Week 13 College Football Picks

November 24, 2010 - 4:35 pm by McD

Record after week 12: 132-56 (94-90-4 ATS)

Thursday, November 25, 2010

8 pm ET

(17) Texas A&M (8-3) at Texas (5-6) (+3.5)

I can’t say enough about how hilarious these two teams’ records look to me. And I’m still sticking with my conspiracy theory that Mack Brown is done after this year. His veiled promises to evaluate the coaching staff after the season and overall seeming disappointment in this season…I think the guy thought he could take this young team and make a winner anyway, and now he’s realized his limits and doesn’t like it. He’s totally retiring.

Also, no way is Mike Sherman ballsy enough to win this one going away. It’s going to be close.

Pick: Texas

Friday, November 26, 2010

12 pm ET

West Virginia (7-3) at Pittsburgh (6-4) (-2.5)

This is a rivalry, right? I still can’t figure out what Pittsburgh and West Virginia would have to hate about each other. I mean sure, it’s an old Big East rivalry, but there’s no tie there. And I’m too lazy to wikipedia it. Disappointment, thy name is Noel Devine and Dion Lewis.

Pick: West Virginia

2:30 pm ET

(2) Auburn (11-0) at (9) Alabama (9-2) (-4)

Biggest Iron Bowl ever? I know the elitist Alabama fans would love to stick it to Auburn’s title hopes. That is, unless you believe the talking heads who have a vested interest in an SEC team being in the title game who would have you believe that a one-loss SEC champ should be in the title game over Boise State or TCU.

I already know Alabama is the smart money, but I can’t figure out who to root for here. Rooting for Nick Saban is like rooting for Darth Vader. Actually, that’s kind of fun. Roll Tide.

Pick: Alabama

7 pm ET

(20) Arizona (7-3) at (1) Oregon (10-0) (-19)

With Auburn already going down early in the day, Oregon is going to take their home field knowing they have to win to get to play Boise State or TCU. That’s a lot of pressure for a team that’s dealing with the fallout from a bad game against Cal. They’re questioning themselves, they don’t know what went wrong exactly, they’re running out of images for those signs they hold up on the sideline. Things are getting crazy, man.

Arizona’s going to give them a little trouble, but this isn’t an upset. Oregon’s defense isn’t Auburn’s defense. They’ll be able to handle whatever Arizona throws at them.

Pick: Oregon

10:15 pm ET

(3) Boise State (10-0) at (19) Nevada (10-1) (-14)

And then, that night, Boise punches its ticket to the title game. Sure, TCU has played very well this year, but they just aren’t Boise State. And it’s not realistic to think TCU could score with Oregon. Boise could. Plus, they could stop them a few more times than the Ducks are used to.

It’s all about embarrassing the BCS on Friday night. The stars are aligning for Boise State. They have the team, the defense, the following among the knowledgeable few, and that extra thing that all great teams have. There’s going to be meaning to Boise’s season. I just don’t know what it is yet.

I don’t like rooting against Colin Kaepernick, but this is bigger than any one awesome quarterback.

Pick: Boise State

Saturday, November 27, 2010

12 pm ET

Indiana (4-7) at Purdue (4-7) (-3)

I have to keep telling myself I won’t watch this game. It means nothing. It’s not for bowl games or even respect since both teams suck. IU’s real rival is Illinois anyway, and Purdue’s real rival is that smell in Lafayette, IN. This is going to be one motherfucker of a pillow fight.

Pick: Indiana

Boston College (6-5) at Syracuse (7-4) (-3)

Wait, what does this game mean again? Those Big East scenarios are confusing. Are they? I haven’t been paying attention at all.

Pick: Syracuse

Michigan (7-4) at (8) Ohio State (10-1) (-17)

Ohio State’s alleged unis for this game are atrocious. They look like a team from Any Given Sunday. That’s no way to dress for a home game in which they’re going to destroy their biggest rivals, kill Denard Robinson’s Heisman chances after Cam Newton’s shocking collapse against Alabama, while simultaneously making Terrelle Pryor seem competent.

Pick: Ohio State wins but doesn’t cover

(11) Michigan State (10-1) at Penn State (7-4) (+1.5)

I don’t live in Michigan, so I don’t understand the hierarchy, but it sure seems like Michigan State grads are constantly reminded that they’re second-class. Michigan/MSU isn’t even Michigan’s main rivalry, and the Wolverines get to face mortal enemies Ohio State at the end of every year. Worse, Michigan State’s status as the all-powerful basketball school only highlights their shortcomings in football. Every spring, people wonder how it is that Tom Izzo can make the basketball program so good and no one can make the football team matter more than Michigan/Ohio State.

Oh right, the land grant schools rivalry….

Pick: Michigan State

South Florida (6-4) at Miami (7-4) (-11.5)

I guess this is the OTHER Florida schools rivalry for the weekend?

Pick: Miami

12:30 pm ET

Kansas (3-8) at (15) Missouri (9-2) (-24.5)

An underrated rivalry for its pure hate, but it’s always a pillow fight on the field. Missouri is finally pretty good, but Kansas still sucks. Don’t watch this game. Go spend time with your family or something.

Pick: Missouri

3:30 pm ET

(6) Louisiana State (10-1) at (12) Arkansas (9-2) (-3.5)

Ryan Mallett makes his bones as the best quarterback prospect out there if he gets Arkansas a win somehow on Saturday. It’s impossible for LSU to pull away from anyone, and their defense was exposed by Ole Miss last week. There’s just a twinkle of a chance for Arkansas to pull something off here because LSU is really hard to beat in close games.

Pick: Arkansas

Florida (7-4) at (22) Florida State (8-3) (-2.5)

Fun, but only for the schadenfreude. How is FSU ranked?

Pick: Florida State

Brigham Young (6-5) at (23) Utah (9-2) (-9)

The final Holy War for many years to come. The hate involved in this game is shocking because it’s coming from the normally staid Mormons. Suddenly Utah turns into Alabama for a week and it gives everyone who pays attention a little bit of whiplash. My favorite down-low rivalry by far.

Pick: Utah wins but doesn’t cover

Northwestern (7-4) at (5) Wisconsin (10-1) (-23)

Lame. Wisconsin rolls in completely unspectacular fashion.

Pick: Wisconsin

7 pm ET

(18) South Carolina (8-3) at Clemson (6-5) (+3)

These are two schools that just don’t get it. Nobody respects either of them as universities or football programs. Sure, Spurrier can get his team to the SEC title game in full running game-irony fashion, but it’s still South Carolina. It’ll be Florida/’Bama in the title game again next year.

And Clemson? In the words of the immortal O.D.B.: n***a please.

Pick: South Carolina

7:30 pm ET

Oregon State (5-5) at (7) Stanford (10-1) (-14)

Hammer, meet nail. Nail, hammer. Hope OSU enjoyed that USC win last week.

Pick: Stanford

7:45 pm ET

Georgia Tech (6-5) at Georgia (5-6) (-13.5)

Oh the joys Tech fan would feel if they denied Georgia a bowl game. Can Paul Johnson deliver for the nerds in gold and white?

Pick: Georgia Tech

8 pm ET

(14) Oklahoma (9-2) at (10) Oklahoma State (10-1) (-3)

Since all the good games are on Friday, this is the biggest game of Saturday. Everyone is all over OSU because they might actually beat OU for once, but this is exactly where the Clemson of the Big XII always chokes. It’s in their heads. It’s Michigan State’s inferiority complex times a million.

Pick: Oklahoma

Notre Dame (6-5) at Southern California (7-4) (OFF)

No way does Notre Dame win this game. USC’s defense might suck. The Trojans may or may not have Matt Barkley. I don’t care. The Domers are already going to a bowl. It’s not happening. Could be a fun shoot out though, if Troy leaves their defense on the bus again.

Pick: USC