College Football Week 14 Picks

36-24-1 vs the spread for the year. . .

Wisconsin South -1.5 at Missouri: Ha.  Wisconsin South (aka Arkansas) is the last place team in the SEC West, yet they are a road FAVORITE playing at the first place team in the SEC East. Yes, Missouri is the worst 9-2 team in the country.  They aren't particularly good in any area, with the exception of special teams.  That, and about 5 seasons worth of lucky breaks have them one win away from playing (and losing) in their second consecutive SEC Title game.  Bret Bielema has finally figured out how to win in the SEC the Big 10 way, and the last two weeks the Razorbacks have run over and shut-out two SEC West heavyweights, LSU and Mississippi.  So here we have a team peaking going against a team riding a season-long lucky streak.  We'll be pulling for Wisconsin South, because if they win, Georgia gets the SEC title game, and they are good enough to beat Alabama or Mississippi State and throw the College Football Playoff selection process into complete chaos.  They say it's better to be lucky than good, but luck only lasts so long.  Wisconsin South.

Arizona State +1 at Arizona: If UCLA should somehow blow it against Stanford, the winner of this game gets Oregon in the PAC 12 title game.  I think the PAC 12 is the best conference, and even if the winner of the PAC 12 is a two-loss team, I think they should get a Playoff bid.  Arizona is kind of the Missouri of the Pac 12, they've had more than their fair share of lucky breaks.  But now their freshman starting QB is nursing a bum ankle, and his status for this game is uncertain.  Arizona's been able to get by with a shitty defense for most of the year, mainly due to its +10 turnover margin (i.e., luck).  Arizona State had a nice little 3 game stretch in the middle of the year when it looked like it was developing a decent defense, but its been back to crap its last three games.  This should be a wild desert shoot-out, and I'll take Arizona if QB Anu Solomon is able to play 60 minutes, otherwise, the pick is Arizona State.

Michigan +20.5 at Ohio State: The nightmare that is the Brady Hoke era of Michigan football is nearly over.  All that remains is to suffer through one more humiliating defeat in a rivalry game.  And with Urban Meyer desperate to get his Buckeyes into the Playoff mix, he won't think twice about running up the score on the hapless Wolverines.  Even though the Buckeyes defense sucks, Michigan doesn't have the offense to take advantage of it, and keep the game reasonably close.  It would be a miracle for Michigan even to cover, and if they somehow won, it would be the biggest upset in the history of the series.  Ohio State.

Florida +8 at Florida State: When we consider just the little bit of dirt that has surfaced from Tallahassee this year, and not all of it related to the Hymen Trophy winner--anybody wearing an FSU jersey seems to get a free pass from law enforcement (if only that big Ferguson negro played ball for Missouri, the nation would be spared an embarrassing racial spectacle), we have to conclude there are mountains of dirt not yet discovered, and we understand FSU has sold its soul to the football devil.  But dat ol debbil may be comin' fer his due, cuz the Semen*oles been barely gittin' by o' late.  Florida State's hanging on by a thread, and this is the week the thread breaks.  Last game for Will Muschamp, and the Gators will be doing the old *win-one-for-the-Muschamp* bit.  The Gators got the defense, the running game, and the *intangibles* to send FSU to football Hell.  Florida.

Georgia Tech +14 at Georgia: These two teams can run the shit out of the football.  Tech is the #3 rushing offense, and the Dawgs are the #13 rushing offense.  Both teams average 6 yards per carry.  The Missouri game will already have been played by the time this one starts, so the Dawgs will either be playing for all the SEC marbles, or a trip to a flea bag bowl.  Either way, I think Tech can cover the 14, because Georgia's Clean Shirt defense is so soft against the run. Georgia Tech.

Mississippi State -2 at Mississippi: Mississippi has fallen apart after bungling away the LSU game.  Mississippi State still has a shot at the Playoffs, if Auburn can upset Alabama, and that game starts after this one, so the Bulldogs will have plenty to play for.  This is a rivalry game and all, and Mississippi would love to ruin State's season, but the Rebels have looked like a done dog the last four weeks.  Both QBs are turnover machines, but State's QB can make the big plays, and doesn't shit himself down the stretch.  Mississippi State.

Auburn +9.5 at Alabama: Auburn hasn't been very good the last three weeks, and now is just playing to spoil Alabama's season.  I don't see that happening.  This one should be over by halftime.  Alabama.