and then there were four...

Ahhh....finally made it to Thursday. Good news, the fourth member is in this week, so this is the real deal. I enjoy making my picks, but above all, I enjoy receiving weekly picks via facebook messaging (Kevin and Jim). Can't beat it. Anyways, the format for this week will be similar to last week to avoid any and all confusion. I will list each of our top five picks followed by our reasonings and explanations which will undoubtedly turn into a complete comedy hour at some point this season. However, Kevin apparently picked 18 games this week...but somehow narrowed it down to just five due to time constraints. As always, all lines are taken from BetGameday.com, and are current as of 4:00 pm on Thursday October 12, 2006.

Standings after week 1 (as of October 12, 2006)
Me: 4-1
Kevin: 3-2
Jim: 2-3
Mike: 0-0

This week's picks
Me: Iowa (-19), Purdue (-7), Maryland (-3.5), Ohio St. (-14), Miami (FL) (-26)
Kevin: Iowa (-19), Purdue (-7), Georgia (-13.5), Utah (-3), Maryland (-3.5)
Jim: Clemson (-45), Wisconsin (-8), Iowa (-19), Rutgers (+2.5), Cal (-8.5)
Mike: Central Florida (+10.5), Miami (OH) (-8), Mizzou (-2.5), Toledo (+7.5), Kentucky (+26)

My Reasonings:
1. Iowa (-19) at Indiana
Iowa is every bit as good as Wisconsin is, and the Badgers crushed Indiana in Bloomington=Iowa crushes Indiana in Bloomington.

2. Purdue (-7) at Northwestern
PJ Hill's legs ripped apart Northwestern's porous defense last week. This week, they have to deal with the arm of Purdue's Curtis Painter. All in all, Tiller's mustache is too much for Fitzgerald to handle.

3. Maryland (-3.5) at Virginia
Maryland put up a good fight last week against GT, but came up just short. I believe that the loss actually gives the Terrapins confidence, and lets them know they can play with anybody. They won't come up short in this one...at least I hope not.

4. Ohio St. (-14) at Michigan St.
I hate games involving Michigan St., because they are the most inconsistent team of all time. However, I am going to follow the recent trend and say the mental mistakes continue. Oh yeah...and Ohio St. is the best team in the country.

5. Miami (FL) (-26) vs. Florida Intl.
Florida Intl. is 0-6, but are probably one of the best 0-6 teams out there. Does that even make sense? Somehow I think it does. My prediction, Miami finally has a big day, a coming out party if you will, and makes a statement against Florida Intl. That's funny...a statement against Florida Intl.

Kevin's Reasonings:
1. Iowa (-19) at Indiana
Indiana lost to Connecticut at home, and lost by 35 points to Wisconsin at home as well. Iowa, fresh of a 30 point domination of Purdue, will continue to roll in Indiana.

2. Purdue (-7) at Northwestern
Purdue has the worst pass defense in the Big Ten, Northwestern has the worst pass offense in the Big Ten...should be interesting and high scoring. Purdue finds a way to stop NW enough times to win by at least 7.

3. Georgia (-13.5) vs. Vandy
So far all my picks have been for the away team. Georgia, however, is at home and ranked #16 in the nation. Vanderbilt (Sharp's boyfriends alma mater) is only 2-4. One of the wins was against Temple, in which they gave up 14 pts to the Owls. Owls score 14, Georgia scores 40 plus. Goodnight Vandy, your out by the half.

4. Utah (-3) at Wyoming
Utah is looking to win the Mountain West and currently are atop it. Beating a 2-4 Wyoming team will help. Utah won by 30 in last seasons win. I expect this game to be tighter but Utah plays well enough to cover by 3.

5. Maryland (-3.5) at Virginia
Maryland burned me last week against G. Tech, keeping it close enough to make Tech fail to cover the spread. Basically, I feel Maryland is playing well and Virginia sucks. Maryland by a touchdown.

Jim's Reasonings:
1. Clemson (-45) vs. Temple @ Charlotte, N.C.
Clemson is the team that keeps on screwing me, but I'm implementing the Temple rule this week because, well they suck. Clemson wins in a game that is over in the first quarter.

2. Wisconsin (-8) vs. Minnesota
In the battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe, the Badgers keep it for another year and do it handily. Maroney is gone, so the Badgers D will take out Cupito, and maybe even Casillas can block a punt for old time sake.

3. Iowa (-19) at Indiana
Indiana will get beat by Iowa just as badly as they did against Wisconsin. Iowa is a tough team and will be a solid pick for most of the year.

4. Rutgers (+2.5) at Navy
In my wildcard pick of the week, I'll go with 5-0 Rutgers over 5-1 Navy. I actually know nothing about Navy, but who cares.

5. Cal (-8.5) at Washington State
Going to the Left Coast, I take Cal who is riding a hot streak over the Cougars. Cal is undefeated since that first week L to Tennessee.

Mike's Reasonings:
1. Central Florida (+10.5) vs. Pitt
Going with UCF on this. Pitt has always recruited Florida well, including 18
Floridians on this years squad. But that means nothing when 2 former NFL
coaches get together in the land of 99 cent t-shirts and all you can eat
chicken wings. Pitt 30 UCF 24.

2. Miami Ohio (-8) at Buffalo
Taking Miami OH here. I have a feeling Buffalo may be looking ahead to their
showdown versus Wisconsin sometime next month.
Miami 38 Buffalo 17.

3. Missouri (-2.5) at Texas A+M
Mizzou is essentially playing a home game here, with 24 native Texans on their
squad. Tigers QB Chase Daniel will have a big game, hopefully, because I will
look like an ass if he doesn't.
Mizzou 27 A+M 21.

4. Toledo (+7.5) at Kent State
Loving Toledo here. My step-mom is from Toledo, and Kent State has a player
named Fritz on their team. Fritz Jacques. Never a good sign.
Toledo 31 Kent State 28.

5. Upset Special of the Week:
Kentucky (+26) at LSU
Kentucky didn't look bad against the Gators in September. And LSU can see their
BCS hopes floating into the Gulf.
LSU 31 Kentucky 14.

There you have it, now let the games begin!!!!!