Football Picks for 9/15 Separation Saturday

Now for something I am excited about, my big game picks for NCAA Football's Separation Saturday:

LSU-Auburn- This one is almost too close to call and is for the SEC West title most likely (same as UT-Florida in the SEC East); as much as Kandi will hate this, LSU won at home last year and Auburn will return the favor this year on the Plains. Auburn has played the better schedule of these two teams and has won more resoundingly with ridiculous defensive play and good enough turnover-free offense...PK John Vaughn gets redemption from his 1-6 debacle last year and wins it for Auburn with a FG late in the 4th. ...20-14 Auburn.

Miami-Louisville- The Cards are almost unstoppable at Papa John's, and even with the loss of Michael Bush, they are the better team...more firepower on offense and they have something to prove, and this will start the slide of Miami as a program out of the uber-elite for a few years. The Cards win a close one at home and set up a showdown against West Virginia later this year with title implications. ...31-21 Louisville.

Michigan-Notre Dame- Michigan was not that impressive in a win over Vandy and the Irish looked great thrashing a rebuilding Penn St. program. Notre Dame gets this one at home, has a superior coach, the better QB, and a defense that loves to hit and force turnovers. I think Michigan becomes the South Carolina of the Big Ten with a loss here, and it will happen. ...Irish 31-17.

USC-Nebraska- USC has too much firepower and speed. Nebraska's quality running game and big hitting D keeps it close early, but USC pulls away at the end by keeping Nebraska QB Zac Taylor from having time to throw...38-17 Trojans.

Tennessee-Florida- This is for the SEC East crown, with the winner going on to greater things and the loser in a lot of trouble. That goes double for FL, with the hardest schedule in America, they lose here, they are looking at 6-5 or worse. UT wins here, 10-2 and a BCS game isn't unreasonable, they lose, it's 8-4 and playing in the 3rd week of December. UT has played far better opponents than the Gators so far, and the Air Force scare helped prepare them for a misdirection spread offense and will help them stay grounded. Erik Ainge will do to the Gators' secondary what Chris Leak did to the Vols' seconday two years ago...shred it. With the lift of DT Justin Harrell playing his last game in as a Volunteer as a captain despite a season-ending injury last week providing the emotional lift, the Vols take a squeaker as their passing game, better tackling, and improved special teams barely beats Florida's great run game and speedy wideouts. ...Vols win, Vols win! UT-23, Gators-21.

(Sunday-NFL) Titans vs. Chargers- This one could get ugly in an awful hurry. I see LaDainian Tomlinson gashing the Titans for about 200 yards, and if Philip Rivers simply manages the game, the Bolts win by 2 TDs...Chargers got to 2-0 and win big, 31-13.