NCAA Week 12 picks

Tues Nov 14
#23 Ohio Bobcats at Akron Zips:  The Bobcats can clinch their division with a win here.  Akron is a good team, though, so it won't be easy for them.  I think Ohio will end up the winner, but it will be close.  OHIO

Wed Nov 15
Western Michigan Broncos at Northern Illinois Huskies:  A win keeps the Huskies in pace with Toledo, and they should get that victory.  The Huskies own the toughest defense in the conference, and that will slow down the Broncos offense.  NORTHERN ILLINOIS

Toledo Rockets at Bowling Green Falcons:  The Rockets have an easy game to make up for their upset loss to Ohio last week.  TOLEDO

Thurs Nov 16
Tulsa Golden Hurricane at #16 South Florida Bulls:  Tulsa is the worst team in the American Athletic, so South Florida should have no problem keeping pace with UCF.  SOUTH FLORIDA

Fri Nov 17
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers:  The victor gains a sixth win to make them bowl eligible.  The Hilltoppers certainly have the offense to help make that possible.  WESTERN KENTUCKY

Sat Nov 18
Mercer (FCS) at #1 Alabama Crimson Tide:  No sweat.  ALABAMA

#14 Michigan Wolverines at #2 Wisconsin Badgers:  Two strong defenses face off in this game.  Michigan's offense has improved since Brandon Peters took over signal calling duties, but he can be easily flustered by a good defense.  That defines Wisconsin.  WISCONSIN

The Citadel (FCS) at #3 Clemson Tigers:  Another ranked team facing an easy FCS opponent.  CLEMSON

#4 Oklahoma Sooners at Kansas Jayhawks:  Oklahoma gets an easy game, too.  OKLAHOMA

#5 UCF Golden Knights at Temple Owls:  The Knights have the best offense and the second-best defense in the conference.  Temple has been playing well, but UCF will overpower them.  UCF

Illinois Fighting Illini at #6 Ohio State Buckeyes:  I remember when Illinois used to give Ohio State fits.  That seems a long time ago.  OHIO STATE

Nebraska Cornhuskers at #7 Penn State Nittany Lions:  Wisconsin has one of the best defenses in the conference (and the best scoring defense), but Penn State isn't far behind.  Nebraska has talent, but they get confused easily, and Penn State's D will capitalize on that confusion.  PENN STATE

Louisiana Monroe Indians at #8 Auburn Tigers:  Auburn gets an easy opponent, too.  AUBURN

Virginia Cavaliers at #9 Miami Hurricanes:  Miami doesn't get an easy opponent this week (although they might have thought so when they scheduled Virginia), but they should emerge with a win.  MIAMI

Kentucky Wildcats at #10 Georgia Bulldogs:  Kentucky has played well, but it is beyond them to hand Georgia their second loss of the season.  GEORGIA

Utah Utes at #11 Washington Huskies:  The Huskies have the best defense (by far!) in the conference, and their offense isn't bad, either.  WASHINGTON

Kansas State Wildcats at #12 Oklahoma State Cowboys:  The Cowboys may not have playoff hopes, but they want to finish out their season with wins and propel to a New Year's Day bowl.  That seems possible.  OKLAHOMA STATE

Navy Midshipmen at #13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish:  The Irish face the most brutal ground game in the league.  That could exhaust their defense, but the Irish offense should be good enough to keep them in the game.  NOTRE DAME

#15 TCU Horned Frogs at Texas Tech Red Raiders:  Oklahoma may have eliminated TCU's playoff hopes, but TCU still wants a shot at the pseudo-Big XII Championship Game.  That chance will continue with a win here.  TCU

UCLA Bruins at #17 USC Trojans:  The intense rivalry occurs a week early, but that won't prove lucky for the Bruins.  The Trojans should emerge fairly easily from this game.  USC

Cal Golden Bears at #19 Stanford Cardinal: Stanford has a chance to win the Pac-12 North, and this final Pac-12 game is crucial.  STANFORD

#21 Mississippi State Bulldogs at Arkansas Razorbacks:  Arkansas is struggling in SEC play this season, while the Bulldogs look strong.  MISSISSIPPI STATE

SMU Mustangs at #22 Memphis Tigers:  Both teams have strong defenses, but the Tigers offense makes the difference.  MEMPHIS

#24 Arizona Wildcats at Oregon Ducks:  The Wildcats find themselves in a position that the Ducks have frequently been in themselves -- the best offense in the conference.  In fact, Arizona has the best offense by a long margin.  ARIZONA

Texas Longhorns at #25 West Virginia Mountaineers:  It's the Mountaineers offense against the Longhorns defense.  Defenses normally win in those bouts, but the young Texas team won't be able to stand up to the Mountaineers.  WEST VIRGINIA

Big Ten
Minnesota Golden Gophers at Northwestern Wildcats:  Northwestern has a five-game winning streak.   Minnesota's defense may make it hard to reach number six, but I think they can achieve it.  NORTHWESTERN

Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Indiana Hoosiers:  Indiana's offense should overwhelm the Knights, allowing them to gain their second conference win in a row.  INDIANA

Purdue Boilermakers at Iowa Hawkeyes:  Wisconsin's defense shut down Iowa, but Purdue's defense isn't as good.  IOWA

Maryland Terrapins at Michigan State Spartans:  The Spartans need to bounce back from their horrendous loss to Ohio State, and Maryland should be an excellent balm.  MICHIGAN STATE

Plus...  Fresno State Bulldogs at Wyoming Cowboys:  Fresno State has quietly taken the lead in the Mountain West West division, and this win would seal it.  FRESNO STATE