| WEEK 9 |
| Showcase Picks: |
| Notre Dame (6), (6) at Florida State (11), (13) Final Score: Notre Dame, 34-24 Harmon: Florida State, 25-21 9.6 points CFN: Florida State, 24-14 7.0 points Joe: Florida State, 24-10 5.4 points OK, no way I am going to lose against Notre Dame again. Seriously. They can't be better than Florida State at Doak. It seems I'm finally going to get one right that Phil missed. Florida State does have a weak secondary, but Notre Dame just doesn't have the offense to capitalize. I look for Rix to have a Heisman-caliber game. By the way, I recently realized that if, say, Notre Dame and N.C. State are the only undefeated teams at the end of the season, N.C. State will most likely get snubbed. How would they pass a VT with only one loss to Miami, or vice-versa in the BCS voting? I have no idea. Even a Texas, with one loss against Oklahoma. I don't think N.C. State has a shot at even the top 4! There will be more heat than ever for a playoff if N.C. State can beat both Maryland and Florida State. G: Florida State, 23-9 5.2 points ND�s defense won�t hold up today sorry Phil. Phil: Notre Dame, 17-14 15.2 points The tests get bigger and bigger each week for the Irish. This is the biggest of all, before they hit the easy part of their schedule. Logical thinking would say the Irish offense doesn't have the firepower to win this game, and the lack of a passing game hurts against FSU. But their D isn't lacking, and they've gone against logical thinking all year. Chris Rix and his patented mental lapses show up agains a team that doesn't beat itself. Wake up the echoes! Iowa (13), (14) at Michigan (8), (8) Final Score: Iowa, 34-9 H: Michigan, 27-24 5.8 points CFN: Michigan, 31-28 5.0 points Joe: Iowa, 31-24 13.4 points I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Iowa is the best team in the Big 10. What about Ohio State, Joe? Even Ohio State, punk. Since an early loss to Iowa State, Iowa has been unstoppable. Michigan is a close third. Minnesota doesn't count for consideration, because they're virtual Canadians. Then Penn State, Wisconsin or maybe Purdue, I guess Michigan State, Illinois and Indiana at the bottom. Big ten. Good conference. G: Michigan, 27-10 1.8 points Banks vs the UM D�.hawkeyes get bullseye�d today Phil: Michigan, 25-21 5.1 points Michigan is barely getting by these days, and I expect it to continue against a very good Iowa team. I think Iowa will make it a game, and they may even have the lead for a while, but I can't see them getting the win in the big house. USC (15), (16) at Oregon (14), (12) Final Score: USC, 44-33 Harmon: USC, 22-20 13.8 points CFN: Oregon, 31-27 8.6 points Joe: USC, 38-28 18.6 points USC. The fish and potatoes of the PAC 10. They give Colorado and Alabama a run for "best 2-loss team in the country". Chris Brown and Carson Palmer. Two fish in the same pond. I bet one of the two ends up at the Heismans this year. My dad's school. And O.J.'s. But that's it. Mark McGwire is off the list this week. I'm not sure why, but he is. G: Oregon, 42-35 9.6 points maybe the highest scoring game,and the most exciting game of the week�.Ducks win! Phil: USC, 31-24 16.6 points Best teams in the Pac 10? Maybe. I think USC's D will be the difference in this one, even if it is in Autzen. After all, Arizona State put up 45 on the Ducks there last week. Penn State (18), (17) at Ohio State (4), (4) Final Score: Ohio State, 13-7 Harmon: Ohio State, 27-25 15.6 points CFN: Penn State, 27-24 9.2 points Joe: Ohio State, 21-17 17.6 points If you'll look at my previous list of hierarchy of the big 10, you'll see how easy of a pick this is. Ohio State wins a close one, not because they'll necessarily play better, but because they're slightly higher on my handy-dandy list. Clarrett, I hope at least gets invited to the Heisman at the end of the year. He's unbelievably good. Oh yeah, and Mclendon. Sorry to refer to N.C. State so much in this one, but man...we got some good true freshman RBs this year. And Ohio State's QB....I forget his name....Krenzel maybe? He's quietly brought himself up to like 5th place in QB efficiency! I betcha didn't know that one, did you? G: Ohio State, 21-10 17.4 points Ooh, battle of the boreder states�noice. Well�.as we all know, PSU is on a roll, and Maurice clarett will keep the PSU theme, by rollin over their d for 150 hard earned yards Phil: Penn State, 27-23 9.0 points Ooooh. This could actually be the best game of the weekend. I think Penn State can shut down Clarett and force Krenzel to go to the air, and who knows what'll happen there. Also, Ohio State might not even have the best RB involved in this game. Mr. Larry Johnson is one bad Nittany Lion. The Big 10 gets shaken up a bit. continued..... |