Standings
1) Schweinfurth 29-13 (3-7 upset)
2) Draper 28-14 (2-8 upset)
3) Hoying 27-15 (1-9 upset)
Oregon Ducks @ Stanford Cardinal
Draper: Is Stanford really as good as people think? Can Oregon smash a team with a pulse? This game will answer a lot of questions (or will it?) and for some unknown reason, it's hidden on a Thurs. night. Mariota has been fantastic against subpar...ok, bad...defenses. Stanford is overrated in my opinion, but still the best team the Ducks have faced by far. Kevin Hogan has quietly had a nice 'game-manager' type season and keeps the Cardinal in the discussion. Stanford ruined the dream for the Ducks last year and I see the Ducks returning the favor in Palo Alto. Stanford's offense will score...but so will Oregon. UO: 41--Stan:31
Hoying: Forget Florida State - Clemson and Florida State - Miami; this might be the premier non-bowl matchup of the year. The Cardinal offense hasn't been wowing anybody (where oh where have you gone, Toby Gerhart and Andrew Luck), and they suffered a puzzling loss in Rice-Eccles Stadium, but their defense is probably tops in the conference. That's good news, because it'll take a stellar defense and a good deal of luck to slow down Super Mariota and the mighty Duck juggernaut. Oregon hasn't forgotten about Stanford wrecking their dream season last year in Eugene, and they'll be itching to prove to the nation that they belong in the BCS's coveted #2 slot. One potential X-factor: Stanford's battle toughness. The Cardinal have been tested again and again this season and have 4 pretty good wins to show for it. Are the Ducks tough enough to come out of Palo Alto victorious? I hope not, but I think so. UO: 31--Stan: 24
Schweinfurth: Everyone keeps saying that Stanford is the team that will knock Oregon off their perch (out of their pond?). Look, Stanford plays a really tough style that has been Oregon’s kryptonite. The difference is, this Cardinal team isn’t that good. Stanford still doesn’t have legitimate weapons on the outside on offense and Kevin Hogan is doing a lot with very little. You have to score points and get turnovers to beat Oregon and I don’t think this Cardinal team has it in them. Sad day for the Buckeyes ORE: 38--Stan: 20
Oklahoma Sooners @ Baylor Bears
Draper: This is essentially a do or die game for Big Game Bob and Sooners. Win and you're right in the mix...lose and good night. Baylor has been scoring at will with Seastrunk and Petty, but my high school plays better defense than their opponents. Can Baylor survive the spotlight without RGIII? I'm going to say no. They will score, but the big game experience of the Sooners (I can't believe I'm saying that), will carry them to a very close win. Waco will be in a frenzy, but the big boy coming to town signals the clock striking midnight. OU: 35--Baylor: 31
Hoying: Two weeks ago I made a bold prediction that undefeated Texas Tech was about to take a nosedive after finally facing the meat of the Big 12 schedule. This weekend the Bears find themselves in their own put-up-or-shut-up moment in front of a national Thursday night audience. The Sooners are no stranger to big games this season (that win over Notre Dame looks better every week) but they haven't seen anyone as sharp or as hungry as Baylor. QB Bryce Petty has been shredding terrible terrible defenses for 18 TDs and only 1 INT, and the ground game headed by Lache Seastrunk (might as well be Bismo Funyuns) is no slouch either. Oklahoma might still be the better squad, but I don't trust Big Game Bob outside of Norman. Baylor announces their official BCS candidacy with a win over Boomer Sooner. OU: 34--Baylor: 35
Schweinfurth: Have you figured out who I think is the best team in the Big XII yet? Hint: It’s one of these two teams. Baylor has been just flat rolling teams the past two years and has done so quietly. Bear QB Bryce Petty stepped into RGIII’s shoes and then broke the scoreboard. This offense is operating with more explosiveness than Ohio State and Oregon. The Sooners will have their hands full in this one. Baylor won’t jump Ohio State when they win, but that gap will sure close. OU: 35--Bay: 63
BYU Cougars @ Wisconsin Badgers
Draper: All I really remember of the Cougars are them blowing Texas out of the water. The Badgers are just sneaking around with their '2' losses (stupid Pac12 refs). I don't see Camp Randall being particularly kind to the visiting Cougs. Melvin Gordon and James White will run all over them. The Badger D is also pretty darn good. Wisky rolls and keeps the dream of the BCS alive. BYU: 20--Wisc: 34
Hoying: What an oddity the Cougars are. One week they're losing to awful Virginia, the next they're crushing Texas. BYU has been cruising under the radar for some time now, quietly stringing together a nice chain of wins over Utah State, Georgia Tech, Houston, and Boise State. Now they've had two weeks to prepare for a Wisconsin squad that seems to be consistently improving as the season goes on. All you old-timers should enjoy this game: a couple of brand-name programs battling while probably combining to throw for 150 yards. Don't forget, this is the same BYU team that ran for 550 yards against Texas, and Wisconsin didn't get any last-minute recruits from NC State to shore up their passing game this year. Poor Abbie Doobie. Bucky won't need you to dispatch the Cougs. BYU: 17--Wisc: 24
Schweinfurth: Look, BYU has been playing well, but Wisconsin is (debatably) the second best team in the B1G right now. The Badgers are just going to give the Cougars a steady dose of Melvin Gordon and James White. And true to Bucky fashion, will be overly successful with it. Remember that Bert doesn’t coach this team any longer and Gary Anderson will actually stick with a game plan that works. BYU: 10--Wisc: 35
Virginia Tech Hokies @ Miami Hurricanes
Draper: I suppose this argument comes down to 'Which loss of/to Duke is worse?' The Hokies are faceplanting every week it seems after a promising start that made Bama look good. Losing to Duke....in football...what? Then there's the Hurricanes who kept squeaking by until they were annihilated by the Noles. Oh yeah, they lost their best player in Duke Johnson for the year. Stephen Morris and logan Thomas are very similar QBs in their complete lack of consistency. Normally, I'd go with the home team....but Miami's home field advantage is like a dentist's office in West Virginia--nonexistent. Miami's loss of Duke is more painful. Hokies win to stay alive in the Coastal race. VT: 24--UM: 17
Hoying: Oh-ee-ay! Tail Spin! Oh-ee-oh! Tail Spin! After very promising starts, these two teams are in danger of falling to the middle of the ACC Coastal pack (leaving the door open for the Dukies baby!). One ship will be righted this weekend, while the other will, I suppose, count themselves lucky that they don't have to play Florida State at season's end. So who has the edge? Virginia Tech's defense looked special before being exposed at the hands of Boston College RB Andre Williams. Unfortunately, Miami's super RB Duke Johnson is out indefinitely, and the Hurricanes' suddenly one-dimensional offense won't be able to move the ball this weekend. Always a shame to see the 'Canes lose. VT: 20--UM: 13
Schweinfurth: Miami is a decent (not great) ACC team who got their tails whipped by an elite team. We can all proclaim that the “U” is not back. To me, however, Virginia Tech has turned into an also ran in the ACC. Gone are the days of a manageable offense with stout D and Beamerball. These days Virginia Tech seems to slog their way on offense. Miama has a formula to win games like this and it’s called “give Duke Johnson the ball.” They will and they will win because of it. Poster note: Tyler clearly didn't see that Duke Johnson has a broken ankle. Giving him the ball is not recommended VT: 13--UM: 20
Louisiana State Tigers @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Draper: LSU's best game this year....a loss to UGA. As the Oracle would say: That's a great game...in 2011. The Tigeauxrs have done nothing this year of note. Their living on name alone. Mettenberger has looked strong, but against Bama...I'll stick with Saban. The Tide have 1 big win, but have smothered everyone else. Roll Tide at home, y'all. This is payback for 2011 (even though they go revenge when it counted). McCarron for Heisman? He's number 4 for me. LSU: 16--Bama: 34
Hoying: Every time I see this game on the schedule, I'm reminded of the abomination that was the 2011 season (never forget). There's a bit more separation between these two teams than we've seen in previous years. In particular, LSU's defense has taken a significant step backwards. Don't look for a 9-6 overtime thriller this year. LSU under Les Miles is capable of snakebiting any opponent, but Saban has had 4 weeks to get ready for this one. Y'all are Tide bait. LSU: 13--Ala: 27
Schweinfurth: This isn’t your LSU teams of the past. They can actually move the ball but that defense is meh (and don’t give me this “it’s the SEC” BS). Alabama has been quietly efficient and that defense has been outstanding outside of letting Johnny sign my Football run wild. Alabama is still coached by Saban and LSU by a moron. LSU does enough to stay close but Bama pulls away late. LSU: 17--Bama: 27
Upset Special
Draper: Arizona over UCLA
Hoying: Houston over UCF
Schweinfurth: Pitt over Notre Dame
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