[NU Sports] PIGSKIN PICKS - Week 12

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Hopefully standings will be out this week - but first
here's the week 12 lineup. The Big Ten season draws to
a close with a couple big games in the Great Lake
State ... meanwhile, there are some other biggies in
the ACC, SEC, Pac 10 and Big XII that will have some
bowl implications and a couple interesting non
conference games involving the coastal USCs.

All picks due by kickoff Saturday.

PIGSKIN PICKS - WEEK 12
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Name: 

Big Ten
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GAME  1: Minnesota @ Iowa           WINNER: 
GAME  2: Ohio State @ Michigan      WINNER: 
GAME  3: Penn State @ Michigan St.  WINNER: 
GAME  4: Purdue @ Indiana           WINNER: 

National
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GAME  5: Alabama @ Auburn           WINNER: 
GAME  6: Clemson @ South Carolina   WINNER: 
GAME  7: Virginia Tech @ Virginia   WINNER: 
GAME  8: Oklahoma @ Texas Tech      WINNER: 
GAME  9: Fresno St. @ Southern Cal  WINNER: 
GAME 10: California @ Stanford      WINNER: 

MY PICKS
========
Off the board first ...

* NORTHWESTERN 45, Illinois 28- Not much defense here
and the Illini hang with their rivals for a half, but
are run down in the second as Sutton and Baz have big
days and the Cats head to their bowl (Nashville?!) on
a high note.

And the rest of the slate ...

* IOWA 17, Minnesota 14- Tough call - if Minny won the
Brown Jug and lost the Axe do they still want the Pig?
I'll go with the resurgent Hawks at home as they
prepare for the ultimate Corn Bowl against Nebraska in
San Antonio.

* OHIO STATE 26, Michigan 20 - Ugh - two teams that
are FINALLY playing up to their potential. If they had
played this way in SEPTEMBER, we wouldn't have to
worry about the F'ing Irish in the BCS or Texas
ruining the Rose Bowl. But alas, it's always a good
game and Tressel has Lloyd's number. The Bucks win in
Ann Arbor and make a solid case for Tempe.

* PENN STATE 38, Michigan State 17 - MSU can be tricky
at home and the folks in the Motor City Bowl (and
Columbus) are praying for an upset -- but with two
weeks to prepare and a defense that knows how to stuff
the spread, Penn State rolls here and packs their bags
for Miami.

* INDIANA 19, Purdue 16 - A meaningless Bucket game,
with the winner juuuust missing out on a bowl. I like
Indiana's toughness under Hoeppner and Big Red builds
for next season with a win.

* AUBURN 16, Alabama 6 - The Tide are beaten up and
still stunned from the miracle season going down the
drain -- War Eagle is getting the ground game going
again and wins the Iron Bowl at home.

* SOUTH CAROLINA 27, Clemson 20 - The Ole Ball Coach
has 'em excited down in Columbus and ends the year by
beating a Bowden and possibly heading to Tampa for the
New Year.

* VIRGINIA 24, Virginia Tech 14 - The Cavs have been
maddeningly inconsistent this year and I smell an
upset here to dash any remaining BCS hopes for the
Hokies.

* OKLAHOMA 35, Texas Tech 13 - The Raiders were
exposed last week and will be smacked around again by
the Sooners.

* USC 38, Fresno State 16 - If any team can match the
toughness of the Trojans, it's the Bulldogs.
Unfortunately for Pat Hill, they can't match USC's
talent.

* STANFORD 26, California 21 - Good game for the axe
with both teams fighting for bowl position. The
Cardinal catch the Bears moping after SC and hold on
for the win.

GO CATS!!! KEEP SWEET SIOUX!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!


	
		
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