I didn’t have my best showing last week, but I’m bound to rebound with authority this week. Unfortunately, there aren’t any true blockbuster games like there have been almost every weekend for the past month or so.

Nonetheless, there still are some intriguing matchups this week.

So what kind of predictions do I have this week? Probably not any good ones, but here they are:

(all rankings from are from The Blue Workhorse College Football Top 25)

#23 South Carolina at #3 Florida

Steve Spurrier returns to his old stomping grounds and brings his 7-3 Gamecocks along with him. Since going 1-2 to open the season, South Carolina has went 7-1 with their only loss coming late in the fourth quarter to LSU.

Florida, on the other hand, has responded IN A BIG WAY since their only loss of the season to Ole Miss. And while the Gators did fall at home to Houston Nutt’s squad, they’ve been nearly impossible to stop since then. They are averaging 48.6 points in the five games following their loss with a margin of victory of 37.2 points in those contests.

Florida is just too hot right now to be taken down, even by Spurrier. But a 22-point spread? Take the points because South Carolina’s defense hasn’t allowed more than 24 points all season, and while Florida’s offense is the best the Gamecocks will face all year, I see Florida in the 31-35 point range with SC scoring 14-17.

#15 North Carolina at Maryland

Coach Butch Davis’s name is being rumored for every major college coaching job but is it going to affect the Tar Heels? It hasn’t so far, so why would it now? The Heels are much more athletic than the Terrapins, and quarterback Cameron Sexton has been very impressive as he has stepped in following an injury to starter Tyler Yates.

But Maryland has been deadly at home this season. They are 5-0 and have been dominating opponents, including a margin of victory of over two touchdowns while playing at home. The more ways Ralph Friegen can devise to get the ball to Darrius Heyward-Bey, the better the Terrapins chances of pulling an upset.

In the ACC, an upset would seem the most likely scenario because there seems to be an upset every week. Will the trend continue this week? Yes. Just not in Maryland. UNC is the premier team in the league, and wins a crucial conference game on the road paving the way to the ACC conference championship.

California at #25 Oregon State

The biggest matchup of the weekend could very well be between these two Pac-10 teams that are both unranked in the AP poll. Oregon State is in the driver’s seat in the Pac-10. At 5-1 in conference play, if the Beavers win out, they will be playing in the Rose Bowl because they own the tiebreaker over USC thanks to their upset of the Trojans earlier this season.

Even though the Golden Bears hate USC and would rather not see them playing in yet another Rose Bowl, Cal is also content with dashing Oregon State’s dreams. Plus, they’d also like to get OSU back for last season’s upset of the then #2 ranked Golden Bears that sent them on a downward spiral (2-6 in their final 8 games).

For Cal, Kevin Riley has been given the reins to the offense after neither he nor Nate Longshore were effective against USC last week. Of course, who has been effective against the Trojans #1 defense? Oh yea, Jacquizz Rodgers, that’s who! The Beavers need to get Jacquizz and big brother James in some open space and let them do work.

In this conference battle, it has been the road team that has had the advantage. The road team has won the last five matchups with Cal dominating in Corvallis by a combined 90-20 the last two trips up the coast. This year? Make it six consecutive wins for the road team. Cal wins on their final drive.

Other Top 25 Picks:

No more time for expanded thoughts on the top games, so here are the remaining Top 25 Picks:

  • Mississippi State is a 22-point underdog at #1 Alabama. Take the points…barely…as Alabama wins by 21.
  • Leading the way in the games that previously looked like great matchups (PLLGP): #4 Texas battles Kansas. Todd Reesing may keep it close for a little while, but the Longhorns dominates the second half.
  • Could Stanford do the unthinkable two years in a row? Nah. #6 USC gets a little bit of revenge.
  • The domination of San Diego State continues when #7 Utah waxes them this week.
  • #8 Boise State walks away with an easy win.
  • Rebounding after a loss is important. #9 Penn State does that this week.
  • In another PLLGP, #10 Georgia wins the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry in a tight game.
  • #10 Missouri wins handily in Iowa City.
  • Illinois lost at Western Michigan last week. How will they respond? It doesn’t matter with Terrelle Pryor on the other sideline. #12 Ohio State covers 10 1/2.
  • #13 Oklahoma State could be vulnerable to be upset…except for the fact they are playing a Colorado squad that is 2-5 in their last 7 games.
  • Talk about a difference of styles. Air Force’s leading passer is Tim Jefferson, who hasn’t even passed for 500 yards. #14 BYU’s QB Max Hall? Well, he’s already over 3,000. Too bad that doesn’t translate into the Cougars stopping anyone on defense. Air Force sneaks an upset in a back and forth offensive game.
  • ***#16 Ball State displays their MAC dominance.
  • Watch out for Troy against #19 LSU. If the game wasn’t being played in Tiger Stadium at night, I’d go with the Trojans, but I can’t go against the night-time atmosphere and mystique.
  • If Boston College can stop the run, they will beat #20 Florida State since FSU suspended most of their receivers after a brawl with a fraternity earlier this week.
  • #22 Tulsa had their BCS hopes dashed by Arkansas but still have a Conference USA title to win. They gain the inside track to the championship game with a win over divisional foe Houston.
  • ***Louisville lost to Syracuse. Their not beating a quality team in #24 Cincinnati.

***For Wednesday and Friday nights games, these were my predictions.

Think I’m crazy? Well, let us know who you think will win in the comments section.

Shotgun Spratling

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