Season: 60-28; last week: 7-2
No. 8 Ohio State at No. 25 Minnesota, Noon ABC
I picked the Golden Gophers to beat Iowa last week and got that right. But the Hawkeyes are not the Buckeyes. I wish Minnesota could pull this out for my friend Ryan Pronk, a Gophers fan, but Ohio Sate was far too impressive in winning at Michigan State last week for me to pick Minnesota. The Buckeyes have gotten better and better since somehow losing to Virginia Tech at home at the beginning of September. I would not be shocked for it to be a game at halftime, though.
Ohio State 38, Minnesota 24
No. 19 Clemson at No. 22 Georgia Tech, Noon ESPN
Freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson returns for the Tigers in this one after suffering a hand injury a few weeks ago. The offense was floundering somewhat with Cole Stoudt under center, who threw four TDs but four picks in three games he started. I think Watson will give the Clemson offense the kick it needs to win this game. Without Watson, I like Georgia Tech (and do if he gets re-injured early). But I also think the Tigers defense is good enough to slow Tech's option attack.
Clemson 38, Georgia Tech 28
Virginia Tech at No. 21 Duke, Noon ESPNU
I've been waiting for that game where the Hokies look like the old Hokies, but it has yet to happen. The past couple years with Tech slumping, there seems to be a game in the middle of the season where it gets back on track a bit. That hasn't happened this year yet with the team currently on a three-game slide. Should the Hokies lose to the fundamentally sound Blue Devils, Virginia Tech would need to win its last two games over Wake and UVa to keep its 20-some-odd-year bowl streak alive. I think that's what the Hokies will need to do. I like the Devils in Durham. Duke edged Tech last year in Blacksburg, 13-10.
Duke 24, Virginia Tech 20
Pittsburgh at North Carolina, 12:30 p.m. ACC Network
Can probably put the two in a hat and pick out the winner. I don't really have an idea. UNC is at home, though, so I'll take the Tar Heels. And they have won two games recently, over UVa and Georgia Tech, while the Panthers have just one win since a 3-0 start, over Virginia Tech. The winner gets to five wins and only one more away from bowl eligibility. So it is a big game if the schools value going to one of the ACC's worst bowls.
North Carolina 41, Pittsburgh 38
Game of the week: No. 1 Mississippi State at No. 5 Alabama, 3:30 p.m. CBS
I have gone back and forth in my head on this one. Alabama is a 10-point favorite, which is ridiculous I think. I believe we are looking at a close game here. I think the Crimson Tide are favorites by that much because they are Alabama and they are at home. As far as I know, the Bulldogs have done nothing to make people think they should be underdogs by that much. Being three-point underdogs at Alabama? Sure. But not 10 points. I hope the Bulldogs win and they are living this charmed year where things kind of fall right for them, a little like things went for Auburn last season. Alabama could certainly win, but I'm throwing myself behind the 'Dawgs.
Mississippi State 27, Alabama 26
No. 16 Nebraska at No. 20 Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m. ABC
Both teams have played well but have had pretty easy schedules. I like the Cornhuskers at home and because their only loss was at Michigan State in a close game. Meanwhile, the Badgers lost to Northwestern, a team that is 3-6.
Nebraska 30, Wisconsin 24
No. 9 Auburn at No. 15 Georgia, 7:15 p.m. ESPN
Auburn, for all intents and purposes, knocked itself out of the running to get into the four-team playoff by losing at home to Texas A&M, 41-38, last week. Georgia was in the conversation to make the four-team playoff before a second loss two weeks ago to a mediocre Florida team in Jacksonville, 38-20. The Bulldogs got back on track offensively last week, though, putting up 63 on Kentucky in a road victory. The Tigers could certainly bounce back from their loss by winning, but the Bulldogs have not played at home since Oct. 4 and I just think they will relish the chance to finally be back home and ground "War Eagle."
Georgia 38, Auburn 35
No. 3 Florida State at Miami, 8 p.m. ABC
I think this is it. The Seminoles have won 25 straight games but I think that streak ends at Miami. FSU has been playing with fire all year, falling behind in games against Clemson, N.C. State, Notre Dame, Louisville, and Virginia. The Cavaliers even had a chance late in the game last week to get within seven points of the 'Noles but failed. FSU also has yet another distraction to deal with -- a story in the New York Times about one of their players leaving the scene of a hit-and-run with another player in the car Oct. 5. The two players named are starting cornerbacks P.J. Williams and Ronald Darby. Eventually, all of these off-the-field problems would leave cracks in the foundation of the program -- you would think. The pressure has got to be getting to the 'Noles, who are also trying to repeat as national champions. They are getting a pass right now because they are undefeated and the 2013 champs. They haven't looked all that impressive, however, not even one of the top four teams in the nation. Miami, meanwhile, started out the season very slow with a 31-13 loss at Louisville but has been playing very well of late, winning three straight contests in blowout fashion over Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina, averaging 44 points per game while doing so. Miami has no home losses and all of its losses have been to quality teams, Georgia Tech and Nebraska being the Hurricanes' other setbacks. Freshman QB Brad Kaaya has been steady for the Hurricanes, completing 61.8 percent of his passes for more than 2,000 yards, 20 TDs, and nine INTs. I do like Miami in this one, but FSU does have Jameis, and he has been perhaps the best second-half player in the country this season.
Miami 38, Florida State 37
No. 8 Ohio State at No. 25 Minnesota, Noon ABC
I picked the Golden Gophers to beat Iowa last week and got that right. But the Hawkeyes are not the Buckeyes. I wish Minnesota could pull this out for my friend Ryan Pronk, a Gophers fan, but Ohio Sate was far too impressive in winning at Michigan State last week for me to pick Minnesota. The Buckeyes have gotten better and better since somehow losing to Virginia Tech at home at the beginning of September. I would not be shocked for it to be a game at halftime, though.
Ohio State 38, Minnesota 24
No. 19 Clemson at No. 22 Georgia Tech, Noon ESPN
Freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson returns for the Tigers in this one after suffering a hand injury a few weeks ago. The offense was floundering somewhat with Cole Stoudt under center, who threw four TDs but four picks in three games he started. I think Watson will give the Clemson offense the kick it needs to win this game. Without Watson, I like Georgia Tech (and do if he gets re-injured early). But I also think the Tigers defense is good enough to slow Tech's option attack.
Clemson 38, Georgia Tech 28
Virginia Tech at No. 21 Duke, Noon ESPNU
I've been waiting for that game where the Hokies look like the old Hokies, but it has yet to happen. The past couple years with Tech slumping, there seems to be a game in the middle of the season where it gets back on track a bit. That hasn't happened this year yet with the team currently on a three-game slide. Should the Hokies lose to the fundamentally sound Blue Devils, Virginia Tech would need to win its last two games over Wake and UVa to keep its 20-some-odd-year bowl streak alive. I think that's what the Hokies will need to do. I like the Devils in Durham. Duke edged Tech last year in Blacksburg, 13-10.
Duke 24, Virginia Tech 20
Pittsburgh at North Carolina, 12:30 p.m. ACC Network
Can probably put the two in a hat and pick out the winner. I don't really have an idea. UNC is at home, though, so I'll take the Tar Heels. And they have won two games recently, over UVa and Georgia Tech, while the Panthers have just one win since a 3-0 start, over Virginia Tech. The winner gets to five wins and only one more away from bowl eligibility. So it is a big game if the schools value going to one of the ACC's worst bowls.
North Carolina 41, Pittsburgh 38
Game of the week: No. 1 Mississippi State at No. 5 Alabama, 3:30 p.m. CBS
I have gone back and forth in my head on this one. Alabama is a 10-point favorite, which is ridiculous I think. I believe we are looking at a close game here. I think the Crimson Tide are favorites by that much because they are Alabama and they are at home. As far as I know, the Bulldogs have done nothing to make people think they should be underdogs by that much. Being three-point underdogs at Alabama? Sure. But not 10 points. I hope the Bulldogs win and they are living this charmed year where things kind of fall right for them, a little like things went for Auburn last season. Alabama could certainly win, but I'm throwing myself behind the 'Dawgs.
Mississippi State 27, Alabama 26
No. 16 Nebraska at No. 20 Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m. ABC
Both teams have played well but have had pretty easy schedules. I like the Cornhuskers at home and because their only loss was at Michigan State in a close game. Meanwhile, the Badgers lost to Northwestern, a team that is 3-6.
Nebraska 30, Wisconsin 24
No. 9 Auburn at No. 15 Georgia, 7:15 p.m. ESPN
Auburn, for all intents and purposes, knocked itself out of the running to get into the four-team playoff by losing at home to Texas A&M, 41-38, last week. Georgia was in the conversation to make the four-team playoff before a second loss two weeks ago to a mediocre Florida team in Jacksonville, 38-20. The Bulldogs got back on track offensively last week, though, putting up 63 on Kentucky in a road victory. The Tigers could certainly bounce back from their loss by winning, but the Bulldogs have not played at home since Oct. 4 and I just think they will relish the chance to finally be back home and ground "War Eagle."
Georgia 38, Auburn 35
No. 3 Florida State at Miami, 8 p.m. ABC
I think this is it. The Seminoles have won 25 straight games but I think that streak ends at Miami. FSU has been playing with fire all year, falling behind in games against Clemson, N.C. State, Notre Dame, Louisville, and Virginia. The Cavaliers even had a chance late in the game last week to get within seven points of the 'Noles but failed. FSU also has yet another distraction to deal with -- a story in the New York Times about one of their players leaving the scene of a hit-and-run with another player in the car Oct. 5. The two players named are starting cornerbacks P.J. Williams and Ronald Darby. Eventually, all of these off-the-field problems would leave cracks in the foundation of the program -- you would think. The pressure has got to be getting to the 'Noles, who are also trying to repeat as national champions. They are getting a pass right now because they are undefeated and the 2013 champs. They haven't looked all that impressive, however, not even one of the top four teams in the nation. Miami, meanwhile, started out the season very slow with a 31-13 loss at Louisville but has been playing very well of late, winning three straight contests in blowout fashion over Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina, averaging 44 points per game while doing so. Miami has no home losses and all of its losses have been to quality teams, Georgia Tech and Nebraska being the Hurricanes' other setbacks. Freshman QB Brad Kaaya has been steady for the Hurricanes, completing 61.8 percent of his passes for more than 2,000 yards, 20 TDs, and nine INTs. I do like Miami in this one, but FSU does have Jameis, and he has been perhaps the best second-half player in the country this season.
Miami 38, Florida State 37
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