Week 9 Predictions

I'm coming off of an off week, and just missed predicting the Virginia Tech-North Carolina game which looks as if it will be a Tar Heel upset. Bullet dodged, anyway here are my picks.

21 West Virginia v. South Florida

USF has a good team under a good coach, but neither of those matter when you're going up against a modern day Dominique Wilkins in Noel Devine of West Virginia. I foolishly bet against the Mountaineers last week, I won't make the same mistake this week. Looks like the Bulls can't win in Raymond James Stadium either, WVU wins 31-20.

Indiana v. 4 Iowa

Hawkeyes have lost 2 of 3 to the Hoosiers, Iowa's struggled against weaker teams this year (beat Arkansas State and Northern Iowa by a combined 4 points), and they're gaining national attention which historically worries Kirk Ferentz. So all of this means Indiana pulls off the road upset right? Wrong, I have the Barnstormers over the Hoosier in another ugly one (shocker), 16-12.

8 Cincinnati v. Syracuse

Cincinnati is the most impressive team in the country right now. Florida needs 4th quarters to beat SEC bottomfeeders, Alabama's offense is abysmal, Texas has edged out everyone besides Mizzou, everyone else has shown such flaws. Cincy on the other hand replaced 10 defensive starters from last year and have had their quarterback build a Heisman campain only to be sidelined due to injury. I will pick the Bearcats in every game they play. Cincinnati wins this one 45-14.

New Mexico State v. 17 Ohio State

Lobos are the best team in New Mexico. That doesn't matter to anyone in the Horseshoe. Buckeyes win behind their "quarterback" Terrell Pryor, 31-10.

25 Mississippi v. Auburn

Gus Malzahn's offense is looking a lot less sexy after three straight losses for the "people of the plains". Ole Miss's offense on the other hand might be turning it on right when Rebel fans thought they would. Since that Alabama game that made fans wish they worked on Saturday, Kent Austin has done something right. Jevan Snead threw for a combined 570 yards against UAB and Arkansas, and Houston Nutt finally remembered that Dexter McCluster still plays for his football team. Anyways, I really feel like Chris Todd is getting worse and Jevan Snead is getting better. Auburn's offense is looking worse and Tyrone Nix's Rebel defense is looking better. With that being said, I say Ole Miss wins this one 27-7.

Southern Miss v. 18 Houston

"Hey Case Keenum I think you're really great and could be up for Heisman, but I think HOUSTON is due for an overlooked upset!" I need to stop leaving my laptop in front of Kanye West, but he does have a point. Houston has a very important conference game coming up next week against Tulsa. Southern Miss has some talent, and I think they'll come in and take the Cougars' lunch money. SMU wins 35-34.

San Jose State v. 7 Boise State

Boise State is a lot better than San Jose State. Plus, they're upset after losing their title as the sexy-buster to TCU, so I feel a blowout on the blue turf coming. Broncos buck 48-10.

Georgia v. 1 Florida

 Last year, the beatdown in Jacksonville's final score was 48-10. No run game for UGA, no consistent wide reciever threats besides AJ Green, no chance against a really good Florida defense. It will be interesting to see how often Hernandez gets the ball thrown his way with Rennie Curran likely to be the one dropping back to cover him. Either way, Florida's too good to drop this one. UGA will head back to Athens 4-4. Gators 38-13.

19 Miami (FL) v. Wake Forrest 

The Canes will not lose this game. This is about as sure of a game as you can get in the ACC. "Da U" gets a big comeback win here, 38-6.

24 California v. Arizona State

ASU isn't a bad team for their 3 loss record. CAL however has been handed a ranking after 2 blowout losses to Oregon and USC. I gave them too much credit too early, and they burned me. I do think they'll win a close one here though, Bears 24-20.

UNLV v. 6 TCU

I'll give UNLV credit for their respected nickname, but aside from that, they're atrocious. Their only conference win came last week against a winless New Mexico "football team". TCU stifles the Runnin' Rebels 31-0.

12 Penn State v. Northwestern

I give Penn State too little of credit last week. Although I still want revenge for them, this is a game I think they're too good to lose. Please prove me wrong this week Nittany Lions, because I unfortunately have y'all winning 24-7.

11 Georgia Tech v. Vanderbilt

Two schools who are very respected for their brains, this football game however is quite simple. Georgia Tech=very good team in a very bad conference. Vanderbilt=very bad team in a very good conference. Nesbitt gets less than 30 yards passing, but the Yellow Jackets beat them up on the ground and win this one 35-14.

22 South Carolina v. Tennessee

Eric Norwood might be the best player at his position in the country. Taylor Mays and Eric Berry are up for debate as best safety, meanwhile Eric Norwood is the only linebacker in the country who you have to scheme against for your passing and rushing game. South Carolina has a great defense and a mild offense, so this game depends solely on the shoulders of Crompton. If he plays well then the Vols will win, if not, then Spurrier will invade Rocky Top and take everything they have. You just cannot turn the ball over in a game like this. I think Crompton steps up though and wins this one, 21-16.

Washington State v. 23 Notre Dame

The Cougars are a team who cannot do anything right, I think this is finally the game the Irish are a safe bet to win going into the 4th quarter, not the final minute. The gold-helmet warriors pay homage to Sweet Lou, 38-9.

3 Texas v. 14 Oklahoma State

I feel like this is a trap game for Texas. Not that they won't prepare for this one well, because this is the only real challenge left on their schedule. But because this is a good team who will be more amped for this game than the Longhorns will be. They'll rally without Dez Bryant like they have been and they pull off an upset 34-31.

5 USC v. 10 Oregon

Autzen will be way too loud for poor Matt Barkley, plus being without McCoy will hurt the Trojans. That's why I believe the Ducks pull off a W on Halloween in Eugene, 21-17.

Tulane v. 9 LSU

Beatdown. LSU 42-9.

Wyoming v. 18 Utah

I don't think Utah is very good and that is no secret of mine. I think they have a few losses coming to them until they end up in the Obscurity Bowl. But, they do win this one at home, 28-14.

There it is, my set of picks for this week. I have 3 upset picks, and they are all home teams, Oregon, Oklahoma State, and Tennessee. Hopefully I can take home at least one of those unlike last week, here's to a hope and a prayer. Happy Halloween.

Week In Review

I had a very off week in my picks last week, going 16-7 including a deflating 0-5 in my upset picks. 

So without further ado here are my best week, worst week, and Top 25.

Best Week:  Ricky Stanzi, Iowa QB

Game winning touchdown as time expires sounds like a 90's MTV made for TV movie. But in reality, Stanzi pulls it off against Michigan State. Iowa continues to be the ugliest unbeaten (winning their last 4 games by 17 points). Congratulations Ricky, not only did you win (and gain Best Week honors on JADLW), but you get to pad your stats this weekend against the Hoosiers.

Honorable mention: Dexter McCluster Ole Miss RB/WR, Jordan Shipley Texas WR, Zach Collaros Cincinnati QB, Bobby Bowden Florida State Head Coach

Worst Week: Lane Kiffin, Tennessee Head Coach

Refs asking Nick Saban on the sideline what the calls should be? Tying UT's special teams line's shoestrings together? Whatever it was, Terrance Cody and the Referees who might as well have worn houndstooth uniforms made this a very frustrating weekend for Lane who cannot catch a break.

Honorable mentions: Miami's dreams, Ron Zook Illinois Head Coach, Idaho's defense, Daniel Lincoln Tennessee K

1. Florida 

2. Texas 

3. TCU 

4. Alabama 

5. Boise State

6. Cincinnati

7. USC

8. Iowa

9.  Oregon

10. Georgia Tech

11. Oklahoma State

12. Pittsburgh

13. LSU

14. Penn State

15. Virginia Tech

16. South Carolina

17. Ohio State

18. West Virginia

19. Houston

20. Ole Miss

21. Miami (FL)

22. Notre Dame

23. Utah

24. Arizona

25. Oklahoma

First post in weeks, picks

Arkansas @ Ole Miss

Kent Austin finally proved he can run an offense in year two as offensive coordinator for the Rebels. The Razorbacks defense vs. the Rebels offense is going to be a showdown of less than impressive units for sure. No surprise, I'm taking the Rebels in Oxford, 23-17.

12 Georgia Tech @ Virginia

Virginia is abysmal. Georgia Tech is really good. That's all there is to say, Jackets win 34-7.

Minnesota @ 19 Ohio State

Jim Tressel will not lose two straight games, especially against an average (even that's generously credited) Minnesota team. I think Pryor is a middle of the pack quarterback as of now, with 10 TD's and 8 INT's so far this year, but they won't need him since they do so many other things well. Buckeyes win 42-20.

South Florida @ 20 Pittsburgh

I'm not buying Pittsburgh considering their best win is against 4-2 UCONN as well as giving up 38 points in a loss to NC State. USF hung around last week with a very good Cincinnati team, and I think they'll win this game 31-24.

UCONN @ 23 West Virginia

UCONN will play inspired football against an unproven Mountaineer team. UCONN could be playing the New Orleans Saints this week and would not lose that game. Not after the tragedy of this week. Huskies eek it out in another Big East road upset, 27-21.

15 Oklahoma State @ Baylor

Baylor was supposed to be a surprise football team this year. Oklahoma State was supposed to contend for a national championship. Both predictions have been derailed early. Baylor without Griffin does not stand a chance to stay in a game with the Cowboys high powered offense. OSU wins 38-14.

Tennessee @ 2 Alabama

This will be a low scoring game. Not because of bad offenses, but because both teams have great run games and even better defenses. This game could be 2 hours long with a running clock like it will have. The Tide are too good to lose this game, 17-9.

Louisville @ 5 Cincinnati

I love Cincinnati. Is it because they're the only team worth talking about in the Big East? No. Is it because of their scoreboard-defusing offense? No. Is it because of their surplus of wathletes? Of course it is. And I never bet against a wathlete. Bearcats win this one 41-12.

Clemson @ 10 Miami 

As much as I hate the students at Miami and the players on Miami, I love the coach for Miami. They're really good, and have a quarterback who isn't a Heisman contender in my eyes but is still someone I would trust under center. They beat up a fluttering Clemson team 31-10.

11 Oregon @ Washington

Sarkisian does not have a consistent gameplan to win quite yet, but he does have a team that believes they can beat any team. This is proven by beating the #2 and 3 teams in the Pac 10, I believe they beat the number 1 team in the Pac 10 this week behind the beyond talented Jake Locker. Ducks 17 UW 20.

13 Penn State @ Michigan

I have hated Penn State ever since the pollsters had the nerve to drop them 10 spots after a home loss to unranked Iowa by 11, meanwhile Ole Miss drops a road game to South Carolina by 6 and drops 17 spots. Justice? Nowhere to be found. I hope and believe Tate Forcier will serve them aforementioned justice and leads the Big Blue to victory, 27-21.

Oklahoma @ 25 Kansas

Oklahoma unranked and without their Heisman-equipped quarterback are not as scary. Kansas however, is still really good and really healthy. Jayhawks better enjoy victories over OU while they can. Rock Chalk 34-20.

Air Force @ 18 Utah

MWC games...not for me. I would refuse to pick this game unless it were such a gimme. Utes 20-7.

UCLA @ 23 Arizona

UCLA has lost 3 in a row for one reason, they simply are not scoring points. That's going to be a problem against Arizona considering the Wildcats are putting up 38.6 PPG over their last 3 games (all conference games). Zona wins 35-13.

1 Florida @ Mississippi State

"This is going to be the biggest game of the year in Mississippi" that hilarious quote is brought to you by Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen. Everyone associated with Mississppi State (that spelling is courtesy of http://blogs.957thewolf.com/files/2009/02/mississippi_state_scoreboard.jpg), Ole Miss, and Florida knows that the Gators struggle against teams from the Magnolia state (2-4 since 2002 against the Dawgs and Rebels).  The problem here is, the Dan Mullen Bowl will not be a game, it will be a football camp run by Urban Meyer to show Mississppi State how to play football. UF 38-6.

6 Iowa @ Michigan State

The Hawkeyes lost in Lansing last year by a 16-13 ratings deflator. But that was a team who lost to Northwestern and Pittsburgh, this is a much better, signature team. I have the fighting Kirk Ferentzes in this one, 31-28.

8 TCU @ 16 BYU

What did I say about the MWC earlier? That's right, it is horrendous to watch/cover. I will not even cross this channel. I'm picking TCU not because of knowledge or because of a gut feeling, I'm picking them strictly on these two videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meutyrkOJGk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqUiBG001kY

TCU wins 21-20.

Auburn @ 9 LSU

Battle of the Tigers. One is better than I thought, one is worse. Pretty easy to decipher that one. Anyways, as much as I despise Jordan Jefferson as a "quarterback", Charles Scott is really special. LSU wins this one 17-10.

SMU @ 17 Houston

Houston is impressive, the same cannot be said about June Jones' new team. Houston walks all over the Cougars 45-17.

Vanderbilt @ 24 South Carolina

Vanderbilt has no chance of scoring on Eric Norwood's defense. If they do, it will be a fluke score. I have the Gamecocks killing clock and winning a must-not-see game 17-0.

3 Texas @ Missouri 

We were all waiting for Alabama to pass Texas. The Tide have beaten Virginia Tech at a neutral site, Ole Miss on the road, and South Carolina at home, meanwhile Texas has blown out...well, at least looked really good against....Ok I'm not impressed by Texas to say the least. I do love Blaine Gabbert's grit and raw talent. Tigers are storming the field and winning this game 31-30.

Oregon State @ 7 USC 

"NEVER AGAIN" That pertains to this game as well as it did situationally in "The Goods". USC won't lose at home with Matt Barkley and Taylor Mays. 27-13 Trojans.

4 Boise State @ Hawaii

Boise State will be so happy to be out of Idaho and in Hawaii that they will blow out the Rainbow Warriors like everyone else has this year. Potato Farmers 33-10.

Upset Picks: Mizzou over 3 Texas, Huskies over 11 Oregon, Michigan over 13 Penn State, USF over 20 Pittsburgh, and UCONN over 23 West Virginia. The latter two are the only road upset teams. I'm not as confident as I usually am with my upset picks, so we shall see. Go Rebels, Beat Arkansas.