Week 3 Picks - GOPHERS vs. CAL

NCAA PICKS
JR: CLEM-7,KAN-19,FLA-27.5,VT-3,TROY-7.5,WASH+23,OKST-31,TEX-17,UNLV-6,UCLA-10.5
JG: BOISE-10, EMU+22.5,NC-7,PUR-13,TN+27.5,OK-15.5,MSU+11.5,ORE-4,BYU-6,KENT+2.5
MR: GT+4,CAL-14,PSU-29.5,MSU+11.5,USC-23,RUT-14.5,OKST-31,LSU-26.5,GEO-1,TT+17
MK: MN+14,NC-7,FLA-27.5,MARY-7,VT-3,MSU+11.5,WASH+23,BYU-6,GEO-1,TEX-17
AW: GT+4,BC+7,PUR-13,VT-3,USC-23,IOWA-5.5,OREST-2,GEO-1,TT+17,HAW+6
GR: GT+4,FRES+10,CAL-14,OHIOST-21,FLA-27.5,VT-3,MSU+11.5,CIN+2,TEX-17,UCLA-10.5
MH: GT+4,BOISE-10,EMU+22.5,CAL-14,TN+27.5,UTAH+4,NAVY+8,NW-3,BYU-6,GEO-1
MC: UK-10,KAN-19,FLA-27.5,MSU+11.5,WASH+23,SOMISS-14.5,SMU-4.5,ULL+26.5,UTEP-13,TEX-17

NFL PICKS
JR: NE-5, MIN-10.5, SEA-0, PIT-3, NYG+2.5
JG: CAR+7, NE-5, CIN+9, TB+4.5, PIT-3
MR: CAR+7, NE-5, ARI+4.5, SEA-0, BAL+3.5
MK: CAR+7, SEA-0, PIT-3, DEN-3, SD-3.5
AW: NE-5, SEA-0, DEN-3, BAL+3.5, DAL-2.5
GR: NE-5, GB-9, MIN-10.5, PIT-3, NYG+2.5
MH: ATL-7, NE-5, GB-9, SEA-0, PIT-3
MC: STL+10.5, HOU+8, ARI+4.5, SF-0, PIT-3

So our consensus locks for the week are as follows: (I'll start trakcing these)
GT +4
VT -3
MSU +11.5
GEO -1

NE -5
SEA -0
PIT -3

Not a bad list there. These are games where a net of at least 4 of us agree on the pick and put it on our list.

BIG WEEKEND GAMES
TN at FLA (-27.5)
This should be a giant shit-storm for the Kiffin family and the Vols. The comments that have been made back and forth have bumped this game up to the top of the list for both of these teams coming in...unfortunately the Gators have 10x the talent and should house these guys...GATORS 42-7

NEB at VT (-3)
Is NEB for real? Kind of. They will be better, but I doubt their offense will do anything in Blacksburg. VT will have their struggles on offense as well as the baby blackshirts are trying to reappear...special teams make the difference, as it usually does for VT...HOKIES 22-13

AZ at IOWA (-5.5)
Another defensive battle could happen in Iowa City. Neither team moves the ball extremely well, but the defenses should be strong. Sadly, I think Iowa may have woken up from their 1st game sleep-walk and I like them to win this week. That is really hard to say, so I'll predict...HOGEYES 6-0 over AZ

CIN at OREST (-2)
If Cincy is for real, they win this one. OREST was this close to a Rose Bowl last year, and they have a pretty good squad returning...but I love Brian Kelly (potential next coach of The OHIOST?)...CIN wins 34-30

FSU at BYU (-6)
Mormons face on of the last few tests on their schedule. The Noles are reeling after the loss to MIA and struggle against Jacksonville St. (who?) I'm still not sold on BYU as a "great" team, but FSU's struggles and history in games like this leads me to pick the Mormons again...BYU 32-20

WV at AUB (-5.5)
Fairly even teams, but I think they are moving in opposite directions. Chizik already matched his final year Cyclone win total at 2-0 for 2009, and I think Bill Stewart will continue to drive the Mountaineers down into irrelevance...AUB, now with offense!, wins 27-17.

GEO at ARK (+1)
Don't sleep on the Hogs. As much as I hate Petrino, they are the real deal this year. Our panel went 4 for GEO and 0 for ARK...call it my 11th NCAA game for the week....UPSET ARK wins 24-21.

UPSET SPECIALS
NILL - they will for sure cover and possibly win +13 at PUR
GT - I like them to win, as all of you do, at MIA tonight
If you don't know my #1 upset special...you don't know me...GOPHERS +14 to outright Win on Saturday morning.

GOPHERS host #8 CAL - 11am
Everything is in place for this to be the kick-off of soemthing special for the Maroon and Gold. As I told you earlier, I think the offense is better than it has played and the defense seems to have picked up and improved off of last year's nice turn around. CAL has a dynamic running game and a stellar D - esecially strong on the DL and DB areas. Special teams are not as good - but the Gophers have a a great looking group thus far, so they need to be difference makers on Saturday. So you can either go to the game, or I'll tell what's going to happen right here:

Gophers kick first - CAL tries to run Best twice without much luck, and then it gets exciting. Kevin Riley is still not a great QB, so the more we get him to throw the better off we are. He surprises early and gives the Bears a couple of 1st downs before it happens...turnover Big Play Traye Simmons picks him off and the Gophers take over. Fisch gets funky and we run a play action on 1st down after the turnover and draw a pass interference call deep to Decker. We stick to the air and draw everyone to Decker before hitting Eskridge out of the backfield for a big gainer and Hoese punches in the next play. By this time, the stadium will be blowing up and you will not be able to hear yourself think! We'll battle back and forth throughout the 1st half and go in to the locker room with a lead at 14-10.

H2 starts with a Stoudamire kick return out to around midfield. That's when Fisch goes back into his playbook and sketches out a 1st for the Gophers...a Marquies Gray PASS! CAL will see #5 come in and immediately commit to the QB run, but Gray fakes the shotgun run, steps back, and hits HAYO! on a bomb for 6 points! At 21-10 the Gopehrs are believeing in miracles and start to feel the pressure. Best will rattle off a couple of backbreaking runs and pull this thing back to 21-18 heading into the 4th. That's when Gopher fans start the old, "I've seen this before" feeling or the "same old shit" comments. No. Not this time. Our 6-39 record against ranked teams was in the dome - those evil demons have been exorcised and the new and improved Golden Gophers squad will find a way to make the big play and win this game.

FINAL - GOPHERS win 27-24...can you smell the roses?!?!?

Was that optimistic enough for you?

RANDOM THOUGHTS on PICKS
Time to discuss the great ones and not so great ones (in my opinion) for Week 3.

- EMU over MICH, coming off a ND hangover I love this pick...should have thought of it myself!

- MR, GR, MH - non-believers. Thank You Kobow for taking the Maroon and Gold and preventing a 0 confidence week for our club.

- GR - OHIOST? This team has looked shaky at best through 2 weeks going on the road against a TOLEDO team with an offense? Yikes. I think team Sweater Vest is just hoping to come back with a W.

- JG/MH - TN +27.5 - do you know how bad FLA wants to destory these guys and how much more talent they have at every spot on the field? I don't expect the starters to leave the field no matter what the score...Urban will put up 100 if he can.

- MK - Maryland? Wow, these guys are terrible! I know it's only 7, but against a dominating James Madison team last week they needed OT...scared yet?

- I love that IND is a 4.5 pt dog at a MAC school AKR and nobody takes them. Wow, they must be awful.

- I went against my USC boys this week. I think they'll be on letdown mode and WASH is much better than anyone realizes. WASH covers easily.

- Love the SOMISS pick by MC...again, it was on my list but didn't make Top 10.

- AW - you picked IOWA - didn't you learn from cheering for Becky last time!

- MC - SMU - another pick I love. I'll say it again, anytime you can bet against WASU you should do it.

- MH - NW - interesting pick. I think SYR is better, but far from good. NW should be able to handle this one, but the jury might still be out on them as well.

- MIAOH is hoping to score their first points of the year in game #3...is it mean or funny that their new HC is the former ND Offensive Coordinator?!

- JG doesn't disappoint and bets against the Clones. He couldn't force himself to bet against Iowa...how bad does Arizona have to be to force this action!?!?

- MC - thanks for picking up on the UTEP train and picking them this week. I didn't do well the last 2 weeks with them, so best of luck to you.

NFL
No major surprises here, except for how well we picked them last week! I think it's a lot tougher group of games to call this time around. 5 games with spreads of 7+ is a lot for the average NFL week.

Only JR and GR went with the Purple...I honestly feel like they are a different team this year, super bowl home boy.\

Some sneaky ones that I kind of like: NO winning at PHI, OAK over KC, BAL over SD

Purple vs. DET really doesn't warrant a preview. Worst team in the league against a Super Bowl contender in Week 2...sounds ugly. Vikes will probably sleep walk a bit and then coast to an easy win and hopefully cover...38-20.

Happy Football! See some of you this weekend, hopefully talk to most all of you...especially after the 3-0 Gophers are ranked in the next poll!!!

GO-PHER KOOL-AID, X, X, X-X-X, GOP-PHER KOOL-AID, X, X, X-X-X

BIG WAVE
I scream in affirmation
Of connecting dislocations
And exceeding limitations
By achieving levitation

Got me a big wave, ride me a big wave, got me a big wave.
Got me a big wave, ride me a big wave, got me a big wave.