Picks for the Weak: Week 9

This is a big week for the BBC in the Picks for the Weak. For the last 8 weeks, we have been absolutely worked over by Jay like Muhammad Ali on the boxing community. This week decides if we have any chance of ending his brutal, stifling run.

There aren’t too many matchups of ranked teams this week, but the ones that are there are going to be good. First, Missouri travels to Lincoln to take on the Cornhuskers in what may turn out to be confirmation of Missouri’s skills – or a massive letdown after beating the #1 team in the nation. After that, Michigan State takes on Iowa in Iowa City. A Michigan State win puts them in firm control of the Big Ten, leaving only games against Minnesota, BYE, Purdue and Penn State remaining. The Buckeyes are going to be counting on that bye week if Iowa can’t take care of business at home….again….

We won’t be calling a #1 upset again this week as #1 Auburn takes on Ole Miss. If Ole Miss manages to jump on the “beating #1’s” bandwagon the end of the season is sure to be a wild ride.

Actually, who am I kidding, it’s already there.

Let’s see who our fantastic lineup of prognosticators have picked in this one! Or you could just ignore the rest of us and read who Jay picks. Just sayin’.

Thursday, October 28th

#16 Florida State at NC State

The ACC has been an absolute mess this year.  I suppose that’s what makes it fun, but it’s been extraordinarily hard to predict ACC games all year long.

Florida State should win this game, but NC State is on the up and up.  They may make a fight of it.  Ignore that loss to Eastern Carolina the Wolfpack suffered last week, though.  That was in overtime to a hot-and-cold team at their place.  These kinds of things happen.

See what I mean about the ACC, though?

Eric: Florida State 23, NC State 20

Computers: Florida State 38, NC State 33 (71.3%)

Saturday, October 30th

Northwestern at Indiana

The battle of the basement dwellers heats up this week.  Northwestern is coming off 2 straight losses (with a Bye in between).  You can bet Coach Fitzgerald is going to have the Pretty Kitties angry going into this one.

Indiana would love nothing more than to continue Northwestern’s streak.  The Hoosier’s haven’t won a Big Ten game yet, and desperately want to catch up with Michigan.  Can you imagine if Indiana won two more Big Ten games than Michigan and left the Wolverine’s in dead last?  That would be hysterical.

Sure, Northwestern is not a basement dweller anymore.  I couldn’t very well say “former basement dweller’s”, could I?  Northwestern will get back to their winning ways over the Hoosiers

Eric: Pretty Kitties 20, Indiana 13

Computers: Northwestern 32, Indiana 27 (74.3%)

Michigan at Penn State

A couple years ago, this was a matchup that everyone was desperate to watch.  Both teams would come in hot and beat up on each other until the very end.

This year will be more like a couple of girls slap fighting each other.  You watch simply because you can’t tear your eyes away from how horrifying it really is.

I hate to admit it, but Michigan might have the upper hand in this one.  Everything I’ve heard about Penn State’s coaching and leadership issues leads me to believe that they don’t have it in them to beat a team that has a shadow of an offensive threat.  Denard will be back to looking like a Heisman Trophy candidate after this one.

Eric: Michigan 38, Penn State 17

Computers: Penn State 37, Michigan 21 (88.1%)

Purdue at Illinois

Purdue and Illinois are both teams that have improved from last season, but still have a long way to go before challenging for the Big Ten title.  Illinois, though, is the closer of the two.  Illinois shouldn’t have any problem at home with the Boilers, unless Purdue was looking past the Buckeyes.

I kinda doubt it.

Eric: Illinois 28, Purdue 10

Computers: Illinois 25, Purdue 24 (52.5%)

#17 Oklahoma State at Kansas State

Poor Kansas State, dropping last weeks game to the up-and-coming Baylor Bears.  Oklahoma State dropped their undefeated season against Nebraska at home in a defensive battle the likes we have never seen before.  Of course, I mean that there was no defense at all as the Huskers prevailed 51-41.

T. Boone Picken’s University is the better team right now, and I have no doubts that they’ll run over the Wildcats of Kansas State.

Out of curiosity, what is it with teams colored Purple using the mascot “Wildcats”?

Eric: T. Boone Picken’s University 42, Kansas State 28

Computers: T. Boone Picken’s University 39, Kansas State 24 (93.1%)

#8 Utah at Air Force

The wheels have come off Air Force’s potent offense.  After looking spectacular through their first 6 games, they got completely demolished by a far superior TCU team last week.

Now Utah comes to town with the same ideas in their head.  Was Air Force looking ahead to this week?  Somehow I think not.  I also doubt that Air Force will find much success against Utah’s great defense.

The PAC-10 better watch out next year.  Utah will be the first defense they’ve ever let play in the conference.  Could get ugly quick.

Eric: Utah 48, Air Force 14

Computers: Utah 38, AFA 17 (95%)

#25 Baylor at Texas

Wait a minute.  Baylor is ranked and Texas is not?  After Texas’ visit to the national championship last year, did anyone actually think this was going to happen this year?

Even worse than that, the Longhorns are in serious dangerous of bombing this one too.  Mack Brown is angry at his team, and angry at his assistants for not getting the job done so far this season.  You better believe that this is a recipe for massive failure.

Baylor has a lot to play for in this one, and surely won’t come in thinking it’s going to be easy.  With Texas losing most of their games at home, Baylor should be able to win this one, pushing Texas to 4-4 with a losing record in the Big 12.

Eric: Baylor 27, Texas 17

Computers: Texas 31, Baylor 24 (67.3%)

#2 Oregon at USC

Ever since their 4-0 start against weak opponents, USC has quickly – and quietly – disappeared from the national scene.  They stand with a respectable 5-2 record overall with a team that can surprise people at times.  Though, for the most part the surprises have been of the negative variety.  Almost losing to Virginia is pretty bad, after all.

Given Oregon’s play so far this year, they should have no trouble with this USC squad.  However, given Lane Kiffen’s penchant for being a little crazy with his playcalling, it would not at all surprise me if USC somehow managed to pull an upset simply by being entirely surprising and non-conventional.

I’ll take the Trojans in this one, despite my soul screaming in agony from the pain of it.

Eric: USC 42, Oregon 38

Computers: Oregon 36, USC 20 (86.1%)

#6 Missouri at #14 Nebraska

We all know what Missouri was able to accomplish last week.  A solid win at home against the #1 team in the nation certainly won’t hurt your image.  That said, I also mentioned last week that I believed Oklahoma was the most pathetic choice in #1 teams the voters could have possibly made.

On the other side stands a Nebraska team that has had a couple of extremely surprising finishes.  Two weeks ago they fell to Texas at home.  Last week their vaunted Blackshirt defense gives up 41.

This week they get back to their usual ways and curb-stomp an overconfident Missouri team.  As I said before, beating the #1 makes you well known.  It also puts a massive target on your back, and leaves you feeling like you can take on the world.  Nebraska will take advantage of that and make the Tigers pay.

Eric: Nebraska 31, Missouri 20

Computers: Missouri 25, Nebraska 23 (63.4%)

#5 Michigan State at #18 Iowa

For all intents and purposes, this game is the conference championship for Michigan State.  They are the only undefeated team left in the Big Ten and a win over Iowa leaves them with no substantial challengers for the remainder of the season.

Iowa is coming off that rough – self-inflicted – loss to Wisconsin.  I maintain Kirk Ferentz is an idiot of massive proportions for his clock management in the end.  Luckily for Iowa, they probably won’t need that sort of clock management in this one.

This game will simply come down to who wants it more.  Iowa would love to have this win to regain the luster on the season and give them a chance at the Big Ten title.  Michigan State desperately wants to hold on to it.  I believe Iowa, after the tough loss to Wisconsin, will be more desperate and more angry coming into this one.  Michigan State may even have a letdown after the emotional win over Northwestern.

Some may argue that MSU will be ready for Iowa after the close loss they suffered last year.  Don’t believe it.  The coaches may try to use it, but MSU has had too much success so far this season to not be getting a little overconfident.  Iowa wins another close one over the Spartans.

Eric: Iowa 24, Michigan State 23

Computers: Iowa 35, Michigan State 25 (70.3%)