College Football Week 9 Picks: Auburn Will Stay Unbeaten; Oregon on Upset Alert

We have seen three straight top-ranked teams fall from number one in the past three weeks, but this week will be different. Look for Auburn to run past Ole Miss with few problems, if any. As for the number two-ranked Oregon Ducks, they should be cautious. Heading into Los Angeles at 7-0, they will play an undoubtedly fired up Southern California squad. Two other big match-ups this week are the unbeaten Michigan State Spartans visiting the Iowa Hawkeyes, and the unbeaten Missouri Tigers heading into Lincoln to face the Cornhuskers of Nebraska. This is my first week of picks, and I hope to start off on the right path. 

No.1 Auburn at Mississippi

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AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 16: Quarterback Cam Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers throws a practice pass before the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

Cameron Newton, who has emerged as the Heisman frontrunner, should have another great week. Visiting an Ole Miss team that has allowed 32 points per game and has a 1-3 record in conference play, Auburn will likely run wild on the Rebels. The big question: How many touchdowns will Newton score?

Pick: Auburn (-7)

No. 2 Oregon at USC

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Matt Barkley #7 of the USC Trojans scrambles to make a pass in front of Mychal Kendricks #30 and Cameron Jordan #97 of the California Golden Bears during the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 16, 2010

The number two-ranked Oregon Ducks have had few challenges thus far this season, but this game against USC in Los Angeles should prove difficult. This is, and will be, the biggest game for the Trojans this season, as they are ineligible for postseason play. If they could play spoiler to the Ducks' season, it would be a great accomplishment. Look for Matt Barkley to have a career game.

Pick: USC (+7)

No. 4 TCU at UNLV

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FORT WORTH, TX - OCTOBER 23: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs carries the ball against defensive back Anthony Wright Jr. #5 of the Air Force Falcons at Amon G. Carter Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU beat Air Forc

8-0 TCU squad that puts up 40 points a contest playing a 1-6 UNLV team allowing more than 37. Enough said. The best defense the Rebels will have to offer is the city of Las Vegas itself.

Pick: TCU (-35)

No. 5 Michigan State at No. 18 Iowa

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EVANSTON, IL - OCTOBER 23: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans returned to the sidelines for a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 23, 2010 in Evanston, Illinois. Michigan State defeated Northwestern 35-27.

In an all-important Big Ten matchup, the Michigan State Spartans look to remain unbeaten in a tough road game at Iowa. The Hawkeyes, coming off of a one-point home loss to Wisconsin, will look to avoid dropping a second straight home loss. Iowa will win, but not cover, as it seems like Michigan State finds a way to stay in every game.

Pick: Michigan State (+7)

No. 6 Missouri at No. 14 Nebraska

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COLUMBIA, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 23: Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Missouri Tigers passes against the Oklahoma Sooners at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Columbia, Missouri. The Tigers beat the Sooners 36-27. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty

Coming off of a huge win over top-ranked Oklahoma, Missouri faces another ranked Big 12 opponent in Nebraska. The one-loss Cornhuskers will look to use home-field advantage to defeat the Tigers, who now have national championship aspirations under the leadership of Blaine Gabbert. Nebraska has a fine quarterback of its own in Taylor Martinez, and this game likely will be a shootout. I think Nebraska's ground attack will prove to be too much in this matchup, and the Tigers will fall from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Pick: Nebraska (-8)

No. 8 Utah at Air Force

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Jordan Wynn #3 of the Utah Utes looks to pass the ball in the second quarter of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 14, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martine

Utah will face a tough test visiting the Air Force Falcons. The Utes, led by Jordan Wynn, face the team with the top-ranked rushing attack in the nation. Air Force is coming off of two straight losses, and looks to rebound. I don't see that happening.

Pick: Utah (-7)

Colorado at No. 9 Oklahoma

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COLUMBIA, MO - OCTOBER 23: Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners in action against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Columbia, Missouri. The Tigers beat the Sooners 36-27. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Imag

The 3-4 Colorado Buffaloes have been the bottom-feeders of the Big 12 in recent years. Marching into Norman, they should leave with another loss against the Oklahoma Sooners. Landry Jones will pick apart a Colorado team with a subpar defense. Look for a blowout in this one.

Pick: Oklahoma (-24)

No. 11 Ohio State at Minnesota

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COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 9: Dane Sanzenbacher #12 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Minnesota has had a season fraught with turbulence, and Ohio State will give it another reason to be unhappy. The 7-1 Buckeyes will take Minneapolis by storm, and strengthen their resumé.

Pick: Ohio State (-26)

No. 13 Stanford at Washington

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PALO ALTO, CA - OCTOBER 23: Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal passes the ball against the Washington State Cougars at Stanford Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

In a matchup that features two top NFL prospects in Andrew Luck and Jake Locker, Stanford will come out on top. The Cardinal will overpower the 3-4 Huskies by taking the lead early and never looking back.

Pick: Stanford (-8)

No. 15 Arizona at UCLA

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TUCSON, AZ - OCTOBER 09: Wide receiver Juron Criner #82 of the Arizona Wildcats catches a 45 yard touchdown reception past James Dockery #4 of the Oregon State Beavers during the first quarter of the college football game at Arizona Stadium on October 9,

UCLA has been very unpredictable this season, with a win against Texas and multiple blowout losses. With starting quarterback Nick Foles in question, look for this to be a favorable week for UCLA. Barring a huge performance from Juron Criner, this game will be close.

Pick: UCLA (+9)

No. 17 Oklahoma State at Kansas State

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STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 05: Wide receiver Justin Blackmon #81 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys warms up before the college football game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Boone Pickens Stadium on September 5, 2009 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys defe

Oklahoma State has a very diverse offense, with a backfield threat in Kendall Hunter, and a downfield threat in Justin Blackmon. Blackmon, who was arrested on a DUI complaint, will not play this week. This will be a duel between Hunter and Kansas State's Daniel Hunter, who has 895 passing yards and 9 touchdowns. I'm feeling Kansas State in this one, as the Cowboys will miss the presence of Blackmon.

Pick: Kansas State (+6)

Vanderbilt at No. 19 Arkansas

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AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 16: Quarterback Ryan Mallett #15 of the Arkansas Razorbacks warms up before the game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. The Tigers beat the Razorbacks 65-43. (Photo by Mike Zarr

Vanderbilt scores under 19 points per game. That's not going to cut it against high-scoring Arkansas. Ryan Mallett will pad his stats in this one.

Pick: Arkansas (-21)

Tennessee at No. 20 South Carolina

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COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 9: Quarterback Stephen Garcia #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks sets to pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide October 9, 2010 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Tennessee has yet to win an SEC game; its first will not come against the Gamecocks. Stephen Garcia will have a great game, hooking up with Alshon Jeffery multiple times. That being said, I don't see South Carolina winning by an absurd amount. Tennessee should cover the spread.

Pick: Tennessee (+18)

Kentucky at No. 21 Mississippi State

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GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 16: Quarterback Chris Relf #14 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs hands off to running back Vick Ballard #28 against the Florida Gators October 16, 2010 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschm

Mississippi State is ranked for the first time in nearly a decade. It will stay ranked with a blowout win over Kentucky. Playing on its own turf, Mississippi State will look to impress their home crowd, and roll against the mediocre Wildcats.

Pick: Mississippi State (-6)

No. 22 Miami at Virginia

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 07: Head coach Randy Shannon of the Miami Hurricanes watches his team take on the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on September 7, 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida. Miami defeated Florida State 38-34. (Photo by Do

Miami started off the season disappointingly, but has turned it around nicely, as of late. It should have an easy win against Virginia, who remains winless in the ACC.

Pick: Miami (-15)

Utah State at No. 24 Nevada

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LAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 02: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick #10 of the Nevada Reno Wolf Pack looks to pass against the UNLV Rebels in the third quarter of their game at Sam Boyd Stadium October 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nevada Reno won 44-26. (Photo by Et

Nevada faces a weak opponent in Utah State, and looks to strengthen its resumé before their matchup with Boise State. This week should cause no problems, and Nevada will run wild.

Pick: Nevada (-26)

No. 25 Baylor at Texas

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AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 8: Quarterback Robert Griffin #10 of the Baylor Bears passes the bal downfield during the game against the Texas Longhorns on November 8, 2008 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. Texas won 45-21. (Photo by B

Newly-ranked Baylor will travel to Austin and take on the wildly inconsistent Texas Longhorns. A loss for the Longhorns would put them at .500 overall, and 2-3 in Big 12 play. That is exactly what I see happening, and I can absolutely not take the Longhorns as favorites.

Pick: Baylor (+7)