Picks Trying Not to Suck: Week 2
BH hopped out to a quick start with a 4-1 opening week. It's all downhill from here.
Blatant Homerism -- Week 2
(Last week: 4-1; Overall: 4-1)
Missouri at Toledo (+3.5)
Wait... At Toledo? Mike Slive would like a word, Mizzou.
There was so much going on last week that the Tigers' opener versus FCS foe South Dakota State rightfully went relatively unnoticed. It wasn't really an awe-inspiring performance. Without Michael Sam, Kony Ealy, Dorial Green-Beckham, Henry Josey and James Franklin, Mizzou muddled through.
The Rockets return 16 starters from the squad that played the Tigers tough in Columbia last year, and Alabama transfer Phillip Ely has taken the reins at QB.
Gary Pinkel doing his former employer a solid is nice, but it's going to cost his current one here.
(I liked the number better at 6, obviously, but I think Toledo gets this outright.)
The pick: Rockets... I'm taking the Rockets...
Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt (+20)
*LP Field, Nashville
Ancient gambling proverb: For some actions, there is a greater than equal and opposite reaction.
The pick: 'Dores.
Michigan State at Oregon (-12)
Our buddy Chris Brown of Smart Football put out an article on Grantland this week that might have you thinking Sparty has a shot to win this game. If you haven't read it yet, do so. It's a great look inside the defensive scheme that has made MSU one of the toughest outs in college football.
Now, I'm not saying you need to forget about what you read. It's just not going to matter here. For all the talk of physical opponents "figuring out" Oregon's turbo-charged offense – Stanford, for example – very few teams have really done it. Michigan St. hasn't seen an opponent with a quarterback of Marcus Mariota's caliber and speed and athleticism at the offensive skill positions in quite a while. Oh, and the Ducks are coming at you at breakneck speed. In Eugene.
The pick: Oregon rolls.
Central Michigan at Purdue (-3)
Yes, I'm backing on Purdue. Quit looking at me that way.
This is mainly a play against the Chippewas, who may be without star wideout Titus Davis and are already missing suspended starting receiver Andrew Flory.
The pick: More like Pur-do.
Colorado State (+10.5) at Boise State
I'll admit up front that I'm in the tank for Jim McElwain's Rams after watching them beat the tar out of Colorado. The addition of Dee Hart to the CSU backfield gives McElwain a nice focal point for his offense.
(As an aside don't be shocked if McElwain is eventually Nick Saban's heir apparent at Alabama, not Kirby Smart.)
Also, I'm still in wait-and-see mode on Bryan Harsin at Boise.
The pick: I'll go ahead and put the Broncos on upset alert. Definitely taking the points.
The Skinny -- Week 2
(Last week: 2-3; Overall: 2-3)
Michigan State (+12) at Oregon
Northern Illinois (+7) at Northwestern
Akron (+14) at Penn State
Kansas State (-12) at Iowa State
Texas Tech at UTEP (+20.5)