2:30 #4 LSU at #18 Georgia CBS
There are some people who want to put LSU on upset alert more than me, but I don’t know who they are.  I’m just glad their at Georgia this weekend so my drive through BR on Saturday doesn’t suck.  LSU has a really bad but efficient offense.  When they get close they put points on the board.  They were outgained by Miss St last week and still managed to win on the road as well as a tough road game at Washington.  Georgia is 115th in turnover margin.  Hold on to the rock boys.  Defense will be the difference in this one.  LSU’s 23rd ranked scoring D vs Georgia’s 44th ranked scoring O and on the other side of the ball it’s LSU’s 53rd ranked scoring O against Georgia’s 95th ranked scoring D. 

Pick:  Georgia is favored by 3.  I’m picking LSU and the points.  I win either way. 

#7 USC at #24 Cal, 7:00 ABC
Get ready for some serious “feel good” make you sick man crush going on with regional ABC coverage of this one.  Cal is at pretty much every statistical advantage you could think of except Turnover margin where they are 5th, Sacks/TFLs where they are 3rd and 6th respectively and their 18th ranked scoring O.  Cal was throttled last week by Oregon which may give them some sort of advantage.  USC’s 5th ranked scoring D will shut down the run game of Cal.  Cal’s only hope is to spend some quality time in the USC backfield and be disruptive.

Pick: USC is favored by 5 on the road.  I think SC covers, but there’s a chance….

#8 Oklahoma at #17 Miami, 7:00 ABC regional
Oklahoma still doesn’t know who their QB is going to be and Jacory Harris still has an awful haircut.  The Sooners really haven’t been tested since their opening loss on a neutral field to BYU.  The real question is “how do you get all that hype with a 72nd ranked scoring O and 85th ranked scoring D?”  Answer: you play in the ACC.  Oklahoma’s defense has played tough and not let up in the last couple games and held a pretty good BYU team that averaged 41 points per game in the last 3 to 14.  I think this D can hold Miami.  For OU, I think this is Tennel’s break out game and the D line will be the MVP.  Linebackers and safeties have to watch the seam routes by tight ends which seem to be OU’s Achilles Heal.

Pick: Oklahoma is favored by 8.  Please don’t let it be that close.  I’m picking OU to cover.