Grading the Bucks: Week 3--Northern Illinois

Welcome back JT.

Offense: D

I was wrong like everyone else.  This offense should be an absolute juggernaut (and may yet be), but they aren't there yet.  I've seen the bevy of arm chair QBing and I disagree with most of it so allow me to throw my two cents in.  Playcalling is an issue, but it's not the reason for the lack of success.  The reason is simply a lack of execution.  No, Tom Herman in Houston isn't causing Cardale to throw to the defense or the O-line to struggle in the blocking schemes.  The coaching staff isn't different.  I wonder if we're seeing a team that's resting on it's laurels.  You can't roll the ball out there and expect to win when you get every team's best shot.  NIU isn't a slouch, but they are not only a defensive TD worse. The offense is simply too predictable.  

To the quarterback issue: It's time to go back to Captain Smooth.  JT needs to take the first team reps for the whole week and to get back to 2014 JT.  Cardale has simply regressed from the magical title run and the loss of a consistent deep threat is simply more costly than we thought.  Why I think it's JT time? The receivers are more possession/slot receivers than stretch the field...which works with the defensive diagnosis ability of JT.  Cardale can muscle the ball...but the receivers aren't built to run under it.  Michael Thomas remains an absolute stud that isn't being utilized.  JT can exploit his skill set.  Also, we thought Cardale would open the running lanes up for Zeke by stretching the field, but unfortunately, the lack of a true running threat with Cardale has keyed the front seven into stopping 15.  JT confuses the defense and keeps them questioning who has the ball.  It's time for a return to greatness.

Finally, 5...FIVE turnovers? Completely unacceptable.  Cardale's throws were atrocious, Zeke's fumble was bad (but not as costly as it was on 4th down), JT's interception was a lapse in judgement that was on him for missing the deep zone, and Samuel's was inexcusable given the situation.  This. Can. Not. Continue.  Mr. Hoying likes to say: "Stupid team rarely wins".  We bucked that trend this week, but not against better teams.

Defense: A-

Very little to complain about here.  All the points came off turnovers with a shorter field.  The defense was fantastic, but I can't give a full A to the team because of one play.  3rd and 11 late in the game in the red zone with a 10 point lead, NIU ran a draw play up the middle...and carried multiple attempted tacklers beyond the sticks.  That play made me want to puke.  The fact that NIU simply wanted it more, it not acceptable for the Bullets.  That being said, the 3 stars on this defense: Darron Lee, Gareon Conley (keep an eye on this guy), and Joey Bosa.  Look out NFL.  

Special Teams: B+

The other team kicked the ball out of bounds!! Not us!!  HOORAY!!! Not much to complain about.  Good punting (although there was simply too many of them...thanks offense), good kicking, but one issue: Jalin Marshall needs to stop stopping my heart every time he field a punt.  Crunch time when  simply getting possession can seal the game, and you DIVE TO CATCH A PUNT!?!?! I'm done returning punts.  Time to let the ball bounce every time and stay away.

Coaching: B-

Defensive coaching was fantastic again.  Offensively... eh.  I won't blame the closeness of the game on the playcalling (see above).  I still don't know why we eschew the quick slant, screen, buttonhooks, and drag routes, but hopefully, we can realize that these receivers are built for this.  I have faith that it will correct.  I am totally of the belief that the coaches were not a fault this week.  

Overall: C

Nice and average.  Great defense; painful offense.  Time to turn the corner.  Maybe NIU is really, really good...or maybe not.  Next week better show me something.  I really thought (like everyone) we'd have great eyepopping offense and a good defense.  Instead we have great eyepopping defense and an ok offense.  The good news is offense is easier to fix (we've seen these same players go crazy).  I just want to see it NOW!

Week 3 - One Direction

Standings
1) Draper                 8-1    (1-1 upset)
1) Seeberg               8-1    (0-2 upset)
3) Schweinfurth     7-2    (1-1 upset)
4) Hoying                5-4    (1-1 upset)

Hope you enjoyed those easy victories over Virginia Tech and Hawai'i, Buckeye Nation, because the cupcake train is over. Coming up, the Bucks have not one, but TWO games against teams from the MAC, the first conference this season to crack the ALMIGHTY SEC WEST. There are a few ranked matchups scattered across the college football landscape, but the real action this Saturday will be down by the banks of the Olentangy.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Draper: Malik Zaire is gone and that is simply devastating to the Irish hopes of greatness.  They eked out the win last week, but GT is just steamrolling people now.  Paul Johnson is showing what can happen with the option offense and really good athletes.  It's nearly impossible to get ready to face a pure option offense that runs this well.  The best chance to win is to outscore the option team...and ND lost their QB.  Jacketstime! GT: 41 -- ND: 24
Hoying: Old and busted...new hotness. The Irish are losing weapons fast, with RB Tarean Folston going down at the hands of the 'Horns and QB Malik Zaire getting destroyed by the 'Hoos. The injuries haven't hurt the Irish yet, because they played...Texas and Virginia (and apparently college DBs still don't know what "defense" is), but a powerful Georgia Tech offense is going to put a lot of pressure on the Notre Dame offense to keep up. Good thing they still have Everett Gols...whoops. The Ramblin' Wreck crashes into the playoff discussion with a big road victory. GT: 34--ND: 24
Schweinfurth: Notre Dame had a game last week, eh? Losing Zaire plus several other playmakers are going to make, what looked like a top 10 team, a team that will probably make a meh bowl game. Georgia Tech can just grind teams down and that is exactly what the Yellow Jackets do. GT: 35--ND:20
Seeberg:  At the start of the season I had Georgia Tech as the surprise ACC winner.  Notre Dame might have been a decent test as they can likely score with the Ramblin' Wreck (they're a heckuva engineer), but without Zaire at QB I can't picture them conjuring up enough points.  Georgia Tech's triple option is tough enough to prep for as it is, and ND's subpar defense will be exposed.  GT: 38--ND: 21

Ole Miss Rebels @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Draper:  Ole Miss seems to continually get credit simply for playing in the SEC West.  They pulled the upset last year...then collapsed.  They've overrun the 'competition' this year, but those quotation marks tell a story.  Revenge is always a factor and Nick Saban doesn't forget.  Revenge game in Tuscaloosa? Sorry Rebs.  Miss: 17 -- Bama: 31
Hoying: Poor Ole Miss. Last year they pulled off the monster upset in Oxford, catapulting them into the national title discussion, and it didn't matter at all. Alabama still ran the table and ended up #1 in the final playoff committee rankings. After last week's SEC West near-implosion, it looks like the Tide are poised to do it again, regardless of the outcome of this game. And that's a shame, because Ole Miss has blown the doors off their first two opponents and look like they could really put a scare into another super-tough Tide defensive squad. But if there's anything my last two weeks of craptastic picks have taught me, it's that 2015 does not appear to be the year of the upset. Pick the favorite and move on. Miss: 24--Bama: 31
Schweinfurth: Ole Miss' offense has looked really good this year, albeit against very inferior competition. However, Alabama's offense isn't exactly lighting teams up. As much as Saban likes to play defense and a adequate offense, the Tide are going to have to score a lot of points. I think Ole Miss pulls this one out...and Bama will drop 1 spot in the poles.  Miss: 42--Bama:35 
Seeberg:  The Ole Miss football team is averaging 74.8 points over its first two games.  Allow that to sink in for a minute.  For perspective, only 29 men's BASKETBALL teams averaged more last season.  That average is likely to drop significantly against a staunch Crimson Tide D...but not as much as you might think.  The Bama offense has been very mediocre thus far, managing just 36 ppg, including a sleepwalking 37-point performance against Middle Tennessee State.  To put it bluntly, I don't trust Lane Kiffin to keep the ball away from Ole Miss long enough.  He'll probably give the ball to Derrick Henry more often than he did in the Sugar Bowl (I've said it before and I'll say it again- if he had 25 touches in that game the Buckeyes would have lost), but I don't think it will be enough.  The Rebels do the unthinkable and pull back-to-back upsets of the King of the SEC.  Miss: 38--Bama: 33

BYU Cougars @ UCLA Bruins
Draper:  Everyone continues to hype the Bruins, but how good are they really? BYU has been the master of the Hail Mary, but will that last?  Something's gotta give.  BYU is an ok team...but I don't see a real contender (especially without Taysom Hill).  Rosen isn't the second coming, but he's pretty darn good.  The game in the Rose Bowl solidifies the choice.  Bruins win comfortably (and make sure the game is not within a TD on the last possession).  BYU: 20 -- UCLA: 38
Hoying: How good is UCLA's prevent defense? We know how good Nebraska's and Boise State's are (bad, m'kay.) 2-0 is 2-0, and against 2 good teams at that, but the Cougs are 2 Hail Joseph Smiths away from being another mid-major also-ran with a busted QB. Meanwhile every trendy voice in the college football world is falling all over himself to crown freshman QB Josh Rosen as the next Jameis Manziel. With no Taysom Hill taking the field for BYU, we won't learn as much about UCLA as we might've from this game, unless they lose. Make sure you keep a 2 possession lead until the end, Bruins. BYU: 20--UCLA: 31
Schweinfurth: Let's see, I know enough about these teams to pick a score. :) BYU: 17--UCLA: 28
Seeberg:  UCLA has looked remarkably steady under freshman QB Josh Rosen early.  BYU has looked exactly how you'd expect a team to look under a reasonably talented backup thrown into duty:  bipolar.  Still, both squads are 2-0 making this a surprisingly intriguing early-season game.  I can't decide if Rosen will break out and drop 50 on anyone this year.  I don't think it will happen just yet, but a sound bend-but-don't-break defense (*cough Tressel cough*)  will keep the freshman confident and he appears to play well as a front runner.  The Cougars run out of Mormon Magic in the Rose Bowl.  BYU: 13--UCLA: 34

Auburn Tigers @ Louisiana State Tigers
Draper: Auburn has those stirring wins vs. 0-2 Louisville and in OT vs. Jacksonville State...woof.  LSU has an impressive win vs. CLANGA on the docket, and returns to the Bayou...uh oh.  I think this one should be a sizable win for the Tigah's, but  Les Miles tries to 'dumb it up' and makes it closer.  Leonard Fournette is still a stud and will finally show that Malzahn is back to earth.  Aub: 17 -- LSU: 31
Hoying: Y'all is still Tiger bait. One team can't throw the ball well, the other doesn't even try to. I suppose that gives the advantage to the team that can run the ball. LSU has Leonard Fournette, who gashed the Bulldogs for 159 yards and 3TDs. Auburn has Peyton Barber: good, not great. Then again, this game might come down to the team that doesn't collapse during the 4th quarter, a feat neither of these teams has yet accomplished (though it hasn't cost either one...yet). LSU should have the lead at that point, so...advantage Auburn? Hahahaha no. Aub: 17--LSU: 24
Schweinfurth: Auburn almost lost to Jacksonville St. While I don't think LSU is a world beater, Auburn should have lost to Jacksonville St. Because Auburn should have lost to Jacksonville St, I'll take LSU. Aub: 10--LSU: 17
Seeberg:  Auburn looked very good for a half against Louisville...and very horrendous in the three halves (plus OT) they have played since.  I really thought that the Tigers' (Auburn Tigers, that is) run game would give Jeremy Johnson enough time to adjust and surprise a few people.  I thought wrong.  He has a mediocre QBR and less than 190 passing yards per game against Louisville and a 1-AA opponent (albeit one on the top 5).  LSU is just too suffocating on D and Fournette will keep the ball away from Auburn, limiting their opportunities to score.  This one goes to the Tigers (can't go wrong there!)  Aub: 13--LSU: 27

Northern Illinois Huskies @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: This is simply another round of: Will Urban call a game suited to the strengths of this team?  If he stretches the field with Cardale and/or runs the read option with JT, this team won't be stopped.  Otherwise, I'm confident the Bucks win comfortably, but I want a pasting.  The defense was great last week.  If they keep it going, we'll be in great shape.  I'm more concerned with the offense.  There are no more excuses.  Time to stomp these teams mercilessly.  38-0 is great, but we were not good on offense.  What happens if we do play well on offense? It may be rated NSFW.  That's what we need here. Take no prisoners and be the monsters of college football that you should be.  NIU: 10 -- OSU: 56
Hoying: Whither the Buckeye O? Cardale didn't look too sharp on Saturday, and the defenders were getting outside before Zeke was, but the Bucks did have an impressive red zone performance, going 5-for-5 with 4 TDs. With a full week to prepare for a mediocre MAC-style defense, Buckeye Nation should expect a few more fireworks this week. Of course, you always win when the other team doesn't score, and the Silver Bullets look even better than they did during last year's championship run. They'll be tested by QB Drew Hare and the impressive Husky passing attack, but Eli Apple, Gareon Conley, and Vonn Bell should be able to make some big plays and preserve a big margin for our beloved Bucks. MORE JT! NIU: 13--OSU: 52
Schweinfurth: The offense was a hot mess last week. The execution was messy and I think the Slobs looked tired. I am in the camp that a short week after a VERY physical game will do that to a team. Yes, Northern Illinois is a good MAC team. The Huskies just aren't on the same level as the Buckeyes. I do think the Huskies will score and keep it close for a quarter or two, but Ohio State just has way too much talent to lose. I expect the Silver Bullets to stay loaded and force a few turnovers. The offense will respond and we should see the typical Cardale led offense that we grew accustom to in the postseason last year. Zeke gets his yards, Braxton goes X-Brax again, and Cardale shows of the 12 gauge. On a side note, Ohio State made the best decision in bringing back the grey sleeve stripes. NIU: 17--OSU: 49
Seeberg:  Let's be honest, even if this were the Northern Illinois team circa 2012 that was ripping the MAC apart, they would still be no contest for the Buckeyes.  Sadly for the Huskies, they are a couple notches worse than those NIU teams and they are entering the 'Shoe to face a team looking to prove last week (a 38-0 win, mind you) was nowhere near their best game.  The playcalling offensively has been head-scratching at times, likely a combination of new play-callers not knowing how to best use the vast array of weaponry available to them.  No shutout this week, but an equally convincing win.  NIU: 10--OSU: 48

Upset Special
Draper: Stanford over SC (saw Duke was favored)
Hoying: Boston College over Florida State
Schweinfurth: Air Force over Michigan St (why not)
Seeberg:  Western Kentucky over Indiana

Week 14 Picks: Lots of NOT undefeated teams playing...

Standings
1) Schweinfurth  45-11 (6-7 upset)
2) Hoying           40-16 (3-10 upset)
3) Draper            33-23 (4-9 upset)
4) Auer               31-22 (2-10 upset)

Louisville Cardinal @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Big East--defacto)
Draper:  Big East de-facto championship...woo.  Preseason, I had these teams pillow-fighting it out (no, really I did) for the Orange Bowl (or maybe even the Sugar if the Flashes shock the world).  These teams are supremely mediocre, but I like Teddy Bridgewater (which is why I picked Louisville preseason).  Bridgewater is banged up, but I'm riding the preseason pick...also, I couldn't be as bad this week as I was last week, right?...RIGHT? LVille: 27--Rutgers: 24
Auer: Both teams coming in 9-2, both coming off of a puzzling loss. Rutgers couldn't get things going against lowly Pitt and Louisville just barely fell to UConn in triple overtime. Louisville however is coming off of two straight losses, the previous to an even-worse-than-Pitt, Syracuse. I'll stick with the future Big Ten conference member here. LVille: 20--Rutgers 31
Hoying: A few weeks ago, this looked like a possible match-up of middleweight undefeateds, but some losses to crappy teams have dulled this a bit.  The good news is the league championship for the conference that no one wants to be in is still up for grabs.  I picked Rutgers preseason as the Big East champ and their terrific defense will prove to be too much for Bridgewater and company.  Sorry, Charlie Strong, maybe you'll get hired away when you can finish a season.  LVille: 17--Rutgers: 20
Schweinfurth: We get this game in the spirit of the B1G/ACC Challenge. Kinda. Both teams are floundering down the stretch after starting off very well.  This one seems to come down to Teddy Bridgewater.  If he plays, the Cardinals win.  If not, I'll take the Knights.  L'Ville: 35--Rutgers 24

Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Kent State Golden Flashes (MAC)
Draper: This is just here because I find it amusing that the MAC champion has a very real chance of making a BCS bowl (even after almost returning an interception for a safety...).  Darrell Hazell has worked wonders in Kent and will be off to greener pastures VERY soon. I'm not surprised after he taught us WR technique at OSU.  Need proof, look what happened to OSU WRs when he left.  Go Coach Hazell! NIU: 31--KSU: 34
Auer: KSU has been a stunner all season after they shocked the college football world during opening weekend. The shock to the world you ask? The player who returned a punt the wrong way was indeed a pride of KSU Golden Flash. Haven't watched anything else of either team honestly. This could go either way, but I'll go with the hot hand. NIU: 35--KSU: 31
Hoying: Imagine if Northern Illinois could have held on against Iowa, or if Kent State would've actually showed up against Kentucky (Kentucky?  Really?), the winner of this game could be undefeated and headed to a BCS bowl.  Wait, a one-loss MAC champ might go to the BCS anyway?  Yeesh.  Both teams have been playing good football against bad teams, but only Kent State has a quality win, beating Rutgers in Piscataway.  I expect that experience to serve them well here, as the Golden Flashes win their first MAC championship game.  NIU: 30--KSU: 34
Schweinfurth: I really haven't watch much MACtion this year, so I can't give much insight. I'll Hazel and the Flashes.   NIU: 31--KSU: 38

UCLA Bruins @ Stanford Cardinal (Pac 12)
Draper: An epic battle between preseason juggernauts Oregon and USC should be really really excit....wait, WHAT?  Stanford and who????  Oh boy, these games just get better and better.  Actually, this isn't a bad game because the D of Stanford has been very good and UCLA can score.  Unstoppable force vs. immoveable object?  Go with the immoveable object.  Stanford chokes Hundley and Franklin into submission preventing another UCLA home date in Pasadena. UCLA: 20--Stan: 31
Auer: This one wasn't close last week and it won't be again. UCLA was in a very peculiar situation last week as a win would have sent the Bruins to Oregon this week, but instead a loss set the match-up with Stanford. Kind of a "pick your poison" situation it seems. UCLA looked lethargic last week, and more than likely won't see much success this week. The positive? The winner only has to play the Big Ten Champion. UCLA: 17--Stan: 42
Hoying: Didn't we just see this game?  Despite the perverse incentive setup of last week's game, I didn't get the feeling that UCLA wasn't trying against Stanford.  They just weren't as good.  Now the game gets a reboot with the Cardinal as the home team.  I expect more of the same.  UCLA: 17--Stan: 35 (Same score)
Schweinfurth: Well, this one's interesting.  It seems we get a rematch from last week this week.  Stanford proved against Oregon that they have one of the best defenses in the nation.  Defense wins championships.  I'll take Stanford this time. UCLA: 13--Stan: 24

Florida State Seminoles vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (ACC)
Draper: Another season with high expectations ends in bitter disappointment for the Noles (fool me once...).  EJ Manuel has been a yo-yo all year and the defense actually got pounded last week.  The loss of Tank Carradine sucks but FSU is still far more talented than 6-6 GTech.  The option attack of the Ramblin Wreck is no fun to prepare for (thanks for the magnanimous bowl ban Canes...) but the speed on the Nole defense should be enough to contain it.  FSU has trounced most inferior opponents so I think they'll do the same here en route to Miami...for the wrong game.  The loss of Coach Mark Stoops to Kentucky has the makings of a possible upset (FSU lost Mark Richt to UGA and laid a monster egg in the NC vs. OU), but I thing the Noles roll to the Orange Bowl.  FSU: 38--GT: 13
Auer: Jesus, Georgia Tech's division must be awful if they are playing for the ACC Title... or maybe just everyone in their division is facing a postseason bowl ban... too soon? FSU: 52--GT: 21
Hoying: Coming into this game, Florida State has one quality win, and it's not a great one.  No matter the result in the ACC Championship Game, Florida State will still have one quality win.  The conference title is the Noles' for the taking, if they're properly motivated to take it.  FSU played a better opponent last week and actually put up a fight, while the Tech rambled and wrecked all over the field, much like the rest of the Coastal division.  This shouldn't be close.  FSU: 45--GT: 10
Schweinfurth: The Yellow Jackets should thank Miami for taking another postseason ban.  With that said, Florida State is the much better team and that defense is tough to run against.  I expect the 'Noles to bounce back and shut down the triple option. FSU: 45--GT: 10

Texas Longhorns @ Kansas State Wildcats
Draper: KSU is out of the ultimate prize thanks to a clunker vs. Baylor, but they can still capture a nice consolation prize in the Fiesta Bowl and a Big 12 Championship by beating the Longhorns.  Texas is another team that has disappointed this year with their talent, but a win here would be great for momentum.  This game is all about Collin Klein.  He can return to frontrunner Heisman status, but he has to have a spectacular game.  I think Bill Snyder has enough respect for his players that, given the chance, he will do everything possible to accentuate the positives of Optimus Klein.  KState clamps down at home and takes home the Big 12 title in a bittersweet fashion...if only....UT: 20--KSU: 31
Auer: The Longhorns seem to be a shell of their former team and will more than likely continue to implode... or will they? KSU is playing for next to nothing and will still be playing on New Year's day or in the BCS even with a loss. UT is coming together at the right time and could make this one interesting. UT: 24--KSU: 20
Hoying: Fun fact: Kansas State hasn't lost to Texas since their last Big 12 title, when Ell Roberson led the Wildcats against Ohio State in 2003.  This game will be very telling for the future of Kansas State.  The big prize is out of the picture, but a Fiesta Bowl bid would be an amazing accomplishment for a team that looked so helpless without Methuselah at the reins.  Make no mistake, K-State is the much better team here, especially since the Horns haven't solved their QB controversy, even after 11 games.  Home team, better team, and yes, better coach give 'Cats the victory and Big 12 title.  UT: 16--KSU: 31
Schweinfurth: So it sounds like we get Case McCoy this week.  Between he and Ash, I think McCoy is the better QB.  K-State is tough at home.  I'm looking for another Big 12 shootout.  UT: 35--KSU: 42

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Wisconsin Badgers* (B1G)
Draper: The Buckeyes roll in on a monster high as they prepare for the last big hurdle before the Irish....wait, what?  Postseason bans are stupid (I've always said this--not just because my team has one).  The 3rd place in the Leaders Badgers* take on the Legends champ Nebraska for the right to go to Pasadena.  The Huskers have the better team (by far in my opinion), but the Badgers* will try to (somewhat) defend their preseason favorite status.  Martinez will play well, as will Montee Ball, but the diversified Husker attack will outplay the more traditional Badger* ground and pound.  Nebraska win the B1G in their second season, but no one will care since the 'banned' Buckeyes trounced them earlier.  Everyone knows the real B1G title is in Cbus.  Neb: 38--UW: 24
Auer: Nebraska is BY FAR the better team here but will they show it? UW does have MontAE Ball.... maybe he'll change the pronunciation of his name again? Taylor Martinez could give an early launch to a 2013 Heisman Campaign... and probably will go off against the Badgers. Neb: 48--UW: 35
Hoying: If you've watched Nebraska carefully since they've joined the B1G, you've noticed they have terrific mojo in Lincoln but usually look completely lost on the road.  While this isn't a true road game, it's much closer to Wisconsin, and the Badgers will be out for blood after losing so many close games, including the heartbreaker in Lincoln early this season.  If this one goes to overtime, it's a sure Badger loss, but perhaps the big doofus will go for 2 late and pull out the victory.  No Ryan Shazier to provide late game heroics here.  Neb: 24--UW: 25
Schweinfurth: Another rematch game.  Nebraska dominated the first match up despite all the turnovers in the first half.  Wisconsin can run it with Montee (call me Montay) Ball but is otherwise one dimensional.  I'll take the Huskers for their first B1G Championship.  Neb: 52--UW: 35

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Draper: The SEC championship has a very sexy matchup of preseason favorites.  The winner is certain to face off with the Irish in Miami for the crystal ball.  The resumes of these teams are severely lacking (Bama beat LSU, lost to TAMU and UGA beating UF and losing to SoCar in games vs. top 15 opponents).  The schedules were extremely favorable in SEC play for these teams which is a big reason why they're here.  Florida, LSU, SoCar, and TAMU are arguably as good as these teams, but the tougher schedule in which they played each other, knocked them out.  That being said, this is Saban's chance to return to the spotlight.  UGA is generally flaky on the big stage.  The defensive talent in this game is spectacular, but while I think UGA may have better players, Bama has the better team.  Tide roll to another title shot in a slugfest. Bama: 23--UGA: 17
Auer: (Write up coming later) Bama: 28--UGA: 13
Hoying: Who wants to go to Miami and get thumped by the Irish? (wait...)  Nick Saban's technique of killing 10 kittens for each mistake his team makes (I'm assuming) seems to have motivated his team back to the world-beater status they held before the LSU game, while Georgia is on a tear of their own over their last 5 games.  Aaron Murray and "Gur-shall" are good enough to make the Tide pay, but Alabama seems to be playing sounder football, and Saban shines in games like these.  Bama: 20--UGA: 13
Schweinfurth: I haven't watched much of the Bulldogs this year.  However, I know 'Bama can run the ball and Lacy is a battering ram.  The Tide defense learned from the A&M game.  Look for Bama to go for 2 in a row in January.  Bama: 28--UGA: 13

Upset Special
Draper: Nevada over Boise State
Auer: Uconn over Cincy
Hoying: Wisconsin over Nebraska (there aren't a lot of games not picked above)
Schweinfurth:   TCU over Oklahoma