This week’s college predictions

Weekends like the last one serve as the foundation for our college football addiction.
Just when you think the national picture is beginning to take form, some graffiti kid with a spray paint can comes along and defaces it.
The string of upsets sacked me for a 13-7 record last week, bringing my season total to 62-22. As always, feel free to dissect my picks and provide your own predictions in the discussion forum.

Southeastern Conference

No. 12 Georgia (4-1) at Tennessee (2-2)
Georgia has won three straight since a loss to South Carolina and has revenge on its mind after a 51-33 home loss to the Vols last season. The Bulldogs are accustomed to winning big games on the road, while Tennessee hasn’t exactly been at its best in games of consequence. The Vols allowed 104 points in losses to Cal and Florida.
Georgia tailbacks Thomas Brown and Knowshon Moreno will set the tone.
Prediction: Georgia 23, Tennessee 21

Vanderbilt (3-1) at Auburn (3-2)
Auburn’s offense seemed to finally gel last week against Florida. Quarterback Brandon Cox minimized his mistakes and tailbacks Ben Tate and Mario Fannin were effective behind an offensive line that started three freshmen. The return of top tailback Brad Lester from academic suspension can’t hurt.
Prediction: Auburn 31, Vanderbilt 20

Houston (2-2) at Alabama (3-2)
Alabama administrators punished a couple fraternities for a debris-throwing incident at the end of a home overtime loss to Georgia. Unfortunately for the Crimson Tide, some of the frat boys seem to have more accurate passing arms than John Parker Wilson. Wilson ranks 91st nationally in passing efficiency after a lackluster outing against Florida State last week. Houston’s defense should provide ample opportunity for improvement.
Prediction: Alabama 24, Houston 14

No. 9 Florida (4-1) at No. 1 LSU (5-0)
Florida already had enough of a challenge getting off the deck after a surprising loss to Auburn. It didn’t need the distraction of defensive back and captain Tony Joiner getting arrested for allegedly breaking into an impound lot to liberate his girlfriend’s car. The charges were dropped Friday morning. The teams have comparable athletic talent, but LSU will be energized by its raucous home crowd.
Prediction: LSU 27, Florida 20

Louisiana Tech (1-3) at Ole Miss (1-4)
I received a deluge of e-mails from angry Ole Miss fans before the season. They couldn’t understand why I ranked Ed Orgeron last in my preseason ranking of SEC coaches. Getting the drift now, Johnny Rebs?
Coach O won’t look so overwhelmed this week.
Prediction: Ole Miss 34, Louisiana Tech 21

UAB (1-3) at Mississippi State (3-2)
Mississippi State has been surprisingly competitive this season, and it’s a wonder considering the Bulldogs’ injuries at quarterback.
Prediction: Mississippi State 17, UAB 9

Chattanooga (1-3) at Arkansas (2-2)
In spite of the talent of tailbacks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, Arkansas looks like a team on the verge of disintegrating. Fortunately, a I-AA opponent will delay the collapse another week or so.
Prediction: Arkansas 55, Chattanooga 10

Atlantic Coast Conference

Georgia Tech (3-2) at Maryland (3-2)
The Yellow Jackets have been absolutely schizophrenic, losing to Virginia but beating a more talented Clemson team. Go figure. That means they should now lose to Maryland, but that’s probably what they want us to think, which means ... oh, the heck with it.
Prediction: Georgia Tech 19, Maryland 14

N.C. State (1-4) at Florida State (3-1)
Florida State may have moved a step closer to continuity at quarterback during last week’s win over Alabama. Xavier Lee, a mobile player with a strong arm, made a couple big plays in the second half to break that game open. Why he didn’t win the starting job earlier is a mystery.
Prediction: FSU 37, N.C. State 16

Miami (4-1) at North Carolina (1-4)
New UNC coach Butch Davis gets reunited with his old team.
Prediction: Miami 28, UNC 14

Bowling Green (3-1) at No. 7 Boston College (5-0)
Boston College toyed around with determined I-AA UMass last week, but eventually pulled away. The Eagles should follow a similar script this week against a decent Bowling Green team.
Prediction: Boston College 42, Bowling Green 27

Wake Forest (2-2) at Duke (1-4)
I’ll care about this matchup when it’s basketball season.
Prediction: Wake Forest 24, Duke 17

No. 15 Virginia Tech (4-1) at No. 22 Clemson (4-1)
Offensively-challenged Virginia Tech won’t be able to count on Clemson making the mistakes it did against Georgia Tech. The Tigers missed -- count 'em -- four field goals against the Yellow Jackets.
Prediction: Clemson 21, Virginia Tech 20

Virginia (4-1) at Middle Tennessee State (1-4)
Virginia hasn’t been spectacular by any means, but the Cavaliers just keep plugging along.
Prediction: Virginia 38, Middle Tennessee State 27


Local interest

Tuskegee (4-0) vs. Morehouse (4-1)
Tuskegee has won nine of the last 11 in the rivalry, but should get pressed by a newly-confident Morehouse team. The Golden Tigers’ advantage will be QB Jacary Atkinson.
Prediction: Tuskegee 27, Morehouse 20

Sun Belt

Troy (3-2) at Florida International (0-5)
The Trojans should enjoy what amounts to an open date. Florida International’s misery can be measured in this season’s point differential. The Panthers have been outscored 210-28.
Prediction: Troy 47, Florida International 13

National focus

No. 20 Cincinnati (5-0) at No. 21 Rutgers (3-1)
Cincinnati is off to its best start since rolling out to an 8-0 mark in 1954. Rutgers inexplicably got punked by Maryland last week, but the Scarlet Knights have been successful in bounce-back games. Since 2005, they’re 5-1 in games following a loss.
Prediction: Rutgers 35, Cincinnati 34

No. 5 Wisconsin (5-0) at Illinois (4-1)
The Illini happen to be a slight favorite, which Illinois coach Ron Zook labeled ‘‘ludicrous.’’ It’s just as incredible to me that Wisconsin has remained unbeaten despite experiencing a handful of close calls.
Prediction: Wisconsin 28, Illinois 26

Notre Dame (0-5) at UCLA (4-1)
Notre Dame has lost each of its games by double digits and is allowing an unconscionable 33.2 points per game. The Fighting Irish should fall to 0-6 for the first time in school history.
Prediction: UCLA 31, Notre Dame 14

No. 4 Ohio State (5-0) at No. 23 Purdue (5-0)
Five the last six games in the series have been decided by a touchdown or less. Ohio State’s defense has been granite, but Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter (18 TDs, three INTs) manages a game as well as anyone. I’m thinking upset.
Prediction: Purdue 28, Ohio State 24

No. 10 Oklahoma (4-1) vs. No. 19 Texas (4-1)
Texas and Oklahoma both turned in horrible performances last week, so this amounts to an elimination game -- both nationally and in the Big 12 South. No Big 12 South team has ever won the division after dropping its first two conference games. Texas has looked vulnerable for weeks.
Prediction: Oklahoma 38, Texas 27

No. 25 Nebraska (4-1) at No. 17 Missouri (4-0)
Two mediocre defenses + two productive quarterbacks = a whole bunch of fun.
Missouri QB Chase Daniel has passed for an average of 327 yards per game, but the Tigers rank just 104th in defending the pass.
Prediction: Nebraska 30, Missouri 28

Oklahoma State (3-2) at Texas A&M (4-1)
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy made headlines a couple weeks ago for directing a tirade at a female newspaper columnist over a critical piece she wrote. Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione made them last Friday when the San Antonio Express-News uncovered a money-making enterprise he had going on the side. Franchione was charging a small group of boosters $1,200 apiece for a newsletter detailing ‘‘inside’’ information, including injuries.
OSU players and fans have rallied around Gundy, while Franchione is being asked whether he’ll resign. You do the math.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 31, Texas A&M 28