NOW WAIT JUST A PIGSKIN PICKIN' MINUTE

As we head into the second week of the college football season there are some games that pose interesting match-ups and cause for concern for the betting line favorites.

Wake Forest is a field goal favorite at home against Stanford. I believe Stanford is a certainly a program on the rise. The only thing keeping me from jumping in with both feet for this one is the fact that as a team on the rise, they have to be early risers for this game! The Demon Deacons showed their smarts by scheduling this as a Noon (EDT) kickoff, translating to a 9 a.m. kickoff for the west coast-based Cardinal. If the Cardinal can get up and get moving on such an early schedule I still like them to upset the Deacs.

The Iowa Hawkeyes and are almost a touchdown favorite as they travel to face their in-state rival Iowa State Cyclones. Coach Kirk Ferentz is firmly implanted for the foreseeable near future as Iowa’s coach, but had he not recently signed a new contract this game would be exerting great pressure on him and his team. The Cyclones have won 4 of the last 7 in the series, but they are coming off of a dreadful 2-10 season last year. Iowa stumbled around last week and had to block two consecutive field goal attempts on the game’s last plays to avoid the biggest of upsets against Division I-AA Northern Iowa. In a lot of pre-season picks they are a sleeper for the Big Ten title race. My thoughts are this is a must for Iowa to show what they have in preparation for Arizona and Penn State in the upcoming weeks and I look for them to do so.

Notre Dame travels to the Big House in Ann Arbor as a field goal favorite. Even though Michigan’s win over Western Michigan last week deflected some of the negative press surrounding Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez, only wins over big-time programs will earn him the good graces of M Go Blue loyalists. My hunch is that ND’s defense will come after the young Michigan quarterbacks early and try to unnerve them—kind of like Mike Tyson throwing a bunch of bombs against a heavyweight opponent right from the opening bell, as opposed to the proverbial “feeling each other out” first round. ND’s offense can throw it deep and accurately, as well as run it efficiently enough to be respectable. Golden Domers should leave Ann Arbor happy.

Army is a slim one point favorite at home vs. Duke. On the surface, this game certainly doesn’t draw any national attention. But, if the Black Knights of the Hudson can defeat Duke in this battle of have-nots, they will move to 2-0 and be well on their way to a winning season. Optimism is running high at West Point, not because of the new option attack being employed—although that plays a role—but, (don’t tell anyone) due to their super-soft schedule. Army opened with a terrible Eastern Michigan, they have a mediocre Duke team this week, and have such other traditionally below average teams like Iowa State, Tulane, Temple, VMI and North Texas further down the road. Legendary West Point gridiron figures that have passed on must be turning in their graves looking at this cream-puff schedule. Let’s go with Duke in a big upset!

JUST FOR FUN--In the blowout city games of the weekend, who will score more points and have a bigger spread in their victory...Texas at Wyoming, Alabama hosting Florida International, Florida hosting Troy, or Boise State welcoming Miami of Ohio? The Longhorns and Tide are favored by 34, the Gators by 36, and Boise State by 37!

Think of it; we are talking about a five (5) touchdown difference here.