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
|
Back-to-back-to-back 4-1 weeks will make a game-predictor very happy. Of course, that’s only predicting game correctly at an 80% clip, which, while better than my overall .733, is still not great (considering I was pushing 87% correct through the first five weeks). Anyway, I suppose I could’ve picked some easy games this week in order to pad my stats…but that’s just not my style. In fact, I’m going with a couple of upsets that could really burn me. Of the five games on the slate, I’m taking the underdog in three of them. This is how you make a name for yourself in picking games, right?
This week we’ve got an ACC match-up on Thursday night, two Big XII games, a PAC-12 game, and the usual Georgia match (I know, only one SEC game this week…how weird is that?). On to the picks…
Georgia Tech at 8 Clemson (Thursday 7:30pm, ESPN)....CORRECT
Clemson has been on the slow-but-steady climb since being thrashed by Florida State. At this point in the season (with 4-5 weeks left, depending on your conference) several one-loss teams are still in the discussion for potential national championship game berths. Clemson needs a lot of help, though, as their one loss is a doozy. Georgia Tech is just playing out the season at this point. Tech has the same record as in-state rival Georgia, but has not played anywhere near the same level of competition. Georgia played more ranked teams in their first two games than Tech has played all year (to this point). I can’t see the Yellow Jackets going in to Death Valley and winning. Clemson keeps their dreams alive.
Final Score: Clemson 35, Georgia Tech 20
12 Oklahoma State at 24 Texas (3:30pm, FOX)....INCORRECT
The first of three upsets on the board this week (based on ranking alone). I think Texas will win this game, and here’s why… Texas is actually playing pretty good football right now. After stunning losses to BYU and Ole Miss, the Longhorns rebounded with a win over archrival Oklahoma. For all the talk of hot seats earlier this year, it appears as though Mack Brown might be safe, especially with Texas in the thick of the Big XII Title chase. Oklahoma State, however, is still really searching for that signature win of 2013. It’s not coming here. With this game being in Austin, I think that gives Texas just enough of an advantage to hold off the Cowboys.
Final Score: Texas 31, Oklahoma State 28
25 Georgia at 7 Auburn (3:30pm, CBS)....INCORRECT
This will be the 117th playing of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. The series record is tied 54-54-8. Georgia has won the last two meetings, including a 38-0 drubbing last season. The aggregate score for the previous 116 games is Georgia 1882, Auburn 1772. Last week, Georgia led Appalachian State 14-6 at halftime last week. After the break, the Dawgs poured it on, scoring 17 in the third and 14 in the fourth in route to a 45-6 Homecoming win. Auburn, meanwhile, hung 55 on Tennessee in Knoxville. Auburn’s only loss came at LSU in their fourth game. Since that time they’ve beaten Ole Miss at home, and gone on the road to topple Texas A&M, Arkansas, and the aforementioned Volunteers. After this game, the Tigers have two weeks to prep for the Iron Bowl, so it’s possible they’ll be caught looking ahead. Georgia is slowly getting healthier, but the injuries are simply too much to overcome this year. That said, funny things happen in this series. Thanks to the revised scheduling brought about by the SEC’s expansion, Georgia travels to Auburn for the second consecutive year. Road teams have won 31 of the 56 non-neutral-site games in this series (excluding the 8 ties). All that said, the head says Auburn wins. But I’m going with the heart on this one. Georgia in an upset.
Final Score: Georgia 30, Auburn 28
Texas Tech at 5 Baylor (7:00pm, FOX)....CORRECT
Baylor proved they were for real by dismantling Oklahoma last week, but it took the Bears a few minutes to really get going. For a while the Bears actually trailed 5-3. Texas Tech, meanwhile, has hit a rough patch. Personally, I think the Red Raiders are actually about a year ahead of schedule. For that reason, I can’t see them posing any particular threat to Baylor, especially in Waco. Texas Tech has a good offense, run by a particularly potent quarterback. It just won’t be enough this time. Baylor wins.
Final Score: Baylor 51, Texas Tech 31
4 Stanford at USC (8:00pm, ABC)....CORRECT
The latest game on our slate is also the game from which ESPN’s College GameDay will originate. This marks the third time in 2013 that GameDay has ventured to the West Coast. Stanford is coming off an emotional high, having taken down Oregon. Their reward for once again toppling the Ducks? A trip to LA to face the resurgent Men of Troy. USC recently hung 62 on Cal. Now, I know, it’s Cal, but hanging 62 on anyone is impressive. Stanford’s front seven on defense, though, can hang with anybody. I expect a close game (I wouldn’t be surprised if it took overtime), and I think USC can win. So, yeah, I’m calling for yet another upset.
Final Score: USC 24, Stanford 21
The Right Wing Top Ten (RWT10)
Week Six of the Right Wing Top Ten. Big time changes at the top.
In this week: n/a
Out this week: n/a
10. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State gets a tougher tests that previously imagined this week, as Texas has rebounded nicely from losses to Ole Miss and BYU.
9. Auburn Tigers
Auburn thrashed Tennessee and so they hold steady.
8. Oregon Ducks
Oregon once again lost to Stanford. It’s like that goofy tree is kryptonite to the Oregon super Duck.
7. Missouri Tigers
Missouri waltzed over Kentucky. A game at Ole Miss and a visit from Texas A&M stand between them and Atlanta in December.
6. Clemson Tigers
Clemson prepares for Georgia Tech Thursday night in Death Valley.
5. 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. Stanford honestly has a better resume to this point than you, even with the loss to Utah.
4. Stanford Cardinal
Stanford once again took down Oregon, and they get the #4 spot because of it. They’d be higher, but Baylor jumped them. Still first in line of the one-loss teams is a good place to be this time of year.
3. Baylor Bears
This may seem high for Baylor, but they are undefeated and they just dominated Oklahoma. They still have Texas and Oklahoma State on the schedule, though.
2. Florida State Seminoles
A 56-point margin of victory over a Wake Forest team that recently took Miami to the brink solidifies FSU’s hold on Spot #2.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
The Tide rolled over LSU rather easily. All that stands in their way now is the Iron Bowl in Auburn and the SEC Championship Game.
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, which is a sad reflection on our college football culture… So even though I think Baylor should be in, I really think the selection committee would take one-loss Stanford over undefeated Baylor right now.
#1
|
Alabama
|
vs
|
#4
|
Stanford
|
#2
|
Florida State
|
vs
|
#3
|
Ohio State
|
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. The bowls mostly hold steady, especially for the BCS. The lower-tier bowls see some changes, though.
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Texas A&M vs Miami
Admit it, you would like to see this game…we all would. The chance to watch the Flying Johnny Footballs run roughshod over the ‘Canes…bring it on.
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 to pass up.
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 Auburn is in the Sugar, we might as well put LSU here.
Orange Bowl: Clemson (BCS at-large) vs Oregon (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 Oregon. Still, the Ducks vs Tigers would draw a lot of fans.
Rose Bowl: Ohio State (Big Ten Champ) vs Stanford (BCS at-large)
Stanford and Ohio State in the Tradition-Is-The-Only-Thing-
Fiesta Bowl: Central Florida (AAC Champ) vs Baylor (Big XII Champ)
Baylor will play in the Fiesta, as I think they’ll win the Big XII outright. Their opponent is likely to be Central Florida, as the Fiesta is last in line of the at-large picking bowls. Baylor, for all their hopes and dreams, even if they go undefeated, is likely to only go as high as the Fiesta Bowl. Baylor still has dreams of bigger things, and those things could come to pass.
Sugar Bowl: Auburn (BCS at-large) vs Wisconsin (BCS at-large)
Wisconsin is a one-loss team. Don’t let their record fool you. That other loss is the result of shady PAC-12 officiating securing a win for their own conference. This would be a very good game. Unlike last week, I’m now projecting Auburn in the Sugar Bowl instead of Missouri.
BCS National Championship Game: Alabama (BCS #1 / SEC Champ) vs Florida State (BCS #2 / ACC Champ)
Alabama held up their end of the bargain and beat LSU. Oregon fell, so Florida State moves up. The Seminoles offense would love the chance to get their hands on ‘Bama. But, Notre Dame wanted ‘Bama, Texas wanted ‘Bama, several teams have wanted ‘Bama, only to be humbled at season’s end.
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