Ringer's Record
Last Week ATS: 14-4
Last Week SU: 14-4
Season ATS: 113-73 (61%)
Season SU: 160-35 (82%)
Western Kentucky (+41.5) at 1 LSU
The LSU Tigers can finally take a deep breath. They have survived every gauntlet thrown at them to this point in the season, and currently stand at #1 because of it. LSU won a slugfest in Tuscaloosa last weekend, beating Alabama 9-6 in OT. This week they return home to face Western Kentucky. Les Miles and his crew will have no problem disposing of the Hilltoppers and will be 1 week closer to playing in the BCS National Championship game.
Prediction - LSU 44 Western Kentucky 10
6 Oregon (+3.5) at 2 Stanford
This is without a doubt the game of the week. Oregon heads to Stanford in a game with Pac-12, and more importantly National Championship implications. Stanford's only loss of the season in 2010 came at the hands of Oregon, as the Ducks rolled to the BCS National Championship game. The Cardinal have revenge on their minds. Everyone knows that reads this blog knows that I have rolled with Stanford every week, and until they give me a reason not to I am sticking with that.
Prediction - Stanford 34 Oregon 30
3 Oklahoma St. (-17.5) at Texas Tech
When the BCS rankings came out on Sunday, the Oklahoma State Cowboys saw themselves appear at #2. Despite being ranked 3rd in my poll, the Pokes appear to control their own destiny in terms of the National Championship game hunt. They go into Lubbock to play a Texas Tech team that has seen the wheels fall off over the last 2 weeks. After a monumental upset of Oklahoma, the Red Raiders have been blown out in consecutive weeks. Look for that streak to continue.
Prediction - Oklahoma St. 45 Texas Tech 24
4 Alabama (-17.5) at Mississippi St.
Alabama suffered a heartbreaking loss last week at the hands of LSU that could have dashed their National Championship hopes. But there is still hope in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide actually ranked #3 in the BCS standings, ahead of an undefeated Stanford. They are unlikely to remain ahead of Stanford should they beat Oregon, but still have a decent chance of creeping back into the top 2 of the BCS by season's end. They obviously need a win in Starkville to keep the dream alive. They win this week, but won't cover.
Prediction - Alabama 30 Mississippi St. 17
23 TCU (+15.5) at 5 Boise St.
This is the game that everyone wanted to see when Boise State decided to join the Mountain West. Unfortunately this is the only time that the schools will meet as conference foes as TCU prepares to join the Big 12 next season. These 2 schools have been the top teams not playing in a BCS conference over the last 5 years. They are both making their mark this year as well. Boise seems unlikely to make an appearance in the BCS title game, but a win here could go a long way in keeping their hopes up.
Prediction - Boise St. 42 TCU 25
Tennessee (+13.5) at 8 Arkansas
All of the talk in the SEC has revolved around LSU and Alabama this season. There is another school that has been hanging around the Top 10 all year. That school is Arkansas. The Razorbacks host a struggling Tennessee squad this week. The Vols need a win just to help get them bowl eligible. Arkansas has played down to its competition at points, and with a looming game with #1 LSU in a couple weeks, the Hogs could overlook this one. I don;t think Tennessee has the talent to hang around though.
Prediction - Arkansas 35 Tennessee 17
Wake Forest (+16.5) at 9 Clemson
Clemson returns to the field for the 1st time since suffering their only loss of the year at Georgia Tech. They welcome Wake Forest into Death Valley. Both of these teams have been a surprise this season. Clemson was expected to be talented, but nobody saw a lengthy run at a BCS title. Wake on the other hand was expected to be at or near the bottom of the ACC, and Jim Grobe has his team 1 win shy of bowl eligibility. Expect Clemson to win this game, but the Demon Deacons won't make it easy.
Prediction - Clemson 34 Wake Forest 24
10 Virginia Tech (-1.5) at 22 Georgia Tech
The winner of this game will have the inside track to winning the ACC Coastal and playing in the ACC Championship. The Hokies have not been overly impressive this year, but have continued to win and find themselves in the Top 10. Georgia Tech rolled through the 1st half of their schedule before suffering back to back setbacks. They bounced back in a big way by beating a highly ranked Clemson squad that handed Va Tech their only loss. This should be a close one, but the Hokies will do what they do best - win.
Prediction - Virginia Tech 24 Georgia Tech 21
11 Houston (-33.5) at Tulane
The Houston Cougars are on the cusp of reaching the Top 10 of any poll for the 1st time in decades. They have been lead there by the stellar play of QB Case Keenum. Keenum leads his team into New Orleans to take on Tulane this week. Houston is 1 of only 5 teams in the country yet to lose. Tulane does not pose much of a threat. the Cougars should remain perfect for at least another week.
Prediction - Houston 48 Tulane 21
13 Nebraska (-3.5) at 12 Penn St.
Where do I begin? It has been a sad, sad week in Happy Valley. After reports of a sexual abuse scandal broke involving former Defensive Coordinator Jerry Sandusky on Saturday, the Pennsylvania State University has been in complete disarray. There has been days of speculation about what is going to happen to Joe Paterno for not reporting Sandusky to authorities. It all came to a head tonight when Joe Paterno was fired after 46 years of head coach. There is no way the Nittany Lions are ready to play on Saturday.
Prediction - Nebraska 28 Penn St. 17
14 Michigan St. (-2.5) at Iowa
This game has huge Big Ten Championship implications. They are the only 2 teams in the Legends Division that control their own destiny. Michigan State was the clear favorite a couple weeks ago, then they got waxed in Lincoln. They bounced back with a win last week, but had to hang on for dear life against a bad Minnesota team. Iowa on the other hand was left for dead in the Big Ten landscape. After a big win versus Michigan last week, they are right in the thick of things. They will remain there with another win.
Prediction - Iowa 26 Michigan St. 24
Florida (+3.5) at 15 South Carolina
The Ol' Ball Coach welcomes his alma mater into Columbia desperately needing a victory to stay alive in the SEC Championship race. South Carolina needs to win and hope for a Georgia loss in order to have any say in who represents the SEC East in the title game. Florida has lost their last 8 games to ranked opponents. They still need another win just to get to bowl eligibility. I expect their losing streak to ranked teams to extend to 9.
Prediction - South Carolina 24 Florida 17
25 Auburn (+13.5) at 16 Georgia
The Georgia Bulldogs are in complete control of the SEC East, and could inch closer to the SEC Championship Game with a win over the defending SEC and National champions, Auburn. This seemed unlikely after Georgia began the year 0-2 and there were calls for Mark Richt's job. After 7 straight wins, Georgia is feeling good again. That good feeling could come to an end when they face a very talented Auburn team. Auburn won't make anyone think it's last year's team, but they are good and could scare Georgia.
Prediction - Georgia 31 Auburn 23
17 Wisconsin (-27.5) at Minnesota
Wisconsin has dominated this so-called "rivalry" game over the past decade. It doesn't appear that anything will change this year. The Badgers have struggled on the road, losing games at Michigan State and Ohio State. Of course those teams are much better than the Gophers. Although Minnesota nearly upset Sparty last weekend and did upset Iowa 2 weekends ago. I don't see them pulling any sort of upset this week.
Prediction - Wisconsin 44 Minnesota 14
West Virginia (+3.5) at 18 Cincinnati
Coming into the season, West Virginia was the clear favorite to win the Big East. After 2 Big East losses, it appears that the Mountaineers may be forced to play the role of spoiler. Surprisingly, it is Cincinnati who is in control of the Big East race. The Bearcats have made a habit out of coming back to win. They may not want to fall behind to this explosive WVU offense. At any rate West Virginia has just been too inconsistent and too bad defensively for me to pick them here.
Prediction - Cincinnati 33 West Virginia 27
19 Texas (-1.5) at Missouri
The Texas Longhorns have bounced back nicely this season, coming into this week's contest at 6-2 and bowl eligible again after missing out on bowl season a year ago. Missouri could be this year's Texas. Mizzou was expected to be a darkhorse in the Big 12 title race, but instead they find themselves needing 2 more wins to become a bowl team. Both of these teams like to run the ball, and the team that does a better job of that on Saturday will win.
Prediction - Texas 27 Missouri 22
20 Michigan (-1.5) at Illinois
Both of these teams have been somewhat exposed over the last few weeks. Each of them have been ranked in the Top 15 at different points in the season. I don't think that either one of them are legitimately 1 of the 15 best teams in the country. We will find out who is the better of the 2 this week. Denard Robinson has lost some Heisman luster much like he did at the end of last season. He needs a big game and a win against the Illini if he wants any chance to be invited to New York. Don't look for him in the Big Apple.
Prediction - Illinois 28 Michigan 27
Texas A&M (-4.5) at 21 Kansas St.
K-State is looking to rebound after consecutive losses to the Oklahoma schools in the Big 12. The Wildcats have nothing to hang their head about as both of those schools rank in the Top 10. They will be hosting Texas A&M this week. The Aggies were expected to be a Top 10 this year, but have lost 4 games including 2 to the Oklahoma schools. This is an opportunity for K-State to prove they truly are a very good team. I expect them to take advantage of the opportunity.
Prediction - Kansas St. 33 Texas A&M 28
Central Florida (+8.5) at 24 Southern Miss
Southern Miss has made an appearance in the Top 25. They are actually the 2nd Conference USA team to appear in the rankings. Many thought that if there were going to be any Conference USA teams making the Top 25, that it would be Central Florida. UCF has had a difficult time this year. It gets more difficult on Saturday when they travel to Hattiesburg. Look for Southern Miss to remain ranked at week's end.
Prediction - Southern Miss 38 Central Florida 26
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