It's been awhile. Okay, it's been longer than awhile. But have no fear, I have only become wiser over the last year, whch means even better predictions (I hope).
So, without further ado!
#7 Florida at #1 Alabama - 8:00pm ET
Wow, we only had to wait 5 weeks for what could be a December Championship matchup. Nice. Strap in, boys and girls - this will be a bruiser. Even though Alabama is coming off an emotional and physical matchup with Arkansas (and Florida conversely is not), the Tide still has too much all-around skill and discipline. This game comes down to execution and nobody has his team execute when it matters better than Nick "I'll never be Bear Bryant but I'm a pretty damn close second" Saban.
Crimson Tide 24 - Gators 23
#2 Ohio State at Illinois - 12:00pm ET
Conference play finally starts in the Big Ten (thank goodness - au revoir, Eastern Michigan and Austin Peay) and it's not a good thing for the Illini. Ohio State is the best in the land at forcing turnovers on defense and has arguably the hardest quarterback to gameplan for on offense. This game shouldn't be close.
Buckeyes 32 - Fighting Illini 10
#3 Boise State at New Mexico State - 8:00pm ET
For the record, I am NOT on the Boise State train. I still think the best thing to come out of that state is the potato. If you've ever criticized Ohio State or Florida for plaing cupcakes, then I better hear you yelling for the next 12 weeks, because the Broncos have a BUNCH of them. Boo to Virginia Tech and Oregon State for being less-than-platinum. Let's pray Nevada stays healthy over the coming weeks.
Broncos 52 - Aggies 10
#9 Stanford at #4 Oregon - 8:00pm ET
When do you know college football has truly begun? When your remote never leaves your hand because your flipping between three games at once. Gotta love this matchup - the smart, bruising style of Jim Harbaugh vs. the speedy, opportunistic Chip Kelly. Could go either way, but I think Oregon cleans up their act after a questionable performance against a better-than-advertised Arizona State team.
Ducks 38 - Cardinals 32
#5 TCU at Colorado State - 2:00pm ET
Ummm....not close. TCU is good. Colorado State is not good.
Horned Frogs 45 - Rams 13
#21 Texas at #8 Oklahoma - 3:30pm ET
The Red River Rivalry is not what it could have been due to a very poor performance last week from both teams (Oklahoma barely escaping against a down Cincinnati team and Texas getting slaughtered by a middle-of-the-road Pac-10 team in UCLA). Oklahoma still has a chance at a National Title and I think that motivation takes over in this game. Texas keeps it close, but drops to 3-2.
Sooners 32 - Longhorns 29
LA Monroe at #10 Auburn - 12:00pm ET
I'd like to say that this is a scare-game for Auburn, but it's not. Cam Newton could hand the ball off 55 times and win this game big (and should).
Tigers 31 - Warhawks 3
#11 Wisconsin at #24 Michigan State - 3:30pm ET
One of the best matchups of the week on paper. And that's saying a lot with Penn State-Iowa also on the slate. I have watched Wisconsin struggle in every game except against Austin Peay last week and I think that finally catches up with them. Michigan State wins a big one for their recovering coach and Greg Jones continues to make his case for Defensive Player of the Year by stopping John Clay cold.
Spartans 23 - Wisconsin 21
Tennessee at #12 LSU - 3:30pm ET
How in the world is LSU the 12th best team in the country? Their defense has been just okay against very mediocre competition and if their not careful, a Tennessee team that has absolutely nothing to lose could beat them here. I'll go high risk, high reward and say Les Miles gets embarrassed in his own backyard against fans that have been known to call for his head after big losses.
Volunteers 24 - Tigers 16
#16 Miami at Clemson - 12:00pm ET
Clemson could easily take this game if Jacory Harris continues his loose demeanor with the ball (namely, handing it to his opponents), but I think Miami will come out fired up, knowing this is a bit of a scare game. Finally, their talent shows, they execute, and Harris gets some support from his mistake-prone wide receivers.
Hurricanes 34 - Tigers 17
#22 Penn State at #17 Iowa - 8:05pm ET
If only because everyone in the country is counting Penn State out of this game, I feel like I should go with the Nittany Lions. But I'm not. I'm going with the rest of the country. Iowa is much better than they played in Arizona and they'll play better tonight at home.
Hawkeyes 27 - Nittany Lions 20
Washington at #18 USC - 8:00pm ET
When was the last time USC was 4-0 and NOT in the top 10? I don't know (because I don't have a stat team to track it down for me), but it would have been unheard of in the last few years. If you don't think those sanctions are having a media-effect, your not living in reality. Doesn't matter in this game, though, because the Huskies are terrible (sorry Mr. Locker).
Trojans 41 - Huskies 28
#19 Michigan at Indiana - 3:30pm ET
I don't think I've EVER seen Heisman hype gain momentum as fast as it has for Denard Robinson. I wonder if "hype" ties it's shoelaces...I'll I know is if this guy stays healthy, the Big Ten is better from top to bottom and "The Game" could be competitive this year (and those are both good things for college football). Indiana can definitely score and should give the Wolverines a run for their money, but a healthy Robinson is just too good and won't be stopped again this week.
Wolverines 38 - Hoosiers 34
Virginia Tech at #23 North Carolina State - 3:30pm ET
Wow, has the ACC been more irrelevant than right now? The answer is no. At least, not in recent history. I'd like to see Virginia Tech lose every game the rest of the season solely so Boise State has less of a case, but that's not realistic and I think North Carolina State finally gets what's coming to them. Like Pizza the Hutt in SpaceBalls, the ACC continues to eat itself until it no longer exists.
Hokies 23 - Wolfpack 21
#25 Nevada at UNLV - 10:00pm ET
GOOOOOO Wolf Pack! Who wouldn't love to see Nevada clear their slate and go undefeated? It would mean Boise State has lost and we can stop using the words Championship and Broncos in the same sentence. That's enough for me. I'm going to go buy some Nevada-blue pom-poms.
Wolf Pack 38 - Rebels 17
