There isn't much time to go for the schools around the nation when it comes to the regular season and the final three weeks will all be about becoming Bowl eligible and winning Conference titles. Last week was a strong week for the picks and I hope I can keep finding the right teams to pick this week too to keep up what has been a good season so far.
Ohio State Buckeyes @ Illinois Fighting Illini Pick: There isn't much chance that Ohio State will get into the National Championship Game unless one of the top two teams are beaten down the stretch, but there is the motivation to put up big wins to try and sway some votes and sneak in.
The Buckeyes have had two weeks to prepare for this game after crushing Purdue and I expect the Offense to roll throughout this game.
With a spread of this size, the key is whether Illinois can put up enough points to at least keep this close and the Offense has shown they can get going.
However, this is probably the best Defense they have faced outside of Michigan State and Illinois only managed to score 3 points in that game. Indiana and Wisconsin have both put up at least 52 points against this Defense and I like the Buckeyes to win and cover, but keep an eye on the spread which is at least coming down towards the low 30 mark.
Troy Trojans @ Ole Miss Rebels Pick: The Troy Trojans will have to play a lot better than they did in their blow out loss at Mississippi State, but they have an Offense that should perhaps be given a little more respect than the 28 points suggests.
Turnovers would be a problem if Corey Robinson can't limit the mistakes as it is unlikely that the Trojans Defense will make enough plays to shut down this Offense with any regularity. Turning the ball over will make it tough to cover the spread, but Troy is certainly capable of putting up enough points to make a 4 Touchdown headstart look far too much.
A non-Conference game for Ole Miss may not have their full focus with the huge game against Missouri next on deck and the Trojans can put all their attention into this one with a bye next on deck. That spot also makes the points look attractive in this one.
UCF Knights @ Temple Owls Pick: UCF Knights have won their 2 big games so far this season in the Conference after taking out the previously unbeaten Louisville Cardinals and Houston Cougars. They did follow the win against Louisville with a blow out of the over-matched Connecticut Huskies and there is every chance they can win this one easily enough too.
The Knights should be able to do what they like on Offense and keep the chains moving throughout this game barring any mistakes they make with the ball in their hands.
If they can avoid those, I would expect the Knights to put up a high 30's in terms of points which will be a tough number for Temple to reach to grab the cover. Temple have been competitive in their last two games, but they could be forced to rely too much on throwing the ball to keep in this game and I can see the Knights having a couple of turnovers that helps them clear the number.
West Virginia Mountaineers @ Kansas Jayhawks Pick: This won't be an easy game for the West Virginia Mountaineers, but they have the added motivation to try and earn Bowl eligibility by winning their last 2 games and that may give them the edge in this one.
I expect the Mountaineers to score plenty of points, but the Defense is not one you can trust fully to slow down even an Offense that has struggled as much as the one Kansas has. West Virginia also need to avoid mistakes to help the Jayhawks stay in this one, but if they can do that, I do feel they hold the edge.
Kansas have also lost all 6 Conference games, all by double-digits, but I do think the Mountaineers can win by at least a Touchdown and cover this spread.
Oklahoma State Cowboys @ Texas Longhorns Pick: This is a fascinating game with plenty of Conference title implications, but it is one that I think the Oklahoma State Cowboys can win.
Mack Brown was under immense pressure at Texas after the start the Longhorns made to the season, but losing Jonathan Gray is going to be tough with the back up Quarter Back Case McCoy already starting.
McCoy has to avoid mistakes against a turnover-creating Defense that Oklahoma State will be sending on to the field and I can see a turnover or two helping the Cowboys come through.
Clint Chelf will have to limit his own mistakes to ensure that happens, but I do like the Cowboys to come through one of the big games of the week.
Miami Hurricanes @ Duke Blue Devils Pick: The Miami Hurricanes are off back to back heavy defeats that has turned what was a promising season a little sour over the last couple of weeks. Now they have to find a way to replace Duke Johnson against a surprisingly tough Duke Blue Devils team that is very capable of causing the upset.
Stephen Morris has been guilty of throwing some picks and Duke can turn the ball over, as shown in their win last week.
However, the Blue Devils have to look after the ball better when they do have it, while they may draw confidence from the tiredness and disappointment Miami's Defense played with last week in the loss to Virginia Tech. Duke are playing with a bunch of confidence and they could make this competitive enough to keep within the spread.
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Mississippi State Bulldogs Pick: It would be a surprise if the Mississippi State Bulldogs Offense is shut down completely by the Alabama Defense, but I do think the Crimson Tide are going to do enough to at least prevent sustained drives taking place against them.
On the other hand, I do think Alabama are going to wear down this Defense by pounding them on the ground and opening up the passing lanes for AJ McCarron.
The Crimson Tide have plenty of momentum behind them and have been grinding teams out early and pounding them late. I think the Bulldogs can make this a game early, but they may lose focus with 'easier' potential wins in their last 2 games and they might fall apart as the game goes on and allow Alabama to cover.
Stanford Cardinal @ USC Trojans Pick: Stanford are off a huge win over Oregon which will have their supporters wondering what could have been bar that surprise loss to Utah earlier in the season.
They now have a chance to take out another quality team in the improving USC Trojans, and the team that has won the last 4 games in the series should have a chance to do that.
Stanford run the ball well and stop the run and I just think there is a difference in strength that will be shown in this game. The spread is just over the key number here, but I do think Stanford are going to back up their win over Oregon and get set to repeat as Pac-12 Champions.
MY PICKS: Ohio State Buckeyes - 33 Points @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Troy Trojans + 28 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
UCF Knights - 16.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
West Virginia Mountaineers - 6.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Oklahoma State Cowboys - 3 Points @ 2.05 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Duke Blue Devils + 3.5 Points @ 1.95 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Alabama Crimson Tide - 23 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Stanford Cardinal - 3.5 Points @ 2.00 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Week 11: 7-2, + 4.59 Units (9 Units Staked, + 51% Yield)
Week 10: 6-3-1, + 2.69 Units (10 Units Staked, + 26.9% Yield)
Week 9: 4-4, - 0.23 Units (8 Units Staked, - 2.86% 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: 52-37-2, + 11.93 Units (91 Units Staked, + 13.11% 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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