Prelude to the BCS

The crazy college football season has one more weekend in which to one up itself. Of course, nobody will be shocked by the outcome, whatever that may be but you can bet that there is still some drama left. After this weekend the BCS picture will be set in stone and another regular season will be in the books. There are only a couple of games this weekend that will actually have an effect on the Championship game but, nonetheless, there are many great games to scope out. Unlike many years, the SEC championship has no bearing on the BCS Championship game but it could possibly be a showcase of both Michigan and Nebraska future head coaches. The two games that have the biggest BCS Championship ramifications are the Big 12 Championship game and the yearly "Backyard Brawl" between West Virginia and Pittsburgh. Needless to say, the folks in Baton Rouge, Columbus and possibly Athens will all be glued to the televisions hoping that the drama can continue for just one more week. Well, here are the picks.

Oklahoma 31 - Missouri 28

Oklahoma took care of business the first time and something tells me that Missouri is foaming at the mouth for a chance at redemption. Honestly, this game will come down to one thing: Oklahoma's defense. If the Sooners D can keep the Tigers from putting up half a century then they stand a good chance of a 2nd straight Big 12 Championship. That, however, is a very big if. What is lost on most people is that Oklahoma has an offense that isn't too shabby either. Look for Bradford and crew to exploit a soft Tiger defense and play their way to another BCS game. Missouri's title hopes come crashing down.

Boston College 10 - Virginia Tech 21

Virginia Tech dominated the last meeting for all but 5 minutes. Those 5 minutes, however, contained 14 BC points and led to a BC victory. Va Tech hasn't forgotten that. The, usually, mediocre Hoakie offense has actually looked decent in the last couple of weeks and like typical Va Tech football, the defense is stout. I think the revenge factor will be enough for the Hoakies to pull out the victory and an ACC title for Beamer. They will most likely get a another shot at their opponent from last years Chick-Fil-A bowl: UGA.

LSU 21 - Tennessee 28

This is a reach but I just have the feeling that all of the chaos swirling around Baton Rouge will have a negative effect on the Tigers. It is no secret that Les Miles and D-Coordinator Bo Pelini could be leaving. Tack on the fact that LSU has next to no shot at a National title and that leads to a half-assed attempt on the field. Just last weekend, the Tigers were sitting at number one holding one of the two slots in the championship game. One week later, they are out of the championship race and are, most likely, losing two of their coaches. I think that will be enough of a distraction for Ainge and the Vols to not take advantage of.

USC 31 - UCLA 20

Karl Dorrell is out the door and man, did he screw up a great job. Anyways, USC is finally looking like the team that everybody expected at the beginning of the year, while UCLA is looking like the complete opposite of what we thought at the beginning of the year. Ultimately, the Trojans are just better. Oh, don't forget that this UCLA team is responsible for ending USC's title hopes last year. I would be willing to bet that the Trojan's haven't forgotten that.

Washington 21 - 35 Hawaii


Hawaii needs one more win to be guaranteed a BCS victory and they should get it here. Let's be honest, Washington is not a very good football team. With that being said, Colt Brennan and the Warriors should not have a hard time putting points on the board. There really isn't much else to say about this game. Hawaii earns a BCS bid...Woohoo.


Arizona State 31 - Arizona 17

State rivalries. These are usually the nastiest of them all. Arizona State needs this win to give them any hope of a BCS berth. The Sun Devils have a potent offense and should be able to score points on the Cats at will. Coach Stoops and his boys are fairly out manned and barring serious injury (read: Oregon game) they will not have what it takes to make it out of this one.

Navy 35 - Army 14

Navy leads the NCAA in rushing yards per game. In fact, watching Navy reminds you a little bit of old school Nebraska football. You can bet the coach Johnson and the Midshipmen will be doing some serious running on Saturday. I don't think most people realize how incredible of a job that Paul Johnson has done at Navy. To win at one of the academies consistently, is damn near impossible. Hats off to coach Johnson and his staff. Army on the other hand, is not any good. Look for Army to give it hell for about a quarter and a half. After that, Navy will take control.

West Virginia 45 - Pittsburgh 17


This game should be an absolute ass beating. West Virginia has an offense that is damn near impossible to stop. Their only loss this year was without Pat White. This game will be like most rivalry games: One team will play there ass of for about one quarter before ultimately folding. Oh yeah, West Virginia has to win this game in order to play for a National Championship. Something tells me that should be enough incentive to get the Mountaineers a victory.

Week 14 Picks: Championship Saturday

The season is down to its final week and there is still so much to play for. West Virginia and Missouri are each one game away from making the national title game while other teams are pulling for their counterparts. UCLA may be sans coach should USC take them down in the Coliseum while LSU looks to rebound and take the SEC crown over a game Tennessee squad. We also have the Army-Navy game which is always fun to watch (less for the football and more the atmosphere). Could this be Paul Johnson's last game at Navy? We think yes but stranger things have happened. We also have a great re-match with Boston College taking on Virginia Tech in Jacksonville for the ACC title. There are great games this weekend and after Saturday be prepared for the onslaught of bitching amongst fans bases across the country. With that in mind here are your Championship Saturday locks.

Oklahoma 38 - Missouri 35

Missouri has a fantastic offense led by Heisman candidate Chase Daniel and should put up enough points to win this game. The problem is Oklahoma has QB Sam Bradford back and their offense may be just as effective as Mizzou's. This game will come down to which defense can stop the other (even if it is only one stop). If I were a betting man I would bet on the Sooners stepping up and making a play on defense and win this game in a shootout in San Antonio thus ending the Tigers dream season and relegating them to the Cotton Bowl.

West Virginia 41 - Pittsburgh 24

As a Georgia grad and avid fan I am pulling hard for Pitt knowing that it is futile. The Mountaineers have a dynamic backfield and should run all over the porous Pitt defense. The Panthers may make this a go for a half (I doubt it) but the fact that WVU is playing at home and they have everything to play for while Pitt may want to throw the game to get rid of Dave Wannstedt (only kidding...maybe). WVU should roll right into the BCS title game in N'awlans.

LSU 34 - Tennessee 28

Erik Ainge is the best QB no one wants to talk about but their run in the SEC is about to come to an end. LSU could be reeling after blowing their chance at a national title but as everyone who knows SEC football knows that at the beginning of the year an SEC title is the #1 goal. Les Miles may be on his way out and DC Bo Pelini could follow which is why I feel this game will be close and why I expect the Vols to put up some points on the once stout Tiger D. LSU QB Matt Flynn may be out of this game but I feel that Perriloux is a better QB, albeit an idiot who cannot keep himself out of trouble, and the offense opens up greatly with Perriloux under center. Look for this to be a close game (does LSU do it any other way?) with the Tigers pulling it out in the 4th.

Virginia Tech 24 - Boston College 21

The Hokies were stung by Matt Ryan in the final moments at home earlier in the year and they are looking for some payback. The Hokie defense looks as good as ever now that they have their full squad and should give the Golden Eagles fits. The Hokies are going to use the 2 QB system in hopes of achieving a Florida-like offense and so far so good. The Hokies are on a roll as of late and what was once looking as a lost season will end up in the Orange Bowl. Look for a tight game throughout with a key turnover leading the Hokies to a victory.

USC 31 - UCLA 13

USC wants to smack the Bruins around after last years upset in the Rose Bowl and this looks like a public funeral in the making. The Bruins are a banged up team while the Trojans have never been healthier. While it may benefit the Trojans in the long run to lose this game thus keeping the inept Karl Dorrell as UCLA head coach but this is not going to happen. The Trojans are one of the hottest teams in the country and should keep up that pace with a beatdown of their in-city rivals from Westwood. At least the Bruin fans can look forward to basketball season.

Hawaii 38 - Washington 28

Hawaii is one game away from the most undeserved BCS bowl in history. Having played one decent team all year the Warriors are one game away from a date with either LSU or Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl. Washington is a team that began with promise but has faded as the season has gone on and nothing that they have done lately points towards an upset this week. Colt Brennen should have his usual 50+ attempt, 400+ yard and 4+ touchdown game as the Warriors make their way to a BCS bowl.

Arizona State 30 - Arizona 23

Arizona State is still in the hunt for the Rose Bowl but having to pull for UCLA over USC is a long shot to say the least. Arizona is playing for pride as they have yet again underachieved under Mike Stoops. The Wildcats should make this a game as rivalry games rarely end in blow outs but Arizona State has too much on offense and playing at home should count for something.

Navy 38 - Army 24

Paul Johnson wants to go out with a bang and beating a bad Army team should do just that. While this will be a game for a half (Army has WAY too much pride to get housed from jump street) Navy's offense is too good for the boys from West Point to handle. The triple option that Navy uses is very difficult handle when you rarely see it and this game should be a perfect example of that.

RIP: Sean Taylor

In what will most assuredly be one of the saddest stories of the year, Redskins safety Sean Taylor has died today from a gun shot wound suffered yesterday. Apparently he walked in on a robbery and was shot in the leg striking his femoral artery. He was 24 years old and had a 1 year old daughter. Some punk bitch took a little girl's father for a freaking TV...such a sad world in which we live.

Head Are Rolling

Sweet Jesus it is a bad time to be a bad coach. With the season not even finished yet the number of coaches that are getting the ax is amazing. The following is a list of the known coaching vacancies (in order of best to worst job) and their most likely replacements.

Michigan:

Out: Lloyd Carr

Most likely replacement: Kirk Ferentz. We all know Miles has been mentioned but the Michigan AD loves Ferentz and there have been reports that there is mutual interest. On a short side note, it seems that Michigan is trying to get the most overrated coach in the nation when they could go get any young gun...simply amazing. Ohio State will rule the Big 11 for the next 20 years at this rate.

Nebraska:

Out: Bill Callahan

Most likely replacement: Bo Pelini. While we here at the Gods feel that there were better candidates, Tom Osborne loves Bo and the fans see him as a hero of sorts after his one year at Nebraska as their DC. Look for this to be announced in the near future.

Texas A&M:

Out: Dennis Francione

In: Mike Sherman. An ex-Aggie coach and former Green Bay Packer coach was hired out of the blue as his name was never mentioned in the search (props to AD Bill Byrne). It appears the Aggies will go to the West Coast offense so if you are an A&M fan good luck with that.

Ole Miss:

Out: Ed Orgeron

Most likely replacement: Houston Nutt. Jim Donnan said today on a radio show in Atlanta that he knows "for a fact" that Nutt has been offered the job at Ole Miss. Now the Rebel fans can see what a team looks like when it cannot throw the ball...oh wait, they had that the past 3 years.

Arkansas:

Out: Houston Nutt

Most likely replacement: Mike Leech. On the same radio show as mentioned above, Jim Donnan said he knows that Leech is the favorite to get the job in Arkansas which would be a huge change from Nutt. Leech actually knows how to throw the ball which is something the Razorbacks have never seen under Nutt.

Georgia Tech:

Out: Chan Gailey

Most likely replacement: Paul Johnson. Johnson knows the south (former Georgia Southern HC) and is a hot name in the coaching community. Anytime you can win at Navy you have proven that you are a good football coach. Now we can watch GT attempt to run the option on Virginia Tech, Miami and FSU...no worries there.

Washington State:

Out: Bill Doba

Most likely replacement: Bill Callahan? This is a total guess but he is a great offensive mind and can recruit very well. As long as he doesn't bring his defensive staff with him this would be a big upgrade for Wazzu.

SMU:

Out: Phill Bennett

Most likely replacement: Dennis Francione. His name has been mentioned and he has great ties in the state of Texas. SMU has a history of hiring coaches once their star has fallen a bit and Francione has had success at smaller schools (TCU for one).

Baylor:

Out: Guy Morris

Most likely replacement: Who cares? We honestly don't know now that Mike Singletary has shot them down. Baylor will never win in the Big 12 as they aren't committed to doing so. The Big 12 should kick them out and take TCU...Baylor is a joke.

Duke:

Out: Ted Roof

Most likely replacement: Who cares X2? This team should fold their program and we aren't even kidding. They can win in Basketball because getting 5-7 players through the admissions requirements is not impossible but getting an entire football team is. They could allocate money to other places as Duke will never win when they go up against teams like FSU, VT, MIA, BC, UNC, GT, CLEM, etc...Maybe they should give the money to the lacross team...just a thought.

All Signs Point To Bo Pelini Heading North

From all of what we can find out it appears that Bo Pelini will be announced as the next head coach at the University of Nebraska. Tom Osborne has interviewed him already and the team is having a meeting today (Nov, 26th) and it has been widely speculated that they will learn that Bo will be their next coach. As a longtime Nebraska fan I can say that I am not overly thrilled about the hire as I think there were some better choices on the board but his defensive pedigree can only be a good thing for a Husker team that is coming off of the worst defensive season in their storied history.

A Return to Respectability

After suffering through most of the season, Apollo's Creed has put together back-to-back 7-1 weeks in the picks. Look for that trend to continue as we look at this week's slate of games. Rivalry week is upon us, and I could not be happier. Not only do we have a great selection of college games to enjoy over the holiday weekend, but there are 3 NFL games on Thursday that are actually interesting to me. My two favorite NFL teams are in action as the Cowboys will take on the Jets and the Falcons are hosting a banged up Colts team. Although I have no allegiance to either team in the other game on Thanksgiving Day (Detroit-Green Bay), the Lion's game actually should be a fairly good game for the first time in years. In addition to picking our normal group of college games that we do every week, I'm also going to throw in the Thanksgiving Day NFL games as a special holiday treat for our readers. Without further ado, let's get onto the picks.

Missouri 48 Kansas 45

Wow!!! Who would have guessed before the season that this would be the biggest game of the weekend? I really don't have strong feelings about either team in this match-up in terms of making a confident pick, so I'm going to flip a coin in what should be a high-scoring affair. Both of these teams have powerful offenses that have gotten fat against ridiculously bad schedules, but at the same time they have been very impressive. Missouri wins a shootout on a late field goal to spoil Kansas' perfect season.

Virginia Tech 20 Virginia 16

This game is for the ACC Atlantic Division title, and should be a heated affair. Virginia is getting this game at home, and has been very effective at winning the close games this year. However, even at this point in the season I'm still not very confident in their ability to beat a solid team. I just haven't seen it, and Virginia Tech has been playing well lately. They take this game in a close one, and Coach Beamer will take his team to the championship game.

USC 27 Arizona State 23

Arizona State was exposed as the frauds that they are against Oregon and Dennis Dixon. Much like Kansas and Missouri, Arizona State hasn't beaten anyone of note. USC has been up and down, but in the end they are still USC. This game will be closer than many expect it to be, but the Trojans will pull out the victory on the basis of their defense and running game.

West Virginia 31 UCONN 21

As much as I would like to see West Virginia go down in this game, I just don't see them losing in Morgantown when they have as much on the line as they do. UCONN has played solid ball all year, but I just don't think they have the overall talent to score enough to keep up with West Virginia's offense.

Florida 35 Florida State 24

This game will be played in the Swamp, which really doesn't matter as much some would believe. Florida is simply the better team, and would probably be undefeated if they played in the ACC. Tebow has been unstoppable, and has turned out to be a much more accurate passer than I thought he would be this year. Tebow will dominate this game, and Florida State's pedestrian offense will be held in check.

Oregon 24 -UCLA 14

The only thing I will say about this game is that even though Dennis Dixon is out at QB for Oregon and a Leaf will get the start for the Ducks, UCLA is going to battle with a fourth-string walk-on QB. That alone will eliminate any possibility of a Bruin victory in Los Angeles.

Auburn 24 Alabama 14

I really can't stand Nick Saban. There's something about him that just makes my skin crawl. Maybe it's the fact that he's the devil. Anyways, Auburn should win this game as long as Brandon Cox doesn't blow it. It seems like that's always the extent of my analysis for any Auburn game.

Georgia 34 Georgia Tech 17

Georgia should put the final nail in Chan Gailey's coffin in this game. That said, this game always seems to be closer than it should be. That could very well be the case this year, but I really think Georgia is playing at the top of their game right now and will dominate the Yellow Jackets. Knowshon will continue his march towards being a preseason favorite for the Heisman in 2009, and Matthew Stafford will chip in a few touchdown passes.

Detroit 24 Green Bay 20
(Green Bay is a 3.5 point favorite)

Dallas 34 N.Y. Jets 13
(Dallas is a 14.5 point favorite)

Indianapolis 20 Atlanta 17
(Indy is a 12.5 favorite)

Rivalry Week...Let the bloodbath ensue.

Well, anytime that we have a Florida State game in the picks, I deem it necessary to have a picture of the spokeswomen from FSU. Anyways, it's rivalry week and that means a ton of grudge matches on the tube. Just a taste of what we have this weekend: Kansas and Mizzou battle it out for a possible berth in the National Championship game. Needless to say, that game is the most important, in terms of BCS implications but the game to watch will be the Auburn vs. Alabama game as the Tide looks to rebound after their Pearl Harboresque tragedy last weekend. Also, look to see if the FSU linebackers can backup their claim of stopping the scoring machine that is Tim Tebow.

Missouri 35 - Kansas 31

Here is the first real test for the Kansas Jayhawks. Up until now, they have played the 117th toughest schedule in college football. In all reality, this game should be a toss up. Both of these teams are pretty evenly matched. Both have high powered offenses, however, both also have mediocre defenses. Sorry, I know that Kansas has great defensive stats, but just take a look at their competition up until now. If the Tigers can slow down KU's offense just a little bit, then the Mizzou offense should be able to take advantage of an overrated Jayhawk defense. This game is going to be a shoot out and, quite frankly, a fun game to watch. Unfortunately, for the Jayhawks, with this game goes the national title shot.

USC 27 - Arizona State 21

Arizona State still has an outside shot at a BCS Championship game berth but they have to get through USC first. One thing you need to know: Pete Carroll has never lost a game in the month of November while at the helm at USC. Now, at some point he will, but his team is still head and shoulders more talented then Arizona State and more times than not, talent wins out. Look for USC to curb a powerful ASU offense and give JDB and crew enough solid opportunities to put points on the board. USC spoils the Sun Devils hopes at a championship shot.

Virginia Tech 21 - UVA 17

This game is going to be the most boring game of the weekend. Both of these teams really don't have consistent offenses but they both possess solid defenses with the Hoakies having the edge. The fact that this game is being played at UVA should help but Va Tech's defense should raise enough havoc to ensure a shot at the ACC title this year. UVA's ACC title hopes come crashing down in a close one.

West Virginia 31 - Uconn 24

I think this game might get out of hand. West Virginia has a legitimate shot at a title if a few things fall their way. That being said, look for White and Slaton to run all over the place and do whatever it takes to get the job done. Bottom line: WVU's offense is pretty damn hard to stop and I don't think that Uconn has the athletes to get it done. This is West Virginia's last hurdle. If the Mountaineers get through the Huskies, then they just have to sit back and hope that some teams lose.

Florida 28 - FSU 17

The Florida State linebackers have been quoted as saying, "Tim Tebow is going down." Smooth move guys. Nobody has stopped Tebow all year and now you have gone and fired him up. Great game plan. This rivalry used to have National Championship implications every year but due to FSU's downward spiral into mediocrity as of late, it has lost a lot of its luster. Have no fear, it is still a rivalry between two teams that genuinely hate each other. This years installment should be won easily by the Gators due to the fact that they are just a better team. Look for Tebow to ink a few more touchdowns onto his Heisman resume in this one. Florida State will keep it close but, ultimately, will not have the offense to match the Gators.

UCLA 21 - Oregon 17

We saw how good Oregon is without Dennis Dixon. With Dixon out for the rest of the season, the QB duties fall on Brady Leaf. Yeah, same family. Like brother, like brother. That should tell you all you need to know. UCLA needs one more win to become bowl eligible and Karl Dorrell could use one more win...shit, Karl Dorrell is a dead man walking. Honestly, I just have a feeling that the Ducks go down in this one. It is unfortunate, because it would have been a great game between Oregon and LSU.

UGA 24 - Georgia Tech 17

This one is closer than it should be more years than not. The dawgs are playing solid football and a win will guarantee a BCS bowl game. Gailey and the jackets are playing anything but solid football. Add to that the fact that Gailey has never beaten a Mark Richt coached dawgs team and things do not look to good for the Jackets. Look for Georgia to try and jump on Tech early. If the dawgs can put a couple of early touchdowns on the board it should seal the deal because Tech doesn't have the offense to come from behind. However, if you have watched this game in the last couple of years, then you know that it will probably be ugly and close. Dawgs clinch a BCS bowl invite with a win on the flats.

Alabama 17 - Auburn 31

This is, arguably, the greatest rivalry in college football. Sorry Buckeyes and Wolverines, you don't own that distinction outright. Auburn has owned the Tide as of late and that trend should continue this year. Auburn has too good of a defense for the pedestrian Bama offense to overcome. The only that thing will give Bama a chance is a bed shitting by Brandon Cox. Something tells me that will not happen. Alabama comes out of the tragedy (read: Coach Saban press conference) game against UL Monroe and follows it up with a solid defeat at the hands of the Tigers. Look, I have no doubt that this series will get a lot more competitive once Saban has had a chance to get his players to Tuscaloosa but, currently, he doesn't have them. Man, Shula won just as many games last year with the same talent. Isn't Nick Satan...I mean Saban supposed to be the greatest college football coach...ever? Not all is well in Sabanation.

Week 13 Locks: Rivalry Week

We have finally arrived at the annual rivalry week in collage football. This week also gives us the game of the year in college football when #4 Missouri takes on #2 Kansas which will go a long way in deciding who plays in the national title. We also get to see Saint Saban in his first Iron bowl. Losing to UL Monroe is shocking but losing to UL Monroe and Auburn in the same year is simply unacceptable to the Bama crazies. With that having been said it should be a great week in college football so let's get to the picks.

#4 Missouri 41 - #2 Kansas 35

Kansas' schedule makes Missouri's look like murderers row. No Texas, Oklahoma or Texas Tech. Well, at least they played a good out of conference slate right? Wrong. Central Michigan, Southeast Louisiana, Toledo and Florida International made up the OOC schedule for the Jayhawks. That is fucking pathetic. Sure, they have hammered a number of teams (ask Nebraska), but they have not played a team with a record better 6-5....are you freaking kidding me Kansas? And they wonder why no one respects them. Missouri at least played Illinois and won in a shootout. Neither team has played anyone with a defense except for Missouri playing Oklahoma (go figure that they looked like shit against the only team worth a shit). Both of these teams are total frauds with the winner having the pleasure of getting housed by LSU.

#11 USC 24 - Arizona State 21 (Thursday)

Arizona State is another team that is a total fraud. The Sun Devils have played only one team that could be considered great and were hammered by Oregon. The Sun Devils have not seen a defense as good as USC's and look for Rudy Carpenter to force too many throws against the aggressive Trojan defense. Booty and Co. seem to have picked it up a bit on offense for the Trojans and Arizona State's defense leaves a lot to be desired. I know Dennis Erickson has done great things with this team but they are a paper tiger and USC should take it to them on Thanksgiving night.

#8 Virginia Tech 24 - #16 Virginia 17

Virginia Tech has owned Virginia over the last 5 years and, although this game will be played in Charlottesville, I expect the Hokies to continue the trend. Tech has been playing great as of late and if not for the late game heroics of Matt Ryan Virginia Tech would be in the top 5 in the nation. Virginia has won 5 games by 2 points or less (think about this for one second; they are 10 points away from being 4-7). I like the Hokies to hit Virginia in the mouth from jump street and look for the defense to make a number of plays and get out of C'Ville with another win.

#3 West Virginia 38 - #20 Uconn

West Virginia is going to back into the national title game having not beaten a single team worthy of the top 25. Cincinnati and Uconn, the highest ranked teams that the Mountaineers will have beaten will both be out of the top 25 by seasons end. Uconn is another fraudulent team that has played a cookie dough schedule and look for West Virginia to run all over the Husky defense. Pat White and Steve Slaton should have a field say and West Virginia is going to set themselves up to play LSU in the title game. What a sad world we live in.

#12 Florida 28 - Florida State 24

Florida has one of the best offenses in the nation while Florida State always plays stout defense. FSU has one of the worst offenses in the country but the Gators haven't exactly played like the 85 Bears on defense. This game will be closer than most think with all of the emotion that the players will be playing with but look for Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin to light up the Free Shoe defense and cement his status as the Heisman frontrunner. If Tebow can put up close to 300 total yards and 3+ TD's the trophy should be his come December.

UCLA 20 - #9 Oregon 17

Poor Oregon. They were 3 games away from the BCS title game when their star QB Dennis Dixon blew his knee without being touched. They then lose to Arizona (4-6 at the time) and looked horrible in doing so and in a season that looked so promising may end up in the Sun Bowl. UCLA has been one of the most disappointing teams this season as Karl Dorrell and Co. had 20 starters returning. After a number of injuries and some horrible losses look for Dorrell to beat a top 10 team in the Rose Bowl and sending Oregon into a downward spiral.

#7 Georgia 24 - Georgia Tech 13

The Dawgs have owned this series as of late (5 straight wins) and the trend should continue on Saturday. The Jackets have not been able to develop a QB since Chan Gailey has been there and this has been the Achilles heel for Georgia Tech. The Dawgs are one of the hottest teams in the country and are a Tennessee loss away from playing LSU in the SEC title game. Matt Stafford has played well (save for the Kentucky game) and Knowshon Moreno is a beast. The Tech defense is stout against the run but they can only play so well for so long until they break down due to the tunrovers that Tech will commit. This should be the last game Chan Gailey coaches for the Jackets as he has done very little in a poor conference in the last 6 years.

Auburn 20 - Alabama 17

Nick, welcome to the Iron Bowl. Saban took one on the chin last week losing to UL Monroe and a follow-up loss to Auburn (which would be 6 in a row should they lose) and Saban will feel the Tuscaloosa heat all off season. There are rumours that Tommy Tubberville may dip out of Auburn and bolt to Texas A&M. I don't know if this will happen but if they are true then you know Tubbs will want to go out on a high note by beating Bama for 6 straight years. The loss will mark the second straight 6-6 season for the Tide thus putting half of the state on suicide watch.

Week 12 Anti-locks of the Week

Last week seemed to right the ship a bit for Apollos's Creed. I finally found a way to get over half the week's games right. Maybe that trend will continue this week, but I highly doubt it. Anyway, let's get onto the picks.

Michigan 23 Ohio St. 20

It's another matchup in ESPN's "Greatest Rivalry in College Sports." The two best teams in the depleted Big Ten will meet in Ann Arbor to settle who will win the most ridiculously bad major conference I have ever seen. That observation is coming from someone who wants the Big Ten to be respectable. It wasn't that long ago that the argument for the Nation's best conference came down to the Big Ten or the SEC virtually every year. Those days are long gone and the Big Ten has been relegated to a second-class citizen in major college football. Ohio State has been vastly overrated for the entire season, and Michigan has seemingly recovered from a disastrous start to the season. The Wolverines are getting this game at home, and if it is true that Lloyd Carr is planning on resigning following the season then I fully expect Michigan to come out fired up in his last game against the hated Buckeyes. I think Michigan wins this game on a late field goal, and they keep open the possibility of sending Lloyd Carr out on a positive note.

WVU 35 Cincinnati 28

As much as I would like to see the Mountaineers go down in this game to keep alive the Dawg's slim hopes to reach the BCS title game I just don't see it happening. Even if the Bearcats can slow down Steve Slaton, they will still get burned by QB Pat White. The Mountaineers will jump out to an early lead in this game, and hold on for the narrow victory.

BC 28 Clemson 25

Alot of people seem to be counting Boston College out. However, they haven't given up on the season and will be going up against a Clemson team still coached by Tommy Bowden. Clemson only has two losses, and there is no way that Clemson will finish this season with fewer than four losses. It's simply not possible for a Tommy Bowden team to finish with under four losses. Regardless of how Matt Ryan has played over the past few weeks, he still is a very good, very experienced, college quarterback. B.C. will pull out this win on the road in a close game.

Georgia 52 Kentucky 31

Georgia seems to be on a roll. Since Mark Richt has been at Georgia, I can't think of a time when I was confident that they would score forty points. However, the offense is rolling right now and Kentucky definately doesn't have the horses "no pun intended" to slow down the Bulldog' rushing attack. Knowshon Moreno is getting an early start on what should be at least
two more years of Heisman candidacy for him. Kentucky will definately put up points in this game, but they won't be able to keep up with a suddenly potent Georgia offensive attack led by Matthew Stafford and Moreno.

Texas Tech 38 Oklahoma 35

Oklahoma is due for a big letdown on the road. They seem to have the season right where they want it in control of their own destiny. However, it wouldn't be unlike a Bob Stoop's coached team to have a letdown in a conference road game especially with a redshirt freshman QB. Texas Tech will respond to Mike Leach's impassioned remarks following last week's loss and pull off the shocking upset in Lubbock.

South Florida 31 Louisville 28

South Florida has literally fallen flat on their face over the past month. After a brilliant start to the season, they've finally started to play like South Florida should play. Louisville has had a disappointing year under first year coach Steve Kragthorpe, but they still possess the immensely talented Brian Brohm at QB. This game should be a close one, but South Florida will win another home game to salvage what still should be the best season in program history.

Missouri 48 Kansas St. 28

This is another game in which I'd like to see the underdog win. However, Kansas State gave up over 70 points to Nebraska which doesn't give me much hope that they can hold the Missouri offense in check enough to pull the upset. Missouri wins this one going away.

Arkansas 27 Miss. St. 13

There are not many SEC games involving anyone other that Ole Miss that I have no interest in watching. However, this is probably one of those games. Arkansas is completely one dimensional, and Miss St. is extremely boring to watch so I doubt that I will pay that close of attention to this matchup. This game is in Little Rock, and Darren McFadden is playing what will probably be his final college game, which leads me to believe that Arkansas will dominate this game on the ground and win a somewhat boring game to everyone except for the respective team's fans.

Week 12 Locks: Does Anyone Want to be #2?

With Oregon being the 5th #2 team to lose to an unranked foe it reinforces the notion that every game, especially on the road, is going to be a dogfight. There are a few games that match ranked teams this week but other than that this week is somewhat slow. However, as we have seen all year, we should expect the unexpected. With that in mind here are my locks of week 12.

Ohio State 30 - Michigan 24

Jim Tressel absolutely owns Lloyd Carr. Having beaten Michigan like a drum over the last 5 years Tressel has Carr on the verge of retirement. If this was a completely healthy Michigan team I would like the Wolverines but with Hart, Henne and Long all banged up to a certain extent I like the Ohio State defense to win this game in the second half and Tressel will out coach Carr as he always does.

West Virginia 31 - Cincinnati 20

I am going out on a limb here and taking the road team big. Cincinnati has a ball hawking defense but seeing as how WVU doesn't throw the ball very much that should negate some of Cinci's turn overs. Pat White and Steve Slaton should be able to run all over the Bearcats and don't sleep on WVU's defense. While they were lit up last week by Brian Brohm (who isn't?) this has been a solid defense all season long.

Clemson 30 - Boston College 26

There has not been a team in the last 5-10 years that shits the bed in big games more than Tommy Bowden's Clemson Tigers. This is a home game and if the Tigers can pull it out they will be headed for Jacksonville for the ACC title game. Why I am picking them I don't know but I have a feeling that Boston College will continue their downward spiral. James Davis and CJ Spiller should be able to run the ball effectively and look for Cullen Harper to continue his stellar play at QB for the Tigers. Matt Ryan will try to keep his team alive with all of his might but his defense will once again let him down.

Georgia 38 - Kentucky 24

Kentucky brings the best offense they have ever had to Athens on Saturday and should be able to score plenty of points. The only problem is that UK's defense is horrible and Knowshon Moreno should run roughshod all over the Cats. Look for Matt Stafford to hit Bailey and Massaquoi deep a few times and UGA's run should continue with another big win in the SEC.

Oklahoma 48 - Texas Tech 34

A lot of people are calling for an upset in this game. Texas Tech has an explosive offense and is playing a home game at night. Oklahoma has just as good of an offense and has owned the Red Raiders for the better part of, oh, the last 100 years. Look for OU's defense to make at least one stop (which cannot be said for TT's atrocious D) and break out to a big lead only to see Texas Tech put up a half assed comeback which will undoubtedly lead to Mike Leech making some hilarious statement to the press.

South Florida 27 - Louisville 24

Brian Brohm is putting together another freakish season for the Cardinals. Too bad he doesn't play defense. South Florida should be able to put up plenty of points on Louisville and I like the Bulls defense to make a few stops along the way. This should be a close game as Louisville is looking for a bowl birth but South Florida has played very well against the Cardinals over the course of the last few years.

Arkansas 20 - Mississippi State 16

Darren McFadden and Felix Jones should be licking their chops as they look to bounce back from a bad performance against Tennessee (although McFadden's was more due to the idiocy of Houston Nutt). Mississippi State is the feel good story of the year in the SEC as they are bowl eligible and are looking for another win to secure a bowl selection. While the Bulldogs should play well, as the have all year under Croom, Run DMC and Co. should be able to take it to them at get a win in Little Rock.

Missouri 27 - Kansas State 24

On paper this game looks like a blowout. KSU is coming off of a game in which they gave up 73 points and 702 yards to a bad Nebraska team. Missouri has one of the best offenses in the country, led by star QB Chase Daniel and freshman sensation Jeremy Maclin at WR. Missouri may be looking ahead to their match up with Kansas a week from now. Look for Kansas State to play one of their best games of the year at home but Mizzou's offense is simply too good and they should pull this one out in the 4th quarter.

Week 12...Getting it done!

Michigan vs. Ohio State: THE RIVALRY!!! What a crock of horse shit. Nobody outside of Michigan and Ohio gives a fuck about this game. Except ESPN, of course, who has its head so far up the Big 11's ass that it is comical. For the rest of us football fans, this is a decent weekend of games. The aforementioned game as well as a couple of others will decide conference championship contenders and some others could have BCS implications. Here are the picks.

Ohio State 27 - Michigan 21

This game is simple. If Henne and Hart do not play, then Michigan does not win. If they do, then this should be a knock down drag out battle like it is every year. I would look for Ohio State's defense to slow down the Michigan offense and in turn give the pedestrian Ohio State offense enough chances to score. Could this loss be the end of the Lloyd Carr era?

West Virginia 31 - Cincinnati 28

This should be a fun game to watch. Both teams are potent on offense, so scoring shouldn't be too low. Cincy has the better of the two defenses but I still think they are going to have a hard time containing Slaton and White. West Virginia is looking to get back into the BCS and Pat White and Steve Slaton should help them do just that. Can you imagine two guys in your backfield on almost every play that can take it to the house? Must be nice. What the hell is Rodriguez going to do when they are gone? Let's face it, something tells me that Noel Devine is going to have problems staying on the field.

Boston College 17 - Clemson 24

I don't know why in the hell I am picking Clemson. The fact that Tommy Bowden is their coach should be enough to steer me towards Boston College but alas, with the Tigers I will go. Simply put, Clemson has better athletes and better players. While Matt Ryan gets all of the glory, most people don't realize that Clemson QB Cullen Harper has more TD's, a better QB rating as well as a better completion percentage. Tack on the fact that the game will be played in Death Valley and...Oh yeah, Clemson can get medieval on that ass with Thunder and Lightning, as well and Clemson should win this game.

Kentucky 17 - Georgia 35

I might be going out on a limb here but Georgia should pound Kentucky this weekend. Here is my reasoning. Kentucky cannot stop the run and Georgia's run hasn't been stopped by anybody, since the Tennessee game. The success of the running game has, in turn, opened up the passing game, which has led to numerous big down field plays. Even with that being said, the key to this game will be Georgia's front four against the o-line of Kentucky. If the Dawgs can bring constant pressure, then the secondary should be able to contain the potent receivers. The Cats being without the service of starting tailback Little doesn't help either. And let's not forget the fact that Georgia lost to Kentucky last year and is probably looking for a little payback. Dawgs roll in A-Town.

Oklahoma 35 - Texas Tech 28

Oklahoma is probably the most balanced team in the country. Without the shitting of the bed game against Colorado, they would be the clear number 1 team. This game, however, should be interesting. Texas Tech can score and score big. It is a requirement to tune into this game at some point to see the freak of nature that is Tech Fr. Wide Receiver Michael Crabtree. Man, this kid is sick. He has over 1700 yards on 113 receptions and 20 touchdowns. That doesn't happen. Anyways, if Tech is going to pull the upset, you can bet that Crabtree will be expected to carry the load. Ultimately, Oklahoma has too much still to play for the come out flat in this one. If everything plays out like it seems it will, the Oklahoma vs Kansas game will not only be a BCS deciding game but it will guarantee a trip to the Championship game. So, expect Oklahoma to bring the pain for the rest of the year.

Louisville 21 - S. Florida 24

Both of these teams haven't had the seasons that they were hoping for. At one point, the Bulls were the number 2 ranked team in the country and the Cardinals were in the top 10. Well, that has since changed. Louisville imploded and the Bulls have lost 3 of their last 4. Although none of these two teams have a shot at the BCS or the conference championship, the Bulls still have a shot at a 3 loss season, which should get them into a decent bowl game. Look for that motivation to help South Florida overcome the Cardinals and get them another win.

Missouri 42 - Kansas State 21

Missouri cannot afford to slip up or their shot at playing for the Big 12 championship is lost. If they shit the bed against K State, then the only thing they could do, is spoil Kansas' National title hopes. With that being said, look for stud QB Chase Daniel to lead the powerful Tiger offense to a victory and set up the Big 12 North showdown with undefeated and, in my opinion, highly overrated Kansas. This has been an incredible year for Daniel and the entire Tiger team. Look for it to continue this weekend.

Mississippi State 10 - Arkansas 35

No offense to Miss State and Coach Croom, but Arkansas should run away with this game. Darren McFadden will be looking to take out some frustration at losing another Heisman trophy on somebody and unfortunately, that somebody is Mississippi State. I can't begin to tell you how impressed I am with Coach Croom and the Bulldogs. I don't think I picked this team to win a damn game at the beginning of the year, but the Bulldogs will most likely finish 7-5. 7-5, are you serious? Anyways, Arkansas will be handing them their 5th check in the loss column. Razorback fans better take in everything they can in these next two games. Reason: They will never see anything like it ever again. With the departure of McFadden and, most likely, Jones goes any hope of winning for the next few years. Hopefully, Coach Nutt has...who am I kidding, Coach is certifiable. Arkansas, you are up shits creek without a paddle.

Heisman Top 5

We have a shake up at the top of the list and while some may not like the notion of dropping after a bye week you simply cannot ignore what #1 has done throughout the course of the season. With just a couple of weeks to go the time is now for the Heisman contenders to earn those last few undecided votes. This week we have added a twist with the inclusion of a percentage of taking the little bronze man.

#1. Tim Tebow (QB, Florida)

Chance of winning: 40%

Tebow is a freak of nature. Let's start with the fact that he is built like a LB and has great speed for someone as thick as he is. Last week he lit up a reeling South Carolina team to the tune of 7 touchdowns (5 rushing, 2 passing) and had more yards than the entire Gamecocks team. The fact that Tebow has stayed as healthy as he has is remarkable in its own right but when you add that the fact that he has over 40 touchdowns on the season in the best conference in football. There were many who thought that Urban Meyer's system would not work in the SEC (myself included). Little did I know. Florida may have some deficiencies on defense but with Tebow and Harvin coming back next season the young Gators are going to be a force in the SEC.

#2. Dennis Dixon (QB, Oregon)

Chance of winning: 30%

Dixon was off last week with Oregon having a bye and is dropped in this week's poll due to the freakish play of Tebow. Dixon is the key component of the explosive Duck offense and has torched the Pac 10 this season. His numbers are on par with Tebow's except for the total touchdowns but his team is in much better shape (although I think Florida would beat Oregon on a neutral field). All in all Dixon is having a great season and, sadly, if there had been more talk of Dixon after his destruction of Michigan he may well have the almighty media behind him.

#3. Darren McFadden (RB, Arkansas)

Chances of winning: 15%

Run DMC is the best player in the nation. I know we have said this all year but it holds true every week. Sadly, the Razorbacks have a passing offense some High School coaches would laugh at. McFadden had a decent game against Tennessee (22 carries, 117 yards) but it went unseen as his team was drubbed by the Vols. Don't feel too bad for McFadden seeing as how he shouldn't last past the 5th pick in next years draft.

#4. Chase Daniel (QB, Missouri)

Chances of winning: 10%

Daniel has lit up almost every team he has played this season. Too bad for Daniel the only truly good team Missouri has played was Oklahoma and he shit the bed. Fear not Daniel fans as Chase and Co. may get a shot at 2 top 5 teams in the next 3 weeks. Should Missouri beat Kansas (as this writer believes they will), Missouri will get another shot at Oklahoma. Of course this is all moot as almost all of the ballot will have already been sent in. Either way Daniel should be a lock to make it to New York as he as put up some damn fine numbers.

#5. Pat White (QB, West Virginia)

Chances of winning: 5%

White is just as important to WVU as Tim Tebow is to Florida. While many view Steve Slaton as the star of thew Mountaineers without White WVU is average at best offensively. Slaton gets those massive holes due to the defense freaking out at the notion of White running all over them (just ask Louisville). The 50 yard run that White had against the Cardinal (on national TV no less) could have been his Heisman moment had WVU not lost to an average South Florida team (one in which White played only a half). While White has zero chance at being an NFL QB he is one hell of a college signal caller and fits Rich Rodriguez's system perfectly.

Updated Standings

If only every week went as this past week. The three of us here at Gods went a combined 20-4 on the week leading us to believe that we are not, in fact, retarded.

Thor's Hammer: 47-33

Great Odin's Raven: 47-33

Apollo's Creed: 37-28

Don't Trust These at All

I have struggled this entire season picking games. However, I am not alone as nearly everyone in the country has had problems in this season of upsets. Maybe this will be the week that things turn around for Ole' Apollo's Creed.

Georgia 27 Auburn 24

This game could go either way as both teams have been playing very solid ball over the past month. The road team usually finds success in this matchup of SEC heavyweights, but that trend doesn't always hold true. We are overdue for a home team to hold serve in this game. The Auburn defense has been extremely impressive this year, and I don't expect the Georgia offense to be able to run the ball as effectively as they did against Florida. Auburn simply has a much stronger defense. However, even if the Bulldog running game does not have the massive success that they have become accustomed to over the past three weeks, Matt Stafford will be able to do enough in the passing game to make up for the missing yards in the running game. I simply do not trust Auburn QB Brandon Cox to be able to get through this game mistake free. Even though Cox is at least 42 years old, he will make freshman mistakes that will ultimately end up costing his team the game.

Kansas 43 Oklahoma State 40

Both of these teams feature high-powered offenses and below average defenses. Kansas put up 76 points last week, but also continued their season-long trend of not playing any pass defense. Oklahoma State is coming off a tough loss to Texas in which they jumped out to a big early lead and let the Longhorns come all the way back to win the game. This game has all the markings of a contest where the last team to have the ball will win. I think that team will be Kansas as they continue their dream season.

Virginia Tech 20 FSU 16

Florida State finally showed some signs of life last week in their victory over Boston College on the road. However, Florida State still doesn't possess much of an offense. Virginia Tech is a team very similar to Florida State in that they possess a very good defense, and a pedestrian offense. Home field advantage will play a big role in this defensive struggle as the crowd at Lane Stadium will carry the Hokies to the victory.

Fla 41 S.C 35

In a match-up featuring the Ol' Ball Coach against his alma mater and former team, Florida has the decided advantage in offensive firepower. Both of these teams have struggled on defense recently with South Carolina giving up an incredible 500 yards of rushing to Arkansas just last week. As much as I would like to say otherwise, the simple fact is that Tim Tebow is an incredible offensive talent. Tebow will be the difference as the Gators will avoid the upset.

Clemson 27 Wake Forest 17

In a matchup that I could care less about, two of the better teams in the ACC will meet in Clemson, South Carolina. The Clemson running attack will be the difference as I see no way that the undersized Wake Forest defense will be able to slow them down. Clemson wins the game in rather dominent fashion with a late Demon Deacon score closing the gap to the final tally.

Cincinnati 21 Uconn 13

The Bearcats get the Huskies at home in this matchup in the Big East. Connecticut controls their own destiny in the quest for the Big East Championship. Cincinnati is playing the role of spoiler, and should come out on top due to the home field advantage. I have to admit that I have been surprised with the Huskies this year. They've done enough to reach this point in the season in position to win the conference, but they aren't good enough to not slip up at some point. Cincinnati pulls the mild upset to put UCONN back to where they belong.

USC 28 Cal 20

Southern Cal has been very inconsistent this year, specifically at the quarterback position. Cal has also been up and down this year and hasn't had the year they hoped for coming into the season. USC will look more like the Southern Cal of old as they win this game on the road.

Michigan 24 Wisconsin 20

Michigan has been on a roll since they started off the season so poorly, and I don't expect that to end in this game. Even though the game is being played at Camp Randall Stadium, Michigan seems to be on a collision course with Ohio State for the Big Ten title. I just don't see Michigan losing prior to that game, especially to a team as overrated as Wisconsin.

Week 11 Victories...Count on it

Well, I had a slightly better week than Thor's Hammer, so I have the lead going into week 11. The games, overall, are not as exciting and as marquee as last weekend but there are still some solid games to go around. The South's Oldest Rivalry, Auburn and Georgia, will be on display as well as possible Heisman winner Tim Tebow. Let see if the trend continues this week...Here they are.


Georgia 21 - Auburn 17


Auburn has a sick defense. The only problem is that they don't have a very stellar offense. It seems like this series always goes to the away team and in Georgia's case that does not bode well. Not only are they the home team but Tuberville doesn't lose on the road. The key to this game is UGA's running game against AU's defense. If Moreno can run the ball effectively, then Georgia should win the game. However, Auburn's defense doesn't allow many rushing yards. (see: Arkansas game. RunDMC held to under 50 yards.) The good thing for Georgia is that they have the one thing that Arkansas doesn't have: A passing game. Georgia's defense should be able to hold its own against the Auburn offense as long as they get pressure on QB Brandon Cox. Look, I have watched this game enough to know that this will be a smash mouth contest and you might as well flip a coin to determine the winner.


Kansas 35 - Oklahoma State 30


This game is going to be a shoot out. In all actuality, my estimate is probably too low. Kansas put 76 points on the board against the Huskers last week but they also surrendered 39 to Nebraska. Who, by the way, was without it's starting QB. Honestly, none of these teams plays very good defense and until Kansas plays somebody of note (ie Missouri or OU) I am not drinking the Jayhawk kool-aid. The one thing that Kansas has going for it is a legitimate offense. These guys looked like a well oiled machine last weekend. Mangino has definitely proven that he has the system to work. God, imagine if he had Oklahoma or Texas talent in the Big 12. KU wins and gets ready for the clash with Missouri for the Big 12 North title.


Florida State 17 - Virginia Tech 20


This will be a defensive struggle to the end. Reason: Both offenses are not very good. Virginia Tech definitely has the advantage, however. With the exception of last weeks upset of Boston College, the FSU offense couldn't score on tackling dummies. Look for a potent Tech defense to cause enough turn overs to get the Hoakie offense into the end zone. Va Tech pulls out a victory and gets ready for the Miami Tropical Depressions.


Florida 28 - S. Carolina 21


Something tells me that the old ball coach will have a couple of things up his sleeve for the Gators. Just like LSU vs Bama, there will be a little bit of extracurricular crap involved (read: Spurrier used to coach the Gators) but, ultimately, Florida is a much better team. Look for Tim Tebow to put the offense on his shoulders and add some more stats to his Heisman curriculum vitae. Especially, after having a week to review how Arkansas or should I say RunDMC absolutely shat on the Carolina d.


Wake Forest 20 - Clemson 24


Ah, the perennially underachieving Tigers. Man, why in the hell does Tommy Bowden still have a job? Anyways, playing in Death Valley is a tough task. Even if it is a noon game. Look for Clemson to dish out a heavy dose of C.J. Spiller and James Davis...Sorry, I mean Thunder and Lightning. What most people probably don't realize is that Clemson QB Cullen Harper is the highest rated QB in the ACC (try a 152.21 rating). Yes, even higher than Matt Ryan. Look for Clemson's offense to give the defense enough points to secure a win.

Uconn 24 - Cincinnati 17


This game will be a battle of two solid defenses. Well, as solid as you can be in the Big East. Uconn is currently atop the Big East with wins against Louisville, Rutgers, Pittsburgh and South Florida. With a win over Cincy they will set up a late season match up with West Virginia for the Big East crown. Man, talk about parity. We are picking a football game between Cincinnati and Connecticut. What the hell is happening? Anyways, look for the Huskies to continue to roll, sort of, against another Big East team.

USC 28 - Cal 17


The one stat that you need to look at is this: 25-0. That is Pete Carroll's record in the month of November. Something tells me that will be 26-0 after Saturday. California has imploded and tumbled out of the National Championship race. USC has the defense to slow down the high powered offense and on the flip side, they have the offense to put points on Cal suspect defense. Even though this is a road game, look for Carroll and the Trojans to put another check in the win column.

Michigan 24 - Wisconsin 10


The key to this game is the health of Michigan's Mike Hart. If he is ready to go, the Wolverines shouldn't have much of a problem. If he isn't good to go, things could get a little dicey. Ultimately, Michigan is the better team. The have much better talent at pretty much every position and that should be evident on the field. Michigan wants a shot to knock Ohio State off of their podium but they need to get through Wisconsin first. If P.J. Hill cannot go for the Badgers it could be a long day in Cheeseland. Look for Michigan to seal the deal.

Locks of Week 11 by Thor's Hammer

After another dismal (4-4) performance last week I am attempting to regain my game picking mojo. This week lacks the punch of last weeks games but there are some good ones in SEC (as usual) as well as a hodgepodge of other action.

The standings are as follows:

Great Odin's Raven: 41-31

Thor's Hammer: 40-32

Apollo's Creed: 30-26

And now, without further ado, here are the week 11 play-doh...I mean lead pipe locks.

Georgia 23 - Auburn 21

The best player on the field will be UGA Freshman RB Knowshawn Moreno. Having already surpassed the 1,000 yard mark this season, Moreno is looking to put his name next to the great Hershel Walker should he get the Dawgs into a BCS game. Auburn comes into this game as the best defense in the SEC and 8th overall and DC Will Muschamp has the Tigers playing better than they did all of last year. The key match-up will be Tiger LB Tray "Little Ball of Hate" Blackmon against Moreno. If Moreno can run the ball effectively on this stout Auburn D (held RunDMC to under 50 yards) the Dawgs should be able to hit a couple of play action passes deep. Even though the home team never wins this game (AUB is 18-9 in Athens), I like the Dawgs to pull it out on a late Brandon Coutu FG.

Virginia Tech 20 - Florida State 17

FSU is coming off of an impressive road victory over then #2 Boston College. They now must face a hot Virginia Tech team that is finally playing good football. In a game where defense should rule the day look for Va Tech to make too many plays on defense (especially given the tendency of FSU QB's turning the ball over) and pull this one out at home. Beamer has his team poised to take the ACC title if they can continue their stellar defensive play.

Michigan 24 - Wisconsin 20

The Wolverines are playing some pretty good ball after their first few games and now are poised to make a run at the Rose Bowl. Wisconsin has been exposed for the frauds that they have been the last couple of years and the trend should continue. I know Michigan does now fair well when playing at Camp Randall but this is not the best Wisconsin team and they are playing without their top WR. Look for a steady diet of Mike Hart and Michigan QB Chad Henne should be able to hit WR Mario Manningham on a few deep plays.

Cincinnati 24 - Uconn 18

These two teams are mirror images of one another which should make this game very interesting. They both rely on defense and special teams but I like the Bearcat offense a lot more than I do the Husky offense. Cinci QB Ben Mauk should play well and this could be the day that Uconn's luck runs out. Look for both teams to cause a number of TO's but I like Cinci's offense to capitalize more than the Huskies.

Florida 28 - South Carolina 24

South Carolina is coming off of a game in which their stellar defense gave up over 500 rushing yards (yes, I said 500). Florida is coming off of a beatdown of a solid Vandy team and their offense has been nothing short of spectacular. Tim Tebow is in the thick of the Heisman race and do-it-all Percy Harvin is a machine. This game will be close as it is being played in Columbia but there is simply too much offensive talent on Florida's team to lose this game. USC's offense has been average at best as of late and I would expect the trend to continue.

Kansas 31 - Oklahoma State 27

The Pokes are coming off of yet another brutal loss to Texas where they held a 21-point 4th quarter lead. Kansas is coming off a gang raping of Nebraska and their confidence could not be any higher. OSU has a legitimate offense but their defense is not going to cut it against the best offense you have never seen, led by stud QB Todd Reesing. Look for Kansas to get to 10-0 (having played no one) and they should set themselves up for a showdown with Missouri at the end of the year.

USC 27 - CAL 20

USC's has a freakish defense and an average offense. California has a freakish offense and a terrible defense. I always like the defense in that match-up and this instance is no different. Should Cal lose this game it would give them 4 losses in the Pac 10 and would mean another average year for Jeff Tedford. USC has proven all year long that without the stud WRs and RB's that they have had in the past that they are simply not that good on offense. Cal's defense is bad enough that it should not matter.

Clemson 27 - Wake Forest 23

This is the type of game that Tommy Bowden usually loses. Clemson is better, playing at home and favored to win. Wake coach Jim Grobe is one hell of a coach and should have his team prepared but I just cannot believe that Spiller and Davis won't run all over the undersized d-line of the Demon Deacons. This should be a good game to watch as neither team is drastically better than the other one but Clemson still has the edge in talent...if only Bowden would win the games he was supposed to win. This win should make the Boston College - Clemson game for all of the marbles in the ACC.

Sanford Stadium Blacked Out?

As many of you have probably heard, the senior players have called for the fans filling Sanford Stadium, on Saturday, to wear black shirts. I would like to think that this would be something that all UGA fans in attendance, that know about the black out, would participate in...but for anybody that has been around football in the south you know one thing: The south is all about tradition. Fans wear the same thing every Saturday and if you change any part of your usual Saturday attire/routine it is considered sacrilege. Look, I am all for tradition but if the players ask you, as a fan, to wear black shirts because they think it will show a sign of unity, then wear a black shirt. Last time I checked the players don't ever come out and ask the fan base to do anything. The least you can do is honor the players that give you that tradition you hold so dear. I guess I just don't see what the problem with this is? I know...Georgia is copying Penn State's "White Out." I have news for you people: Penn State isn't the first to think about the fans wearing a shirt of the same color and they will not be the last. They might have been the first to get an entire stadium to do it but they aren't revolutionaries in the field of fan attire. Look, the bottom line is get to Sanford Stadium, wear a damn black shirt and cheer on the Dawgs.

Heisman Top 5

With only 4 weeks left in the season this is a crucial time for Heisman candidates. One slip up (see Matt Ryan) and you could be out of the top 3 and relegated to becoming a mere spectator when the award is announced. Here is the Week 10 update of the Heisman board.

1. Dennis Dixon (QB, Oregon)

Dixon has played brilliantly this season and that trend continued against #5 Arizona State. Dixon threw for almost 200 yards and had 4 touchdowns against a top 5 team on national television which adds up to a spot on the top of the list. Oregon has a bye week and then 3 games (2 on the road) against teams where the Ducks will be huge favorites. The only thing that would keep Dixon from winning the Heisman would be the severity of his 3rd quarter knee injury. If the "mild sprain" is not that serious, you could be looking at your 2007 Heisman winner.

2. Tim Tebow (QB, Florida)

Even though the Gators have lost 3 SEC games, Tim Tebow has been a man-child on the field this year. Tebow still has games with Florida State and South Carolina (this week) which will be on national television giving Tebow ample opportunities to win over those undecided voters. If he can continue to put up 3-5 TD's/game and win then it would not shock me to see Tebow take the Heisman as he has a little more cache than does Dennis Dixon.

3. Darren McFadden (RB, Arkansas)

RunDMC is the best player in the country. Too bad that guy never wins the Heisman. Just when people were starting to forget about McFadden he rips off an SEC record 321 yards on a very good South Carolina defense. McFadden also threw a touchdown pass in the game against the Cocks further supplanting his status as the most dynamic player in all of college football. Whether or not he actually wins the award should not affect his status as the biggest badass on the planet.

4. Chase Daniel (QB, Missouri)

Daniel has been nothing short of spectacular this season and has Missouri poised for a run at a BCS bowl game. The Tigers have a boat load of talent on offense and Daniel is the key component to their attack. He is coming off of a 400+ yard output in a beatdown of a solid Colorado team on the road. With games left against top 5 Kansas and a rematch with OU should they win the Big 12 North, Daniel should have plenty of chances to impress voters in the coming weeks.

5. Matt Ryan (QB, Boston College)

Ryan was the leader of the pack last week after his late game heroics against Virginia Tech. Then he went out and laid an egg against Florida State on national television. Yes, he threw for a lot of yards (over 400), but his 3 picks were all killers including the final interception that went back for a touchdown. While Ryan still has a game with Clemson, his candidacy was very reliant on the fact that his team was undefeated and slated to play for the national title. Unless the first 3 on this list fall face first in the coming weeks it looks as though Ryan will see the Heisman slip from his grasp.

Just Missed:

Andre Woodson (QB, Kentucky)

Michael Crabtree (WR, Texas Tech)

Todd Reesing (QB, Kansas)

Mike Hart (RB, Michigan)

Oh How The Mighty Have Fallen...Into The Toilet

What is lost in all of this talk about parity in college football is the complete collapse of some of the nations premier programs. Notre Dame, Nebraska, Florida State and Miami have all descended into mediocrity (thanks for the line, Pederson) and this should be one of the main stories this season. While South Florida, Uconn, Kentucky and South Carolina have all had great seasons but what has been lost in all of their success has been the complete downfall of the once great powers that were mentioned above. Nebraska is coming off of one of their worst games in team history, one in which they gave up 76 points to Kansas (yes, that Kansas). Notre Dame just snapped a 43 game winning streak over Navy by losing at home and falling to 1-8 on the year. Miami lost to NC State (at home, no less) and fell to 5-4 on the season while their arch rivals Florida State scored an upset after beating Boston College. Who would have ever thought that Florida State beating Boston College would be a monumental upset? Lost in all of the talk of parity has been the complete explosion of the old guard which led us at GOTG to look at how long it should take the aforementioned programs to get back to a title contending state.

1. Notre Dame

Notre Dame has been able to recruit good players over the course of the last few years. If they can limit the amount of big games they play to 4-5 instead of 7-8 they should be able to get into that 9 win range which would mean a BCS game for Notre Dame. Now, I do not think Charlie Weis is as good of a coach as the media would want you to believe which is why I do not think he will ever win a title at ND. Look for ND to get back into the national title discussion in the next 2-3 years.

2. Florida State

In what has become one of the greatest mysteries over the course of the last 5 years has been the demise of Free Shoe. They continually get top notch recruits and they play in an average conference yet they seem to be destined for mediocrity. They have already lost 3 ACC games (including a loss to Wake Forest for the 2nd year in a row) and their offense looks down right embarrassing most of the time. There is a lot of talent on this FSU team so it should only be a matter of time before they can get back in the national title race. Look for FSU to take the ACC in the next 1-2 years following that up with a run at a national title in 3-4.

3. Miami

Miami, like Florida State, has been able to recruit talent to Coral Gables but they have been lacking in results. New coach Randy Shannon has is work cut out for him as he, much like Bowden at FSU, cannot seem to field an offense that can put up more than 20 points on a consistent basis. Miami is in much worse shape than FSU and it should take them much longer to get back into the national title hunt. Look for the Canes to play well in the coming years but they are 4-5 years away from a title run.

4. Nebraska

The Huskers seemed to be on their way last year having lost to 4 top 10 teams but an average of 9 points. Then this year began. A blowout loss to USC, Missouri, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Kansas will get you fired every time and it will be no exception for Bill Callahan. This Nebraska team has completely given up on their coaches and has showed nothing but a pathetic half-assed effort for most of the season. The players look slow and have zero heart which is not what Nebraska was known for back in the day. Nebraska and Miami are in the same boat in terms of issues and neither of which should be in the national title hunt anytime soon. Look for Callahan to get fired immediately following the Colorado game and whomever gets the task of returning Nebraska to glory should be given at least 5 years because that is what it is going to take.

Quick Picks for This Week

Thanks to Thor's Hammer not releasing the games to pick this week until yesterday, I'm just now getting around to posting my picks. It really doesn't matter if I don't write a whole lot about each game due to time being short, because all these picks will be wrong anyway.

Oregon 38 Arizona State 28

LSU 31 Alabama 20

Ohio State 27 Wisconsin 7

Virginia 21 Wake Forest 19

Boston College 20 Florida State 6

UCONN 21 Rutgers 20

Oklahoma 38 Texas A&M 20

South Florida 20 Cincinnati 17

Locks Of The Week by Thor's Hammer

This has been one of the craziest seasons that I can remember. My picks have been average at best all season and will most likely continue that trend this week. Here are your lead pile locks.

Oregon 38 - Arizona State 24

I don't think Arizona State is really as good as their record indicates and I think Oregon will prove that this week. The Ducks have the best offense in the country and playing at Autzen stadium is no easy task. Look for Dennis Dixon to vault into the Heisman lead with a huge day and RB Jonathan Stewart will run all over the Sun Devils defense.

LSU 24 - Alabama 16

LSU comes into this game with the status of star DT Glenn Dorsey up in the air. If Dorsey cannot play that will certainly help the Bama running game which could affect the game. I don't think he should play but that is in large part due to the fact that LSU's D-line is strong without Dorsey. I think Bama's defense won't be up to the task in handling WRs Early Doucet and Brandon LaFell. This game will be close but I like LSU to pull it out in the fourth quarter.

Ohio State 27 - Wisconsin 13

The Badgers are simply an average team (much like the entire Big 10) and Ohio State will stomp them. The Buckeyes have a nasty defense and should be able to shut down the lowly Badgers offense. Look for Beanie Wells to run all over Wisconsin and Brandon Robiskie to catch a couple of deep bombs.

Wake Forest 27 - Virginia 20

Wake has really hit their stride after their early losses to Boston College and Nebraska. Virginia started off ACC play with a bang but, like always, they have come back down to earth and played poorly over the last few weeks. They are coming off of a loss to lowly NC State while Wake is coming off of a beat down of UNC. Look for Jim Grobe to out coach Al Groh all day and Wake should take this game in the fourth quarter.

Boston College 24 - Florida State 13

The FSU offense is a complete joke and their defense seems to be fading. As long as BC can limit the TO's this game should not be that close. How Free Shoe has fallen this far is amazing when you think about how dominate they were in the 1990's. BC QB Matt Ryan should continue the spiral towards mediocrity and he just may bolster his chances for the Heisman.

Rutgers 23 - Uconn 21

Uconn looks like last years Rutgers' team and have now become one of the bigger surprises this season. I think Rutgers will run Ray Rice 35 times and should be able to keep the clock rolling and wear out the Uconn D. The Huskies got away with one last week against Louisville by scoring on a punt return when the player clearly signaled for a fair catch. I think their luck runs out this week and Rutgers comes away with the win.

Oklahoma 34 - Texas A&M 17

Oklahoma has one of the most prolific passing attacks in the Big 12 and Texas A&M cannot defend the pass. Look for OU QB Sam Bradford to have a field day against the Aggies and OU should roll in the game that will assure that Francione gets canned at the end of the year.

South Florida 27 - Cincinnati 20

The Bulls and Bearcats were the talk of the Big East a few weeks ago but after both teams lost 2 games in a row they need to get back to their winning if they want to contend for a conference title. South Florida has a better QB and a better defense which always translates to winning. Look for the Bulls to get a lead early and hold on for the win.

Week 10...THE SABAN BOWL

Here it is folks. THE Saban Bowl. Outside of Tuscaloosa and Baton Rouge, however, nobody gives a shit. We have a solid slate of games to pick this week. The Pac-10 champion, for all intensive purposes, will be crowned this weekend and Ohio State will be one game closer to the Michigan match-up, which will decide the Big 10 champion. The afore mentioned Saban bowl has huge SEC West implications, even though Bama still has Auburn remaining. Just in case anybody is wondering, you did not hear incorrectly, Nebraska is a 20 point underdog to Kansas. What the hell is happening in Lincoln? Hopefully, the skers can pull the spoiler card and get it done on the road. Here are the picks.


Arizona State 28 - Oregon 35

I will be honest. This should be a great game. The Pac-10 does not get the respect that it deserves, in large part due to the late game times on the east coast. Simply put, the Pac-1o doesn't get a lot of east coast exposure. Well, that will change this weekend with ESPN broadcasting the game in prime time. Even with one loss, Oregon still has National Championship hopes and ASU, with zero losses, is in the thick of the hunt. Wins against Oregon and USC would all but lock a shot at the title for the Sun Devils. Unfortunately, Oregon will put the first blemish on the Sun Devil's record. Dixon and company will look to put ASU in a hole quickly and then match score for score until the end. This should be a high scoring game. Oregon, ultimately, has the better offense. Not too mention, they have the raucous Autzen Stadium crowd in their corner.

Texas A&M 17 - Oklahoma 27

This game shouldn't be very close. A&M has a lot of talent, but they also have an uber idiot for a head coach. The idiot cancels out their talent. However, with the way that this year has gone, all bets are off. I have to stick with OU for a number of reasons: Better on both sides of the ball, better coach and staff, home field advantage, to name a few. Look for the Sooners to shore up the Big 12 South and still be in the hunt for a berth in the BCS Championship game.

LSU 27 - Sabanation 20

By all accounts, LSU shouldn't have too much trouble here. But, you have to throw in all of the extracurricular crap that comes along with this game. LSU, athlete per athlete is the much better team but Bama has St. Saban, which should help. Bryant-Denney Stadium should be rocking and you know damn well that Saban wants this game more than any other. Unfortunately, Bama just isn't as good. Look for LSU to pull this one out late and keep the National Championship hopes alive.

Wisconsin 10 - Ohio State 28

Ohio State is a solid football team. Their offense isn't as potent as last years but their defense is as good if not better. Wisconsin, however, is a one trick pony and that pony's name is C.J. Hill. Look for Ohio State to shut down the run and make Tyler Donovan beat them with his arm. Wisconsin's defense isn't anything to write home about and you can bet they receive a healthy dose of Beanie Wells. Ohio State retains the number one ranking.

Connecticut 21 - Rutgers 17

I do not know what happened this year in college football. Uconn, Kansas, Cincinnati, etc. Well, Uconn is quietly leading the Big East. Which, in all reality, isn't that impressive of a stat. Rutgers, however, has imploded over the last couple of weeks. I don't have a clue who is going to win this game and really don't have a gut feeling. Who knows anything about Uconn football? The one thing that I do know is that Uconn plays solid defense. Add that they get the game at home and I will go with the Huskies???

South Florida 27 - Cincinnati 24

Another one of those games that you wonder what is happening in college football. In this case, both of these teams have been knocked back to reality in the last couple of weeks. For all intensive purposes, both of these teams are out of the conference races. They would both need a lot of help. I really think that S. Florida is a solid program and quite frankly, they should have better athletes. Grothe is a solid QB and doesn't make many mistakes. South Florida takes the win with a late 4th quarter field goal and doesn't look back.

Boston College 21 - Florida State 10

Look, Florida State has, quite possibly, the worst offense comprised of the most talented players. You follow? That being said, FSU's D is going to have to help out in a major way. I just don't see them being able to keep Boston College at bay long enough. I am not sold on BC being the second best team in college football but, if they continue to win then they will play for a Championship. While we are on the subject, I also don't buy Matt Ryan as the best player in college football. I will be the first to admit, however, that the game leading touchdown pass he threw against Va Tech was one of the greatest passes I have seen but the best player in football he is not. Anyways, BC stays unbeaten.

Wake Forest 24 - Virginia 17

This game is a battle of the mediocres. I think I am going to go with Wake Forest in this one. Riley Skinner is a solid QB and leads the team well. Oh yeah, Coach Grobe isn't so bad either. Virginia has the home field advantage but they can't score any points. Look for Wake's D to bring everything, including the kitchen sink, in order to keep the offense from scoring points. This game will be ugly but Wake will win with a early 4th quarter touchdown.