Six Pack of Picks for the Weekend
Friday, September 25, 2009
Let's get right to it, shall we?
Revenge is a dish that Penn State would like Iowa to taste. After being knocked out of the championship picture by Iowa last year all eyes have focused on this game for some time now. Iowa will not be easily shaken by the stadium-wide White Out in the prime time nationally televised game, so Daryll Clark will have to make some good passes. This is the Big Ten opener for both teams.
For more on this game check out my preview on Examiner. I am going with Penn State.
The Red Raiders are coming off a dominating win against East Stroudsburg and have made a bit of a statement to the rest of the PSAC East. After taking down Edinboro a couple weeks ago, Shippensburg has set themselves up for a nice little run leading up to the Homecoming game against West Chester. The Marauders have been weak this season and do not figure to put up much of a fight. This game will be played at 7pm though and Shippensburg has traditionally had problems in night games.
Still, I find it hard to go against Shippensburg this week.
#11 Virginia Tech (2-1) vs. #9 Miami (2-0)
Is Miami for real? After the first couple games of their season it would seem so. But this week will be a tough task for the Hurricanes. Can they go in to Blacksburg, Virginia and take down the team that was proclaimed to be the top team in the ACC, Virginia Tech? They seem to have the offense to do so, but it is tough for teams to win on the road against the Hokies.
I initially felt I should pick Virginia Tech, but I am going to go with Miami, which would set up a terrific game next week against Oklahoma.
Mike Vick will be back in action in an NFL game, but the Eagles will still go with Kevin Kolb as the starter. Truth is, it should not matter who is taking snaps for the Eagles this weekend when the Kansas City Chiefs come to town.
How much of an impact can Larry Johnson have? If he can get going can he cause as much of a problem for the Eagles defense as he once could?
Both teams enter this game 2-0 with some interesting story lines following them. We all know about the Brett Favre soap opera, and it has gone well for the Vikings thus far. The Niners are still without their top draft pick, Michael Crabtree (who clearly has an agent without a clue). I am not ready to say the Niners are for real though. After all, they play in the NFC West.
Favre throws for a couple touchdowns and Adrian Peterson runs wild once again.
I like Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, being a local guy and all, but I find this weekend's game to be a tough one for the second year QB. The Patriots are coming off a bit of an embarrassing loss to the Jets last week and when was the last time Tom Brady and company lost two straight games? I do not know for sure but it has been at least three years (Brady missed the 2008 season and was undefeated in 2007).
Expect the Patriots to defend their home turf.
NFL SUICIDE PICK
New York Giants
Last week I picked the Buffalo Bills at home against...Tampa Bay.
Is it a coincidence that I feel most confident in saying that the New York Giants are going to win this week? They are playing on the road at...Tampa Bay.
A popular pick is to go with the Baltimore Ravens at home against the Cleveland Browns or the Green Bay Packers on the road at the St. Louis Rams.
I'll take my chances this week.
