College Football- Week 9

Before we get started, here is what has happened so far this week in College Football.

FINALS:
North Carolina State Wolfpack 28, Florida State Seminoles 24 (NCST: 6-2, 3-1; FSU: 6-2, 4-1)
Boise State Broncos 49, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 20 (BOISE: 7-0, 3-0; LTECH: 3-5, 2-2)

GAMES OF THE WEEK:
# 5 Michigan State Spartans (8-0, 4-0) at # 18 Iowa Hawkeyes (5-2, 2-1)- 3:30PM at Kinnick Stadium; Iowa City, Iowa on ABC/ESPN
Michigan State is 8-0 for the first time since 1966, and is looking to win the Big Ten outright with a Buckeye-free schedule. However, this is the last big test for Michigan State. This is the one game that could trip the Spartans up. Iowa was a missed extra point and an inbound stop with seconds left away from a win over Wisconsin. Iowa has been solid the past few years, and the Hawkeyes would love to play spoiler for the Spartans.
Pick: Iowa 27-24

# 6 Missouri Tigers (7-0, 3-0) at # 14 Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-1, 2-1)- 3:30PM ; Lincoln, Nebraska on ABC/ESPN
For only the third time in school history, and the first time since 1960, Missouri is 7-0, after holding off Oklahoma 36-27. Nebraska, is going to end Missouri's lucky run in Lincoln on Saturday afternoon.
Pick: Nebraska 28-17

OTHER BIG DIVISION I-FBS TOP 25 GAMES:
# 13 Stanford Cardinal (6-1, 3-1) at Washington Huskies (3-4, 2-2)- 7PM
Washington loves to play spoiler, most recently against USC. Stanford comes up to Seattle on Saturday night, and might get upset by the upset-hungry Huskies, led by Jake Locker.
Pick: Stanford 31-29

# 2 Oregon Ducks (7-0, 4-0) at USC Trojans (5-2, 2-2)- 8PM
The Ducks swim into the Coliseum on Saturday night, and could get upset by USC, who in a normal year, would have been bowl eligible with a win.
Pick: USC 34-27

# 4 TCU Horned Frogs (8-0, 4-0) at UNLV Rebels (1-6, 1-2)- 11PM
Pick: TCU 52-0

Colorado Buffaloes (3-4, 0-3) at # 9 Oklahoma Sooners (6-1, 3-1)- 9:15PM
Last week, Oklahoma got beat by a good Missouri team, and this Saturday night, the Sooners will forget all that by making the Buffaloes extinct in the Big 12.
Pick: Oklahoma 47-8

# 11 Ohio State Buckeyes (7-1, 3-1) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (1-7, 0-4)- 8PM
The last time the Buckeyes played outdoors at night, the Buckeyes were exposed for the imposters that they were, down 21-0 against Wisconsin real early in the game, before a failed attempt at a comeback in a 31-18 loss to the Badgers. The last time the Bucks played at Minnesota in the outdoors was 1981 (Reagan was President, Rubik's Cube was the latest fad, MTV was born and only aired music videos, NBC was still in third place, the 49ers were up and coming), in which the Gophers beat the Buckeyes before spending the next 27 years in the Metrodome. However, the Buckeyes won't have a problem tomorrow night, because Minnesota is so awful, and Ohio State forgot about the fact that they are overrated by pasting Purdue 49-0 last week. The Buckeyes will forget that they are overrated for one more week.
Pick: Ohio State 27-0

# 8 Utah Utes (7-0, 4-0) at Air Force Academy Falcons (5-3, 3-2)- 7:30PM ET
Pick: Utah 37-17

# 25 Baylor Bears (6-2, 3-1) at Texas Longhorns (4-3, 2-2)- 7PM ET
This is a role-reversal, because Baylor isn't usually known for anything, and Texas is. However, Baylor is ranked in this matchup for the first time in years, and Texas isn't. However, Texas needs a win to salvage their season and reputation.
Pick: Texas 38-21

Kentucky Wildcats (4-4, 1-4) at # 21 Mississippi State Bulldogs (6-2, 2-2)- 7PM ET
Pick: Mississippi State 28-6

Vanderbilt Commodores (2-5, 1-3) at # 19 Arkansas Razorbacks (5-2, 2-2)- 7PM ET
Pick: Arkansas 42-0

# 1 Auburn Tigers (8-0, 5-0) at Ole Miss Rebels (3-4, 1-3)- 6PM ET
Auburn is the new # 1 in the ESPN/BCS poll after Oklahoma's fall from the top last week. The Tigers will more than likely stay there with Heisman hopeful Cam Newton leading the way.
Pick: Auburn 34-13

# 15 Arizona Wildcats (6-1, 3-1) at UCLA Bruins (3-4, 1-3)- 3:30PM ET
Pick: Arizona 20-17

Tennessee Volunteers (2-5, 0-4) at # 20 South Carolina Gamecocks (5-2, 3-2)- 12:20PM ET
Pick: South Carolina 35-7

# 22 Miami Hurricanes (5-2, 3-1) at Virginia Cavaliers (3-4, 0-3)- Noon ET
Pick: Miami 45-17

# 17 Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-1, 2-1) at Kansas State Wildcats (5-2, 2-2)- Noon ET
Pick: Oklahoma State 26-22

Utah State Aggies (2-5, 1-3) at # 24 Nevada Wolf Pack (6-1, 1-1)- 10:30PM ET
Pick: Nevada 35-0

OHIO ATHLETIC CONFERENCE:
Mount Union Purple Raiders (7-0, 6-0) at Otterbein Cardinals (4-3, 3-3)- 1:30PM ET
The last time the Purple Raiders were in Westerville, both Otterbein and Mount Union faced off in a battle of the unbeatens at 8-0. It almost happened last year, as well, but Otterbein lost a week before the game at Marietta. The Purple Raiders have won the last 30 meetings, dating back to 1980. The last time Otterbein played Mount Union close was 1991, as all but a few of the last 30 Mount Union wins over Otterbein were by more than a touchdown. Last year, the Purple Raiders jetted off to a 41-0 halftime lead on their way to a 58-7 win. Anyway, back to 2008. The last time Mount Union was here, they took over the game, from the opening kickoff, literally, as Otterbein kick returner John Wahler fumbled the ball away to Mount Union, which set the tone for that game, a 49-20 Purple Raider victory, in what was a packed house at Memorial Stadium. That was a banner year for the host Cardinals, who made the playoffs for the only time in 2008. While they won't make the playoffs this year, the Cardinals will be playing for pride (and later a third consecutive winning season) in their home swan song of 2010, before finishing with Marietta and Wilmington, who are a combined 2-14. As usual, this one will be over by the end of the first quarter.
Pick: Mount Union 64-0

John Carroll Blue Streaks at Capital Crusaders (both 3-4, 3-3)- 1:30PM ET
Pick: John Carroll 33-20

Baldwin-Wallace Yellow Jackets (6-1, 5-1) at Muskingum Muskies (3-4, 2-4)- 1:30PM ET
Muskingum was 3-1, right? Well, Muskingum is now paying the price for their cakewalk start, after being buried in a 49-14 avalanche in Westerville last week against Otterbein. Expect the Muskies to be stung hard by B-W.
Pick: Baldwin-Wallace 42-7

Ohio Northern Polar Bears (6-1, 5-1) at Marietta Pioneers (2-5, 1-5)- 1:30PM ET
Pick: Ohio Northern 56-0

Heidelberg Student Princes (3-4, 2-4) at Wilmington Quakers (0-7, 0-6)- 6PM ET
Pick: Heidelberg 13-6

OTHER DIVISION I FBS GAMES OF NOTE:
Michigan Wolverines (5-2, 1-2) at Penn State Nittany Lions (4-3, 1-2)- 8PM ET
Sophomore Matt McGloin will start for the Nittany Lions after Rob Bolden was injured in last Saturday's win over Minnesota. However, after a bye week, Michigan returns in an attempt to salvage what mess they have under Rich Rodriguez. This is usually the part where Michigan slides down the black hole of despair. This is an iffy game to pick, because Bolden is hurt (a) and (b) the game is in Happy Valley.
Pick: Find out Saturday at 8PM on ESPN (Michigan 28-27)

Florida Gators (4-3, 2-3) vs. Georgia Bulldogs (4-4, 3-3) at EverBank Field, Jacksonville, FL- 3:30PM ET on CBS
These two SEC rivals meet again, and look for the Bulldogs to overpower Florida, which has been hurt by the graduation of one Timothy R. Tebow.
Pick: Georgia 41-14

Clemson Tigers (4-3, 2-2) at Boston College Eagles (2-5, 0-4)- Noon ET
Pick: Clemson 37-7

Tulsa Golden Hurricane (4-3) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-4)- 2:30PM ET on NBC
Fox Sports Commentator Jason Whitlock has commentary on the tragedy that took place on Wednesday at Notre Dame's practice, and the aftermath.
Pick: Notre Dame 38-10

Duke Blue Devils (1-6) at Navy Midshipmen (5-2)- 3:30PM
Don't worry, Duke fans. Basketball season is almost here.
Pick: Navy 43-13

NORTH COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE:
Allegheny Gators (5-2, 3-1) at Wabash Little Giants (6-1, 4-0)
Pick: Wabash 28-20

Denison Big Red (3-5, 1-3) at Oberlin Yeomen (2-5, 1-3)
Remember when Denison was 3-0? I surely forgot, but Denison has a good shot at winning and snapping their five-game losing streak against the Yeomen.
Pick: Denison 24-13

Hiram Terriers (1-6, 1-2) at Wooster Fighting Scots (3-4, 2-1)
Pick: Wooster 28-3

Kenyon Lords at Ohio Dominican Battling Bishops (both 0-7, 0-3)
Pick: I'm not touching this one with a 40-foot pole

The Wittenberg Tigers (8-0, 4-0) are off this week after a 27-21 overtime win at Carnegie-Mellon.

OTHER CENTRAL OHIO COLLEGES:
Ohio Dominican Panthers (2-5 both overall and in GLIAC play) at Lake Erie College Storm (1-7, 1-6)
Ohio Dominican, after an 0-5 start have won back-to-back games, besting Findlay 20-10 and Tiffin 41-21, and now head up to the Cleveland area for a third straight win against the struggling Storm of Lake Erie College. The Panthers look like they will weather this Storm, who also picked up their first win of the year against Findlay, last week in a 48-45 shootout.
Pick: Ohio Dominican 28-9