Week 12 Picks

Here we go for another week.

NCAA
JR: CLEM, OHIO, OLE, RUT, A&M, TROY, ULL, SOMISS, GEO, HAW
JG: OKST, FSU, BC, MN, FIU, MIZZ, NW, PSU, UCLA, KST
MR: OKST, IOWA, MISST, TT, MIZZ, TCU, PSU, UTAH, KAN, KST
MK: CMU, COL, USF, OHIOST, IOWA, PSU, A&M, UCLA, NTEX, STAN
AW: BUFF, BC, IOWA, ARK, OK, NILL, WIS, PUR, GEO, KST
GR: CMU, COL, BOISE, IOWA, OK, ND, PSU, RUT, BYU, STAN
MH: BOISE, OHIOST, IOWA, ND, WIS, IND, PSU, ORE, TEX, STAN
MC: BALLST, AKR, KENT, OHIO, UCF, ECU, BYU, UTAH, LT, SOMISS

NFL
JR: CAR, IND, WAS, MIN, NE
JG: MIA, BUF, TB, STL, HOU
MR: IND, MIN, NO, CHI, HOU
MK: CAR, IND, DET, PHI, HOU
AW: CAR, IND, SF, MIN, PHI
GR: IND, GB, PIT, CIN, PHI
MH: IND, MIN, NO, ARI, PHI
MC: CAR, IND, WAS, MIN, ATL

Short on time unfortunately...so here's some quick notes on these games:

COL-OKST
I think OKST might roll these guys tonight. Robinson might not play, but COL is a lost cause at this point. This line has creeped as high as 19-20, so that might change the pick a bit...but I'll take OKST -14.5

BOISE-UTST
Call me crazy, but I'm still betting against BOISE. They will be looking ahead to their NEV showdown next week, and I think UTST catches them here and makes it a decent game. UTST covers!

NC-BC
Really wanted to take NC here, I thinh they are better and getting over 3 makes it a nice pick. But I'm too hesitant to bet against BC at home.

OHIOST-MICH
The whole world is waiting for this beatdown...which usually means it won't be. OHIOST wins easily, but MICH covers...28-20.

VIR-CLEM
VIR = done. coach is dead and team is terrible.
CLEM = looking to clinch and cracking heads w/GT for a BCS bid...also the outside Heisman hopes of Spiller against an inferior team...I feel a beatdown coming in favor of CLEM.

NCST-VT
I also like NCST this weekend to keep it close. They can score on most anyone, but stop nobody...19.5 is too much.

DUKE-MIA
I picked MIA, but I'm not real sure on this one. DUKE is sneaky when you totally count them out.

MISST-ARK
HOGS! They've been great when they haven't had to play ALA or FLA...they win handily over MISST.

FIU-FLA
I thought we'd have more takers on this (-43!!). Almost have to bet the dog, right? Even 1 TD might seal the deal for you. Basically the bet is: will FIU score Y/N?...I say YES.

OK-TT
No idea what happens here. OK has been routed in Lubbock a couple of times before, but I have been believing in this team all year. I'll pick the Sooners on D alone once again.

ISU-MIZZ
Clones go down big, should have put this one on my list. I think MIZZOU rolls.

UCONN-ND
People are saying that the world will end if UCONN wins this game...I think they might. They have a knack of hanging around in EVERY game they play and might be one of the best coached least talented teams around...the opposite of ND I guess. At +6 I'm taking UCONN, but I wouldn't bet on it because rule #1 for NCAA betting is never bet on a UCONN game...ever!

WIS-NW, PUR-IND, PSU-MSU
The B10 triple header at 2:30. I think WIS has to roll through NW without a doubt, IND surprises PUR in the rivalry game and wins at home as a DOG, and PSU puts Sparty in their place because they can't compete with JoePa.

LSU-OLE
LOVE OLE MISS - they are figuring it out, LSU is trending the wrong direction...LOVE OLE MISS!

RUT-SYR
How is this only at 8? This seems to be a lock unless RUT only brings like 6 guys...if they have 8 or more it a no-brainer. SYR has been losing a guy per day for like the last 2 weeks...bad to worse for coach Marrone.

BAY-A&M
Why do I pick A&M every week? I keep thinking they can score a bunch, which they do sometimes, but their D is sucky. BAY...well, everything about BAY is sucky so only giving 7.5 for a team that can score 50 on any given day is an easy win...right?

ARMY-NTEX
LOVE ARMY! Why? Not 100% sure, but I think this is a lock underdog win this week.

FAU-TROY
TROY at home - mark it down...W. 17 is not a problem, they roll every SBC opponent at home.

ORE-AZ
This could be a good one, but I'm still not an AZ believer. I think ORE comes out scoring and doesn't stop scoring for the entire game...Ducks roll 47-31

KAN-TEX
KAN is a mess right now, TEX is absolutely cruising. But 27 points against a team that can score at least a little? I'll probably regret it, but I'm calling for a KAN resurgence and cover at TEX.

ULM-ULL
Didn't think you'd get another SBC preveiw did ya? Well, I'm loving ULL this week as a home DOG...they are a much better team than ULM and are getting points!?! What am I missing?

VAN-TN
This might be the week where Vandy shows up...if it isn't, they'll have to wait until next year. Against a rival who is having as many issues as TN right now I think they might have a shot to cover.

CAL-STAN
Another rivalry game, LOVED STAN early this week but I've wavered on it. They are coming off 2 HUGE wins and CAL isn't a pushover at all. I think CAL comes in with some fire and STAN struggles...I have to pick STAN as I have been riding them all year, but not a lot of faith in this one.

TULSA-SOMISS
Tulsa is done. SOMISS is just getting fired up...I smell a killing in this one. SOMISS big!

UK-GEO
GEO may be turning the corner and possibly saving Richt's job...as crazy as that sounds. UK still isn't s good team and GEO will win easily.

KST-NEB
Who's excited for the B12 North showdown?!?! Nobody I guess. 15 pts is a little high for an inept offense like NEB, but I still have to pick them because they are a far superior team to KST...who because they have 2 FCS wins this year will lose this game and instead of going to the B12 Title game they won't even be bowl eligible. Gotta love the B12 North!

HAW-SJST
3.5, really? I don't think HAW is anything special, but how about SJST. They have broken 21 points one time all year, and give up 37/gm. One W is against Cal Poly...yep, 3.5 is too small for a team as bad as SJST. LOVE HAW!

NEV-NMST
NEV has been averaging 50 ppg over their last 6 (6-0) and absolutely destroying people with the run. NMST is one of the worst teams in the country. There last 4 games: 7-45, 3-34, 0-45, 6-24...31.5 might be covered in the 1st half. I think we may see NEV hit 100 points in this one.

NFL PICKS
Tonight I love CAR. No Ronny Brown to run the wildcat, so I think CAR runs wild and routes the shell-shocked Fins.

- IND over BAL might be the easiest pick of the year! BAL has regressed big time, INDY is playing so well and undefeated...but as a pick'em you have to think Vegas knows something.
- WAS covers 12 at DAL. The Boys looked awful last week and favoring them by 12 over anyone is too high.
- DET is a lock this week. Not very often you get to say that, but MK told me CLE has 5 offensive TD's in the last 15 games...wow. DET wins big?!?
- Liked SF earlier this week, but GB will probably crush them. They looked terrible and won against CHI last week, but the Pack is hitting their stride a bit and needs to keep winning so we have a little pressure on the Purple down the stretch run.
- BUFF should cover at JAC. New coach usually means a resurgence of energy, at least for one game. JAC will have 39 fans in attendance, so home field disadvantage will be in play as well.
- PIT is still a top 3 AFC team and KC is still a bottom 3 AFC team. I'll lay 10 pts without batting an eye.
- VIKES roll a horrible Seattle team this week. I think we worked out the kinks against DET and will look much better this week. We're covering machines!!
- NYG...WTF? Will they figure it out off the bye? Vegas is saying yes by making this a 7 pt line. No Michael Turner (think he's out) would lean me toward NYG, but I've lost too many times on this team...they need to prove it before I can pick them again. Go Falcons with +7!
- NO continues their non-covering ways and allow TB and the Josh Freeman experience a last second TD to cover.
- ARI rolls on the road again. STL still sucks, NO didn't play well last week so I still see no life in STL. I'll take ARIZONA and grocery-bagging Kurt.
- SD wins at DEN. Especially is Orton doesn't play, it could be ugly.
- LOVE NE this week! NYJ are showing everyone why they suck. PATS are coming in pissed and Belichick will be looking to make a statement about why he is still the smartest coach in the world. Pats 44-7
- CIN has to cover 9.5 at OAK, right? OAK is starting Bruce Gradkowski...yep. No need for any other info, but the sad thing is he'll probably be more effective than JaMarcus.
- PHI has to cover 2 in CHI, the Bears are terrible and this truly is their last chance!
- I'll take HOU on MNF...should be a high scoring affair and I think HOU passing game is the difference in slowing the MGray Sr. train down in TEN.

Finally...the 12th game of the year for your Golden Gophers...

MN at IOWA
Logic is out the window with this one. Iowa should be favored by more, so they should be the pick. They've trailed in every home game this year, and I think they will again on Saturday. JG is the only one who is going with blind faith and picking Timmy B this weekend. So the whole world loves Iowa this weekend. I started thinking, how have we done with overwhelming consensus picks this year in NCAA? Answer...17-24. So a good sign there. When do the Gophers play their best? When nobody expects it. WIS last year, Sparty this year, so this is a good sign because NOBODY is giving this team a chance this weekend. MGray is going to play more, this is a good thing. Iowa is still starting a RS Freshman at QB and has had NO running game all year...these are good things, too. What will happen?

GOPHERS score first, look like real-deal with a AWEB run for the 1st TD from 8 yards out...7-0 Gophers. Aaaaowa gets it and fizzles for the second drive in a row...they NEVER start fast at home in 2009. Gophers get crazy and play #5, he runs 5 times on the next drive for 50 yards and we end it with a Hoese TD run...14-0 Ski-u-mah! Varsity Blues guy throws a TD to McNutt (he's there best player IMO) 14-7...14-10 by half. At this point we're all just waiting for the collapse...and Timmy B and company don't disappoint.

Iowa dominates the 2nd half and wins the game 38-14. Brewster is fired. Everybody leaves, they fold up the program and call it a day. Super Joel gets a large loan from people with cash and goes out and entices his 2nd version of Tubby Smith to come and run the football progrum...Tommy Tuberville.

All of a sudden we're on the map. We have a real coach and we're comin'! we're comin'!

I'm not abandoning ship yet...but when even I can't come up with a positive outcome to the end of this season you know there's a problem. I'll keep supporting him until he's gone, which I didn't even think was a realistic possibility until this morning, but going out and getting a GREAT coach like Tuberville would be amazing. Then Gopher Nation would be out in full force and it would be a true resurgence.

God damn I hope we play well and win this weekend...but there's NO WAY I CAN CALL A GOPHER COVER.

Hoping I'm wrong for once.