Week 12 Picks: West Coast Choppers

Standings
1) Schweinfurth  37-8 (5-6 upset)
2) Hoying           31-14 (3-8 upset)
3) Draper           29-16 (3-8 upset)
4) Auer              24-17 (1-9 upset)

Stanford Cardinals @ Oregon Ducks
Draper: Stanford just won't go away.  They beat one big dog in USC, beat the chippy Beavers, and enter the unstoppable force of the Ducks.  The Ducks are incredibly beat up with nicks to Mariota and Barner, but it just won't matter.  The Duck offense is a well oiled machine and the Cardinal are not equipped to keep up.  Oh yeah, it's in Autzen...uh oh.  Stan: 17--UO: 41
Auer: This one shouldn't be close... Mariota will go wild on the slower Cardinal, even with all the new wrinkles with Stanford's switch at QB. Stan: 10--UO: 52
Hoying: Despite playing in the much-improved Pac-12, Oregon has been a total buzzsaw this season, leading the nation in both scoring and margin of victory.  The Ducks also rank #3 in the Pac-12 in scoring defense.  Who's #1?  The Cardinal.  Stanford has been getting it done with tough defense and a balanced, if underwhelming, offense.  For Stanford to have a prayer in this game, they'll need to apply that defense to an as-of-yet unstoppable Oregon offense featuring fringe Heisman candidates Kenyon Barner and Marcus Mariota.  Not likely.  Stan: 24--UO: 45
Schweinfurth: Stanford has been surprisingly good after losing Harbaugh and Luck. The offense is efficient enough and the defense can make timely stops.  Stopping Oregon, however, is a monumental task.  So far this season, the Ducks offense have made swiss cheese opposing defenses.  Josh Huff stretches the field for Mariota and Barner.  I expect this game to be close into the mid 3rd quarter until the Ducks' offensive tempo wears down the Cardinal.  Stan: 28--UO: 49

USC Trojans @ UCLA Bruins
Draper: UCLA has had a fantastic year with Brett Hundley toting and throwing the rock as well as Johnathan Franklin setting all kinds of records, but USC is still the big dog.  Lane Kiffin has done all he could to ruin what could have (and should have) been a magical season with the return of Matt Barkley, but I can't see the Trojans giving one away to the cross town rival.  Marquise Lee has been nothing short of spectacular (why no Heisman talk?---oh yeah, 3 losses...).  The Trojans step on the throat of the Bruins to remind them who their daddy is.  USC: 52--UCLA: 34
Auer: Another Pac-12 game, another lopsided win for the favorite. UCLA is a team no one has taken very seriously, but LA is USC's town, and the Trojan's are out to remind everyone of that. USC: 49--UCLA: 20
Hoying: It took 4 years and new coaches on both sidelines, but the football monopoly in Los Angeles may finally be over.  UCLA is one victory over the Trojans away from a second straight and first legitimate (looking at you, Wisconsin) Pac-12 South title.  Since denying USC a shot in the 2006 title game, UCLA has lost 5 straight in the series, but this year's Bruins are good enough to give the mythically talented Trojans a good fight.  This game is a classical battle of overperformers vs. underperformers, and I like the hot squad to come out on top.  Matt Barkley will try to air out some balls (ho ho ho) but it won't be enough.  Squirm, Lane Kiffin, squirm.  USC: 24--UCLA:31
Schweinfurth: The Bruins, while coming off of a PAC-12 Championship Game last year, still didn't impress me before the season.  I am still not sold on the Bruins but they are a decent team.  USC on the other hand, has been very disappointing.  The wide receivers are just sick. Maruquise Lee keeps showing he is the most dominant wideout in college football.  If Barkley can protect the ball and get it to Woods and Lee, UCLA has no chance.  USC: 42--UCLA: 28

Texas Tech Red Raiders @ Oklahoma State Cowboys
Draper: Another Big 12 shootout...yawn.  Texas Tech got all sorts of accolades with Tuberville 'supposedly' installing defense in the score happy Big 12...nope.  Seth Doege has been the star moving up and down the field, but Mike Gundy's QB acumen is amazing.  No, the Poke defense won't turn heads (other than watching the opponent score again), but the offense can score.  Also, the game is in Stillwater.  He's a man! He's gonna put up more than 40! TT: 48--OSU: 58
Auer: OSU has owned the Red Raiders the last two years winning 34-17 and 66-6, add to that the Cowboys are flying high after smacking down the Mountaineers, and if the momentum swings OSU's way, the Raiders may never have a chance to come up for air. The Pokes will take advantage of the surge of support thanks to these recent successes, and pound TTU again. TT: 38--OSU: 63
Hoying: This was supposed to be a different kind of Texas Tech squad under Tommy Tuberville.  But here we are in November, and once again the Red Raiders feature the nation's top passing attack and a mediocre defense.  The blowout win over West Virginia feels like ages ago, and this is Tech's last chance to make a statement this season.  The Cowboys are in many ways their mirror images.  They're men, they score 40 a game, and give up plenty of points to boot.  If you're disappointed that Oregon won't be scoring enough points against a tough Stanford D, tune into this match-up; you won't be disappointed.  Ummmmmmm, Cowboys.  TTU: 59--OSU: 66
Schweinfurth: Texas Tech is starting to look like they are getting their swagger back.  Oklahoma State lost it's entire offense last year.  It's the Big 12, so it's a shootout in Stillwater.  TTU: 42--OSU: 49

THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ Wisconsin Badgers
Draper: The Bucks enter the battleground in Madison to a much different tune.  Everyone expected the Badgers to run away and hide with the Leaders division, but they've been a major disappointment with the Buckeyes carrying the banner (shocker!!).  Yes, Wisky will represent the division in the B1G title game, but this game is for bragging rights.  If the Buckeyes win out, they can (and will) always claim to be the B1G Champs (unless NW, Minn, or Iowa wins it...so we're safe).  Braxton and Hyde have had a week off to prepare and I think the rowdiness usually present in Madison will be toned done.  Wisconsin likes to run the ball and control the clock...perfectly suited for our defense to shut them down.  Bucks get it done and keep the undefeated dream alive before the Wolverines enter the Shoe. OSU: 34--UW: 24
Auer: The line favors the Badgers, the crowd favors the Badgers, I'm down a lot in our pick 'em, and as much as I hate it, I'm picking the Badgers. The Buckeyes have a very hard time in Madison and traditionally struggle here of all places after a bye week. The disrespect the Bucks have received will be justified after a disappointing performance setting up a "must-win" scenario for the look-ahead game against Michigan. OSU: 17--UW: 28
Hoying: In an odd twist, both of these teams come into this game having wrapped up the Leaders Division.  There's nothing to play for here but pride, which is bad news for Wisconsin, because I don't know how you can be proud of a program steeped so deeply in mediocrity.  Wisconsin likes to run the ball, and the Buckeyes like to not let them.  We saw how that worked out for Michigan State and Nebraska.  And now the Silver Bullets may actually be healthy?  Whoo boy.  Badgers?  We don't need no stinkin' Badgers!  OSU: 31--UW: 17
Schweinfurth: Ahh yes, one of the two games I have been looking forward to all year.  Flash back to this offseason when Fat Bielema ran his mouth about Meyer's recruiting tactics.  Urban has said it's water under the bridge, but come on.  You know Urban is pissed and he wants Bucky's head on a silver platter.  The bye week has helped the Bucks get back to fundamentals and, more importantly, to get healthy.  Expect the Buckeyes to load up the box and force Wisconsin's QB du jour to throw the ball.  The Silver Bullets are built to stop a team like the Badgers.  I expect a little rust on the offense.  A steady dose of Miller, Hyde, and Smith (that backfield is just sick) will open up the deep ball to Stoneburner and Smith.  I like the Bucks to pull away late...and then Meyer gives Bielema the bird and stuns him on the "Big Dubya." OSU: 45--UW: 20


Upset Special
Draper: FCS over SEC (not really, just wanted to remind everyone of the joke SEC game hidden in week 12)--Cal over Oregon State
Auer: BGSU over KSU
Hoying:  West Virginia over Oklahoma
Schweinfurth: Iowa over TTUN

Rankings and Heisman Ballots (Post Week 11)

Heisman Ballots:
Draper
1) Collin Klein (QB--KSU)
2) Johnny Manziel (QB--Texas A&M)
3) Braxton Miller (QB--OSU)

Hoying
1) Collin Klein (QB--Kansas State)
2) Braxton Miller (QB--Ohio State)
3) Johnny Manziel (QB--Texas A&M)

Schweinfurth
1) Collin Klein (QB--KSU)
2) Johnny Manziel (QB--TAMU) Signature win catapults him up this list.
3) Braxon Miller (QB--OSU)

Top 25 Rankings
Draper
1. Kansas State
2. Oregon
3. Notre Dame

4. Georgia
5. Alabama
6. Ohio State
7. LSU
8. Florida State
9. Florida
10. Texas A&M
11. Clemson
12. South Carolina
13. Stanford
14. Nebraska
15. Oklahoma
16. Oregon State

17.. Louisiana Tech
18. UCLA
19. Louisville
20. Rutgers
21. Texas
22. Kent State
23. Michigan
24. Oklahoma State
25. Texas Tech


Hoying
1. Kansas State
2. Notre Dame
3. Oregon
4. Ohio State
5. Florida
6. Alabama
7. Georgia
8. LSU
9. Texas A&M
10. Florida State
11. South Carolina
12. Clemson
13. Stanford
14. Oklahoma
15. Oregon State
16. UCLA
17. Nebraska
18. Louisiana Tech
19. Texas
20. Kent State
21. Rutgers
22. Louisville
23. Oklahoma State
24. Texas Tech
25. Michigan

Schweinfurth
1. Oregon
2. Kansas State
3. Notre Dame
4. Ohio State
5. Alabama
6. Georgia
7. Florida State
8. Florida
9. Clemson

10. LSU

11. South Carolina
12. Oregon State
13. Texas A&M
14. Oklahoma
15. Stanford
16. UCLA
17. Nebraska
18. Texas
19. Louisville
20. Rutgers
21. USC
22. Louisiana Tech

23. Texas Tech
24. Oklahoma State
25. Kent State