This week’s picks are as follows:

UCLA over CAL … unfortunately, Jeff Tedford is about to make the state of California’s unemployment rate go up.

STANFORD over ARIZONA … after beating USC early in the season, the Cardinal figured it was clear sailing until next month’s Oregon game. Now everything looks like a challenge for a team with very little offense.

NOTRE DAME over MIAMI (FLA.) … they used to call this one the “The Catholics vs. the Convicts” game, but after Notre Dame’s quarterback was arrested during the offseason, no one is calling it that anymore.

FLORIDA STATE over NORTH CAROLINA STATE … the Seminoles are back.

BYU over UTAH STATE … forget the University of Utah, this one is for football supremacy in the Beehive State.

TEXAS over WEST VIRGINIA … the Longhorns hold Geno Smith under 600 yards and win, 80-79.

AIR FORCE over NAVY … the worst Navy team in a long, long time. Time to pull this boat out of the water.

UPSET OF THE WEEK: Georgia over South Carolina … the closest thing to a “Game of the Week,” matching a pair of barely unbeatens. (Upset record: 2-3)

ROUT OF THE WEEK: Oregon over Washington … can anyone stop these Ducks? Apparently not. (Rout record: 5-0).

DON’T BET ON IT, BUT: Oregon State over Washington State … it’s been so long since the Beavers started 3-0, they don’t know how it feels to actually be favored in a game. This one will be close. Trust me on this. (Don’t bet record: 4-1).

FIVE EASY PICKS: Despite the lack of patsies this week, the guaranteed winners are Kansas State (over Kansas), Louisiana Tech (over UNLV), Fresno State (over Colorado State), Cincinnati (over Miami, Ohio) and Nevada (over Wyoming). (FEP record: 25-0).

AGGIES over MONTANA STATE … the Aggies proved last week they belong in this rugged Big Sky Conference. This week they hope to prove they belong near the top of this rugged Big Sky Conference. A major test at Aggie Stadium. Take the Ags by 2.

OTHER GAMES: Michigan State over Indiana, Boston College over Army, Clemson over Georgia Tech, Northwestern over Penn State, Rutgers over Connecticut, Western Michigan over Massachusetts, Missouri over Vanderbilt, Texas A&M over Mississippi, TCU over Iowa State, Wisconsin over Illinois, Auburn over Arkansas, Michigan over Purdue, Oklahoma over Texas Tech, Toledo over Central Michigan, Mississippi State over Kentucky, Tulsa over Marshall, Ohio U. over Buffalo, LSU over Florida, New Mexico over Texas State, San Diego State over Hawaii, and Boise State over Southern Mississippi.

Last week: 31-3, season: 182-33, percentage: .847.

— Reach Bob Dunning at [email protected]

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