Friday, October 24, 2008

Rod's Rejects - College Football Picks - 10/24/08

A little gloomy looking today - rainy, Calhoun Academy B-Team and JV suffer defeats last night, Gamecocks and Tigers lose last week.

But, good news is still around. The CA Varsity can get themselves into a Region Championship game next week with a win over Robert E Lee tonight (or whenever it will be played due to the rain).

Anyway, on to this week's picks...

IN THE ACC

North Carolina State at Maryland

Tom O'Brien and the Wolfpack head into Turtletown for a mid-afternoon battle of the midlin's. Ralph Friedgen and the Turtle Crew have slowly settled into a pretty good season, and I ain't sure they are ready to have a bunch of Wild Dawgs mess up their good time. The Terps struggle early, but have enough on the shell to take down the Wolfpack.

Rod's Reject - NC State


Virginia Tech at Florida State

Frank Beamer and the Hokey-Pokes strut into Tallamahassee lookin' to peck a few holes into the Semiholes, but Bobby Bowden and the Tribe are gonna be ready for the fight. Florida State will have the arrows pointed in the right direction, and enough of them will hit the mark on Saturday afternoon. The Hokies scratch and claw, but will come up a little short.

Rod's Reject - Virginia Tech


Virginia at Georgia Tech

Al Groh's Sword Toters head into Hotlanta ready to put the upset hat on the Techsters and early on, it may look like they will succeed. But Paul Johnson and the Bumbles are still out to prove that Jackets can do work on the ground and will commence to drive home that point come Saturday. Should be a slugfest, but the Jackets will be the ones applying the last sting.

Rod's Reject - Virginia


Wake Forest at Miami, Florida

The Winston-Salem Churchmen have had to offer up a few prayers recently because they've lost their way, and Jim Grobe will try to get his team to figure it all out at Noon on Saturday as they visit the pews at Miami. But Randy Shannon and his Big Wind won't be real forgiving, and though they may have compassion for the lost, the Hurricanes won't be having too much sympathy for the Demon Deacons.

Rod's Reject - Wake Forest


Boston College at North Carolina

Jeff Jagodzinski and the Eagles fly into Chapel Hill Saturday with all talons aimed and some Goat Hide, but Butch Davis and his Blue Billies will be ready for the air raid. The Heels are lookin' forward to basketball season, but they still have a few scores to settle on the gridiron this year, and the Eagles are next up on the plate.

Rod's Reject - Boston College


IN THE SEC

Kentucky at Florida

Rich Brooks and the Blue Cats head into The Swamp Saturday, hopin' to pounce on an unsuspecting Water Lizard. But Urban Meyer and the Toothy Crew have other plans for the Cats and they will proceed with skinnin' all 9 lives from Kentucky early - and often.

Rod's Rejects - Kentucky


Duke at Vanderbilt

The Golden Shoe has come off of the Vanderbilt Dance this year, but this is still a tough ol' team to deal with. Bobby Johnson and the Ship Steerers are getting into unchartered waters because, with a win, they will become bowl-eligible. David Cutcliffe and the Dukies are trying to get there, too, and have made great strides in getting some respect back at Durham. But it's gonna take a little longer - and this week ain't the week to get it.

Rod's Reject - in a rare meaningful game between Duke and Vandy - Duke


Mississippi at Arkansas

Houston Nutt and the Rebels invade Ar-Kansas for what will surely be an interested day at the ol' ballpark. Nutt ain't gonna get a lot of love from the ex-fans, but I ain't sure the ex-team will have a lot to say about it. Bobby Petrino and the Hawgs continue to struggle - depending on what week it is. And Nutt is the master-motivator - and it works well for this game.

Rod's Reject - Arkansas


Alabama at Tennessee

Nick Saban and the Tide roll into Knoxville for the annual duke-it-out with the Volunteers. Phil Fulmer and the Vols don't look to be able to put up too much resistance, but it's these kind of games that always bite you in the rear. The Elephants need to be sure their tusks have sharp points on 'em, because they could be in trouble if they don't. Scary one for Saban - don't be surprised if this one's an upset. But...

Rod's Reject - Tennessee


Georgia at LSU

Mark Richt and the Dawgs head into Batawn Rouge Saturday, lookin' to sniff out the Tigers and come away with a huge win, but Les Miles and the Striped Ones will have something to say about that. The Bayou Bengals head back home to defend the turf, fresh off of a tough win over USC last week, and they ain't about the let those good feelings go bad after one week.

Rod's Reject - in a tough one - Georgia


Oklahoma State at Texas

Mike Gundy and the Cowpokes head into Austin Saturday for one of the biggest games of the day as they look to put the lasso on the Longhorns, and Mack Brown better have the Steers on full alert. The Cowboys have the arsenal to inflict damage on the home team, but the 'Horns will have a little more come Saturday and will end the rodeo for the Cowboys.

Rod's Reject - Oklahoma State


Oklahoma at Kansas State

Bob Stoops and the Sooner Schooners roll into Manhatten Saturday ready to lay the wood on a bunch of Wildcats, and I don't think it's gonna take too long to do. Ron Prince and the Wildcats will be able to scratch up the ol' Schooner a little, but it won't be near enough to take the wheels of the thing.

Rod's Reject - Kansas State


Texas Tech at Kansas

Mike Leach and the Red Raiders take their Air Circus to Lawrence Saturday and you can bet that the sky will be filled with footballs. Mark Mangino and the Jayhawks hope to slow down the air assault enough to put some points on the home side of the scoreboard - and they will, but I'm not sure it will be enough. This one could go either way...

Rod's Reject - in a close, wild-n-wooly one - Kansas


Penn State at Ohio State

One of the biggest games of the year (at least for these two schools) features Joe Pa and the Nittany Lions at the Shoe against the Buckeyes. Who's gonna win? Heck if I know, but it should be a goodun to watch. Night game. Ohio State. Penn State. Great defenses. Tough breaks. Great hits.

Rod's Reject - in a toss-up - Penn State