Each week this season, I will be posting a column previewing the upcoming weekend's Big East and Top-25 match-ups. All rankings are from the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. Picks are against the spread, and are for entertainment purposes only.
Last Week: 9-8. My first winning weekend in ages. I'd forgotten what it felt like. Picked my upset special to boot!
This Week: Well, it's been a fun ride folks. Win, lose, or draw we're headed for a fine New Year's-ish bowl. Seriously now, how many of you thought we'd be playing for 11-0 right now?
Not In Action This Week: #1 Florida State, #4 Wisconsin, #6 Florida, #8 Kansas State, #9 Alabama, #10 Michigan, #11 Michigan State, #13 Southern Mississippi, #14 Minnesota, #15 Penn State, #18 East Carolina.
Thursday (11/25)
Top-25 Games:
#19 MISSISSIPPI STATE (3) vs. #24 Mississippi
And it's the State of Mississippi Top-25 elimination game! Wasn't this a Thursday night game last year? It's OK though. With a gut full of turkey, I won't be up for too exciting of a game. This should fit the bill nicely.
Pick: Mississippi St
Friday (11/26)
Top-25 Games:
#2 VIRGINIA TECH (-24) vs. #20 Boston College
Boston College has won 8 games. Really, that's enough. Sure…it has not been pretty at times. Sure, they've only won those 8 games by a combined 60 points…and against a schedule rated 107 out of 115 in I-A. Yes, they lost to Temple and blew a 28-0 halftime lead against Miami.
But they've won, and that's all that really counts.
Boston College knows how to win. They're 8-2 and likely think that they have a very good shot at pulling the upset here.
No let up. The race is not over until the final gun sounds.
Go Hokies, take down #11.
Pick: Hokies
#3 Nebraska (-15) @ COLORADO
Let's go Buffs!
Man, that's like cheering for Kuwait. You’d like to see it, but there's no way they're pulling it off by themselves.
Never forget, however, it is the year of the Hokie. All bets are off!
Pick: Colorado
#5 Texas (-2.5) @ #17 TEXAS A&M
This one's a really tough pick. I mean Texas is the far superior team on paper. They've lost to Kansas State (no shame) and by freak luck to NC State. A&M, on the other hand, was blown out by Nebraska and Oklahoma, and lost also to a very mediocre Texas Tech squad. This isn't paper though. It's a tough, tough rivalry, and the game is in College Station. Who knows how the aTm team will react to last week's tragedy? They could come out flat and get mauled, but I think they come out on fire, and with an emotional crowd behind them take down the Longhorns.
Pick: aTm
#12 MARSHALL (-25.5) vs. Ohio
OK, my bad. I was given bad scheduling information. This game, obviously, didn't happen last week.
No matter. Marshall will roll the Bobcats nicely on their way to yet another Motor City Bowl berth. Nothing quite like Detroit for New Year's!
Pick: Marshall
#22 Arkansas (-11.5) @ LOUISIANA STATE
Oh boy has LSU gone in the crapper, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Pick: Arkansas
Saturday (11/27)
Top-25 Games:
#7 TENNESSEE (-23.5) vs. Vanderbilt
With a win here, the Commodores would become bowl-eligible.
Tee-hee!
Pick: Vols
#16 GEORGIA TECH (-5.5) vs. #21 Georgia
I didn't think that it was possible to find one's self down 20-0 to Weak Forest. Yet somehow Georgia Tech just managed it. You know, the Jackets have not been playing very well down the stretch. This isn't giving Mr. Hamilton much help in the Heisman race kids!
On the other hand, Georgia's been kind of limping through their whole season. And we've got a rivalry game going on here. Your guess is as good as mine!
Pick: UGA
#25 STANFORD (-6) vs. Notre Dame
On the one hand, I would be terribly amused if the Pac-Ten ends the year without a single team ranked in the top-25. On the other, I always enjoy watching Notre Dame lose. Since Wisconsin will, more than likely, make soup out of Stanford in the Rose Bowl…I think I'll pick the Cardinal to win here. But not to cover.
Pick: Notre Dame
Other Big East Games:
MIAMI (FL) (10.5) vs. Syracuse
Redemption time. I don't think Syracuse ever recovered from 62-0, and now they have to play another team looking for revenge. This one is going to get really ugly, folks. I almost feel sorry for the Orangemen.
Pick: Canes
WEST VIRGINIA (-1.5) vs. Pittsburgh
It's the Backyard Brawl, and it's nasty. It could also be Nehlan's last as head coach…you never know. UPitt has positioned themselves for a possible minor bowl bid if they can win here. Good for them!
Pick: UPitt
Game of the Week to Watch: So few games, spread out over so long. Enjoy the holiday and watch them all!
Upset Special: Texas A&M over Texas
Last Week: 9-8
Season to Date: 119-132-1
Upset Special: 4-9
