Standings
1) Schweinfurth 23-10 (3-5 upset)
2) Draper 22-11 (1-7 upset)
3) Hoying 20-13 (1-7 upset)
UCLA Bruins @ Oregon Ducks
Draper: The premier game resides in Eugene. Oregon's one win came over a very good, but beat up, Washington Huskies squad. Can they do it against another up and coming program? In Autzen, I think they are the big favorites. UCLA stubbed their toe against Stanford last week which seems to be the formula for good teams playing Oregon (get softened up by Stanford first). Mariota and Hundley will both have good games, but the road environment will be too much to overcome for the Bruins. The football monopoly may be over in LA, but not so much in the Pac 12. UCLA: 28--UO: 48
Hoying: Stanford ruins everything. First they lose to Utah to spoil an undefeated Stanford-UCLA game, then they beat UCLA to spoil an undefeated UCLA-Oregon matchup. Bruin QB Brett Hundley has finally come down to earth after a hot start, and I don't see him getting much more breathing room against a punishing Duck D. On the other side of the ball, the UCLA defense doesn't have the horses to keep up with Super Mariota and company. I don't see this being close. UCLA: 20--UO: 52
Schweinfurth: I gotta keep these short this week due to personal time constraints. I think this will turn into a second half blow out. UCLA will stick with Oregon in the first half, but just too many offensive weapons for the Ducks.
UCLA: 24--UO: 45
Texas Tech Red Raiders @ Oklahoma Sooners
Draper: Texas Tech is another one of those 'yeah we're undefeated, but...' teams. The schedule has been soft but Oklahoma hasn't faced a premier opponent yet either. Big game Bob is really tough to beat in Norman and I don't think this year is any different. The cinderella story with Kliff Kingsbury is a good one, but I think this game is above the ceiling for this year. The future is bright in Lubbock, but the future is not now. TT: 24--OU: 31
Hoying: Savor these next three days, Red Raider fans. Savor the fantasy of going undefeated and playing for a national championship before you fall flat on your face and slip to the middle of the Big 12 pack. Texas Tech has looked impressive so far against the Little Sisters of the Poor, but it's time for big boy football, with 4 of the next 5 games coming against the top 4 teams in the conference. And the most talented squad is up first. Oklahoma has already proven themselves decent with a nice road win over Notre Dame, and they will continue to get stronger as QB Blake Bell continues to develop. Sooners in a close one. TT: 27--OU: 28
Schweinfurth: Texas Tech has come a long way but as I said previously, I think Oklahoma is the second best team in the Big XII. Fortunately for the Sooners, it's not the Red Raiders. TT: 21--OU: 34
South Carolina Gamecocks @ Missouri Tigers
Draper: Missouri is on the rise and the Gamecocks are falling fast. Looks like this could be a battle of backup QBs with Connor Shaw's knee. Mauk was impressive last week against a stout Gator defense. The backup for South Carolina has experience, but Missouri is riding the wave. This is a tough one, but I'm going with the hot hand in a really close game. HBC loses another heartbreaker on the road. SoCar: 17--Mizzou: 20
Hoying: How long can Missouri weather the absence of James Franklin? The Florida defense is no slouch, and Mauk and the Tigers carved them up worse than any opponent the Gators have yet faced. Missouri appears to be for real this year, while South Carolina has struggled at times. It's hard to see them getting better after losing QB Connor Shaw. A Tiger win virtually seals the SEC East for Mizzou and puts them on a collision course with the winner of the Iron Bowl. SoCar: 24--Mizzou: 34
Schweinfurth: Mizzou is rolling right now and Maty Mauk looked good this past week. Blah, blah, Jedeveon Clowney, blah, blah, he won't be a factor. SCAR: 20--Mizzou: 40
Stanford Cardinal @ Oregon State Beavers
Draper: I wanted this for an upset special. I have not been particularly impressed with Stanford this year and I've made that clear with my picks. Oregon State is the forgotten team in the Pac 12 after an early loss to FCS Eastern Washington. Mannion has been fantastic and the passing game in general has been unstoppable. Stanford can match up on the lines, but this west coast dink and dunk offense will give them fits. Corvallis is usually home to one upset a year and this is it (even though OSU is pretty good). Stan: 30--OSU: 34
Hoying: There's only one reason to consider picking the Beavers in this game: QB juggernaut Sean Mannion. The junior leads all NCAA passers and is a true difference maker. However, let's look at the defenses he's seen. Eastern Washington. Hawaii. Utah. San Diego State. Colorado. Washington State. California. You may recognize 1 of these as an FCS team, and 2 of the others made Ohio State's backup quarterback look like Peyton Manning. What will Mannion do when he faces not just the first competent defense he's seen all year, but an excellent one? The Beavers get blasted, that's what happens. Stan: 45--OSU: 24
Schweinfurth: Oregon State has recovered nicely from that week 1 upset. Remember, this team almost went undefeated a year ago. I expect Stanford's slide to continue. Stan: 14--OSU: 31
Penn State Nittany Lions @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: The Buckeye defense stepped up in the 2nd half last week and they'll need to be on this week vs. Hackenburg. PSU has been somewhat of a yo-yo team, but the scholarship reductions and sanctions are beginning to show. This is Urban and the Buckeyes stage to turn some heads. Penn State has the name recognition to make a big win here mean something. Time to unleash Braxton and Carlos to show the nation the Bucks are for real. Style points don't matter any more, but they certainly don't hurt. The defense will be good enough and the offense will (finally) have their way. The most important part is the halftime show this week (I helped design it). Hope everyone enjoys! PSU: 20--OSU: 45
Hoying: Another year, another scrappy Penn State quarterback with lots of moxie. Here's how this one will play out. Hackenberg will come out and throw for 200 yards in the first half as Penn State keeps it close. Then Carlos Hyde will start eating defenders, starting with the scrawny DBs and working up to the meaty linemen. When he's sated, he'll leave Jekyll behind completely and enter full-on beast mode, scoring repeatedly and at will. Meanwhile, Hackenberg will throw 3 or 4 pick-sixes and Brent Musberger will feign sympathy as he thanks his lucky stars that his bet on Ohio State to cover won't result in his legs getting broken. Then, Mark May and Gary Danielson will lambaste the Buckeyes for another lackluster win over a weak opponent, while Lou Holtz desperately tries to juthtify Ohio Thate'th exthellent thschedule and Brackthton Miller's athtounding talent. PSU: 17--OSU: 38
Schweinfurth: This game is a bit scary for me. The Ohio State secondary has been just shy of gawd awful at times. But then I remember it's PSU (Pick Six University) and it's in the 'Shoe at night. If the Silver Bullets come out flying like they did against Wisconsin, this is over in a hurry. Roby gets the pick six and Buckeye nation will finally exhale about his play. Braxton FINALLY throws for 300+ yards and El Guapo goes for 150+. It's a big night for the Buckeye offense and The Chase rolls on. PSU: 24--OSU: 50
Upset Alert
Draper: Minn over Nebraska (but the real one is Oregon State)
Hoying: Tennessee over Alabama
Schweinfurth: NCSt over Florida State (sorry Chief, I called this on Monday)
Showing posts with label Oregon State. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oregon State. Show all posts
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Friday, November 23, 2012
Week 13 Picks: THE Game (and other rivalries)
Standings
1) Schweinfurth 39-10 (5-7 upset)
2) Hoying 34-15 (3-9 upset)
3) Draper 31-18 (3-9 upset)
4) Auer 25-20 (1-10 upset)
Florida Gators @ Florida State Seminoles
Draper: Everyone sees the rankings and thinks this is an easy win for the Gators, but the Noles enter as a 7 point favorite. The home field advantage of Doak is minimal compared to the Swamp, but the lack of the home-field to the Gators is huge. The Noles have only one win of note because Clemson is the only good team they've played while the Gators have 3 big wins (TAMU before they figured how to play, home of offenseless LSU, and home vs. South Carolina after they had a huge win). With that said, Florida has seemed to win games without understanding how. The defense is solid, but the Noles defense is even better with Carradine and Werner. I think the Noles will be 'up' for this more than anything and play with nothing held back. Gaytors fall on the road when they play a solid offensive team. UF: 13--FSU: 23
Auer: Florida started off hot, got flakey, and is looking to finish strong with an "upset" win in Tallahassee. A lot of frustration has mounted for the Seminoles this season. They were the odds-on favorite to be in the national championship game against the seemingly unbeatable Crimson Tide, then the real FSU showed up and they lost one they shouldn't to NC State (shocker, right?... not really). Florida is poised to claim a spot in the BCS National Championship game, but must win this one against a vengeance-filled, nothing-to-lose Seminole squad playing at home. UF: 24--FSU: 22
Hoying: All you who don't want to see another SEC-SEC title game, root like hell for the Noles in this one. Yeah, it's a moot point if Notre Dame takes care of business, but a Florida State win derails the conversation before it begins. This is probably the best match-up of the weekend. Both teams feature outstanding defense, which could be especially problematic for the weak Gator passing game. QB Jeff Driskel will be back for the tilt, but how long will he last against a punishing Seminole defense? Don't write Florida off-their resume matches up well with anyone's-but Florida State has barely been stopped all season, and the Gators don't have the Swamp to help them. UF: 10--FSU: 17
Schweinfurth: This game is tricky. The Gators have been good, not great, all season. Jeff Driskall has managed the offense this year. The Gator defense is indeed stout and is truly a "Will Muschamp" defense. Florida State has been a bit of a mystery to me all season. This team has looked like a national championship contender one week, and then a middle of the road ACC team the next. This game will be a down right slugfest. Bring your big boy pants for this one. E.J. Manuel eliminates the Gators from the championship picture. UF: 10--FSU: 17
Oregon Ducks @ Oregon State Beavers
Draper: Ducks came up with the most spectacular choke job of the season last week to all but remove them from the National Championship debate (or did they?). The Ducks will be HUGE fans of UCLA this week, but it's safe to say that a win here will send the Ducks to a BCS bowl. There's chance this game may be for a BCS game for either team but Oregon State is not nearly as attractive. The Beavers play solid fundamental football (which doesn't move the dial). I expect Mariota, Barner, and Thomas (not to mention Kelly) to go crazy in Corvallis. I don't expect another offensive failure by the Ducks. Ducks win the Civil War easily. UO: 48--OSU: 17
Auer: Yeah it may be a rivalry, but this one should not be close. State has played a more competitive slate of games, but Oregon has done as they usually do and been a impossible-to-stop avalanche in most games. The Ducks may take a little longer to get rolling, but the result will be the same. UO: 51--OSU: 34
Hoying: Oregon is reeling but their Rose Bowl hopes aren't over yet. All they need is a win in the Civil War and a Stanford loss to UCLA. Problem is, they're facing a team brandishing the same brand of tough D that doomed them last weekend. Oregon State is two heartbreaking losses from being a title contender themselves, carried by their staunch defense and steady QB play from Sean Mannion and Cody Vaz. There may be some fear that the Beavers now know the formula for smacking the Ducks, but anyone who's been paying attention to Oregon has known it for the last 4 years (ask Boise State, LSU, Ohio State, and Auburn). Executing is another matter. I love the Beavers this year, but they've stumbled a bit down the stretch, and I don't think they're quite tough enough to take down the Ducks. UO: 27--OSU: 20
Schweinfurth: Oh how one game can change the outlook of a season. Oregon was flat rolling until running into the wall that was Stanford. The Cardinal made Mariota look like a true freshman for the first time this year and bottled up Barner and Thomas. The Beavers are very strong on defense and have an offense that can move the ball well enough. I expect less scoring this week, as the Beavers try to control the clock. I just don't think the Ducks can be contained two weeks in a row. UO: 42--OSU: 31
Oklahoma State Cowboys @ Oklahoma Sooners
Draper: Bedlam doesn't have the meaning of the past years as neither team is close to National Championship talk. KSU remains in the drivers seat for the Big 12 driver sheet but the heavily preseason favorite Sooners could sweep in a steal the championship at the buzzer. The Pokes stand in the way with their dynamic offense. Norman has been a death trap for many teams in the past, but not so much this year. I'm riding Mike Gundy to keep the Sooners reeling. Stoops on the hotseat? OSU: 34--OU: 30
Auer: The Sooner defense showed more than a few holes in their defense last week and if they're not plugged against the Cowboys, this could be a shoot out. Both teams are peaking at the right time, and this could be one of the best games of the day. OSU: 42--OU: 47
Hoying: The Cowboys ended 8 years of futility last year, beating the Sooners to cap getting screwed out of the BCS title game. The Sooners have underwhelmed as of late, struggling to put away Iowa State, Baylor, and West Virginia after getting walloped by Notre Dame. The Cowboys are the usual Mike Gundy offensive juggernaut, but their defense has been exposed a bit in their three losses. And Oklahoma's Landry Jones is more than capable of taking advantage. I expect this game to look quite like last week's Oklahoma-West Virginia showdown, coming down to a late score or a missed conversion. Can Bob Stoops really lose 3 games at home in a year? Not this time. OSU: 34--OU: 35
Schweinfurth: The Cowboys are still in a rebuild mode after losing most of their offense to the NFL. The Sooners have most of their offense in tact, for now. Gotta go with Big Game Bob at home. OSU: 28--OU: 38
South Carolina Gamecocks @ Clemson Tigers
Draper: Clemson has been a complete juggernaut since the loss to the Seminoles whereas the Cocks have slowly declined all season (highlighted by the tragic loss of Marcus Lattimore to injury). I think Sammy Watkins and Tajh Boyd end the season with a HUGE victory over their hated rivals. Connor Shaw has been pretty decent all year, but after the Lattimore injury, the team is not the same. The defense is scary good (led by Clowney), but the Clemson offense is way better than all of the offenses in the SEC. Dabo gets a big win in Death Valley on the way to a BCS bowl (most likely). SCar: 20--Clem: 31
Auer: Clemson at home against Spurrier's up-and-down Gamecocks? Shouldn't be a contest. The Lattimore-less USC 'Cocks will have a hard time in this one. SCar: 17--Clem: 42
Hoying: Everyone has been all over Clemson as of late, and it's easy to see why. I mean, just look at that quality win over...Georgia Tech? Duke? Ball State? Clemson teams are notoriously flaky, but this squad hasn't even been given a chance to lose to a reasonably inferior opponent. The Tigers are a complete and total mirage, and QB Tajh Boyd is about to get a rude awakening at the hands of the Ol' Ball Coach and the battle-tested Gamecocks. SCar: 28--Clem: 17
Schweinfurth: Every year I make the mistake of picking Clemson in a big game. Can you fault me? Look at the offensive talent they have. That defense though...yuck. South Carolina on the other hand is sound in both phases. I've seen enough of Clowney to know that Boyd better wear extra padding. I learn from my mistakes and the Gamecocks win. SCar: 31--Clem: 28
Stanford Cardinal @ UCLA Bruins
Draper: Stanford comes off a huge OT win over the Ducks on a major high. UCLA would be well served to completely tank this game and save it up for a rematch with the Cardinal (I don't see them beating a refocused Duck squad), but I don't think Jim Mora will take his foot off the pedal after ending the football monopoly in LA. Johnathan Franklin and Brett Hundley have been spectacular all season. The Stanford D left it all on the field vs. the Ducks which gives the Bruins something for which to prepare. Need to make up some ground, and I don't believe in the Cardinal so Bruins it is! Stan: 23 UCLA: 24
Auer: After both teams pulled surprising upsets last week, this game has actually garnered some interest. The Stanford D faces a tough test with the UCLA O, and this game should come down to the wire. Stan: 34--UCLA: 26
Hoying: This game is the reason I hate conference championship games. UCLA could literally not show up to this game, come back 6 days later, and play the same opponent for the Pac-12 Championship. No one looks at the NFL during week 17 and says, "Wow, it was fun to see that playoff-bound team play their second string." Let's hope there's enough pride left in the college game for UCLA to actually put in an effort in this one. But come on, does anyone expect UCLA to be better motivated than Stanford here? Really? Stan: 28--UCLA: 17
Schweinfurth: Both of these teams are coming off huge upset wins. Stanford's defense was excellent against the Ducks and UCLA did just enough to hold on last week. With that said, I have to go with the defense that has looked the best all year. Stan: 17--UCLA: 10
Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ USC Trojans
Draper: The Domers have navigated their difficult schedule admirably, but there has been a few too many close calls. I've watch ND a lot this year, and they astound me how they keep winning. Many talk about how KSU was living on the edge, but ND barley beat Purdue, MSU, Stanford, and Pitt (Stanford being the only decent team). Manti T'eo has been nice, but not deserving of the extreme hype. USC provides a unique challenge as they have a truly elite offense (yes, OU had a good offense, but not elite). The backup QB provides a major issue for the Trojans, but the Irish can't matchup up with receivers of Troy. UCLA was able to beat USC in a shootout, but I don't see ND winning a shootout. Low scoring favors the Domers, but I expect a shootout where the Notre Dame defense is exposed a bit. Look out for another SEC/SEC title game....sigh. ND: 24--USC: 28
Auer: The Irish travel out west for what was expected to be the biggest game of the weekend. Matt Barkley got hurt and made this much more likely to be a competitive game. USC has some very talented players, but I don't believe they have the TEAM aspect that Notre Dame has shown this year. I hate it, but ND really shouldn't lose this one. ND: 20--USC: 19
Hoying: So USC is without its "Heisman caliber" quarterback. It's not like they were lighting up the world with him. And besides, as long as Marqise Lee is still running around in the secondary, it doesn't really matter who's tossing the ball his way. Meanwhile, the Irish are sporting the nation's top scoring defense against one of the nation's toughest schedules. But can they handle the pressure of being #1? Maybe more importantly, can Lane Kiffin avoid letting his Trojans completely crumble? 1. Yes. 2. No. ND: 27--USC: 21
Schweinfurth: I really didn't know what to make of this game...then Barkley got hurt. Marqise Lee is my Heisman favorite but there is a problem. He is a wide receiver. This means someone has to throw the ball. That someone is a red shirt freshman starting his first game against one of the top defensive units. Yea, that will go well. The only thing SC has going for them is home field. That won't be enough. Man, I hate waking up to the ND fight song on Mondays (thanks Golic). ND: 28--USC: 24
M!ch!g@n Wolverines @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: This is it. 11-0 (even with a team that isn't elite in my opinion) is nice, but it's all for naught if we can't finish. The Wolverines enter with a new QBat the helm which has actually bolstered their passing attack. Brady Hoke certainly has Blue Nation believing...but Urban Meyer has done the same with Buckeye Nation. Braxton needs to play better than last week and feed the beast in Carlos Hyde. Send these seniors out in the right way. This is the LAST time they'll ever sport the scarlet and gray and they deserve nothing but the best. Simon, Hankins, Roby and the resurgent LB corps show up to stifle the Wolverines and Miller, Hyde and Stoneburner win going away to add that asterisk onto whichever team wins the crystal ball. GO BUCKS!! BEAT BLUE!! UM: 13--OSU: 31
Auer: Unfortunately Michigan realized that Denard was more useful as a RB than a QB that threw about 50 interceptions per game. Urban Meyer will be looking to win-over the rest of the Buckeye faithful with a win tomorrow afternoon in frigid Columbus, and will need Braxton, Carlos, and oh yeah Simon and Hankins to come through in a big way to shutdown the Wolverine attack and send out the embattled seniors as winners. Lose tomorrow and Urban's (and his entire staff) ability to lead this team to future success remains a question mark, because 11-1 is great, except when that 1 comes against the evil Maize and Blue. UM: 21--OSU: 27
Hoying: 11-0 is nice, but since the loss in Ann Arbor last year and the imposition of the postseason ban, only one game has been on Buckeye Nation's mind. These teams are similar in a number of ways, featuring good defenses and dynamic quarterback play. However, Corn and Blue's defense ranks better against the pass, while the Silver Bullets focus on stopping the run. Since neither team throws the ball, this gives the advantage to the Buckeyes. The game may come down to Miller's decision making. If he can play smart, not turn the ball over, and remember to hand the ball off to Hyde a few times, the Bucks should roll. Start the streak again and leave Brady Hoke crying in his Fruity Pebbles. Not OSU: 17--OSU: 31
Schweinfurth: This is the game at the end of the world (season). I have been looking forward to this game since Devan Smith dropped the winner last year. Urban lives and breathes this rivalry. He has said it himself. I get that scUM is gonna roll out 2 QBs and they have had success with it...against Iowa and Minnesota. Yea. Those are good teams...NOT. I have faith that, when Denard touches the ball, he will be greeted rather rudely by Shazier or Simon. On offense, you will not see another game like last week. The meat chicken defense couldn't stop Braxton last year and they won't stop him this year either. If they do, Carlos will be waiting in the wings. Hyde gets his 1,000 yards, Brax runs for 150 and throws for 250 more. Jon Simon eats Denard's insides for Thanksgiving desert with a side of Gardner as Brady Hoke drools while watching on. He may need to channel his inner Matt Foley after this one. scUM: 21--OSU: 43 (Urban goes for two late)
Upset Special
Draper: TCU over Texas
Auer: Pitt over Rutgers
Hoying: Georgia Tech over Georgia
Schweinfurth: Washington State over Washington
1) Schweinfurth 39-10 (5-7 upset)
2) Hoying 34-15 (3-9 upset)
3) Draper 31-18 (3-9 upset)
4) Auer 25-20 (1-10 upset)
Florida Gators @ Florida State Seminoles
Draper: Everyone sees the rankings and thinks this is an easy win for the Gators, but the Noles enter as a 7 point favorite. The home field advantage of Doak is minimal compared to the Swamp, but the lack of the home-field to the Gators is huge. The Noles have only one win of note because Clemson is the only good team they've played while the Gators have 3 big wins (TAMU before they figured how to play, home of offenseless LSU, and home vs. South Carolina after they had a huge win). With that said, Florida has seemed to win games without understanding how. The defense is solid, but the Noles defense is even better with Carradine and Werner. I think the Noles will be 'up' for this more than anything and play with nothing held back. Gaytors fall on the road when they play a solid offensive team. UF: 13--FSU: 23
Auer: Florida started off hot, got flakey, and is looking to finish strong with an "upset" win in Tallahassee. A lot of frustration has mounted for the Seminoles this season. They were the odds-on favorite to be in the national championship game against the seemingly unbeatable Crimson Tide, then the real FSU showed up and they lost one they shouldn't to NC State (shocker, right?... not really). Florida is poised to claim a spot in the BCS National Championship game, but must win this one against a vengeance-filled, nothing-to-lose Seminole squad playing at home. UF: 24--FSU: 22
Hoying: All you who don't want to see another SEC-SEC title game, root like hell for the Noles in this one. Yeah, it's a moot point if Notre Dame takes care of business, but a Florida State win derails the conversation before it begins. This is probably the best match-up of the weekend. Both teams feature outstanding defense, which could be especially problematic for the weak Gator passing game. QB Jeff Driskel will be back for the tilt, but how long will he last against a punishing Seminole defense? Don't write Florida off-their resume matches up well with anyone's-but Florida State has barely been stopped all season, and the Gators don't have the Swamp to help them. UF: 10--FSU: 17
Schweinfurth: This game is tricky. The Gators have been good, not great, all season. Jeff Driskall has managed the offense this year. The Gator defense is indeed stout and is truly a "Will Muschamp" defense. Florida State has been a bit of a mystery to me all season. This team has looked like a national championship contender one week, and then a middle of the road ACC team the next. This game will be a down right slugfest. Bring your big boy pants for this one. E.J. Manuel eliminates the Gators from the championship picture. UF: 10--FSU: 17
Oregon Ducks @ Oregon State Beavers
Draper: Ducks came up with the most spectacular choke job of the season last week to all but remove them from the National Championship debate (or did they?). The Ducks will be HUGE fans of UCLA this week, but it's safe to say that a win here will send the Ducks to a BCS bowl. There's chance this game may be for a BCS game for either team but Oregon State is not nearly as attractive. The Beavers play solid fundamental football (which doesn't move the dial). I expect Mariota, Barner, and Thomas (not to mention Kelly) to go crazy in Corvallis. I don't expect another offensive failure by the Ducks. Ducks win the Civil War easily. UO: 48--OSU: 17
Auer: Yeah it may be a rivalry, but this one should not be close. State has played a more competitive slate of games, but Oregon has done as they usually do and been a impossible-to-stop avalanche in most games. The Ducks may take a little longer to get rolling, but the result will be the same. UO: 51--OSU: 34
Hoying: Oregon is reeling but their Rose Bowl hopes aren't over yet. All they need is a win in the Civil War and a Stanford loss to UCLA. Problem is, they're facing a team brandishing the same brand of tough D that doomed them last weekend. Oregon State is two heartbreaking losses from being a title contender themselves, carried by their staunch defense and steady QB play from Sean Mannion and Cody Vaz. There may be some fear that the Beavers now know the formula for smacking the Ducks, but anyone who's been paying attention to Oregon has known it for the last 4 years (ask Boise State, LSU, Ohio State, and Auburn). Executing is another matter. I love the Beavers this year, but they've stumbled a bit down the stretch, and I don't think they're quite tough enough to take down the Ducks. UO: 27--OSU: 20
Schweinfurth: Oh how one game can change the outlook of a season. Oregon was flat rolling until running into the wall that was Stanford. The Cardinal made Mariota look like a true freshman for the first time this year and bottled up Barner and Thomas. The Beavers are very strong on defense and have an offense that can move the ball well enough. I expect less scoring this week, as the Beavers try to control the clock. I just don't think the Ducks can be contained two weeks in a row. UO: 42--OSU: 31
Oklahoma State Cowboys @ Oklahoma Sooners
Draper: Bedlam doesn't have the meaning of the past years as neither team is close to National Championship talk. KSU remains in the drivers seat for the Big 12 driver sheet but the heavily preseason favorite Sooners could sweep in a steal the championship at the buzzer. The Pokes stand in the way with their dynamic offense. Norman has been a death trap for many teams in the past, but not so much this year. I'm riding Mike Gundy to keep the Sooners reeling. Stoops on the hotseat? OSU: 34--OU: 30
Auer: The Sooner defense showed more than a few holes in their defense last week and if they're not plugged against the Cowboys, this could be a shoot out. Both teams are peaking at the right time, and this could be one of the best games of the day. OSU: 42--OU: 47
Hoying: The Cowboys ended 8 years of futility last year, beating the Sooners to cap getting screwed out of the BCS title game. The Sooners have underwhelmed as of late, struggling to put away Iowa State, Baylor, and West Virginia after getting walloped by Notre Dame. The Cowboys are the usual Mike Gundy offensive juggernaut, but their defense has been exposed a bit in their three losses. And Oklahoma's Landry Jones is more than capable of taking advantage. I expect this game to look quite like last week's Oklahoma-West Virginia showdown, coming down to a late score or a missed conversion. Can Bob Stoops really lose 3 games at home in a year? Not this time. OSU: 34--OU: 35
Schweinfurth: The Cowboys are still in a rebuild mode after losing most of their offense to the NFL. The Sooners have most of their offense in tact, for now. Gotta go with Big Game Bob at home. OSU: 28--OU: 38
South Carolina Gamecocks @ Clemson Tigers
Draper: Clemson has been a complete juggernaut since the loss to the Seminoles whereas the Cocks have slowly declined all season (highlighted by the tragic loss of Marcus Lattimore to injury). I think Sammy Watkins and Tajh Boyd end the season with a HUGE victory over their hated rivals. Connor Shaw has been pretty decent all year, but after the Lattimore injury, the team is not the same. The defense is scary good (led by Clowney), but the Clemson offense is way better than all of the offenses in the SEC. Dabo gets a big win in Death Valley on the way to a BCS bowl (most likely). SCar: 20--Clem: 31
Auer: Clemson at home against Spurrier's up-and-down Gamecocks? Shouldn't be a contest. The Lattimore-less USC 'Cocks will have a hard time in this one. SCar: 17--Clem: 42
Hoying: Everyone has been all over Clemson as of late, and it's easy to see why. I mean, just look at that quality win over...Georgia Tech? Duke? Ball State? Clemson teams are notoriously flaky, but this squad hasn't even been given a chance to lose to a reasonably inferior opponent. The Tigers are a complete and total mirage, and QB Tajh Boyd is about to get a rude awakening at the hands of the Ol' Ball Coach and the battle-tested Gamecocks. SCar: 28--Clem: 17
Schweinfurth: Every year I make the mistake of picking Clemson in a big game. Can you fault me? Look at the offensive talent they have. That defense though...yuck. South Carolina on the other hand is sound in both phases. I've seen enough of Clowney to know that Boyd better wear extra padding. I learn from my mistakes and the Gamecocks win. SCar: 31--Clem: 28
Stanford Cardinal @ UCLA Bruins
Draper: Stanford comes off a huge OT win over the Ducks on a major high. UCLA would be well served to completely tank this game and save it up for a rematch with the Cardinal (I don't see them beating a refocused Duck squad), but I don't think Jim Mora will take his foot off the pedal after ending the football monopoly in LA. Johnathan Franklin and Brett Hundley have been spectacular all season. The Stanford D left it all on the field vs. the Ducks which gives the Bruins something for which to prepare. Need to make up some ground, and I don't believe in the Cardinal so Bruins it is! Stan: 23 UCLA: 24
Auer: After both teams pulled surprising upsets last week, this game has actually garnered some interest. The Stanford D faces a tough test with the UCLA O, and this game should come down to the wire. Stan: 34--UCLA: 26
Hoying: This game is the reason I hate conference championship games. UCLA could literally not show up to this game, come back 6 days later, and play the same opponent for the Pac-12 Championship. No one looks at the NFL during week 17 and says, "Wow, it was fun to see that playoff-bound team play their second string." Let's hope there's enough pride left in the college game for UCLA to actually put in an effort in this one. But come on, does anyone expect UCLA to be better motivated than Stanford here? Really? Stan: 28--UCLA: 17
Schweinfurth: Both of these teams are coming off huge upset wins. Stanford's defense was excellent against the Ducks and UCLA did just enough to hold on last week. With that said, I have to go with the defense that has looked the best all year. Stan: 17--UCLA: 10
Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ USC Trojans
Draper: The Domers have navigated their difficult schedule admirably, but there has been a few too many close calls. I've watch ND a lot this year, and they astound me how they keep winning. Many talk about how KSU was living on the edge, but ND barley beat Purdue, MSU, Stanford, and Pitt (Stanford being the only decent team). Manti T'eo has been nice, but not deserving of the extreme hype. USC provides a unique challenge as they have a truly elite offense (yes, OU had a good offense, but not elite). The backup QB provides a major issue for the Trojans, but the Irish can't matchup up with receivers of Troy. UCLA was able to beat USC in a shootout, but I don't see ND winning a shootout. Low scoring favors the Domers, but I expect a shootout where the Notre Dame defense is exposed a bit. Look out for another SEC/SEC title game....sigh. ND: 24--USC: 28
Auer: The Irish travel out west for what was expected to be the biggest game of the weekend. Matt Barkley got hurt and made this much more likely to be a competitive game. USC has some very talented players, but I don't believe they have the TEAM aspect that Notre Dame has shown this year. I hate it, but ND really shouldn't lose this one. ND: 20--USC: 19
Hoying: So USC is without its "Heisman caliber" quarterback. It's not like they were lighting up the world with him. And besides, as long as Marqise Lee is still running around in the secondary, it doesn't really matter who's tossing the ball his way. Meanwhile, the Irish are sporting the nation's top scoring defense against one of the nation's toughest schedules. But can they handle the pressure of being #1? Maybe more importantly, can Lane Kiffin avoid letting his Trojans completely crumble? 1. Yes. 2. No. ND: 27--USC: 21
Schweinfurth: I really didn't know what to make of this game...then Barkley got hurt. Marqise Lee is my Heisman favorite but there is a problem. He is a wide receiver. This means someone has to throw the ball. That someone is a red shirt freshman starting his first game against one of the top defensive units. Yea, that will go well. The only thing SC has going for them is home field. That won't be enough. Man, I hate waking up to the ND fight song on Mondays (thanks Golic). ND: 28--USC: 24
M!ch!g@n Wolverines @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: This is it. 11-0 (even with a team that isn't elite in my opinion) is nice, but it's all for naught if we can't finish. The Wolverines enter with a new QBat the helm which has actually bolstered their passing attack. Brady Hoke certainly has Blue Nation believing...but Urban Meyer has done the same with Buckeye Nation. Braxton needs to play better than last week and feed the beast in Carlos Hyde. Send these seniors out in the right way. This is the LAST time they'll ever sport the scarlet and gray and they deserve nothing but the best. Simon, Hankins, Roby and the resurgent LB corps show up to stifle the Wolverines and Miller, Hyde and Stoneburner win going away to add that asterisk onto whichever team wins the crystal ball. GO BUCKS!! BEAT BLUE!! UM: 13--OSU: 31
Auer: Unfortunately Michigan realized that Denard was more useful as a RB than a QB that threw about 50 interceptions per game. Urban Meyer will be looking to win-over the rest of the Buckeye faithful with a win tomorrow afternoon in frigid Columbus, and will need Braxton, Carlos, and oh yeah Simon and Hankins to come through in a big way to shutdown the Wolverine attack and send out the embattled seniors as winners. Lose tomorrow and Urban's (and his entire staff) ability to lead this team to future success remains a question mark, because 11-1 is great, except when that 1 comes against the evil Maize and Blue. UM: 21--OSU: 27
Hoying: 11-0 is nice, but since the loss in Ann Arbor last year and the imposition of the postseason ban, only one game has been on Buckeye Nation's mind. These teams are similar in a number of ways, featuring good defenses and dynamic quarterback play. However, Corn and Blue's defense ranks better against the pass, while the Silver Bullets focus on stopping the run. Since neither team throws the ball, this gives the advantage to the Buckeyes. The game may come down to Miller's decision making. If he can play smart, not turn the ball over, and remember to hand the ball off to Hyde a few times, the Bucks should roll. Start the streak again and leave Brady Hoke crying in his Fruity Pebbles. Not OSU: 17--OSU: 31
Schweinfurth: This is the game at the end of the world (season). I have been looking forward to this game since Devan Smith dropped the winner last year. Urban lives and breathes this rivalry. He has said it himself. I get that scUM is gonna roll out 2 QBs and they have had success with it...against Iowa and Minnesota. Yea. Those are good teams...NOT. I have faith that, when Denard touches the ball, he will be greeted rather rudely by Shazier or Simon. On offense, you will not see another game like last week. The meat chicken defense couldn't stop Braxton last year and they won't stop him this year either. If they do, Carlos will be waiting in the wings. Hyde gets his 1,000 yards, Brax runs for 150 and throws for 250 more. Jon Simon eats Denard's insides for Thanksgiving desert with a side of Gardner as Brady Hoke drools while watching on. He may need to channel his inner Matt Foley after this one. scUM: 21--OSU: 43 (Urban goes for two late)
Upset Special
Draper: TCU over Texas
Auer: Pitt over Rutgers
Hoying: Georgia Tech over Georgia
Schweinfurth: Washington State over Washington
Thursday, November 08, 2012
Week 11 Picks: Relax and Recover (these games are terrible)
Standings
1) Schweinfurth 34-7 (5-5 upset)
2) Hoying 29-12 (3-7 upset)
3) Draper 28-13 (3-7 upset)
4) Auer 23-14 (1-8 upset)
Oregon State Beavers @ Stanford Cardinal
Draper: These two teams are tough to figure out. Both have nice records (and extremely similar), but little substance in the mediocre Pac12. Stanford is tough at home, but the Beavs have been finding ways to win. Common logic says give the home team the advantage in a tight matchup, but I'm bucking logic. Oregon State gets their QB Cody Vaz back which I say tips the scales and earns a huge road win. Oregon is running away and hiding in the Pac12-North, but this fight for second may be for a BCS bid. OSU: 20--Stan: 17
Auer: Honest to God, no clue here. Both teams have been up and down, and there's not much "home field advantage" to speak of in the Pac-12. Stanford has faced a bit tougher competition this season, so I'll give them the edge. OSU: 28--Stan: 31
Hoying: Stanford kicks off its murderer's row to end the season with a visit from perhaps the surprise team of the year. Whoever wins stays hot on Oregon's heels, and the Ducks face both teams down the stretch. Oregon State is having a very nice season behind a decent defense and not much else. Beaver QB Sean Mannion is ready to go, but he hasn't seen action in a month other than a disastrous performance against Washington. Can the backup Cody Vaz pull off the big road win? Perhaps, if this game were in Corvallis, I'd believe the Beaver Fever, but this is Stanford's time. OSU: 17--Stan:24
Schweinfurth: Oregon State has been a really good story this year. Wideout Brandin Cooks is fast and the defense has played very well this year. Stanford has looked good in a few losses this year, but the Cardinal clearly miss both Luck and Harbaugh. Still, I like the Cardinal in a close one. OSU: 17--Stan: 20
Texas A&M Aggies @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Draper: Bama showed some flaws in the tough environment last week, and the Aggies have been nothing but explosive in recent memory. That being said, the Tide return to home and, I say, get back on the dominating track. Johnny Manziel is fantastic, but the Bama D is ready to step back into the spotlight. I think the Aggie freshman is entering a whole new world of hurt. Bama may be beaten up, but their defense has a new found chip on their shoulder. Tide rolls. TAMU: 16--Bama: 30
Auer: For whatever reason, Alabama has struggled when put up against a mobile QB. In fact, the last two losses came at the hands of mobile QB's (Newton & Jefferson). A&M is coming off a big win at Mississippi State and will be playing their tenth straight game of the year. Even with the Tide's potential "hangover" after the big win at LSU, the Aggies do not have what it takes to beat a team of Alabama's caliber. Aggies lose this one, BIG. TAMU: 17--Bama: 41
Hoying: Let me get this straight: Alabama craps all over the field for 28 minutes in the second half, then LSU sends in the prevent defense and the Tide are suddenly invincible? This team clearly showed they are not 2001 Miami or 1995 Nebraska. They are beatable. A&M has the offense to make Alabama sweat a little. Remember, this team had LSU in a bad way before blowing it down the stretch. However, this is the last game Nick Saban has to prepare for until the SEC Championship game (no, Auburn). I can feel his anger. It makes him strong, gives him focus. Only his hatred can destroy the Aggies. TAMU: 22--Bama: 27
Schweinfurth: The Aggies have to be catching Bama at the best time. The Tide are more than likely mentally and physically drained after the big win at LSU. McCarron is showing that he can more than manage an offense. I still don't trust the Aggies defense, but Manziel and the A&M offense can move the ball. LSU showed the Alabama defense isn't bullet proof. Alabama is the better team and the talent will overcome an early game letdown. TAMU: 19--Bama: 24
Mississippi State Bulldogs @ Louisiana State Tigers
Draper: Mississippi State is taking a beating after back to back games @ Bama and vs. TAMU...now it's off to a very angry Death Valley. Uh oh. Zach Mettenberger played the game of his life against the Tide and I don't think he has another game like that in him...even though MSU is a hoax. The LSU D will shut the dogs down and probably even get a score. Shouldn't be close. MSU: 10--LSU: 31
Auer: The Bulldogs have plummeted quickly after starting the season 7-0, and losing the last two by a combined score of 76-20... ouch. LSU is a very good squad and showed it last week against the nation's top team. This is one hangover upset I believe in. MSU finds their groove against a deflated LSU squad. MSU: 19--LSU: 17
Hoying: Ah, here we have LSU playing what is essentially Boise State. 2 games against real teams, 2 blowout losses. Wait, I take that back. Boise State doesn't get blown out when it loses to good teams. I'm already bored writing this. MSU: 0--LSU: 20
Schweinfurth: The Tigers seem to win in spite of Miles. Last week proved this to be true. Miles just continues to make dumb decisions at the absolutely wrong times. With that said, the Bulldogs are ranked solely on an easy, early season schedule. MSU: 13--LSU: 31
Northwestern Wildcats @ Michigan Wolverines
Draper: Poor Michigan...that whole 'we don't need Denard Robinson because our defense and other stars can step up' thing may work against Minnesota, but Pat Fitzgerald is licking his chops to go after this busted up team. Northwestern is looking for that signature win so they can claim they are one of the big boys (always seems to happen when they don't play OSU). Kain Colter will 'Denard' Michigan in the Big House to remind the world that the Wolverines aren't 'back'. NW: 38--UM: 34
Auer: Michigan sucks. The Wildcats are chomping at the bit to make another statement... but what statement is that? We can beat bad teams that were overrated to start the season? Either way, maybe they can hurt a few more guys and help out the Buckeyes in a couple weeks. NW: 41--UM: 28
Hoying: Remember when Ohio State didn't have a quarterback? Michigan is in danger of sucking that bad without Denard. Yeah, Gardner carved up Minnesota, but we could do that with Draper at QB, Auer and Schweinfurth at WR, and me as the entire OL. Meanwhile, Northwestern decided not to suck this year, just a couple of 4th quarter breakdowns away from being undefeated. Michigan still probably has the better team overall, but I don't think they're yet equipped to handle their disastrous QB situation (and probably won't be for the rest of the season). A big 'Cat win (along with a Husker win over Penn State) virtually seals the Legers (Leadends?) division for Nebraska. NW: 27--UM: 21
Schweinfuth: This is a tricky one. First off, who would have thought that Northwestern would be the ranked team here? Also, how is Denard's throwing arm? Denard is the more exciting runner but Gardner can actually pass. Either way, this game should be a shootout as both defenses are a bit watered down. This game is big for both teams in case Nebraska falters. I'm smelling some points on the board with this game. NU: 35--Mich: 42
Upset Special
Draper: Iowa State over Texas
Auer: California over Oregon
Hoying: Arizona State over USC
Schweinfurth: TCU over K-State
1) Schweinfurth 34-7 (5-5 upset)
2) Hoying 29-12 (3-7 upset)
3) Draper 28-13 (3-7 upset)
4) Auer 23-14 (1-8 upset)
Oregon State Beavers @ Stanford Cardinal
Draper: These two teams are tough to figure out. Both have nice records (and extremely similar), but little substance in the mediocre Pac12. Stanford is tough at home, but the Beavs have been finding ways to win. Common logic says give the home team the advantage in a tight matchup, but I'm bucking logic. Oregon State gets their QB Cody Vaz back which I say tips the scales and earns a huge road win. Oregon is running away and hiding in the Pac12-North, but this fight for second may be for a BCS bid. OSU: 20--Stan: 17
Auer: Honest to God, no clue here. Both teams have been up and down, and there's not much "home field advantage" to speak of in the Pac-12. Stanford has faced a bit tougher competition this season, so I'll give them the edge. OSU: 28--Stan: 31
Hoying: Stanford kicks off its murderer's row to end the season with a visit from perhaps the surprise team of the year. Whoever wins stays hot on Oregon's heels, and the Ducks face both teams down the stretch. Oregon State is having a very nice season behind a decent defense and not much else. Beaver QB Sean Mannion is ready to go, but he hasn't seen action in a month other than a disastrous performance against Washington. Can the backup Cody Vaz pull off the big road win? Perhaps, if this game were in Corvallis, I'd believe the Beaver Fever, but this is Stanford's time. OSU: 17--Stan:24
Schweinfurth: Oregon State has been a really good story this year. Wideout Brandin Cooks is fast and the defense has played very well this year. Stanford has looked good in a few losses this year, but the Cardinal clearly miss both Luck and Harbaugh. Still, I like the Cardinal in a close one. OSU: 17--Stan: 20
Texas A&M Aggies @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Draper: Bama showed some flaws in the tough environment last week, and the Aggies have been nothing but explosive in recent memory. That being said, the Tide return to home and, I say, get back on the dominating track. Johnny Manziel is fantastic, but the Bama D is ready to step back into the spotlight. I think the Aggie freshman is entering a whole new world of hurt. Bama may be beaten up, but their defense has a new found chip on their shoulder. Tide rolls. TAMU: 16--Bama: 30
Auer: For whatever reason, Alabama has struggled when put up against a mobile QB. In fact, the last two losses came at the hands of mobile QB's (Newton & Jefferson). A&M is coming off a big win at Mississippi State and will be playing their tenth straight game of the year. Even with the Tide's potential "hangover" after the big win at LSU, the Aggies do not have what it takes to beat a team of Alabama's caliber. Aggies lose this one, BIG. TAMU: 17--Bama: 41
Hoying: Let me get this straight: Alabama craps all over the field for 28 minutes in the second half, then LSU sends in the prevent defense and the Tide are suddenly invincible? This team clearly showed they are not 2001 Miami or 1995 Nebraska. They are beatable. A&M has the offense to make Alabama sweat a little. Remember, this team had LSU in a bad way before blowing it down the stretch. However, this is the last game Nick Saban has to prepare for until the SEC Championship game (no, Auburn). I can feel his anger. It makes him strong, gives him focus. Only his hatred can destroy the Aggies. TAMU: 22--Bama: 27
Schweinfurth: The Aggies have to be catching Bama at the best time. The Tide are more than likely mentally and physically drained after the big win at LSU. McCarron is showing that he can more than manage an offense. I still don't trust the Aggies defense, but Manziel and the A&M offense can move the ball. LSU showed the Alabama defense isn't bullet proof. Alabama is the better team and the talent will overcome an early game letdown. TAMU: 19--Bama: 24
Mississippi State Bulldogs @ Louisiana State Tigers
Draper: Mississippi State is taking a beating after back to back games @ Bama and vs. TAMU...now it's off to a very angry Death Valley. Uh oh. Zach Mettenberger played the game of his life against the Tide and I don't think he has another game like that in him...even though MSU is a hoax. The LSU D will shut the dogs down and probably even get a score. Shouldn't be close. MSU: 10--LSU: 31
Auer: The Bulldogs have plummeted quickly after starting the season 7-0, and losing the last two by a combined score of 76-20... ouch. LSU is a very good squad and showed it last week against the nation's top team. This is one hangover upset I believe in. MSU finds their groove against a deflated LSU squad. MSU: 19--LSU: 17
Hoying: Ah, here we have LSU playing what is essentially Boise State. 2 games against real teams, 2 blowout losses. Wait, I take that back. Boise State doesn't get blown out when it loses to good teams. I'm already bored writing this. MSU: 0--LSU: 20
Schweinfurth: The Tigers seem to win in spite of Miles. Last week proved this to be true. Miles just continues to make dumb decisions at the absolutely wrong times. With that said, the Bulldogs are ranked solely on an easy, early season schedule. MSU: 13--LSU: 31
Northwestern Wildcats @ Michigan Wolverines
Draper: Poor Michigan...that whole 'we don't need Denard Robinson because our defense and other stars can step up' thing may work against Minnesota, but Pat Fitzgerald is licking his chops to go after this busted up team. Northwestern is looking for that signature win so they can claim they are one of the big boys (always seems to happen when they don't play OSU). Kain Colter will 'Denard' Michigan in the Big House to remind the world that the Wolverines aren't 'back'. NW: 38--UM: 34
Auer: Michigan sucks. The Wildcats are chomping at the bit to make another statement... but what statement is that? We can beat bad teams that were overrated to start the season? Either way, maybe they can hurt a few more guys and help out the Buckeyes in a couple weeks. NW: 41--UM: 28
Hoying: Remember when Ohio State didn't have a quarterback? Michigan is in danger of sucking that bad without Denard. Yeah, Gardner carved up Minnesota, but we could do that with Draper at QB, Auer and Schweinfurth at WR, and me as the entire OL. Meanwhile, Northwestern decided not to suck this year, just a couple of 4th quarter breakdowns away from being undefeated. Michigan still probably has the better team overall, but I don't think they're yet equipped to handle their disastrous QB situation (and probably won't be for the rest of the season). A big 'Cat win (along with a Husker win over Penn State) virtually seals the Legers (Leadends?) division for Nebraska. NW: 27--UM: 21
Schweinfuth: This is a tricky one. First off, who would have thought that Northwestern would be the ranked team here? Also, how is Denard's throwing arm? Denard is the more exciting runner but Gardner can actually pass. Either way, this game should be a shootout as both defenses are a bit watered down. This game is big for both teams in case Nebraska falters. I'm smelling some points on the board with this game. NU: 35--Mich: 42
Upset Special
Draper: Iowa State over Texas
Auer: California over Oregon
Hoying: Arizona State over USC
Schweinfurth: TCU over K-State
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Week 5 Picks: Where are the good games?
Standings
1. Schweinfurth 12-4 (3-1 upset)
2. Draper 10-6 (1-3 upset)
3. Hoying 9-7 (2-2 upset)
4. Auer 6-6 (0-3 upset)
Baylor Bears @ West Virginia Mountaineers
Draper: Baylor has taken a dose of reality after RGIII and most of their receiver talent headed to the greener pastures of the NFL. Baylor's a nice little team and WVU is a little flaky with insane head coach Holgerson, but Geno Smith is solid. The Mountaineers high powered offense will simply out score the Bears in their first visit to the backwoods. BU: 20--WVU: 45
Auer: Not sure this is a real game... but the Morgantown faithful will help the Mountaineers earn their first ever home Big 12 win... relatively easily. BU: 10--WVU: 46
Hoying: There is one reason Baylor snuck into the rankings, and you might have seen him losing to the Bengals last Sunday. Give credit to the Bears for not pulling an Arkansas against ULM last Saturday, but the lack of defense is troubling. Meanwhile, West Virginia's Geno Smith may be this year's RGIII, racking up 12 TD's in 12 quarters this year. This game looks like bad news Bears for Baylor. BU: 24--WVU: 48
Schweinfurth: The West Virginia offense is humming along against very inferior opponents so far this year. Baylor is another inferior opponent. This isn't the RGIII Baylor Bears from last year. That missing element and the first home Big 12 game for WVU equals a blowout with some points piling up. BU: 31--WVU: 56
Oregon State Beavers @ Arizona Wildcats
Draper: Rich Rod's offense looked good in weeks 1-3...then they played a real team in Oregon and got shut out. I'm shocked. The Beavers are a solid team but not flashy at all. Oregon State will hope for a boring low scoring game while the Cats want high scoring and flash. This should be a very good game that flies under the radar. I think the home field advantage makes the difference. Zona couldn't get in the endzone on any possessions last week, but I think a few big plays will beat the grind that the Beavers want. OSU: 17--Zona: 20
Auer: After an ugly loss for the Wildcats last week (getting shutout 49-0 at Oregon), RichRod's troops will be looking to make a statement against the upset specialist of the 2012 season. OSU is 11-2 in their series with Arizona, and have won 5 straight in Tuscon. Arizona is going to put up a great fight, but the Beaver train keeps on rolling OSU: 24--Zona: 21
Hoying: Few teams have a win over a ranked opponent in this young season. Oregon State has two. In two games. Of course, this was before we knew Wisconsin was horrible, but the Beavers were the first to show that the world-beating Montee Ball running game could be stopped. Shutting down a hot UCLA offense was even more impressive. Now the famed DickRod offense steps up to the plate after getting horribly embarrassed by the Pac-12 fashion models. We all remember how DickRod squads perform in these games, right? Right? OSU: 21--Ariz: 20
Schweinfurth: The Beaver defense has been sneaky good this year. The Beaver's D held Wisconsin's (albeit Jim Bollman-esque anemic) offense in check and looked impressive doing so. The Wildcat's offense is a different animal than UCLA or Wisky. I don't know much about the players that Arizona is running out there, but I still do not trust in a Rich Rod offense without White and Slaton (see Michigan). Arizona struggles with another team from Oregon. OSU:24--Ariz: 10
Texas Longhorns @ Oklahoma State Cowboys
Draper: Texas is undefeated and no one is talking about them (see what happens when you take a year off and aren't in the SEC?). David Ash has played extremely well. Look for a big performance on the road vs. a weak Cowboy defense. Wes Hunt, the true freshman QB for the Pokes, will not be prepared for the big home stage and the Longhorns will take the shootout. UT: 45--OSU: 38
Auer: After countless comeback wins by the Longhorns over the Pokes, the Fightin' T. Boone Pickens' have a battle on their hands. OSU is coming off a bye and waiting to head on another, while Texas is waiting to face-off against West Virginia and Oklahoma. The deciding factor could be that OSU is breaking in a new QB, JW Walsh in lieu of injured Wes Lunt, but the extra prep time could make the difference. Going for the OSU winning trifecta. UT: 31--OSU: 34
Hoying: The Cowboys have put up ridiculous numbers against the poor, poor defenses they've played so far, but DickRod's Destroyers managed to fight back and hang 59 on them in Tucson two weeks ago. Will the Texas offense have similar success? QB David Ash seems to be getting comfortable handling the Texas attack, directing the Longhorns to a great victory over Ole Miss of the mighty SEC, and he should continue to improve in this matchup. Oklahoma State has had Texas's number lately, but a total lack of defense will be their downfall. UT: 41--OSU: 35
Schweinfurth: Mike Gundy is known for his offense, and has had the perfect storm the last few years with Weeden and Blackmon running the offense. This year is a major offensive rebuild for the Cowboys. This Texas team is very under the radar this year. The Longhorns are quietly undefeated and are not getting the press like the flashy teams (FSU, Alabama, LSU) are. I expect lots of points and Texas pulls away late. UT: 45--OSU: 35
THE Ohio State Buckeyes @ Michigan State Spartans
Draper: After watching the atrocity in the Shoe this weekend, I feared that this was the first time I'd have to pick against the Bucks...then I went home and watched the MSU game. Woof. The B1G is so bad that we honestly could win all of our games....and that's sad. Le'Veon Bell is an absolute beast but the one-dimensional nature of the Green and White will fail to exploit the Buckeye's weak secondary. Bell will get his, but the safeties and corners will be able to cheat up and limit his effectiveness. On the other side, Braxton needs to be Braxton. We've seen what can happen, now we just need to make that the norm. Good news is the tough running Hyde should be back to balance the offensive threats. I like the Bucks to steal a close one on the road by limiting the Spartan attack. OSU: 24--MSU: 20
Auer: Well, we realized our team isn't quite what they are. The defense is average at best (not a surprise when you hire a defensive coordinator because you want to be nice), and Urban doesn't want to set Braxton loose like he should. This game is setting up perfectly for a defensive struggle, but the first meeting between Meyer and Dantonio should bring out the best in both coaches. This game has to be about making statements on both sides, both for the remainder of the season and for the ensuing recruiting battles into the future. Urban gets the wake-up call and turns Braxton loose and relaunches his Heisman campaign. OSU: 35--MSU: 20
Hoying: Buckeye Nation is collectively vomiting after another poor showing against a hapless opponent. But lost in all the postgame doom and gloom was the equally poor showing Michigan State put on against...Eastern Michigan. The Spartans, despite the outstanding effort of Le'Veon Bell, have no offense, which is good news for our Silver Slugs (the slimy kind, not the bullet kind). Braxton is more than enough to counter Bell all by himself. It's simple: if Braxton carries the ball and doesn't die, the Buckeyes win. Next question. OSU: 20--MSU: 17
Schweinfurth: Everyone is talking about the match up between OSU offense and the MSU defense (I'll get to that in a sec). The real match up is OSU's D and MSU's offense. If the Buckeyes can stuff Le'Veon Bell and force Andrew Maxwell to throw the ball, the Bucks will be in this game until the end. The corners need to get in the receiver's faces and give the pass rush some time to get to Maxwell. On the other side of the ball, the Spartan defensive front seven is very, very good. The secondary can be beat deep and Devin Smith can stretch the field. If the OSU coaches stop scripting the first however many plays and take the running "handcuffs" off Miller, this offense can be explosive. I don't expect the 10-7, defensive slugfest we saw last year but this won't be a barn burner either. The OSUMB will be there and, as Woody said, they are good for three points on the road. OSU: 24--MSU: 21
Upset Special
Draper: Washington over Stanford
Auer: Wisconsin over Nebraska
Hoying: Tennessee over Georgia
Schweinfurth: South Florida over Florida State
1. Schweinfurth 12-4 (3-1 upset)
2. Draper 10-6 (1-3 upset)
3. Hoying 9-7 (2-2 upset)
4. Auer 6-6 (0-3 upset)
Baylor Bears @ West Virginia Mountaineers
Draper: Baylor has taken a dose of reality after RGIII and most of their receiver talent headed to the greener pastures of the NFL. Baylor's a nice little team and WVU is a little flaky with insane head coach Holgerson, but Geno Smith is solid. The Mountaineers high powered offense will simply out score the Bears in their first visit to the backwoods. BU: 20--WVU: 45
Auer: Not sure this is a real game... but the Morgantown faithful will help the Mountaineers earn their first ever home Big 12 win... relatively easily. BU: 10--WVU: 46
Hoying: There is one reason Baylor snuck into the rankings, and you might have seen him losing to the Bengals last Sunday. Give credit to the Bears for not pulling an Arkansas against ULM last Saturday, but the lack of defense is troubling. Meanwhile, West Virginia's Geno Smith may be this year's RGIII, racking up 12 TD's in 12 quarters this year. This game looks like bad news Bears for Baylor. BU: 24--WVU: 48
Schweinfurth: The West Virginia offense is humming along against very inferior opponents so far this year. Baylor is another inferior opponent. This isn't the RGIII Baylor Bears from last year. That missing element and the first home Big 12 game for WVU equals a blowout with some points piling up. BU: 31--WVU: 56
Oregon State Beavers @ Arizona Wildcats
Draper: Rich Rod's offense looked good in weeks 1-3...then they played a real team in Oregon and got shut out. I'm shocked. The Beavers are a solid team but not flashy at all. Oregon State will hope for a boring low scoring game while the Cats want high scoring and flash. This should be a very good game that flies under the radar. I think the home field advantage makes the difference. Zona couldn't get in the endzone on any possessions last week, but I think a few big plays will beat the grind that the Beavers want. OSU: 17--Zona: 20
Auer: After an ugly loss for the Wildcats last week (getting shutout 49-0 at Oregon), RichRod's troops will be looking to make a statement against the upset specialist of the 2012 season. OSU is 11-2 in their series with Arizona, and have won 5 straight in Tuscon. Arizona is going to put up a great fight, but the Beaver train keeps on rolling OSU: 24--Zona: 21
Hoying: Few teams have a win over a ranked opponent in this young season. Oregon State has two. In two games. Of course, this was before we knew Wisconsin was horrible, but the Beavers were the first to show that the world-beating Montee Ball running game could be stopped. Shutting down a hot UCLA offense was even more impressive. Now the famed DickRod offense steps up to the plate after getting horribly embarrassed by the Pac-12 fashion models. We all remember how DickRod squads perform in these games, right? Right? OSU: 21--Ariz: 20
Schweinfurth: The Beaver defense has been sneaky good this year. The Beaver's D held Wisconsin's (albeit Jim Bollman-esque anemic) offense in check and looked impressive doing so. The Wildcat's offense is a different animal than UCLA or Wisky. I don't know much about the players that Arizona is running out there, but I still do not trust in a Rich Rod offense without White and Slaton (see Michigan). Arizona struggles with another team from Oregon. OSU:24--Ariz: 10
Texas Longhorns @ Oklahoma State Cowboys
Draper: Texas is undefeated and no one is talking about them (see what happens when you take a year off and aren't in the SEC?). David Ash has played extremely well. Look for a big performance on the road vs. a weak Cowboy defense. Wes Hunt, the true freshman QB for the Pokes, will not be prepared for the big home stage and the Longhorns will take the shootout. UT: 45--OSU: 38
Auer: After countless comeback wins by the Longhorns over the Pokes, the Fightin' T. Boone Pickens' have a battle on their hands. OSU is coming off a bye and waiting to head on another, while Texas is waiting to face-off against West Virginia and Oklahoma. The deciding factor could be that OSU is breaking in a new QB, JW Walsh in lieu of injured Wes Lunt, but the extra prep time could make the difference. Going for the OSU winning trifecta. UT: 31--OSU: 34
Hoying: The Cowboys have put up ridiculous numbers against the poor, poor defenses they've played so far, but DickRod's Destroyers managed to fight back and hang 59 on them in Tucson two weeks ago. Will the Texas offense have similar success? QB David Ash seems to be getting comfortable handling the Texas attack, directing the Longhorns to a great victory over Ole Miss of the mighty SEC, and he should continue to improve in this matchup. Oklahoma State has had Texas's number lately, but a total lack of defense will be their downfall. UT: 41--OSU: 35
Schweinfurth: Mike Gundy is known for his offense, and has had the perfect storm the last few years with Weeden and Blackmon running the offense. This year is a major offensive rebuild for the Cowboys. This Texas team is very under the radar this year. The Longhorns are quietly undefeated and are not getting the press like the flashy teams (FSU, Alabama, LSU) are. I expect lots of points and Texas pulls away late. UT: 45--OSU: 35
THE Ohio State Buckeyes @ Michigan State Spartans
Draper: After watching the atrocity in the Shoe this weekend, I feared that this was the first time I'd have to pick against the Bucks...then I went home and watched the MSU game. Woof. The B1G is so bad that we honestly could win all of our games....and that's sad. Le'Veon Bell is an absolute beast but the one-dimensional nature of the Green and White will fail to exploit the Buckeye's weak secondary. Bell will get his, but the safeties and corners will be able to cheat up and limit his effectiveness. On the other side, Braxton needs to be Braxton. We've seen what can happen, now we just need to make that the norm. Good news is the tough running Hyde should be back to balance the offensive threats. I like the Bucks to steal a close one on the road by limiting the Spartan attack. OSU: 24--MSU: 20
Auer: Well, we realized our team isn't quite what they are. The defense is average at best (not a surprise when you hire a defensive coordinator because you want to be nice), and Urban doesn't want to set Braxton loose like he should. This game is setting up perfectly for a defensive struggle, but the first meeting between Meyer and Dantonio should bring out the best in both coaches. This game has to be about making statements on both sides, both for the remainder of the season and for the ensuing recruiting battles into the future. Urban gets the wake-up call and turns Braxton loose and relaunches his Heisman campaign. OSU: 35--MSU: 20
Hoying: Buckeye Nation is collectively vomiting after another poor showing against a hapless opponent. But lost in all the postgame doom and gloom was the equally poor showing Michigan State put on against...Eastern Michigan. The Spartans, despite the outstanding effort of Le'Veon Bell, have no offense, which is good news for our Silver Slugs (the slimy kind, not the bullet kind). Braxton is more than enough to counter Bell all by himself. It's simple: if Braxton carries the ball and doesn't die, the Buckeyes win. Next question. OSU: 20--MSU: 17
Schweinfurth: Everyone is talking about the match up between OSU offense and the MSU defense (I'll get to that in a sec). The real match up is OSU's D and MSU's offense. If the Buckeyes can stuff Le'Veon Bell and force Andrew Maxwell to throw the ball, the Bucks will be in this game until the end. The corners need to get in the receiver's faces and give the pass rush some time to get to Maxwell. On the other side of the ball, the Spartan defensive front seven is very, very good. The secondary can be beat deep and Devin Smith can stretch the field. If the OSU coaches stop scripting the first however many plays and take the running "handcuffs" off Miller, this offense can be explosive. I don't expect the 10-7, defensive slugfest we saw last year but this won't be a barn burner either. The OSUMB will be there and, as Woody said, they are good for three points on the road. OSU: 24--MSU: 21
Upset Special
Draper: Washington over Stanford
Auer: Wisconsin over Nebraska
Hoying: Tennessee over Georgia
Schweinfurth: South Florida over Florida State
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Week 3 - The Long and Winding Road
Georgia Tech vs. Miami
Gomer: Georgia Tech has won the last 4 meetings of these two ACC contenders and both teams have a real chance to take a firm grasp on the Division lead. GT is coming off a Thursday night thriller where the Yellow Jackets blew a huge lead in momentum and score to let Clemson retake the lead, only to escape with a win in the end. The Hurricanes have been able to rest and recover since the slugfest with the Seminoles on Labor Day night. I really like both of these teams as sleepers to make their way to the BCS National Championship game, and from what I've seen I have a hard time deciding which has the better defense. I trust Paul Johnson's coaching ability a little more than Randy Shannon's and I'll look for the option attack to manage the game and escape Miami with a win. GT: 24--UM: 20
Chief: This is the toughest game of the week to pick. Miami looked very good against FSU, but FSU seemed inept the following week against lowly Jacksonville State. I believe Jacory Harris will show up in this game, but I have to keep riding the Jacket wagon. The U requested this game to be on a Thursday to 'pay the Jackets back' for last years loss, but GT's option was unstoppable vs. Miami last year. Many say that Miami will work to stop the run exclusively, unfortunately, that's easier said than done. Nesbitt/Dwyer outscore Harris/Cooper in a photo finish. GT: 31--UM:30
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Toledo Rockets
Gomer: The Bucks could be in for a real big emotional let down this week. I don't need to re-hash the offensive struggles from last week's heart-breaker, but if the Terrelle Pryor led offense isn't clicking, the Bucks will still win, but it could mean bad news bears down the road in the Big Ten. The other worry here is that the Rockets could expose some sort of weakness in the pass defense, because they will move the ball, but it will be a matter of when the Bucks force a turnover or other big defensive stop. Toledo won't be out of the game until late unless the Bucks come up with some early quick strikes, it'll be a better game than anyone expects. OSU: 39--UT: 20
Chief: After throwing all they had emotionally, physically, and mentally against the Trojans and coming up short (due to horrendous playcalling), the Bucks look to rebound against a surprising Toledo Rocket team. The Silver Bullets returned last week and I believe are here to stay. This is a major turning point game for the season...lie down and take it or stand and fight. I believe the Buckeyes have too much pride to quit now. I saw the pride last week and I think they fire out of the gate this week. Toledo smashed Colorado and put some points up on Purdue (while giving up a ton). OSU will put the hammer down in this one early. At first, I thought the letdown would keep it close, but the pride of the Buckeyes will not allow a fallback. Bucks continue to roll against Ohio teams. OSU: 41--UT: 10
Other games...
Boise State vs. Fresno State: Gomer: Boise Chief: Boise
USC vs. Washington: Gomer: USC Chief: USC
Michigan State vs. Notre Dame: Gomer: ND Chief: ND
Arizona vs. Iowa: Gomer: Iowa Chief: Iowa (close)
Navy vs. Pittsburgh: Gomer: Pitt Chief: Navy
Northwestern vs. Syracuse: Gomer: Syr Chief: NW
Texas Tech vs. Texas: Gomer: UT Chief: UT (BIG)
Gomer: Georgia Tech has won the last 4 meetings of these two ACC contenders and both teams have a real chance to take a firm grasp on the Division lead. GT is coming off a Thursday night thriller where the Yellow Jackets blew a huge lead in momentum and score to let Clemson retake the lead, only to escape with a win in the end. The Hurricanes have been able to rest and recover since the slugfest with the Seminoles on Labor Day night. I really like both of these teams as sleepers to make their way to the BCS National Championship game, and from what I've seen I have a hard time deciding which has the better defense. I trust Paul Johnson's coaching ability a little more than Randy Shannon's and I'll look for the option attack to manage the game and escape Miami with a win. GT: 24--UM: 20
Chief: This is the toughest game of the week to pick. Miami looked very good against FSU, but FSU seemed inept the following week against lowly Jacksonville State. I believe Jacory Harris will show up in this game, but I have to keep riding the Jacket wagon. The U requested this game to be on a Thursday to 'pay the Jackets back' for last years loss, but GT's option was unstoppable vs. Miami last year. Many say that Miami will work to stop the run exclusively, unfortunately, that's easier said than done. Nesbitt/Dwyer outscore Harris/Cooper in a photo finish. GT: 31--UM:30
Nebraska vs. Virginia Tech
Gomer: Too bad this isn't a night game, because this would be worth the trip to Blacksburg on a weekend lacking a premiere match-up. A night game is a must-see when the VT faithful get jacked up and they definitely will be for this game trying to make amends in the national spotlight for the game they had against Alabama. This will be Nebraska's Quarterback's first road start and that could spell bad news for the Huskers. Tech will roll in this one with conference pride helping push them to a strong showing for the natives. UN: 20--VT: 42
Chief: Beamer looks to bring his team back to the national stage after dropping a close one to Bama in the opener (closer than the score would seem). VT has a stellar ground game, but very little passing game. I don't think that will hurt them this weekend. The Hokies will rely on the defense and Tyrod Taylor's running ability to take care of the Huskers in Blacksburg. While the Cornhuskers are certainly improving following the Bill Callahan era, they're not there yet. The Hokies keep the Huskers in Bo Pelini land as they roll to victory. UN: 16--VT: 34
Gomer: Too bad this isn't a night game, because this would be worth the trip to Blacksburg on a weekend lacking a premiere match-up. A night game is a must-see when the VT faithful get jacked up and they definitely will be for this game trying to make amends in the national spotlight for the game they had against Alabama. This will be Nebraska's Quarterback's first road start and that could spell bad news for the Huskers. Tech will roll in this one with conference pride helping push them to a strong showing for the natives. UN: 20--VT: 42
Chief: Beamer looks to bring his team back to the national stage after dropping a close one to Bama in the opener (closer than the score would seem). VT has a stellar ground game, but very little passing game. I don't think that will hurt them this weekend. The Hokies will rely on the defense and Tyrod Taylor's running ability to take care of the Huskers in Blacksburg. While the Cornhuskers are certainly improving following the Bill Callahan era, they're not there yet. The Hokies keep the Huskers in Bo Pelini land as they roll to victory. UN: 16--VT: 34
Florida State vs. Brigham Young
Gomer: The once proud Seminoles were to be on the upward swing this season, but the offense has been inconsistent at best making me seriously question the hiring of "coach-in-waiting" Jimbo Fisher. I would definitely prefer to see FSU get the win here, but the defensive pressure the Cougars bring will be too much for Christian Ponder and the 18-game home win streak for BYU will prove too much in their home opener. FSU: 14--BYU: 31
Chief: Oh my Noles... They looked very sharp (not perfect) against a very underrated UM squad on Labor Day only to struggle with garbage on Saturday. Perhaps it was the lull game between the two huge games. I think the Noles show up to fight here, but Max Hall led BYU has certainly been firing on all cylinders lately. I don't think BYU beats OU with Bradford, but it's still very close. They rolled last week, but it's time for the midmajor to show they're a midmajor--can they handle the pressure of success. The Noles wake up and take care of business. Ponder breaks out and leads the Noles to steal one over Mendenhall and the Cougs in a close one. FSU: 31--BYU: 30
Cincinnati vs. Oregon State
Gomer: So far this season Cincinnati has been unstoppable destroying Rutgers and I-AA Opponent SE Missouri State. On the other side of the ball Oregon State has looked average beating up on Portland State and scraping by at UNLV. Both teams are young, but the key to this game will be the location... very very far away from southwestern Ohio. Cincy has lost their last 6 road games to non-conference BCS schools by an average of 21ppg. Another interesting stat: in the 2nd home game the Beavers have come up BIG, they have won 4 straight 2nd home games with an average score of 39-14... yes that does look like some stupid random stat, but I'll tell you why its important, 2 of the 4 victories have come against USC and Boise State, got your attention now? This might be the most underrated game of the weekend. UC: 29--OSU: 33
Gomer: The once proud Seminoles were to be on the upward swing this season, but the offense has been inconsistent at best making me seriously question the hiring of "coach-in-waiting" Jimbo Fisher. I would definitely prefer to see FSU get the win here, but the defensive pressure the Cougars bring will be too much for Christian Ponder and the 18-game home win streak for BYU will prove too much in their home opener. FSU: 14--BYU: 31
Chief: Oh my Noles... They looked very sharp (not perfect) against a very underrated UM squad on Labor Day only to struggle with garbage on Saturday. Perhaps it was the lull game between the two huge games. I think the Noles show up to fight here, but Max Hall led BYU has certainly been firing on all cylinders lately. I don't think BYU beats OU with Bradford, but it's still very close. They rolled last week, but it's time for the midmajor to show they're a midmajor--can they handle the pressure of success. The Noles wake up and take care of business. Ponder breaks out and leads the Noles to steal one over Mendenhall and the Cougs in a close one. FSU: 31--BYU: 30
Cincinnati vs. Oregon State
Gomer: So far this season Cincinnati has been unstoppable destroying Rutgers and I-AA Opponent SE Missouri State. On the other side of the ball Oregon State has looked average beating up on Portland State and scraping by at UNLV. Both teams are young, but the key to this game will be the location... very very far away from southwestern Ohio. Cincy has lost their last 6 road games to non-conference BCS schools by an average of 21ppg. Another interesting stat: in the 2nd home game the Beavers have come up BIG, they have won 4 straight 2nd home games with an average score of 39-14... yes that does look like some stupid random stat, but I'll tell you why its important, 2 of the 4 victories have come against USC and Boise State, got your attention now? This might be the most underrated game of the weekend. UC: 29--OSU: 33
Chief: UC has looked phenomenal in their quick start (granted against questionable competition--but that's their whole schedule in the Big East). The Beavers have always played well at home but Jacquizz is a little banged up. The last time I saw the Beavers, they were in the biggest snoozer of a bowl game ever (3-0 victory in the Sun Bowl). Lyle Moevao and the Rodgers brothers are very good, but I think Tony Pike and the Bearcats continue their run. Two teams with little to no defense but a heck of a lot of offense. Ohio's only Orange Bowl losing team comes away victorious. UC: 42--OSU: 38
Tennessee vs. Florida
Gomer: I would peg this game as highest potential to be a laugher this weekend. Florida is favored by 28.5 and I would not be surprised if they won by more than that. Of course a Florida victory means another round of hearing how great Tim Tebow is especially after beating up on the vaunted Tennessee Defense, the same vaunted defense that was unable to secure a win against a lowly Pac 10 team like UCLA. Florida will win, by a lot, and Tebow will have 6 touchdowns. UT: 9--UF: 62
Chief: I wanted to talk about this one because it's going to happen. Everyone has been talking about how Urban Meyer, Tim Tebow, and 'Gaytor Nation' have circled this game as revenge to take out Lane Kiffin. Not so fast my friend! Kiffin in his eminent wisdom, threw the game vs. UCLA to lull the gators into a false sense of security. Crompton will toss all over that 'vaunted defense' for 5 TDs while the Monte Kiffin defense shows the nation the Eric Berry is clearly the best defensive player in the nation and knocks Tebow out of the Heisman race. Wait...the Vols are terrible. UT: 6--UF: 42
Gomer: I would peg this game as highest potential to be a laugher this weekend. Florida is favored by 28.5 and I would not be surprised if they won by more than that. Of course a Florida victory means another round of hearing how great Tim Tebow is especially after beating up on the vaunted Tennessee Defense, the same vaunted defense that was unable to secure a win against a lowly Pac 10 team like UCLA. Florida will win, by a lot, and Tebow will have 6 touchdowns. UT: 9--UF: 62
Chief: I wanted to talk about this one because it's going to happen. Everyone has been talking about how Urban Meyer, Tim Tebow, and 'Gaytor Nation' have circled this game as revenge to take out Lane Kiffin. Not so fast my friend! Kiffin in his eminent wisdom, threw the game vs. UCLA to lull the gators into a false sense of security. Crompton will toss all over that 'vaunted defense' for 5 TDs while the Monte Kiffin defense shows the nation the Eric Berry is clearly the best defensive player in the nation and knocks Tebow out of the Heisman race. Wait...the Vols are terrible. UT: 6--UF: 42
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Toledo Rockets
Gomer: The Bucks could be in for a real big emotional let down this week. I don't need to re-hash the offensive struggles from last week's heart-breaker, but if the Terrelle Pryor led offense isn't clicking, the Bucks will still win, but it could mean bad news bears down the road in the Big Ten. The other worry here is that the Rockets could expose some sort of weakness in the pass defense, because they will move the ball, but it will be a matter of when the Bucks force a turnover or other big defensive stop. Toledo won't be out of the game until late unless the Bucks come up with some early quick strikes, it'll be a better game than anyone expects. OSU: 39--UT: 20
Chief: After throwing all they had emotionally, physically, and mentally against the Trojans and coming up short (due to horrendous playcalling), the Bucks look to rebound against a surprising Toledo Rocket team. The Silver Bullets returned last week and I believe are here to stay. This is a major turning point game for the season...lie down and take it or stand and fight. I believe the Buckeyes have too much pride to quit now. I saw the pride last week and I think they fire out of the gate this week. Toledo smashed Colorado and put some points up on Purdue (while giving up a ton). OSU will put the hammer down in this one early. At first, I thought the letdown would keep it close, but the pride of the Buckeyes will not allow a fallback. Bucks continue to roll against Ohio teams. OSU: 41--UT: 10
Other games...
Boise State vs. Fresno State: Gomer: Boise Chief: Boise
USC vs. Washington: Gomer: USC Chief: USC
Michigan State vs. Notre Dame: Gomer: ND Chief: ND
Arizona vs. Iowa: Gomer: Iowa Chief: Iowa (close)
Navy vs. Pittsburgh: Gomer: Pitt Chief: Navy
Northwestern vs. Syracuse: Gomer: Syr Chief: NW
Texas Tech vs. Texas: Gomer: UT Chief: UT (BIG)
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