Beerman’s Picks
by Ben Shapiro, 11/23/01
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. If you actually bet based on what I think...well...don't
say you weren't warned!. For the most current TV information,
click on over to TV
Guide
Last Week: Geez, I'm getting
killed. In desperate need of a good week, I may have to resort
to throwing darts at the sports page. Now if only I had some
darts...
This Week: The
Hokies take one last bye week before taking on the mighty Hurricanes
of Miami. The Hoos begin earnest discussion of next year's
recruits. And on the seventh day, God rested.
Not in Action: #4
Florida, #5 Oregon, #12 Maryland, #13 BYU, #14 Washington State, #16
South Carolina, #22 Virginia Tech, #23 Auburn, #25 UCLA
|
| Thursday
11/22 |
| #8
ILLINOIS (9-1) vs. Northwestern (4-6) |
| Line:
Illinois (-18) |
1:00 pm EST |
| Illinois
is one blowout loss to Michigan shy of perfect. Their reward?
Most likely the Citrus Bowl against the best SEC team not to
play in the BCS.
Northwestern
is reeling. The defense hasn't stopped ... well ... ANYONE ...
in six straight losses. And when your offense can't even keep
up with Bowling Green (who lost to Temple BTW), you know you've got problems. |
| Pick:
Illinois |
|
|
| Friday
11/23 |
| #1
Nebraska (11-0) @ #15 COLORADO (8-2) |
| Line:
UNL (-10) |
3:30 pm EST
(ABC) |
|
I recall fondly,
standing on the field after completing our perfect season
against Boston College, lo, these many years ago ... waiting
with great anticipation as Colorado took Nebraska right down to
the wire. Thus, assuring us a Sugar Bowl berth and a
chance at a National Championship.
I really wish I
could pick Colorado here, but I think Nebraska's gonna kill 'em. |
| Pick:
Nebraska |
|
|
| #6
Texas (9-1) @ TEXAS A&M (7-3) |
| Line:
Texas (-13.5) |
12:00 pm EST
(ABC) |
|
I almost wish
Chris Simms would declare for the draft this year.
Just to see if someone would pick Major Applewhite before him.
Alas... |
| Pick:
aTm |
|
|
| #17
Louiseville (10-1) @ TCU (4-5) |
| Line:
Cards (-7.5) |
6:00 pm EST
(ESPN) |
|
I'm tired of
Louiseville befouling my living room. How many games do
they play this season anyway? |
| Pick:
Louiseville |
|
|
| #19
FRESNO STATE (9-2) vs. San Jose State (3-7) |
| Line:
FSU (-28.5) |
4:00 pm EST |
|
Geez, and they
didn't even win the WAC. Tough goings for the Bulldogs,
who are about to win 10 games and take that to the Tidy Bowl. |
| Pick:
FSU-West |
|
|
| #24
Arkansas (7-3) @ LSU (6-3) |
| Line:
LSU (-9.5) |
2:30 pm EST
(CBS) |
The
Hogs fell off the radar going 1-3 in their first four games
(losses to Tennessee, @ Bama, and @ Georgia ... that'll hurt
anybody!) but have now won six straight.
So this is how they are welcomed to the top-25. A road
date in Death Valley. Gotta love that SEC! |
| Pick:
Arkansas |
|
|
| RUTSGERS
(2-8) vs. California (0-10) |
| Line:
Cal (-13) |
1:00 pm EST |
| Only
Rutgers could be two touchdown underdogs at home to a winless
team.
Yeesh!
|
| Pick:
Rutgers |
|
|
| Saturday
11/24 |
| #2
MIAMI (FL) (9-0) vs. #11 Washington (8-2) |
| Line:
Miami (-25.5) |
8:00 pm EST
(ABC,
Gameplan)
|
|
What can I say? Miami at home is almost unbeatable.
They've got the swagger back, and to this point they've backed
it up. Barring another four interception day, I don't see
Washington standing much of a chance. I hesitate to pick
Miami to cover this large of a spread against this good of an
opponent. But if the Pac Ten is truly overrated, then
Washington is probably the most overrated of the bunch. So
why not? |
| Pick: Miami |
|
|
| #3
OKLAHOMA (10-1) vs. Oklahoma State (3-7) |
| Line:
Okie (-27) |
3:30 pm EST
(FoxSportsNet)
|
| As
usually occurs when a football school plays against a
basketball school, this one's over before it begins.
I'm expecting
something along the lines of 31-0 at the half. Oklahoma
State could make a game of it if OU gets conservative in the
second half, but I don't expect the game to ever really be in
doubt.
|
| Pick: Sooners |
|
|
| #7
TENNESSEE (9-1) vs. Vanderbilt (2-7) |
| Line:
Tennessee (-25) |
3:30 pm EST
(CBS) |
| Vandy doesn't have
the horses to pull off what Kentucky almost managed last week.
As a matter of fact, I'm not even sure they've got a coach right
now. I think their QB just draws up plays in the dirt, and
tells everyone "go long". |
| Pick: Tennessee |
|
|
| #9
STANFORD (7-2) vs. Notre Dame (4-5) |
| Line:
Stanford (-7.5) |
8:00 pm EST
(ABC,
Gameplan)
|
|
When Central
Florida joins the MAC next season, they will finally have an
opportunity to play for a bowl bid. This is relevant,
because unlike certain other I-A Independents, UCF is about to
become bowl-eligible. |
| Pick: Stanford |
|
|
| #10
MICHIGAN (8-2) vs. Ohio State (6-4) |
| Line:
Michigan (-9) |
1:00 pm EST
(ABC,
Gameplan)
|
| The
Big Game once more. Frankly, Michigan is leaps and
bounds better than Ohio State. Expecially at the quarterback
position. Jim Tressel can make a whole lot of friends real quick in
Columbus if he pulls off the upset here, but I don't see it. |
| Pick: Michigan |
|
|
| #18
GEORGIA (6-3) vs. Georgia Tech (6-3) |
| Line:
Georgia Tech (-2.5) |
7:45 pm EST
(ESPN)
|
|
Ah yes, once again
we've got the top-25 home underdog. Coming off a big win
at Mississippi, I'm rather surprised to be honest. Georgia
Tech has been consistently inconsistent all year, so I suppose
anything's possible. But I like the Dawgs here. |
| Pick: UGA |
|
|
| #20
SYRACUSE (8-3) vs. Boston College (7-3) |
| Line:
Syracuse (-4) |
7:00 pm EST
(ESPN2)
|
| So
three of the top six worst blowout losses by then top-25 teams
in the past 20 years belong to Syracuse. Boy, they must
be proud. |
| Pick:
Cuse |
|
|
| #21
MARSHALL (9-1) vs. (I-AA) Youngstown
State (7-2) |
| Line:
No line (I-AA) |
7:00 pm EST |
| Youngstown
State is to the MAC, as the MAC is to Ohio State.
Discuss.
|
| Pick: |
|
|
| Pittsburgh
(4-5) @ WEST VIRGINIA (3-7) |
| Line:
Pitt (-3.5) |
12:00 pm EST
(ESPN) |
| Good
lord. The entire nation is about to find out just how
ugly it is in the nether regions of the Big East. |
| Pick:
Pitt |
|
|
| TEMPLE
(3-7) vs. Connecticut (2-8) |
| Line:
Temple (-19.5) |
12:00 pm EST |
|
Winner gets the
last spot in the Big East, loser drinks the Kool Aid.
Oh YEAH! |
| Pick: UConn |
|
|
| Miscellania... |
| Game of the Week to Watch:
Nebraska - Colorado and Miami - Washington
Last Week: 8-12
Season To Date:
119-122-1
Upset Special:
Georgia over Georgia Tech (6-6)
|
