College football picks
Notre Dame’s offense needs to wake up against Air Force Notre Dame’s offense needs to wake up. If not, the Fighting Irish might run out of luck when they visit No. 18 Air Force on Saturday night.
In a matchup of teams that are 6-0, the Falcons seem to have the clear advantage. They lead the nation in rushing and score more than 40 points a game. Notre Dame has the fifth-worst offense and averages barely 23 points.
New coach Tyrone Willingham has the Irish off to their best start in nine years, but his West Coast offense is still sputtering. And don’t think his defense doesn’t know it.
“Every game the defense goes out and our mentality is to win the game by ourselves,” safety Gerome Sapp said this week. “We don’t want the offense to have to win any games. We realize the offense is going to handle their business when they need to, so in every game we put the game on our shoulders and say, ‘We have to win it.”‘
So far, it’s been a charmed season for Notre Dame. Just last week, the Irish were outgained 402 yards to 185 but still beat Pittsburgh 14-6 thanks to a defense that produced eight sacks and three turnovers.
Air Force, meanwhile, has no problem scoring with its triple-threat option led by quarterback Chance Harridge. The Falcons ran for 386 yards and routed BYU 52-9 last week, scoring TDs on their first four drives.
Harridge produces 102.5 of Air Force’s 339.2 yards rushing per game, and the quarterback has more touchdowns (15) than Notre Dame’s offense (11).
The last two games between Air Force and Notre Dame went to overtime: The Irish won 34-31 in 2000, and the Falcons won 20-17 in ’96.
“We plan on going into this game and having to play our best game of the season,” Sapp said.
They’ll need it.
The picks:
No. 9 Iowa State (plus 9) at No. 2 Oklahoma: Heisman-defining game for Cyclones QB Wallace? … OKLAHOMA, 28-24.
Rutgers (plus 42) at No. 3 Virginia Tech: Hokies won last two meetings by combined 99-0 … VIRGINIA TECH, 49-0.
No. 4 Ohio State (minus 7) at Wisconsin: Buckeyes can pass, too … OHIO STATE, 31-21.
Vanderbilt (plus 26) at No. 5 Georgia: After two close calls, ‘Dawgs get a breather … GEORGIA, 34-14.
Arizona State (plus 101/2) at No. 6 Oregon: Ducks find way to stop pass rush of DE Terrell Suggs … OREGON, 42-28.
No. 7 Notre Dame (plus 3) at No. 18 Air Force: Falcons have an offense, Irish don’t … AIR FORCE, 31-18.
No. 8 Texas (plus 2) at No. 17 Kansas State: Horns’ coach Brown is 0-2 vs. K-State … KANSAS STATE, 31-28.
No. 11 Michigan (minus 31/2) at Purdue: Wolverines due for downer … PURDUE, 28-27.
Duke (plus 241/2) at No. 13 North Carolina: With win No. 8, Wolfpack match best start ever … NC STATE, 42-7.
South Carolina (no line) at No. 14 LSU: Tigers have nation’s No. 1 defense … LSU, 24-10.
No. 15 Iowa (minus 121/2) at Indiana: Hoosiers posted their upset last week … IOWA, 31-17.
No. 22 Washington (plus 8) at No. 19 USC: Best defense wins … USC, 34-31.
Northwestern (plus 25) at No. 20 Penn State: Bad calls shouldn’t affect outcome in this one … PENN STATE, 38-20.
No. 21 Mississippi (plus 11) at No. 24 Alabama: Rebels looking for first 3-0 league mark since 1970 … ALABAMA, 27-21.
Baylor (plus 28) at No. 23 Colorado: Buffs still Big 12 threat if RB Brown keeps chugging … COLORADO, 45-10.
Western Michigan (plus 15) at No. 25 Bowling Green: Sixth straight win gives Falcons best start since ’85 … BOWLING GREEN, 35-7.
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Last week: 11-9 (straight); 14-6 (vs. points)
Season: 105-34 (straight); 76-54 (vs. points)