Well, I’ve been terrible all season and you can’t get it all back in one week. I’m not picking enough games to get to .500 even if I’m perfect.
But, hey, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step and I have all of Bowl Season to catch up. As for this, the final real week of regular season college football, I’m feeling pretty good about my chances. Which is good news for every team I picked against.
OHIO STATE AT MICHIGAN (-3.5, O/U: 45)
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 25, noon, FOX
For reasons that are lost on me, the best game of the entire college football weekend and maybe the best game of the entire year is happening at noon Saturday when plenty of Black Friday participants will just then be coming to in their hospital beds. No 2 Ohio State (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) travel to Ann Arbor to take on the Jim Harbaugh-less No. 3-ranmked Michigan (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten). Someone is not only taking their first loss, but will likely miss out on the College Football Playoff entirely unless No. 4 Washington or No. 5 Florida State crap the bed.
The Buckeyes roll into this one after a 37-3 blowout win over Minnesota. Kyle McCord was 20 of 30 passing for 212 yards, two touchdowns and no picks in the win. TreVeyon Henderson rushed 15 times for 146 yards and two TDs. Emeka Egbuka caught five passes for 83 yards. The defense held the Golden Gophers to just 10 first downs and 159 total yards of offense.
Michigan won its second Jim Harbaugh-less game, just barely, beating Maryland 31-24 last Saturday. JJ McCarthy was 12 of 23 passing for 141 yards, no touchdowns and a pick in a game that should knock all that “first round pick” nonsense off his name. Blake Corum rushed 28 times for 94 yards and two TDs.
Considering how bad I’ve been this season, let me go ahead and congratulate Michigan here. Because I’m picking the Buckeyes. And, hey, if I’m right, you can always blame the Big Ten for suspending Harbaugh for hiring human beings with eyeballs who can take notes, I guess. Ohio State 31, Michigan 27
FLORIDA STATE AT FLORIDA (+6.5, O/U: 50)
Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Fla.
Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 25, 7 p.m., ESPN
There was a time when this game really meant something, but all it can do now is screw up the College Football Playoff chances of No. 5 Florida State (11-0). Florida (5-6) could save its season with a win in the battle of the only two teams we seem to care about in the state right now. Which says more about the state of football at Miami, than it does at UCF and USF.
The Seminoles destroyed North Alabama last week 58-13 in a game that only meant something on the stat sheet. Tate Rodemaker was 13 of 23 passing for 217 yards, two touchdowns and no picks before he took a seat. CJ Campbell, Jr. rushed three times for 78 yards and a score. Keon Coleman caught three passes for 53 yards and a score.
Florida lost its fourth game in a row last week, dropping a 33-31 decision to No. 9 Missouri. Graham Mertz was his usual awful self, going 14 of 21 passing for 183 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. Montrell Johnson, Jr. rushed 12 times for 85 yards. Trevor Etienne had 15 carries for 82 yards and a score. Ricky Pearsall caught two passes for 72 yards.
This line is very respectful because this game should not be close. Florida State will be stomping on some throats here, because their only chance to jump into the CFP Top 4 is a stumble by Washington. They’ll try to win this one by 50. Florida State 48, Florida 23
CLEMSON AT SOUTH CAROLINA (+7, O/U: 52)
Location: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columba, S.C.
Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 25, 7:30 p.m., SECN
As hard as Dabo Swinney has tried to keep it from happening, No. 24 Clemson (7-4) is ranked again. To stay there, they’ll have to knock out a plucky South Carolina (5-6) team that’s just trying to get bowl eligible so Spencer Rattler can fool a bunch of draft analysts.
The Tigers have won three straight and knocked off No. 20 North Carolina last week, 31-20. Cade Klubnik was 21 of 32 passing for 219 yards, one touchdown and no picks. Will Shipley rushed 18 times for 126 yards and a score. Phil Mafah had 23 carries for 84 yards and a TD.
South Carolina has won three straight too, after losing four straight, so you know that program is rocking. The latest win came over Kentucky, 17-14. Spencer Rattler was 19 of 27 passing for 207 yards, two touchdowns and no picks in the win. Xavier Legette caught six passes for 94 yards and two TDs.
Last year the Gamecocks shocked the Tigers in this one and, you know what? I think they’ll do it once more. And, again, I’ve been awful at this so that’s good news for Clemson. South Carolina 33, Clemson 30
NORTH CAROLINA AT NC STATE (+2, O/U: 55)
Location: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, N.C.
Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 25, 8 p.m., ACCN
Look at all these Battles of the Carolinas happening Saturday. In this one, it’s the Northern state as North Carolina (8-3, 4-3 ACC) travels to Raleigh to take on No. 22 NC State (8-3, 5-2 ACC).
The Tar Heels, as we said above, dropped a 31-20 decision to No. 24 Clemson last week. Drake Maye was 16 of 36 passing for 209 yards, one touchdown and an interception in the loss. Omarion Hampton rushed 19 times for 178 yards and two scores. Devontez Walker caught four passes for 70 yards.
NC State picked up its fourth win in a row, beating Virginia Tech 35-28. Brennan Armstrong was 18 of 26 passing for 203 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the win. He led the team in rushing with 21 carries for 89 yards and two scores. Kevin Concepcion caught seven passes for 63 yards and two TDs.
You know what? This is probably Drake Maye’s last college football game and I have to believe that will matter. North Carolina 27, NC State 24
Last week
Straight up: 2-2
Against the spread: 2-2
Season
Straight up: 17-23
Against the spread: 16-24
Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.
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