Week 12 Predictions

So.... by  now everyone has heard about the scandal.  I'm in disbelief as well. Why would Kim arrange a marriage just for her TV show?  Why would her soon to be Ex Kris Humphries blow the lid off of it by saying it was all a sham?  And if it was an arranged marriage for a show, why was Kris Humphries the best NBA player she could get?  Wasn't she dating Reggie Bush? And then she goes to the hardwood, and can only get Kris Humphries?  Back in the day, Shawn Kemp would've volunteered for this gig. If she had just waited a year, she could've had her pick of unemployed NBA players. Does Ray Lewis think the crime rate will rise during the NBA lockout?

So this is what it's come too.  I've been reduced to talking about the Kardashian's. Ugh.

If I sink any lower, Dante will need to add more levels to his Inferno. 

Fortunately, there is some other news in college football this week! No, seriously, there is. 

Now that the conference carousel has slowed down, it's time for the coaching carousel to start up:

Gone, Baby, Gone: The yearly round of musical coaching chairs has started early this year.  Houston Nutt is out at Ole Miss. Bob Toledo is a goner at Tulane. Howard Schnellenberger is retiring from Florida Atlantic. Fickell is not getting a full time gig at OSU.  That job is going to Urban Meyer in what is widely considered the worst kept secret in college football. 

And at Penn State, they are making preparations to become the new Yucca Mountain.  Japanese scientists from Fukajima will most likely be part of the next coaching staff.  Citizens of Chernobyl .  The residents of Harrisburg have been advised to remain in doors when the wind is blowing from north to south.  Al Jazeera has been running reports about a dirty bomb going off in State College. And based on the media reports, most people would support the Al Jazeera report. The way PSU has handled this scandal thus far, they may as well hire Casey Anthony as the new AD and Conrad Murray as team doctor.  I was trying to work in Sheen & Lohan too, but I'm not that witty. 

It's Getting Hot in Here: Rick Nueheisal's seat is nice & toasty at UCLA.  Ron Zook always seems to be on the hot seat approximately 5 years after he is hired.  His timing is impeccable. It's a new regime in Gainesville, but Muschamp & Weiss are already feeling the heat & humidity of Florida.  Dennis Erickson doesn't have to deal with the humidity, but that dry desert heat is certainly getting warmer.  And last but not least, Mike Sherman may not last another 8 seconds on the A&M bull. 

And now.... on to Week 12:

#1 LSU @ Ole Miss - The Rebels rebelled and ousted Nutt from their confederacy.  The Tigers continue to roll towards a rematch against 'Bama in the national title game.  LSU still must beat #6 Arkansas next week and then win the SEC championship game, so their inclusion in the SEC National Title Game is not a given. This week is just a tune up.  35 - 10 Tigers.

#2 Cowboys @ Cyclones - This game is being played as I type.  The 'Boys were up 49-0 at the HALF last week against Tx Tech.  They cruised to a 66-6 win.  This week they are only up 17-7 at the half.  Clearly the 'Boys unloaded their six shooters on the Red Raiders last week.  They are far from firing blanks though.  Next week brings the Sooners to town, so it's very possible they are looking ahead.  The Cyclones are playing much better than anyone anticipated this year, but, they play in Iowa, so nobody has really noticed.  I can see the Cyclones ruining the Cowboys party.  34-31 ISU! 

GA Southern @ #3 'Bama - GA Southern, the baby program in college football, is 9-1.  Their only loss?  That pesky Appalachian State team.  'Bama is also 9-1, their only loss to LSU.  So technically this is a battle of two 9-1 teams.  But realistically, this one will get uglier than a Kardashian without makeup.  56 - 0 Roll Tide.

USC @ #4 Oregon - Oregon is the other team who's only loss has been to #1 LSU.  The Ducks kept their Pac 12 title hopes alive last week by beating previously unbeaten Stanford.  That status of USC's star WR Robert Woods is up in the air this week. Woods is suffering from a sprained ankle & separated shoulder.  This game is going to be a good one in Eugene.  Ducks 41-Trojans 35 in OT. 

#5 OU @ #22 Baylor - The Bears return to the Top 25 after escaping Kansas by 1 point in OT last week.  The Sooners have been rolling since losing to Tx Tech.  RGIII will make this game interesting.  The Sooners are also playing without their starting RB Whaley and All American WR Broyles.  This one will be a shoot out.  37-34 Sooners.

Bulldogs @ #6 Arkansas - The Bulldogs played tought against 'Bama last week losing 24-7.  The Razorbacks only loss this year was to 'Bama and they've been fairly consistent since.  I can see this one being a close one right to the end.  Razorbacks 31 - 28.

#7 Clemson @ NC State - The Tigers got back into the win column after proving me right against GA Tech a few weeks ago.  NC State is ... I don't know, I haven't watched them all year.  I still say the Tigers are over rated though.  31-24 Clemson. 

Tar Heels @ #8 Va Tech - Va Tech pulled this one out 24-21 on Thursday night.

Cal @ #9 Stanford - Rivalry alert!! Everyone knows the highlight of one of the most famous bands in all of college football.  Did you know they've played this game every year since and nobody outside of NoCal has cared?  How good of a coach must Jim Harbaugh be?  He took Stanford from a great academic school with a football team, to a great academic school with a great football team.  Notre Dame must be so envious. And now, he has the moribund 49er's sitting at 8-1 in the NFC!  He's made Alex Smith look like a quality NFL QB.  The guy is nothing short of amazing.  As for Cal, I should add Tedford's name to the hot seat list.  Andrew Luck looks like he's heading to Indianapolis next year.  49-17 Stanford.

#10 Boise @ SDSU - Boise is off the BCS bubble.  After their loss to TCU last week, Boise has next to no shot at the BCS now.  Will that cause Boise to join the Big East in order to secure that auto bid?  Did anyone think 10 years ago we'd ever be talking about Boise State as a national title contender?  It's amazing what one game can do for a program.  That Boise v. OU game is still an all time classic. Boise rebounds with a win against Brady Hoke's former team.  41-17.

SMU @ #11 Houston - A battle of spread teams!  Kevin Sumlin has become a hot name on the coaching carousel this year.  With the graduation of Case Keenum this year, Sumlin will never be hotter coaching prospect than he is now, and may not ever find another Case Keenum.  I expect him to jump at a BCS job sometime during the off season.  Houston still has an outside chance at a BCS spot, just like Charlie Weiss has a shot at winning the Boston Marathon. 

The Citadel @ #12 USCe - Scandal ridden Citadel (I bet you didn't know they had their own child abuse scandal this week did you!?) take on the Gamecocks. The Citadel coverup may mean the death penalty for their program.  Just kidding!  They'd need to have a legendary coach and big time program for people to be calling for that kind of punishment. The Ole' Ball Coach has somehow held this team together after losing it's starting QB & RB this year. 56-6 Gamecocks.

#13 K State @ #22 K-State - K State won a thriller in 4 OT's against A&M last week, ending their two game losing streak.  The 'Horns offense scored 5 points last week.  That's tough to do.  Their offense is struggling mightily this year.  Could Mack Brown's seat be getting a little warm in Austin?  I have a feeling this may be a blowout in little Manhattan.  K-State 34 - 'Horns 21.

Kentucky @ #14 Georgia - The Dawgs are still in the hunt for a spot in the SEC title game.  Kentucky is happy that it's basketball season.  27-13 Dawgs.

Hoosiers @ #15 Sparty - Sparty has two very winnable games left and will wrap up a spot in the inaugural Big Ten Championship game. The Hoosiers are happy it's.... only 5 weeks until Christmas break?  Sparty 45-17.

#16 Huskers @ #18 Wolverines - the Huskers held off a PSU rally last week to win an ugly game in Happy Valley 17-14.  The Wolverines disposed of the Fightin' Zookers fairly easily last week.  This is going to be a battle of which QB likes to run more.  Martinez may have the worst mechanics of anyone this side of Tebow.  Denard Robinson is the ultimate Wildcat QB, but as a friend pointed out to me this week, a Wildcat QB is a change of pace QB, and hence, by definition, there can never be a starting QB that is a Wildcat QB.  Touche!  So I will now refer to him as a Wolverine QB.  Does that work?  The Huskers run that annoying read option that requires discipline on D to defend.  This one will come down to which team has the ball last.  44-37 Wolverines.

#17 Badgers @ Illinois - The Illini have gone from 6-0 to 6-4.  That will be 6-5 after this weekend.  The Badgers just have too much on offense for the Illini.  45-24 Badgers.

Colorado State @ # 19 Horned Frogs - CO State is the best college football program in the state of Colorado.  There, I said it.  What are you going to do about it Buffaloes?  TCU ruined Boise's BCS hopes, and they get to move into a real BCS league next year too!  The Frogs continue their wining ways.  37-14 Horned Frogs.

#20 Southern Miss @ UAB - Southern Miss lost to UAB 34-31 on Thursday night. Playing at UAB is akin to a full contact practice, so you'll have to forgive them if they weren't aware the game actually counts.  

#21 Penn State @ Buckeyes - So it looks like Urban Meyer is headed to Columbus and the NCAA is going to give them a slap on the wrist. Just 3 weeks ago, the Buckeyes were the program in turmoil.  Amazing how quickly things can change in the landscape of college football. PSU still has no offense.  24-3 Buckeyes.

Samford @ #24 Auburn - That's SAMford, not STANford at Auburn this week.  Rumor is Auburn is looking at some staff changes this off season, just one short year after winning a national title.  Their OC Gus Malzahn is a hot head coaching candidate and will get his shot to run his own program at some point.  37-10 Roll Tigers!  (Can you still be legally assaulted in 'Bama for saying that?)

Virginia @ #25 FSU - The 'Noles were the darling team back in September and make another appearance in the top 25.  The Cavs are 7-3 under coach Mike London who is certainly making a name for himself.  I think the Cavs win a close one in Tallahassee 26-23.

Upset of the week:

Boston College @ Notre Dame - I forgot that Spaziano is most like done at BC after this year.  The Irish will someday recapture their former glory, and sadly, I know exactly how they feel.  33-30 Boston College.