[NU Sports] PIGSKIN PICKS - Week 11

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

PIGSKIN PICKS - WEEK 11
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November has arrived and things are moving quickly – Thursday Night football is back both in college and the pros this week so don’t forget the THURSDAY kickoff deadline!

Standings and polls will be out later, but for now here’s the lineup – remember the THURSDAY deadline!

In the college ranks, big win for the Cats last week in Minneapolis, but our prize is a date with a bye-week rested and angry Buckeye team. Oh well, hopefully I’m wrong in my NU pick again.

On the slate this week, a bunch of big games from the Big XII, SEC and Mountain West this week, along with the usual Big Ten intrigue. To the lineup …

COLLEGE PICKS
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BIG TEN
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Game  1: Illinois vs. Western Michigan (@ Detroit)
My pick: ILLINI … tempted for an upset here, but the Illini know they can’t drop many more and go bowling again.

Game  2: Wisconsin @ Indiana
My Pick: BADGERS … the tough part of the schedule is over now for Bucky, but they can’t have any upsets if they hope for the postseason.

Game  3: Penn State @ Iowa
My Pick: NITTANY LIONS … if this had been the week after the OSU game, I’d be tempted for an upset, but with the bye week to prepare, JoePa is tough and the Hawkeyes are coming off a crushing loss in Champaign where they had every opportunity to win and blew it.

Game  4: Michigan @ Minnesota
My Pick: GOPHERS … was Minny looking ahead last week? In any case, with the Wolverines bowl hopes dashed, they finally also surrender the jug as the Gophers try and piece their dream season back together again.

Game  5: Purdue @ Michigan State
My Pick: SPARTANS … MSU had their slump game last week and overcame it (barely), so it won’t happen again on Tiller’s farewell tour with Florida in sight for Sparty.

NATIONAL
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Game  6: Texas Christian @ Utah
My Pick: HORNED FROGS … as the season’s progressed, TCU has looked better and better while the Utes have impressed less. It will be close, but I like the battle-tested Frogs. Can a one-loss buster crash the BCS? Yup, and TCU will be that team.

Game  7: Maryland @ Virginia Tech
My Pick: HOKIES … like I said last week, the ACC has become a game of hot potato where whoever is in the lead one week immediately loses the next week to give it up. I’m convinced they’ll all wind up 6-6 and just draw straws for bowl bids at this rate.

Game  8: Alabama @ Louisiana State
My Pick: TIGERS … I’d be more sure if it were a night game, but Bama’s biggest two wins (Clemson and Georgia) have proven to be overrated as the season progressed. The Tigers have given up 50 twice, yes, but they’re proud and ready to pounce on their old coach at home. There’s a lot of hate mixed in the gumbo this week.

Game  9: Oklahoma State @ Texas Tech
My Pick: RED RAIDERS … I’m going back and forth here – a day game and I pick the Cowpokes, as they deserve to be rated above Oklahoma on the way they played Texas in Austin. But Lubbock gets crazy at night and the Red Raiders hang on to perfection for now … but a trip to Norman awaits.

Game 10: California @ Southern Cal
My Pick: TROJANS … not even close here, but SC really needs to hope the Beavers get beat, as they would be heading to Pasadena over SC should they win out.

And off the board …

Ohio State 31, NORTHWESTERN 13 – Again, I’d LOVE to be wrong this week, but Kafka won’t catch the Buckeyes by surprise like he did Minny and we’ll need to play a perfect game to stay with the Buckeyes. Especially now that they’re angry, coming off a bye week and healthier than ever with Wells and Pryor on offense.

Remember - THURSDAY DEADLINE!!!

GO CATS!!!
-SjT