There is only around five weeks left in the College Football season and it is the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Florida State Seminoles that have the inside track to the National Championship Game, although both the Oregon Ducks and the Ohio State Buckeyes will have something to say about that down the stretch.
With those four teams being unbeaten, and with every chance of finishing the year without a loss, it is a shame the four team Play Off system is still a year away from being the norm.
The Baylor Bears are another outstanding unbeaten team that would be in the mix, while all these teams still have some major obstacles to overcome and games continue escalating in size as the season draws to a close. This is also the time of the season where some players can begin separating their Draft stock compared with others as the pressure builds and the best players produce the goods, while some others will look to protect themselves from injury as their schools are already out of contention.
There are a number of big games on the slate this week, mostly the inter-State clash between the unbeaten Florida State Seminoles and the unbeaten Miami Hurricanes, and the picture of who will play for the Championship is potentially going to be a little clearer at the end of the weekend.
The picks have had a mixed season so far in the College Football games, but they remain in the profit and that is the first point of call. Hopefully I will be looking to kick on down the final few weeks and put together a solid run to increase those numbers.
South Florida Bulls @ Houston Cougars Pick: South Florida are off a big home loss to the Louisville Cardinals and it could be tough for them to raise their game against the Houston Cougars on a short week.
The game with Louisville would have been the big one for the Bulls and they are going to have a tough time slowing down Houston through the air or on the ground. Little time to prepare doesn't help their cause, and the Cougars have been a covering machine over the last twelve months.
It is possible to throw the ball against the Cougars Secondary, but Houston will be able to turn the ball over and I don't think South Florida have the consistency to keep this close as the Cougars pass rush will get close.
South Florida won't be able to run the ball that effectively either and I like the Cougars to win this by around 21 points.
Arizona State Sun Devils @ Washington State Cougars Pick: If you love watching games where the Quarter Back will look to air out the ball, this is going to be the game for you as two Pac-12 teams meet on Thursday night.
The difference between the teams comes in a couple of areas and should separate the teams when the game is in the books and that is the Arizona State running game and Arizona State pass Defense.
Out of the two teams, Arizona State will certainly have the better balance on Offense as they should be able to establish a very effective run game. That will at least keep the Cougar's Defense guessing as to the play call and I can't say it will be the same the other way around.
The Arizona State pass Defense should be able to generate more pressure up front, while they have been stronger against the pass compared with the Washington State unit, and that should lead to more chances for Interceptions and creating extra possessions for their own powerful Offense.
Washington State have lost 3 of their last 4 games by big margins and that is because they can get into a vicious cycle if their 'Air Raid' is a little out of sync or if they are pushing too much to get back into the game. The Sun Devils are certainly not as good on the road, but I like them to win and cover.
Northern Illinois Huskies @ Massachusetts Minutemen Pick: There is a real belief in the Northern Illinois camp that they can earn a BCS Bowl Game spot for the second season in a row, especially if they can run the table this season with the sole defeat in two seasons coming against the Florida State Seminoles.
They should prove far too strong for Massachusetts on both sides of the ball in this one and it will be tough for the Minutemen to keep up with Jordan Lynch and a powerful Offense.
Lynch should be able to use the read option to ensure the Northern Illinois Huskies can earn big chunks of yardage on the ground and I can see the Defense forcing a couple of turnovers and getting a couple of stops to help the road team pull away.
Winning the Conference is the key for Northern Illinois and they will be fully focused with a bye week next up on deck and I like the Huskies to cover.
Ohio State Buckeyes @ Purdue Boilermakers Pick: The bye came at a good time for Purdue as it may have given them the time they needed to get their Offense back on track, but this doesn't look the best place for them to do so.
Purdue's main problem will be the fact that teams have been able to defend against the pass to an efficient enough level as they don't respect the run game. It will be another tough test for them to establish a ground attack against Ohio State and that puts a lot of pressure on the Quarter Back to make plays from third and tough yardage situations.
I don't think Ohio State will have so many issues as they should be able to pound off large runs with their rushing attack and that will keep Braxton Miller in very strong positions when he wants to throw the ball too.
Ohio State have struggled against Purdue in recent games, but this Boilermakers team doesn't look as strong as those and they have had a few blow outs that will knock confidence. The Buckeyes should be able to take advantage too and they will want to keep winning big to give themselves a chance to steal votes off of Oregon and Florida State when it comes to the National Championship Game.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers @ Georgia State Panthers Pick: Western Kentucky have been a bit of a disappointment as far as I am concerned so far this season, but they have a great chance to get back in the win column against this Georgia State team.
I am expecting the Hilltoppers to punish this Defense on the ground and that will open up the passing lanes against a team that has allowed over 250 yards per game through the air. Western Kentucky should be able to move the chains at will, but they have to look after the ball better than they have if they are to secure the win.
Georgia State themselves have struggled to run the ball and that puts a lot of pressure on the Quarter Back to make the throws to keep them in the game. One dimensional Offenses rarely succeed when it comes down to it and I think the Panthers could be punished if they don't sustain drives and a tired Defense takes to the field too often to catch their breath.
The Hilltoppers should prove too strong barring silly turnovers and I expect them to win this by three Touchdowns.
Auburn Tigers @ Arkansas Razorbacks Pick: The Auburn Tigers have been one of the surprise stories of the season in the SEC and they are playing with a confidence that is going to make it tough for the Arkansas Razorbacks to stop their momentum which is facing downwards.
With a lot of defeats in a row, it is going to be tough for Arkansas to get up for this game, particularly in the manner they have been bashed up by the likes of Alabama in recent games.
There have been some tension in the media between the teams coming into this one, which should inspire the home team to at least make this a closer contest than I initially imagined. However, I still like Auburn's Offense to make the bigger plays and win by 10 or more.
Pittsburgh Panthers @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Pick: Homecoming will inspire the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, but the real key to the game is likely going to be their Defense that will be able to prevent Pittsburgh sustaining long drives.
If they can keep Tom Savage in third and long situations, it will be tough for Pittsburgh's Offensive Line to give the Quarter Back sustained protection throughout the game.
And Pittsburgh will need to sustain drives to give their Defense a chance to catch their breath against an Offense that will have long, pounding drives with their triple option.
Georgia Tech will look to tire out a Defense that faced the same schemes last weekend against Navy and it may be a big ask for the Panthers to really keep up in this game, especially with a big game against Notre Dame next up on deck.
Tennessee Volunteers @ Missouri Tigers Pick: Missouri took a very bad loss last week against the South Carolina Gamecocks, but playing at home and still having the SEC East in their control should see them bounce back.
The Defense is also taking on an inexperienced Quarter Back that Tennessee will be starting and while they have given up a lot of yards through the air, Missouri will be looking to get pressure up front and also use their ball-hawking Secondary to try and turn the ball over to their Offense.
Missouri will look to shut down Rajion Bell at the Running Back position and force the Volunteers to throw the ball and that is a battle the Tigers should be able to win. The Tigers should also have significantly more success when they have the ball in their hands as Tennessee haven't been effective at slowing teams down on the ground or through the air.
James Franklin is unlikely to be rushed back as Quarter Back this week, but I still like Missouri to bounce back from the disappointment of last week and win this game.
Colorado Buffaloes @ UCLA Bruins Pick: The biggest question is how UCLA will bounce back from losses to Stanford and Oregon, but I like them to stay focused with the Pac-12 South still within their grasp if they can get back to winning ways.
I don't think Colorado will have a lot of success when they have the ball, although they might get some garbage time yardage passing the ball, while UCLA should have their way with this Defense whether they run the ball or pass the ball.
The Bruins have been close to the best teams in this Conference, although still not quite good enough to win those games... Colorado don't fit into that category and I like UCLA to cover this big spread.
Miami Hurricanes @ Florida State Seminoles Pick: I have been a big fan of how Jameis Winston has gone about his business as Quarter Back of the Florida State Seminoles this season and I think his consistency compared with Stephen Morris will give the home team the real edge over the Miami Hurricanes.
Morris' inconsistencies just won't help against this Defense and there has to be a concern with the way the Hurricanes have been playing coming into this game. While they remain unbeaten, they have struggled to put away much lesser teams than Florida State.
You also can't ignore the manner in which the Seminoles are winning games and they won't take their foot off the gas in this game as they look to sway voters. Last weekend they could have beaten North Carolina State by 70 if they wanted to and I think the Seminoles could be very tough to slow down for the Hurricanes.
Turnovers could be critical for the Hurricanes if they are to cover, but this spread looks a little too low and I like Florida State to make another statement against a previously unbeaten team.
MY PICKS: Houston Cougars - 18 Points @ 1.92 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Arizona State Sun Devils - 11 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Northern Illinois Huskies - 26 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Ohio State Buckeyes - 31.5 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers - 18.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Auburn Tigers - 7.5 Points @ 1.95 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - 11 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Missouri Tigers - 10.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
UCLA Bruins - 28 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Florida State Seminoles - 21 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Week 9: 4-4, - 0.23 Units (8 Units Staked, - 2.865 Yield)
Week 8: 6-2, + 3.58 Units (8 Units Staked, + 44.75% Yield)
Week 7: 3-6, - 3.26 Units (9 Units Staked, - 36.22% Yield)
Week 6: 3-5, - 2.08 Units (8 Units Staked, - 26% Yield)
Week 5; 6-2, + 3.66 Units (8 Units Staked, + 45.75% Yield)
Week 4: 2-6, - 4.08 Units (8 Units Staked, - 51% Yield)
Week 3: 5-2-1, + 2.77 Units (8 Units Staked, + 34.63% Yield)
Week 2: 6-2, + 3.55 Units (8 Units Staked, + 44.38% Yield)
Week 1: 4-3, + 0.74 Units (7 Units Staked, + 10.57% Yield)
Season 2013: 39-32-1, + 4.65 Units (72 Units Staked, + 6.46% Yield)
Season 2012: 54-59-1 - 7.11 Units (114 Units Staked, - 6.24% Yield)
Season 2011: 63-36, + 23.25 Units (99 Units Staked, + 23.5% Yield)
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