Weekend Predictions - 9/19/2008

Big weekend for college football, especially if you are a fan of the SEC.

LSU vs Auburn - Auburn is coming off its thrilling 3-2 victory last weekend over lowly Mississippi State. LSU hasn't been tested this year. The winner of this game should win the SEC West. I like LSU in this contest. I'm hearing all this Auburn is tough at home, Tuberville is a good big game coach, and LSU hasn't been tested. Auburn's pathetic offense will haunt them this weekend. They still have QB issues. LSU did lose some good players from last year's National Championship team. However, I think they reloaded and will have just enough firepower to come out on top. Auburn has been exposed this year and LSU will take advantage of it. First one to 10 may win this game and it will be LSU.

Florida vs Tennessee - This is my favorite matchup this weekend. Tennessee was embarrassed last year at Florida. Tennessee is a great home team. Florida struggled offensively against Miami. I think they have some Offensive Line problems. However, they had an extra week to prepare and Tebow will lead this team. Coaching-wise, I will take Urban Meyer over Phillip Fulmer anyday. May be a field goal game, but I like Florida to win. This is Florida's toughest road game. They win this game, they have a great chance to run the table.

Georgia vs Arizona State - Both teams struggled last week. The difference is Georgia won, Arizona State didn't. I think it would have been a better setup game for Georgia if AZ State wouldn't have lost last week against lowly UNLV. Now Arizona State is desperate. Georgia should get it together offensively this week. Pac-10 is not known for their defense unless you are USC. I see a big game from Moreno this game. I hope Richt doesn't get too cute with his play calling this game. Just run Moreno down their throats. Max, Georgia will win by 7. Closer than I would have pick 2-3 weeks ago.

Notre Dame vs Michigan State - Notre Dame won big against Michigan last week. ND was the benefit of a lot of turnovers. The weather played a big part last week. Michigan State is a good team at home and always plays ND well at home. Notre Dame comes back to earth this week. Michigan State by double digits.

Mississippi State vs Georgia Tech - I like Georgia Tech is scheduling out of conference with power conferences. However, I would like to see them schedule bigger named schools. If you schedule Mississippi State or Vanderbilt out of conference, your kind of saying your school is on their level. I would like to think Georgia Tech is a step above Miss State. This game is a no win game for GT. Win the game, you're supposed to win, even if it is against an SEC team. The will get no respect for winning. Lose and will hear the lower tier SEC team beats a mid to upper tier ACC team. Only way GT comes out ahead in this game is if they win big. I think they can. Mississippi State is poor offensively. Hopefully GT gets their offense in tune this game.

VT vs UNC and Wake Forest vs FSU - Big ACC matchups this weekend. I like UNC over VT. VT is way over-rated. They have no receivers. Play containment on Taylor and you should win. Their receivers can't catch the ball. This could be a turning point for UNC if they win. I like FSU over Wake Forest. FSU was my preseason pick and I'm sticking with it. This is FSU's second year under Jimbo Fisher's offense. Plus, they didn't give the reigns to Weatherford this year and wisely so. If this game was in the middle of the season, I would like Wake more, but FSU will be pumped because this is their first big game of the season.

PRO FOOTBALL

Carolina Panthers vs Minnesota Vikings - Intersting game here. Panthers are 2-0 and Vikes are 0-2. Vikings are desperate now and made a change at QB. Minnesota has the best rushing defense in the league. The Panthers get Steve Smith back at the right time. The Steve Smith incident has brought this team closer together, not torn them apart. Everyone has said and did the right things since the incident. I like the Panthers to win in the air this week. I am worried that Adrian Peterson will run wild, because the Panthers have not looked good stopping the run either week.

UPSET PICKS

College - NC State over East Carolina. NC State historically has played well against ECU. They won at ECU last year late in the season. Usually its NC State favored in this game. The roles are reversed this year. ECU survived Tulane last week and lost a key defensive player for the season. This is technically a rivalry game and most years ECU considers this game as its statement game or big game of the year. ECU is looking for bigger things now and might look past this game.

Pro - Green Bay over Dallas. If this was a regular game, I would like Dallas. However, this is a primetime game on National TV. Green Bay is already a good team and they will be more pumped for this game. For Dallas, just another day at the office as they are used to primetime. I think Dallas exhausted a lot of energy from their MNF game with Philly. Also, Dallas goes from turf to grass this game and the game won't be as fast offensively and good for GB defensively.