Picks Trying Not to Suck: Week 5
And just like that, we're all knotted up heading into week five.
Blatant Homerism--Week 5
(Last week: 2-3; Overall: 11-9)
Maryland at Indiana (-4)
Terrapins coach Randy Edsall is dealing with a defense that was already beaten up before losing starting defensive end Quinton Jefferson for the season. Of note, Maryland just allowed 370 yards rushing to, ahem, Syracuse on 7.3 yards per attempt. Behind running back Tevin Coleman, Indiana is pounding out roughly 6 yards per carry.
You do the math.
The pick: Hoosiers give the Terps a rude welcome into the Big Ten.
Arkansas (+9) vs. Texas A&M
*JerryWorld
There is definitely a chance that the Aggies could boat race the Razorbacks. Still, A&M hasn't faced a grinder like this one yet, as South Carolina gave up on its run game pretty early in the Aggies' biggest win.
Don't forget that a weak Arkansas team last season gave A&M all it wanted.
The pick: Hogs lose by 4.
Texas Tech (+14) at Oklahoma State
I get that it's nuts to pick the Red Raiders after they lost their defensive coordinator and got worked over two weeks ago by Arkansas. Screw it. OSU plays a different kind of style on offense from the heavy Hogs, and it's one that Tech is better-equipped to at least slow down.
Oklahoman columnist Berry Tramel likened Kliff Kingsbury to Anna Kournikova in an article this morning. Last year, Jenni Carlson of the same outlet labeled Tech overrated. At some point, the Red Raiders will get tired of this, right?
The pick: OSU 38, Tech 31.
Appalachian State at Georgia Southern (-19.5)
The line on this game is up from 15, and I still don't think it's high enough. The high-flying Eagles are looking for revenge after getting trounced by Appy St. last season, and they've got the offense to do it.
The pick: GSU by 30.
Northwestern at Penn State (-10)
I'm a little scared that this line isn't higher, but I'm still backing the Nittany Lions. Have you seen Northwestern?
The pick: PSU.
The Skinny--Week 5
(Last week: 4-1; Overall: 11-9)
Maryland +4
North Carolina +15
Duke +7 (lock of year thus far)
Cincinnati +16
Tennessee +17