Virginia 28, Miami 21
The Virginia Cavaliers football team should dress up as Jekyll & Hyde for Halloween because they've been doing it all fall. The Wahoos won last night, 28-21, on the road in Miami in a nationally-televised game on ESPN. The win puts UVa (5-3, 2-2 ACC) one win away from bowl eligibility in Mike London's second year as coach. Virginia last won five games in 2008 and hasn't been to a bowl since 2007. If the Cavaliers were to somehow win out, they would go to the ACC Championship game in Charlotte on Dec. 3. I was at work, and only got to watch bits and pieces of the game, but next week I will give my reaction after watching the replay on ESPN3.com.
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WORLD SERIES GAME 7
The Virginia-Miami football game was very exciting. It came down to the end and the Cavaliers defense had to make a game-saving tackle on a Miami receiver as time expired. If he had scored, the game would likely have gone to overtime.
As thrilling as the football game was, it was definitely topped by Game 6 of the World Series later in the night. The Cardinals, on the brink of elimination, found themselves down two twice and were able to tie it both times, and eventually David Freese hit a booming, walk-off homer to center field in the 11th inning to tie the World Series up at three games apiece as the Cardinals won, 10-9. The visceral and collective roar from the Cardinal faithful as Freese hits the ball is why sports are so awesome.
This World Series, while it hasn't been one of the more popular ratings-wise, has not been short on excitement. We've seen everything: Albert Pujols hitting three home runs in Game 3. An odd dugout-to-bullpen call gone wrong for the Cardinals in Game 6. The redemption story, Josh Hamilton, hitting a two-run home run in the 10th inning last night to put the Rangers up 9-7. It looked like one of the best feel-good stories ever had helped the Rangers clinch their first World Series championship in franchise history. But it wasn't to be.
The Cardinals look like one of those teams of destiny. They were as many as 10.5 games out of the NL Wild Card but clinched a spot in the playoffs one the final day of the regular season. With Chris Carpenter on the mound in St. Louis tonight for Game 7, I'm not going to pick against the Cardinals. The Rangers send Matt Harrison to the mound. Harrison got blasted in Game 3 of the Series -- he gave up six hits, one home run, and three earned runs in 3.2 innings of work.
I have been pretty bad though in picking postseason baseball games this year. The Cardinals need to hope I'm right for once.
Cardinals 7, Rangers 5
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COLLEGE PICKS
I went 6-4 in college picks last week and 4-5 in NFL picks. On the year, I am now 81-42.
No. 11 Michigan State at No. 14 Nebraska, Noon ESPN
Michigan State is coming off a huge upset win last week at home over Wisconsin. QB Kirk Cousins threw a hail mary to the end zone as time expired in a 31-31 game and former QB Keith Nichol caught the ball as it bounced off the helmet of a Michigan State player. Nichol was on about the 1-yard line when he caught it and struggled to get the ball across the goal line as Badger defenders pushed him back. The refs called him down at the one-foot line but said touchdown when they went to look at the replay, ending one of, if not the best game of the year so far. Nebraska, meawhile, rolled past Minnesota last week. The Cornhuskers' only loss of the year came Oct. 1 when they lost at Wisconsin 48-17. Nebraska is tough at home though and even though Michigan State beat Wisconsin last week, I am going to say the Cornhuskers pull out a win here at home over the Spartans.
Nebraska 27, Michigan State 24
N.C. State at Florida State, Noon ESPNU
The Wolfpack are slowly improving but did not impress me last week in beating Virginia -- the Hoos just played badly. I like the Seminoles here, who have E.J. Manuel back healthy and have blown out Maryland and Duke in consecutive weeks.
Florida State 38, N.C. State 24
No. 12 Virginia Tech at Duke, 12:30 p.m. ACC Network
Duke nearly upset surprising Wake Forest last week, but lost by one, 24-23. I think the Blue Devils scare the Hokies early at home, but Va. Tech ends up cruising to another win. One thing I will say though is the Hokies play at Georgia Tech next Thursday, so this Duke game is a classic, "trap game." The Hokies could look ahead and struggle a bit.
Virginia Tech 35, Duke 20
No. 9 Oklahoma at No. 8 Kansas State, 3:30 p.m. ESPN
The Sooners were shocked last week at home 41-38 by Texas Tech, essentially crushing their national title hopes. Their punishment? A date with the Kansas State Wildcats at their place. It won't be easy to pick up the pieces in Manhattan, Kan. The Wildcats are still undefeated and playing great football under old timer coach Bill Snyder. The numbers are not great, but KSU can run the ball and plays solid defense -- a winning formula at home. With OU reeling, I am going out on a limb here and call an upset by Kansas State. The Wildcats keep their dream season going.
Kansas State 34, Oklahoma 31
No. 22 Georgia vs. Florida in Jacksonville, 3:30 p.m. CBS
The World's Biggest Outdoor Cocktail Party renews its annual rivalry and both Georgia and Florida were off last week so lots of preparation has gone into this game. Georgia started the year 0-2 but has since reeled off five straight wins. Florida, on the other hand, started the year with four straight wins but has lost its last three. I like the Bulldogs to win in a tight game.
Georgia 24, Florida 21
Wake Forest at North Carolina, 3:30 p.m. ESPNU
The Demon Deacons edged Duke last week but still, they control their own destiny. They have one ACC loss and if they were to win out, which would include winning at Clemson on Nov. 12, they would go to the ACC title game. North Carolina has lost its last two games, 30-24 to Miami and 59-38 to Clemson. I like the Tar Heels to get back on track against the Deacons at home, but it will be close. Should UNC win, Clemson will have a two-game lead on every team in the Atlantic Division (if the Tigers beat Georgia Tech).
North Carolina 27, Wake Forest 24
No. 5 Clemson at Georgia Tech, 8 p.m. ABC
Clemson needs to watch out in this one. The Yellow Jackets, once surprising ACC frontrunners, have lost their last two games, 24-21 to Virginia and 24-7 to Miami, both on the road. Now they are back at home and are in a must-win situation if they want to keep their ACC title game hopes alive. I stil don't think the Georgia Tech defense will do enough to stop Clemson (which has scored 56 and 59 points the last two weeks) but the Jacket offense will get back on track and score some points. Clemson was unable to stop Maryland's C.J. Brown, a running QB, two weeks ago.
Clemson 52, Georgia Tech 35
No. 6 Stanford at USC, 8 p.m. ABC
Hopefully I'll get to watch this one but it looks like if it is on ABC like Clemson-Ga. Tech, the regional game will be shown here. This is a marquee matchup though of big-time college quarterbacks. The Cardinal's Andrew Luck is supposed to be one of the best QBs to ever get drafted come April and the Trojans' Matt Barkley is not too shabby, either. Stanford has been trucking every opponent it has played so far this season but USC is easily the toughest team it will have played. I like Stanford to be challenged, but keep winning.
Stanford 45, USC 28
The Virginia Cavaliers football team should dress up as Jekyll & Hyde for Halloween because they've been doing it all fall. The Wahoos won last night, 28-21, on the road in Miami in a nationally-televised game on ESPN. The win puts UVa (5-3, 2-2 ACC) one win away from bowl eligibility in Mike London's second year as coach. Virginia last won five games in 2008 and hasn't been to a bowl since 2007. If the Cavaliers were to somehow win out, they would go to the ACC Championship game in Charlotte on Dec. 3. I was at work, and only got to watch bits and pieces of the game, but next week I will give my reaction after watching the replay on ESPN3.com.
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WORLD SERIES GAME 7
The Virginia-Miami football game was very exciting. It came down to the end and the Cavaliers defense had to make a game-saving tackle on a Miami receiver as time expired. If he had scored, the game would likely have gone to overtime.
As thrilling as the football game was, it was definitely topped by Game 6 of the World Series later in the night. The Cardinals, on the brink of elimination, found themselves down two twice and were able to tie it both times, and eventually David Freese hit a booming, walk-off homer to center field in the 11th inning to tie the World Series up at three games apiece as the Cardinals won, 10-9. The visceral and collective roar from the Cardinal faithful as Freese hits the ball is why sports are so awesome.
This World Series, while it hasn't been one of the more popular ratings-wise, has not been short on excitement. We've seen everything: Albert Pujols hitting three home runs in Game 3. An odd dugout-to-bullpen call gone wrong for the Cardinals in Game 6. The redemption story, Josh Hamilton, hitting a two-run home run in the 10th inning last night to put the Rangers up 9-7. It looked like one of the best feel-good stories ever had helped the Rangers clinch their first World Series championship in franchise history. But it wasn't to be.
The Cardinals look like one of those teams of destiny. They were as many as 10.5 games out of the NL Wild Card but clinched a spot in the playoffs one the final day of the regular season. With Chris Carpenter on the mound in St. Louis tonight for Game 7, I'm not going to pick against the Cardinals. The Rangers send Matt Harrison to the mound. Harrison got blasted in Game 3 of the Series -- he gave up six hits, one home run, and three earned runs in 3.2 innings of work.
I have been pretty bad though in picking postseason baseball games this year. The Cardinals need to hope I'm right for once.
Cardinals 7, Rangers 5
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COLLEGE PICKS
I went 6-4 in college picks last week and 4-5 in NFL picks. On the year, I am now 81-42.
No. 11 Michigan State at No. 14 Nebraska, Noon ESPN
Michigan State is coming off a huge upset win last week at home over Wisconsin. QB Kirk Cousins threw a hail mary to the end zone as time expired in a 31-31 game and former QB Keith Nichol caught the ball as it bounced off the helmet of a Michigan State player. Nichol was on about the 1-yard line when he caught it and struggled to get the ball across the goal line as Badger defenders pushed him back. The refs called him down at the one-foot line but said touchdown when they went to look at the replay, ending one of, if not the best game of the year so far. Nebraska, meawhile, rolled past Minnesota last week. The Cornhuskers' only loss of the year came Oct. 1 when they lost at Wisconsin 48-17. Nebraska is tough at home though and even though Michigan State beat Wisconsin last week, I am going to say the Cornhuskers pull out a win here at home over the Spartans.
Nebraska 27, Michigan State 24
N.C. State at Florida State, Noon ESPNU
The Wolfpack are slowly improving but did not impress me last week in beating Virginia -- the Hoos just played badly. I like the Seminoles here, who have E.J. Manuel back healthy and have blown out Maryland and Duke in consecutive weeks.
Florida State 38, N.C. State 24
No. 12 Virginia Tech at Duke, 12:30 p.m. ACC Network
Duke nearly upset surprising Wake Forest last week, but lost by one, 24-23. I think the Blue Devils scare the Hokies early at home, but Va. Tech ends up cruising to another win. One thing I will say though is the Hokies play at Georgia Tech next Thursday, so this Duke game is a classic, "trap game." The Hokies could look ahead and struggle a bit.
Virginia Tech 35, Duke 20
No. 9 Oklahoma at No. 8 Kansas State, 3:30 p.m. ESPN
The Sooners were shocked last week at home 41-38 by Texas Tech, essentially crushing their national title hopes. Their punishment? A date with the Kansas State Wildcats at their place. It won't be easy to pick up the pieces in Manhattan, Kan. The Wildcats are still undefeated and playing great football under old timer coach Bill Snyder. The numbers are not great, but KSU can run the ball and plays solid defense -- a winning formula at home. With OU reeling, I am going out on a limb here and call an upset by Kansas State. The Wildcats keep their dream season going.
Kansas State 34, Oklahoma 31
No. 22 Georgia vs. Florida in Jacksonville, 3:30 p.m. CBS
The World's Biggest Outdoor Cocktail Party renews its annual rivalry and both Georgia and Florida were off last week so lots of preparation has gone into this game. Georgia started the year 0-2 but has since reeled off five straight wins. Florida, on the other hand, started the year with four straight wins but has lost its last three. I like the Bulldogs to win in a tight game.
Georgia 24, Florida 21
Wake Forest at North Carolina, 3:30 p.m. ESPNU
The Demon Deacons edged Duke last week but still, they control their own destiny. They have one ACC loss and if they were to win out, which would include winning at Clemson on Nov. 12, they would go to the ACC title game. North Carolina has lost its last two games, 30-24 to Miami and 59-38 to Clemson. I like the Tar Heels to get back on track against the Deacons at home, but it will be close. Should UNC win, Clemson will have a two-game lead on every team in the Atlantic Division (if the Tigers beat Georgia Tech).
North Carolina 27, Wake Forest 24
No. 5 Clemson at Georgia Tech, 8 p.m. ABC
Clemson needs to watch out in this one. The Yellow Jackets, once surprising ACC frontrunners, have lost their last two games, 24-21 to Virginia and 24-7 to Miami, both on the road. Now they are back at home and are in a must-win situation if they want to keep their ACC title game hopes alive. I stil don't think the Georgia Tech defense will do enough to stop Clemson (which has scored 56 and 59 points the last two weeks) but the Jacket offense will get back on track and score some points. Clemson was unable to stop Maryland's C.J. Brown, a running QB, two weeks ago.
Clemson 52, Georgia Tech 35
No. 6 Stanford at USC, 8 p.m. ABC
Hopefully I'll get to watch this one but it looks like if it is on ABC like Clemson-Ga. Tech, the regional game will be shown here. This is a marquee matchup though of big-time college quarterbacks. The Cardinal's Andrew Luck is supposed to be one of the best QBs to ever get drafted come April and the Trojans' Matt Barkley is not too shabby, either. Stanford has been trucking every opponent it has played so far this season but USC is easily the toughest team it will have played. I like Stanford to be challenged, but keep winning.
Stanford 45, USC 28
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