The FSU Girls say hello to everyone again this week and wanted you to know what a great time they had in Provo last weekend. By the way, yet another (4-3) weekend for yours truly, something’s gotta change this week!!!

This is going to be an shortened version of my weekly picks, because the last 2 times I’ve tried to post the picks and posting has disappeared!! So here we go…

Utah vs. Louisville (Utes -14)-This one is a big one for Utah, who badly needs to look good for the first time this season. Especially on defense, which was supposed to be the strength of this team. Utes 27  Cards 20

BYU vs. Colorado State (Cougs -17)-Well it’s back to the drawing board for Bronco’s boys, at least they didn’t do T-shirts this season. Max Hall should be much better today, because he won’t be facing nearly as athletic and pressuring a defense. But don’t sleep on the Fighting Fairchilds, this is a much better Ram Squad. BYU 28 CSU 24

TCU at Clemson (Tigers -2.5)-Guess the Vegas boys aren’t buying into the Frogs yet. I said before the season that if there was going to be BCS Buster out of the MWC it was going to be TCU. I guess we’ll find out today if the Frogs are worthy. Texas Christian University 23 Death Valley 14

Miami at Virginia Tech-(Canes -2.5)-I think that the U is back!! I love Jacory Harris the QB! The Canes went in and won at FSU in the opener, so the road won’t be nearly as difficult. I’m also not convinced Tyrod Taylor is good enough passing the football. Canes 31 Turkeys 20

Calfornia at Oregon-(Bears -5.5) Can Cal handle the hype of being the new “team to beat” in the Pac-10? I love Javid Best, who may be the Heisman front runner right now!! Oregon just isn’t as good as we thought they might be. Oh by the way Ute Fans, Andy Ludwig is doing just fine at Cal…Berkley Bears 38 Wobbly Ducks 21

Arkansas at Alabama-(Tide -18) I so want to pick the Razorbacks in an upset here, because I just can’t stand the arrogance of Saban. Plus I love the marriage of Mallet and Petrino in Fayetteville, but I can’t do it…This will be closer than you think…Elephants 34 Woo Pig Soey 31

Texas Tech at Houston-(Pick’em)-Many thought that the Cougars would be a BCS Buster this season, but most thought it would be BYU not Houston. Keep your eye on Case Keenum, another Heisman potential at QB. Lots of points today at Robertson Stadium. The Other Cougs 44 Red Raiders 35.

If you want to try to win a $50 gift card to ZAGG, then post your prediction on the Utah game in the comment section below…The closest to the final score will win it…

I’m getting an early jump on the college football weekend with my thoughts and picks since I will be traveling to Houston on Friday afternoon. First my thoughts on the the two huge local match ups with “national” programs, Utah at Oregon and BYU hosting Florida State….Speaking of Florida State let’s hope they bring some of the ladies from above to Provo this weekend. Would that be an Honor Code violation? Goodness I miss the South sometimes…

Utah heads to Eugene this weekend with a ton of questions and Autzen Stadium isn’t always the best place to try to answer those questions, it’s one of the most HOSTILE stadiums in all of college football. Question #1 who will be running the football? Matt Asiata is “allegedly” a game time decision with his shoulder issues. If it’s not Asiata then it’s Eddie Wide and Sausan Shakerin toting the pigskin for Kyle’s Kids. Without Asiata I don’t like Utah’s chances to win on the road. Question #2 Can Terrance Cain carry the load on his shoulders in just his 3rd career start? They seem to have kept Cain under wraps for the first two weeks of the season. If they hope to beat Oregon they will need to be much more open and creative than they have been in the first two weeks of the season. I think Cain can do it, the question is…Will they let him? Question #3 Who will kick it and can they make it? Ben Vroman was AWFUL last week against San Jose State and maybe losing his job to Joe Phillips. How good a thing can this be if Phillips couldn’t beat out Vroman through Spring and Fall Camp. Add these questions up and it looks to be a pretty daunting task for the Utes this Saturday. The silver lining to this cloud is the defense, it will keep this game close….

The BYU Cougars play arguably their biggest non-conference home game in almost 20 years this Saturday when Bobby Bowden and the Noles’ come calling. Here’s an interesting read from the Orlando Sentinel. Fewer questions with the Cougs compared to the Utes. We know that BYU is a good football team, not sure yet if they are worthy of their elite ranking, but a win this weekend can just further their BCS-Busting cause….Cougar Question #1 Can the decimated offensive line hold up against the pressure of a Mickey Andrews defense? Andrews the longtime defensive coordinator in Tallahassee knows how to pressure a QB! But if the BYU Hogs can hold them off Max Hall, then there appear to be big plays available to Pitta, Jacobsen and Crew….Question #2 Can the Cougar front 7 get pressure on Christian Ponder? BYU’s front 7 has been surprising effective so far, but will face their stiffest test in the FSU Offensive line this Saturday. FSU can’t run it so if BYU can slow down the pass game, then it should be a “rise and shout” afternoon in Cougartown…By the way, enjoy seeing the legendary Head Coach of the Noles’, Bobby Bowden, while you can…I don’t think he’ll be back on the sidelines again in Provo…

Now on to my weekend College Pigskin Picks….I went (4-3) last weekend in my selections and (8-6) for the season…Let’s hope to be better this weekend…

1. Utah at Oregon-(Ducks -4.5)-See above for my thoughts. I think the atmosphere and the lack of a healthy Asiata might be too much for the Utes to overcome. Sucker Punch U 20 Nation’s former longest winning streak 17

2. Florida State at BYU-(Cougs -7.5)-See above for my analysis. BYU rarely loses non-conference games at home. FSU just isn’t very consistent right now and struggled at home against a 1-AA team a week ago. Not as many points as you might think…Cosmo 24 Chief Osceola 23

3. Nebraska at Virginia Tech-(Hokies -5)-Is Nebraska back? That is the question among the Big Red faithful. Head Coach Bo Pelini has done a really nice job in a little over a season on the job. They are actually playing defense again in Lincoln. This weekend however they will visit Blackburg, Va and face one of the most consistent programs in all of college football. Beamers Boyz lost a tough one in Week 1 against Surly Saban, but I think they will prevail at home against the Skers’…Look for a low scoring affair with the “Blackshirts” keeping Big Red in this one…Turkey’s 21 Harry Husker 17

4. Tennessee at Florida-(Gators -30)-I don’t think this will be a good game at all, I simply selected this to point out how over his head Lane Kiffin is in this job. I could go on and on about Kiffin and his many mis-steps since taking over last winter or illustrate how ill-prepared he is for this job…but instead I will let Gregg Doyle of CBS Sports do it for me. The worst news for fans of the Orange is that Urb and the Gators have been quiet all week long! Yikes!! I guarantee you the “Swamp” won’t be on Saturday. It is the loudest football stadium I’ve ever been to in my life pro or college. Words that come to mind–Woodshed, Beatdown and Bloodletting….Fighting Tebows 56 Little Lane Kiffin 7

5. Texas Tech at Texas-(Horns -17.5)-Remember last season in Lubbock and one of the greatest finishes in College Football History? I guarantee you that Mack Brown and Colt McCoy do!! Red Raiders are breaking in a new QB and Texas might have the 2nd best team in the country. It’s in Austin and McCoy is going after the Heisman..Not a good combination for Mike Leach…Bevo 38 Lubbock Losers 21

6. West Virginia at Auburn-(Tigers -7)-This is my upset special for the weekend. The Mountaineers have been flying under the radar this season since Pat White left to run the “wildcat” in Miami. Auburn has gotten a ton of pub with their new head coach and offensive coordinator. Auburn is the classic team that will play to the level of their opponent and do just enough to win. They also don’t play as well at home as you might think, though Jordan-Hare Stadium is an outstanding venue for college football. Major Harris’ 27 Lionel James’ 23

7. Southern California at Washington-(USC -18.5)-Everyone is callling this a “trap” game for the Trojans. Coming off the huge win at Ohio State and questions about the health of freshman QB Matt Barkley, plus former SC Coordinator Steve Sarkisian running the Husky Program now. DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE (as PE once sang)!!! This is the type of game that Pete Carroll lives for…Aaron Corp will be just fine if he gets the start and USC just has way too much talent…Song Girls 41 Sun Dodgers 17

If you’d like to win a $50 Gift Card from ZAGG…Make your pick on the Utah vs. Oregon game. The person the nails the pick or gets closest will win the gift card. Make you picks below in the comments section and good luck!!!

Sorry these are up a little late…But it’s Weekend #2 of the College Football Season is upon us and these are my Pick 7 of the weekend…..As always if you’d like to win a $50 gift card from ZAGG take a guess at the Utah vs. San Jose State score in the comments section below….Btw…Love the FSU Football Fans…see above

This Week’s Pick 7-

1. Utah vs. San Jose State-(Utah -13.5)–It’s the first road test of the season for Utah, who have won 8 straight roadies and have the nation’s longest winning streak at 15. San Jose State was hammered at SC last weekend (56-3) after looking competitive early. The Spartans are still unsettled at QB and will play 2 on Saturday night. Utah has had 10 days to get ready for this one and should be ready to go. Utes get DE Koa Misi back and should be more sound defensively. If the Utes don’t beat themselves they should roll. Utah 38 SJSU 10

2. BYU at Tulane-(BYU -18.5)-The Cougars and their defense appear to be much improved, which is bad news for Tulane. The Green Wave just aren’t very good. Former UCLA man Bob Toledo has a major rebuilding project in front of him and apparently should be recruiting more Mormon kids. Max Hall and the offense should flourish this week. Big Day for BYU. Cougs 44 Green Tide 13

3. TCU at Virginia-(Frogs -10.5)-It’s the season opener for the Horned Frogs. I’m sure Gary Patterson must have been thrilled with the schedule makers decision to give them a bye in the first week of the season. TCU has to travel across the country, but the good news is that they will be facing a Cavalier team that got beat by William and Mary at 1-AA team last week. Horned Frogs 31 Wahoos 14

4. Notre Dame at Michigan-(Irish -3)- One of the great traditional rivalries in all of college football. Impressed with Jimmy Clausen and the Irish offense last week, but more impressed with the Irish defense shutting out Nevada 35-0. Michigan is still hard to read after they beat Western Michigan a week ago. Both Coaches on the hot seat this year, who needs this one more?? Probably Charlie Weiss because expectations are higher in South Bend. I think the Irish will have too much offense this week for the Wolverines. Arrogant Irish 28 Woeful Wolverines 17

5. South Carolina at Georgia-(Dawgs -7)-There was once a time when both Steve Spurrier and Mark Richt were considered “offensive masterminds”….WHAT HAPPENED? Both the Cocks and Dawgs are struggling to score points these days, but the good news is that their defenses are both pretty damn good. This one is being played between the hedges in Athens. But Georgia has QB issues with Joe Cox out this week. First team to 17 wins….Head Ball Coach 17 UGA 14

6. UCLA at Tennessee-(Vols -10.5)-Two of the greatest football minds will match wits on Rocky Top today. Norm Chow and Monte Kiffin. Offense vs. Defense. What this game really boils down to is athletes. Tennessee has them and UCLA doesn’t (yet)….Hopefully lots of shots of Lane Kiffin’s wife….Fighting Kiffin’s 27 Passion Buckets 14

7. USC at Ohio State-(Trojans -7)-The Buckeyes haven’t beat USC in their last 6 tries, gotta go back to a mid 70’s Rose Bowl. They were embarrassed a year ago in So Cal 35-3. So expect the Sweater Vest to have his boys ready. Pete Carroll will bring true freshman Matt Barkley on the road for the first time, but he will also be bringing that NFL offensive line and weapons. I think the difference in this game is the S-C defense taking care of Terrelle Pryor and the Buckeye offense. Men of Troy 30 The Ohio State University 21.

The AP Top 25 Football Poll came out just a little while ago…The BYU Cougars made a significant jump in this week’s poll….

Bronco’s Boys are now officially a Top 10 Team!! BYU moved from #20 to #9 in this week’s poll courtesy of the upset win (14-13) over the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday night. Oklahoma fell ten spots to #13. BYU is now the highest ranked non-BCS team, 3 spots ahead of #12 Boise State. If they run the table they WILL have a chance to play for the National Title, but let’s remember that’s still at big IF…

The Utes are up 2 spots to #17 after their Thursday night win over Utah State. TCU, who didn’t play this weekend, is up one spot to #16.

Here’s a look at the complete poll….