We’re getting closer and closer to the end of college football season, so it should come as no surprise that the games get a little bit harder to pick. But the mental gymnastics this slate just put me through have me wishing I was back with Dunbar poring over horse racing sheets. I think the ponies give me a better chance than these games do.
(Which just in case nobody was watching, Dunbar nailed the Breeders’ Cup Classic with his pick on Curlin to win, and the ol’ Rev himself scored on the Distaff with Ginger Punch. Pats on the back welcome and appreciated.)
The picks went 6-4 last week – a win’s a win, but I was hoping and praying it would be much higher than that. There’s nothing else to say except that I continue to be baffled by college football this year.
10 points: Wisconsin (7-2) at OHIO STATE (9-0): I should have more to say about a 10 point game, but O-H-I-O can’t lose right now. Moving on …
9 points: Arizona State (8-0) at OREGON (7-1): Wow – an exciting game in the PAC-10 that does not involve USC. With apologies to some of our readers, it was time for all of us East Coast-loving sports fans to ignore another top ranked team out west. But in all seriousness, the winner of this game could sneak their way in to the national championship game – with a loss or two by other higher-ranked teams, of course.
8 points: MICHIGAN (7-2) at Michigan State (5-4): Michigan State is doing what they always do – start off the season red-hot (read: beat up on non-conference opponents) and then completely fold down the stretch (i.e., resume whipping-boy status in the Big Ten).
7 points: Nebraska (4-5) at KANSAS (8-0): The Bill Callahan Farewell Tour makes its way through Lawrence, KS this weekend. Waiting for them there: an 8-0 Kansas Jayhawks team and their coach Mark Mangino, a charter member of the Ralph Friedgen All-Stars.
6 points: Rutgers (5-3) at UCONN (7-1): I’m only satisfied with an 8, 9 or 10 win season by UConn’s football team if that means their men’s basketball team will completely suck this coming year.
5 points: LSU (7-1) at Alabama (6-2): Alabama coach Nick Saban squares off for the first time against his old team, LSU, in a game that has important implications for the SEC West title. I would not be completely surprised to see ‘Bama spring the upset.
4 points: Cincinnati (6-2) at SO. FLORIDA (6-2): A tale of two teams heading in the wrong direction. Both enter tomorrow’s game sporting two-game conference losing streaks. So for the loser, that will mean a three-game conference losing streak a “Thanks for Playing!” gift basket as they head off to whatever irrelevant bowl is being hosted in boomtowns like Birmingham or El Paso.
3 points: Florida State (5-3) at BOSTON COLLEGE (8-0): Retire already. You know who you are.
2 points: Navy (4-4) at NOTRE DAME (1-7): As much as I would LOVE to see the Middies beat Notre Dame, history is clearly not on their side. Notre Dame has beaten Navy 43 straight times, and will most likely make it 44 on Saturday.
1 point: WAKE FOREST (6-2) at Virginia (7-2): Wake Forest has bounced back nicely after a couple early losses and is still a lurking dark horse in the ACC title picture, for whatever that’s worth. Virginia is right there with them, but they tend to quit when the going gets tough. Just like one of their most famous football alums:
Season Record: 44-37
-posted by Rev. Shaw Moore
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