Will Halloween Bring a Few Upsets in College Football?

Thoughts on Week Nine

 

Beer of the Week:  Yuengling Black and Tan. 

 

Food of the Week:  Tortellini with roasted peppers and marinara.

 

Sports Movie of the Week:  Hoosiers. 

 

Games of the Week

 

I went 9-3 in my predictions last week. However, I was a tad off on my analysis of how certain games would be played.

 

Week nine does not bring a lot of significant games, but there are just enough to make it interesting.

 

ACC

 

This is perhaps the least exciting week for ACC games.  I’ll pick the Miami vs. Wake game.  Miami is coming off a hard OT home loss to Clemson.  Wake is struggling after two straight losses.  Both teams are desperately seeking a win to stay in the conference race.  Wake will keep it close, but Miami is better and will win this game.  The U wins 35-21.

 

Big East

 

West Virginia vs. South Florida.  Memo to the Bulls… college football is played in October too.  Every season the Bulls rise up in September only to crash hard in October.  WVU is one of those teams quietly flying under the radar right now.  I like the Mountaineers to stay on pace with Pitt and Cincinnati atop the conference standings.  WVU wins 34-24.

 

Big Ten

 

Another unexciting week in the Big Ten, but it is likely a bowl positioning week.  The top game is Iowa vs. Indiana.  Don’t laugh.  Iowa is a strong team, but the Hawkeyes have tended to play at the level of their opponents all season.  Indiana generally plays well against Iowa.  I also think Iowa has played much better on the road than at home this season.  Iowa wins 27-17.

 

Big 12

 

Finally a game worth mentioning.  Texas at Oklahoma State.  Alright Cowboys, we continue to hear about your steady rise in the Big 12 South.  Are you ready to be relevant, or will you drop like a lead balloon again?  Every time you seem to get Texas in the right position, you snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.  This year will be no different.  Texas wins 42-28.  Cowboys go back to the back to the middle of the pack.

 

PAC 10

 

The PAC 10 champion will likely be crowned this weekend as USC travels to Eugene to take on Oregon.  The Ducks looked lost in the season opener against Boise State, but they have quietly won six straight.  Can the Ducks dethrone the Trojans from PAC 10 supremacy?  This is the toughest game to call this week.  I want to like the Ducks at home.  USC has struggled a little on the road and Autzen is always a tough stadium.  I just think in the end, USC pulls out the win, 27-24.

 

SEC

 

The annual Cocktail party has arrived.  Florida vs. Georgia.  Two years ago, Georgia throttled Florida.  Florida retuned the favor last year.  Georgia is not a good team this season, but Florida has been struggling due to injuries and an unproductive offense. This is usually the type of game where Tebow shines.  He’ll need to protect the ball better though.  Florida wins 28-17.