Football Picks Sept 6

I'm off to my typical good start this season at 7-2.
It's almost time for the big game of the week. I've got a lot to say about this one, but first...

#3 Boise State vs. #10 Virginia Tech

I haven't been able to watch much ESPN the last few days - mostly because I've been recording a lot of music lately - and also because I got tired of listening to the college football "experts" crushing over Boise State. There comes a point in every relationship where your boyish (or girlish) crush crosses over into obsessive stalking. That's about where the sports media is with Boise State right now. The problem is that Boise State is less head cheerleader and more of a fruit of the ugly-tree kind of girl.

But since ESPN (or anybody else discussing this match-up, for that matter) hasn't bothered to give Va Tech (who may not be the head cheerleader, but is definitely on the squad) any attention, here are some counter-points to the media's unhealthy obsession:

• Boise State is ranked #3 in the AP (media) poll while Va Tech is #10... but in the coaches poll (ie the people who actually have to play these teams - or not, but I'll get to that in a minute) They're rankes #5 and #6 respectively. 
• Boise is ranked so high because of their undefeated season last year. But if you look at their schedule from last season it's an even bigger joke than their schedule this year. Va Tech is the only big opponent in either. And Boise's big bowl game last year was against a TCU team who had a schedule just as weak as their own.
• Va Tech, on the other hand, played more Top 25 teams last year than Boise has between last year and this year. (*NOTE* I'm going on the final ranking for last season)
• The actual game is so close to home for Va Tech they might as well be playing in Blacksburg.
• There's no ludicrous blue field in DC.
• Va Tech is used to playing in big games early in the season. Something very few teams can honestly say.
• Nobody ever says "Boise-Ball"... they do say "Beamer-Ball"