Football Future-see 2013: Week Nine

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
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Total	32-13	.711

3-2, 2-3, 1-4. Those are my records for the last three weeks. I can pinpoint the exact moment this downward trend in college picks began. It all started a little over three weeks ago, when a colleague at work asked if I would lend him a hand with some confidence picks for an NFL pool he’s in with some friends. I agreed to help him out, and since that moment, my college picks have suffered. Granted, it’s hard to predict something like what we saw last weekend. If ever there was an upheaval Saturday, that was it. Half of the AP Top Ten lost. All in all, numbers 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, 20, and 22 lost.

If the trend continues, I’ll miss on every game this week. So what’s our slate? Note that I’m now using the BCS rankings instead of the AP Poll. Georgia is off this week before the big game with Florida, who is also off, and both teams are coming off a loss. We’ve got two ranked PAC-12 match-ups, a ranked Big XII match-up, a ranked SEC match-up, and then an SEC rivalry game in Tuscaloosa. The SEC, as it typically does, is in the process of cannibalizing itself. The conference that is supposedly “top-heavy” is showing great depth and parity. Of course, sports writers outside the southeast are taking the opportunity to disparage the conference. Apparently, being top-heavy is bad, but also having depth is bad. Unfortunately, the SEC can’t be a single good team and a pack of also-rans (I’m looking at you two, Big Ten [with its twelve teams soon to be fourteen] and American Athletic Conference). Let’s hope for a rebound.

12 UCLA at 3 Oregon (7:00pm, ESPN)

And so Oregon now has a chip on their shoulder. The Ducks were vaulted by Florida State in the first release of the BCS Poll. Of course, FSU may own the most impressive victory of the year in beating Clemson 51-14 at Death Valley (the only game I got right last week). Now Oregon hosts a UCLA team recently removed from the top ten. The Bruins will be out to prove they still belong. But you don’t prove that at Eugene at night. Sorry, UCLA, but Oregon wins going away. Marcus Mariota may even put a stamp on his spot in the Heisman hierarchy. College Gameday will be in Eugene; the second time in the last three weeks that the ESPN team has traveled to the West Coast.

Final Score: Oregon 49, UCLA 31

10 Texas Tech at 15 Oklahoma (3:30pm, FOX)

This may end up being the game of the week. Oklahoma is better than their result against Texas proved. Texas Tech is quietly putting together a great season. The game is in Norman, which should play to the Sooners advantage. The Big XII, while not dominating at the sharp end of the polls, is really showing good depth. This game should provide a classic display of that depth. Look for Oklahoma to score the “upset” (as TTU is ranked higher), though it should be close.

Final Score: Oklahoma 33, Texas Tech 31

21 South Carolina at 5 Missouri (7:00pm, ESPN2)

Missouri is the real deal. I figured they would be exposed once they entered October. Instead, they’ve beaten Georgia and Florida, and now face South Carolina. A win Saturday should pretty much lock up the East for the Tigers, in just their second season of SEC play. Texas A&M, who came in at the same time but plays in the West, is not as close to the SEC Championship Game as Mizzou. Last season, their first in SEC play, the Tigers were simply not ready for the style of “old man football” that required four quarters of hard play. Their conditioning was not up to par and their season suffered for it. This year, though, they’ve figured out what it takes to play four quarters of SEC football, and they’re ruling the East because of it. South Carolina is a tough team, though. The biggest problem for the SEC East this season has been attrition. Everyone is banged up…except Missouri, right? Wrong. Their starting QB, James Franklin, is out with a separated shoulder. Without their starting QB they still hung 36 on the best defense in the SEC East in Florida. Tigers win; Gamecocks see what remains of their hopes evaporate.

Final Score: Missouri 38, South Carolina 28

6 Stanford at 25 Oregon State (10:30pm, ESPN)

Stanford is a team I still can’t figure out. Their front seven is good enough to slow anyone down. They beat Arizona State and Washington, but then lost to Utah, who is 4-3 on the year. The Cardinal is averaging over 34 points per game while giving up just 20 on average. They just beat UCLA, now travel to Oregon State, and their next game is a home tilt with Oregon. The Cardinal can’t get caught looking ahead, and I don’t think they will, since they have a bye week in between. Stanford wins, but Oregon State may keep it close until late.

Final Score: Stanford 30, Oregon State 20

Tennessee at 1 Alabama (3:30pm, CBS)

The Vols have been up and down all year. A heart-breaking loss in OT to Georgia was followed up by a last-second field goal win over South Carolina. But they now have to play Alabama. The Crimson Tide is still arguably the best team in college football. I figure Alabama lets Tennessee hang around for a quarter or so before effectively closing the door. The predicted score below is closer than I think the game will actually be.

Final Score: Alabama 37, Tennessee 17

The Right Wing Top Ten (RWT10)

Week Three of the Right Wing Top Ten. The chaos and upheaval of last Saturday has caused massive changes to the RWT10. South Carolina, UCLA, Texas A&M, and LSU all fall from the poll, replaced by Missouri, Baylor, Stanford, and Texas Tech. Over one-third of the AP Top 25 lost last week, and many of those losses were in the top 11 spots. You don’t get upsets like that without really turning the polls on their heads.

In this week: Missouri, Baylor, Stanford, Texas Tech

Out this week: South Carolina, UCLA, Texas A&M, LSU

10. Clemson Tigers

Clemson still has only one loss, but, man, is it a bad one…

9. Stanford Cardinal

Stanford re-cracks the Top Ten thanks to a win over former top ten member UCLA.

8. Texas Tech Red Raiders

The Red Raiders are quietly having quite the season in Lubbock.

7. Miami Hurricanes

The NCAA just released their sanctions on Miami (amounting to a slap on the wrist given the self-imposed sanctions already in place). Now the ‘Canes can focus on football.

6. Baylor Bears

Baylor may have the most explosive offense in football. As much as I hate high scoring games, I’d really like to see them play Oregon.

5. Missouri Tigers

These Tigers are for real. Missouri may have locked up the SEC East in just their second year in the league.

4. Ohio State Buckeyes

I still hate putting the Buckeyes this high, as the mediocrity of the B1G is still really becoming apparent.

3. Florida State Seminoles

The ‘Noles crushed Clemson…I mean, crushed them. Now FSU has its sights set on reaching the BCS National Championship Game. To do that, in my eyes, it has to prove a better resume than either Oregon or Alabama.

2. Oregon Ducks

The Ducks reach number two in my poll, although the current BCS ranking has them 3rd. Look for that little oversight to provide incentive to an already dangerous offense.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama is still making the case that they’re the best team in college football.