My Crystal Ball Says...

...that I know what will happen in this week's key games. Always remember that I'm right, and your team sucks.

#9 BYU @ TCU
Can you tell me the last time BYU lost a game? I’ll give you a hint. It was September 15, 2007. Okay. I gave you the answer. But they do own the nation’s longest winning streak at 16 games. Both of these teams have remarkable statistical stories to tell. BYU leads the nation in 3rd down efficiency (61%) and is 3rd in the nation in fewest sacks allowed (.33 per game). BYU is 2nd in the nation in scoring defense. TCU is 9th. TCU leads the nation in rushing defense, giving up an amazing average of just under 21 yards per game. What does all that mean? I have no idea. I’ll take TCU at home. Plus, how can you not like a team named the Horned Frogs?

Florida State @ NC State
I hate Florida State. But NC State is 2-4, with their two impressive wins coming over William & Mary and an overtime contest against East Carolina. And Florida State’s offense seems to be coming around. The 'Noles win this one.

#21 Wake Forest @ Maryland
This is an interesting game. A Wake Forest win would leave them clearly in command of the ACC’s Atlantic Division race. It all depends which Maryland team shows up. The one that manhandled California and won at Clemson? Or the one that lost to Middle Tennessee State and got shut out by a pretty lousy Virginia team? If the first Terps team shows up they can win this game. And, after last week’s embarrassment in Charlottesville, I think they will. Wake Forest has been struggling to score touchdowns, and it’s got to come back and bite them soon, especially with reliable place kicker Sam Swank out with a bad leg.

#10 Georgia @ #22 Vanderbilt
I hope the Commodores enjoyed the 5-0 start and all the notoriety that came with it. ESPN Gameday in Nashville? Who would have thought? But now they’re into the meat of their schedule. If you had asked head coach Bobby Johnson, I’m sure he would have told you that, heading into the season, he had chalked last week’s game up as a win. But Vandy managed just 107 yards of total offense. And a struggling offense is not what you need when the Dawgs are coming to town.

Baylor @ #8 Oklahoma State
I’ve had a long-standing tendency to like Oklahoma State, and I’m not really sure why. I think it goes back to the times that the Cowboys snuck up and beat Oklahoma in ‘97 and ’98. And, just for the record, I hate Oklahoma. Will Oklahoma State have a letdown after their upset of Missouri? It seems likely. Is Baylor good enough to take advantage of it? Yes. Will they? No. By the way, in case you’re wondering when was the last time that Baylor beat Oklahoma State… it was on October 7th. In 1939.

#12 Ohio State @ #20 Michigan State
Wins over Minnesota and Wisconsin led people to believe that QB Terrelle Pryor really had injected some much-needed energy into the offense. Then came last week’s win over Purdue – a game in which the Buckeyes managed just 222 yards of offense against one of the nation's lesser defenses. Meanwhile, Michigan State has won 6 in a row after a season opening road loss to California, and RB Javon Ringer has been impressive. But the Spartan defense has been less than stellar. Still, I like the Spartans at home. And, for the record, I hate Ohio State.

#16 Kansas @ #4 Oklahoma
Oklahoma owns the nation’s longest home win streak. Their defense has been far from overwhelming, and now middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds, arguably their best defensive player, is expected to miss the rest of the season after tearing a knee ligament last week against Texas. Kansas QB Todd Reesing is a great player, but I just don’t think the Jayhawks have enough offense to beat Oklahoma at home, especially with the Sooners coming off of last week’s upset loss to Texas.

#13 LSU @ South Carolina
When Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks have won this season, it has been, somewhat surprisingly, with defense. They are 3rd in the nation in total defense. If they can keep this one close, and keep the score in the teens, they’ll have a shot at the upset. But LSU still has the great athletes they’ve always had, and should be a bit fired up after getting trounced by Florida last week.

Michigan @ #3 Penn State
Lots of people are climbing on the Penn State bandwagon. I’m not ready quite yet. But, let’s face it, this Michigan team is surprisingly lousy. Their offense ranks 109th in the nation. Penn State has lost 9 in a row to Michigan, but I don’t expect the streak to reach 10.

#11 Missouri @ #1 Texas
This is an upset waiting to happen, isn’t it? Texas coming off a huge win. Missouri coming off a disappointing loss. Both offenses are excellent, but Missouri’s Chase Daniel isn’t likely to have two bad games in a row, is he? Not that he was BAD in the loss to Oklahoma State – he passed for almost 400 yards, but he threw three second half interceptions. Colt McCoy was brilliant in the Longhorns’ win over Oklahoma. Can’t you see the roles reversing this week? Can’t you?