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Here we are back for week 3 of the Locks. Last week’s 2-1 showing brings the overall record to 5-1. Not too bad for an amateur. Hopefully, we can keep that pace up throughout the year. It was a difficult task this week picking the 3 games that would make the cut. I had 4 games I really liked and had to leave one of them off. Let’s hope it was the right decision.

Just a few things before we get to the picks. What a travesty for the Washington Huskies when the refs called a ridiculous celebration penalty on QB J. Locher when he scored the potential tying TD at the end of regulation against BYU. The 15 yd penalty and ensuing blocked PAT cost Wash. a chance at OT and possibly HC Willingham’s job. Let the player’s have a little fun. The Huskies now have to face a loaded Oklahoma team, and I doubt they will be over the heart breaking loss. Several teams looked completely different in week 2 than they did in week

1. It’s really hard to know how 18-22 year olds will play from week to week and whether they will be up for a game or not. The lines for this week reflect some of that public sentiment. For example, U$C is a 11 point favorite over O$U simply because O$U sleep walked through their game last week with Ohio. The pre-season line for that game was
2. Does anyone really think that after 2 weeks there is an 8 point difference in these teams? I think O$U will play very well and the game will be closer than most expect. The Beanie Wells injury has me a little concerned and that is why it is not on the top
3. Don’t sleep on Ole Miss. They looked really good in an excruciating loss at Wake Forrest last week. QB J. Snead is a top 3 QB in the SEC already. Once they get their 2 best defensive players back (Jerry and Hardy), watch out. Also, GT looks like it will be a player for the ACC crown as they went on the road and beat a good BC team. The ACC is down overall and HC P. Johnson is proving his worth. Now on to the Locks.

1. ARIZ -10 @ NEW MEXICO At the beginning of the year, HC M. Stoops was said to be on the hot seat, but it appears he has things going n the right direction. Although wins over Idaho and Toledo are nothing to go crazy about, the fact that the Wildcats have scored 104 points in 2 games is worth noting. It appears that the O has picked up OC S. Dykes system as QB W. Tuitama is ranked #11 in nation in passing efficiency (78% completion with 5 TDs and 0 INTS). Also, RB N. Grigsby has 304 yds. on 39 carries in only 2 games. Arizona gets its TE R. Gronkowski back this week adding another weapon. On the other hand, the Lobos have lost 2 at home to TCU and A&M. It seems as if the loss of several key players from last year’s bowl team has hurt. The Lobos rank #102 in the nation in total offense while Arizona ranks #7 in total D. Although laying double digits on the road is not the perfect recipe for success, I think Arizona continues its hot streak. ARIZ 35 NM 14

2. CLEM -18.5 v. NCST Forget about the debacle in ATL a couple of weeks ago. This Clemson team is still the most talented in the ACC (which may not be saying much). The Tigers got healthy last week on the Citadel to the tune of 45-17 and should feast on a bad Wolfpack squad. The Tigers will look to unleash RBs CJ Spiller and J. Davis as well as WR and return specialist J. Ford, but the real mismatch in this game is the NCST O versus the Clemson D. The Wolfpack O ranks #116 in the nation in total offense after having played So Car and William & Mary, while the Clemson D has a very good front 4 and a nice secondary. The QB situation for NCST is shaky but the OL is even worse. NCST has given up 8 sacks and thrown 6 INTs in 2 games. Expect more of the same in this game. While NCST has a decent D led by LB N. Irving, I do not see them lasting the whole 4 qtrs in shutting down the Clemson attack. CLEM 38 NCST 10

3. UGA -7 @ SO CAR This line jumped off the page at me and smells a little fishy and almost too good to be true, but I am going to bite. This is a revenge game for the Dawgs as they lost last year to the Cocks 16-12 in Athens. The Dawgs look to be loaded on both sides of the ball even though they have had a couple of key injuries. While So Car’s pass D ranks #1 in the nation allowing just 139 yds passing in 2 games, they did not face potent passing teams in NCST and Vandy. More importantly, So Car is not a good offensive football team. How is So Car going to score with their anemic offense? WR K. McKinley is out and he is their biggest offensive threat. So Car is a mess at QB and it has been reported that both C. Smelly and Beecher will play (combined for 6 INTs in 2 games). I am not sure it matters as the So Car OL is porous and the UGA front 7 should be in the backfield all day. While I am not totally sold on UGA QB M. Stafford (#16 ranked in pass efficiency), the Dawg running game should carry the day in this one. If UGA can avoid the crucial TO, I do not see this being close. The Ol’ ball coach has lost his luster, and I expect him to retire to the links at the end of the season. It will be a defensive slugfest most of the day, but the Dawgs win and cover. Remember, by the half point here and make UGA -6.5 (-120). UGA 24 SO CAR 10

OTHER GAMES I LIKE BUT DID NOT MAKE THE CUT:

OREGON -8 (THIS ALMOST MADE THE TOP 3)
AUB -10
BALL ST -7
FRESNO +2
MICH -2
GT +6.5
CAL -14.5
TULANE +13
OKLA -20
O$U +11

GOOD LUCK