By The Pigskin Prognosticator, PubClub.com’s College Football Expert
Halloween is here and some teams are wearing pretty good disguises, fooling some into thinking they are better than they are, while others are simply giving their fans a bag of rocks.
But depite this situation, optimism is in the fall air for many because of the forgiving 12-team playoff, even providing hope to a team that lost to Vanderbilt. The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is upon us, the fall “hitting weather” is here and a couple of key games are on the menu for this weekend.
Now onto the games. All times Pacific because the Prognosticator lives on the West Coast.
Ohio State at Penn State (9 a.m., FOX)
The fans of the Pennsylvania felines are a bit upset about the early start time because they were hoping for a “white out” night game. Fox, perhaps fearing Texas A&M or USC-Washington might pull too many viewers to other networks, a completely foolish thought if that was the case, decided for a “kegs and eggs” approach for the students, alumni and TV viewers. The problem for the friendly hosts is that they can’t ever seem to roast the Nuts, having lost seven in a row and 11 of the last seven in a row, and the injured quarterback is a game-time decision. Still, Brutus is vulnerable and if it’s ever going to happen this is a good place to start. Winner: Penn State
Duke at Miami (9 a.m., ABC)
The ACC cakewalk continues for the should-have-two-loss Gales and the Dukeis won’t be building any big barricades to hold off the storm. All the Cristobals have to do in order to whisk themselves into the playoffs is maintain a bit of thier strength because their strength of schedule is not even a Category 1. Winner: Miami
Oregon at Michigan (12:30 p.m., CBS)
Big Black And Blue is all bruised up after three losses and the Quackers are not going to the Big House to provide any healing to the hosts. They are looking to swoop in, inflict as much pain as possible in the early going, and then get out of town leaving behind a battered and bewildered opponent. Unless there’s some hidden monster lurking inside the mammals from the Midwest, the visitors will achieve this objective. Winner: Oregon
Indiana at Michigan State (12:30 p.m., Peacock)
From hosting College Game Day to the Peacock Network. Despite being 8-0, Indiana is apparently the Rodney Dangerfield of college football, not getting any respect. The boys from Bloomington won’t get any, either, even if they whip Sparty. Which they should do without too much trouble. Winner: Indiana
Georgia vs. Florida, The World’s Largest Outdoor Cockail Party (12:30 p.m., ABC, Jacksonville)
Any feel-good feelings the Chompers have built up of late will end in a hurry Saturday at the Jacksonville Landing when the Kirby Canines start taking thier first bites of Gator meat. After the wild tailgate scene, once described as a sports writer at “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” all the chomping will be done by the Dawgs. Winner: Georgia
UCLA at Nebraska (12:30 p.m, Big 10 Network)
The Shuckers showed some fight last week in the Horseshoe, the week after getting blown out by Indiana, tho consistency seems to be a problem. If they are in thier “Ohio State” frame of mind then this will be a rout. If they are in their “Indiana” state of mind then the Baby Bears will win. The Prognosticator feels the ever-loyal (and very patient) home crowd will help them be more of the former than the latter. Winner: Nebraska
Texas A&M at South Carolina (4:30 p.m., ABC)
If the Cadets think they can march into Williams-Brice and not expect much of a fight, they don’t know a cannon from a cocktail. The Roosters may seem like pushovers but they have one of the best defensive lines in college football and the last time the Ags faced a team like that, well, does the name Notre Dame bring up any early-season memories? Mobile quarterback Marcel Reed adds offensive strength to the Battalion but he only completed two passes against LSU so he will have to show he can throw to throw off the defense. It helps that the Game Fowls are not exactly an offensive juggernaut, but the home cooking will prove to be enough to fry the visitors. Winner: South Carolina
USC at Washington (4:30 p.m., Big t0 Network)
Lincoln finally got the Trojan Horse pointed in the right direction last week, tho that was only against Rutgers, which was the equivalent of taking on France. The Sailgaters aren’t exactly Carthage and quarterback Will Rodgers is no Hannibal, but they do have the advantage of fans who can be like warriors for opponents. That might prove to be the difference. That, and the fact the Southern Califronia Spartains’ offensive and defensive lines tend to wear out in the fourth quarter, tho there’s enough talent there to buld up a big lead and see if theyh can hang on until the end. Winner: Washington
About The Pigskin Prognosticator
The The Pigskin Prognosticator has covered college football from coast to coast and has been publishing this column on PubClub.com for more than 10 years.
Leave a Reply