#8 Florida (-5.5) vs #6 Georgia
UI Pike: I think Florida is ready to break out here. I think Tim Tebow is ready to show that last year’s Heisman win wasn’t a fluke and the Gators pull the off the victory here. This line is really surprising me, but even as the 5.5 favorites, I like the Gators to cover because…. “It’s great… to be… a FLORIDA GATOR”
Detlef: I've always wanted to attend the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. This year's game has added spice due to last year's UGa beatdown of the mighty Gators and the infamous "Gator Stomp" after UGa scored first last year. Emotions are running so high for this one that Urban Meyer imposed a gag order on his team. UGa is coming off a very impressive road win in Baton Rouge. However, I say Florida wins and covers late, only because of my man-crush on Florida AD Jeremy Foley. FLORIDA.
bjl63: Another cocktail party comes to Jacksonville...All folks remember from last year is Georgia's full team bum rush after a TD and all they can talk about now is what Florida is going to do about it. Frankly, I don't expect fireworks from Saint Urban's crew other than to try to hit the Bulldogs in the mouth on every play. I am floored by the point spread here because I think Georgia is the superior football team. Moreno is the best player on the field and, frankly, Stafford has had every bit as good a year as Mr. Heisman. Ultimately, look for Moreno to have yet another huge game and for the Dawgs to prevail in yet another compelling SEC tilt. Georgia 34, Florida 30.
Hector Villanueva: One of many must-see college football games/environments.....the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville. Florida has dominated this series in recent memory winning, I believe, 13 out of the last 15 matchups. However, last year's victory by Georgia was quite memorable with the whole Georgia team dancing on the field after one of their opening touchdowns. The Bulldogs finally put it all together last week at LSU and finally showed what many thought they should be doing to most every opponent this year! Florida has been sharp of late, so this week's matchup is very intriguing. I think the Gators have a bitter taste in their mouth from last year and will respond. However, Georgia is just too good for Florida to cover this number. Florida wins by a field goal, but UGA covers the number. Georgia.
Victory Illinois Varsity: Georgia
Brumby: Florida
#1 Texas (-6) @ #7 Texas Tech
UI Pike: Wow, this is going to be FUN to watch! There are going to be an unbelievable amount of points scored in this game... by the Longhorns. I think that Texas’ defense will man-up here, and will present problems for the Red Raiders. They will not stop the high-powered attack that Tech has, however, I think they will slow it down, keeping the Tech offense under their normal point production. Look for a lot of 5 to 7 yard gains for the Tech, but not a lot of big plays. However, there is no way in hell that the Texas Tech even has a prayer of slowing down Heisman-winner-to-be Colt McCoy. I like the Horns to cover, with a score something like 49-21.
Detlef: It is put up or shut up time for my guy Mike Leach (like me, he has a law degree. LAM!) Can Texas Tech play defense in a big game? Meantime, Texas got tested at home last week vs. Oklahoma State. I think that game will help the Longhorns focus and cover on a late Colt McCoy touchdown as his campaign to win the Heisman Trophy gets more support.
bjl63: ESPN's College Game Day travels to Middle of Nowhere, TX for the biggest game ever played in Lubbock. Tech QB Graham Harrell and WR Michael Crabtree put up video game numbers every week while UT's Colt McCoy has only been the best, and most efficient, player in the country. While McCoy is the Heisman front-runner today, if Harrell gets the win and puts up more ridiculous numbers, he may vault to the head of the list. The Longhorns are in the 4th week of a brutal gauntlet of a schedule where Tech is the 4th consecutive top 10 opponent they have faces. This one, however, is the first one that is neither a home or neutral site game. Tech showed Kansas is a pretender last week, but the Horns are another animal. Look for Tech to start strong and the Horns to gradually chip away but come up oh so short. Texas Tech 47, Texas 45
Hector Villanueva: Heavyweight fight Round #4 for the Longhorns this week. Texas has responded to the bell 3 straight weeks by pounding 2 Top 10 teams and then doing just enough to beat another, very good, Top 10, Oklahoma State team. While Kansas is a little bit down this year, Texas Tech finally made a believer out of me in their whomping at Kansas. Plenty of fireworks this week on ABC (unlike last week's Big Ten tilt at the Horseshoe) and this game might go 4+ hours. Keep your eyes open, as you might miss a couple of scores in this one. These two teams could EACH score more points in this game than Illinois will average on the basketball court this season. Texas responds again and beats Texas Tech by 2 scores. I'm thinking something like 55-45. Hook 'em Horns! Texas
Victory Illinois Varsity: Texas
Brumby: Texas
Northwestern @ #17 Minnesota (-6)
UI Pike: Northwestern is coming off a disappointing loss to the TERRIBLE IU Hoosiers last week, and thus will be ultra-focused and ready to play. I see the Minnesota defense struggling, and not only do I see the Wildcats covering the spread, but I look for them to pull off the victory, winning by 3 on the road up in the Homer Dome.
Detlef: Ah, the Mildcats are who we thought they were: a colossal fraud. Further, their running back Tyrell Sutton is out for the rest of the regular season (at least) with wrist surgery, and their quarterback C.J. Bacher is questionable with a hammy. Meantime, my guy Tim Brewster has it rolling up in the Roller Dome and I expect the Golden Gophers to easily cover. MINNESOTA.
bjl63: Northwestern was exposed as a fraud last week, and to make matters worse, they lost their two best players for the foreseeable future. RB Tyrell Sutton is out until bowl season at best, and QB CJ Bacher is nursing a hamstring which puts him on the bench for at least this week. Minnesota, on the other hand, still has beaten no one (the Illini proving fairly fraudulent themselves thus far), but give them credit for beating those put in front of them. Being at home and facing a depleted NU offense gives them yet another winnable game. Many Illini fans badly wanted Tim Brewster to come home, but the Football Guy thought differently and we are now seeing that Brewster can coach a little bit. If we can take any solace, it;s that I doubt he remains at Minnesota for too long. If he has another good year or two, greener pastures will await. Minnesota 24, Northwestern 13
Hector Villanueva: Tim Brewster Gophers are 7-1! Yes, Minnesota is 7-1, bowl eligble, and only two wins away from a New Year's Day bowl berth! All Hail AD Joe Maturi and wave your Tubby Towel!!! Hopefully, writers in M-SP still aren't pining for Glen Mason any longer up in the Twin Cities! Brewster is by far the Big Ten Coach of the Year and what this Gopher team has done could be almost as impressive as Illinois' run to the Rose Bowl last season. Northwestern, well, we have seen the real Northwestern team that I knew was there show up the last several weeks. They were pretenders, but will still compete for a bowl berth. With injuries to Sutton and Bacher, the Gophers are just too much in the home confines of the Hump Dome this week. Minnesota wins and covers the number. Minnesota
Victory Illinois Varsity: Northwestern
Brumby: Minnesota
Pittsburgh @ Notre Dame (-5.5)
UI Pike: My despise for everything Notre Dame is well documented, and I would love to see them lose this game. However, I think Pitt is THAT bad that the Fighting Irish will pull off a 10 point victory here. I hope I’m wrong.
Detlef: I was excited about the Panthers until Rutgers dropped 54 points on them at home. Come on Wanny! Running back LeSean McCoy is a big weapon. Alas, with Dave Wannstedt, failure is always an option. I expect the Panthers to lead going into the fourth quarter and blow it due to poor coaching, giving the Fighting Irish the dreaded back door cover. NOTRE DAME.
bjl63: Wanny vs the fat man. Thanks to an improved offense and an easier schedule than normal, Coach Front Butt has his Irish back on the map. Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, Bear fans favorite whipping boy overcame a bad opening day loss to reel off a nice winning streak only to come back down to earth last week with a loss to a horrible Rutgers team. I have no desire to watch and will root hard for Wanny, but ND gets it done rather easily. ND 30, Pitt 20
Hector Villanueva: Can I root for a scoreless tie in this game? Or for the game to be cancelled due to lightning and snow? The battle of pretty much two things I love to hate........Dave "all of the pieces are in place" Wannestadt and Fat Oaf Charlie Weis. Are there 2 more overrated coaches in all of football today than these two jag-offs? Pitt has rebounded nicely since their opening week embarrassment loss to Bowling Green. That was until last week, when a down Rutgers team just lambasted the Panthers. Notre Dame, too, has rebounded nicely since nearly losing at home to SDSU. But, who have they really played? Nobody that is any good. This should be a test for both teams and a pretty good game. Pitt has a very good defense and has one of the better RB's in college football in LeSean McCoy. However, ND is at home and I think they will win this game and cover the number. The Legend of Jimmy Clausen will start to grow in South Bend......take Notre Dame!
Victory Illinois Varsity: Notre Dame
Brumby: Notre Dame
Iowa @ Illinois (-2)
UI Pike: I like the Hawkeyes for two reasons – 1) they are coming off a bye week giving the ‘Hawks 2 weeks to gameplan for the Illini spread attack which means that 2) Norm Parker’s defense will have two weeks to scheme to stop the Juice Williams-led spread attack. Iowa’s defense has owned Illinois, and while I’d like to think that Illinois is going to come out ready to play, I just see the Hawkeyes winning a close, low-scoring game by a score of 17-14.
Detlef: Yes, I am still angry about Minnesota. Yes, I am still angry about going to Wisconsin last week, blowing the lead, and listening to Mrs. Detlef laugh at me all the way back to the 773. My favorite computer game is Footbal Manager 08 where you can manage any soccer team in the world. One of the halftime talks you can give when your team is down at halftime is "Where is the passion, lads?" That is what Ron Zook should be saying to his team all this week. If this team has any pride and passion, they will beat iowa by a) stacking the line of scrimmage on defense; b) testing the safeties on offense; c) whupping some rear end on special teams. Because of my hatred for iowa, and because I bel I eve, take the beloved. ILLINOIS.
bjl63: Will the real Illini please stand up? While I cannot complain about being back to a competitive level, this team reminds me way to much of the Rice-Hardy era where we have a talented team that continually frustrates us with their up-and-down intensity and fundamental play. The Illini team that showed up against IU beats Wisconsin a week ago, but instead they showed little intensity or urgency and let a team down on itself walk all over them. Many say that it is now do-or-die to get into a good bowl and that they cannot let down any more. Well, I ain't buying that as they apparently learned little from Lafayette or Minnesota. I think the Illini come out with a purpose this week as Iowa is still a big name in Big Ten circles and the lights will shine a little brighter with the 2:30 kickoff. Iowa's DC Norm Parker will try to baffle Juice & Co. and unless Lox shows he can adjust he probably will. Still, I expect us to finally (!) pick off a pass or two and eke out a win in an exciting nail biter. Perhaps I need to put down the Kool-Aid, but I still am not overly impressed by Iowa aside from RB Shonn Greene. Illinois 24, Iowa 20
Hector Villanueva: I am still sick to this very minute about Illinois' lackluster and lifeless performance against Wisconsin last week. It really, really still aggrevates and frustrates me how this team refuses to show up and play football just ONCE a week! Very, very troubling news for the Illini and a pattern that is not a good one to form. Iowa, on the other hand, is beginning to play good football and their defense is always tough led by Def. Coordinator Norm Parker. Expect a very close and very intense game this week. If Illinois can somehow find the big play on offense and NOT turn the ball over, they will win. If Iowa forces Illinois into 10+ play drives that they must sustain to score, than Iowa will win. Either way, should be a great great game to see in Champaign. It will be tight and fairly low scoring. But, the Illini defy the experts and somehow manage to find a way to win the game on a late field goal. Sorry, Sr. y Sra. Villanueva (my Mom and Dad.....Hawkeye Alums), Illinois wins today and covers the number! Illinois.
Victory Illinois Varsity: Illinois (36-20)
Brumby: Illinois