue a realistic shot at knocking off 15th ranked Spartans - especially if they can slow down Javon Ringer the way Wisconsin did a week ago (54 yards on 21 carries).
J.Pike’s Pick: Michigan State 24, Purdue 17

#18 Georgia Tech @ #16 North Carolina
(Saturday, 11 am, Raycom/ESPN360.com)
Neither of these teams were considered top 25 teams in the preseason. Now it’s November and Butch Davis and Paul Johnson each appear to have their teams in the ACC Coastal Division race to stay. That means this could develop into an interesting rivalry over the next few years. This year’s matchup will come down to which offense is able to move the ball the most consistently. Georgia Tech has the best defensive line in the conference. 6-foot-7 Michael Johnson is a beast off the edge and Vance Walker is a major disruptor in the middle. North Carolina isn’t bad up front either because sophomore tackle Marvin Austin is one of the best young players in the ACC. So which offense is better suited to keep the chains moving? At first glance it would appear to be Georgia Tech. Johnson’s triple option offense has been grinding up ACC foes all year and the Yellow Jackets are healthy for the most part. North Carolina on the other hand is without their top playmaker Brandon Tate, who is out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury. Quarterback T.J. Yates has also missed the last several games with an ankle injury, but Cam Sexton has filled in admirably. Look for the UNC defense to stay disciplined and keep the Ramblin’ Wreck from breaking a long run in this game, as wide receiver Hakeem Nicks steps up on offense to provide a big play or two in the passing game.
J.Pike’s Pick: North Carolina 23, Georgia Tech 20

Louisville @ #19 Pittsburgh
(Saturday, 11 am, Big East Network)
Here we go again – another weak Big East matchup to pick. For those of you out there complaining about Utah potentially getting a BCS bowl bid, you need to refocus your argument. The Mountain West Conference actually deserves to get a team into the BCS this year. The Big East on the other hand does not. Who in the Big East is capable of beating any of the top three teams (Utah, TCU, BYU) in the Mountain West? West Virginia? Pitt? South Florida? Cincinnati? UConn? Louisville? I’d say none of the above. So quit complaining about Utah making a BCS game and start complaining about the Big East getting an automatic berth.
J.Pike’s Pick: Pittsburgh 33, Louisville 27

Michigan @ #23 Minnesota
(Saturday, 11 am, ESPN)
Has Michigan given up on this season? From the looks of last week’s defensive meltdown against Purdue one might think so. Minnesota is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Northwestern on their home field, but the Gophers are still a surprising 7-2. Tim Brewster must be doing something right, so I think they rebound and pick up a win over the floundering Wolverines.
J.Pike’s Pick: Minnesota 24, Michigan 21

#24 Cincinnati @ West Virginia
(Saturday, 6 pm, ESPN U)
Tony Pike is back and playing with a broken arm. He’s got playmaking wideout Marshawn Gilyard at his disposal, but unfortunately the junior superstar doesn’t play defense. Cincinnati will struggle to keep up with Nimble Noel Devine. Pat White and new offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen have slowly been adapting to one another, but finally seem to be on the same page. Pat White being on top of his game is bad news for Cincinnati.
J.Pike’s Pick: West Virginia 30, Cincinnati 28

San Diego State @ #25 BYU
(Saturday, 1 pm, the mtn.)
Here’s some fun stats: BYU is 8-1, SDSU is 1-8.
BYU scoring offense: 35.7 points per game;
SDSU scoring defense: 35.7 points per game;
BYU quarterback Max Hall averages 305.9 passing yards per game;
SDSU allows 292.8 rushing yards per game;
I’ll save you the trouble – it all adds up to a big BYU win.
J.Pike’s Pick: BYU 35.7, San Diego State 10

WEEK NINE - Spotlight Game of the Week

#3 Penn State

at
#4 Ohio State

(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)

When Penn State has the ball
Penn State holds a huge five letter advantage over Ohio State: S-P-E-E-D. The last four losses suffered by the Buckeyes have all been at the hands of opponents with the speed to take advantage of those slow footed linebackers, and the Nittany Lions definitely have their share of speedsters.

The thing I like about Penn State so much this year is their balance offensively. Not just the fact that they average 234.6 rushing yards and 253.1 passing yards per game, but the number of different styles they can beat you with.

First there’s Bo Jackson Trophy candidate Even Royster in the backfield. He’s a bruiser that wears down defenses as the game goes along, but he also has deceptive speed that has allowed him to run for enough big gains to pad his average all the way up to 7.7 yards per carry! Then when defenses get tired of taking the beating from Royster, freshman Stefphon “Warp Speed” Green comes into the ball game.

Penn State can also spread the field and beat you throwing the football. You won’t find a more veteran trio of receivers in the nation than Jordan Norwood, Deon Butler, and Derrick Williams. All three are seniors with great speed and the smarts to get open in clutch situations. The Ohio State secondary is pretty good, but these guys will be able to get open and make key third down grabs to keep the chains moving. And don’t forget that Williams is one of the most dangerous punt returners in the nation too.

But the most impressive part about this Nittany Lion offense so far this year has been quarterback Darryl Clark. Clark entered the season as an unknown quantity that barely beat out big armed Pat Devlin for the starting job. All he has done is play as well as any quarterback in the Big Ten. Clark is a better than average passer, which makes his scrambling skills even more effective. All in all, he rounds out the offense perfectly.

The Ohio State defense has taken some hits recently, and deservedly so. The blowouts they have suffered at the hands of USC, LSU, and Florida were partly due to the lack of speed on that side of the ball. Penn State has speed and they’ll be able to score when they need to Saturday night.

When Ohio State has the ball
Freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor has given the Ohio State offense some much needed playmaking ability. With his running ability now a permanent fixture in the offense, defenses aren’t able play vanilla and shut down the Buckeyes.

If there’s one aspect of Pryor’s game that has been a surprise, it’s his passing touch. He has made some very nice throws this year and it’s only a matter of time before he gains consistency and becomes a star.

Unfortunately he doesn’t get much help from the current crop of receivers. Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie are two non-factors in games like this because they refuse to help their quarterback out. Both of these guys would rather complain to the officials and keep their uniforms clean than actually go up and make a catch in traffic. Against a ballhawking Penn State secondary that includes Anthony Scirrotto, that sort of attitude will lead to interceptions.

That means the onus offensively will be on the Buckeyes running game. Chris Wells entered the season as a Heisman Trophy candidate but has since fallen out of the race after missing several key games early with a toe injury. Wells is almost back to full strength so you can be sure Jim Tressel will use him early and often Saturday night.

Pryor also has excellent athleticism and can make defenders miss in the open field. He’ll need that athleticism because Penn State features one of the best pass rush duos in the nation in ends Aaron Maybin (10 sacks) and Josh Gaines (3.5 sacks). The Penn State defensive line has been so good this year that blitzing is rarely necessary. That has freed up the linebackers to make plays elsewhere, which will come in handy against Ohio State as they will be freed up to track Wells and Pryor.

All in all, there don’t appear to be many advantages for Ohio State on this side of the ball. If Terrelle Pryor isn’t making plays with his feet, points may be few and far between against the Nittany Lion defense.

Final Verdict
In short, I think Penn State is just a much better team than Ohio State right now. That’s not a knock against the Buckeyes, it’s more of a statement about how good Penn State is right now. There also don’t happen to be many matchups in this game that favor Ohio State. Even though it’s in The Horseshoe, Penn State will cruise to an easy victory and stake a claim to not only the Big Ten title, but to a berth in the national championship game as well.

J.Pike’s Pick: Penn State 32, Ohio State 16

National Championship Race - One Loss Teams

Since a team with at least one loss has won the national title each of the last two seasons, it’s only logical to take a look at the one-loss teams that are still in position to grab a berth in the BCS Championship Game should the teams ahead of them in the poll falter. Here are the six teams I think have the best chance.

OKLAHOMA (6-1)
Remaining Schedule: @Kansas State, Nebraska, @Texas A&M, Texas Tech, @Oklahoma State, Big XII Championship Game
Chance of winning out: 85%
Chance of playing for the national title: 35%
This is probably the best one-loss team in the nation right now. The Sooners have one of the best quarterbacks in the land in Sam Bradford, and the schedule is more than manageable the rest of the way. If Oklahoma wins out, they’ll only need two of the three teams ahead of them in the poll to lose in order to sneak into the national title game.
J.Pike’s Pick: 11-1, BCS Bowl

GEORGIA (6-1)
Remaining Schedule: @LSU, vsFlorida, @Kentucky, @Auburn, Georgia Tech, SEC Championship Game
Chance of winning out: 20%
Chance of playing for the national title: 15%
Speaking of sneaking around, is there a one-loss team getting less attention right now than Georgia? For a preseason #1 ranked team, there isn’t much hype around the Bulldogs. Sure they have suffered a ton of injuries, especially along both lines, but there are still championship caliber pieces in place. The Dawgs had better get used to hotels because their next four games are all on the road. The next two weeks against LSU and Florida in particular will give Mark Richt’s squad a chance to jump right back into the thick of things – don’t be surprised if they make a statement in one or both of those games.
J.Pike’s Pick: 11-2, SEC Champs, BCS Bowl

USC (5-1)
Remaining Schedule: @Arizona, Washington, California, @Stanford, Notre Dame, @UCLA
Chance of winning out: 70%
Chance of playing for the national title: 25%
We all know the drill by now. USC is talented, no doubt. But don’t let the media fool you into thinking these are the best 22 players in the nation - there’s a reason the Trojans have lost two games each of the last two seasons. The players at USC tend to read their press clippings and buy into the hype. That’s why subpar teams like Stanford and Oregon State are able to knock them off. That’s also why I think somebody else (Arizona this weekend?) will knock them off again this year, driving them out of the national title race for good. Until Pete Carroll can lure leaders like Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush to Los Angeles again, USC will be nothing more than an over-talented, underachieving media darling.
J.Pike’s Pick: 10-2, Pac-10 Champs, BCS Bowl

OHIO STATE (7-1)
Remaining Schedule: Penn State, @Northwestern, @Illinois, Michigan
Chance of winning out: 20%
Chance of playing for the national title: 10%
Nobody wants to hear it, but Ohio State is quietly positioning themselves for yet another run at a berth in the BCS National Championship Game. After debacles in that game each of the last two seasons – not to mention a debacle in Southern California earlier this season – nobody wants to see the Buckeyes in a position to get blown out on a national stage again. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor has taken over the offense and is crafting a new identity for Ohio State. Luckily for all of us he doesn’t have any help in the receiving corps, and the defense is too slow footed to beat Penn State, so Ohio State’s string of title game appearances will end this bowl season.
J.Pike’s Pick: 10-2, BCS Bowl

FLORIDA (5-1)
Remaining Schedule: Kentucky, vsGeorgia, @Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Citadel, @Florida State, SEC Championship Game
Chance of winning out: 25%
Chance of playing for the national title: 10%
I keep going back and forth on Florida. One week I’ll think they have enough speed to beat just about anybody, then the next week I’ll realize Urban Meyer’s offense is just smoke and mirrors with no real running game. The Florida/Georgia game will eliminate one of the two from the national title race for good, but the Gators can’t afford to overlook Kentucky, Vanderbilt, or South Carolina or they’ll get upset again.
J.Pike’s Pick: 10-2, no BCS bowl

LSU (5-1)
Remaining Schedule: Georgia, Tulane, Alabama, Troy, Ole Miss, vsArkansas, SEC Championship Game
Chance of winning out: 10%
Chance of playing for the national title: 2%
The defending national champs suffered a seeming knockout blow two weeks ago when they lost 51-21 to Florida. The Tigers need to win this weekend against injury-riddled Georgia to hang on to any hopes of defending their crown. Alabama also comes calling in early November, so the chances going back to back are slim.
J.Pike’s Pick: 10-2, no BCS bowl

WEEK EIGHT - Top 25 Preview (Part II: Top 10)

Ole Miss at #1-t Alabama
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, CBS)
If Ole Miss hadn’t already pulled an upset over Florida earlier this season, I’d be tempted to pick them here. But you can be sure Nick Saban let his team know about that upset every day the last two weeks in preparation for this game. Alabama will lose a game this year because of their inconsistent passing game, but I don’t think it will be this one. They’ll need to make a few plays late in this one though because Houston Nutt can coach and his Rebels will be ready to play.
J.Pike’s Pick: Alabama 23, Ole Miss 22

#9 Missouri at #1-t Texas
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
There’s no way Chase Daniel will play as bad as he did last week again. He hasn’t had a game that bad the past two years and he’ll be going up against a young Texas secondary. If Will Muschamp can mix up the coverages the way Oklahoma State did and confuse Daniel, who often makes his decision on who to throw the ball to before the snap, Texas will be able to hold Mizzou’s potent offense to a reasonable score. But it only takes one mis-step by one of the freshmen safeties for the explosive Jeremy Maclin to take it to the house. Texas is playing with an edge this year – the chemistry and leadership on this team is as good as you’ll find anywhere. Colt McCoy might not win the head-to-head quarterback battle, but his team will get the win by playing better football in all other aspects of the game.
J.Pike’s Pick: Texas 38, Missouri 31

Michigan at #3 Penn State
(Saturday, 3:30 pm, ESPN)
Michigan is in trouble. At 2-4, their record string of 33 consecutive bowl appearances appears to be in jeopardy. That’s why the Wolverine defense will show up here to prove to the nation they aren’t quitters. Make no mistake, Penn State is on a mission this year and they won’t lose this game at home. But don’t be surprised if the Michigan defense keeps it reasonably close.
J.Pike’s Pick: Penn State 27, Michigan 10

#14 Kansas at #4 Oklahoma
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC)
You can’t ask for more in a head coach than Kansas has in Mark Mangino. His teams play some of the smartest football in the land and they rarely make mistakes. The problem is the talent isn’t on Oklahoma’s level. Kansas will play it close thanks to a passing game that features Todd Reesing and Kerry Meier. But the running game won’t get anything against the Oklahoma defense, and that will be the difference in the game.
J.Pike’s Pick: Oklahoma 42, Kansas 28

Vanderbilt at #5 Georgia
(Saturday, 11:30 am, Raycom/ESPN360.com)
Please fasten your seatbelts and return your tray tables to their upright and locked positions Vanderbilt fans because you are now in the descent portion of your season. I love the effort of this team, and head coach Bobby Johnson is still one of the most underrated commodities in the nation. But they don’t have the talent to compete throughout the season against the likes of Georgia. Watch out though because Vandy’s secondary is legit and they’ll give Matt Stafford a hard time. Knowshon Moreno is the Dawgs not-so-secret weapon and he’ll be the difference in the game.
J.Pike’s Pick: Georgia 27, Vanderbilt 13

#6 Ohio State at #16 Michigan State
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC/ESPN 2)
This should be a good old fashioned Big Ten football game. Will Master Tressel be able to maintain his edge over his protégé Mark Dantonio? I’m going to tentatively say yes – but the student is most definitely closing the gap on his teacher. Javon Ringer will prove that he is better than Beanie Wells, but it won’t be enough. The Ohio State defense will take away MSU’s passing game, eliminating their balance. That will allow the remarkably poised freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor to lead the Buckeyes to a late touchdown drive to win the game.
J.Pike’s Pick: Ohio State 19, Michigan State 16

#7 Florida is idle

#10 USC at Washington State
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, FSN)
Washington State is one of the worst teams in the nation thanks to the limited roster new head coach Paul Wulff inherited. USC is still in a post-Leinart/Bush lull – Mark Sanchez threw 3 interceptions last week against a lifeless Arizona State team. USC will win by 30 on talent alone, but I’m still not convinced they are a dominant force.
J.Pike’s Pick: USC 48, Washington State 12

Gameday Commentary - 10 pm

*If anybody figures out the Maryland Terrapins, please let me know. Their 31-0 loss to Virginia is the most unexplainable score of the day.

*Texas once again looked like one of the best teams in the country. The Texas defense is starting to play at a championship caliber level. The front four looks like they can put pressure on anybody - Brian Orakpo is an All American. The secondary is young, but they played their best game of the season against Colorado. Offensively, Colt McCoy is playing great at quarterback right now, which is good because the running game hasn't gotten going yet. The only rushing yards Texas will get next week against Oklahoma will be on McCoy scrambles.

*Terrelle Pryor looked great on a touchdown drive in the final minutes to beat Wisconsin. He was calm, cool, and collected; he made clutch throws (which Brian Hartline tried to fumble away - go figure), and made a nice run on an option keeper for the game winning score with just over a minute left in the game.

*Jeremy Maclin is fast.

WEEK SIX - Top 25 Preview (Part II: Top 10)

Kentucky at #1-t Alabama
(Thursday, 2:30 pm, CBS)
This would be the perfect moment for Alabama to come crashing back to earth. The Tide is riding high off a huge win over Georgia a week ago and their promotion to the top of the polls. Kentucky has quietly snuck out to a 4-0 start thanks to an experienced defense that is capable of shutting down Bama if the players’ hearts aren’t in it. But I don’t think Nick Saban will let that happen. Not this week anyway.
J.Pike’s Pick: Alabama 23, Kentucky 10

#1-t Oklahoma at Baylor
(Saturday, 11:30 am, FSN)
Robert Griffin is a force to be reckoned with, and I have a feeling he and Art Briles will actually get the Baylor program turned around. But right now the Bears simply don’t have enough else around Griffin to beat Oklahoma. Briles will have his kids playing their hearts out and Baylor fans will be proud of their effort. In fact, don’t be surprised if this is still a game in the third quarter. But OU has too much talent to let one player beat them.
J.Pike’s Pick: Oklahoma 48, Baylor 24

#3 Penn State at Purdue
(Saturday, 11 am, ESPN)
Penn State is playing as well as anybody right now. Evan Royster is quietly becoming a dark horse candidate for the inaugural Bo Jackson Trophy. Quarterback Darryl Clark is spreading the ball around to Deon Butler and Derrick Williams, two speedsters who can take it to the house on any play. Then there’s the defensive line. Now that Maurice Evans is back at defensive end, the Nittany Lions can claim one of the best defensive lines in the nation. Purdue is no match.
J.Pike’s Pick: Penn State 37, Purdue 20

#4 Missouri at Nebraska
(Saturday, 8 pm, ESPN)
Bo Pelini is quickly establishing himself as one of the best defensive schemers in the nation. He may be working with limited talent on the defensive side of the ball (only Cody Glenn and maybe Ndamukong Suh and Zach Potter are truly “Blackshirt” worthy), but he’ll put his guys in the best position to win. I expect to see the Nebraska coaching staff coach circles around the Missouri coaching staff … BUT it won’t matter because Missouri has much better players. Nebraska will make Missouri look bad at times, but ultimately Chase Daniel will continue his push for the Bo Jackson Trophy.
J.Pike’s Pick: Missouri 41, Nebraska 24

#5 Texas at Colorado
(Saturday, 7 pm, FSN)
Colorado’s offensive line is in flux after losing tackle Ryan Miller for the season. That’s not good timing for the Buffs because Texas comes to town with a fast-improving defense that boasts 16 sacks, most in the Big XII. Colt McCoy also happens to be playing as well as anybody in the nation right now (see his 80% completion percentage and improved strength and speed in the running game). Colorado will need to play the whole game with the immediacy and aggressiveness they displayed in the first quarter against West Virginia if they are to have a chance to win.
J.Pike’s Pick: Texas 34, Colorado 16

#6 LSU is Idle

#7 Georgia is Idle

#8 Ohio State at #18 Wisconsin
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
Wisconsin’s loss to Michigan a week ago was troubling because Michigan doesn’t look like a team with any skill on offense. If Steven Threet gave this Badger defense troubles in the second half, what is Terrelle Pryor going to do? Wisconsin is a solid team, but Ohio State is in the process of shaking off the USC knockdown punch and re-establishing their dominance in the Big Ten. Wisconsin will barely be a speed bump on their road back to the top 10.
J.Pike’s Pick: Ohio State 27, Wisconsin 17

#22 Oregon at #9 USC
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
This will be a good game. More importantly though – when is Mitch Mustain going to transfer again? There’s no way he’s ever going to see the field at USC, so why isn’t his momma speaking up for him?
J.Pike’s Pick: USC 34, Oregon 27

WEEK FIVE - Top 25 Preview (Part II: Top 10)

#1 USC at Oregon State
(Thursday, 8 pm, ESPN)
Everybody remembers what happened the last time the Trojans visited Corvalis. The Beavers pulled off the upset, ending USC’s 27-game Pac-10 winning streak. In this matchup, the Rogers brothers bring a lot more speed to the table than Ohio State did two weeks ago, so there could be trouble brewing. Throw in one of the most underrated playmakers in the nation in Sammie Stroughter and you have what could be a recipe for another upset. But Mark Sanchez is no John David Booty, and the young Oregon State defense has struggled in the early going. Oregon State’s speed on offense will make the USC defense will look human for the first time all season – if only for a few series. But overall USC is too good and too prepared to get upset again.
J.Pike’s Pick: USC 34, Oregon State 24

#11 Alabama at #2 Georgia
(Saturday, 6:45 pm, ESPN)
Spotlight Game of the Week [LINK]
J.Pike’s Pick: Georgia 24, Alabama 20

#24 TCU at #3 Oklahoma
(Saturday, 6 pm, FSN)
Here’s another game that featured a landmark upset a couple years ago. When TCU knocked off Oklahoma in the 2005 season opener, it marked the start of the Rhett Bomar era. That was not a pleasant season in Norman. Luckily Bomar the Ballhog is gone, and in his place is the remarkably efficient Sam Bradford. TCU is good defensively, but I don’t think they can contain Oklahoma for four quarters anymore. Oklahoma gets their revenge.
J.Pike’s Pick: Oklahoma 33, TCU 13

Arkansas at #4 Texas
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC)
This game was postponed due to Hurricane Ike a couple weeks ago. The only thing that happened between then and now is that Arkansas played like a JV team against Alabama and got beat 49-14. Arkansas is flat out bad defensively. The offense is semi-capable, but Casey Dick is prone to throwing bad interceptions, so he’ll give Texas’ young secondary a much needed boost of confidence. Colt McCoy is quietly playing as well as anybody right now, and he’ll guide the offense to another big day.
J.Pike’s Pick: Texas 38, Arkansas 21

Ole Miss at #5 Florida
(Saturday, 11:30 am, Raycom/ESPN360.com)
Ole Miss has a history of beating Florida, so don’t be surprised if this game is still in doubt in the fourth quarter. Florida’s offense hasn’t yet hit its stride, but the defense is more than picking up the slack. Ole Miss has been completely rejuvenated thanks to the arrival of Houston Nutt. Quarterback Jevan Snead will play well, but in the fourth quarter the Florida defense will rise up and force him into the mistake that ruins the upset bid.
J.Pike’s Pick: Florida 32, Ole Miss 20

#6 Missouri is Idle

Mississippi State at #7 LSU
(Saturday, 6:30 pm, ESPN 2)
Mississippi State has one of the worst offenses in college football and LSU is coming off a big win at Auburn. The LSU defense could probably win this game by themselves. Put Derek Pegues on offense!
J.Pike’s Pick: LSU 37, Mississippi State 3

#19 Illinois at #8 Penn State
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
Evan Royster, Darryl Clark and the Penn State offense has been fantastic in guiding the Nittany Lions to a 4-0 start. The Illinois defense on the other hand has struggled with tackling in the early going. That doesn’t bode well for the Illini. Throw in the fact that Penn State’s defense, which has been playing as well as anybody this year, could possibly be bolstered by the return of their best defensive lineman, Maurice Evans, from suspension. Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn are good, but I don’t think they have enough help around them.
Watch Evan Royster – he’s good.
J.Pike’s Pick: Penn State 34, Illinois 20

#9 Wisconsin at Michigan
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC/ESPN)
Michigan is going to need their defense to step up if they are going to win any games this season. The offense just isn’t there yet and they will turn the ball over. Wisconsin on the other hand has their running game in high gear already. Hosses P.J. Hill and John Clay have been pounding people to the tune of 518 yards and 7 touchdowns in only three games so far this season. Look for that duo to wear down a feisty Michigan team and win it in the fourth quarter.
J.Pike’s Pick: Wisconsin 20, Michigan 14

Minnesota at #10 Ohio State
(Saturday, 11 am, Big Ten Network)
Don’t let Brent fool you – Minnesota isn’t very good. Sure, they have a 4-0 record, but that’s only because they beat the same cupcakes they managed to lose to a year ago. Ohio State on the other hand has found new life with Terrelle Pryor as the full time quarterback. He brings a new dimension to the offense that Todd Boeckman lacked. Chris “Beanie” Wells is also expected to be back in the lineup after missing the last two games with a toe injury. Look for the Buckeyes to put together their most complete game of the season as they beat up and out-coach the inferior Golden Gophers.
J.Pike’s Pick: Ohio State 37, Minnesota 13

Week Four Preview

UPSET WATCH

Central Florida @ Boston College
Why it could happen: The Boston College offense isn’t very good. Central Florida played a whale of a game against rival South Florida and proved that they could play a little defense.
Why it won’t happen: Central Florida’s offense isn’t very good either. Michael Greco is a better quarterback than Chris Crane, but BC’s defense is good enough to shut down the Golden Knight offense.
J.Pike’s Pick: Boston College 17, Central Florida 13

Boise State @ #14 Oregon
Why it could happen: Oregon is down to their third quarterback this season. Projected starter Nate Costa blew out his knee in fall camp, and actual starter Justin Roper injured his knee last week against Purdue. Boise State on the other hand still has RB Ian Johnson to carry the load.
Why it won’t happen: The Oregon secondary will force Boise State’s freshman quarterback Kellen Moore into a couple key turnovers, and Oregon’s two-headed rushing attack, which will get a lot of work thanks to the quarterback issues, will wear down the smallish Boise defense.
J.Pike’s Pick: Oregon 28, Boise State 17

Troy @ #8 Ohio State
Why it could happen: If Ohio State doesn’t recover mentally from their beat-down against USC, Troy has just the team to pull the upset. The Trojans play a fast paced spread offense that has enough speed to give the Buckeyes trouble.
Why it won’t happen: Even if the Buckeyes are pouting, they still have too much talent to lose this game. Jim Tressel is a smart coach that gets his team to beat the teams they should beat no matter what. It will be way closer than any Ohio State fan wants, but they just need a win to get back on the right track.
J.Pike’s Pick: Ohio State 26, Troy 22

UPSET WARNING

#18 East Carolina @ N.C. State
Why it will happen: Tom O’Brien knows a thing or two about football in the trenches and he’ll neutralize ECU’s apparent advantage in that area. The line play will allow quarterback Russell Wilson enough time and space to guide a steady offense, control the clock, and pull off the upset.
J.Pike’s Pick: N.C. State 24, East Carolina 20

WEEK FOUR - Top 25 Preview (Part II: Top 10)

#1-t USC is Idle

#1-t Georgia at #23 Arizona State
(Saturday, 7 pm, ABC)
Some of the luster was worn off this game when Arizona State lost to UNLV last week – a classic case of the old look-ahead. Either way, Georgia should cruise in this one. The Bulldog defense is fast and aggressive, and they’ll look to pressure Rudy Carpenter all night. Carpenter wasn’t great under pressure last year - he was sacked a whopping 55 times - but the O-Line play has been a little better so far this year so the Sun Devils might stand a chance. I don’t see any way to slow down Knowshon Moreno though, so he’ll carry the Dawgs to 4-0.
J.Pike’s Pick: Georgia 27, Arizona State 17

#3 Oklahoma is Idle

#4 Florida at #24 Tennessee
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, CBS)
There’s obviously going to be bad blood in this series. Ever since Steve Spurrier started cracking on Tennessee (“Can’t spell Citrus without UT!”), the Vols have circled this game on the calendar. This year the fuel for the fire comes from last year’s 59-20 thrashing by the Gators, a game in which Tennessee players accused Urban Meyer of running up the score. Well, those players are probably right because that’s exactly what Meyer likes to do – and he’ll probably get a chance to do it again this year. Florida has waaaay too much speed for the Vols. Tennessee was held to 37 rushing yards in this game last season, and I don’t see any reason that won’t happen again.
J.Pike’s Pick: Florida 34, Tennessee 17

Buffalo at #5 Missouri
(Saturday, 6 pm, FSN PPV)
To say the Missouri offense is playing well right now would be an understatement. Chase Daniel has this offense clicking like few others in recent memory - to the tune of over 600 yards and almost 58 points per game! Buffalo is coming off a win over Temple that featured the play of the week when Drew Willy hit Naaman Roosevelt with a 35-yard game winning touchdown pass on the last play of the game. Turner Gill has the Bulls playing better than ever, but that’s still not enough to slow this juggernaut down. They might be the first team to hold Mizzou under 50 this year though.
J.Pike’s Pick: Missouri 49, Buffalo 23

Rice at #6 Texas
(Saturday, 6 pm, FSN)
Thanks to Hurricane Ike, Texas is coming off an unscheduled bye week and Rice’s home city of Houston suffered severe damages. This game has the look of a shootout. Both teams average 40+ points per game, and the Rice defense allows 33 points per game. Texas will probably be a bit rusty early on as they get back in the swing of things on the field. Don’t be surprised if this is a close ballgame at halftime. But don’t be surprised when Colt McCoy sparks a second half rally to put the feisty Owls away either.
J.Pike’s Pick: Texas 45, Rice 27

#7 LSU at #11 Auburn
(Saturday, 6:45 pm, ESPN)
Breakdown can be found here: [LINK]
J.Pike’s Pick: LSU 16, Auburn 6

Troy at #8 Ohio State
(Saturday, 11 am Big Ten Network)
After getting exposed by USC in prime time last Saturday, there’s no better antidote than getting to face a team from the Sun Belt, right? Well, maybe not. Troy is a perfect 2-0 (mostly because their contest with LSU in week two was postponed) and averaging 48 points per game. Neither of their games were in doubt much past halftime, and the Trojans posted an impressive rout over Oklahoma State a year ago. It’s even possible that Troy will field a faster team than Ohio State. Okay, maybe not, but if Ohio State is feeling too sorry for themselves after their trouncing last week, there is a very real possibility that they could lose this game.
J.Pike’s Pick: Ohio State 26, Troy 22

#9 Wisconsin is Idle

Temple at #10 Penn State
(Saturday, 11 am, Big Ten Network)
Penn State is playing like one of the best teams in the country right now. At 3-0, the Nittany Lions are outscoring their opponents by an average of 43 points per game. Temple comes into this game heartbroken after losing two games in a row on the last play. The Owls can take solace in knowing this one won’t end in a similar fashion because Penn State will win going away and continue their march up the polls.
J.Pike’s Pick: Penn State 37, Temple 10

WEEK THREE - Recap

THE GOOD

*Drew Willy and the Buffalo Bulls knocked off Temple on a last second hail mary. After giving up a go ahead touch down with only 38 seconds left in the game, Willy calmly guided his team down the field and completed the 35-yard touchdown pass to Naaman Roosevelt on the last play of the game for the win.

*The Missouri offense looks unstoppable. If we had to hand out the Bo Jackson Award right now, my vote would be split between Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin. Daniel displayed his deadly accuracy and quick decision making yet again, posting ridiculous numbers (405 passing yards, 4 tds) in only two and a half quarters! Maclin's blazing speed was obviously too much for Nevada's defense as he racked up 172 receiving yards and scored on 3 of his 6 receptions. And if you think these are the only two weapons on the offense, you're wrong - three other receivers each grabbed 6 passes and went over 100 yards in the game. Wow.

*BYU and quarterback Max Hall burst UCLA's bubble. After a nice opening weekend win over nationally ranked Tennessee, Rick Neuheisel and Norm Chow were geniuses. Now UCLA is 1-1 after suffering the school's most lopsided defeat since, like, the '30s. Max Hall was phenomenal. He had a record breaking stat line by halftime (6 touchdown passes in the first half, 7 in the game) in leading BYU to a 59-0 rout.

*Penn State is looking more and more like your Big Ten champs every week. With Ohio State's struggles, the door is wide open for the Nittany Lions. Against a vastly inferior Syracuse team, they didn't disappoint. The starters barely got to play the whole first half in this blowout! The Darryl Clark to Jordan Norwood connection continues to impress, as does running back Evan Royster. Royster might be one of the best kept secrets in the nation right now - he's fantastic. On top of the offensive firepower, the defense only allowed 159 yards and 8 first downs.

*Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford is on a mission to make me look bad for ranking him as the fourth best QB in the Big XII. Bradford simply led the Oklahoma offense to an easy 55-14 victory over Washington in Seattle. The Sooners were never tested thanks to Bradford's efficiency - he threw 5 touchdown passes against only 3 incompletions.

THE BAD

*Cross country road trips were't kind to California and Oregon. Oregon overcame a slow start and 20-6 halftime deficit to beat Purdue in overtime, but Cal wasn't as lucky. Cal had to make the coast-to-coast trip to Maryland, where the game kicked off at noon - or 9 am Berkeley time. They were clearly asleep in the first half as Maryland coasted to an easy 21-6 halftime advantage. This is notable because Maryland was only averaging 14 points PER GAME and was coming off a loss to Middle Tennessee. Cal finally woke up in the fourth quarter and scored three touchdowns, but by then it was too late.

*Oregon could use a quarterback with a bionic knee. A year ago the Ducks season was ruined when they lost potential Heisman Trophy finalist Dennis Dixon late in the season to a knee injury. Backup Nate Costa was already out due to a knee injury so they had to go with Brady Leaf. This season, Costa was projected to be the starter, but he injured the same knee and will be out all year. Then yesterday, Justin Roper injured his knee in overtime and will be out at least two weeks. I'm not sure I would want to play quarterback for Oregon right about now.

*Syracuse. Coach Greg Robinson is obviously on his way out because this team looks completely inept on both sides of the ball. The offense has been awful for years now, but defense was supposed to be Robinson's specialty. Well, this defense is continually out of position and could barely qualify as a speed bump in yesterday's matchup with Penn State's high powered offense.

*Notre Dame and Michigan. Notre Dame won in a downpour, but it looked more like Michigan just gave them the game thanks to 6 turnovers. Rich Rodriguez's offense has a loooooong way to go, there's no question about that. The quarterback play is atrocious, and their best running back right now is Sam McGuffie, who looks like a guy that should be playing in the MAC - not the Big Ten. On the other side of the field, The Ostrich Jimmy Clausen proved yet again that he's the second coming of Ron Powlus with another outstanding stat line: 10-for-21 with 2 interceptions. Notre Dame will make a bowl game because of their lame schedule this year, but don't let that fool you.

*Is there a worse pair of offenses than those featured in the Auburn/Mississippi State game last night? The final score was 3-2. Granted, both defense are pretty good, but those two offenses are putrid. Mississippi State quarterback Wesley Carroll has lead-feet. Even if he had time in the pocket, he couldn't complete a pass beyond the line of scrimmage. I expect that kind of play from the Bulldogs, but shame on Auburn. New offensive coordinator Tony Franklin has that offense headed in the wrong direction. I don't know why they decided to abandon the strong running game they've had for so many years, but now their short yardage running game is embarassing. And the trade off is Chris Todd at quarterback? Ugh. On top of that, Auburn committed numerous holding penalties (one in the end zone that gave Mississippi State their only 2 points in the game) and had a ton of problems with hand-offs that led to two crucial turnovers in the fourth quarter. Auburn scored 3 points in this game, and I think it's an indication of things to come for that offense the rest of the year.

THE GAME OF THE WEEK

*No surprises here. USC dominated Ohio State from start to finish, which falls in line with Ohio State's recent woes in big games. The Buckeyes defense struggled mightily against the speedy Trojan offense, proving once again that they don't have the speed on that side of the ball to compete on a national stage. Joe McKnight ran circles around James Laurinaitis and company, and Mark Sanchez proved he's going to be a step up from John David Booty. I think both teams are right about where we expected them to be.

WEEK THREE - Spotlight Game of the Week

#3 Ohio State
at
#2 USC

(Saturday, 7pm, ABC)

When Ohio State has the ball
Jim Tressel said he is “doubtful” for the game, but obviously Chris Wells is going to play a role. He sat out last week nursing his injured toe and the Ohio State offense really struggled against an Ohio defense that isn’t exactly up to USC standards. Can Beanie put the offense on his back and get the tough yards consistently? I believe he will be a factor early in the game.

However, the USC defense is extremely athletic and should be able to keep Wells from dominating the game. Middle linebacker Rey Maualuga and defensive tackle Fili Moala will play a big role in minimizing Wells’ rushing yards. Maualuga in particular is up for the challenge.

The wild card in the game plan is of course Terrelle Pryor. Pryor was used sparingly against Ohio, but I don’t blame Jim Tressel for that. Why give USC any ideas about how you are going to use your most versatile playmaker? Don’t be surprised if Pryor plays quarterback in a key series or two in the second half to jump start a lethargic offense.

Where I see USC having the biggest advantage over the Ohio State offense is in the passing game. Todd Boeckmann is a steady quarterback, but I don’t think he’s the kind of guy that can take over a game and make big throws when the game is on the line. Part of that has to do with what I consider to be average receiver play. Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie have never impressed me. They don’t like to go up and get the ball in traffic, choosing instead to lay back and whine to the official to try to get a pass interference call. That’s not going to produce anything other than punts in this game.

The USC corners will play physical against Robiskie and Hartline, which I believe will make the receivers a non-factor. That will in turn free up All American safeties Taylor Mays and Kevin Ellison to support the run or roam the field and create turnovers.

When USC has the ball
The one factor that has been holding the USC offense back the last two years has been quarterback play. John David Booty was a serviceable quarterback and he did a good job with his limited abilities, but Mark Sanchez appears to be up to the high standard set by Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. If that is indeed the case, you can count on the USC offense scoring points at will again this season, no matter the opposition.

That doesn’t bode well for Ohio State on Saturday night. In the past two national championship games the Ohio State defense was abused by the speed of their opponents – Florida and LSU combined to score a whopping 79 points! Even against Ohio last weekend they weren’t able to stop the running game, and looked somewhat lost defending the spread offense. USC has the same kind of speed Florida and LSU had, and are obviously way more efficient offensively than Ohio.

I believe Ohio State has a good chance of stopping the USC ground attack. Joe McKnight is a flashy running back, and he might break a long run here, but overall I think the strength in the Buckeye front seven will beat him up a little bit and keep the rushing yards to a minimum.

However, Malcolm Jenkins and the Ohio State secondary could be in for a long day. USC has a lot of depth at wide receiver and I can see Damian Williams having a big day. If Mark Sanchez is up to the task, they’ll connect on a long touchdown pass at some point that will remind you of the “old days” of the early/mid ‘00s. That’s when you’ll know Ohio State is in trouble.

Final Verdict
The key to the game will be the play of Mark Sanchez. If he plays as well as he did opening weekend against Virginia and shows good accuracy on the deep ball, USC will win. If he’s turning the ball over and getting pressured into incompletions, Ohio State will have a chance.

The USC defense looks to hold a significant advantage over the Ohio State offense on paper. It’s going to be a chore for the Buckeyes to put points on the board unless Terrelle Pryor plays a major factor. Beanie Wells will get his yards early, but when the Buckeyes need to convert in passing situations I think they’ll end up punting more often than not. That will lead to more of a dependence on the passing game and it won’t matter if Wells is healthy or not.

J.Pike’s Pick: USC 31, Ohio State 17

Thanks to The Helmet Project for the sweet helmet logos.

Gameday Commentary - Morning Games

Ohio State 26, Ohio 14
Ohio State actually trailed early in the 4th quarter of this game against Frank Solich's Bobcats. The Buckeyes were clearly playing vanilla football, but they displayed zero emotion until the fourth quarter when a Roy Small punt return for touchdown broke the game open.
J.Pike's Thoughts:
*Ohio State is going to struggle to score against USC next week. The running game struggled mightily against Ohio, most notably not being able to pick up a 4th and short at one point in the first half. Granted, Beanie Wells wasn't playing and he'll be a factor, but the bigger problem is that Ohio State's receivers are average at best. Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline just don't want to go get the ball, and you better believe they'll need to make a play or two against USC to avoid three-and-outs on every series.
*The Ohio Bobcats played a great game. Solich had his team ready to play and they looked like they belonged on the same field as Ohio State. Even when starting quarterback Theo Scott went down with an injury in the first half, Boo Jackson stepped right in and showed the same poise in directing the offense against what appears to be a slightly overrated Buckeye defense.

Michigan 16, Miami(OH) 6
Michigan looked pretty decent jumping out to a 10-0 lead early in the first half, but basically had to hold on to beat a scrappy Redhawk team that wouldn't go away.
J.Pike's Thoughts:
*Miami(OH) punter Jacob Richardson put himself firmly in the running for the inaugural Sproles/Sauerbrun Award for Special Teams player of the year. His booming punts single-handedly kept Miami in the game. He finished the day with 7 punts for a 54 yard average, landed 4 punts inside the 20 yard line, and boomed a 74 yarder at one point.
*Michigan doesn't have a quarterback. Steven Threet can run pretty well for a 6'6" guy, but his accuracy in the passing game leaves a lot to be desired. He missed just about every open receiver beyond five yards the whole game. Nick Sheridan is a more accurate passer, but he doesn't have a good arm and can't execute the zone read play as effectively. It will be a chore for Michigan to put points on the board this season.
*Daniel Raudabaugh played a good game for Miami(OH). He was by far the best quarterback on the field today, displaying good arm strength and the ability to make some very good touch throws - as long as he isn't rushed.

Georgia Tech 19, Boston Colleg 16
Persistency was the key for Georgia Tech's running game today. After running up against the brick wall that is BC's front seven for about three quarters, Jonathan Dwyer finally busted a 43-yard touchdown run on an option pitch midway through the fourth quarter to put the game away. Tech finished with 166 rushing yards, and only 240 total yards in the game, but it was enough to secure the win and a 2-0 start for new coach Paul Johnson.
J.Pike's Thoughts:
*I was wrong. Chris Crane is no Matt Ryan. Crane struggled mightily, taking a safety, throwing two interceptions, and making several other poor throws that should have been interceptions as well. The BC defense is good, but they'll need at least a little help from the offense if they are going to win games in the ACC this year.
*Paul Johnson is off to a great start so far in his Georgia Tech coaching career. His team wasn't as good as the Boston College team overall, but they won the fundamentals battle. His commitment to the running game paid off and they have a solid enough defense that they are going to win some games in the ACC this year. A bowl game is definitely in store.

WEEK TWO - Top 25 Preview (Part II: Top 10)

Ohio at #1-t Ohio State
(Saturday, 11 am, ESPN)
Vanilla is the name of the game here. The Ohio State defense will shut down Frank Solich’s offense so there’s no need to give USC any worthwhile film for next week’s showdown. Don’t expect to see anything fancy, especially when it comes to Terrelle Pryor. Beanie Wells will sit this one out to rest his injured toe.
J.Pike’s Pick: Ohio State 27, Ohio 3

Central Michigan at #1-t Georgia
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ESPN360.com)
Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour is basically Tim Tebow-lite. He should give the Georgia defense a nice warmup test for that Cocktail Party looming on the horizon. CMU prides themselves on their offense, but they haven’t faced a defense as speedy and athletic as they’ll face this weekend in Athens. Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno should have no problems with an outmatched Chippewa defense.
J.Pike’s Pick: Georgia 35, Central Michigan 17

#3 USC is off

Cincinnati at #4 Oklahoma
(Saturday, 2:30 pm, ABC)
Some are calling for this to be a close game, but I don’t see it. Few teams start out a season as strong as Oklahoma, and I’m not sure Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly will ever be ready for a non-conference matchup like this one. OU will dominate in the trenches and Cincinnati will commit stupid penalty after stupid penalty as the frustration grows. Look for the Sooners to put this one away early. Cincinnati will score some garbage points late to make the score look more respectable though - it’s what Ben Mauk would have wanted. That and about eight more years of eligibility.
J.Pike’s Pick: Oklahoma 48, Cincinnati 26

Miami at #5 Florida
(Saturday, 7 pm, ESPN)
This is the game of the week. Miami’s strong recruiting class appears to be paying dividends already, especially on defense. The youngsters are injecting some much needed energy back into the program. Florida on the other hand fancies itself a serious national title contender due to a rather ridiculous stockpile of speed. The Gator defense is improving and I think they’ll be the difference in this game as the offense continues to struggle to find a running game outside of Tim Tebow. Prediction: Tebow will discover the cure for cancer during this game. He’s THAT good.
J.Pike’s Pick: Florida 32, Miami 20

#6 Texas at UTEP
(Saturday, 9:15 pm, ESPN 2)
A UTEP defense that gave up 42 points to Buffalo a week ago is no match for Texas. The UT offensive line will manhandle UTEP in the trenches allowing Colt McCoy to execute the offense flawlessly until the blowout is significant enough to pull the starters. That will probably happen sometime in the third quarter. New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp will take the opportunity to nail home his schemes to the young Texas defense, preparing them for their first big test against Oklahoma in a few weeks.
J.Pike’s Pick: Texas 45, UTEP 17

Southeast Missouri State at #7 Missouri
(Saturday, 6 pm, FSN PPV)
No explanation necessary for this one. Missouri has a powerhouse offense led by Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin, two legit Bo Jackson Award candidates. Southeast Missouri State is a 1-AA team that won three games last year. Game over.
J.Pike’s Pick: Missouri 66, Southeast Missouri State 20

Troy at #8 LSU
Postponed due to Hurricane Gustav

Southern Miss at #9 Auburn
(Saturday, 11:30am, Raycom/ESPN360.com)
The Auburn offense isn’t fully up and running yet under new coordinator Tony Franklin. Southern Miss on the other hand was firing on all cylinders offensively last week against Louisiana Lafayette. The Auburn defense is quite a step up in competition though. The Ragin’ Cajuns were able to run the ball effectively against Southern Miss, so I expect Auburn to win this game with defense and a strong performance by Ben Tate. But it will be a struggle from start to finish.
J.Pike’s Pick: Auburn 26, Southern Miss 16

#10 West Virginia at East Carolina
(Saturday, 3:30pm, ESPN)
East Carolina isn’t underrated anymore. The Pirate defense and special teams introduced themselves to the rest of the nation last week when they upset Virginia Tech. They also possess a young quarterback in Patrick Pinkney who can make plays with his arm and his feet, and he’ll give the porous West Virginia defense some headaches. But Pat White is still suiting up for the Mountaineers, so they’ll ride him to yet another victory.
J.Pike’s Pick: West Virginia 27, East Carolina 20