College Football Week 14 Picks

Derrick Henry

1 Alabama vs. 15 Auburn
After foiling their championship plan a season ago, Auburn will once more attempt to play spoiler against the top-ranked Crimson Tide, one year after one of the greatest Iron Bowl battles of all time. The Tide's offense will be led by senior quarterback Blake Sims, who seems to get bigger every week, along with their powerful ground attack. Derrick Henry has a chance to dominate in this game with T.J. Yeldon and stud receiver Amari Cooper questionable. Auburn's defense has been extremely inconsistent all year, but generally a problem. They've been exposed over the air multiple times and if Cooper and another questionable receiver, DeAndrew White play, they could absolutely blow past the Tigers' secondary. Auburn's rush defense has been solid all year, led by powerful run stoppers Gabe Wright, Kris Frost and athletic Cassanova McKinzy, who has it all this year defensively. Meanwhile, the Auburn defense will try to rejuvenate their rushing game, which has disappeared as of late. Nick Marshall is still going to give defenses problems with his speed and vision but he needs some help from Cameron Artis-Payne or another one of Auburn's stable of talented backs. The Tide might also be missing do-it-all defensive linemen A'Shawn Robinson, a freak of an athlete despite being 330+ pounds. That should certainly help Auburn move the ball on the ground, after they dominated Alabama with their read-option variations in 2013. Marshall will also hope to step up as a passer after struggling in a number of Auburn's big games this season. He has one of the SEC's top receivers in Duke Williams on his side but slumping Sammie Coates must rediscover his hands in order to give Alabama's defense must problems. Ball hawking Landon Collins is ready to go at safety, along with a long list of dangerous, impact pass rushers for 'Bama. Those pass rushers are sure to pressure Marshall and force him into mistakes, which is obviously starting to become a real problem for the Tigers. While they should be motivated considering it is against their arch nemesis, Auburn's season has clearly fallen apart. They will need a great game from Marshall and hope Cooper and Yeldon either don't play or aren't healthy enough to make a major difference.
Alabama, 35 Auburn, 24

4 Mississippi State vs. 19 Ole Miss
It is pretty amazing how quickly things have changed between these two Egg Bowl rivals. This rivalry appeared like it could possibly decide the SEC West, along with the possible Playoff picture for the conference as a whole. Since then, Ole Miss has slumped mightily, further proven by a 30-0 blowout loss at the hands of Arkansas. While Mississippi State is very much still in the race, they will need to win, and likely play very well to keep themselves in the Playoff hunt. Dak Prescott continues to pose a problem for defenses, though he almost certainly be challenged by the speed and tenacity of the Rebels' defense. Safety Cody Prewitt is an absolute monster and he will be joined by interception machine Senquez Golson, who will hope to capitalize off of Prescott's questionable decision making. The Rebels' defense also has a number of impact players in their front seven, players who will hope to tame Josh Robinson, one of the nation's most underrated rushers. While the defense will put the Rebels in pretty good position to pull off an upset, they will need their offense to show up, a unit that has lost some serious bite since the sickening injury to stud receiver Laquon Treadwell. Quarterback Bo Wallace continues to make costly decisions with the football and he has seemingly lost his serious confidence he was feeling after Ole Miss stunned Alabama. Wallace's struggling can be somewhat credited to Treadwell's injury as nobody has stepped up with his absence. The ground game could also struggle against the speed and athleticism of the Bulldogs' front seven, which includes tackling machine Benardrick McKinney at linebacker. While clearly all the momentum (and the health, and the talent) is in the hands of Mississippi State right now, rivalry games are prime time for upsets. Unfortunately, Ole Miss is in such bad hands that just doesn't seem like a real possibility unless their defense is absolutely dominant.
Mississippi State, 28 Ole Miss, 14

3 Florida State vs. Florida
To the great delight of many Florida fans, this will be the last time they will ever see Will Muschamp on a Florida sideline as head coach. Muschamp, whose Gators are 6-4 this year after a 4-8 mark a year ago, will hope to end his career with Florida with a huge bang on the road, after getting walloped by the Seminoles in 2013. He still has one of the nation's best defenses, led by ferocious linebacker Antonio Morrison (93 tackles) along with underrated pass rusher Alex McCalister. That defense will be tested by FSU's offense, which has clearly been lethal at times this season. While they often struggle in the first half of games, there is little denying how good they are in the second half. Jameis Winston continues to struggle with consistency and cope with a struggling offensive line, but his accuracy and composure in the big moments this year have been impressive. The Seminoles' run offense has been nonexistent at times this year, and Dalvin Cook nor Karlos Williams will not have it easy against the disciplined Florida front seven. Winston will continue to lean on the players he has leaned on all year, sure-handed Rashad Greene, vertical threat Nick O'Leary and rapidly improving Travis Rudolph, who had a coming out party earlier in the season against Notre Dame. The Florida offense has shown signs of life this year, especially under dual threat Treon Harris. He is probable to go this Saturday, and if he does, FSU could have their hands full. While he will turn the ball over pretty frequently and his mechanics are still just average, Harris adds some spark to a pretty dull offense. With his legs, along with powerful Matt Jones and improving Kelvin Taylor, the Gators could have some success moving the ball against the Seminoles. Though, running the ball can only get Florida so far, Harris or Driskel (if Harris can't play) will need to make some plays through the air. Doing that against shutdown P.J. Williams and do-it-all Jalen Ramsey will be a tall order, considering they won't have much help from receivers. FSU has been playing with fire all year, needing dazzling second half performances to somehow stay undefeated. In Muschamp's last game Florida will be very motivated to pull off an upset, especially considering how much they were blow out a year ago. This one will almost certainly be close, and it could come down to a field goal for the Seminoles.
Florida State, 27 Florida, 24

Other Picks
13 Arizona State, 38 11 Arizona, 30
9 Georgia, 34 16 Georgia Tech, 20
6 Ohio State, 42 Michigan, 33
14 Wisconsin, 28 18 Minnesota, 21
2 Oregon, 54 Oregon State, 28
Current Picks Record: 73-30

College Bowl Picks (Jan.2- Jan.5th)

Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Oklahoma
In their first game since the famous "Kick Six" Alabama hopes to recover against

C.J. Mosley

an Oklahoma team uncertain about their quarterback. Trevor Knight, Blake Bell and lefty Kendal Thompson have all seen time this year but none has emerged and injuries have shook things up. All three are good runners which means it will be important for the Alabama front seven to contain them. The front seven includes talents like linebacker C.J. Mosley and end Jeoffrey Pagan. Mosley, a senior, is a great tackler with fantastic speed to the ball and incredible instincts. The rest of the Tide defense is great, with players in the secondary like NFL prospect HaHa Clinton-Dix. No matter who starts at quarterback for the Sooners they will have playmakers around them. Athletic receivers Jalen Saunders (56 receptions, 654 yards) and speedy Sterling Shepard (44, 540) will help this offense move. Oklahoma's offense may struggle to keep up with an Alabama offense that has been the best it has in years. Senior A.J. McCarron was hoping his last game would be a third National Championship Game, but he should still be ready to go in this one. Oklahoma's defense has been very exposed against the run and that is worrying with Alabama's plethora of backs. This includes sophomore T.J. Yeldon, freshman Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake, who can all be big play threats. The Sooners will be hoping for some turnovers or mistakes from McCarron, who is always better in the big games. Oklahoma may be able to catch 'Bama off guard but it seems silly to think they can do much against this motivated Tide team.
Alabama, 31 Oklahoma, 14

Cotton Bowl: Missouri vs. Oklahoma State
Old Big 12 foes meet in what will be yet another high-scoring Cotton Bowl, after we saw Johnny Manziel and the Aggies run all over Oklahoma last year. 11-2 Missouri has been one of college football's biggest surprises thanks to a dominant defense and the play of their senior quarterback James Franklin. Despite missing four games due to a separated shoulder Franklin still had 2,255 yards and 19 touchdowns. His favorite target was sophomore Dorial Green-Beckham, who has great size and speed. To keep the offense balanced, the Tigers also have senior Henry Josey. Josey missed all of 2012 with a severe knee injury but has been great this season. The defense has been strong, with one of the nation's best pass rushers in Michael Sam. Sam is incredibly strong and has a very quick step which helped him rack up 10.5 sacks. He will hope to pressure senior quarterback Clint Chelf who has been great since taking over for sophomore J.W. Walsh. Chelf proved that he had a big arm, with 1,792 yards and 15 touchdowns, but also made a ton of plays with his legs. This offense has a number of other impact players that include Josh Stewart and Tracy Moore. The Cowboys will hope their defense can tame Franklin and Josey. Cornerback Justin Gilbert is a player that can make big plays as a coverage man and as a player in special teams. Gilbert had six interceptions this year and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. The Cowboys can certainly score and their defense can make plays but they are far too consistent to pick them over Mizzou.
Missouri, 38 Oklahoma State, 34

Orange Bowl: Ohio State vs. Clemson
Both Ohio State and Clemson had a lot of highlights to think about during the 2013 season and they could end it well with a win in this one. Ohio State has one of the nation's most exciting offenses to watch with junior Braxton Miller at quarterback and powerful back Carlos Hyde, gaining tough yards. Hyde missed the first two games of the year then responded with 1,408 yards and 14 touchdowns, while averaging 7.7 yards a carry. Clemson also has an offense that can put a lot of points on the board. Senior Tajh Boyd is playing his last bowl game with Clemson and junior receiver Sammy Watkins likely is as well. When those two are on their game they can constantly make huge plays. Senior back Roderick McDowell is ready for a big game after rushing for 956 yards this season. This game could turn into a shootout, meaning that any defense will be very important. Ohio State's defense has been very exposed all year but they have a number of fantastic players, like pass-rushing linebacker Ryan Shazier, an All-American. They will need a big day from cornerback Bradley Roby to shut down Watkins, and Clemson's other talented receiver, Martavis Bryant, who is averaging 20.5 yards a reception. Clemson has a talented pass-rusher as well in Vic Beasley who hopes to make some big tackles for loss to slow down Hyde and the tempo of the Buckeyes. This game could be exciting if neither defense can slow down the offensive talent of the others. Ohio State and Miller are ready to show that they deserve a BCS bowl bid with a strong performance.
Ohio State, 45 Clemson, 35

Compass Bowl: Vanderbilt vs. Houston
One of the nation's rising programs, Vanderbilt, hopes to contain a Houston team who had a great first year in the American Athletic. Vandy won't have Wyoming transfer Austyn Carta-Samuels at quarterback, which means they will lean on freshman Patton Robinette, who was average, while filling in for Carta-Samuels. Robinette will hope that he can get a lot of help from senior receiver Jordan Matthews who had 107 receptions this year, even with uncertainty at the QB position. Matthews is the SEC's all-time leader in receptions and yards and he hopes he can have a couple big plays against an average Houston defense. Houston has a big-play threat of their own in sophomore Deontay Greenberry, an incredibly quick talent who caught 76 passes and had 10 touchdowns. The Cougars have had great year from freshman John O'Korn who threw for 2,889 yards and 26 touchdowns, despite facing a lot more experienced players. Houston has a defense that can constantly cause turnovers leading the nation with 40 takeaways. Robinette had 3 interceptions compared to two interceptions and it isn't crazy to think that he could turn the ball over once or twice. The Commodores must also hope for a strong day from sophomore back Jerron Seymour who had 13 touchdowns this year. Both of these young quarterbacks should be able to get the ball down the field but turnovers may be the deciding factor.
Houston, 23 Vanderbilt, 15

GoDaddy Bowl: Ball State vs. Arkansas State
Two of the best non-BCS programs in the entire nation will square off in what will be a nice appetizer to the BCS National Championship Game. Arkansas State went 7-5 this year and 5-2 in the Sun Belt but will be without their head coach Bryan Harsin, who left for Boise State. The Red Wolves had a strong year in large part to senior quarterback Adam Kennedy, who had 2,327 yards this year, while completing nearly 70% of his passes. Ball State had a fantastic year in the MAC in large part to their QB, senior Keith Wenning who has had a great career with the Cardinals. Wenning had 34 touchdowns this year and also threw for nearly 4,000 yards, much of those to junior Willie Snead. Snead had 97 receptions this year and proved to be quite the reliable target to Wenning. The issue for Ball State and their defense will be getting the ball. Arkansas State rarely turns the ball over, having just 13 turnovers this year. Kennedy is extremely smart and makes the right decisions. Ball State has really struggled throughout their bowl history, they have yet to win one yet. But, there is no denying the talent on this team. Along with Wenning, the Cardinals also possess guys like powerful back Jahwan Edwards, who used his strength to rack up 964 yards and 13 touchdowns. Expect Ball State to take advantage of an Arkansas State defense that has struggled against great offenses. It is about time that Ball State and Wenning end their winless bowl streak.
Ball State, 35 Arkansas State, 21

College Bowl Picks (January 1st)

Gator Bowl: Georgia vs. Nebraska
Both Georgia and Nebraska were disappointments this year but they could still

Ameer Abdullah

finish their respective seasons on a high note. Georgia started off their year strong with wins over South Carolina and LSU but their season was decimated by injuries. Todd Gurley, Keith Marshall and Malcolm Mitchell all went down with injuries. Then to make things worse they lost four-year starter at quarterback Aaron Murray who tore his ACL. Junior Hutson Mason will start at quarterback after finishing the year filling in for Murray. This means that will lean heavily on the sophomore Gurley, who was so dominant before hurting his ankle. Nebraska, who was also had issues at quarterback, will rely on their back, speedy Ameer Abdullah. Abdullah proved to be one the most exciting players in the Big Ten this year, recording 1,568 yards and 8 touchdowns. The 'Huskers expect Tommy Armstrong to be healthy at quarterback and start over Ron Kellogg and the banged-up Taylor Martinez. Armstrong got has some help with Georgia's star safety Josh Harvey-Clemons suspended. Mason has seen some snaps already so he may be pretty comfortable and he does have some talent around him that includes Gurley, like agile Chris Conley and sure-handed Michael Bennett. The pressure is on for Nebraska and head coach Bo Pelini, who drew a lot of critics this year after his rant about his fans. If they don't stop Gurley and the offense continues to struggle his future could be in concern if they end up 8-5.
Georgia, 24 Nebraska, 13

Heart of Dallas Bowl: North Texas vs. UNLV
Neither North Texas nor UNLV have seen a bowl in a while, UNLV not seeing a bowl game since 2000 and North Texas not one in nearly a decade. The Mean Green were a pleasant surprise in their first year in the Conference USA, going 6-2 in their first year outside of the Sun Belt and going 8-4 overall. They will hope for a big day from senior Brandin Byrd, who ran for 1,023 yards. North Texas does have balance on the offensive side of the ball with QB Derek Thompson, another senior. Thompson threw for 2,640 yards this year but he does have one big issue: he struggles with turnovers. Thompson had 13 interceptions this season and lost a couple of fumbles in the process. UNLV, meanwhile, has been beaten up for years in the Mountain West but had a breakthrough this year, in large part to their back, Tim Cornett. The powerful Cornett racked up 1,251 yards this season and proved to be great down near the end zone, picking up 15 touchdowns. Quarterback Caleb Herring also had a great 2013 throwing for 22 touchdowns and just 4 picks. Both of these teams have balanced offenses and will be very excited for this game. Whoever ends up running the ball better against these average defenses will end up winning this one.
UNLV, 30 North Texas, 20

Outback Bowl: LSU vs. Iowa
The Tigers got some very bad news before a big game against a sneaky Iowa team when they learned senior quarterback Zach Mettenberger would not play in this one. After a rollercoaster of a year as a junior he had a great 2013, passing for 3,082 yards and cutting down on his turnovers. This means LSU will rely on freshman Anthony Jennings at QB, who has only thrown 10 passes in his time in Baton Rouge. Iowa's defense has been the big reason why they are 8-4, they have been able to stop teams on the ground and through the air. They won't have it easy though, LSU has a lot of playmakers this year. Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry are two dangerous receivers who are very reliable. Landry had 75 receptions this year, while Beckham averaged nearly 20 yards a catch this season. On the ground the Tigers will bring Jeremy Hill and Terrence Magee to the table. After being suspended for the first couple of games this year , Hill has been great. Iowa has always been a power football team and that has not changed this year, they run right up the middle with bruiser Mark Weisman. Weisman in his second year since transferring to Iowa, he had 938 yards on 209 carries with 7 scores. In order to beat LSU, the Hawkeyes will definitely need a good day from quarterback Jake Rudock. LSU will put pressure on Rudock with guys like massive tackle Anthony Johnson and a secondary that includes Craig Loston. Even with Jennings at QB, LSU still has the defense and playmakers around him to get their 10th win of the year.
LSU, 31 Iowa, 28

Capitol One Bowl: South Carolina vs. Wisconsin
Entering the year, Wisconsin had hopes of being able to play for their fourth straight Rose Bowl. Michigan State will get that opportunity but the Capitol One Bowl is still a good consolation. The Badgers hope the combination of senior back James White and sophomore Melvin Gordon can carry them to their first bowl victory since the Champ Sports Bowl in 2009. South Carolina hopes they can get a big win to end the career of infamous defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney did not have the junior year that many people expected him to have but he should still be factor and should help guys like Chaz Sutton lanes at the quarterback, when he draws double teams. This Gamecocks' defense not only has to stop the Badgers' power run attack but also tame receiver Jared Abrederis. Abrederis had 73 catches and 1,051 yards in his final year with Wisconsin. South Carolina has a strong offense led by Mike Davis, a sophomore back who has reminded South Carolina fans of Marcus Lattimore when he was healthy. Senior QB Connor Shaw had a great year and make the right decisions, even though he did struggle with injuries through much of 2013. Under Shaw the Gamecocks rarely turned the ball over and he is still a dangerous dual threat. He has some proven targets in speedy, two-sport star Bruce Ellington and big play threat Damiere Byrd. Wisconsin's defense is not easy to run the ball against as they still have senior linebacker Chris Borland, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. This looks like it will be a good match up but if the Gamecocks can't stop Gordon this will be a very tough one.
Wisconsin, 37 South Carolina, 27

Fiesta Bowl: Baylor vs. UCF
Two teams with explosive offenses will collide in what will be an exciting Fiesta Bowl. UCF dominated the American Athletic through much of 2013, going 8-0 with a big win over Louisville. Junior QB Blake Bortles had an impressive year, showing he had a fantastic arm and making big plays with his legs. Head coach George O'Leary also has a lot more to work with in this offense with workhorse back Storm Johnson and J.J. Worton, who had 42 receptions for 665 yards and had one of the best catches of the year with his one-handed snag against Temple. Baylor had a fantastic year, winning the Big 12 title and nearly having an opportunity to sneak into the national championship before their only loss of the year to Oklahoma State. Junior quarterback Bryce Petty continued the trend of talented Baylor quarterback, that started with RG3 and Nick Florence. Petty threw for 3,844 yards and 30 touchdowns and looked like a legit Heisman threat. Other than Petty this offense also includes speedy Oregon transfer Lache Seastrunk and explosive receiver Antwan Goodley, who had 1,319 yards this season. This one looks destined to be a shootout with all the playmakers for both teams. Baylor has combined for 116 points in their last two bowl games in wins over Washington and UCLA.
Baylor, 44 UCF, 38

Darqueze Dennard

Rose Bowl: Michigan State vs. Stanford
The Rose Bowl is celebrating it's 100th year and this could honestly be one of the best ones. The 12-1 Michigan State Spartans will hope to keep their hot streak alive against Shayne Skov and the Stanford Cardinal. These two teams have two of the best defenses in the nation. The Spartans have the best defense, statistically in the entire nation. Though, they had some rough news this week when senior linebacker Max Bullough was suspended for the game. Bullough is a tackle machine and the leader of the defense and he will be missed. But, this defense still has shutdown corner Darqueze Dennard and massive defensive end Shilique Calhoun. They will need the defense to be up to par against a powerful Stanford rush attack that is led by senior back Tyler Gaffney. Gaffney had 306 carries this year, about 23 a game. Gaffney had 1,618 yards this season and also had 20 touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Kevin Hogan had a great year, throwing for 20 touchdowns and also has great legs. Against Oregon, his running ability helped win that game as he kept the defense honest. Hogan also has some great downfield threats including Ty Montgomery and huge receiver Devon Cajuste. Skov and the Cardinal defense is constantly in backfields and will put a ton of pressure on Connor Cook, who has filled in very well for senior Andrew Maxwell. The Spartans' offense has become so much better since Jeremy Langford started playing better and he should help the offense gain yards agains this stiff defense. This game looks like a complete toss-up, both of these teams run very well and they are disciplined and play hard-nose defense. I'm picking Stanford mainly because they won this game last season and because of how difficult it is too stop Tyler Gaffney.
Stanford, 20 Michigan State, 16

College Bowl Picks (Dec. 31st)

Advocare V100 Bowl: Boston College vs. Arizona
Two of the nation's best running backs hope to lead their team to victory in this matchup of 7-5 teams. Arizona's junior back Ka'Deem Carey had 1,716 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, while leading Arizona to a strong season and a win over Oregon. Meanwhile, Boston College used senior bruiser Andre Williams to receive their first bowl bid since 2010 when they lost in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl to Nevada. The Wildcats' defense has been exposed at times this year and few teams have proven they can tame Williams. Williams had 2,102 yards and 17 touchdowns, recording 6.4 yards a carry. Boston College doesn't have a balanced offense but they can throw the ball occasionally. Senior quarterback Chase Rettig had a solid year with 17 touchdowns, completing over 61% of his throws. Much of those touchdowns were to senior receiver Alex Amidon, who had 67 receptions and 903 yards. Not only is Amidon Rettig's top target, he is really his only target. Other than Amidon, the second-leading receiver was senior tight end Mike Naples who had just 9 receptions. Boston College and linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis won't just have to worry about the Walker finalist Carey. They will have to deal with dual threat QB B.J. Denker who has been great this year after replacing Matt Scott who was extremely impressive in 2012. Denker has a good arm he had 2,241 passing yards and also had 898 yards on the ground. His speed and carrying ability is a necessity in Arizona's offense, which relies heavily on the read-option. Both of these teams are going to want to run the ball and both defenses have to prove they can stop the run. It could come down to turnovers where I think the Wildcats can make some plays.
Arizona, 28 Boston College, 19

Sun Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. UCLA
A Virginia Tech team accustomed to winning bowl games square off in an interesting Sun Bowl

Brett Hundley

against UCLA, who has yet to find continual bowl success. The Hokies will say goodbye to senior quarterback Logan Thomas who had a rollercoaster of a career with them. I've always felt that Thomas had the potential to be a star but once more he struggled with turnovers and had just a 57% completion percentage. Thomas has some help around him, including sophomore receiver Demitri Knowles and freshman back Trey Edmunds, who ran for 675 yards this year. The Hokies have payed some tough defenses in the ACC, but the Bruins' defense might be the toughest they see all year. Senior linebacker Anthony Barr is a sack machine and will constantly be disrupting Thomas. Even when Barr doesn't get sacks he can still make the quarterback uneasy in the pocket. UCLA, meanwhile, will lean on sophomore Brett Hundley and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Myles Jack to move the ball against a tough Virginia Tech defense. Hundley, a dual threat, with an accurate arm can also extend plays with his speed and agility. Jack, who will also see significant time at linebacker, is a powerful back who can run over people but can also mix in some speed. Virginia Tech's defense has some studs like Jack Tyler at linebacker who is a good pass rusher and two interception machines in Kendall Fuller and Brandon Facyson. Hundley must make sure he is making smart decisions with the ball against this ball-hawking secondary, which will capitalize on mistakes. Virginia Tech will slow down UCLA's offense but can they get enough from Thomas and Edmunds to score enough of their own?
UCLA, 31 Virginia Tech, 27

Liberty Bowl: Rice vs. Mississippi State
Mississippi State waited until the last possible second to sneak into bowl eligibility, escaping rival Ole Miss in overtime in the Egg Bowl. Now, they get quite a challenge in the Liberty Bowl against a Rice team who is 10-3 and just won the Conference USA. The Owls success this year has been thanks to their dominant rushing attack that is led by senior back Charles Ross who had 1,252 yards in his final year with Rice. Senior quarterback Taylor McHargue has struggled to make the throws he made last year at times but still finished with 17 touchdowns and 2,261 yards. McHargue also proved that he could make plays with his legs as well, recording 466 yards on the year. McHargue is bound to make mistakes like any quarterback and Mississippi State is going to take advantage when he does. For years the Bulldogs have had a great secondary with guys like Jonathan Banks and that has not changed this year. Nickoe Whitley is a shutdown defensive back who had five picks this year and will look for some big plays. Mississippi State managed to still keep their season alive even when senior QB Tyler Russell went out for the year with a torn labrum. Sophomore Dak Prescott is likely to be healthy and start. Prescott is the Bulldogs' leading rusher and thrower combining for 2,408 on both this year. Junior receiver Jameon Lewis will be another playmaker for the Bulldogs and another threat Rice has to watch out for. Lewis is small standing at just 5'9" but has deep speed which helped him rack together 703 yards this season. If Mississippi State is up to the task of stopping Ross and they get some big plays on offense they could win this one. The more likely case scenario is that Rice escapes.
Rice, 24 Mississippi State, 14

Chick-fil-A Bowl: Duke vs. Texas A&M
It could be a sad day for Aggies fans as they could be watching the last games of both Mike Evans and Johnny Manziel, who have had two incredible years. Manziel had yet another historical season, recording 3,732 passing yards and 686 rushing yards. His connection with Evans has burned more than a few defensive backs this year. The junior has 1,322 yards this year, averaging 20 yards every catch. Duke hopes they have the cornerback that can stop him in senior Ross Cockrell who could be playing on Sundays. Duke offense hinges on a two quarterback system in juniors Anthony Boone and Brandon Connette. Boone has a big arm and is mobile but David Cutcliffe has given Connette the reigns of the offense at times because Boone is prone to mistakes. Boone had 10 touchdowns with 11 interceptions to go along with it, while Connette had 13 touchdowns to just 6 picks. No matter who is at quarterback we know their primary target. Junior receiver Jamison Crowder has 96 receptions and 1,197 yards this year, proving to be a deep threat. The ground attack is also split between Jela Duncan and junior Josh Snead. Both have great vision and are reliable for a couple of yards. They combined for over 1,000 yards this year. The Aggies' defense has been the issue for them this season, practically costing them games against Auburn and Alabama. The pass defense has been absolutely terrible and they lack a consistent pass rusher which they had in 2012 in Damontre Moore. Manziel, Evans and speedy back Ben Malena can put up a ton of points but Texas A&M isn't going to win this one unless the defense steps up.
Texas A&M, 38 Duke, 33

College Bowl Picks (Dec. 30th)

Armed Forces Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs. Navy
The Navy Midshipmen and their option-offense square off against a hot Middle Tennessee team who is led by senior quarterback Logan Kilgore. Kilgore has had a fantastic career with the Blue Raiders but has struggled at times this year. He still had 2,289 yards and 16 touchdowns, while completing over 60% of his passes. Middle Tennessee's offense has been great this year but their defense has been exposed constantly, especially against the run. Navy is led on the offensive end by sophomore QB Keenan Reynolds, who ran for 1,260 yards and threw for 1,038 more. Reynolds is extremely fast and actually has a very good arm for an option quarterback. The Midshipmen never need too much from their offense: their defense has only allowed 25.9 points per game, holding two of their last four opponents they faced to under 14. The Blue Raiders have a solid rush attack led by Jordan Parker and Reggie Whatley who ran for over 600 yards both and can be receivers out of the backfield for Kilgore. Navy has been of the more consistent college football programs this decade, recording 10 bowl appearances in 11 years, while Middle Tennessee hasn't made a bowl appearance in a couple years. Navy should get a lot of plays from Reynolds in this one, but even if they do, Kilgore and Middle Tennessee's offense can carry them to a win.
Middle Tennessee, 33 Navy, 27

Music City Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Georgia Tech
As inconsistent as they have been lately one thing has been constant for Ole Miss: winning bowl

Jeremiah Attaochu

games as they head for their sixth straight against the option-orientated Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Big things were expected for Ole Miss entering the year with a load of returning starters and a great recruiting class but the Rebels still managed just a 7-5 mark, going 3-5 in the SEC. Junior quarterback Bo Wallace has been great for the Rebels this season throwing for over 3,000 yards but also being a threat as a runner, rushing for a lot of yards in wins over Texas and Troy. Wallace isn't the only playmaker on the Rebels' offense, they also have receiver Donte Moncrief and speedy freshman Laquon Treadwell. Georgia Tech has a solid defense that is led by linebackers Jabari Hunt-Days and Jeremiah Attaochu. Their pass defense has been suspect at times as the little experience in it has hurt. The key for the Yellow Jackets will be trying to get their triple-option attack going and running smoothly. Sophomore quarterback Vad Lee has filled in nicely and runs the offense well. Georgia Tech has a number of good backs including fullback David Sims, who looks for a big way to end his career in a Yellow Jacket uniform, and quick and shifty Robert Godhigh. Godhigh is also Georgia Tech's leading receiver and can hurt defenses in a number of ways. Georgia Tech will not run the ball easily with the front seven of the Rebels as talented as it is. Ends Robert Nkemdiche and Channing Ward are disruptive, while Robert's brother, Denzel, is a sure tackler. This one is tough because if Ole Miss' offense struggles the way it did against Mississippi State, Georgia Tech can come away with a victory. If Wallace plays to his potential, expect Ole Miss to come out with their sixth straight bowl victory.
Ole Miss, 28 Georgia Tech, 20

Alamo Bowl: Oregon vs. Texas
Two of college football's best programs square off in an attempt to forget what has been a rough year for both. For much of the college football year it looked like the Ducks would challenge for a national title but then they struggled against Stanford. Another embarrassing loss to Arizona dropped them to 10-2 and without a shot at a BCS bowl appearance. Texas started off 1-2 with losses to Ole Miss and BYU before getting hot and wining seven straight until recently where they lost any chance at a Big 12 title by losing their last two. Oregon still has a scary offense led by sophomore Marcus Mariota, who has already announced he will stay at least another year after being a projected first round pick this spring. Mariota is also surrounded by powerful Byron Marshall and receiver Bralon Addison who is a special teams threat. It looked like disaster when Texas' starter David Ash went out for the year with concussions, but Case McCoy has filled in well. The senior has thrown for 1,885 yards and 11 touchdowns but he still continues to make mistakes, with 11 interceptions as well. The Longhorns' defense was terrible at the start of the year, and although it has improved it can still be an issue. Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Jackson Jeffcoat at a huge year at defensive end, recording 12 sacks and 21 tackles for loss this season. Mariota still has shown he will struggle when you put pressure in his face, which is why Jeffcoat is so important. Oregon will take out their frustration on this one as Mariota, Marshall, Addison and senior receiver Josh Huff should make plays all over the field.
Oregon, 42 Texas, 27

Holiday Bowl: Arizona State vs. Texas Tech
Although they were beaten pretty easily by Stanford in the Pac-12 Championship Game it has definitely been a breakthrough year for a rising Arizona State program. They definitely have a good chance to win their 11th game of the year against Texas Tech. The Red Raiders started off 7-0 and a Top 10 team but has really struggled when facing good opponents. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has announced he will transfer, meaning Texas Tech will rely on their other freshman quarterback, Davis Webb, who had as many passing yards this year as Mayfield. Arizona State will have their hands full trying to contain tight end Jace Amaro who has the speed of a receiver and the stats. Amaro had 98 receptions and 1,240 yards this year. The Sun Devils' offense has been explosive this year, led by junior quarterback Taylor Kelly and a number of other playmakers. Marion Grice didn't play in the Pac-12 Championship Game but when he is healthy is very dangerous. Receiver Jaelon Strong has come out for very strong in the second half of the year and has proven to be Kelly's favorite target. Kelly is a pretty unorthodox quarterback; his arm isn't fantastic and he is rough around the edges but their is no denying how strong of a year he has had. The Sun Devils will need a strong performance from their defense, that includes linemen Will Sutton and linebacker Carl Braford, to stop an inconsistent TTU offense.
Arizona State, 35 Texas Tech, 17

College Bowl Picks (Dec.28)

Pinstripe Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Rutgers
Considering their brutal schedule, high expectations and loss of QB Everett Golson just a couple

Tommy Rees

 months before their opening game, Notre Dame did pretty well to finish 8-4. They hope to finish this year on a high note in New York against another relative disappointment in Rutgers, who went 3-5 in a weak American Athletic, their last inside the conference. Senior quarterback Tommy Rees has been great since taking over for Golson. Rees threw for 27 touchdowns and 2,938 yards in his final year with the Fighting Irish much of those yards and touchdowns going to senior receiver T.J. Jones. Though, Rees did have 13 interceptions this year and still makes bad decisions at key points in games. There is an obvious reason why Rutgers did not have the success they are accustomed to this year. They were outscored, with opponents scoring 29.8 a game while scoring just 27.4. Their defensive struggles were due to a terrible pass defense which allowed 3,596 yards this year, worst in Scarlet Knights history. Stopping Rees, Jones and Davaris Daniels in the passing game will be a tough task so Rutgers needs some help from an inconsistent offense. Back Paul James started off 2013 flaming hot but struggled during Rutgers' three-game losing streak in the middle of the year. The X-factor, as usual for the Knights will be the QB position. Chas Dodd is likely to start over inconsistent junior Gary Nova but both have struggled with turnovers and getting the ball to Rutgers' playmakers. It won't help that Notre Dame will pressure them with massive linemen Louis Nix and end Stephon Tuitt.
Notre Dame, 28 Rutgers, 14

Belk Bowl: Cincinnati vs. UNC
Cincinnati will be playing in their second straight Belk Bowl and they hope they can have the luck they had last year when they stunned Duke in the final minute. Tommy Tuberville did a great job in his first year with the Bearcats using senior QB Brendon Kay to win 9 games. Kay took over early in the year for inconsistent but talented Munchie Legaux, and Cincy went on a roll. Kay was helped out by senior receiver Anthony McClung, who had 68 receptions for 908 yards in his final year of a pretty prolific career with the Bearcats. At the midpoint of the year it looked like UNC's bowl chances were nearly gone. The Tar Heels were 1-5 and then they were granted even tougher news when senior QB Bryn Renner went down a season-ending shoulder injury. Sophomore Marquise Williams took over for Renner and has done fantastic using his legs and big arm to finish 5-1 and nearly upset Duke. Williams is a load to handle for a lot of defenses because of his speed and ability to make acrobatic plays. He has a proven target to rely on in tight end Eric Ebron who looks like he could be a first or second round pick in the 2014 draft. Ebron has incredible speed for a tight end and has receivers hands. Both teams are riding a wave of momentum after some early struggles but Williams did go some big things to lead UNC to victory in another exciting game.
UNC, 30 Cincinnati, 27

Russell Athletic Bowl: Miami vs. Louisville
It is a homecoming for Louisville's junior QB Teddy Bridgewater, who grew up a Miami fan and nearly went there. Bridgewater become a huge name in college football after leading Louisville to a huge upset over Florida in last year's Sugar Bowl. Bridgewater and the Cards have had a great season, going 11-1 but have yet to have a signature win. It was a weird year for Miami who started off 7-0 but was hit by injuries and struggled to finish the year. Miami's quarterback, senior Stephen Morris, will hope for a grand finale to his career after throwing for 21 touchdowns this year. The 'Canes will  be without sophomore sensation Duke Johnson at back who broke his ankle. Morris will be looking constantly to explosive receiver Allen Hurns and still has Dallas Crawford to help on the ground game. Crawford is a solid back but Johnson's injury has really hurt Miami especially on third downs and other short yardage situations. Johnson was averaging over 6 yards a carry before he went down, Crawford is barely over 4 this year. Louisville's offense will look to feed on Miami's struggling defense which has been terrible the second half of the year. Bridgewater has a ton of options in the passing game including DeVante Parker and Damian Copeland which will look for big days. Louisville's defense has been solid this season led by defensive end Marcus Smith who is second in the nation in sacks with 12.5, including a 3 sack effort against Rutgers and 2.5 against UConn.

Daniel Sams

Louisville, 40 Miami, 27

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl: Kansas State vs. Michigan
Two teams desperate for a big bowl win square off in an even matchup in Tempe. Kansas State hasn't won a bowl in a decade, despite making two straight good ones, the Cotton Bowl in 2011 and the Fiesta last season. Michigan looks for a victory to cap another pretty disappointing year in Ann Arbor. Despite losing Denard Robinson, the Wolverines still were expected to be contenders, especially after knocking off Notre Dame in the Big House. But, they ended up 7-5, barely escaping over UConn and Akron and suffering a heartbreaker to intense rival Ohio State. Junior QB Devin Gardner is probably the most confusing quarterback in the nation. At times he looks like a star, like in their win over Notre Dame and against the Buckeyes but then he follows that up with a terrible showing like Akron. Kansas State has an enforcer in the secondary in senior safety Ty Zimmerman who will look for a couple big interceptions off Gardner. A thing to think about, Gardner has had a turf toe problem but is still likely to play over freshman Shane Morris. Kansas State's offense has definitely suffered without Collin Klein but the two-quarterback system of Daniel Sams and Jake Waters has worked for the Wildcats. Waters has a big arm and has shown great leadership while Sams is a speedy dual threat. Back John Hubert has been a reliable source for a yardage, using his agility to burst off big gains. Hubert is tiny, standing at 5-7, meaning that he is extremely difficult to get your hands on. The priority for linebacker Jake Ryan and Michigan's defense will be stopping Sams and Hubert on the ground, while Kansas State must shut down the passing game. Receiver Jeremy Gallon is a game-changer and is always there for a couple big plays. These two teams have never played each other. Expect Kansas State to end their bowl drought in a close one if they can contain Gallon.
Kansas State, 34 Michigan, 28

College Bowl Picks (Dec. 24-Dec.27)

Hawaii Bowl: Boise State vs. Oregon State

The Hawaii Bowl is always a treat an that will not change this year. Although both Boise and Oregon St. were pretty disappointing both had numerous high points and low points this season. Boise had one of their worst years in recent memory, going 8-4 and losing by 32 to Washington. Chris Petersen took the opportunity to ditch farther west to Washington and Boise hired Arkansas State's Bryan Harsin. Harsin and the Broncos will rely heavily on sophomore back Jay Ajayi, who has ran for 1,328 yards, averaging nearly 6 yards a carry. Senior quarterback Joe Southwick is expected to play after missing a lot of time with a broken ankle. But, he will have his work cut out for him against the Oregon State secondary and cornerback Rashaad Reynolds. The Boise defense will have its work cut out trying to stop the lethal combination of QB Sean Mannion and receiver Brandin Cooks. Mannion's start to the season was crazy but he has cooled off a lot lately, throwing 11 interceptions in the past five games. Boise's secondary is young and still inexperienced meaning Mannion and Cooks could embarrass them. It is a new era for Boise football without Chris Petersen. Unless Ajayi can carry them to victory they will have another pretty new thing: losing bowl games (they have won 4 straight).
Oregon State, 34 Boise State, 28

Little Caesars Bowl: Pitt vs. Bowling Green

Matt Johnson

It has been one heck of a year for QB Matt Johnson and the Bowling Green Falcons and they hope to

cap it all off with a victory over 6-6 Pitt at Ford Field. On December 6th, the Falcons spoiled Northern Illinois' perfect season, thanks to a fantastic showing by Johnson and the defense. The win was one of the biggest in school history and it helped them improve to 10-3. Unfortunately, head coach Dave Clawson used that opportunity to move to Wake, meaning former special teams coordinator Adam Scheier will take over the helm. NIU struggled to contain the mobile Johnson but they didn't have Aaron Donald. The massive linemen has been fantastic this year for Pitt, recording 10 sacks and won the Outland Trophy, Nagurski award, Lombardi Award and Bednarik Award to end his senior season with the Panthers. Pitt has had a decent year on the offensive end, helped out by Rutgers transfer Tom Savage at quarterback. He had 2,834 yards and 21 touchdowns this year, much of them to receivers Devin Street and Tyler Boyd. Though, a huge issue for Pitt has been keeping him from getting sacked, he had been sacked 41 times this year. Bowling Green has an aggressive defense that could exploit that issue. The Falcons only allow 14.8 points per game and could really hold Pitt from doing much.

Bowling Green, 24 Pitt, 15

Poinsettia Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Utah State
Northern Illinois hopes to recover from a tough MAC Championship loss to Bowling Green against Utah State and hopes to set a school-record for wins in a season. Senior Jordan Lynch had an amazing senior season, passing for 2,676 yards and rushing for 1,881 more. Though, he struggled against the best defense he has seen this year against Bowling Green. It is actually amazing that Utah State managed to get to the Mountain West Championship game and this bowl game. They were 3-4 when dual threat QB Chuckie Keeton went down with a season-ending injury but freshman Darrell Garretson was fantastic in his absence. The tough news for the Aggies is that he could be out as well after getting hit in the Fresno State matchup. If he can't play Utah State will rely even more on senior back Joey DeMartino to help the offense move. Containing Lynch has proven to be one heck of a challenge but Bowling Green managed it and Utah State could as well. The Aggies are only allowing 17.3 points per game on the defensive end and their rush defense is one of the better in the nation. It will be a clash between the Huskies who are averaging nearly 43 points  a game this year and this Aggies' defense. The key is Lynch: if stopped, this offense doesn't look very good at all and the defense is average. But if he isn't Northern Illinois could win their 13th game of the year.

Northern Illinois, 38 Utah State, 24

Military Bowl: Marshall vs. Maryland

After a 4-0 start it looked like big things were coming for Maryland but after getting beat down by Florida State 63-0, the Terrapins struggled through their ACC schedule, going 3-5 in the conference. Sophomore receiver Stefon Diggs was lost for the year against Virginia and the Terps will miss him a ton, they needed him to hang with Marshall's high-octane attack. Senior QB C.J. Brown has struggled with injuries this year but when healthy he is a great leader. Brown has an accurate arm and also can help extend plays with his legs. Marshall has been great this year and much of that can be credited towards senior quarterback Rakeem Cato and their passing attack. Cato has thrown for 36 touchdowns and 3,579 yards, distributing the ball to athletes down the field like Gator Hoskins and junior receiver Tommy Shuler. Junior linebacker Cole Farrand is a tackling machine, including 23 in their loss to Clemson. They will need him to also get pressure on Cato, who will make mistakes when the defense is in his face. Maryland does have one key advantage over Cato and the Herd, they basically have home-field in this matchup. This one will be played in Annapolis, Maryland and the Terrapins' fan base will be excited to see them in a bowl game after two straight dismal years under Randy Edsall previously. Even with that it is going to be awfully hard to slow down the Herd's offense even if Brown is healthy and ready to play and back Brandon Ross plays well.
Marshall, 44 Maryland, 27

Texas Bowl: Minnesota vs. Syracuse
It has been a surprising year for Minnesota, who went 8-4 and won 4 straight conferences games for the first time in three decades. They hope to cap things off nicely against Syracuse, who had a solid first year in the ACC. These teams are pretty similar on offense, both lean heavily on their ground games with Minnesota using David Cobb and the Orange using Jerome Smith. The Gophers hope that their two-quarterback system of sophomore Phillip Nelson and redshirt freshman Mitch Leidner can produce. In wins, the offense has looked pretty good, against Nebraska and Penn State but in some losses it has looked dismal, like their Big Ten-opening loss to Iowa. In order for Syracuse to hang Smith must be a monster and their defense must contain Cobb. Head coach Scott Shafer really needs Terrell Hunt to continue to mature. Minnesota's defense has shown real signs of improvement. Defensive tackle Ra'Shede Hageman has been a beast all year and has been rising up a lot of draft boards. Based on their recent bowl struggles, it might be wise to pick against Minnesota in this one, even if they look a lot better on paper. But, I think that they have the talent on this roster to finish off 9-4.
Minnesota, 21 Syracuse, 12

Fight Hunger Bowl: BYU vs. Washington
Expect a lot of offensive fireworks as two teams that love to score and get off as much plays as possible square off in San Francisco. Washington will have a ton of issues trying to stop sophomore quarterback Taysom Hill and back Jamaal Williams. Hill has run crazy against some big teams including Texas and the Huskies could be next. If they can find their passing game with Cody Hoffman, the Cougars could really put some points on the board. The Huskies have their fair share of offensive playmakers including junior back Bishop Sankey and senior QB Keith Price who looks to end his fantastic career with Washington with a bang. It won't just be these two teams chucking the ball all over the field. The Cougars have senior linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who had a fantastic showing in BYU's bowl game last season and should put some pressure on Price off the edge. Although their offensive line has improved, the Huskies still have not helped Price out enough, struggling to protect him. It will be key for Washington to slow down BYU: Cougars' head coach Bronco Mendenhall is 73-8 when his teams score 24 or more. This one could well be a shootout and a couple of key turnovers or plays on special teams could decide this one.
Washington, 45 BYU, 40
 

College Bowl Picks (Dec. 21-Dec. 23)

New Mexico Bowl: Colorado State vs. Washington State

Connor Halliday

Two programs that have struggled over the past couple of years (Colorado St.hasn't been in a bowl game since 2008, WSU in a decade) will square off an interesting New Mexico Bowl. Both of these teams have strong offenses that average over 400 yards a game. How they get that amount is a lot different. The Cougars are a pass-first team that is led by junior QB Connor Halliday who set records earlier this year for pass attempts and completions in a single game. Meanwhile, the Rams use back Kapri Bibbs and a strong ground attack to beat teams up. Colorado State is much more balanced than Washington State, they also boast a great QB in Garrett Grayson, who has thrown for 3,327 yards this season. In order to stop the balance that Colorado State brings to the table, the Cougars need some big plays from cornerback Damontre Horton or somebody else on this defense. When the Cougars offense is clicking it is one of the nation's funnest to watch but turnovers could still plague Washington State. Mike Leach will have his team pumped up and ready to play, which they will need to be against the Rams.
Washington State, 34 Colorado State, 30

Las Vegas Bowl: Fresno State vs. USC

Derek Carr

For Fresno, this doesn't look anywhere close to as attractive as a BCS bowl, which they had a chance at, but beating a program with as much recognition as USC would be huge. Senior QB Derek Carr is ready for his grand finale, after a great 2013 that included 48 touchdowns and 4,866 yards. Much of his success should be credited to sophomore Davante Adams, one of the nation's best playmakers. The speedster had 122 receptions, 1,645 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns this year. The Trojans year completely changed when Lane Kiffin was fired and Ed Orgeron took his place. USC went 7-2 under Orgeron, including a victory over No. 4 Stanford. Though, USC ended up hiring Washington's Steve Sarkisian and Orgeron resigned. Sophomore QB Cody Kessler played fantastic under Coach O, but it will be interesting to see what he will do without that leadership. Kessler is surrounded by a number of playmakers like back Tre Madden and receiver Nelson Agholor, who is also a monster in special teams. A lot of pressure will be on the offense, but the defense must step up to stop Fresno, who averaged over 45 points a game this season. Senior linebacker Devon Kennard who has had 9 sacks this year will apply pressure on Carr and will hope that someone like freshman Su'a Cravens can cause some turnovers and hang with the speed of the Bulldogs. Motivation will be key for USC and stopping Carr will be very tough.
Fresno State, 41 USC, 24

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Buffalo vs. San Diego State
The hot Buffalo Bulls enter this one with a lot of momentum against the San Diego State Aztecs. The 8-4 Bulls are led by senior back Branden Oliver who has ran for 1,421 yards and 15 touchdowns. Oliver is a load for any defense, he has decent speed but is dominant through the tackles and has great vision. The play of quarterback Joe Licata has been big for Buffalo, who lacked a consistent pass offense last year. The offense for San Diego St. also relies heavily on the ground game, with junior Adam Muema, who has 12 touchdowns in 2013. QB Quinn Kaehler has been efficient this year and is an accurate passer and has a true talent to work with in receiver Ezell Ruffin. The Aztecs' offense is decent but it will be tested by rangy linebacker Khalil Mack. The NFL prospect is a sure tackler that can also sneak into opponents' backfields and wreak havoc. San Diego State started off 0-3 and has played well since then but still has an issue on defense where they are still allowing 32.3 points per game, 97th in the nation. Another thing to consider: San Diego State is used to playing in the warm weather of San Diego, not the chilly Boise weather in December.
Buffalo, 31 San Diego State, 17

New Orleans Bowl: Tulane vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
A Tulane program that had been floundering for years had a breakthrough 2013 thanks to a strong defense and good play at QB from Joe Montana's son, Nick. The 7-5 Green Wave also possess one of the nation's most underrated players in senior Ryan Grant. Grant had 70 receptions and 926 yards, constantly stretching the field for back Orleans Darkwa pounding the ball between the tackles. Darkwa, another senior, isn't an explosive runner but is a workhorse who is good for a couple yards. Lafayette looks to turn things around after two straight losses to weak Sun Belt teams, UL-Monroe and South Alabama. They still have an offense that has the pieces to score in bunches, led by dual threat QB Terrance Broadway and powerful junior back Alonzo Harris, who is a beast in the red zone recording 13 touchdowns. The issue for the Ragin' Cajuns has been turnovers and a defense that has struggled to be consistent this year.
Louisiana-Lafayette, 27 Tulane, 20

Beef O' Brady's Bowl: Ohio vs. East Carolina
One of the nation's most explosive offenses in the nation looks to get East Carolina to the double-digit win total. The Pirates are led by junior quarterback Shane Carden who has monster statistics. Carden has 3,866 passing yards and 32 touchdowns, distributing the ball to a number of playmakers that include Justin Hardy and back Vintavious Cooper. East Carolina is going to pass the ball a lot but Cooper has been fantastic on the ground, averaging nearly five yards a carry. Ohio meanwhile has been solid thanks to an experienced backfield led by Tyler Tettleton at QB and powerful bruiser Beau Blankenship. Ohio's offense has been suspect at times but their defense has been solid, especially their pass defense. Cornerback Travis Carrie has had four interceptions this year and will need a big day to shutdown Hardy. Forcing turnovers will be very important for Ohio, especially if their offense struggles against a decent East Carolina defense. Ohio is always a pretty safe pick, they have proven they can win big games and this will be their sixth consecutive appearance. But, stopping East Carolina has proven to be an extremely difficult task, and I don't think the Bobcats are up to it.
East Carolina, 35 Ohio, 21

College Football Week 15 Picks

SEC Championship: Missouri vs. Auburn
It is truly amazing that these two teams somehow ended up in this pivotal game. Last season, both of

James Franklin

these Tigers' teams went a combined 8-16, with Auburn faltering to a 3-9 mark and Missouri to a 5-7. And this year hasn't been easy, Auburn needed two miracle plays to beat both Georgia and Alabama and Missouri needed some dazzling performances from backup QB Maty Mauk to win the East. Now, the winner of this hopes they can impress people enough to jump Ohio State into the national championship game. Auburn continues to pound teams on the ground, they ran for 296 yards against Alabama's great rush defense. Junior QB Nick Marshall and Tre Mason both receive a ton of credit as well as the offensive line. Don't underestimate Missouri's defense, it is disciplined and has a monster of a pass rusher in defensive end Michael Sam. Auburn will have to continue to explore through the air where they have been decent this season. Marshall has been decent with his arm but in order to convert on third downs they cannot be one-dimensional. Receiver Sammie Coates could be a huge threat in the play-action pass game. Auburn must account for Missouri's James Franklin who has been lethal when healthy this year. The senior can run the offense smoothly and is a dual threat. Big play threats Dorial-Green Beckham and L'Damian Washington could spell big trouble for Auburn's average secondary. Both teams could pound it on the ground and end up winning this one but like a lot of Auburn's games it could be decided by one crazy play. One that could swing Auburn into the national championship game.
Auburn, 31 Missouri, 30

Big Ten Championship: Ohio State vs. Michigan State
The nation's stingiest defense, Michigan State, hopes that they can be the first team in the Urban Meyer era to snap Ohio State's 24-game streak. It won't be easy going up against junior Braxton Miller and the speedy Buckeyes' offense. Miller is very dangerous with his legs; unfortunately Michigan State is very good at containing speedy players. The Spartans' defense is constantly disrupting backfields and Miller needs some help from Devon Smith and his receivers down the field. If Michigan State can hold the Buckeyes their offense should be able to get the job done. Ohio State has been very exposed on the ground this year and Michigan State possesses a great ground threat in Jeremy Langford. Quarterback Connor Cook has thrown 17 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions this year after taking over for the struggling Andrew Maxwell. Cook has been efficient and now has a ton of experience underneath his belt. Receivers Bennie Fowler and Tony Lippett should help stretch the field and open up the ground game, though watch out for junior cornerback Bradley Roby who can shutdown receivers. Ohio State allowed 603 total yards to a spotty Michigan offense. Even if they can find weaknesses against the Spartan defense, their defense should cost them a spot at the national championship game.
Michigan State, 27 Ohio State, 24

Pac-12 Championship: Stanford vs. Arizona State
Well the ACC, Big Ten and SEC Championship games could all be big and decide the title chase, this one should still provide some excitement. Senior back Tyler Gaffney and the psychical Stanford Cardinal travel to Tempe to take on an Arizona State team they beat by two touchdowns earlier this year. They beat the Sun Devils by running the ball over the Sun Devils with power and shutting down an explosive ASU offense. Junior linebacker Carl Bradford will lead the aggressive Sun Devils' defense which hopes it can slow down Gaffney and get pressure on Kevin Hogan. Although Stanford doesn't lean too much on the pass, when the air attack does struggle or turns the ball over, Stanford's offense isn't very effective, like many. Arizona State didn't move the ball that well against Stanford last time but they are much better now. QB Taylor Kelly is a proven dual threat who can give defenses headaches at times but still can be inconsistent as well. Arizona State has a plethora of playmakers surrounding Kelly that should test Stanford. This includes agile back Marion Grice and dependable receiver Jaelen Strong, a 1,000 yard receiver.

Other Picks
ACC Championship: Florida State, 42 Duke, 27
MAC Championship: Northern Illinois, 38 Bowling Green, 35
Mountain West Championship: Fresno State, 34 Utah State, 20
C-USA Championship: Rice, 45 Marshall, 42
6 Oklahoma State, 41 17 Oklahoma, 31
Current Picks Record: 81-31

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

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 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

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 Football Week Ten Picks

3 Florida State vs. 7 Miami
One of the greatest rivalries in college football will have a new chapter after both undefeated teams meet in Tallahassee. The Seminoles have been very impressive this season, sitting at 7-0 and with impressive wins over Clemson and Maryland. But, they have to stop Miami and their explosive offense led by sophomore back Duke Johnson and senior QB Stephen Morris. Miami's defense has been solid this year and has played well in big situations. But, they also have a tough task of their own, trying to hold "Famous Jameis", redshirt freshman QB Jameis Winston, who is likely the Heisman frontrunner, and the rest of the 'Noles' offense. Winston played great against Clemson but this Miami defense can force turnovers. Along with tight end Nick O'Leary to throw too and a rush defense that they can rely on if Winston struggles Florida State could put up a lot of points over the 'Canes. Miami is a big underdog in this one, even if it is a Top 10 battle, but if Morris plays smart and the defense can make big plays, they still have a chance.
Florida State, 41 Miami, 28

Davis Webb

15 Texas Tech vs. 18 Oklahoma State
Even though they did lose to Oklahoma last week to ruin their undefeated mark, Texas Tech still played well and proved they are a proven threat in the Big 12. First-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury's offense still has issues with turnovers but their defense has been surprisingly solid so far this year and will play hard. On the other side of the equation, Oklahoma State may be 6-1, but this year has been a little bit of a disappointment. Their offense has been the old Oklahoma State at times, but turnovers can be an issue and they are inconsistent. Their defense has played well but it hasn't really seen an offense like the Red Raiders'. The key in this one will be quarterback play, like a lot of Big 12 matchups. Texas Tech uses a two-quarterback system with Davis Webb and Baker Mayfield while the Cowboys have a dual threat in J.W. Walsh. If they play well they should give their respective teams an advantage. This one could well turn into a typical Big 12 game; a whole lot of scoring and both teams throwing the ball all over the place. If it does I'm leaning towards Texas Tech.
Texas Tech, 51 Oklahoma State, 40

21 Michigan vs. 22 Michigan State
The Big Ten Legends Division could be decided in this rivalry battle. Although they both hail from the same state these two teams have been polar opposites this season. Michigan has relied on a great passing attack that includes a number of field-stretchers, while Michigan State has managed their 7-1 start thanks to the best defense in the Big Ten. Michigan has been very confusing; that win over Notre Dame seemed pretty legit but then they followed that up with close wins over Akron and UConn. Devin Gardner has been very inconsistent but when he is smart and reads defenses the way he should, he been be great, like when they scored 63 in their victory over Indiana. The Spartans have a great defense that can put pressure on the quarterback and is disciplined but even they could have some issues in containing electric wide receiver Jeremy Gallon. Michigan's defense has been questionable at times this year and it appears Michigan State has finally found a way to move the ball in junior back Jeremy Langford, who has 655 yards and 9 touchdowns this season. Earlier in the year I would go with Michigan but I like the Spartans a lot more now that they have found Langford.
Michigan State, 28 Michigan, 24

Other Picks
24 Wisconsin, 35 Iowa, 20
14 South Carolina, 31 Mississippi State, 18
9 Missouri, 27 Tennessee, 17
11 Auburn, 33 Arkansas, 14
Georgia, 38 Florida, 31
Current Picks Record: 51-21