I went 13-3 (7-1 in college picks and 6-2 in NFL picks) last weekend, and 1-1 last night and I'm now 113-49 on the year.
College GameDay piece on Mike London: Tomorrow on College GameDay, which is on ESPNU from 9-10 a.m. and ESPN from 10 a.m.-Noon, there will be a piece on UVa coach Mike London. I don't know when it will be on of course, or even if the piece will air in the 9-10 block or the 10-Noon block, but it is cool that the London will be featured and everyone should check it out!
Also, I'd be remissed if I failed to mention TCU's big 36-35 win over Boise State last weekend, in Boise no less. That was a big game, likely for the Mountain West Conference title, and I forgot to pick it. Two years in a row now, Boise has lost late in the season to dash their BCS title hopes. Last year it was an overtime loss to Nevada.
Now to get on with this week's games.
No. 16 Nebraska at No. 18 Michigan, Noon ESPN
This is a big game in the Big Ten Legends Division. Both Nebraska and Michigan have two losses in the conference. Michigan State leads the conference with just one loss and it finishes up with Indiana on Saturday and Northwestern next week, two winnable games. The Spartans should wrap up the division but they will need to watch out for the Wildcats next weekend, they are always a dangerous team that can spring an upset -- which they did Nov. 5 when they beat this Nebraska team. Anyway, for this game -- the lose is eliminated from Big Ten title contention. Nebraska is coming off a win against Penn State and the media firestorm in State College, Pa. last Saturday (before that, they lost to Nothwestern, as I just mentioned). Nebraska's only other loss is to Wisconsin. Michigan is coming off a dominating 31-14 win over Illinois and seems to have turned a corner this season with new coach Brady Hoke, who has already surpassed former coach Rich Rodriguez's highest win total in a single year (7) by being 8-2. Michigan's two losses are to Michigan State and Iowa, both on the road. This should be a good game. This is definitely the Wolverines' toughest opponent at home. Michigan's D has made a big leap this year compared to the last two years as it is only giving up
15.5 points per game. The key will be which D can step up and slow the other's potent rushing attack. This game is pretty much a toss-up in my opinion but I'll take the Wolverines at home.
Michigan 31, Nebraska 30
No. 7 Clemson at N.C. State, 3:30 p.m. ESPN, ABC
Clemson doesn't really have much to play for. The Tigers have wrapped up the ACC Atlantic Division and will play either UVa or Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship game Dec. 3 in Charlotte. N.C. State still needs one win to get to bowl eligibility so they should be a bit more inspired. Still, I don't think it will make a huge difference. The Wolfpack get a better chance to get that elusive sixth win next week against Maryland anyway.
Clemson 38, N.C. State 24
No. 21 Penn State at Ohio State, 3:30 p.m. ESPN, ABC
Who would have thought last year at this time that this year's edition of this game would pit not Jim Tressel vs. Joe Paterno, but Luke Fickell against Tom Bradley? Crazy how much has changed in Columbus and Happy Valley. Two teams trying to get their programs back on track after separate scandals have rocked (and are still rocking) their campuses play a pretty big Big Ten game. Penn State lost to Nebraska last week but still has a chance at the division title. Even if PSU wins though, the Nittany Lions will have to win at Wisconsin next week to win the division, assuming Wisconsin takes care of Illinois on Saturday. I don't think it will matter. I like the Buckeyes at home. They have gotten better throughout the year (even though they lost in OT last week at Purdue) and I think they will have good momentum at home and will be more focused than Penn State.
Ohio State 21, Penn State 17
No. 5 Oklahoma at No. 22 Baylor, 8 p.m. ABC
Baylor has won its past two games by a combined four points -- 42-39 over Missouri and 31-30 in overtime over Kansas. Not a great way to get back in the top 25. Kansas has looked like one of the worst FBS teams this year. This game should be exciting and high-scoring, and I give Baylor a fighter's chance at home, but I think OU will still take care of business since the Sooners still have a shot at making the BCS title game.
Oklahoma 48, Baylor 28
Virginia at No. 23 Florida State, 7:30 p.m. ESPN2
I think we all know the stakes for this one. Because Virginia Tech beat UNC on Thursday, UVa must win this game to keep alive a shot at going to the ACC title game. Virginia is 2-14 all-time vs. FSU and the two wins were at home. The Cavaliers usually get blown out in Tallahassee. I don't think a loss should spoil what has been a great season so far. Almost no one thought that this team would be going into the 11th game of the season with a shot at still going to the Orange Bowl. I also don't think a loss would give us less of a chance for the upset next week. Heck, it could help. Tech would have less to play for, and Virginia would not have as much pressure on them to win at home after beating FSU on the road (although one would argue if next week's game was for the Coastal Division, all the pressure would be on the favorite, Tech, and not on the up-and-comer, UVa). A win against the Seminoles would be gravy on an already great season and raise expectations for next week's game through the roof. With a loss against the 'Noles, next week's game will still be for pride, recruiting, and to finally snap a seven-game losing streak to the arch rival.
I think the speed of FSU will just be too much to overcome. FSU has had its problems, but it is playing well now. I will be happy if Virginia makes it a good game. I have been wrong before, though.
Florida State 31, Virginia 17
College GameDay piece on Mike London: Tomorrow on College GameDay, which is on ESPNU from 9-10 a.m. and ESPN from 10 a.m.-Noon, there will be a piece on UVa coach Mike London. I don't know when it will be on of course, or even if the piece will air in the 9-10 block or the 10-Noon block, but it is cool that the London will be featured and everyone should check it out!
Also, I'd be remissed if I failed to mention TCU's big 36-35 win over Boise State last weekend, in Boise no less. That was a big game, likely for the Mountain West Conference title, and I forgot to pick it. Two years in a row now, Boise has lost late in the season to dash their BCS title hopes. Last year it was an overtime loss to Nevada.
Now to get on with this week's games.
No. 16 Nebraska at No. 18 Michigan, Noon ESPN
This is a big game in the Big Ten Legends Division. Both Nebraska and Michigan have two losses in the conference. Michigan State leads the conference with just one loss and it finishes up with Indiana on Saturday and Northwestern next week, two winnable games. The Spartans should wrap up the division but they will need to watch out for the Wildcats next weekend, they are always a dangerous team that can spring an upset -- which they did Nov. 5 when they beat this Nebraska team. Anyway, for this game -- the lose is eliminated from Big Ten title contention. Nebraska is coming off a win against Penn State and the media firestorm in State College, Pa. last Saturday (before that, they lost to Nothwestern, as I just mentioned). Nebraska's only other loss is to Wisconsin. Michigan is coming off a dominating 31-14 win over Illinois and seems to have turned a corner this season with new coach Brady Hoke, who has already surpassed former coach Rich Rodriguez's highest win total in a single year (7) by being 8-2. Michigan's two losses are to Michigan State and Iowa, both on the road. This should be a good game. This is definitely the Wolverines' toughest opponent at home. Michigan's D has made a big leap this year compared to the last two years as it is only giving up
15.5 points per game. The key will be which D can step up and slow the other's potent rushing attack. This game is pretty much a toss-up in my opinion but I'll take the Wolverines at home.
Michigan 31, Nebraska 30
No. 7 Clemson at N.C. State, 3:30 p.m. ESPN, ABC
Clemson doesn't really have much to play for. The Tigers have wrapped up the ACC Atlantic Division and will play either UVa or Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship game Dec. 3 in Charlotte. N.C. State still needs one win to get to bowl eligibility so they should be a bit more inspired. Still, I don't think it will make a huge difference. The Wolfpack get a better chance to get that elusive sixth win next week against Maryland anyway.
Clemson 38, N.C. State 24
No. 21 Penn State at Ohio State, 3:30 p.m. ESPN, ABC
Who would have thought last year at this time that this year's edition of this game would pit not Jim Tressel vs. Joe Paterno, but Luke Fickell against Tom Bradley? Crazy how much has changed in Columbus and Happy Valley. Two teams trying to get their programs back on track after separate scandals have rocked (and are still rocking) their campuses play a pretty big Big Ten game. Penn State lost to Nebraska last week but still has a chance at the division title. Even if PSU wins though, the Nittany Lions will have to win at Wisconsin next week to win the division, assuming Wisconsin takes care of Illinois on Saturday. I don't think it will matter. I like the Buckeyes at home. They have gotten better throughout the year (even though they lost in OT last week at Purdue) and I think they will have good momentum at home and will be more focused than Penn State.
Ohio State 21, Penn State 17
No. 5 Oklahoma at No. 22 Baylor, 8 p.m. ABC
Baylor has won its past two games by a combined four points -- 42-39 over Missouri and 31-30 in overtime over Kansas. Not a great way to get back in the top 25. Kansas has looked like one of the worst FBS teams this year. This game should be exciting and high-scoring, and I give Baylor a fighter's chance at home, but I think OU will still take care of business since the Sooners still have a shot at making the BCS title game.
Oklahoma 48, Baylor 28
Virginia at No. 23 Florida State, 7:30 p.m. ESPN2
I think we all know the stakes for this one. Because Virginia Tech beat UNC on Thursday, UVa must win this game to keep alive a shot at going to the ACC title game. Virginia is 2-14 all-time vs. FSU and the two wins were at home. The Cavaliers usually get blown out in Tallahassee. I don't think a loss should spoil what has been a great season so far. Almost no one thought that this team would be going into the 11th game of the season with a shot at still going to the Orange Bowl. I also don't think a loss would give us less of a chance for the upset next week. Heck, it could help. Tech would have less to play for, and Virginia would not have as much pressure on them to win at home after beating FSU on the road (although one would argue if next week's game was for the Coastal Division, all the pressure would be on the favorite, Tech, and not on the up-and-comer, UVa). A win against the Seminoles would be gravy on an already great season and raise expectations for next week's game through the roof. With a loss against the 'Noles, next week's game will still be for pride, recruiting, and to finally snap a seven-game losing streak to the arch rival.
I think the speed of FSU will just be too much to overcome. FSU has had its problems, but it is playing well now. I will be happy if Virginia makes it a good game. I have been wrong before, though.
Florida State 31, Virginia 17
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