Posted on 11/16/2006 2:36:27 PM PST by MikefromOhio
Weekend Eleven threw the entire BCS mess into an even bigger mess if that is possible. No fewer than 3 one loss teams lost (Texas, Auburn, Cal) while another one (Florida) needed to block 3 kicks to win their game 17-16 against South Carolina. This week is the week that just about everyone in the national media has been waiting for. The greatest rivalry in college football renews and that game finds that Ohio State is #1 and Michigan is #2 for the first time in the 102 game history of this game.
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It doesn’t get any better than this. For the FIRST time ever, an 11-0 Ohio State team will play an 11-0 Michigan team. For the FIRST time ever, the teams are ranked 1 and 2 in every major poll. For the FIRST time ever, the loser of this game will end up in the Rose Bowl. This is the best rivalry in college football, and this one clearly has the best setup of any of those previous 102 games.
Ohio State and Michigan have both played dominant defense and very well on offense. Ohio State has a Heisman candidate in Troy Smith and Michigan has a Heisman candidate in Mike Hart. Ohio State has a coach that has brought a new focus to this rivalry whereas Michigan has the coach who was so dominant in this rivalry that Ohio State was forced to make a change. Does it sound like I’m having issues picking this game? Really I’m not. Every comparison for these teams shows that Ohio State is better on offense while Michigan is better on defense except for scoring defense. In the end, this game will come down to who makes the bigger plays. I think Troy Smith, who has burned Michigan each of the previous two years, will make enough plays to allow Ohio State to win this game.
Western Carolina at (3) Florida (NL)
Florida 53 – Western Carolina 3
(17) Cal at (4) USC (-5.5) ****UPSET WATCH****
USC 38 – Cal 31
(5) Arkansas (-15) at Mississippi St.
Arkansas 39 – Mississippi St. 12
Army at (6) Notre Dame (-28.5)
Army 70 – ND 6
Just kidding….
ND 42 – Army 10
(7) Rutgers (-6.5) at Cincinnati ****UPSET ALERT****
Cincinnati 23 – Rutgers 20
Mississippi at (9) LSU (-27)
LSU 38 – Mississippi 13
South Florida at (10) Louisville (-16.5)
Louisville 44 – South Florida 20
(11) TEXAS BYE
Buffalo at (12) Wisconsin (-38)
Wisconsin 53 – Buffalo 0
Utah St. at (13) Boise State (-37.5)
Boise St. 34 – Utah State 10
(19) Virginia Tech at (14) Wake Forest (PICK) ****UPSET WATCH****
Wake 22 – VT 18
(15) Auburn (-3) at Alabama
Auburn 23 – Alabama 17
(16) Oklahoma (-20.5) at Baylor
Oklahoma 38 – Baylor 14
Duke at (18) Georgia Tech (-26.5) ****UPSET WATCH****
Georgia Tech 21 – Duke 3
(21) Maryland at (20) Boston College (-7)
BC 24 – Maryland 21
(22) Tennessee (-8.5) at Vanderbilt
Tennessee 31 – Vandy 17
New Mexico at (23) BYU (-26.5)
BYU 42 – New Mexico 20
(24) Nebraska BYE
(25) Clemson BYE
New Mexico hasn’t disappointed yet this year. I pick them, they lose. I pick against them, they win. I paper this one doesn’t look like it will be very close. Let’s see how this prediction goes….
BYU 42 – New Mexico 20
Texas A&M BYE
Western Michigan at Florida State (-16)
I never thought I would see the day that Florida State would be ONLY a 16 point favorite against a directional school. Now the good news for FSU fans is that Jeff Bowden has been canned resigned, but the bad news is that he’s still there the rest of this season.
FSU 41 – Western Michigan 12
I hope not, although I think that if Florida is also unbeaten in it's final games, they won't get jumped by ND....
should be a fun one to watch...
Cal is just quirky enough this year too pull that one off...
that's one of the longest fight songs I've seen...
If New Mexico beats the mouth-breathing, window licking POS from Provo I'll personally drive to Albuquerque pick some random bar and buy the house a round. And you think I'm kidding. :)
LOL
well it's been kind of amazing this year with me picking New Mexico games.
I haven't been right once.
Even though the media and fans would love to see Mich v. ND, I don't they they jump Arkansas/Florida. Also, ND winning at USC....
I don't know if that story is true or not. I've heard it before.
No team has ever won the Pac-10 championship five years in a row. That could change on Saturday.
It's set up as potentially a great day of college football about a day and a half from now. Even if the games stink, there's going to be a shakeup in the post-season picture.
The Backyard Brawl is on ESPN right now....
Cool story...Coach McKay was one of the best, imo.
Looks like WVU's defense has improved...not. Pitt marches on first drive for a TD, 7-0, Pitt will do the same I am sure.
Yeah this one might have a LOT of scoring.
Pitt has the offense to hang, but I don't think they'll get too many defensive stops.
For a rivarlry game between two winning records there sure are alot of empty seats there. Oh well. Tied all up 7-7.
Lots of rain today in Western PA, the weather has a lot to do with it.
After watching WVU play Louisville, I wouldn't count Pitt out.
Oh yeah WVU leads 14-7 now.
Yeah pretty much, although Pitt doesn't have the offense Louisville does...
"Cool story....Coach McKay was one of the best, imo."
Always good for a classic one-liner too. One of his best was after a loss, when a reporter asked "what do think about your team's execution tonight?". McKay's response, "I'm in favor of it."
Dear Old Nebraska U
(There is No Place Like Nebraska)
There is no place like Nebraska
Dear old Nebraska U.
Where the girls are the fairest,
The boys are the squarest,
Of any old school that I knew.
There is no place like Nebraska,
Where they're all true blue.
We'll all stick together,
In all kinds of weather,
For Dear old Nebraska U!
Hail Varsity
(Nebraska Fight Song)
Hail to the team
The stadium rings as everyone sings,
The Scarlet and Cream.
Cheers for a victory, echo our loyalty;
So, on mighty men,
The eyes of the land, upon every hand,
Are looking at you.
Fight on for victory
Hail to the Men of Nebraska U.
TD Pitt 14-14
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