THE BIG ONES

No. 7 Michigan State Spartans at No. 3 Oregon Ducks

Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET, FOX

This is probably the biggest nonconference game of the year, featuring 2 top-10 teams. Both teams are coming off of huge wins against FCS opponents with Oregon beating South Dakota and Michigan State beating Jacksonville State. I feel like the game being in Autzen gives the Ducks an advantage. The  top-10 offense vs top-10 defense should be a very exciting matchup! I’ve got Oregon winning a tight one.

Pick: Oregon

No. 14 USC Trojans at No. 13 Stanford Cardinal

Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Both teams are coming off of huge wins, the Trojans trounced Fresno State 52-13 and Stanford crushed UC Davis 45-0. Stanford has struggled with Sarkisian’s up-tempo offense in recent history. If you remember back to last year Sarkisian was giving Shaw heat for telling his players to fake injuries to slow down USC’s up-tempo offense. Each of the last 4 meetings have gone down to the wire, this will be no different, i’ve got the Trojans pulling out late by less than a touchdown to win.

Pick: USC

 Michigan Wolverines at No. 16 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC

This is the last scheduled meeting between these two storied rivals. These are two of college football’s winningest  programs. The rivalry will be even more intense this time around as Michigan, who has won 4 of the last 5 and 6 of the last 8 accused Notre Dame of “Chickening out” of the series. Michigan has won 4 of 5 recently as I said earlier but 3 of them have been in the last 30 seconds. I’ve got Everett Golson, who didn’t play last year leading the Fighting Irish to a W.

Pick: Notre Dame

 Virginia Tech Hokies at No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes

Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

JT Barrett did not look impressive last Saturday vs Navy the Michal Brewer era at Virginia Tech started a lot better with Brewer throwing for 251 yards in his first career start. Look for VT to stack the box vs a young Buckeyes offensive line and dare Barrett to throw over the top. This looks like a prime candidate for “Upset of the Week” and i’ll take the Hokies.

Pick: Virginia Tech

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES

No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners at Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Saturday at 12 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN2

Oklahoma looked great last week vs Louisiana Tech and the Sooners are 7-0 all time vs the Golden Hurricane, I’ve got Oklahoma.

Pick: Oklahoma

 Fresno State Bulldogs at Utah Utes

Saturday at 3 p.m. ET Pac-12 Network

Utah’s offense looked great last week winning 56-14, Fresno State threw 4 interceptions last Saturday, I have Utah winning it.

Pick: Utah

 Northern Illinois Huskies at Northwestern Wildcats

Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET Big Ten Network

I may be overreating but Northwestern looked terrible vs. Cal! UPSET ALERT! NIU!

Pick: Northern Illinois

  Ohio Bobcats at Kentucky Wildcats

Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU

Patrick Towles threw for 377 yards vs UT Martin for the Wildcats last Saturday, look for him to throw 300+ again and pick up the win vs Ohio.

Pick: Kentucky

 San Jose State Spartans at No. 5 Auburn Tigers

Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET ESPN 2

Auburn looked like the defending national champs in the 2nd-half vs Arkansas. With Nick Marshall playing for  full game the Tigers should cruise.

Pick: Auburn

 BYU Cougars at Texas Longhorns

Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

Cool stat last week the Texas defense had more interception return yards (68) than North Texas had passing yards (15). It won’t be dominate but it will be tight and Texas will pull away late.

Pick: Texas