NCAA Week 10 picks

Whew!  I can tell the season is wearing down, and my enthusiasm is starting to transform into the mundane routine that these posts can become.  Ah well, commitment is never easy.

Tues Nov 3rd
Bowling Green Falcons at Buffalo Bulls:  Both teams started the season hopeful for a bowl game, but that seems unlikely now.  Both teams are mired at 3-5, and a loss here will pretty much sink their bowl chances.  Bowling Green is more used to these situations, but I actually like the Bulls' chances.  They've been good at home, losing only to ranked opponents Pittsburgh and Central Michigan.  I'm going to give Buffalo a boost, although this should be a tough and hard-fought match.  BUFFALO

Thurs Nov 5th
#24 Virginia Tech Hokies at East Carolina Pirates:  The Hokies are finding their Top 25 existence tenuous.  The Pirates' defense might give them some problems, as their offense has sputtered on occassion, but the Hokies defense and special teams will more than make up for it.  VIRGINIA TECH

Miami Ohio Redhawks at Temple Owls:  Temple is already bowl eligible and leads the MAC East.  Miami Ohio has been pitiful, and seeking their first conference win.  Keep looking, boys.  TEMPLE

Friday Nov 6th
#4 Boise State Broncos at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs:  The Broncos should keep on rolling, as La Tech's victories have come against FCS Nicholls State, hapless New Mexico State, and a struggling Hawaii team.  BOISE STATE

Top 25
#10 LSU Tigers at #1 Alabama Crimson Tide:  A runner-up for Game of the Week, this battle will determine if Alabama can go unbeaten to the SEC Championship Game, as their remaining games are fairly easy.  If Alabama wins, they clinch the SEC West.  If LSU wins, they knock Alabama off the top spot, which they have enjoyed since the start of the season, and place themselves in contention to slide into the SEC Championship Game.  This will be a defensive battle, but I give Alabama the edge.  They have played a bit more consistently than LSU, and their defense has been a bit tougher.  ALABAMA

Central Florida Golden Knights at #2 Texas Longhorns:  Texas gets a non-conference break in the middle of tough Big XII games as the Knights are looking to become bowl eligible.  That won't happen this game.  TEXAS

Vanderbilt Commodores at #3 Florida Gators:  It's been a while since the top three teams all had home games on the same day.  Nice bit of scheduling, that.  Florida shouldn't have any problem against the Commodores.  FLORIDA

UConn Huskies at #5 Cincinnati Bearcats:  The Bearcats hope to continue their best season in school history by beating UConn and maintaining their lead over Pittsburgh.  The Bearcats should achieve that.  CINCY

Northwestern Wildcats at #6 Iowa Hawkeyes:  Northwestern gave Penn State a scare last year, but Iowa scared them more earlier this season.  Iowa shouldn't need to come back in the fourth quarter in this one.  IOWA

#7 Oregon Ducks at Stanford Cardinal:  Stanford is capable of surprising, and Oregon may experience a letdown after their tremendous victory over USC.  The Ducks are determined to erase the memory of their disappointing opener, though, so if they trail at halftime, they'll come back stronger in the second half.  OREGON

#9 TCU Horned Frogs at San Diego State Aztecs:  TCU continues to march through the Mountain West as they push the troubled Aztecs under .500.  TCU

Syracuse Orangemen at #11 Pitt Panthers:  You have to pity 'Cuse.  They were pummelled by Cincy last week, and now have to travel to Pitt.  Tough schedule, and they'll have a rough time.  Pitt is chasing Cincy, and they know they can't let up, no matter who the opponent is.  PITT

New Mexico Lobos at #12 Utah Utes:  The Lobos are looking for their first win of the season.  Keep looking, guys, as Utah needs this victory to remain unbeaten in the conference and compete with TCU for the title.  UTAH

Wake Forest Demon Deacons at #14 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets:  Wake Forest can be tough, but nobody is tougher in the ACC this season than Georgia Tech.  Their defense has been potent, and the offense is finding its rhythm.  GEORGIA TECH

#15 Oklahoma State Cowboys at Iowa State Cyclones:  Oklahoma State needs to redeem themselves after their utter disaster against Texas.  This will be a good start, although losing WR Dez Bryant for the rest of the season won't help their offense.  OKLAHOMA STATE

#16 USC Trojans at Arizona State Sun Devils:  The Trojans haven't lost two in a row in years, but the Sun Devils would love to end that streak.  They can surprise, and their offense is capable of a good game, but I think the Trojans will be determined to get back to the win column.  Still, this one might be closer than Pete Carroll would like.  USC

#18 Houston Cougars at Tulsa Golden Hurricane:  Tulsa has collapsed recently, but if they get their act together, they can threaten the Cougars.  HOUSTON

#19 BYU Cougars at Wyoming Cowboys:  BYU is a game and a half behind TCU, but they still see the conference title in their grasp.  They won't let up.  BYU

Navy Midshipmen at #20 Notre Dame Fighting Irish:  The Irish still have some consistency issues to work out, but Jimmy Clausen is looking much better than this time last year.  NOTRE DAME

#22 Oklahoma Sooners at Nebraska Cornhuskers:  this one can be a barnburner, despite their respective records.  Neither are having terrible seasons, and the Nebraska offense is working great.  With Sam Bradford out, the Cornhuskers see an opening.  I'm going for the upset here, and picking NEBRASKA.

Louisville Cardinals at #23 West Virginia Mountaineers:  The Mountaineers see the Big East title slipping away with each Cincinnati victory, but they know they still have to face the Bearcats, so they want to remain close.  WEST VIRGINIA

Oregon State Beavers at #25 California Golden Bears:  The Beavers can run the ball, but their passing game has lost some zip.  The Bears are looking good, despite less than stellar performances from former Heismann candidate Jahvid Best.  I think Cal will pull this one out, although it might be tough.  CAL

Big Ten
Wisconsin Badgers at Indiana Hoosiers:  Wisconsin is rolling again, and they feel capable of challenging the top three in the conference.  They'll need a good performance here to do it.  WISCONSIN

Purdue Boilermakers at Michigan Wolverines:  The Wolverines season has tanked ever since they lost to in-state rival Michigan State.  Their only victory in that five-game stretch was to FCS Delaware State.  They were blown away by Illinois, and I think Purdue will be able to put up similar offensive numbers.  PURDUE

Western Michigan Broncos at Michigan State Spartans:  Sparty has no chance for the Big Ten title, but they know a victory here makes them bowl eligible, so they'll fight for this win.  The MAC has done a good job against the Big Ten this season, but they won't chalk up this one.  MICHIGAN STATE

Illinois Fighting Illini at Minnesota Golden Gophers:  The Gophers are a strong team, despite big losses to Penn State and Ohio State.  Illinois may have found their offense again after last week's amazing performance against Michigan, but I'll need more than one successful week before I'll believe that.  MINNESOTA

Game of the Week:  #13 Ohio State Buckeyes at #8 Penn State Nittany Lions:  Ohio State has posted three shutouts this season, won all of their games since Navy by large margins, and their two losses were by a total of 12 points.  Penn State has only one shutout, but held opponents to less than ten points five times and blown away all opponents except Iowa.  It has helped that they had a home-heavy schedule this season.  I like Penn State's chances here, especially since their offense has been better this season, but if Terrell Pryor can get it together for this game, Ohio State could pull off the upset.  PENN STATE

Other Games of Interest
Florida State Seminoles at Clemson Tigers:  Bobby Bowden is still refusing to step down, but a loss to Clemson would give the Seminoles a 2-4 conference record and risk another losing season.  They'll fight to prevent that, but Clemson has some power.  CLEMSON

Virginia Cavaliers at Miami Hurricanes:  On the other hand, Virginia's offense lacks power, and the Miami defense will rule this game.  MIAMI