College football weekend preview

by WCT, The Ship of Fools

Pic: Wizard of Odds

Week 11 is here and we once again have some really good matchups on the college football slate.

Incidentally, at the bottom of the ESPN college football schedule page I am looking at right now, there is a sponsored link that says "Average Wildcats IQ=127." This begs several questions:

1- What the hell is being advertised here?

2- Who cares?

3- Is this Northwestern? Arizona? Kansas State? Is this an aggregate IQ score for all three?

These are the types of things that go through my head...

(all times eastern)

#11 Ohio State(-11) at #24 Northwestern - Noon - Thanks to a game-winning pick-six in the final minutes in Minneapolis last week, this is a battle of ranked teams, at least in the BCS top 25. Ohio State plays the Wildcats smack-dab in the middle of a Penn St., Illinois, Michigan stretch, so it is natural that they may be overlookng this game.

#20 Georgia Tech at #19 North Carolina(-4)- Noon - Yes, this is a top 25 vs. top 25 game. Who knew? The Jackets were the beneficiaries of a classic Florida State gaff last week, when the Seminoles fumbled the ball into the end zone on what likely would have been the game-winning TD. Georgia Tech ended up winning 31-28. Personally, I don't ever like betting on option teams, especially on the road. How does being on the road affect the option offense you say? I have no idea. Its just one of those gambling hunches we degenerates have from time-to-time. Plus, UNC is 2 plays away from being undefeated. I like the Heels.

#3 Penn State(-7.5) at Iowa - 3:30pm - This is the game that people who think PSU could potentially slip up on their way to the BCS title game have circled. Why? I have no idea. Iowa hasn't beaten anyone worth a damn all season, and the only halfway decent teams the Hawkeyes have played (Pitt, Michigan State, Northwestern) all beat them. Not only that, but if PSU were to have a let-down after the big win in Columbus, it would most likely come in the week immediately following, not after a bye week. The next time Kirk Ferentz surprises me with a win, it will be the first. I'm betting it won't happen this week. Take Penn State.

Clemson at #22 Florida State(-5.5) - 3:30pm - This used to be the Bowden Bowl. Now its just two random, non-descript ACC teams battling to see who gets that Emerald Bowl bid. This is a really tough one for me. On the one hand, betting on FSU is maddening. The penalties, the horrible execution, they have to be consistently one of the worst-coached teams in America. On the other hand, I never bet on Clemson, but that embargo was just during the Tommy Bowden era. Jeez, do I have to? I guess I'll take Clemson and the points.

#1 Alabama(-3) at #16 LSU - 3:30pm - So, apparently, Nick Saban used to coach at LSU(?) Wow, news to me. Surprising that no one has brought that up. Anyway, this is a very curious line. LSU has been destroyed in the only big game they have played in this year, losing by 30 to Florida and 24 to Georgia. Not only that, but their 3 conference wins have come by a combined 22 points. Not very dominant. 'Bama on the other hand, has been very impressive in big games this year, blowing out Georgia and then-ranked Clemson. I really don't see any reason why the Tide should be any less than a 7 point favorite here, which gives me pause. Do these oddsmakers know something that I don't know?

Oregon State(-8) at UCLA - 6pm - You want a sure sign that this college football season is nuts? Guess who controls their own destiny to win the Pac-10 and likely end up in the Rose Bowl? That's right, the Oregon State Beavers. Oregon State is 4-1 in conference, while USC is 5-1. If both teams win out, they will be tied at 8-1, and Oregon State will have the tiebreaker, having beaten the Trojans head-to-head. I don't know about you, but I am rooting for this ridiculous scenario to play out. Lets go Beavs!

#21 Cal at #7 USC(-20.5) - 8pm - Theoretically, Cal, who is also 4-1, could also beat USC, win out, and win the Pac-10. Two things: a) wouldn't as funny/bizarre as Oregon State winning the conference and going to Rose Bowl, and b) not bloody likely. Take USC and lay the 3 TDs.

#9 Oklahoma State at #2 Texas Tech(-3.5) - 8pm - I keep picking the Red Raiders to lose, and they keep winning. Don't get me wrong, I'm pulling for them. If they end up undefeated, BCS chaos is more likely. But I just don't see it happening.