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