Ringer's Record
Last Week ATS: 10-11
Last Week SU: 15-8
Season ATS: 131-95 (58%)
Season SU: 188-49 (79%)
3 Arkansas (+12) at 1 LSU
LSU has had a few weeks to prepare for their annual rivalry game with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Sure they've played games, but they were against teams that shouldn't be on the same field as the #1 Tigers. This week should be much tougher. Arkansas has won 7 consecutive games since their loss to Alabama, and now have themselves in the thick of the BCS title race. The winner of this game should have the inside track to New Orleans. LSU is at home and has played in big games all year. They will handle business yet again.
Prediction - LSU 30 Arkansas 17
2 Alabama (-20.5) at Auburn
A win by Alabama will make it very likely that the winner of the Iron Bowl will be appearing in the BCS title game for the 3rd consecutive season. The inner-state rivals have traded having the pressure of a championship run each of the last 2 years, and it will be the Tide's turn again this year. Throw out all records when these 2 meet. These teams hate each other, and nothing would make Auburn players and fans happier than ruining Alabama's season. I don't think it will happen.
Prediction - Alabama 27 Auburn 14
22 Notre Dame (+6.5) at 4 Stanford
Stanford is still alive in the quest for a National Championship. It may take another wild weekend for the Cardinal to get there, but there remains hope. They welcome in a talented Notre Dame squad that has been playing some good football. Notre Dame has won 4 in a row and will not be intimidated by Stanford. Both teams can score in bunches, so it will likely come down to whose defense can get a big stop. Eventhough Stanford hasn't covered their last 2 spreads, I'm riding them for another week.
Prediction - Stanford 35 Notre Dame 26
6 Virginia Tech (-5.5) at 24 Virginia
Football fans in Virginia should love this. Virginia Tech travels to Charlottesville to take on UVA with a trip to the ACC Championship on the line. The Cavaliers kept their hopes alive by squeaking past Florida State 14-13 in Tallahassee last week. It was the school's 1st win ever in Tallahassee. Virginia Tech suddenly finds themselves with an outside chance at a National Championship. They need a big win over their inner-state rival to keep that dream afloat. The Hokies should win, but not without a scare.
Prediction - Virginia Tech 28 Virginia 23
7 Houston (-3.5) at Tulsa
The Houston Cougars are 1 win away from finishing off a perfect regular season. Houston comes in ranked 7th in the country, and in the Top 10 for the 1st time since the early 1990. Coincidentally, that was also the last time the school had a Heisman candidate. QB Case Keenum could very well receive an invite to New York with another solid performance this weekend. Tulsa is no slouch though. The Golden Hurricane also boast a perfect C-USA record. Something has to give. Houston will win a close one.
Prediction - Houston 42 Tulsa 39
Wyoming (+32.5) at 8 Boise St.
It's not every week that you see conference rivals with the same conference record meet in late November and one of them is favored by 30+ points. Such can only be the case with Boise State. The Broncos head back to the blue turf for the 1st time since their stunning loss to TCU. The Broncos need a win to keep them in the mix for a BCS bowl bid. Wyoming has quietly went 7-3 and 4-1 in the Mountain West. They will not be an easy out.
Prediction - Boise St. 42 Wyoming 21
Oregon St. (+28.5) at 9 Oregon
The Civil War lost some of its luster with Oregon's loss to USC last week. The Ducks now have no hopes at returning to the BCS National Championship, but can still clinch the Pac-12 North and a spot in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship with a win. Oregon State has underachieved severely this year. It would help salvage the season by knocking off their biggest rival. The Ducks have far too much fire power for the Beavers to be able to compete this year. Oregon should win this big.
Prediction - Oregon 42 Oregon St. 13
Iowa St. (+28.5) at 10 Oklahoma
Iowa State played a significant role in this week's shake up in the BCS standings. The Cyclones knocked off Oklahoma State who was ranked #2. This gave Oklahoma a chance to move up in the rankings. The Sooners blew that chance. RG3 and Baylor virtually ended any championship hopes that Oklahoma had. Iowa State will now look to complete a sweep of the Oklahoma schools. That is going to be too tough of a task for them to handle.
Prediction - Oklahoma 37 Iowa St. 20
11 Michigan St. (-6.5) at Northwestern
Michigan State clinched a spot in the 1st ever Big Ten Championship with a win over Indiana last week. The Spartans are still waiting to see who they will play. They have a tune up game at Northwestern this week. The Wildcats became bowl eligible last week with their win over Minnesota. That means that neither team has a ton to play for. The more talented team tends to win these types of games. That team is Sparty.
Prediction - Michigan St. 26 Northwestern 24
17 Clemson (+4.5) at 12 South Carolina
What could have been? That is the question that the Clemson players and fans are asking themselves this week. In a week when 3 of the 6 teams ranked ahead of Clemson lost, the Tigers also lost. Has Clemson taken care of business against NC State, they would be in the thick of the National Championship race. But they got their doors blown off. Now they take on their in-state rival, South Carolina. The Gamecocks are looking for a solid 10-win season. They won't get it this week.
Prediction - Clemson 26 South Carolina 23
13 Georgia (-6.5) at 25 Georgia Tech
Georgia finished off their SEC schedule with their 7th straight conference win and their 9th overall. This gave the Bulldogs a berth in the SEC Championship. Now they step out of conference to take on Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets will bring their spread option attack with their eyes set on ending Georgia's winning streak. Georgia has one of the nation's top ranked defenses, but this is an offense they have yet to see this year. These games are usually close and this year should be no different.
Prediction - Georgia 28 Georgia Tech 26
18 Penn St. (+14.5) at 14 Wisconsin
It is hard to believe that Penn State is in position to play for the Big Ten title. After all of the scandal and turmoil going on in State College, nobody would have been surprised had the Nittany Lions packed it in. But PSU got a huge win in Columbus last week and have them in a win and in scenario this weekend. Unfortunately, they head to Madison where the Badgers have been unstoppable. Wisconsin seizes the top spot from Penn State with a win. Montee Ball and Russell Wilson will be too much for Penn State to match.
Prediction - Wisconsin 34 Penn St. 17
Ohio St. (+8.5) at 15 Michigan
All signs point towards this being Luke Fickell's last game as Head Coach at The Ohio State University. Fickell took over in the wake of an NCAA probe that saw the school dismiss Jim Tressel as coach. After a tumultuous season, it appears that Urban Meyer will bring his 2 National Championship rings to Columbus and take over the Buckeyes. Can anyone have the success Tressel did? Tressel went 9-1 against Michigan in what is college football's biggest rivalry. The Wolverines haven't won this game since 2003. They finally get it done this year.
Prediction - Michigan 28 Ohio St. 17
Texas Tech (+12.5) at 19 Baylor
Baylor got their 1st win over Oklahoma ever last week. Robert Griffin III reintroduced himself to the Heisman race in the mean time. Griffin III was spectacular in leading Baylor to a 45-38 win. They take on Teaxs Tech this week, who is the other team to beat the Sooners this season. The Red Raiders haven't fared too well since that game though. I don't think it will get better any time soon, as they will not go bowling with a loss in this one.
Prediction - Baylor 37 Texas Tech 31
Iowa (+9.5) at 21 Nebraska
Nebraska was eliminated from Big Ten title contention with their blow out loss in Michigan last week. Many thought that the Cornhuskers could win the Big Ten in their 1st season, but inconsistent play on both sides of the ball didn't allow that. They play a team that could become the new rival of Nebraska. At least it makes sense geographically for Iowa to become a rival. Both teams are trying to enhance their bowl position. Nebraska gets it done in a close one.
Prediction - Nebraska 24 Iowa 23
Pittsburgh (+7) at 23 West Virginia
The Big East race is wide open, and the Backyard Brawl is going to play a big part in deciding the conference champion. This is as bitter a rivalry as the Big East has, and it will most likely be the last time the two schools play for awhile. WVU will head to the Big 12 next season and would love nothing than to go out on top of the Big East and leave Pitt in the dust while doing it. This game is usually a slugfest. I think the Mountaineers are the more talented team and will get it done in MoTown.
Prediction - West Virginia 31 Pittsburgh 21
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