Rambling's Week 3 CFB Picks

Well, we're already to week three and we have some solid match-ups but I'm ready for every conference to get into conference season. The intrigue increases and the scenarios become increasingly interesting. But now onto this week's picks...

Saturday, September 15th, 2012:

Wake Forest at #5 Florida State, 11:00 am ESPN, Wake is coming off a late winning effort against North Carolina last week, and seems to have a solid team this year. Florida State hasn't been tested and has beat up two teams with significantly lesser talent. I think FSU has the clear talent edge in this game and shouldn't be lacking for motivation after last years upset loss to Wake. Winner: Florida State ATS: Wake Forest +28

California at #12 Ohio State, 11:00 am ABC, Cal looked absolutely awful in it's first two games, a loss to Nevada and a scrappy win against Sacramento State, and does not breed much confidence as it travels to the Horseshoe this weekend to take on the Buckeyes. Ohio State has been inconsistent but they've put away teams they should have each of the first two weeks. Ohio State should continue that trend when they take on the Golden Bears. Winner: Ohio State ATS: Ohio State -17

#13 Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh, 11:00 am ESPNU, Virginia Tech visits Pittsburgh and that's just unfortunate for Pitt. The Panthers have looked horrible against far less competition than Va Tech and should have issues with Frank Beamers defense. Winner: Va Tech ATS: Va Tech -10.5

#16 TCU at Kansas, 11:00 am FX, Charlie Weis and Dane Crist are both on the Kansas sideline. Yep, that's all you need to know. Winner: TCU ATS: TCU -21

#1 Alabama at Arkansas, 2:30 pm CBS, Arkansas fully healthy would be a heck of a game for Alabama, however with Tyler Wilson day to day and a couple key defensive injuries for the Razorbacks this game shouldn't be in doubt for very long. Winner: Alabama ATS: Alabama -21

UMASS at #17 Michigan, 2:30 pm BTN, It took forever for UMASS to score on Indiana. Michigan will roll. Winner: Michigan ATS: UMASS +46.5

North Carolina at #19 Louisville, 2:30 pm ABC/ESPN2, Both teams have some promise at the quarterback position, however, Louisville doesn't have a major academic scandal looming over it's sports programs. Charlie Strong has his team heading in the right direction and an offense that should help them keep pace. Winner: Louisville ATS: Louisville -3

#18 Florida at #23 Tennesseee, 5:00 pm ESPN, Gameday visits Tuscaloosa this week for the first meaningful match-up in this rivalry in a few years. Florida beat A&M last week but there are still some questions about what this Gator teams identity is. Tennessee doesn't appear to be missing Da'rick Rogers all that much so far as Tyler Bray and company are putting up plenty of firepower. I think we see that offense slow down against a good Florida front seven but I think the Vols pull off the victory at home. Winner: Tennessee ATS: Tenn -3

UAB at #8 South Carolina, 6:00 pm ESPN3, South Carolina can calm a lot of fears if they do the un-South Carolina thing this week and puts away a second straight team they should. And handily. Winner: South Carolina ATS: South Carolina -34

North Texas at #15 Kansas State, 6:00 pm, Kansas State will whoop up on Kansas State. Winner: Kansas St. ATS: KSU -28.5

#2 USC at #21 Stanford, 6:30 pm FOX, This is the best game of the day, USC comes in after a perplexing game against Syracuse in the Medowlands and Stanford comes off one very good game against Duke and a game in which they looked very mortal aginst San Jose State. I think USC has the best unit on the field (Off.) and the 3rd best (Def.). Stanford will be a very fine team this year in Pac-12 but I don't think they're defense can hold USC down enough to make up for the difference in talent on their offense. Winner: USC ATS: Stanford +7.5

Florida Atlantic at #7 Georgia, 6:30 pm ESPN3, SEE: Idaho at LSU Winner: Georgia ATS: FAU +43

Idaho at #3 LSU, 7:00 pm ESPN3, I'm packaging these two games because they include top level SEC talent versus over matched low level mid major teams. Winner: LSU ATS: Idaho +42.5

#20 Notre Dame at #10 Michigan State, 7:00 pm ABC, Second favorite game of the day, let''s just do this by the units on the field, MSU has the better offense, not by much but it's better. MSU has the better defense both teams have more talent on that side of the ball. Michigan State in this one by a nose. Winner: Michigan State ATS: MSU -5.5

#14 Texas at Ole Miss, 8:15 pm ESPN, I keep hearing talk this week about Ole Miss having a chance at the upset. It's a nice thought, SEC at home versus Texas who hasn't looked good in a couple years. This shouldn't be a contact much past the 3rd quarter. Winner: Texas ATS: Ole Miss +11 (I'm not picking a Texas offense by more than 10 on the road. I'm not crazy.)

#25 BYU at Utah, 9:00 pm ESPN2, The holy war rolls on another year but this years affair does not appear to be shaping up in the Utes favor. They haven't looked good this season, and after a loss to Utah State and the loss of Jordan Wynn the promise is all but gone from the 2012 Utah season. BYU is rounding into one of the best non-AQ schools of the season along with La Tech and Ohio. Should be a fun team to watch, this game is probably not. Winner: BYU ATS: BYU -4

Houston at #22 UCLA, 9:30 pm, Houston lost to Texas St. UCLA is a better than any of their Neuheisal teams. Winner: UCLA ATS: UCLA -17

Should be a pretty good week 3 in college football. Hope everyone enjoys the game and sorry for a late set of picks.