Please Tell Me This Will Get Better, Part 1: NCAA

Alright, if you're reading this I'll assume it is for your own amusement and not for my great skills (or lack-there-of) as a pigskin prognosticator. Yes I am currently in last place for the Breeze picks of the week. After going 5-7 last week I dropped to 52% on the season. Well here's what I think about this weeks games for what it's worth.

1. No.6 JMU (6-1) over No.14 Richmond (5-2)- The Dukes have had a chance to rest up some sore starters in anticipation of not only the Homecoming game, but for in-state rival Richmond. The Spiders have the leading rusher in the CAA in senior Tim Hightower (1,099 yards), but the Dukes are deeper on both sides of the ball and junior quarterback Rodney Landers has become near-unstoppable in the last six games. It should be close, but JMU should pull away late and take it by 10 or 13. (Rankings for this game are in the FCS or D 1-AA)

2. No.2 Boston College (7-0) over No.8 Virginia Tech (6-1)- Even though the game tonight is at Lane Stadium, B.C. has an abundance of experience on its veteran squad and should handle Tech. Sean Glennon might be at the helm again with an ailing Tyrod Taylor, so don't expect anything big from the Hokies on offense, not that anyone ever does. B.C. and Heisman hopeful quarterback Matt Ryan will take care of the always overrated Hokies by about 14.

3. Rutgers (5-2) over No. 7 West Virgina (6-1)- Rutgers has become a tough place to play over the last two seasons, just ask South Florida. The Scarlet Knights handed the surprise program its only loss of the year last Thursday in New Jersey, and running back Ray Rice looks like he has this two-loss team back on track. It could be a shoot-out with all the weapons these teams have on offense, but RU will take it by
three.

4. No. 4 Arizona State (7-0) over No. 21 California (5-2)- After beating a then No.11 Oregon team, Cal has lost two straight to a struggling Pac-10 opponent, Oregon State, and 5-2 UCLA who gave Notre Dame its only win. Don't expect the Sun Devils to lighten up at home; they have been crushing opponents and deserve their rank in the highly competitive Pac-10. ASU by 21.

5. No. 5 Oregon (6-1) over No. 12 USC (6-1)- The Trojans have won the last three matches between the teams, but Oregon is rolling after losing to Cal three weeks ago. Despite losing their starting tailback Jeremiah Johnson, backup Jonathan Stewart exploded for 251 yards last week against Washington State. USC comes off a dominant shut-out victory at South Bend, but didn't exactly get a tune-up for the explosive Ducks' offense as the Irish managed to gain only 165 total yards. Oregon breaks the streak in Eugene with a 14 point victory.

6. No. 11 Florida (5-2) over No. 18 Georgia (5-2)- SEC games get tougher to pick every week. With arguably the toughest schedules the Southeastern teams have beaten up on each other. Georgia does have a quality loss to South Carolina, but a 21-point loss to Tennessee, a team the Gators dominated 59-20, doesn't lead me to believe they have the defense to even keep it close. Tim Tebow will be playing in his home town of Jacksonville as the game is held annually at a neutral site. Tebow will have a big game through the air and on the ground in a 21 point win.