UTAH AT OREGON STATE

Oregon State is shooting for a 6-0 mark for the first time since 1907 - and also trying to become bowl eligible the quickest in program history - when it hosts Utah on Saturday. The No. 11 Beavers, 3-0 in conference play for the first time since 1968, have lost four of their last five against the Utes, who are trying to avoid starting 0-4 in the Pac-12 for second straight year. A key to the game will be whether Utah can run the ball effectively against the Beavers. The Utes are No. 112 in the nation in rushing, while Oregon State ranks fourth in the country in run defense.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Oregon State -10.5
ABOUT UTAH (2-4, 0-3 Pac-12): While the run game is still struggling to get untracked, the Utes are also searching for the right quarterback to lead their offense. Travis Wilson made his first career start last weekend against UCLA and the freshman completed 23 of 33 passes for 220 yards and an interception in a 21-14 loss. Jon Hays, a senior, started the previous four games and threw six touchdown passes with one interception in that span. Coach Kyle Whittingham, though, said Monday that Wilson will start against Oregon State.
ABOUT OREGON STATE (5-0, 3-0): Sean Mannion, the second-ranked quarterback in the Pac-12, remains sidelined after undergoing minor knee surgery last week. Cody Vaz will start for a second consecutive game. Vaz threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s victory against Brigham Young and was not intercepted. He benefits from a strong receiving corps led by Brandin Cooks and Markus Wheaton. Cooks ranks second in the nation in receiving yards per game (131.8). Wheaton has six receiving touchdowns in the last four games and one rushing.
EXTRA POINTS 1. Oregon State defensive end Scott Crichton has eight of his team’s 14 sacks, which ranks No. 4 nationally, while Jordan Poyer has five interceptions for the Beavers, second-most in the nation.
2. Utah punter Sean Sellwood leads the country at 48.3 yards per punt.
3. Utah receiver Dres Anderson has been the team’s top target with 22 catches for 233 yards and two scores, while three of Kenneth Scott’s 10 receptions have gone for touchdowns.

MONEYLINE COVERS - I like Oregon State here -9.5

WASHINGTON AT ARIZONA

After defeating Stanford, Washington climbed into the Top 25 for the first time in three years. Back-to-back losses since, however, have not only knocked them out of the poll but into fifth place in the Pac-12 North Division. The Huskies have finally finished a brutal stretch of games where they face four ranked teams, three of which have national title hopes. How they'll respond the rest of the way beginning with Saturday's game at Arizona will define their season.

Arizona has lost three straight including a heartbreaker at Stanford last time out. The Wildcats led by 14 points in the fourth quarter only to lose the wild 54-48 affair in overtime. Coach Rich Rodriguez has certainly lit a fire in the Arizona offense. In his first season in the desert, the Wildcats average 37 points, but Rodriguez is still searching for his first Pac-12 victory.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: Arizona -7.5

ABOUT WASHINGTON (3-3, 1-2 Pac-12): For the most part, the Huskies were dominated by USC in their 24-14 loss last week. Washington, however, had a chance to make it a one-possession game in the fourth quarter but quarterback Keith Price was stripped inside the red zone once and later was responsible for two more turnovers to end the Huskies' upset hopes. Washington continues to have problems protecting Price. The offensive line has four first-year starters and they surrendered five sacks last week, leaving the junior skittish to stay in the pocket. The Huskies have won 11 of the past 17 games against Arizona, including a 42-31 victory last year at home as tailback Chris Polk scored five times.

ABOUT ARIZONA (3-3, 0-3): The Wildcats have also struggled playing three straight ranked opponents and four in its first six games. While pressuring Price is a priority, Arizona is ranked 107th in the nation in sacks. The Wildcats are first in the conference in passing offense but may look to pound the ball against Washington, which ranks last in the Pac-12 in run defense. Senior quarterback Matt Scott set Pac-12 records for pass attempts (69) and completions (45) in the loss at Stanford and the high-octane attack ran a record 109 offensive plays. The Wildcats are coming off their only open date this season and are 3-1 at home.

 EXTRA POINTS

1. Washington has turned the ball over nine times in its last two games. 

 2. The home team has won the past four meetings.

3. Washington has failed to score more than 21 points against an FBS school this season.

MONEYLINE COVERS - Like Washington here +7.5

PENN STATE AT IOWA

Iowa and Penn State bring identical 4-2 records and 2-0 Big Ten marks to this intra-divisional contest at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. The host Hawkeyes are tied for first place with Michigan in the Legends Division while Penn State is second to Ohio State (7-0, 3-0) at the top of the Leaders Division. The big difference is that the Hawkeyes are eligible to play in the Dec. 1 Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis while the Nittany Lions are ineligible for postseason play.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network  LINE: Iowa -3

ABOUT PENN STATE (4-2, 2-0 Big Ten): The Nittany Lions were idle last week after recording a 39-28 come-from-behind victory over Northwestern on Oct. 6, the team's fourth straight win. Penn State trailed by 11 points entering the fourth quarter before quarterback Matt McGloin engineered a pair of 80-plus yard drives and scored the go-ahead touchdown on a five-yard run with 2:37 remaining. The Nittany Lions' defense, led by senior linebackers Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges, is allowing only 16 points per game which ranks 15th nationally. Penn State has outscored the opposition 52-0 in the first quarter this season.

ABOUT IOWA (4-2, 2-0): The Hawkeyes have bounced back from a shocking home loss to Central Michigan to win back-to-back Big Ten games, including a 19-16 double overtime thriller at Michigan State last Saturday. That also was Kirk Ferentz's 100th victory at Iowa, making him the 12th Big Ten coach to reach that milestone. The Hawkeyes have done it with a strong defense led by junior linebacker Anthony Hitchens that is yielding only 317 yards and 17.2 points per game and has forced 10 turnovers in its last five games. Sophomore Mark Weisman, a walk-on who began his career at Air Force, has rushed for more than 100 yards in four straight games and scored eight touchdowns this season to lead an Iowa offense averaging 27 points in its last four games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Hitchens leads the NCAA with 78 tackles in six games, an average of 13 per game.

2. McGloin has had four straight 200-yard passing games and leads the Big Ten in passing with an average of 249.8 yards. He has thrown 12 touchdown passes and only two interceptions.

3. Weisman is questionable after spraining his right ankle while scoring a touchdown at Michigan State last week.

MONEYLINE COVERS - Going with Iowa here -3. I like Penn State against any mediocre team but I think Iowa is pretty good and they are at home. Like Iowa here!

Brigham Young at Notre Dame

Off to its first 6-0 start since 2002, Notre Dame is climbing the polls behind a defense that hasn’t allowed a touchdown in its last four games. One week before their much-anticipated game at Oklahoma, the No. 5 Fighting Irish host fellow independent Brigham Young, which faded in the fourth quarter last Saturday in a 42-24 loss to Oregon State. Notre Dame and BYU feature two of the top defensive teams in the nation, but the Irish have moved to another level in recent weeks. The Irish rank first in the nation in red zone defense, and have limited each of their past five opponents to less than 300 total yards. Notre Dame's fifth-ranked pass-efficiency defense could mean trouble for Cougars quarterback Riley Nelson, who threw three interceptions last week after sitting out the previous two games with a back injury.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC. LINE: Notre Dame -13.5

ABOUT BYU (4-3): BYU was allowing 8.8 points per game before Oregon State snapped the Cougars’ 12-game streak of holding opponents to less than 300 total yards by exploding for 42 points on 450 total yards and five touchdowns. Linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Brandon Ogletree lead the defense with 7.5 sacks and 57 tackles, respectively. On offense, 17-year old freshman Jamaal Williams has a team-high five rushing touchdowns, while wide receiver Cody Hoffman has caught a pass in 26 straight games, tied for the 10th-longest streak in the nation. Nelson received a vote of confidence from coach Bronco Mendenhall after last week’s game, but will need to improve on his 6-to-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

ABOUT NOTRE DAME (6-0): While the Irish defense has allowed only 8.6 points per game, their quarterback situation remains unsettled. Redshirt freshman Everett Golson sustained a concussion in last Saturday’s 20-13 overtime victory over Stanford, and will likely share time with Tommy Rees even if he’s cleared to play. Golson has shown flashes of brilliance this season, but is also responsible for all seven turnovers by the Irish. Tight end Tyler Eifert has 246 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 15 catches, while senior linebacker Manti Te'o has entered the Heisman Trophy race after recording a team-high 59 tackles and two fumble recoveries with three interceptions. Notre Dame has already forced 15 turnovers through its first six games after causing 14 all of last season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Irish are 146-46-2 in October games at Notre Dame Stadium.

2. BYU has outscored opponents 64-6 in the second quarter.

3. Notre Dame is 6-1 in its last seven games decided by a touchdown or less.

MONEYLINE COVERS - Going with Notre Dame here - 13 and feel quite good about it. This game is the game I feel the best about out of all the games this weekend. I am a way bigger fan of BYU than Notre Dame. But it is about picking the winner. Notre Dame -13.

Auburn at Vanderbilt

In the 41 all-time meetings between Auburn and Vanderbilt, the series is tied at 20-20-1. While the Tigers have won 13 of the past 14 meetings, this road game could prove difficult for an Auburn team off to its worst start since 1998. Vanderbilt’s tough pass defense, a group that ranks third in the SEC (148.2 yards per game), matches up well with Auburn’s lackluster offense, which ranks last in the conference in both total offense (287.5) and scoring (16.2). For the Tigers to earn their first conference win of the season, they’ll look to lean heavily on their ground game and exploit the Commodores’ porous rush defense, which ranks last in the SEC at 203.5 yards per game.

TV: 12:21 p.m. ET, SEC Network. LINE: Vanderbilt -7

ABOUT VANDERBILT (2-4, 1-3 SEC): The Commodores had some encouraging moments in last week’s 31-17 loss to Florida, namely the play of standout junior wideout Jordan Matthews. Quarterback Jordan Rodgers – who has 1,068 yards in the air, but just three touchdowns on the year -- looks to Matthews early and often, as the receiver is second in the SEC with 43 receptions and 617 yards. In addition to a busy day for Rodgers and Matthews in the passing game, tailback Zac Stacy, who enters the game with 99 carries and 499 yards on the season, will be featured heavily. Defensive stalwarts Kenny Ladler and Chase Garnham lead a Commodores defense that has allowed just 22.3 points per game this season.

ABOUT AUBURN (1-5, 0-4): The Tigers hope to hold a lead heading into the final frame, as they have been outscored 62-3 in the fourth quarter this season. In order to establish a lead, the Tigers will try to help their duo of struggling quarterbacks -- Kiehl Frazier, who has eight interceptions, and Clint Moseley -- with a strong commitment to the run. Emerging star sophomore tailback Tre Mason is averaging 5.1 yards per carry with three scores while versatile senior Onterio McCalebb is averaging 5.1 yards per carry with two touchdowns and is third-best in the SEC with 30.6 yards per kickoff return. The Tigers are converting just 29.9 percent of third-downs, so a big day from this duo could be crucial. Senior linebacker Daren Bates is the top tackler in the SEC and figures to be busy again Saturday.

EXTRA POINTS

1. For the first time in 16 seasons, Vanderbilt Stadium is sold out for the second straight conference home game.

2. Auburn has lost six consecutive SEC games and is 9-10 overall since winning the BCS title following the 2010 season.

3. The point total has gone under in four of Auburn's last six games.

MONEYLINE COVERS - I am going with Vandy here -6.5

Weekend Recap

Was a pretty good weekend. My picks were good. If New England Patriots would have won by more than 4 it would have been outstanding! I just make picks and post them here if I feel good about them. Rest assured I am just not making picks on any games just for kicks. I only bet games I have a gut feeling about. I will do a better job of making picks in advance of game day. Since I started this blog I have made my picks the night before the games. I will do better of getting them up earlier in the week. Of the four games I picked and posted, I was right on three. Hopefully I can earn your trust and we can make money together. It is nice finding someone you can trust. I found a guy a year or two ago who was making picks on youtube and I kept going to him each week because he was money. Some people just have a knack at picking games. Or some people are just more lucky. It is nice to find a source of help on picking games. But by all means never pay for picks. That is just stupid.

DENVER AT SAN DIEGO

It is only Week 6 in the NFL, but Monday night's game between the Denver Broncos and host San Diego Chargers should go a long way in determining the AFC West winner. With Oakland and Kansas City not expected to contend for the division title, San Diego has the opportunity to take a two-game lead on Denver, the defending AFC West champion and only other legitimate threat. The Chargers are 9-3 against the Broncos since quarterback Philip Rivers took the reins in 2007, while Denver quarterback Peyton Manning is 4-5 all-time against San Diego and has lost five of the last six meetings.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Chargers -1, O/U 49.5

ABOUT THE BRONCOS (2-3): Denver couldn't handle Tom Brady and the Patriots' hurry-up offense and lost at New England 31-21 last week. The Patriots recorded a team-record 35 first downs and kept the Broncos' defense on the field for 35:49, a trend which must be reversed if Denver expects to win. Another issue is wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who made nine receptions for a career-high 180 yards against the Patriots, but lost a fumble for the third straight week. Manning faces San Diego for the first time in a Denver uniform. He has performed admirably as a Bronco - except for the first quarter in Atlanta when he threw three interceptions - while appearing 100 percent healthy following neck surgeries which forced him to miss the entire 2011 season. Denver will face the NFL's No. 5 rushing defense, and needs Willis McGahee to repeat his 117-yard rushing performance in last season's win.

ABOUT THE CHARGERS (3-2): San Diego led 24-14 last week before previously winless New Orleans scored the game's final 17 points to deny the Chargers a second consecutive 4-1 start. Rivers has been sacked 14 times, tied for sixth-most in the NFL, and faces two of the league's top pass rushers in Denver's Von Miller (five sacks) and Elvis Dumervil (three). Running back Ryan Mathews is expected to regain his starting spot Monday despite not being on the field during the Chargers' final drive against the Saints. He had 80 yards rushing and 59 receiving against New Orleans. Mathews, who has shared time in the backfield with Jackie Battle and Ronnie Brown, must hang onto the ball: He has 10 fumbles (five lost) in 29 career games. The Broncos' minus-6 turnover differential could play right into the hands of an opportunistic Chargers' defense which has six interceptions and recovered four fumbles.

EXTRA POINTS

1. McGahee is the only RB to rush for more than 100 yards against the Chargers in their last 12 games.

2. Mathews has rushed for more than 100 yards in his three games against Denver (127.3 average) with three touchdowns.

3. Denver snapped a four-game losing streak to San Diego with a 16-13 victory in overtime in the second meeting last season. This will be the fourth encounter on Monday Night Football since 2007 - the Chargers won the last meeting 35-10 in 2010.

MONEYLINE COVERS - Going with San Diego here.