With the season winding down, there are really only two major games this weekend. Thats not to say there won't be upsets. With six teams still undeafeated, and five of them playing this weekend, you would think someone has to lose at some point. With Florida playing FIU and Alabama playing Chattanooga, the odds of both teams still being undefeated going into the SEC Championship are still pretty high, though.
10 Ohio State @ Michigan
Favorite: Ohio State, -12
This game mattered a lot more when it was basically the Big Ten Championship game. Now, Ohio State has already wrapped up the championship, and Michigan is playing for their bowl life. After starting the season 4-0, they've played like NY's NFL teams, going 1-6 and in danger of not making the postseason. After last season's 3-9 debacle, coach Rich Rodriguez could also be coaching for his career. Things don't look good for the home team, though. Outside of their loss to Purdue, Ohio State has looked like the team that would win the Big Ten, even when Iowa was undefeated. They've also beaten Michigan five straight times.
Pick: Ohio State 28 - Michigan 17
25 Cal @ 17 Stanford
Favorite: Stanford, -7
Jim Harbugh and Stanford are relevant again, after knocking off favorite USC, 55-21, last week! This week, they play the only ranked-vs-ranked game, at home against Cal. The Cardinal comes in as the nation's hottest team, and still have an outside shot at the Pac-10 title, with a little help from Oregon. Meanwhile, Cal wants to prove that a) they matter, too, and b) Jahvid Best is great, but they can win big games without him. This is the second straight week Cal will take on the 17th ranked team in the nation after beating Arizona last week. Unfortunately for them, Stanford has scored 106 points the last two weeks, against Oregon and USC. Cal has scored 38 against Oregon State and Arizona.
Pick: Stanford 51 - Cal 27
Showing posts with label Ohio State. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ohio State. Show all posts
Friday, November 20, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
College Football Week 11 - Important Matchups
1 Florida @ South Carolina
Favorite: Florida, -17
With Florida already knowing they'll play Alabama in the SEC title game, it would be easy for them to lose focus. Add to that their recent struggles on offense, and this could easily turn into the upset of the weekend, if not the season. SEC title or not, with five undefeated teams behind them in the standings, Florida needs to keep winning. Lucky for them that South Carolina's defense has struggle over the last two weeks, losing to Tennessee and Arkansas, and giving up 30 points to both. Florida might not put up 40+ points in this one, but they'll still pull out the win.
Pick: Florida 31 - South Carolina 17
10 Iowa @ 11 Ohio State
Favorite: Ohio State, -17
Iowa finally lost last week, and with the way they've been playing it was only a matter of time. Ohio State has an ugly loss to Purdue on their record, but has already shaken it off. In the three games since that loss, they've outscored opponents 107-14, including a 24-7 win over Penn State last week. With this game deciding the Big Ten champion, Ohio State simply looks like the better, and better prepared, team.
Pick: Ohio State 24 - Iowa 10
16 Utah @ 4 TCU
Favorite: TCU, -20
The way it stands now, TCU needs to win out, and have Texas lose a game, to have a shot at the BCS National Championship. This week they face a Utah team that knows all too well what it feels like to go undefeated and not play for the title, as they were in this position last year. If you take out Utah's loss to Oregon, these two teams have combined to allow more than 20 points and score less than 20 points only once, both by TCU. They might have a great team this year, but I think this is the week TCU gets taken out of the title picture.
Pick: Utah 24 - TCU 17
25 West Virginia @ 5 Cincinnati
Favorite: Cincinnati, -8.5
Tony Pike may not be getting the start again this week, but clearly Cincy hasn't missed a beat without him. And somehow, over the same four game stretch, its been West Virginia's offense thats struggled. They've gone from 33.8 points per game in their first five to 22 in their last four. Cincinnati's offense has played consistently well, and hasn't scored less than 28 points all season. I don't see any reason why that will change now.
Pick: Cincinnati 38 - West Virginia 17
Favorite: Florida, -17
With Florida already knowing they'll play Alabama in the SEC title game, it would be easy for them to lose focus. Add to that their recent struggles on offense, and this could easily turn into the upset of the weekend, if not the season. SEC title or not, with five undefeated teams behind them in the standings, Florida needs to keep winning. Lucky for them that South Carolina's defense has struggle over the last two weeks, losing to Tennessee and Arkansas, and giving up 30 points to both. Florida might not put up 40+ points in this one, but they'll still pull out the win.
Pick: Florida 31 - South Carolina 17
10 Iowa @ 11 Ohio State
Favorite: Ohio State, -17
Iowa finally lost last week, and with the way they've been playing it was only a matter of time. Ohio State has an ugly loss to Purdue on their record, but has already shaken it off. In the three games since that loss, they've outscored opponents 107-14, including a 24-7 win over Penn State last week. With this game deciding the Big Ten champion, Ohio State simply looks like the better, and better prepared, team.
Pick: Ohio State 24 - Iowa 10
16 Utah @ 4 TCU
Favorite: TCU, -20
The way it stands now, TCU needs to win out, and have Texas lose a game, to have a shot at the BCS National Championship. This week they face a Utah team that knows all too well what it feels like to go undefeated and not play for the title, as they were in this position last year. If you take out Utah's loss to Oregon, these two teams have combined to allow more than 20 points and score less than 20 points only once, both by TCU. They might have a great team this year, but I think this is the week TCU gets taken out of the title picture.
Pick: Utah 24 - TCU 17
25 West Virginia @ 5 Cincinnati
Favorite: Cincinnati, -8.5
Tony Pike may not be getting the start again this week, but clearly Cincy hasn't missed a beat without him. And somehow, over the same four game stretch, its been West Virginia's offense thats struggled. They've gone from 33.8 points per game in their first five to 22 in their last four. Cincinnati's offense has played consistently well, and hasn't scored less than 28 points all season. I don't see any reason why that will change now.
Pick: Cincinnati 38 - West Virginia 17
Friday, November 6, 2009
College Football Week 10 - Important Matchups
Vanderbilt @ 1 Florida
Favorite: Florida, -35
This game matters because of Brandon Spikes. By now its been everywhere: he tried to gouge out another Waushaun Ealey's eyes, he was suspended for the first half of this game, Ealey didn't want him suspended, Spikes decided to suspended himself for the full game. Well, the only thing talked about more than this in the past few days has been the Alabama-LSU game, and thats just barely. With Florida at 8-0 and Vandy at 2-7, we'll know how much being without Spikes matters by the end of the first quarter, and it probably won't matter much.
Pick: Florida 45 - Vanderbilt 17
9 LSU @ 3 Alabama
Favorite: Alabama, -7.5
As it stands right now, this game will probably have national title repurcussions. The winner will probably play Florida for the SEC title, and the winner of that game will probably play for the BCS National Championship. For both teams, their big games have been low scoring, including LSU's 13-3 loss to Florida. They've both had their moments on offense, but defense has been carrying both teams all season. With both teams fairly even on that side of the ball, the offensive edge goes to Alabama. 'Bama's offense puts up more points and yards per game, and is already 3-0 against ranked opponents to LSU's 1-1.
Pick: Alabama 20 - LSU 13
16 Ohio State @ 11 Penn State
Favorite: Penn State, -3.5
This is the only other ranked-ranked game of the weekend, and it also hold conference title ramifications. With both teams 4-1 in-conference, they trail only undefeated Iowa for the Big Ten title. With Penn State already having lost to Iowa this season, Ohio State clearly needs this game more, as they take on Iowa next week, and would take the conference by winning out. Ohio State has looked beatable this year, and with Terrelle Pryor possibly nursing a leg injury, this could be a close win for Penn State.
Pick: Penn State 28 - Ohio State 24
9 Oregon @ Stanford
Favorite: Oregon, -7
Poor Stanford. Poor, poor Stanford. They are one game away from bowl eligibility and three of their last four games are at home, where they are undefeated this year. Unfortunately, those three games are against 9 Oregon, 20 Cal, 22 Notre Dame, and the away game is next week is at 12 USC. Having already lost to Wake Forest, Oregon State, and Arizona, I'm not giving the Cardinal much hope of bcoming bowl eligible this week. Maybe in two weeks against Cal, but not this week.
Pick: Oregon 35 - Stanford 17
Favorite: Florida, -35
This game matters because of Brandon Spikes. By now its been everywhere: he tried to gouge out another Waushaun Ealey's eyes, he was suspended for the first half of this game, Ealey didn't want him suspended, Spikes decided to suspended himself for the full game. Well, the only thing talked about more than this in the past few days has been the Alabama-LSU game, and thats just barely. With Florida at 8-0 and Vandy at 2-7, we'll know how much being without Spikes matters by the end of the first quarter, and it probably won't matter much.
Pick: Florida 45 - Vanderbilt 17
9 LSU @ 3 Alabama
Favorite: Alabama, -7.5
As it stands right now, this game will probably have national title repurcussions. The winner will probably play Florida for the SEC title, and the winner of that game will probably play for the BCS National Championship. For both teams, their big games have been low scoring, including LSU's 13-3 loss to Florida. They've both had their moments on offense, but defense has been carrying both teams all season. With both teams fairly even on that side of the ball, the offensive edge goes to Alabama. 'Bama's offense puts up more points and yards per game, and is already 3-0 against ranked opponents to LSU's 1-1.
Pick: Alabama 20 - LSU 13
16 Ohio State @ 11 Penn State
Favorite: Penn State, -3.5
This is the only other ranked-ranked game of the weekend, and it also hold conference title ramifications. With both teams 4-1 in-conference, they trail only undefeated Iowa for the Big Ten title. With Penn State already having lost to Iowa this season, Ohio State clearly needs this game more, as they take on Iowa next week, and would take the conference by winning out. Ohio State has looked beatable this year, and with Terrelle Pryor possibly nursing a leg injury, this could be a close win for Penn State.
Pick: Penn State 28 - Ohio State 24
9 Oregon @ Stanford
Favorite: Oregon, -7
Poor Stanford. Poor, poor Stanford. They are one game away from bowl eligibility and three of their last four games are at home, where they are undefeated this year. Unfortunately, those three games are against 9 Oregon, 20 Cal, 22 Notre Dame, and the away game is next week is at 12 USC. Having already lost to Wake Forest, Oregon State, and Arizona, I'm not giving the Cardinal much hope of bcoming bowl eligible this week. Maybe in two weeks against Cal, but not this week.
Pick: Oregon 35 - Stanford 17
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Sunday News - 10/18/09
UCONN CB Jasper Howard has died after being stabbed on campus, hours after the team beat Louisville. [Rivals.com]
Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford re-injured his throwing shoulder early in the 16-13 loss to Texas yeesterday. [Sporting News]
The Ohio State was upset by unranked Purdue, who now improves to 2-5. [Cleveland.com]
Jimmy Johnson won the Banking 500, taking a 90 point lead over Mark Martin for the Sprint Cup. [United Press International]
Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford re-injured his throwing shoulder early in the 16-13 loss to Texas yeesterday. [Sporting News]
The Ohio State was upset by unranked Purdue, who now improves to 2-5. [Cleveland.com]
Jimmy Johnson won the Banking 500, taking a 90 point lead over Mark Martin for the Sprint Cup. [United Press International]
Friday, September 11, 2009
College Footbal Week 2 - Important Matchups
It is hard to call any game important this early in a season, but this week there are two games with some signifigance to them:
3 USC at 8 Ohio State
Favorite: USC, -7
Things in sports tend to be cyclical. Teams are usually great for a couple of years, then decent for a year, then bad for a couple years, then decent, and back to at least good. There are a couple of exceptions to this in recent years: the NY Yankees, the Indianapolis Colts, and, of course, USC football. The Trojans seems to always be in the top-5, and always in title talk, both before and after the season. This is in no small part thanks to Pete Carroll's scouting ability and pro-style schemes. One team that is not an exception is Ohio State. After having major success over the past decade(one undefeated season, a National Championship, and five Big 10 conference championships), the Buckeyes finally look like a team on the decline. Their weaknesses showed last week, barely beating Navy, 31-27. You can be sure Coach Carroll was paying attention.
Pick: USC 31 - Ohio State 13
18 Notre Dame at Michigan
Favorite: Notre Dame, -3
The annual Week 2 meeting of these teams this year takes on added importance, as both teams now look like teams on the rise. Opening week blowouts for both teams have fans hopeful for the rest of the season. For Michigan, head coach Rich Rodriguez has been surrounded by controversy in the off-season, and has been feeling the pressure after going 3-9 in his first season with the Wolverines. The announcement he would rotate QBs throughout the game didn't win him any more fans, especially when coupled with the fact true freshman Tate Forcier would be the starter. The decision payed off, however, as all three QBs looked good as the team won 31-7 over Western Michigan. Notre Dame, however, seems to be a step ahead of Michigan. Last years 6-6 regular season record led to a 41-29 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl win over Hawaii. In that game, then-sophmore Jimmy Clausen and the Irish offense broke 9 Notre Dame bowl game records, including Clausen's 401 passing yards and the teams 478 yards of total offense. Those are stats ND, who started the season ranked 23, is looking to build on.
Pick: ND 31 - Michigan 21
3 USC at 8 Ohio State
Favorite: USC, -7
Things in sports tend to be cyclical. Teams are usually great for a couple of years, then decent for a year, then bad for a couple years, then decent, and back to at least good. There are a couple of exceptions to this in recent years: the NY Yankees, the Indianapolis Colts, and, of course, USC football. The Trojans seems to always be in the top-5, and always in title talk, both before and after the season. This is in no small part thanks to Pete Carroll's scouting ability and pro-style schemes. One team that is not an exception is Ohio State. After having major success over the past decade(one undefeated season, a National Championship, and five Big 10 conference championships), the Buckeyes finally look like a team on the decline. Their weaknesses showed last week, barely beating Navy, 31-27. You can be sure Coach Carroll was paying attention.
Pick: USC 31 - Ohio State 13
18 Notre Dame at Michigan
Favorite: Notre Dame, -3
The annual Week 2 meeting of these teams this year takes on added importance, as both teams now look like teams on the rise. Opening week blowouts for both teams have fans hopeful for the rest of the season. For Michigan, head coach Rich Rodriguez has been surrounded by controversy in the off-season, and has been feeling the pressure after going 3-9 in his first season with the Wolverines. The announcement he would rotate QBs throughout the game didn't win him any more fans, especially when coupled with the fact true freshman Tate Forcier would be the starter. The decision payed off, however, as all three QBs looked good as the team won 31-7 over Western Michigan. Notre Dame, however, seems to be a step ahead of Michigan. Last years 6-6 regular season record led to a 41-29 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl win over Hawaii. In that game, then-sophmore Jimmy Clausen and the Irish offense broke 9 Notre Dame bowl game records, including Clausen's 401 passing yards and the teams 478 yards of total offense. Those are stats ND, who started the season ranked 23, is looking to build on.
Pick: ND 31 - Michigan 21
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