WEEK 5 COLLEGE PICKS RECAP

It was a little bit better week, but I still whiffed on a number of games involving unranked teams. Maryland may be poised to compete for a Big Ten title in their first season in the league, and Missouri came back from a big upset to take down South Carolina on the road. And then there was  the fourth quarter breakdown by Arkansas that resulted in an overtime loss to Texas A&M.

Last Week:    19 - 5

Overall:         87 - 30

Texas Tech (2 - 1) 30 @ Oklahoma St. (2 - 1) 41: Correct. I came close to picking the spread on this one. Oklahoma St. 45 - 35.

Wyoming (3 - 1) 13 @ (9) Michigan State (2 - 1) 30: Correct. I still like the Spartans to stay in the hunt for the playoffs. Michigan State 56 - 14.

South Florida (2 - 2) 14 @ (19) Wisconsin (2 - 1) 34: Correct. No surprise here. The Badgers will be around all season. Wisconsin 27 - 10/

UTEP (2 - 1) 10  @ (25) Kansas State (2 - 1) 24: Correct.  The Wildcats have a real chance in the Big 12, but a visit to Oklahoma will be pivotal. Kansas State 58 - 28. 

Western Michigan (2 - 1) 17  Virginia Tech  (2 - 2) 24: Correct. The Hokies finally finished one. Va. Tech 35 - 17 

(1) Florida State (3 - 0) 27 @ N.C. State (4 - 0) 23: Correct.  This one was close for a while, but the 'Noles showed why they're still the top team in the nation. Florida St. 56 - 41. 

Arkansas (3 - 1) 34 @ (6) Texas A&M  (4 - 0) 31 (in Arlington, TX): No. Heartbreaker for the Hogs. They need to learn how to finish. Texas A&M 35 - 28 OT. 

La. Tech (2 - 2) 13 @ (5) Auburn (3 - 0) 37: Correct. Nice warmup for the Tigers before taking on LSU. Auburn 45 - 17.  

(16) Stanford (2 - 1) 26 @  Washington (4 - 0) 24: Correct. Big win for the Cardinal as they took a tough one on the road. Stanford 20 - 13. 

Cincinnati 16 @ (22) Ohio State 27: Correct. I like to think that the Buckeyes' loss to my Hokies might be the only thing keeping them out of playoff consideration. Ohio State 50 - 28.  

Missouri (3 - 1) 26 @ (13) South Carolina (3 - 1) 27: No. Surprise, surprise, surprise. I picked the spread, just not the right winner. Missouri 21 - 20. 

UNC (2 - 1) 30 @ Clemson (1 - 2) 34: Correct. The Tar Heels have given up 120 points in the last two games. I'm not sure they can even spell d-e-e-f-, no, it's d-e-p-h-e, no wait, how about, d-e-f-e-n-c, no. Oh well, I'll have to do what UNC does and just forget it. Clemson 50 - 35.

Memphis (2 - 1) 20 @ (10) Ole Miss (3 - ) 28: Correct. The Rebels escaped a trap game before getting into the SEC schedule. Ole Miss 24 - 3.

New Mexico St. (2 - 2) 10  @ (17) LSU (3 - 1): 27: Correct. Like I said in my pick. This was a good way for the Tigers to get over the Mississippi State loss. LSU 63 - 7.

(7) Baylor (3 - 0) 34 @ Iowa State (1 - 2) 31:  Correct. This one wasn't as close as I thought it might be, but Baylor will face a little tougher competition going forward.  Baylor 49 - 28.

(8) Notre Dame (3 - 0) 27 @ Syracuse  (2 - 1) 21 (in East Rutherford, NJ): Correct. With the Irish's schedule, they will be a good bet for the playoffs if they keep winning. Notre Dame 31 - 15.

Illinois (3 - 1) 17 @ (21) Nebraska (4 - 0) 27: Correct. The 'Huskers won't stay in the upper teens for long if they stay on a roll.  Nebraska 45 - 14.

Oregon State (3 - 0) 23 @ (18) USC (2 - 1) 27: Correct.  The Trojans rebounded nicely from the loss at Boston College. USC 35 - 10.

Colorado (2 - 2) 20 @ California (2 - 1) 24: Correct. Cal made a huge comeback and then won in double OT. I had written them off at halftime. California 59 - 56 2 OT.

Texas 24 (1 - 2) @ Kansas (2 - 1) 27: No. Kansas failed to score and it cost Charlie Weis his job. Maybe the former NFL assistant just isn't cut out for the college game. Texas 23 - 0.

Tennessee (2 - 1) 16 @ (12) Georgia (2 - 1) 30: Correct. The Vols gave Georgia all they could handle, but just couldn't get ahead in the second half. The Bulldogs stayed alive in the SEC East. Georgia 35 - 32.

Vanderbilt (1 - 3) 17 @ Kentucky (2 - 1) 28: Correct. Don't look now, but Kentucky finally won an SEC game. Now it's Arkansas' turn. Kentucky 17 - 7.

Maryland (3 - 1) 27  @  Indiana (2 - 1) 30: No. How do you say fluke? That's what the Hoosiers' victory over Missouri looks like now. Maryland 37 - 15.

Duke (4 - 0) 31 @ Miami (2 - 2) 27: No. The 'Canes finally found some defense and grounded an explosive Duke offense. That ACC Coastal will be quite a battle, with no one really in a position to run away with it. Miami 22 - 10.