Before
you begin badmouthing me for yet another lousy week picking
against the spread, consider that: Michigan led at Iowa
for nearly 40 minutes out of 60, Texas failed to cover
by a scant two points, and USC trailed at one time 17-10
at Arizona State. Also, I nailed the final scores of
the Wolverines and Tennessee right on the nose! (OK,
I'm kidding about the significance of that last claim).
Guess I should start making picks based on halftime
results, ey?
Bob's Top 10
| 1. |
OKLAHOMA (5-0) |
Showdown with
arch-rival Texas is first true test of 2003. Sooners
are arguably nation's most complete Division I-A
team. |
| 2. |
MIAMI (5-0) |
Considered dropping 'Canes
down after close call against W.Virginia, but I'll
let their play at Florida State this week determine
their short-term future. |
| 3. |
LSU (5-0) |
Perhaps catching slumping
Florida at the right time... or, the worst time,
because
the Gators are going to be a tad riled. |
| 4. |
OHIO STATE (4-0) |
Buckeyes will have to play
better than they have to date if they're going to
maintain winning streak at sturdy Wisconsin. |
| 5. |
VIRGINIA TECH (4-0) |
Battles with Syracuse used
to be highly-anticipated, but oddsmakers have installed
Hokies as nearly three-touchdown favorites. |
| 6. |
FLORIDA STATE (4-0) |
Beating Miami at home this
weekend could propel Seminoles back to the level
of their national title days of the 1990s (and jump
them in my ratings). |
| 7. |
ARKANSAS (4-0) |
Never a break in the SEC.
All Razorbacks have to deal with this week is an
Auburn
team that was a consensus preseason top 5. |
| 8. |
NEBRASKA (5-0) |
Missouri, which plays host
to the Huskers this week, is improved about as much
as any squad in the country. |
| 9. |
MINNESOTA (5-0) |
OK, the Gophers have earned
a spot in my rankings. But can they beat Michigan
at home in a nationally-televised Friday night showdown? |
| 10. |
(tie) TCU (5-0) and Northern
Illinois (5-0) |
Neither is really on the same
level with the top nine, but I didn't want either
to be relegated to the dreaded "also considered" all
by their lonesome. |
| Also considered: None. |
2003 PREDICTION RECORDS:
Straight-Up -- 27-18 (60%)
Against-The-Spread -- 19-26 (42%)
LAST WEEK: 4-3 Straight-Up, 2-5 Against-The-Spread
Week 7 Schedule (the top games of the week)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9
BYU (-2) 31, Colorado State 27 -- The Rams, coming
off an impressive home win over Fresno State, are more
balanced but BYU is a good homefield team. Both clubs,
interestingly enough, are a mediocre 3-3 going in.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10
Michigan (+1) 28, No. 9 Minnesota
19 -- I'm sticking
with my assertion that the Golden Gophers, while deserving
of recognition for their 5-0 start, haven't really
played anyone. Heck, they almost lost to Penn State.
The Wolverines have had two nasty road tests - at Oregon
and Iowa - losing both, but almost winning each time.
Michigan is the superior squad... if it has anything
left in the tank.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11
No. 1 Oklahoma (-6 1/2) 33, Texas 17 -- This annual
clash is at Dallas, so there's not really a homefield edge,
and so the Sooners' defense is the deciding factor
in a game that is likely to be fairly close for about
a half. Texas is performing similarly to many of
their
previous clubs -- dynamite against overmatched foes,
but not ready for a major step up in competition.
No. 2 Miami (+6) 27, No. 6 Florida State 24 -- Both
are unbeaten, both are legit national title contenders.
The Seminoles have won four of the last five meetings
at home, but Miami won the last clash there in 2001 and
prevailed, 28-27, in last year's meeting at Miami. Ultimately,
I gotta take those six points when everything else appears
relatively equal.
No. 3 LSU (-9) 42, Florida 20 -- Not an easy call here,
because Florida had played pretty well until stumbling
against Ole Miss. LSU, however, is as good as its unbeaten
record suggests, especially at home.
Wisconsin (+2 1/2) 23, No. 4 Ohio State 20 -- Finally,
a team catches up with the Buckeyes and snaps their extended
winning skein. The Badgers typically play everyone tough
at home, and they live for beating Ohio State and/or
Michigan.
Auburn (+5 1/2) 30, No. 7 Arkansas 27 -- Another upset
pick, because maybe Auburn is as good as the preseason
hype after all. Sure looked that way against Tennessee.
And the Razorbacks barely survived two weeks ago against
a mediocre Alabama team. This one, of course, could go
either way.
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