August 30, 2012

Travis L. Brown
PurpleMenace.com Editor

Did you wake up this morning with an extra spring in your step?

That's right, it's opening day and to celebrate the first day of the 2012 season, here is the first edition of PurpleMenace.com Pick 'Em.

Each week a panel of pickers will take a shot at predicting several of the week's top games. That panel will include the PM.com staff, a different PM.com subscriber and a special guest picker.

GUEST PICKER:

This week's guest picker is American Idol star and TCU '10 alumnus, Tim Halperin. After graduating with honors from the TCU Neeley School of Business, Halperin became one of the final 12 male singers in the 2011 edition of American Idol. Since his time in LA, Halperin has played with big named bands such as The Fray, Jason Derulo, All American Rejects, Lee Ann Womack and LeAnn Rimes. His debut album "Rise and Fall" reached No. 1 on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart.

He will open for Blake Shelton Sept 6 outside the new Amon Carter Stadium. Click his name below for more information on his website, www.timhalperin.com.

THE GAMES:

Take your mind off the fact TCU doesn't play this weekend by scouting out these four season openers: NC State vs. Tennessee at the Georgia Dome, Boise State at Michigan State, SMU at Baylor and Alabama vs. Michigan at Cowboys Stadium.

Check out the picks and give yours on Hell's Half Acre.

All rankings are from the USA Today Coaches Poll.

PM PICK 'EM	Tim Halperin Musician/American Idol Star/ TCU Alumn '10 @timhalperin	ThisIsOurTime This week's subscriber picker	Travis L. Brown PurpleMenace.com Editor/Senior Writer - Lee Corso stunt double @TLBrown_Rivals	Justin White PurpleMenace.com Assistant Editor @JustinWhiteTCU	Billy Wessels PurpleMenace.com Assistant Editor @BillyWessels
North Carolina State ?vs. ?Tennessee ?	Derek Dooley at Tennessee is on the hot seat and has put in more preparation so I'm going with Tennessee.	Vegas has Tennessee as a 3-point favorite despite going on the road.? I don't know enough about either team to make an educated opinion so I will side with Vegas on this one.	NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND! I'm going buck the SEC bandwagon and go for the "underdog" conference.	Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray is healthy again after missing time last season. SEC over ACC in this one.	Tyler Bray is possibly the best QB in the potent SEC and NC State was very middle of the road in pass defense a year ago.
(22) Boise St. ?@ ?(13)Michigan St.	I think Boise State's magic is going to run out this time. Losing Kellen Moore is huge... I don't think they're going to pull it off this time.	This would normally be an easy pick of Boise State but they lost Kellen Moore and a few top defensive linemen from last year.? Vegas has Michigan State as a 7 point favorite but I just can't cheer for Michigan State at the expense of Boise.? So Boise is my upset pick.? I expect to see some Coach Peterson trick plays in this game that may decide the game.	Boise State will still be well coached, but won't have nearly the same athletes this season. All Sparty in this game at home.	?Boise State starts life without Kellen Moore. I don't see it starting off well against Sparty.	No Kellen Moore no more Blue Power. Michigan State is going to roll in this one.
SMU ?@ Baylor	I think it will depend on who prays more. There is a big question mark for Baylor at QB, but Florence stepped up when he had the chance last year.	This game is at Baylor where Vegas has the Bears as a 10 ? point favorite.? I suspect it will take a while for Gilbert to settle in with the SMU offense so give Baylor the nod in a game that could become a shootout.?	Both teams have huge questions heading into the season, but I think Gilbert will be scary good in the run and shoot. Baylor beat TCU to start 2011 and will lose to SMU to start 2012.	The Mustangs could have a good offense this year. Baylor's defense is already hurting and their's no RGIII to save the day.	Both of these schools have talented offenses despite losing their quarterbacks. But I'll take Nick Florence's supporting cast over Garrett Gilbert's.
(2)Alabama ?vs. ?(8)Michigan ?	Saban seems to be really worried about Michigan and specifically about Denard Robinson at QB and I really do think Michigan will pose a serious? threat.	This game is at Jerry World but I don't think it matters where the game is played.? Alabama takes a step back from last year's team but Vegas still sees them as 13 ? point favorites.? Michigan should also be an improved team but this seems to be too much to ask of them.? Bama wins and it could end up a blowout.	Flipping back onto the SEC bandwagon (oops!). Alabama might have lost a lot from last year's team, but 'Bama's defense will be fine against Michigan's offense, even with Shoelace. Defense rolls for the Tide.	Strictly because it's hard for me to pick against Nick Saban.	The head says Bama, but the heart says "Shoelaces." I think Denard Robinson proves he is an elite talent and shocks the Tide.