ACC Football Update

The sound you heard throughout ACC country today was champagne corks popping as the conference swept four games against the dreaded SEC (well, SEC East) and in doing so firmed up Florida State's presumed spot in the final four playoff. Of course FSU still has to beat Georgia Tech in the ACC title game, something that looks tougher now than expected at the beginning of this season. The ACC is the little brother to their SEC neighbors and any sweep like this is sweet even if three of the four SEC victims are struggling and the fourth, Georgia, is inconsistent. The ACC will take what they get and build upon today's results, hoping to sway a recruit or two. All four of the ACC teams in question are ranked--while just one of the SEC teams was--but that helps those programs in the eyes of voters for the future. This is especially true for a Clemson team that always struggles against South Carolina and a Georgia Tech program that is supposed to struggle with athletic defenses like the one they saw today in Georgia. It is just another sign that the rest of the college football world is closing the gap with the SEC, although we will need a lot more key wins to confirm that.

SEC Update

Okay, okay I admit it. As someone who believes that the SEC has become grossly overrated--and that its overblown standing is bad for college football--I was happy that Missouri won its second straight East title yesterday. That they beat an SEC West team to do it made it even sweeter. Look I am not buying that Missouri was a mediocre program before joining the SEC. They were better than that but the Big 12 was underrated because of the SEC so it is with some irony that folks point to Mizzou as some mediocre team going to the SEC and then doing well. I also think it is great that a team that lost to Indiana won the SEC East. It happens. And yes it was fortunate that Mizzou pulled A&M and Arkansas but that happens and the Aggies were ranked when Missouri beat them and Arkansas was playing much better at year's end when the Tigers beat them. I also love that the Tigers were able to have a successful season without superstar wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, who was booted from school in April for repeated transgressions with pot and for being accused of throwing a woman down a flight of stairs. I wish he kept his head straight and I wish we could enjoy his play, but he screwed up and Missouri, despite the pressures of competing in the SEC, did the right thing and should be commended for that (OU did not but that is a separate story). As for the rest of the SEC, there is plenty of excitement slated for today. Can Alabama and Mississippi State keep their championship hopes alive while playing rivals Auburn and Mississippi who both once harbored title hopes? Can Florida upset FSU for both SEC pride and outgoing coach Will Muschamp? Georgia and South Carolina also have rivalry games against the ACC, so the conferences have a lot on the line today. While the conference focuses on national titles there is a great deal of opportunity today to prove that they are much better than everyone else. We'll see.

Pac 12 Update

The game of the week in conference play would normally be the Arizona-Arizona State clash this afternoon but neither team controls its own destiny. Both of these rivals sit at 6-2 in conference, tied with UCLA atop the South Division. Oregon wrapped up the North a very long time ago and awaits the South winner in Santa Clara. UCLA, however, is in the driver's seat and clinches the South with a win today against Stanford. A loss and the winner of Duel in the Desert gets the South nod. That is easy to remember. The Bruins are one of the teams that are tough to categorize. They have climbed back to the top ten yet does anyone trust them? They have been playing better of late with wins by double figures over Arizona, Washington and USC. But Stanford has owned them of late. then again Stanford is not the same Cardinal team of the recent past and they have yet to beat a Pac 12 team with a winning record for the conference season. I like the Bruins to pull away late. As for the battle of the Grand Canyon State, ASU seemed to be the clear favorite until they squandered a lead in the South race on November 15 by losing to a mediocre Oregon State squad. Arizona has had a great season and the game should be a good one. Winner, should UCLA also win, is the frontrunner for a Fiesta Bowl bid assuming Oregon beats UCLA in the conference championship game. Got it? I like Arizona in a close one. The Pacific Northwest teams are playing their state rivalry games tomorrow, which may be fun. And Notre Dame at USC is tomorrow, a game that had a lot riding on it a few weeks ago but will now help salve the wounds of the winner and prolong the agony of the loser.

Big 12 Update

Well here we go. Three teams remaining in the race for the Big 12 football championship with two games remaining. This should be fun. Baylor, Kansas State and TCU are all tied for first place with 6-1 records. All three are favored this week with TCU having the toughest test in heading to Austin Thursday to face the Longhorns. While I still cannot get over the absence of Texas A&M on UT's schedule for Thanksgiving week, I would expect Texas to be fired up nonetheless. Texas has won three straight in convincing fashion to become bowl eligible. They also swamped the Horned Frogs 30-7 last year in Lubbock, something TCU has not forgotten. TCU has a lot riding on this game and will need a full effort to beat a Texas team that is looking to keep up their good play of late. Baylor and Kansas each have opponents that will certainly want to play spoiler in rivals Teas Tech and Kansas, but even playing closely will be surprising. The key for both teams is staying healthy as they have to play each other in the finale in Waco on December 6. TCU meanwhile finishes with Iowa State in Lubbock so, unless there is a major surprise, each of the three teams remaining in the Big 12 race have one more tough game. But let's see what happens. As for the rest of the conference, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia are probably the only other teams to be bowl eligible this year. The Sooners have a shot at ten wins and should be focused on whipping rival Okie State, who is reeling, and then wining their bowl game. Texas is all about building momentum for year two under Charlie Strong, while West Virginia needs to continue the good play this season as they look to contend next year. An expected win Saturday over Iowa State and then a bowl win will give the Mountaineers eight wins for the season which would double last year's total. The other four? Play the kids, play hard and give yourselves something to build on.

College Football Picks

Here goes: Temple +11 at PSU Iowa -3.5 at Illinois IU +7 at RU Georgia Tech +3 hosting Clemson Rice +21.5 at Marshall Wake +17 at NC State Utah +8 at Stanford Miss State +8.5 at Bama Texas -3 at OKie state MSU -12 at Mary ASU -10 at Oregon State Good luck

Today's Picks

Penn State -7 at IU Georgia -10 at Kentucky Georgia Tech -3.5 at NC State Duke -4 at Cuse Duke-Cuse under 51 Troy -7 hosting Ga State Army +4.5 vs UConn WSU-Oregon State over 61 FSU -20.5 hosting UVA Wash +6 hosting UCLA BC +3 hosting Lou LSU +6.5 hosting Bama MSU -4 hosting OSU Utah +8.5 hosting Oregon Good luck everyone.

College Football Picks

Here goes: Duke +3.5 at Pitt OU-ISU over61 PSU=Mary under 48 Georgia -13 Iowa-3 TCU-WVA over 71 Kentucky +8 WSU +9 Mississippi -1.5 Stanford +8 KSU -13 Arizona +7 (BB)