NCAA Week 12 picks

This is a vital week for many teams chasing conference and division titles.  There were plenty of candidates for Game of the Week -- I picked one that could be exciting.

Tues Nov 16
Ohio Bobcats at #22 Temple Owls:  Temple's remaining games are crucial.  They win them, they win the division.  Ohio has had flashes of brilliance this season, but Temple has been more consistent.  The Owls should also benefit from last week's bye.  TEMPLE

Wed Nov 17
Miami Ohio Redhawks at Akron Zips:  Miami Ohio is chasing Ohio and Temple for the title.  They could still gain the division title even if they lose, so long as they beat Temple next week.  Still, I don't think they'll want the Zips to upset them.  MIAMI OHIO

Thurs Nov 18
Georgia State Panthers at #13 Alabama Crimson Tide:  Easy victory before Alabama faces Auburn.  ALABAMA

UCLA Bruins at Washington Huskies:  I think everyone would agree that Jake Locker has not been the commanding quarterback and Heisman frontrunner he was touted as during the preseason.  However, he still has some life left, and I think the Huskies will give the Bruins everything they can handle.  For my first upset of the week, I pick  WASHINGTON

Air Force Falcons at UNLV Running Rebels:  The Mountain West title is unattainable, but a good bowl game is still within the Falcons' grasp.  UNLV has power, but the Falcons have more.  AIR FORCE

Fri Nov 19
Fresno State Bulldogs at #1 Boise State Broncos:  This is the only challenge remaining for Boise State until their bowl game.  Boise should still be able to succeed.  BOISE STATE

Top 25
#5 Ohio State Buckeyes at #19 Iowa Hawkeyes:  Iowa should be good and pissed after last week's loss, and they'll want to take that out on their next opponent.  They should start strong, and establish a lead against Ohio State, but I think the Buckeyes defense will turn things around in the second half.  OHIO STATE

#6 Stanford Cardinal at California Golden Bears:  Stanford has quietly become one of the best one-loss teams in the country.  While Andrew Luck is leading the offense well, Stanford's success has largely been due to their defense.  A Pac-10 team with a defense?  That's why they're so good.  STANFORD

#7 Oklahoma State Cowboys at Kansas Jayhawks:  The Cowboys want to enter their rivalry game against Oklahoma with a win.  That should happen.  OKLAHOMA STATE

#8 Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan Wolverines:  Wisconsin scored the third-most points in team history last week.  I don't expect another offensive explosion like that, but it's nice to know they can do it.  Michigan stretched Illinois' defense into four overtimes.  They will push Wisconsin, too.  This game may be decided by a field goal.  WISCONSIN

#9 Nebraska Cornhuskers at #20 Texas A&M Aggies:  The Cornhuskers can reserve their spot in the conference title game with a win over the Aggies.  The Aggies started the season slowly, but they've been tough recently.  They won't make it easy for Nebraska, but the Huskers should be able to punch their title game ticket.  NEBRASKA

Ole Miss Rebels at #10 LSU Tigers:  The Tigers are out of the SEC Championship Game race, but an at-large bid for a BCS bowl is possible.  They need to have more outstanding victories, though, so look for them to spank Miss.  LSU

New Mexico State Aggies at #11 Nevada Wolf Pack:  Nevada knows the only shot at the WAC title is to win out, so they'll roll over New Mexico State.  NEVADA

Purdue Boilermakers at #12 Michigan State Spartans:  The Spartans had a bye week and are battling for a rare conference title.  Watch out, Purdue, this will be a long game!  MICHIGAN STATE

#14 Oklahoma Sooners at Baylor Bears:  Baylor would love to jump back into the Top 25, but Oklahoma is preparing for the shoot-out against Okie State next week.  The Bears will be the targets, and will end up looking like a bearskin rug by the end of the game.  OKLAHOMA

#15 Virginia Tech Hokies at Miami Hurricanes:  Tech wins, and they win the Coastal division.  They haven't lost in the conference yet, and I don't think they will now.  VIRGINIA TECH

#16 Arkansas Razorbacks at Mississippi State Bulldogs:  The Bulldogs lost last week, so they're fighting mad.  Ryan Mallet and company are walking into a dangerous situation.  I think they'll prevail, but don't be surprised to see Mississippi State pull off the upset.  ARKANSAS

#17 Missouri Tigers at Iowa State Cyclones:  Missouri is all but out of BCS bowl contention, but they won't give up.  They expected better of themselves this season, so they want to end strongly to redeem themelves.  The Cyclones are good, but Missouri is determined.  MISSOURI

#18 Utah Utes at San Diego State Aztecs:  Could Utah lose three games in a row?  The Aztecs are feisty, but the Utes are desperate to stop this slide.  Utah should prevail, but if the cause of their decline isn't found, they could lose yet again.  UTAH

#21 Northern Illinois Huskies at Ball State Broncos:  This win will put Northern Illinois into the conference title game.  They should get it.  NORTHERN ILLINOIS

#24 NC State Wolfpack at North Carolina Tar Heels:  NC State is trying to keep pace with Florida State for the Atlantic division title.  Add in the in-state rivalry, and this will be a brutal game.  NC STATE

Troy Trojans at #25 South Carolina Gamecocks:  The Gamecocks have a nice leisurely game to warm up for the SEC Championship Game.  SOUTH CAROLINA

Big Ten
Penn State Nittany Lions at Indiana Hoosiers:  Indiana found some life last week, but so did many of the conference bottom dwellers.  Somehow I don't think they can do it again.  Penn State, on the other hand, is getting some play from their young players.  PENN STATE

Illinois Fighting Illini at Northwestern Wildcats:  I was hoping Illinois wouldn't need to beat Northwestern to stay on track for bowl eligibility, but that's how it is.  While the Illini are capable of the upset, their defense has been vacant the past two weeks.  If they don't get back on track, they don't stand a chance.  NORTHWESTERN

Game of the Week:  #23 Florida State Seminoles at Maryland Terrapins:  The Terrapins have a chance to play for the conference title, but they have to beat both Florida State and NC State to get there.  Maryland will fight hard for the chance to play for their first ACC title since the expansion, but I think the Seminoles are just a little bit better.  FLORIDA STATE

Other Games of Interest
West Virginia Mountaineers at Louisville Cardinals:  West Virginia still has an outside chance for the conference title, so they'll fight hard.  It should be hard enough to succeed.  WEST VIRGINIA

UTEP Miners at Tulsa Golden Hurricane:  Tulsa wants to continue winning to keep SMU off their back.  This should be one.  TULSA

Houston Cougars at Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles:  Southern Miss needs help to win the division.  They know they can't slip up by having another loss.  Houston is a tough customer, though, and could make it difficult.  I'll pick the home team, but this one could really go either way.  SOUTHERN MISS

USC Trojans at Oregon State Beavers:  USC wants to win as many games as they can, since they don't have postseason possibilities.  The Beavers can be tough, but USC is determined.  USC

San Jose State Spartans at Hawaii Warriors:  The Warriors need to win every game to have even a remote chance to win the conference.  If they don't, they still have their own bowl game.  HAWAII