College Picks-Weekend of November 18

Last Week: 14-6 Season: 152-68

Pomona-Pitzer surprised me with their rout of archrival Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.

It’s shaping up to be a big week in the world of college football…

Oklahoma at Baylor: If this game were in September, I’d be scared to death. Baylor has been wrecked by injuries, and the Sooners continue to overcome adversity. OU rolls. Pick: OU
Oklahoma State at Texas Tech: I don’t know the over-under on this one, but over would be a safe pick. If this were in Stillwater, I’d say OSU in a rout. It’s in Lubbock, and anything can happen. I think OSU is a better team. My gut says Tech. Pick: Tech
Kansas State at Kansas: The Wildcats shocked the world last week with their unexpected upset of Texas. The Jayhawks need this one to become bowl eligible. The Cats get better every week. Pick: K-State
Missouri at Iowa State: The Telephone Trophy is on the line. This is Dan McCarney’s farewell as coach of the ‘Clones. The Cyclones haven’t been very good this year. Mizzou is pretty decent. Pick: Missouri
The School Up North at The Ohio State University: This is the Game of this Century, to date. This is one of the top 5 rivalries in college football, and brings added stakes, as Michigan is ranked #2, and Ohio State has been ranked #1 all season. This game lives up to the hype. Normally, the winner goes to the Rose Bowl. This year, the loser will head to Pasadena. Not a bad consolation prize. Winner goes to the BCS championship game, and the loser can still wind up there if it's a close game and the polls and computers line up right. Michigan covers the spread, but Ohio State wins the game. Pick: Buckeyes
Auburn at Alabama: Still the best intra-state rivalry anywhere, no matter how good or bad the teams are. People in the state of Alabama live for this game 365 days per year. Auburn crashed hard last week in a whipping at the hands of Georgia. Bama has been mediocre all season. Auburn has created a history of winning in Tuscaloosa since Alabama moved their home game to campus from Birmingham. Auburn has a better team. Mike Shula can’t be feeling real secure in his job right now. Pick: Auburn
California at USC: Cal is coming off of a shocking upset loss at Arizona. USC pounded Oregon last week. The Trojans are coming into their own after being upset at Oregon State. I’m afraid this one might be ugly for Cal. Pick: USC
Maryland at Boston College: Huge game in the ACC Atlantic Division. Winner still has a shot at the ACC championship game. Maryland has been living on a wing and a prayer, but has been winning. This one is in Boston. Pick: BC
Iowa at Minnesota: The battle for Floyd of Rosedale. Iowa has been a huge disappointment this year, and quarterback Drew Tate is questionable for this game. Minnesota narrowly escaped with a win over North Dakota State, and has since handily defeated Indiana and Michigan State. The Gophers would become bowl eligible with a win in the HHH Dome. Iowa is melting down. Pick: Gophers
Indiana at Purdue: This one is for the Old Oaken Bucket, and for the first time in several years, the Hoosiers have a chance to win. Purdue is 7-4, and has had a decent season. The Hoosiers have been stumbling of late, but a win would make them bowl eligible. The Bucket stays in West Lafayette. Pick: Purdue
Tennessee at Vanderbilt: Phat Phil’s Big Orange are on a two game losing streak. They also lost to Vandy last year, which very seldom happens. This won’t be a blowout, but the Vols won’t let Vandy beat them two years in a row. Pick: Tennessee
Virginia Tech at Wake Forest: Wake Forest controls their own destiny in the ACC Atlantic Division. The Hokies can’t win the Coastal division, but they can spoil Wake’s run at the Atlantic crown. How real is Wake Forest? I don’t know. Pick: Hokies
West Virginia at Pittsburgh: Thursday night game at the Ketchup Bottle. The Backyard Brawl. WVU is too strong for Pitt. It might not be close. Pick: West Virginia
Rutgers at Cincinnati: Ambush alert for the Scarlet Knights, as the Bearcats are capable of the upset. Rutgers will get a battle and then some. They should have enough to win the game, though. Pick: The State University of New Jersey
Arizona at Oregon: Wildcats are coming off the biggest win of Mike Stoops’ tenure, an upset over Cal. Oregon got smashed by USC at the Coliseum. Can Mike Stoops do what his brother didn’t, win at Oregon? Not this time. Pick: Oregon
N.C. State at North Carolina: Is this a basketball game? Just kidding. One coach is cleaning out his office, and the other one will probably do the same soon. UNC has one win all season, over I-AA Furman. The Wolfpack have three wins. The Tar Heels are coming off an ugly 7-0 loss to Georgia Tech. They score this week, and actually outscore their rival. Pick: UNC
Miami at Virginia: Both programs have seen their better days. Now, this is just a spare 12:00 EST game on Lincoln Financial Sports (the ACC regional TV network). Both schools have produced a ton of NFL players. Problem is, they’re all in the NFL now. Pick: Virginia
Washington at Washington State: The Apple Cup. Washington has been sliding for the last month. WSU has been inconsistent, and got spanked last week by Arizona State. Washington usually wins this game when they are not supposed to. My gut says Huskies. Pick: U-Dub
South Florida at Louisville: Louisville is coming off of a demoralizing loss at Rutgers, after blowing a 25-7 lead. South Florida will give the Ville all they can handle. The Cardinals have more talent, however. Pick: Louisville
Yale at Harvard: Winner has a chance at a share of the Ivy League championship. Yale can win it outright with a win and a Princeton loss. Both teams are 7-2 overall. When in doubt, go with the home team. Pick: Haahvud