Fourth Down: Week 10 Picks

Week 10 Picks

#1 Alabama at #5 LSU, 8pm ET, CBS
Good luck picking this game.  Conventional wisdom says take Alabama without question.  Alabama is arguably the most well-rounded team in the nation with a very effective, efficient offense to go along with, statistically, the best defense in the nation.  LSU on the other hand has really struggled offensively.  They have a very tough, physical running game but quarterback, Zach Mettenberger has been a liability in the passing game.  All that said, this game is game is in Death Valley where the Tigers are 36-1 in home night games under Les Miles and have 22 consecutive home wins, the longest streak in the FBS. 
-Jeremy- Alabama, 20-16
-Nick- Roll Tide, 17-10

#2 Kansas State vs. #24 Oklahoma State, 8pm ET, ABC
No way I am picking against K-State at home. I know the Cowboys are emerging and playing pretty good football, but as I said last week you cannot pick against Collin Kline, the kid is a winner. The Wildcats win this one.
-Nick-K-State, 45-28
I've learned my lesson about going against K-State (see the past two weeks).  Wildcats at home.  Win.
-Jeremy- K-State, 41-24

#3 Notre Dame vs. Pitt, 3:30pm ET, NBC
I don't see much chance for Pitt in this game.  Their only road win is against Buffalo and with their lack of explosiveness on offense I don't think they have a chance of driving the field against this Irish defense.  Notre Dame is coming off a huge road win over Oklahoma and has positioned itself nicely for a possible BSC Championship birth.  Pitt looks to be just a minor speed bump for the Irish who should have no issues improving to 9-0.
-Jeremy- Irish 31-13
-Nick-Irish, 31-10

#4 Oregon at #17 USC, 7pm ET, FOX
As much as I would like Oregon to lose I am not sure if I can pick against them. I think this game will be very close for the first three quarters but the last of depth for SC will be a problem in the final stanza. I think this is a high-scoring high-flying matchup but the Ducks win.
-Nick-Oregon, 52-45
USC has looked sloppy and undisciplined... not a good look when the Ducks are knocking at your door.
-Jeremy- Oregon, 44-28

#6 Georgia vs. Ole Miss, 3:30pm ET, CBS
I put Georgia on upset alert in our '3rd Down' this week.  Ole Miss has played well this season and have done a pretty admirable job sticking with the top teams they've faced, especially against Texas A&M.  Georgia has been really Jeckle and Hyde this season and are coming off that huge win last week against Florida.  I think Georgia wins a closer-than-it-should-be game, but don't be shocked if Ole Miss surprises the Bulldogs and throws a wrench into the SEC East.
-Jeremy- UGA, 34-24
-Nick-Dawgs, 38-24

#7 Florida vs. Missouri, 12pm ET, ESPN2
Flordia is looking for a rebound after its loss to Georgia last weekend and what better way to get back on track than with a Mizzou team that is having trouble in its first SEC year. Florida should have no problem in this game.
-Nick-Florida 31-7
Missouri's struggling offense will get swallowed by the Gators defense.
-Jeremy- Florida, 24-9

#10 Louisville vs. Temple, 12pm ET, ABC/ESPN3
Louisville survived a close one last week against Cincinnati.  This week should be a little easier for the Cardinals with a struggling Temple team coming to town.  Louisville controls this game start to finish.
-Jeremy- Louisville, 30-17
-Nick- Louisville, 24-7

#11 Oregon State vs. Arizona State, 10:30pm ET, ESPN2/WatchESPN
I like Oregon State to get back on track here. After a big upset by Washington last weekend the Beavers should be fired up and ready to beat an average Sun Devil team.
-Nick- Oregon State, 31-17
I wouldn't be shocked to see an upset here, especially with the question marks at quarterback at Oregon State.  The Sun Devils will give them a game but OSU wins a close one.
-Jeremy- OSU, 24-23

#12 Oklahoma at Iowa State, 12pm ET, ABC/ESPN3
Oklahoma is going to have to shake off last week's loss to Notre Dame quickly as they face an Iowa State team that is fully capable of winning this game.  The Cyclones have given other top Big-12 opponents trouble and should give the Sooners all they can handle.  Oklahoma will start slow but eventually pull away from a game Cyclones team.
-Jeremy- Oklahoma 34-21
-Nick-Sooners, 45-28

#13 Clemson at Duke, 7pm ET, ESPN2/WatchESPN
This is a tough one to pick actually. Clemson is trying to line itself up for a possible BCS at-large spot and Duke is trying to rebound from a pounding by Florida State. Early in the season Duke looked like a team that was going to break out this season and make some noise in the ACC. I am going on a limb here but Duke pulls off the shocker.
-Nick-Duke, 34-31
See my response in 3rd down.  Having just watched Duke get run off the field by FSU, I fully expect Clemson to do the same. 
-Jeremy- Clemson, 44-31

#14 Stanford at Colorado, 2pm ET, FX
Stanford has to disband their football program if they lose to Colorado. 
-Jeremy- Stanford, 34-17
-Nick-Stanford, 42-10

#15 Miss. St. vs #16 Texas A&M, 12pm ET, ESPN/WatchESPN
I am not at all impressed with this Mississippi State team. The have played one good team this season in Alabama (given Bama is in a class of its own) and were run off the field. Texas A&M is a good football team and its only two losses are to Florida and LSU both teams with SEC title aspirations. Johnny Manziel should be able to get the Aggie offense rolling in this game against a tough Miss. St. defense. A&M wins a close one and makes a major statement in the SEC.
-Nick-Aggies, 31-27
I'm going the other way on this one.  I still think Miss. St. is a solid team and A&M has struggled against good defenses this season.  Home-field advantage wins out here.
-Jeremy- Miss. St., 31-30

#18 Texas Tech vs. #23 Texas, 3:30pm ET, ABC/ESPN2
After squeaking by Kansas last weekend, I just can't take the Longhorns in this game.  Texas' 100th ranked defense is going to struggle containing the Texas Tech offense and who knows what's going to happen with the quarterback situation with Texas.  Texas Tech wins a shootout at home over the Longhorns.
-Jeremy- TTech, 45-41
-Nick-Guns Up, 42-31

#19 Boise State vs. San Diego State, 10:30pm ET, CBS Sports Network
I watched Boise State in person last weekend and it is beginning to look like a dominate Boise team of old. Than again it was against a pretty bad defense against Wyoming, but look out for D.J. Harper at running back he can carry this Bronco team to a Mountain West Championship. Boise should make pretty light work of SDSU.
-Nick- Boise State, 38-21
-Jeremy- Boise State, 34-10

#20 Nebraska at Michigan State, 3:30pm ET, ABC/ESPN2
There is no rhyme or reason to the B1G this season and I'm pretty much going to flip a coin for this one.  Michigan State has been all over the place and I just put Nebraska back in my top 25, so history says they're going to lose.  Someone will eventually have to win this conference and if Nebraska can't hold on to the lead who's going to?  Your guess is as good as mine here.  I'm going with Michigan State.. they shouldn't win so that's who I'm going with because that's what the B1G is this season.
-Jeremy- Michigan State, 21-20
I have to disagree here. I think Nebraska is actually playing good football right now. I mean Nebraska's two running backs are as good as any in the country. This game should be a true running back duel. I think Nebraska has a two talented backs instead of just one. Huskers win this.
-Nick-Nebraska, 28-21

#21 West Virginia vs. TCU, 3pm ET, FOX
I after WVU's loss to Texas Tech and its offense looking like it hit a brick wall, I have been saying this team is overrated. I still believe that and with a match up against another physical defense Geno and Co. are going to struggle. Even with a pretty average offense I like the upset here for TCU.
-Nick-Frogs, 38-35
I'm going the other way.  Both teams are coming off back to back losses but TCU's defense has been roughed up the past two weeks and the Mountaineers are coming off a bye.
-Jeremy- West Virginia, 45-41

#22 Arizona at UCLA, 10:30pm ET, Pac-12 Network
Arizona is coming off a big win over USC but have yet to win a game on the road this season and quarterback Matt Scott got dinged pretty good last week.  This one favors Arizona if it turns into a track meet but I'm expecting a let down by Arizona after last weeks win over the Trojans.
-Jeremy- UCLA, 38-35
-Nick-UCLA, 31-28

#25 Louisiana Tech vs. UTSA, 4pm ET, GamePlan/ESPN3
Louisiana Tech scores a ton of points and UTSA is just not ready to compete.
-Nick-Louisiana Tech, 58-38
-Jeremy- Louisiana Tech, 54-28

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