College Football: Week 13

Well, I don't know about you but I am really excited for this week in college football. There are a couple rivalries, some great conference showdowns, and one game that really impacts the BCS title game picture. And for mid-November, the temperatures may be getting colder but trust me, the college football season is just heating up.

It was a great prediction week for me, going 13-2. But it was such a bad week of games so picking them wasn't all that hard. But this week is going to be tougher. And it all starts with the obvious game of the week.

TOP 15 GAMES

GAME OF THE WEEK
1. #2 Texas Tech @ #5 Oklahoma - Doesn't get much better than this. Two of the best offenses in the nation taking on each other in a game with huge BCS title implications. If Tech wins, they clinch the Big 12 South. If the Sooners pull off the "upset", they turn the title picture upside down. Both teams average more than 47 PPG and both defenses give up more than 21 PPG, so expect a bunch points to be scored. I'm really torn on this one. I just can't wait to see it. It's in Norman and that may be the difference. I'll pick OKLAHOMA but don't care either way.

REST OF THE BEST
2. #16 BYU @ #8 Utah - Another game with big implications. If Utah wins, they will have pretty much punched their ticket to a BCS bowl game. A BYU upset brings in Ball State and Boise State into the discussion. Both teams have had this one circled since day one. Both are great teams and have shown that all season. I really think BYU is the more talented team but Utah has been winning the close games as of late. I see the same happening this week. UTAH wins and will be bowling in January.

3. #14 Ball State @ Central Michigan (WED) - Yes, this deserves to be talked about. Both team unbeaten in the MAC, and the winner probably heading to the MAC Championship. Obviously, stakes are higher for the Cardinals, who at 10-0 are 3 wins away from a possible BCS game, which would be the first for the MAC. The fun matchup for this game is the QB matchup. Nate Davis of BSU vs. Dan LeFevour of CMU. These QBs alone may begin a second wave of great MAC QBs in the NFL. Another toss-up pick for me but I'll go with BALL STATE to stay perfect.

4. #17 Michigan State @ #7 Penn State - Big game in the Big Ten. MSU has snuck under the radar all season. Only two losses are a 7-pt loss to Cal in Week 1 and the 45-7 stomping to OSU. But they are still 9-2 and capable of beating PSU. Lot on the line for the Nittany Lions. A win clinches the Rose Bowl and keeps slim national title hopes alive. A loss sends them to the Capital One or Outback Bowl, which would be a big disappointment. I like MSU to play better than they did against OSU but PENN STATE wins the game and will head to Pasadena.

5. #20 Pittsburgh @ #19 Cincinnati - Yet another matchup of two ranked teams and this one may decide who will represent the Big East in the BCS. If Cincy wins, all they have to do is beat lowly Syracuse and they are Big East champs. Pitt still has WVU on the schedule but a road win over Cincy at least lets them control their destiny. Cincy is perfect at home but this is by far their toughest test yet. I picked Pitt to win the Big East in the preseason but things change. I'm going with CINCINNATI and mad props to Brian Kelly for getting his team this far.

6. #21 Oregon State @ Arizona - The big storyline in this game is that an Oregon State win here and against rival Oregon next week gives them the Pac-10 title and possibly depriving USC of a BCS bowl game. A loss though just takes them out of the ntaional spotlight. Arizona has been a disappointment this season, unable to win the close game. If there were ever a time to win a big one, this is it. But I like OREGON STATE to get the job done on the road.

7. Michigan @ #10 Ohio State - It's been a few years since this game really wasn't a big deal. And while it is always important in Columbus and Ann Arbor, anywhere else it's just a rivalry game that doesn't deserve its hype this season. Michigan has been downright awful in Richie Rod's first season but we all saw it coming. Maybe not this bad, but bad. Meanwhile for OSU, this should be another satisfying win over the boys up North and the first of hopefully 3 wins over Michigan for Terrelle Pryor. OHIO STATE wins on senior day and all but clinches their BCS bowl game via at-large. Buckeyes 41-13

8. #23 Miami (FL) @ Georgia Tech (THU) - Not a bad Thursday nighter this week. Randy Shannon has done a great job with this Miami squad and has them oh so close to a ACC Coastal Division championship. But GT and 3 others are still in the hunt, just one game back. That's right, 4 teams. The ACC's best overall record is 7-3 and the worst is 4-6. Talk about mediocre. Anyways, Josh Nesbitt's health is a key factor in whether or not GT wins. If he is healthy and plays, then in my APPY pick, GEORGIA TECH wins., If Nesbitt is hurt, then this becomes a toss-up.

9. West Virginia @ Louisville - Neither are ranked but for the Big East, this is big because a WVU wins keeps them tied with Cincy and Pitt. WVU is rooting for Pitt to win because WVU has already lost to Cincy, giving them the tiebreaker. But WVU better take care of business themselves. L'Ville has lost 3 in a row but hung tough with Cincy last week. I'm picking WEST VIRGINIA.

10. Florida State @ #22 Maryland - Another ACC matchup of two teams that have been jumping in and out of the Top 25. FSU looked to be firmly in but have dropped two of the last 3. Meanwhile, MD is fresh off an upset of UNC. But MD has been terrible when they've been ranked while FSU has been better when unranked. Gimme FLORIDA STATE to nab the win.

11. #9 Boise State @ Nevada - This may not look like a big game but it is. A Utah loss but BSU in the driver's seat for a BCS bowl. Not to mention also last year, these two teams took part in a 59-57 thriller in Boise with the Broncos prevailing. So despite the fact that Boise State is the overwhelming favorite, expect this one to be close. BOISE STATE will probably win though.

12. Boston College @ Wake Forest - Just another ACC matchup and like the others, impacts the division race. Both need a Maryland loss to get back in the race but a loss knocks both out of it. I don't like how Wake has looked this season so I'll go with BOSTON COLLEGE.

13. Stanford @ California - Yes, neither are ranked and neither is going for a conference championship. But Stanford is one win away from bowl eligibility and considering just two years ago, they went 1-11, it's pretty darn impressive. And you know what, with a bowl game on the line, I'm going with STANFORD.

14. Iowa @ Minnesota - A couple of 7-4 teams hoping to end their season on a good note. Iowa has won 4 of 5, including the huge upset of PSU. Meanwhile, after a 7-1 start, Minny has lost 3 in a row and gone from New Year's Day bowl to possibly the Motor City bowl. Yikes. I know they are on the road but IOWA should win this game.

15. Washington @ Washington State - It's been bad in the state of Washington lately. The Sonics moved out. The Mariners lost 100 games despite a $100 million payroll (first time ever). The Seahawks have just 2 wins. And their two D-1 schools have combined for one win this season. But if there is a bright side, it's that they will double that total after this week. Washington comes into this one winless and this is Ty Willingham's last chance to win before he heads out. Meanwhile, Washington State has just been horrendous since the Ryan Leaf days. Thankfully, they have a good basketball team. They call this rivalry game the "Apple Cup". Well, this year, it's rotten. NO ONE wins in the end but WASHINGTON wins the game for their coach.

TEAMS I LOVE (OR ACT LIKE I LOVE)
Akron @ Ohio - It's senior day for the Bobcats so the emotions will be high for the players. But they won't be high for the fans that are seniors. They won't even be there. The last day of the quarter is Friday and something tells me, not many are gonna stay to watch a 2-8 team try to win the final game in Peden. It doesn't help either that Akron is a pretty good team too. I hate to say it but AKRON wins and OU hopes to get win #3 in Oxford. Zips 30-14

BONUS PREDICTION!
MLS CUP 2008: Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls - It's not football but it's futbol! The Crew have been the bets team in the MLS all season. The Red Bulls barely made the playoffs but may be the hottest team right now. I'm not gonna act like an expert on soccer here. I just wanna throw some hometown love to the Crew. COLUMBUS WINS 3-1