Last week, I went 5-4 in college picks (without counting my "non-pick" for UVa-Maryland, which was actually a pick for UVa) and 5-4 in NFL picks. I'm now 99-45 on the season.
Wake at No. 9 Clemson, Noon ESPNU
Wake Forest is an unimpressive 5-4 and lost to Notre Dame at home last week by seven. Still, if the Demon Deacons could somehow rise up and beat the Tigers in Death Valley, they'd have the inside track to the ACC Atlantic Division title, because they would have two ACC losses and so would Clemson and FSU, but Wake would have beaten both those teams. This would be a perfect game for Clemson to lose because that is how Clemson seems to be oftentimes. Now begins the Clemson second-half downfall. But I think the Tigers will find a way to win in a game in which they'll struggle.
Clemson 41, Wake Forest 34
No. 19 Nebraska at No. 12 Penn St., Noon ESPN
Wow. Could there be any more surrounding this game other than the game itself? What will the Penn State players do? Will they be motivated to win a game for JoePa, who was fired this week? Will they feel ashamed to play hard for a school that has a huge black cloud lingering over it? I could see this one swinging either way based on the emotional swings on Penn State's side that could be positive or negative. I like Nebraska though because I don't think this vaunted Penn State defense has seen an offense like the Cornhuskers'. And I like Nebraska to bounce back strong from a loss to Northwestern last week.
Nebraska 21, Penn State 17
No. 17 Michigan State at Iowa, Noon ESPN2
Michigan State has at least a one-game lead on every team in the Legends division of the Big Ten. Nebraska, however, defeated the Spartans and would have the upper hand with a win over Penn State and an Iowa win over the Spartans. And it's possible. Michigan State has struggled since its huge win over Wisconsin on Oct. 22. Since then, MSU has lost to Nebraska 24-3 and barely scooted by Big Ten cellar-dweller Minnesota last week, 31-24. Iowa has had its issues, too. The Hawkeyes lost to Minnesota on the road two weeks ago but beat Michigan in Iowa City last week. I like the Hawkeyes, who always play well at home.
Iowa 27, Michigan State 24
West Virginia at No. 23 Cincinnati, Noon ABC
Cincinnati can take another step to the Big East title today with a win over WVU. The Bearcats have had a pretty easy schedule thus far this year, and I actually like the Mountaineers to bounce back from a loss to Louisville and win. Cincy will still have the lead in the Big East though because it would have one loss in conference along with Louisville, which they beat.
West Virginia 31, Cincinnati 24
No. 20 Auburn at No. 15 Georgia, 3:30 p.m. CBS
Georgia is on a hot streak and should win the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry in Athens. Auburn has had a better-than-expected year following its national title last season but I think QB Aaron Murray and the Dawgs will be too much for the Tigers to handle.
Georgia 23, Auburn 21
Miami at Florida State, 3:30 ESPN
Florida State has been on a roll since losing three straight early in the year. I don't think the Seminoles should have much of a problem dispatching of the Hurricanes at home. Miami is just trying to get to six wins and
bowl eligibility and I still think it will with a win over South Florida or Boston College to close out the season.
Florida State 38, Miami 24
**Game of the Week: No. 7 Oregon at No. 4 Stanford, 8 p.m. ABC
This game has both national title and BCS title implications. These teams are tied atop the Pac 12 North division and Stanford is trying to remain undefeated. Oregon has not lost since its first game of the year when it fell 40-27 to LSU. I like Oregon in this one. The Ducks' speed will be too much for Stanford to handle.
Oregon 35, Stanford 30
Duke at Virginia, 3 p.m. RSN
The Cavaliers have the pressure of becoming bowl eligible off of them now. Will there be a letdown? Perhaps getting that sixth win is what was driving the players. They don't say that, of course. Getting six wins was just one of their goals. They still have a chance to win the Coastal Division and a win over Duke is a near necessity for that to happen. Duke has taken strides in recent years to be a better team and one way it has shown is three straight wins over UVa. Duke is 3-6 this year with some good wins and some puzzling losses. The Blue Devils lost to Richmond, lost by just one to Wake, played Va. Tech tough in a four-point loss, and then lost by 35 last week to Miami. So who really knows what kind of effort Duke will give today at Scott Stadium. I think this will be an entertaining game but the power run game of Virginia will get it done in the end and the Cavaliers will win relatively comfortably.
Virginia 34, Duke 21
Wake at No. 9 Clemson, Noon ESPNU
Wake Forest is an unimpressive 5-4 and lost to Notre Dame at home last week by seven. Still, if the Demon Deacons could somehow rise up and beat the Tigers in Death Valley, they'd have the inside track to the ACC Atlantic Division title, because they would have two ACC losses and so would Clemson and FSU, but Wake would have beaten both those teams. This would be a perfect game for Clemson to lose because that is how Clemson seems to be oftentimes. Now begins the Clemson second-half downfall. But I think the Tigers will find a way to win in a game in which they'll struggle.
Clemson 41, Wake Forest 34
No. 19 Nebraska at No. 12 Penn St., Noon ESPN
Wow. Could there be any more surrounding this game other than the game itself? What will the Penn State players do? Will they be motivated to win a game for JoePa, who was fired this week? Will they feel ashamed to play hard for a school that has a huge black cloud lingering over it? I could see this one swinging either way based on the emotional swings on Penn State's side that could be positive or negative. I like Nebraska though because I don't think this vaunted Penn State defense has seen an offense like the Cornhuskers'. And I like Nebraska to bounce back strong from a loss to Northwestern last week.
Nebraska 21, Penn State 17
No. 17 Michigan State at Iowa, Noon ESPN2
Michigan State has at least a one-game lead on every team in the Legends division of the Big Ten. Nebraska, however, defeated the Spartans and would have the upper hand with a win over Penn State and an Iowa win over the Spartans. And it's possible. Michigan State has struggled since its huge win over Wisconsin on Oct. 22. Since then, MSU has lost to Nebraska 24-3 and barely scooted by Big Ten cellar-dweller Minnesota last week, 31-24. Iowa has had its issues, too. The Hawkeyes lost to Minnesota on the road two weeks ago but beat Michigan in Iowa City last week. I like the Hawkeyes, who always play well at home.
Iowa 27, Michigan State 24
West Virginia at No. 23 Cincinnati, Noon ABC
Cincinnati can take another step to the Big East title today with a win over WVU. The Bearcats have had a pretty easy schedule thus far this year, and I actually like the Mountaineers to bounce back from a loss to Louisville and win. Cincy will still have the lead in the Big East though because it would have one loss in conference along with Louisville, which they beat.
West Virginia 31, Cincinnati 24
No. 20 Auburn at No. 15 Georgia, 3:30 p.m. CBS
Georgia is on a hot streak and should win the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry in Athens. Auburn has had a better-than-expected year following its national title last season but I think QB Aaron Murray and the Dawgs will be too much for the Tigers to handle.
Georgia 23, Auburn 21
Miami at Florida State, 3:30 ESPN
Florida State has been on a roll since losing three straight early in the year. I don't think the Seminoles should have much of a problem dispatching of the Hurricanes at home. Miami is just trying to get to six wins and
bowl eligibility and I still think it will with a win over South Florida or Boston College to close out the season.
Florida State 38, Miami 24
**Game of the Week: No. 7 Oregon at No. 4 Stanford, 8 p.m. ABC
This game has both national title and BCS title implications. These teams are tied atop the Pac 12 North division and Stanford is trying to remain undefeated. Oregon has not lost since its first game of the year when it fell 40-27 to LSU. I like Oregon in this one. The Ducks' speed will be too much for Stanford to handle.
Oregon 35, Stanford 30
Duke at Virginia, 3 p.m. RSN
The Cavaliers have the pressure of becoming bowl eligible off of them now. Will there be a letdown? Perhaps getting that sixth win is what was driving the players. They don't say that, of course. Getting six wins was just one of their goals. They still have a chance to win the Coastal Division and a win over Duke is a near necessity for that to happen. Duke has taken strides in recent years to be a better team and one way it has shown is three straight wins over UVa. Duke is 3-6 this year with some good wins and some puzzling losses. The Blue Devils lost to Richmond, lost by just one to Wake, played Va. Tech tough in a four-point loss, and then lost by 35 last week to Miami. So who really knows what kind of effort Duke will give today at Scott Stadium. I think this will be an entertaining game but the power run game of Virginia will get it done in the end and the Cavaliers will win relatively comfortably.
Virginia 34, Duke 21
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