LAST WEEK: 10-4
LOCK OF THE WEEK: 2-0
MARQUIS MATCHUP OF THE WEEK: 1-1
Special Thursday Night Game
THE LINE
CINCINNATI...............2 1/2...............at SOUTH FLORIDA
EXTRA POINTS: Both teams come into Thursday nights game ranked and undefeated. Bearcats QB Tony Pike is a leading Heisman candidate. The Cincinnati front will have to contain the South Florida pass rush. This should be a very close game and field position will be key. I like Cincinnati to win it on a last second field goal.
PREDICTION: Cincinnati 31-South Florida 30
Saturday Games
THE LINE
At AIR FORCE...............10 1/2...............WYOMING
EXTRA POINTS: I like the ground attack of Air Force to control time of possession but I think Wyoming can stay in the game with quarterback Austyn Carter-Samuels throwing ability. If the weather is as bad as last week, the Cowboys will have difficulties. I'm banking on a close game with Air Force winning by a touchdown.
PREDICTION: Air Force 34-Wyoming 27
At ARIZONA...............5...............STANFORD
EXTRA POINTS: Stanford suffered a humbling loss at Oregon St. last week. They bounce back against a struggling Arizona team. The Arizona defense is tough to run on but I like Toby Gerhart to rush for 100 hards and freshman QB Andrew Luck to have a big game.
PREDICTON: Stanford 23-Arizona 17
GEORGIA...............8...............at VANDERBILT
EXTRA POINTS: A must win for the Bulldogs. Georgia got embarrassed last week at Tennessee. This week they turn the tables on Vanderbilt.
PREDICTION: Georgia 38-Vanderbilt 20
MIAMI, FL...............14...............at CENTRAL FLORIDA
EXTRA POINTS: The Canes' should roll. Jacory Harris should add to his aerial stats and the Miami defense will stifle the Golden Knights offense. An easy non-conference win for the Canes'.
PREDICTION: Miami, FL. 36-Central Florida 16
At T.C.U...............22...............COLORADO ST.
EXTRA POINTS: Colorado St. won for me last week and although they will lose to the 9th ranked Horned Frogs, they will keep it close for the first half. T.C.U. might be looking ahead to next weeks meeting with B.Y.U.
PREDICTION: T.C.U. 30-Colorado St. 17
LOCK OF THE WEEK
At NEBRASKA..........10...............TEXAS TECH
EXTRA POINTS: The Texas Tech pass happy offense will still generate yards but not points. Nebraskas pass rush will force multiple turnovers and the Nebraska offense, although not potent will do enough to win this one for the Huskers'.
PREDICTION: Nebraska 30-Texas Tech 17
UTAH...............16................at U.N.L.V.
EXTRA POINTS: The Utes should roll in this one. Utah quarterback Terrence Cain is coming off his finest performance of the year and the porous Rebel defense will make it easy. Utah is making a push for another Mountain West Conference title. U.N.L.V. is looking toward next season.
PREDICTION: Utah 43-U.N.L.V. 20
MARQUIS MATCHUP OF THE WEEK
TEXAS...............3...............OKLAHOMA (neutral field)
EXTRA POINTS: The Longhorns have not put together a full 4 quarters. That starts Saturday. The Sooners defense will keep it close for a half, then the Longhorn stampede begins. This game is the season for Oklahoma, they just don't have enough to stay with Texas. Colt McCoy to finally play like a Heisman winner and make a statement. Look for the Longhorn defense to harass Sam Bradford and put the shackles on the Sooners running backs. Texas is one of the three best teams in the country and at games end, Oklahoma will be limp back to Norman, OK licking their wounds.
PREDICTION: Texas 33-Oklahoma 17
At ALABAMA...............17...............SOUTH CAROLINA
EXTRA POINTS: Now I'm not predicting a Tide loss but the way both defenses are capable of playing, look for a defensive struggle with limited points. In the End, Bama' will remain undefeated but this one will test them against an underated South Carolina squad.
PREDICTION: Alabama 20-South Carolina 13
At AUBURN...............13 1/2...............KENTUCKY
EXTRA POINTS: Interesting to see how Auburn will respond to their first loss of the season. Just what the doctor ordered as Kentucky comes calling. Tiger QB Chris Todd should find his rythym and RB Ben Tate could have a big day running the ball.
PREDICTION: Auburn 43-Kentucky 24
At ARIZONA ST...............6 1/2..............WASHINGTON
EXTRA POINTS: After last weeks very emotional victory, the Huskies will suffer a letdown and the Arizona St. defense should slow down Washington QB Jake Locker. The letdown factor leads me to this pick (against my better judgment). Night games in the desert are always a challenge.
PREDICTION: Arizona St. 30-Washington 20
At MICHIGAN ST............14...............NORTHWESTERN
EXTRA POINTS: Fourteen points is just to much to ask the Spartans to cover. Sparty will win another one for "Sparty Girl" but not by the spread. I like an offensive show here, both teams moving up and down the field. In the end, closer than the experts predict.
PREDICTION: Michigan St. 44-Northwestern 38
UPSET PICK OF THE WEEK
USC...............10...............at NOTRE DAME
EXTRA POINTS: I've gone back and forth on this one. USC has won seven games in a row versus the Irish. USC has not given up a touchdown reception yet this season. USC is giving up only 8.6 points per game this season. Regardless, I think the Fighting Irish will not be beat by more than 10 points. Hey, I'm a Notre Dame hater...but I like the matchup with the Trojans this year in particular. From what I've seen all season long, the Trojans seem vastly overated to me. The best offensive line in college, watch closely it just may be Notre Dame that has that distinction. The Fighting Irish defense has been invisible most of the year but they get up bigtime for this showdown. The Irish run the ball effectively against the Trojans setting up Clausen play action passes to Golden Tate and down the middle to sensational 6'-6" Tight End, Kyle Rudolph. Okay, I'm saying it (as much as I HATE SAYING IT). I like Notre Dame to shock the college football world in a game that might not be that close.
PREDICTION: Notre Dame 31-USC 20
**All Lines Set by World Features Syndicate
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Great to have another blog follower...what do you think of this weeks picks ?
ReplyDeleteTexas with a push... ugh!
ReplyDeleteYeah.....both defenses pretty much dominated. I would have figured with Bradford out, the Horns' would have rolled but Oklahoma showed some grit !
ReplyDeleteThe lock was picked this week! Someone is going to be unhappy on Monday.
ReplyDeleteNebraska killed me this week ! I'm going to have to have a talking to with Alex on Monday !
ReplyDeleteI was thinking more along the lines of those who were in Vegas last week.
ReplyDelete9 wins and 4 losses with 1 push. Another good week ! If South Carolina could have pushed it in from the 5 yard line, I would have had the exact score !
ReplyDelete