Just an exhibition this week. Don't want to break any laws or anything.

No time to expound on my thoughts, as usual. Here are my favorite picks, anyway.

NCAA

1. OHIO STATE (-14) over Michigan State

Looks like the wheels are coming off for the Spartans. Ohio State continues to roll along.

2. TEXAS A&M (+2) over Missiouri

It's starting to look like a last stand for Coach Fran. The Aggies are desperate to turn things around this week. As a home underdog, I have to take them.

3. BAYLOR (+28) vs. Texas

Texas is coming off a big win over the Sooners. They are due for a bit of a letdown, enough that Baylor keeps this closer than four touchdowns. Baylor started off 2-0 in the Big Twelve, which just doesn't happen. The Bears are the tomato can they used to be, and are one of the best kept secrets in the old southwest.

NFL

1. BENGALS (-5.5) at Tampa Bay

The Bengals are coming off a week of rest, while the Bucs are still winless. I see Rudi Johnson running it down Tampa's throat, with Palmer finishing off the drives with touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Tampa rookie quarterback will throw a couple of picks to the opportunistic Cinci defense.

2. CAROLINA (+3) at Baltimore

The Panthers are a traditionally good underdog to play. Baltimore will be playing on a short week. Monday night may linger a little too long with them. The Panthers need this win and don't have far to travel for this road game.

3. CHICAGO (-10.5) at Arizona

The Bears are just whacking everybody these days. Their defense against a rookie quarterback is bad enough, but it looks like Fitzgerald won't be in the lineup, either. Edgerrin is lobbying for more carries, but with the Chicago defense coming to town, it might not be the right week to institute that policy. I don't know how they are doing it, but that Bears offense looks unstoppable this year. Certainly, the Cardinals defense won't but shutting them down.

4. ATLANTA (-3) over NY Giants

The Falcons are at home and coming off a bye. This is a tossup game on a neutral field, but those are the two factors leading me to make this pick. Eli Manning will have to deal with a ferocious Falcons pass rush all day, which should slow down the Giants offense somewhat. The big question is whether the Falcons running game can ram it down the Giants' collective throat. New York's defense had trouble early this season, but that was mostly against the pass. They looked good last week; but once again, that was against the Redskins.

Oops.

I was looking at the site and noticed my previous post had a word left out. So I edited it. I made these picks at 11:00 today, not a minute ago. Talking to my brother-in-law while we're watching the game and just wasn't thinking.

But what does it matter, since it's all an exhibition at this point.

When Baylor was up 10-0 early in the second quarter, I thought I was a genius. As it was, they nearly came through on the 28-point spread.

Oh well, I'll take 2-1 heading into the pros. I have to look back, but that's the first college game I've missed for the better part of a month. I probably should have stopped picking the NFL and only picked NCAA weeks ago.

Ive got to go with the Ravens and Giants.

McNair going out of the game early kind of tosses the calculations out of the window. Liking my chances a lot better now, though.

Yeah, the Bucs have are rated somewhere between 28th and 30th in rushing defense this year (I can't remember exactly where). So, of course, Rudi Johnson, one of the most consistent runners in the league, is 3 carries for 7 yards in the first half. Go figure.

The Bucs D is hanging tough, but their offense is just helpless.