College Picks, Week 4

Last Week: 14-6
Season: 46-14

This week’s games begin on Wednesday night, so the picks are a little early.

Kansas State at Louisville (Wednesday): Steve Kragthorpe has to be wondering if it was worth it to leave Tulsa for Louisville. The Ville has struggled in the last season plus the first part of this one. They get a home game against Kansas State, who suddenly isn’t afraid to go on the road to play a decent team. This will be a pretty good game, especially for a Wednesday night. Pick: Louisville

West Virginia at Colorado (Thursday): The Mountaineers were proven mortal by East Carolina two weeks ago. They now head to the other mountains to take on the improving Buffs. Tough pick. Strange things happen on Thursday nights. Pick: Colorado

Baylor at Connecticut: It’s a long way from Waco to East Hartford. The Bears have to be feeling pretty good after getting two lopsided wins in a row. But, the Huskies are feeling even better after pounding Virginia. Pick: UConn

Miami at Texas A&M: In the 90’s, this would have been a titanic matchup. Now, it’s two names with not nearly as much game. The Aggies regained a bit of respect by going out and getting a win at New Mexico in their last game. The Canes are a shadow of their former selves. Pick: A&M

Sam Houston State at Kansas: Mismatch alert. Pick: KU

Rice at Texas: The Feisty Knightbirds come into this one with a winning record after three games. The Horns have been impressive in wins over Florida Atlantic and UTEP. Pick: Texas

Iowa State at UNLV: The Clones go to Sin City to face a hot UNLV team. The Rebels got their biggest victory in years last week with a 23-20 overtime win at Arizona State. Pick: UNLV

Buffalo at Missouri: The Bulls are improved, but aren’t in Mizzou’s league. Pick: Missouri

Massachusetts at Texas Tech: There is a really big difference between Amherst, Massachusetts and Lubbock, Texas. UMass is a pretty good FCS program, so there may not be quite as much difference between the football teams. Still, Tech should win comfortably. Pick: Tech

Florida at Tennessee: It’s going to be really hard for the Big Orange to beat the Gators, even in Knoxville. Pick: Florida

Georgia at Arizona State: The Bulldogs leave the Peach State for a non-conference game for the first time in eons. They head to the desert to play an ASU team that is reeling from a shocking overtime loss at home to UNLV. The Bulldogs have fallen from 1st to 2nd to 3rd in the polls without losing. They get a statement win this week. Pick: Georgia

LSU at Auburn: LSU visits the Loveliest Village on the Plains for a titanic SEC Saturday night battle. This has become the biggest game in the SEC West year after year. Winner gets the inside track to a trip to Atlanta in December. Pick: Auburn

Notre Dame at Michigan State: The Irish are smiling after last week’s whipping of Michigan. They now head up the road to East Lansing for a chance to go undefeated against the Great Lakes State. Michigan State is improving a lot. The green team wins this one. Pick: Michigan State

Virginia Tech at North Carolina: Ambush alert. Butch Davis has the Tar Heels up and going now, evidenced by last week’s thrashing of Rutgers in New Jersey. Tech has already lost to East Carolina before winning home games over Furman and Georgia Tech. Pick: North Carolina

East Carolina at N.C. State: Pirates have been giant killers this month with wins over Virginia Tech and West Virginia. The Wolfpack aren’t as good as either of those teams. Pick: East Carolina

Arizona at UCLA: Both teams lost on the road to Mountain West teams last week. Arizona lost at New Mexico, while the Bruins were pounded by BYU, 59-0. Can the Bruins find anything after that debacle? Probably. Pick: UCLA

TCU at SMU: The Iron Skillet is on the line once again. TCU is rolling right along, and won’t overlook the Ponies. Pick: TCU

Alabama at Arkansas: The Hogs are the worst 2-0 team in America, having squeaked out wins over Western Illinois and Louisiana-Monroe. Alabama has shown signs of returning to greatness. Pick: Alabama

Mississippi State at Georgia Tech: State lost a baseball game last week to Auburn, 3-2. Georgia Tech has looked pretty good running the option, but lost last week in a trip to Virginia Tech. Pick: Georgia Tech

Central Michigan at Purdue: These teams play all the time, it seems. They played twice last season: a regular season game in West Lafayette and in the Motor City Bowl. Purdue won both games. They’ll win this one, also. However, it won’t be easy. Pick: Purdue