Thursday games:

Cincinnati at North Carolina State (-2) - Cincinnati is still adjusting to the loss of Brian Kelly to Notre Dame and it shows. But they had an easy game against Indiana State last weekend and North Carolina State was dragging after holding off Central Florida. Tom O’Brien is not one to be embarrassed on national television though and will have his team ready. If the defense can hold down the Bearcat offense (a likely scenario) and give the Wolfpack offense a short bar to hurdle, things should swing NC State’s way. Take the Pack and lay the two.

Saturday games:

Georgia Tech at North Carolina (-1.5) - North Carolina has had an extra week to lick their wounds after falling short in their miraculous comeback bid against LSU without most of the team. Shaun Draughn returns for the Heels this week, and they will need him. Look for everyone to be up to speed and ready to stop the vicious running attack of Paul Johnson’s Yellow Jackets. This game is basically a pick. Take the home Heels.

Maryland at West Virginia (-10) - Maryland may be 2-0 but they are two yards away from being 1-1 after the miracle against Navy (Is it sad that every game that teams in the ACC are winning are either against patsies or miracles? I digress). Ricky Dobbs might have been easy to stop as the main option for the Middies, but Noel Devine is a different matter. West Virginia is still the class of the Big East, and Maryland isn’t close to that in the ACC. Is a three touchdown win for the Mountaineers out of the question? Not in my mind. West Virginia covers.

East Carolina at Virginia Tech (-19.5) - Given the way things have gone for the Hokies, it is hard to believe that Tyrod Taylor and company can manage to beat anyone. A let down after the way they lost to Boise State was understandable, but the loss to James Madison could be really harmful for the Hokies. Not even the normally staunch defense is looking well for VaTech. East Carolina puts up a lot of yards and points. You have to go with the Pirates in this one with almost a three touchdown pad.

BYU at Florida State (-9.5) - Pay special attention to this game. This is the type of scheduling that the Cougars will have to do going forward when they become independent. This could be a true statement game for them in more than the traditional sense. This one could say “We can compete against the best every time out.” Forget for a moment that both teams are coming off embarrassing losses, BYU’s coming in conference. This should be a great football game, period. BYU rebounds for a closer than expected loss and establish some credibility on the national stage. Take the Cougars with the points.

Alabama at Duke (+24) - Duke, meet Trent Richardson. He has run for 210 yards this season, can catch passes out of the backfield and is looking like a Heisman candidate. He can bench press over 400 pounds. The good news for you is that he will likely only play half the game. The bad news is next. Duke, meet Mark Ingram. He won the Heisman Trophy last season and has some catching up to do in that race after missing the first two weeks. The Blue Devils can’t stop anyone. If Alabama doesn’t cover this one more than just me will be shocked.

Clemson at Auburn (-7) - An ACC crossover against an SEC school? Do we even need to talk about this? Of course we do. For all that has been wrong with the Auburn defense during the opening two weeks of the season, stopping the run hasn’t been an issue. Clemson may have two explosive backs in Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper, but against the Tiger defense, the fuse will lose its spark. Cam Newton and Auburn will take this one and cover.

Wake Forest at Stanford (-17) - Congratulations Deacons. You had two weeks to get get comfortable. Now travel all the way out West and face the team that should win the Pac-10 this year. Good luck with that, especially with freshman Tanner Price getting his first collegiate start. Stanford’s defense should have a field day in this one. The Cardinal covers the big number.

Lazy Saturday: Boston College, Miami, Virginia