Bob's Picks - Cal, Stanford face ACC play at sites 3,000 miles away

Will Bay Area schools long for the good old days in the Pac -12?

Presuming UC Davis and Sacramento State don't both join the Pac-12 before Saturday, there are a number of interesting games across the country this weekend.

Which is not to mention what has befallen poor Portland State, which had to cancel last Saturday's home game with South Dakota because 10 PSU team members came down with whooping cough.  A quick check of the record book shows this is the first time in history that a college football game has been cancelled due to whooping cough, though a number of grade-school games have been cancelled because of this sometimes serious malady.

No word yet if Portland State will make Saturday's game at Boise State, where a big paycheck awaits the Vikings for showing up and playing.

The Aggies are scheduled to play at Portland State on Oct. 5, most likely with Covid masks pulled over their helmets.

This week's picks are as follows:

(All of last week’s picks are available here)

FLORIDA STATE over CALIFORNIA ... The Golden Bears open ACC play with a 3-0 record against an 0-3 Florida State team that is in total disarray and wondering if the whole team can get into the transfer portal mid-season.

WASHINGTON STATE over SAN JOSE STATE ... The Cougars are now the pride of the Pac-2 after stuffing Washington in the Apple Cup. Yes, Washington, which played in the national championship game last season. Watch out for Wazzu. The Boys from the Palouse might just go 12-0 and earn a playoff bid. At least that's what they're thinking in Pullman.

USC over MICHIGAN ... Another disappointing showing for the Wolverines in the Big House. The Harbaugh-less troops simply don't have the confidence they showed in last year's national championship run.

NOTRE DAME over MIAMI (Ohio) ... The Fighting Irish administered the worst defeat in Purdue's proud history, causing Pope Francis to call for a Mercy Rule after things got out of hand.

LSU over UCLA ... Just how bad are the Bruins this fall? We're about to find out.

WASHINGTON over NORTHWESTERN ... These are not last year's Huskies by any stretch of the imagination, but they should have enough juice to stop the wily Wildcats.

UTAH over OKLAHOMA STATE ... The best game on the Saturday schedule. The Utes are favored to take it all in their first season in the Big 12. We shall see.

TEXAS A&M over BOWLING GREEN ... Everyone loves to go bowling.

OREGON STATE over PURDUE ... How do you recover from a 66-7 home loss to your archrival? Well, you go on the road and lose again.

UPSET OF THE WEEK: Oklahoma over Tennessee ... They expect nothing less than national championships in Norman every fall, but it's been a while. (Upset record: 2-1).

ROUT OF THE WEEK: Texas over Louisiana-Monroe ... The Longhorns are loaded. (Rout record: 3-0).

DON'T BET ON IT, BUT: Syracuse over Stanford ... Welcome to the ACC, Troy Taylor. (Don't bet record: 2-1).

FIVE EASY PICKS: Put all your chips on the table for Penn State (over Kent State), Ohio State (over Marshall), Missouri (over Vanderbilt), Ole Miss (over Georgia Southern) and Indiana (over Charlotte). (FEP record: 15-0).

AGGIES over UTAH TECH ... There's no such thing as an "easy" game at this level. but of UCD's first four opponents, this one is the least likely to upset the Aggie applecart.

The Aggies were in great form in winning at rugged Southern Utah, but their best days are still ahead. Take the Ags by 24.

OTHER GAMES: Clemson over North Carolina State, Florida over Mississippi State, Tulane over Louisiana, Kentucky over Ohio, Iowa State over Arkansas State, Northern Illinois over Buffalo, Pittsburgh over Youngstown State, Memphis over Navy, UTSA over Houston Christian, Duke over Middle Tennessee, Colorado State over Texas-El Paso, Miami (Fla.) over South Florida, Troy over Florida A&M, South Carolina over Akron, Fresno State over New Mexico, Kansas State over Brigham Young, Maryland over Villanova, North Dakota State over Towson, North Dakota over San Diego, South Dakota over Drake, Montana over Western Carolina, Montana State over Mercyhurst, South Dakota State over Southeast Louisiana, Weber State over Northwestern State, Nevada over Eastern Washington, Sacramento State over Texas A&M-Commerce, Boise State over Portland State, and Idaho over Abilene Christian.

Last week: 47-4, season: 164-14, percentage: .921.