Commentary:
-It is the annual "To Hell With Georgia" week.
To Hell with Georgia, Every Day Every Week.
-Okay there are a bunch of rivalry games this week. This is it for a lot of teams. It all builds up here.
-BCS armageddon is nearly upon us. This is what happens when you let pollsters decide who plays. The hype from on big four-letter entity pushes matchups every week, and the masses fall for it. This isn't to say that LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas are bad teams, they could beat anyone in America. But I think there's a lot of hype from people that benefit from said hype, and the rest of us need to pay attention to it.
-To Hell with Georgia. The Cesspool of the South!
Cheering For:
-Everyone. Yes, a slight cop-out on this, but this week is the best reason to be a college football fan.
Feeling Sorry for:
-FAU: Still winless. Still hope though. UAB visits this week.
Laughing at:
-Penn State: They really don't have a clue do they? Post-it notes won't hide the shame.
-The Big East: still struggling to act like you matter. Take away the BCS Autobid and this conference is nothing. Five teams have a chance to win it still (two teams with 4-2 conference records, three with 3-2). Sadly some team will get a $13 million paycheck.
-Clemson: For pulling two clemsons in the season after starting 8-0.
Top 25: In my system, no matter how bad the strength of schedule is, an undefeated is going to be above a team with a loss, any loss.
1) LSU
2) Houston
3) Alabama
4) Arkansas
5) Stanford
6) Virginia Tech
7) Boise State
8) Oregon
9) Oklahoma State
10) Georgia
11) Kansas State
12) Penn State
13) South Carolina
14) Tulsa
15) Michigan State
16) USC
17) Michigan
18) Wisconsin
19) Arkansas State
20) TCU
21) Clemson
22) Oklahoma
23) Baylor
24) Louisiana-Lafayette
25) Notre Dame
Just left out: Nebraska, Georgia Tech
The picks: Yes, 21 picks this week. Can't let some of these rivalry games slip by, even if the outcome is pretty much known in advance.
-Lone Star Showdown; Texas at Texas A&M: This is it. The last time these two play for quite some time. Both teams come in limping a bit, Texas has lost two in a row and A&M has lost three of four (but won last week against Kansas). The Texas A&M offense is a beauty, the Texas defense is a bit better. Look for Texas to send the Aggies out of the conference with a loss. Texas by 7.
-Iowa at Nebraska: This might not get a rivalry link yet, but it will soon enough with the addition of Nebraska to the Big Ten. Nebraska got embarrassed last week at Michigan, Iowa got embarrassed by Michigan State two weeks ago. This could go either way really, and I think that Nebraska's defense will tighten up at home. Nebraska by 4.
-Houston at Tulsa: I rarely dream about college football. My subconcious usually tortures me with memories of past mistakes rather than future endeavors. I dreamed once about the BYU vs Oklahoma game in Dallas to start the 2009 season, in my dream BYU won late. In real life BYU pulled the upset with a late score. I dreamed that Tulsa upset Houston at home. Tulsa is a tough team here. They may be 8-3 but the losses were to Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Boise State. Those three teams have a combined four losses (and two of those came last weekend!). I'm going with it, Tulsa wins by 7.
-Golden Boot; Arkansas at LSU: Does Arkansas really control its destiny? It is hard for me to wrap my mind around it, but it is true! The hogs have won 3 of the past 4 with LSU, including LSU's BCS National Championship year in 2007. If anyone can beat LSU, it would be Arkansas. I don't see it happening this year. LSU's defense will simply stuff Arkansas and then the offense will outscore the hogs. LSU opened up the season by beating #3 Oregon. It'll finish the regular season by beating #3 Arkansas. LSU by 10.
-Backyard Brawl; Pittsburgh at West Virginia: With West Virginia off to the Big 12 next year (legal battle ensuing) this might be it for the two teams for awhile just like Texas and Texas A&M. West Virginia has had the stronger season here, and will win this game. It should be fun to watch though! WVU by 7.
-Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate; Georgia at Georgia Tech: I have so much invested emotionally in this game year in and year out that I'm to the point where I can't even watch it. I'll probably have it up on the radio but that may be it. I'd love to see the Jackets win this by a score of 52-7, but that won't happen. My biggest hope is that UGA is looking ahead to next week and plays like it. Mark Richt knows how important this game is. UGA's defense is playing well enough to slow down the Jackets' offense, not stop it, but slow it down. Tech's defense might as well not even be on the field. I expect a fair amount of offense in this game, with UGA pulling away late. UGA by 10.
-The Game; Ohio State at Michigan: Alright Michigan it's time to take this one. Ohio State is down, not for long, but down for now. The rumors are there that Urban Meyer will be the next head coach for the Buckeyes and he simply does not lose to his rivals (at Florida Meyer was undefeated against Tennessee, had one loss to UGA and FSU in six years). Brady Hoke should win some awards at the end of the year for the job he's done at Michigan in year one! This was a school that had a great offense and no defense last year. He's taken roughly the same players and made them good on both sides this year. That being said, Ohio State isn't bad this year. Luke Fickell has the team playing well despite a two-game losing streak. Ohio State's streak in the series is seven in a row, Michigan needs to end it here, end it now. I don't pick against streaks. Ohio State by 4.
-Battle for the Barrel; Tennessee at Kentucky: Most people forget that the series between Kentucky and Tennessee is just as lopsided as the series between Tennessee and Vanderbilt. 26 in a row for Tennessee, 28 of the past 29. Ouch. I guess it's time to go "kick the $#!^" out of Kentucky too, right Dooley? Tennessee needs the win to be bowl eligible, expect it to happen. Tennessee by 6.
-Iron Bowl; Alabama at Auburn: "War Amn Eagle!" Auburn has no D. Okay I lifted that from CollegeFootballNews.com, but it's still funny and true. Alabama should have no issues winning this one. Two years ago Auburn came in the big underdog and gave Alabama a run for their money. It could happen this year, but the result will be Alabama winning by 7.
-Old Oaken Bucket; Purdue at Indiana: Indiana is having a miserable year, they've not even sniffed a win against anyone in nearly two months. Their only win was against FCS South Carolina State. Purdue needs the win for bowl eligibility, expect it to happen. Purdue by 14.
-Victory Bell; Duke at North Carolina: Duke has fallen short of expectations, even some sane ones at the start of the year. Three wins matches last year's win total and for a team with that much experience returning, this was disappointing. North Carolina has had a season to forget, on the field play wasn't too bad but it was the off-field problems that doomed this team. Still, North Carolina has the talent to just roll over Duke here. UNC by 10.
-Commonwealth Cup; Virginia Tech at Virginia: This has actually turned into a play-in for the conference title game. Whoever wins will be in Charlotte next week. Virginia Tech is vulnerable but has won eight in a row and that will turn into nine. VT by 3.
-Penn State at Wisconsin: The winner here will represent the Leaders division in Indianapolis next week. Penn State pulled an impressive victory against Ohio State on the road last week, but it won't matter here. Wisconsin can lose on the road, but not at home. Wisconsin by 10.
-Border War; Missouri vs Kansas in Kansas City, MO: Another series that is being lost to conference realignment. Missouri is vulnerable but Kansas is just miserable. Missouri comes up with a win here by 20.
-Civil War; Oregon State at Oregon: If Oregon wins they play in the first PAC 12 Championship Game. A loss sends Stanford to it instead. Oregon State is not a good team at all. While Oregon isn't perfect they are much better and should win this one easily. Oregon by 17.
-Florida-Florida State rivalry; Florida State at Florida: Florida is having a season to forget, Florida State has fallen short of expectations. All of Florida's five losses have come against ranked teams, at least at the time that Florida played them. FSU is unranked after a loss to Virginia. While it would be easy to predict an FSU win, this is SEC vs ACC and we all know how that goes. Florida wins at home by 4.
-Egg Bowl; Ole Miss at Mississippi State: Ole Miss has really given up on this season. Head Coach Houston Nutt is gone after this, the Rebels have nine losses already. Mississippi State needs the win for bowl eligibility and nothing Ole Miss can do will stop that. Mississippi State by 10.
-Apple Cup; Washington State at Washington: Washington is turning into a pretty good team under head coach Steve Sarkisian. Paul Wulff at Washington State just can't seem to get it going. This is a game where that will show up. Washington by 17.
-Carolina-Clemson rivalry; Clemson at South Carolina: Both teams come into this game wounded. South Carolina has been decimated by injuries and suspensions. Clemson just can't seem to catch a break late in the season. South Carolina's defense is still strong and will control this game. Clemson will keep it interesting, but won't be able to pull ahead. South Carolina by 7.
-Legends Trophy; Notre Dame at Stanford: Notre Dame is a pretty good team despite some setbacks in three tough losses. Stanford will push Notre Dame into more setbacks this week. Notre Dame is bad on turnovers, Stanford will force three of them and make the Irish pay for each. Stanford by 14.
-Crosstown Showdown; UCLA at USC: If UCLA wins this game the Bruins will play in the first PAC 12 Championship Game. To be fair, one of the big reasons that is true is because USC is on probation and can't go. Otherwise the Trojans would be going with a win here. USC is much, much stronger than UCLA overall and will show you just how much in this game, the final of the season for the Trojans. USC by 21.
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