at 
Posted on 11/09/2006 12:14:16 PM PST by MikefromOhio
Weekend Ten gave us one of the more exciting games this year with West Virginia going down valiantly against Louisville 44-34. Louisville has silenced the doubters as to whether it belonged in the National Title hunt with a resounding win that wasn’t as close as the score indicated. Michigan and Ohio State both won very close and competitive games against inferior opponents, which has set the national sports media abuzz about the possibilities that neither is truly the best team in the nation. Louisville is no stranger to the match up of the week as they are traveling to Piscataway, New Jersey to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in what is now a game for control of the much improved Big East.
at
The game of the year in the Big East last week has been replaced this week by the Game of the year in the Big East. With a win, Louisville will virtually clinch the conference. A Rutgers win here would mean that their showdown with West Virginia on December 2nd will be for their outright Big East crown. Louisville showed last week that their offense might be the very best in the nation. At times they looked completely unstoppable. Rutgers might have the best defense in the conference, but will they have enough offense to keep the high-powered Louisville offense on the sidelines?
Rutgers coach Greg Schiano has done an absolutely great job bringing Rutgers back from the dead in college football. They are nationally ranked, they have qualified for a bowl game now 2 years in a row, and they are in the position of holding their own destiny within the Big East. Unfortunately for Rutgers, Louisville is on a roll. They might be a bit flat coming out of the gate, but Rutgers just does not have the passing game on offense to win this game.
Wyoming at (25) BYU (-18)
BYU has a chance to gain a legit foothold within the TOP 25 for the first time in nearly a decade. Too bad virtually no one outside of the MWC will get to see this game.
BYU 45 – Wyoming 20
(1) Ohio State (-23) at Northwestern
Ohio State 35 – Northwestern 10
(2) Michigan (-19) at Indiana
Michigan 35 – Indiana 14
(4) Texas (-17) at Kansas St.
Texas 38 – K State 17
Georgia at (5) Auburn (-12.5)
Auburn 28 – Georgia 20
South Carolina at (6) Florida (-13.5)
Florida 24 – South Carolina 20 ****UPSET WATCH****
(21) Oregon at (7) USC (-8)
USC 27 – Oregon 14
(8) Cal (-13.5) at Arizona
Cal 30 – Arizona 14
(9) Notre Dame (-11.5) at Air Force
ND 30 – Air Force 20
Cincinnati at (10) West Virginia (-18.5)
WVA 34 – Cincy 20
(13) Tennessee at (11) Arkansas (-5.5)
Tennessee 31 – Arkansas 24 ****UPSET ALERT****
Alabama at (12) LSU (-18)
LSU 38 – Alabama 10
(14) Boise State (-14) at San Jose St.
Boise State 34 – San Jose St. 17
(16) Wisconsin at Iowa (Pick)
Wisconsin 14 – Iowa 6
Texas Tech at (17) Oklahoma (-9)
Oklahoma 21 – Texas Tech 20 ****UPSET WATCH****
(18) Wake Forest at Florida State (-8.5)
Florida State 24 – Wake Forest 22 ****UPSET ALERT****
(19) Georgia Tech (-13.5) at North Carolina
Georgia Tech 28 – UNC 10
Kent State at (20) Virginia Tech (-30)
VT 38 – Kent State 10
Duke at (22) Boston College (-28)
BC 38 – Duke 7
Miami (FL) at (23) Maryland (-3.5)
Miami 25 – Maryland 21 ****UPSET ALERT****
Nebraska (-1) at (24) Texas A&M
Nebraska 24 – A&M 14
New Mexico 31 – TCU 27
Nebraska (-1) at (24) Texas A&M
This is the most winnable game left on A&M’s schedule with Texas being their final game the day after Thanksgiving. I think that Nebraska is also the better team here, but I think A&M peaked earlier this season. With the crushing loss against Oklahoma last week, I look for A&M to be a bit flat coming out. That will make all the difference.
Nebraska 24 – A&M 14
(18) Wake Forest at Florida State (-8.5)
At first glance, I was wondering why FSU was favored by more than a TD. Then I remembered that since they have put Xavier Lee back at Quarterback, the FSU offense has been much more potent than in previous games. That and I think Wake may have finally exhausted their momentum. Wake has definitely improved the football program and everything past last weekend is a great addition to a great year. Look for FSU to surprise everyone and win this game.
Florida State 24 – Wake Forest 22 ****UPSET ALERT****
It was a good move by the Big East to schedule these Thursday night games on ESPN.
How sad is it that the upset would be FSU over Wake and not the other way around.
(Enter various FReeper gators to say how great that is)
Louisville vs. Rutgers is a huge game. Who'd have thunk it.
I like the 'Ville, but of course my saying so probably curses them. I want to see them in the National Championship, where they'd be creamed by Ohio State. But just to get there for them would be legendary.
That guy has done an incredible job. It's hard to imagine Rutgers being able to play a part in deciding who gets to play for the national championship.
I think so.
the extra exposure and the fact that last week's game between WVA and Louisville garnered the biggest ratings EVER for an ESPN college Football game make that move absolutely genius on their part.
It is...that's for sure.
But I think FSU has found their QB.
well one thing at a time I guess.
Ohio State isn't a lock yet for the NC game either.
Damn good to see something besides politiacl threads.
Anywho, odd that all the games of the big three Florida teams are upset specials--and they should be.
Actually, I think FSU will lose outright by a field goal.
Florida (my team, full disclosure) *might* lose to the ol' Ball Coach. Prediction: One point win for UF.
And Miami? They could easily go in the tank. Preiction = a 6 point win.
Thanks MFO!!
He has looked good. But that won't be enough. The rest of the offense (and d for that matter) need to step up.
No problem :)
I think Miami will come out with a ton of emotion because of the situation down there. They still have the talent, it's just that they haven't put it together on the field yet.
The reason Florida is an upset watch is ONLY because of Spurrier. That guy is an absolute witch against his former rivals.
FSU could be the one I'm wrong on, but I don't know. They've found a QB who can actually make plays.
I gotta start proofreading sports thread posts!!
No, but I'm feeling cavalier. My curse is neutral when it comes to Ohio State, so don't worry about that.
They do yes, but Xavier Lee reminds me a LOT of Troy Smith.
And in Troy Smith's 3rd game as a QB in 2004, against Michigan State, was when the offense finally started moving more consistently.
Even though their next game (against Purdon't) was a loss, they had a shot to win the game but turned the ball over but had moved the ball well.
And then we all know what happened against Michigan that year.
I think we will see a similar rise from Mr. Lee....
Lots of good SEC action this week...frankly I don't think either Tennessee or USC will win their games, even though they're arguably two of the closest SEC matchups all year (despite the large disparity in ranking between UF and USC). There'll be a third SEC nail-biter on Saturday (at least for me), but sadly two unranked teams equals no TV coverage - thank goodness for satellite radio.
Can I be on the NCAAF ping list, please? Wish I'd seen it earlier in the season.
I think the Big Ten network that is coming next year is being run by Fox.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.