Monday, November 27, 2006

Week 14 Rundown

THURSDAY
7:30 PM

MAC CHAMPIONSHIP:
Central Michigan (8-4) vs. Ohio (9-3)
Ohio keeps getting breaks, CMU seems more legit. If Brian Kelly had gotten the ISU job, I'd be more worried here, but I think the Chippewas and their coaching staff will be focused.
My Pick: Central Michigan
Confidence (out of 5): 2


FRIDAY
8:00 PM

C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP:
Southern Miss (8-4) @ Houston (9-3)
An intriguing matchup, as both teams are playing well, with USM dominating on defense and Houston's high-powered offense humming along. Normally I'd take the defense, and USM did beat Houston at home earlier in the year, but I just love Kevin Kolb, and this game ain't in Hattiesburg.
My Pick: Houston
Confidence: 1


SATURDAY
12:00 PM

Connecticut (4-7) @ #6 Louisville (10-1)
Well, I suppose there's suspense about if UConn fires Edsall if we lose this game. I have no insight into that, though.
My Pick: Louisville
Confidence: 4


1:00 PM

ACC CHAMPIONSHIP:
#19 Wake Forest (10-2) vs. #24 Georgia Tech (9-3)
I give Georgia Tech a chance if Reggie Ball gets injured. I shouldn't say that, since GT sometimes shows up, but I'm far from betting on it.
My Pick: Wake Forest
Confidence: 2


2:30 PM

Army (3-8) @ Navy (8-3)
If Paul Johnson winds up taking the Alabama job or something, there could be some distraction and thus some suspense here, but Army's just outclassed.
My Pick: Navy
Confidence: 3


3:00 PM

Stanford (1-10) @ #21 Cal (8-3)
Stanford winning would be a bigger miracle than The Play. If only Stanford could play Duke in some sort of horrific bowl game from Hell.
My Pick: Cal
Confidence: 4

Louisiana Tech (3-9) @ New Mexico State (3-8)
NMSU has a wacky passtastic offense, is at home, and is riding the momentum of their first I-A win in two years. Watch out, LA Tech. Though the Bulldogs are a fair enough team and could win just as easy.
My Pick: New Mexico State
Confidence: 1


3:30 PM

Air Force (4-7) @ TCU (9-2)
Air Force is pretty damn good for a 4-7 team, but TCU's just smashing people left and right and generally looking like the team they were expected to be in the preseason.
My Pick: TCU
Confidence: 2


4:00 PM

Fresno State (4-7) @ San Jose State (7-4)
Amazingly intriguing, as each team pretty much has done how the other was expected to. Fresno has more talent and is on more of a hot streak, so I assume the Bulldogs attempt to make their season seem respectable here. As for SJSU, who the hell knows. They're apparently good and it's very confusing.
My Pick: Fresno State
Confidence: 2


4:30 PM

#4 USC (10-1) @ UCLA (6-5)
USC's...much better. Logic can sometimes be thrown out in rivalry games, but this would be stretching it.
My Pick: USC
Confidence: 3


5:00 PM

Louisana-Monroe (3-8) @ Louisiana-Lafayette (6-5)
Sun Belt-tastic! There's all that SBC parity and again, rivalry game, but ULL's better. ULM QB Kinsmon Lancaster could have another one of those freaky games like Kansas where he outgains the entire opposing team, however.
My Pick: Louisiana-Lafayette
Confidence: 2


6:00 PM

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP:
#9 Arkansas (10-2) vs. #3 Florida (11-1)
The Arkansas running game redeemed itself last week after a shit performance against Mississippi State. Florida's still been beating people handily though, at least everywhere except the score. I give Arkansas a chance, but Florida's been a better team and they should show it here.
My Pick: Florida
Confidence: 2


7:00 PM

Troy (6-5) @ Florida International (0-11)
Troy gets the SBC title here. I almost put "if they win", but, well.
My Pick: Troy
Confidence: 3


7:45 PM

#14 Rutgers (10-1) @ #13 West Virginia (9-2)
Pretty much a crapshoot, actually. USF's a good team, though, and better than Cincinnati, so I give WVU the edge there. Rutgers can be run on, at least by UConn, so I'm not sure that they can stop the WVU running game, especially in Morgantown. Again, it's about even, which is...crazy, but I just have more faith in West Virginia. Really, Rutgers?
My Pick: West Virginia
Confidence: 1


8:00 PM

BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP:
#16 Nebraska (9-3) vs. #7 Oklahoma (10-2)
Ooh, intrigue. The OU defense sputtered against OK State, and Nebraska's offense is throwing as well as it's ever been. Then again, Nebraska lost to Oklahoma State, so who knows. OU's hotter, and I have faith in the defense to rebound, so I give them the better chance to win what should be a close one.
My Pick: Oklahoma
Confidence: 1

Colorado State (4-7) @ San Diego State (2-9)
Two teams playing at about the same level, and kind of cold at the moment, CSU more so. That, plus the home-field advantage, makes me pick the Aztecs in this crapshoot.
My Pick: San Diego State
Confidence: 1



SUNDAY
12:05 AM

Oregon State (8-4) @ #25 Hawaii (10-2)
Like Christmas in July, it's the Hawaii Bowl in week 14. Oregon State kept it close at Boise before getting blown out, and expect the same here. COLT BRENNAN LASER LIGHTSHOW!
My Pick: Hawaii
Confidence: 2

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