darrell,

We started off the College Football season on the right foot going 3-1-1. This week there are seven games I like.

Wunderdog Picks Results Check out my 12-month performance here.

Please Tell A Friend about this newsletter and they'll thank you!

Good luck today...

Game: Kent State at Army (Saturday 9/09 1:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 2 stars on Kent State +6.5

Kent State had an awful year last season. That, combined with a 0-44 loss in week one has forced this line up to nearly a touchdown from an opening at 4.5. But, that loss came against Minnesota on the road. About what you'd expect. They are returning 18 starters so much improvement is expected this season. Army didn't do very well last week either as they put up just six points and lost outright as a four point favorite. Which is worse, getting blown out as an underdog on the road vs. Minnesota or losing outright as a favorite? I think the latter. Army couldn't move the ball very well at all in that game and that doesn't bode well here. Underdogs of more than a field goal that are returning a bunch of starters (Kent returns 18) fare very well in college football and here we get to fade a pretty bad team laying nearly a touchdown.

Neither one of these teams had a very good first week. The Cardinal got pummeled 48-10 by a very good Oregon team and San Jose State lost to a very average Washington team that rolled up almost 470 yards in total offense. The Cardinal offense should be much better this season even though they didn't show it week 1. With ten returning starters on offense from a year ago and a signal caller that was one of the better QB's in the Pac 10, Stanford's offense shouldn't have a problem putting up points this season. After a tough opener they get just what the doctor ordered, the San Jose St. defense. Last week the Spartans gave up more then 300 yards rushing to the Huskies. It's no wonder as they returned just 2 defensive starters. Stanford should be able to exploit the dismal Spartan defense with there talented group of WR's and running game. Look for the Cardinal defense to step up after a poor showing against the Ducks. They will definitely have something to prove on this side of ball and will look to take out frustrations on the Spartans. Stanford is 16-4 ATS after allowing 42 points over the past fifteen years. This is a technially a road game but not much of one as San Jose and Palo Alto are within spitting distance. The Cardinal offense should roll big here.

Little ole Ball State vs. mighty Indiana? This isn't college hoops folks. Indiana isn't good enough to be laying over a field goal on the road in this game. They finished out last season with six straight losses to record their eleventh straight losing season. They allowed a ridiculous 215 yards per game on the ground. Here's a tip in college football: don't back terrible run defenses as road favorites. Ball State meanwhile closed out their season with four wins in their last seven games including wins over the MAC champion and runner-up. They were 7-4 ATS last season and return 18 starters from that team including 5th-year senior QB Joey Lynch. They started out with a nice 38-20 trouncing of Eastern Michigan as a 5.5 point favorite. Sure, Indiana also won big against Western Michigan. But I don't like that they got just 2.5 yards per rush in that game. Take the more experienced team with momentum as a nice home dog here.

The Razorbacks have returned 19 starters from a year ago and are much better team than they showed a week ago against a very powerful USC team. They look to atone for a lackluster performance last week where they were embarrassed in front of their home fans. Arkansas will try to get the Razorback faithful back on there side by putting up some big numbers on the scoreboard this week. A blowout victory will do a lot to put the week one result behind them. Utah State is THAT bad. They won 3 games last year and that was in the WAC. They return just 13 players total from a team that allowed 32.5 points per game in '06. They lost to Wyoming by 31 points last week - Wyoming! They totaled 129 total yards on offense against a very average Cowboys defense (61st in total "D" from a year ago). The Razorbacks will be fired up for this game and after playing the Trojans in week one and seeing the Aggies will feel like there playing a High School team. If the Wyoming Cowboys can put up 38 points on Utah State's defense, what will the Razorbacks, who have a much more fire power, score here? It could easily top 50 and that bodes well for them as they are 41-11 ATS when they score 28 or more points since 1992. Utah State is 0-10 ATS following a road blowout loss while Arkansas is 15-5 after allowing 37+ points over that span as well. Take a mad Razorbacks team that will be looking to redeemed themselves against a helpless Aggies team.

What's up with this line? Cal got trounced by Tennessee while Minnesota won 44-0. And Cal is favored by more than a touchdown? Yes! The linesmakers are sending us a message here: that the Cal Bears are not as bad as looked against the Volunteers. And you know what? I agree with them. This team is loaded on offense and defense and HC Jeff Tedford will get these guys ready to play at home this week. I look for a big bounce back week from them here. They are pissed about throwing away their highest preseason ranking in 50 years! Yes, the Gophers are a good team. But, they are very one dimensional. They like to run the ball and when it comes to passing, they are very uncomfortable. They will be put in a lot of passing situations this week against the Bears defense that will look to show the world that they aren't as bad as looked a week ago against the Vols. Last week the Gophers blew out Kent State 44-0 and that bodes well for well for the Bears. Say what?!? I think they may be a bit overconfident and they are entering a tough environment in this game. The Gophers are flying across the country into a very hostile environment and the Bears will look to take out there frustration from last week on an average Gopher team that has struggled away from the dome in past years. Look for Bears talented offense to come alive this week and put some points on the board. Cal played a tough game that will have prepared them for this one while Minnesota did not. Bears to win in a blowout here.

South Carolina has been preparing for this game for ten days now. They are rested and should come in well prepared. In their last game versus Mississippi State, the Gamecocks looked very ordinary on offense racking up only 274 yards. But, they looked extraordinary on defense allowing Miss State 161 total yards and dominating the game from start to finish. This game will come down to which offense can put up points and which team better takes care of the ball. Georgia was very good last year (10-3) but lost quite a few players from that squad (12 players from both sides of the ball). They are faced with having to replace an outstanding QB in D.J Shockley. The dropoff here is enormous and that will show this year on the offense. Joe Tereshinski III was very unimpressive last week. Against a Division I-AA team he was 7 for 17 for 90 yards. The Bulldogs will be forced to win games defensively. In a defensive game where points will be at premium I like siding with Steve Spurrier. This guy can find a way to get some points through a trick play, a reverse pass or something unorthodox. That could be the difference-maker in a game like this. I also like the Gamecocks at home in a home opener against a SEC foe. The Gamecocks were battled tested in there opener versus Missippi State while Georgia played cupcake Western Kentucky. Georgia is just 1-8 ATS the past three seasons after a big win by 17+ points. Look for the crowd to be rockin' and for the Gamecocks to come out on the plus side of this game. The Gamecocks and Steve Spurrier at +3 at home in a home opener? We'll take it.

UTEP started off the season pulling off the upset against a very underrated San Diego State team on the road 34-27. Not an easy task. The Miners have seven players returning from a offense that averaged over 31 points per game from a year ago. Their offense was ninth in the nation in passing last year and the nucleus (including QB) of that squad is back for another go of it. So keeping up with the Red Raiders shouldn't be too much of a problem. The Miners offense starts with QB Jordan Palmer who is one of the better signal callers in the country, posting over 3,500 yards passing and 29 TD's a year ago. He put up three touchdowns last week. Jordan also has a wealth of talent around him. RB Marcus Thomas and WR Johnnie Higgins are explosive and are sure to test the Red Raiders defense. This game will no doubt be shootout and there should be balls flying all over the field between these two teams. It's likely going to come down to which team can stop the other's high octane offense. I like UTEP's defense as they return 10 starters while the Red Raiders defense may have taken a step back (just 5 returners). The Red Raiders haven't played as well away from home in the past years as they are a turf team that excels on a fast surface. They are just 1-8 ATS off a home win the past three seasons. Take the home dog with a great offense plus the full touchdown here.