Oct 20, 2011

College Football Game Picks - Week 8

Results

Last Week: SU 6-4, ATS 6-4
Season to date: SU 44-26, ATS 39-30-1

Game of the Week – Michigan St. vs Wisconsin (-7)
Somehow, Michigan St. won this game last season. In addition, they get to host Wisconsin again for the second straight season (thank you Big Ten expansion and realignment for that). They also have the best defense in the Big Ten. It won't matter. The Michigan St. offense has been missing pieces all season and though they will hold Wisconsin to its lowest output of the season, it won't matter because the Badger defense will shut down the Spartan offense. This game won't much help Russell Wilson's Heisman hopes other than winning though.
Wisconsin 27, Michigan St. 14

LSU (-21) vs Auburn
This game got a whole lot more interesting when LSU players Spencer Ware and Tyronn Mathieu got themselves suspended for synthetic pot (what a stupid offense to nailed for). With Ware out, LSU might have to open the passing offense up a lot more than play action deep ball, quick slant and quick out. With Mathieu out, Auburn might actually be able to throw the ball, opening things for its running game. If those things happen, this game could be close in the 4th quarter and if that is the case, LSU is toast given what Auburn does in the 4th quarter if they are close. All of that said, Auburn won't be close. Clint Moseley making his first start at quarterback at Death Valley, even during the day, isn't going to go well. And I don't believe in the Auburn defense to hold LSU's passing game down if that's what it comes to.
LSU 34, Auburn 20

Stanford (-21) vs Washington
Keith Price might be the best college quarterback in this game. It won't much matter though. He and his Huskies have to go against a competent defense. The more heralded (and much better pro prospect) Andrew Luck will have his way with a Washington defense that has struggled against any remotely good offense it's seen for over a decade. But Price will make it close.
Stanford 52, Washington 41

Clemson (-11) vs North Carolina
North Carolina got caught looking ahead to this game and laid a first half egg against Miami. They should have played since Clemson pulled a Clemson last week and won anyway (because Sammy Watkins is immune to whatever kills Clemson when things start going well). Given what we know about Clemson this season, they won't go off the rails at home and North Carolina won't be beating a Clemson 'A' game at Clemson.
Clemson 33, North Carolina 24

Notre Dame (-9) vs USC
Irish haters, USC is your best friend. Otherwise Notre Dame will be 9-2 going into the Stanford game with a shot to crash the BCS with a win. USC haters, who cares. When was the last time USC was 5-1 and irrelevant Probation has already done its job in that regard. As for the game, Notre Dame is a better team that will win as long as they don't fire the turnover machine up again. If they do, Brian Kelly's head might explode again, but it will be entertaining. Kelly won't have to worry though. His team will win.
Notre Dame 30, USC 20

Missouri vs Oklahoma St. (-7)
It's time. You should read those words and know what I am about to pick. James Franklin has been surprisingly good this season for Missouri while Oklahoma St. has been blowing teams up all year long. That said, the Cowboys looked vulnerable at Texas last week and we are just flat out due for a major upset to finally start shaking some things up. Unless you think Auburn is going to beat LSU, this is the game, especially with Missouri having found a running game behind Henry Josey.
Missouri 38, Oklahoma St. 30

Syracuse vs West Virginia (-14.5)
West Virginia will start slow as usual and blow the Orange up in the 2nd half. If Syracuse had any offense whatsoever, they would be a live underdog here.
West Virginia 38, Syracuse 14

Miami (-2.5) vs Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech lost last week. They played an opponent with extra time to prepare for the triple option. Miami didn't have that extra time. They won't be winning this, even though Jacory Harris continues to play well.
Georgia Tech 34, Miami 23

Southern Miss (-3) vs SMU
Mega shootout coming between the 2nd and 3rd best teams in Conference USA. The Mustangs are a bit better with its passing game while Southern Miss has shown bouts of inconsistency, especially while struggling with Louisiana Tech and losing to Marshall early in the season.
SMU 45, Southern Miss 42

South Florida (-3) vs Cincinnati
Scraping the bottom of the barrel we are here. The wheels have fallen off for South Florida (again, just like every October) while Cincinnati has corrected its turnover issues from last season and is playing well (trip to Rocky Top exempted but Cincinnati would whip the current injury riddled Vols). This just screams ugly beating, but South Florida will get it figured out and Cincinnati is due a clunker of a game. South Florida wins in a rash of turnovers (not unlike the Notre Dame win).
South Florida 26, Cincinnati 17

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