College Football Predictions Week 4: 10 Against the Spread Lock Picks
College football picks tend to be harder to make because you are dealing with many more factors than you are with guys who are doing this as their full time job.
A college football player might break up with his girlfriend or fail a midterm and have that on their minds as they run on the field.
All that being said, there are ten games to take and feel good about this week.
UCLA Bruins at Texas Longhorns
1 of 10
Longhorns at -16.5
The UCLA Bruins beat a ranked Houston Cougars team last week, 31-13.
So anyone who didn't see that game might think that the Bruins really put it on them, but the truth is the Cougars lost their top two quarterbacks during the game.
But taking nothing away from them, I think that they will stay close to the Longhorns for most of the game and Texas will win by two touchdowns, but they won't cover.
UCLA gets yards and points via their new "Pistol" offense.
Texas 35 UCLA 21
Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2 of 10
Stanford at -5
Andrew Luck is looking like the number one pick in next year's draft. He is the best of a very strong Pac-10 quarterback group.
What can you say about an offense that has racked up 155 points? You can say it is explosive.
Stanford won for the first time in eight years last year because their star, Toby Gerhart, took over the game.
Unless Luck does the same this year, I see Brian Kelly, Dayne Crist, and that spread offense of the Irish keeping it close but losing it late.
Stanford 30 Notre Dame 27
USC Trojans at Washington State Cougars
3 of 10
USC at -22.5
If you have seen Southern California play at all this year, there are two things you have seen in all three of their wins...
They will commit lots of penalties and the defense will be surrender late touchdowns to inferior opponents to make the game look much closer than it should have been.
This game is begging for people to take the Cougs to cover.
Even if Matt Barkley and Ronald Johnson connect early and often, even if Allen Bradford breaks two long runs, it is inevitable.
They will take their foot off the gas and Washington State will score late to keep it within three touchdowns.
USC 38 Washington State 20
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Nevada Wolf Pack at Brigham Young Cougars
4 of 10
Nevada at -4.5
I know Nevada destroyed a Pac-10 team last week. I know BYU has lost two straight and will be starting a freshman quarterback.
But there is no way BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall will let them lose three in a row. And if it does happen it will be a very close game.
This is why college football is different than the pros.
As great as Nevada looks so far, I am still not a believer.
Nevada 24 BYU 21
Georgia Bulldogs at Mississippi State Bulldogs
5 of 10
Mississippi State at -1
This one is easier to pick against the spread because I got Mark Richt and Georgia winning this one on the road.
AJ Green still isn't back, but the running game will lead them. At 0-2 in the conference Georgia can't afford another loss.
Coach Richt will need his young quarterback Aaron Murray to play big on the road, and he will.
Georgia 28 MSU 17
Fresno State Bulldogs at Mississippi Rebels
6 of 10
Mississippi at -2
Fresno State keeps winning and they keep getting underrated. Jeremiah Masoli, the Oregon transfer, was supposed to make all the difference in the world and he might from here on out.
But there is no way I see them beating Fresno State, even if it is on the road in the SEC. Their quarterback, Ryan Colburn, is completing over 70% of his passes right now. You can't have turnovers on the road.
Coach Pat Hill is known for the Fresno State scheduling catchphrase "anyone, anywhere, anytime."
And that includes in Mississippi this weekend.
Fresno State 31 Ole Miss 27
South Carolina Gamecocks at Auburn Tigers
7 of 10
Auburn at -3
You might say that it is ridiculously stupid to pick a road team against a ranked SEC team.
But I am a believer.
I believe in the Ole ball coach's running game. And in his defense.
I believe this is the year that his Gamecocks challenge for the SEC title.
Cam Newton is good, but freshman running back Marcus Lattimore is the truth.
South Carolina 30 Auburn 21
West Virginia Mountaineers at LSU Tigers
8 of 10
LSU at -10
As good as the Tigers are looking lately, I think that West Virginia will make this game close. Though he has struggled at times, Geno Smith will play good enough to keep this one close, even on the road.
LSU will win in the end because of defense and special teams, but it won't be by ten.
Until Jordan Jefferson starts hitting big plays downfield most of their games will be close against decent opponents.
LSU 24 West Virginia 17
Alabama Crimson Tide at Arkansas Razorbacks
9 of 10
Alabama at -7
This is the game that Ryan Mallett can look back to and say he won the Heisman trophy...if the Razorbacks win.
This will be the game that Alabama looks back to if they don't get into the BCS Championship...if they lose.
This game will be close throughout and winning on the road in the SEC is tough.
But Alabama will do it by a little more than a field goal.
Alabama 24 Arkansas 20
Oregon State Beavers at Boise State Broncos
10 of 10
Boise State at -18
I can't see how BSU is favored by that much if you have seen Oregon State's offense when it is hitting on all cylinders.
The Rodgers brothers can get down the field in a hurry.
And Boise State might be playing tight since this is the last game that they can make a huge impression in on a national stage.
I think they will play too tight. And even though they win and Kellen Moore plays well, it won't be by more than ten.
BSU 31 OSU 21
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
