RECORD
Week 1
|
8-2
| |
Week 2
|
4-1
| |
Week 3
|
4-1
| |
Week 4
|
5-0
| |
Week 5
|
5-0
| |
Week 6
|
3-2
| |
Week 7
|
2-3
| |
Week 8
|
1-4
| |
Week 9
|
4-1
| |
Week 10
|
4-1
| |
Week 11
|
4-1
| |
Week 12
|
3-2
| |
Week 13
| ||
Week 14
| ||
Total
|
47-18
|
.723
|
Can there be a more heart-breaking loss than the one Georgia suffered on the Plains in Auburn? I can’t stand Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson (the CBS announce team for the game), but they made a pretty accurate statement in saying that even the forces of nature had aligned against Georgia this year. So I missed on that upset, and I missed on Texas knocking off Oklahoma State. I did, however, correctly pick USC to take down Stanford, and I feel pretty good about that one.
This week we’ve got three SEC conference games, one of which features ZERO ranked teams. We’ve also got a Big Ten match-up and a Big XII match-up. On to the picks…
19 Wisconsin at 25 Minnesota (3:30pm, ESPN).....CORRECT
The Golden Gophers of Minnesota are playing very well, and doing all they can to position themselves for one of the New Year’s Day bowl games in Florida. But they need to keep winning in order to pad their resume. So now is not a good time to be playing Wisconsin. The Badgers are playing their best football of the year at the right time. Since the Debacle in the Desert and the close loss to Ohio State, Wisconsin has been nothing short of dominant. They’ll look to continue that run, and make the case for an at-large BCS berth. I think Wisconsin wins, but Minnesota will keep this game a lot closer than the Badgers want it to be.
Final Score: Wisconsin 31, Minnesota 24
12 Texas A&M at 22 LSU (3:30pm, CBS).....CORRECT
It’s looking more and more like the Sugar Bowl will pass on Auburn and take Texas A&M, especially if the Aggie win out. The trick is that certain analysts from certain acronym networks also think the Sugar would pass on Alabama, should the Tide falter, in order to secure what is likely Johnny Manziel’s final collegiate game. Meanwhile, LSU is just trying to reach the finish this year. Injuries have started to mount for the Tigers, and QB Zach Mettenberger has, in a way, come back down to Earth after a sensational start. A&M wraps up with a road trip to Missouri, and it’s entirely possible that the Aggies get caught looking ahead. I like LSU in an upset here.
Final Score: LSU 34, Texas A&M 31
Kentucky at Georgia (7:00pm, ESPNU).....CORRECT
The Georgia-Auburn game will live in infamy. A phantom fumble recovery by Auburn, a probable non-touchdown by Aaron Murray, and the “Prayer in Jordan-Hare” catch on 4th-and-18 to give Auburn the win…It’s enough to make anyone a bit angry. And Mark Richt finally let it fly. On the fumble mentioned just moments ago, the Auburn player had the ball cradled behind his knee with one hand barely touching the ball. The Georgia defender had both hands on the ball and came away from the pile with the ball. The officials awarded the ball to Auburn…and Mark Richt snapped, drawing an unsportmanlike conduct penalty. I’d hate to be Kentucky this week, seeing as Georgia is angry, and is now healthier than they’ve been since the Tennessee game. Aaron Murray has a big day in his last home game as a Dawg. Georgia wins, handily.
Final Score: Georgia 41, Kentucky 17
8 Missouri at 24 Ole Miss (7:45pm, ESPN).....CORRECT
Ole Miss is, I still think, about a year ahead of schedule. They probably shouldn’t have beaten Texas this year, but then again, I called them to upset Texas last year and Texas blew them out. Ole Miss will only get better, as the Hugh Freeze recruiting classes take root. Missouri has finally learned the secret to SEC-football, which is conditioning. The Tigers last year simply were not conditioned to playing the hard 60 minutes that the SEC plays. They’ve learned, and because they’ve stayed healthier, by and large, than everyone else, they’ve also gained the advantage in the SEC East. Going on the road to Oxford is no easy task, but I think Missouri is up to it. Tigers win.
Final Score: Missouri 34, Ole Miss 24
4 Baylor at 10 Oklahoma State (8:00pm, ABC).....INCORRECT
The Baylor Bears are one of those teams that you keep watching to see when they’re going to trip up. But I’m not sure they will. The Bears offense is nigh-unstoppable. Their game against Texas Tech started with the Red Raiders putting up the first 14 points of the game. The next thing I knew, Baylor was up 28-14 and never looked back. Baylor is in the hardest stretch of their schedule, and it looks like it will pay dividends in the end. Win out, Bears, and you’ll jump Ohio State and be primed for jumping into the National Championship Game, should #1 or #2 falter. Oklahoma State, meanwhile, just knocked off Texas and claimed a top ten spot in the current BCS rankings. Even though the Cowboys currently sit tenth, no one is mentioning them as a potential at-large team. That could put a chip on their shoulder, but either way, it’ll be tough to beat Baylor. Bears win.
Final Score: Baylor 42, Oklahoma State 30
The Right Wing Top Ten (RWT10)
Week Six of the Right Wing Top Ten. Cardinal out; Sparty in.
In this week: Michigan State
Out this week: Stanford
10. Michigan State Spartans
The Spartan defense is the best in the nation. They can shut down just about anyone..
9. Auburn Tigers
The “Prayer in Jordan-Hare” keeps Auburn in the Top Ten.
8. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State resoundingly took down Texas, but they now face the best team in the Big XII, as Baylor comes to town.
7. Missouri Tigers
Mizzou goes to Ole Miss this week with a chance to further lock down their claim on the SEC East.
6. Oregon Ducks
Oregon took down the team that took down Stanford, and so they begin to climb once again.
5. Clemson Tigers
Clemson thrashed Georgia Tech and looks to continue solidifying its spot as the ACC’s fall-back team for the BCS (assuming FSU plays ‘Bama for the title).
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
Sorry, OSU, but so long as Baylor keeps winning, I’m keeping them ahead of you. It’s not that I think you’re not a good team, because you are. It’s just your schedule… c’mon, man.
3. Baylor Bears
Baylor was down 14-0 to Texas Tech. Then I blinked. When I opened my eyes again it was 28-14 Baylor and the rout was on.
2. Florida State Seminoles
FSU could’ve named their score against Syracuse. If they play ‘Bama for the National Championship, you better believe it’ll be a heck of a game.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Basically, all that stands between Alabama and a BCS National Championship Game berth is Auburn.
If the Playoff began today…
This is how I see the playoff shaping up, if it were to start today. Please note this does not reflect the RWT10 or the BCS Standings. This is how I think the committee would select. And Baylor would now be in, thanks to USC clearing that one-loss roadblock from our path. I think the voters will respect Baylor’s schedule over Ohio State’s, thus affording the Bears the #3 slot instead of #4.
#1
|
Alabama
|
vs
|
#4
|
Ohio State
|
#2
|
Florida State
|
vs
|
#3
|
Baylor
|
Bowl Projections
Here’s how I envision the bowl picture shaking out. These bowl projections account mainly for the BCS and mostly bowls associated with the SEC. Lots of change going on in the bowl projections this week. Stanford’s loss and some Sugar-speculation lead to big changes throughout.
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Auburn vs Miami
With the Sugar Bowl passing on Auburn, the Tigers look likely to tumble. The Chick-fil-A Bowl would be waiting with open-arms, especially if they could match them up against Miami.
Capital One Bowl: South Carolina vs Michigan State
Sparty versus Spurrier? That should be fun…
Gator Bowl: Michigan vs Georgia
Bowls tend to try and avoid having the same team over and over, but the chance to match-up Georgia and Michigan might be too much for the Gator Bowl to pass up. Yes, Georgia has four losses…but UGA travels well, and that counts when making bowl match-ups.
Outback Bowl: Ole Miss vs Minnesota
Ole Miss is playing slightly ahead of schedule, I think, but it should be enough for a berth in the Outback. Minnesota has been the pleasant surprise of the Big Ten (or B1G, or Big 14, or whatever they’re doing now…)
Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma State vs LSU
Oklahoma State looks a better representative here than Oklahoma. Now that Texas A&M is in the Sugar, we might as well put LSU here. The only other option for the Cotton would be Auburn.
Orange Bowl: Clemson (BCS at-large) vs Wisconsin (BCS at-large)
Clemson now slots into the Orange Bowl with FSU gone to the Title Game. The Orange Bowl has first crack at the at-large teams this year, and will likely lock down Wisconsin. The Badgers are playing great football and seeing them against Clemson would be a fantastic way to start the new year.
Rose Bowl: Ohio State (Big Ten Champ) vs Oregon (BCS at-large)
Oregon and Ohio State in the Tradition-Is-The-Only-Thing-
Fiesta Bowl: Baylor (Big XII Champ) vs Fresno State (BCS at-large)
Baylor will play in the Fiesta, as I think they’ll win the Big XII outright. Fresno State, the highest-ranked non-AQ, will play them, which is easier travel for Fresno State fans. Baylor would probably win this one handily.
Sugar Bowl: Texas A&M (BCS at-large) vs UCF (AAC Champ)
Big changes here. I’ve now got Texas A&M in this game, because you have to believe the Sugar would want Johnny Manziel’s last college game. Matching them with UCF makes sense, because the Aggies don’t play defense, which would make this more of a game. If Alabama or Auburn winds up here instead of A&M, the beating they hand to UCF would be biblical.
BCS National Championship Game: Alabama (BCS #1 / SEC Champ) vs Florida State (BCS #2 / ACC Champ)
The Crimson Tide and the Seminoles appear to be on a collision course for the National Championship Game.
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