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After a week off, I'm back and ready to get back on track. This week has a lot of intriguing matchups, including several résumé boosters for teams with BCS hopes.
The biggest game of the week has to be down in Texas, where everything is done big. This matchup will decide the Mountain West Conference and will also decide whether TCU has legit national title hopes.
The other big matchup takes place out in Buckeye country, where Terrelle Pryor and Ohio State host the Ricky Stanzi-less Iowa Hawkeyes. This game doesn't look as exciting as it did a week ago, but it's still for the Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl berth.
Anyway, time to get down to business.
Last Week's Record: No Picks due to Illness
Season Record: 65-47
Thursday, Nov. 12
No. 24 South Florida (6-2) at Rutgers (6-2)—Line: USF -1
This is a matchup of two 6-2 teams with a lot in common. Neither of these teams is great on either side of the ball, but they're both sound on either side due to great coaching. Greg Schiano's teams always seem to play better as the season progresses, and this appears to be the case again this season.
Freshman QB Tom Savage is improving, and that's the biggest reason for the Scarlet Knights' success over the last few weeks. Now teams can't stack the box on them, and they are getting their running game going. They'll do the same Thursday night and pull out a close victory on their home field.
The Pick: Rutgers +1 Scarlet Knights 27 Bulls 24
Friday, Nov. 13
No. 25 West Virginia (7-2) at No. 5 Cincinnati (9-0)—Line: Cincy -9
Cincy has a new QB controversy, but not one that coach Brian Kelly minds having. Usually a controversy arises if one QB struggles and there's talk of replacing him. That's not the case here.
Both Zach Collaros and Tony Pike have played brilliantly while running the Bearcats offense, and when Pike went down with an injury a few weeks ago, Collaros stepped in without missing a beat. Last week he had 555 yards passing and rushing in a close win against UConn.
Kelly is no stranger to using multiple QBs, as the Bearcats used four different QBs a season ago on their way to an Orange Bowl berth.
Noel Devine has had a few down weeks and needs to get back on track for the Mountaineers to have any shot. I think he'll play well, but the Bearcats offense is just too much, and they'll win by a few scores.
The Pick: Cincy -9 Bearcats 45 Mountaineers 31
Saturday, Nov. 14
No. 15 Houston (8-1) at UCF (5-4)—Line: Houston -5
The Cougars come off of a thrilling victory over Tulsa in which they needed to recover an onsides kick AND make a 51-yard FG as time expired to win. Case Keenum threw for 500-plus yards AGAIN, and he continues to put his name in the minds of Heisman voters.
Last week UCF played against the Texas Longhorns and allowed Colt McCoy to shred them for over 450 yards through the air. I can only imagine how many yards Keenum will put up this week in the Cougars' pass-happy offense. Any guesses? I'm going to guess he puts up 500-plus again, so I'll say 538 yards.
The problem is Houston's defense hasn't exactly been stellar lately, and although they'll allow UCF to hang in there, they'll win this one and cover.
The Pick: Houston -5 Cougars 49 Knights 28
Indiana (4-6) at No. 18 Penn State (8-2)—Line: Penn St. -25.5
Penn State still hasn't beaten anyone this year, and I'm clueless as to how they're still ranked. I understand they're 8-2, but when your best win by far is a victory in the Big House in Ann Arbor, I don't think you've accomplished much this year.
They play another poor opponent Saturday, but although Indiana loses a lot, they've had a ton of close calls this year. This week won't be that close, but they'll cover.
The Pick: Indiana +25.5 Nittany Lions 38 Hoosiers 21
Michigan (5-5) at No. 20 Wisconsin (8-2)—Line: Wisconsin -8.5
The Badgers are another team that has beat nobody, yet they're still ranked. Michigan has to be at their low point of the season, losing at Illinois and at home against Purdue in back-to-back weeks, and they might need to win this week to be bowl eligible. Well, that probably won't happen. They'll lose this week, but it will be a very close, high-scoring affair.
The Pick: Michigan +8.5 Badgers 34 Wolverines 31
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