Free NCAA Football Picks Week 6 – 2006

After a huge week 5 in the college ranks my swagger seems to be back in action, at least that’s what the wifey tells me. Swagger or not, another 8 win week would suit me just nice. Follow along as I give my NCAA rundown for this weeks best bets.

Florida State Seminoles @ North Carolina State Wolfpack (+10.5): I’ll be stunned if this game isn’t closer than a touchdown. Neither team shows much in the offensive category, and both teams have shown solid defenses. FSU isn’t the Seminole team we used to know, and although NC State started off the season pretty rough, they looked a lot tougher at home against Boston College last week. Staying at home for the second game in a row should help NC State stay on track.

Arkansas Razorbacks (+16) @ Auburn Tigers: Auburn holds a Top 3 ranking in every major poll, but they have struggled lately, two close games in a row, and the Razorbacks are getting better and better every week. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Tigers pulled out another win at home, but the Razorbacks will put up a fight. For a team struggling with scoring, 16 points is just too much. Take them hogs and more than 2 touchdowns.

Penn State Nittany Lions @ Minnesota Golden Gophers (+3): Minnesota is a pretty good football team to be an underdog at home to the Lions. Honestly, I think these two teams are even right down the line, which is why I’ve got to go with the Gophers at home, especially with the points. Now, a field goal is next to nothing, but home field advantage, and a very solid rushing attack, add on two tough losses back to back, and Minnesota has to win this game to keep their bowl hopes alive. Bryan Cupito will give the Rodents just enough arm to take down the Lions.

Clemson Tigers @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons (+17): Call me crazy, but I think 5-0 means something. I think playing at home helps a great deal, and the fact that Wake won this match-up last season just pushes me right over the edge. Did I say anything about 17 points? That’s a big deal too. Clemson is damn good, but Wake has been winning with defense and big plays. Defense and big plays will keep you in almost any game. Don’t count out Wake just because the big bad Clemson Tigers are coming to town. It’s tough to bet against a team getting 17 points when they haven’t allowed more than 14 all season long.

Vanderbilt Commodores (-1.5) @ Mississippi Rebels: When it comes right down to it, I think the Commodores are the better football team. Mississippi has lost 4 straight after a lucky win against Memphis to start the season. In fact, until they had another lucky week against Georgia last week, they hadn’t been closer than 17 points to Missouri, Kentucky, or Wake Forest. Its always tough to play really well against a good team and lose, which is exactly what happened to Miss last week. That being said, Vanderbilt is on a winning streak, and since the Michigan game, they’ve played very well, Look for the streak, and he good play to continue against the Rebels.

Kent State Golden Flashes (-23.5) @ Temple Owls: Since the opening game of the season, the Owls haven’t finished a game within 4 touchdowns of their opponents. The Golden Flashes aren’t the top shop on the block, but they’ll easily handle the 24 point spread needed to cover in this one. Call it a hunch, but the Owls won’t score more than once. That means field goals, touchdowns, with underclass coeds. Not more than once. And that will be a courtesy job for sure.

Stanford Cardinal @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-31): IF there was ever a day that Brady Quinn would pad his Heisman stats, it’s this week at home against the Cardinal. Stanford is bad. Lets put it this way, Duke and North Carolina would handle Stanford, and Temple would give them a run. Icky football. This spread seems like nothing to me right now, absolutely nothing. I’d take Notre Dame’s red-shirts over Stanford.

Washington Huskies (+20.5) @ USC: Hell, I’ll stick with the Dawgs that have been playing well of late. Now UW is 4-1, and don’t get me wrong, those 4 wins over San Jose State, Fresno State, UCLA and Arizona aren’t the same as a win over USC would be, but at least they’ve been impressive. USC hasn’t really looked good at all. They’re undefeated, and there’s something to be said for that, but I haven’t seen much. Sure, everyone wants to say how they’re just young, but if you watch them, you can’t really see the Trojan trot of old. Washington won’t likely pull a stunner here, but keeping it close is as good as gold.

West Virginia Mountaineers (-23) @ Mississippi State Bulldogs: I think West Virginia is at least as good as LSU and Auburn. Both of which absolutely handled the Bulldogs. In fact, I’m willing to say that WVU will do their best to upstage both Auburn and LSU so they can start to get some credit from the BCS. For a great team with a poor schedule, and they are that, the only thing they can do to make themselves look like National Champs is do better than other great teams against the same competition. A win is not just a win for the Mounts, a huge win counts more for them.

Oklahoma Sooners @ Texas Longhorns (-3.5): Is it just me or does it seem like Texas has fallen off the face of the earth since they lost to Ohio State? They’ve killed each of their lesser opponents since then, but this will be their next real test, in fact, probably the best team they’ll play the rest of the season. I hate to agree with the betting public, because the sports books have to make money right? But I think the Longhorns are too talented for the Sooners. Sure, OK has the stud of the bunch, Adrian Peterson, but overall Texas is far and above the Sooners. Colt McCoy will play better in this one than he did against Ohio State. I promise. Stick with the horns.

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