College Football Week 14: Predictions Against the Spread
As the 2010 college football season reaches its twilight, the list of games might have dwindled but the importance of these match-ups have escalated dramatically.
While Conference Championship games take the main stage this week, there are still a handful of conference regular season tilts that could change the BCS Bowl landscape.
With the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in action, the National Championship game is far from decided in what has been one of the craziest college football seasons in recent memory.
A 12-8 record last week boosted my overall record to a game below .500. Let’s see if I can keep the ball rolling and finish the regular season with a respectable above .500 record.
Last Week’s Record: 12-8
Season Record: 124-125-6
No. 1 Oregon (-16.5) @ Oregon State
1 of 11
Records can often be thrown out the window when Oregon and Oregon State meet in The Civil War.
While Oregon certainly posses the better team and a two game winning streak in this rivalry, Oregon State will desperately seek to play the role of spoiler this weekend.
However, the Beavers were just completely embarrassed by Stanford and Oregon definitely has the fire power to do exactly the same.
Pick: Oregon -16.5
No. 2 Auburn (-5) Vs. No. 18 South Carolina
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South Carolina reaches the SEC Championship game for the first time ever, but waiting for them in Atlanta are the seemingly invincible Auburn Tigers.
Auburn’s offense and defense appears to have a slight edge over the Gamecocks in this one. While Stephen Garcia and Marcus Lattimore will allow South Carolina to keep within striking distance, Cam Newton and the Tigers should win this one by at least a touchdown.
Pick: Auburn -5
No. 9 Boise State (-39) @ Utah State
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Heartbreak doesn’t come close to describing the feeling that Boise State experienced after their unbelievable loss to Nevada.
Losing won’t be an option this week against Utah State, but a 39-point spread might be a bit too much to chew.
While the Broncos should come out firing to forget that terrible loss, they have only beaten the Aggies by more than 40 points once.
Boise State wins, but might have a slight problem with this spread.
Pick: Utah State +39
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No. 10 Oklahoma (-4) Vs. No. 13 Nebraska
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Last year’s painful loss to Texas still lingers for the Cornhuskers and they will certainly be seeking redemption in this year’s Big 12 Championship game against the Sooners.
However, Oklahoma’s passing attack has been outrageous this season (336.3 y/g) and Nebraska (sans Taylor Martinez) could have troubles keeping up.
Luckily for the Cornhuskers, they have the second best passing defense in the FBS (144.8 y/g). If they can contain Landry Jones for 60 minutes, Nebraska might be able to finish their Big 12 tenure on top.
Pick: Nebraska +4
No. 12 Virginia Tech (-4) Vs. No. 20 Florida State
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While Virginia Tech returns to the ACC Championship game after a one year absence, Florida State has not been to the conference title game in five years.
The last time the Seminoles reached the ACC Championship game, they knocked the Hokies out of BCS bowl contention with a 27-22 victory.
Virginia Tech rides a ten game winning streak and has surrendered two touchdowns or less in four of its last five games.
However, Florida State’s defense should keep them in this one and if Christain Ponder can remain hot, the Seminoles could be BCS Bowl bound.
Pick: Florida State +4
No. 14 Nevada (-9.5) @ Louisiana Tech
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Nevada is certainly riding an extreme high following its mind-blowing upset of Boise State last week, but they can’t lose focus with the task at hand.
A win against Louisiana Tech gives them a share of the WAC title, an accomplishment that has eluded them the past five years
Although the Bulldogs have shown promise against the meager meat of the WAC this season, they suffered massive loses to the other teams vying for the conference title (Boise State and Hawaii).
Colin Kaepernick should pick this defense apart, winning by at least two touchdowns.
Pick: Nevada -9.5
No. 23 West Virginia (-20) Vs. Rutgers
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For the first time since Week 7, a Big East team lands on the AP’s Top 25.
Since a UCONN win this week would give the Huskies the Big East title, the Mountaineers will need to leave it all on the table to have a fighting chance at a BCS bid.
Rutgers has been flat out horrid this season, ranking 96th in points for (21.5 p/g) and losing its last five games.
West Virginia should win this game and cover this spread quite easily
Pick: West Virginia -20
No. 24 Northern Illinois (-17.5) Vs. Miami (OH)
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Northern Illinois’ rampant run through the Mid-American Conference has been impressive, posting a perfect 8-0 record in conference play.
The Huskies explosive running game (279.2 y/g) has been the key to their success, allowing their offense to rank 11th in the FBS in points for (39.3 p/g).
Miami’s road to the MAC Championship game came on the shoulder of quarterback Zac Dyster. However, facing Northern Illinois’s stingy pass defense(191.2 y/g) should create offensive problems for the Redhawks.
Pick: Northern Illinois -17.5
No. 25 Hawaii (-35) Vs. UNLV
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A share of the WAC title catapulted Hawaii into the AP’s Top 25 this week and they are quite deserving of the ranking.
Thanks to the golden arm of Bryant Moniz, the Warriors’ passing game currently ranks No.1 in the FBS and he is the main reason for their success this season.
UNLV’s defense has struggled against teams with outstanding passing attacks and a trip to the islands should not make this any easier on them.
Although this line seems astronomic, Hawaii should flash their aerial attack early and often, narrowly covering this spread.
Pick: Hawaii -35
Arizona (-5.5) Vs. Arizona State
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Even though Arizona fell off the AP’s and the Coaches’ rankings, the Wildcats are still desperately holding onto their BCS standings despite losing three straight.
Arizona hopes to stop the bleeding in the Duel in the Desert this weekend, but this will hardly be an easy task.
The Sun Devil’s passing attack has been boisterous, even with the recent switch to Brock Osweiler due to an injury to Steven Threet.
Although Arizona has won two straight in this rivalry, ASU is maturing quickly and it should not be a surprise if it takes home the Territorial Cup.
Pick: Arizona State +5.5
SMU (-9.5) Vs. UCF
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SMU reaches their first ever Conference USA Championship game, riding the talented arm of sophomore quarterback Kyle Padron and shiftiness of sophomore running back Zach Line.
UCF made their way to the Championship game thanks to a raging offense (35.2 p/g) and an ironfisted defense (18.9 p/g).
However, the Mustangs’ talent holds a decent edge in this match-up mainly because of their dual head offensive attack. Padron and Line should take over this game and healthily cover this spread.
Pick: SMU -9.5
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
