Pigskin Picking

Given the holiday timing of this particular college football blog, I’m envisioning a football-themed Thanksgiving Day Turducken comprised of an Oregon Duck, a Stanford Cardinal, Boston College Eagle and Kansas Jayhawk.
I suppose that dish would be a Turduckinaleagawk.
Upon further review, I’ll stick with the turkey.
Your favorite football blogger went 13-5 last week, bringing the season total to 120-50.
If this week’s picks go awry, I’ll blame it on the flu virus that announced itself with an FM radio station of a temperature yesterday (100.6).
But I’m feeling confident about my predictions. This is my 100th blog post, after all, so I want it to be special.

NATIONAL GAMES OF NOTE

Today

No. 11 USC (8-2) at No. 7 Arizona State (9-1)
USC could find itself slumming in El Paso for the Sun Bowl if it loses to the Sun Devils. As for Arizona State, is it too early to start looking forward to next season’s game against Georgia? It could feature two national title contenders.
Prediction: Arizona State 34, USC 31

Friday

No. 13 Texas (9-2) at Texas A&M (6-5)
Texas hasn’t lost since Oct. 6, while Texas A&M hasn’t one since Oct. 20.
The Aggies have an excuse for their drought — four consecutive opponents ranked 13th or better in the top 25.
It has been widely speculated that Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione is done regardless of what happens in this game.
Prediction: Texas 34, Texas A&M 17

No. 17 Boise State (10-1) at No. 14 Hawaii (10-0)
Hawaii hasn’t faced particularly stiff competition this season, but the Warriors’ perfect record becomes more impressive when their frequent flyer miles are taken into account. Hawaii has covered more than 24,000 miles heading to and from the mainland this season. If the Warriors beat Boise State, they’ll have one more long trip ahead of them: New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl.
Prediction: Hawaii 42, Boise State 38

Saturday

No. 20 UConn (9-2) at No. 4 West Virginia (9-1)
West Virginia quarterback Pat White’s two fumbles allowed Cincinnati to hang around until late in the game last week. The Mountaineers are capable of putting away UConn early if they limit turnovers.
Prediction: West Virginia 31, UConn 20

No. 3 Missouri (10-1) at No. 2 Kansas (11-0)
Let’s see. Kansas hasn’t faced Oklahoma, Texas or Texas Tech this season. Gee, do you think that has been a factor at all in the Jayhawks’ 11-0 start.
Kansas has an excellent football team, but Missouri has more than enough offense to keep pace in an up-tempo game. The curse of the No. 2 ranking will continue.
Prediction: Missouri 45, Kansas 38

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE

Friday

Ole Miss (3-8) at Mississippi State (6-5)
I caught a lot of flak from Ole Miss fans before the season when I placed Ed Orgeron 12th in my preseason ranking of SEC coaches. I haven’t heard much from them since the Rebels 0-7 league start.
Ole Miss’ struggling offense will find its problems compounded by a Mississippi State defense that features defensive end Titus Brown (8 sacks) and linebacker Jamar Chaney (73 tackles).
Prediction: Mississippi State 17, Ole Miss 13

Arkansas (7-4) at No. 1 LSU (10-1)
Which coach is more likely to be gone at the end of the season?
LSU coach Les Miles to Michigan or Arkansas coach Houston Nutt to the unemployment line?
It’s possible that Nutt should have gotten more out of an offense that features stud running back Darren McFadden (138.1 rushing yards per game), but yardage will be tough to come by against LSU.
Prediction: LSU 35, Arkansas 20

Saturday

Alabama (6-5) at No. 25 Auburn (7-4)
Thanks to Alabama head coach Nick Saban, we now know that a loss to Louisiana-Monroe ranks slightly behind Sept. 11 and Pearl Harbor in the pantheon of American catastrophe.
If, for some reason, the Crimson Tide was to lose a sixth straight game to Auburn, we can only hope he resists the urge to liken it to the Trail of Tears or Gettysburg.
The better team normally wins in this rivalry, although there may be marginal separation now that -- miracle of miracles -- a handful of Alabama players suspended for improper receipt of textbooks have been cleared to play.
Prediction: Auburn 20, Alabama 16

No. 6 Georgia (9-2) at Georgia Tech (7-4)
A win would likely confirm Georgia for a reservation in the Sugar Bowl.
On the flip side, this game would mark the last stop on the Chan Gailey Farewell Tour. Georgia Tech athletic director Dan Radakovich has declined to discuss the future of the Yellow Jackets’ head coach, but let’s just say it’s in doubt.
Georgia has won the last six games in the rivalry.
Prediction: Georgia 31, Georgia Tech 17

No. 19 Tennessee (8-3) at Kentucky (7-4)
A win sends Tennessee to the SEC championship game. The Vols’ charmed run toward Atlanta continued thanks to a missed field goal by Vanderbilt in the last minute of regulation last week.
Tennessee has won 22 straight in the series, the second-longest winning streak over a single opponent in Division I-A.
Prediction: Tennessee 23, Kentucky 21

Wake Forest (7-4) at Vanderbilt (5-6)
This game could easily be referred to as the Brain Bowl.
Vanderbilt, which is trying to make itself bowl-eligible and end a quarter-century-long postseason drought, has experienced more than a few narrow losses this season. Look for that pattern to continue.
Prediction: Wake Forest 24, Vanderbilt 20

Florida State (7-4) at No. 12 Florida (8-3)
Is there anything Florida quarterback Tim Tebow can’t do?
Last week, he became the first player in Division I-A history to run and pass for 20 or more touchdowns in the same season. The Heisman Trophy candidate's dual threat capability should allow the Gators to win four straight in the rivalry for the first time since 1983-86.
Prediction: Florida 38, Florida State 28

No. 21 Clemson (8-3) at South Carolina (6-5)
Clemson lost a heart-breaker to Boston College, but the Tigers are fortunate to face a South Carolina team that is tanking. The Gamecocks have lost four straight. South Carolina quarterback Blake Mitchell has completed 84-of-138 passes for 970 yards and four touchdowns in his last three games.
Prediction: Clemson 30, South Carolina 27

ACC

Maryland (5-6) at N.C. State (5-6)
Both teams have missed prime opportunities to make themselves bowl-eligible in the last few weeks.
Prediction: N.C. State 24, Maryland 17

No. 8 Virginia Tech (9-2) at No. 16 Virginia (9-2)
Virginia Tech has owned this series of late, but Virginia has been surprisingly good this season thanks to its outstanding defense, clutch special teams and habit of winning close games.
Virginia defensive lineman Chris Long might prove to be better than his father, Howie, a former Oakland Raiders star.
Virginia Tech freshman quarterback Tyrod Taylor’s mobility will come into play.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 21, Virginia 17

Miami (5-6) at No. 15 Boston College (9-2)
Boston College QB Matt Ryan added to his list of Doug Flutie moments against Clemson last week. It’s doubtful he’ll need fourth quarter dramatics against one of the worst Miami teams in recent memory.
Prediction: Boston College 41, Miami 24

Duke (1-10) at North Carolina (3-8)
North Carolina coach Butch Davis could be a short-timer in Chapel Hill given Nebraska’s reported interest in him. If Davis bolts for Lincoln, they’ll always have the Duke game as a memory.
Prediction: UNC 27, Duke 13