Jackson Free Press

I correctly picked 16 of 19 games last week but I also had my first missed picked involving a Mississippi team. That brings my season record to 32-5 so far this young season, which isn't too bad if I say so myself.

So, I had Millsaps beating Mary Hardin-Baylor and go undefeated. That picked looked good when the game was tied 7-7 late in the first quarter. Then Mary Hardin-Baylor dropped 36 unanswered points on the Majors and pick was done. Millsaps faced one of the toughest teams in Division III and losing is not something to be ashamed of and the team can still have a strong season.

I picked Stanford to win over USC but then the Cardinal did everything they could possibly do to lose the game. Stanford punted deep in Trojan territory several times instead of rolling the dice and going for it. If the Cardinal wasn't punting when knocking on the USC door, they had penalties that killed drives and took scores off the board.

The strangest thing was USC Athletic Director Pat Haden coming down to the field help argue a call because head coach Steve Sarkisian asked him to come help him. No coach should ever call his AD down to the field over calls and someone as respected as Haden never should have come down.

It just looks bad for everyone involved. I don't think it will have any baring on Haden being on the playoff selection committee because he would have to recuse if USC was in the discussion. It was smart of the committee to set up the recusal system before the season before this incident happened.

My last incorrect pick was Michigan State over Oregon. That picked looked good in the third quarter then it looked like the roles sudden reversed. The Ducks had the relentless hard charging defense and the Spartans looked lost and slow on defense.

Oregon scored 28 unanswered points to win the game and they did pretty much what every they wanted on offense and defense while taking control of the game. Michigan State tackled poorly on defense and compounded their poor tackling with even poor coverage.

Stanford plays a similar style to Michigan State and had beaten the Ducks in their last few meetings. Oregon beating the Spartans might mean they have figured out how to go toe to toe with other more physical teams.

This week, Delta State is off and it would be a shame not to mention the Statesmen going on the road and demolishing Fort Valley State University. Delta State routed FVSU for a 56-13 win to get the season off on a nice foot. Now the Statesmen have two week to prepare for Valdosta State.

Be for getting to this weeks picks, here is something to keep an eye on for the rest of the season. Could BYU crash the playoff party. The Cougars are 3-0 after getting past Houston on Thursday night and trouncing Texas after starting the season with a win over Connecticut. BYU gets still have power five teams Virginia and California on their schedule along with midmajor powers UCF, Boise State, Utah State and Nevada.

An undefeated BYU has to be in the conversation if they can run the table with that schedule. No it isn't a power five schedule but besides Notre Dame it might be the closest another independent gets to have a strong schedule. If the Cougars do finished undefeated does it get them invite to either the Big-12 or Pac-12 conference?

Personally, I think the Big-12 should be courting the Cougars right now. The Big-12 is the only power five conference with out a championship game and adding BYU plus another team (maybe Boise State) would get them to 12 teams and they could have a title game.

BYU or Boise State being in the Big-12 isn't a stretch since the conference added West Virginia during all the wild expansion. It wouldn't be any crazier to add both the Cougars and Broncos at this point.

There are plenty of interesting match ups this week all through out college football. It could be another wild week.

Here are my picks and as always we start with the Mississippi teams before the rest of the country. Winners are in bold.

Millsaps Majors at Mt. St. Joesph Lions (Saturday/12:30 pm) The Majors look to bounce back after their opening season loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor. Millsaps travels to face M. St. Joesph who defeated Augustana College to open the season. This game will be close but I think the Majors get win one of the 2014 campaign.

Belhaven Blazers at University of Cumberlands (KY) Patriots (Saturday/1:30 pm)

Belhaven is 2-0 on the season with their trouncing of Mississippi College last Saturday and hit the road for the second time this season. University of Cumberlands lost to open their season against Cumberland University.

University of Cumberlands has owned this series as of late and were ranked fourth before their loss. I think the Blazers keep this game close but fall by a late field goal.

Louisiana College Wildcats at Alcorn State Braves (Saturday/2 pm)

Louisiana College out of Division III are the guest of the Braves this week. Alcorn State gave an hell of an effort in a loss to Southern Miss. The Braves stood toe to toe with the Golden Eagles before falling.

As long as they aren't beat up badly and put the tough loss out of their mind quickly, this should be an easy win for the Braves. Alcorn State should roll.

Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns at Mississippi Rebels (Saturday/3 pm/SEC Network)

The Rebels rolled last week against Vanderbilt to get their first SEC win of the season and got it on the road. Vanderbilt hasn't put up much resistance against anyone but the Rebels took care of business and didn't take the Commodores lightly.

Mississippi host Louisiana-Lafayette this week and the Ragin' Cajuns come to Oxford after falling to Louisiana Tech last Saturday. This should be another easy Rebels win. I expect Louisiana-Lafayette to keep things close for a quarter or so.

Mississippi State Bulldogs at South Alabama Jaguars (Saturday/3 pm/ESPN News)

Last week, against UAB was much closer than the Bulldogs would have liked. The Blazers were able to beat Mississippi State with deep passes for touchdowns to keep the game close. MSU will have to fix their coverage problems if they hope to compete for the SEC West crown.

South Alabama opened the season with a win over Kent State. This will be the Jaguars toughest test.

Mississippi State travels to South Alabama which will give the Bulldogs an easy win but in a road environment. This game might be close for a half but MSU has too much talent to lose this game.

Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Alabama Crimson Tide (Saturday/5 pm/ESPN2)

This is going to be an Alabama win. It won't even be close. The goal for Southern Miss should be to keep the score under 70 points. Nothing is easy for the Golden Eagles program right now.

Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils at Alabama State Hornets (Saturday/5 pm)

Last week was tough for Mississippi Valley State as they traveled to face Illinois on the road. The Delta Devils fell 62-0 and now must hit the road again to face Alabama State.

The Hornets got their first win of the season last week against Tennessee State after falling to Sam Houston State in the season opener. This is the first SWAC game for both teams.

It will be tough for MVSU to bounce back with a win on back to back road trips against tough foes. I expect the Delta Devils to make this game a fight before falling in the end.

Jackson State Tigers versus Tennessee State Tigers (Saturday/6 pm/neutral site)

Jackson State has opened the Harold Jackson era 2-0 after taking Virginia University at Lynchburg behind the woodshed in a 59-0 win. The backups were in the game in the second half and there was a running clock to end the game quickly.

Tennessee State fell last week to Alabama State on the road. TSU opened the season with a win over Edward Waters.

Tennessee State has won the last two meetings between these clubs including last year's 26-16 win. TSU leads the overall series 26-20-2 and has won eight of the last ten meetings.

Jackson State will be in a close game but I think JSU pulls out the win. It will come down to the fourth quarter but this time JSU doesn't need a Hail Mary to get the victory.

North Alabama Roaring Lions at Mississippi College Choctaws (Saturday/7 pm/ ESPN3)

This is the season opener for North Alabama. The Roaring Lions return 33 players from last year's 10-3 team that won a share of the Gulf South Conference title.

Mississippi College fell last week to Belhaven. The Choctaws are going to have some growing pains as they move from Division III to Division II.

Don't expect this game to be close for more than a half. Mississippi College won't be ready to compete in the tough GSC in year one.

The Rest

Central Florida Knights at Missouri Tigers (Saturday/11 am/ SEC Network)

UCF busted the BCS in the final year and went to Ireland to and went toe to toe with Penn State before falling. The Knights have had two weeks to get ready for this game so expect them to come out swing.

Missouri is 2-0 but this will be their toughest test to date. The Tigers have plenty of talent and can make a statement beating a good UCF team.

I expect this game will be close to the end. The Tigers are going to have to play all four quarters and still might have to sneak out at home with a win. UCF is a very good nonconference foe, who is coached well and has had recent success. The Knights are going to roll over because the see the SEC logo.

It is close but Missouri wins.

East Carolina Pirates at Virginia Tech Hokies (Saturday/11 am/ ESPN)

This is a possible trap game for the Hokies who are coming off the huge upset over Ohio State. East Carolina gave South Carolina all they wanted before falling last week.

Virginia Tech can't sleep on the Pirates. East Carolina hasn't beaten the Hokies since 2008 but the last two meetings were no cakewalk for Virginia Tech.

If the Hokies haven't put the Ohio State win behind them, they will find themselves in a dogfight with East Carolina. I expect Virginia Tech will win but this game will be closer than most people will expect.

Hokies pull away in the late third quarter or early fourth quarter.

West Virginia Mountaineers at Maryland Terrapins (Saturday/11 am/ Big Ten Network)

The Big Ten gets another chance at a team from one of the other power five conferences. Everyone knows by now how the conference went down in flames last weekend.

West Virginia gets its second chance at a power five team after losing narrowly to Alabama. This game interesting all over it.

Can Maryland get a quality win over a power five conference for the Big Ten? Can West Virginia get a quality win for a conference that needs quality wins since it doesn't play a conference championship game?

Both conferences need this win for playoff hopes. It would be helpful for either conference to point to this win later in the season (as long as the loser doesn't go on to have a terrible season). Games like this is where you hope your conference beats another conferences' middle to upper pack of the other conference.

West Virginia played Alabama close for four quarters and Maryland had to escape South Florida with a win. I think the Mountaineers gets a win on the road over a power conference team and add to the Big Ten woes.

This game will be close but I think West Virginia is the better team.

Massachusetts Minutemen at Vanderbilt Commodores (Saturday/11 am)

This is going to be the pillow fight game of the week. Both teams enter with 0-2 records.

Vanderbilt hasn't scored an offensive touchdown in eight quarters of football this season. The only points for the Commodores has come off a bad snap on a punt against Temple and a field goal against Mississippi after the game had been well decided.

Massachusetts was routed by Boston College before giving Colorado all they wanted in a loss. The Minutemen have scored an offensive touchdown.

This game will be ugly and it will be close. Vanderbilt looks like a dumpster fire right now and can't get out of their own way. UMass will add to the Commodores woes this week and make Vandy 0-3 at home.

Arkansas Razorbacks at Texas Tech Red Raiders (Saturday/2:30 pm/ABC)

This is another interesting game between power five teams as the SEC faces the Big-12. Arkansas lost their only true test of the season against Auburn and Texas Tech as escaped against Central Arkansas and UTEP.

The Razorbacks are rebuilding but in my mind are the better team. Arkansas kept things close against Auburn for a half and Texas Tech isn't Auburn. The Red Raiders are either sleepwalking through the season right now or not a very good football team.

I have to think Texas Tech is just not a good football team if they need to escape back to back weeks against weaker foes. Arkansas will pull off the road win and close contest.

Georgia Bulldogs at South Carolina Gamecocks (Saturday/2:30 pm/ CBS)

You hate to say week three is a must win game in college football but for the goals South Carolina had going into the season, this is a must win game. Georgia has had two weeks to get ready after pounding Clemson.

The Bulldogs can take down the preseason favorite in the SEC East with a win. That would open the door for Georgia to be in Atlanta if they can get past Florida as the only other test on their schedule will be a date with Auburn.

South Carolina got rolled by Texas A&M and was in a dogfight with East Carolina. The Gamecocks will have a harder road to Atlanta than the Bulldogs with games against Missouri, Auburn and Florida still to come but a win gives them the inside track.

Georgia is healthy and the better team. South Carolina has been tough out for the Bulldogs in recent years but they look like they are going to take a step back this season. The Bulldogs win in a tight game that they using their running game to wear out the Gamecocks in the fourth quarter.

Illinois Fighting Ilini at Washington Huskies (Saturday/3 pm/Fox)

Another chance for the Big Ten to get a win over a power five conference. This game is a coin flip as both teams have had to escape with wins over weaker opponents.

My guess is that Washington will win but just because they are at home.

Penn State Nittany Lions at Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Penn State got the best news of the week as all the penalties brought down on them from the Jerry Sandusky case have been lifted. That means the Nittany Lions not only can play for the postseason this season but they can also play for the conference title and a spot in the playoff.

Rutgers is new to the Big Ten this season and has not breezed to wins in their opening games. Penn State hasn't looked like a Juggernaut either in their two wins.

A win by either team and you have to think they are going to challenge either Ohio State or Michigan State for the Big Ten title. That doesn't mean the either will win the conference but they could be a player.

Rutgers is at home but Penn State might be the better team. If the Nittany Lions are focused on football not playing their postseason trip then I think they get a hard fought win.

USC Trojans at Boston College Eagles (Saturday/7 pm/ ESPN)

Everything about this game is a trap for USC. The Trojans travel across country after a draining win over Stanford on a night Boston College is honoring 911 hero and former Eagles lacrosse player Welles Crowther, who died risking his life to save others in the World Trade Center.

Crowther was known by the people he helped save as the "Man in the Red Bandanna" for the red bandanna his father had given to him that he always had with him. Boston College honors him against the Trojans with special uniforms, 6,000 red bandannas to students and Crowther's family will be in attendance.

This is a game you heart says to pick Boston College but you head says USC is the better team. I think the Trojans will win but you can't help to root for the Eagles to put the upset on an emotional night.

BC will keep the game close for a half at least but USC has too much talent.

Tennessee Volunteers at Oklahoma Sooners (Saturday/7 pm/ ABC)

Tennessee looks to be rebuilding nicely under Butch Jones in year two. The Volunteers are a better football team but I don't think they are ready to compete in the SEC East much less against Oklahoma.

The Sooners are playoff contender and it looks like they won't be challenged much in the Big-12. Oklahoma beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and Bob Stoops isn't afraid of the SEC.

Tennessee will keep this game close but unless Oklahoma falls apart during the game, the Sooners will pull away for the win. The Volunteers look to be a year or maybe two away from big back.

Last week: 16-3 Season: 32-5