Pick 'Em Corner - The Professor's Week 2 Smart Money Picks

Class is back in session, kids. If you didn't pay attention last week, The Professor's panel-leading 14-6 record to open the Pick 'Em Corner season certainly will.

Sit up straight, sharpen your pencils and enjoy the lecture, for these are The Professor's Smart Money Picks, brought to you by The City of Chanhassen.

MINNESOTA -20 New Hampshire
Maybe it’s just The Professor drinking the Jerry Kill-Aid, but I think this will be the first blowout in Jer’s tenure … in favor of the Gophers.

OHIO STATE – 18 UCF

They’re still the Buckeyes. And UCF hired The Host’s replacement. No one replaces The Host. No one.

VIRGINIA -10 Penn State

I called for the upset of the Nits this week and I’m calling for the Fighting Keisers to rebound this week. Does that mean I’m picking them to win? No, I’m not. They lose by 9. Sorry, Cornerman/Foreman’s Forecasts, your misery is only just beginning. Good thing you both live in Minnesota where misery is our middle name.

Indiana -14 UMASS

It’s The Does Anybody Outside the Locales of the Two Teams Involved Actually Care About This Game? Game, brought to you by RO*TEL! Indiana will win this game, but expecting the woebegone (look it up!) Hoosiers to be>t any team by 2 TDs, especially on the road, is asking far too much.

NOTRE DAME – 14 Purdue

Notre Dame isn’t as good as they think they are after beating Navy (Go Army!) and Purdue isn’t as bad as people think (if people even think about Purdue, that is).

MICHIGAN -21 Air Force

It’s the first of two The Professor's Service Academy Game of the Week (SAGoW), brought to you by Armed Forces Network, so you know who I’m going with.

Michigan State -21.5 CENTRAL MICHIGAN

Sparty is a lot better than they showed last week and Central Michigan is Central Michigan.

IOWA -5 Iowa State

The rivalry game factor rears its ugly head in this one. Also, who hates Iowa? The Professor hates Iowa. Also, my dad, aka The Professor Emeritus, is an Iowa State alum. Go Cyclones! Also, Herky is a jerky.

Wisconsin -8 OREGON STATE

It’s the Professor’s Schadenfreude Game of the Week, presented by Gasthof Zur Gemutlichkeit. Hate you, Bucky.

Nebraska -5.5 UCLA

I can’t, for the life of me, figure this one out. This has trap written all over it, so buyer beware.

Vanderbilt -3.5 NORTHWESTERN

Vandy gave everything South Carolina could handle and nearly pulled out a big upset. Northwestern eked out a win over Syracuse. South Carolina >>>>>>> Syracuse.

ARIZONA STATE -3 Illinois

With QB Nathan Scheelhaase’s injury a concern, Tim Brewster 2.0 (Tim Beckman) doesn’t have enough to pull the upset in the desert.

KANSAS STATE -7 Miami

Convicts > Cats. What? It worked for me last week.

TEXAS A&M -2 Florida

Welcome to the SEC, Aggies.

USC – 26 Syracuse (East Rutherford, N.J.)

DO YOU HEAR THAT SOUND? EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! It's The Professor's Statistically-Proven Lock of the Week, brought to you by National American University!

OREGON -34.5 Fresno State

Up 56-19 with a 15 seconds to go, Fresno State kicks a meaningless FG to cover.

LSU -23.5 Washington

I like teams that have dogs as mascots, thus this and the previous pick

Georgia -1.5 MISSOURI

I like teams that have dogs as mascots, thus this and the previous two picks

Oklahoma State -10.5 ARIZONA

The Cowboys are really good. The Cats are not. That’s all the analysis I’ve got here.

SAN DIEGO STATE -6 Army

It’s the first of two The Professor's Service Academy Game of the Week (SAGoW), brought to you by Armed Forces Network, so you know who I’m going with. But why? Why does The Professor always pick Army, Air Force and Navy? Putting aside from the fact that I’m a sucker for a man in uniform, The Professor has a strong family history with the service academies. Two of my uncles went to West Point at the height of the Vietnam War – with one of them in the Class of 1966, immortalized in the book “The Long Gray Line.” They both saw some relatively heavy action in Vietnam with one or both of them serving as Rangers. The Professor was brought up learning some of the material that plebes (freshman) are required to memorize. Want proof? Ask me, “How’s the cow?” Overall, The Professor just has a ridiculous amount of respect for the young men and women who voluntarily sign up to attend a school with rigorous schedule of academics, athletics and military education, not to mention the commitment of serving seven years in the military following graduation. And that’s why I will ALWAYS cheer for the service academies. Unless Army is playing Navy. Then it’s Go Army, Beat Navy!

Thus concludes The Professor's Smart Money Picks, brought to you by The City of Chanhassen.