Happy Halloween!! Hope you stocked up with lots of candy for the little ghosts and goblins!!
There were a few spooky things with the picks last week, but one thing's for sure - didn't miss the USC and Clemson picks.
Coming down the homestretch with lots of things still to fight for. USC needs a win to get to a bowl and a few more wins to improve the bowl they go to. Clemson needs to finish strong to get to a bowl, so there's lots on the line this week for the big state schools.
On to the picks!!
IN THE ACC
Duke (4-3, 1-2 in the ACC) at Wake Forest (4-3, 2-2 in the ACC)
David Cutcliffe and the Blue Devils make the short trip over to Winston-Salem Saturday for tent revival meeting with the Deacons. Hard to believe, but Duke only needs two wins to become bowl-eligible, and with a tougher schedule coming up, this one is almost a must-win for the Dukies. Jim Grobe and his Preachermen have lost a little faith lately, and the Deacs are scrambling for 6 wins, too. Trouble is, none of these are easy for Wake Forest these days, and this one ain't gonna be easy, either. I'm not sure how many pitchforks the Blue Devils will be taking with them on the trip, but I don't think it's gonna be enough, however many they tote.
Rod's Reject - in a doozy - Duke
Miami, Florida (5-3, 2-2) at Virginia (5-3, 3-1)
Randy Shannon and the Big Wind swirl up to Charlottesville Saturday, lookin' to throw some water on a hot Cavalier squad. Al Groh and the Sword Toters have flat out gotten the job done lately, and they ain't about to pull up the sails just yet. The Hurricanes will be tough on the Cavalier ship, causing it to toss all throughout the game. But I think the Cavaliers weather the storm - barely.
Rod's Reject - Miami, Fla.
#15 Florida State (6-1, 3-1) at Georgia Tech (6-2, 3-2)
Hotlanta is the scene of this clash Saturday as Bobby Bowden and the Semi-holes march into town with an arrow bag full of flyswatters - and ready to take aim at a bunch of stingy Yellow Jackets. Paul Johnson and the Humble Bumbles have stumbled a bit lately, but look to make a big swarm on the visitors from Tallahassee this weekend. This ain't the ole' 1990's Seminoles where they beat everybody badly, but they aren't too bad these days, either. Florida State remains in the hunt for the Atlantic Division champions - and won't let G-Tech get in the way of achieving that goal.
Rod's Reject - in a close one - Georgia Tech
IN THE SEC
Kentucky (5-3, 1-3) at Mississippi State (3-5, 1-3)
Rich Brooks and the battered Blue Cats limp into Starkville for an afternoon showdown with a bunch of downtrodden Dogs. But Sylvester Croom and the Bullies have been down these roads before, and know how to spring a surprise on some unexpecting visitors. While this won't be a pretty game to watch, it will have its moments, and I think the Wildcats will have a few more than the Bulldogs.
Rod's Reject - Mississippi State
#18 Tulsa (8-0, 5-0 in Conference USA) at Arkansas (3-5, 1-4)
Big battle in Arkansas with more twists than a pretzel. Houston Nutt - gone. New Coach - Bobby Petrino. Tulsa comes in with offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn - yep, the former Razorback offensive coordinator. By the way, Tulsa is averaging 56 points per game, 357 passing yards per game, and 624 total yards per game. Memo to the Razorbacks - I don' think you got that kind of offense to keep up with the Golden Hurricanes.
Rod's Reject - Arkansas
Auburn (4-4, 2-3) at Mississippi (4-4, 2-3)
Tommy Tuberville and the War Eagle swoop into Mississippi Saturday, tryin' to keep their feathers from getting totally plucked this season. But ole' Houston Nutt is a pretty good hunter of prey, and the Rebels will have their muskets fully loaded and locked in on the enemy when they fly in. The shots will be on target.
Rod's Reject - Auburn
#8 Florida (6-1, 4-1) vs #6 Georgia (7-1, 4-1) at Jacksonville
Welcome to the game that will decide who stays and who goes in the hunt for the National Championship. Lots of intrigue here - big game, great teams, cocktail party, Dawgs storming the field last year after the first touchdown, etc. Both teams come in ready to play. Mark Richt and the Dawgs will bring the full pound as they try to skin the Gators, but Urban Meyer and the Toothy Crew will have their teeth sharpened and ready for the attack. Regardless of all the pre-game talk, it looks like Florida is the better team.
Rod's Reject - Georgia
NATIONAL GAMES
Nebraska at #4 Oklahoma
While Bo Pelini and the Huskers have good things to look forward to, this weekend ain't one of 'em. Bob Stoops and the Sooner Schooners are rollin' the wagon toward the National Championship, and the Corn-Feds from Nebraska ain't gonna be much more than a speedbump.
Rod's Reject - Nebraska
#1 Texas at #7 Texas Tech
Big shootout in Texas this weekend, and Mack Brown will have the Longhorns ready for the fight. Mike Leary and the Red Raiders, though, will pack plenty of bullets in the pistols, so don't be surprised if t-bone steak isn't on the menu in Lubbock after all is said and done. But the Longhorns have some ammo, too, and some long horns to do some gorin' of their own. Whoever's got the ball last has the best chance.
Rod's Reject - Texas
THE BIG TWO
Clemson (3-4, 1-3) at Boston College (5-2, 2-2)
Dabo Swinney and the new-attitude Tigers get ready to do a little pouncin' at Boston College this weekend, and are getting one of their key Cats (Spiller) back to help with the dance. Jeff Jagodzinski and the Eagles, though, will have their claws ready to defend the home turf. Lots of unknowns for this one: will Dabo have the Tigers ready to play in his 2nd game as coach? How are Harper's and Korn's injuries? How will the Tigers play coming off of an open week? Boston College has been a turnover machine during the last 3 games - does that continue? BC has had a stout defense - but injuries have made deep hits in the lineup. I think the BC loss at North Carolina last week shook up the Eagles, and I don't think they are gonna be over it in time to tackle the Tigers.
Rod's Reject - Boston College
Tennessee (3-5, 1-4) at South Carolina (5-3, 2-3)
A wierd coaching season continues as the talk out of Knoxville is all about Phil Fulmer and if he's gonna last the entire season. Just another thing about this game that the G-Cocks need to look out for. Fulmer's Volunteers head into Columbia for an evening tilt with the Gamecocks, and when they get there, they will see a team exactly like their team - struggling on offense, pretty good on defense, etc. So how will this one play out? I really don't know. Both teams have a lot to play for - who wants it more (and who turns it over less)? If the Gamecocks want to push their way into the upper part of the SEC East, they're gonna have to beat history - Phil Fulmer is 14-1 against the Gamecocks during his time at Tennessee. This year is the year to put a dent in that history.
Rod's Reject - in a scary game - Tennessee
Friday, October 31, 2008
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