Picks Trying Not to Suck: Week 3
BH put up another above-.500 showing last week by a half point. Another tough one for The Skinny, though.
Onward and upward.
BLATANT HOMERISM--Week 3
Last week: 3-2; Overall: 6-4
Virginia at Connecticut (-4)
I've had this one circled forever. (Sick, I know.) UVa traveled all the way to Eugene last week for a date with the Oregon Ducks. This Saturday, it's an afternoon kick in Storrs. I can't imagine a greater contrast in styles for the Hoos, either.
The pick: Fading UVa in a spot that is about as situational as you can get.
Florida State (-2) at Louisville
I made this game closer to FSU -6.5. I'll begrudgingly trust my numbers and roll with the 'Noles.
The pick: FSU by a TD.
Michigan State at Notre Dame (-7.5)
Mark Dantonio has a long memory. Don't think this is the year he gets payback.
The pick: Fighting Irish 34, Sparty 21.
USC (+8) at Stanford
Like MSU, Stanford had a bye last week. Not a fan of taking a week off this early in the season. The Trojans, on the other hand, got their minds right last week after looking past Alabama in the opener, apparently.
Clancy "Bad Ass" Pendergast should have his defense ready for the Cardinal's one-tricky pony of an offense. Granted, Christian McCaffrey is more like a thoroughbred, but you get my drift.
The pick: Stanford by not enough, if at all.
East Carolina at South Carolina (-3)
I'm looking for the Pirates to come out a little flat after continuing their mastery of the ACC last week. Beating North Carolina State gets the Shania Twain from me, anyway.
Will Muschamp should have his squad pretty fired up for his debut in Columbia, and I imagine it's not lost on him that he needs to capitalize on winnable games this year.
The pick: Gamecocks, 11-5.
THE SKINNY--Week 3
Last week: 1-4; Overall: 2-8
Pittsburgh (+6) at Oklahoma State
Alabama at Ole Miss (+10.5)
Georgia (-6.5) at Missouri
Houston (-7.5) at Cincinnati
Iowa State at TCU (-24)