College Football Week 7 - Important Matchups

22 South Carolina @ 2 Alabama
Favorite: Alabama, -17
This in-conference game features what have become two defensive powers in college football, as SC has the 15th ranked defense, and Alabama has the 2nd. But both teams have also played well on offense, with Alabama putting up 37 points per game. Sc's offense has struggled at times, including in a 7-3 over NC State in Week 1. It will be that dominant defense and scoring offense that carries the day for 'Bama in this one.
Pick: Alabama 38 - South Carolina 24

20 Oklahoma vs 3 Texas (Neutral Site - Dallas)
Pick: Texas, -3
Despite losingthis game last year, Oklahoma went on to play for the BCS National Championship instead of Texas, and you better believe Texas remembers it. Both teams come into this game putting up huge points and allowing very few. Texas has blown through five straight unranked teams, outscoring them 236-75. And with the national polls dropping Texas one spot this week, they want to put up a big win to get back to second. Oklahoma has struggled on the big stage this year, already losing twice to ranked opponents. But QB Sam Braford was injured in the first loss, resulting in him not playing in the second. Still, BYU outplayed Oklahoma even before Bradford went down, and Texas will outplay them this week.
Pick: Texas 35 - Oklahoma 17

6 USC @ 25 Notre Dame
Favorite: USC, -10
The funny thing about big games is that they sometimes allow the lesser team to make a name for themselves. USC has simply dominated the Irish over the past couple years, and they spread would indicate people seem to think they still will. But with Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen in the Heisman running this year and a USC team that looks beatable, 10 points might be far too high a spread. In fact, the future of the Irish football program may hang in the balance of this game, as there has been speculation that if Charlie Weis can't win this game, he may be out as head coach. The key will be the Irish defense. If they can play like they did in Week 1, they'll win. If not, they'll lose, but it will be a close one.
Pick: Notre Dame 38 - USC 35

Pitt @ Rutgers
Favorite: Pitt, -3.5
Each of these teams have quietly put together strong, one-loss records this year. The result has been a wide-open Big East, with four one-loss teams and an unbeaten Cincinnati. Rutgers one loss, however, was in-conference against that Cincinnati team in Week 1. Both teams, then, com into this game needing a big win both for their national rankings and their conference standings. Both teams come in with a strong offense, and Rutgers appears to have the better D. But with Cincinnati still on their schedule to end the season, Pitt needs this game more, and they know it.
Pick: Pitt 31 - Rutgers 27

College Football Week 5 - Important Matchups

3 Alabama @ Kentucky
Favorite: Alabama, -15.5
With the two teams ahead of them in the polls off this week, as well as most of the always powerful Big XII conference, Alabama needs to prove themselves here. Coming off their 41-7 loss to Florida last week, Kentucky looks like a team 'Bama can breeze through. And they'll need to. 'Bama has put up some strong numbers this year, but so has Kentucky in their two wins. 'Bama will have to duplicate what Florida's defense did last week, or suffer an ugly upset.
Pick: Alabama 42 - Kentucky 13

4 LSU @ 18 Georgia
Favorite: Georgia, -3
With LSU undefeated but not putting up the numbers you would normally expect, Georgia comes in as the small favorite. Playing at home probably has something to do with that. But Georgia hasn't exactly been a powerhouse this year, either. Two of their wins have been by 4 points or less, and their third was by only 11. If LSU can put together some offense, they can have an easy win on the road.
Pick: LSU 35 - Georgia 21

7 USC @ 24 Cal
Favorite: USC, -5
Both teams have suffered upset losses the last two weeks, and both teams looked terrible in them. USC had their bounce-back win last week, and Cal needs one now. Though Cal looked worse in their loss than USC did, only managing 3 points, Cal still looks to have the batter offense. This week will be a return to putting up big numbers.
Pick: Cal 42 - USC 24


8 Oklahoma @ 17 Miami(FL)
Favorite: Oklahoma, -7.5
Though injured QB Sam Bradford wanted to be back for this game, he'll sit on the sidelines as Landry Jones continues to play for Oklahoma. While Jones's huge performances have been the story this year, its the Oklahoma defense that deserves a lot of credit. In the last two games, they've blanked their opponents, outscoring them 109-0. Including their loss to BYU, its still 122-14. But those shut-outs were against Idaho State and Tulsa, two teams no one expected to put up much of a fight. Miami, however, come in with something to prove. After suffering their first loss of the season last week, they are now 2-1 against ranked opponents. They need a win both as a bounce-back and to cement their right to a ranking as they go into the easy part of their schedule. To do that, Jacory Harris needs to play like he did against FSU and Georgia Tech, and forget about Va Tech last week.
Pick: Miami 38 - Oklahoma 35

Sunday Morning News

US Open upsets: 5 seed Andy Roddick loses to John Isner, 1 seed Dinara Safina loses to Petra Kvitova, Melanie Oudin wins again over Maria Sharapova. [Bloomberg]

More upsets: 3 Oklahoma loses to 20 BYU, 14-13. Heisman Trophy winning OU QB Sam Bradford suffered a sprained shoulder in the loss. He is expected to miss a few weeks, probably ending his chances of winning a second Heisman. [Ball Hype]

Notre Dame and Michigan, two schools whose teams haven't lived up to expectations in recent years, each had run-away victories Saturday, over Nevada and Western Michigan, respectively. They will face each other next week at Michigan. [Rivals.com]

Preakness Stakes winner Rachel Alexandra is the first filly to win the Woodward Stakes. At 8-0, she is so far undefeated for the year. [NYDN]