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 (that means I'm not picking winners, just the line), and are for entertainment purposes only.

Last Week: It's been so long, I forgot what a winning week felt like! OK, about the same as a losing week…

This Week: Football Wednesday, football Thursday, football Friday, football Saturday … ain't Thanksgiving great?!

Not in Action: #3 Florida State, #4 Washington, #6 Oregon State, #7 Kansas State, #9 Florida, #11 Oregon, #12 Clemson, #14 Purdue, #16 Michicken, #17 Auburn, #20 Ohio State, #21 Northwestern, #25 Colorado State

#23 Mississippi State (-4.5) @ MISSISSIPPI

Arkansas? Was that some kind of joke? If anyone can figure out Mississippi State, please educate me. I've got nothing.

Pick: Mississippi State

#8 NEBRASKA (-25) vs. Colorado

Colorado seems to play Nebraska pretty tight, no matter how good each team is. Not this year tho. I think UNL runs left, runs right, and runs right over the Buffs. 25? I dunno, that's kind of a lot. The nice part about a big spread like this, is that I can pick Colorado to cover, and still get blown out.

Pick: Colorado

#13 TEXAS (-5.5) vs. #22 Texas A&M

This one's for pride, and I guess bowl positioning as well. It's a great rivalry game, and for those of you not coming to Blacksburg (Fools! All of you!) I'd suggest taking this one in. I'll be tailgating…or driving down I-81…so no such luck.

I like the home team here.

Pick: Horns

#15 Texas Christian (-23) @ SMU

And with this match-up, the mighty Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University say "sinonara" to the WAC. Next year TCU begins play as a member of Conference USA. CUSA started pretty weakly, but they are getting better and better each year. Good for them! Well, except for Louiseville. With any luck they'll take a downturn and rot in the cellar with Army for many years to come.

Pick: TCU

PITTSBURGH (-5) vs. West Virginia

So, when was the last time UPitt was favored in the Backyard Brawl? Last year, I suppose, they might have been…but I don't think so.

There is no truth to the rumor that Frank Beamer is the leading candidate to fill the soon-to-be vacant head coaching position at West Virginia.

#1 Oklahoma (-26) @ OKLAHOMA STATE

Anything can happen in a rivalry game, right? Wrong.

There is no truth to the rumor that Frank Beamer is the leading candidate to fill the soon-to-be vacant head coaching position at Oklahoma State.

Pick: Sooners

#2 MIAMI (FL) (-26.5) vs. Boston College

Butch Davis has his crack staff of graduate assistants working day and night, to figure out just how much the Canes have to win by, in order to pass FSU in the BcS. I'm guessing about 20 or so. I'm guessing they do it easily.

There is no truth to the rumor that Frank Beamer is the leading candidate to fill the soon-to-be vacant head coaching position at Miami.

Pick: Canes

#5 VIRGINIA TECH (-20) vs. Wahoo State

Mismatch city. I don't see a single unit on the Cavalier squad that is the equal of its opposite on our team. Top to bottom, we are more solid (yes … even our secondary). And since this isn't even a big rivalry for them (TIC), I don't see how the Hoos are going to be able to get the inspiration to play up above their everyday level.

If Vick and Davis can play at close to 100%, we're going to go absolutely nuts on the Hoos 97^th-ranked "defense". Suggs goes over 100 in his sleep.

VT: 38, UVA: 13

There is no truth to the rumor that Frank Beamer is the leading candidate to fill the soon-to-be vacant head coaching position at Virginia.

Pick: VT baybee!

#10 Notre Dame (-1) @ SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

There is no truth to the rumor that Frank Beamer is the leading candidate to fill the soon-to-be vacant head coaching position at USC.

On paper, Southern Cal should be a pretty good team. Of course, the paper also says that Paul Hackett is a good head coach. The paper conveniently fails to discuss his prior experiences as a head coach. Evidently, so did whoever makes the calls at USC.

We'll just call this one "That 70's Bowl" and be done with it.

Pick: Notre Dame

#18 GEORGIA (-1.5) vs. #19 Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech has ALL the momentum, and Georgia doesn't have a single "big" win all year. Talk about a team living off of their recruiting rankings! Georgia isn't a bad team, but the way the Jackets are playing lately, I think this one won't even be close.

Sounds like Maryland's sniffing around Georgia Tech's offensive God, Ralph Friedgen, to fill the position formerly held by Ron Vanderlin (There is no truth to the rumor that Frank Beamer is the leading candidate to fill the vacant head coaching position at Maryland). If it happens, that would be great for Friedgen because he's long over due. On the other hand it would also be a shame, because Maryland's in a big big hole right now.

Pick: GT

#24 Tennessee (-16) @ VANDERBILT

See, this one still makes me chuckle. I mean sure, they've got the whole cross-Tennessee thing going on, but get real…Vandy is competitive with UT maybe once in very twenty years. This is not a rivalry people. This is just a way for people in another part of the state to see the Vols in person.

Pick: Vols

Game of the Week to Watch: There are games every day. I don't care which ones you watch, just be sure to watch as many as you're able to.

Upset Special: GT over Gawgia

Last Week: 14-6 … Woo Hoo!

Season to Date: 132-129-3

Upset Special: 4-9