College Realizations/NFL Week 3

After watching some college games last weekend I've noticed 3 big things:

1. The Big Ten is about 5-8 years behind the curve. After watching with joy Michigan's loss two weeks ago to Oregon, I realized that Oregon might just as well have beaten Ohio State. The Bucks had a some problems with the same type of offense and the same type of quarterback last weekend at Washington, and of course we all know how they did against a speedy spread offense and fast defense last year in the BCS Championship. Had James Laurinitis not dominated and had Locker been an experienced Junior or Senior, like Oregon's QB, as apposed to a green Freshman, the Huskies might have pulled off the upset. The Big Ten just doesn't have the speed that other schools in the SEC, Pac-10, and Oklahoma and West Virginia do. It's funny because in 2002, when OSU won the title, it was mostly to do with their defensive speed and crafty QB play. Not so much in today's game immersed in the spread offense QBs who are dual threats. The Big Ten will always look good against each other because that's who they are built to contend with. But once they leave the conference, its a different story. I don't mean to be a home conference hater, but its the truth. Right, Lloyd?

2. There is a definate top tier this year. USC, Florida, LSU, and Oklahoma are far and away the best-of-the-best, and its not even close. Did you watch USC thump a supposedly top-15 Nebraska...without even passing the ball? Did you see Florida drop 50-something on former SEC power Tennessee? How about Oklahoma destroying a Miami team that made top-25 Texas A&M look silly last night? And LSU's Bayou Bengal D is probably better than the Cincinnati Bengal D'. Two of these four will go undefeated and face off in a classic title game. My guess, USC and LSU. If LSU can beat Florida.

3. It's time Notre Dame joins the Big Ten. They would be great together. After all the years of speculation, its time they did it. Want an explination, check out this article on SI.com. Stewart Mandel says it better than I can.

Not that these three things are world-shattering or that I'm the first person to realize them. But they are interesting things to think about and discuss.

NFL
I didn't do so bad last week. Let's be honest, who could have predicted that defenseless fiasco up in Cleveland? And another game was decided by one point. Over .500 is very good, and its what I'm aiming for.
Now for my picks. (Last week 9-7/Overall 9-7)
Home teams in CAPS
BALTIMORE over Arizona
San Diego over GREEN BAY
Indianapolis over HOUSTON
Minnesota over KANSAS CITY
NEW ENGLAND over Buffalo
NY JETS over Miami
PHILADELPHIA over Detroit
PITTSBURGH over San Francisco
St. Louis over TAMPA BAY
DENVER over Jacksonville
OAKLAND over Cleveland
SEATTLE over Cincy
Carolina over ATLANTA
WASHINGTON over NY Giants
NEW ORLEANS over Tennessee
Game of the week:
CHICAGO over Dallas

your picks please...