Ringer's Record
Last Week ATS: 11-8
Last Week SU: 15-4
Season ATS: 99-69 (59%)
Season SU: 146-31 (82%)
1 LSU (+4.5) at 2 Alabama
All eyes will be on Tuscaloosa Saturday night as #2 Alabama hosts #1 LSU in what many believe will end up being a de facto National Semifinal. These teams seem to have memorable contests every time they play, and this one has the potential to be one of the most memorable of all. Both of these teams have tremendous defenses and capable offenses. Only one of them can leave this game as the clear-cut favorite to give the SEC their 6th consecutive title. Who will it be? I'll take 'Bama in a thriller.
Prediction - Alabama 24 LSU 21
3 Stanford (-21.5) at Oregon St.
Stanford received their first scare of the year last week at USC. After going into triple-overtime, the Cardinal prevailed by 8 and covered the spread yet again. It was a miracle cover, but a cover nonetheless. This week Stanford will be in Corvallis to play an Oregon State squad that has struggled. This could be a classic case of looking ahead as the Cardinal have their much anticipated game with Oregon next week. I can't go against Stanford until they give me a reason to though.
Prediction - Stanford 41 Oregon St. 14
14 Kansas St. (+21.5) at 4 Oklahoma St.
This is a rough stretch for K-State. A week after they were demolished by Oklahoma, ruining their perfect season, they now have to travel to Oklahoma State. The Wildcats dream of a championship run was dashed, but the Pokes still have big dreams. OK State comes into this game next in line for a spot in the top 2 of the BCS. With Alabama and LSU set to knock each other off, all Oklahoma State needs to do is win this week to move up into that #2 spot. They should get it done.
Prediction - Oklahoma St. 48 Kansas St. 31
5 Boise St. (-41.5) at UNLV
Boise is a huge favorite this week, just like most weeks. UNLV has been near the bottom of the Mountain West since the inception of the conference, and that is the case again. Don't look for an upset in this game. Kellen Moore should undoubtedly take over the all-time NCAA record for wins this week. Moore will go down in college football lore with an easy win in Vegas.
Prediction - Boise St. 50 UNLV 24
Texas A&M (+13.5) at 6 Oklahoma
Oklahoma bounced back in a big way last week by pounding Kansas State on the road. Texas A&M continued their 2011 trend of blowing 2nd Half leads as they lost for the third time this year to Missouri. The Sooners will be looking to avenge a loss to the Aggies last season. Oklahoma still has plenty to play for as they could sneak into the National Championship picture. They will be able to avenge last year's loss.
Prediction - Oklahoma 41 Texas A&M 24
7 Oregon (-15.5) at Washington
Oregon has dominated this rivalry in recent years. While Oregon has risen to national prominence, Washington has fell from it. Since losing to LSU on opening night, the Ducks have rattled off 7 straight wins. The dynamic duo of QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James returned from injury last week and should provide a spark to an offense averaging near 50 points. Washington's own dynamic duo of QB Keith Price and RB Chris Polk is just as explosive and should keep them in this one.
Prediction - Oregon 42 Washington 30
10 South Carolina (+4.5) at 8 Arkansas
Alabama-LSU isn't the only battle of top 10 teams in the SEC this weekend. There is another one going on in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks have had to amount massive comebacks in each of their last two games at Ole Miss and Vandy. South Carolina has needed to overcome the dismissal of starting QB Stephen Garcia and Heisman candidate RB Marcus Lattimore. That will be too much for the Gamecocks to overcome against a solid Arkansas squad.
Prediction - Arkansas 24 South Carolina 17
Northwestern (+17.5) at 9 Nebraska
Nebraska played their best game of the season last week when they needed it most. After a 24-3 romp over Michigan State they gained control of the Big Ten Legends division. If Nebraska wants to play in the inaugural Big Ten Championship this is a game they have to win. This should be an interesting matchup as Northwestern's high-powered offense goes up against the Nebraska Black Shirt defense. Defense will prevail in Lincoln.
Prediction - Nebraska 35 Northwestern 23
12 Michigan (-4.5) at Iowa
Michigan remains in the thick of things to play in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship. Brady Hoke's first season in Ann Arbor has been a success to this point, but there is plenty of football to be played still. The Wolverines must avoid a late season swoon. It won't be easy to avoid as they head to Iowa. The Hawkeyes has an embarrassing loss to Minnesota last week and will be looking to bounce back. Kirk Ferentz will have his team ready to play and will give Michigan fans reason to worry.
Prediction - Iowa 28 Michigan 27
15 Houston (-28.5) at UAB
Case Keenum is coming off of a remarkable performance last week versus Rice. Keenum threw 9 TDs and his team climbed to #13 in the BCS standings. This may have been good enough to catapult Keenum into Heisman consideration. Now he is on the verge of setting the NCAA record for career passing yards this week. Expect the Cougars to keep climbing the ranks even if Keenum can't anymore.
Prediction - Houston 52 UAB 20
Minnesota (+28.5) at 17 Michigan St.
These teams are coming off of opposite weekends. Michigan State went from the favorites in the Big Ten to not having control of their own destiny in the matter of a week. Minnesota on the other hand scored their first Big Ten victory under Jerry Kill and are looking to ride that momentum into East Lansing. This is a game that the Spartans should win easily, but expect the Gophers to put up a fight.
Prediction - Michigan St. 35 Minnesota 14
New Mexico St. (+34.5) at 18 Georgia
Georgia gets a nice relief from SEC play by welcoming New Mexico State into Athens. The Bulldogs have won 6 straight and should have no problems making it 7. They will be playing without 3 RBs, including their leading rusher, Isaiah Crowell. So this couldn't be a better time for them play a team of New Mexico State's caliber.
Prediction - Georgia 41 New Mexico St. 10
Purdue (+25.5) at 19 Wisconsin
Did anybody see this coming? Just a few weeks ago, Wisconsin was the toast of the Big Ten and what many perceived as one of college football's elite teams. Now they have suffered back-to-back losses and are barely hanging on to a Top 25 ranking. They will be even angrier than I thought they would be last week. And they return to Madison. Purdue was dominated by Michigan last week. This will most likely happen again.
Prediction - Wisconsin 41 Purdue 14
20 Cincinnati (-2.5) at Pittsburgh
The Cincinnati Bearcats are the only team left in the Big East without a conference loss. This means they are in a great position to represent the Big East in the BCS for the third time in four seasons. That could all change after this weekend with a trip to Pittsburgh. Pitt has underachieved a bit this year, but this would be a big win for the program and Head Coach Todd Graham. Cincy has been solid this year, but I think their run will end this week.
Prediction - Pittsburgh 28 Cincinnati 25
Texas Tech (+13) at 21 Texas
Texas is coming off of one of their best games of the season while Texas Tech is coming off of their worst. The Longhorns beat down Kansas 43-0. The Red Raiders got beat down by Iowa State 41-7. Tech's performance was very surprising, given that they had just beat a top ranked Oklahoma team. They will have tough test in order to rebound this week. Texas will win this one, but closer than the experts think.
Prediction - Texas 31 Texas Tech 27
22 Arizona St. (-9.5) at UCLA
This game will give the winner the inside track to winning the Pac-12 South. Arizona State was the preseason favorite so it is no shock that they are in this position. UCLA has looked awful at times this year, so it is a bit of a shock that they control their own destiny in the Pac-12 race. I think it will be tough for this UCLA offense to score on the Sun Devils. They will need a strong showing of their own from their D if they expect to win. The Bruins will keep it close but lose in the end.
Prediction - Arizona St. 24 UCLA 20
Louisville (+14.5) at 23 West Virginia
West Virginia won a hard fought game in the snow at Rutgers to maintain their Top 25 ranking last week. The Mountaineers gave up 31 points in the 1st half to the Scarlet Knights, before shutting them out in the 2nd half. Louisville is lead by a rugged defense that will have the task of shutting down the Big East's top offense. In a classic game of offense versus defense, I'm taking offense.
25 TCU (-19) at Wyoming
TCU reappears in the Ringer Poll for the first time in weeks. They have a tough road trip to Wyoming this week. Wyoming generally doesn't strike fear in opponents, but this Cowboy team is good. TCU is better and should be able to take care of business, but Wyoming will make people realize that they are not just another Mountain West pushover.
Prediction - TCU 35 Wyoming 19
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