NCAA Football 2019 Week 14 picks

Tues Nov 26
Western Michigan Broncos at Northern Illinois Huskies : The Broncos need this game to win the division.  The Huskies would love to play spoiler, and they might succeed, but I think the Broncos will keep their eye on the ball and capture the division.  WESTERN MICHIGAN

Thurs Nov 28
Ole Miss Rebels at Mississippi State Bulldogs : Oh how I miss the old days when a great Big Eight rivalry game was played on Thanksgiving night.  I suppose since the NFL has added a Thursday night game, the NCAA figures an SEC rivalry might draw enough fans to watch.  Not me.  Oh, and my pick for this game?  MISSISSIPPI STATE

Fri Nov 29
Virginia Tech Hokies at Virginia Cavaliers : This game determines who gains the dubious honor of going to the ACC Championship Game to be slaughtered by Clemson.  The Cavs have shown steadier play this season, and that will make the difference in a high-intensive rivalry game like this.  VIRGINIA

Toledo Rockets at Central Michigan Chippewas : The Chippewas will know if they have a chance to capture the division.  If, by chance, the Broncos lose on Tuesday, the Chippewas will have enough incentive to win this game.  Truthfully, I think they'll win even without that incentive.  CENTRAL MICHIGAN

#15 Iowa Hawkeyes at Nebraska Cornhuskers : Nebraska can be bowl eligible if they win this game.  Unfortunately they have to face one of the toughest defenses in the conference to get there.  I don't think so.  IOWA

#16 Cincinnati Bearcats at #18 Memphis Tigers : The Bearcats have been coasting the past couple of weeks.  That will not be sufficient to get past the surging Tigers.  Upset time!  MEMPHIS

#20 Boise State Broncos at Colorado State Rams : Easy pick.  BOISE STATE

#21 Appalachian State Mountaineers at Troy Trojans : The Trojans need this win in order to be bowl eligible, but the Mountaineers will make that difficult.  Troy has often been a spoiler at the end of the season, so they might pull off this upset, but I don't think so.  APPALACHIAN STATE

South Florida Bulls at #25 UCF Golden Knights : If the Bulls had the type of defense they usually do, they might slow the intense Golden Knights offense.  This year, no chance.  UCF

Sat Nov 30
Top 25:
#1 Ohio State Buckeyes at #11 Michigan Wolverines :  Yes, Michigan's offense has been greatly improved over the past four games.  But really, this is Ohio State.  They have been the best overall team all season, and no intense rivalry will upend that, especially since Jim Harbaugh hasn't been able to be "that team".  OHIO STATE

Texas A&M Aggies at #2 LSU Tigers : The Aggies have been underachievers for much of this season.  Not a great trait when you are facing the Tigers.  LSU

#3 Clemson Tigers at South Carolina Gamecocks : The battle for South Carolina goes to the forthcoming ACC Champion.  CLEMSON

#4 Alabama Crimson Tide at #17 Auburn Tigers : Ok, the Tide did okay without Tua, but that was a pathetic FCS team.  Now they face Auburn.  Truthfully, I don't think the Tide's neophyte QB is ready for that.  AUBURN in an upset

Colorado Buffaloes at #5 Utah Utes : Utah will clinch a spot in the Pac-12 Championship as they cruise past the rambling Buffaloes.  UTAH

#6 Georgia Bulldogs at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets : The battle of Georgia will be a one-sided affair.  GEORGIA

Rutgers Scarlet Knights at #7 Penn State Nittany Lions : Penn State gets an easy win to close their season.  PENN STATE

#8 Wisconsin Badgers at #13 Minnesota Golden Gophers : This game could be very close.  I expect this to be a tough defensive battle, with the ground game taking precedence.  That gives an advantage to Wisconsin.  WISCONSIN

#9 Oklahoma Sooners at Oklahoma State Cowboys : The Sooners capture the regular season Big XII title with a win over their in-state rival.  OKLAHOMA

#10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Stanford Cardinal : Stanford will miss a bowl game, and they will get smashed by the Irish, who will finish with a double-digit win total for the second year in a row.  NOTRE DAME

Oregon State Beavers at #12 Oregon Ducks : The Ducks want to wash away the sting of last week's loss before playing in the Pac-12 Championship, so they will really give it to their rivals in this game.  OREGON

#14 Baylor Bears at Kansas Jayhawks : The Bears will do what they need to gain a rematch against Oklahoma in next week's Big XII pseudo-Championship Game.  BAYLOR

Florida State Seminoles at #19 Florida Gators : The Battle for Florida should also be fairly one-sided.  FLORIDA

#22 Navy Midshipmen at Houston Cougars : Houston has not been their usual competitive self this season, so Navy should have a strong game.  NAVY

Wyoming Cowboys at #23 Air Force Falcons : This might be the most competitive game that featuring two ranked teams.  Wyoming is a good team, and they will certainly test the Falcons.  I think the cadets will pull it out.  AIR FORCE

Tulane Green Wave at #24 SMU Mustangs : SMU has suffered two consecutive losses, so they are hoping they can stop that slide against Tulane.  They should, although the Green Wave can surprise.  SMU

Big Ten:
Northwestern Wildcats at Illinois Fighting Illini : The Illini are already bowl-bound, but they want a seven-win season.  The Wildcats want to prevent going winless in the conference, but I don't think they'll accomplish that.  ILLINOIS

Indiana Hoosiers at Purdue Boilermakers : Indiana will gain an 8-win season by pulverizing the struggling Boilermakers.  INDIANA

Maryland Terrapins at Michigan State Spartans : The Spartans need a win in order to be bowl-eligible, and I think they will accomplish that.  MICHIGAN STATE

Other Games of Interest:
Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles at Florida Atlantic Owls : A Golden Eagles win would set up a rematch between these two in the Conference USA Championship.  Southern Miss will battle hard, but I think the Owls will pull this one out.  FLORIDA ATLANTIC

UTSA Roadrunners at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs : The Bulldogs will do their part to get to the Conference USA title game, and Florida Atlantic will help.  Now they hope the next game seals the deal.  LOUISIANA TECH

UAB Blazers at North Texas Mean Green : UAB has a shot at the title game if Florida Atlantic does their part.  Even without a shot at the title game, I think UAB will beat them.  UAB

UL Monroe Warhawks at Louisiana Ragin Cajuns : The Cajuns will smash their state rival in preparation for the Sun Belt Championship next week.  LOUISIANA

BYU Cougars at San Diego State Aztecs : The Aztecs should close their season strongly with a win over the inconsistent Cougars.  SAN DIEGO STATE