Just one more week to go before I release my first top 10 of 2003 (I know you can barely contain your anticipation). Maybe by then, I'll get a better handle on picking games against the spread. The unexpected (in my view) continues to plague my predictions... why can't everyone just do what they're supposed to do?

Anyway, enjoy the games...

2003 PREDICTION RECORDS:
Straight-Up -- 20-11 (65%)
Against-The-Spread -- 15-16 (48%)

LAST WEEK: 5-3 Straight-Up, 3-5 Against-The-Spread

Week 5 Schedule (the top games of the week)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Nebraska (-8) 24, at Southern Mississippi 10 -- The Eagles are usually a tough home underdog, and with the game nationally televised it wouldn't be a surprise for them to rise up again. But the Huskers have a newfound confidence... and a defense that's reminiscent of their national title teams of a few years back. NU wears 'em down in the second half.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

Penn State (+3) 26, Minnesota 17 -- The Golden Gophers are 4-0, all romps against a cupcake schedule. Penn State is only 2-2, but has played poorly only in the home loss to Boston College. Minnesota won't find the step up in competition to their liking.

LSU 31, Mississippi State (+13 1/2) 20 -- I like this game because SEC home underdogs are usually a good play, and because LSU is due for a letdown after an emotional home win over Georgia last week, and because MSU's Jackie Sherrill is an experienced veteran coach who's been in these situations before, and because they may be 0-3 but the 'Dogs played Oregon tough in the opener and because, well, this game won't be played in a dome -- where MSU has lost in each of the last two weeks.

Notre Dame (+10) 23, at Purdue 20 -- My Upset of the Week. The Irish's season would be all but lost if it doesn't win here, and I'm just not that impressed with the Boilermakers as of yet, last week's 59-7 rout of Arizona notwithstanding. Simply put, I have confidence Irish coach Ty Willingham will find a way to get it done.

Arkansas 30, at Alabama 22 -- The last time I made a prediction on a game involving the Hogs, they took the insult personally (remember Texas 41, Arkansas 14? Oops). Alabama lost at home last week to... gulp... Northern Illinois? And what's with Bama playing all of its first five games at home? What kind of scheduling is that? Without having to lay any points, the Hogs are a steal.

Oregon (-4) 37, Washington State 27 -- The Ducks will have to be wary of a letdown after the big win over Michigan, but they're dynamite at home -- the Cougars don't appear to have enough on defense to slow 'em down. Of course, the same might be true of the Ducks defense.

Texas A&M (+1) 20, Pittsburgh 17 -- A very even matchup, as the line would indicate, but I like the host Aggies to rebound from their loss at Virginia Tech. Deep in the heart of Texas is a long way to go for a road game for the Panthers.