Rambling's Week 14 CFB Picks

Championship week is upon us and we are one week until we have all the bowls to look forward to. We have a Rose Bowl match-up to create and a MAC champion to crown. Enjoy the football and get ready for the most unique postseason in sports.

Thursday, December 1st, 2011:

#23 West Virginia at South Florida, 7:00 pm ESPN, West Virginia has appeared to turn a corner the last couple of weeks and that should make Mountaineers fans happy. South Florida has been as inconsistent but when they are on they can beat a lot of teams in the country. With the Big East on the line for WVU, I think we see a team that comes out tight in the first half which could be just the tonic the Bulls need. Winner: South Florida ATS: South Florida +1.5

Friday, December 2nd, 2011:

Ohio vs Northern Illinois, 6:00 pm ESPN2, I know many of you aren't enthused about the MAC championship game but it should be a good game and entertaining if nothing else. Winner: Northern Illinois ATS: Ohio +3.5

UCLA at #9 Oregon, 7:00 pm FOX, Rich Neuheisel... yep that is all. Winner: Oregon ATS: UCLA +31

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011:

#24 Southern Miss at #6 Houston, 11:00 am ABC, I picked Tulsa last week and got creamed but Southern Miss is much better than Tulsa and has the talent and coaching to match-up. Houston as Case Keenum and the hottest coach on the scene. Winner: Southern Miss ATS: Southern Miss +14

Iowa State at #11 Kansas State, 11:30 am, Iowa State has posed problems for some of the better teams on their schedule but I just don't see Bill Snyder allowing this team to not finish with only 2 losses and soaring expectations. Winner: Kansas State ATS: Kansas State -11

UNLV at #18 TCU, 1:00 pm Versus, ummmm, yeah.... TCU should run away with this. Winner: TCU ATS: UNVL +38.5

#22 Texas at #17 Baylor, 2:30 pm ABC, Baylor is the better team in my opinion because it can keep pace with good offensive teams where as Texas has more issues on offense than most teams in the country (although they are talented). Winner: Baylor ATS: Baylor -3

#14 Georgia vs #1 LSU, 3:00 pm CBS, LSU is the best team in the country, Georgia is the 3rd best in the MWC (wink wink), but has made some very nice improvements since a sloppy week 2 showing against South Carolina. Should be a low scoring affair but I think the Tigers go unblemished into the BCS Championship Game. Winner: LSU ATS: LSU -13.5

New Mexico at #7 Boise State, 5:00 pm, part two of the MWC ummm.... yeah game of the week. Winner: Boise State ATS: New Mexico 48.5

#10 Oklahoma at #3 Oklahoma State, 7:00 pm ABC, Oklahoma State has the better resume and the better bad loss of the two but I think the history of this match-up will weigh over the program this week. Oklahoma has one bad loss and one meh loss. Winner: Oklahoma ATS: Oklahoma +3.5

#5 Virginia Tech vs #20 Clemson, 7:00 pm ESPN, Clemson won the first match-up but I feel how I always feel about Clemson teams this late in the season. Virginia Tech has put it all together as the season went on but this is still an average Va Tech defense at best. Winner: Virginia Tech ATS: Clemson +7

#15 Wisconsin vs #13 Michigan State, 7:17 pm FOX, These two teams are equal and I am far from unbiased when looking at this game so I'm just gonna sit back and enjoy it for what it is... a game between two evenly matched teams who have produced some great games over the last 18 months. Winner: Wisconsin ATS: Michigan State +9.5

Rambling's Week 13 CFB Recap

My favorite two weeks coupled together are right now with Rivalry week and Championship week back to back I'm looking to bounce back this week and look forward to the Thanksgiving weekend of sports both football and baseball. Now on to the picks....

Thursday, November 24th, 2011:

#25 Texas at Texas A&M, 7:00 pm ESPN, Texas still isn't a top 25 team and A&M isn't as good as I keep hoping they will be. Texas has Baylor this we Winner: 0-1 ATS: 0-1

Friday, November 25th, 2011:

#8 Houston at Tulsa, 11:00 am, Is Houston a top 10 team? No. Do they deserve to be ranked in the top 10 right now? Yes. They are the only other undefeated next to LSU. Winner: 0-2 ATS: 0-2

Iowa at #21 Nebraska, 11:00 am ABC, With a season ending win Nebraska goes into the bowl game on a high note but must have regrets about what could have been in it's first Big Ten season. Winner: 1-2 ATS: 0-3

#3 Arkansas at #1 LSU, 1:30 pm CBS, LSU has now put themselves in a position in which they can lose the SEC championship game and still play in the NCG. Winner: 2-2 ATS: 0-4

Pittsburgh at West Virginia, 6:00 pm ESPN, The Big East is still a total mess with three teams still in the hunt for the conference championship. West Virginia has a chance to win it still but will need some help from other teams to achieve a BCS berth.  Winner: 3-2 ATS: 0-5

Saturday, November 26th, 2011:

Iowa State at #9 Oklahoma, 11:00 am FX, Bedlam is on the horizon and Oklahoma is coming off a stomping of Iowa State. Iowa State is bowl eligible and can take solace in that. Winner: 4-2 ATS: 1-5

#13 Georgia at #23 Georgia Tech, 11:00 am ESPN, Georgia has a chance to throw a wrench in the system by making the SEC the first 3-bid league. Georgia Tech has taken a bit of a dive after looking like a true contender in the ACC. Winner: 5-2 ATS: 1-6

#14 Michigan State at Northwestern, 11:00 am BTN, Had 'em on upset alert and it turns out it wasn't necessary the Spartan coaching staff had this team coached up to be ready to play on Saturday even with nothing to play for. Winner: 6-2 ATS: 2-6

Ohio State at #15 Michigan, 11:00 am ABC, Michigan is trending towards a BCS game in the minds of many pundits and I think this is dangerous for the Big Ten because of the fact that Michigan is decidedly average. Winner: 7-2 ATS: 3-6

Wyoming at #7 Boise State, 1:00 pm,  Winner: 8-2 ATS: 3-7

#2 Alabama at #24 Auburn, 2:30 pm CBS, Roll Tide, all the way to the BCS championship game. Winner: 9-2 ATS: 3-8

#5 Virginia Tech at Virginia, 2:30 pm ABC/ESPN2, Virginia Tech reminded Virginia Saturday that they rule the ACC for a reason and that reason is the talent gap between them and the Cavaliers. Winner: 10-2 ATS: 4-8

Oregon State at #10 Oregon, 2:30 pm ABC/ESPN2, ummm.... yeah this game turned out predictably. Winner: 11-2 ATS: 4-8-1

#19 Penn State at #16 Wisconsin, 2:30 pm ESPN, Wisconsin is in the Big Ten title game and we get to see a rematch of a very good game from the season. Winner: 12-2 ATS: 4-9-1

Texas Tech vs #18 Baylor, 6:00 pm, Tech is really bad. RG3 is really, really good. Winner: 13-2 ATS: 5-9-1

#17 Clemson at #12 South Carolina, 6:45 pm ESPN,  Winner: 14-2 ATS: 5-10-1

#22 Notre Dame at #6 Stanford, 7:00 pm ABC,  Winner: 15-2 ATS: 6-10-1

UCLA at USC, 9:00 pm,  Winner: 16-2 ATS: 7-10-1

Rambling's Week 13 CFB Picks

My favorite two weeks coupled together are right now with Rivalry week and Championship week back to back I'm looking to bounce back this week and look forward to the Thanksgiving weekend of sports both football and baseball. Now on to the picks....


Thursday, November 24th, 2011:
#25 Texas at Texas A&M, 7:00 pm ESPN, I'm not sure how Texas is still in the top 25, they lost each of the last two weeks and their best win is either BYU or Iowa State which is to say a middling team. Texas A&M looked like a top 10-15 team to start the year but has fallen flat in the second halves of games this season and appears to be a much better team than their record would show. Winner: Texas A&M ATS: Texas A&M -8
Friday, November 25th, 2011:
#8 Houston at Tulsa, 11:00 am, Houston's first of two tests happens this week in a square off for the C-USA West crown this week in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Houston is the odds on favorite here but a closer examination of Tulsa gives us a team that has only lost to top 10 teams this season (Oklahoma, Boise, Oklahoma State) and  has only had one other game decided by under 17 points. Could Houston be looking ahead to the C-USA championship game thinking they have a cake walk in Tulsa and is Tulsa better than anyone thinks. Winner: Tulsa ATS: Tulsa +3
Iowa at #21 Nebraska, 11:00 am ABC, Both these teams are enigmas, Iowa has played very well at points but then has a loss to Minnesota. Nebraska on the other hand can be described by two games, the blowout at Wisconsin and the win over Michigan State. Winner: Nebraska ATS: Iowa +9.5
#3 Arkansas at #1 LSU, 1:30 pm CBS, This game will decide who wins the SEC West one way or another and more than likely shape the BCS Championship game. LSU has the best resume in the country, with the best win, at Alabama, and a still very good non-con win against Oregon. Arkansas has only the loss at Alabama on their resume with their best wins over underwhelming A&M and Auburn teams or a South Carolina team without Marcus Lattimore. Winner: LSU ATS: Arkansas +13.5
Pittsburgh at West Virginia, 6:00 pm ESPN, Let me preface this pick by saying, my track record on Big East picks this year has been horrendous. The Backyard Brawl has produced some great games through the years the most memorable to me is the '07 version of the game that shook up the BCS. Both teams are nearing the end of year 1 of new regimes and West Virginia looks to be in better shape. Winner: West Virginia ATS: West Virginia -7
Saturday, November 26th, 2011:
Iowa State at #9 Oklahoma, 11:00 am FX, Iowa State is coming off the match that lit the powder keg last week over Oklahoma State and Oklahoma is coming off an upset loss to Baylor and both should come out a little sluggish. I don't think Iowa State has enough to hang on in this game as the emotional letdown should be too much to overcome. Winner: Oklahoma ATS: Iowa State +28
#13 Georgia at #23 Georgia Tech, 11:00 am ESPN, I don't have much to say on this game neither team is a top 10 team and Georgia may be more focused on LSU/Alabama/Arkansas next week. Winner: Georgia ATS: Georgia Tech +5.5
#14 Michigan State at Northwestern, 11:00 am BTN, Michigan State is on upset alert for the same reason Clemson should have been last week for me, they have nothing to play for after clinching their title game berth. Winner: Michigan State ATS: Michigan State -6.5
Ohio State at #15 Michigan, 11:00 am ABC, This years addition of The Game isn't lacking for story lines but won't be a great game on the field one team is trending up and one town but both are average at best. Winner: Michigan ATS: Ohio State +7
Wyoming at #7 Boise State, 1:00 pm, Wyoming is a solid MWC team but Boise is a good team in any conference. (even yours SEC fans) Winner: Boise State ATS: Boise State -33.5
#2 Alabama at #24 Auburn, 2:30 pm CBS, If you follow college football at all then all you need to hear is Roll Tide... War Eagle, if not just type in either slogan and read posts that show up and you'll get what is up. Winner: Alabama ATS: Auburn +21
#5 Virginia Tech at Virginia, 2:30 pm ABC/ESPN2, The surprise of the year has to be the improvements made in year two of the Mike London era at Virginia, the Cavaliers are developing a stingy attitude to them that will challenge just about any team in the conference and most across the nation. Virginia Tech just keeps chugging along after the early loss to Clemson and the offense is continuing to come around after a slow start, the defense is uncharacteristically average for a Bud Foster led squad. Winner: Virginia Tech ATS: Virginia Tech -4.5
Oregon State at #10 Oregon, 2:30 pm ABC/ESPN2, I know this is the Civil War but, ummmmm....yeah. Winner: Oregon ATS: Oregon State +28
#19 Penn State at #16 Wisconsin, 2:30 pm ESPN, This is the match-up I expected coming into the season that would decide the Big Ten Leaders division and it matches up a great rushing attack against a top 10 defense in the country that has one of the best DTs in Still, if the Badgers are with Konz and Wagner however this game will be a major struggle for the Badgers. Winner: Wisconsin ATS: Penn State +15
Texas Tech vs #18 Baylor, 6:00 pm, Tech is really bad. RG3 is really, really good. Winner: Baylor ATS: Baylor -13
#17 Clemson at #12 South Carolina, 6:45 pm ESPN, The Battle for South Carolina should be a very good game but a Lattimore-less team isn't #12 in the country and should be in for one heck of a fight when the Tigers come to town. Clemson is coming off a major letdown against a horrible Boston College team last week and doesn't appear to have a lot to play for. Winner: South Carolina ATS: Clemson +4
#22 Notre Dame at #6 Stanford, 7:00 pm ABC, Notre Dame isn't the 22nd best team in the country and I'm not completely sure that Stanford is the 6th but I am more sure that they are indeed a top 15 team at worst with the best quarterback in the country. Notre Dame had issues against a jump ball passer in Denard Robinson and those struggles should be tenfold against Andrew Luck. Winner: Stanford ATS: Stanford -7
UCLA at USC, 9:00 pm, The best team in the Pac-12 faces off against the current Pac-12 South representative to the championship game. Neuheisel, only a couple weeks removed from being fired now has a chance to have his team in a position that would likely make him unfireable for another year. Lane Kiffin, much like Matt Barkley for the Heisman, is being overlooked for the coach of the year award. I will concede he has a large amount of talent but he has kept a young team focused after a rough start to have a legitimate claim to being the best team in the country. Winner: USC ATS: -14

Rambling's Week 12 CFB Recap

A fun week of college football as some meh games became upsets or much better games as anticipated, and turmoil became the name by which this week will be referred. Without further ado let's look back on the week that was.

Thursday, November 17th, 2011:

North Carolina at #8 Virginia Tech, 7:00 pm EPSN, With this win Virginia Tech is now one win over Virginia away from a berth in the ACC Championship game for the fifth time in the last seven seasons. North Carolina is a good team again this year and continues to feel the effects of last summers NCAA issues. Winner: 1-0 ATS: 0-1

#20 Southern Miss at UAB, 7:00 pm, Just as Southern Miss was starting to gain traction with the national media they lay a complete egg against a far inferior UAB team. Southern Miss should still win the East division but looks a little less daunting to Houston's undefeated bid. Winner: 1-1 ATS: 0-2

Friday, November 18th, 2011:

#2 Oklahoma State at Iowa State, 7:00 pm ESPN, Winner: 1-2 ATS: 1-2

Saturday, November 19th, 2011:

Indiana at #15 Michigan State, 11:00 am BTN, Indiana looks to be making strides under Kevin Wilson but it will be a few years before they make any real noise in the Big Ten Legends division. Michigan State has secured a place in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game against the winner of Penn State-Wisconsin this weekend. Winner: 2-2 ATS: 2-2

#16 Nebraska at #18 Michigan, 11:00 am ESPN, Nebraska has been a disappointment even if a bit overrated by most of us coming into the season. Michigan continues to surprise by putting together a much more complete season than anyone outside of Ann Arbor would have expected.Winner: 2-3 ATS: 2-3

#17 Wisconsin at Illinois, 11:00 am ESPN2 Wisconsin dropped behind by two scores on the road for the third time this season, unlike the previous two they were able to pull all the way back and win comfortably in Champagne. Illinois continues to crash since a 6-0 start to the season. Winner: 3-3 ATS: 2-4

Louisville at Connecticut, 11:00 am, If anyone out there can explain the Big East this season I would love to hear the theory on what this conference is. I would also like to hear anyone who thinks that they still deserve a BCS bid. this did nothing to determine who gets the BCS bid. Winner: 3-4 ATS: 2-5

Cincinnati at Rutgers, 11:00 am ESPNU, Cincinnati blew their chance to separate from the pack in the Big East but a loss in Piscataway helps to muddle it even further. Winner: 3-5 ATS: 2-6

Kentucky at #14 Georgia, 11:21 am SEC Network, Georgia locks up a berth in the SEC championship game while struggling with the Wildcats furthering the belief that the SEC East is the far inferior league in the SEC. Georgia will be the last test before the National Championship Game for the winner of the SEC West. Winner: 4-5 ATS: 2-7

Mississippi State at #6 Arkansas, 2:30 pm CBS, Mississippi State has been the biggest disappointment to me this season as I thought they would be primed to challenge LSU and Alabama in the SEC West this season. Arkansas now sets themselves up for a shot at the West crown but an uphill battle to say the least to get there with this weeks game in Baton Rouge. Winner: 5-5 ATS: 3-7

#7 Clemson at North Carolina State, 2:30 pm ESPN/ABC, We have a Clemsoning by the Tigers the week after locking up a berth in the ACC Championship Game. That is all. Winner: 5-6 ATS: 3-8

SMU at #11 Houston, 2:30 pm, SMU hasn't been as good as expected this year and was much less of a hinderence to Houston leading up to the C-USA West showdown with Tulsa this week. Houston looks to gain some respect nationally as one of only two undefeated teams along with LSU. Winner: 6-6 ATS: 3-9

Colorado State at #19 TCU, 2:30 pm Versus, ummm... yeah, TCU continues to mature as a team in front of our eyes. Winner: 7-6 ATS: 4-9

#21 Penn State at Ohio State, 2:30 pm ESPN/ABC, With the Wisconsin win earlier in the day over Illinois this game meant absolutely nothing as far as the Big Ten Leaders division was concerned as neither a win nor a loss made the winner certain. Penn State however looked like a different team with a weight off their shoulders and showed some more diversity on offense. Ohio State continues to lack the continuity it has shown over the past decade. Unfortunately it is not likely to get better any time soon. Winner: 7-7 ATS: 5-9

#1 LSU at Ole Miss, 6:00 pm ESPN, ummmm... Yeah.Winner: 8-7 ATS: 6-9

Virginia at #25 Florida State, 6:30 pm ESPN2, Florida State's season has been a couple series of good followed by the lowest lows of the season. Virginia has a chance to make the title game but must go through rival Virginia Tech to get there. Winner: 8-8 ATS: 7-9

USC at #4 Oregon, 7:00 pm ABC, Oregon still controls its destiny and should still be the Pac-12 representative in the Rose Bowl, however, USC is the best team in the conference in my opinion as Lane Kiffin's team has matured really well as the season has aged. Like him or not this is a very good coaching job by Kiffin especially without much of carrot to dangle in front of his team. Winner: 8-9 ATS: 8-9

#5 Oklahoma at #22 Baylor, 7:00 pm ABC, At least it wasn't at home again. RG3 should be a candidate for the Heisman as he has truly been exemplary this season for the Baylor Bears. Winner: 8-10 ATS: 8-10

#10 Boise State at San Diego State, 7:00 pm, Coming off of a crushing defeat to TCU Boise responded well on the road and took care of business against San Diego State. SDSU on the other hand has regressed this season with a new coach do to the departure of Brady Hoke. Winner: 9-10 ATS: 8-11

#13 Kansas State at #23 Texas, 7:00 pm FX, If someone can explain how Texas was favored in this game I would love to hear it because nothing that the Longhorns have done this year warrants them being a favorite over the Wildcats. Winner: 10-10 ATS: 9-11

California at #9 Stanford, 9:15 pm ESPN, Stanford took care of business against their rival but need another Oregon loss to represent the Pac-12 North in the title game and most likely the Rose Bowl this season. With Andrew Luck's career most likely in it's twilight let's try to enjoy it while it is still around. Winner: 11-10 ATS: 9-12


Rough week with a myriad of upsets and the F*#@$& Big East I struggled a bit but look to bounce back next week as we are now just two weeks from conference championship Saturday. On the season I am now 204-53 on winners and 120-107-4 ATS. No more poll recaps as I don't think much can be learned right now but will be looking to put a second blog out the next couple weeks.

Rambling's Week 12 CFB Picks

Sorry about the lack of recaps last week I was moving this weekend and it put the clamps on the usual blogs to recap quickly last week I went 17-4 on winners and 15-5-1 ATS bringing my season totals to 193-43 and 111-95-4 respectively. A weak slate this week as there are four games against FCS opponents and the only real interesting race that will be affected this week is the Big East which doesn't have a marquee team among their ranks. No write ups this week because of time constraints.


Thursday, November 17th, 2011:
North Carolina at #8 Virginia Tech, 7:00 pm EPSN, Winner: Virginia Tech ATS: Va Tech -11
#20 Southern Miss at UAB, 7:00 pm, Winner: Southern Miss ATS: Southern Miss -22.5
Friday, November 18th, 2011:
#2 Oklahoma State at Iowa State, 7:00 pm ESPN, Winner: Oklahoma State ATS: Iowa State +27
Saturday, November 19th, 2011:
Indiana at #15 Michigan State, 11:00 am BTN, Winner: Michigan State ATS: Michigan State -28
#16 Nebraska at #18 Michigan, 11:00 am ESPN, Winner: Nebraska ATS: Nebraska +3.5
#17 Wisconsin at Illinois, 11:00 am ESPN2 Winner: Wisconsin ATS: Wisconsin -14
Louisville at Connecticut, 11:00 am, Winner: Connecticut ATS: Pk Connecticut
Cincinnati at Rutgers, 11:00 am ESPNU, Winner: Cincinnati ATS: Cincinnati -3
Kentucky at #14 Georgia, 11:21 am SEC Network, Winner: Georgia ATS: Georgia -30.5
Mississippi State at #6 Arkansas, 2:30 pm CBS, Winner: Arkansas ATS: Arkansas -13
#7 Clemson at North Carolina State, 2:30 pm ESPN/ABC, Winner: Clemson ATS: Clemson -7.5
SMU at #11 Houston, 2:30 pm, Winner: Houston ATS: SMU +19.5
Colorado State at #19 TCU, 2:30 pm Versus, Winner: TCU ATS: Colorado State +33
#21 Penn State at Ohio State, 2:30 pm ESPN/ABC, Winner: Ohio State ATS: Penn State +7
#1 LSU at Ole Miss, 6:00 pm ESPN, Winner: LSU ATS: LSU -29.5
Virginia at #25 Florida State, 6:30 pm ESPN2, Winner: Florida State ATS: Virginia +17.5
USC at #4 Oregon, 7:00 pm ABC, Winner: Oregon ATS: Southern Cal +14.5
#5 Oklahoma at #22 Baylor, 7:00 pm ABC, Winner: Oklahoma ATS: Oklahoma -15.5
#10 Boise State at San Diego State, 7:00 pm, Winner: Boise State ATS: Boise State -18
#13 Kansas State at #23 Texas, 7:00 pm FX, Winner: Kansas State ATS: Kansas State +9
California at #9 Stanford, 9:15 pm ESPN, Winner: Stanford ATS: Stanford -17.5