Rod's Rejects - College Football Losers - Week #13

It's Rivalry Week - and there are plenty of good ones to watch, starting Friday.

This year's picks have been pretty good...31-9 last week, bringing the yearly total to 386-88 (81%).

Let's jump right into this week's picks - remember, the Reject is the Loser.


Games In The ACC

Virginia Tech (8-3, 5-2 in the ACC) at Virginia (3-8, 2-5 in the ACC)

Frank Beamer and his Hokies head to Charlottesville Saturday for a little in-state scuffle with the Cavaliers, and hope to survive the fight. Al Groh and his Gentlemen have struggled the entire year and will do their best to make their last game of 2009 memorable, and they will succeed...for a while. But the Gobblers survived Thanksgiving Day and are still living to tell about it...and it will be the same on Saturday.

Rod's Reject - Virginia


Boston College (7-4, 4-3 in the ACC) at Maryland (2-9, 1-6 in the ACC)

A woeful season ends Saturday for Maryland as they host Frank Spaziani's Eagles from Boston College, and I'm not sure the end-of-the-season party is going to end well for the Terps. Ralph Friedgen and the Turtles have had some close calls, but the record is what it is - which isn't good. This time of year, you've got what you've got and the better team usually wins. So it will be.

Rod's Reject - Maryland


Miami, Fla (8-3, 5-3 in the ACC) at South Florida (7-3, 3-3 in the Big East)

Randy Shannon and his Coral Gable Wind blow into Tampa Saturday for an afternoon rodeo with the Bulls, and I think they are gonna get more than they're bargaining for. Jim Leavitt and his Steers are more than capable of knocking the Wind off course, and I think they've got enough to weather the storm that the Hurricanes will bring. Question is...can they actually finish the game and come out on top?

Rod's Reject - In An Upset - Miami, Fla


Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5 in the ACC) at Duke (5-6, 3-4 in the ACC)

Actually thought that Wake Forest would have had a better season, but things didn't work out too well for Jim Grobe and his Demon Deacons. And I'm not sure how much better things will get for them Saturday when they visit Durham to take on the Blue Devils. David Cutcliffe has slowly brought some respectability back to the Duke program and will continue to improve the status of Blue Devil football. One way to do that is to get the program to an overall .500 record and to .500 in the ACC. Even though they can't go bowling with a win, the Blue Devils come out Saturday to prove a point.

Rod's Reject - In An Upset - Wake Forest


North Carolina (8-3, 4-3 in the ACC) at N.C. State (4-7, 1-6 in the ACC)

Butch Davis and the Tar Heels spend their Rivalry Saturday in Raleigh, and they had better be prepared for a fight. Though the Wolfpack is short on wins, they're gonna want to come right out and punch UNC in the mouth. The problem for N.C. State, though, is they don't have a whole lot to back up their first punch. The Tar Heels won't win a lot of awards for having the most prolific offense around, but the defense is pretty stout...and that will be the difference this weekend.

Rod's Reject - N.C. State


Georgia (6-5, 4-4 in the SEC) at Georgia Tech (10-1, 7-1 in the ACC)

Mark Richt and the Bulldogs head into the Big City Saturday to take on and take out the Yellow Jackets, but they better bring a lot more to this game than they have this year if they intend to walk out with a win. Paul Johnson and the Jackets will have the ground game going, and I don't think the Bulldog Defense will be able to do a lot about it. Georgia will be motivated to avenge last year's debacle, but those emotions only go so far. Then you have to play the game...block, tackle, etc. Advantage - Georgia Tech.

Rod's Reject - Georgia


Games In The SEC

Florida State (6-5, 4-4 in the ACC) at Florida (11-0, 8-0 in the SEC)

Bobby Bowden and his Seminoles gallop into Gainesville Saturday for what will be an ultra-emotional day for both teams. For Florida State, all the talk is about Bobby Bowden and how much longer he'll stay at FSU. For Florida, it's Senior Day, with many players taking the field for the last time for the Gators...including Tim Tebow. On the field, the Seminoles can put up some points, but won't be able to as much this week against the Gator defense. And the Seminole defense...well, let's just say I think they will be better next year. An exciting game, but the Gators pull away in the end.

Rod's Reject - Florida State


Tennessee (6-5, 3-4 in the SEC) at Kentucky (7-4, 3-4 in the SEC)

Wow...Tennessee has won 24 straight against Kentucky. To put that into perspective, the last time Kentucky beat the Volunteers was during my freshman year at USC-Aiken...in 1984. Lane Kiffin and UT will be ready for this one, but I think the Wildcats may be 'more ready.' The Wildcats trot across 27 Seniors on Senior Day before the game, and I'm sure UK and its fans are more than ready to end this nasty streak. And I think they will get it done.

Rod's Reject - In An Upset - Tennessee


Mississippi (8-3, 4-3 in the SEC) at Mississippi State (4-7, 2-5 in the SEC)

The 106th Egg Bowl kicks off in Starkville Saturday a little after noon, and Dan Mullen and the Bulldogs will be anxious to make it a happy one for all the fans dressed in Maroon. But Houston Nutt and his Rebels are finally hitting their stride and don't won't to drop this one to their rival. Mississippi State can run the ball well, but the Rebels defense isn't too bad and will limit what the Bulldogs can do. Then the balanced Rebel offense will take over and lead UM to the victory.

Rod's Reject - in a classic - Mississippi State


Alabama (11-0, 7-0 in the SEC) at Auburn (7-4, 3-4 in the SEC)

Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide are looking forward to completing an undefeated regular season, but will have to beat rival Auburn to do it. And that's not going to be easy. To win the Iron Bowl, Alabama's gonna have to do what the do and keep Auburn from getting their offense going. Like all these rivalry games, I think emotions and excitement keep this one close for a while, and eventually the Crimson Tide will wear down the Tigers on both side of the ball.

Rod's Reject - Auburn


Arkansas (7-4, 3-4 in the SEC) at LSU (8-3, 4-3 in the SEC)

Bobby Petrino and the Razorbacks look to accomplish a rare feat...beating LSU at night in Baton Rouge. And Arkansas might have the firepower to do it. Les Miles and the Tigers will have to quickly regroup from the end-of-the-game fiasco last week that certainly has to have them down a bit. LSU doesn't have a lot of ways to score points, and even though the Tiger defense is tough, Arkansas can get some points. The Razorbacks ding up the scoreboard just enough to sneak out with a win.

Rod's Reject - In An Upset - LSU


The Big One In South Carolina

Clemson (8-3, 6-2 in the ACC) at South Carolina (6-5, 3-5 in the SEC)

Could write a book on the analysis of this game, but the actions on the field will ultimately decide the 107th game between these two schools.

The outcome of this game will be determined by the following 3 Key Areas.

1. The Defenses

Statistically speaking, both the Clemson and South Carolina defenses are about as tough as they come. Clemson (#12 in the country in total defense) and USC (#17 in the country in total defense) will both show why they are ranked in the category as high as they are. Both also are ranked high nationally in passing defense (USC - #7; Clemson #12). So with both defenses being close to equal, does one have an advantage over the other's offense more so than the other? Yes, and here's why. USC had done really well with its Passing Defense, but has struggled a little against teams with decent rushing attacks. Clemson's offense is balanced (204 ypg passing; 166 ypg rushing) and will present the Gamecock defense with a tough challenge of having to stop both aspects. Conversely, the Gamecock offense is very one-sided (240 ypg passing: 116 ypg rushing) - no, that doesn't look like it's real off-kilter, but it is, and I'll explain that in Section 2 - Offense below. Also, the Gamecock's strength offensively (passing) goes right into the teeth of the Tiger defense as they are one of the best passing defenses in the country. Any inability of USC to run the ball will make the Gamecocks one-dimensional and will play right into the strength of the Tigers. To top that off, Clemson is #2 in the country in getting interceptions (20 for the year). A positive for USC is that over the last 3 games, Clemson's defense has given up over 20 points in each game - to competition that isn't exactly the toughest (Florida State, N.C. State, Virginia) - so there is some hope for the Gamecocks.

2. The Offenses

USC Offense

Above, I mentioned that the USC offense was not balanced, even though the overall season numbers aren't bad (240 ypg passing; 116 ypg rushing). But here is why its offense has the potential to become one-dimensional Saturday. Against teams that have Top 20 defenses, USC put up the following rushing stats, and lost all but one of the games (#1 defense in the country Florida - 64 rushing yards; #2 defense Alabama - 61 rushing yards; #19 defense Mississippi - 65 rushing yards; #20 defense Tennessee - 65 rushing yards). Clemson has the #12 defense in the country - you do the math. I don't see where the Gamecocks will magically become a balanced offense against a good defense in the 12th game of the year. As far as scoring goes, USC is averaging 20 points per game for the season, but only 12.5 points per game against Top 20 defenses - and again, Clemson is #12 in the country in total defense. And one more thing to be worried about for USC - the Gamecocks have given up 33 sacks this year (#109 in the country in sacks allowed). Clemson's defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 33 times this year, good for #11 in the country in that category. That's not a good matchup for USC.

Clemson Offense

The Tiger offense has been clicking over the past 6 games, though the defensive competition has not been overwhelming. The past 6 games, the opposing defenses are ranked as follows (Wake Forest - #73 defense in country; Miami - #33; Coastal Carolina (#55 in Division I-AA; Florida State - #106; N.C. State - #52; Virginia - #47). But to their credit, Clemson has dinged the scoreboard against all 6 teams, averaging about 41 points per game during the 6-game winning streak. Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker has also gotten the hot hand over the 6-game winning streak, hitting many different targets for 13 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. Against a comparable defense (TCU), Parker struggled though as he went 17-37 for 192 yards with no TDs or INTs.

3. - Kicking/Special Teams

I don't really need to put a lot of analysis on this area, other than to say this area is to Clemson's advantage. I think we all know why.

Intangibles

One of the biggest intangibles I see for this game is overall confidence. For USC, the confidence level has to be down a little after seeing another promising season slide downhill. I fully believe this team is a different team versus last year's that seemingly never showed up from the kickoff at Clemson. It's much more of a true team. But still, it's difficult to be full of confidence when you're on a losing streak. Clemson has all the confidence in the world (which could get them into trouble in this game). While it is true that the Atlantic Division of the ACC may not be the strongest around, Clemson has still rattled off some impressive numbers lately, and if nothing else, that allows your team to come into a game playing with full confidence.

C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford also have to be listed as intangibles - for obvious reasons.

What Will Happen?

This one will be a scrap, for sure. Clemson has one 9 out of the last 10 played in Columbia. The last one USC won in Willy-B? 2001, a game that started at Noon. Any karma there? I'm not sure. I know Clemson is riding a hot streak over the last 6 games - scoring a total of 249 points in that streak. USC's offense, on the other hand, has scored 227 - for the entire year. So the Gamecocks operate Saturday on a razor-thin margin of error. For USC to win, they have to establish some kind of running game, score when they get a chance (TDs versus FGs), and keep Spiller, Ford, and Palmer in check). Since the USC offense won't be able to score over 17 points, it will need some help from it's defense and special teams to score points - or hold Clemson to under 17 points. One slip-up by allowing Spiller/Ford a special teams or offensive TD will put USC in a really tough spot, because I'm not sure they've got enough offense to overcome. A real wild one in Columbia sees the Tigers having too any weapons for USC and the Gamecocks being turned into a one-dimensional team, having to pass into one of the nation's top pass defenses. It's a close one, but the Tigers edge the Gamecocks in an epic battle. But it's gonna be tight.

Rod's Reject - South Carolina


Other Losers This Week

Pittsburgh will lose to West Virginia
Louisville will lose to Rutgers
Eastern Michigan will lose to Akron
Wyoming will lose to Colorado State
Memphis will lose to Tulsa
Illinois will lose to Cincinnati
Colorado will lose to Nebraska
Toledo will lose to Bowling Green
Nevada will lose to Boise State
Syracuse will lose to Connecticut
Missouri will lose to Kansas
New Mexico will lose to TCU
Southern Mississippi will lose to East Carolina
Tulane will lose to SMU
Baylor will lose to Texas Tech
Oklahoma State will lose to Oklahoma
Utah will lose to BYU
Rice will lose to Houston
Washington State will lose to Washington
Arizona State will lose to Arizona
New Mexico State will lose to San Jose State
Notre Dame will lose to Stanford
UCLA will lose USC
Hawaii will lose to Navy

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Rod's Rejects - College Football Picks - Week #12

The college football season is winding down, but many great games remain, including rivalry games, bowl games, etc.

The picks this year have been pretty good, but a few upsets gave me a few more losses than expected. Last week, the record was 34-6, bringing the overall record to 355-79 (82%).

Let's see what's in store for this week's games.


Games Around The ACC

N.C. State (4-6, 1-5 in the ACC) at Virginia Tech (7-3, 4-2 in the ACC)

Tom O'Brien and his Wild Dawgs head into Blacksburg Saturday for afternoon tilt against the seasonal Turkeys of Virginia Tech. The Wolfpack ain't had a whole lot to howl about this year, and they need to win the rest of their games to get to a bowl. But first, they have to win this one...but that's a tall order. Frank Beamer and his Hokies are a proud bunch of Gobblers, and will do what they have to do to defend the coop at home.

Rod's Reject - N.C. State


Maryland (2-8, 1-5 in the ACC) at Florida State (5-5, 3-4 in the ACC)

Ralph Friedgen and this bunch of turtle-soup Terps slowly crawl into Tallahassee hopin' to be able to dodge the arrows and spears being thrown at them from the Tribe, but turtles like these from Maryland won't be able to move fast enough to avoid the disaster. Bobby Bowden and his Seminoles ain't hit on all cylinders this year, and statistically have one of the worst defenses in the nation, but I don't think the Terps will have enough firepower to challenge that group. The Seminoles, at 5-5, will have better speed and athletes to get this one done.

Rod's Reject - Maryland


Duke (5-5, 3-3 in the ACC) at Miami, Florida (7-3, 4-3 in the ACC)

Believe it or not, Duke is still bowl-eligible, but they have to win their last two games in order to be a participant in bowl-land. Problem is, to get that done, they're gonna have to beat Miami this weekend...in Miami. David Cutcliffe and his bunch of Blue Devils have made some strides this year, and have a great QB in Thaddeus Lewis. Randy Shannon and his Big Wind have brought back "The U" to a place where they are playing competitive football, and the results from this year has shown that. The Blue Devils make this one interesting, and don't be surprised if this is closer than you think. But I believe Duke being very one-dimensional will be their downfall in this one.

Rod's Reject - Duke


North Carolina (7-3, 3-3 in the ACC) at Boston College (7-3, 4-2 in the ACC)

Frank Spaziani and the Eagles kick off a nooner with the Tar Heels, and hope that the keep on winning while Virginia pulls off an Upset over the Clemson Tigers - as that is the only way Boston College will win the ACC Atlantic. But first, they have to deal a spry bunch of Tar Heels. Butch Davis and his Blue Goats head into Chestnut Hill aimin' to do some bird-huntin', and may just be able to bag the limit. This will be a defensive struggle, and I like the Tar Heels in that scenario.

Rod's Reject - In An Upset - Boston College


Games Around The SEC

Chattanooga (6-4,4-4 in the FCS Southern Conference) at Alabama (10-0, 7-0 in the SEC)

For some reason, the FCS (formerly Division I-AA) Mocs make the last-season trip to Tuscaloosa to face the undefeated Crimson Tide. The Mocs have done pretty well, but are way out of their league in this one. Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide continue to roll toward the big showdown with Florida in the SEC Championship Game, and this game won't do much to deter them from that.

Rod's Reject - Chattanooga


Florida International (3-7, 3-4 in the Sun Belt) at Florida (10-0, 8-0 in the SEC)

Mario Cristobal and his Golden Panthers limp into the Swamp Saturday to try to dig their claws into a bunch of haughty Gators, but they ain't ever gonna get close enough to 'em to do it. Urban Meyer and his Toothy Crew should cruise in this one as they will look forward to next week's shin-dig with the Seminoles.

Rod's Reject - Florida International


Mississippi State (4-6, 2-4 in the SEC) at Arkansas (6-4, 2-4 in the SEC)

Dan Mullen and his Starkville Bullies head into Little Rock Saturday takin' aim at a bunch of Wild Pigs, but I ain't sure they got enough bark left in 'em to do much damage. The Bulldogs have gotten better this year, but they seem to be a year or two away from challenging the West a little more than they do now. Bobby Petrino and his Razorbacks ain't been much on the "D" side this year, but the offense has found a way to ding up the scoreboard...and that will be the difference Saturday.

Rod's Reject - Mississippi State


Kentucky (6-4, 2-4 in the SEC) at Georgia (6-4, 4-3 in the SEC)

Rich Brooks and his Blue Cats limp into Sanford Stadium Saturday with plenty of questions at the QB position as well as the possibility of not having Randall Cobb on the field. The Wildcat defense has been pretty good this year, and should be adequate against the Bulldogs, but the offense may really struggle to get on the board much. Mark Richt and his Bulldogs will be ready for the fight, but will really need to hunker down on defense to take care of the Cats. Plus they better get this win, because Georgia Tech is just around the corner.

Rod' Reject - Kentucky


Vanderbilt (2-9, 0-7 in the SEC) at Tennessee (5-5, 2-4 in the SEC)

The Battle of Tennessee takes place in Knoxville Saturday night, and Bobby Johnson and his Ship Steerers will try their best to avoid an 0-fer SEC record, but Lane Kiffin and the Free Fighters will be more than happy to put the Commodores at 0-8. The big problem with Vandy this year has been the lack of offense, and things ain't gonna get any better for them against this stout UT defense. The Volunteers will start slow, but will eventually pull away to get to their 6th win.

Rod's Reject - Vanderbilt


LSU (8-2, 4-2 in the SEC) at Mississippi (7-3, 3-3 in the SEC)

Mississippi is finally playing like most folks thought they would, which means trouble for LSU. Les Miles and his Bengal Tigers hope to put a few claw marks on the Rebels Saturday afternoon, but I'm not sure they're gonna be able to. Houston Nutt and the Rebels have enough talent to take care of the Tigers...and I think they will do just that this weekend.

Rod's Reject - LSU


Key Games Around The Nation

Ohio State (9-2, 6-1 in the Big 10) at Michigan (5-6, 1-6 in the Big 10)

Jim Tressel and his Tree Nuts head into the Big House Saturday with plans on officially giving Michigan a losing season, but it ain't gonna be easy. Rich Rodriguez and the Wolverines have had some ups and downs this year, and the UM fans would love to get to 6-6 by handing it to the Buckeyes. But I think OSU is a little too strong this year and will end up on the right side of the scoreboard when all is said and done.

Rod's Reject - Michigan


Penn State (9-2, 5-2 in the Big 10) at Michigan State (6-5, 4-3 in the Big 10)

Joe Paterno and his Mountain Cats head into Big Sparty-Ville, right into an uh-oh game as Mark Dantonio and the Green Fighters will be more than ready to skin the cats. This will be a great game, but I think a few ill-timed Nittany Lion turnovers makes the difference.

Rod's Reject - In An Upset - Penn State


California 7-3, 4-3 in the PAC 10) at Stanford (7-3, 6-2 in the PAC 10)

A PAC 10 showdown happens at Stanford Saturday as Jeff Tedford and his wooly Bears look to have an all-out brawl with the Cardinal. The Bears have had a good year, but Stanford has come on stronger of late and the combination of Andrew Luck at QB and bruiser RB Toby Gerhart have fueled the late season surge. It contnues on Saturday.

Rod's Reject - in a doozy - California


The Big Two In South Carolina

Virginia (3-7, 2-4 in the ACC) at Clemson (7-3, 5-2 in the ACC)

The Big Day is here for Dabo Swinney and his Tigers...a chance to win the ACC Atlantic Division. No more hoping somebody else helps them out, no more wishing they shoulda beat somebody earlier in the season, etc. The Tigers hold in their own hands the ability to claim the prize...and they will not be disappointed. Al Groh and the Cavaliers head into Death Valley for a 3:30 scrap, but it won't take long for them to find out that they ain't gonna like the outcome. The Tigers are rolling, averaging 42 points per game during their 5-game winning streak since losing to Maryland. On the other hand, Virginia is last in the conference in both scoring offense and total offense, so don't look for UVA to do much damage to the scoreboard. Tiger fans will be celebrating after this one, and then will be looking forward to South Carolina and to the ACC Championship Game.

Rod's Reject - Virginia


Other Losers This Weekend

Utah State will lose to Boise State
Michigan will lose to Ohio State
Northwestern will lose to Wisconsin
Minnesota will lose to Iowa
Louisville will lose to South Florida
Syracuse will lose to Rutgers
Iowa State will lose to Missouri
Kent will lose to Temple
Wyoming will lose to TCU
Connecticut will lose to Notre Dame
Washington State will lose to Oregon State
Penn State will lose to Michigan State
Arizona State will lose to UCLA
California will lose to Stanford
Air Force will lose to BYU
UAB will lose to East Carolina
Kansas State will lose to Nebraska
Texas Tech will lose to Oklahoma
Baylor will lose to Texas A&M
Rice will lose to UTEP
San Diego State will lose to Utah
Louisiana Tech will lose to Fresno State
Arizona will lose to Oregon
Tulsa will lose to Southern Mississippi
Kansas will lose to Texas
Memphis will lose to Houston
Tulane will lose to Central Florida
New Mexico State will lose to Nevada

Rod's Rejects - College Football Picks - Week #11

Remember, the reject is the loser!!

Games Around The ACC

Georgia Tech (9-1, 6-1 in the ACC) at Duke (5-4, 3-2 in the ACC)

Paul Johnson and his Atlanta Sting prepare to swarm into Durham Saturday, hopin' to continue an amazing run in the ACC and get to a 10-win season. But David Cutcliffe and his Blue Devils ain't quite ready to make headlines in the newspapers for the wrong reasons, and will put up an honorable defense of the home field. But it won't be enough as the Jackets take this one, but it will be a little closer than you think.

Rod's Reject - Duke


Virginia Tech (6-3, 3-2 in the ACC) at Maryland (2-7, 1-4 in the ACC)

The Hokies have not had their best overall season this year, but still have goals ahead that would take them to a really good bowl. Maryland, on the other hand, well...has been Maryland. Frank Beamer and the Hokies take a few minutes to knock the cobwebs out, but will firmly take control of this one in the 2nd half.

Rod's Reject - Maryland


Boston College (6-3, 3-2 in the ACC) at Virginia (3-6, 2-3 in the ACC)

Frank Spaziani and the Eagles swoop into Charlottesville Saturday, lookin' to clamp their claws around some Charlottesville Gentlemen, but the Cavaliers have been known to come up with a plan to dodge such attack. Problem is, they haven't been able to implement that plan this year. Al Groh's Cavaliers have had a rough year, and it won't be any better after Saturday.

Rod's Rejects - Virginia


Miami, Fla (7-2, 4-2 in the ACC) at North Carolina (6-3, 2-3 in the ACC)

Randy Shannon and the Big Wind blow into Chapel Hill Saturday, and waiting for them will be a bunch of riled-up Blue Billies ready to do some buttin'. Butch Davis and his Tar Heels are pretty strong on the "D" side, but the Canes will have the edge on offense. So who wins? This one will be worth watching, and could end up going either way.

Rod's Reject - in a close one - North Carolina


Florida State (4-5, 2-4 in the ACC) at Wake Forest (4-6, 2-4 in the ACC)

This one is a battle to see who stays in the Great American ACC Bowl Hunt, and both will come out fightin' for their lives. Bobby Bowden has been grilled most of the year for the on-the-field results for his Seminoles and I'm sure he's ready to hush the critics. Jim Grobe and the Deacons will also come correct, making this one a great battle to watch.

Rod's Reject - in a nailbiter - Florida State


Games Around The SEC

Kentucky (5-4, 1-4 in the SEC) at Vanderbilt (2-8, 0-6 in the SEC)

Rich Brooks and the Blue Cats hope to gain bowl-eligibility Saturday in Nashville against a team that has nothing left to fight for but pride. Believe me, Bobby Johnson won't let his Commodores just finish out the rest of the season without a fight, but his offense doesn't have a lot to attack with, making it difficult to win any more games. The Wildcats will struggle, but will pull away in the 2nd half.

Rod's Reject - Vanderbilt


Auburn (7-3, 3-3 in the SEC) at Georgia (5-4, 3-3 in the SEC)

Sanford Stadium is the scene for this clash and a lot will be on the line for both teams. Mark Richt and the Junkyards will have the home crowd on their side and Richt will hope the defense makes enough plays to keep the Bullies in the game. Gene Chizik has exceeded expectations this year at Auburn, and a win at Georgia will almost top things off. It won't be easy - for either one of 'em.

Rod's Reject - Auburn


Alabama (9-0, 6-0 in the SEC) at Mississippi State (4-5, 2-3 in the SEC)

Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide head right into a Starkville Trap Game Saturday night, and Dan Mullen will definitely have his Maroon Bullies ready for the fight. This has the potential to be the upset of the day, and will go late into the 4th quarter before this one's decided. The Crimson Tide escapes again...barely.

Rod's Reject - in a dogfight - Mississippi State


Tennessee (5-4, 2-3 in the SEC) at Mississippi (6-3, 2-3 in the SEC)

This one should probably be taken off the list as breaking news Thursday was that three UT players were arrested for robbery - good players, contributors, and I have no way of knowing right now if they will play or not. That being said, Lane Kiffin and the Volunteers have gone on a surge lately and things are running a little more smoothly for the Orange Nation. Houston Nutt and the Rebels haven't quite attained the goals they once sought after, but every game in the SEC is a pride game and I'm sure the Rebels will have plenty of that Saturday.

Rod's Reject - in a close one - Tennessee


Games Around The Nation

Iowa (9-1, 5-1 in the Big Ten) at Ohio State (8-2, 5-1 in the Big Ten)

Jim Tressel and the Buck Nuts have seen a vision materialize in the past week after Iowa got beat, and now is OSU's moment to achieve. Iowa, after such a terrific start to the season, suffered a loss last week, and also lost their starting quarterback. The Hawkeye defense is for real, and will shut down the Buckeyes most of the day, but I don't think Iowa can score enough points to match 'em.

Rod's Reject - Iowa


Stanford (6-3, 5-2 in the Pac 10) at Southern California (7-2, 4-2 in the Pac 10)

Jim Harbaugh and his California Trees head into Trojan-ville Saturday, hopin' to knock off the Trojans at home again. But Pete Carroll and his Horse Riders defend the home turf well, and won't let just anybody come into their house and rule. Watch out for Stanford...good quarterback, great runningback, and the team has the ability to pull this one off. But I think the thing that hurts them in this one is their defense.

Rod's Reject - Stanford


Utah (8-1, 5-0 in the Mountain West) at TCU (9-0, 5-0 in the Mountain West)

Another huge game this week - this one in the Mountain West Conference. The Utes roll into the Lonestar State ready for the upset, but Gary Patterson and the Horny Toads ain't gonna have none of it. Big time game for both, big time results for TCU.

Rod's Reject - Utah


The Big Two In South Carolina

Clemson (6-3, 4-2 in the ACC) at N.C. State (4-5 1-4 in the ACC)

Honestly, this is just the type of game where Clemson's season has crashed and burned in the past - and Dabo Swinney knows it. Convincing the Tigers to know it - and apply the solution - will be the test. But this week, Tom O'Brien and the Wolfpack, though they can move the ball and score points, really don't have a viable defense and will be starting a couple of new guys (freshmen) in the secondary - so they won't be able to hold the Tigers in check for four quarters. Lots of defensive injuries for the Pack, and too much Spiller and Ford, equals a rough day for the Wild Dawgs.

Rod's Reject - N.C. State


Florida (9-0, 7-0 in the SEC) at South Carolina (6-4, 3-4 in the SEC)

Conversely to the Clemson game above, this is exactly the kind of game where USC shows up, plays well, and gets reasonably close to a win. How close they get in this one depends on a lot of things. The Gamecock defense is good, but missing some key components, and the offense has struggled - now, they have to face one of the best defenses in the country. To pull the upset Saturday, the G-Cocks will need (a) a rock-solid kicking game, with a big return for a touchdown or either get very close to scoring, (b) the offense will have to keep the ball for periods of time versus 3-n-outs, and (c) the defense will have to come up with some big turnovers and turn them into points. I really like the Gamecocks' chances Saturday, except for the Gator defense being in the way. Without some key Gator turnovers and some luck in the kicking game, I think Florida will move to 10-0. And so it will be.

Rod's Reject - South Carolina


Other Losers Around The Country

West Virginia will lose to Cincinnati
Northwestern will lose to Illinois
Syracuse will lose to Louisville
Michigan will lose to Wisconsin
Indiana will lose to Penn State
Purdue will lose to Michigan State
Baylor will lose to Texas
Eastern Michigan will lose to Western Michigan
New Mexico will lose to BYU
Kansas will lose to Nebraska
Colorado will lose to Iowa State
Washington State will lose to UCLA
Idaho will lose to Boise State
Notre Dame will lose to Pitt
Arizona will lose to California
Arizona State will lose to Oregon
Missouri will lose to Kansas State
Texas A&M will lose to Oklahoma
San Jose State will lose to Utah State
Fresno State will lose to Nevada
UNLV will lose to Air Force
Troy will lose to Arkansas
Louisiana Tech will lose to LSU
New Mexico State will lose to Hawaii
Central Florida will lose to Houston
Texas Tech will lose to Oklahoma State
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Rod's Rejects - College Football Losers - Week #10

This week has a shortened version of the picks...didn't get back from a week-long business trip until late in the afternoon Thursday.

I don't have the stats from last week, though I don't think they were too great. I'll have the complete stats in next week's picks.

On to this weekend's games - hope your team wins.


Games Around The ACC

Wake Forest (4-5, 2-3 in the ACC) at Georgia Tech (8-1, 5-1 in the ACC)

Jim Grobe and the Winston-Salem Preachermen hit the revival circuit this weekend, and Atlanta is on the list for this week's stop. But I ain't sure the Deacons will get much of a warm reception. Paul Johnson and his Humble Bumbles are stingin' everybody they come in contact with this year, and I don't look for Saturday to be much different.

Rod's Reject - Wake Forest


Virginia (3-5, 2-2 in the ACC) at Miami, Fla (6-2, 3-2 in the ACC)

Al Groh and the Cavaliers pay a polite visit to South Beach in hopes of pullin' off a win, but they will have to fight a Strong Wind in order to do it, and I don't think that'll happen successfully for the Cavs. Randy Shannon and the Hurricanes have shifted to a Category 2 storm lately, but still have enough power to knock out the Charlottesville Gentlemen. And so it will be on Saturday.

Rod's Reject - Virginia


Duke (5-3, 3-1 in the ACC) at North Carolina (5-3, 1-3 in the ACC)

David Cutcliffe had his Blue Devils one win away from being bowl-eligible, and hope to take care of the 6th win this weekend at Chapel Hill, but Butch Davis and the Tar Heels have other plans about that. The Blue Goats have had a year that hasn't matched expectations, and currently stand in last place in the ACC Coastal. But some of the wounds could be healed with a victory over Duke...and I think that will happen.

Rod's Reject - Duke


Maryland (2-6, 1-3 in the ACC) at N.C. State (3-5, 0-4 in the ACC)

Wow...turnout for this classic oughta be off the charts. Both of these teams have struggled, with no clear sign of any turnarounds in sight. Ralph Friedgen and the Terps have belly-crawled all season long and hope to hang on to dreams of going to a bowl, but Tom O'Brien and the Wolfpack will end those dreams at Carter-Findley on Saturday.

Rod's Reject - Maryland


Games Around The SEC

Vanderbilt (2-7, 0-5 in the SEC) at Florida (8-0, 6-0 in the SEC)

Bobby Johnson and his Commodores sail into Gainesville Saturday on a ship that has already taken on way too much water, and lobbing a few cannons at the Gators ain't gonna make the boat float any better. Urban Meyer and the Toothy Crew continue on their march toward a National Championship, and this week's opponent provides no resistance toward that goal. My only warning about this game...I hope the Commodores are all wearing face shields with their helmets.

Rod's Reject - Vanderbilt


Tennessee Tech (5-3, 4-2 in I-AA Ohio Valley) at Georgia (4-4, 3-3 in the SEC>

Mark Richt and the Red Clay Hounds take a break this weekend as they welcome the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech. Watson Brown and his Birds aren't doing too badly in D I-AA, but count their biggest victories of the year against Southeast Missouri State by 12 points and Austin Peay by 8 points. The Bulldogs roll as they get ready for Auburn next week.

Rod's Reject - Tennessee Tech


LSU (7-1, 4-1 in the SEC) at Alabama (8-0, 5-0 in the SEC)

This Battle of the SEC West should be well worth watching, and honestly could go either way. Les Miles and the Bengal Tigers prowl into Bear-Ville Saturday and look to knock the king off of the mountain, but Nick Saban and the Ephalumps will be more than ready to defend their turf from the invading felines. Both defenses are pretty stout, and the offenses don't light up the scoreboard, but I think the home field is the advantage in this one.

Rod's Reject - in a doozy - LSU


Games Around The Nation

Ohio State (7-2, 4-1 in the Big Ten) at Penn State (8-1, 4-1 in the Big Ten)

This one will have huge ramifications on who wins the Big Ten this year, and it's a home game for the Nittany Lions, and that will make the difference. Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes will storm Happy Valley and will make things tough for Penn State, and the Nittany Lions will find out that OSU will be a tough nut to crack. But Jo Pa's cats will be able to get the job done...but it will take a while.

Rod's Reject - Ohio State


The Big Two In South Carolina

Florida State (4-4, 2-3 in the ACC) at Clemson (5-3, 3-2 in the ACC)

Bobby Bowden and his Seminoles gallop into Death Valley Saturday lookin' to for a place to throw down the spear and claim victory, but it'll be hard to find a place to do that against this bunch of Tigers. Dabo Swinney and the Pickens County Pride have kicked their season into another gear and look to finish strong and win the ACC Atlantic, and a win over Florida State will greatly help those chances. The Seminoles = pretty good offense and very leaky defense. The Tigers = sufficient offense, stout defense, great specialty teams. This one won't be as close as some people think as the Tigers continue their march to Tampa.

Rod's Reject - Florida State


South Carolina (6-3, 3-3 in the SEC) at Arkansas (4-4, 1-4 in the SEC)

Getting serious about a game and a season, the Gamecocks really need to win this week. There's already been some talk about the "November Slide" again, and last week's disaster in Knoxville didn't help matters any. Also, it's funny to me that people still talk about the "audacious, awesome, tough schedule" that USC faces at the end of the season - leaving Florida out, two of the other three teams don't even have winning records or even winning conference records (and Clemson is only 5-3), so please don't whine and tell me about how tough the competition is...it's really no tougher than anybody else's schedule in the SEC. That being said, Saturday's adventure in Fayetteville is a MUST WIN for the Gamecocks and they have a good chance of getting the "W." Bobby Petrino's Razorbacks can put up some points...and can give them up, too. I believe USC has the better defense, but what I don't like is USC's starting safety being left back in Columbia and not playing, USC's best rush-defensive end not playing, USC's best tackle not playing, and USC relying on a walk-on offensive lineman to start this weekend. USC is capable of winning, but I think the Gamecocks won't be able to get enough pressure on Ryan Mallett, and the defensive backs will be chasing receivers around all day. Not a good situation for USC this weekend. Lose this one, and the Gamecocks are staring at 6-6 again this year.

Rod's Reject - South Carolina


Other Losers

Louisiana Tech will lose to Boise State
Western Michigan will lose to Michigan St.
UConn will lose to Cincinnati
Syracuse will lose to Pitt
Northwestern will lose to Iowa
Illinois will lose to Minnesota
Louisville will lose to West Virginia
Indiana will lose to Wisconsin
Iowa St. will lose to Oklahoma St.
Baylor will lose to Missouri
Wyoming will lose to BYU
Navy will lose to Notre Dame
Rice will lose to SMU
Central Florida will lose to Texas
Army will lose to Air Force
Kansas St. will lose to Kansas
Furman will lose to Auburn
Memphis will lose to Tennessee
Northern Arizona will lose to Mississippi
Nebraska will lose to Oklahoma
San Diego St. will lose to TCU
Idaho will lose to Fresno St.
New Mexico will lose to Utah
Washington St. will lose to Arizona
Oregon St. will lose to California
Washington will lose to UCLA
Colorado will lose to Texas A&M
Arizona St. will lose to USC
Purdue will lose to Michigan
Eastern Kentucky will lose to Kentucky

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