Weekend Picks, Week 11
Big week for yours truly last week, aided by a couple of prescient upset picks and a bevy of awful SEC games.
Last week: 26-3
Overall: 192-50
And now, this week’s picks. As always, AP Top 25 and SEC games.
Today
No. 23 South Florida at Rutgers
Not quite sure what to make of this one, but the Bulls seem to be the better team. South Florida 27, Rutgers 23
Friday
West Virginia at No. 5 Cincinnati
Biggest test thus far for the Bearcats, and I think they’ll pass. Cincinnati 31, West Virginia 26
Saturday
No. 1 Florida at South Carolina
I’ve got a feeling this one might drive the OBC to the golf course. Florida 33, South Carolina 10
No. 2 Texas at Baylor
Baylor is a lot better than it used to be (despite what you Oklahoma fans say) but they’re nowhere near good enough to compete with Texas yet. Texas 38, Baylor 10
No. 3 Alabama at Mississippi State
The Bulldogs do have a tiny bit of a shot here, but I’m not going there. Alabama 27, Mississippi State 13
No. 16 Utah at No. 4 TCU
A freshman QB going on the road against that Horned Frog defense? No thanks. TCU 21, Utah 7
Idaho at No. 6 Boise State
For the first time in forever, the Spud Bowl could be competitive. Boise State 34, Idaho 26
No. 7 Georgia Tech at Duke
This is for your ACC Coastal Division title. Yeah, sad isn’t it? Georgia Tech 31, Duke 14
Notre Dame at No. 8 Pittsburgh
I still don’t know how Pitt got here, but I do know they’ll be helping tape up Charlie Weis’ boxes. Pittsburgh 28, Notre Dame 16
Louisiana Tech at No. 9 LSU
The Bulldogs just aren’t as good as I thought they’d be this year. LSU 35, Louisiana Tech 6
No. 15 Iowa at No. 10 Ohio State
Despite last week’s loss I still like the Hawkeyes, but Jim Tressel is money in November. Ohio State 16, Iowa 10
No. 25 Stanford at No. 11 USC
Stanford beat a much-better Trojan squad than this with a much, much worse team two years ago in the Coliseum. I’m not sayin’, I’m just sayin’. USC 24, Stanford 21 (but don’t be surprised if the Cardinal win)
No. 12 Miami at North Carolina
Might the Tar Heels have a little surprise up their sleeves for The U? I think so. North Carolina 27, Miami 24
No. 13 Houston at UCF
This game might help George O’Leary join Tommy West and David Elson’s lunch club. Houston 48, UCF 21
Arizona State at No. 14 Oregon
The Sun Devils just aren’t very good this year, and the Ducks will have LeGarrette Blount back and should be very, very angry. Oregon 42, Arizona State 17
Texas Tech at No. 17 Oklahoma State
The Red Raiders are capable of winning this one, but I’m not banking on it. Oklahoma State 48, Texas Tech 38
No. 18 Arizona at California
This seems like a good opportunity for the good Golden Bears to show up. California 35, Arizona 21
Indiana at No. 19 Penn State
Angry JoePa. Penn State 41, Indiana 17
No. 20 Virginia Tech at Maryland
The Terps are dead. Virginia Tech 24, Maryland 3
Michigan at No. 21 Wisconsin
As are the Wolverines. Wisconsin 27, Michigan 10
No. 22 BYU at New Mexico
The Lobos are really regretting that Mike Locksley hire. BYU 42, New Mexico 7
No. 24 Clemson at N.C. State
Never, ever trust Clemson. But I’m going to. Just barely. Clemson 28, N.C. State 21
Troy at Arkansas
Probably lots of points in this one, just a lot more by the Hogs. Arkansas 56, Troy 34
Auburn at Georgia
Big-time intriguing game. Do the Dawgs have any life? I don’t think they do. Auburn 31, Georgia 20
Kentucky at Vanderbilt
The Wildcats get to bowl eligibility. Kentucky 26, Vanderbilt 14
Tennessee at Mississippi
Another intriguing one. How will a seemingly on-the-right-track Tennessee team respond to its recent off-the-field distractions, and can Ole Miss salvage its season? Tennessee 21, Ole Miss 17
