Friday morning picks

DISCLAIMER: The following picks are merely for entertainment purposes only. In no way does this blog or it's author condone or approve of gambling on sports, NCAA or otherwise (damn Bodog won't post the Tech/UTEP line this week...grrr). That being said...enjoy and feel free to comment!

#16 Nebraska (-9) @ Wake Forest - The Demon Deacons were lead by an impressive defense last year on their way to winning a school record 11 games and the ACC Championship. This year, they're replacing 7 guys from that defense and while the offense is improved...their defense is nowhere near last year's caliber. Nebraska runs a similar offense to Boston College, who put up 38 on the Deacs last week. Not exactly a blowout...but the Huskers should win this one comfortably.

Nebraska 31
Wake Forest 14

Miami (+11) @ #6 Oklahoma - Don't get too excited about the Canes just yet because they had a convinving win against a pitiful Marshall team last week. They still have their usual NFL-caliber players on defense but their offense isn't that improved last year. There's a reason that Kirby Freeman (Brownwood, TX), ended up at the U...he wasn't highly recruited by Texas schools. Everybody in the Big 12 South got their first sight of the highly touted DeMarco Murray last week...and his debut struck 4 years of fear through the hearts of the whiny orange in Austin. With Allen Patrick back this week for Sooners...they don't even have to worry about throwing the ball if they don't want to with him and Murray running the ball. Sooners in a rout!!!

Oklahoma 42
Miami 14

#22 Boise State (-3) @ Washington - This looks like a sucker bet...but I'm going to take the bait. Had the Huskies, lead by Soph Jake Locker at QB, not blown out Syracuse (one of the worst teams in the country) on national TV...then we'd be looking at a double digit spread for the Broncos. Locker is going to be a good QB in the Pac-10 for years to come, but this game will be a good test for him and the Huskies. Willingham is turning the corner up there...but he still has a ways to go. Don't expect a blowout, but Boise State should win this one by a safe margin and not have to dip into their bag of tricks.

Boist State 24
Washington 14

#22 TCU (+9) @ #7 Texas - This is a tough one to predict. TCU has one of the best defenses in the country, lead by All-American Tommy Blake. If Blake plays (I won't get into that mess) then the Frogs have a great chance to pull off the upset in Austin. If he doesn't, it will give Colt McCoy a lot more time in the pocket and that's never a good thing, even for a defense as good as TCU's. On offense, the Horned Frogs don't pose too much of a threat...even with the Horns glaring holes in the secondary. TCU's best chance is to connect on 2 or 3 big passes and turn them into points. Don't know if the Frogs will win this one...but it's sure going to keep everybody in Austin on their toes until the buzzer goes off at the end. I'll say this one ends up in OT with Texas pulling out the W but not covering the spread. Take TCU and the points.

Texas 23
TCU 20

#9 Virginia Tech (+11) @ #2 LSU - To the untrained eye, this might look like a HUGE sucker bet begging for you to take Va Tech. (Since Gameday will be in Baton Rouge on Saturday)...NOT...so fast my friend! (Thanks Lee). VT will struggle on offense and Glennon will wilt under the heat, humdity, and noise that comes with playing at Death Valley. The Hokies best shot at winning is giving the ball to Brandon Ore 30 times and hoping he can run for 150 yards and wear down the LSU defense. If they can't control the clock and the field...then it's going to be a miserable night in Baton Rouge for the boys from Blacksburg. Matt Flynn isn't the second coming of Peyton Manning...but he's good enough to avoid turnovers and keep moving the offense into the endzone (7 of 7 last week with 6 TD's) while allowing their defensive pressure to overwhelm their opponent. Geaux Tigers!

LSU 31
Virginia Tech 10