This is the toughest pick box to date. Lots of swing games. Keep the big money away from tonight and tomorrow night’s game. Rutgers-Syracuse, Texas A&M-Arkansas and Toledo-Temple are fraught with emotional intangibles.
TONIGHT
South Florida (-2½) over PITTSBURGH — Having seen Pitt’s offense at work stoppage in a 15-12 loss to Notre Dame, the Profit is emotionally scarred from picking the Panthers, even though they are a Thursday night home dog. Strictly a gut pick. Make your own call.
TOMORROW
BYU (-7½) over Utah State –The Old Wagon Wheel is up for grabs, yee ha! Not sure what to make of the Aggies, who should have won at Auburn. Since then they blew out FCS Weber State and lost 35-34 to Colorado State. Great rushing attack and solid defense will keep them in the game. But the Cougars have this one circled. After losing 31-17 at Utah State last season, coach Bronco Mendenhall fired his defensive coordinator. Cougars cover.
SATURDAY
TEMPLE (-7½) over Toledo — Never picking against the Owls again. Toledo still reeling over last week’s loss at ‘Cuse, in which a Ross Krautman extra point kick that was wide left was ruled good. Owls coming off a 38-7 beat down of Maryland.
Rutgers (+1½) over SYRACUSE — Still waiting to hear from coach Doug Marrone, whom we continue to pick against and he continues to rub the Profit’s snout in it. Orange, with two OT wins, has been living on the edge. Time to fall off.
Penn State (-16½) over INDIANA — The Nittany Lions seem to have found a QB in Matt McGloin. The Hoosiers are anticipating the start of the college basketball season after last week’s loss to North Texas. Nittany Lions can run the ball and Hoosiers can’t stop it.
Texas A&M (-3) over Arkansas (at Arlington, Tex.) — There are signs posted all over College Station that read: “Missing: defense that allowed 21 points in first two games surrendered 27 in second half of 30-29 loss to Okie State. If found, please return in time to face SEC foe, Arkansas.” Aggies are headed to the SEC next season. Hogs are headed to the slaughterhouse after getting rolled by the Tide.
USC (-13½) over Arizona — Arizona is in a free fall. The Wildcats have given up 130 points in their last three games. Matt Barkley is playing well for the Trojans.
Baylor (-3½) over KANSAS STATE — As long QB Robert Griffin III stays healthy, Bears will be a serious threat.
SOUTH CAROLINA (-10) over Auburn — The Tigers are allowing 226 yards per game on the ground. Marcus Lattimore of South Carolina is getting 152. Gamecocks have not forgotten that SEC title game loss to Auburn last season in which Lattimore got knocked out early.
Michigan State (+3) over OHIO STATE — Every time the Profit is about to buy into Michigan State, the Spartans shatter confidence. Last year’s bowl debacle against Alabama, this year’s loss to Notre Dame — here we go again. The Buckeyes are going with frosh QB Braxton Miller in Game 4, just as they did with Terrelle Pryor four years ago. Miller is going to have to complete some passes against the nation’s No. 1 pass defense. Shocker in Columbus.
Clemson (+7) over VIRGINIA TECH — The Tigers are just where you don’t want them to be — on a roll going into a big game. This program has been defined by talent and inconsistency. But they have proven they can play with the big boys. Tech’s Charmin schedule catches up with the Hokies.
FLORIDA (+4) over Alabama — Let me get this straight, a Will Muschamp-coached defense playing at home getting more than a field goal — yum. ‘Bama freshman QB A.J. McCarron is going to have to make some throws against the fastest defense he’s faced. Put him down for two picks.
Nebraska (+9½) over WISCONSIN — Welcome to the Big Ten, Huskers. With all the focus on the SEC teams, the Badgers have the nation’s most balanced offense. Camp Randall will be a rock and Bucky might celebrate, but Wisky’s soft schedule and the Blackshirts +9½ is too much to pass up.
Notre Dame (-12) over PURDUE — The Profit left Heinz Field on Saturday wondering how we put the Irish in our preseason Top 25. But if QB Tommy Rees, who was 8-for-8 passing on the Irish’s game-winning drive, has come of age, the Irish should win and cover for one reason — Purdue lost to Rice.
STANFORD (-20½) over Ucla — See USC-Arizona: Bruins in a free fall and Andrew Luck is, well, Andrew Luck.
BEST BETS: Baylor, Stanford, South Carolina
LAST WEEK: 8-7 overall; 2-1 Best Bets
SEASON: 33-25-2; 8-4