Predicting the Independence Bowl

I have written about every Georgia Tech game of the year, so there is no reason to stop now.  In roughly fifteen minutes, the Yellow Jackets and the Air Force Falcons will face off in Shreveport, LA, in the Independence Bowl.  This game is a match-up of two eerily similar teams since both run the triple option.  That will be play to Tech's advantage since the Jackets are usually at a disadvantage in bowls due to the fact that the option is much easier to stop with ample preparation.  Most prognosticators say this game will be a snooze fest since it features two of the nation's more predictable offenses.  I think it will be much more explosive since both teams have had plenty of time to install new plays.  I expect Paul Johnson to open the game with a trick play or at least as pass.  In the end, Tech's superior recruiting should overcome Air Force's precision.  I encourage you to tune it and watch it at 5 pm on ESPN2.  Georgia Tech 34, Air Force 29

College Football Pick-Em: Bowl Edition

After a two week hiatus, here are my picks for bowl season.  As the bigger bowls come up, I will do score predictions and analysis for them.  So far, I am 2-2, as I correctly predicted Louisville and BYU's wins, but missed on the other two. Tonight, Boise State plays Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl.  Utah's only chance to beat the Broncos went out the window when Jordan Wynn went down with a shoulder injury.  Boise State is out to prove they are a Top 5 team despite their loss to Nevada.  Tonight in Vegas, that is how they will play.  Boise State 45, Utah 21 (Be sure to vote in the poll!)


December 19th

New Mexico Bowl: Brigham Young over UTEP

Humanitarian Bowl: Fresno State over Northern Illinois

New Orleans Bowl: Ohio over Troy

December 21st

St. Petersburg Bowl: Louisville over Southern Mississippi

December 22nd

Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State over Utah

December 23rd

Poinsettia Bowl: San Diego State over Navy

December 24th

Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii over Tulsa

December 26th

Little Caesars Bowl: Toledo over FIU

December 27th

Independence Bowl: Georgia Tech over Air Force

December 28th

Champs Sports Bowl: NC State over West Virginia

Insight Bowl: Missouri over Iowa

December 29th

Military Bowl: Maryland over East Carolina

Texas Bowl: Baylor over Illinois

Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma State over Arizona

December 30th

Armed Forces Bowl: SMU over Army

Pinstripes Bowl: Kansas State over Syracuse

Music City Bowl: North Carolina over Tennessee

Holiday Bowl: Nebraska over Washington

December 31st

Meineke Car Care Bowl: Clemson over South Florida

Sun Bowl: Notre Dame over Miami

Liberty Bowl: UCF over Georgia

Chick-fil-A Bowl: Florida State over South Carolina

January 1st

TicketCity Bowl: Texas Tech over Northwestern

Outback Bowl: Penn State over Florida

Capital One Bowl: Alabama over Michigan State

Gator Bowl: Mississippi State over Michigan

Rose Bowl: TCU over Wisconsin

Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma over Connecticut

January 3rd

Orange Bowl: Stanford over Virginia Tech

January 4th

Sugar Bowl: Ohio State over Arkansas

January 6th

GoDaddy.com Bowl: Miami (OH) over Middle Tennessee

January 7th

Cotton Bowl: LSU over Texas A&M

January 8th

BBVA Compass Bowl: Kentucky over Pittsburgh

January 9th

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Nevada over Boston College

January 10th

BCS Championship Game: Auburn over Oregon

Bowl Record: 2-2
Overall Record: 45-28

College Football Pick-Em: Week 14

Here are the picks for Week 14:

ACC Championship Game: Virginia Tech vs. Florida State (in Charlotte)- I have picked the Seminoles to win every game this year and I don't see any reason to change that now.  Both of these teams enter this game super hot.  Virginia Tech is riding a ten game winning streak.  And FSU has won three in a row and just routed Florida.  On paper, the Hokies should win, but I am taking my 'Noles in an upset.  Florida State 28, Virginia Tech 24

SEC Championship Game: South Carolina vs. Auburn (in Atlanta)- One of the hardest things to do in footbal is beat a good team twice in one year.  However, Auburn showed in the second half of last week's game just how special of a team they are.  The Gamecocks will need to play better than they did in their upset of Alabama in order to beat the Tigers.  And with Cam Newton on the opposing sideline, even that might not be enough.  Auburn 38, South Carolina 35

Big 12 Championship Game: Oklahoma vs. Nebraska (in JerryWorld)- In the final Big 12 title game, it is only appropriate that these old Big 8 rivals play one another.  Oklahoma has won nearly half of all the Big 12 title games played.  And Nebraska would love nothing more than to take the Big 12 title with them to the Big Ten next year.  Oklahoma finally seems to be able to play as well on the road as they do at home, but Nebraska's combination of an explosive offense and suffocating defense will lead them to a Big 12 victory one last time.  Nebraska 31, Oklahoma 28

Upset Special: Oregon at Oregon State- I am picking this upset not because I believe it will happen, but because I want it to happen.  I like the Beavers and for the past two years the Ducks have beaten them in the Civil War and denied them a Rose Bowl berth.  Its time for the Beavers to return the favor.  And this Beavers' team is no stranger to upsetting dominate teams.  Two years ago, they knocked off #1 USC in Corvallis.  That's where this game is played too.  Oregon State 23, Oregon 21

Week 12 Record: 3-2
Overall Record: 42-23

College Football Pick-Em: Week 13

What an unbelievable comeback by Auburn!  Cam Newton was beyond unbelievable in this second half.  Here are the picks for Week 13:

Georgia Tech at Georgia- I've picked the Jackets every game this year so there is no reason to change now.  Tech will push their winning streak in Athens to two and deny the Bulldogs bowl eligibility.  Georgia Tech 35, Georgia 32

Florida at Florida State- One program is on the upswing and the other is fading.  The Seminoles will end their six game losing streak to the Gators.  Florida State 29, Florida 17

Boise State at Nevada- Nevada will play the Broncos closer than any team since at least Oregon State, but Boise's defense is the best in the nation.  Boise State 44, Nevada 29

South Carolina at Clemson- This game is remarkable similar to the Gamecocks' upset of the Tigers last year.  However, Marcus Lattimore is a game changing talent and he will make sure the Gamecocks come out on top heading into their showdown with Auburn.  South Carolina 28, Clemson 24

Upset Special: North Carolina State at Maryland- This pick is more hopeful than anything else, but if the Terrapins knock off the Wolfpack, Florida State will play for the ACC title.  Go Turtles!  Maryland 21, North Carolina State 17


Week 12 Record: 4-1
Overall Record: 39-21

College Football Pick-Em: Week 12

Due to the lack of any change in the standings, there will not be a Heisman watch this week.  Basically, Cam Newton will win if he is eligible and someone less worthy will win if he isn't.


Last week, I had my best showing in a while, going 4-1.  The only game I missed on was Miami's domination of Georgia Tech.  There is no upset special this week because I expect the favorites to win in all of this week's big games.  Here are the picks for week 12:


Florida State at Maryland- Florida State 27, Maryland 21


Duke at Georgia Tech- Georgia Tech 34, Duke 18


Virginia Tech at Miami- Virginia Tech 21, Miami 18


Ohio State at Iowa-  Ohio State 26, Iowa 22


Nebraska at Texas A&M- Nebraska 32, Texas A&M 29


Week 11 Record: 4-1
Overall Record: 35-20

College Football Pick-Em: Week 11

Here are the picks for Week 11:

Clemson at Florida State- Florida State 34, Clemson 21

Miami at Georgia Tech- Georgia Tech 27, Miami 24

Mississippi State at Alabama- Alabama 17, Mississippi State 16

Virginia Tech at North Carolina- Virginia Tech 31, North Carolina 27

Upset Special: South Carolina at Florida- South Carolina 35, Florida 33


Week 8 Record: 1-4
Overall Record: 31-19

College Football Pick-Em: Week 10

Last week's results were better but still not the 5-0 week I have been seeking.  FSU's choke job at NC State was especially painful to watch since it has happened before (Miracle on North Ave).  Here are the picks for Week 10:


TCU at Utah- It is a testament to how far college football really has come that a Mountain West conference game is also a showdown between two Top 5 teams.  The winner of this game will actually have the inside track to the National Championship Game, ahead of Boise State.  That is because they both own signature non-conference wins in addition to their domination of the MWC schedule.  TCU beat Oregon State 30-21 and Baylor 45-10.  Utah beat Pittsburgh 27-24 and Iowa State 68-27.  Both teams look very similar on paper.  Utah is third in the nation in scoring offense while TCU is tenth.  TCU is first in scoring defense while Utah in sixth.  However, Utah cannot match TCU's overwhelming athleticism and depth.  This game will be a classic, but the Horned Frogs will prevail.  TCU 28, Utah 27


Alabama at LSU- This game should truly reveal if Les Miles has sold his soul to the devil.  If he can luck his team to victory against a locked-in Alabama team, then maybe we should all stop mocking him for fear of ending up dead.  Alabama is a well-rounded team with a strong defense, a solid passing game, and a dominate running game.  LSU has a good defense, a gifted kick returner, a semblance of a running game, and zero passing game.  The Tigers are 113th in the nation is passing, out of only 120 teams.  Since this game is in Tiger Stadium, LSU does have a puncher's chance.  Unless Beelzebub has something to do with it.  Alabama 24, LSU 10


Arkansas at South Carolina- This game is one of the more difficult ones to pick this year.  Arkansas has been all but eliminated in the SEC West race and South Carolina will play Florida for the SEC East regardless of this week's outcome.  However, this matchup will go along way towards deciding the SEC's pecking order.  The winner will be perceived as an up-tier team while the loser will be a mid-tier team.  The Razorbacks matchup well with the Gamecocks.  Arkansas has the SEC's strongest passing attack while South Carolina has the conference's worst pass defense.  However, the Gamecocks have a strong pass rush and they should be able to get enough pressure on Ryan Mallet to contain him.  If they use Marcus Lattimore to control the clock and the game, they should be able to win.  South Carolina 34, Arkansas 32


North Carolina at Florida State- At the beginning of year, this game was picked out as one that could help decide both ACC divisions.  However, after the Tar Heels' suspensions, only the Seminoles still have a lot to lose.  By losing to NC State, FSU lost control of their own destiny in the Atlantic Division. However, if they win out and inconsistent NC State loses again, they will win the division.  The Tar Heels season has gone a very different way.  After playing extremely well the first month of the season, they seem to have lost their us-against-the-world mentality and have gotten worse as the season has gone along.  Last week, they needed 14 fourth quarter points in order to beat FCS team William and Mary.  If this game was in Chapel Hill, the Heels would have a shot.  In Tallahassee, they have none.  Florida State 34, North Carolina 21


Upset Special: Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech- Their is no real reason to pick the Yellow Jackets to win this game.  The weather is supposed to be awful, making the ball slippery and the triple option harder to run.  Virginia Tech is at home in one of the most difficult places to play in the country.  The Hokies are a team out for revenge after being upset in Atlanta last year.  And they are the hotter team after winning six straight, while Georgia Tech has had a very up and down season.  However, Paul Johnson is a master at getting his team ready for games like this one.  The triple option hasn't looked great this year except for brief stretches, but tonight in Blacksburg, it will all click.  Georgia Tech 27, Virginia Tech 24


Week 8 Record: 3-2
Overall Record: 30-15

College Football Pick-Em: Week 9

Sorry about the background change.  My background freaked out this morning so the blog is going to have this very basic background until I find something better.  On to the picks.  Last week was my work week of the season and I ended up going only 1-4.  Luckily, its time to bounce back so this week I will be going 5-0.  Here are the picks:

Florida State at North Carolina State- As a Seminoles fan, this game terrifies me.  Thursday night games on the road have become a house of horrors for FSU.  However, like I have been saying all season, if the Noles are truly "back", they must win games like this one.  NC State has the best offense FSU will see for the rest of the season, but FSU's defense has been stellar since the Oklahoma game.  They still lead the nation in sacks and must get plenty of pressure on Russell Wilson or he will carve the secondary apart.  This game will be close and it will be nerve-wracking, but the Seminoles will prevail.  Florida State 34, North Carolina State 31

Florida versus Georgia (in Jacksonville)- I'm not sure what to make of this game.  Florida is in the middle of a three game losing streak and Georgia currently has a three game winning streak.  If the Gators win, they still control their own destiny in the SEC East.  If Georgia wins, they could still win the SEC East despite their awful start to the season.  Florida hasn't scored more than 29 points this season.  Georgia has topped 40 points for three consecutive games.  However, three factors swing this game in the Gators' favor.  One, Urban Meyer cannot and will not allow his team to lose four games in a row.  Two, the Gators used their bye week to get healthy and their offense should be better for it.  Third and most important, Georgia hasn't played a defense of Florida's caliber this season.  Florida 24, Georgia 17

Missouri at Nebraska- I feel bad for Missouri.  Last week, they scored one of the biggest victories in school history.  And their reward for upsetting Oklahoma  is a trip to Lincoln to face a very angry Nebraska team.  The last time Nebraska played in front of their home crowd, Taylor Martinez got pulled and the Cornhuskers lost to Texas.  And last week, the proud Blackshirt defense of Nebraska gave up 41 points to Oklahoma State.  Nebraska will be out to avenge both of these mistakes.  The winner of this game should win the Big 12 North.  Missouri will play hard, but they don't have it in them to pull of back-to-back upsets.  Nebraska 28, Missouri 24

Michigan State at Iowa- If Michigan State can win in Iowa City this weekend, they have an excellent shot of going undefeated and even playing for the national title.  However, Iowa can thrust itself back into the thick of the Big 10 race with a win versus the Spartans.  Michigan State has had everything break right for them this season.  Their escapes at Notre Dame and Northwestern have shown that they are truly a charmed team.  Iowa, on the other hand, has been killed by their own mistakes in both of their losses.  If not for special teams errors, the Hawkeyes could very easily be undefeated.  This weekend they will avoid mistakes and cause the Spartans' luck to run out.  Iowa 17, Michigan State 14

Upset Special: Oregon at Southern California- I have had this upset picked out ever since the Ducks became a Top 10 team.  So have the Trojans.  USC is not allowed to play in a bowl game due to their Reggie Bush probation so this game is their Super Bowl.  Also, it was the Ducks who truly ushered in the end of the Trojans era of dominance by beating USC last year 47-20.  USCs will be out for revenge.  They have quietly had a solid season after a slow start that took them out of the national limelight.  Their offense really got going two weeks ago against Cal.  And the Trojans have had their bye week to prepare for Oregon's breakneck pace of offense.  Finally, even though they have fallen on hard times, USC is still full of future NFL players on both sides of the ball.  Oregon may execute perfectly, but the Trojans have the talents to hang with them.  For the fourth week in a row, the #1 team in the nation will lose.  Southern California 41, Oregon 38

Week 8 Record: 1-4
Overall Record: 27-13

College Football Pick-Em: Week 8

I did well last week and nailed my upset special for the second week in a row.  Here are the picks for this week:

Georgia Tech at Clemson- Georgia Tech 27, Clemson 24

LSU at Auburn- Auburn 27, LSU 21

Oklahoma at Missouri- Oklahoma 28, Missouri 24

Wisconsin at Iowa- Iowa 16, Wisconsin 14

Upset Special: North Carolina at Miami- North Carolina 31, Miami 28

Week 4 Record: 4-1
Overall Record: 26-9

College Football Pick-Em: Week 7

I finally nailed my upset special last week even if I missed on a couple other picks.  Here are the picks for Week 7:


Middle Tennessee State at Georgia Tech- The Yellow Jackets finally got the triple option working properly against Virginia last weekend.  Anthony Allen had the best game of his career and hopefully he can sustain that success going forward.  Before the season, I thought Allen had the potential to be a better running back than Jonathan Dwyer.  The talent that led to that prediction is still there and he just needs to continue to be more consistent.  MTSU has been pretty strong in the last few years, but they are down this year so the Ramblin' Wreck should roll in this game.  Georgia Tech 36, MTSU 13

Boston College at Florida State- After their domination of the U in Miami, the popular consensus regarding the Seminoles is that they are well on their way back.  While big wins are what defines a season, it is games against inferior opponents that will actually show if FSU is back.  During their dominant stretch in the 90's, FSU regularly won games like this one in huge blowouts.  However, as the program has fallen on hard times, these types of games have become unnecessarily competitive.  If Florida State really is back, they need to blowout BC.  And that is what they will do.  Florida State 45, Boston College 10

Texas at Nebraska- After last year's Big 12 Championship Game, this matchup was supposed to be a rematch between two Top 10 teams.  Nebraska has done their part but Texas has been very underwhelming thus far this season.  Texas's offense has been nothing short of awful, so Nebraska should win this game pretty easily.  The big question is how Taylor Martinez will perform against the still strong defense of the Longhorns.  I think T-Magic will continue his stellar play and lead the Cornhuskers to revenge against Texas.  Nebraska 35, Texas 18

Arkansas at Auburn- It seems that every week in the SEC West, two Top 10 teams face off in a huge game for both teams.  Arkansas needs more than just a win here to take the lead in the division race, but a victory will go along way towards that goal.  Ryan Mallett can jump back into the front of the Heisman race by leading his team to victory on the road.  Auburn can maintain its frontrunner status in the West with another big victory.  I was initially going to pick Arkansas in the upset, but I don't see a way that Cam Newton loses this game.  He truly has emerged as one of the top players in the nation and should make sure the Tigers stay undefeated.  Auburn 31, Arkansas 29


Upset Special: Mississippi State at Florida-  I am picking this upset on a whim and my reasoning behind it isn't very solid.  In fact, it all revolves around Cam Newton.  I originally was going to use Arkansas over Auburn as my upset special, but I just can't bring myself to pick against Cam.  I think he may very well be the best player in the nation.   The reason Mississippi State has a shot in this game is because of how well they played against Cam Newton and Auburn last month.  Dan Mullen has really turned this team around.  Plus, as the former offensive coordinator for the Gators, he has the inside track at pulling the upset.  Finally, the Gators are beat up both physically and mentally from back-to-back losses against Alabama and LSU.  It seems unlikely at first glance, but the Bulldogs are going to stun the Gators in the Swamp.  Mississippi State 21, Florida 17

Week 4 Record: 3-2
Overall Record: 22-8
 

College Football Pick-Em: Week 6

Once again, I hit all of my picks except for the upset special.  Hopefully this week will be different!  Here are the picks for Week 6:


Virginia at Georgia Tech- Both of these teams looked awful last week.  The Cavaliers got blown out at home versus Florida State.  Their offense looked terrible in the first half before finally getting a couple drives going in the second half.  The Yellow Jackets looked like they were going to lose to a depleted Wake Forest team before finally rallying late in the 4th quarter.  Even though the Jackets have been anything but crisp this year, eventually they have to get rolling.  The Cavs defense has played well so far this year but they don't have the talent on either side of the ball to upset Georgia Tech.  This game has the added dimension being Al Groh's first game against his former team.  Georgia Tech 27, Virginia 21


Florida State at Miami- For the first time in years, this game has real conference implications.  Both of these teams have emerged as the front-runners in their respective ACC divisions.  They both have losses against out-of-conference Top 10 teams on the road and have beaten all of their other opponents convincingly.  The Seminoles have been very well balanced this season and their defense seems to have recovered from the debacle that was their road trip to Norman.  The Hurricanes have won this year primarily behind their explosive receivera and special teams.  Jacory Harris has had another up-and-down year behind a suspect offensive line.  The Seminoles will prevail because they have the playmakers to stand toe-to-toe with the Hurricanes and because their defensive line and linebackers will overwhelm the U's offensive line and force Jacory Harris to make mistakes.  The Noles currently lead the nation is team sacks with 25.  The next best team has 17.  Florida State 34, Miami 29


LSU at Florida- Neither one of these teams looked strong last week.  Florida got beat very handily by Alabama.  And LSU won a game they deserved to lose against Tennessee.  The difference is Florida actually didn't look that bad in defeat.  They made stupid errors, particularly in the red zone, but they were able to move the ball on the #1 team in the nation.  Florida's offense hasn't found its identity yet, but it is still able to move the football.  LSU's offense, on the other hand, looked abysmal against Tennessee.  The last 30 seconds of that game showed just how poorly coached this team really is.  Both of these teams have good defenses, but the Gators will prevail because they have an excellent coach while the Tigers don't even have a competent one.  Florida 24, LSU 13


Tennessee at Georgia-  How the Vols play in this game will reveal a lot about what caliber of coach Derek Dooley is.  If he can use last week's final as a motivational tool, he will have a long, successful career as a coach.  If Tennessee melts because of last week, he is probably not ready for his position.  Mark Richt is another coach who is in crisis.  If the Bulldogs lose this game, he may actually lose his job at the end of the season.  Richt is a very good coach, but it seems that Georgia just isn't very talented this year.  Dooley will have his team excited for this game and they will kick the Bulldogs while they are down.  This game has the added dimension of being Derek Dooley's homecoming to Athens.  He is the son of legendary Georgia coach and athletic director Vince Dooley.  Tennessee 27, Georgia 25

Upset Special: Alabama at South Carolina- Well I am going to try this again.  I picked against the Tide last time they went on the road against a Top 25 team and almost came away looking like a genius.  Hopefully, the second time will be the charm.  This match up sets up as the perfect trap game for the Tide.  They played extremely well against an excellent opponent last weekend and are primed for a letdown this week.  They are going on the road against another team that is viewing this game as their Super Bowl.  They are facing one of the few coaches in the country who is as smart as Nick Saban.  Williams-Brice Stadium is well known as one of the toughest stadiums in the SEC and it will be absolutely rocking for the Gamecocks.  And most importantly, South Carolina has a running back who is as talented as anyone the Tide can throw at him.  Marcus Lattimore's performance will ultimately decide whether the Gamecocks can pull of the massive upset.   He has been compared favorably to Adrian Peterson even though he has only played five college football games.  I think Lattimore will play the game of his life and Spurrier will finally get his signature win at South Carolina.  South Carolina 24, Alabama 22

Week 4 Record: 4-1
Overall Record: 19-6

College Football Pick-Em: Week 5

Oh what could have been.  Had Arkansas held on versus Alabama, my week would have looked SO much better.  Still 15-5 through four weeks is a good record.  Hopefully, it will turn into 20-5 this week!


Florida at Alabama-The Gators finally found their offensive after looking flat for their first three games.  Freshman back-up quarterback Trey Burton has proven to be a fantastic red zone weapon.  He is very similar of a young freshman back-up quarterback the Gators had around four years ago.  Still, Tuscaloosa is never an easy place to win and the Crimson Tide looked extremely strong against Arkansas, especially in the second half.  There probably isn't a defense in the nation that can shut down the tandem of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson and Florida doesn't have the explosive offensive necessary to match them blow for blow.  The game will be close but the Tide will keep on rolling.  Alabama 27, Florida 21

Georgia Tech at Wake Forest-The Yellow Jackets have been very disappointing this season, but there is no way they lose this game, especially on the road.  There were times in last week's game that Georgia Tech's offense looked very good.  However, there were other times it looked utterly hopeless.  Wake Forest's offense is almost non-existent.  Their starting quarterback is completing less than half of his passes and struggles with throwing the ball down the field.  The Jackets' struggles will probably continue in some capacity, but hopefully they take this week to right the ship.  Regardless, they will win this game.  Georgia Tech 31, Wake Forest 6

Florida State at Virginia- The Seminoles finally seem to be back on track after the Oklahoma debacle.  The offense has been good but has yet to truly reach its potential.  The defense has been great over the past two games.  They've allowed less than 200 yards of offense to BYU and Wake Forest and had their first shutout in 28 games last weekend.  The loss at Norman will provide Jimbo Fisher with enough fire to keep this team motivated on the road.  Virginia has been one of the hardest teams in the nation to understand.  They have looked good but not great in wins against FCS teams Richmond and VMI.  But they also went to the Coliseum and played USC very closely.  This Cavaliers' team is better than they have been in year's past, but it won't be enough to hold off the balanced attack of the Seminoles.  Florida State 33, Virginia 14

Texas vs Oklahoma (at JerryWorld)-Before last weekend, this game seemed to be a national showdown between two title contenders.  Now, the only impact Texas can have on the national title race is as a spoiler.  The Longhorns would love nothing more than knock their arch-rivals out of the race.  The problem is that Texas may not actually be very good.  It is common knowledge that their offense is in shambles.  They can't run the ball effectively and their "dominate" defense had some gaping holes exposed last weekend by UCLA.  Oklahoma has had a very up-and-down season so far, playing well against big-time programs and struggling against inferior opponents.  The Longhorns are the biggest game on the Sooners' schedule and they will be ready.  The Texas defense will show up to prove last weekend was an aberration, but it won't be enough.  Oklahoma 28, Texas 17

Upset Special: Stanford at Oregon-The Pac-10 has looked fantastic thus far this season and this game is the first in a series that will determine who wins this very deep conference.  Oregon is the front runner for the conference crown and Stanford is the primary contender.  The Ducks offense has been lighting fast and totally unstoppable this year.  They seem to start slowly and then explode for 35 points in the third quarter of every game they play.  However, their defense, particularly their pass defense, was exposed last weekend.  They allowed 597 yards to an average Arizona State team.  Stanford's offense has been balanced and potent thus far.  They have blown out all of their opponents and their star quarterback Andrew Luck hasn't even played his best game yet.  Winning in Corvallis is going to be tough, but this Cardinal team is fundamentally sound and up to the challenge.  Stanford 39, Oregon 36

Week 4 Record: 3-2
Overall Record: 15-5

College Football Pick-Em: Week 4

Last week's pick went pretty well, expect for the upset special.   This week features some huge SEC games and an important home stand for Boise State (your 2010 BCS National Champions).  Here are the picks for Week 3:


Wake Forest at Florida State-These two teams had opposite showings last week.  The Seminoles bounced back from their loss in Norman with a strong victory over BYU.  The Deamon Deacons were utterly dominated by Stanford and have yet to show any ability to stop a good offense.  The Noles have a great offense and should be able to win this game easily.  Florida State 37, Wake Forest 21

North Carolina State at Georgia Tech- The Wolfpack have looked very strong this year and should make a real game out of this one.  Russell Wilson is an excellent quarterback and has yet to throw an interception.  However, the Yellow Jackets are still trying to forget their loss at Kansas and Paul Johnson will not allow another slip-up against an inferior opponent, especially one in-conference.  Joshua Nesbitt and Anthony Allen finally got the option running properly last week against North Carolina and they should continue their stellar play this week.  Plus, the game is a white-out and Bobby Dodd Stadium should be rocking.  Georgia Tech 27, North Carolina State 21

South Carolina at Auburn-This SEC showdown will be a match-up of strength versus strength.  The Tigers have the SEC's #1 rushing offense and the Gamecocks have the SEC's #1 rushing defense.  The key to the game for the Tigers will be whether Cam Newton can break free and run on the Gamecocks.  On the flip side, South Carolina will need to feed freshman phenom Marcus Lattimore the ball as much as they did in their win against Georgia (37 carries).  I like both of these teams and have gone back and forth on this pick more than a few times.  Ultimately, the winner will be whichever team's Heisman candidate produces more, Cam Newton or Marcus Lattimore.  Auburn 19, South Carolina 16

Oregon State at Boise State- None one in the country scheduled a more difficult early season out-of-conference schedule than the Beavers.  They opened the year against TCU in Jerryworld and now they travel to Boise to play the Broncos on the Smurf Turf.  I really like Oregon State and think they will win the Pac-10, but they just aren't as good as TCU or Boise State.  The Rodgers' brothers will get their yards, but the Broncos will win the game.  They know this is their last, best chance to show the voters they are worthy of a national title shot.  Plus, Boise State simply doesn't lose at home.  Since 1999, the Broncos are 71-2 at home!  Boise State 36, Oregon State 24

Upset Special: Alabama at Arkansas- The Tide have looked outstanding thus far and they will certainly be the more talented team in Fayetteville.  Their defense is suffocating and their running game appears unstoppable.  However, the Razorbacks have a secret weapon the Tide can't counter, Ryan Mallet.  Mallet is arguably the best quarterback in the country and he should still be able to sling it against Alabama.  The Crimson Tide have shut down many different types of offenses since their return to dominance but they haven't played a great stand-in-the-pocket-and-throw-it-down-your-throat team like Arkansas.  Alabama's secondary is very young and will be tested heavily.  This is the biggest home game in Fayetteville in at least 5 years.  The crowd will be rowdy and the team will be excited.  It will take some 4th quarter heroics by Mallet, but Arkansas will pull the upset.  Arkansas 29, Alabama 27

Week 3 Record: 4-1
Overall Record: 12-3

College Football Pick-Em: Week 3

Unfortunately, I am leaving for the weekend so I have to pump this out really quickly.  This week there will be no analysis, just picks.  And here they are:


Arkansas at Georgia- Arkansas 29, Georgia 14

Georgia Tech at North Carolina- Georgia Tech 33, North Carolina 24

BYU at Florida State- Florida State 41, BYU 23

Clemson at Auburn- Auburn 31, Clemson 24

Upset Special: Maryland at West Virginia- Maryland 34, West Virginia 32

Week 2 Record: 3-2
Overall Record: 8-2

College Football Pick-Em: Week 2

Last week's picks could not have gone any better.  I nailed all five of my picks and didn't do a terrible job on the spread.  If you would like to pick alongside me, please include your picks in the comment section.  If enough people get involved maybe we can make some sort of game out of it.  Here are my picks for week 2:


Miami at Ohio State- As an ACC fan, I want to pick the U to go into the Horseshoe and win but I can't.  There are two factors that separate these teams.  The first is the superiority of the Buckeyes defensive line over the Hurricanes' offensive line.  It doesn't matter how many playmakers the U has if Jacory Harris is spending his whole day on his back.  The second factor is Terrell Pryor.  Like Vince Young in 2005, Pryor is a dynamic talent that can't be stopped.  Ohio State 28, Miami 21

Penn State at Alabama-  What a great week for outstanding non-conference match-ups!  The Nittany Lions have both components that lead to a road upset: a strong defense and a powerful running game.  However, beating the defensing champions in Tusculoosa would be difficult even with a seasoned veteran quarterback.  Throw in the fact that Penn State is starting a true freshman and it seems that the Tide will roll.  Alabama 31, Penn State 17

Georgia Tech at Kansas- The Turner Gil era is Kansas has gotten of to a rough start.  Last week the Jayhawks were embarrassed in a 6-3 loss to North Dakota State and this week the Yellow Jacket's powerful triple options runs in to town.  The Jackets rushing attack is powerful enough to put this game away early.  Hopefully, Paul Johnson will take some time to work out the kinks in their anemic passing attack before the conference schedule begins.  Kansas will play much better than they did last week, but it won't be nearly enough.  Georgia Tech 38, Kansas 17

Upset Special I: Georgia at South Carolina-  This game is match-up between an overrated and an underrated team.  Georgia has not done anything to warrant their ranking.  Their biggest asset is an experienced offensive line.  But a strong O-line means nothing when you are starting a redshirt freshman at quarterback.  The Gamecocks are in a very different situation.  This year is probably Steve Spurrier's last and he will go out on top.  Carolina's talent has been greatly upgraded by Spurrier and in Steven Garcia, they finally have a strong, veteran quarterback.  Games between the Bulldogs and Gamecocks are always close and this year will be no different.  South Carolina 17, Georgia 14

Upset Special II: Florida State at Oklahoma- I have saved my greatest pick for last.  Like the Bulldogs, Florida State has a very experienced O-line.  Unlike the Bulldogs, FSU also has an elite quarterback in Christian Ponder.  When you combine his talents with the terrible pass defense the Sooners showed against Utah State, it is obvious the Noles will score a lot of points.  The Sooners will also get their points behind the running of DeMarco Murray, but it won't be enough to keep their 31-game home winning streak alive.  The Noles are back!  Florida State 34, Oklahoma 27

Week 1 Record: 5-0
Season Record: 5-0

College Football Pick-Em: Week 1

Every week I will pick at least 5 games to predict the outcome/score.  I plan on picking the Georgia Tech and Florida State games every week as well as a couple other big games featuring Top 25 teams.  Like most pick-em articles, I will also have a Upset Special.  Without further ado, here are the picks for Week 1 (there aren't a lot of good games in Week 1):

South Carolina State at Georgia Tech- I normally wouldn't pick a game this one-sided, but I plan on picking every Tech game.  Tech should get the triple option running early and often in this one.  The biggest questions is how long will the starters play and whether or not the Tech back-ups will look good in their extended time.  Josh Nesbitt, Anthony Allen, and company should roll up a whole lot of yards before halftime in this one.  Georgia Tech 48, South Carolina State 14

Samford at Florida State- Like the Tech game, this game will be very one-sided.  There are two big things FSU can take away from this warm-up.  The first is to launch Christian Ponder's Heisman campaign.  Big numbers do wonders for a candidate's chances and this game is an excellent opportunity to rack up some huge numbers.  The second is to test run Mark Stoop's new defense before next week's showdown in Norman versus the Sooners of Oklahoma.  It should be much improved from last year.  Florida State 56, Samford 7

Oregon State vs. TCU (in JerryWorld)- I really like Oregon State and want to pick them to do well this year.  However, TCU is one of the toughest teams in the country, especially in what is basically a home game for them.  I really respect Mike Riley for scheduling such a tough first game, but Oregon State has a history of starting their seasons slowly.  Still, this game should be a great match-up between Quizz Rodgers and the stifling TCU defense.  TCU 17, Oregon State 14

LSU vs. North Carolina (in Atlanta)-When this game was first scheduled, I thought it would be a great opportunity for the ACC to regain some respect with a Tar Heels win.  In light of the recent investigation, UNC may be missing close to 10 players, including some big time stars.  LSU is overrated going into this season, but they should be able to handle a skeleton North Carolina team.  Unforunatley for the ACC, the SEC will continue their Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic dominance.  LSU 27, UNC 17

Upset Special: Boise State vs. Virginia Tech (in Washington DC)- This pick isn't a true upset special but it is the closest thing I've got.  Even though Boise St. is ranked in the Top 5, most people don't really believe they can compete with the big boys.  Not only will Boise beat Virginia Tech, they should handle them easily.  Boise is one of the most talented teams in the country (returning 20 of 22 starters) and Virginia Tech has a long history of starting slowly, especially in big games.  The Broncos national title drive starts in DC on Labor Day.  Boise State 26, Virginia Tech 13