Let’s see the picks…

Michigan State (15) at Notre Dame
Mike Fay: Michigan State – I live 20 minutes from downtown South Bend and I work in broadcasting. Point being, the Fighting Irish are a mess and can’t be trusted. Even at home, I pick against them until they prove me wrong.

AJ: Michigan State – This is a no brainer. Notre Dame simply looked pathetic in their first two games this season and Michigan State has “the Situation” on their sideline. Michigan St. 34-Notre Dame 17.

Mike W: Michigan State – The Irish are likely still reeling from their collapse at the hands of Michigan, and Michigan State knows they have to win to keep pace in the Big 10. The Spartans are the superior team, so they’ll take it.

Jeremy Heneghan: Michigan State – Notre Dame’s turnover problems will cost them this game.

Russ Blatt: Michigan State – Notre Dame had a “great” ending last week to their game and I think Michigan State is a better team.

Eugene Tierney: Notre Dame – Can the Irish bounce back from last weekend? I think so, but that could be because I’m a life-long Irish fan.

NOVARaven086: Notre Dame – Coach Kelly finally whips a team that is a 2-0 team without turnovers into shape.

valo35: Michigan State – Michigan State is just flat out a better football team than Notre Dame, and possibly the best football team in the Big 10.

Oklahoma (1) at Florida State (5)
Mike Fay: Florida St – Oklahoma walloped the Seminoles pretty bad last year. But last year was last year. And this year, Oklahoma is the one traveling. I’ll take Florida St and EJ Manuel.

AJ: Oklahoma – This will be a tight game. The odds makers in Vegas have Oklahoma winning by three and so do I, Oklahoma 24-Florida St. 21.

Mike W: Oklahoma – Oklahoma has a powerful offense and their eyes set on a National title this year. Though it’s on the road, the Sooners have had two weeks to get ready and will be ready for the test. FSU is the ACC’s best team, but I just don’t think the ACC measures up to the Big 12.

Jeremy Heneghan: Oklahoma – This isn’t the old Gators any more.

Russ Blatt: Florida State – Who knows, a couple of years ago the top teams got picked off one by one, let it start with Oklahoma

Eugene Tierney: Oklahoma – This Sooner team looks much better than the one Mizzou beat last year. I don’t see many teams having a shot with them this year.

NOVARaven086: Oklahoma – #1 Sooners have no reason to worry about the Seminoles. The #5 for FSU makes a whole lot more sense than for Florida, though. State’s a good team but Oklahima’s the number 1 team in America for a reason.

valo35: Florida State – The Florida Gators will play Tennessee this weekend, and have earned their number 16 ranking. That said, I’m going to take Florida State in the upset. They have a very athletic defense, weapons all over the field, and the most underrated runningback in the country. The quarterback has enough experience to have a good day. I think Florida State takes this matchup.

Ohio State (17) at Miami FL
Mike Fay: Ohio State – Ladies and gentleman, it’s the Rule Infraction Bowl sponsored by Buckeye Tats and Nevin’s Street Walkers! This will be beautiful television if Ohio State lets Miami hang around. But I don’t see it.

AJ: Ohio State – Miami have some players back from suspension now and are looking to make up some ground in the ACC. Ohio St. won their first two games and will be looking to continue with a win over Miami. I think Ohio State thumps them. Ohio St. 42- Miami 21.

Mike W: Ohio State – It’s a matchup between everybody’s favorite degenerate football programs!! The Hurricanes are a mess right now, whereas OSU has responded to a killer scandal with remarkable poise. The Buckeyes are more focused, and they’ll take this one.

Jeremy Heneghan: Ohio State – No comment.

Russ Blatt: Ohio State – The battle of the illegals….Ohio State has less illegal players than Miami….they win!

(I pick so scientifically in college.)

Eugene Tierney: Miami – I’m really not a fan of either program, but I’m going with the team that I dispise a little less. I don’t think Ohio State should have started the season ranked after losing their head coach, having starters suspended, and watching their QB walk away.

NOVARaven086: Miami – Upset special. THE Ohio State runs into an emotional, hungry Miami squad at home.

valo35: Ohio State – Ohio State struggled with Toledo, but I think this week the young players get up to play, and win an incredibly close game. I think the Miami inability to tackle in space will be the key to this game.

Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans
Mike Fay: Baltimore Ravens – This one may be a no-brainer. The Ravens have a balanced offense and a stiff D (sup ladies). The Titans lost to Jeremy Heneghan’s Jags. Ravens. By a lot.

AJ: Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens are coming off of a beautifully orchestrated domination win over the Steelers. The Titans are coming off of a loss to the dismal Jacksonville Jaguars (who is their quarterback?) Ravens 24-Titans 10.

Mike W: Baltimore Ravens – The Titans lost to Luke McCown last week, and the Ravens destroyed a Pittsburgh team many picked to make the Super Bowl. That’s one reason. Also, Chris Johnson is clearly not up to speed, which will make Matt Hasselbeck’s life a nightmare. The Ravens seem out for blood this season, so they won’t let this game get away from them.

Jeremy Heneghan: Baltimore Ravens – Ravens ran over Steelers last week, Titans struggled against Jaguars.

Russ Blatt: Baltimore Ravens – I see the Ravens rolling on. This may be a blowout.

Eugene Tierney: Baltimore Ravens – Baltimore has to be one of the early favorites for the Super Bowl. They look like a complete team; much moreso than the Titans.

NOVARaven086: Baltimore Ravens – plain and simple: Baltimore looked like one of the league’s best teams, Tennessee looked like one of it’s worst. I dont expect that to change this week.

valo35: Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens just clicked last week, have a load of weapons on offense, and defensively I think can get pressure on the Titans quarterbacks all day long. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them take Hasselback out of this game.

Houston Texas at Miami Dolphins
Mike Fay: Houston Texans – The Texans defense looked a lot better than Miami’s last week. Granted, Houston was playing against an 84 year old QB and Miami was playing against Tom F. Brady. Chad Henne looked pretty good, but I’m still not sold on Reggie Bush as a featured back. I’ll take Houston in a close one.

AJ: Miami Dolphins – This will be an interesting game. I’m sure the Texans are just giddy about dismantling their division rivals in week one. The Dolphins should be happy about holding their own against the Pats’ offensive juggernaut. I think the Dolphins win this one but it should be close. Dolphins 17-Texans 13.

Mike W: Miami Dolphins – This is my bold pick of the week. I fully expect to regret it. But it’s worth noting that Miami was just yards away from pulling within a score of New England in the fourth quarter last Monday. Their offense looked decent and their defense will be better without Brady’s no huddle dragging them up and down the field. The Texans are still hungover from thrashing Indy, so I think they’ll blow this game.

Jeremy Heneghan: Houston Texans – Arian Foster practicing, Texans have improved pass defense over last year.

Russ Blatt: Houston Texans – Houston put up 34 on Indy. I think they can do it to Miami also.

Eugene Tierney: Houston Texans – The Texans put on a clinic against Indy last week, and that was without Arian Foster. I expect it to be an even bigger blow out.

NOVARaven086: Houston Texans – An improved defense and a pass rush far superior to New England leads the Texans to victory. Oh yeah, and Huston’s got that Andre Johnson guy, he’s pretty good.

valo35: Miami Dolphins – I think the Dolphins figure out this week how to get pressure on the quarterback, the offense has no real problems moving the ball, and the Dolphins take the win.

San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots
Mike Fay: New England Patriots – As a Patriots fan, this one scares me a little bit. New England’s front 7 had decent pressure on Henne last week, but they were terrible when he scrambled. And to say that the secondary is a work in progress would be an understatement. Any team with Philip Rivers is dangerous and I’m just waiting for Ryan Mathews to have that break-out game. I could definitely see the Chargers stealing one, but the Boston in me won’t pick against my boys. Pats in a thriller. I’m also going to do whatever Tom Brady says and get nice and sauced for this affair.

AJ: New England Patriots – The Chargers beat a Minnesota team that had 39 passing yards and only beat them by 7. That’s a bit scary. If the bolts can keep the Patriots to 39 passing yards they will win the game and it will also be a chilly day in hell. Patriots 37-Chargers 27.

Mike W: New England Patriots – This game could go either way. It should be a great matchup. Rivers could carve up New England’s defense, but it’s tough to ignore that the Chargers nearly lost last week even though they only allowed 187 yards. The Patriots should at least double that. Their home field advantage and their superior coaching will help as well.

Jeremy Heneghan: New England Patriots – special teams still “special” for Chargers, Pats offense “WOW”…good thing I’m not playing on the team.

Russ Blatt: New England Patriots – I need to see proof that last week for New England was just because they were playing Miami.

Eugene Tierney: New England Patriots – Tom Brady threw for over 500 yards last week. How can he top that? No clue, but Brady is one of the few that could. The Chargers will also put up some offense, but I can’t see them getting the “W”.

NOVARaven086: San Diego Chargers – I need the Patriots to prove to me that they can stop anything at all. Playing a real NFL quarterback – sorry Chad Henne – doesn’t help matters much. If New England can exploit San Diego’s glaring Special Teams issues, this could easily go the other way.

valo35: New England Patriots – The Patriots offense is just unstoppable, and the special teams is damn good. I see this being a high scoring game, with both quarterbacks putting up big days, but in the end the Patriots win as Tom Brady is the best quarterback in football currently playing.

St. Louis Rams at New York Giants – Eugene vs Russ
Mike Fay: St. Louis Rams – This is a tricky one. As bad as the Rams receiving core looked last week, I could probably suit up as a defensive back for New York and it wouldn’t be much of a downgrade. If everything was even and this was week 1, I’d say the Rams are a better football team, but St. Louis had 5 of it’s starters get banged up last week. On the other hand, Rex Grossman lit NY up last week. I’ll reluctantly take STL by default.

AJ: New York Giants – If it weren’t for all of the Rams’ injuries I would pick them in a heartbeat. The Giants are a pathetic team. The Giants’ have a lot of injuries on defense, an inept offense, and were dominated by (my) Washington Redskins. This is a tough pick but I think it will be too hard for the Rams to overcome losing their running back and top wide receiver (oh also their quarterback is hurt.) Giants 14-Rams 10.

Mike W: St. Louis Rams – Both teams have been roughed up by injuries, but I think the Rams will bounce back this week, even on the road. Bradford will no doubt play well against the Giants’ destroyed secondary, and New York’s offense–which looked listless last week–will struggle to compete.

Jeremy Heneghan: New York Giants – Giants bounce back, Rams injuries hold them back.

Russ Blatt: New York Giants – One, I have to pick my team to win. Two, the Rams had a ton of injuries…wait so have the Giants. hell, I pick Big Blue anyway!

Eugene Tierney: St. Louis Rams – Call me a homer. Sure, they have injuries; sure, they have inexperienced receivers. I think Sam Bradford will be throwing a lot and he’ll challenge the Giant’s secondary. He’ll end up on his back a couple of times, but he’ll pull it out.

NOVARaven086: St. Louis Rams – I’ll say this. IF Mike Sims-Walker – the guy who, with the loss of Danny Amendola looks like the only legitimate wide receiver on the team – can put up 100 yards, they’ll win. If not, they won’t. That being said, with the Giants’ holey secondary I’m betting he does.

valo35: New York Giants – The Giants defensive line will be able to get pressure all day long against the Rams offensive line, Bradford never finds a groove, and the Giants win.

Next Week
More teams and the first week standings. Be sure to check back.