Weekly Picks

It is finally here. After watching the last snap of your favorite teams Spring Game your anticipation has been building for this very day. I'm not talking about the first week of the 2009 College Football season. I'm talking about the first ever "Weekly Picks" post for This Ain't Intramurals.

For your entertainment, here is a run-down of this week’s Big 12 games and a few other national games of interest. Beav and I will both make our picks against the spread. Just know this, in no way are we condoning gambling, or saying you should take our advice and make a friendly wager on the outcomes of the games. We are sports geniuses, though, so you make the call.

Thursday:

North Dakota State at Iowa State (ISU by 17.5)

Beav: No new unis for the Cyclones this year? Over the past decade, it seems like ISU has worn more different jerseys than Jay-Z. I like the 'clones here to win but no cover. ISU 27 - NDSU 17

Steve: Iowa State is breaking in a new head coach and coordinators. This will be a positive change for the Clones in the long run, but I expect a few struggles out of the gate. ISU will not cover, but they will beat NDSU. ISU 38 - NDSU 24

Oregon at Boise State (Boise by 4.5)

Beav: The Broncos will be looking to spoil Chip Kelly's first appearance as the Ducks' head coach. It’s never easy to play on the blue turf, but I like Oregon here. Oregon 31 - Boise St 21

Steve: I think teams are no longer overlooking teams like Boise State and Utah. At least they shouldn’t. Oregon will be completely focused…but not enough to win. Boise State 28 - Oregon 24

Saturday: from least to most interesting

UMass at Kansas State (NL)

Beav: Just like the old days for Snyder. How does he find these opponents? I wasn't aware Umass even had a football team. KSU 38 - Umass 0

Steve: I don’t even know what to say about this game. There isn’t really anything we can learn about K State in this crap-fest. KSU 28 - Umass 3

New Mexico at Texas A&M (A&M by 11)

Beav: I can't imagine a scenario in which aTm scores over 20 points here - I like the Aggies to win, but in a low scoring game. aTm 17 - New Mexico 13

Steve: I’m picking an upset special here. I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about New Mexico, but I just think aTm will struggle. New Mexico 24 - aTm 14

Northern Colorado at Kansas (NL)

Beav: Jayhawks return a lot of talent on offense and Mangino's teams always seem to be well prepared. Jayhawks win big. KU 52 - UNC 17

Steve: Kansas will move the ball all day long and their defense will look better than it is. Hopefully Northern Colorado has a punter after stab-gate a few years ago, because they will need one frequently. KU 63 - Norhtern Colorado 10

North Dakota at Texas Tech (Texas Tech by 45.5)

Beav: Leach gets to try out his new replacements to Crabtree & Harrell, so I expect him to let the guys play a little bit in this one. TT 65 - ND 14

Steve: It will take all of one quarter before Taylor Potts makes Tech fans forget about Graham Harrell. Plus, I expect Tech will come out with a little chip on their shoulder. Texas Tech 56 -North Dakota 7

Louisiana Monroe at Texas (Texas by 36)

Beav: Seems like the Longhorns always cover in these early season games. Not much drama here. Texas 50 - LA-Monroe 10

Steve: Texas means business this year, and Louisiana-Monroe is hardly even a bump in the road for them. Texas big: Texas 63 - LA-Monroe 7

Florida Atlantic at Nebraska (Nebraska by 17)

Beav: Neb by 17 I like the Huskers big in this one. The biggest question mark for the Big Red is at QB, and I'm of the opinion that the Huskers offensive system doesn't put a huge burden on QBs. How else do you explain the success of Joe Ganz? Schnellenberger has had Nebraska's number in the past, but in the words of Ochocinco - he might as well kiss the baby. Nebraska 46 - FAU 17

Steve: FAU isn’t a complete joke. They have played in a few Bowl Games under Schnellenberger and won the Sun Belt last year. Still not enough fire power to take down the Huskers, new QB and all. Nebraska 38 - FAU 14

Colorado State at Colorado (Colorado by 13)

Beav: As I said in Monday's post, I like the Buffs to win in an ugly one. This one always seems to be somewhat close, so laying 13 seems like a lot. CU 27 - CSU 20

Steve: This game use to be one of my favorite games to watch. As Beav documented on Monday, the Bradlee Van Pelt ball spike in the helmet was just awesome. Unforturnately BVP no longer plays for the Rams. CU 31 - CSU 10

Baylor at Wake Forest (Wake by 5)

Beav: Wake never seems to get off to a good start, and I like Baylor to be the team this year who gets off to a great start, becomes overrated, and then falls apart toward the middle of the year. Baylor 24 - Wake Forest 16

Steve: Wake is one of those teams that has quietly been pretty darn good the last few years. I think the Bears will cover, but fall just short of winning. Wake Forest 21 - Baylor 20

BYU at Oklahoma (OU by 21)

Beav: OU was an offensive juggernaut for most of last year, but I will be interested to see how they respond to what Florida was able to do defensively. Sometimes it takes a while to recover from games like that. I like the Sooners to win, but not cover. OU 40 - BYU 26

Steve: BYU has been talking about his game for a long time. I’m guessing they will have the Sooners’ full attention, and that’s not a good thing. I expect the Oklahoma defense to look outstanding. OU 56 - BYU 14

Missouri vs. Illinois (Illinois by 5.5)

Beav: As I said in my games of the week post, Missouri has enough great athletes on the team that I don't think they will fall off as much as people think. I've never been much of a Zook believer, either. Mizzou 38 - Illinois 21

Steve: Mizzou lost too much talent fromlast year’s team to ignore. Illinois has one of the best QB-WR combos in the country with Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn that should cause problems for Mizzou’s terrible pass defense. Illinois 35 - Mizzou 21

Georgia at Oklahom State (OSU by 4)

Beav: The Cowboys bring back lots of talent at the skill positions this year, but I like the Bulldogs in this one. OK, maybe I don't...but I'm sticking with Monday's prediction. Georgia 23 - OSU 17

Steve: When this game was originally scheduled, I’m guessing Georgia wasn’t expecting T. Boone State University to be this good. Plus, this game is more than just Georgia vs. OSU. It’s SEC vs. Big 12, and the winning team/conference will have some bragging rights for a few months. Oklahoma State 27 - Georgia 20

Virginia Tech at Alabama (Bama by 4)

Beav: Even before the injuries they experienced in fall camp, I expected a disappointing year for V-Tech. I'm sure Saban's got the Tide ready to go after last year's disappointing finish. Alabama 24 - Virginia Tech 17

Steve: Let me start by saying I think both teams are overrated. For a game pitting two top 10 teams, I’m predicting a boring defensive struggle. Alabama 21 - Virginia Tech 14

Monday:

Miami at Florida State (FSU by 4)

Beav: This one sure has lost some of its luster. The Hurricanes aren't quite so thuggish anymore, and Papa Bowden's only interest these days appears to be outliving JoePa. I don't think I could be less interested in this game. FSU 23 - Miami 16

Steve: When will people finally realize these teams aren’t that good any more. Both offenses will look like crap, but people will say it’s because the defenses are sooo good. Wrong! The offenses just suck. Florida State 17 - Miami 10

Best & Worst Games of the Week

Its finally here...opening week for college football. All of the Big XII conference teams will be in action, but not all of their games will be worth paying attention to. Here we identify the two worst games of the week and the two best games of the week.

Two to miss:

Colorado State @ Colorado: This used to be my favorite early season games to watch - good in-state rivalry known to produce some great college football moments like CSU QB Bradlee Van Pelt spiking the ball off of Roderick Sneed's facemask as they fell into the end zone in 2002. Colorado State has been comically bad for about 5 years now, and the Buffs haven't done much lately to make me think I might see good football when they take the field. The only reason to pay attention to this one is the chance of tear gas and riot police afterward. I'm leaning toward the Buffs here in an ugly one.

North Dakota @ Texas Tech: I don't see things going well for UND and their pasty nordes trying to keep up Texas Tech's stable of athletes. This one won't be pretty...I expect it to turn out like some of my epic Madden 2003 battles against Steve during the ROLB J. Swift era. The Sioux might have to invoke the mercy rule in this one.

Two to see:

Georgia @ Oklahoma State: This isn't just the best Big XII game this week - it's the best game in the country - two top 15 teams facing a stern test right out of the gate. Both will be trying to prove they belong in the conversation with the likes of Florida, OU, and Texas. Lots of Ewing Theory potential for UGA - I am curious to see who they miss less: overrated RB Knowshon Moreno or overrated QB Matt Stafford (Free Fantasy Football tip - you want neither on your team). I'm leaning toward Georgia at this point.

Missouri @ Illinois : Both teams come into this one with something to prove. The Illini are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2008 - Ron Zook needs to show that he can turn his big recruiting classes into results on the filed. Missouri is looking to show that they have taken the step from being a solid program who can make a run every few years to a top tier program perennially in the Top 15. Missouri lost some big weapons on offense, but one thing that struck me when I saw them in Lincoln last season was how their pre-game warm-up lines were stocked with Maclin/Coffman types - big, fast athletes. MIZZOU won't fall off as much as many are predicting. I like the Tigers by at least 2 TDs.