We Have Finally Reached Rivalry Week

     The picker has reached uncharted territory.
     The record for the last two weeks against the spread -- 15-5. The overall slate now stands at a whomping 18 games over .500 at 74-56. That's a winning percentage of .569.
     We have reached the final week of the regular season and there is a lot that remains to be decided.
     The ACC Coastal Division will be decided Friday afternoon in Charlottesville as red-hot Virginia Tech goes for its 16th consecutive over arch-rival Virginia. Since Virginia Tech joined the ACC in 2004, Virginia has never beaten the Hokies.
     Clemson travels to Columbia to try and pick up its sixth consecutive victory over arch-rival South Carolina. On paper, the games looks like a blowout, but the Gamecocks humiliated Clemson's defense in last year's meeting. Just remember, anything can happen.
     Georgia, the only one-loss team in the top four of the College Football Playoff poll, is a heavy favorite to hammer rival Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
     Ohio State faces its biggest test of the season at Michigan.
     As always, all of the picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
   
Friday
     Virginia Tech at Virginia +3 -- Until Virginia proves it can beat Virginia Tech, you have to ride the Hokies. Pick -- Virginia Tech
     Washington State at Washington -7.0 -- The Apple Cup will go to the Huskies. Pick -- Washington

Saturday
     Georgia at Georgia Tech +28.0 -- It doesn't show in the victory column, but Georgia Tech has made some improvement this season. But the Yellow Jackets' offense isn't strong enough to dent Georgia's powerful defense. Pick -- Georgia
     Clemson at South Carolina +26.5 -- All signs point to a Clemson rout. Emotion will carry banged-up South Carolina for a short time, but talent will take over. Pick -- Clemson
     Florida State at Florida -17.0 -- Odell Haggins, serving as the interim head coach at Florida State for a second time, is 4-0. If he wins this one, FSU should remove the interim immediately. I think this one will be closer than the experts think. Pick -- Florida State
     Oklahoma at Oklahoma State +13.0 -- It's called Bedlam, but Oklahoma has totally dominated this series. The Cowboys have a massive mental block when they face the Sooners. The Sooners have been living on thin ice in recent weeks. Can the Pokes cut a hole in the ice? Pick -- Oklahoma State
     Louisville at Kentucky -3.0 -- I believe this is the Lock of the Week. Is this point spread for real? Scott Satterfield's miracle first season with the Cardinals earns a big gold star. Pick -- Louisville
     Ohio State at Michigan +9.0 -- Ohio State had total control of Penn State last week until fumble-itis made a visit. The media has been pumping up Ohio State all season as the best all-around team in the country. Can Michigan pull off an upset that would rock the CFP poll? The bigger question -- Does Michigan believe it can make it happen? Pick -- Michigan
     Alabama at Auburn +4.0 -- Auburn does the nation a favor and drives a stake in Bama's dream of making the playoffs again. Pick -- Auburn
     Wisconsin at Minnesota +2.5 -- The Gophers row past the Badgers and stay in the CFP hunt. Pick -- Minnesota

     Last Week -- 7-3
     For The Season -- 74-56

Tough Week To Find Decent Games

     With Clemson and South Carolina both off and the SEC celebrating Cupcake Saturday, it was a tough week to find enough interesting games.
     All eyes will be on Columbus, Ohio, as the Luckeyes face their first test of the season when the Nittany Lions come to the Horseshoe. The other game that could have an impact on the CFP standings is Texas A&M traveling to Athens to tangle with Georgia.
     Last week was a stellar slump buster. The record was 8-2. The misses were Georgia beating the spread at Auburn and Oklahoma failing to cover at Baylor.
     The season record now stands at 14 games over .500. Not too bad for late November.
     Here are this week's selections. As always, the picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
     Oklahoma State at West Virginia +7.0 -- Pokes' potent offense featuring running back Chuba Hubbard will be too much for the Mountaineers. Pick -- Oklahoma State
     Texas A&M at Georgia -13.5 -- The Aggies have played a much tougher schedule. I believe they will hang inside the spread. Pick -- Texas A&M
     Penn State at Ohio State -18.0 -- I just don't believe in Penn State. Pick -- Ohio State
     Illinois at Iowa -15.0 -- Illinois is one of the biggest surprises of the Big 10. Pick -- Illinois
     Boston College at Notre Dame -19.5 -- The Irish will dominate the Holy War. Pick -- Notre Dame
     UCLA at USC -13.5 -- The Trojans were a surprise entry in the CFP Poll. Fight On! Pick -- Southern Cal
     SMU at Navy -3.5 -- I think I'm going to ride with the Ponies. Pick -- SMU
     Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech -4.0 -- After this one, the loser will officially be out of the Coastal Division race. I like the hot Hokies at home. Pick -- Virginia Tech
     Texas at Baylor -5.5 -- Baylor gets back on the winning track. Pick -- Baylor
     Duke at Wake Forest -7.0 -- Both of these teams have been suffering on offense. Wake Forest is looking for the Big Four title. Wake already has beaten North Carolina and N.C. State. Take the Demon Deacons at home. Pick -- Wake Forest

     Last Week -- 8-2
     For The Season -- 67-53

Tigers Close Out Home Schedule, Dawgs Travel To Auburn

     Because of a week-long road trip to the place in the desert where they have large hotels and cheap buffets, I am going to post this week's picks early. I don't return with my empty wallet until late Friday night, so I decided to go ahead and get the picks done Sunday night.
     Last week the record was one game under .500 with several bad misses, including LSU finally beating Alabama. Yes, Virginia, I finally believe in LSU. The season record is now eight games over .500 with three weeks remaining in the regular season.
     As always, all picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
     Wake Forest at Clemson -32.0  -- With the Atlantic Division title in hand, the Tigers will continue their dominating ways. I am finally beginning to believe Clemson can cover 30-point spreads on a weekly basis. Pick -- Clemson
     Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech +5.5 -- Both of these teams have made improvements as the season has progressed, but Virginia Tech's improvement has showed up in the win column. Pick -- Virginia Tech
     Georgia at Auburn +3.0 -- Both of these teams have mean nasty defenses and pedestrian offenses. Upset Special Of The Week. Pick -- Auburn
     South Carolina at Texas A&M -10.0 -- The Gamecocks got a hold of some bad Appalachian moonshine last week. The drying out process in east Texas will not be pleasant. Pick -- Texas A&M
     Navy at Notre Dame -11.0 -- The Irish are still trying to reach a New Year's Six bowl. The Navy ship is getting ready to take on water. Pick -- Notre Dame
     Louisville at N.C. State +4.0 -- Louisville's positive momentum got mutilated in Miami last week. Injuries and youth have N.C. State's season circling the drain. Pick -- Louisville
     Michigan State at Michigan -12.0 -- Michigan continues rolling on its way to the showdown with the Luckeyes at the end of the month. Pick -- Michigan
     Texas at Iowa State -7.0 -- The Longhorns are definitely not back. Pick -- Iowa State
     Minnesota at Iowa -2.0 -- Can the Golden Gophers validate their Penn State victory? Nope. Pick -- Iowa 
     Oklahoma at Baylor +9.5 -- Baylor's unbeaten season comes to a bitter end. Pick -- Oklahoma

Last Week -- 4-6
For The Season -- 59-51

Game Of The Century On Tap, Clemson Fans Need Chill Pills

     Finally, we have something to talk about and two games of national interest.
     The first CFP poll came out last Tuesday -- 1. Ohio State, 2. LSU, 3. Alabama, 4. Penn State -- with Clemson and Georgia coming in at No. 5 and No. 6.
     Clemson fans have been howling all week, but they all just need to take a chill pill. This poll is just a starting point. As I have said for several weeks, undefeated Clemson will not be left out of the playoffs, but one loss will probably send the Tigers to a regular bowl game. The Tigers must keep their paws on the gas.
     This week has the latest Game of the Century -- LSU at Alabama. The SEC is hoping for a close game to keep alive hopes of two teams in the playoff. I believe a blowout either way will serious damage to the playoff hopes of the loser.
     The Big 10 also has a big game this week -- Penn State at unbeaten Minnesota. Most observers believe the Nittany Lions will survive, but the Golden Gophers will be juiced and ready to go.
     Clemson begins its march to the CFP Top Four in Raleigh against an N.C. State team that has been defenseless. The Wolfpack has lost more than a dozen starters to injury and have yet to settle on a quarterback. But State will give Clemson its best shot. If the Tigers don't take the Pack seriously, there could be trouble.
     As always, all picks are against the spread and for entertainment purposes only.
     Georgia Tech at Virginia -16.0 -- The visiting Yellow Jackets don't have enough offense to keep up with Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins, who put on a real show in last week's key victory at North Carolina. The Cavaliers get one step closer to the Coastal title. Pick -- Virginia
     Missouri at Georgia -17.0 -- Most amazing stat to date -- Georgia has yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season. That is unheard of in today's college football. Pick -- Georgia
     Appalachian State at South Carolina -6.5 -- The trendy pick is to take App State, but I am going to go against the trend. Pick -- South Carolina
     Clemson at N.C. State +32 -- I am guessing Clemson leads the country in point spreads of +25 or more this season. It's homecoming and a Red Out in Raleigh. Clemson has struggled at Carter-Finley in the past. All of the talk this week has been about an angry Clemson blowing the doors off State. Once again, I think Clemson will win, but the spread is just too high. Pick -- N.C. State
     Florida State at Boston College -2.5 -- Lock of the Week. BC has run all over everybody but Clemson. The Seminoles minus fired head coach Willie Taggart will get boat raced out of Chestnut Hill. Pick -- Boston College
     Penn State at Minnesota +7.0 -- Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck has called this the biggest game in the 10-year history of Minnesota's on-campus TCF Bank Stadium. Can Penn State handle the pressure? Can Penn State deal with the massive Gophers' offensive line? Pick -- Minnesota
     Louisville at Miami (Fla.) -6.5 -- Louisville is the ACC's best feel good story this season. The Cardinals were pure garbage last season. But Scott Satterfield has made Louisville respectable in a short amount of time. Miami has been all over the board this season, but I like the Hurricanes at home. Pick -- Miami
     Wake Forest at Virginia Tech +2.5 -- This will be a tough test for the fast-paced Demon Deacons, but I believe Wake has too much offense for Virginia Tech. Pick -- Wake Forest
     LSU at Alabama -6.5 -- Finally, Alabama plays somebody. LSU has victories over Texas, Florida, and Auburn. The major question before this game surrounds Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He injured an ankle in the Tennessee game and had surgery to stabilize the ankle. Alabama head coach Nick Saban says his star quarterback will play. Roll Tide Roll. Pick -- Alabama
     Notre Dame at Duke -7.5 -- Duke is another tough team to figure out. One week, the Blue Devils are way up. The next week, they are MIA. This one boils down to talent. The Fighting Irish have simply more players. Pick -- Notre Dame

     Last Week -- 5-5
     For The Season -- 55-45