College Football Picks: Week 13
It’s time to gear up for a big time weekend in college football. This is where the rubber hits the road, and it’s burning up all over the nation. Three conferences have games between ranked teams, multiple conference titles are up for grabs and BCS bowl positions are at stake.
Let’s go to the picks!
No. 17 Ball State at Central Michigan
Central Michigan won a thriller last week in overtime in the fog against Northern Illinois to set up this battle of the conference unbeatens. Ball State has been rolling all season long on offense and I wouldn’t look for them to let up here. The only real questions are: 1) can the Chippewa’s terrible pass defense step up and contain Nate Davis and the Ball State passing attack and 2) is they can’t, can Dan LeFevour break out of his season-long slump and have a huge game to help CMU keep pace with the points that Ball State is bound to score. I would not be surprised to see this one go into overtime, or at the very least come down to a last-second play. But I think that Ball State has the advantage here.
Ball State wins, 38-35.
Syracuse is awful and has been ever since the hiring of Greg Robinson. Thankfully for Orange fans, that’s going to change, as Robinson has been relieved of his duties as head coach. Unfortunately, that isn’t going to happen until the end of the season, which means that Greg brings his ineptitude into Notre Dame stadium for the Irish’s final home game of the season. So, I guess the question is this: will Syracuse bring the fire needed to beat the Irish on their home turf, on Senior Day, in what promises to be less than ideal conditions?
I doubt it.
Syracuse hasn’t done anything well all season, aside from occasionally run the ball. Notre Dame’s offense has been terrible the last few weeks, turning the ball over at will. But the defense has stepped up in a big way and should have no trouble shutting down the Syracuse running game after effectively handling the #2 rushing attack in the NCAA last week in Navy. Revel in the win while you can, Irish fans, because next week, Notre Dame travels to USC.
Notre Dame wins, 34-10.
No. 15 Michigan State at No. 8 Penn State
How Michigan State has lucked into a #15 ranking is truly beyond me. They’re a solid enough team, but their offense outside of super-back Javon Ringer has been shaky and their defense is hardly lock-down. But never the less, here we are. Michigan State is somehow playing for a share of the Big 10 title against #8 Penn State in Happy Valley.
The Nittany Lions have slowed down over the second half of the season on offense, but their defense is still dominant and they shouldn’t have much trouble making MSU even more one-dimensional than they already are. Expect a muddy, smashmouth late-season Big 10 game as usual, and expect a Nittany Lion victory.
Penn State wins, 20-13.
No. 14 Brigham Young at No. 7 Utah
It’s the matchup that everyone in Utah has been waiting for. Both of these teams have a shot at crashing the BCS party, with the Utes having the inside track. If BYU wins, there’s the chance that the Mountain West will get shut out of a BCS game all-together, since the Cougars would have to leapfrog the Boise State Broncos, who sit at #9. No team has gotten within 13 points of the Broncos in the last five games, so that’s not likely to happen.
Both of these teams score a lot of points and both play adequate-to-decent defense, so expect a lot of quick scores and a ton of points. This might be the best both of them has been coming into this rivalry game in years, so don’t miss it. As far as calling it, I honestly can’t say. It’s an utter toss up. But something tells me that home field will have some say, so I think that Utah walks off the field victorious.
Utes win, 44-42.
No. 20 Pittsburgh at No. 19 Cincinnati
A chilly inter-state rivalry in the Big East that also has conference title implications? This should be a doozy. Cincinatti has found ways to win all season long, with head coach Brian Kelly showing resourcefulness and smarts that will no doubt land him a job at a big-time program very soon. (he’s already being rumored for the vacant Tennessee job) Pitt has rode their power running game and stout defense to a 7-2 record, despite poor QB play and disappointing production from a veteran group of wide recievers.
I want to say that the Wannstache can lead Pitt into Cinncinatti and leave with a victory, but the way that the Bearcats have found ways to win all season makes me stop short.
Bearcats win, 27-23.
No. 2 Texas Tech at No. 5 Oklahoma
Now for the big one. The red hot Red Raiders roll into Norman Saturday night for what is now the biggest game of the year in a year that has had more than it’s fair share of big games. Oklahoma has but the one loss to Texas and Tech is unbeaten, having beat that same Texas team in a game for the ages. If everything falls the way that it should, this should be another great game that comes down to the wire.
But I don’t think that it will. Oklahoma has shown over the season that their run game falters. Texas Tech has played well against the run and isn’t afraid to blitz when it comes time to pass. Sure, Oklahoma’s defense is tops in the Big 12, but Texas’ was no slouch and Graham Harrell passed all over their asses. Tech will find ways to get the ball to their playmakers and they will grind Oklahoma down with their patience and trust in the underneath passing game. In the end, I think that the Red Raiders will emerge victorious. Guns Up!
Texas Tech wins, 35-23.
