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Here's my personal thoughts on each game. Take note...I've been rotten all season, so you may want to fade all of these plays...but these are just my observations and my thoughts. Not sure which of these I'm going to play yet, if any (when almost all of the favorites are on the road, it raises a red flag for me), but this is just something for you all to look at.
USC (-23) at. UCLA
Classic rival game. The Trojans need to win, and UCLA can't do much to stop their high powered offense with that terrible defense they have (remember when Washington scored 31 against them??) I think that UCLA will run the ball with Drew and try to keep the offense off the field...but how do you stop the inevitable?? USC's had a thing about starting slow and finishing with a bang...Trojans cover, but just by the slimmest of margins.
Prediction -- USC 45, UCLA 21
Louisville (-30.5) at Tulane -- As good as Louisville has been against the spread this year, this is just WAY too many points to be laying on the road. I personally think that Louisville will smash them, just the way they've smashed almost everyone else in the conference, but I won't ever touch a game where a team's laying over 30 on the road...especially when they're playing a team who's scored 42, 45, and 35 respectively in their last three games.
Prediction -- Louisville 59, Tulane 31
Auburn (-15) vs. Tennessee -- Auburn is feeling totally left out of the national championship race and wants to make a statement this week. Tennessee's been totally overrated this whole season...and with the game on a neutral field, the Tigers dominate every aspect of this game and still finish 3rd in the country with no chance to win the big title, despite being, in my opinion, the best team in the country
Prediction -- Auburn 38, Tennessee 14
Oklahoma (-22) vs. Colorado
The Big 12 Championship game!! The best way for a team that's struggled all year long to make it into the BCS!! Colorado has done a good job this season after all the turmoil in the offseason, but this is Oklahoma's game. The Buffaloes can't stop the pass, and won't be able to throw the ball effectively enough to win. Purify needs to run well for CU to have any chance to beat the Sooners. OK will win this one, but not cover (maybe Colorado will spike the ball with 1 second left and kick a field goal...ala Nebraska)
Prediction -- Oklahoma 31, Colorado 17
Virginia Tech (+7) at Miami
Miami is looking for some serious revenge after that beating last year at VTech. The 'Canes have been playing some good ball as of late (ever since that midseason collapse againse UNC and Clemson), and beating Miami at the Orange Bowl is a VERY tough thing to do. Randall may wreak havoc to the Miami defense, but in the end, Brock will find a way to avenge last year's loss and put the Hurricanes in the BCS (after all...what's a BCS without Miami???)
Prediction -- Miami 27, Virginia Tech 20
Pittsburgh (-6.5) at South Florida
Is it possible that we might actually see Pitt in the BCS and Texas left out??? The Panthers have done what they need to win, and after last week's upset of West Virginia, have themselves poised to make it into the PAYDAY bowl games...but, after watching BC and West Virginia suffer meltdowns...it seems that no Big East team wants to get there. I think the game remains close for a while, but Pitt dominates the second half.
Prediction -- Pitt 28, South Florida 7
California (-24) at Southern Miss
Cal NEEDS TO WIN BIG in order to solidify their spot in the BCS. With Texas trailing in BCS point standings by 1/10th of a point, and a few votes either way by the coaches or the media voters potentially costing them a spot in the Rose Bowl, Cal needs to dominate this one. However, they're laying a ton of points on the road against a decent Southern Mississippi team that started well, but has struggled as of late.
For some reason, these "rescheduled games" have a history of being very shaky, especially when they have meaning (remember UCLA being knocked out of the undefeated ranks by Miami when Cade McNown was QB??).
I think Cal should dominate this one from start to finish but...be cautious nevertheless.
Prediction -- Cal 35, Southern Miss 14
Navy (-13) at Army
THE RIVALRY in college football. Navy dominated the game last year, and I don't think it should be any different this year. Bobby Ross is a helluva coach, but Paul Johnson has done a good job with the Midshipmen these past 2 years and put them into a bowl game again this season. Army just doesn't have the tools to shut down Navy's running attack.
Prediction -- Navy 45, Army 20
And last but not least...
Michigan State (-6) at Hawaii
Hawaii's got something to play for (Hawaii Bowl), Michigan State's season is already a bust (and they may feel like they're on vacation in the 808 state). Hawaii's at home, where they somehow pull their heads out of their asses and play football. Plus...it's Timmy Chang's last chance to show the scouts (on national TV) what he can do -- especially following those horrendous games against Boise and Fresno)
Remember Alabama last year? This game will be the same way.
Prediction -- Hawaii 48, Michigan State 35
USC (-23) at. UCLA
Classic rival game. The Trojans need to win, and UCLA can't do much to stop their high powered offense with that terrible defense they have (remember when Washington scored 31 against them??) I think that UCLA will run the ball with Drew and try to keep the offense off the field...but how do you stop the inevitable?? USC's had a thing about starting slow and finishing with a bang...Trojans cover, but just by the slimmest of margins.
Prediction -- USC 45, UCLA 21
Louisville (-30.5) at Tulane -- As good as Louisville has been against the spread this year, this is just WAY too many points to be laying on the road. I personally think that Louisville will smash them, just the way they've smashed almost everyone else in the conference, but I won't ever touch a game where a team's laying over 30 on the road...especially when they're playing a team who's scored 42, 45, and 35 respectively in their last three games.
Prediction -- Louisville 59, Tulane 31
Auburn (-15) vs. Tennessee -- Auburn is feeling totally left out of the national championship race and wants to make a statement this week. Tennessee's been totally overrated this whole season...and with the game on a neutral field, the Tigers dominate every aspect of this game and still finish 3rd in the country with no chance to win the big title, despite being, in my opinion, the best team in the country
Prediction -- Auburn 38, Tennessee 14
Oklahoma (-22) vs. Colorado
The Big 12 Championship game!! The best way for a team that's struggled all year long to make it into the BCS!! Colorado has done a good job this season after all the turmoil in the offseason, but this is Oklahoma's game. The Buffaloes can't stop the pass, and won't be able to throw the ball effectively enough to win. Purify needs to run well for CU to have any chance to beat the Sooners. OK will win this one, but not cover (maybe Colorado will spike the ball with 1 second left and kick a field goal...ala Nebraska)
Prediction -- Oklahoma 31, Colorado 17
Virginia Tech (+7) at Miami
Miami is looking for some serious revenge after that beating last year at VTech. The 'Canes have been playing some good ball as of late (ever since that midseason collapse againse UNC and Clemson), and beating Miami at the Orange Bowl is a VERY tough thing to do. Randall may wreak havoc to the Miami defense, but in the end, Brock will find a way to avenge last year's loss and put the Hurricanes in the BCS (after all...what's a BCS without Miami???)
Prediction -- Miami 27, Virginia Tech 20
Pittsburgh (-6.5) at South Florida
Is it possible that we might actually see Pitt in the BCS and Texas left out??? The Panthers have done what they need to win, and after last week's upset of West Virginia, have themselves poised to make it into the PAYDAY bowl games...but, after watching BC and West Virginia suffer meltdowns...it seems that no Big East team wants to get there. I think the game remains close for a while, but Pitt dominates the second half.
Prediction -- Pitt 28, South Florida 7
California (-24) at Southern Miss
Cal NEEDS TO WIN BIG in order to solidify their spot in the BCS. With Texas trailing in BCS point standings by 1/10th of a point, and a few votes either way by the coaches or the media voters potentially costing them a spot in the Rose Bowl, Cal needs to dominate this one. However, they're laying a ton of points on the road against a decent Southern Mississippi team that started well, but has struggled as of late.
For some reason, these "rescheduled games" have a history of being very shaky, especially when they have meaning (remember UCLA being knocked out of the undefeated ranks by Miami when Cade McNown was QB??).
I think Cal should dominate this one from start to finish but...be cautious nevertheless.
Prediction -- Cal 35, Southern Miss 14
Navy (-13) at Army
THE RIVALRY in college football. Navy dominated the game last year, and I don't think it should be any different this year. Bobby Ross is a helluva coach, but Paul Johnson has done a good job with the Midshipmen these past 2 years and put them into a bowl game again this season. Army just doesn't have the tools to shut down Navy's running attack.
Prediction -- Navy 45, Army 20
And last but not least...
Michigan State (-6) at Hawaii
Hawaii's got something to play for (Hawaii Bowl), Michigan State's season is already a bust (and they may feel like they're on vacation in the 808 state). Hawaii's at home, where they somehow pull their heads out of their asses and play football. Plus...it's Timmy Chang's last chance to show the scouts (on national TV) what he can do -- especially following those horrendous games against Boise and Fresno)
Remember Alabama last year? This game will be the same way.
Prediction -- Hawaii 48, Michigan State 35
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