College Football Fun: Five Picks for Week 3

Traditional Rivalry and Battle with Major BSC Implications Highlights This Weekend's Action.

Here's the games we're following this weekend with our picks and the Vegas odds.

For our regional pick, we'll follow Maryland who hosts #23 California. California is favored by 14 points. Maryland will lose the game but beat the spread.

The great game for tradition lovers features Michigan visiting South Bend, Indiana where they're favored by a point and a half over Notre Dame. Both storied programs are considered politely "in transition" which early in the season means a team so labelled sucks and is not expected to do much for the year. Michigan with new coach, Rich Rodriguez, and 48 Freshmen are rebuilding for the next era of Michigan legends. Notre Dame of 2008 should be stronger than the miserable team of 2007, but looking at the program, head coach, Charlie Weis, hasn't shown the kind of sophistication to inherit the crown worn by Lou Holtz, Ara Parseghian, Frank Leahy, and Knute Rockne.

Notre Dame is a troubled program facing troubled times. With such widespread exposure for teams around the country and not being part of an established conference, some of what made the Fighting Irish unique in the past is now becoming more of a burden. Some national pundits, notably former Notre Dame coach, Lou Holtz, see Notre Dame on the mends poised to crack the top 25. Still, when the action starts against the Michigan Wolverines, Saturday's game will be more about the tradition than the reality of 2008. Michigan should win this one.

Oklahoma versus Washington, this pick is to contrast Oklahoma against Ohio State and USC two other teams with BSC bowl ambitions. Oklahoma should win handily though the spread is a little generous for a team traveling all the way to the northwest as a visitor.

USC hosting Ohio State in the third week of the season, what could be better than this? Many could see this as a preview for the National Championship game in Miami this coming January. Since they square off in September, that makes a Trojan/Buckeye Orange Bowl unlikely, regardless, this will be a red hot game. It would be more interesting if USC were visiting Ohio State. Given USC is a deeper team and playing at home, Ohio State would have to play the perfect game Saturday night. Sadly for Ohio State, one defeat can haunt a team deep into November and bite them in the rear when bowl seedings are announced. However, the Buckeyes could run the table for the rest of the year with Wisconsin their top adversary remaining. USC could complete the season undefeated. We'll cheer for Ohio State but put our chips on USC.

Wisconsin (#10) goes cross country to play Fresno State (#21). Fresno State is no longer an upstart or Cinderella program. The country knows about them. They built their reputation in recent years upsetting major powers, but that won't happen Saturday night. This one belongs to the Badgers as only a vicious cheese disease could ruin their trip out west.