Earlier this week in Part I, I gave you my predictions for some big time conference matchups on Wednesday and Thursday nights. I was right about Ball State remaining undefeated, but I was shocked by the performance of Georgia Tech last night.

The Ramblin’ Wreck absolutely destroyed Miami with their triple option attack as they piled up 472 rushing yards…yea, 472 rushing yards! I should have known better than to take an ACC squad their first week entering the Top 25, but I was completely unprepared for Miami’s inability to play assignment football.

No problems, though, as I am completely prepared to predict the rest of Week 13’s dynamite college football games:

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

#2 Texas Tech at #5 Oklahoma

Excitement. That’s the best word to describe this contest. Both teams are exciting. Their offenses are two of the most exciting in the nation with both being Top 5 passing teams. There isn’t going to be much defense. It should be a close game. The winner has to believe they have the inside track to playing in the Big XII Championship. Both ball clubs are ranked in the Top 5 in late November. Excitement.

Texas Tech has won 12 consecutive games dating back to their 34-27 upset of #4 Oklahoma last season. However, this year Sam Bradford will be playing (he was injured last season), and Texas Tech has to travel to Norman, OK where the Sooners are 59-2 under coach Bob Stoops. Oklahoma has won 23 in a row at home. Plus, this is going to be the third straight biggest game in Texas Tech football history. Will the Red Raiders crumble under the pressure or rise to the occasion?

I am definitely taking the 6 1/2 points that Texas Tech is getting as I see this as a down-to-the-wire close contest even though it may be a 56-51 game in the end. Oklahoma is averaging over 50 points a game at home but could easily give up 50 to the Red Raiders especially without defensive stars Ryan Reynolds and Auston English.

The team that comes up with the big defensive stop at the crucial moment will be the team that comes out victorious, and I think the Red Raiders will be that team remaining undefeated.

#14 Brigham Young at #7 Utah

Of all the top matchups this weekend, this game is definitely the most heated. Not only is this rivalry about football and Mountain West supremacy almost every year. The Holy War is about the one single thing that has been responsible for the most deaths throughout the history of time — religion.

With BYU being a Morman school, these two schools have never particularly seen eye-to-eye, but they’ve never seen eye-to-eye on the football field. The two schools debate when the first game was played; the first athletic event ended in a brawl; in 1977, BYU coach LaVell Edwards put his starting quarterback back in the game during a blowout to break a NCAA passing record; Utah students & BYU players got into in ‘93 when the students tried to tear down the goalposts at BYU; the male cheerleaders from each school came to fisticuffs in ‘99; and last year, after BYU cameback to win 17-10 thanks in part to a 4th-and-18 reception by Austin Collie, Collie said, “Obviously, when you’re doing what’s right on and off the field, I think the Lord steps in and plays a part.”

Needless to say, these two teams don’t need any extra incentives, but there are some pretty large, looming ones this year as this game will have Mountain West championship and, more importantly, BCS implications. Utah is trying to remain the top non-BCS school and receive an automatic BCS bowl qualifier. BYU, on the other hand, is trying to position themselves to possibly receive that bowl bid with a win and a Boise State loss.

The Utes have won 6 of the last 11 years, but only one of those 11 games has been decided by more than a touchdown. The last two meetings, however, have been won by BYU with come-from-behind victories. With BYU getting 7 1/2 points, take the points as this should be another nailbiter. But I think the Utes will be the team leaving with the state bragging rights.

#16 Michigan State at #9 Penn State

Michigan State could find themselves with plane tickets to California if they do something they’ve never done before — beat a Joe Paterno-coached team in Beaver Stadium. With a win over the Nittany Lions, the Spartans have an outside shot at a trip to the Rose Bowl. They would need Michigan to upset an Ohio State squad that mopped MSU 45-7 last month.

Penn State needs a win to clinch themselves their first trip to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl since January of 1995. They’ll need to get the Spread HD back on track. Against Ohio State and Iowa, Penn State only scored 36 combined points. If they are able to beat Michigan State, they could foreseeably have a rematch in the Rose Bowl against Oregon State, a team PSU beat handily 45-14 early in the season.

Penn State is a 15 1/2 point favorite, which may be a bit much considering their offensive deficiencies against tougher teams, but they will win. PSU’s 10th ranked run defense will shut down the one-dimensional Spartans.

Other Top 25 Picks:

  • #3 Florida in a rout. Tim Tebow pads his stats as he tries to make a run at a second Heisman Trophy.
  • Last season, Nevada and Boise State combined for 136 points in their thrilling 69-67, four-overtime classic. With the Pistol formation, the best rushing attack in the FBS, and homefield advantage, the Wolfpack could pose a threat for #8 Boise State. Watch out.
  • I’d love to see Michigan upset #10 Ohio State, but with less talent and without their starting quarterback? I think not. The Buckeyes roll and then tune into ABC for the PSU/MSU game.
  • Air Force played BYU and Utah tight, but #16 TCU has the best rush defense in the nation. TCU wins and then tunes in for the Holy War rooting for BYU.
  • #18 LSU isn’t that good in my mind. Ole Miss knocks them out of the Top 25 for the first time since the end of the 2002 season.
  • The #19 Oregon State Beavers control their own destiny in the Pac-10. They have a tough contest at Arizona this weekend, but I think they’ll eke one out despite being a 2 1/2 point underdog.
  • I don’t think #21 Pittsburgh is very good either. #20 Cincinnati proves me right, and subsequently, has the inside track to the automatic BCS bowl bid.
  • In-state rival North Carolina State poses no threat to #23 North Carolina.
  • #24 Maryland is back in the Top 25, and they are playing a strong conference foe in Florida State. In the ACC, that formula has typically led to the ranked team losing this season. Even though Maryland is undefeated at home this season, Florida State wins in the last minute.
  • The formula doesn’t work when #25 Boston College travels to Wake Forest. BC wins.
  • In “The Game,” Harvard wins over Yale behind the arm of Chris Pizzotti. Go Crimson.

Shotgun Spratling

Rate this:
3.2

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy these related posts: