Week 3 and feeling as angry as a backup punter

Nothing quite says "teamwork" like stabbing your starting punter in the leg so you can get his job. Allegedly. This week's nominee for the Maurice Clarett award is Mitch Cozad, former backup punter for Northern Colorado. Mitch narrowly beat out South Carolina starting quarterback Blake Mitchell who was arrested after a bar fight early Wednesday. As the story goes, Blake got into the scuffle after another patron took offense to the QB's underage companion entering the bar. Not to worry, even though Blake has been suspended for this week, the "Ole Ball Coach" came to his QB's defense. "I was disappointed he got into a little fight. If he was out with his girlfriend and he wasn't drunk or whatever ... that's what college kids do." Yup, Steve - bar fight at 1:45 a.m. I'm sure Blake was as sober as a two headed field mouse on a country Sunday. Or whatever weird sayings ya'll have down there in the South. On to the picks.

Last Week 3-2 (stupid Tate and his stupid muscle strain)
Season 6-3-1

Florida -3½ TENNESSEE

The big story coming out of this game is that Tennessee defensive tackle Justin Harrell will postpone surgery on his torn left biceps in order to play against Florida this week. Doctors have assured Harrell that he can do no further damage to the arm as long as it is well padded. Additionally, they have ruled that Harrell can do no further damage to his head even if he doesn't wear a helmet. I know these guys are tough and all, and Harrell was an All-SEC pick last year, but does anyone else think this is a good idea? I'm not a doctor (though with a few more biology courses I could probably pass for one in Knoxville) but if Harrell wants to play in the NFL someday, shouldn't he be more worried about getting his arm fixed than a match up against the Gators? Yes, I know, this is a big rivalry, yadda yadda yadda, and I'm sure someday twenty years from now Harrell will reminisce with his buddies from the plant about the game when he played with one arm, had 2 tackles and Tennessee lost to Florida by a touchdown. I'll give him heart, but I can't understand the stupidity of Vols coach Phillip Fulmer by starting a DT with one good arm in such a big in-conference match up. Florida rolls this week and covers the spread.

LOUISVILLE -4 Miami (Florida)

I have this nagging feeling that after outscoring opponents 121-28 over the first two weeks, this is Louisville's welcome back to earth week. Yes, they destroyed Temple last week, 62-0, but they did give up 28 points to Kentucky in week one. What does all this mean? I really don't know. What I do know is that Miami's defense is only giving up 10 points a game. Though I am confident that the Big East is looking less like the Big Easy, I'm not confident that this is the game in which the ACC gets beaten like a two headed field mouse on a country Sunday. I'll take Miami with the points on this one, though I'm sure this will come back to haunt me.

ILLINOIS -3½ Syracuse

Speaking of a resurgent Big East, Syracuse must have posted my column from last week in the locker room as they nearly knocked off Iowa. Either that, or Drew Tate's replacement at QB, Jason Manson threw 4 picks, and Syracuse got turned away on seven consecutive plays from the two yard line. I'm not sure which it was - you tell me. This week, Syracuse takes on mighty Illinois, who have lost their last 10 games against D-I opponents, one game shy of the 11 straight Syracuse has lost. Though Syracuse put up a good fight last week, I think they'll be back to their old habits this week as the Illini are still smarting from the 33-0 loss last week. Illinois covers the spread on this one, and Syracuse makes it 12 in a row. Don't worry Orange fans, only 6 weeks until basketball season.

NOTRE DAME - 6 Michigan

On the list of people I'd least like to be this week, Michigan QB Chad Henne ranks near the top of the list. I don't know many things but these things are facts that I do know. FACT: Henne has thrown for an average of 124 yards per game this season against defenses much worse than the Irish. FACT: Notre Dame's defense always makes it difficult for big name opponents to come into South Bend, especially teams who play a mere 180 miles away, and have goofy helmets (yeah, history, shmistory, the whole winged helmet thing is sooooo out of style this season). FACT: Tom Zbikowski hunts and kills Wolverines with his bare hands and Charlie Weis eats them raw. Okay, I made that last one up. Regardless, I like a battle tested Notre Dame in this one over a Michigan squad who comes in with a chip on their shoulder and leaves with a boot to the ass. Notre Dame wins this one by a TD or more.

OREGON - 4½ Oklahoma

The bad news for Oregon is that they are 0-6 lifetime against Oklahoma, including an upset loss in the Fiesta Bowl last year. The good news for Oregon is that Jason White is no longer eligible for the Sooners. Most analysts say this game will likely be decided in a battle of running backs - OU's Adrian Peterson vs. Oregon's Jonathan Stewart. both have 3 TD's, though Stewart has split the rushing load with Jeremiah Johnson who also has 3 TD's on the year. HOWEVER, I am not most analysts, and I say screw the running game. That's right - this is a game which will be decided in the air. I see Saturday's trip to Eugene as Paul Thompson's coming-out party. Look for Thompson to exploit the Oregon secondary (with the loss of Jackie Bates playing a big part) for 3 or even 4 TDs. Combine that with a couple from Peterson, and Oklahoma should put up big numbers against the Ducks this week. As long as the Sooner defense can hold, Oklahoma takes the points and wins.

Oh and here's a freebee. I'm not scared of the 15.5 points Rutgers is laying to Ohio (I’ll take Rutgers). I'm just prohibited by law and the judges of good taste to pick more than 2 Big East games a week at this point. Then again, if I go 3-2 again this week, I'll be picking those Pitt/Citadel, West Virginia/East Carolina, and South Florida/Kansas games faster than a two headed field mouse on a country Sunday. See you next week.