NCAA Football 2018 Week 10 picks

It's a relatively easy week to pick, with few games where I think either team has an equal shot.  This late in the season, that concerns me.

Tues Oct 30
Miami Ohio Redhawks at Buffalo Bulls:  The Bulls are red hot in the MAC, and they should burn the wings off the RedHawks.  That will leave just Ohio as a threat to their division title hopes.  BUFFALO

Thurs Nov 1
Temple Owls at #5 UCF Golden Knights:  The Knights have the longest winning streak in the nation, as they haven't lost since 2016.  That streak will continue here.  UCF

Fri Nov 2
Pittsburgh Panthers at Virginia Cavaliers:  If the Cavs take care of Pitt, then their only real competition for the division is in-state rival Virginia Tech.  Pitt can be tricky, and may give the Cavs some problems, but Virginia should pull this one out.  VIRGINIA

Colorado Buffaloes at Arizona Wildcats:  After a slow start, Arizona has picked up steam recently.  This game will test whether their rebirth is valid, or just because they faced weaker opposition.  Colorado is no longer a conference title contender, but they still have a fearsome team.  COLORADO

Sat Nov 3
Top 25
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide at #9 LSU Tigers:  Alabama will get to clinch their division with this win.  The Tide is playing strongly; really, the only Power Five team to have been consistently powerful for every game this season.  Could this be the game where they show cracks?  I suppose it has to happen to everyone once, but I don't think this will be the game for the Tide.  ALABAMA

Louisville Cardinals at #2 Clemson Tigers:  The best team in the ACC against the worst team in the ACC?  No problem picking this one.  CLEMSON

#3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Northwestern Wildcats:  The Wildcats have been winning Big Ten games, but they have not been consistent enough for my tastes.  Further, I don't think they have the tools to beat the strong team the Irish has this year.  NOTRE DAME

#10 Penn State Nittany Lions at #4 Michigan Wolverines:  The Wolverines have honed their team into a serious powerhouse.  Penn State has never fully recovered from their loss to Ohio State, although holding off Iowa last week showed signs of the old Lions.  Still, they don't move as quickly as they did against the Buckeyes, and that speed will be needed against Michigan.  MICHIGAN

#6 Oklahoma Sooners at Texas Tech Red Raiders:  Texas Tech is doing okay, but they haven't really been tested.  They lost to West Virginia, and are yet to face the other tough teams in the conference.  That stretch begins now, and it won't end well for them.  Oklahoma has all of the tools, and their quick and strong offense will overwhelm the Raiders defense.  OKLAHOMA

#7 Georgia Bulldogs at #20 Kentucky Wildcats:  Georgia will also clinch their division with a win, as they have only one more SEC game after this.  Kentucky has had a brilliant season, but I don't think that season will conclude with a chance to play in the SEC Championship.  Could the Wildcats pull off the upset?  Perhaps, but given their recent close games, I doubt it.  GEORGIA

Nebraska Cornhuskers at #8 Ohio State Buckeyes:  So Nebraska has a conference win in their belt.  They should enjoy that, as it is likely their last one.  OHIO STATE

#11 West Virginia Mountaineers at #19 Texas Longhorns:  Here's a possible upset.  While the Mountaineers defense makes them a good candidate to beat Texas, the Longhorns have been an unbeaten force at home this season.  Could their crowd give them an extra boost?  Perhaps, but I still like the rare defensive force in the Big XII (who rarely faces a tough defense) to engineer the victory.  WEST VIRGINIA

Cal Golden Bears at #12 Washington State Cougars:  The Cougars continue their quest for the Pac-12 Championship, and Cal is not that difficult an obstacle.  WASHINGTON STATE

#13 Iowa Hawkeyes at Purdue Boilermakers:  This game is crucial for both teams.  The loser is definitely out of the division race.  Purdue has been impressive recently, and their offense can surprise.  Iowa has the better defense, but can they move the ball enough to overcome Purdue?  This will be a close game, but I'll give a slight edge to the better defense.  IOWA

#14 Fresno State Bulldogs at UNLV Running Rebels:  UNLV is the worst team in the Mountain West.  No contest here.  FRESNO STATE

#15 Utah State Aggies at Hawaii Rainbow Warriors:  The Warriors are a tough force at home, but the Aggies have been an offensive behemoth this season.  They should overwhelm the Warriors.  UTAH STATE

Missouri Tigers at #16 Florida Gators:  Florida has lost a bid at the division title, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous.  The Gators have progressed much better under new coach Dan Mullen, and they are showing things that many SEC teams have not seen.  The last Florida coach to do that?  Urban Meyer.  FLORIDA

#17 Syracuse Orange at Wake Forest Demon Deacons:  Wake started the season well, but they have faded in conference play.  Syracuse should continue their march in the ACC with a win here.  SYRACUSE

Navy Midshipmen at #18 Cincinnati Bearcats:  Navy needs to win out to prevent a losing record.  They won't be able to do so, because they won't even leave Cincinnati with a win.  CINCINNATI

#21 Houston Cougars at SMU Mustangs:  Houston continues their unbeaten conference record by pummeling SMU.  They won't clinch their division here, but they will make it really hard for Tulane to get it.  HOUSTON

UTSA Roadrunners at #22 UAB Blazers:  Wiley Coyote could never catch the road runner, but the Blazers should have no trouble stopping these Roadrunners.  UAB

#23 Boston College Eagles at Virginia Tech Hokies:  This is where BC's road to the ACC Championship really begins.  They beat Miami last week but lost to NC State a few weeks ago.  They now face conference contenders Virginia Tech, Clemson, and Syracuse in the next four weeks.  This is a tough stretch.  The Eagles have a good defense, which has been a problem for the Hokies.  The Hokies also have a good defense, but BC has a better offense.  BOSTON COLLEGE

BYU Cougars at #24 Boise State Broncos:  Boise State knows they are chasing Utah State, and that every win counts, even against a non-conference opponent.  It can be hard for teams to play on the blue turf at Boise, and BYU has been away from this conference too long.  The speed and strength of the Mountain West will overwhelm the more passive Cougars.  BOISE STATE

#25 Utah Utes at Arizona State Sun Devils:  The North division has the exciting teams this season, but Utah is the one bright spot in the South.  Herm Edwards has done some great things for Arizona State, but I think they are still a season away from being a division contender.  UTAH

Big Ten
Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Wisconsin Badgers:  Wisconsin gets back to their winning ways by slaughtering pathetic Rutgers.  WISCONSIN

Michigan State Spartans at Maryland Terrapins:  Did I say at the beginning of this column that I didn't see many upsets?  Not many, but this is one.  Maryland's offense is rolling again, and the Spartans defense is missing the spark it has had over the past few seasons.  MARYLAND

Minnesota Golden Gophers at Illinois Fighting Illini:  I think I have to wait for the Nebraska game to see my Illini win again.  MINNESOTA

Other Games of Interest
Air Force Falcons at Army Black Knights:  Army wins the Commander-in-Chief trophy with a beatdown on the downtrodden Falcons.  ARMY

Georgia Southern Eagles at UL Monroe:  I do not think the Eagles will suffer from a post-Mountaineers letdown against struggling UL Monroe.  GEORGIA SOUTHERN

Appalachian State Mountaineers at Coastal Carolina Chanticleers:  And the Mountaineers get back to their winning ways by demolishing Coastal Carolina.  APPALACHIAN STATE

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Mississippi State Bulldogs:  Battle of the Bulldogs goes to the home team.  MISSISSIPPI STATE