After a pretty good week of picks last week, I have struggled to find any interesting games this week. Tennessee doesn’t play this week, as they take their annual week off prior to playing Alabama, so that leaves fewer SEC games to pick from. I prefer to list conference games before going to lesser leagues, but I refuse to make a pick in another Georgia game this season — narrowing my choices even more. This week, three of my six are non SEC games but I think these games are all going to be good.
South Carolina at Alabama
Sleepwriter: It’s been a strange week for Spurrier’s warriors, with one staring offensive lineman allegedly leaving the team and the second leading rusher being suspended. Alabama’s defense has made more than one QB struggle this season, and Coach Spurrier is known for pulling QBs under pressure. Look for visors to fly if Garcia struggles. South Carolina is hoping for an upset, which would make this the biggest game in school history but the team that struggled in wins against Kentucky and Ole Miss (granted that was an upset) and lost a shootout against an increasingly bad Georgia team may find their hopes dashed early if Alabama gets over the red zone shyness from last week. Alabama 42 – 17.
TonyOrlando: Homecoming in Tuscaloosa brings a pretty good Gamecock team to town. As late as a week ago, this looked like a pretty good South Carolina team, but it appears those wins were not as quality as first thought. Alabama needs to find the offense it had in earlier weeks (throw to someone besides #8), but should roll. Alabama 27 – 10.
Kentucky at Auburn
Sleepwriter: Auburn was finally exposed last week, and Kentucky will come up with a good game plan for this one. However, the game is at Auburn and Kentucky has given up more than 100 points in the last three games. Granted, those games were all against better teams than Auburn, but Kentucky is already looking forward to basketball. In a close game with a ton of penalties, this one could go either way and I wouldn’t mind missing this one. Auburn 32 -28.
TonyOrlando: Auburn did come back to earth last week, but figures to bounce back against the Wildcats. Don’t tell anyone, but I’m honestly impressed with this coaching staff. It’ll be interesting to see how this team does after a couple years recruiting against Saban. Auburn 30 – 20.
Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech
Sleepwriter: What can you say about this one? Both teams are having pretty good ACC seasons, but VT has played better defense and that will be the winning factor in this one. As any tv announcer with a Master’s degree in the Bleeding Obvious will tell you, the key to victory is preventing the other team from scoring as much as you. So, how much more simple could it be really? Virginia Tech 35 – 32.
TonyOrlando: Virginia Tech has been on a tear since their opening week loss to Alabama, and it’s not inconceivable there’s a rematch down the road. Virginia Tech will try to make a statement today, but you know what? For the heck of it, I’m calling upset. Georgia Tech 30 – 28.
Oklahoma vs Texas
Sleepwriter: A good rivalry game on a neutral field. Oklahoma has had a rough patch this season with their star QB being injured early in the season. Texas is solid, although not as strong as in the last few seasons. However, since I now predict a potential UA – UT BCS title match, I have to go with the orange cows in this one. Texas 28 – 20.
TonyOrlando: It’s a shootout, not a rivalry. I hate political correctness. Anyway, Texas looks very good this year, Oklahoma has struggled but has their Heisman-winning QB back, and this oughta be a good one to watch. Texas 32 – 24.
Arkansas at Florida
Sleepwriter: Could this be the week that Florida tumbles? Maybe. The Arkansas QB has proven to be the real deal this season, but this is the SEC and Petrino has to learn to play defense AND offense. So far, both teams have shown a few flaws but Florida has played better “D” this season. Arkansas has stepped up in the last few weeks, but can they pull two big upsets back to back? Florida 42 – 38.
TonyOrlando: Arkansas has absolutely no defense. Florida has the best defense I’ve seen this year other than Alabama’s. Arkansas has a very good quarterback. Florida has Tim Tebow. In the Swamp. I think the jury is still out whether Tebow has recovered fully, but he’ll do whatever it takes to beat the Hawgs. Florida 24 – 10.
USC at Notre Dame
Sleepwriter: The media hype on this one will be overwhelming, but the game should prove to be fairly low scoring. Notre Dame was Lou Holtz’ favorite for the BCS this season, but that is not going to happen as we saw early. USC is always the media darlings but they are only slightly more exciting than sitting through a 2 – 2 tie in pro soccer. Although they are favored, I am reversing my position on this game and picking an upset in a low scoring old school war. Notre Dame 17 – 13.
TonyOrlando: Wow, upset, huh? Not so fast my friend: Jimmy Clausen is a good quarterback, but Charlie Weiss is a buffoon, while Pete Carroll is the best college coach of the last decade. This is a reloading year for USC, but they head into South Bend and put on a show for the Irish fans, and continue to work their way back into the national title conversation. USC 28 – 17.