If you have been following my picks then by this time you already know to take the reverse pick.  I have been no kinds of good lately, but at least I can admit it and I did predict that Florida would pounce on LSU.  This weeks matchups include Florida State at NC State on Thursday night and for the Saturday night game a battle of titans between #11 Missouri at newly crowned #1 Texas, this should be an explosive game on the scoreboard.

Florida State Seminoles vs North Carolina State Wolfpack
7:30 PM ET, October 16, 2008
Carter-Finley Stadium , Raleigh , NC
Spread: Florida State -11.5

My Pick:  This is a total mismatch.  Florida State is gonna pound on these guys in their own house.  The only reason I don’t just end this pick right here and now is that you can’t give the home team double digit points.  It is just not a wise bet.  So lets look at the playmakers for each side; FSU’s Christian Ponder is a mediocre QB at best who does just enough to win and is supplemented by a decent ground attack in the form of Antone Smith who is averaging about 5 yds a carry and their defense can actually win games for them so not alot of pressure on the offense.  NC State’s freshman QB Russell Wilson seems to have taken over at the Q, but only has 1 win under his belt, this has caused Senior RB Andre Brown to carry the load, but he is only 1 guy and cannot be expected to win the game for them.  The defense is OK at best, but without an offense to give you some cushion they will only get exhausted from constantly being on the field.  This is one time when I have to follow my gut and more importantly the rules and not give the home team double digits, as bad as I just made NC State sound, I think they cover the points and give FSU a reality check.  Take the points.

(11)Missouri Tigers vs (1)Texas Longhorns
8:00 PM ET, October 18, 2008
Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium , Austin , TX
Spread: Texas -7 
Broadcast on ABC

My Pick:  This is going to be an excellent game, both QB’s Chase Daniels and Colt McCoy are vying for the heisman trophy this year, both teams have explosive offenses and stingy defenses.  The name of the game this week will be pass, pass, pass.  Daniels has already thrown for over 2000 yds with 16 TD’s and only 4 INT’s.  McCoy has thrown for over 1700 yds with 17 TD’s and only 3 INT’s and we are only in week 8!!!  The run game for each team is effective, but mostly used to take pressure off the QB and really plays second fiddle to the air attack.  The defensive secondarys on both teams will truely be tested this week and on paper it looks like Texas has the advantage and held their opponents to less points.  However, this is college football and anything can happen.  The -7 spread makes it tricky, we know that the game will be decided by at least a TD with all the high scoring going on and it will be that obscure field goal mixed in that either makes or breaks the spread.  I have to go with Texas at home where they have been soo dominate this year, but it will be no cake walk against Mizz U.  Give the points and hold your breath. 

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