College Football Week 4: Pac-10 and Other Game of the Week Picks

If you followed last week's picks you went 8-6 against the spread (12-2 if simply picking winners.) This week's slate of games though may demonstrate that success was due to dumb luck. 

For those of you who are fans of the Big Ten, enjoy your week off from big boy college football and let us know how the week goes against your JUCO competition. (With the exception of Penn State who is playing Temple.)

Our friend Trevor Sojka is back this week to go head-to-head in this weekly analysis of every Pac-10 game, as well as a smattering of non-conference games.

Off to the games!

Pac-10 Games:

USC at Washington St. (USC by 23)

Patrick Hamblin - USC 

Though subtle, Lane Kiffin's team has improved each week. While two-point conversion attempts will have gamblers on edge in Vegas, it won't matter as the Trojans cruise in Pullman, and Dillon Baxter shows flashes of his future brilliance.

Trevor Sojka - USC 

USC has not played a complete game all year, and I see no reason to think this week will be different, as the Trojans take on the FCS-worthy Cougars. The Trojans will fall into their old bad habits while still running rampant in the Palouse. The Trojans cover the spread easily.

Oregon State at Boise State (BSU by 16)

PH - Boise State

Head coach Chris Petersen knows his team needs to make a statement this week if it plans to reach the BCS Championship Game. Whether they deserve to be there or not is an argument for later, but the difference in this matchup is the experience of BSU QB Kellen Moore vs. the inexperience and inconsistency of OSU QB Ryan Katz.

TS - Boise State

Can Chris Peterson keep winning games he is not supposed to? Can the Broncos keep playing above their heads? The answer is yes and yes.

When a big game comes, the Broncos are at their best, no doubt. Kellen Moore easily throws for over 300 yards and Boise St rolls over the Beavers who can’t keep up in the second half.

Broncos cover the spread with a huge second half. 

Stanford at Notre Dame (Stanford by 4)

PH - Stanford 

Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist will put a scare into an improving Cardinal secondary but the Irish show that, despite whoever is coaching them, they cannot stop the run.

Jim Harbaugh has quietly put together what may be the best offensive line in the Pac-10. Since ND has little to no success against either the Pac-10 or the Big Ten, I take the Farm. 

TS - Stanford 

Is Notre Dame unlucky or bad? Unfortunately it won’t matter for them this weekend as Stanford will beat many good teams, and the Fighting Irish are no exception.

Stanford is rolling lately and will march right through South Bend for a huge victory. The Cardinal cover easily and gets huge yards on the ground against a weak Irish defensive line.  

California at Arizona (Arizona by 6)

PH - Arizona

Will this year be the beginning of the end for former Pac-10 coaching golden boy (Bear) Jeff Tedford? The Wildcats desperately want to show they are conference title contenders but have a way of letting down after big wins. That being said, U of A is balanced offensively and will give the Golden Bears consecutive losses.

TS - Arizona 

The Wildcats may suffer a slight emotional let down to open the game after last weeks huge win, but Cal is not going to be able to hang all game long. Arizona pulls away in the second half covering the spread and looking more and more like a Pac-10 title contender. 

Oregon at Arizona St. (Oregon by 11)

PH - Oregon 

What does Vegas know that this line is only 11? They know ASU has the best defense in the Pac-10 and Dennis Erickson knows the spread since he's one of the inventors of it.

This may be the week we see what Darron Thomas can do in a clutch situation, but LaMichael James will run crazy and ASU's mediocre offense won't be able to keep pace with the Ducks.

TS - Oregon 

Oregon has showed no mercy to anyone, after halftime, and this week will be no different. The Ducks will continue their torrid pace of points and yards and win big in the desert.

ASU is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Wisconsin, but will unfortunately follow it up with a huge defeat at home. Ducks cover the spread by halftime. 

UCLA at Texas (Texas by 16)

PH - Texas 

The Bruins can propel themselves to the top of the race....for the Texas State Championship, if they can pull off the road upset in Austin after defeating Houston last week in the Rose Bowl.

Too much is being made of the Houston win however and UCLA continues to turn the ball over too many times, something a Longhorn defense playing at home will take advantage of.

TS - UCLA (Texas to win) 

Texas is a huge favorite while UCLA is coming off a huge win against a decent Houston team at home. However, are the Longhorns running into a sort of Florida problem as in just beating people with defense and struggling on offense? We will find out today as UCLA covers the spread, but, Texas pulls out a close low scoring game.

Other National Games:

Temple at Penn St. (PSU by 16)

PH - Temple (PSU to win)

This is the Al Golden to Penn State job audition. (Joe Paterno's career has to end at some point right?) The Nittany Lions will take advantage of Beaver Stadium to pull off the victory but you have to think this has been the circled game on Temple's schedule since it came out.

TS - Penn State

Huge game for both programs here as I don’t see the Nittany Lions competing in the Big Ten and need a win outside to prove themselves. However ironic it sounds, that big win could be a rejuvenated Temple team (which lost to UCLA in the great Eagle Bank Emerald Nut Orange Sugar WaMu Credit Union Bowl.)

Temple will be hungry, but it won’t be enough, Evan Royster will finally get on track and the Lions take care of business at home covering the spread. 

Fresno St. at Mississippi (Ole Miss by 2)

PH - Ole Miss 

Let's be clear. Ole Miss is awful...for an SEC team. Pat Hill's team will keep it close but Jeramiah Masoli and an athletic Rebel defense will be too much for the Bulldogs.

Should Fresno win however, that could stir up some interest in a WAC race that would feature them, Nevada, and of course Boise St.

TS - Fresno St 

This is a tricky game, how good is either of these teams? The Bulldogs scored a big win early by trouncing Cincinnati, can it do the same to an SEC team? The answer is yes, they cover the spread and shock the Rebels down South. Ole Miss is too inconsistent to pull this out, chalk this up as a minor upset.

Alabama at Arkansas (Alabama by 7)

PH - Alabama 

Ryan Mallett made a statement with his final drive against Georgia last week. Let's remember one thing, that was Georgia, this is Alabama. Nick Saban will find ways to pressure Mallett and make him uncomfortable in the pocket.

The Razorback defense will struggle to contain the two-headed running back monster of Ingram and Richardson, and Saban has shown a willingness to let McElroy through downfield too. The Tide covers late by wearing down Arkansas.

TS - Arkansas To Cover AND Win 

What an early season SEC battle for both teams. Ryan Mallett can throw, the Tide can defend, so which breaks early? It will be the Tide, and it will be a shootout.

The Hogs are playing great football and their defense will do just enough to slow Alabama down. Arkansas has the playmakers that most teams don’t, Arkansas with the huge upset. 

South Carolina at Auburn (Auburn by 2)

PH - South Carolina 

As Michael Felder at InTheBleachers.net points out, Steve Spurrier is running his mouth this year and that is a sign he thinks his team is good. Gene Chizik has been a pleasant surprise for Tiger fans who did not want him hired.

But Spurrier with a balanced attack and an experienced quarterback (with Stephen Garcia) is a deadly combination.

TS - South Carolina 

Both teams have had one huge win at home, neither has played a real tough road game yet so the advantage lies with Auburn.

But, I don’t see this Gamecock team losing to the Tigers even on the road. South Carolina runs the ball well and passes exceptionally. All of those traits will be needed this weekend as they eek out a four point win.

You can follow my thoughts on college football and the sports world on Twitter at @plh55.