Last Week: 8-4

Overall Record: 17-6 (2-0 on Lead Pipe Locks)

California (-15) over MARYLAND - The Golden Bears have been putting up massive numbers on offense, while Ralph Friedgen's incredible large seat is getting quite scalding, with the Terps' two results this season consisting of a narrow win over Delaware and a loss to Middle Tennessee State.  Last time you saw California they were putting up 66 points against Washington State, a massive number that even half of would provide enough ammo to cover against their listless hosts.  The Bears are going to just run run run their way to this week's Lead Pipe Lock.

BAYLOR (+1.5) over Washington State - How are the Bears home underdogs?  They haven't exactly been world beaters this season, but they've at least been semi-competent, while the Cougars (see: above) have been a sieve of betting consistency, giving up gobs of points and yardage to Oklahoma State and Cal.  They were trounced by Wake Forest on opening night, but five turnovers and the fact the Demon Deacons are again underrated this season contributed to that failure.  I only get one Lock, but I feel very comfortable betting against a really bad team, on the road, when they're giving points.

Clemson (-18.5) over NC STATE - After quickly shedding all that "pressure" and "expectations of greatness" in week one, the Tigers can now go back to absolutely pummeling overmatched ACC foes en route to a Peach Bowl bid.  If NC State and Washington State played, the over-under might be set around twenty. 

Oregon (-8.5) over PURDUE - Like Notre Dame, Purdue had the first weekend off, so we're working with limited information in regards to them.  As far as the Ducks go, their last six quarters of offense seem to have gone a long way in showing that they can survive - perhaps even thrive - in the post-Dennis Dixon Era.  Last time Oregon came to the Midwest to face off against a Big Ten school was their week two trouncing of Michigan last year.  While it's possible Purdue is a lot better than anyone is giving them credit for, unless their defense is leaps and bounds better than it has been the last half-decade or so, they'll have to be glowing on offense to keep up with the Ducks.

Georgia (-7.5) over SOUTH CAROLINA - The Gamecocks always play the Bulldogs tough (they knocked them off in Athens last season), but it is hard to ignore the sheer sucktitude of Steve Spurrier's team this year.  They ended up blowing out NC State only because the Wolf Pack is that bad, but Vanderbilt confirmed that they are an incredibly bad offensive team that will have no chance of keeping up with the Dawgs unless Stafford, Moreno, et al have a collective meltdown on the way up to Columbia.

Penn State (-28) over SYRACUSE - Remember that game during that magical 2005 season when Michael Robinson went into Illinois and scored a dozen touchdowns in the first half?  I think this is going to look a lot like that, and as this season continues, Penn State fans will look around and say "Why exactly did we play Anthony Morelli over Daryl Clark the last two seasons?", then go back to barricading their apartment doors so no Nittany Lions burst through and randomly attack them.

Georgia Tech (+7) over VIRGINIA TECH - Why yes, I would love to keep getting a touchdown for the Jackets against conference opponents, especially when they're only going to get better and better on offense every single week as the triple option becomes more and more natural to them.  Tyrod Taylor coming back into play means this is a better Hokie team that fell against East Carolina, but in Paul Johnson I trust.

Auburn (-11) over MISSISSIPPI STATE - The War Hawk's defense is really good, the Croom's offense is embarrassingly bad.  The Tigers probably only need three touchdowns to absolutely guarantee victory, and that's being generous about the Bulldogs' capabilities of moving the ball.

WASHINGTON (+20.5) over Oklahoma - This is a really tricky game.  On one hand, I think the final margin could be three touchdowns or just above, meaning I'm screwed.  On the other, Sam Bradford Sooner teams have been not great on the road (losses at Colorado and Texas Tech) and some good teams have struggled at Washington against Jake Locker (Ohio State, Southern Cal and BYU).  The Huskies keep it close, Ty blows it at the end as their death march of a schedule continues. 

SOUTHERN CAL (-11) over Ohio State - I would have taken this line even before Beanie Wells went down to a karmicly-charged injury in the second half of a blowout against Youngstown State followed by the struggles with Ohio.  In games that have been predetermined to be Big Games, which include all their BCS games, Cal in '04 and Notre Dame in '05, the Trojans are a Vince Young away from perfection.  Ohio State's last two Big Games have resulted in hilarious blowouts where the teams they play don't even have to do anything special, but can just slowly move the ball down the field while the Buckeyes totally implode.  It won't be 52-7, but it will be a cover.