Well the bubble finally burst about as bad as Jamarcus Russell’s NFL career to date. After rolling the previous 4 weeks I had a worse day than a Dave Kingman Golden Sombrero. 0-4 was what I provided you last week and it wasn’t even close. I am still 15-8-2 over the past 5 weeks so let’s look at the glass half full.

Oklahoma St -17 v Colorado (Thursday)

#12 Ok State can not get to the Big 12 Championship due to their loss against Texas 3 weeks ago, but what they can do is win out and get themselves into a pretty big bowl game. Possibly a Holiday Bowl against the likes of Oregon, Stanford, USC or Oregon State in what could be the best non-BCS bowl of the year. The Cowboys are playing a disaster in Colorado where this will be the last year for head Coach Dan Hawkins. Ok State needs this win and again next week at rival Oklahoma to become one of the top 10 elite schools in the 2009 season even without Dez Bryant. Cowboys rank 32nd nationally in total defense, allowing 333.9 yards per game,  and seventh against the rush (89.6). As for turnovers, Oklahoma State still owns the plus-five mark it attained last season.

I am betting Oklahoma State -17 at home to cover

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Tennessee -17 v Vanderbilt

After going 3-1 the previous 4 weeks heading into Mississippi including
a 12-10 loss to at that time #1 Alabama in Bama things were on the right
track for Lane Kiffin and the Vols. Then 3 players get arrested for armed robbery and that is the ball game. They got crushed in ‘Sippi the same week and now need to win 1 of 2 to get bowl eligible and this is their chance. They need to come out and beat an over matched Vandy team in Knoxville before closing out at Kentucky. The Commodores are 2-9 with wins against 1-9 Rice and 2-8 Western Carolina and are riding a 7-game losing streak.  If Vandy gets close the TU Boosters will have Kiffin’s head, but will keep Mrs. Kiffin as ambassador of football recruiting.

I am betting Tenn -17 at home to cover

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Notre Dame -6 v UConn

I said last week that the Pitt game was Charlie’s Alamo and they lost. They did make an attempt to come back, but needed an 85-yd punt return
to cover the spread. Basically Pitt beat them up pretty good. ND has
to win this last game at home to satisfy some pundits because they will have zero chance next week at Stanford. UConn now has a few weeks under it’s belt after the death of a teammate and since that day have gone 0-3 but losses to Cinci, WVa and a hot Rutgers. They come
into South Bend with 2 weeks off and after dropping 45 at Cinci
while losing by 2 the problem is this may be Jimmy Clausen’s
and Weiss’s final home game. This is the game ND has to and will
win to save a little face. Their talented WR’s are healthy and JC
.. no. not that JC, but Clausen will throw for over 300 and the
Irish will cover easily.

I am betting Notre Dame -6 at home to cover

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Texas -27.5 v Kansas

WOW, what a week for the Rock Chawk Jayhwak program. 450+lb
head coach Mark Mangino is under an internal review which has been
initiated by the KU athletic department to investigate a personnel
matter involving the eight-year coach. Published reports indicating
senior linebacker Arist Wright came forward and provided an account
of an incident with Mangino and mired in a 5-game losing streak
after winning the first 5 has only fueled the fire.  Oh about Texas. Since the Red River game in mid-Oct against the Sooners Texas has literally crushed their opponents and have a stranglehold on the Big 12 South and will beat whoever wins the Neb v Kansas St game in the Big 12 Championship. Also ranked #3 in the BCS and awaiting the game between the SEC’s best in 3 weeks can reasonably figure to be in the National Championship and potentially have a Heisman Trophy winner in Colt McCoy who is as hot as anyone in college football.

I am betting Texas -27.5 at home to cover

I just keep on rolling after going 4-1 last week and over the last 4 weeks I’m 15-4-2. If I keep this up you can start calling an 800 number to get the pix because I’m on fire. Anyway, here we go with a great weekend of college football.

Cincinnati -9.5 v West Virginia

Zach Collaros is starting once again for the Bearcats at quarterback while giving Tony Pike more time to heal up and get ready for Illinois on the 27th. If this was a game that Cincy felt that would be a tester Pike would be under center. We don’t have to keep hyping the Cincy offensive stats after 711 yards last week alone. West Va is coming off a squeaker against lowly Louisville and before that was demolished by a South Florida team who was crushed by Rutgers yesterday. West Va has played one good team this year in Auburn and lost and now they will play Cincy and Pitt in consecutive weeks on the road. When you can get Cincy at home in a single digit spread and a national TV audience to show they belong jump all over them.

I am betting Cincinnati Bearcats at home to cover -9.5

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Pitt-7 v Notre Dame

This is the Alamo for Charlie Weis. Win and you get to coach another day, but lose and you are pretty much done. Personally I see ND losing 2 out of their last 3 games to Pitt and Stanford plus the home game against UConn is a tough one. Pitt is under
the radar and have parlayed their great season into a #8 ranking and are on the verge of going to a big time bowl game. The Pitt D is only givig up 200 yds a game passing and with an anemic ND rushing scheme I dont see how Claussen can have the game
needed to beat one of the hottest teams in college on the road.

I am betting Pitt at home to cover -7

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NC State +9.5 v Clemson

Clemson is playing their best football of the year and have won 4 straight including at Miami. They roll into Raleigh this weekend and it’s a game I will be attending with the eye of the Tiger. Clemson is atop the Atlantic Division of the ACC over BC who they have already beat this year. Clemson is looking for a chance to face Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship. Clemson lost to the Rambling Wreck back in September by only three points so it would be an interesting Championship game should it occur. NC State after hitting the skids with 4 straight losses came home and beat a bad Maryland team last week while giving up 31 to the Terps. Clemson although playing well has that day where they play down to the opponents level. NC State has the offense to overcome any team, but they will have to stop a hot CJ Spiller to make it close.

I am Betting NC State at home to cover +9.5

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TCU -20 v Utah

I know I have been touting TCU for the National Championship all year and now that everyone knows they are legit it is time for them to finally have that game where they squeak by someone. Utah who is 8-1 this year after a 13-0 year last year comes in with only a loss at Oregon back in September. Da Utes handled the trap game last week crushing New Mex as did TCU by blowing out San Diego State. Don’t think for a second Utah gives up before taking the field like all the other Mtn West has against TCU. Utah is good and they too have been flying low and can elevate their BCS hopes with a big win at TCU. I don’t know if they have all the players to match TCU, but this game will not be another TCU blow out.

I am betting Utah on the road to cover +20

I am 11-3-2 over the last 3 weeks and I went 4-2 last week. I’m on the West Coast in San Fran gearing up for an epic 49ers versus Titans clash on Sunday which you will have a prediction for on Sunday morning. Lets get back to college football and my Saturday pix.

Mich St -20.5  v W. Mich

Western Michigan has already lost twice to Big 10 teams this year and is coming off a loss to Kent St. Michigan state is on a 2 game losing streak after winning their previous 3.  They are at home and need to win this week and next week to become bowl eligible as they close the season against Penn State.  Look for Western Michigan to give up more than their average of 426 total yards per game especially the 176 rushing per game.

I am betting Michigan State to cover the 20.5 at home

Pitt -21 v Syracuse

This is one of my favorite under the radar teams in football. Pittsburgh is a top 10 team if not for the stumble at NC State in a shoot out in September.  After Syracuse the Panthers have ND at home, West Va on the road and end up the season at home against Cinci for the Big East title.  I guess you can call this a trap game, but we are talking about a Syracuse team who lost their ONLY road game in week 2 at Penn State and will play 3 of 4 on the road to end the season. Syracuse is 2-15 the last 3 years on the road and are going into a red hot Pitt team with 2 weeks off.

I am betting Pitt to cover  -21 at home

TCU -25 v San Diego St

There is not a hotter team than TCU in all of college football. They have won all 8 games this year and seem to be getting better as the season progresses. Their last 3 wins are by a combined 123-13 including the whooping at BYU 38-7.  This TCU team I believe can play with and beat ANYONE in the SEC or any other league on any field.  The defense is awesome only giving up a minuscule 235 total yds per game including only 89 on the ground while San Diego St. averages only 69 per game.  SD St is seeking 2 wins in the last 4 to go to a bowl game. They will have to get those against Wyoming and UNLV because TCU is on a mission and will not stop till they are in a BCS Championship game.

I am betting TCU to cover the -25 on the road.

Upset Special

Stanford +8 v Oregon

I know what you are thinking. Why do you like Stanford after Oregon showed they are the class of the Pac 10 by crushing USC?  That is exactly why. This will be a let down game on the road to a Stanford team who plays well at home and needs a win to become bowl eligible. In the past 2 1/2 years, Pac-10 teams are 7-13 the week after they face USC. After Oregon, Stanford then goes to USC, at home to Cal in the big game and Notre Dame at home. Stanford will be getting a lot of exposure if they can beat a top 10 team this week which makes next week against USC a game to watch and so on for the final 3 they play.  Although Stanford  senior middle linebacker Clinton Snyder has suffered a season-ending knee injury the Cardinal has the potential to overpower Oregon’s undersized defense and thereby keep the Ducks’ offense off the field which could be a huge key to Stanford’s pursuit of becoming bowl eligible.

I am betting Stanford to cover +8 at home

LSU + 7.5 at Alabama

This is the game of the week and the game of ineptitude in our eyes. Yes we are anti-SEC biased but Alabama is just not that good. Their QB is terrible and that makes them one dimensional. One dimensional teams never succeed against well coached teams and teams with good defenses. These are two traits LSU has. I am not sure LSU has enough offense to win the game outright but we think they have a chance. I just think 7.5 points is way too many and LSU will do enough to keep it close.

I am betting LSU to cover 7.5 on the road