Not my finest moment last week, but let's see if I can bounce back this weekend.
Season: 63-33; last week: 3-5
No. 25 Minnesota at No. 23 Nebraska, Noon ESPN
Minnesota gave it a good go last week at home but lost to Ohio State, 31-24. Nebraska got absolutely trampled at Wisconsin, 59-24, as Badgers running back Melvin Gordon ran for a single-game record 408 yards. The Gophers have a good run game and a pretty good defense and I don't think either of those things bode well for the Cornhuskers.
Minnesota 28, Nebraska 26
Virginia Tech at Wake Forest, 12:30 p.m. ACC Network
The Hokies have lost five straight ACC games at home and yet have beaten three straight ranked teams on the road (Miami last year and Ohio State and Duke this year). The Blue Devils really helped out the Hokies last week with numerous mistakes. Tech shouldn't need mistakes by Wake to pound the Demon Deacons, who have really struggled in their first year under head coach Dave Clawson. Beating Duke last week means Tech just needs to top Wake or UVa to extend its bowl streak to 22 years. I think the Hokies will do it vs. the Deacons.
Virginia Tech 31, Wake Forest 10
No. 15 Arizona at No. 17 Utah, 3:30 p.m. ESPN
It's been a good season for both of these teams and they both have chances to win the Pac-12 South, but UCLA, USC and Arizona State are all ahead in the pecking order. Both of these teams need to win to stay alive in the race. Arizona has lost to two teams that Utah has beaten -- USC and UCLA -- but my gut still tells me that the Wildcats are the better team. I think it will be a close game in the ultra-competitive Pac-12 South.
Arizona 31, Utah 30
No. 24 Louisville at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. NBC
Suffice to say, the shine has worn off a little bit from the Golden Domers. Just a few weeks ago, the Fighting Irish were ranked in the top five and up on the Seminoles of Florida State in Tallahassee. Now? Losers of three of four games, including that one to FSU, plus losses to Arizona State and Northwestern. Notre Dame was also only able to beat Navy by 10. Louisville ran over Boston College last week and has two other losses this season -- two points against UVa and six points against Clemson. At this point in the season, the Cardinals are playing better.
Louisville 31, Notre Dame 27
Boston College at No. 3 Florida State, 3:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN2
FSU reverted to an old habit last week, falling behind Miami 16-0 before rallying to win, 30-26. I just don't think the Seminoles can continue to fall behind like this. Eventually, they will get bitten. There are still more opportunities after this game. But BC could take a lead, too. The Eagles are a strong team in their own right. But FSU will end up cruising in the second half of this one.
Florida State 38, Boston College 17
No. 16 Wisconsin at Iowa, ABC/ESPN2
You might have heard about what Badgers RB Melvin Gordon did last week. Four-hundred eight rushing yards. 408. In a single game. Crazy. Wisconsin can run the ball and stop the run. The Hawkeyes are 46th in rush defense. Good, but I don't think it will be enough to top Wisconsin.
Wisconsin 30, Iowa 20
Game of the week: No. 19 USC at No. 9 UCLA, 8 p.m. ABC
If the Bruins win, they win the Pac-12 South. If the Trojans win, they win the South should Arizona State trip up vs. Washington State or Arizona. Even if USC wins, if ASU wins out, the Sun Devils win the division. I just said the word "win" a lot and your head is probably spinning from the scenarios. UCLA has bounced back nicely from two mid-season losses to Utah and Oregon and has won four in a row. I like the Bruins at home.
UCLA 33, USC 30
Miami at Virginia, 7 p.m. ESPN2
The basketball team matched the football team's win total in one week with four Friday by topping George Washington, 59-42. The gridiron Cavaliers have not won since downing Pittsburgh, 24-19, way back on Oct. 4. UVa has lost four in a row to Duke, UNC, Georgia Tech, and Florida State. As I have stated at other times this season, I think this team has the talent to win a lot of these games, but I do not believe in the strategies and the coaches. I'm not moving away from that stance now. Miami has proven to be a very good team this season and has come a long way from losing, 31-13, to Louisville to open the season. True freshman QB Brad Kaaya has developed into a solid passer. Duke Johnson is doing his thing in the backfield. He had 376 all-purpose yards last time these two played in Charlottesville. And the defense has played better than in previous season under coach Al Golden. The Hurricanes rank 27th in the country against the run and 21st against the pass.
The Hurricanes were the latest team to almost knock off the undefeated national champions from Florida State last week. That loss, coupled with Georgia Tech's victory over Clemson and North
Carolina's blowout of Duke on Thursday night, clinched the ACC Coastal Division for the Yellow Jackets, who have completed their ACC schedule. They will face FSU, which has also clinched the Atlantic Division, in the conference title game Dec. 6 in Charlotte.
I have to think that Miami will come out angry in this game and motivated after what happened last week against the 'Noles. At the same time, I could envision a scenario where Miami has lost some of the wind out of its sails. And some way, Mike London has had Miami's number at Scott Stadium. He has never lost to the Hurricanes at home (24-19 in 2010 and 41-40 in 2012) and has only lost to them one time overall, last year (45-26). If UVa pulls out a win, I would not be shocked. But this team could be resigned to its fate and lose out, finishing 4-8. The only mystery left in this season could be whether London will keep his job once the calendar flips to December. If the players really do like London like they say, they will be giving it their all vs. the Hurricanes and then Virginia Tech to save his job. Ironically, it could be the lack of coaching and guidance from him to them that could get him fired.
Miami 33, Virginia 24
Season: 63-33; last week: 3-5
No. 25 Minnesota at No. 23 Nebraska, Noon ESPN
Minnesota gave it a good go last week at home but lost to Ohio State, 31-24. Nebraska got absolutely trampled at Wisconsin, 59-24, as Badgers running back Melvin Gordon ran for a single-game record 408 yards. The Gophers have a good run game and a pretty good defense and I don't think either of those things bode well for the Cornhuskers.
Minnesota 28, Nebraska 26
Virginia Tech at Wake Forest, 12:30 p.m. ACC Network
The Hokies have lost five straight ACC games at home and yet have beaten three straight ranked teams on the road (Miami last year and Ohio State and Duke this year). The Blue Devils really helped out the Hokies last week with numerous mistakes. Tech shouldn't need mistakes by Wake to pound the Demon Deacons, who have really struggled in their first year under head coach Dave Clawson. Beating Duke last week means Tech just needs to top Wake or UVa to extend its bowl streak to 22 years. I think the Hokies will do it vs. the Deacons.
Virginia Tech 31, Wake Forest 10
No. 15 Arizona at No. 17 Utah, 3:30 p.m. ESPN
It's been a good season for both of these teams and they both have chances to win the Pac-12 South, but UCLA, USC and Arizona State are all ahead in the pecking order. Both of these teams need to win to stay alive in the race. Arizona has lost to two teams that Utah has beaten -- USC and UCLA -- but my gut still tells me that the Wildcats are the better team. I think it will be a close game in the ultra-competitive Pac-12 South.
Arizona 31, Utah 30
No. 24 Louisville at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. NBC
Suffice to say, the shine has worn off a little bit from the Golden Domers. Just a few weeks ago, the Fighting Irish were ranked in the top five and up on the Seminoles of Florida State in Tallahassee. Now? Losers of three of four games, including that one to FSU, plus losses to Arizona State and Northwestern. Notre Dame was also only able to beat Navy by 10. Louisville ran over Boston College last week and has two other losses this season -- two points against UVa and six points against Clemson. At this point in the season, the Cardinals are playing better.
Louisville 31, Notre Dame 27
Boston College at No. 3 Florida State, 3:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN2
FSU reverted to an old habit last week, falling behind Miami 16-0 before rallying to win, 30-26. I just don't think the Seminoles can continue to fall behind like this. Eventually, they will get bitten. There are still more opportunities after this game. But BC could take a lead, too. The Eagles are a strong team in their own right. But FSU will end up cruising in the second half of this one.
Florida State 38, Boston College 17
No. 16 Wisconsin at Iowa, ABC/ESPN2
You might have heard about what Badgers RB Melvin Gordon did last week. Four-hundred eight rushing yards. 408. In a single game. Crazy. Wisconsin can run the ball and stop the run. The Hawkeyes are 46th in rush defense. Good, but I don't think it will be enough to top Wisconsin.
Wisconsin 30, Iowa 20
Game of the week: No. 19 USC at No. 9 UCLA, 8 p.m. ABC
If the Bruins win, they win the Pac-12 South. If the Trojans win, they win the South should Arizona State trip up vs. Washington State or Arizona. Even if USC wins, if ASU wins out, the Sun Devils win the division. I just said the word "win" a lot and your head is probably spinning from the scenarios. UCLA has bounced back nicely from two mid-season losses to Utah and Oregon and has won four in a row. I like the Bruins at home.
UCLA 33, USC 30
Miami at Virginia, 7 p.m. ESPN2
The basketball team matched the football team's win total in one week with four Friday by topping George Washington, 59-42. The gridiron Cavaliers have not won since downing Pittsburgh, 24-19, way back on Oct. 4. UVa has lost four in a row to Duke, UNC, Georgia Tech, and Florida State. As I have stated at other times this season, I think this team has the talent to win a lot of these games, but I do not believe in the strategies and the coaches. I'm not moving away from that stance now. Miami has proven to be a very good team this season and has come a long way from losing, 31-13, to Louisville to open the season. True freshman QB Brad Kaaya has developed into a solid passer. Duke Johnson is doing his thing in the backfield. He had 376 all-purpose yards last time these two played in Charlottesville. And the defense has played better than in previous season under coach Al Golden. The Hurricanes rank 27th in the country against the run and 21st against the pass.
The Hurricanes were the latest team to almost knock off the undefeated national champions from Florida State last week. That loss, coupled with Georgia Tech's victory over Clemson and North
I have to think that Miami will come out angry in this game and motivated after what happened last week against the 'Noles. At the same time, I could envision a scenario where Miami has lost some of the wind out of its sails. And some way, Mike London has had Miami's number at Scott Stadium. He has never lost to the Hurricanes at home (24-19 in 2010 and 41-40 in 2012) and has only lost to them one time overall, last year (45-26). If UVa pulls out a win, I would not be shocked. But this team could be resigned to its fate and lose out, finishing 4-8. The only mystery left in this season could be whether London will keep his job once the calendar flips to December. If the players really do like London like they say, they will be giving it their all vs. the Hurricanes and then Virginia Tech to save his job. Ironically, it could be the lack of coaching and guidance from him to them that could get him fired.
Miami 33, Virginia 24
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