Week 10 Picks & Previews (November 14, 2009)

To my loyal blog followers, I apologize for not having the "Playmakers of the Week" category.  I've been in meetings all week and traveling to Louisville, KY, home of the Cardinals.

LAST WEEK:  10-3-1  (Best Week Yet)
LOCK OF THE WEEK:  4-2 (The Wolverines Killed ME !)

ALL MY PICKS ARE HIGHLITED IN BLUE !

THE LINE:  AT KANSAS ST.....2 1/2.....Missouri
EXTRA POINTS:   Wildcats coach Bill Snyder has done a remarkable job in resurecting a once proud program that had fallen on hard times.  With this win, they are one step closer to a berth in the Big 12 Championship game against Texas, who would have thought ?
PREDICTION:  Kansas St. 34-Missouri 27

THE LINE:  AT OREGON ST.....11.....Washington
EXTRA POINTS:  Oregon St. coming off impressive win at Cal.  The Huskies have been hanging tough but keep finding ways to lose games.  I like the speed of Oregon St. by 13 over my Huskies.
PREDICTION:  Oregon St. 36-Washington 23

LOCK OF THE WEEK

THE LINE:  AT PITTSBURGH.....7.....Notre Dame
EXTRA POINTS:  Charlie Weis needs this game and he needs to win it big for job security.  The Panthers are on a roll but do not have the defensive speed to beat the Irish.  Pitt will run all over Notre Dame, but take Clausen's arm and Tate and Floyd's ability to stretch the field.
PREDICTION:  Notre Dame 34-Pittsburgh 17


THE LINE:  AT USC.....11.....Stanford
EXTRA POINTS:  Normally, I would take Stanford easily, but they will suffer a letdown after a HUGE win against Oregon last week.  Trojans quarterback Barkley coming off a horific week.  I like the Trojans to win the game outright but not by more than 10 points.
PREDICTION:  USC 30-Stanford 24

THE LINE:  UCLA.....18.....AT WASHINGTON ST.
EXTRA POINTS:  Washington St. may be the worst team in college football this year.   The Bruins have underachieved after a promising start.  I like Neuheisels group to run all over the Cougars.
PREDICTION:  UCLA 35-Washington St. 10

THE LINE:  AT CINCINNATI.....9.....West Virginia   (November 13, 2009)
EXTRA POINTS:  The Bearcats barely got by UConn last weekend in an offensive shootout.  Their normally stout defense surrendered 48 points !   This week they do a little better.  Mountaineers RB Noel Devine has been slowed by an ankle injury and he will not carry his normal work load.
PREDICTION:  Cincinnati 37-West Virginia 20

UPSET SPECIAL OF THE WEEK

THE LINE:  Clemson.....7.....AT N.C. STATE
EXTRA POINTS:   This almost always happens.  Clemson gets on a roll with superior talent, looks like a top 10 team, then stumbles coming down the stretch.  That begins on Saturday.  Tom O'Briens band of Wolfpack shock the ACC and jeopardize the Tigers chances at clinching the ACC Atlantic Title.
PREDICTION:  N.C. State 31-Clemson 26



THE LINE:  Georgia Tech.....10 1/2.....AT DUKE
EXTRA POINTS:  Duke has surprised many and has a legitimate shot at a bowl game this year.  Quarterback Thaddeus Lewis can throw the ball around with the best the ACC has to offer.  Problem in this game is the Triple Option run by Josh Nesbitt..they are unstoppable and I don't see the Devils slowing it down.  Look for a TON of points and yards in this game !
PREDICTION:  Georgia Tech 44-Duke 31

MARQUEE MATCHUP OF THE WEEK

THE LINE:  AT T.C.U.....17.....Utah
EXTRA POINTS:  The Horned Frogs come in ranked 4th in the country.  HUGE game for a possible BCS Championship berth and BCS game.  I like T.C.U. at home but 17 points to a VERY good Utah team, nope.  "IF" T.C.U. beats Utah by more than those points, they prove to me and everyone in the nation that they are a legitimate TOP 3 TEAM !  Remember, Utah comes in with only one loss, at Oregon where they played the Ducks tough.  The Utes have switched to freshman quarterback Jordan Wynn who is running the option attack better than Terrence Cain was earlier in the season.  He will have to be very weary of All-American defensive end, Jerry Hughes (team leading 9 sacks).  Take the Utes and those 17 points.
PREDICTION:  T.C.U. 31-Utah 17

THE LINE:  AT MISSISSIPPI.....3.....Tennessee
EXTRA POINTS:  Right now, the Tennessee defense is playing better than anyone (except T.C.U.).  Mississippi has been probably the most dissapointing team in the SEC this season.  Quarterback Jevan Snead was being touted as a pre season Heisman candidate AND possible first round pick....Who would have thought Vols QB Jonathan Crompton would be outplaying Snead at this point in the season ?? What happened ???   I like the Vols to win it outright.
PREDICTION:  Tennessee 24-Mississippi 16

THE LINE:  Nebraska.....3 1/2.....AT KANSAS
EXTRA POINTS:  The Huskers NEED this game to stay with Kansas St. for Big 12 North honors.   Kansas has slumped in recent weeks as their offensive line has surrendered pressure against Todd Reising.  I like the Huskers defense to win this one. Per Huskers fan Alex (a blog follower) I propose the following:  7 field goals and a safety !
PREDICTION:  Nebraska 23-Kansas 14

THE LINE:  AT OHIO ST.....15.....Iowa
EXTRA POINTS:  What happened to the Hawkeyes ?   Last week they were ranked 5th, now they're 15 points dawgs ?  Somebody knows something I don't !   The Buckeyes have been playing great football the past three weeks.  Pryor has been a playmaker.  Ohio St. will win this...but the question is, can they roll up points against a pretty good Iowa defense ?  ANSWER:  YES
PREDICTION:  Ohio St. 34-Iowa 17

THE LINE:  Florida.....15.....AT SOUTH CAROLINA
EXTRA POINTS:  Spurrier always plays his former team tough.  The Gamecocks defense should keep this closer than the experts think.  I like the Gators, but by just 2 touchdowns.
PREDICTION:  Florida 27-13

THE LINE:  AT ARKANSAS.....14 1/2.....Troy
EXTRA POINTS:  Bobby Petrino has done an excellent job with the Razorbacks in his second year at the helm.  Lots of offense in this one, but Ryan Mallette should have a HUGE game for Arkansas throwing the ball...look for 300 + yards and 3 or 4 TD's.
PREDICTION:  Arkansas 43-Troy 27

All Lines Set By: WORLD FEATURES SYNDICATE, INC.