Waiting for 'Upset Week'

You think it's been easy to Beat Burger the last few weeks? From the looks of the list of winners, some of you seem to have it all figured out.

Well, it always seems easier to pick games in the first few weeks of the season. For one thing, there are a lot of mismatches, bigger schools playing smaller schools. And, as the games play out, it gives everybody a chance to see what's what and who's who.

So far, I've been 34-6 over the first four weeks of the college football season, so how hard can it be?

Last week I was 8-2 and still got beat by 16 percent of the players (approximately 250 of 1,500).

And we haven't even had the big upset week yet. You know, that one week of the season when everything goes haywire. When a slew of top-ranked teams are suddenly upset victims for whatever reason.

Looks like it may have started with Thursday night's upset of No. 1 Southern Cal by Oregon State (27-21).

Is this a sign of things to come this weekend? Will there be others?

Maybe. Maybe not. If things do get crazy, I hope you're on the right side of the craziness.

The picks

ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM at SOUTH CAROLINA —Tempting isn't it? UAB is supposed to be way down this year and the Gamecocks are struggling to find an offense. Looks like Chris Smelley will start at QB for USC, but freshman Stephen Garcia might finish. Still, it's the defense that wins for USC with a shutout. SOUTH CAROLINA by 24.

MARYLAND at CLEMSON — This is a dangerous conference game for Tommy Bowden's Tigers. The Terps are just good enough to win if Clemson has a bad day. That inexperienced offensive line could be trouble. The Tigers need to win to prove they are for real. CLEMSON by 18.

WESTERN CAROLINA at THE CITADEL — The Catamounts have a new coach and a new philosophy. Last week's win over Princeton, however, has the Bulldogs believing in themselves. THE CITADEL by 16.

NORTH GREENVILLE at CHARLESTON SOUTHERN — If you're looking for a line on this game, good luck. Just assume that Jay Mills and his CSU Bucs are better. Or better be. CHARLESTON SOUTHERN by 14.

MISSISSIPPI at FLORIDA — There are a lot of great games in the SEC each week, but this won't be one of them. Gators munch on the boys from Oxford. FLORIDA by 31.

NORTH CAROLINA at MIAMI — Both of these ACC programs are trying to scratch their way out of mediocrity. Miami might be ahead in that race. MIAMI by 8.

VIRGINIA at DUKE — What has the world come to when Duke is favored over Virginia? Goodbye Al Groh. DUKE by 6.

TENNESSEE at AUBURN — Can the Volunteers really be that bad? This is one of those interesting games we were talking about. Upset Special Of The Week: TENNESSEE by 9.

ALABAMA at GEORGIA — Mark Richt's Bulldogs haven't looked that good yet, but their offense is better than Alabama's. GEORGIA by 7.

VIRGINIA TECH at NEBRASKA — The Cornhuskers are favored by a touchdown, but I think the Hokies have more speed. Let's take a chance. VIRGINIA TECH by 3.

Reach Ken Burger at kburger@postandcourier.com.