College Football Week 14 Picks

1 Alabama vs. 4 Auburn
The past three years, whoever ended up winning this one has gone on to win the

Nick Marshall, Tre Mason

national championship and that will probably be the case this year. The undefeated Tide will use Heisman candidate A.J. McCarron and sophomore back T.J. Yeldon to try to beat the Tigers, who are led by speedy QB Nick Marshall and back Tre Mason. Auburn lives or dies with their rush attack, which has been great this year under Mason and Marshall and new coach Gus Malzahn, but the Tide are known for their run-stuffing defense. Sure, it has been exposed against some explosive offenses like Texas A&M,but linebacker C.J. Mosley and defensive HaHa Clinton-Dix are fantastic. Auburn's defense is no slouch either, they are fast and aggressive. Yeldon is a great back and opens up the play-action pass game which is dangerous with McCarron and the Tide's big, imposing receivers. This game will be decided by Marshall, who has reminded some Auburn fans of Cam Newton. The junior has been great at leading the 10-1 Tigers this year but was terrible against LSU earlier in the year and still struggles against elite defenses. Alabama is an elite defense, Marshall must make big throws if the Tigers are to pull of an upset.
Alabama, 31 Auburn, 27

6 Clemson vs. 10 South Carolina
Another one of college football's biggest rivalries is renewed as the Clemson Tigers square off against Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks. Since their embarrassing loss to Florida State, the Tigers have been rolling. Senior QB Tajh Boyd has been fantastic this season, throwing for 3,428 yards and 29 touchdowns to this point. He still has a lot to prove; despite having a historical career at Clemson, Boyd is yet to beat the Gamecocks. South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney had a huge game in this rivalry last year, recording 4 1/2 sacks against Boyd and the Tigers. Clowney, a preseason Heisman candidate, has just 2 sacks this year but will still be a priority for the Clemson offensive line. South Carolina's defense has more than just Boyd to worry about they must contain explosive junior receiver Sammy Watkins, who is deadly in the return game as well. The Gamecocks have used both senior Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson at QB and they have both commanded the offense well. The biggest issue for an average Clemson defense will be containing powerful runner Mike Davis, who has looked like Marcus Lattimore at times. If Clowney can find his groove in this one, he could still change the game but it could be time Boyd finally beats the Gamecocks.
Clemson, 35 South Carolina, 24

5 Missouri vs. 21 Texas A&M
One of the biggest surprises in college football this year, the one-loss Missouri Tigers hope to hold on to the SEC East lead as they face former Big 12 foe Texas A&M this week. Senior quarterback James Franklin is back for the second straight after missing four games with a shoulder injury. The senior has been a great leader under center so far this year and has the arm to change games. The Tigers will still lean heavily on their ground game which is led by back Henry Josey. The Aggies' defense has been terrible against some good times like Alabama, LSU and Auburn, which have been all losses. As usual, the Aggies will rely on Johnny Manziel and their high-scoring offense which also includes Biletnikoff candidate Mike Evans. Missouri's defense has been solid this year led by defensive end Michael Sam, who has 10 sacks this year. Stopping Manziel is clearly not easy, the redshirt sophomore has 32 passing touchdowns and 8 rushing this season. If Sam can get pressure on Manziel and force him to force throws, the Tigers could take advantage of their turnovers, for a team that has forced one in 41 straight games,
Missouri, 38 Texas A&M, 35

Other Picks
8 Stanford, 28 25 Notre Dame, 18
23 USC, 34 22 UCLA, 30
2 Florida State, 59 Florida, 17
11 Michigan State, 24 Minnesota, 9
3 Ohio State, 42 Michigan, 28
Current Picks Record: 76-28

Bowl Projections 2013-2014

Boston College Andre Williams, RB

New Mexico Bowl: Oregon State vs. Colorado State
Las Vegas Bowl: Utah State vs. Washington
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Bowling Green vs. Wyoming*
New Orleans Bowl: Louisiana-Lafayette vs. North Texas
Beef O'Brady's Bowl: Rutgers* vs. Marshall
Hawaii Bowl: Boise State vs. Middle Tennessee
Little Caesars Bowl: Buffalo vs. Maryland
Poinsettia Bowl: San Diego State vs. Western Kentucky
Military Bowl: Louisiana-Monroe* vs. Tulane
Texas Bowl: Kansas State vs. Minnesota
Fight Hunger Bowl: Washington State vs. BYU
Pinstripe Bowl: Houston vs. Notre Dame
Belk Bowl: Miami vs. Cincinnati
Russell Athletic Bowl: UNC vs. Louisville
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl: Texas vs. Nebraska
Armed Forces Bowl: UNLV vs. Navy
Music City Bowl: Boston College vs. Ole Miss
Alamo Bowl: Oregon vs. Oklahoma


Missouri James Franklin

Holiday Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Arizona
Independence Bowl: Texas State vs. Pittsburgh
Sun Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. USC
Liberty Bowl: East Carolina vs. Vanderbilt
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Duke vs. Texas A&M
Gator Bowl: Michigan vs. Georgia
Heart of Dallas Bowl: Rice vs. Mississippi State*
Capital One Bowl: Wisconsin vs. LSU
Outback Bowl: Iowa vs. South Carolina
Cotton Bowl: Missouri vs. Baylor
Compass Bowl: SMU* vs. Toledo
GoDaddy.com Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Arkansas State
BCS
Rose: Michigan State vs. Stanford
Fiesta: Fresno State vs. Oklahoma State
Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs. UCF
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Ohio State
BCS Championship Game: Florida State vs. Alabama
* - Yet to gain bowl eligibility

College Football Power Rankings

 1. Alabama The Tide rolled to yet another victory, winning 49-0 over FCS Chattanooga, with 160 yards rushing from T.J. Yeldon.
2. Florida State Jameis Winston and the Seminoles jumped to a 42-7 halftime lead over Idaho quickly and then continued to thump the Vandals, putting up 80 points, even without Winston playing much.
3. Ohio State The Buckeyes got great news this weekend when Baylor got throttled by Oklahoma State in Stillwater, but will need to win out and need Alabama or FSU to slip up in order to sneak into the title game.
4. Auburn When the season began, few could have seen this next week's Iron Bowl meaning that much. The Tigers were coming off a 3-9 year and the Tide had won two straight national championships but thanks to Nick Marshall, who is starting to remind Auburns fans of Cam Newton it has huge implications.
5. Clemson After their 37 point loss to Florida State, the Tigers have responded very well, putting up 40 or more in their next four wins. But, South Carolina awaits, a team they have yet to beat in the Tajh Boyd era.
6. Missouri The early return of senior quarterback James Franklin, who separated his shoulder and was thought to be out for the year, is huge as the Tigers need a win this week against Texas A&M to clinch the SEC East.
7. Oklahoma State A team that many overlooked after their upset loss to West Virginia, Oklahoma State has played crazy these past two weeks. First they shut down the hot Texas Longhorns and then used senior QB Clint Chelf's 370 passing yards to dominate undefeated Baylor.


Connor Cook

8. Stanford Once more, the Cardinal were gifted new life when Oregon was stunned by Arizona, which moved them back into the Pac-12 North lead. 1-11 California is a nice way to end your conference schedule.9. Michigan State Outside of the SEC, there has not been a more psychical, smart football team. The defense is led by senior linebacker Max Bullough and the offense has been nothing but efficient under QB Connor Cook.
10. Baylor Well, I was a little bit wrong about Baylor. The Bears entered this week against Oklahoma State, 9-0 and 3rd in my power rankings and I thought they would use Bryce Petty to put up 62 against the Cowboys. They managed just 17, but should recover against TCU.
11. South Carolina The Gamecocks scored 70 over Coastal Carolina but I still have questions about this team. They barely beat struggling Florida and UCF and Clemson could give them troubles.
12. Oregon It is amazing how fast things can change in college football. A couple weeks ago, the Ducks were undefeated, looked like they would roll to the national championship game and had the Heisman frontrunner in Marcus Mariota. After their 42-16 loss to Arizona those dreams are distant memories.
13. Fresno State The Bulldogs are firing on all cylinders, winning 69-38 this week against lowly New Mexico, using the lethal combo of Derek Carr and speedster Davante Adams.
14. Arizona State Sophomore receiver Jaelen Strong had 6 catches for 91 yards as the Sun Devils clinched the Pac-12 South with a convincing victory over UCLA.
15. Wisconsin On a freezing day in Minneapolis, the Badgers continued their dominance over Minnesota, using sophomore Melvin Gordon and a shutdown defensive performance to win 20-7.
16. LSU For the second straight season, the Tigers shut down Johnny Football and the Aggies, winning 34-10 to help their bowl possibilities.
17. UCF The Golden Knights continued their dominance of the American Athletic thanks to a fantastic performance from Storm Johnson at back and QB Blake Bortles.
18. Northern Illinois Jordan Lynch and the Huskies no problems with Toledo, but their wins still might not be good enough to get into a BCS bowl especially with another non-BCS team (Fresno) playing well.
19. Oklahoma Even without Blake Bell, who was out with a concussion, the Sooners were impressive in their win over Kansas State, who looked ready for an upset.
20. Louisville The Cardinals keep on winning but their strength of schedule is just so bad. Even with them blowing through opponents their bowl is not going to be at all what they would like.
21. Texas A&M Even with the magical Johnny Football on their roster the Aggies have still been a disappointment, 8-3 with another tough game against Missouri this next week. It has been all about defense for much of the season but the offense was terrible too against LSU.
22. USC Cody Kessler, Tre Madden and the Trojans rolled over Colorado and the 9-3 Trojans may be favored against UCLA next week, something that seemed unimaginable after Lane Kiffin was fired.
23. Duke Although they weren't overly impressive over Wake Forest, Duke won and took complete control of the ACC Coastal. UNC is next, as the Tar Heels will have their hands full stopping receiver Jamison Crowder.
24. UCLA The Bruins did play pretty well against Arizona State but still lost, ending their hopes of winning the Pac-12 South. Though, a strong bowl and bragging rights could be on the line next week against USC.
25. Notre Dame I still have my reserves about the 8-3 Fighting Irish, who have lost to the struggling Michigan Wolverines and Pitt but they did play well this past week against BYU.

College Football Week 13 Picks

14 UCLA vs. 17 Arizona State
Two high-scoring Pac-12 teams square off in a game that could end up deciding the Pac-12 South

Clint Chelf

chase. The 8-2 Sun Devils are led by junior QB Taylor Kelly and back Marion Grice. Kelly, a dual threat, has already thrown for 2,838 yards along with 312 yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground. Though, unlike many other Pac-12 teams, UCLA has a defense that can hang with anyone, especially when it gets pressure on the quarterback, which they will be able to do with linebacker Anthony Barr. Freshman Myles Jack has been fantastic for the Bruins, racking up tackles as a linebacker and running through tackles as a RB. Sophomore Brett Hundley has been fantastic as well but he has struggled against the two best teams in the conference in Stanford and Oregon. UCLA might have been expecting this when the year began but Jack may be the difference-maker in this one. He will have to be able to get open field tackles against the speedy Sun Devils but also must pick up tough yards on the ground. I think Hundley will prove that he is the better quarterback in this one and the defense should be able to stop this from becoming a complete shootout.
UCLA, 44 Arizona State, 38

4 Baylor vs. 10 Oklahoma State
Baylor hopes they can get a huge road win over the Cowboys to help themselves jump above Ohio State in the rankings. Junior quarterback Bryce Petty has been fantastic in orchestrating the Bear's high-scoring, up-tempo attack, throwing for nearly 3,000 yards to this point this year. Though, his hasn't just been about Petty, receiver Antwan Goodley and their passing game, back Lache Seastrunk, who promised before the year he would win the Heisman, has been great although he has struggled to practice due to a groin injury. The Cowboys have quite the high-scoring offense as well led by QB Clint Chelf, junior back Desmond Roland and receiver Tracy Moore. Though consistency and turnovers have plagued them at times and was the big reason they were upset by an inferior West Virginia team. Both teams' defenses haven't been great but both can cause turnovers and can get pressure on opponents. This one could also be shootout, and whoever gets the ball last could decide it. But, Baylor has been more impressive so far this year and I feel more confident in Petty than Chelf.
Baylor, 62 Oklahoma State, 49

12 Texas A&M vs. 22 LSU
Johnny Football and the Aggies are still hoping for a BCS bowl, but in order to have any shot they must win this one before a tough match up with Missouri. Manziel has been up to his usual tricks, statistically he has been even better than last season. And the rest of the offense has responded as well, junior receiver Mike Evans is clearly Manziel's favorite target and his 1,263 receiving yards have helped him climb into the Heisman conversation. Though, the defense has been absolutely terrible, it allowing nearly 31 points per game this year and has surrendered 45 and 49 in their two losses to Auburn and Alabama. Stopping LSU will not be easy at all, they have been greatly improved on the offensive side of the ball. Zach Mettenberger and Jarvis Landry led their air attack but LSU can still do what they do best which is to pound the ball in between the tackles with a big back, in this case sophomore Jeremy Hill. The Aggies' defense is not psychical and has been pounded on the ground this season. I don't think they will be able to stop Hill or Mettenberger, meaning there will be even more weight on Manziel's shoulders. If he wants to win a Heisman he needs to win this one and get vengeance on one of only two teams to beat them last year.
LSU, 38 Texas, A&M, 35

Other Picks
8 Missouri, 31 Ole Miss, 21
19 Wisconsin, 42 Minnesota, 24
5 Oregon, 61 Arizona, 33
20 Oklahoma, 34 Kansas State, 17
3 Ohio State, 50 Indiana, 35
Current Picks Record: 71-25

College Football Power Rankings

1. Alabama The Tide rolled to their 10th straight victory of the year as they used their dominant defense to shut down a struggling Mississippi State team.
2. Florida State A new week, but the same old theme for the Seminoles as they blew out yet another ACC opponent, embarrassing Syracuse 59-3.
3. Baylor The Bears are reaching their toughest stretch of the year, Oklahoma and Texas Tech the past two weeks and a road match up against Oklahoma State. The good news is that the tough schedule will help them get into the title game if FSU or 'Bama slips up.
4. Ohio State Although, the Buckeyes secured their 22nd straight victory they did allow 35 points to Illinois, who doesn't have much offensive talent beyond QB Nathan Scheelhasse.
5. Oregon It is amazing how quick things can change in college football. After last week it looked like Oregon was out of the Pac-12 title race. But, after Stanford dropped their 2nd conference game of the year, the Ducks moved back into the lead in the Pac-12.
6. Auburn The Tigers did need a last-second crazy, hail-mary to stun the Bulldogs to keep themselves in the BCS bowl chase.


Maty Mauk

7. Clemson Tajh Boyd and the Tigers played like they had something to prove this Thursday against Georgia Tech and won easily. They get The Citadel this week before their rivalry with South Carolina.
8. Missouri No team may be more haunted by one play then the Tigers; if they had managed to beat South Carolina, they might be No. 3 in the nation right now and already clinched a berth in the SEC Championship game.
9. Oklahoma State The Cowboys are really starting to play well after some early struggles to begin the year. Headed by senior QB Clint Chelf they passed all over a Longhorns' team who hoped they were back in contention in the Big 12.
10. Stanford Just when it looked like the Cardinal were right back in title contention their offense struggled to score and had some costly turnovers in their upset loss to USC.
11. Texas A&M The Aggies are hoping Johnny Manziel, who might have pushed himself back into Heisman front runner position with the controversy surrounding Jameis Winston, can guide them to wins over LSU and Mizzou.
12. South Carolina It is a never a good sign when you struggle to beat a team that is 4-5 and is on their third QB in the year. But, the Gamecocks did manage to improve their record to 8-2 and stick in the SEC East race.
13. Michigan State The Spartans' defense continues to dominate handling redshirt freshman Tommy Armstrong and the 'Huskers and the offense continues to be efficient.
14. Fresno State Derek Carr and the Bulldogs have been dominating everybody in the Mountain West, and I doubt New Mexico or San Jose State can beat them.
15. UCLA With Arizona State and USC starting to play very well, the Bruins needed to get a big Friday night win over a sneaky Washington team and they responded. Freshman Myles Jack has been great, being a beast at linebacker and running over people as a back.
16. Northern Illinois The Huskies and Heisman dark horse Jordan Lynch continue their abuse of the weak MAC, beating their toughest conference matchup of the year in Ball State by 21.
17. Arizona State It is a huge Pac-12 game this week as the 8-2 Sun Devils need QB Taylor Kelly to play great this week in order to beat the Bruins, who are firing on all cylinders the past couple of weeks.
18. UCF The Golden Knights nearly got a rude wake-up call this week against one-win Temple but J.J Worton's incredible catch kept them at 8-1 and in the lead of the American, which still has a BCS bid.
19. Wisconsin The Badgers continue to use their power-rushing attack to just overpower opponents, but they should be careful against sneaky Minnesota this week.
20. Louisville Unlike their usual passing offense, the Cardinals used their rushing attack to sneak past 7-3 Houston and keep themselves in the chase with UCF.
21. Oklahoma The Sooners rolled all over the struggling Iowa State Cyclones by 38 but they should be careful about a Kansas State team that doesn't have anything to lose and could be bound for an upset.
22. LSU Texas A&M comes to town this week and Les Miles and the Tigers need to tame Johnny Football and the rest of their explosive offense in order to avoid losing four games this season.
23. USC Ed Orgeron has this Trojans team playing fantastic and they even managed to keep themselves in Pac-12 contention with their massive upset at home over Stanford, to ruin the Cardinals' title hopes.
24. Minnesota Not a lot of Gophers' fans could have expected this type of successful season. Even with coach Jerry Kill on a leave of absence Minnesota has used back David Cobb to win four straight Big Ten games, something they haven't done since 1973.
25. Duke No this is not basketball power rankings. The Blue Devils are 8-2, and after their victory over Miami may have taken the edge in the ACC Coastal.

College Football Week 12 Picks

12 Oklahoma State vs. 24 Texas
Quietly, Texas has won six straight, and has risen to a 6-0 mark in the Big 12 even without junior QB David Ash. They get the Cowboys this week in a game that has huge implications in the Big 12, Oklahoma State has played well after their upset loss to West Virginia. Senior Case McCoy has been great in the absence of Ash with 8 touchdowns but he continue to struggle with interceptions. The Longhorns got terrible news this past week when it was announced sophomore Johnathan Gray would have season-ending surgery after an Achilles injury. Malcolm Brown can carry the load on the ground game and although Oklahoma State's defense has been pretty good this year it could be exposed on the ground. The Longhorns, who were embarrassed  by BYU earlier this year on the ground, has played a lot better against the run since that matchup. Against the Cowboys they won't have to worry as much about rush defense they will have to stop J.W. Walsh and their explosive pass offense. Can they stop an Oklahoma State team that has playmakers all over their offense including Josh Stewart (questionable) and Desmond Roland? I have my doubts.
Oklahoma State, 34 Texas, 24

7 Auburn vs. 25 Georgia

Tre Mason

The surprising Tigers of Auburn enter a tough three-week stretch of games that include this one against Georgia and the Iron Bowl against 'Bama. The success for Auburn has been all about their read-option scheme where junior back Tre Mason and mobile QB Nick Marshall have been fantastic. Last week against Tennessee, the Tigers had 479 yards of total offense; 444 of those came on the ground. Georgia's defense has been exposed against power run teams and Auburn will come right at you and attack. Though, the six-win improvement for Auburn hasn't been just about their suddenly explosive offense, it has been about their aggressive defense as well. Ends Dee Ford and freshman Carl Lawson have been beast pass rushers and the secondary has played well. I still have some real questions about Georgia's offensive line and their ability to protect Aaron Murray. A healthy Todd Gurley will make this offense play better but the Bulldogs are just too banged up right now too beat a team like Auburn.
Auburn, 38 Georgia, 23

4 Stanford vs. USC
It is amazing how much things have changed in a year in a half. Last year, USC came into the game with a Heisman candidate in Matt Barkley and as the favorite to win the national championship. Stanford won that one with an untested quarterback and hope they can keep their title hopes alive against 7-3 Trojans who have been great under interim coach Ed Orgeron. QB Cody Kessler has a better relationship with Orgeron and as a result has played very well. Explosive Nelson Agholor has been a monster as a returner and as a receiver and the Cardinal will have to tame him. The question for the Trojans will be if their defense can stop the Cardinal What happens if Stanford does what they did against Oregon, when they put in linemen after linemen and ran up the middle with powerful Tyler Gaffney. If the Cardinal pound the ball like they did against USC I think Stanford improves to 9-1.
Stanford, 30 USC, 21

Other Picks
16 Michigan State, 27 Nebraska, 17
5 Baylor, 50 Texas Tech, 28
1 Alabama, 35 Mississippi State, 14
2 Florida State, 45 Syracuse, 13
Duke, 28 23 Miami, 21
Current Picks Record: 64-24

Solving the BCS Puzzle

Kevin Norwood

The BCS picture took another turn when Stanford beat Oregon on Thursday night, ending the Ducks' title hopes. If the season ended right now, Florida State would get Alabama in the title game but last year the national championship wasn't decided until the final couple minutes. It is time to look at the top contenders and figure out who will be matching up in this the final BCS National Championship Game.

Alabama, 9-0 (6-0 SEC)
The Crimson Tide have held the No. 1 spot the whole season and look like they will be in their third straight title game and fourth in five years. They have gotten through two tough opponents in LSU and Texas A&M and they will add quality wins to help them in the eyes of the pollsters. It isn't an easy road to the title game, though. The Iron Bowl rivalry could be a huge this year, when No. 7 Auburn hopes to pull the upset. Assuming they get through that game, which is a lot to assume, they will get a tough match up in the SEC Championship Game, where they will most likely see either Missouri or South Carolina. Alabama has been great in big games in the Nick Saban era but the SEC Championship Game gave them quite the scare last year and could do the same this season.
BCS Ranking: 1
Games Remaining: 3, @Mississippi State (4-5), Chattanooga (8-2 FCS) and @Auburn (9-1)
My Pick: National Title Game

Florida State, 9-0 (7-0 ACC)
Florida State has been extremely impressive, sitting at 9-0 but looking even closer at the games shows just how good they have been. No team has given them any challenges, they have beat every team on their schedule by double-digits and smoked both Clemson and Miami, two top ten teams. They have possibly the nation's best player in Jameis Winston and a schedule favorable enough that could get them to the title game. Their toughest opponent remaining is floundering Florida, who's offense continues to have serious issues and a likely ACC Championship Game. Luckily, no team on the Coastal side of the ACC looks like they will be competitive with the Seminoles. Miami or Virginia Tech will probably be their opponent and both have bad losses. If FSU goes 13-0 with blowout wins over Clemson, Miami and Maryland it will be very tough to hold them out of the championship game.
BCS Ranking: 2
Games Remaining: 3, Syracuse (5-4), Idaho (1-9) and @Florida (4-5)
My Pick: National Title Game

Ohio State, 9-0 (5-0 Big Ten)
The Buckeyes have won 21 straight games but could find themselves out of the national championship game for the second straight year. Last year it was because of sanctions and this year, their schedule just doesn't have much big wins. Their Northwestern victory is looking less impressive by the week and Wisconsin doesn't appear like it was that big of a win either. Their lone-remaining big game is their annual battle with Michigan, who is 6-3 and was nearly upset by lowly Akron and 0-8 UConn. They have three decent Big Ten games remaining but the Big Ten has been terrible the past two years and Indiana nor Illinois victories will help them get in the title game over Baylor, Stanford or Florida State. A Big Ten Championship Game is likely but that will most likely be Michigan State, who could shut down Ohio State's offense.
BCS Ranking: 3
Games Remaining: @Illinois (3-6), Indiana (4-5) and @Michigan (6-3)
My Pick: Rose Bowl

Baylor, 8-0 (5-0 Big 12)
Quietly, the Big 12 has managed a team that suddenly has a real shot at the title game in Baylor. The Bears sit at 8-0 and managed to get a huge win over 7-2 Oklahoma, a dominant performance. Their schedule has been average before that consisting of blowout wins over teams like Kansas State, West Virginia and UL-Monroe. Personally, I believe their big win over Oklahoma was a lot more impressive than any Ohio State has. And, they have a great stretch of games remaining, games that could help them out in getting into the big game. Oklahoma State and Texas will help significantly and TCU and Texas Tech would be good wins. Unfortunately, they don't have any Big 12 Championship Game but they could be fine. They will definitely be hoping for a slip-up by either Florida State or Alabama because I believe they have better wins than Ohio State.
BCS Ranking: 5 
Games Remaining: 4, Texas Tech (7-3), @Oklahoma State (8-1), @TCU (4-6), Texas (7-2)
My Pick: Fiesta Bowl

One-Loss Teams
Stanford, 4th in BCS Rankings
Stanford looks like they have the best shot of any one-loss team to sneak into the national championship game. The Cardinal do have one bad loss in Utah but they do have some good victories over UCLA, Arizona State, Washington and of course, Oregon. A win this next week against USC, a win against Notre Dame and a win in the Pac-12 Championship Game could carry them.
Oregon, 6th in BCS Rankings
Oregon looked like they could roll into the championship game before they hit a speed bump against Stanford, much like last season. They have some good wins over UCLA and Washington but I can't really imagine them getting into the title game with their remaining schedule.
Auburn, 7th in BCS Rankings
It might have been crazy to think about heading into this year but Auburn has a real shot at getting into the championship game. Sure, they are on the outside looking in but if they can beat Alabama and Georgia they could sneak into the SEC Championship Game. A win there could carry them all the way to another championship appearance, one way ahead of schedule. 

College Basketball Preview: 5. Arizona Wildcats

5. Arizona Wildcats

Sean Miller's rebuilding project in Arizona is finally done. Last year, the Wildcats started off 14-0 before a loss to Oregon. Sure, things didn't finish the way they wanted, as they lost in the Sweet 16 but Arizona is once more expected to contend for a national title. They lose three important players, Solomon Hill, Kevin Parrom and Grant Jerrett but an excellent recruiting class and key returners could carry 'Zona to another Pac-12 title.

Backcourt: Junior Nick Johnson developed quite nicely last year, after a crazy freshman year. Johnson has good ball-handling and court vision and is definitely a playmaker. He also uses his great size to get to the rim. His shot is still inconsistent and he struggles late in games but his expected maturity should help him out. The addition of Duquesne transfer T.J. McConnell is huge. Mark Lyons who transferred from Xavier, spent time at point guard last year but was uncomfortable with the position. McConnell gives 'Zona a true point guard who can run the offense. McConnell is small but has the shooting ability to score on the offensive end but is a better defender than Lyons. Sophomore Gabe York is expected to play a bigger role after seeing just 5.8 minutes per game last year. York is a solid shooter who can play either guard slots. He is a solid, productive guard and will battle for minutes. Four-star commit Elliot Pitts should help the Wildcats in a number of ways this year. Pitts has great size for a shooting guard at 6-5 and can score in many different ways. He is a great jump-shooter but also uses his size to get to the rim and finish. Sophomore Jacob Hazzard saw just 11 minutes last year but will give Miller and 'Zona much needed depth. Senior Jordin Mayes, a LA product, gives Arizona experience and smarts and a quality defender.

Frontcourt: Aaron Gordon showed just how talented he is with his performance in the McDonald's All-American game. Even with guys like Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker playing on the court, Gordon dominated with his athletic dunks and superb athleticism. Gordon is extremely competitive and plays big and can play both forwards spots. He can make highlight-reel plays every time he touches the ball but also has the talent to score in a number of ways. He uses his size down low, but can step outside and finish plays on the perimeter. He will form a dangerous 1-2 punch in the frontcourt with the return of sophomore Kaleb Tarczewski, a five-star recruit in 2012. Tarczewski is a psychical presence down low and has shown the ability to stretch the floor at times. He has proven he has a developing back-to-basket game and has the potential to be a fantastic big man. His long wingspan allows him to block shots and play strong defense. The loss of Grant Jerrett and Hill leaves a gap in the frontcourt, one that could be filled by sophomore Brandon Ashley. Ashley, a Findlay Prep product, has good size and an evolving low post game. He still has to improve his touch by the rim and gets pushed off the block too easily but should show improvement this year. The addition of forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson should give the Wildcats depth and another athletic forward with a ton of potential. The long lefty can score in a number of ways; he has the size to get to the rim and make great plays and also has a good jump shot. Forward Eric Conklin is only a one-star prospect and may be heading towards a redshirt but brings hustle and rebounding.

Recruiting Rundown (according to ESPN.com)
No. 4 Prospect, No. 2 PF Aaron Gordon, PF from San Jose, California
No. 21 Prospect, No. 5 SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF from Chester, Pennsylvania
No. 93 Prospect, No. 18 SG Elliot Pitts, SG from Dublin, California

PROJECTED LINEUP
PG T.J. McConnell, Junior
SG Nick Johnson, Junior
SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Freshman
PF Aaron Gordon, Freshman
C Kaleb Tarczewski, Sophomore
Sixth Brandon Ashley, Sophomore

Arizona loses a lot of leadership from last year's squad but still has the talent to dominate the Pac-12. Though, don't underestimate the Pac-12 this year; UCLA, Colorado and Stanford should all be tough this season. If Aaron Gordon plays to his potential and the Wildcats find a true, effective point guard a Final Four should be on the horizon.

College Football Week 11 Picks

Marcus Mariota

3 Oregon vs. 5 Stanford
This Thursday night Pac-12 war could well decide the national title race. Last year, Oregon was in a very similar situation before the Cardinal slowed down their up-tempo attack and ended up winning the Pac-12 North. Oregon's offense has not slowed a bit under new coach Mark Helfrich, in fact it may be better. Sophomore QB Marcus Mariota struggled in this match up last year but he has been significantly smarter and will benefit his second time seeing the Stanford defense. Him and Jameis Winston appear to be the Heisman frontrunners and he hopes that he can have a Heisman moment in this one. Stanford's defense is fantastic led by pass rushers like Shayne Skov, who constantly are disrupting backfields and gave Oregon real troubles last season. Though, they don't have to just worry about Mariota, a healthy De'Anthony Thomas is always dangerous and Byron Marshall has been great this season. Thomas said this week he believes Oregon will put up 40+, that will not happen. If Stanford's offense led by Kevin Hogan and back Tyler Gaffney, can put up a decent amount of points on the scoreboard this one could like a lot like last year.
Stanford, 30 Oregon, 24

6 Baylor vs. 10 Oklahoma
Much like the Stanford-Oregon game this Thursday night game could decide the conference. Undefeated Baylor continues to overwhelm teams with their offense, and although statistically Oklahoma's defense has been impressive I still have some real questions about it. Can they shut down the combination of QB Bryce Petty, Lache Seastrunk and receiver Tevin Reese? Baylor has always been an offensive team but their defense has been strong too this season, causing turnovers. Junior QB Blake Bell, a dual threat, has been great at times this season but has struggled with interceptions and decision-making has been an issue. They have a great backfield led by Damien Williams and Bell who is a hard runner. Oklahoma has struggled to get pressure on opponents and if you don't get much on Petty, you can't stop this Bears' defense. I don't think they will, and although Baylor will not score 60, they should put up points to come away with a comfortable win.
Baylor, 45 Oklahoma, 34

1 Alabama vs. 13 LSU
The last couple of years this game has been fantastic and decided the SEC West, and it will not disappoint at all this year. The undefeated Tide hope to continue their run a top the rankings but their defense won't have as easy as a job as usual against the Tigers. Zach Mettenberger has been fantastic so far and his interceptions have really been trimmed. Jeremy Hill at back can move the chains and their offense has more playmakers than usual. Other than usual, LSU is less of a run the ball in between the tackles team but a team that can move the ball down the field. Alabama's offense has struggled at times but T.J. Yeldon has really gotten the ground attack going in again and it never wise to pick against senior quarterback A.J. McCarron. Although their offense has been vastly better, a usually defensive team, LSU has struggled to stop teams. Their pass defense has been burned a lot and they need leadership in the back. If McCarron and Amari Cooper can get the momentum flowing, they could burn the Tigers for a lot of passing yards and points.
Alabama, 28 LSU, 21

Other Picks
19 UCLA, 38 Arizona, 27
Houston, 35 UCF, 34
Michigan, 27 Nebraska, 17
2 Florida State, 43 Wake Forest, 20
9 Auburn, 35 Tennessee, 19
Current Picks Record: 58-22

College Basketball Preview: 4. Duke Blue Devils

4. Duke Blue Devils

Throughout most of last season, the Duke Blue Devils were the nation's best team. Sure, things ended a little bit short as the Blue Devils lost a close one to eventual champ Louisville. Duke will lose Ryan Kelly, who missed a lot of last year with injuries and Mason Plumlee but it is Duke and that means contention. The ACC will be very tough this next year but the Blue Devils have the talent to be a Final Four team this year.

Backcourt: Quinn Cook is one of the ACC's most underrated players. The junior has proven he can be a very productive point guard. He has speed and has great court vision, while also able to score in a number of ways. Likely to start alongside Cook in the backcourt will be sophomore Rasheed Sulaimon. Sulaimon lived up to the hype of a five-star prospect last year and can dominate on the perimeter. Sulaimon has good size for shooting guard and should mature in big ways this year. His shot is smooth and he will get more opportunities with Seth Curry gone. Senior Andre Dawkins is also back after a redshirt year. Dawkins was expected to be a big time player when he signed with Duke but has struggled to make an impact. Dawkins can shoot and has proven to be a solid defender. Dawkins should also bring much needed experience and smarts for a pretty young backcourt. Senior Tyler Thornton brings shooting and maturity at shooting guard. Thornton hasn't gotten enough minutes to make much of an impact in Durham but could get the opportunity this season. Coach K managed to bring in Texas product Matt Jones who brings a lot of versatility. Jones has good shooting range and can also get to the rim with his dribble.

Frontcourt: The No. 2 prospect in the land, Jabari Parker, will be force from the beginning for Duke. Parker can play both forward positions and brings athleticism and scoring. Parker has a fluid shot and can stretch the floor but can also be a force above the rim. Parker is a solid all-around prospect but still has some things to work on; at times he gets lost on defense and might struggle with turnovers this year. Another newcomer, Rodney Hood, should also have a huge impact. Hood, a transfer from Mississippi State who sat out last year, brings a lot of different abilities. Hood, a sophomore, isn't as polished on the offensive end as Parker but is a solid rebounder and defender. Hood has good size and the ability to get to the rim and finish through contact. The only question on the frontcourt for Duke will be the center position: Plumlee's graduation leaves a big hole. His brother, the youngest Plumlee, Marshall is expected to compete for the job. The sophomore is still very raw offensively but he has the size and strength to be a considerable force. Marshall added 25 pounds to his frame this off season which should help him gain position easier in the low post. Marshall plays a lot like his other brother Miles, as he is a solid rebounder and plays strong defense but isn't very athletic. Sophomore Amile Jefferson will also compete for minutes in this great frontcourt after a solid freshman year. Jefferson has good size and has the potential to grow into a dominant forward. Though, he is still young and makes bad decisions at times. 6-7 freshman Semi Ojeleye brings an interesting mix of athleticism and playmaking. Ojeleye can stretch the floor with his great shooting ability which will help with Ryan Kelly gone, who stretched it for Duke last season. Senior Josh Hairston appears to be more athletic and will fight for more minutes this year.

Recruiting Rundown (according to ESPN.com)
No. 2 Prospect, No. 2 SF Jabari Parker, SF from Chicago, Illinois
No. 36 Prospect, No. 6 SG Matt Jones, SG from DeSoto, Texas
No. 40 Prospect, No. 10 SF Semi Ojeleye, SF from Ottawa, Kansas

PROJECTED LINEUP
PG Quinn Cook, Junior
SG Rasheed Sulaimon, Sophomore
F Jabari Parker, Freshman
F Rodney Hood, Sophomore
C Marshall Plumlee, Sophomore
Sixth Amile Jefferson, Sophomore

Coach K once more has a championship caliber team this year but they are some questions. The ACC is now the premier basketball conference and will challenge the Blue Devils and Duke must find a consistent center. If they do, a Final Four is a real possibility.

College Basketball Preview: 3. Louisville Cardinals

3. Louisville Cardinals

The Cardinals used a quick, high-scoring backcourt and a deep frontcourt full of productive forwards to win a national championship. Senior leader Peyton Siva and center Gorgui Dieng are both gone but many of the important pieces are back for the Cardinals to repeat as national champs. Plus, a move to the easier American Athletic Conference from the brutal Big East should further help out the Cards.

Backcourt: Russ Smith flirted with the idea of going pro but decided to return for his senior season. "Russdiculous" should enter the year as a Wooden Award candidate thanks to his high-scoring potential. Smith can score in a ton of different ways and can make plays on the defensive side as well. Though, Smith has proven throughout his career he can make stupid plays and drive Rick Pitino mad. Hopefully, entering his senior year, he will be more mature. Where Smith will start is a question; he isn't a point guard but Louisville doesn't have a proven PG on their roster. Junior Wayne Blackshear was a huge recruit a couple of years ago but hasn't seen too many minutes yet. Blackshear has good size (6-5) and can help in a lot of different ways. Junior Kevin Ware became famous after a scary broken leg in last year's tournament and it is tough to imagine him playing much this year. Though if he does, he provides hustle and defense. Freshman Terry Rozier will get the chance to start at point guard with Siva gone. Rozier is extremely athletic and can beat defenders in a lot of different ways. JUCO transfer Chris Jones will bring experience and smarts and is a less-risky option than Rozier. Four-star commit Anton Gill should get minutes at shooting guard and is extremely dangerous in transition and has the ability to make highlight plays.

Frontcourt: Luke Hancock, a former George Mason transfer, had a dream NCAA tournament and has the potential to have a huge 2013-2014. Hancock brings maturity on the wing and is an extremely dangerous shooter. Hancock brings size at 6-6 and can play a number of different positions including small forward and shooting guard. Sophomore Montrezl Harrell, the top recruit entering 2012, showed flashes of greatness last year. Harrell has great moves in the low post and can stretch the floor at times. Harrell has good rebounding skills and has proven to be a quality defender at times. Junior Chane Behanan is a little bit undersized and it isn't known what position he will fill in at but has the jumping ability and potential to be a monster this year. Behanan isn't too polished of a shooter but can make some shots. Behanan helps on the glass and has a knack for getting contact and making shots at the line. Senior forward Stephen Van Treese gives the Cardinals much needed size and maturity. His career so far his been filled with injuries and offensive struggles but looks ready to make an impact this year. Van Treese is a proven defender and uses his big frame to pull down rebounds. The addition of forward Akoy Agau, a talent from Omaha, Nebraska gives Pitino yet another high-potential forward. Agau is raw on offense but is athletic and also brings size and strength in the paint.

Recruiting Rundown (according to ESPN.com)
5 Star Prospect Terry Rozier, PG from Shaker Heights, Ohio
4 Star Prospect Anton Gill, SG Raleigh, North Carolina
4 Star Prospect Akoy Agau, PF from Omaha, Nebraska
JUCO transfer Chris Jones, PG from Northwest Florida State College

PROJECTED LINEUP
PG Terry Rozier, Freshman
SG Russ Smith, Senior
SF Luke Hancock, Senior
F Chane Behanan, Junior
F Montrezl Harrell, Sophomore
Sixth Wayne Blackshear, Junior

If Smith proves to be smarter and continues to be a dominant scorer and Rozier becomes the second-coming of Peyton Siva at point guard a repeat is a real possibility. Though size in the frontcourt; Behanan is just 6-6 and Harrell is just 6-7 could be an issue even in the weaker American. This year won't be easy; it never is, but the Cardinals once more have the talent to rule the college basketball landscape.

College Football Power Rankings

A.J. McCarron

1. Alabama This a pivotal stretch for the 8-0 Crimson Tide. They get LSU at home this next week and their Iron Bowl rivalry with Auburn on the 30th has huge SEC West implications.
2. Florida State Jameis Winston showed signs of being human with 2 interceptions against Miami but the ground attack picked up the slack and the defense continues to impress.
3. Oregon This Thursday night, the 8-0 Ducks and Marcus Mariota will square off in the Pac-12 game of the year. This one could well help push Oregon over FSU in the title picture or drop them out of it like last season.
4. Ohio State The Buckeyes continue to embarrass the rest of the Big Ten, beating up on Purdue. Though, Michigan is their only big opponent remaining and they played terrible against Michigan State.
5. Stanford The Cardinal still have an outside shot at a title run, especially if they can beat Oregon, but their offense needs to find its stroke again, it has struggled since their loss to Utah.
6. Baylor The 7-0 Bears are leading the nation in pass yards, points per game and are seventh in the nation in rushing yards per game. Needless to say, Oklahoma has a tough task handling the Bears this week.
7. Clemson Ever since their embarrassing loss to Florida State, Clemson has responded putting 40 on Maryland and nearly putting up 60 on Virginia.
8. Auburn What Gus Malzahn is doing with this group is amazing as the Tigers sit at 8-1 thanks to a dominant rush attack. They have to prove they are legit though, in a brutal stretch that includes Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.
9. Missouri The Tigers kept themselves in the BCS title picture by handling Tennessee and they have an easier finish to the year than a lot of other top SEC teams.
10. Oklahoma The Sooners are winning, but in a different way than usual. A team that usually airs the ball out, is averaging 234 yards on the ground this season, 17th in the nation.
11. LSU After coming so close to beating the Tide last year, the 7-2 Tigers hope to finish the job this year. If they don't turn the ball over they could end Alabama's hopes of a third straight championship.
12. Texas A&M Johnny Football threw and ran all over UTEP for six touchdowns but can he carry them to victories over LSU and Missouri?
13. Miami Although they don't play very good against Florida State that wasn't the only bad news for the 'Canes. Star back Duke Johnson is out for the year meaning an ACC championship just got even tougher.
14. South Carolina This season hasn't been what many Gamecocks' fans would have liked, they are 7-2 and need to end the year strong to have any shot at a SEC Championship appearance but if Connor Shaw can stay healthy they aren't completely out of it.
15. Oklahoma State The past two weeks, the Cowboys have looked very good, putting up 50+ in the last two and have shot themselves right back into the Big 12 picture.
16. Fresno State The Mountain West is just not enough competition for Derek Carr and the Bulldogs as they won again late last night, dominating Nevada from start to finish.
17. Michigan State Once more, the Spartans defense was dominant, holding Michigan to negatives in the rushing department. With that win, they just might have the Legends Division in the Big Ten.
18. UCLA Sophomore QB Brett Hundley is playing great right now and he could help the Bruins run the table. Other than Arizona State, they have a pretty unimpressive schedule to end the season.
19. UCF Blake Bortles and the 6-1 Knights clearly are the favorite now in the American Athletic but they should be nervous about their next meeting with Houston. The 7-1 Cougars continue to score points and could surprise.
20. Louisville Teddy Bridgewater and the Cardinals are out of the title picture, if they ever were in it, but they could still win the American if they can finish strong against UConn, Houston, Memphis and Cincinnati.
21. Northern Illinois Although they will likely end up 13-0, it will be very difficult for the Huskies to climb into another BCS bowl. They are winning but against MAC schools it just doesn't cut it.
22. Wisconsin The Badgers were far from dominant against Iowa but they continue to win thanks to a run game that appears nearly impossible to completely stop.
23. Notre Dame With their win over Navy by just 4, it was the fifth game that they managed to win by just a touchdown or less. They are winning but they still have a lot to prove.
24. Arizona State  The Sun Devils improved to 6-2 with a Halloween beating of Washington State and could still find their way into the Pac-12 championship game if they can handle Hundley and the Bruins.
25. Texas Tech Many questioned the Red Raiders ever climbing to the Top 10 and it is clear they were overrated, losing two straight. But, their offense still is playing well and they have nothing to lose now.