For All the Marbles

The game of the week comes from the NFC East when the Eagles and Cowboys will go at it in Dallas. As you most likely know, Tony Romo is out because of back surgery. Kyle Orton is filling in for Romo. Dallas will have to rely on RB DeMarco Murray. Murray has been very good this year when healthy, but he hasn't gotten the amount of touches he deserves. His counterpart LeSean McCoy has asserted himself as one of the best RB in the league. The Eagles are the hottest team in the NFC with 2nd year QB Nick Foles running the show. Foles has done a great job replacing Michael Vick. The Cowboys have had terrible luck and have been very banged up and I think the injuries will catch up with them.

       My Pick: Eagles 31 Cowboys 13

Bowl Season Extravaganza

Bowl season has already begun, but we are really starting to get to the good games that are on everybody's mind. The bowl season started out with Colorado State making an epic comeback to defeat Washington State in a thriller. I will give you a preview of my top 5 non-BCS Bowl games and then a thorough breakdown of the BCS Bowls over the next few days. There are many storylines to this year's schedule that should be exciting to watch unfold.

Top 5 non-BCS Bowls:

Russell Athletic Bowl

Miami vs. #18 Louisville

6:45 PM December 28

Miami started the season off very hot until they met the dynamic Florida State squad in a very hyped game that ended in a beat down on the Canes. Louisville's only loss came to a good UCF team who is playing in a BCS Bowl. This could be Teddy Bridgewater's last game as a Cardinal, and he has some history to The U. Bridgewater, a star out of Miami Northwestern High School, originally committed to his hometown team, but changed his mind and went to Louisville. Bridgewater has had a terrific career with Louisville. The key to this game will be if the Cardinals defense can stop the ground and pound running game of Miami, lead by Duke Johnson. He has been a beast this season and has kept this Miami team together. Don't sleep on Miami QB Stephen Morris, though. He has thrown for over 2,800 yards and 21 TD. This Louisville defense has been stingy, but they haven't faced an offense (with the exception to UCF) like Miami's.
My Pick: Louisville 38 Miami 24
 Alamo Bowl
Texas vs. #10 Oregon
6:45 PM December 30
This is Mack Brown's last game as coach of the Texas Longhorns, and he has had an illustrious career with UT. It will be a tough matchup for his team as they face a dynamic Oregon offense. Ducks' QB Marcus Mariota is electrifying and tough to stop. He will be coming back next year as he declined the NFL Draft for one more season with Oregon. Oregon's offense averages 46.8 points per game and is top 20 in the nation in both rushing and passing yards. I think Oregon will be too tough to stop and put a damper on Mack Brown's going out party.
My Pick: Oregon 48 Texas 27
Chick-fil-a Bowl
#24 Duke vs #21 Texas A&M
8:00 PM December 31
This might be the legendary Johnny Manziel's last game as a collegiate athlete. Duke is coming off a loss in the ACC Championship to Florida State. It has been a historic season for the Blue Devils. The Coastal Division Champions have had a fantastic ride, but they are facing one of the best playmakers in all of college football. Manziel has some big targets, including WR Mike Evans. Evans has been a beast this season by putting up huge numbers. I don't think Duke will be able to stop this A&M offense.
My Pick: Texas A&M 42 Duke 17
 Capital One Bowl
#19 Wisconsin vs #9 South Carolina
1:00 PM January 1
I am so excited for this matchup between these two very good teams. The Wisconsin O-line will have a tough time trying to stop the South Carolina D-line. Jadeveon Clowney will try to finish his SC career with a big win. Wisconsin has great balance on offense with Melvin Gordon and James White carrying the ball and Jared Abbrederis at WR. The Badgers defense is 5th in the country by only allowing 14 points per game. South Carolina QB Connor Shaw is a great dual-threat QB and is a major threat. This game will be won at the line of scrimmage and I think that the Gamecocks will win their 2nd straight Capital One Bowl in a close matchup.
My Pick: South Carolina 27 Wisconsin 24
Cotton Bowl
#13 Oklahoma State vs #8 Missouri
7:30 PM January 3
This game pits two of the most explosive offenses in the country. Mizzou has one of the the best set of WR in all of college football. They create matchup problems for any secondary. Oklahoma State is coming off a crushing loss to rival Oklahoma. OSU RB Desmond Roland averages about 5 yards per carry and is one of the most underrated players in the Big 12. The Cowboys' defense will have a very tough time stopping the electric James Franklin. Franklin is one of the most fun players in college football to watch. I think he will be the difference between these two teams.
My Pick: Missouri 38 Oklahoma State 27

Game of the Week: Who You Calling Old?

The game of the week features two Playoff hopeful teams in need of a win to keep up in their divisions and the Wild Card race. The Ravens and Lions will go at it tonight at Ford Field in Detroit. There has been some pre-game chatter between the two teams. Most notably came from Baltimore CB Matt Elam. He has the daunting task of covering WR Calvin Johnson. This is a motivated Johnson after Elam called him "old." Johnson, 28, is the best WR in the league, so Elam should have a rough night. Both these teams need these wins after the Bears won and the Dolphins beat the Patriots. The Lions are 1/2 a game behind the Bears and the Ravens are 1/2 a game behind the Dolphins. Both of these teams have had 10 days to prepare for this game because they both won on Thanksgiving Day. This has the makings for an exciting game, and I think The explosive Detroit offense prevails in the end. 

My Pick: Lions 34 Ravens 20

My Season Record: 8-6

Heisman Preview

As most of you all know, tonight is the Heisman Trophy presentation at 8 PM on ESPN in NYC. This year's six finalists are QB Jordan Lynch of Northern Illinois, QB AJ McCarron of Alabama, RB Tre Mason of Auburn, RB Andre Williams of Boston College, QB Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M, and the frontrunner QB Jameis Winston of Florida State. Winston is the leader in this race as he has thrown for 38 TD and lead his FSU Seminoles to the National Championship game. Did I mention he is only a Freshman? The 'Noles will meet Auburn and star RB Tre Mason in Pasadena. Mason has rushed for 22 TD and 5.7 yards per carry. He burst onto the national scene late in the year with wins over Alabama and Missouri in the SEC Championship Game. He rushed for 303 yards and 4 TD against Mizzou on the big stage. QB AJ McCarron has also had a very strong season for Alabama. He threw for 26 TD and 2.676 passing yards. He did everything he needed for his team this season. He did all he could to try and get his Crimson Tide in the National Championship. The defending Heisman winner is still in the race, too. Johnny Manziel has had another exceptional year and has put on some shows against very stiff opponents this season. He has thrown for 33 TD and rushed for another 8. He has also thrown for 3,732 passing yards. The player that has probably done the most for his team this season is RB Andre Williams of BC. He has rushed for 2,102 yards and 17 TD against teams that have just stacked the box. He is the whole Eagles offense. Defenses know he is getting the ball and they still can't stop him. The Cinderella of the race is probably Jordan Lynch of Northern Illinois. He is no Cinderella on the field though. This gritty QB has rushed for 22 TD and thrown for 23. He has accounted for 4557 yards this season. The only problem for him is his schedule. His Huskies haven't played the opponents that the other contenders have. NIU's last loss to Bowling Green really stung with voters. There are many storylines for this year's Heisman. I think Tre Mason should get the trophy this season, but I think Jameis Winston will end up hoisting it. 

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usatoday.com

 

Game of the Week: Beardown

With all of the inclement weather we have had, it should make for an entertaining game tonight when the Bears take on the Cowboys at Soldier Field in Chicago. The game-time weather should be at or below freezing. Both of these teams need to win to keep up with the teams ahead of them in their division. The winner of this game will then be tied up at the top of their divisions. The Bears are a 1/2 game behind the Lions in the NFC North. The same goes for the Cowboys with the Eagles in the NFC East. The Bears rushing defense is very shaky, so DeMarco Murray should get a lot of the touches for Dallas. Jay Cutler is out for the Bears, and it comes at a bad time. However, Josh McCown has it a little easier on him as the Cowboys pass defense is the worst in the league. Not to mention McCown has targets in Brandon Marshall, Marcellus Bennett, and Alshon Jeffery. This will be a very interesting game, but I see Matt Forte having a big running day. The Cowboys defense is in the bottom five of the league at stopping the run, too. 

My Pick: Chicago 31 Cowboys 23

My Season Record: 7-6

Championship Weekend

This tends to be the most exciting weekend every year in college football with all the conference championships. There are some very intriguing matchups with big storylines that will effect the BCS Championship Game.

#5 Missouri vs #3 Auburn

4:00 PM

Auburn is obviously coming off one of the biggest wins in its program's storied history, but they have to be focused purely on Mizzou. Missouri would be undefeated if it wasn't for a 4th quarter collapse against South Carolina. James Franklin has been terrific when healthy this year. The winner of this game could be playing for a BCS Championship. The Auburn secondary will have a tough time matching up with the tall Missouri Wide Receivers. The game will be won up front on the line. Mizzou's D-line will have to come up big today against the dynamic Auburn rushing attack.

My Pick: Auburn 37 Missouri 31

#7 Stanford vs #11 Arizona State

7:45 PM

This should be a tough and gritty football game. The Arizona State defensive front 7 has tremendous talent, but they will have to stop the bulldozer in Stanford's RB Tyler Gaffney. The Cardinals rushing attack is lead by their big line. This will be a contrast of styles as ASU loves to throw the ball with QB Taylor Kelly. The Stanford D is up for a challenge today. ASU has an under the radar WR in Jaelen Strong. He is someone to watch tonight. 

My Pick: Stanford 27 Arizona State 21

#2 Ohio State vs #10 Michigan State

8:17 PM 

This could be the biggest game of the day between two very strong football teams. OSU needs to win this game to have any shot at a national title. this would boost their credentials a lot against a very good team in Michigan State. I think a lot of OSU fans are looking past this Spartan team and are only fearing being jumped by an SEC team in the BCS Standings. The Buckeyes better fear this MSU team, because they have the best defense in the country and will come to play tonight. I think they will shut down this OSU offense and get the win. 

My Pick: Michigan State 20 Ohio State 10

My Season Pick Record: 25-17

Game of the Week: Fight for the Top Spot

The game of the week should be a goody. The Seahawks (10-1) and Saints (9-2) will go at it tonight at CenturyLink Field in Seattle in what could be the biggest regular season game of the year to this date. This game could decide who has the #1 seed in the Playoffs and home-field advantage. Home-field advantage is huge for these two teams, as they both are fantastic at home and play in rowdy environments. Seattle is one of the loudest atmospheres in all of sports. The Seahawks will be missing Brandon Browner (groin) and Walter Thurmond (suspension) against Drew Brees and the high flying Saints offensive attack. The Saints' defense has improved drastically this year. However, I think they will have a tough time stopping Marshawn Lynch. I expect Lynch to have a big day and open up the passing attack for Russell Wilson with a healthy Percy Harvin.

My Prediction: Seahawks 27 Saints 24

My Season Record: 6-6

Iron Bowl for the Ages

The center of attention this week is on the state of Alabama when #4 Auburn and #1 Alabama take each other on for the right to play in the SEC Championship. In the historic Iron Bowl rivalry, this could be the biggest matchup between the two ever. Alabama is undefeated and in the driver's seat for the National Championship. Auburn is 10-1, with their only loss coming to LSU. This has all the ingredients for a great game. I am 23-16 this year with all my predictions and I have been hot coming down the final stretch. 

#1. Alabama vs #4 Auburn 

3:30 PM

The winner of this matchup will have to go through either #5 Missouri or #10 South Carolina in the SEC Championship. Both teams love to pound you upfront and run the ball right down your throat. RB Tre Mason has been a beast this season for the Tigers along with Dual-threat QB Nick Marshall. Alabama has arguably the best defense in the country, so it will be interesting to see who comes out victorious in that category. This will be a very tight and hard nosed game, but I think the Bama defense is too much for Auburn. 

My Pick: Alabama 27 Auburn 17

#6 Clemson vs #10 South Carolina

7:00 PM

These two teams do not like each other and it makes for a hard fought game. Clemson has been overshadowed since that loss to Florida State. The key will be to see if the Tigers can protect QB Tajh Boyd from that fierce South Carolina front 7. Connor Shaw is the heart and soul of the Gamecocks. The Senior QB has carried the offense on his back the whole season. This should be a back and forth game, but I think South Carolina is going to send a message to the world tonight and come out and lay it on Clemson. 

My Pick: South Carolina 35 Clemson 24

#25 Notre Dame vs #8 Stanford

7:00 PM

Everyone remembers how this game ended last season with ND's goal line stand to beat the Cardinals. Stanford is playing some very good football as of late and will once again look to shove it down your throat. I am not sure ND has the depth to handle the Cardinals. I think Stanford will wear down the Fighting Irish. As long as Stanford accounts for WR TJ Jones and DaVaris Daniels, they should be good. However, I have learned the hard way never to count out Notre Dame. I expect them to come to play and make a game of this. 

My Pick: Stanford 35 Notre Dame 26

Game of the Week: The Rivalry Goes On

The game of the week consists of two of the best QB of all time in Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. The Patriots and Broncos will go at it in New England. This is the first time in years that the Patriots are not favored to win at home. These 2 teams are the frontrunners in the AFC and have established themselves as the teams to beat. The Pats are coming off a controversial loss to the Panthers while the Broncos had a statement win last week against the Chiefs. This will be the 14th time Manning and Brady have played against each other. Brady has a 9-4 edge over Manning, but I think Peyton will get one back tonight with the help of his teammates. It will be chilly in Foxborough and I think Montee Ball and Knowshon Moreno will have big running days for Denver. They will take some of the weight off Peyton, who has a hobbled ankle. 

My Pick: Denver 27 New England 24

Season Record: 6-5

Saturday Slate

There are tons of important games this Saturday with BCS implications. There are five matchups between two top 25 teams. The biggest one is in the Big 12 when undefeated #4 Baylor takes on #10 Oklahoma State in Stillwater. The other games include Missouri/Ole Miss and Arizona State/UCLA.  

#17 Arizona State vs #14 UCLA

7:00 PM

Arizona State will clinch a PAC-12 Championship Game berth with a win tonight in Pasadena. UCLA needs to win out to play in the PAC-12 Championship. They have USC on the horizon for an epic battle. ASU is lead by QB Taylor Kelly, who has thrown for 24 TD on the year. The Bruins are carried by Sophomore QB Brett Hundley and 2-way star RB/LB Myles Jack. Myles Jack has been a beast this season on defense and offense. He leads the team in tackles and is 2nd on the team for rushing TD. The Arizona defensive front is stacked this year. I expect them to put pressure on Hundley. However, UCLA has a more balanced attack on offense.

My Prediction: UCLA 37 Arizona State 31

#8 Missouri vs #24 Ole Miss 

7:45 PM

Both of these teams have somewhat overachieved this season. Ole Miss's only losses have came against ranked opponents and their load Freshman class has been very solid. Mizzou would be in the National Championship race if it wasn't for a South Carolina comeback. They need to win out to play in the SEC Championship. James Franklin is back in the lineup for the Tigers after separating his shoulder in a win over Georgia. Matty Mauk did a great job in replacement for him, but Franklin has more experience. The game is at Ole Miss and the stadium will be rocking, but I think Missouri escapes. 

My Prediction: Missouri 24 Ole Miss 16

#4 Baylor vs #10 Oklahoma State

8:00 PM

Baylor is still in the mix to play in the BCS Championship Game, but needs to be dominant in their wins and for a couple teams to lose ahead of them. They are breathing down the neck of Ohio State for the #3 spot in the BSC rankings. Oklahoma State is right behind Baylor in the Big 12 Standings and will come to play tonight. They have two very hard runners in Desmond Roland and Jeremy Smith. The atmosphere will be crazy tonight. Baylor has arguably the best offense in the country, but both of these teams have strong defenses. I think that defenses will be overshadowed tonight, though. 

My Prediction: Oklahoma State 34 Baylor 28

My Season Record: 21-15

Last Week: 2-1

Game of the Week: Unfamiliar Territory

When you have a 9-0 and an 8-1 team playing each other it is pretty obvious what the game of the week is going to be. The undefeated Chiefs are putting their unscathed record on the line tonight in Denver when they take on a hobbled Peyton Manning and the Broncos. The Chiefs have had an easy schedule until these next few weeks. This is a KC team that only won 2 games last year. The organization hasn't played in a game as big as this in a long time. The Broncos are coming off a 28-20 win over San Diego. Their offense has put up video game numbers in the 1st half of the season. The Chiefs and the Broncos could not be more different. The Chiefs center around their defense and running game. Alex Smith has the 2nd most rushing yards for QB behind Cam Newton. The weather will be a factor tonight, and it should benefit the away team. The weather could force the Broncos to run the ball more, and that is exactly what the stout Chiefs defense is hoping will happen. 

My Pick: Chiefs 20 Broncos 16

My Season Record: 6-4

Saturday Pick 'Em

It is a great day for college football fans and an important one too. There are 3 big games that have big implications on the conference championship races. I am 19-14 with my predictions this season after a 1-2 record last week. This week's slate includes games from the PAC-12, Big 12, and SEC.

#12 Oklahoma State vs #24 Texas

Texas hasn't loss since Week 3 and are in the driver's seat to win the Big 12. Oklahoma State's offense has been electric this season. Their only loss came to West Virginia in an upset. This will be a high-scoring game and I expect it to be decides at the wire. It could come to which defense can get a stop. This will be a thriller and expect the Longhorns' fans to be rowdy, but I think OSU will get the job done. 

My Pick:  Oklahoma State 37 Texas 34

#25 Georgia vs #7 Auburn

Both of these teams have been playing terrific football as of late. Auburn has been lead by a dynamic rushing game and a tough defense. Georgia has been very injured this season, but Aaron Murray has made best with what he has. Gus Malzahn has done an amazing job with the Tigers this year and they are in the hunt for an SEC Championship. This will be a very interesting game. This could be Georgia's last test before the bowl season. Auburn has a bye next week, then the highly anticipated Iron Bowl against #1 Alabama. 

My Pick: Auburn 27 Georgia 17

#4 Stanford vs USC
Stanford and USC are both playing the best football they have played all season. College Gameday is in LA and broadcasted from the McCarthy Quad earlier today.  The Cardinals are coming off a huge win against Oregon last Thursday night in which they dominated the line of scrimmage. USC is 4-1 under interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron since firing Lane Kiffin. They have new life and are still in the race for a PAC-12 Championship berth. Stanford is the leader in the North Division. This will be a very hard nosed football game. Stanford likes to pound you up the middle. USC fans are hoping Orgeron (old D-line coach) has his men up front ready for the game. Stanford will have trouble matching up with Nelson Agholar and Marqise Lee on the outside. Tyler Gaffney will be tough to bring down for Stanford. His performance last week against Oregon was Heisman-esque.
My Pick: Stanford 24 USC 23 

Future of Basketball

Tonight showcases the best young talent in the country on one floor at the United Center in Chicago. #1 Kentucky and #2 Michigan State will go at it first at 7:30 in a battle of two very balanced teams. Kentucky has possibly one of the best load of Freshman since the Fab Five. John Calipari has done a masterful job recruiting and lands the top prospects year after year. Michigan State has plenty of stability on offense. The other matchup that everyone wants to see is between #4 Duke and #5 Kansas at 9:30 after the MSU/UK game. Freshman phenom Andrew Wiggins will take the floor for the Jayhawks against Jabari Parker for Duke. These two were #1 and #2 in the recruiting class last year. They are also projected to be the 1st two picks of the upcoming NBA Draft. Rodney Hood is a beast down low at Forward for the Blue Devils. This game will be very exciting and electrifying.

Kentucky 73 Michigan State 65 I think both of these teams will go far, but I think Julius Randle has a monster game for the Wildcats.

Kansas 85 Duke 83 OT This game will be one for the ages, but I think Kansas will win the battle on the boards. 

Game of the Week: Panthers in the Playoffs?

My game of the week should be a good one with two of the most entertaining young QBs in the league going at it. The Panthers and 49ers are set to battle at Candlestick Parkin San Francisco. The 49ers have a 6-2 record and are second in the NFC West behind the Seahawks. The Panthers have been a surprise to many this season and are second in the NFC South and are tied for the last Wild Card in the NFC. Cam Newton has been very fun to watch this season, accounting for 17 total TD. He has also thrown 7 INT. Colin Kaepernick has thrown 9 TD and ran for 3 more. The 49ers running game has been terrific this season. They have rushed for 153 yards per game, which is the league high. Both of these teams know how to stop the run. This will be a very physical matchup between the 49ers O-line and the Panthers front seven. This game should be a nail biter, and I think it will come down to the wire. 

My Pick: Panthers 27 49ers 24

My Season Record: 5-4

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Tuscaloosa Tango

After a disastrous Thursday night for me and my predictions, I am trying to make up for my 0-2 start of the week. The best game of the day comes in the SEC when #1 Alabama and #13 LSU go at it in Tuscaloosa. I will only be picking one game today because I picked two on Thursday. My record for predictions this season is at 18-14.

#13 LSU vs #1 Alabama

8:00 PM

This is a great matchup of two teams that play stout defense and pound the ball down your throat. LSU's running game has carried the offense. Zach Mettenberger started the season off on a tear, but has had a tough time since. Alabama has, as crazy as it sounds, sort of gotten overshadowed. They have dominated every team that has gotten in their way. The defense has been terrific. The key matchup is the LSU running game against the 'Bama front seven. This is an extremely tough pick for me, but I am going with Alabama in a very tight game. 

My Pick: Alabama 17 LSU 16

Best Thursday of My Life

This Thursday night is one of the best you will ever see in the sports world. There are two huge matchups in the college football universe. The game everyone is talking about is between #3 Oregon and #5 Stanford. The game is in Palo Alto and Oregon is looking for revenge after the Cardinals beat Oregon and ended their National Title hopes last year in Eugene. The game that nobody is really talking about is in the Big 12 between #6 Baylor and #10 Oklahoma. Both Baylor and Oklahoma have high-flying offenses. I went a perfect 3-0 last week and I am now 18-12 this year with my predictions.

#10 Oklahoma vs #6 Baylor

7:30 PM FoxSports1

Baylor's offense is prolific and they have scored an average of 63.9 PPG. They lead the nation in passing and are top 10 in rushing. QB Bryce Petty has placed himself in the national spotlight with all the yards he has put up. RB Lache Seastrunk has rushed for 11 TD and about 870 yards. Oklahoma is sitting at 7-1 with their only loss coming against Texas. Their offense is balanced, but their defense is what has sort of carried them. The Sooners have had many big wins this year including ones over Texas Tech and Notre Dame. This will definitely be high scoring, and I can see this game heading to OT. 

My Pick: Oklahoma 44 Baylor 38

#3 Oregon vs #5 Stanford

9:00 PM ESPN

This has been the matchup everyone has been waiting for. The amazing and fast Oregon offense against the stingy Stanford defense. This game has been marked on everyone's calendars for months. Stanford eliminated Oregon from the PAC-12 Championship race last year in a thriller. The Cardinals' defense won the battle in that showdown. This is an improved Oregon team with, in my eyes, the best QB in the country. Marcus Mariota has been sensational and is a frontrunner for the Heisman. Stanford hasn't really blown people out, but they know how to get the job done. They have won all four of their games against ranked opponents, however are 7-1 because of a slip-up against Utah. The Ducks are ahead of Stanford in the PAC-12 North race, and a win here could put an end to Stanford's dream of playing in the PAC-12 Championship. 

My Pick: Oregon 38 Stanford 24

Game of the Week: One for the Ages

This week's game I am picking is between two of the most storied franchises in all of the NFL. The Packers and Bears go at it in another clash between these two rivals. These two teams dislike each other strongly, so it is fitting that they play on Monday Night Football for everyone to watch. Green Bay has a 1-game cushion in the NFC North over the Bears. A loss for the Packers would put them in a 3-way tie with the Bears and Lions. The Bears are sitting at 4-3, but are without QB Jay Cutler and LB Lance Briggs. This is a daunting task for Chicago, especially since the game is in Green Bay. Green Bay has won 4 straight since a 1-2 start. The offense has been strong as always, but the run defense has been very impressive. Josh McCown will get the start at QB for the Bears. He does have some good help in RB Matt Forte and targets like Brandon Marshall and Martellus Bennett. This should be a very interesting game. But then again, when is a Green Bay/Chicago matchup not interesting?

My Pick: Green Bay 30 Chicago 20

My Season Record: 5-3

Saturday Pick 'Em

This Saturday is filled with games with BCS implications. The biggest game of the week is in the ACC when #3 Florida State and #7 Miami go at it in Tallahassee. Both teams are undefeated and have taken different roads to get to where they are now. #21 Michigan and #22 Michigan State will renew their rivalry in East Lansing. #15 Texas Tech and #18 Oklahoma State are set to play in a huge Big 12 matchup that will impact the standings.

#21 Michigan vs #22 Michigan State

3:30 PM

These two teams will square off today with a lot on the line. They are the top two teams in the Big 10 Legends Division. The winner of the Legends will most likely play #4 Ohio State unless the Buckeyes trip up along the way. QB Devin Gardner can do it all for the wolverines. He has thrown for 13 TD and ran for another 9 more. He also has help from WR Jeremy Gallon and RB Fitzgerald Toussaint. They have taken the load off Gardner. Jeremy Langford will get most of the touches for MSU today. The Spartans defense has been outstanding this year, only giving up 12.3 PPG. This will be a classic MSU/Michigan game, but I like the Spartans at home. 

My Pick: MSU 24 Michigan 23

#18 Oklahoma State vs #15 Texas Tech

7:00 PM

The Red Raiders are coming off their first loss of the season to Oklahoma. Oklahoma State has won 3 straight since their loss to West Virginia. Both of these teams are hitting their tough part of the schedule. The Big 12 is so wide open this year and it will come down to the last few weeks. #6 Baylor is undefeated and looks like the favorite, but both of these teams are very much alive. These two offenses know how to score points. This will be an offensive battle. Neither team's running game is very strong, so expect the ball to be in the air most of the game. Texas Tech has the home-field advantage, but I don't think that will be enough. 

My Pick: OSU 45 Texas Tech 38

#7 Miami vs #3 Florida State

8:00 PM

This is the matchup everyone has been wanting to see. Florida State and its high powered offense against the stout Miami defense. This game is just like '90s between these two rivals. These two teams don't like each other and will leave everything on the field. It should be an entertaining matchup. Miami has been very sluggish lately and are extremely lucky to still be undefeated. FSU has destroyed every team in their way and are scary. Jameis Winston has been amazing for the Noles at QB. Their defense and offense are some of the best in the country. Miami's running game carries the offense. The defense has just been outstanding this year. This game will be a lot of fun, but there aren't many teams that can stop FSU and I don't think Miami can. These two teams could meet up in the ACC Championship. 

My Pick: FSU 30 Miami 16

My Pick Record: 15-12

Fear the Beards

I am sorry I am late on this, but I hope everyone had a good Halloween. As you know, the Red Sox are your 2013 World Series Champions. The Sox beat the Cardinals 6-1 in Game 6 in Boston to seal the deal. It was a very crazy series with pick-offs and interferences, but the Red Sox proved to be the most well-rounded team in baseball. David Ortiz won MVP. He had 11 hits for 6 RBI and was key in the Red Sox's win. This has been a tough time for the city of Boston since the bombings at the Boston Marathon in March. The Red Sox have struggled through the tough times with the citizens of Boston. The infamous beards of the Boston players have swept through the nation and everyone is starting to take part in the beards. It was a very entertaining season in baseball and Opening Day is only 140 days away!

Game of the Week: Welcome to the Jungle

The game of the week features two squads that are fresh off big wins against decent opponents. The Bengals and Jets square off at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. The Jest beat the Patriots last week off of a personal foul call that will most likely be changed at the end of the season. The Bengals have narrowly won their last 2 games on the road and are excited to be back home. AJ Green has been terrific this year hauling in 5 TD. Andy Dalton and him are really clicking. The Jets' run defense has been very stout this season, only allowing 77 yards a game. Their running game on offense has not had that big numbers. The Jets have been very inconsistent this season. They have not won two straight games the whole year. Their margin of victory has been 4.3 points per win. The Bengals are sitting atop the AFC North, while the Jets are one game behind the Patriots for 1st in the AFC East. I am not a believer in this Jets team, and I really don't think they can do what they have been doing for much longer.                                   

My Pick: Bengals 30 Jets 10

Season Record: 4-3

Saturday Slate: Too Many Games!

This weekend is filled with games of high caliber teams with big offenses. I am 13-11 with my picks this season. I will be giving you an analysis and prediction with all of the 3 most interesting games going on. The layout will be one PAC-12 game, one SEC game, and one Big 12 game. The most under the radar game of the week comes from the Big 12 between #10 Texas Tech and #15 Oklahoma. Tech is undefeated and tied for 1st in the Big 12 with Baylor. The Big 12 is rather weak this season, though. 

#10 Texas Tech vs #15 Oklahoma

3:30 PM

Texas Tech has a high powered offense averaging 41 PPG. The Sooners only blemish on their record comes from a loss to Texas in the Red River Rivalry. Their biggest win came against Notre Dame. Texas Tech has split time at QB with Baker Mayfield and Davis Webb. Mayfield did not play last week because of a knee injury. They have combined for 21 TD and 10 INT. Blake Bell has been starting at QB for the Sooners. I think that the Red Raiders will have a tough time scoring against the stout Oklahoma defense. 

My Pick: Oklahoma 24 Texas Tech 13

#21 South Carolina vs #5 Missouri

7:00 PM 

Missouri has been the most surprising team this season. Even without starting QB James Franklin, the Tigers have been terrific with backup Matty Mauk. They have had some big wins against Georgia and Florida. South Carolina is without QB Connor Shaw. They are in a very tough position. Jadeveon Clowney and Chaz Sutton haven't been as effective on the D-line as they were hyped. This game will be close, but I am going with Missouri to get the job done. 

My Pick: Missouri 38 South Carolina 35

#12 UCLA vs #3 Oregon

7:00 PM

College Gameday is in Eugene for the game and you know that the Duck fans will be very loud. It is an extremely hostile environment. Oregon has arguably the best offense in the country. They have scored 45+ points in all of their 7 games. Marcus Mariota has been electrifying this season and is a Heisman front-runner. UCLA has two very special players on their defensive front 7 in Eddie Vanderdoes and Anthony Barr. Barr is a projected top 5 pick in the NFL Draft. Bralon Addison and Josh Huff have been big targets for the Ducks. I suspect that Brett Hundley will haves tough go of it with the Oregon pass rush. 

My Pick: Oregon 52 UCLA 30

2013 World Series Preview

The World Series is finally upon us and the two teams that have taken a grueling road to get here are the Red Sox and Cardinals. Game 1 will be played in Boston at Fenway Park tonight. The Red Sox beat the Tigers in six games. The play that changed the series came at the hands of Big Papi, David Ortiz. Ortiz cracked a grand slam to tie the game up in Game 2 of the series. Detroit was about to go up 2-0 in the series until that play. The Cardinals took care of the Dodgers last series. Allen Craig is back in the starting lineup tonight. He suffered a sprained foot and hasn't played since September 4. He won't take the field, but will be the DH since the game is in Boston. Jon Lester is on the mound for the Sox, while Adam Wainwright is the starter for the Cards. Mike Napoli has been huge for the Red Sox as he hit 2 HR in the ALCS. Everyone has chipped in for St. Louis. Carlos Beltran has been on a tear in this Postseason. He has accounted for 10 hits for 12 RBI. Shane Robinson has also been solid for the Cards in just 4 games. This should be a very close series, bit I am going with the Cardinals in 7 games. 

Follow me on Twitter @MM8sports for more updates.

Game of the Week: Indy Reunion

The game of the week features one of the greatest Quarterbacks of all time going back to his old team that dropped him for a young QB that has been stellar in his two seasons in the NFL. Peyton Manning is going back to Indy as him and the Broncos try to take down the Colts and stay perfect. The Broncos are 6-0, while the Colts are 4-2. The Broncos have won 17 straight regular season contests. Andrew Luck has had another terrific season like last year. Newly acquired RB Trent Richardson hasn't had the effect that the Colts were hoping for.
Richardson Richardson has only rush for 3.2 yards per game. The Colts are coming off of a tough performance against the Chargers. The 19-9 loss came at a surprise to most. The Broncos had an unimpressive win by their standards against the winless Jaguars.
My Pick: Broncos 34 Colts 24
Season Record: 4-2

ACC Top 5 Showdown

Tonight, is probably the biggest game of the year in the ACC. The matchup between #3 Clemson and #5 Florida State showcases two major Heisman candidates and two top five teams. They are two of the three undefeated teams in the ACC. Miami is the only other ACC team without a blemish on their record. the other two matchups I am picking come in the PAC-12 and SEC. After a 3-0 week, I am 12-9 with my season picks.

#24 Auburn vs #7 Texas A&M

3:30 PM Kyle Field

Auburn has been a surprise team in the SEC at 5-1. There only loss came against LSU this season. Texas A&M is also 5-1 and have been playing very good football. Their only loss came against Alabama. Johnny Manziel has been putting up beast numbers this season and is contention for the Heisman Trophy. Mike Evans has been Johnny Football's main target this season. Evans has hauled in 5 TD and 737 yards this season. Auburn is lead on offense by Junior RB Tre Mason. This game should be pretty interesting. I am looking forward to seeing if Auburn is for real. I think TAMU will just put up too many points for the Tigers to try and match. 

My Pick: Texas A&M 38 Auburn 27

#9 UCLA vs #13 Stanford

3:30 PM Stanford Stadium

Stanford is coming off an upset loss to Utah. It will be interesting to see how they bounce back. UCLA has quietly snuck up into the Top 10. Running their offense is Brett Hundley at QB. Hundley has put up very good numbers this season. He is an under the radar Heisman candidate. UCLA RB Jordon James is questionable for today's game with an ankle injury. Ty Montgomery and Devin Cajuste have been Stanford's best WR this year. This has big implications on the PAC-12 Championship Game. A loss for Stanford digs themselves into a very big hole. This is a rematch of last year's PAC-12 Championship where Stanford won handily. 

My Pick: Stanford 30 UCLA 24

#5 Florida State vs #3 Clemson

This is the game of the year in the ACC. It has been a relatively strong year for the conference thanks to these two schools. Clemson boasts QB Tajh Boyd and electric WR Sammy Watkins. FSU's QB isn't too shabby either. Jameis "Famous" Winston. Winston is just a Freshman and has even tearing it up. He has thrown for 17 TD this season and has rushed for 2 more. The Seminoles have not faced a team like Clemson though. There only big games came against Maryalnd. FSU destroyed them 63-0. Clemson's biggest win of the season came against Georgia in Week 1.

My Pick: Clemson 31 FSU 21

Game of the Week: NFC East Showdown

The game I am picking this week probably isn't the most exciting game, but it already has major Playoff implications. The Redskins and Cowboys are near the top of the NFC East with records of 1-3 (Redskins) and 2-3 (Cowboys). The NFC East is the worst division in the NFL, so it is anyone's game. The Giants are last with an 0-6 record and the Eagles are 3-3 and 1st in the division. Robert Griffin III has not had the type of season he has wanted. The Cowboys are coming off tough loss to Denver in the final seconds. Tony Romo played very well, but threw a costly INT in the final minutes. My key to the game is Demarco Murray. If he can get going, Dallas will be in luck.
My Pick: Redskins 30 Cowboys 24

College Football Pick 'Em

There is some very intriguing matchups in college football today. I am now .500 with my predictions. my season record is 9-9. I am picking the three best games of the day. Two of the games are from the SEC while one is from the PAC-12. Two of the games I am choosing consist of undefeated teams.

#25 Missouri (5-0) vs #7 Georgia (4-1)

Missouri has been the surprising team in the SEC this year. They have had an easier schedule, but their next three games are against ranked teams. Georgia has had to scrape and claw just to get to where they are now. They have won four straight and is coming off a thriller against Tennessee. Aaron Murray has thrown for over 1,500 yards this season and 14 TD for the Bulldogs. Mizzou has a good QB in James Franklin. He has thrown for 13 TD and just over 1,400 yards. He has terrific targets in Dorial Green-Beckham and L'Damian Washington. The Tigers offense is very balanced and puts up plenty of points. They have also ran for 16  TD. Georgia does have the home-field advantage, though. 

My Pick: Missouri 38 Georgia 30 

#17 Florida (4-1) vs #10 LSU (5-1)

Both of these two teams are near the top of the standings in their SEC Divisions. Florida is tied with Georgia and Mizzou atop the East while LSU is 2nd in the West behind #1 Alabama. Zach Mettenberger has been exceptional for LSU this season. He is a dark horse in the Heisman race. With Jeff Driskel injured, backup QB Tyler Murphy has stepped up huge for the Gators. Florida has won their last 3 since a loss to Miami. LSU bounced back last week with a drubbing of Mississippi State after their loss to Georgia. Jeremy Hill has been a beast for LSU with 9 TD. Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry have been Mettenberger's favorite WR. It will be tough to score on this Florida defense that only gives up 12.2 points a game. 

My Pick: LSU 23 Florida 14

#2 Oregon (5-0) vs #16 Washington (4-1)

College Gameday is in Seattle to watch two of the top teams in the PAC-12. Washington is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Stanford off of a questionable call. Keith Price has been terrific this season. Oregon has just steamrolled every single one of their opponents. This matchup showcases at least two Heisman candidates in Marcus Mariota and Keith Price. Mariota has been an absolute beast this season.  Washington will have a very tough time slowing him down. The X-factor for the Huskies is RB Bishop Sankey. He takes such a load and puts up huge numbers. It is always tough to go on the road and beat Washington, but I think Oregon will get it done.
My Pick: Oregon 49 Washington 45

ALCS/NLCS Preview

After some great series in the Divisional round, we are down to the top four teams. The Dodgers and Cardinals both escaped in their NLDS matchup. The Dodgers beat the Braves in four games. The Cardinals got a stiffer challenge in the Pirates, but ended up prevailing in five games. In the AL, the Red Sox and Tigers will go at it starting tomorrow. The Tigers are coming off a stellar performance by Justin Verlander to beat the A's. The Red Sox took care of business against the Rays. 

Game 1 Dodgers vs Cardinals

8:00 PM Busch Stadium 

Zach Greinke and Joe Kelly will get the starts in Game 1. This will be a very interesting matchup between these two teams. Both teams have stacked lineups. Carlos Beltran continued to be one of the best Postseason hitters ever after bombing two homers while facing the Pirates. Carl Crawford was a huge difference maker for the Dodgers in that 1st series. He accounted for 3 HR, 5 RBI, and 1 SB in just four games. The Dodgers have gotten time to rest. Game 1 will be close, but I see it going to the Cardinals.

My Game 1 Pick: Cardinals 5 Dodgers 3

My Series Pick: Dodgers in 6

Game 1 Tigers vs Red Sox
8:00 PM Fenway Park
Anibal Sanchez and Jon Lester will both be on the mound for the two teams. The Red Sox have had a layoff after their series win over the Rays. The Tigers are starting to click again. Miguel Cabrera hit a bomb against the A's and Jhonny Peralta and Victor Martinez have been hitting the ball very well. The Boston fans will be very crazy. Shane Victorino and Jacoby Ellsbury were huge in the ALDS. They came up with plenty of big hits. I expect this game to be close.
My Game 1 Pick: Tigers 4 Red Sox 3

Game of the Week: Ground and Pound

I am 3-1 on the season with my picks and I am looking to go to 4-1after today. My game of the week features two great 2nd year QB, two hard-nosed runners, and two very stout defenses. The Seahawks (4-0) have traveled to Indianapolis and are set to take on the Colts (3-1). Seattle is coming off a comeback OT win over Houston. The Colts have won their last two games against the 49ers and Jaguars by a combined score of 64-10. Ahmad Bradshaw is out for the Colts with a neck injury. Trent Richardson should get most of the touches. This is the 1st time Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck have gone against each other. The two 2nd year QB have had anything but a Sophomore slump and have combined for 13 TD this season. Marshawn Lynch is not fully healthy for the Seahawks, but he will play. I expect the Seattle defense to make a few big plays. They did last week with Richard Sherman. He is the best CB in the NFL. I don't care what anyone says. He shows up and plays big every week. This game has the makings to be great. Lucas Oil Stadium will be loud, but I think that Seattle has too much big play capability. 

My Pick: Seattle 24 Indianapolis 16

Washingtonpost.com

Saturday Pick 'Em

This college football season is really heating up with only 2 more weeks until the 1st BCS Standings come out. I am 7-8 this season with my predictions, so I am planning on going 3-0 this week. My selections of games are coming from the PAC-12, Big 10, and ACC.

Georgia Tech vs #14 Miami

3:30 PM 

Miami is coming off a bye week and hasn't had that big of a test other than their upset over Florida. They are coming in 4-0 while Georgia Tech is 3-1 and fresh off a 17-10 loss against Virginia Tech. Duke Johnson has been a monster for the Hurricanes this year. Him and Gus Edwards are one of the best RB tandems in the country. The Hurricanes do have a good QB in Stephen Morris. Georgia Tech has one of the most steady running games in the country. The Yellow Jackets are lead by QB Vad Lee and RB David Sims on Offense. I think that GT will have a tough time running against this Miami defense. Miami is sort of under the radar in the ACC with Florida State and Clemson, but I think they can beat any team in the ACC on any given day. 

My Pick: Miami 31 Georgia Tech 10

#4 Ohio State vs #16 Northwestern

8:00 PM 

This could be possibly one of the biggest games in Northwestern history. College Gameday is in Evanston for this match pod the top two teams in the Big 10. Both teams are undefeated and have been impressive in their wins. OSU is coming off a 31-24 victory against Wisconsin. Braxton Miller will get the start at QB for the Buckeyes over Kenny Guiton. Both QB have played great this year, but Miller is coming off a game where he threw for 4 TD and 200 yards on just 17 passes. The player to watch is on the other side, though. Kain Colter and Trevor Siemian have split time at QB this season too. Kain Colter can both run and pass and is very lethal. OSU will have to keep a major eye on him. Both offenses can put up big numbers. I see offenses ruling this game tonight.

My Pick: Northwestern 37 Ohio State 34

#15 Washington vs #5 Stanford

10:30 PM

I am really looking forward to this PAC-12 North matchup. Washington knocked off Stanford last season. This has big implications on the PAC-12 Championship. Keith price has been terrific for Washington this season. Bishop Sankey has gotten most of the carries for the Huskies. Stanford looked very good 2 weeks ago against Arizona State. I was not a believer in this Cardinals' team before the ASU game, but that game made me a believer. Kevin Hogan has had a connection with his WR Ty Montgomery and Devon Cajuste. This game will be played in Palo Alto. These team are very even, so that could be a big difference. If this game was being played up North at UW, I would pick the Huskies. However this game is being played at Stanford, and you know the Stanford fans will come out.

My Pick: Stanford 28 Washington 27

ALDS Preview

I gave you my NLDS preview, so this is my ALDS preview. There are some very interesting series. I think the Tigers are the favorite to make it out of the AL. The Red Sox have a tough game against a hot Rays squad. It should be very fun to watch.

Rays vs Red Sox

Friday 3:07 PM Fenway Park

The Rays are the hottest team in baseball, but I could see them getting little fatigued this series. Those last two Playoff games must have taken a lot out of them. However, the Sox haven't played in 5 days, so who knows if that could get them off track. Jon Lester and Matt Moore are taking the hill in Game 1.  It should be a very crazy atmosphere in Boston. John Lackey will be going against David Price on Saturday. The top of the Red Sox's order is lethal. I see this series going 4 games.

My Game 1 Pick: Red Sox 7 Rays 5

My Series Pick: Boston in 4 games

Tigers vs Athletics

Friday 9:37 PM Oakland Coliseum 

This is the most interesting series when it comes to me. The Tigers have probably the best lineup in the MLB and a terrific rotation, but the bullpen has been a problem. Oakland doesn't have nearly the amount of big hitters the Tigers do, but they are very consistent. Max Scherzer and Bartolo Colon are on the mound in Game 1. The A's lineup has fared well against Max Scherzer in the past. Game 1 is being played in Oakland, so that gives the A's an edge. However, the Tigers' starting rotation is very strong. This series will be extremely close. Sonny Gray and Justin Verlander are pitching in Game 2.

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Fall Ball

The MLB Postseason began last night when the Pirates knocked the Reds out in a 1-game Playoff 6-2 behind Russell Martin's 2 HR. Francisco Liriano had a good outing for Pittsburgh in their 1st Playoff game in over 20 years. The Rays and Indians are in a 1-game Playoff tonight. The winner gets the pleasure of taking on the Red Sox. David Price pitched a gem in the 1-game Playoff to get to the 1-game Playoff. Alex Cobb will be on the mound for the Rays while Danny Salazar will get the nod for the Indians. The Rays lineup is too explosive and has more experience then the Indians. The game will be played in Cleveland. I think the fans at Progressive Field will go home bummed as the Rays will take it. 

Pirates vs Cardinals

Thursday 5:07 PM Busch Stadium
Game 1

Pittsburgh is coming off the best win in the franchise's last 20 years. They have some great leaders and the Cardinals are in for a grind of a series. AJ Burnett and Adam Wainwright are both taking the hill. The Pirates have a very electric and balanced offense. St. Louis's lineup is deep from top to bottom. Allen Craig and Yadier Molina are both having terrific years. This game will be very intriguing, but I am going to go with the Cardinals. 

My Game 1 Pick: Cardinals 5 Pirates 3
My Series Pick: Pirates in 5

Dodgers vs Braves

Thursday 8:07 PM Turner Field
Game 1

This series is full of stars and some great pitchers. Game 1 should be a defensive battle considering Clayton Kershaw and Kris Medlen are on the mound. The Dodgers will be missing Matt Kemp throughout the whole Postseason. Skip Schumaker will take his place. Andre Ethier may be limited to pinch-hitting, but should hopefully be able to make a return soon. This is Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford, and Adrian Gonzalez's first Postseason game as a Dodger. Dan Uggla has been left off the Braves's NLDS roster and will not play this series. He has had a .179 batting average this season. The Dodgers pitching staff I think is too stout for the Braves. Greinke is set to pitch in Game 2 and Ryu is ready for Game 3. It is ashamed Tim Hudson isn't able to pitch for the Braves after his ankle injury. 

My Game 1 Pick: Dodgers 6 Braves 2
Series Pick: Dodgers in 3 games

Game of the Week: Bayou Battle

My game of the week is between two 3-0 teams that have not gotten much hype. The Saints are hosting the Dolphins at the Superdome on Monday Night Football. The Dolphins are among the surprise teams in the league. No stat on the Dolphins particularly jumps out at you, but they have found ways to get it done with wins over the Browns, Colts, and Falcons. New Orleans has taken care of Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and Arizona. Jimmy Graham and Drew Brees have put together insane stat lines together. They are the best QB/TE duo in the NFL. The Saints' pass coverage has been stellar this year only allowing 184 yards per game through the air. Brian Hartline has been Ryan Tannehill's favorite target for the Dolphins. The 5th-year WR from Ohio State has hauled in 18 receptions for 238 yards and 2 TDs. I am not sure if the Dolphins' secondary can handle Drew Brees and company. The home crowd gives the Saints a big advantage, too. 

My Pick: Saints 34 Dolphins 16

My Pick Record: 2-1

Saturday Nightcap

Today has been full of great matchups, but I am picking the three most intriguing games to watch tonight from 3 different conferences. I am 5-7 with my picks this season and I need to get on track. I am picking the best games from the top 3 conferences. I am spreading the wealth with my picks.

21. Ole Miss vs 1. Alabama

This showcases a very young Rebels team against an extremely experienced Alabama squad. The Ole Miss Freshman class have been great this season. Alabama is coming off a win over Colorado State. They won handily, but were a little shaky at times. If this game was being played at Ole Miss I would go with the Rebels, but it isn't. I think the 'Bama faithful will show up tonight and give the Crimson Tide a little boost.

My Pick: Alabama 24 Ole Miss 17

23. Wisconsin vs 4. Ohio State

I am very excited to watch this game tonight. It showcases probably the two best teams in the Big 10. Wisconsin got hosed two weeks ago against Arizona State, and that is why they aren't undefeated. Both of these defenses have been very good this season. However, I think offense will be superior tonight. Braxton Miller is going to start for the Buckeyes. Melvin Gordon has been the star of the show for the Badgers and is a Heisman hopeful. This game will be close and come down to the wire.

My Pick: Wisconsin 34 Ohio State 27

Arizona vs #16 Washington 

I am very impressed with this Washington team. I believe that they are very good and under the radar. Keith Price is playing at another level this year. I think Rich Rod will have his team ready, but I think that Washington is just too talented. It is tough to travel up north to Washington. The Huskies have a nice balanced attack between the running game with Bishop Sankey and Keith Price's arm.

My Pick: Washington 35 Arizona 13

Game of the Week: Battle in Baltimore

The game of the week consists of two AFC powerhouses. One is in much better shape than the other. The Ravens and Texans will go at it M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. The Texans are 2-0, but have escaped in both games. they are coming off a 30-24 OT win over the Titans. The Ravens are 1-1 and bounced back last week after a Week 1 loss to the Broncos. However, last week's win came at a cost. Ray Rice got injured and is out today. Matt Schaub has a dynamic WR duo in DeAndre Hopkins and Andre Johnson. Hopkins, who is just a rookie, has put up some big numbers in just two games. This will be a hard hitting game with two tough defenses, but I think the Texans will run away with it.

My Pick: Texans 30 Ravens 13

My Pick Record: 2-0

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Saturday Slate

The slate of games this weekend is pretty weak, but I can assure you next week there will be more high profile games. I am 4-5 this season with my picks. The game of the week is in the PAC-12 between #23 Arizona State and #5 Stanford. The Auburn and #6 LSU matchup should be a good one. Michigan State also is in South Bend to take on Notre Dame. Those two teams always put together some exciting games.

Michigan State vs #22 Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish had a tough time last week against Purdue after a Week 2 loss to Michigan. However, ND managed to escape with a win over the Boilermakers. MSU is 3-0, but has had a rather easy schedule. They don't have to play Ohio State or Wisconsin this season. The coaches at MSU really like their Sophomore QB Connor Cook. He has put up modest numbers so far this season. Notre Dame's D-line is stout and very strong. This game will be very close, but I think it will be a little sloppy.

My Pick: MSU 17 Notre Dame 13

Auburn vs #6 LSU

LSU has gone a little under the radar this season. There defense is strong as usual, but the QB play of Zach Mettenberger has been what has surprised most people. Mettenberger came into the season quietly. He wasn't considered in the 1st-tier of QB in the SEC with Manziel, McCarron, and Murray. He has thrown for 9 TD and 0 INT in 3 games. Auburn has improved this season, but I don't think they are on LSU's level. Nick Marshall is a good QB, but LSU's defense should be able to shut him down.

My Pick: LSU 27 Auburn 10

#23 Arizona State vs #5 Stanford
We all know what happened last week in the ASU/Wisconsin game. The Sun Devils got very lucky . Stanford has been very hyped this season. They had a sloppy performance last week against Army. They came out with the 34-20 win. This game should be very close and the fans in Palo Alto will be very rowdy. The ASU D-line is one of the best in the country. I don't know how Stanford will be able to handle them.
My Pick: ASU 20 Stanford 14

Manning Bowl III

Fanduel.com

It was hard to pick my Game of the Week. It came down to this and the Seahawks/49ers matchup. I had to go with this game just because all of the story lines. This is the 3rd time Eli and Peyton have met up in a real NFL game. There have been some great backyard football games that none of us have seen. Peyton is coming off one of his best performances. He threw for 7 TDs against the Ravens on the opening night of football. The Giants had some major problem last Sunday. They were so close to staging another comeback win against the Cowboys. Eli threw an INT that was returned for a TD in the final 2 minutes. That was just one of six turnovers the Giants had. New York picked up Brandon Jacobs this week after David Wilson had two fumbles last week. The Broncos have so many weapons on the outside. The giants secondary is going to have to be ready. Denver just has so many targets to throw to. The Giants home crowd should give them a boost, but Denver might just be too good. 

commons.wikimedia.org

My Pick: Denver 30 Giants 17 

Saturday Pick'Em

This Saturday is full of huge sporting events. You got some great baseball, the Mayweather/Alvarez fight, but the biggest one could be taking place at Kyle Field in College Station. This Texas A&M/Alabam matchup is one of the most anticipated games i have seen in a while. We all know how exciting last year's game was between the two when Johnny Manziel had the game of his life to lead the Aggies to victory. Well, the Heisman winner is back and there is a lot of scrutiny surrounding him. All eyes will be watching Manziel when he takes the field. However, there are a lot of other terrific games. I am 2-4 on the season with my picks, so this is a big week for me. Here are my top 3 games:

#16 UCLA vs #23 Nebraska

This is a rematch from last year when the Bruins took care of business against the Cornhuskers in LA. This game features two of the most electrifying QBs in college football in Brett Hundley [UCLA] and Taylor Martinez [Nebraska]. Both can stuff the stat sheet with their arms and legs. This game is part of a Big 10 vs Pac 12 challenge. I expect this game to come down to the wire.

My Pick: Nebraska 23 UCLA 20

#25 Ole Miss vs Texas

Ole Miss is one of the most talented teams in the land. Their recruiting class has been stellar for them. Texas is coming off a loss against BYU. Mack Brown is under a little bit of pressure to win. This game will be played in Austin. The home crowd should give the Longhorns a little help, but I don't think it will matter. Ole Miss has too many playmakers and too much talent.

My Pick: Ole Miss 31 Texas 13

#1 Alabama vs #6 Texas A&M

This game has been so hyped up. We all know about the story lines with Johnny Manziel. I expect Alabama's running game to keep Manziel and company off the field. Texas A&M has plenty of athletes  on the outside to help Manziel. the problem is I don't think the defense will be able to slow the Crimson Tide down. The 12th Man at Kyle Field will be crazy, but I can't see how the Texas A&M front seven can shut down the 'Bama running game and when Texas A&M decides to stuff the box AJ McCarron will beat them deep with his favorite target Amari Cooper.

My Pick: Alabama 30 Texas A&M 20

NFL Pick of the Week: We Meet Again

As the first sunday of the NFL season is full of some interesting games, the game I am most looking forward to seeing is a rematch of last year's Playoffs between the 49ers and the Packers. These two teams also played in the season opener last year when the 49ers took care of business in Green Bay. This is a new 49ers team, though. Colin Kaepernick is now the starting QB and has been very impressive. He ran all over this Packers team in the Playoffs last year. The 49ers haven't played a real game since their Super Bowl loss to the Ravens. The Packers have lost legendary WR Donald Driver to the Vikings. San Francisco is favored by 4.5 points. The over/under is 48.5 points. With these two great QB and high powered offenses, I see this being a shootout. Even with the 49ers stellar defense. The big question for the Packers is if they can protect Aaron Rodgers. The O-line is pretty weak and the 49ers will bring pressure with their terrific front seven. Rodgers will need to get rid of the ball quickly. He has a good set of playmakers to work with. Frank Gore should have a big day. Gore will get a lot of touches. This game will be back-and-forth, so I expect it to come down to the 4th quarter. 

My Pick: 49ers 38 Packers 30

Week 2 Rivalries

It is only Week 2 and the college football landscape has already been shaken up. This weekend showcases some great classic rivalries that will be ending. I will pick the 3 most interesting games. After an embarrassing 0-3 last week, my goal is to get back on track and get to .500.

12 Florida vs Miami

This could be the last game between these two in-state rivals. These players know each other from playing in high school against each other and don't like each other. Miami has a strong running attack lead by Sophomore Duke Johnson. A win against the Gators could have a great effect on Miami. The Hurricanes haven't beaten their in-state rival since 2003. Since then, Florida has turned into a powerhouse and a major program and Miami has been weak. It will be tough for Miami, though. Florida's secondary is one of the best in the country and Jeff Driskel at QB is a good Dual-Threat QB. This game will be very close and the atmosphere will be electric.

My Pick: Florida 20 Miami 13

#6 South Carolina vs #11 Georgia
Georgia is obviously coming off a tough loss to Clemson. This is a must-win game for the Bulldogs. South Carolina beat UNC last week. Heisman hopeful Jadeveon Clowney was under lots of speculation for taking plays off and not hustling. I expect him to bounce back. South Carolina has had over a week to prepare for Georgia. The Gamecocks played on Thursday night last week. Aaron Murray is going to have a tough time without his favorite WR Malcolm Mitchell. Mitchell was injured celebrating a Todd Gurley TD last week. This game should come down to the wire, but I think Georgia's running game should carry them to victory.
My Pick: Georgia 27 South Carolina 23
#14 Notre Dame vs #17 Michigan
You have probably heard about the comments that both coaches have said about the rivalry this week. It is a shame it is coming to an end. These are two very talented football teams and a historic rivalry. Brady Hoke has a great respect for the rivalry. Brian Kelly, not so much. Notre Dame and Michigan both have two good QB. Tommy Rees is coming off a strong performance against Temple and the Wolverines have Devin Gardner, who is very electrifying. The Notre Dame front seven is strong once again this year. Michigan will be in trouble if they cannot manage to block the big ND D-lineman. This is the last time these two teams will play at the Big House.
My Pick: Michigan 24 Notre Dame 16

Labor Day Pick 'Em

Labor Day is upon us again, and that means college football is here. There were some thrillers and snooze fests last night. Rutgers and Fresno State  went to OT last night when Fresno St. pulled it out and won 52-51. FSU QB Derek Carr and Rutgers QB Gary Nova both threw for 5 TD and 1 int each. Leonte Carro came down with 3 TD for the Scarlet Knights. Jadeveon Clowney did show some weakness last night. He seemed gassed out for South Carolina, but the Gamecocks still managed to hang on and beat UNC after a lightning delay. Ole Miss and Vanderbilt had an epic game that showcased some young stars and possibly one of the best WR in SEC history. Vandy WR Jordan Matthews had a great game, but Ole Miss managed to rally and win 39-35 against the Commodores. #24 USC beat Hawai'i 30-13 in what was a slugfest. The Trojans' defense looked sharp and only let up 11 points (Hawai'i recorded a safety.) The QB play was sloppy for USC. It seems like Cody Kessler is too short, but Max Wittek didn't look great either. Lane Kiffin will have to assess this problem. 

There are some great games on Saturday. #1 Alabama has a very tough test in VA Tech. #12 LSU and #20 TCU will go at it at Jerry's World in Dallas. There has been some trash talk between the two coaches, so this has the makings for a great game. #5 Georgia will travel to Death Valley to take on #8 Clemson. College Gameday will be there. I will pick all three of these games. 

#1 Alabama vs Virginia Tech

This game will take place at the Georgia Dome and has two of the best coaches in the country in Frank Beamer and Nick Saban. Alabama has their hands full with this VA Tech team. Logan Thomas returns for his final season as a Hokie at QB. Thomas is very tough to bring down and is one of the best dual-threat QB in the country. The Hokies have a stout defense. The Freshman to keep your eyes on is VA Tech's Kendall Fuller from Good Counsel. This is an extremely good Alabama team, too. The matchup I want to see is Amari Cooper vs the VA Tech secondary. This game could possibly be my upset pick of the season. I am coming out with a bang and picking VA Tech to take down the Crimson Tide. 

VA Tech 23 Alabama 21
#12 LSU vs #20 TCU
Gary Patterson and Les Miles have been at a war of words lately. Both are expected to miss their best players in LSU RB Jeremy Hill and TCU DE Devonte Fields. TCU returns QB Casey Pachall after he only played a few games last year before being arrested. Pachall will have a breakout season this year. I expect him to put up big numbers on Saturday night. The Freshman to keep your eyes on is LSU's 6-8 OT Derek Edinburgh from New Orleans. This should be a good game. Both defenses are stellar, but I think that the Horned Frogs big play-making ability will be a deciding factor.
TCU 27 LSU 23
#5 Georgia vs #8 Clemson
This game contains at least two Heisman Trophy contenders and two of the best QB in the country. Georgia QB Aaron Murray and RB Todd Gurley are some dark horse Heisman candidates. Clemson QB Tajh Boyd is a frontrunner for the most prestigious award in college football. The Tigers are the ACC favorites. This will be a terrific game, and you know Death Valley will be rowdy. College Gameday is there and the Tigers' supporters will come out. The Freshman to keep your eyes on is Clemson DE Ebenezer Ogundeko from Brooklyn. This game will be back and forth, but I think Georgia comes out on top.
UGA 30 Clemson 24

MM8 Preseason CFB Top 25

College football is finally back and at Mattymac8.blogspot.com we will fully prepare you for this college football season. These are our Preseason Rankings. We will give you our Top 25 and a full analysis of our Top 5 teams.

#25. Virginia Tech- Logan Thomas has been inconsistent over the years. This is his last chance to do something at VA Tech. They will kick off the season against Alabama.

#24. Boise State- Chris Petersen returns a Broncos squad with a stout defense. Joe Southwick should put up some big numbers at QB. They have a tough test in Washington to start out the season.

#23. USC- The Trojans want a fresh start from last year. There is a quiet QB battle brewing. I predict that Max Wittek will start Week 1 over Cody Kessler. Marqise Lee and Nelson Aguilar are a ridiculous WR duo.

#22. Oregon State- I would not be surprised if the Beavers started out 7-0 this year and finished 8-4. They have a very tough last 5 games. Cody Vaz and Sean Mannion may split time this year at QB. Markus Wheaton is a playmaker at WR and RB.

#21. Wisconsin- Joel Stave and Curt Phillips might split time this year at QB. James White returns at RB and I expect him to have a great season. Their Week 3 test against Arizona State showcases one of the best D-lines in the country (ASU) against a big O-line in Wisconsin.

#20. Northwestern- This NW team has plenty of chances to prove themselves. Kain Colter can play RB and QB and is a threat to defenses everywhere. Pat Fitzgerald has done a great job with this team.

#19. Texas- David Ash will be running the offense this year for the Longhorns. Mike Davis and Jaxon Shipley are a good 1-2 tandem at WR. The Big 12 is rather weak this year, so I would not be in shock if they ended up in the mix to win it.

#18. Nebraska- The Cornhuskers running game can be very effective and will carry the offense. Taylor Martinez could be a Heisman Trophy candidate at the end of the year. T-Magic is one of the best dual-threat QB in the country. Their Week 3 matchup against UCLA should be fun to watch.

#17. UCLA- Brett Hundley will be running the show again this year. He is another QB that can run and throw. The Bruins lost Jonathan Franklin from last year. Anthony Barr will lead the defense. The Bruins had a rough ending to last year's season, losing their last 3 games. 

#16. Oklahoma- Blake Bell will be replacing Landry Jones at QB. Bell is 6-6 and 252 lbs. OU does not have a go-to-guy at WR to help Bell out. I don't think the Sooners have what it takes to get over the hump of making it to a BCS Bowl game. 

#15. Notre Dame- I have Notre Dame on upset alert in Week 1 against Temple. With Everett Golson out, Tommy Rees will start. I think that Brian Kelly should let incoming Freshman Malik Zaire start. Zaire is very quick and is a playmaker. George Atkinson III is ND's leading RB that is coming back. 

#14. Michigan- Devin Gardner is a big playmaker at QB. He gained experience last year when he took control of Denard Robinson's spot. Jeremy Gallon should have a breakout year at WR. The Wolverines' defense has shown improvement. Last year they only let up 19.8 PPG. 

#13. Oklahoma State- Clint Chelf and J.W. Walsh are both capable of leading the Cowboys' offense from QB. This OSU offense is very explosive. They put up 45.7 PPG last year. Jeremy Smith should get some touches at RB this season. The defense gives up a lot of points, though. I would not be shocked if they lost Week 1 to Mississippi State.
#12.  Florida State- Jameis Winston will try to match what EJ Manuel did last year. The Seminoles offense can put up huge numbers. They almost averaged 40 PPG last year. The defense isn't too shabby either. They come in after only giving up 14.7 PPG last season. FSU is doing something right recruiting wise. They constantly have a top 5 class every year.
#11. LSU- Zach Mettenberger returns for his final season as a Tiger. He has help from a stellar defense and two promising WR in Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry. The schedule is brutal, though. They have to face four top 10 teams and a scrappy TCU team that might turn some heads. The Tigers and Horned Frogs will go at it at Cowboys Stadium on the first Saturday of the season.
#10. Clemson- There are high expectations for Clemson this year. Tajh Boyd could be a dark horse for the Heisman this year. WR Sammy Watkins returns after what was sort of a bust season last year. In 2011, Watkins was unstoppable with 12 TDs and 82 catches. Last year Watkins only managed to catch 3 TDs and had some trouble off the field. The Tigers open the season at home against Georgia. College Gameday will be there.
#9. Florida- Jeff Driskel comes into the season very underrated. He is another terrific dual-threat QB. The Gators get a huge break this year by not playing Alabama. That doesn't mean their schedule isn't still loaded. They have to face about four top 15 teams in the country. Their defense should once again be great.
#8. Louisville- Teddy Bridgewater came out last year and performed for this Cardinal team. He threw for 27 TDs and 3718 yards. He will get more help at WR as the Cards landed a huge star in James Quick from Trinity HS (Louisville). I expect Quick to make an impact right away. Louisville has an extremely easy schedule to work with.
#7. Stanford- Kevin Hogan is the starter at QB for the Cardinals. They are losing Stepfan Taylor at RB. The defense is good, but I really think this team is overrated. They have a tough schedule and not many playmakers on offense. The defense will hold its ground. However, the offense is a question mark.
#6. South Carolina- Connor Shaw returns to QB for the Gamecocks. The loss of Marcus Lattimore will be huge. Shaw can run, but they don't have an every down RB. Bruce Ellington is their best WR. The best player in the country happens to be on their team in Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney might miss the first game of the season, though.
#5. Texas A&M- Johnny Manziel has made some stirs in the media this offseason. He might not even be able to play this year. I think Kevin Sumlin is a great coach, but this season is set up for disaster. The Aggies have plenty of talent and I could be biting my tongue for saying that last sentence. The team does have a great recruiting class with two very solid WR. However, if Manziel doesn't play the Aggies lost out on a good QB in Kohl Stewart who decided to bypass college to play with the Twins.
#4. Georgia- Aaron Murray has very big expectations this year. He was named All SEC 3rd Team QB. Might not sound like that big of a deal, but in a conference with AJ McCarron and Johnny Manziel it isn't that bad. The Bulldogs also have two super Sophomore RB in Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall. The two combined for 25 TD last season and over 2100 yards. Malcolm Mitchell had a decent year last season at WR.
#3. Ohio State- This was a tough decision for me to put the Buckeyes at #3. Braxton Miller is looking to match what he did last year. Urban Meyer did a great job with the team last season. Devin Smith and Philly Brown return at WR to help out Miller. RB Carlos Hyde has been suspended for the first 3 games of the season. The Buckeyes could easily be at #2 on this list.

#2. Oregon- Speed. Oregon has lots of it. Chip Kelly is gone, but Oregon is still very impressive. Marcus Mariota should have a solid year at QB. De'Anthony Thomas could be the fastest player in all of college football. Josh Huff was a reliable WR for the Ducks last year. This team can light up the scoreboard. Oregon already has November 7 marked on their calendars. They will get a chance to get some revenge on Stanford. It will be a Thursday night game in Palo Alto. 
#1. Alabama- No surprise here. Bama has won its all 3 out of the last 4 years. AJ McCarron will once again be at the helm for the Crimson Tide. WR Amari Cooper is an elite player and a huge target for McCarron. The running game will once again be spectacular. T.J. Yeldon and incoming Freshman Derrick Henry will take a lot of the load off McCarron. Bama's O-line and defense should be terrific like last year. VA Tech is first on their schedule. The Tide have a bye after that and then a trip to Kyle Field to take on Texas A&M. Nick Saban will have his team ready. 

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