College Picks Of The Week Special Issue!
By Jason Parker
Well, all has calmed down now in the blog world after last week. I was so ecstatic over the outcome of last week's win by FSU that it took me a couple days to realize that our good friend Tim took me to the wood shed last week on picks. That's the last time I do fifteen games in a week and give him a chance at redemption! Anyway, we have hit championship weekend in college football, and still plenty is left to be decided. So let's get right at it, as we sit just two upsets away from possible BCS hell!
Jason This Season: 89-46 (.659) Last Week: 7-8 (pathetic!)
Tim This Season: 86-49 (.637) Last Week: 9-6
FIU vs. Middle Tennessee State: Well, the Panthers went out and ruined my hopes of winning the conference with a losing record. So now, I guess we should jump on the Cristobal bandwagon, eh? After all, they are they only team from Miami-Dade County to win their conference (too soon, 'Canes fans?)
Jason and Tim's Pick: FIU
Washington vs. Washington State: Not going to lie here…really just needed a tenth game.
Jason and Tim's Pick: Washington
***UPSET OF THE WEEK***Rutgers vs. West Virginia: The Mountaineers are still holding out hope for a trip to the BCS as the representative for the Big East. After their big win over rival Pittsburgh last week, they seem to be riding high. For Rutgers, it has been an emotionally difficult season on and off the field, especially since the tragic accident involving Eric LeGrand. At this point, the Scarlet Knights will look at this as their bowl game. I'm picking with my heart here.
Jason's Pick: Rutgers Tim's Pick: West Virginia
USC vs. UCLA: This week's edition of "A Rivalry Game that used to actually mean something" takes us to sunny SoCal. USC wants to end their season with a win over their cross town rivals to justify their late season failure. The Bruins…they just want to end their season.
Jason and Tim's Pick: USC
UCF vs. SMU: While FIU has already wrapped up their conference, and FSU fights for the ACC title (that'll come later), people forget that the Knights also looking to pull a Beyonce and "put a ring on it" (yeah, it's been a long day). George O'Leary looks for his second Conference USA title in four years, and with the 305 machine on offense, it seems to be a reality.
Jason's Pick: Central Florida Tim's Pick: SMU
UConn vs. USF: Meanwhile, across the state, the underachieving Bulls look to play spoiler in the Big East race, as they can keep the Huskies from representing the conference, most likely in the Orange Bowl. USF is a dangerous team, in the sense of you have no clue which team will show up on any given week. Skip Holtz just doesn't give me the confidence that he is the future for them. Welcome to the BCS, UConn!!! (Yikes…never thought I'd say that.)
Jason and Tim's Pick: UConn
Oregon vs. Oregon State: For fans of the Beavers, this year could be classified as the definition of the word disappointment. Expected to compete for the Pac 10 title, they have limped to a 5-6 record…while watching their arch rival Ducks from Eugene quack their way to a undefeated season and sit sixty minutes from playing for their first national title. Imagine the bedlam in this "Civil War" if OSU was to end those dreams. It won't happen, but just imagine that.
Jason and Tim's Pick: Oregon
Oklahoma vs. Nebraska: Old rivals meet up in Arlington as the Cornhuskers continue their "Throwing up the deuces on our way out of the Big 12" tour. The Sooners have now been the benefactor of making it to the conference title game due to the crazy rule that the division is decided by who is the highest ranked BCS team. Winner gets all the chips they can eat at the Fiesta Bowl…I hope the Boomer Sooner-mobile can make it to Arizona.
Jason and Tim's Pick: Oklahoma
FSU vs. Virginia Tech: I remember being a young buck in this profession, in my second year working in Tallahassee and my senior year of college…being in Jacksonville to watch the underdog Seminoles upset the then-#5 Hokies in the inaugural ACC title game. 5 years later, the rematch. Both teams come in as the hottest in the conference, with the Hokies becoming the first team to go undefeated in the league since FSU in 2000. Tyrod Taylor and Christian Ponder could not be more similar at the quarterback position, and both defenses will not hesitate to bring the pressure all night long. It's a real toss up for who comes to South Florida for the Orange Bowl, but I have a feeling I will be taking off January 3rd to cheer on my 'Noles.
Jason and Tim's Pick: Florida State (Kind of threw a guilt trip to force Timbo into picking them…)
***GAME OF THE WEEK***Auburn vs. South Carolina: The Ol' Ball Coach makes his return to Atlanta and the SEC Championship game…only this time its with a mascot named Cocky and the pride of the Palmetto State. South Carolina comes into this game as a huge underdog…and the popular pick to pull the upset of Saturday all at the same time. How is that possible? Remember when these two schools played in September, and South Carolina snatched defeat from the jaws of victory…Spurrier and friends do, and they want revenge. One tiny problem with that…Auburn right now can easily be called the best team in college football, and with the distractions of the Cam Newton "Top Bidder" sweepstakes behind them (for now), it makes the Tigers a very, VERY dangerous ball club. What is lost is that, while Newton is going to win the Heisman trophy and is the unquestioned reason for much of the success, the defense being played on the Plains is straight nasty. I may be one of the few who thinks this way, but I have a funny feeling this one won't even be close. Tim disagrees…imagine that.
Jason's Pick: Auburn Tim's Pick: South Carolina
