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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