This week’s pigskin picks

Weekends like the last one show me why I didn’t become an oddsmaker. I went an awful 8-8, bringing my season record to 85-33. Undaunted, I’m back for more punishment.

Tonight

No. 2 Boston College (7-0) at No. 8 Virginia Tech (6-1)
All of the national coach of the year awards should be two-man races involving Boston College’s Jeff Jagodzinski and South Florida’s Jim Leavitt. Jagodzinski has been nothing short of remarkable in his first year as a head coach. Virginia Tech’s defense and special teams could contribute big plays, but the Eagles are solid in all phases.
Prediction: Boston College 24, Virginia Tech 16

Saturday

SEC

No. 20 Georgia (5-2) at No. 9 Florida (5-2)
If Georgia wins, it could sneak into the SEC championship game through the back door. That would have been a tall order with a fully healthy team. With so many injuries at running back, it will be next to impossible.
Prediction: Florida 30, Georgia 21

Ole Miss (2-6) at No. 23 Auburn (5-3)
An improbable last-second touchdown pass at LSU added to Auburn’s collection of kick-in-the-gut defeats started by South Florida and Mississippi State. The Tigers are, without argument, the best three-loss team in the country.
Prediction: Auburn 34, Ole Miss 14

No. 15 South Carolina (6-2) at Tennessee (4-3)
Which version of the Vols will show up? The fluid team that ground up Georgia or the timid bunch that curled up in the fetal position in Tuscaloosa?
South Carolina should be ready to release some anger after losing to Vanderbilt. If the Gamecocks win, it will magnify the issue of Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer’s job security.
Prediction: South Carolina 20, Tennessee 17

Mississippi State (4-4) at No. 14 Kentucky (6-2)
Andre Woodson threw for five touchdowns and no interceptions last weekend in Kentucky’s loss to Florida. What do you suppose he’ll do against a lesser opponent?
Prediction: Kentucky 41, Mississippi State 20

Miami-Ohio (4-4) at Vanderbilt (4-3)
The Commodores inch a step closer to bowl eligibility against the other Miami.
Prediction: Vanderbilt 34, Miami-Ohio 21

ACC

Clemson (5-2) at Maryland (4-3)
Clemson teams under Tommy Bowden always have the capacity to disappoint, but the Tigers’ defense can be smothering.
Prediction: Clemson 27, Maryland 17

No. 21 Virginia (7-1) at N.C. State (2-5)
The Cavaliers have one of the least productive offenses in Division I. How did Virginia get into the Top 25? We’ll have more time to ponder that question since they’ll stick around for at least one more week.
Prediction: Virginia 21, N.C. State 14

Duke (1-6) at Florida State (4-3)
Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi suggested this week that it might be time for Florida State coach Bobby Bowden to bow out gracefully and enjoy retirement. A loss to Duke might make him more inclined to do that.
Prediction: Florida State 31, Duke 10

North Carolina (2-5) at Wake Forest (5-2)
Is it basketball season yet?
Prediction: Wake Forest 23, North Carolina 17

Other games of interest

Troy (5-2) at Arkansas State (3-4)
Troy turned the ball over seven times last week against North Texas and still won 52-7. The Trojans’ level of firepower is especially frightening in such a weak conference.
Prediction: Troy 42, Arkansas State 17

No. 6 West Virginia (6-1) at No. 25 Rutgers (5-2)
Rutgers snatched the Cinderella slipper off South Florida’s foot a couple weeks ago. Tailback Ray Rice can be dynamic, but West Virginia features an inordinate amount of team speed on offense. Plus, the Mountaineers can work their way back into BCS title game contention -- assuming, there are more upsets.
Prediction: West Virginia 28, Rutgers 24

No. 11 South Florida (6-1) at UConn (6-1)
Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese actually called Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich to apologize for a series of botched calls that factored into UConn’s win over the Cardinals last week. South Florida may have to apologize for wiping its feet on a fraud 1-loss team.
Prediction: South Florida 31, UConn 20

No. 1 Ohio State (8-0) at No. 24 Penn State (6-2)
Ohio State won’t run the table, but it won’t pick up its loss in Happy Valley. The Buckeyes’ defense is playing too well to get jumped by a limited Penn State offense.
Prediction: Ohio State 20, Penn State 10

No. 12 Kansas (7-0) at Texas A&M (6-2)
Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione has been on the hotseat, partly because of the little $1,200 a pop newletter side business he had going. Problem is, how do you fire a coach who could guide his team to a nine-win season?
Prediction: Texas A&M 34, Kansas 28

No. 9 Southern Cal (6-1) at No. 5 Oregon (6-1)
Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon has played as well as anyone since its loss to Cal. Time for some new blood to replace the Pac-10 blueblood in the BCS.
Prediction: Oregon 27, USC 24