Last week's blog featured the biggest whiff of the season. An absolute total swing and a miss. Oklahoma, a double-digit favorite, got its rear end kicked in Dallas by a struggling Texas team. Big Game Bob Stoops is now just a distant memory. The Sooner Scooner has two broken wheels and cracked axle. And the Big 12 continues to look like a showdown between Baylor and TCU. But remember this. Baylor, TCU, and Oklahoma all have to visit Oklahoma State, which is still unbeaten. The Cowboys are going to have a lot to say about who wins the Big 12.
Last week's smelly 5-6 performance was highlight by several near misses. The two misses of note were TCU, which can score with anybody but can't stop anybody, and Utah, which got five picks against Cal but still managed to win by just six points.
The overall record has dipped under .500 for the first time this season -- 31-32. It is way past time to have a breakout week. Let's give it a go. Remember, there is no net with this high-wire act. As always, all selections are against the spread.
-- Pittsburgh at Georgia Tech -2.5. Watching Georgia Tech in person, I was shocked how inept Tech's offense has become. Clemson just smothered the Tech running game. The Jackets looked slow and unorganized. A couple of blown coverages by the Tigers were the only thing that allowed the Yellow Jackets to save some face. I thought Tech would show up last week. It didn't. I am going to give the Jackets one more chance to show up and be counted. Take Tech.
-- Vanderbilt at South Carolina -3.5. A stunning week in Columbia with the news about Steve Spurrier led to the great debate -- quitter or not a quitter? I say you can't spelled quitter without UT. Shawn Elliott was named interim head coach and made one immediate change -- rap and rock music throughout practice. Another change was more physical practices. I expect the Gamecocks to relax and play and run over punchless Vandy. Pick South Carolina.
-- Boston College at Clemson -15.5. Boston College has one of the nation's best defensive units and one of the nation's worst offensive units. Not a good combination for facing Clemson. BC is usually really tough on the Tigers, but I think Clemson is going to wrap up this remarkable three-game home stand with a big victory over the Eagles. Clemson.
-- Missouri at Georgia -16.0. Georgia is wounded. Nick Chubb is gone for the season with torn knee ligaments. The rumblings about firing Georgia head coach Mark Richt are getting louder by the hour. But with the season slipping away, I think Georgia will rise up and slap Missouri. Take the Dawgs.
-- Ole Miss -10.5 at Memphis. Watch out Rebels. If you go to sleep, high-powered Memphis could blow your doors off. The guess here is the Rebels make the 65-mile trip to Memphis and show the Tigers some SEC defense. Take Ole Miss.
-- Virginia Tech at Miami (Fla.) -6.0. I don't know what to do with this one. Both of these teams have head coaches sitting on white-hot hot seats. Hokie fans say Beamer has lost it and is too old. Miami fans just want Al Golden and his tie gone. The six points is for home field which isn't much of an advantage because Miami fans don't show up. I'm going to hold my nose and pick the Hurricanes. Take Miami.
-- Michigan State at Michigan -7.0. A real test for a surprising Michigan team that has been on a roll. Jim Harbaugh has put some pride and teeth back into the Wolverines. This could be an old-fashioned Big 10 slobber knocker. This one needs rain, mud, gray skies, and wind. Many observers believe Michigan State is the No. 1 challenger to Ohio State, but I think Sparty gets loss No. 1 Saturday in Ann Arbor. Take the Wolverines.
-- Oklahoma -4.5 at Kansas State. Oklahoma hangover? The Sooners pissed me off with that lame effort in the Red River Rivalry. I'm counting on another Sooner meltdown. Kansas State has dropped heartbreakers to Oklahoma State and TCU, but I like the Wildcats, the wizard Bill Snyder, and the points at home. Take Kansas State.
-- Alabama -4.5 at Texas A&M. After destroying Georgia, all of the talk was about how Alabama is not dead yet. But I think Alabama's hopes of an SEC West title will end in College Station. Take the Aggies.
-- Florida at LSU -6.5. Florida took a hit during the week when redshirt freshman quarterback Will Grier was suspended for take an over-the-counter supplement. Grier said he didn't know it was a banded substance. Grier should have read the publication the NCAA produces every year to let student-athletes know not to take substance until their trainer approves it. And it's not fine print. It's common sense. Grier's mistake did not come at a good time. Unbeaten LSU awaits in Baton Rouge. I think the Gators will slow down LSU's Leonard Fournette some, but I don't think they've going to stop him. The Bayou Bengals will end Florida's brief run of success. Take LSU.
-- Southern Cal at Notre Dame -7.0. What was USC athletic director Pat Hayden thinking when he decided to hire Steve Sarkisian? Didn't he know there were plenty of stories about Sarkisian's erratic behavior at both Washington and USC? Hayden can blame it on the search firm that vetted Sarkisian but that's a pretty weak excuse. Several observers say Hayden should also hit the road for botching the hire. The facts are Southern Cal was awful last Thursday night in a loss to Washington, and Sarkisian is history. The Trojans travel to South Bend and they are in no way, shape, or form ready to face the talented Irish. Notre Dame in a rout.
Against The Spread
Last Week -- 5-6
Season Record -- 31-32
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