It’s probably safe to put a bullet in me and take me out to pasture at this point. These past couple of weeks have been brutal and the only good thing is that I’m perfect fade material right now.
I followed up my first 0-4 week with a 1-3 Saturday in Week 10. Utah, Alabama and Hawaii were all losers, while North Carolina was my one crowning achievement.
Maybe I should pick some obscure games to get my record up and stay away from top 25 action. How does everyone feel about the Little Sisters of the Poor-Boy Scouts of America game this week? Smart money has to be on the Little Sisters, I would think…
Here goes my best for Week 11. Whatever.
No. 14 Utah @ Notre Dame, 2:30PM ET
I know I’m going to piss off Irish fans when I write this but I couldn’t care less. Look at my season record: I’m doing you a favor, Notre Dame fan. I think Utah only having to give up five points (even though the game is in South Bend) is a freaking gift. Freshman Tommy Rees had one hell of a game against Tulsa too weeks ago when Dayne Crist suffered a season-ending knee injury, but it’s not him I’d be worried about. Notre Dame is ranked 77th in total defense, 62nd in scoring defense and 79th against the run. Those numbers are a little worrisome with the ninth best scoring offense coming to town and an offense averaging 175.89 yards per game on the ground. Not too mention this will be one pissed off Utes team that the Irish will face this weekend.
THE PICK: UTAH –5
Georgia @ No. 2 Auburn, 3:30PM ET
I don’t think there’s any doubt that Cam Newton will play, but will his mind be right following the allegations that have come out in the last one about his recruitment at Auburn? This isn’t Brett Favre we’re talking about – it’s a young kid trying to win a national championship and a Heisman Trophy. He’s a tremendous player but you don’t know how a young man will react in the midst of a media scandal. Georgia got off to a horrendous start this year but they’ve one four of their last five games and their only loss came in overtime against Florida two weeks ago. In their past five games, the Dawgs have averaged over 41 points per contest and this isn’t the 2000 Baltimore Ravens they’ll be facing on Sunday. The tigers are 55th in scoring defense and 69th against the pass. I’m taking the points with Georgia.
THE PICK: GEORGIA +7.5
No. 23 South Carolina @ No. 22 Florida, 7:15PM ET
You get the sense that the Gamecocks have begun their annual nosedive. In 2002 they lost five straight to end the season. In ’03 it was four straight. In ’04 it was three of their last four. In ’07 they lost five straight. In ’08 they lost four of their last six and last year they dropped five of their last seven. SC was crushed by Arkansas 41-20 at home alt Saturday and now have to travel to Gainesville to take on a Florida team that has won two straight by a combined score of 89-45. Granted, they also played Vanderbilt last week but it looks like the Gators are starting to figure things out offensively. I don’t like the Gamecocks’ odds in “The Swap” this Saturday.
THE PICK: FLORIDA –6.5
No. 10 Oklahoma State @ Texas, 8:00PM ET
Call this one a gut feeling. A hunch. The touch and feel of cotton. Texas wins this game outright. OK State definitely has the better team, more to play for and most importantly, more to lose. The Longhorns are fighting for a bowl berth but their season is essentially done. They haven’t played well this year, they’ve lost three in a row and they were beaten by the likes of Iowa State and Baylor at home. But the pressure is off. They can let it all hung out and just play the game, which is why I think an upset is in the making – especially on primetime. Just for safety precautions though, I’m gonna go ahead and take the points anyway. Better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them.
THE PICK: TEXAS +5
Season Record: 14-18 (Don’t laugh – it’s not funny. All of this is so not funny.)
