After an awful weekend that saw Rich Rod bring a victory to the Big House, pathetic man love for USC by the crew on ESPiN and me going 0-4 against the spread, I’m coming back for more. 

Thursday night
6:30 #14 Georgia Tech at #20 Miami, ESPiN
The ACC Coastal Division is on display in this one and the winner is in the division driver seat.  Georgia Tech brings their grind it out 4th ranked run game to battle Miami’s 5th ranked passing offense.  It’s blue collar vs. show.  It’s the Rambling Wreck vs the U.  If it becomes a field position battle, Tech will have a slight advantage with their #2 ranking in punt returns vs the U’s 11th ranking in kick returns. 

Pick: Georgia Tech is rated higher, but Miami is favored to win by 6.  My .500 prediction formula says take Georgia Tech and the points but there’s a reason I’m .500.  I’m picking da U to cover.

Saturday

2:30 pm #19 Nebraska at #13 Virginia Tech, ABC
Who really knows what to make of either team?  The Hokies lost to Bama and then rolled the Thundering Herd.  The Huskers have spanked Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State.  The Hokies are still playing Beamer Ball with at top 30 ranking in all special teams categories.  Field position advantage-Hokies.  That’s about it.  I expect a rejuvenated Nebraska to dominate on both sides of the ball with a significantly tougher defense and the size to grind it out against a smaller Hokie D line with Roy Helu Jr. 

Pick: The Hokies are favored by 5.  I’m taking Nebraska and the points. 

2:30 pm Tulsa at #12 Oklahoma, FSN
Tulsa comes to Norman 2-0 after convincing victories over Tulane and New Mexico.  OU is still searching for an identity.  GJ Kinne is a top prospect who transferred from Texas to Tulsa and is lighting it up through the air.  The Sooners are 49th in pass efficiency defense and will struggle against the Golden Showers and their air assault.  Tulsa will spread the ball around quite a bit, but has had some issues protecting the QB.  Expect McCoy to be homesteading in the Tulsa backfield even with the double teams he’ll see.  When the Sooners have the ball, expect OU to take advantage of their size and hand the ball off while mixing it up with some underneath passes to not put Landry Jones in a shoot out.  Tulsa’s averaged 40 ppg so far but that won’t happen this time and they’re not Idaho State so the Sooners won’t have 60+

Pick: OU is favored by 17.  I think the Sooners will disrupt enough to cover the spread.

7:00 pm Texas Tech at #2 Texas, ABC
This one seems pretty easy to figure out on paper if you assume that two dominating performances against equally overmatched teams is indicative of conference play.  Not sure why they moved this one to this weekend.  College Gameday will be there so expect plenty of man crushes to go around for either Mack Brown or Colt and his “life partner” Jordan.  Texas defense will be emotional and so will the crowd.  Tech will weather the storm with Gaylor Potts and his band of merry men.  Biggest drawback for the Sand Aggies is that they are 114th worst rushing offense in football. 

Pick: The Whorns are favored by 18.  That’s a lot of points difference for teams that have averaged 44-50 points.  I have to take Texas Tech and the points.

Soon to come.  The things I hate about Texas issue.