ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Who's going to win? Keep reading.

Iowa 27, Northwestern 17: Both teams tend to start slow, so expect a close game for most of the way. Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka plays and does some good things in the second and third quarters, but Iowa once again takes control in the fourth, when it has dominated and Northwestern has struggled this season. Both defenses are improved and the Wildcats always save their best for Iowa, but the Hawkeyes prevail behind Ricky Stanzi and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos.

Wisconsin 28, Indiana 16: I don't know how much the Hoosiers have left in the tank after back-to-back crushing defeats. Plus, Wisconsin has totally dominated Indiana under head coach Bret Bielema and seems to be getting better on defense as the season goes along. The Hoosiers' standout wide receivers make plays early, but running back John Clay and the Wisconsin defense led by O'Brien Schofield and Chris Borland blossom in the second half.

Michigan State 31, Western Michigan 10: It's an absolute must-win for Mark Dantonio's team, and they will be prepared to play. Quarterback Kirk Cousins picks apart the Broncos secondary as wide receiver Blair White and Keshawn Martin turn in big performances. Michigan State's defense keeps Tim Hiller in check and keeps its bowl hopes alive heading into a crucial game at Purdue.

Minnesota 30, Illinois 24: Both offenses got some much needed confidence last week and will continue to make plays early in this one. Adam Weber turns in another good performance and finds tight end Nick Tow-Arnett for two touchdown passes. Illinois runs the ball well with backs Mikel LeShoure and Jason Ford, but Minnesota's defense clamps down in the red zone as the Gophers become bowl-eligible.

Michigan 37, Purdue 31: I'm hesitant to pick the Wolverines, but they're in a must-win game against a Purdue team that totally imploded last week. Plus, running back Brandon Minor is getting healthier, and he can change the game. Both offenses make plays, but Minor and teammate Carlos Brown lead a potent rushing attack that proves to be the difference as the Wolverines get bowl-eligible.

Penn State 21, Ohio State 17: Expect a defensive struggle early as two of the nation's premier units take the field in Happy Valley. The game closely resembles the Iowa-Michigan State clash, as defense rules until the final 10 minutes, when both offenses come alive. Quarterbacks Daryll Clark and Terrelle Pryor both make plays, but Clark's leadership in a more cohesive Nittany Lions offense proves to be the difference.

Week 9 record: 4-2

Season record: 49-19 (.721)

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

Hubris. It will bite you ever time.

I got a little too cocky about my 17-0, four-week run last week, and then I crashed and burned to a 2-2 record (though I was just 22 seconds away from a respectable 3-1 mark). I'm taking a more modest approach this week to the light slate of three games.

Cincinnati 34, Connecticut 17: The Huskies have been impossible to blow out this year, with their four losses coming by a total of 13 points. Cincinnati is winning by an average margin of nearly 26 points. So something's got to give. I lean toward the Bearcats' dominance, especially at home and given Zach Frazer's erratic play at quarterback for UConn.

Pittsburgh 31, Syracuse 14: Pitt has had a week off to heal and get ready, while Syracuse has had all kinds of turmoil this week with the Mike Williams situation, suspensions and fan debate over Greg Paulus. That's not a good combination in the Orange's favor, especially on the road. Pitt wins big and turns its attention to its crucial three-game finishing stretch.

West Virginia 35, Louisville 10: Hey, remember when this used to be the league's hottest rivalry? Steve Kragthorpe's teams have actually played pretty well against the Mountaineers the past two years, but West Virginia is steaming mad after the loss at South Florida. Louisville will pay the price. The Cardinals' spotty offense won't be good enough to keep up in Morgantown.

Last week: 2-2

Season: 42-8 (84 percent)

Posted by ESPN.com’s Graham Watson

I can’t believe it’s Week 10. Where does the time go? We’re getting down to crunch time for a lot of teams that are still trying to get six wins for bowl eligibility. Of the 54 nonautomatic qualifying schools, just 11 have six or more wins. It’s time for a lot of teams to step it up.

I’m 65-27 after going 7-3 last week. I only have one real upset this week, though I’m holding out hope for Navy, which is why I picked against the Mids.

Virginia Tech 27, East Carolina 20: Neither one of these teams have really lived to the hype they came into the season with, but this is still an intriguing game because of ECU’s upset a year ago. However, the Pirates haven’t shown that same magic this season against some of the better opponents they’ve played.

Boise State 44, Louisiana Tech 10: Louisiana Tech is one of the most beaten-up teams in the WAC right now, and if top players Phillip Livas and Daniel Porter don’t play, this could get ugly in a hurry. This game might be close early, but the Bulldogs don’t have the horses to stay with the Broncos.

UAB 38, Florida Atlantic 21: I’d like to say the Owls will rally around new starting quarterback Jeff VanCamp, but I don’t see it happening. The Owls have had multiple opportunities to turn their season around and for some reason things haven’t clicked consistently. FAU is going to have a tough time controlling UAB quarterback Joe Webb.

BYU 31, Wyoming 23: There’s no telling what BYU’s mindset will be after its loss to TCU a couple of weeks ago, but Wyoming will be fired up to try to exploit any hangover that could be remaining. Unfortunately for Wyoming, it doesn't have the talent BYU has, which will pull the Cougars through in the end.

Notre Dame 34, Navy 14: I think I have to pick against Navy. While it didn’t work last week, I'm blaming it on the double jinx with Temple wanting me to pick against it, too. This week, maybe the Mids will pull the upset. But it won’t be easy with Michael Floyd returning to the Notre Dame lineup. I’m eager to see what quarterback Ricky Dobbs can do after two weeks on the shelf.

Air Force 41, Army 13: The Commander-in-Chief Trophy games are always fun, but Army hasn’t been especially competitive in many of them of late. This is a much better Army team than the one that has shown up the past decade or so, but the Falcons have been playing well and are a game away from bowl eligibility.

TCU 28, San Diego State 10: This could easily be a trap game for the Frogs if they start looking ahead to next week’s key game against Utah. San Diego State has been playing well and will be motivated to stop TCU’s run. It is important to note that TCU held San Diego State to just 98 yards of total offense last season.

Houston 41, Tulsa 30: Tulsa is going to be eager to avenge last year’s 70-30 shellacking, but the Golden Hurricane are coming off a couple of bad loses to UTEP and SMU. Houston, behind quarterback Case Keenum, has started to turn it on the past couple of weeks and he should be able to do even more damage against the Golden Hurricane’s porous defense.

Utah 45, New Mexico 22: The Jordan Wynn legend begins at home against a winless team. Wynn showed some of what he can do against Wyoming last week and should be a little more settled into his role this week. New Mexico has been able to do little this season, and even though Utah defense hasn’t been spectacular, it should be able to control the Lobos.

Idaho 33, Fresno State 30: This is the upset special of the week. Idaho’s come-from-behind win over Louisiana Tech got the Vandals believing again. Yes, Ryan Mathews will probably run for 200-plus yards, but Idaho’s offense will put some major pressure on the Bulldogs' defense, and this game will be an entertaining shootout.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

After last week, I have the opportunity to savor a rare perfect week.

And is it ever rewarding.

And the best part, I finally got on the right side of Texas A&M after struggling with picking incorrectly on the Aggies the previous four weeks.

But as Mike Sherman’s team watches fight films the night before games and receives carabiners a few days before they upset teams, their confidence is growing.

Even for me.

Here’s a look at this week’s games. Hopefully, another 6-0 week is in store this time around, too.

Texas 45, UCF 7: This rare November nonconference game shouldn’t be that much of a challenge for the Longhorns, although George O’Leary’s team is feisty on defense and will make the Longhorns sweat as they try to run the ball. But with Colt McCoy and Co. in the passing game, that shouldn’t be a concern as Texas should be able to pass at will. And the Texas defense should harass UCF quarterback Brett Hodges throughout the game.

Kansas State 28, Kansas 24: Bill Snyder improbably brings his Wildcats into the Sunflower Showdown in first place in the North Division. Even in a loss at Oklahoma, the Wildcats showed pluckiness as they were competitive despite falling into an early 21-0 hole. But Snyder always seems to get up for the Jayhawks, whom he beat 12 of the last 13 times before his sabbatical. Kansas arrives mired in a three-game losing streak. And with Mark Mangino’s team reeling after the surprise benching of Todd Reesing, along with a sputtering offense, don’t be surprised if the Wildcats claim an upset in this one. Kansas State must dominate time of possession and win special teams with a key play or two from Brandon Banks in order to win the game.

Texas A&M 38, Colorado 27: The Aggies have traditionally struggled in Boulder, but arrive with a lot of confidence after their two-game winning streak. With Jerrod Johnson, Jeff Fuller, Uzoma Nwachukwu and an emerging running game, A&M looks like the same kind of team that has troubled Colorado all season long. And the defense is appearing to make progress after a strong effort last week against Iowa State. Colorado will have trouble matching those weapons.

Missouri 34, Baylor 14: Two teams going in different directions will meet at Faurot Field. The Tigers still have legitimate hopes for a North Division title if they can sweep the rest of their games -- an amazing statement considering their 0-3 start. Baylor’s bowl hopes were derailed as soon as Robert Griffin hurt his knee against Northwestern State. Missouri will have a healthy Blaine Gabbert, an improved running game and a developing pass rush. Baylor will be challenged to contain any of those huge Missouri advantages.

Oklahoma State 33, Iowa State 27: It will be interesting to see how Mike Gundy’s team rebounds after the turnover-filled loss to Texas last week. And the Cowboys will be tested by an Iowa State team that has all of its weapons healthy with Austen Arnaud returning to the lineup after missing two games with a bruised hand. The Cyclones need only one victory for bowl eligibility, but it will be tough to get against the Cowboys. Look for Zac Robinson to bounce back after his struggling game against Texas as the Cowboys should be able to exploit an Iowa State secondary that has allowed 18 touchdown passes this season.

Oklahoma 21, Nebraska 17: It will seem just like old days when Oklahoma and Nebraska meet and the defenses for both teams will be their key strengths. The team that wins will be the one that gets the best play out of their quarterback. Landry Jones leads all freshmen with 17 touchdown passes and has an expanding receiving corps with a bevy of playmakers. It still won’t be easy against a Nebraska defense that has limited its last seven opponents to 280 yards or less. But the Cornhuskers don’t have the offensive firepower -- particularly with top rushing threat Roy Helu Jr. struggling with a bad shoulder -- to keep up with the Sooners.

Last week: 6-0, 100 percent

Season total: 56-18, 75.7 percent

Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich

Last week was all about redemption. North Carolina got it. Florida State got it. I got it. It was one of my better weeks, having picked six of the seven games in Week 9 correctly. My one error? The Hokies on Thursday night. So it goes. For the season I’ve picked 69 percent of the games right. Let’s see if this week doesn’t help give me a boost into the postseason. I need to get to a bowl game ...

NC State 31, Maryland 17: The Terps have had a bye week to prepare for this game, so there should be signs of improvement and they can keep it close early. Russell Wilson will be too much for this struggling defense to overcome in the second half, though, and the Wolfpack will pull away for their first conference win of the season.

North Carolina 24, Duke 21 (OT): FSU quarterback Christian Ponder exposed weaknesses in North Carolina’s pass defense, and Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis will, too. He’ll get his yards and put up impressive numbers, but the Tar Heels will keep the Blue Devils out of the end zone when it matters most.

Miami 41, Virginia 10: This should be a name-your-score kind of game. The Canes got their wake-up call last week against Wake Forest and should put forth a more complete, disciplined effort at home. Miami has stressed defensive improvement this week, but Virginia has been inept on offense this year and should make the Canes look good.

East Carolina 21, Virginia Tech 20: Here’s your upset special of the week. The Hokies are down after back-to-back losses to Georgia Tech and North Carolina, and Ryan Williams thought the world was coming to an end after his fumble. ECU on the other hand is leading Conference USA and coming off of back-to-back wins. Plus, the Pirates have home-field advantage and confidence from last year’s win over the Hokies.

Georgia Tech 31, Wake Forest 10: Even if I knew Riley Skinner were playing in this game (which I don’t), I’d still pick the Jackets to win, but I tried to pick a score that would fit with or without Skinner and it was hard to do. If Skinner’s in, I think they’ll score more points considering how inconsistent the Jackets’ defense has played. Regardless, Paul Johnson will wear out the Deacs’ defense and that will be the difference no matter who is starting at quarterback for Wake.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Got a bit of a run going here. A 4-0 week makes me 39-14 for the year. But you're only as good as your last weekend of picks, and the full slate of games on Saturday feels tricky.

Oregon 40, Stanford 28: Guess here is Stanford makes this one tough well into the third quarter but, eventually, the Ducks' offensive tempo will wear down the Cardinal.

Oregon State 27, California 24: Went back and forth on this one. Three things swing the pick to the Beavers: 1. The Rodgers brothers; 2. The Beavers always turn it on this time of the year; 3. It might be best if I go with the opposite impulse when I feel a certain way about Cal (All week I've felt certain the Bears are on the brink of a big surge).

USC 38, Arizona State 13: Naturally, much of the nation read things wrong from the USC-Oregon game. That one was about how good Oregon is, not how bad USC is. The Trojans are a top-10 team, and they will begin their climb back with a strong showing in Tempe.

UCLA 24, Washington 21: Got a feeling UCLA still has some gas left in the tank. And Huskies quarterback Jake Locker playing with a deep bruise in his thigh is worrisome for a team that can't win without him.

Arizona 42, Washington State 13: The only issue here is whether the Wildcats will be flat coming off a bye, knowing the heavy hitters are coming up over the next four games. Can the Cougars muster some more fight for another long road trip?

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

No more bragging for me. The best prognosticators don’t talk about it. They just do it.

After last week’s 4-3 record, I’d say I’ve learned my lesson. I think even my ACC colleague, Heather Dinich, fared better than I did last week.

Obviously, I’ve got to get it in gear. My record for the season slipped to 55-13 (.808). Anything less than an .800 record would subject me to a half-game suspension (no, I didn’t attempt to gouge Dinich’s eyes) and having to watch another entire game where Tennessee dons those hideous black and orange uniforms.

There’s been talk of auctioning off those black jerseys. Here’s a better idea: Burn them.

Black and orange go together about as well Lane Kiffin and Urban Meyer at a Lil Wayne concert.

Now, on to this week’s SEC picks:

Auburn 45, Furman 13: Once a powerhouse (back when Bobby Johnson was running the show), Furman has fallen on some hard times this season. The Paladins have lost three of their last four games and given up a total of 90 points in their last two games to Appalachian State and The Citadel. The Tigers won’t score 50 in this one, but they’ll get close. This is also a chance for Ben Tate to make a big move in the race for the SEC rushing title.

Ole Miss 48, Northern Arizona: 7: Yes, this is the second FCS team the Rebels have faced this season. And, yes, there’s no excuse for that. When you look at their nonconference schedule, it ranks up there with some of the worst in recent SEC history. The Rebels should at least get a chance to play some younger players in this game, though, and rest up guys like Dexter McCluster heading into the home stretch.

Georgia 41, Tennessee Tech 6: There’s no truth to the rumor that the Bulldogs are going to break out those black helmets for a second straight week. After what happened in Jacksonville, you have to wonder if you’ll ever see them again. Georgia coach Mark Richt received the dreaded vote of confidence this week from his athletic director. The entire Georgia team could use some confidence ... and a few more wins.

Kentucky 40, Eastern Kentucky 14: What next for the Wildcats? They lost their starting quarterback, haven’t had All-America cornerback Trevard Lindley for the last four games and have been dealing with the flu this week. They’re coming off a bitter 31-24 home loss to Mississippi State that had coach Rich Brooks questioning his team’s focus. They still need two more wins to become bowl eligible, but that number should be whittled to one come Saturday evening.

Tennessee 31, Memphis 10: It’s always exciting when Bruce Pearl and John Calipari go at it. My bad, wrong sport. Plus, Cal has traded his Memphis blue for Kentucky blue. The Vols are going to be blue if they don’t win this one in a runaway. They’re playing their best football of the season right now and want to go into that Ole Miss game next week on a roll.

Florida 38, Vanderbilt 7: The Gators got it going offensively last week in their 41-17 win over Georgia, and Tim Tebow responded with two touchdowns passing and two touchdowns rushing. It was just like old times. Unfortunately, the same goes for the Commodores, who’ve been anemic offensively. Senior quarterback Mackenzi Adams will step in for the injured Larry Smith the rest of the way.

Arkansas 35, South Carolina 31: Both offenses should be able to move the ball, especially with South Carolina missing a couple of starters on defense, including standout defensive end Cliff Matthews. The Hogs have been hard to stop offensively all season at home. They’ve scored at least 41 points in all four games. They won’t get 40 in this game, but they’ll get enough to move within one game of being bowl eligible.

Alabama 20, LSU 14: With the way these two defenses are playing, one touchdown and a field goal might be enough. It’s hard to envision either offense taking the ball and consistently driving it against the other defense. So the team that can hit a few big plays and also get it done on the offensive line during key situations is the team that will emerge. Between them, Mark Ingram and Julio Jones will make just enough plays for a rested Alabama team to remain unbeaten and punch its ticket to Atlanta.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

Both the Irish and I had an easy go of things last week against Washington State, a massive underdog. In fact, I nearly nailed the actual score and had the right margin of victory.

Could Notre Dame notch a relatively comfortable victory for the second straight week? Let's peer into the crystal ball:

Notre Dame 31, Navy 19: The Irish have won 44 of the past 45 meetings against the Midshipmen, but of course that lone Navy victory came in 2007. Notre Dame barely held on last year in this game as well.

Stopping the triple-option is never easy, and quarterback Ricky Dobbs will be back after missing most of Navy's last two games. But even though the Midshipmen are statistically much better than Notre Dame on defense and have what Charlie Weis calls their best defense in a long time, I don't see them containing the explosive Irish offense. Especially with Michael Floyd back, if even in a limited role, Notre Dame has far too many athletes and will break this one open in the second half.

Last week's pick: Notre Dame 42, Washington State 16.

Actual score: Notre Dame 40, Washington State 14.

Season record: 7-1