Week 10 College Football Picks: Florida-Georgia Edition

So I went with the Upset Special theme last week, and things didn’t work out so well, although Rutgers made me proud.  Ten more games this week, and I feel confident in about three of them. 

Let’s get to it.

Auburn at Ole Miss

Seems pretty simple: Ole Miss can score, and Auburn can’t.  The Tigers apparently forgot how to tackle, too. 

A turnover or two keeps it close. 

Winner: Ole Miss, 27-20

West Virginia at UConn

Until the Mountaineers picked up some big time momentum last week, I would have gone with UConn in this game.  Not only did WVU’s offense look great against Auburn, they also got an extra couple days to rest. 

White and Devine prove too much.

Winner: West Virginia, 31-21

Tulsa at Arkansas

This would have been a great matchup if Houston Nutt were still around to face off against his old buddy, Gus Malzahn, who bolted from Arkansas and is now having great success with his offense at Tulsa. 

Too bad Arkansas doesn’t have a defense this year.  The Hogs do, however, have an offense.  Michael Smith runs wild, and the Hogs outscore the Golden Hurricane in an absolute shootout.

The Tulsa party is over.  The Todd Graham sound bytes can now end, thankfully.    

Winner: Arkansas, 45-42

Pitt at Notre Dame

I just can’t pick Notre Dame.  I can’t do it.

Winner: Pitt, 24-23

Kentucky at Mississippi State

Kentucky is all banged up, but I like Randall Cobb’s athleticism to do just enough for the Wildcats to get out in front of Mississippi State. 

The Bulldog offense simply won’t be able to score enough points, even against a vulnerable Kentucky defense. 

Winner: Kentucky, 20-17

Florida State at Georgia Tech

FSU’s defense is pretty nasty, and Georgia Tech has been all over the place this year.  ACC is a crapshoot, and I have very little faith in FSU keeping their run together. 

Somebody has to win, though.

Winner: FSU, 27-20

Duke at Wake Forest

Last week I said I’ve never pick Wake Forest again if they lost.

I guess I’m a glutton for punishment, because Duke is playing much better football.  I just keep thinking the Demon Deacons will “wake” up.  (Terrible pun, my apologies.)

Winner: Wake Forest, 23-20

Tennessee at South Carolina

One of the worst offenses versus one of the best defenses.  Seems like an easy call here, especially since Carolina is at home, but the Gamecocks just can’t seem to put teams away—and as bad as Tennessee has been, they’ve stayed with teams for the most part.

Odd stat for the Cocks: All five of their SEC games have been decided by seven points. 

Spurrier wins another one over Big Phil. 

Winner: South Carolina, 24-17

Texas at Texas Tech (Upset Special)

I’m not even sure I believe Tech can win this game, but this four-game stretch for Texas is brutal, and you have to wonder what’s left in the tank.

Back in 2002, Tech beat No. 3-ranked Texas in Lubbock, shocking the college football world and shaking things up at the top.

Hopefully they can do it again.

Winner: Texas Tech, 42-38

Florida vs. Georgia (Game of the Week)

Okay, so both teams destroyed LSU.  A closer look at the box scores reveals some nasty information about Georgia.

While Florida limited LSU to 321 total yards (and only 80 on the ground), Georgia was actually outgained by LSU, giving up a ridiculous 497 yards, 188 on the ground and 309 through the air.  Essentially the Tigers did as they pleased on Georgia’s defense. 

Georgia fans can say “Throw the stats out the window” all day, but those numbers sure make me think about what a more experienced Tebow and receiving corps will do to the Bulldogs...

Gary Danielson mentions the end zone celebration and Tim Tebow’s name a combined 684 times. 

Winner: Florida, 45-35