I was picking for my life last week. Another week with a losing record, and my editor would have been more than justified in going in a different direction next season – and given the current climate of journalism, if I got fired, I might have never picked college football games again.
Luckily, I barnstormed to an 11-3-1. Critics will point to the fact that I included Alabama over Western Carolina and Georgia over Charleston Southern in the picks, but I’d counter that with the fact that I correctly predicted #8 Ole Miss wouldn’t beat 5-5 Arkansas.
Those critics might respond that I didn’t pick Arkansas in that game either, but however I got there, I’ve given myself a fighting chance to survive with my week fourteen rivalry picks. With my season record now at 113-51-1, the stakes are immense.
Texas 24, TCU 20 – If this upset happens I’m not totally sure Gary Patterson wouldn’t pass out on the field.
Texas A&M 34, LSU 17 – Who the hell knows with the SEC West anymore.
Iowa 38, Nebraska 34 – I love how Bo Pellini, one of the premier tough defensive coaches in the country, took that famed Blackshirts defense and turned them into a pit of mush so mushy that Nebraska needs to score 90 points to win.
Arkansas 23, Missouri 0 – I think Arkansas might be the best team in the country right now. I’m dead serious. They haven’t given up a point in eight quarters.
UCLA 34, Stanford 10 – Two of my three losses last week were games involving these teams. I like how this week is shaping up.
Arizona 37, Arizona State 31 – Rich Rod might just get a huge job this winter, and if he does, he’ll have deserved it.
Virginia 17, Virginia Tech 14 – VaTech lost 6-3 in double overtime to Wake Forest last week. I can’t believe no one is talking about that game. I’m finding and watching a replay of that entire game after I finish this column.
Ohio State 54, Michigan 10 – Even Woody Hayes would be horrified at the state of the Michigan program.
Georgia 35, Georgia Tech 18 – They might lose this game, but the entire country is pulling for the Yellow Jackets to beat FSU in the ACC title game next weekend.
South Carolina 24, Clemson 14 – Clemson’s offense is legitimately terrible. They’d be 4-8 in the SEC.
Louisville 41, Kentucky 21 – Louisville easily could have been in the playoff conversation this year. Easily. They’ve been bad in close conference games.
Florida State 35, Florida 13 – What, “win one for the coach who has already been fired!” isn’t an effective rallying cry?
Mississippi State 34, Ole Miss 24 – That the Rebs are favored in this game is shocking. They look like a team whose spirit has been broken.
Michigan State 34, Penn State 10 – James Franklin is getting really paid at Penn State. He’d better start to turn it around next year.
Wisconsin 31, Minnesota 24 – The Badgers this year blew a huge lead and lost on opening day to LSU and somehow lost to Northwestern. That’s it. They should be undefeated and in the playoff right now.
USC 35, Notre Dame 21 – There’s a very funny quote about the Fighting Irish on the back cover of Colin Cowherd’s book that you’ll probably see this holiday season.
Alabama 34, Auburn 23 – I can’t tell you how much I love that Brent Musburger gets to call this game over Chris Fowler and ESPN’s #1 team since Fowler pushed Musburger out as the lead announcer and relegated him to SEC Network hell even though Fowler isn’t even a talented enough announcer to write Musburger’s notes.
Oregon 54, Oregon State 21 – “Jesus, Girls, and Marcus Mariota.”
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