We are now squarely in the middle of the season and the national and conference title pictures are starting to come into focus throughout most of the country. This weekend features intriguing match-ups in the SEC, Big Ten, Pac-12 and C-USA which should tell us more about their respective races and the team involved in the games. So without further ado let's get to this weeks games... (all times central)
Friday, October 21st, 2011:
#15 West Virginia at Syracuse, 7:00 pm ESPN, West Virginia has looked like the class of the Big East so far this season but have been sluggish at the start of games and on the road. Syracuse has played some close games but doesn't look like it has the team speed to keep up in this game. Winner: West Virginia 45-20 ATS: West Virginia -14
Saturday, October 2nd, 2011:
#4 Oklahoma State at Missouri, 11:00 am FX, Missouri is an interesting team this year because they have been relegated to spoiler status. With this game being played in Columbia I think Missouri has a chance to shock Oklahoma State who is coming off a win in Austin. Oklahoma State needs to put up points like it normally does if it doesn't wish to slip up at Missouri this week. Winner: Oklahoma State 38-31 ATS: Oklahoma State -6.5
North Carolina at #7 Clemson, 11:00 am ESPN, I keep awaiting the week when Clemson returns to the glorious ways of it's past. With North Carolina coming this week we have a team that can match-up with the Tigers' athletes. Clemson is on a roll right now and Dabo has them playing good football which is making decisions about this team extremely hard. Winner: North Carolina 31-28 ATS: North Carolina +10.5
#11 Kansas State at Kansas, 11:00 am, Kansas is right in the running for worst AQ team in the country right alongside Indiana, Minnesota and Boston College. Kansas State is the story of the year as long as they keep winning Big XII games. Winner: Kansas State 48-21 ATS: Kansas State -11
#23 Illinois at Purdue, 11:00 am ESPN2, A leaders division match-up in West Lafayette as the Illini visit the Boilermakers. I think Purdue has the talent to compete in this game and give the Illini fits especially with their defense. Illinois will be looking to bounce back after a terrible showing last week against the Buckeyes. Winner: Purdue 24-21 ATS: Purdue +4
Cincinnati at South Florida, 11:00 am, This one intrigues me because it will go a long way in sorting out the hierarchy behind West Virginia in the Big East. Aside from a loss at a healthy Tennessee, Cincy has won every game since since that as they were suppose to. South Florida on the other hand has been inconsistent in it's performance, combining unexpected wins with crippling defeats. Winner: USF 28-24 ATS: South Florida -3
#9 Arkansas at Ole Miss, 11:21 am SEC Network, Arkansas walks away victorious in our ummmmm... yeah game of the week. Winner: Arkansas 59-13 ATS: Arkansas -16
Boston College at #12 Virginia Tech, 2:00 pm, Virginia Tech walks away from really bad BC team. Winner: Virginia Tech 49-10 ATS: Virginia Tech -21
#20 Auburn at #1 LSU, 2:30 pm CBS, This game got a lot more intriguing with the suspensions of Ware, Mathieu and Simon. Both sides of the ball will obviously be effected, the question seems to be to what extent will the Tigers be limited on either side of the ball and will we get our first Mad Hatter moment of the year. Winner: LSU 27-13 ATS: Auburn +21
Air Force at #5 Boise State, 2:30 pm Versus, Boise hasn't been challenged this year and the triple option can be a bit tricky, but I don't think they have nearly the firepower to keep up. Winner: Boise State 56-17 ATS: Boise State -30
#10 Oregon at Colorado, 2:30 pm, In the ummmm... yeah game of the week pt. 2, Oregon runs roughshod all over the Buffs. Winner: Oregon 59-10 ATS: Oregon -30.5
#13 Nebraska at Minnesota, 2:30 pm ABC/ESPN2, Nebraska visits the Golden Gophers which could be just the remedy the Cornhusker need to reinvigorate a season that has been lackluster if not disappointing
#17 Texas A&M at Iowa State, 2:30 pm ABC/ESPN2, Iowa State fans were taking big about moving on up in the Big XII to that deluxe apartment of mediocrity. Well they fallen short this year and with the Aggies coming to town things are gonna continue to look down. Winner: Texas A&M 38-17 ATS: Texas A&M -20.5
#22 Georgia Tech at Miami (FL), 2:30 pm ESPN, Coming off a loss to Virginia last week Tech goes on the road to Miami where the Hurricanes come in playing their best football of the Al Golden's first year. Tech needs to return being explosive out of the triple option. Winner: Miami (FL) 31-28 ATS: Miami (FL) -3
Marshall at #19 Houston, 3:30 pm, Houston visits Marshall who currently sits atop the East division of Conference USA, although I don't think Marshall is really the best team in that division I do think that Houston could have more trouble than expected because of their complete lack of defense. Winner: Houston 52-45 ATS: Marshall +23
#21 Penn State at Northwestern, 6:00 pm BTN, Both these teams are enigmas on one side of the ball with Northwestern's D going up against the Lion's O whichever unit show's up should be a difference in the game. Winner: Penn State 20-17 ATS: Northwestern +4.5
Tennessee at #2 Alabama, 6:15 pm ESPN2, This game would have been interesting had Tyler Bray not been interested now it should be over by 7:00. Winner: Alabama 41-10 ATS: Alabama -30
USC at Notre Dame, 6:30 pm NBC, a game that hasn't had the same luster the past couple of seasons finally has it's glow back. USC comes in with sanctions looming over their program and depth hampering their growth. Brian Kelly has made strides in year 2 at Notre Dame which makes this a tale of two programs seemingly moving in opposite directions. Winner: USC 35-34 ATS: USC +9
Texas Tech at #3 Oklahoma, 7:00 pm ABC, Tech travels to Norman where the Sooners are very good. This game should be shootout for one half but I think Oklahoma's D makes all the difference as the game goes along. Winner: Oklahoma 63-35 ATS: Texas Tech +29
#6 Wisconsin at #16 Michigan State, 7:00 pm ESPN, Michigan State is coming off of a physical mauling of Michigan in East Lansing but also a game which cost them William Gholston. Wisconsin is coming off a thrashing of Indiana has had a year to stew over last years loss at the hands of the Spartans. This should be a wonderful game pitting a great front seven and a great offensive line. Winner: Wisconsin 28-24 ATS: Michigan State +7.5
#25 Washington at #8 Stanford, 7:00 pm ABC, Washington has been sneaky good year 1 sans-Locker and the Huskies pose the first real threat to Stanford this season. Stanford still has Andrew Luck at center, who this season has taken over much of the play calling duties as well. Winner: Stanford 35-24 ATS: Washington +20.5
SMU at Southern Miss, 7:00 pm, This is the sneaky good match-up of the week as it could be a preview of the conference championship game and the best two teams in the conference. SMU is coming off a dismantling of UCF and Southern Miss is the most talented team in the East. Winner: Southern Miss 28-27 ATS: SMU +3
Thank you for reading and comments and thoughts are always welcome. I'll be back again with a week recap and poll thoughts Sunday.
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