After a couple of weeks traveling (To Vegas and to the US Virgin Islands) I'm back and (sadly) not tanned, but ready to jump back in the fray of picking games incorrectly for your reading pleasure. A lot of big games this week, games that could go a long way toward telling us who will ultimately be in the B(C)S Championship Game. I'm waiting for ESPN to give it some silly moniker like "Shake Out Saturday".
Without further ado.......
1. Oklahoma vs. Baylor(-15) - OU 17 Baylor 45 - I just don't like OU here. Their offense is a shambles and their defense gives up way to many big plays. There has been a lot of chatter asking "What's wrong with the Sooners?" I'll forward the theory that they are suffering from an overall lack of talent this year.
2. Oregon(-10.5) vs. Stanford - Ducks 42 Stan 23 - The trendy pick is to call for the Cardinal to pull the upset. Not this year. Stanford is not as solid as last year and Mariota is no Freshman. They won't roll like they normally do, but I think Oregon will cover and the game won't be as close as the score will indicate.
3. Kansas State vs. Texas Tech(-3) - K-State 20 Tech 24 - Tech has taken a couple of bad losses but I don't think the Wildcats are very good. That said, I don't think the Raiders are that good either. Just not as bad as the Fighting Snyders this year.
4. Mississippi State vs. Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University - MSU 17 aTm 56 - The Aggie defense is bad, but the Bulldogs are just not very good.
5. University of Texas(-6.5) vs. West Virginia University - UT 42 WVU 17 - I've been down on the Longhorns all year. To be fair, they're playing better defense and their offense has finally decided to develop an identity that works. A lot of the shine has rubbed off of Dana Holgerson in the last two years. He needs to show that he understands there are two sides to every football team. Defense coach, you have to play defense.
6. University of Houston vs. University of Central Florida(-11) - UH 24 UCF 27 - I'm not sure why, but I think the Coogs will cover here.
7. Virginia Technical University vs. University of Miami(-6.5) - VaTech 10 The U 42 - Most of this line is based on the injury to Johnson, who makes the 'Canes a MUCH better team. That said I think the Hokies continue to get residual love from Beamer's past teams. The reality is they're not that good this year.
8. University of Central Los Angeles vs. University of Arizona - UCLA 42 'Zona 17 - Honestly, I'm having trouble figuring this line out. I've watched a LOT of Pac12 football this year and UCLA seems to be much better than the Fighting Rich Rod's. Besides, as a Michigan fan I ALWAYS root for Rodriguez to take a whuppin'.
9. Louisiana State University vs. University of Alabama(-12.5) - LSU 10 Bama 35 - If a line seems too good to be true, it probably is.
And finally.......
10. Nebraska vs. Michigan(-7) - NU 23 Blue 24 - Yes, I'm crazy for picking Michigan, after all Bo Schembechler gained 48 more yards than they last Saturday against Michigan State, but Blue at home is a different team than Blue on the road. And Nebraska is a big, heaping pile of Bo Pellini mess right now. Go Blue!
To sum up: I think the best teams in the country are the best teams in the country for a reason so Baylor, Oregon and Alabama all survive to keep the B(C)S muddled in the final months of its final year. Given the history of this failure of competitive sports, I think that's entirely appropriate.
