Weekly Picks

Bob's Picks for Nov. 27-28, 2009: Point Spreads always are based on Danny Sheridan's Wednesday spreads in USA TODAY.

Bob's picks last week Against-the-Spread (ATS): 1-3, Season: 21-28

All 2009 Games
Last Week ATS:
Favorites covered 26 (50.98%), failed to cover 25, 1 Push
Season ATS:
Favorites covered 260 (48.78%), failed to cover 273

More to Play For

By this time of the season, it is time that the better teams assert themselves. Frankly, some teams have more to play for than others. That is the theme of my five picks this week.

Take all that as you will, dear reader. Your humble prognosticator has suffered only one losing season in 14 years of picking college football. That was the dreaded 1999 season when I stumbled past New Years Day with a 46.7 percent mark. Don't look now, but I currently am drowning at 42.9 percent, and unless I hit about 15 of 18 in the closing weeks and bowl games, I'm sunk.

For what its worth, the yesteryear high-water marks for picking games occurred in 1994 at 69.7 percent and 2007 at 72.1 percent.

Here are my picks for Friday and Saturday, November 27-28:

Friday

Pittsburgh (Even) at WEST VIRGINIA

Dave Wannstedt scares me because under his coaching regime, Pitt has had a nasty tendency to collapse at some bad times. On the other hand, West Virginia's Bill Stewart is never going to be confused with Vince Lombardi. Pitt can reach a BCS bowl with a win here in the "Backyard Brawl" and an upset of Cincinnati next week. Pick: Pittsburgh Even

Saturday

North Carolina (-5.5) at NORTH CAROLINA STATE

Another hot team with much to play for is North Carolina, winners of four straight. NC State has some good weapons, but the Tar Heels boast a tremendous defense that will give headaches to its bowl opponent. Pick: North Carolina -5.5

Oklahoma State (+9.5) at OKLAHOMA

One of these days we co-authors of The USA TODAY College Football Encyclopedia are going to have to research the record of visiting teams in rivalry games. I am so certain that visitors in run-of-the-mill conference games generally lose, but that in rivalry match-ups, home and away situations have far less impact. Note, dear reader, that each of my rivalry-game picks so far are visiting teams, considerably unfazed I believe by playing in their rival's stadium. Here comes another: Oklahoma State still holds out hope for a BCS bowl. While injury-riddled Oklahoma surely is the nation's best team saddled with five losses, the Sooners have so little to play for and are such a big favorite here. Pick: Oklahoma State +9.5

Miami (-5.5) at SOUTH FLORIDA

To the detriment of my won-loss record, I've probably overrated Miami all season. But I can't see the Hurricanes losing to another fast-fading South Florida team. The Bulls are 2-3 since winning their first five this season. They have closed the last two regular seasons at 1-4 and 3-3. Miami delivers more of the same. Pick: Miami -5.5

Notre Dame (+10) at STANFORD

It is so hard to see the Irish getting off the canvas to fight for a coach who is doomed, unless the contractual buyout proves too daunting and earns another chance for that coach. Charlie Weis has very infrequently gotten his Notre Dame "up" for any game. How can he do it more than 2,000 miles from home against a hungry Stanford Cardinal wanting to get back on the winning track? Pick: Stanford -10

Paul's Picks for Nov. 27-28, 2009: Point Spreads always are based on Danny Sheridan's Wednesday spreads in USA TODAY.

Paul's picks last week Against-the-Spread (ATS): 3-1, Season: 25-19

Down the stretch we come

It is the time of the year when bellies are stuffed, winds are blowing a bit too strong, and football players earn bragging rights in their rivalry games. Texas A&M gave hated Texas a serious scare last night in a game that looked a lot like the high-scoring Big 12 from 2008. UCLA sees plenty of vulnerability in USC, West Virginia looks to enjoy their new position as underdog in the "Backyard Brawl" and Auburn would love nothing better than to post loss number one on Alabama's ledger. These games are compelling beyond the won-loss records of the individual teams and are a challenge for the prognosticator.

Here are my picks for Friday and Saturday, November 27-28:

Friday

Temple (-2.5) at AKRON

The Owls are enjoying a breakout year under coach Al Golden, who now will be rumored for a number of openings at bigger programs. They have sliced through their MAC schedule this year with ease, but need to play at a high level to continue what is now a nine-game win streak. If Temple does not look ahead to the MAC championship game next week against Central Michigan, they should win this game by 10. Pick: Temple -2.5

Alabama (-10) at AUBURN

This is a last-second pick for me as I wanted to hit on one of the bigger games of the weekend. Inspired by the performance of the Aggies last night I am going with Auburn today as I have felt all season that the big three of Florida, Alabama and Texas have not been as separated from their competition this season as the standings and polls may suggest. All of the upperclassmen for the Tigers have both memories of the 36-0 whipping the Tide gave them last year and confidence from the six-game Iron Bowl win steak they enjoyed through 2007. This game should be fun. Pick: Auburn +10

Saturday

Utah (+7.5) at BRIGHAM YOUNG

The 85^th edition of "The Holy War" will feature a bunch of kids who care more about becoming the de facto champion of the Beehive State than religion. With both squads playing second fiddle to TCU in the conference this year, this game also has Mountain West Conference positioning riding on it. BYU has not won this game by more than 7 points since 1996 and they do not do so here. Pick: Utah +7.5

Washington State (+24.5) at WASHINGTON

In terms of national prestige, the Apple Cup has fallen on hard times. Washington State has actually had the better of their cross-state rivals for most of the past few years and while I like the Huskies to win outright, the game means too much to the Cougar players for them to get blown out. Plus, this spread is based on what the Huskies did in the first half of the season. Pick: Washington State +24.5