[NU Sports] PIGSKIN PICKS - Week 13

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Not sure if standings will be out this weekend, but with the short week and travel coming up for many, I figured I'd get the lineup out ASAP ... plus there's no Saints game today (and hence no hope for my fantasy team), so the NFL is merely background distraction while grading papers. :)

But here's the lineup for week 13 of the college game. It won't be as chaotic as last week (B-C-MESS!!! B-C-MESS!!!) but hopefully we can get a few more upsets to push for that playoff. Lots of big rivalry games as well and plenty of appetizers on the plate, so no need to bite on the Thursday game between the once-proud Longhorns and once-vastly overrated Aggies as ATM says goodbye to the Lil' XII and hello to the SEC -- sure hope they learn how to play D, because while D may be optional at best in the Lil' XII, it's not that way in a real league like the SEC or Big Ten.


So, get these picks in by the kickoff of "Farmageddon" in Lincoln on Friday (the game may not be living up to its hype -- as UNL is finding life in the Big Ten tougher than the Lil' XII week in and week out -- but the nickname for the Corn Bowl is FRICKIN' AWESOME!!!). If the Big Ten title game has shown anything, it's that a playoff would NOT ruin the magic and meaning of the college football season, it would only add to it. All of the upsets, Hail Mary's, last-second finishes and games like the one Saturday in Madison mean even MORE now that a title game shot and Pasadena is on the line and ON THE FIELD instead of decided by obscure tiebreaks over who's been there most recently and such.

Have a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving! Picks in by Friday morning!


PIGSKIN PICKS - WEEK 13
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Name: 

BIG TEN
=======GAME 1: Iowa @ NebraskaWINNER: 

GAME 2: Illinois @ MinnesotaWINNER: 

GAME 3: Purdue @ IndianaWINNER: 

GAME 4: Ohio State @ MichiganWINNER: 

GAME 5: Penn State @ WisconsinWINNER: 

NATIONAL========GAME 6: Arkansas @ Louisiana State
WINNER: 

GAME 7: Alabama @ AuburnWINNER: 

GAME 8: Notre Dame @ Stanford
WINNER: 

GAME 9: UCLA @ Southern Cal
WINNER: 
GAME 10: Virginia Tech @ Virginia
WINNER: 
MY PICKS========GAME 1: NEBRASKA ... With a second B(C)S bid more likely for the league, the Huskers could be in Orlando if they win this one to salvage some pride after the Maize and Blue beatdownGAME 2: MINNESOTA ... No pig on the line, but the Gophers will still likely show more heart and effort than the Zookers, who quit this season five weeks ago
GAME 3: PURDUE ... Cats fans hope for a Hoosier upset for less bowl competition, but the Boilers own this series
GAME 4: MICHIGAN ... Brady Hoke is the national coach of the year and has Michigan firmly on the route back to the old days, when they owned the Buckeyes
GAME 5: WISCONSIN ... I'm hoping PSU can pull it off (and they played a LOT better in OSU than they did vs. UNL), but Wisky's at home and the Smug Smirk smells Indy
GAME 6: LSU ... I'm in the odd position of cheering for that slimeball Petrino and his Piggies to create B(C)S chaos, but it won't happen in Tiger Stadium
GAME 7: ALABAMA ... Again, I'm in the odd spot of cheering for the people who paid Cam Newton six figures for a title last year, but the SEC won't let Bama lose this one
GAME 8: STANFORD ... Not sure how the Treez are back in the top five after losing their one tough game all year by A TON, but they should blow out the overrated Irish here
GAME 9: SOUTHERN CAL ... The Trojans won't be in the Pac 10 title game, but they could have the honor of defeating the two teams in it over the past two weeks - How is UCLA in it?!?!
GAME 10: VIRGINIA ... It would be un-ACC like to have an 11-1 team in the top 5 at the end of the year, so go with the upset here!

And off the board, let's just say Sparty has nothing left to play for and we need the win - WE OWE THEM ONE, so BEAT SPARTY!!! Northwestern 27, Michigan State 24
Picks due by Friday kickoff!
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
-SjT
 
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STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
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