Record
|
||
Week 1
|
8-2
|
|
Week 2
|
5-0
|
|
Week 3
|
2-3
|
|
Week 4
|
4-1
|
|
Week 5
|
2-3
|
|
Week 6
|
2-8
|
|
Week 7
|
4-1
|
|
Week 8
|
3-2
|
|
Week 9
|
2-3
|
|
Week 10
|
2-3
|
|
Week 11
|
4-6
|
|
Week 12
|
3-2
|
|
Week 13
|
3-2
|
|
Total
|
44-36
|
0.550
|
This has been, without doubt, the worst season I’ve had picking these
games, but I feel pretty good, seeing as I’ve done more in terms of writing and
breakdown. My preferred team, Georgia, has been on a rollercoaster this year,
fighting through injury and just plain bad losses. But we’re drawing to a close
this season. The conference championship games are fast approaching. Should be
fun…
The Games:
12 Kansas State at West Virginia
(Thursday, 7:00pm, ESPN)
I don’t know how they did it, but it seems like every ranked Big XII
team has had to go on the road to play West Virginia. The Mountaineers have
already taken down Baylor and took TCU to the limit. A Thursday night trip
doesn’t necessarily bode well for the Wildcats. I’m looking for a close game
from start to finish, but I think the Wildcats fall just short thanks to a last
field goal. Mountaineers win.
Final Score: West Virginia 27,
Kansas State 24
INCORRECT: Kansas State won 26-20
INCORRECT: Kansas State won 26-20
Charleston Southern at 10 Georgia
(Saturday, Noon, SEC Network)
Georgia was pumped to get RB Todd Gurley back against Auburn. It led to
the Dawgs crushing their bitter rivals 34-7. But, in sadly ironic fashion,
Gurley blew out his ACL, likely ending his UGA career. Still, the Dawgs have
games to play. RB Nick Chubb will look to lead the charge against FCS foe
Charleston Southern Saturday. The Buccaneers have played well against FBS
opponents, suffering a one-point loss to Vanderbilt earlier this season
(Georgia defeated Vanderbilt 44-17). Charleston Southern is 8-3 on the year and
this is their last game. Georgia still has in-state rival Georgia Tech. Look
for the starters to get lots of rest in this game. It should be well in hand by
halftime. Dawgs roll.
Final Score: Georgia 56,
Charleston Southern 14
CORRECT: Georgia won 55-9
CORRECT: Georgia won 55-9
8 Ole Miss at Arkansas (Saturday,
3:30pm, CBS)
Arkansas finally notched a conference win, as I called it, in shutting
out LSU 17-0. Ole Miss is coming off a bye week. The Rebels still have a lot to
play for and Arkansas is primed to play spoiler for several teams. The
Razorbacks could ruin Ole Miss’s season, thereby hurting the resumes of the
other SEC West teams. The Hogs could also knock out Missouri, handing the SEC
East to Georgia. Arkansas is playing loose now, getting that monkey off their
back last week. I like the Hogs in a close game here.
Final Score: Arkansas 24, Ole
Miss 21
CORRECT: Arkansas won 30-0
CORRECT: Arkansas won 30-0
24 Louisville at Notre Dame (Saturday,
3:30pm, NBC)
This game could well adversely affect Florida State. See, the Seminoles
strength of schedule is lagging a bit behind Alabama, Oregon, TCU, Mississippi
State, and Baylor. FSU has beaten both teams in this game, but if Notre Dame
wins then it’s likely both teams are out of the Top 25, which hurts the resume
of FSU. That said, I like Louisville here for some reason. Yes, they’re going
it without their top player, but Georgia did that for four weeks and still won
3 out of 4. Surely Louisville can pull it off against a reeling Notre Dame. Cardinals
win a close one.
Final Score: Louisville 26,
Notre Dame 21
CORRECT: Louisville won 31-28
CORRECT: Louisville won 31-28
15 Arizona at 17 Utah (Saturday,
3:30pm, ESPN)
The PAC-12 South battle rages on. Oregon has already clinched the
North, and they await an opponent for the PAC-12 Championship game. Arizona
rocketed up the ranking by defeating Oregon, but they need help to reach Santa
Clara. A definitive win over the Utes would help them, but it may not be
enough, as UCLA controls their own destiny. Winning out puts the Bruins in the
title game, regardless what Arizona does. But I don’t think Arizona leaves Utah
with a win. The Utes are a good team that no one is talking about. Utes win.
Final Score: Utah 31, Arizona 24
INCORRECT: Arizona won 42-10
INCORRECT: Arizona won 42-10
The Right Wing Top Ten
The Associated Press Poll and the Amway Coaches Poll both feature a
Preseason version. I even posted a “Preseason Top Ten,” or something to that
effect, a while back. I never intended to use that poll as a basis for the
Right Wing Top Ten, though.
15. Arizona State Sun Devils (last
week: 7)
14. Arizona Wildcats (last
week: NR)
13. Wisconsin Badgers (last
week: NR)
12. UCLA Bruins (last week: 15)
11. Kansas State Wildcats (last
week: 14)
10. Marshall Thundering Herd (last
week: 13)
Why: This is probably all
the love Marshall is going to get. Their schedule simply is too weak. Minnesota
lost last week and remained ranked ahead of the undefeated Herd.
9. Ole Miss Rebels (last
week: 11)
Why: A weak off gives the
Rebels much needed rest.
8. Georgia Bulldogs (last
week: 12)
Why: Someone help me figure
out my Dawgs...they lose by 18 to Florida (whose coach just resigned) and then
beat a 9th-ranked Auburn team by 27. I don’t know…
7. Ohio State Buckeyes (last
week: 8)
Why: Why does Ohio State
keep winning? It’s likely the Buckeyes face Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship
Game.
6. Mississippi State Bulldogs (last
week: 1)
Why: I watched Mississippi
State lose Alabama. It was not as close as the final score indicated. Therefore
the Bulldogs fall out of the top four.
5. TCU Horned Frogs (last
week: 5)
Why: TCU remains on the
outside looking in of my top four...
4. Baylor Bears (last week: 6)
Why: I know most polls have
TCU ahead of Baylor. I happen to place some emphasis on the head-to-head win
Baylor has over the Frogs..
3. Oregon Ducks (last week: 4)
Why: Oregon is a
playoff-bound team, assuming they survive the Civil War and the PAC-12 title
game.
2. Florida State Seminoles (last
week: 2)
Why: The only reason I have
FSU ahead of Oregon is that pesky 0 in the loss column.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (last
week: 3)
Why: Ric Flair always said “to
be the man, you gotta beat the man.” Well, Alabama beat the man last weekend,
so they become the man this week.
Bowl Projections
It’s the time of year again. Time to unveil some bowl projections. These
projections have nothing to do with my previously listed Top Ten.
Sugar Bowl (playoff semifinal):
Florida State vs Oregon
Rose Bowl (playoff semifinal):
Alabama vs TCU
I’ve changed up the order for the playoff, because I actually think the
committee will avoid putting in two teams from one conference.
Cotton Bowl (group of five):
Mississippi State vs Baylor
Orange Bowl (group of five):
Clemson vs Michigan State
Peach Bowl (group of five): Georgia
vs Marshall
Fiesta Bowl (group of five):
Ohio State vs Arizona State
Citrus Bowl (ACC/B1G vs SEC):
Georgia Tech vs Missouri
Outback Bowl (B1G vs SEC): Nebraska
vs Ole Miss
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