BIG GAMES ON TAP. TAKE YOUR PICK(s)

After going 8 for 8 last week for the second time this season, we're feeling pretty good about where we stand as we go into the fifth week of competition with a lot of confidence and bravado. So, we take a bow and now move onto this weekend's great slate of gridiron contests. And there's some good ones!

Your Weekend Winners are...

#21 Ole Miss @ #1 Alabama...the Rebs look to end a nine game skid to the Tide with its up tempo offense and the legs of QB Bo Wallace. The Rebs are averaging 38 points per game and over 250 rushing yards per game (second best in the SEC). Meanwhile Saban's crew is still trying to find a consistent offense that has struggled at times with its run game being the worst in the conference. The Tide has won the last 11 straight meetings with Ole Miss in Tuscaloosa. Tomorrow make that 12. Tide rolls.

UGA may need a bigger ice bag

#6 LSU @ #9 Georgia...there are several sub plots to this little get together in Athens. First, Georgia's record when the ESPN College Game Day crew shows up is 3-11.  Not good. Second, LSU's bad boy quarterback Zach Mettenberger is back on campus. Lock up your women. Third, LSU's new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron seems to have the Bengal Tiger offense on track and he's licking his chops to go after the young Dawg defensive secondary. But it may very well come down to which team runs the ball best: Georgia's Gurley (averages 6 yd/carry) or LSU's Hill (averages 8 yds/carry). If anything, Georgia is well tested after facing two top ten teams in the last 3 weeks: Clemson and South Carolina. So, who do we like? Take the Tigers in a tight one in Athens.

#20 Florida @ Kentucky...the only question we have about this game is Florida only favored by 13? We know the Gators have been struggling on offense and they'll be playing their second game with back up quarterback Tyler Murphy (who by the way did a great job jumping in last week when Driskel was knocked out of the game by the Vols). But the Gator defense is pretty pretty stout, only giving up an average of 212 yards per game (second best in the nation). Kentucky hasn't beaten Florida since 1986. And it aint gonna change Saturday. Gators chomp the Cats.

#23 Wisconsin @ #4 Ohio State...we love this match up. The Badger running game averages 349 yards per game, led by RB Melvin Gordon who has 7 TDs in the last four games. Gordon leads the nation with 624 rushing yards. Meanwhile, this is the first big test of the season for the Buckeyes who are coming off a 77-0 embarrassment of FCS opponent, FAMU, and allowing only 116 rushing yards per game. Braxton Miller is slated to return as tOSU's qb so it will be interesting to see if there's any rust. UPSET ALERT: we like the Badgers over the Buckeyes.

He best not bet on his Irish

#14 Oklahoma @ #22 Notre Dame...one name to remember: Blake Bell. He's the Sooner QB that posted 413 passing yards against Tulsa, and leads a Sooner crew that averages 490 yards per game. That's a lotta yards! Oklahoma is 1-9 all time against the Irish. Tomorrow that luck changes as the Sooners win in South Bend.

Virginia @ Pittsburgh...the Panthers give up a ton of points (41 per game). But they also put up a bunch of points in each game (40). The Cavs defense has looked pretty good thus far (forget their loss to Oregon. The Ducks are killing everyone) but we think they are clearly over-matched this Saturday. So we're going with Pitt over the Wahoos.

#5 Stanford @ Washington State...The Cardinal have a long winning streak with eleven games, second only to Ohio State's sixteen, and are averaging 36+ points a game. Meanwhile the Cougar defense has been yielding only 12 points a game. This game is quite a contrast. Stanford loves to run the ball (211 yds/game) while WSU prefers the passing game (329 yds/game) with some very talented receivers including sophomore Gabe Marks, second in the Pac-12 with 31 catches. So this game could come down to turnovers and special teams. But who knows? We're going with Stanford as they continue to build their case for top ranking. Stanford over the Cougars.

#10 Texas A&M @ Arkansas...the Aggies go on the road for the first time this season as they travel to Fayetteville. Johnny Brat will certainly put up the yards and points (they average over 600 yds per game) but the Aggie defense will be in for a challenge as they face a different offensive flavor with the Razorbacks: power football, courtesy the Big Ten and Wisconsin's Bret Bielema. But the Aggies have too much firepower. Aggies over the 'Backs.

 Check back on Monday to see how we fared. Enjoy your Saturday.

Make Mo' Money with Mark®

WIND UP SUMMER WITH OUR WEEKEND WINNERS.

As we transition from summer to fall this Saturday, it's the perfect time to kickoff the changing of the seasons with a full slate of winning game picks. And since we're 21-3 thus far, you can feel pretty confident that we'll steer you straight...right into a pile of cash. Cha ching, baby.

Your Weekend Winners are...

Tennessee @ #19 Florida...the Tennessee team that you'll see tomorrow is not the team that BuTch Jones will put on the field next season or the season after. This is definitely a team in transition. So...if you're a Vol fan don't panic and call your coach nasty names after the Gators win for the ninth time tomorrow. The UT QB is the pivotal position for the kind of offense that Jones ran at Cinncinati (think up tempo, spread option of Oregon) and Worley is not that kind of quarterback. He's too slow. While this Gator team is not like the ones of old, Tennessee will have to pound the ball and control the clock to have a chance in the Swamp. Gators growl loudly with this W. And George the Cat concurs.

Gaffney is a difference maker

#5 Stanford @ #23 Arizona State...if Stanford wants to make a case for being top ranked there's no better time than now with a victory over the Sun Devils. Arizona State, which got real lucky with bad officiating in its win over Wisconsin, must have another great outing from QB Kelly who has thrown 13 TD passes with only interception in the last five games. Meanwhile the Cardinal is looking to go 3-0 for the fourth straight year and are 8-1 in their last nine home games against ranked opponents. Look for Stanford's rb Gaffney to be play a major role. Cardinal over the Sun Devils.

Auburn @ #6 LSU...the side story to this match up involves the quarterbacks that were bounced out of Georgia for various indiscretions. LSU's Mettenberger is coming into his own as new offensive coordinator Cameron seems to have the Tigers performing its best since the 2007 season. Meanwhile, the Auburn Tigers/War Eagles/Plainsmen/Dying Oaks are 3-0 and feeling rather confident. But, this will be qb Nick Marshall's first time on the road and we all know what happens at night games in Baton Rouge. Bengal Tigers over Aubbie.

Vad Lee, the head Bee

North Carolina @ Georgia Tech...It's way too early to get all gooey over GT's 2-0 start since their opponents to date haven't been that stellar. And it comes as no surprise that the Jackets are ranked 3rd in rushing offense with an average of 356 yards per game. That's their trademark. But now the Swarm seem to have a new wrinkle with an effective passing game led by sophomore qb Vad Lee who threw for four touchdown in last week's 38-14 win over Duke. Plus new defensive coordinator Ted Roof seems to have the Jacket defensive playing much better than seasons past. Amen for that. It's going to be a Buzz-kill for the Tar Heels as the Bees sting UNC in Atlanta.

Michigan State @ #22 Notre Dame...this match up could be the most interesting of the weekend as Notre Dame's defense is lacking the players they had last season when they ranked second in the nation. Meanwhile the solid offense of the Irish will face the country's toughest defense which has only yielded an average of 177 yards per game. On the other side of the ball, the Spartans rang up 547 yards of offense last week including 277 yards on the ground. Keep your eye on MSU's defensive end, Shalique Calhoun, who has scored three touchdowns off turnovers. In an upset, Spartans spoil Irish party in South Bend.

Man under fire needs big win bad

Kansas State @ Texas...the Longhorns are looking to avoid their first 1-3 start since 1956, the year before Darrell Royal arrived in Austin. Standing in their way is Bill Snyder and his Wildcats who have won five in a row over Texas. While K-State has not played any real teams yet, the Horns have been forced to juggle their qbs due to injury. It will be super close, but go with Texas. Mack Brown needs the love.

Missouri @ Indiana...this is an interesting SEC vs Big Ten matchup as Mizzou faces its first real opponent after beating Murray State and Toledo at home. QB James Franklin has been pretty efficient with his 67% completion rate. Meanwhile the Hoosiers haven't shown much firepower as they stumbled in their loss to Navy. We see the Tigers biting Indiana on Saturday.

Pittsburgh @ Duke...we have tremendous respect for Coach Cut and what he's been able to do in Durham but the Blue Devils will have their hands full on Saturday. The Pitt offense is averaging 7.7 yards per play and Duke has struggled to stop quality opponents. It's an important game for both teams because neither wish to start 0-2 in conference play. Panthers claw the dookies for a win.

Let's check back on Monday to see how everyone fared. In the meantime enjoy Saturday and....

Make Mo' Money with Mark®

HOW TO BE PERFECT WITHOUT BREAKING A SWEAT!

Wanna know how to be perfect when making winning game day picks?

You could spend hours each week studying the teams, trends and tricks. Or, just follow our picks, sit back, and make mo' money.

Impressive. And Awesome, too.

In Week Three we went a PERFECT 8 for 8, bringing our SEASON TOTAL to a enviable 21-3. George the Cat posted another winning pick on his way to a perfect 3 for 3. So we must be doing something right. Right? Show us some props!! Come on!

Our winning picks also included two UPSETS: Ole Miss over Texas and UCLA over Nebraska. Which leads me to this one note of business: Upsets and underdogs are based on the latest betting lines out of Las Vegas; not rankings published by the AP, USA Today, or other sources.

So, now that we have that cleared up, let's take a quick stroll down memory lane from last weekend.

WEEKEND REWIND®

10 to 1 odds that BuTch has a stroke.

If you're a Vol fan then last Saturday's game in Eugene, Oregon was exciting for about, oh, 3 minutes. Tennessee took a quick 7-0 lead then the Ducks exploded with a 59-14 butt whipping. And, as predicted, the loss was so bad that the boo birds in KnoxVegas have already surfaced and are questioning the hiring of BuTch Jones. Patience, people, patience. A lot of other teams this season are going to be whipped by Oregon before it's over.
Ole Missy sauntered into Austin, Texas and left with a 44-23 victory over the struggling Longhorns. The Rebs are ranked for the first time in forever and are 3-0 for the first time since 1989. So they can enjoy the moment for now until their next game in two weeks when they'll be dismantled by Alabama.

The Bruins left Lincoln with a huge come from behind 41-21 upset win over Nebraska. The Cornhuskers made it interesting for a spell but their Black Shirt defense couldn't slow a hot Brett Hundley who threw for 294 yards. Shades of their 2012 collapse in Pasadena when the Bruins rang up 653 yards of offense. Could Pellini's seat be getting a pinch warmer?

Ohio State rolled to its 15th straight victory by steam rolling Cal, 52-34. Key stat of game: replacement QB threw 3 of his four TD passes in the first six minutes of the game, including a school record 90 yarder.

South Carolina scored on its first four possessions to jump out to a 28-0 lead before Vandy forced some turnovers and got back into the game before losing 35-25. The Cocks rolled up 579 yards of offensive.

The Yellow Jackets took care of business in Durham with a 38-14 win over Duke. And who says Tech never throws the ball?  Durham native Vad Lee threw four TD passes on his way to a 8 of 16 day for 125 passing yards and another 76 yards rushing including a touchdown run. Has Johnson found his new quarterback?

Florida State embarrassed Nevada in a 62-7 rout. Famous Jameis Winston posted another great game before finding a comfortable spot on the bench for the fourth quarter.

George the Cat hit on his Big Pick of the Week as Alabama outlasted Texas A&M 49-42. Johnny Football was his typical greatness with 464 passing yards and 98 rushing yards. But it wasn't enough as the Crimson Tide showed the nation that they could take Aggie punches and still keep going.

Be sure to check back on Friday for more Winning Picks. See you then!

MAKE MO' MONEY WITH MARK®

MOVING UP. OR MOVING OUT.

We have two full weekends of college football under our belts and now we're starting to head into some key match ups that could definitely impact national rankings where some teams will be moving up, while others will be moving out.

So, if you're ready to make some money tomorrow, check out the picks.

Your Weekend Winners are...

#16 UCLA @ #23 Nebraska...as discussed by our featurette contributor, Jeff Castle, the Huskers will be hosting the Bruins this Saturday in Lincoln at Memorial Stadium, home of the Tom Osborne Field. The boys from Westwood will be led by qb Brett Hundley, Heisman hopeful, and backed up by rb Jordon James (averages 7+ yds per carry) and a deep receiving group led by Shaquelle Evans. We think the spread offense run by the Bruins will pose big problems for the Huskers and the Black Shirts are too young to control the Bruins. UPSET ALERT: UCLA leaves Lincoln with a W...and a runza.

Georgia Tech @ Duke...coming off a 70-0 thrashing of lil Elon, Johnson's Jackets open up ACC play on the road in Durham. Although only one game, Georgia Tech is picking up where it left off last year in terms of racking up huge rushing numbers. So the question is, do the Blue Devils have enough defense to slow down the Jackets and force some turnovers? We don't think so as the Jackets make this their tenth win in a row over the Dookies.

Vanderbilt @ #13 South Carolina...this is a get-back-on-track kind of game for the Ol Ball Coach and his Gamecocks. After having his defense pushed around by Georgia, Spurrier will be doubling up efforts to get the defense playing to a much higher level. And you can bet that Spurrier has been "encouraging" qb Connor Shaw to jump start his play. Meanwhile back in the Music City, you can be assured that Franklin and Company have been studying that game film and will do everything they can to replicate the Dawg's success at neutralizing Clowney. But, alas, it won't be enough. Cocks will crow in a tight one Saturday night in Columbia.

#25 Ole Miss @ Texas...Folks in Oxford are all excited as the Rebels break into the Top 25 for the first time since forever. Meanwhile the Longhorns drop out of the rankings after their embarrassing loss to BYU. The loss was so bad that Mack Brown canned the defensive coordinator in hopes of turning around the defense. Not gonna happen, at least not tomorrow. In an upset, Black Rebel Bears over the Horns.

Nevada @ #10 Florida State...is there any doubt that the Seminole will rock and roll over Nevada? Didn't think so, even with a 33 point spread. Nevada plays its second Top 25 team in the last 3 weeks, losing its season opener to UCLA 58-20. The only question about this game is if Famous Jameis continues his stellar performance. Noles in a knockout.

#4 Ohio State @ Cal...Urban Meyer has an incredible opening road game record (10-1) with his last loss going back to 2003 at Texas A&M. Berkeley will be a tough place for the Buckeyes to win but quite frankly Ohio State has just too many offensive weapons plus their defense is only allowing 13.5 points per game.  Buckeyes bop the Golden Bears.

Tennessee @ #2 Oregon...we like what's happening in Knoxville but Butch's Vols are not ready for prime time. Maybe in two years, but not now. Maybe next week against a not-so-good Gator crew, but not now. So...while the spread is extremely tempting, the Vols offense has shown me nothing that gives me the confidence that they can keep the Ducks off the field. And with this loss it will be interesting to see how the Big Orange Nation responds. Oregon in a duck bath.

And George the Cat's BIG PICK of THE WEEK features the #1 Crimson Tide of Alabama visiting the #6 Texas A&M Aggies.

From George: "Give Nick Saban two weeks to prepare...whatta ya got?  A Bama win. The Tide has been licking its whiskers ever since last season for a little payback on the Aggies. And everyone in America (sans Aggie fans) will be rooting for the toughest defense in the land to open up a huge can of whoop ass on Johnny Brat, er, Johnny Football.  Tide rolls in College Station."

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Time to Chow Down on a Runza and Talk Cornhusker Football 

Okay, you're probably wondering what the hell is a runza. Well, a runza is a yeast dough bread pocket filled with beef, pork, cabbage or sauerkraut, onions, various seasonings and whatever else is left in the fridge that hasn't yet turned into a middle school science project. It's German, which makes sense since people with German heritage make up 42% of Nebraska. How's that for a stat?

Anyway, if you're a Husker fan you're already drooling and planning a run to the mother state to get a runza fix.

Herbie Husker awaits

But enough about the culinary arts. Let's talk football. Specifically Nebraska Cornhusker football and their upcoming game with the UCLA Bruins at Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

Originally known as the Bugeaters, Nebraska has a truckload of conference trophies and five or so national championships, and is the winningest college program in the last fifty years. So these boys know how to play football and their fans take their Saturdays very very seriously.

With that in mind, we've invited North Platte, Nebraska native and alum, Jeff Castle, to provide his personal insight and perspective into Cornhusker football.

But first, a little Q&A with Jeff.

Time for Q&A with Jeff

WWW:  Jeff, growing up in Nebraska can be tough. How'd you survive?
JEFF:  Eating lots of runzas and, of course, following Husker football.

WWW:  How often do you get back to Lincoln for games?
JEFF:  I get back for one game a year. This season I'll be there for the Nov. 2 Northwestern game.

Jeff with fellow Huskers in Madison, WI

WWW: How about road games?
JEFF:   I've been to all of the old Big 8 schools and over half of the Big Ten schools. This year I'm headed to West Lafayette to see the Huskers play the Purdue Boilermakers. Plus I've been to most of the bowl games like the 2001 Rose Bowl in Pasadena.


WWW: Other then growing up in Nebraska, why the love for Husker football?
JEFF:  My dad worked at the University agricultural experiment station and we were able to get Nebraska football tickets. So I've been going to Husker games since I was five years old. And every game has been a sellout since 1962. Nothing like it in America.

WWW:  What's your best memory of Husker football?
JEFF:   My single best memory was actually a Nebraska loss, 18-14 to Florida State in 1980. NU was up 14-3 at halftime but the Seminoles cashed in on three turnovers to take an 18-14 lead. The Huskers had one last drive which took them down to the FSU 3 yard line with just 12 seconds left. But our quarterback fumbled and FSU recovered. After the final play, the fans gave both teams a standing ovation that lasted at least 15 minutes for a great game played. Tremendous sportsmanship was on display that afternoon. I'll never forget it.

Kim & Jeff at the Capital One Bowl

WWW:  So, is your wife a Husker fan, too?
JEFF:  You bet. Kim's a Nebraska gal and, in fact, we met in Lawrence, Kansas at the Nebraska-Kansas football game. So I guess you could say that Husker football brought us together.
WWW: Ahhh. That's so sweet.

WWW:  Last question. What's for lunch?
JEFF:  A runza, of course!


Okay, enough preamble. Let's get Jeff's take on the UCLA-Nebraska contest.

Jeff's Take.

The Huskers look to avenge last year's 36-33 loss in Pasadena. But this year we have them at Memorial Stadium where they will be greeted by the "Sea of Red," 92,000+ screaming fans all decked out in red.

This game may very well come down to the play of the quarterbacks. UCLA's Brett Hundley accounted for 337 offensive yards of the Bruin's 647 total yards. He has a great arm and is pretty accurate. Which explains why he's being touted as an early Heisman candidate.

Nebraska senior qb Taylor Martinez grew up in Los Angeles but was recruited by UCLA as a safety. So he jumped at the Huskers offer of qb and the rest is history. He's a dual threat quarterback so that adds a whole other dimension to his skill set.

Both teams are replacing their starters at running back but I think the Huskers have the edge with proven rb Ameer Abdullah who ran for 1000+ yards in 2012. Behind him is a kid that's considered the hammer, Imani Cross from Gainesville, GA, who usually comes in on short yardage downs. At 225+ lbs, he's quite the load.

Both defenses had pretty good showings last week. Despite playing 14 freshmen, the Bruins took care of business with Nevada. Meanwhile, the Blackshirts looked pretty stout holding Southern Miss to just 284 total yards. In fact, until midway in the 4th quarter, the Golden Eagles only had four rushing yards, finishing with just 62 on the ground.

My Prediction

Let's be honest. I'm a dyed in the RED Husker fan and there's no way I'm going to pick the Bruins to win. But, here's the facts. Nebraska is tough to beat at home. Turnovers could be the key and both defenses are pretty young. So I expect a high scoring affair.

But based on Nebraska playing at home along with a pretty seasoned quarterback in Martinez AND the game starting at 9:00 am Pacific time, look for the Huskers to win a close one in a shootout.

Nebraska 42  -  UCLA 38

Be sure to check back on Friday for our winning picks for the weekend plus George the Cat's BIG PICK of THE WEEK.

MAKE MO' MONEY with MARK®

Were You A Weekend Winner? Or a Weekend Whiner?

We had a couple of surprises this past Saturday. Some good, some not so good. But all in all, 'twas a glorious weekend.

This says it all: we're making money

We went 5 of 8 in our picks with some surprises that will have repercussions later on down on the road (hint: it involves moving vans).

And, of course, George the Cat was perfect with his pick of Auburn over Arky State.

 

Weekend Rewind®

In a see-saw kinda game that we missed on, Georgia prevailed 41-30 over the Gamecocks. Finally Aaron Murray shows the world he can actually win a big one. He did. So we now move on...until the next big one, and the same question will pop up again.

As predicted, the Wolverines beat the Fig Things in Ann Arbor 41-30 and in front of a NCAA-record crowd of 115,109 screaming fans. Michigan kicker Brendan Gibbons set a new school record with 15 consecutive field goals. So please show this kicker some love, will you?

The key stat in Tennessee's 52-20 win over Western Kentucky: 24 Vol points scored in 3:53. To say Petrino's crew was shell shocked is an understatement. This may be the boost that the Vols defense needs as they head to Eugene, Oregon to take on the Ducks.

Headed to the hot seat?

What's up with Texas??  Mack Brown's Longhorns trip over their hooves in a 40-21 loss to the BYU Cougars in Provo. Texas gave up 550 rushing yards. That's pretty bad. So bad, Brown sacked his defensive coordinator on Sunday.

This was a tough pick em game and we got it wrong. Sorry. Miami made a statement by upending the Gators in South Florida 21-16 and RB Duke Johnson showed that he has what it takes to run with the big boys. Key stat: Florida qb Driskell has 12 turnovers in the last 7 games (6 INTs and 6 fumbles).

The game in Norman could not end soon enough for the Sooners as they hung on to win 16-7 over the West Virginia Mountaineers. Despite losing a lot of key playmakers, the 'Neers made a game of it. And while Oklahoma struggled with its passing game, rb Brennan Clay stepped up with 22 carries for 170 rushing yards.

Northwestern welcomed Syracuse to Evanston with a big win, 48-27. The Cats cranked out 581 yards of offense while their defense came up with four interceptions. Since this game was pretty much decided at half, most of the fans split early for deep dish and a few Goose Islands.

Meet Jeff Castle

And in George the Cat's Big Pick of the Week, the Auburn Tigers/War Eagles/Plainsmen/Dying Oaks had their way with the Red Wolves of Arkansas State 38-9, Gus Malzahn's old school.

TEASER ALERT
Be sure to check back tomorrow for a featurette on the upcoming UCLA-Nebraska contest penned by long time friend and guest contributor, Jeff Castle, a home grown Husker fan from North Platte, Nebraska. He knows his football, especially Cornhusker football.

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TIME TO MAKE MO MONEY

After last weekend you have, no doubt, some extra cash to lay out on this week's big games.

How do I know that?

Because I know you took our advice and hit it big. Right? If not, all is forgiven. But remember, snooze you lose. So it's time to get on board.

Anyway, we have another slate of eight great game picks, hand selected by our proven panel of experts.

Fig Things under the lights

#14 Notre Dame @ #17 Michigan...the Notre Dame Fig Things take on the Wolverines in just the second night game ever at the Big House. This is the last scheduled visit of the Irish to Ann Arbor and could be one of the best games all season. We like what we saw in Wolverine QB Devin Gardner once he settled down against Central Michigan and expect him to have a pretty steady hand in directing a Michigan win.  Take the Wolverines over the Fig Things.

Not a good forecast for Aaron Murray

#6 South Carolina @ #11 Georgia...the Gamecocks pay the bull puppies a visit 'tween the hedges as Georgia is in a must-win game, otherwise they slip further down the polls and the "Fire Richt" chants will be deafening. While we anticipate UGA improving on defense from last week's loss to Clemson, Carolina's pounding ground game and ferocious defensive line will take its toll. DE Clowney should be back in top form and will be in Aaron Murray's grill the entire afternoon. Our money is on South Carolina, for a Palmetto Sweep of the pups. UPSET ALERT.

Coach BuTch bringing the pride back

Western Kentucky @ Tennessee...You can bet that Hilltopper coach Bobby Petrino is licking his chops to knock off his second SEC team in two weeks, especially since Tennessee refused to interview him last winter when they were shopping for a coach. But Tennessee's big veteran offensive line, perhaps the best in the SEC, will pound on the Western Kentucky front seven and open holes for the recharged Vol running game. Petrino will test UT's young cornerbacks and we anticipate WKy to put a few points on the board (this ain't no Austin Peay). But by the 4th quarter, the 100,000 faithful will be singing Rocky Top. Tennessee adds its 801th win.

Texas @ BYU...the Longhorns started off real slow last week against New Mexico State then exploded for a school record 715 yards of offense. Keep your eye on Daje Johnson who's averaging 14.3 yards per carry. We're taking Texas to stampede Brigham Young.

#12 Florida @ Miami...last week Duke Johnson showed why he is one of the top rushers in the ACC as he logged 186 yards on 19 carries. But this week he'll be facing a Muschamp defense that allowed only 50 rushing yards last week (okay, it was Toledo). But Miami lacks the muscle and depth to hang with the Gators on either side of the ball. So...go with the Gators over the Canes.

West Virginia @ #16 Oklahoma...The Mountaineers lack the playmakers they had a year ago particularly at quarterback with Geno Smith now with the NY Jets. Another interesting wrinkle is the offensive line coach Bedenbaugh left Morganton to take the same job at Oklahoma. And we suspect that the Sooner line will dominate as Oklahoma cruises to a big win.

Syracuse @ #19 Northwestern...the Wildcats escaped Berkeley last week with a win over the up tempo Cal Golden Bears fueled primarily by two second half interception returns for touchdowns by linebacker Collin Ellis. The Orangemen hope to rebound after a disappointing loss to Penn State. But we think the Wildcats have plenty of offensive weapons to outscore Syracuse. Take the 'Cats over Cuse.

George the Cat's BIG PICK OF THE WEEK....

George the Cat has made his pick but we've had a brief hiccup with our video technology so no video this week. Sorry to disappoint but here's George the Cat's winning pick that's sure to put a smile on your face...and some cash in your wallet.

Arkansas State @ Auburn...last week the Tigers struggled to hold off a feisty Washington State. Aubbie qb, Nick Marshall, wasn't great but he didn't have to be as Auburn racked up 271+ rushing yards. Malzahn's old team will be prepared and won't be intimidated in Jordan-Hare Stadium.  I really like the Red Wolves and love the DE coach, Steve Caldwell (ex-UT). But I think Auburn will out muscle Arky State to go 2-0. Auburn in a tight one.  See you next week on the screen.

MAKE MO MONEY WITH MARK®

HARD TO BE HUMBLE WHEN YOU'RE PERFECT!

Week One of the college football season is in the books. So, how did you do?

More specifically, how did we do?

Perfect start to the season

Well, we were 100% on the money with a perfect 8 of 8 picks including our upset pick of Western Kentucky over Kentucky, and of course, George the Cat's Big Pick of the Week, Clemson over Georgia. He sure knows his football!

So if you took our picks then you took home some serious cash. Which means you now have even more dollars to invest in this weekend's upcoming games.

Weekend Re-Wind

Here's a quickie recap of our perfect 8 for 8 weekend picks:

Tajh Boyd wins a big one

#8 Clemson's Tajh Boyd showed #5 Georgia's Aaron Murray what it takes to win a big one as Tigers bite the bullpuppies in Athens, 38-35. Another on the-money-pick by the George the Cat.

As expected, #1 Bama rolled over the Hokies as anticipated. It was pretty clear from the start that the Tide out manned Beamer's boys in a 35-10 win, although this wasn't the big blowout expected by some.

UCLA out powered Nevada with 41 second half points on their way to a 58-20 win. The Bruin's Brett Hundley was pretty impressive, passing for two touchdowns and running for two more.

#12 LSU outlasted #20 TCU 37-27, a game that was a lot tighter then the score suggests. So tight Les Miles never smiled.

#22 Northwestern beat Cal 44-30, continuing Wildcat Coach Pat Fitzgerald's unbeaten streak in season openers.

Auburn hung on long enough to survive 31-24 over Washington State. Although Auburn's jc transfer qb struggled, their running game made up for that deficit with 295 rushing yards and two TDs.

Redshirt freshman Famous Jameis Winston made a spectacular debut at quarterback for #11 Florida State, going 25-27 for 356 yards in the Noles 41-13 win over a pretty good Pitt team. Keep your eyes on Famous Jameis; he's a good one (is it too early to whisper Heisman candidate?).

Famous Jameis debuts

And in our upset pick, Bobby Petrino did not disappoint as his Hilltoppers beat Kentucky 35-26. Look for Western Kentucky to have a pretty good season...with their sights set on upending another SEC team, Tennessee, this Saturday in Knoxville.

Check back on Friday for Saturday's picks. And your chance to keep winning big.

Make Mo Money with Mark®