So I’m sitting in the press box last Saturday at Carter-Finley, kicking myself for not picking State over Virginia. I thought State had a chance, and I knew Virginia was a team that could be had, but I just couldn’t pull the trigger on the pick. That is the only blemish on my 5-1 week.

I hate it that this football season is going so fast. This is my favorite time of the year. I love a football Saturday in the fall. When I was younger, I was a huge basketball guy, and I still love to go out and shoot in the back yard, but basketball season has become somewhat tedious to me. I like it, but I don’t love it like I used to. I’ll write about it sometimes when there’s nothing else to do.

But onward to another week of college football predictions! Here we go.

N.C. State at Miami

I believe that N.C. State can win this game, but do I have the guts to pick the Pack? We all know Miami is not the Miami we all knew and probably didn’t love. The crowd shouldn’t be much of a factor. Going to the run-down, soon-to-be-abandoned Orange Bowl is no big deal. Shouldn’t be a great atmosphere, and won’t State’s Florida kids big ready for this one.

State has really turned things around. Daniel Evans is getting protection, and he’s been pin-point right on in the past two games. Jamelle Eugene has given them the semblance of a running game. Defensively, the Pack has gone after the quarterback and gotten him, and the tackling has really improved.

Miami’s defense is good and they are quick, but offensively the Canes are no great shakes, and quarterback Kyle Wright is slowed by several injuries.

The Hurricanes are coming off an open date with a 5-3 record. State at 3-5 is really thinking bowl game. Win this one and who knows what’s in store.

Sounds like I want to take State doesn’t it? I don’t have the guts though. I may regret this come Saturday about 3:30, but I still need some Wolfpack convincing.

And has Miami fallen so far that they can’t beat a 3-5, albeit improving, State team at home, even if that home is dilapidated? I’m not ready to say they can’t. I still see those helmets with the U and think of what was, even though I know that what is now is pretty pedestrian.

Still, my pick is Miami

Maryland at North Carolina

The Terps have been pretty beat up in falling to 4-4, while Carolina is coming off the terrible effort at Wake Forest. Coming off their open date, I was expecting better, but Carolina just couldn’t play with Wake Forest. But, I think that at home, against a so-so team that has some injuries, the Tar Heels will play better. Carolina’s actually favored coming into this game.

Mistakes killed Carolina in Winston-Salem. They’ll play better this week, and UNC does have that big play potential.

This is huge for both, but I’m going to roll the dice on the Tar Heels at home.

My pick is Carolina.

Wake Forest at Virginia

After dropping their first two games of the season, the Deacons have peeled off six straight wins. They are again in the thick of the ACC race. Wake Forest doesn’t dazzle you. They just seem to win.

Love watching Josh Adams. The Cary product was a stable of Football Friday a few years ago, and he’s beginning to turn it on for the Deacons. Riley Skinner takes care of the ball, and the Deacons’ special teams just annihilated Carolina. Wake’s defense is very underrated, but they do just what they have to do to win. It just seems that Wake Forest under Jim Grobe knows how to win.

Virginia’s seven-game win streak came to an end last week at State. The Cavaliers had been lucky all season, and that luck ran out. I was very much surprised at how State was able to move the ball on Virginia’s defense and how State’s offensive line protected.

I believe Wake Forest is on a roll while Virginia has lost its rabbit’s foot.

It will be close.

My pick is Wake Forest.

East Carolina at Memphis

Memphis, Marshall and Tulane are all that stand in the way of an East Carolina trip to the Conference USA championship game. These three teams are a combined 7 and 17. Just a short trip down the yellow brick road, and the Pirates will be hosting that title game. They desperately want to do this.

The toughest of these games will be Saturday at Memphis. Both have just one loss in the conference. ECU got a huge break when Central Florida beat Southern Mississippi, who had the tiebreaker with ECU.

East Carolina, I believe is too good to lose any of their remaining games. They want the conference championship, and they will get their chance.

My pick is ECU.

LSU at Alabama

Ah, the Nick Saban bowl. Alabama loves him. LSU hates of him. The Tiger fans just don’t like their former coach who led them to a national title. They don’t like the way he left them for Miami and the way he left the Dolphins for bitter rival Alabama.

LSU has circled this date for months. But it won’t be easy. Saban’s a heck of a coach, he has 6-2 Alabama playing well and this game is in Tuscaloosa.

LSU is the favorite. They have as much talent of any team in the country, much of it recruited by Saban. Les Miles, though, hasn’t lost many since he took over for Saban, going 29-5, But those five losses have all been big. The Tigers have yet to win the SEC.

LSU is good. So is Alabama. LSU has plenty of incentive, as does Alabama playing at home.

LSU is the favorite going in. I’m going the opposite way.

My pick is Alabama.

Navy at Notre Dame

Navy hasn’t beaten Notre Dame since 1963, back when the great Roger Staubach was winning the Heisman trophy. That is 44 years. Heck, Navy hasn’t forced a Notre Dame punt since 2004.

Navy can run the ball, while Notre Dame can’t stop the run. But Navy also can’t beat Delaware at home.

Meanwhile, this Notre Dame team has sent the echo’s cheering her name back to sleep. They just aren’t very good, bless their hearts. These Irish can’t fight their way out of a paper bag.

Yes, this is a bad Notre Dame team, but they can’t lose at home to Navy can they? Can they?

I really would like to pick Navy, but can’t do it. It would be fun, but I am trying to get these things right.

My pick is Notre Dame.

This a pretty tough week. No easy games here.

For the season, I’m 34 right and 20 wrong.

Relish this fall Saturday. Not many more are left.