I've been absent from the blog this week, mostly because I just haven't gotten around to it, but also because I am not too excited right now about UVA and Dallas football. UVA has the record I thought they'd have up to to this point, with the excption of of maybe the UNC loss. But it's not just that the Cavaliers are losing, it's how bad they've looked doing it the past three weeks. I didn't expect that. And there was a report this week that a source said some players were joking around in team meetings, not taking them seriously, and then being lost on game day. That is something I think I expected even less under this staff. Hopefully, the Hoos can get things turned around in the second half of the year. I think all I can really ask for at this point is to win today against a lackluster Eastern Michigan team, win at least one ACC game, and remain competitive in games we lose.
Dallas, I don't what else to think about that team. Maybe it's not a team. Lots of individual talent but no chemistry perhaps. What I don't get is it's pretty much the same team as last year, and that team went 11-5 but now sits at 1-4. The Cowboys can't get out of their own way with penalties and turnovers. Otherwise, so far they have beaten every team on their schedule. Dallas has outgained every team and the opponent that gained the most yardage on them was the Texans, whom they beat. Go figure. It's put up or shut up time for the Cowboys on Monday night against the Giants, a squad playing pretty well right now. New York was 1-2 and people were talking about it much the same way people are talking about Dallas now, and the Giants were able to reverse their fortunes and now sit at 4-2, tied atop the NFC East, so I can only hope Dallas has the same kind of awakening.
Now, some quick college picks, so I can get them published before noon. I'll publish NFL picks later.
Last week I rebounded, going 11-5 and now sit at 50-32 on the year.
COLLEGE
Noon
No. 7 Michigan State at Northwestern
Trap game. Spartans play at Iowa next week, but they better watch out for the Wildcat ambush. This is one of those games Northwestern always seems to win. I think they beat an undefeated Iowa team at home last year as well. In a high-scoring affair, Northwestern pulls the upset 41-38.
Notre Dame vs. Navy at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
I really hope the Midshipmen win again after winning two of the last three. But the Irish have been more impressive of late, winners of three straight, while 4-2 Navy has been disappointing as the Midshipmen had hopes of 10 wins and possibly a BCS bowl berth. Notre Dame wins a tight one on the neutral field, 27-24.
3:30
No. 6 LSU at No. 4 Auburn
Let's get real. Auburn has had some close calls this year, but LSU even moreso. Still can't believe the fake field goal against Florida two weeks ago that bounced off the turf before being scooped up by the kicker, who somehow made it through a bunch of tackles to pick up the first down. And when LSU seemingly lost to Tennessee three weeks ago before it was discovered the Vols has 13 men on the field for the last play. The players were called back on the field and LSU won on a second try. Auburn wins in this battle of Tigers, 41-31.
No. 13 Wisconsin at No. 15 Iowa
The Badgers were impressive last week, no doubt. But I don't think they are strong enough to bounce back from an emotional, hard-fought victory at home over OSU and then go on the road to Kinnick and win in a place the Hawkeyes rarely lose. Iowa has been mostly rolling since losing to Arizona Sept. 18. Hawkeyes win 34-27.
No. 16 Nebraska at No. 14 Oklahoma State
The Cowboys are perhaps the most shocking of the undefeateds left and I am shocked the Huskers still aren't undefeated, but they lost at home to Texas. This is no doubt the stiffest test of the year so far for OK St. An angry Nebraska team goes in and wins on the road, 38-27.
Georgia Tech at Clemson
The Jackets have looked really good the past three weeks, and Clemson has yet to beat a formidible opponent. GT wins 31-24.
6:00
Eastern Michigan at Virginia
The Cavaliers have to win this game against the lowly Eagles, one of the worst teams in all of the FBS. EMU just snapped an 18-game losing streak last week. Virginia is sluggish, but wins 38-20.
7:30
UNC at Miami
No one's hotter right now than the Heels, and Miami has struggled of late, getting blasted by FSU two weeks ago and then only beating Duke 28-13 last week. Tar Heels win 31-27.
8:00
No. 1 Oklahoma at No. 11 Missouri
You heard it here first. Well, probably not first, but I'm saying it. I learned my lesson last week by not picking Wisconsin. No. 1 goes down for a third staight week. Tigers win 35-34.
Dallas, I don't what else to think about that team. Maybe it's not a team. Lots of individual talent but no chemistry perhaps. What I don't get is it's pretty much the same team as last year, and that team went 11-5 but now sits at 1-4. The Cowboys can't get out of their own way with penalties and turnovers. Otherwise, so far they have beaten every team on their schedule. Dallas has outgained every team and the opponent that gained the most yardage on them was the Texans, whom they beat. Go figure. It's put up or shut up time for the Cowboys on Monday night against the Giants, a squad playing pretty well right now. New York was 1-2 and people were talking about it much the same way people are talking about Dallas now, and the Giants were able to reverse their fortunes and now sit at 4-2, tied atop the NFC East, so I can only hope Dallas has the same kind of awakening.
Now, some quick college picks, so I can get them published before noon. I'll publish NFL picks later.
Last week I rebounded, going 11-5 and now sit at 50-32 on the year.
COLLEGE
Noon
No. 7 Michigan State at Northwestern
Trap game. Spartans play at Iowa next week, but they better watch out for the Wildcat ambush. This is one of those games Northwestern always seems to win. I think they beat an undefeated Iowa team at home last year as well. In a high-scoring affair, Northwestern pulls the upset 41-38.
Notre Dame vs. Navy at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
I really hope the Midshipmen win again after winning two of the last three. But the Irish have been more impressive of late, winners of three straight, while 4-2 Navy has been disappointing as the Midshipmen had hopes of 10 wins and possibly a BCS bowl berth. Notre Dame wins a tight one on the neutral field, 27-24.
3:30
No. 6 LSU at No. 4 Auburn
Let's get real. Auburn has had some close calls this year, but LSU even moreso. Still can't believe the fake field goal against Florida two weeks ago that bounced off the turf before being scooped up by the kicker, who somehow made it through a bunch of tackles to pick up the first down. And when LSU seemingly lost to Tennessee three weeks ago before it was discovered the Vols has 13 men on the field for the last play. The players were called back on the field and LSU won on a second try. Auburn wins in this battle of Tigers, 41-31.
No. 13 Wisconsin at No. 15 Iowa
The Badgers were impressive last week, no doubt. But I don't think they are strong enough to bounce back from an emotional, hard-fought victory at home over OSU and then go on the road to Kinnick and win in a place the Hawkeyes rarely lose. Iowa has been mostly rolling since losing to Arizona Sept. 18. Hawkeyes win 34-27.
No. 16 Nebraska at No. 14 Oklahoma State
The Cowboys are perhaps the most shocking of the undefeateds left and I am shocked the Huskers still aren't undefeated, but they lost at home to Texas. This is no doubt the stiffest test of the year so far for OK St. An angry Nebraska team goes in and wins on the road, 38-27.
Georgia Tech at Clemson
The Jackets have looked really good the past three weeks, and Clemson has yet to beat a formidible opponent. GT wins 31-24.
6:00
Eastern Michigan at Virginia
The Cavaliers have to win this game against the lowly Eagles, one of the worst teams in all of the FBS. EMU just snapped an 18-game losing streak last week. Virginia is sluggish, but wins 38-20.
7:30
UNC at Miami
No one's hotter right now than the Heels, and Miami has struggled of late, getting blasted by FSU two weeks ago and then only beating Duke 28-13 last week. Tar Heels win 31-27.
8:00
No. 1 Oklahoma at No. 11 Missouri
You heard it here first. Well, probably not first, but I'm saying it. I learned my lesson last week by not picking Wisconsin. No. 1 goes down for a third staight week. Tigers win 35-34.
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