Back for week 8 with a bloody nose and a black eye. The Locks were
a miserable 1-3 last week and now fall below the equator with an
overall mark of 12-13-1 for the year. Auburn picked me up and
prevented . The War Eagles/Plainsmen/Tigers have been very good to the
Locks this year, and I intend on riding that same horse for a while. I
thought about just throwing darts for this weeks picks, but hell, it is
the 3rd week in October, which is huge in SEC country …… time to
strap it on and go to war. Don’t worry my Bama brethren, I will give
you any comfort in jinxing the Vols this week by putting them in the
Locks. There were 3 games that I really like that did not make the cut. Indiana +7 v. PSU, Kansas -3.5 @ Colo. and Fla. -6.5 @ Ky. The consensus theory I wrote about last week has 2 games in play: Utah St. +7 v. Nevada and Iowa St. +29.5 v. Okla.
Remember this theory tells you to go against the public (70% or more on
a road favorite). This theory went 2-2 last week, but Duke failed to
cover for the Locks. Not to mention that BC missed a freakin’ extra
point to miss covering against ND. Such is the life in capping CFB.
Enough belly aching, it’s time to get to the Locks.

1. ILL +2.5 v. MICH It look like a bounce
back week for Illinois afer it suffered a close loss on the road to
Iowa. Michigan has seemed to have righted the ship, but this match-up
does not bode well for the Wolverines. Teams with spread offenses and a
running QB have caused huge headaches for Michigan (App. St. and
Oregon). The Illini have 2 dual threat QBs in J. Williams and E. McGee.
Also, Illinois is the #4 rushing team in the nation. It appears
Michigan RB and Hypesman hopeful M. Hart is doubtful for the game. This
puts the pressure squarely on QB C. Henne who showed signs of life last
week. The Wolverines have plenty of weapons in WRs M. Manningham and A.
Arrington, but I do not trust Henne giving points on the road. I am not
sold on Michigan’s D and Lloyd Carr is a lame duck. Illinois wins
straight up. ILL 28 MICH 24

2. ORE -11.5 @ WASH I usually hate laying
points on the road in a conference game, but this match-up one looks to
good to turn down. The Quack Attack is hitting on all cylinders lately
by scoring 50 or more pints in 3 of its last 4 games. Oregon is the #4
rushing offense in the nation while the Huskie D is #104 against the
run. Duck WR C. Colvin is out for the year, but Oregon has plenty of
weapons to fill his spot. The Huskies have been struggling with frosh.
QB J. Locher lately and rank #107 in passing offense. Washington is not
a great home team gong 6-15 ATS in their last 21 home games. Duck QB
Dixon and RB Stewart have too much firepower for Washington even at
home. ORE 45 WASH 20

3. AUB +11 @ LSU Last week I told you how
good Auburn had been as a road team under T. Tubberville. This week
they are back on the road as a double-digit dog. Unfortunately, they
will not be wearing their road white unis this week, but they should
stay well within the number in this one. LSU is very, very good and
should be really pissed for this game. However, Les Miles has closed
practice this week due to a large number of injuries LSU had against
Kentucky. Auburn’s D is getting healthy and returns LB M. Johnson and
DB Z. Etheridge to the line up. Auburn’s front 7 may be the best in the
SEC and should keep this a low scoring affair. LSU QB M. Flynn
struggled last week hitting open receivers and just is not near as
dynamic as R. Perriloux, but he continues to get a high majority of the
snaps. LSU’s D is nasty but will be playing a little short handed
(Pittman, C. Jackson, C. Steltz all dinged up). Aub. is 10-4 ATS in its
last 14 road games while LSU is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 home SEC games.
This one is close throughout. LSU 20 AUB 17