So, in honor of the bye week last week became, I'm eschewing the typical lead-in item and moving straight to the picks. And just for kicks, I'll change it up this week. I'm going to give a 2-sided argument for each game, making each team's case for why they should win and then making the pick.
1. Texas Tech at Oklahoma
The case for Texas Tech: They're good. Very good. They have 2 legitimate Heisman candidates and a fleet of weapons for Graham Harrell. Cover Crabtree? He'll find Detron Lewis. Cover Lewis? He'll drop it to speedy little Eric Morris. With a playbook the size of an unabridged dictionary, Mike Leach finds ways to get the football to his playmakers in space. And there's no reason to think that will change against Oklahoma, who've given up plenty of points this season. Also, the Red Raiders defense was stern enough to frustrate Colt McCoy and Zac Robinson, so why not Sam Bradford too?
The case for Oklahoma: Know how many losses the Sooners have at home under Bob Stoops? The same as the number of sleeves on your shirt. That's right - two. In ten years. It's hard to argue against that kind of track record. And the Sooner offense is no slouch. They've been all but impossible to stop, hanging half a hundred points per game this season. Mike Leach has yet to beat Oklahoma in Norman, and even though this is his best team yet, the Sooners have one of their best squads under Stoops too. And we didn't have any BCS-busting results last week, so we're due for a few now, right?
Oklahoma 41, Texas Tech 34
2. Michigan State at Penn State
The case for Michigan State: They've gotten better as the season's wore on, the Ohio State loss being the only aberration. Javon Ringer is a workhorse who gets his yards and can wear down a defense. They're well coached - Mark Dantonio knows what he's doing and has kept the Spartans from their annual meltdown. And Penn State still isn't over their Iowa loss, meaning they'll come out flat and won't respond to a punch in the mouth.
The case for Penn State: There's a chance that this is Joe Paterno's last home game as head coach of the Nittany Lions. He denies it, but you know the thought has been circulating through his mind all season. You think Penn State's going to be fired up for a game like that - a legend potentially coaching for the last time in front of the home crowd? Of course. This team is full of sound leaders, something they proved very early in the season when they weren't sidetracked by a circus of foolish off-field incidents. The seniors have the team focused and what happened 2 weeks ago in Iowa City is a thing of the past. Another Big Ten title is in their sights, and the potential of a monumental Rose Bowl matchup against USC. And their defense isn't scared of Javon Ringer - stopping the run hasn't been the issue this year, their problems have come more in the passing game. They'll contain Ringer and Michigan State won't be able to keep up with the points the Nittany Lions ring up as they re-open their Spread HD attack. Michigan State's played just one team currently ranked in the BCS top 25. The result? A 45-7 throttling by Ohio State. The Spartans are good, but they're not in the same class as Penn State.
Penn State 35, Michigan State 21
3. Michigan at Ohio State
The case for Michigan: They'd salvage their season with a win over the hated Buckeyes, so they'll throw everything at Ohio State. Rich Rodriguez wants to win over the hearts of Wolverine fans after such a lousy start to his career there, and nothing wins hearts in Ann Arbor like beating Ohio State. They've shown signs of improvement over the last few weeks - maybe this is the week it all comes together?
The case for Ohio State: Take a look at Michigan's record. Take a look again. That's right, it's 3-8. This Michigan team is bad, and Ohio State would love to pound the snot out of them and put the cap on one of their worst seasons ever. The Buckeyes have finally become the team they thought they'd be at the beginning of the year, and they want to prove that they're still a viable BCS at-large option.
Sidenote: Last year Notre Dame went 3-9, and now we stand on the cusp of Michigan finishing with the same pathetic mark. Has the rapture happened, and we're all now in Heaven?
Ohio State 40, Michigan 17
4. BYU at Utah
The case for BYU: Simple - they can salvage their season and still have an outside chance of being the best non-BCS team out there. Utah's looked vulnerable for much of the season and the pressure of going undefeated will force mistakes.
The case for Utah: They're at home against their arch-rival in perhaps the biggest Holy War game in history, with a chance of their second undefeated season in 5 years and the possibility of being the first non-BCS conference team to twice play in a BCS bowl. Significant stuff. They're also more balanced than BYU and will be able to follow the template TCU laid out in blitzing Max Hall and forcing turnovers.
BYU 24, Utah 20 (expect craziness, right?)
5. Ball State at Central Michigan
The case for Ball State: Nobody's been able to beat them yet, why won't it continue?
The case for Central Michigan: The Chippewas are the best team Ball State's faced so far, and Dan LeFevour will give an average Ball State defense fits. And they're playing at home, on national TV. They, and their fans, will be up for this game.
Central Michigan 38, Ball State 35
6. Pittsburgh at Cincinnati
The case for Pitt: They play better on the road than at home, and they have the best player on the field in LeSean McCoy.
The case for Cincinnati: This is the biggest game in the history of old Nippert Stadium, and a win essentially gives them the Big East title (only Syracuse remains on the schedule). They have a maturing young quarterback in Tony Pike and good talent on both sides of the ball. Their defense is underrated and Pitt's offense has looked rather pedestrian at times.
Cincinnati 27, Pittsburgh 17
7. Iowa at Minnesota
The case for Iowa: They've proven how good they are by beating Penn State, and though their record is 7-4 they could just as easily be 9-2 or 10-1. Their four losses have come at a total of 12 points. And Shonn Greene is a stud.
The case for Minnesota: Um, they're at home. Other than that, they're moving steadily backwards and look like a sunken team.
Sidenote: Floyd of Rosedale is one of college football's great trophies - a big bronze pig mounted on a block of wood. How fitting for a Big Ten rivalry.
Iowa 32, Minnesota 19
8. Oregon State at Arizona
The case for Oregon State: They've answered every test so far, and they've only lost once since dropping their first 2, against top-10 Utah on the road. And they probably should've won that game. They're improving weekly and can ride the Rodgers brothers to their first Rose Bowl since the last Ice Age.
The case for Arizona: As documented last week, the Law of the Five Middling Pac Ten Teams states that the home team always wins games contested by Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, California, and Arizona. This law has yet to be unbroken, and Arizona is a much better team at home than on the road.
Arizona 20, Oregon State 17
9. Stanford at California
The case for Stanford: Jim Harbaugh can coach, and he's made something out of seemingly nothing at Stanford. A win guarantees a bowl game, which would be a nice reward for 2 years of hard work. Cal is a vulnerable team with exploitable weaknesses on defense and an offense that can be pressured into turnovers. And they're still waiting on revenge for The Play.
The case for Cal: See above for the Law of the Five Middling Pac Ten Teams. Cal is at home, and they have more talent.
California 31, Stanford 28 (you don't question the Law of the Five Middling Pac Ten Teams)
10. Mississippi at LSU
The case for Ole Miss: LSU is a shell of the team that won last years national championship, needing a 28 point comeback to stave off a defeat against Troy. If the LSU defense had that much trouble handling Troy, Jevan Snead ought to have a field day. And the Rebels already won at Florida, so Death Valley won't intimidate them.
The case for LSU: Talent. They've still got lots of it, more than Ole Miss can boast of. And Death Valley is still Death Valley, it's one of the most intimidating venues in the country, even if it has lost some luster this year.
Mississippi 34, LSU 27
11. Boise State at Nevada
The case for Boise State: Kellen Moore is as good as any freshman out there. After winning at Oregon earlier this year, a tough road trip to Nevada isn't going to derail the young QB.
The case for Nevada: This looks like one of those weekends, where undefeated teams fall and weird things happen all across the country. Why can't the Wolf Pack join the fun? They've got a high-scoring offense and can keep up with the Broncos (just don't mention the part where they have to stop them).
Boise State 49, Nevada 41
12. Miami (FL) at Georgia Tech
I can't bring myself to make a case for the teams in these ACC games when they're all truly even. Leaving it to a toss-up is less stressful and just as effective.
Georgia Tech 23, Miami (FL) 17
13. Boston College at Wake Forest
Might as well be "Please select one of the following two letters: A or B".
Wake Forest 26, Boston College 24
14. Florida State at Maryland
X, or Z?
Florida State 21, Maryland 17
15. Washington at Washington State
This matchup is so bad, I just have to pick it. 0-10 Washington at 1-10 Washington State in what should be called the "Toilet Bowl" instead of the Apple Cup. I can't make a case for either team, by all accounts both should lose. Neither team has beaten a Division 1-A foe, but at least the Huskies have the most difficult schedule in the country as an excuse. They've shown some semblance of competitiveness. Washington State, which may be the worst BCS conference team ever, has allowed at least 58 points in 6 of their 8 Pac-10 games. Their own point total in all 8 conference games? 61 points. Yikes. If anyone is watching this game, it's either through holes cut in a paper bag or through a gap between two fingers.
Washington 24, Washington State 14
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