WEEK 4 NFL PICKS RECAP

The week got off to a miserable start with Washington's Kirk Cousins doing his impression of Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl. But at least I finished above the .500 point for the week.

Last Week:      7 - 6
Overall:        38 -23

New York Giants (1 - 2) 20 @ Washington (1 - 2) 27: No. The less written about this, the better. Is Joe Theismann healthy? Giants 45 - 14.

Green Bay (1 - 2) 23 @ Chicago (2 - 1) 24:No panic in Green Bay yet. Rodgers came through in a big way against their rivals.  No. Green Bay 38 - 17.

Buffalo (2 - 1) 17 @ Houston (2 - 1) 20: Correct. At least one game went as I thought it would. Maybe the best pick of the week. Houston 23 - 17.

Tennessee (1 - 2) 24 @ Indianapolis (1 - 2) 30:  Correct. The Colts have put themselves back in the playoff conversation, especially with their weak division  Indianapolis 41 - 17.

Carolina (2 - 1) 16 @ Baltimore (2 - 1) 23:  Correct. I wasn't surprised that the Ravens won, but the score is a bit of a shocker. What's happened to the Panther defense? Baltimore 38 - 10.

Detroit (2 - 1) 27 @ New York Jets (1 - 2) 21: Correct. The Lions are getting it done and lead a very tough division. But their still Detroit and it's still early. Detroit 24 - 17.

Tampa Bay (0 - 3)  24 @ Pittsburgh (2 - 1) 31: No. How did the Steelers let this one get away? Bad loss in Pittsburgh. Tampa Bay 27 - 24.

Miami (1 - 2) 20 @ Oakland (0 - 3) 24:   No. The Dolphins had high expectations after an opening victory over the Patriots, but they've failed to win since. The Raiders have simply failed to win. But it's the NFL, the Dolphins are travelling west and will be facing a hostile environment. No. Miami 38 - 14.

Jacksonville (0 - 3) 17 @ San Diego (2 - 1) 34:  Correct. I came pretty close to nailing this game, kind of like the Chargers nailed the Jags. San Diego 33 - 14.

Philadelphia (3 - 0) 27 @ San Francisco (1 - 2) 28: Correct. All I can say is, I like it when I'm right. San Francisco 26 - 21.

Atlanta (2 - 1) 30 @ Minnesota (1 - 2) 20: No. And I don't when I'm wrong... Minnesota 41 - 28.

New Orleans (1 - 2) 27 @ Dallas (2 - 1) 24:  No. Don't look now, but the 'Boys appear to have that nation's team thing going on again. Or it could be the Saints just aren't a very good football team right now. All I know is the Cowboys are tied with Philadelphia at the top of the NFC East and New Orleans is miraculously only one game back in the NFC South. Dallas 38 - 17.

New England (2 -1) 27 @ Kansas City (1 - 2) 30: Correct. The Chiefs and Patriots are going in different directions, as Andy Reid has KC on the right track, at least for the last couple of weeks. Stay tuned, though. It's a long season. Kansas City 41 - 14.

NFL AND COLLEGE THURSDAY NIGHT PICKS

NFL:

Minnesota (2 - 2) 24 @ Green Bay (2 - 2) 28:

Both teams got big victories last week to keep pace in the NFC North, which may be one of the tightest in the league. Terry Bridgewater is out for the Vikes, replace by Christian Ponder for tonight's game. Short week, different QB, coming off a big win...I don't feel good about Minnesota's chances. But this is the NFL, which could stand for "Not For Long" when it comes to trying to figure out how long things stay the same. Aaron Rodgers in Lambeau Field on a Thursday night against a division rival that has been up and down this season and without Adrian Peterson makes me lean toward the Pack.

College:

Arizona (4 - 0) 31 @ (2) Oregon (4 - 0) 45:

The Wildcats are undefeated heading to Eugene to take on the Ducks, but they've played a weak schedule and barely got past Cal in their last game. Oregon has too much for Arizona, but this will most likely be a very high scoring game. Arizona will need to rely on turnovers and a few big plays to stay in this one and maybe have a chance to pull the big upset at the end. I hope to stay up late enough to see some of the game, because it could be very entertaining. Then again, Oregon may put it away early and I'll get some much needed sleep.

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.

NFL WEEK FOUR PICKS

Things went a little better last week and now we start to get to the meat of the NFL schedule. Only three undefeated teams remain, with just one in action this week. Can the Eagles travel to San Francisco and have enough in the tank to make another comeback?  I'm not sure they can. Here are my picks.

Overall: 31 - 17

Green Bay (1 - 2) 23 @ Chicago (2 - 1) 24: The Packers are struggling, while the Bears are looking a little better. Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers is telling the Packer nation not to panic, but after today they may be doing it anyway.

Buffalo (2 - 1) 17 @ Houston (2 - 1) 20: Both teams lost last week after unexpectedly hot starts. I like the Texans' defense and they're the home team, so I'll stick with Houston.

Tennessee (1 - 2) 24 @ Indianapolis (1 - 2) 30: The Colts are trying to dig themselves out of an 0 - 2 hole. Sometimes desperation can be a big motivator. The Titans are still in rebuilding mode.

Carolina (2 - 1) 16 @ Baltimore (2 - 1) 23: This is one of the more interesting games of the week. The Panthers looked pretty bad last week and the Ravens have seemed to recover from the Ray Rice debacle.

Detroit (2 - 1) 27 @ New York Jets (1 - 2) 21: The Lions are on the road, but they don't have to travel too far. The Jets have dodged bullets for the last couple of years, but this week I'm thinking they fall to 1 - 3.

Tampa Bay (0 - 3)  24 @ Pittsburgh (2 - 1) 31: Other than a miserable loss to Baltimore, the Steelers have looked solid. The Bucs have looked, well, not so solid, especially in last week's 56 - 14 drubbing by the Falcons.

Miami (1 - 2) 20 @ Oakland (0 - 3) 24:  The Dolphins had high expectations after an opening victory over the Patriots, but they've failed to win since. The Raiders have simply failed to win. But it's the NFL, the Dolphins are travelling west and will be facing a hostile environment.

Jacksonville (0 - 3) 17 @ San Diego (2 - 1) 34: See above, sort of. The difference is that the Chargers are playing very well and the Jags aren't. This one could get out of hand.

Philadelphia (3 - 0) 27 @ San Francisco (1 - 2) 28: The Eagles have made a habit of coming from behind, the first team to come back after trailing by ten or more points in three consecutive games. The 'Niners are reeling, even to the point where head coach Jim Harbaugh is rumored to be in the running for the soon to be vacant head coaching position at Michigan.

Atlanta (2 - 1) 30 @ Minnesota (1 - 2) 20: The Vikings haven't seemed to get over the Adrian Peterson situation. The Falcons appear to be on the rise.

New Orleans (1 - 2) 27 @ Dallas (2 - 1) 24; This is my pick for the game of the week. The Saints are in pretty big trouble if they lose today and the Falcons defeat the Vikings. The Cowboys have found a way to get to 2 - 1 without playing particularly well. Tough pick.

New England (2 -1) 27 @ Kansas City (1 - 2) 30: The Chiefs finally came to life last week, just in time to take on an always competitive Patriots team. We'll see if Andy Reid can continue to get his Kansas City squad back in contention for a playoff spot. Falling to 1 - 3 would be tough to overcome.

WEEK 5 COLLEGE PICKS

Just like North Carolina, I'll be looking to rebound from a drubbing last week. Too many upset picks, too few actual upsets. And the upsets I didn't pick were the ones that transpired. But I'm resilient and hopefully should improve. 

Last Week:    11 - 7 (dismal performance)

Overall:          68 - 25

Wyoming (3 - 1) 13 @ (9) Michigan State (2 - 1) 30: Despite a poor performance in the second half against Oregon, Michigan State is still in the national mix.

South Florida (2 - 2) 14 @ (19) Wisconsin (2 - 1) 34: Camp Randall is a tough place to play. Not much of a chance for the Bulls.

UTEP (2 - 1) 10  @ (25) Kansas State (2 - 1) 24: K-State gave Auburn all they could handle. 

Western Michigan (2 - 1) 17  Virginia Tech  (2 - 2) 24: The Hokies are trying to rebound after two last minute losses. 

(1) Florida State (3 - 0) 27 @ N.C. State (4 - 0) 23: Upset alert for the 'Noles, but they should take care of business if they can stay focused after last week's big win over Clemson.

Arkansas (3 - 1) 34 @ (6) Texas A&M  (4 - 0) 31 (in Arlington, TX): I have to go with the homer pick. Arkansas needs to control the ball to have a chance. A&M's defense is vulnerable, but so is Arkansas'. This could be a good one.

La. Tech (2 - 2) 13 @ (5) Auburn (3 - 0) 37: Auburn's back home after a big road win at Kansas State. This is the last breather before the SEC season begins in earnest.

(16) Stanford (2 - 1) 26 @  Washington (4 - 0) 24: The host Huskies are 4 - 0 and will seriously challenge the Cardinal. I have an urge to go with Washington, but I'm sticking with Stanford. 

Cincinnati 16 @ (22) Ohio State 27: If the Buckeyes hadn't been surprised by Virginia Tech, I would give Cincy more of a chance. I think Ohio State will be on guard against another upset.

Missouri (3 - 1) 26 @ (13) South Carolina (3 - 1) 27: The Tigers were shocked by Indiana last week and now have to contend with an inconsistent Gamecock team on their home field. 

UNC (2 - 1) 30 @ Clemson (1 - 2) 34: The Tar Heels were absolutely embarrassed by East Carolina a week ago, but the Pirates are much better than people realize. The Tigers need to get back on track after a heartbreaker in Tallahassee.

Memphis (2 - 1) 20 @ (10) Ole Miss (3 - ) 28: Memphis is improved but not quite enough to knock off the Rebels.

New Mexico St. (2 - 2) 10  @ (17) LSU (3 - 1): 27: This is a good foe for the Tigers coming off a tough loss to Mississippi St. in Death Valley.

(7) Baylor (3 - 0) 34 @ Iowa State (1 - 2) 31: I like Iowa State to sneak up on the Bears a little bit, but Baylor is still better than the Cyclones.

(8) Notre Dame (3 - 0) 27 @ Syracuse  (2 - 1) 21 (in East Rutherford, NJ): The Irish are really playing at a high level. This will be almost like a home game, even though it's on the East Coast. Syracuse isn't quite good enough to challenge Notre Dame without turnovers and sloppy play by the Irish.

Illinois (3 - 1) 17 @ (21) Nebraska (4 - 0) 27: It's hard to believe that the 'Huskers are undefeated and still can't crack the top twenty. I wasn't sold on them earlier in the season and still feel they are vulnerable. The Illini haven't beaten anyone of substance, so that record is deceiving.

Oregon State (3 - 0) 23 @ (18) USC (2 - 1) 27: The Beavers can score, but they haven't faced any major competition yet. Travelling to Los Angeles to take on the Trojans certainly qualifies as major. USC is trying to shake off a disappointing defeat to Boston College a couple of weeks ago.

Colorado (2 - 2) 20 @ California (2 - 1) 24: The Bears are looking at a strong start if they can get by the Buffaloes.

Texas 24 (1 - 2) @ Kansas (2 - 1) 27: The Longhorns are in a serious transition period while the Jayhawks are trying for a statement win. I look for Kansas to continue Texas coach Charlie Strong's pain.

Tennessee (2 - 1) 16 @ (12) Georgia (2 - 1) 30: The Vols need another year or two to compete for the SEC East. Georgia will be looking to stay in the hunt this year.

Vanderbilt (1 - 3) 17 @ Kentucky (2 - 1) 28: Vandy gave South Carolina a game last week, but I like the direction Mark Stoops has the Wildcats heading.

Maryland (3 - 1) 27  @  Indiana (2 - 1) 30: The Hoosiers picked up a big win over Missouri last week and they may actually have a decent team for the first time in a while. Maryland is probably better, but I like the home team in a mild upset.

Duke (4 - 0) 31 @ Miami (2 - 2) 27: I don't see much improvement in the Hurricanes and Duke seems to be close to, if not as good as last year's team. And Miami has no real home field advantage given their embarrassingly low attendance.

NFL AND COLLEGE THURSDAY NIGHT PICKS

NFL:

New York Giants (1 - 2) 20 @ Washington (1 - 2) 27:

My Washington team takes on the New York Giants in a big NFC East battle. Both teams share an identical 1 - 2 record.  It looks as if Washington might be better without RGIII than they were with him, but Kirk Cousins maintains he's just keeping the starter's place warm for him when he's ready to return from an ankle injury. The Giants weren't even competitive until last week's surprise win over the Texans. Maybe Eli Manning is getting comfortable in their new offensive system. I hope not, which is why I'll stay with the home team tonight.

College:

Texas Tech (2 - 1) 30 @ Oklahoma St. (2 - 1) 41:

Texas Tech had a week off to try to install something different on defense than the scheme that gave up almost 500 rushing yards in a loss to Arkansas. The Red Raiders fired their defensive coordinator, ostensibly for substance issues, but considering they're near the bottom in the FBS in points allowed, he may not have been around long anyway. This should be a good old-, no, wait, new-fashioned Big 12 shootout. The Cowboys gave Florida State all they could handle in the season opener and shouldn't have any difficulty scoring on Texas Tech. Of course, Oklahoma State isn't among the leaders in defense either, giving up 18 points a game against less than stellar opposition in their last two games. But at the end of the night, it will be the Cowboys collecting their first Big 12 victory of the season.

NFL WEEK THREE PICKS RECAP

It was a much better week, but still some surprises kept me below my week one total of 12 correct picks. The Giants finally showed signs of life, just in time to play the Redskins in a big Thursday night battle. Kansas City did the same, emerging from what had been a major hibernation. And the Chargers made the long trip east, but still managed to hand the Bills their first loss of the season.

Last Week: 11 - 5
Overall:   31 - 17 

Tampa Bay (0 - 2) 17 @ Atlanta (1 - 1) 34: Correct. I thought this one could get out of hand, and it did in a big way. Atlanta 56 - 14.

San Diego (1 - 1) 20 @ Buffalo (2 - 0) 24: No. The Chargers improved to 2 - 1, their only loss by one point to a tough Arizona team. Watch out for San Diego. San Diego 22 - 10.

Dallas (1 - 1) 27 @ St. Louis (1 - 1) 24: Correct. Both teams showed up, just in different halves. The jury is still out on the Cowboys, but 2 - 1 isn't bad considering how they've played. Dallas 34 - 31.

Washington (1 - 1) 27 @ Philadelphia (2 - 0) 30: Correct. I got this one pretty much on the money. Once again the Eagles dug themselves a hole, but came back to win. Philadelphia 37 - 34.

Houston (2 - 0) 24 @ New York Giants (0 - 2) 20: No. "...this being the NFL, I wouldn't be surprised if the home team pulled a surprise." That was my comment in my pick, but I didn't back it up with the correct prediction. New York Giants 30 - 17.

Minnesota (1 - 1) 17 @ New Orleans (0 - 2) 30: Correct. The Saints won, but still not by dominating on offense. Not sure what's wrong in New Orleans, but Brees and Company need to score more points going forward. New Orleans 20 - 9.

Tennessee (1 - 1) 16 @ Cincinnati (2 - 0) 27: Correct. The Bengals are looking like a real contender in the AFC. However, the AFC North appears to have some teeth again, so they need to keep up their quality of play to win a division crown. Cincinnati 33 - 7.

Baltimore (1 - 1) 23 @ Cleveland (1 - 1) 20: Correct. As predicted, this one was close, but the Ravens found a way to come through. Three AFC North teams are tied at 2 - 1. Of course, something will have to give in the coming weeks. Baltimore 23 - 21.

Green Bay 27 @ Detroit 24: No. I was so conflicted on my pick in this game I thought I'd picked up a win when the Lions won. Not so. I had gone with the Packers against my normal home team bias in close games. Oh well. Detroit 19 - 7.

Indianapolis (0 - 2) 30 @ Jacksonville (0 - 2) 23: Correct. I gave the jags way too much credit in my pick. But I was right in that the Colts were due for a big game. Indy 44 - 17. 

Oakland (0 - 2) 16 @ New England (1 - 1) 31: Correct. The Pats prevailed, but they weren't exactly dominant against a weak Oakland squad. Fortunately for New England, no other team in the AFC East looks like a world beater. New England 16 - 9.

San Francisco (1 - 1) 24 @ Arizona (2 - 0) 27: Correct. The Cards have emerged as a true contender to defending Super Bowl champions Seattle in the NFC West. Arizona was the only team to defeat the Seahawks on their home field last season. If they can replicate that feat, a division crown could be theirs. Arizona 23 - 14.

Denver 20 @ Seattle 27: If Seattle would have had to kick the extra point in overtime, I'd have picked this score on the button. But the Broncos certainly looked like an improved team in this Super bowl rematch. Seattle 26 - 20.

Kansas City (0 - 2) 21 @ Miami (1 - 1) 27: No. It looks like the Chiefs finally woke up, or the Dolphins are not as improved as I thought. Kansas City 34 - 15.

Pittsburgh (1 - 1) 17 @ Carolina (2 - 0) 27: No. The Steelers looked a lot more like the first week winners than last week's loser. I was surprised at the lack of defensive intensity by the Panthers. Pittsburgh 37 - 19.

Chicago (1 - 1) 23 @ New York Jets (1 - 1) 20: Correct. The Jets seem to be this season's close but no cigar winners. They could be 3 - 0, but can't seem to get over the hump. Chicago 27 - 19.

NFL WEEK THREE PICKS

There are some very compelling and important matchups in week three's NFL action.  It's virtually impossible for a team to start 0 - 3 and still make the playoffs, much less win a division. So that puts teams like New Orleans, Indianapolis and Kansas City on the hot seat. Two of those teams have been in conversations regarding the possibility of making the Super Bowl, Now it's desperation time.

San Diego (1 - 1) 20 @ Buffalo (2 - 0) 24: If the Bills aren't the most surprising team in the league, they certainly are on the short list. Those top draft picks on the offensive side of the ball are starting to pay off for Buffalo, and the defense is playing very well. The Chargers are a field goal from being 2 - 0, so this should be an interesting game. I'll take the home team against the west coast squad.

Dallas (1 - 1) 27 @ St. Louis (1 - 1) 24: Wow. This game is tough. Just when I thought the Rams would be one of the worst teams in the league, they pulled a surprise last week. A similar thing can be said about the Cowboys. Which teams will show up today? Hard to say.

Washington (1 - 1) 27 @ Philadelphia (2 - 0) 30: The Eagles can really put their early stamp on the NFC East with a win today. Washington looked like a different team last week with Kirk Cousins at the helm. As much as I would like to pick the 'Skins, the Eagles have the edge at home.

Houston (2 - 0) 24 @ New York Giants (0 - 2) 20: The Texans are in the running for most surprising team. The Giants need to retool at a lot of positions, but this being the NFL, I wouldn't be surprised if the home team pulled a surprise.

Minnesota (1 - 1) 17 @ New Orleans (0 - 2) 30: The Saints are desperate and the Vikings are in a bit of disarray from the Adrian Peterson issue. I like New Orleans to right the ship today.

Tennessee (1 - 1) 16 @ Cincinnati (2 - 0) 27: The Titans showed last week that they might not quite be ready to take a big step toward playoff contention. Cincy is just continuing to build on a solid foundation they've built the last few years.

Baltimore (1 - 1) 23 @ Cleveland (1 - 1) 20: This is always a grudge match as the new Browns host the old Browns. The Ravens got an extra couple of days to prepare, always an important advantage in the NFL.

Green Bay 27 @ Detroit 24: This is a big early season NFC Central game. Every team in the division is 1 - 1, so it's important for someone to start to distance themselves from the pack. Before the season, I thought the Lions would be tough to beat, but they laid an egg last week.

Indianapolis (0 - 2) 30 @ Jacksonville (0 - 2) 23: The Colts need a win in a big way, and the Jags are probably the best team they could face on the road to keep the season from slipping away.

Oakland (0 - 2) 16 @ New England (1 - 1) 31: The Pats are once again in position to contend for the AFFC East title. The Raiders probably won't offer much of a problem.

San Francisco (1 - 1) 24 @ Arizona (2 - 0) 27: The Cardinals have emerged as a real force in the NFC West, while the 'Niners are struggling to get the magic back.  I think they'll continue to struggle.

Denver 20 @ Seattle 27: In a rare Super Bowl rematch, I doubt the Broncos have improved enough to win this one in Seattle.

Kansas City (0 - 2) 21 @ Miami (1 - 1) 27: Neither team is playing particularly well, but I'm going to stick with the home team.

Pittsburgh (1 - 1) 17 @ Carolina (2 - 0) 27: The Panthers might be the most under the radar team in the league, even with Cam Newton at QB. I'll pull for the Steelers, but I have to go with Carolina.

Chicago (1 - 1) 23 @ New York Jets (1 - 1) 20: The Jets are very intriguing. They gave the Packers a tough game last week, but I think the Bears will prevail.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK FOUR PICKS

The season starts to ramp up a bit, with a smattering of intra- and inter-conference match-ups on the schedule. Of course, the Florida State - Clemson game, for a variety of reasons, is the headline game. But there are a few others that intrigue me, including Miami at Nebraska, a surprising Virginia team heading to BYU, Oklahoma at West Virginia and of course the battle of the ACC Techs in Blacksburg. We won't really get a good idea of where the top teams stand until league play starts in earnest next week, but this week will give us a sneak peak.

Bowling Green (2 - 1) 20 @ (19) Wisconsin (1 - 1) 45: Wisconsin is one of those teams that suffered an early road defeat to a quality team, LSU, and could still be alive for a playoff berth. Unfortunately, the rest of the Big Ten doesn't give the Badgers many chances for quality wins. Bowling Green is okay, with a win over bad Big Ten member Indiana. But they won't be able to stay with Wisconsin.

Eastern Michigan (1 - 2 ) 6 @ (11) Michigan State (1 - 1) 42:  Michigan State is similar to Wisconsin, having lost to Oregon on the road in Week 2. They've had a couple of weeks to lick their wounds and come out fired up against an overmatched Eagles team.

Troy (0 - 3) 13 @ (13) Georgia (1 - 1) 48: This is not the same quality of Troy team that has been able to stay with top teams in the past few years. The Bulldogs have to feel they let one get away last week against South Carolina. This game will be over early.

Florida 16 @ (3) Alabama 30: These two teams don't meet all that often, the last time a 2011 win for the Tide by the score of 38 - 10. I expect this one to be a little closer, but there's no way Gator coach Will Muschamp has the players to compete with Alabama.

(6) Texas A&M (3 - 0) 55 @ SMU (0 - 2) 10: SMU head coach June Jones quit two games into the season. A&M hasn't been challenged. This one is already over. Just sayin'.

Virginia (2 - 1) 27 @ (21) BYU (3 - 0) 19: Both teams have signature wins already: BYU in a romp over Texas, Virginia in a surprise over Louisville. I don't know why, but I think the Cavaliers will show up and put a licking on the Cougars.

Indiana (1 - 1) 17 @ (18) Missouri (3 - 0) 38: Missouri appears to be improving week by week, and that's a bit scary since they were pretty good already. I wasn't sold on them at the beginning of the season, but I'm on the Tiger bandwagon now. They're my pick to win the SEC East.

Mississippi State (3 - 0) 17 @ (8) LSU (3 - 0) 30: It seems fashionable among the national media to look at this game as an upset opportunity for Mississippi State. Really? Death Valley on a steamy Saturday night? Since spotting Wisconsin a 24 - 7 lead with almost 13 minutes left in the third quarter of their opener, the Tiger defense has yielded no points. Forget it. LSU big.

(4) Oklahoma 30 @ West Virginia (2 - 1) 31: The Mountaineers played Alabama extremely tough in Week 1, losing 33 - 23 in the Georgia Dome that was largely populated by Alabama fans. Morgantown can be a graveyard for national championship hopes. Just ask another team from the Sooners' own state. Oklahoma State had their hopes derailed a couple of years ago. I'm taking West Virginia in a huge upset.

(14) South Carolina (2 - 1) 27 @ Vanderbilt (1 - 2) 16: I wouldn't be surprised by a letdown from the Gamecocks after their big win against Georgia. But the Commodores are trying to recover from the loss of coach James Franklin and haven't looked good against top competition.

(22) Clemson (1 - 1) 24 @ (1) Florida State (2 - 0) 30: I could write an entire blog just on this game. The bottom line is that I don't see that Clemson has much more of a chance than it did in last year's shellacking on their home field. So Jameis Winston is out for the whole game now, but the last time I checked he doesn't play defense, which is where the Seminoles have an advantage over the Clemson offense. Sorry Tiger fans. It's FSU again.

Miami 30 @ (24) Nebraska 28: It's time for the gig to be up for the Cornhuskers. Although the Hurricanes laid an egg at Louisville in their opener, I'm just not sold on Nebraska. Sure, they put up big numbers against Fresno State, but so has everyone they've played. In fact, Nebraska's 55 points only ranks second behind Utah's 59  and barely ahead of USC's 52.

(2) Oregon 47 @ Washington State 24: There have been years where this could be a real trap for the Ducks, but the Cougars aren't really capable of staying with Oregon in this one. I watched Washington State get totally dominated by a good, but not great, Rutgers team. Oregon is better than good, better than great. No contest.

Georgia Tech (3 - 0) 21 @ Virginia Tech (2 - 1) 27: The Hokies are trying to rebound after a disappointing last minute loss to an ECU team that may end up being one of the surprises of the season. Bud Foster's defense has owned Georgia Tech in recent years, and I see no change at Lane Stadium on Saturday.

North Carolina (2 - 0) 23 @ East Carolina (2 - 1) 34: I don't think this one will even be close. The Pirates' skill players really showed their prowess in last week's win over Virginia Tech, and the UNC defense is not anywhere close to the Hokies'.

Utah (2 - 0) 27 @ Michigan (2 - 1) 31: I think Michigan's loss at Notre Dame was a bit of an anomaly. Utah's wins have come over teams that anyone can dominate. I'll stick with the Wolverines in the Big House. But it'll be close.

Northern Illinois (3 - 0) 24 @ Arkansas (2 - 1) 37: With the exception of a poor second half at Auburn, the Razorbacks have been virtually unstoppable, especially in the running game. Their size and depth will simply be too much for a very good Huskie team that may be able to make it a game if Arkansas turns it over. It looks like Bret Bielema has the Hogs on a roll, and they'll be calling them a lot Saturday night in Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

NFL AND COLLEGE THURSDAY NIGHT PICKS

A divisional matchup in the NFL and a game between top 20 teams in college will have many of us switching channels to catch all of the action tonight. Of course, there's always the DVR if you're adept at avoiding scores of the game you want to watch later. I say watch the NFL on CBS, since they're less likely to show the score of the college game as frequently. I use a strip of painter's tape on the bottom of my screen to cover any scores that run across there, especially on ESPN. Just a suggestion!

Tampa Bay (0 - 2) 17 @ Atlanta (1 - 1) 34: The Bucs had the supposed early season advantage of opening with two home games in sultry Tampa. But it didn't seem to do much good as they let both of them get away. Now the team that many thought would be vastly improved needs to win in what has been, except for last season's debacle, one of the toughest places for a visiting team to triumph. And going 0 - 3, with two division losses to begin the year, is a kiss of death in the NFL. It will be interesting to see how Tampa responds and whether the Atlanta defense can stop the Bucs. The Falcons will be facing a tough defense that's only given up 39 points in those two losses. I think there's a good chance that Atlanta rolls tonight over a frustrated Tampa team facing a short week on the road.

(5) Auburn 41 @ (20) Kansas State 28: In my opinion, the home team is perhaps the most overrated in the country. In wins against Arkansas and San Jose State, Auburn's offense has been virtually unstoppable. K-State rolled over a decent FCS foe in Sam Houston State, and then barely avoided an upset at Iowa State in week two. Both teams has last Saturday off, giving the Wildcats' legendary coach Bill Snyder an extra week to game plan. This game will generate a lot of interest as the debate continues to rage on regarding the SEC's supposed dominance among the college power conferences. This could be a high scoring affair, but in the end, the Tigers should help to solidify their conference's high standing. I just don't see the Wildcats slowing them down enough times to come away with a victory.