Beerman’s Picks
by Ben Shapiro, 11/7/01
Each week this season, I will be posting a column previewing
the upcoming weekend's Big East and Top-25 match-ups. All rankings are from
the
Bowl Championship Series Poll. I don't pick winners (that's too easy),
I pick against
the spread.
All picks are for entertainment purposes only. For the most current
TV information, click on over to
TV Guide
Last Week: It IS 1997 all
over again. So once again, we find that evil of the past seeps into
the present like salad dressing through cheap wax paper, mixing memory and
desire.
This Week: If FOX is to
be believed, "The Tick is coming".
Not in Action: Everyone,
actually, is playing this week.
|
| Saturday
11/10 |
|
#1 NEBRASKA (10-0) vs. Kansas State (4-4) |
| Line:
UNL(-13.5) |
3:30 pm EST
(ABC,
Gameplan)
|
| Nebraska
is mighty. They are nigh invulnerable. They're making gravy
without the lumps! |
| Pick: Nebraska |
|
|
| #2 Miami
(FL) (7-0) @ BOSTON COLLEGE (6-2) |
| Line:
Miami (-20) |
12:00
pm EST
(ABC, Gameplan) |
| I long
for the day when Miami and Boston College can play a peaceful,
friendly game of football. A game unsullied by the same god
awful overplayed replay EVERY SINGLE YEAR. Yes, destiny has her
hand on Miami's back, and she's pushing!
|
| Pick: Miami |
|
|
| #3 OKLAHOMA
(8-1) vs. Texas A&M (6-2) |
| Line:
Oklahoma (-17.5) |
12:00
pm EST
(ABC,
Gameplan) |
| Well, if we do play Texas
A&M in the Insight.Com bowl, one thing no one will have to worry about
is injuries caused by excessive end zone painting. |
| Pick: aTm |
|
|
|
#4 TENNESSEE (7-1) @ MEMPHIS (3-4) |
| Line:
Tennessee (-24) |
2:00
pm EST
(PPV) |
|
When asked if he
considered the the other I-A teams in the state rivals, UT coach
Phil Fulmer responded: "Well, some I consider our
rivals and some ...I just consider." |
| Pick:
Memphis |
|
|
|
#5 TEXAS (8-1) vs. Kansas (1-6) |
| Line:
Texas (-34) |
12:30
pm EST |
|
After barely squeezing
out a 39 point victory over perennial power Baylor last week, the Longhorns
must once again suit up and take to the trenches to combat another mighty
opponent. Tough? You bet it is, but that's life in the nation's
strongest football conference... |
| Pick:
Texas |
|
|
|
#6 Oregon (8-1) @ #16 UCLA (6-2) |
| Line:
UCLA (-3.5) |
3:30 pm EST
(ABC,
Gameplan)
|
|
Two weeks ago this
game was for the Rose Bowl. Today, it's yesterday's
advertising campaign against tomorrow's Stacey Mack. |
| Pick:
Ducks |
|
|
|
#7 FLORIDA (7-1)
vs. #17 South Carolina (7-2) |
|
Line: Florida
(-12) |
7:45
pm EST
(ESPN) |
|
What kind of world do
we live in, where a 64 point drubbing of Vanderbilt somehow convinced
a voter to switch their allegiance from Miami to the Gators? It's
the old "my patsy is better than your patsy" argument, and it simply
doesn't hold water.
Reason #346.3 why we need
a playoff.
|
|
Pick: USC-SE |
|
|
|
#8 Washington (7-1) @ OREGON STATE (3-5) |
| Line:
Washington (-3.5) |
3:30 pm EST
(FoxSportsNet)
|
|
3-5? Geez, I didn't
realize it was quite that bad. Truly, the SI Jinx is a harsh mistress. |
| Pick:
Washington |
|
|
|
#9 WASHINGTON STATE
(8-1) @ ARIZONA STATE (4-4)
|
|
Line: WSU
(-1.5)
|
6:30 pm EST
(Some FoxSportsNet)
|
|
Wazzou in the top-10?
You're not going crazy. You're going sane in a crazy world! |
| Pick:
WSU |
|
|
|
#10 MICHIGAN (6-2) vs. Minnesota (2-5) |
| Line:
Big Blue (-15.5) |
12:00
pm EST
(ESPN2) |
|
In the wake of last week's
down to the wire finish, Lloyd Carr has assigned two backup linebackers
to sit in the press box and "observe" the official time keeper. |
| Pick:
Michigan |
|
|
|
#11 Stanford (5-2) @ ARIZONA (4-5) |
| Line:
Stanford (-9) |
7:00
pm EST
(ABC,
Gameplan)
|
|
Must be nice, to lose
a quarterback to injury and still be able to compete against top-10
teams. *sigh* |
| Pick:
Stanford |
|
|
|
#12 ILLINOIS (7-1) vs. Penn State (3-4) |
| Line:
Illinois (-9.5) |
3:30 pm EST
(ABC,
Gameplan)
|
|
Break up the Nits! |
| Pick:
Illinois |
|
|
|
#13 Brigham Young (9-0) @ WYOMING (1-6) |
| Line:
BYU (-23) |
3:00
pm EST
(Gameplan, ESPN+)
|
|
As horrifically bad as
Wyoming is, if I were Gary Crowtan I'd try to hang 100 here... |
| Pick:
BYU |
|
|
|
#14 FLORIDA STATE (6-2) vs. N.C.
State (5-3) |
| Line:
FSU (-18.5) |
3:30 pm EST
(ABC,
Gameplan)
|
| Florida State
has looked pretty good lately. I'm not picking them to beat Florida,
not yet. But if they can manage that trick, AND win their bowl
game (Gator vs. Syracuse?) yet another top-5 finish is not entirely
out of the question. |
| Pick:
NCSU |
|
|
|
#15 MARYLAND (8-1) vs. Clemson (5-3) |
| Line:
UMuD (-7) |
7:00 pm EST
(ESPN2)
|
|
Florida State may be out
of their reach for now, but THIS game is the sort that should measure
just how good Maryland really is. Heck, there's even a chance that it
sells out! |
| Pick:
Maryland |
|
|
|
#18 SYRACUSE (7-2) vs. West Virginia (3-5) |
| Line:
Cuse (-14.5) |
12:00
pm EST
(Gameplan, ESPN+) |
|
80 points? For shame
... |
| Pick:
Cuse |
|
|
|
#19 GEORGIA (5-2) vs. #22 Auburn (6-2) |
| Line:
UGA (-8.5) |
3:30 pm EST
(CBS)
|
|
First it was Mississippi
State, then it was LSU, then it was Auburn, then it was Mississippi,
now it's Auburn again. When does Arkansas get their turn as "Token Top-25
SEC West Team" ? I suppose after Georgia wins here. |
| Pick:
Auburn |
|
|
|
#20 Colorado (7-2) @ IOWA STATE (4-4) |
| Line:
Colorado (-4) |
7:30 pm EST
(Most FoxSportsNet)
|
|
As Colorado readies themselves
for their showdown with Nebraska, Iowa State is trying to make it two
bowl games in a row for the first time since ... well ... since I started
paying any attention to college football. |
| Pick:
Buffs |
|
|
|
#21 Georgia Tech (5-2) @ WAHOO STATE (3-6) |
| Line:
GT (-14) |
3:30 pm EST
|
|
If there is one thing
to be gained from our 1997 flashback, it's that with SOS being irrelevant
I can now root against Wahoo State with impunity. |
| Pick:
HooVA |
|
|
|
#23 LOUISEVILLE (7-1) vs. Houston (0-8) |
| Line:
U of L (-32) |
2:30
pm EST
|
|
Ranked behind Louiseville?
Is this what we have been reduced to?
Oh the humanity...
|
| Pick:
Houston |
|
|
|
#24 Purdue (5-2) @ OHIO STATE (5-3) |
| Line:
OSU (-6) |
12:00
pm EST
(Gameplan) |
|
I'm drawing a blank.
Nothing. Zippy. Thank goodness I'm not forced to watch
this! |
| Pick:
Purdue |
|
|
|
#25 MICHIGAN STATE (5-2) vs. Indiana (2-5) |
| Line:
MSU (-7.5) |
12:00
pm EST |
|
"Got to pull
myself together...must...defy...laws...of physics!"
At least that's what I think Antwaan Randle El says to himself before every game. |
| Pick:
MSU |
|
|
|
Virginia Tech (6-2) @ TEMPLE (2-5) |
| Line:
VT (-23.5) |
12:00 pm EST |
|
I'm taking off the kid
gloves, and putting on the very mad gloves! |
| Pick:
Temple |
|
|
|
PITTSBURGH (3-5) vs. Rutgers (2-6) |
| Line:
UPitt (-20) |
1:30
pm EST
|
|
With Rutgers, West Virginia,
and UAB "looming" on the horizon, the Panthers have a distinct chance
to make it to the Tangerine Bowl. I don't know if I'd call that
solace, but it's something... |
| Pick:
Rutgers |
|
|
| Miscellania... |
| Game of the Week to Watch:
Oregon - UCLA if you get it. Personally I'm looking forward to
MD-Clemson tho. Last Week:
8-13
Season To Date: 98-99-1
Upset Special: Oregon
over UCLA(4-6)
|
