Week 12 Games of the Week: Rivalry Week Part 1

Well its that time of year, the beginning of rivalry week.  Well, its more like a rivalry two weeks now, but still.  Not too much going on with the national landscape this week.  The top teams are all playing unranked opponents with Texas vs. Kansas being the only game that looks like it might even be close.  With that in mind, here are my top five games of the week.

5.  Kentucky @ Georgia 6:45 Central ESPN2

See, I told you it was a slow week didn't I? 

Georgia is favored by 8.5 in this game, and on paper should probably win this game by about 35 points.  But this is a weird season.  The scores in alot of Kentucky's games haven't looked great, but they have been in almost every game other than the Florida game.  Georgia will be missing safety Bacarri Rambo because of this jarring hit against Auburn last weekend

and will also be missing A.J. Green after injuring himself in that same game.  And this UGA offense pretty much runs through Green.  A.J. has 751 receiving yards - 284 is the next highest.  Green has 47 catches - 21 is next.  Thankfully Washaun Ealey has been stepping up nicely in the running game with Richard Samuel and Caleb King being at best moderately productive.  I see a Georgia cover in this game with the running game being able to gas holes in the Kentucky defense - but not by much.  24-14.

4.  Penn State @ Michigan State

The battle for the Land Grant Trophy.  Side note:  does every Big 10 game have a trophy attached to it?

Anyways, back to the game.  I haven't really paid much attention to either team this year because, well, its the Big 10 and who cares anyways.  Both teams are bowl eligible so its more for seeding than anything else.  Although, Penn State does still have an outside shot at getting a BCS bid.  Michigan State never really got a leading running back this season, and that's not good for the Big 10.  Kirk Cousins at quarterback has been more than serviceable, but still not great.  Penn State has a top level quarterback in Daryl Clark, and a top level running back in Evan Royster.  Royster didn't end up with Heisman like numbers that he could have had earlier in the season, but nevertheless he is a great back.  Penn State is favored by 3, and they should really blow that out of the water without a problem.  35-13.

3.  Cal @ Stanford 6:30 (no network listed on ESPN, but i suspect this will be on Vs.)

The Game!  We couldn't possibly talk about Cal Stanford without talking about, THE PLAY:

Or, if you are looking for a more fun version of the play, here you go:

Not much has changed from the preseason with this game.  I would have called for a blowout then, and I will do the same now.  Only difference is I would have told you Cal was get the blowout then, now I think Stanford will be the ones on top.  Stanford has a dark horse Heisman candidate in Toby Gerhart at running back, and budding super star quarterback in Andrew Luck.  Whalen and Owusu are top level receivers to compliment those two.  For Cal, an injured Jhavid Best pretty much seals the fate of this one.  Stanford favored by 7, not enough.  42-24.

2.  LSU @ Ole Miss 3:30 CBS

The SEC Game of the Week will almost always make my top five list.  Not that I'm biased or anything.  I don't imagine this game will live up to the 1959 classic battle of top five teams and Heisman Winner Billy Cannon's punt return, but we can always dream

LSU is sitting right now pretty much where Ole Miss was predicted to be in the preseason.  Ole Miss has not really lived up to all the hype, but last week they did demolish Tennessee.  Although that team was facing some pretty heavy distractions with the whole armed robbery thing.  LSU as been hit with the injury bug, but Jordon Jefferson should be ready to go.  Same can't be said for Charles Scott who's injury is a little more serious.  Ole Miss is just such a random team this year.  Will you get the team that got dominated by Auburn, or the one that dominated Tennessee?  The one that dominated Arkansas, or the one that somehow lost to South Carolina?  Ole Miss is actually favored in this game surprisingly enough.  Lot of stock being put into the team after last weekend.  I don't see lightening sticking twice however.  LSU 20-13.

1.  Ohio State @ Michigan

Hate week at its best!  I don't care if both of these teams are 0-11 heading in, this is must see TV.

Ohio State's post season trip is booked already.  They know they are going to the Rose Bowl no matter what happens in the Michigan game.  Do you think they will rest their starters?  In a word, no.  Pryor and Company want nothing more than to STOMP the Wolverines.  Michigan comes in with a four game losing streak, also losing 6 of 7 after starting 4-0.  So if you can do the math, you know that Michigan needs a win Saturday to become bowl eligible.  This kinda has that feel that the Alabama vs. Auburn game had last year.  Alabama had the SEC title game looming, and Auburn needed a win to go bowling.  Alabama won that game 36-0.  I don't see a score like that in the future, but I do see a convincing Ohio State victory.  My initial thought was Buckeyes by about 13 - and Vegas put this one at a 12.5 point spread.  So its gonna be a tough one to pick.  On one hand, once the game is in hand the Buckeyes will probably put some starters on the bench.  But its not like they have a game to get ready for.  Its only November and the Rose Bowl isn't until New Years.  I don't pick this with a terrible amount of confidence, but I do see Ohio State with a close cover 24-10.

It might not be a week for nationally relevant games, but it is nearing the end of the season, and rivalries are THE BEST this time of year.  Anything can happen in a game like Ohio State/Michigan or Cal/Stanford.  Stay tuned, its gonna be a great weekend ahead.

Week 4 Picks of the Week

That time of the week again.  Lets take a look at my top five picks against the spread for Week 4:

Last Week:  2-3  Season 2-3

1.  Wake Forest @ Boston College (+2) 1:00 pm CDT espn360.com (online only)

Don't be scared of Boston College because of what happened last weekend against Clemson (25-7 loss).  Clemson is a good football team.  But this BC team is as well.  They just have to decide on a quarter back.  I like Justin Tuggle.  I know his stats haven't been great overall, but that is mostly because of the Clemson game.  take out Clemson, and he is 9-17 206 yards and most importantly, 3 TD and 0 int.  On the road at Clemson....4-20 23 yards 1 TD and 3 INT. But he is a 19 year old freshman in his first road start.  He will be back at home this weekend.  Coach Spaziani has said he might play another quarterback this weekend, but I don't think so.  I just hope this doesn't get under the young man's skin and he presses too much.  Close BC win at home 24-21.

2. Michigan State (+10) @ Wisconsin 11:00 am ESPN

I like the way MSU played against Notre Dame last weekend, and frankly think they should have won the game.  Had they not thrown the ball away at the end of regulation they would at least have likely taken it into overtime.  I like what I see in Kirk Cousins outside of that pass vs. Notre Dame (46-70 649 yards 5 TD 1 INT).  He is just a sophomore though.  And in the Big 10, it comes down to the running game.  Their two headed monster of Caulton Ray and Larry Caper have combined for 56 carries and 263 yards which isn't great, but should be enough to get it done with a good game from Cousins.  I like Wisconsin to the win the game at home, but ten points way too much.  17-13.

3.   Army (+10) @ Iowa State 6:00 pm College Sports Direct (online only)

This pick isn't so much about what I know about Army, but more what I know about Iowa State  Iowa State is terrible.  5-19 over the past two seasons.  They are 2-1 however this year (so i guess 7-20 now) but those wins are against North Dakota State and Kent State.  They cupboard is bare at Iowa State, and they aren't worthy of being 10 point favorites.  Army is also 2-1 on the season with wins over Eastern Michigan and Ball State.  A 35-19 loss to Duke, a team which lost to Richmond to start the season, is a little bit scary I will grant you, but I wouldn't put too much emphasis on that one.  Army has gone back to basics with the running game.  Four different backs have rushed for over 100 yards on the season and they have six touchdowns on the ground.  I like Army to pull the upset in this game 17-16.  If not, at least to stay within the 10 points.

4.  California (-6) @ Oregon 2:30 pm ABC

Oregon is beginning to recover from their open weekend loss to Boise State, especially with their 31-24 win over Utah, but they aren't there yet.  They have major questions in the passing game, and the running game is in the hands of a rookie who didn't figure to factor much into the offense at the start of the season.  They are not ready to beat a team like Cal.  Jahvid Best is the real deal at running back for Cal and he will have a BIG day against this Duck defense.  All QB Kevin Riley has to do is manage the game, and Cal should have this game over before the 4th quarter really starts.  Cal also NEEDS a statement style victory to really factor into the national picture.  USC is still the big team in the state no matter what the Golden Bears seem to do, so if they want to be talked about in the same context before their head to head matchup in two weeks, they need this to be a big win for a confidence builder.  Lets just hope they haven't been looking too far ahead and forgot about the Ducks though.  I don't think they do that.  I like Cal on the road with a 34-17 win.

5.  Washington (+7) @ Stanford 8:00 FCS Pacific.

So let me get this straight:  you beat USC, the BIG DOGS of the Pac-10 one week, and you come in 7 point UNDERDOGS to STANFORD the next!  Sorry, Homey Don't Play Dat.  Washington is going to avoid a major letdown loss and I think will crush Stanford.  Now I will say, QB Andrew Luck is the real deal.  Luck was an ESPN 150 recruit coming out of High School and played in the ESPN All-American game back in 2008.  And lets not forget about Toby Gerhart at running back.  Luck already has 639 pass yards, and Gerhart has 316 on the ground, but lets not kid ourselves, Stanford hasn't played anyone yet.  They did play on the road @ Wake Forest, but they lost the game.  Wins against Washington State and San Jose State don't prove anything yet.  I think Stanford is a good football team, but if Washington can beat USC (not to mention nearly beat LSU), they can certainly take care of Stanford.  We have to worry about the letdown after beating a big time opponent, but I don't see it.  Coach Sark will not allow for that.  Huskies 31, Cardinal 27.

Here they are.  I am most concerned with my pick of Army and least concerned with my pick of Cal.  I was more confident with my Washington pick until I dug a little deeper into Stanford and saw that they really have looked good on paper this year, but they will get it done.  So take the picks, give me yours, rip mine apart, I don't care.  Just let me know what you think.

Week 3 Games of the Week

Starting now, each week during the college football season I will be giving you my top five games to watch each week.  So......here we go.

Honorable Mention:  Florida State @ BYU
Classic football power vs. Mid-Major BCS buster.  FSU takes it on the road.....BYU beats Utah later in the year.....Utah beats TCU and no mid major makes the BCS....we can all hope.

5. West Virginia @ Auburn 6:45pm CDT ESPN2
This game could really go either way.  West Virginia won last year's game, but lost nearly their whole team.  Auburn came into the season and was supposed to just roll over and die, but that hasn't happened so far.  Auburn's offense was clicking on all cylinders last weekend against Mississippi State.  I hate to do it, but I give the edge to the Tigers at home in a close, high scoring affair.

4.  Michigan State @ Notre Dame 2:30pm NBC
I love this matchup for so many reasons.  Notre Dame NEEDS this game.  Well, Charlie Weis NEEDS this game at least.  If he wants to keep his job, he needs a BCS bowl.  No more excuses about talent.  All of these players are Weis players.  If they lose this game and the USC game, that's three losses and likely out of the BCS.  Combine that with a 1-3 record against MSU and its a revenge game for the Domers.  Picking with my head and not my heart here.  Notre Dame in an ugly Big-10 style low scoring clash.

3.  USC @ Washington 230pm ABC
On the surface, USC SHOULD dominate this game.  They won I think 56-0 last season and clearly have more talent.  But that was without Jake Locker at quarterback for the Huskies and its at home.  USC will win, but it won't be by alot.  Maybe a 35-21 type game

2.  Texas Tech @ Texas 700pm ABC
Sticking with the revenge theme for the weekend, this is the ULTIMATE in revenge game.  In case you lived under a rock all of last season and missed it, Crabtree's last second catch knocked Texas out of the top spot and ultimately out of the Big-12 title game, and a shot at the national title. Texas is going to CRUSH the Red Raiders in this game.  Tech will score points.  QB Taylor Potts just picked up where Harrell left off...just like Harrell picked up with Cody Hodge left off....and just like I could pick up where Potts will eventually leave off.  He will have four touchdown passes, but Texas will probably hang 60 in this one.

1.  Tennessee @ Florida
Its put up or shut up time for Lane Kiffen.  And Lane, you should have just kept your mouth shut!  Kiffy came into town and pretty much said "hey, you see that Gator over there not really worried about us....lets punch it in the face and see what it does!"  What its gonna be is wipe its ass with what used to be your football program!  The only thing that could save the Viles in this one is if Tebow is too personally upset at what was said about his coach that he tries too hard and forces throws that Eric Berry returns for touchdowns.  Other than that, there is nothing they can do.  The spread is 28.5 according to Vegas.  I am tempted to pick the Vols to stay within that, but I just don't know.  Its the SEC, games are almost always close.....but Florida isn't going to call the dogs off late.  The backups will be in, but they are gonna be in chucking the ball down the field for scores.  I see, and will be hoping for, at least a 40 point win for the Gators..

That's it for this week.....check back tomorrow for my top five picks against the spread