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Beerman's Picks O' the Week
(for Saturday, 11/7)
by Beerman - posted 11/6/98
Each week this season, I will be posting a column previewing the
upcoming weekend's Big East and Top-25 matchups. All rankings are from the ESPN/Coaches Poll. Picks are
against the spread, and are for
entertainment purposes only.
This week: It's the stretch run folks. Only 3-4 games left to determine
the bowl pecking order.
Last week: 14 - 9 ... that's more like it!
Not in action this week: #14 Virginia Tech, #18 Georgia, #24 Georgia Tech
Top 25 Games
#1 OHIO STATE (-27) vs. Michigan State
To all those who thought Michigan State was supposed to be the Big-10 Sleeper this
year, I say to you "GARY TRANQUILL"!!
OSU is due for a scare, however, and MSU could be just the team to do it. Cover this
spread, and I can't see how anyone could possibly vote OSU anything but #1.
Pick: Michigan State
#2 Kansas State (-28.5) @ BAYLOR
From the big surprises department: Kansas State to rout another inferior opponent.
Pick: Kansas State
#3 TENNESSEE (-42) vs. Alabama - Birmingham
This game will prove whether or not Tennessee is better than Virginia Tech! :o)
Pick: UAB (I can't pick anyone to cover a 42-point spread ... it's just too much)
#4 UCLA (-16.5) @ OREGON STATE
Oregon State is one game away from .500, two from bowl qualification. Maybe next
year...
Pick: UCLA
#5 Florida (-29) @ VANDERBILT
Vandy riding a 2-game winning streak ... as if that will matter !
Pick: Gators
#6 FLORIDA STATE (-17) vs. # 12 Wahoo State
With a loss here, Cavaliers likely headed for a 7-4 season.
Pick: F$U
#7 WISCONSIN (-19) vs. Minnesota
Minnesota held Michigan to -23 yards rushing on 33 carries last week. Michigan,
however, does not have Ron Dayne. Badgers' preseason games finish up here, as next week
they will actually be tested by a top-10 Penn State squad.
Pick: Wisconsin
#8 TEXAS A&M (-19) vs. Oklahoma
Oklahoma football is just in bad, bad shape. Texas football, however, is alive and
well!
Pick: aTm
#9 Penn State (-3) @ #22 MICHIGAN
Wow ... a Big 10.5 game that actually _means_ something. You don't see too many of
those this year.
Pick: Michigan
#10 ARKANSAS (-9) vs. Mississippi
Auburn almost pulled it off last week. Could the Hogs be tiring down the stretch? Ole
Miss is not a bad team, and this could be the time ...
Pick: Mississippi
#11 ARIZONA (-23) vs. Washington State
Arizona completely shut down a _very_ potent Oregon offensive attack last week.
Meanwhile, they ran up some points of their own. Washington State has returned to its
pre-Leaf mediocrity, and is likely to be there for a while.
Pick: Zona
#13 Notre Dame (-12) @ BOSTON COLLEGE
Big East to take yet another non-conference loss here.
Pick: South Bend Institute for Sports Broadcasting
#15 Nebraska (-26) @ IOWA STATE
Saturday will not be a very fun day to be a Cyclone. Don't blame Nebraska's slip-ups on
Frank Solich, massive graduation losses and a plethora of injuries have not left him much
to work with.
Pick: UNL
#16 Tulane (-17) @ MEMPHIS
Can anyone explain to me how a poll ranking Tulane 94th out of 112 I-A teams can
justifiably be used as a component of the Bowl Championship Series rankings ?
Pick: Tulane
#17 Syracuse (-2.5) @ WEST VIRGINIA
Now that I have smack rights for the next year or so, I have no problem rooting for WVU
to take down Syracuse. If we get to (and win) a BCS bowl, our ranking will take care of
itself.
In unrelated news, NFL scouts were in Morgantown yesterday, running OT Soloman Page
through workouts at fullback. "We know he can block allright, and if he can hold onto
the ball as well as he can hold onto that Moore kid's jersey, he might have a real
future", said one NFL scout who asked not to be identified.
Pick: Syracuse
#19 MISSOURI (-6.5) vs. #25 Colorado
At #25, Colorado is still overrated. Expect Mizzou to run over, around, and through the
Buffs, on the way to a 3rd place finish in the Big-12 North division.
Pick: Missouri
#20 OREGON (-6.5) vs. Washington
Ducks offense dehydrated in the desert. No prayer for Rose Bowl, Oregon now just trying
to hold on in the top-25. At 5-3, calling Washington's season a disappointment would be an
understatement.
Pick: Oregon
#21 Air Force (-12) @ ARMY
Air Force is the _ONLY_ school in all of I-A to score at least 30 points in every game
this season. A one-point loss to TCU earlier in the year is their only blemish to date.
Pick: Falcons
#23 TEXAS (-11) vs. Oklahoma State
Mack Brown finally got the Texas defense working, and right now I can't think of many
teams I would less like to go up against.
Pick: Texas
Other Big East Games:
PITTSBURGH (-14) vs. Temple
UPitt attempting to crawl out of the Big East cellar, and get revenge for last year's
loss to the Owls.
Pick: UPitt
Rutgers (+12) @ NAVY
At 2-1 out-of-conference, Rutgers is actually _helping_ the Big East on the national
scene. Go figure ...
Pick: Rutgers
Other Things To Look For:
Game of The Week to Watch: Rankings say UVA @ FSU, but I'm predicting blowout city.
My TV will be tuned in to Penn State vs. Michigan and Cuse vs. WVU
Upset Special: Mississippi over Arkansas
Last week: 14 - 9
Season to Date: 94 - 86 - 3
Upset Special: 2 - 7 |