Tuesday Afternoon Linebacker

Last week: 3-5. Just brutal. Take nothing you see here seriously.
Season To Date: 39-22 (.639)

Around Florida
(42) Vanderbilt at (20) Florida, Saturday 12:30 PM LF Sports
You know. If the Gators’ retooled 3-4 or 3-3-5 defense can’t get things done, then we’re doomed. Doomed I tell you. I can’t believe I’m about to make this pick. I should be banninated from Gator Nation for even thinking this.

TALB Pick: Commodores close over Gators (at The Swamp! On homecoming! Am I crazy?)

(36) Cincinnati at (18) South Florida, Saturday 3:30 PM ABC
The Bulls have been humiliate the last two weeks. Just humiliate. While the UConn game, score-wise, wasn’t that bad, the simple fact that after being doubted as the #2 team in the country they’ve lost twice stings the most. The bandwagon can now make it over speed-bumps without scraping, but it’s still loaded down. Another loss, as all that goodwill from the West Virginia win will be spent. I fear the Bulls could even fall back out of the rankings. But they’re back home, and steaming mad. Hopefully a big crowd will show up and be the 12th man.

TALB Pick: Bulls average over Bearcats

(34) Florida State at (2) Boston College, Saturday 8 PM ABC
If the Noles had an offense, and they won’t even be able to turn to Xavier Lee this week (or next) for a change of pace, I’d think they’d have a chance. But they don’t. Then again, BC is #2, which is a bad place to be this year.

TALB Pick: Eagles close over Seminoles

NC State at Miami (FL), 12 PM ESPNU
The Canes are favored by 12. Their last three games were a loss to North Carolina, a loss to Georgia Tech, and a win against FSU that was earned by exploiting the aforementioned inept Noles offense. I thought they had something going after trouncing Texas A&M, but I was wrong.

TALB Pick: Wolfpack average over Hurricanes.

Marshall at UCF, Saturday 3:30 PM CSS
It’s homecoming for the Knights. So let’s presume they’ve scheduled a patsy.

TALB Pick: Knights big over the Thundering Herd

Arizona at Tampa Bay, 1 PM Fox
After a promising start, the Cards have fallen back into their “normal” routine. They are who we thought they were.

TALB Pick: Bucs average over Cardinals

Jacksonville at New Orleans, Sunday 1 PM CBS
Can the Jags’ inexperienced QB do it again? Probably not.

TALB Pick: Saints average over Jaguars

Miami - Bye

Compelling College Collision
(4) Arizona State at (5) Oregon, Saturday 6:30 PM ESPN
Oregon’s slim (M)NC hopes hinge on this game. With a win, they can knock out one of the undefeateds, and then position themselves along with LSU as a pretty good one-loss team. And from there hoping for BC or Ohio State to lose. ASU on the other hand could probably do a lot for themselves with regards to the (M)NC. Especially if BC struggles (or even loses) against FSU. Can you believe it? A PAC-10 game with (M)NC implications not involving USC? What a year.

TALB Pick: Ducks close over Sun Devils

Profound Pro Pick
New England at Indianapolis, 4:15 PM CBS
What else could I have picked? The Patriots are steaming mad at the league. And it shows. I expect the Pats to put the heat on early and not let up.

TALB Pick: Patriots big over Colts