Starting this week in my picks I have decided to try and do my best to include games with, division and conference championship implications. I will still be focusing on the top 25 BCS teams... (all times central)
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2011:
Temple at Ohio, 7:00 pm ESPN, This game will give a good idea about who holds the cards in teh MAC-East. Temple currently holds a half game edge on the Bobcats and have the more impressive resume with a win over Maryland and putting up very good showing against Penn State. Ohio has some bad losses on it's resume and a propensity to give up points in bunches. Winner: Temple ATS: Temple -3.5
Saturday, November 5th, 2011:
#15 Michigan at Iowa, 11:00 am ESPN, Iowa has been a bit of an anomaly this season oscillating between really bad and alright. Michigan comes in with only one blemish on the resume being a road loss in East Landing. Iowa however has a way of sneaking up on teams and a young team coming off a bad loss to Minnesota should be ready to play if only on pride. Winner: Iowa ATS: Iowa +4
Minnesota at #17 Michigan State, 11:00 am BTN, Minnesota is bottom 5% of the nation bad and Michigan State is a real contender for the conference championship. Winner: Michigan State ATS: Michigan State -27.5
Texas Tech at #21 Texas, 11:00 am FX, I don't like this version of Texas, it is undoubtedly better than last years installment but I think this team is far too overrated because of how bad last years team was. Tech has been a tale of two teams, one beat Oklahoma and almost beat A&M and the other lost to Iowa State last week. This game should tell us a little more about these teams. Winner: Texas ATS: Texas Tech +12.5
Louisville at #24 West Virginia, 11:00 am, although West Virginia is a talented team it has a tendency to allow inferior teams to outplay them in the first half, a habit which will inexorably catch up to them in the near future. Louisville has been a major disappointment in the second year of the Charlie Strong era as it has taken a step back across the board. Winner: West Virginia ATS: West Virginia -14
New Mexico State at #18 Georgia, 11:30 am, ummm, yeah. Winner: Georgia ATS: Georgia -35
TCU at Wyoming, 1:00 pm, you can see TCU starting to mature as the season passes the half way mark and under the guidance of Patterson they should continue to take steps forward but I don't think you can assume they'll blow out anyone other than the bottom tier of the MWC at this point. Wyoming sits at 2-0 in MWC standings and should challenge TCU into the second half as TCU looks forward to next weeks Boise game. Winner: TCU ATS: Wyoming +18.5
#4 Stanford at Oregon State, 2:30 pm ABC, Stanford is on a roll behind the Andrew Luck and that roll should continue this week as the Cardinal take their show to Corvallis. Oregon State has been horrible this season but should catch a Stanford team looking forward to a showdown with Oregon. Winner: Stanford ATS: Stanford +20.5
Texas A&M at #6 Oklahoma, 2:30 pm ABC/ESPN2, This game held a lot more intrigue at the beginning of the year, because of the talent returning for both squads, but A&M's inability to hold a lead and Oklahoma getting shocked by Texas Tech this match-up is good not great. Winner: Oklahoma ATS: Texas A&M +13.5
Northwestern at #10 Nebraska, 2:30 pm BTN, Northwestern has been an okay defense away from being a very tough team to deal with in the Big Ten, however they have yet to show a pulse on the defensive side of the ball. Nebraska on the other hand has begun to play blackshirt defense the past couple of weeks as they continue in their quest towards the Big Ten Championship. Winner: Nebraska ATS: Northwestern +17
Purdue at #20 Wisconsin, 2:30 pm ABC/ESPN2, I like Purdue and think they have more talent than they get credit for, but I just don't see enough to overcome a road game at Camp Randall against a hungry Badgers team. Winner: Wisconsin ATS: Purdue +25.5
#25 Southern Miss at East Carolina, 3:00 pm, This isn't close Southern Miss walks away in this one. Winner: Southern Miss ATS: Southern Miss -9.5
#13 Houston at UAB, 6:00 pm, Second, ummm, yeah game of the week. Winner: Houston ATS: Houston -28
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 6:00 pm ESPNU, Cincinnati can take a big leap towards winning the Big East with a win at Heniz Field Saturday. Pittsburgh has looked very good and very bad at home and just lost their leading rusher for the year. Winner: Pittsburgh ATS: Pittsburgh +2.5
#9 South Carolina at #7 Arkansas, 6:15 pm ESPN, This game lost some of it's luster with the injury of Marcus Lattimore but neither of these teams has looked overly impressive as of late. Arkansas had to squeak out two wins over Ole Miss and Vandy the last two weeks and hasn't looked as good as many expected this season. South Caorlina's troubles come down to the lack of the elite talent of Lattimore being missing. This game should go a long way in the Gamecocks bid for the East title. Winner: Arkansas ATS: Arkansas -5.5
#19 Arizona State at UCLA, 6:30 pm Versus, the Neuheisel era has been an unmitigated disaster and this year has been no different. Arizona State has been very good on offense but off and on on defense even with a stud like Vontaze Burfict. Winner: Arizona State ATS: Arizona State -10
#1 LSU at #2 Alabama, 7:00 pm CBS, LSU and Alabama meet up in the most anticipated regular season match-up in a long time with neither team being an overwhelming favorite of the public coming in. So let's just break-down the edges for each team. Secondary: LSU, Linebackers: Alabama, D-Line: LSU, O-Line:Alabama, WRs: LSU, RBs: Alabama, QBs: Push, Special Teams: LSU, final count: LSU 4-3 Winner: LSU ATS: LSU +7
#14 Kansas State at #3 Oklahoma State, 7:00 pm ABC/ESPN, Kansas State looks like it may have been a fraud after last weeks beat down from Oklahoma and should be out to prove other wrong. Oklahoma State has looked better than expected this year and should have plenty of offense in this game, but I still have questions about the defense. Winner: Oklahoma State ATS: Kansas State +21
#5 Boise State at UNLV, 9:30 pm, UNLV isn't good, period. Winner: Boise State ATS: UNLV +41
#8 Oregon at Washington, 9:30 pm, Washington has been better in year 1 sans Locker but the defense has been what has been most disappointing this season. Oregon is injured on offense but the back-ups have proven more than able to pick up the slack. Winner: Oregon ATS: Oregon -15.5
Louisiana Tech at Fresno State, 9:30 pm, This game will give us a clearer picture of the WAC in it's last year of even moderated relevance in college football. Fresno has played some solid and not so solid games against strong competition, while Tech has been gaining steam as the year goes on.Winner: Fresno State ATS: Fresno State -3.5
Please leave your thoughts and comments and I'll be back to recap the games and the rankings on Sunday.
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