College Picks (Forky Guest)

We are back with college picks this week, going against Forky. As I am finishing this up the Pirates are trying to cover 13 against the Hokies in Vegas. Pickney has been the Pirate QB since Jeff Blake went the NFL, he split snaps with Garrard for a few years. Forky's picks are in italics.

Now onto the picks..............

Connecticut at Cincinnati -16.5

Brian Kelly at home against an emotionally spent Huskies football team, but that is a huge line. The Bearcats are going to be able to go up and down the field, I would feel better about taking the home team if the back up, Zach Collares, was going to start but Tony Pike is supposed to get the ball after re-injuring his wrist a few weeks ago. But Brian Kelly makes enough a difference, taking the Bearcats and giving the points.

Brian Kelly is a verified genius, and part of being a genius is knowing when to turn it on. With the Bearcats sitting at 8-0, and ABC coming into Nippert Stadium for an 8:00 kick, its time to turn it on. Cincinnati is going to score a lot of touchdowns, and UConn's offense won't. Take the Bearcats and give the points.

Maryland at NC State -6.5

Picking the ACC is a exercise in futility. I just don’t trust the Terps to keep it within a touchdown on the road. Pack giving the 6.5

*!@&*$*!$**! This is just about starting to piss me off. The Pack has the worst defense in the history of the world, and is forcing about 1 punt every three league games. Russell Wilson proved that you can throw for 480 yards and five touchdowns and still lose in Tallahasse. Luckily, Christian Ponder doesn't play for the Fridge, and the Pack might be able to force 2 punts against the Terps. That will be enough for the win, but probably not enough to cover the 6.5. TOB is going to pick this disaster off the floor enough to get the win thanks to the inspiring smell of my giant turkey legs smoking all morning in the parking lot, but its probably going to take the last play to do it. Thanks guys.

South Carolina at Arkansas -7

We have reached the point in the season where after a couple of tough early season losses Spurrier’s bunch quits a little bit and starts racking up Ls. Can’t see them scoring with the Razorbacks and keeping this within 7, Mallet will be able to advantage of the perimeter of the Cock D with the intermediate and deep balls to the sidelines. Taking the Hogs and giving the points.

South Carolina has a bunch of serious players, especially on defense. They started off 5-1, and all that talent looked like it was finally about to pay off. But last time I checked, the Cocks are still the Cocks, and they're starting to look like it. The fix to this building mess in Columbia isn't a trip to visit Mr. Mallett in East Texas. Petrino is going to score too many points, they'll cover the 7 and get the win for the Hogs.

Vanderbilt at Florida -35

After blowing out the Dawgs in the Cocktail Party and reestablishing themselves at the top of the football universe, I can’t see the Gators subjecting Timmy to the risk it would take to slaughter the Commodores. Maybe if the D and special teams score a bunch, but I’ll take my chances with the ‘Dores and the five touchdowns.

Vanderbilt is never real good, and they are even less good this year. But 35 points is a ton of points, and I'll take those points into the swamp and beat the Gators.

Navy at Notre Dame -11

Out of all the offenses they will face, Navy’s triple option matches up well for the porous Irish D. Good tackling, proper gap discipline and decision making are the biggest factors in defending it and those are things that McCarthy and the boys do well. Navy’s lack of size and speed plays into the hands of the small and slow Irish defenders. Clausen/Tate can score on anybody and the return of Michael Floyd should only add to a prolific offense, taking the Irish, giving the eleven.

Navy's defense is pretty good, and the Irish can freaking score. If you don't like watching Clausen toss it around, you don't like sports. The Middies are tough enough to keep this within 11. Take the points and that Hawaiian coach.

LSU at Alabama -7.5

Rooting for the Tide, hate the Bengals and their idiot HBC, think the Tide are going to win…..7.5 is too high with how bad #12 has been playing. Taking the Tigers and the points.

Alabama is awesome. T-Town is in such a frenzy as of Thursday night there might not be anyone left standing by 3:30 on Saturday. Doesn't matter. Old man Les still has enough of his boys on defense right now to keep the Tide within 7.5, but the Tide will get some turnover, or special teams play to get this win by 9 or 10.

Oklahoma at Nebraska +6

I have been a Cornhusker hater all year, and won’t be stopping this week. Their offense will not be able to do anything against this Sooner D. I’ll take anybody from the top half of the South against the North, and Landry “The Mustache” Jones will have enough playmakers to score on the black shirts. Although Suh is a stud and I would trade Bo Pelini Tommie Harris and our entire offensive line for his draft rights, I will take the Sooners and give the six.

The Big 8 Title is on the line on Saturday night in Lincoln, and I would LOVE to go to this game. Bobby Stoops is having a long year, and Pelini is going to get just enough mojo going to come close to making even longer. Nebraska has looked like hell lately, but they're not losing this one by more than six.

Ohio State at Penn State -3.5

Homecoming for Pryor, ton of pressure on the kid’s shoulders and he hasn’t responded that well to it expect one Saturday night in Madison last fall. I hate the Nittany Lions and root for the Buckeyes, but don’t comfortable picking the kid on the road. I would feel a lot better if the Big Ten didn’t prohibit November night games, but I’ll take the Nittany Lions to cover in Happy Valley.

As much as I want to go to OU-Nebraska, is how much I don't want to watch this one. Where is the game? Pennsylvania? Ok, then the Lions will win and cover. The Bucs are kind of a circus at quarterback.

Washington at UCLA -4.5

Washington blew their load early in the season with the win over Trojans and the close Ls to LSU and the Irish. They are not the best road team and have been regressing, they aren’t going to be able to handle Ricky and the Bruins in Pasadena. Bruins will cover.

I'm not betting against Ricky. He won't lose 6 in a row. Impossible. He'll win and cover, but sadly only because of his defense.

Oregon at Stanford +7

This sets up a typical PAC-10 road letdown for the Ducks after a big home win against the Trojans, but there are two factors working in their favor. First, they are too good to be only giving the Cardinal and Jimmy Harbaugh 7. Second, if LeGarret Blount gets reinstated that should energize and refocus the team. Bonus reason: that offense is absurd. Ducks to cover.

This one screams Cardinal, but its just too obvious. The Ducks are going to shock me and stick it to the boys in Palo Alto. Take the O and give the points.

Florida State at Clemson -8.5

CJ Spiller might be able to cover the 8.5 by himselfs, even though I think that spread is way too high . The dude is channeling 05 Reggie Bush and could vault to the top of the Heisman race with a monster game against the Noles in the Valley. But the Tigers did lose to Maryland this year. I’ll take the Tigers to cover, but I am not that excited about it. But I want to take a moment to reminisce about how easy it used to be to cash in on this game a few years back. Whenever Tammy was on the hot seat, Bobby would take the game and Terry Don would give his boy an extension. Free money. Jimbo vs. Dabo will not have the same magic.

A ralley in the valley on national TV at 7:45 p.m. for Dabo's Tigers? I don't like it, and I'm sure as hell not giving the Criminoles 8.5. Clemson's been playing better lately, and that's all I need to know about this one. Take the Noles and the points.