Sorry for the delay in getting the picks up. We were waiting on the Sensei, who we finally tracked down as his students were making their way into the dojo. Apparently, he’s been “really busy” and hasn’t had a chance to give the 45 seconds that he puts into these picks and get them back to us. So we’ll be adding them later. Phil is a half game up in the race, but neither team is doing much to pull away. A .500 week would be enough to probably claim the lead.
Cal at Oregon State (-3)
Phil: True Freshman RB Jacquizz Rodgers, who ran all over USC in a week four upset of the Trojans, is a stud but Cal should have the athletes to slow him down. Oregon State control’s their own destiny in the Pac-10, and I just don’t see them winning the conference. In fact, I see Cal going to Corvalis Saturday and winning this game outright.
The Pick: Oregon State
Keith: I can never figure out Cal. They always seem to play USC well, but they just continue to have horrific QB play. Going to Corvallis isn’t easy, but it’s a 12:30 afternoon start. Someone USC is going to end up in the Rose Bowl, and they’ll have Cal to thank.
The Pick: Cal
North Carolina at Maryland (+2.5)
Phil: Maryland is 5-0 at home and 3-0 this year against opponents ranked in the Top 25. They also had a two week stretch where they beat Delaware by a touchdown and lost to Middle Tennessee State. So they aren’t that great. I don’t think Butch Davis has North Carolina back for good yet, but they have a tough enough defense and efficient enough offense to hand Maryland there first home loss of the season.
The Pick: North Carolina
Keith: Nobody gives the Fridge points at home… I can’t figure out North Carolina. ND had them beat, but they snuck away. Last week, they throttled Georgia Tech. I’ll stick with the home team here, just because it’ll help create more anarchy in the ACC.
The Pick: Maryland
South Carolina at Florida (-23)
Phil: Florida is playing about as good as anyone in the country right now, but 23 points in an SEC game involving Spurrier coming back to the swamp seems like too much. I can definitely see the Gators rolling the Gamecocks but I think the USC defense will have enough to keep this one fairly close.
The Pick: South Carolina
Keith: I’ll probably be wrong, but I don’t think the Ol’ Ball Coach should be 23 point dogs to the squad he put on the map. Even if Florida is playing probably the 2nd best football in the country.
The Pick: South Carolina
Ohio State at Illinois (+9.5)
Phil: (For some reason, he didn’t write anything here. He said today that he thought Illinois sucked though.)
The Pick: Ohio State
Keith: I think Ohio State is going to enact some revenge on Illinois, especially after the Illini took out the Buckeyes last season. It looks like crappy weather, and Ohio State strikes me as a much better crappy weather team, probably because their offense seems like crappy weather. If that makes any sense…
The Pick: Ohio State
Oklahoma State at Colorado (+17.5)
Phil: I’d love to take the home team in this one, but Colorado is just too young and is missing too many offensive lineman to keep this game close. I’d love to be wrong and have the Buffs pull of the upset in a night game at Folsom field, if only for the fact that I would definitely be charging the field after the win.
The Pick: Oklahoma State
Keith: Nobody puts Cody Hawkins in the corner. (Yeah, I just quoted Dirty Dancing. It’s going to be rocking at Folsom, and Okie State has to be a little deflated from the loss last week. Maybe that don’t win, but I see this game being competitive.
The Pick: Colorado
SOLO PICK:
Phil: Minnesota at Wisconsin (-13.5)
Paul Bunyan’s Axe has resided in Madison for a long time now, and this version of the Gopher squad will do nothing to take it back to Minnesota with them. This Rivalry Game is only a rivalry when the teams play in Minneapolis, and even that recently has been a stretch. Last 6 times Minnesota has come to Camp Randall the average margin of victory for the Badgers has been 22.5 points. Even if this is an underachieving, often terrible Badger football team, there still better than the Gophers.
The Pick: Wisconsin
Keith: Notre Dame at Navy (+3)
I know I said I wouldn’t do it, but come on. I have to believe that with Weis calling the plays and the Irish with their backs up against it, that they can win this one. If not, I’m not sure what to think…
The Pick: Notre Dame
LATE EDIT: At 3:30 EST, we received this email from the Sensei:
The Sensei has not seen any scores today, and has been very busy. Deal with my tardiness and lack of creativity for one week.
Cal
UNC
South Carolina
Ohio St
Oklahoma St.
Boston College
We aren’t sure how well we can trust a guy who tells his students to intentionally hurt other competitors. That said, we’re posting his picks with a big fat asterisk.
SEASON TOTAL:
PHIL: 24-35-1
KEITH: 24-36
SENSEI: 10-14
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