WEEK 6 PICKS

WEEK 6 OPAQUE CRYSTAL BALL
PREDICTIONS AND PREDILECTIONS

Last week I correctly picked 4 out of 6.  The Yellow Jackets and Golden Bears proved me wrong in convincing fashion.  Georgia had a win that felt like a loss.  I would settle for that again this week from the Dawgs.  There are many great games tomorrow, so let’s get right on it…

TENNESSEE at GEORGIA
Georgia can’t find the right combination to unlock its offense.  Tennessee is firing on all cylinders.  The Dawgs defense has held it together, but will face its toughest test of the year.  The loss of kicker Brandon Coutu swings the edge in the kicking game completely over to the Vols.  I am happy that Joe T III is back and will hopefully provide the leadership and knowledge of all of the offensive packages to give Georgia a renewal on offense.  But, I can’t conceive of any way that the Dawgs can mend all of the problems shown the past two weeks with the Vols in the opposing uniforms.  Thus, sadly, I suspect it will be UT 17 – UGA 10.

NAVY at USAFA
Navy has won three straight against the Zoomies.  All three have been by 3 point margins.  The last two were last-second field goals.  Air Force showed how capable they are by coming with one two-point conversion from shocking Tennessee at Neyland.  Navy rushes for a Div 1 leading 357 yards per game.  Air Force stands third with 290 rushing yards per game.  The clock will fly in this game.  Air Force has home field advantage.  Navy has Paul Johnson.  Please Navy, make it 4 in a row!  NAVY 31 – USAFA (can you guess?) 28.

TEXAS and OKLAHOMA
I will call this the Red River SHOOTOUT because I like tradition and I don’t think that football games called shootouts kill people, people kill people.  Texas is at least a little better than the Sooners across the board.  Last year Texas finally beat Oklahoma, just as they beat every other team they played.  However, Adrian Peterson was hobbled and gained only 10 yards on 3 carries.  This year, the horse is back and will carry the Sooners to a victory in a classic.  OKLAHOMA 33 – TEXAS 31.

LSU at FLORIDA
LSU brings their bonafide defense into the swamp to try and stop the Gators efficient run of victories.  Chris Leak has guided an improved Gator offense and the Gator defense has been stellar.  The Tigers offense has rolled up scores as follows: 45, 45, 3, 49, 48.  Remember, “Which one of these does not belong with the others” from Sesame Street?  Well, Auburn stopped Jamarcus and the gang from Red Stick.  The Gator defense is probably better than the Auburn defense.  So, will LSU score less than 3?  On the other hand, the Gators have scored 21 and 28 against UT and Bama respectively and lots more points against their lesser 3 opponents.  One of these teams will score a defensive TD and that team will win.  The Gators I know are guardedly optimistic.  Where is the swagger?  I think FLORIDA 17 – LSU 14.
CLEMSON at WAKE FOREST
Wake enters unbeaten.  Clemson is on a roll.  Wakes exits with a loss.  CLEMSON 38 – WAKE 21.

OREGON at CALIFORNIA
Oregon is undefeated (unless you ask Bob Stoops) and Cal is now living up to their pre-Neyland hype.  This is the battle for the second best team in the Pac 10.  Each team beat up on ASU.  I am sure to get this one wrong, no matter how I analyze it.  So I will just pick the home team.  CAL 30 – DUCKS 28.

MISSOURI at TEXAS TECH
Mizzou gets to Lubbock unbeaten.  The Red Raiders are coming off of an emotional close win over Texas A&M.  Tech will be pass happy.  Missouri’s defense has fared well against the run and pass thus far.  Indeed, the Tigers held Ole Miss and Colorado to fewer points than the Dawgs did – while posting 34 more points.  Kind of hard for me to pick against Mizzou even though they are a long way from home in this game.  MIZZOU 33 – TECH 21.

Freebie
STANFORD at NOTRE DAME
The only chance the Cardinal have in this one is if Notre Dame gets caught looking ahead to NAVY.  Yeah, right.  DOMERS 44 – STANFORD 21

MICHIGAN STATE at MICHIGAN
This game is interesting merely to see if Sparty can show any fortitude after getting away from East Lansing after the two baths they took at home the past two weeks.  The Wolverines are solid, explosive and look unstoppable.  Is there any chance of something extremely goofy happening in the Big House under a full moon?  I have a feeling, but it is not strong enough to sway me.  MICHIGAN 34 – SPARTY 28.

MARYLAND at GEORGIA TECH
This is another homecoming for the Fridge.  The field cants towards his sideline when he takes the field.  Not sure if this is an advantage or more of a benign observation.  Are the Techies thinking about the NC State game from last year when they lost a heartbreaker at home?  Maryland is slow.  Tech is fast.  Calvin is unstoppable if he gets the ball.  Tech may lay an egg this season, but this won’t be it.  TECH 31 – TERPS 20.


That is all folks.  Have a safe and enjoyable day.

Go DAWGS. GATA!