Results
Last Week SU: 4-6 ATS: 4-6
Season SU: 64-46 ATS: 54-53-3 (hoping to stay above .500)
Game of the Week – Oregon (-15) vs USC (Slim pickins this week)
The Trojans have improved a ton from their play the last two seasons and earlier this season (remember that they got waxed by 3 touchdowns at Arizona St.). That said, trips to either Oregon school have been issues for a long time (lost every visit to the state against either Oregon or Oregon St. since winning with Reggie Bush in 2005). That will be the case once again as this Oregon team is the best one of the entire lot (yes better than last season, this year's team had the misfortune of playing a better LSU team while last year's team played nobody equal or better until the National Title Game) and USC won't be able to stop them given that the defensive improvement many have talked about is a mirage helped by playing Cal and Colorado (though shutting down Washington was legitimately good last week) and the offense will make a couple of mistakes eventually, especially at Autzen Stadium.
Oregon 45, USC 35
Michigan (-3.5) vs Nebraska
This game might be for an at-large BCS slot, just because of the huge traveling and tv drawing fanbases. The Fiesta Bowl would love either to pit against its Big 12 options that are either going to be a disappointed fanbase (Oklahoma or Oklahoma St.) or a weak tv draw (Kansas St.). That said, there is some merit to teams earning their way and Nebraska will be the one does it. Michigan has been way too inconsistent on offense of late and the defensive revival with less talented players has to crack at some point, especially since the Wolverines have seen very few quality offenses.
Nebraska 31, Michigan 27
Texas (-8.5) vs Kansas St.
If the teams were at full strength, I would pick Texas in a second. They aren't. OK Kansas St. is because Colin Klein is basically the team. Texas has no running backs. With no running backs, they won't be able to run the football. See last season and the Oklahoma game for what that looks like for the Longhorn offense.
Kansas St. 27, Texas 17
Baylor vs Oklahoma (-16)
Baylor defense, live in fear. Oklahoma needs style points in its quest to pass Alabama and Oregon in the BCS Rankings. Or at least many are saying so. That means the Baylor defense, already having issues, is about to get firebombed and Robert Griffin won't be able to keep up. In fact he won't even come close.
Oklahoma 63, Baylor 28
Florida St. (-17.5) vs Virginia
If you had asked me what I thought about this game in the preseason, I would have though Florida St. would be going for a division title and Virginia trying to reach bowl eligibility. Instead, we have Virginia trying to stay in the division title race and Florida St. trying to reach a decent bowl. That said, I challenge you, without google, to name a single Virginia player. The fact that you, my loyal readers, cannot, shows why Virginia will not win this game. Teams with no start or even known players either lack the overall talent or are too young to win games like this on the road (remember that the upset over Georgia Tech was at home). With Virginia, its youth, but the result will be all the same.
Florida St. 27, Virginia 20
Ohio St. (-7) vs Penn St.
Suddenly, Ohio St. has turned ACC level schizophrenic, which, coupled with the ongoing issues at Penn St. with the scandal and everything around it, makes this game pretty much unpickable. But I shall press on and try. As will these teams. That doesn't mean they will score though. If you like offensive football, this game will be offensive to you. Penn St. will do what they have done all season and Ohio St. would like to do the same. The result will be some sort of awful looking 10-7, 14-10 or 17-13 slobberknocker unless the defenses score some points. The winner will be Ohio St., especially since this game means almost nothing for Penn St. in the Big Ten Title Race (next week is everything, unless Wisconsin somehow loses at Illinois).
Ohio St. 14, Penn St. 13
Illinois vs Wisconsin (-15)
Ron Zook's boys, as usual, have confounded everyone. This game though, will go to plan. The Illinin will come out on the field. They will play decent defense. The offense will do nothing (again). The defense, under constant pressure, will crack. Wisconsin will score a ton of points. Ron Zook will move a step closer to the firing line. See. That was simple.
Wisconsin 38, Illinois 10
Rutgers vs Cincinnati (-3)
Here is the state of the Big East. The game that might decide its champion and BCS representative is this one. I am picking Rutgers in it only because I can't bring myself to pick a team quarterbacked by Munchie Legaux. Such is life in the Big East.
Rutgers 27, Cincinnati 21
Central Michigan vs Toledo (-14.5)
This game is only here for one reason: to pick a basketball score and have full justification for doing it. Thank you Toledo for playing great offense and mind-numbingly awful defense the last two weeks.
Toledo 63, Central Michigan 48
Houston (-20.5) vs SMU
SMU is either the best or second best team Houston has played. Even though they have had success the last couple of years against the Cougars, the fact that there is a question as the best or not means Houston will win and Case Keenum, with the Gameday crew at the game, will go crazy.
Houston 55, SMU 30
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