College Football Quick Picks: Week 9
by Anthony Della Calce
October 26, 2006
Quick Picks was 12-0 last week, posting its first perfect mark of the season. That and a 53-14 record overall has Quick Picks feeling pretty good about itself. Let’s see if the momentum carries over into week nine.
ACC Action:
Saturday
N. C. State (3-4) at Virginia (3-5) – Noon, RAY/LFS-TV
UVa’s shutout of UNC in its last game is most likely proof of how bad UNC is rather than how good UVa is. As those of you who read this column frequently know, Quick Picks isn’t a big believer in the Cavaliers.
Quick Picks isn’t necessarily a big believer in N.C. State either. But the Wolfpack seem to be the lesser of two evils, or, in this case, two not-so-good football teams.
Prediction – N. C. State 26, Virginia 19
Vanderbilt (3-5) at Duke (0-7) – 1 p.m.
This match-up features two schools with great academic reputations and dreadful football reputations. With that said, whoever plays the smartest will win this game. Vanderbilt will win by a few brain cells.
Prediction – Vanderbilt 23, Duke 19
Buffalo (1-6) at #18 Boston College (6-1) – 1 p.m.
With Clemson’s loss to Virginia Tech on Thursday Night, Boston College takes over the “best team in the ACC” title – at least that’s what Quick Picks thinks. The Eagles will get ready for their ACC Championship run in what amounts to a de facto bye week against a terrible Buffalo team.
Prediction – Boston College 30, Buffalo 6
#24 Wake Forest (6-1) at North Carolina (1-6) – 3:30 p.m., ESPNU
Wake Forest won’t get caught looking ahead to its next game, a pivotal conference match-up with Boston College. And even if it did, it wouldn’t matter.
Prediction – Wake Forest 27, North Carolina 3
Miami (5-2) at #21 Georgia Tech (5-2) – 3:30 p.m., ABC
Call it a gut feeling, but Quick Picks thinks Miami is due for at least one big win this season. Will it come against the Yellow Jackets?
Georgia Tech comes into this game on a low point after getting trounced in its last game at Clemson, 31-7. Meanwhile, Miami gets back most of its players involved in its brawl with FIU after they served one-game suspensions. That should give the ‘Canes a boost.
Plus, Miami knows if it beats Georgia Tech, it will control its own destiny in the Coastal division of the ACC: If the ‘Canes win out then they’ll earn a trip to the ACC Championship game.
Quick Picks thinks it will all add up to the perfect storm or, more precisely, the perfect Hurricane.
Prediction – Miami 20, Georgia Tech 16
Florida State (4-3) at Maryland (5-2) – 7 p.m., ESPN2
Think FSU has Maryland’s number? The Terrapins are 1-15 all-time against the Seminoles. That trend will continue as Bobby Bowden will rally his struggling troops.
Prediction – Florida State 23, Maryland 21
Around the Country - Quick Picks:
Saturday
Northwestern (2-6) at #2 Michigan (8-0) – Noon, ESPN
The only reason for predicting this game is to mention Northwestern’s historic collapse against Michigan State in its last game. The Wildcats led 38-3 at the 9:54 mark of the third quarter and then proceeded to give up 38 unanswered points – including the game-winning field goal with 18 seconds left in the game – to seal the come-from-ahead loss. Now that’s not easy to do.
Luckily for the Wildcats, they won’t have to worry about blowing a 35 point lead, or any a kind of lead, against the Wolverines. This game will be over before the first quarter ends.
Michigan 45, Northwestern 13
#11 Notre Dame (6-1) at Navy (5-2) – Noon, CBS
The Irish aren’t winning with style points. And sometimes, they’re barely winning at all (see last week’s game-winning, last-minute drive against UCLA ). But they are winning. They’ll win again this week in a seemingly always hard-fought game against perennial rival Navy.
Prediction – Notre Dame 30, Navy 23
#19 Oklahoma (5-2) at #23 Missouri (7-1) – Noon, ABC
Missouri might have the better record but Oklahoma has the better football team, even without star RB Adrian Peterson (broken collarbone).
Prediction – Oklahoma 23, Missouri 13
Georgia (6-2) at #9 Florida (6-1) – 3:30 p.m., CBS
A lot of cocktails will be consumed by both teams’ fans at this annual rivalry game dubbed The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. But the cocktails will taste a little bit sweeter for Gator fans.
Prediction – Florida 26, Georgia 17
#20 Nebraska (6-2) at Oklahoma State (4-3) – 3:30 p.m., ABC
If the Cornhuskers are really back, they’ll shake off last week’s tough loss to Texas and take care of business on the road in Stillwater.
Prediction – Nebraska 30, Oklahoma State 10
8 Tennessee (6-1) at South Carolina (5-2) - 7:45 p.m., ESPN
How much would Philip Fulmer enjoy going on the road to beat his coaching nemesis Steve Spurrier? We’ll all find out on Saturday night.
Prediction – Tennessee 24, South Carolina 17
Sunday
Connecticut (3-4) at #16 Rutgers (7-0) – 8 p.m., ESPN
Haven’t seen Rutgers play this season? Do yourself a favor and watch the Scarlet Knights on Sunday night. What you’ll find is a really good football team proving the Big East is more than just Louisville and West Virginia.
Prediction – Rutgers 20, Connecticut 7
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