NCAA football Week 14

[Umpire in Chief]

Week 14 , I’m one game away from .500. As promised I will be picking all of the major rivalry games. In order to do so, I am going to have to suspend 2 of my rules for the week. First rule, Clemson has been determined to have adequately served their suspension and is now eligible to have their games picked. Second, being that this is rivalry week, I will be picking a few games which are rivalries, but not the most competitive games, these games will be picked. I do this because Rivalry games are the heart of college football and anything can happen when emotions run this high. There have been some huge and embarrassing upsets in rivalry games.

Non-Rivalry Obligatory ECU Pick

UTEP @ ECU

ECU is lucky enough to clench the C-USA East with some help last week. UTEP is not in consideration for the C-USA West, but a win will make them bowl eligible, and therefore is a must win. ECU while they might be able to take a week off better not. They have a bad history of taking it easy at the wrong time. They equally need a win to get their shot at a better bowl game. I actually think this game will be close, but ECU wins.

Rivalry Games (in no particular order)

Texas A & M @ Texas

Huge Rivalry, unfortunately it will not be that competitive. Texas will win, but it will be a good game to watch.

West Virginia University @ Pittsburgh

This will be a great game. A lot of people do not realize the huge rivalry between these two teams because they are not in the same state. This is a huge Big East rivalry, and there is no love lost between these two schools. They’re only a little over an hour away from each other and that add to it. Pittsburgh has a great offense and WVU has a great defense. I’m picking the upset as WVU beats Pittsburgh.

Mississippi State @ Ole Miss

Not much to say here MSU has struggled and are outmatched in the SEC. Even though MSU pulled the big upset against Vanderbilt, they won’t be so lucky against Ole Miss. Ole Miss wins in a lopsided game.

South Carolina @ Clemson

I am fortunate enough that I will be in Death Valley wearing my Purple and Orange Saturday (A little hint to which team I’m picking). This is one of the greatest most heated rivalries around. Clemson has had an insane year. They were ranked #9 in the pre-season and some people, including yours truly, picked them to go all the way. They lost their coach, lost 5 games each to good teams, but the relative ease of their schedule in playing the Citadel, South Carolina State and Duke makes a 6-5 record a bit disturbing. University of South Carolina has had a much tougher schedule and have only lost to tough conference opponents. Looking at it on paper Clemson has put up more points and has allowed fewer points all season, but once again the quality of their opponents has been weak. All of this being said I think this is a must win for Clemson if they want to be able to get a bowl game and take some pride in an otherwise lackluster season. South Carolina has a bit less to play for other than pride. Clemson pulls off the upset, and has a shot at the Eagle Bank Bowl to play Navy.

University of North Carolina @ Duke

Okay this doesn’t have the same passion as it does in basketball, but it’s still a good rivalry. Anything can happen when you put two teams from Tobacco Road together, just look at UNC vs NCSU. UNC has had a great year, and was in the running for the ACC-Coastal much to the surprise of many. Duke has not had a really good football team in recent history, but is probably the best 4-7 team out there as they have pulled some great upsets this year against Vanderbilt, Navy and UVA. They have the capability of playing really great games. This one will be close but UNC wins.

Georgia Tech @ Georgia

Another incredible game. On paper you’d think GT may have an advantage, their defense is tough and stacks up well or even better (on paper) against UGA’s. The difference maker in this game is that UGA has a great offence and while GT’s defense is good, UGA’s offense has faced the best in the SEC and the ACC doesn’t compare. Georgia wins.

Florida @ Florida State

Another huge ACC vs SEC rivalry game. Unfortunately, with the exception of emotion and being at home, Florida State cannot match Florida. Florida is playing for their life as are all of the 1 loss teams. Florida State is in a must win situation with the ACC-Atlantic still very much up for grabs. If FSU wins they win the division, if they loose, they are at the mercy of the BC vs UMD game. If BC wins BC will take the division, If UMD wins they’re safe. Florida wins big.

UVA @ VT

I find this one of the toughest games to pick. On one side you have VT who has the nation’s #4 defense, who they have depended on to win their games because their offense is ranked among the worse in D-I football at #100. VT defense it the reason they are where they are still fighting for the ACC-Costal division top spot. UVA is very inconsistent they will blow games against Duke, Clemson and Connecticut, but turn around and beat teams like ECU, GT, UNC and UMD. Which UVA team will show up at Lane Stadium? I will give the edge to VT as they are at home, have a great defense, and are in a must win. VT needs to both win and have Miami and GT to lose to take the division. VT wins in a tight game.

Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State University

This will be one of the best games this weekend. The two teams are well suited to play each other. Emotions on both sides will be on overdrive. Oklahoma has an insane offense, but OSU has a slightly better defense. OSU has the home field advantage. This has all the markings of a huge upset, but it won’t be. Oklahoma wins in a great game.

Auburn @ Alabama

The Iron Bowl is one fans of these two teams have on their mind every year. Auburn is a great team and a victim of being a good team in a great conference, but have lost 2 crucial games against SEC bottom dwellers Tennessee and Arkansas which ultimately cost them their bowl eligibility. Alabama needs to win this game to remain #1. 'Bama wins .

Houston @ Rice

Okay some of you are reading this saying . This is one of the more interesting games. They are in the same conference, same division and same city. They are both also tied with the same 6-1 record. This game means a lot to both teams. I’m also torn as the only games Rice has lost have been to really good teams; Vanderbilt, Texas and Tulsa. Not bad at all. But look at Houston they lost 3 out of conference games to lesser opponents; OSU, Air Force and Colorado State. But they killed Tulsa 70-30 putting the C-USA West back in play for them. I’m going to cross my fingers and pick Rice in a game which can go either way.

Oregon @ Oregon State

First, I’ll say again that football is not played west of the Rockies. PAC-10 teams are over-rated. I see the Pac-10 equivalent to the Big East or Big Ten; a few good teams, but not serious contenders based on the strength of their schedule. Put a weaker SEC or Big-12 team in the Pac-10 and they will look like a juggernaut. Oregon has the better offense. Oregon State has the better defense. There is a Rose Bowl bid up for grab here as USC will likely get a BCS game. I usually like defense over offense, but in this case I’m going to pick Oregon State to win at home.

USC @ Notre Dame

I’m picking this just because it is a traditional rivalry. But no longer competitive. USC is better on both sides of the ball and Notre Dame will be USC’s boy toys for 60 minuets then the viewers will be put out of their misery. USC wins easily.

A final non-rivalry pick

Maryland @ Boston College

I’m picking this not because it is a rivalry, but it is an important game in the ACC-Atlantic which is still up for grabs. BC is playing for their lives they need to win and FSU lose to take the division. Maryland doesn’t have as much to play for, even with a win they can’t take the division, but would be in better position for a better bowl game. Maryland has played spoiler to some good teams; UVA, VT and FSU and have won every game they’ve gone up against a ranked opponent. BC has also done well and beaten the two ranked opponents they have faced. I think overall BC is better on both sides of the ball. BC is playing for more, at home and will win in a great game.

[mstaylor]

I say GT over G.

You are probably right but I'm rooting for Auburn. Ben Tate is a local boy.

I am staying with MD if they show up.

[Umpire in Chief]

I say GT over G.

I'd like to see this, but objectively can't say it will happen.

[Umpire in Chief]

A pretty good week for me 11-3 but some of the games were too easy or appeared easier than they really were.

Non-Rivalry Obligatory ECU Pick

UTEP @ ECU

...

I actually think this game will be close, but ECU wins.

ECU came to life and lit up UTEP. I was just expecting more from UTEP.

Rivalry Games (in no particular order)

Texas A & M @ Texas

Huge Rivalry, unfortunately it will not be that competitive. Texas will win, but it will be a good game to watch.

Very disappointing game like the other 3 pro games Thursday.

West Virginia University @ Pittsburgh

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I’m picking the upset as WVU beats Pittsburgh.

Got this one wrong, but it still looked like a great game.

Mississippi State @ Ole Miss

Not much to say here MSU has struggled and are outmatched in the SEC. Even though MSU pulled the big upset against Vanderbilt, they won’t be so lucky against Ole Miss. Ole Miss wins in a lopsided game.

Please note that I said lopsided. I think Ole Miss could have scored more, and would have if it meant a shot at a BCS game.

South Carolina @ Clemson

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Clemson pulls off the upset, and has a shot at the Eagle Bank Bowl to play Navy.

Wow when I wrote this I saw that South Carolina was favored by 3. The morning of the game the Greenville paper read that Clemson was the favor by 2 in one column and 1 in another... Either way this was a great game, excellent defense by both teams. It was well worth being in the mist and cold to watch this one live. I forgot to set the DVR for this one so I will watch it on CSS Wednesday. Clemson is redeemed themselves and i hope has found their new head coach.

University of North Carolina @ Duke

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This one will be close but UNC wins.

This apparently was another good game.

Georgia Tech @ Georgia

Another incredible game. On paper you’d think GT may have an advantage, their defense is tough and stacks up well or even better (on paper) against UGA’s. The difference maker in this game is that UGA has a great offence and while GT’s defense is good, UGA’s offense has faced the best in the SEC and the ACC doesn’t compare. Georgia wins.

Wow, I went with logic over emotion and was wrong. I really wanted to see GT win but trying to objectively look at it I didn't see how that would be possible. I'm almost glad I got this one wrong.

Florida @ Florida State

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Florida wins big.

No offense to FSU, but I thought the Gators would win by more. Tebow would be a fool not to vote for himself.

UVA @ VT

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VT wins in a tight game.

I was right this would be a tight game. UVA had their chances.

Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State University

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Oklahoma wins in a great game.

Great game??? If you like offenses that are playing against the Girl Scouts. This game frustrated me terribly. What horrid defense on both sides , but this is the Big 12. Just when I start to give some credit to the Big 12 they slap me in the face with the panties of their defenses. Who ever goes to the BCS title game to play the winner of the SEC will loose badly because there are to parts of a football team and they will lose badly.

Auburn @ Alabama

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'Bama wins .

Did Auburn miss the bus? I expected a better game than that from them.

Houston @ Rice

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I’m going to cross my fingers and pick Rice in a game which can go either way.

Great game, I got lucky in calling this.

Oregon @ Oregon State

First, I’ll say again that football is not played west of the Rockies. PAC-10 teams are over-rated. I see the Pac-10 equivalent to the Big East or Big Ten; a few good teams, but not serious contenders based on the strength of their schedule. Put a weaker SEC or Big-12 team in the Pac-10 and they will look like a juggernaut. Oregon has the better offense. Oregon State has the better defense. There is a Rose Bowl bid up for grab here as USC will likely get a BCS game. I usually like defense over offense, but in this case I’m going to pick Oregon State to win at home.

WRONG!!! but who cares it's the PAC-10

USC @ Notre Dame

I’m picking this just because it is a traditional rivalry. But no longer competitive. USC is better on both sides of the ball and Notre Dame will be USC’s boy toys for 60 minuets then the viewers will be put out of their misery. USC wins easily.

Right, but who cares.

A final non-rivalry pick

Maryland @ Boston College

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BC is playing for more, at home and will win in a great game.

This was a great game I just wish the announcers would forget about the kids uncle is Doug Flutie. The kid had a great game, and he is now being talked about as Doug's nephew. Let him enjoy the game for himself and stand on his own merit.