Let The Games Begin...On A TUESDAY??

Thank goodness nobody reading The Smack follows the Mid-American Conference or I'd already be 0-3 for the week.  Had to shake the cobwebs out to get the following posted in time for tonight's big showdown.  Spending all day tomorrow in a "training", then motoring to St. George, UT to meet newest grandchild.  Hurrying to beat kickoff, so here you go with the fearless forecast for Week #10 in college football...

 

Thursday game

#2/3 Oregon (8-0) at #5/6 Stanford (7-1).  Trash-talking by Duck players intensified this week.  Maybe they ought to re-think that strategy, as it cost them dearly just last season.  Back then the Ducks were riding a 10-0 streak and while averaging 54.8 pts./game lost to the Cardinal by 3 points in OT.  This season they're averaging 55.6 pts./game but have been held under 50 twice in the last three weeks by both Washington and UCLA.  By the same token, Stanford has held its opponents to 19.4 pts./game in 2013.  The Cardinal only needed 17 points to beat the Ducks last year, but will probably need a few more this year.  Keep in mind:  Stanford is coming off a bye week, should be fresh and healthy, and will be playing at home to boot.  Everybody in the Top 6 has a stake in this game, but on paper Oregon is just too potent for the Cardinal.  Unless the Stanford defense can put a lot of pressure on QB Rich Mariota on passing downs, the Ducks will control the tempo and run the Cardinal right out of Palo Alto.  Revenge for last year is in the front of their minds.  PICK:  Oregon.

Friday game

 

Air Force (2-7) at New Mexico (2-6).  Really, I have to pick this game?  *Sigh* Both teams like to run first, pass as an afterthought.  Both teams have Swiss cheese defenses, allowing truckloads of yards and points on the ground.  Air Force is fresh off a big win against arch-rival Army, while the Lobos found themselves on the short end of the game against San Diego State, a team that also beat the Falcons.  Both teams lost convincingly to Utah State, but UNM gave Wyoming a far better game than did Air Force.  Both teams are about to fall several games short of bowl eligibility.  The game is being played in Albuquerque, so despite Air Force holding a commanding overall series record, I'll take the Lobos.  PICK:  New Mexico 113, Air Force 96.

Saturday games

 

Army (3-6) vs. Western Kentucky (5-4).  Big-time nod in the motivation department for Western.  They need only one more win to become bowl-eligible.  As for Army, a team having failed to put two wins in a row together all season, it's completely understandable they'd be so looking forward to having three byes in the next four weeks before facing Navy.  The Black Knight defense will be hard-pressed to stop RB Antonio Andrews, whose 3,161 all-purpose yards in 2012 were second-most in NCAA history.  Andrews is the nation's leading rusher this year as well.  Make no mistake:  the Hilltoppers' conference-leading defense will be tested by the Army option, but it's one thing to roll up yards and quite another to score.  So instead of relying solely on its offense, the Cadets will be asking their defense to pressure QB Brandon Doughty into adding to his 13 interceptions on the year, 3rd highest in the country.  Too much to ask.  PICK:  Western Kentucky.

Navy (4-4) vs. Hawaii (0-8).  How far the Rainbows have fallen since the days of June Jones.  Gone too are the likes of Timmy Chang and Colt Brennan.  Once again Hawaii has become the "off week" of the Mountain West Conference.  It's like every away game has turned into someone else's Homecoming.  As they invade Annapolis this weekend, they will run head-long into a Navy team that is more than just eager to prove last week's close call vs. Notre Dame was a fluke.  Big plays were the undoing of the Middies last week, but against a team whose QB Sean Shroeder was picked off three times against Utah State, and who managed only 73 yds. rushing the entire game, don't look for Hawaii to pose a big offensive threat.  Perhaps their best defensive game, the 'Bows still allowed 47 points.  Look for Keenan Reynolds to keep them honest against both the run and the threat of the pass.  Shouldn't be close.  PICK:  Navy.

Wisconsin linebacker corps.  Aren't they adorable?

BYU (6-2) at #21/22/24 Wisconsin (6-2).  When the BYU coaching staff told the team they'd be going to Camp Randall in November, the players thought it would be a bye week full of fun in the sun...arts & crafts.  Ah, but instead it's a meeting with the Wisconsin Badgers.  The Cougars benefit from the healing aspects of a bye week, while the Badgers are on a 3-game winning streak having just claimed the Heartland Trophy with a win over Iowa.  Both teams feature solid offenses, with BYU able to boast the biggest yardages but Wisconsin able to brag about scoring efficiency.  The Badgers are led by 6th-ranked Melvin Gordon who rushes for 8.7 yds./carry.  Gordon is complimented by James White, who has scored nine times this season.  Wisconsin's defense is ranked 5th in the nation in scoring and 6th in total.  Be sure to tune in; originally scheduled for the Big 10 Network, it's been picked up by ESPN and should be one of the marquee matchups of the season.  Says here that the edge goes to the home team.  PICK:  Wisconsin.

Boston College (4-4) at New Mexico State (1-8).  Aggie QB Andrew McDonald is fresh off a 327-yard, three-touchdown passing performance in a losing effort against Louisiana-Lafayette.  McDonald will have to face a BC defense that is 16th in the nation in turnover margin.  As for the opposite side of the ball, the Eagle offense has been spotty but the Aggie defense has been attrocious.  Look for this first-ever meeting between the two schools to feature plenty of running by BC's Andre Williams, who can punish in short-yardage situations and break away at just the right time.  NMU hasn't defeated an FBS team in almost two full years.  They will not beat one today.  PICK:  Boston College.

What the Golden Bears have to look forward to

USC (6-3) at California (1-8).  Their record is poor, but don't let the Golden Bears fool you:  they took Arizona to the wire before losing 33-28.  QB Jared Goff has over 2,800 yds. in passing, and threw for four scores last weekend.  The catch is...well, the catch.  Goff throws just fine but doesn't have much of a receiving corps on which he can depend.  The Cal running game is non-existent.  USC's defense has been outstanding in Ed Orgeron's tenure as interim coach.  Pressuring the QB will be the key to the Trojans' success, and Leonard Williams and Devon Kennard are specialists in sacks and tackles for loss.  Perhaps another yawner.  PICK:  USC.

Georgia State (0-9) idle; next 11/16 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette.