Pigskin picking

If you’re looking for something more dubious than Hawaii’s 8-0 record, look no further than my weekend college football picks.
I went a ho-hum 9-5 last week, thanks to by ability to underestimate Arkansas and overstate the capability of Boston College. The season total now stands at 95-39.
But we’re moving on.
As Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey said following his team’s nationally-televised pratfall against Virginia Tech, there’s still a lot to play for.

SEC

No. 18 Auburn (7-3) at No. 10 Georgia (7-2)
You know how this rivalry is supposed to work. The visiting team wins. Auburn has won six of its last seven in Sanford Stadium.
Georgia has plenty of motivation to change that. The Bulldogs could play their way into the SEC East title and a Sugar Bowl berth. That's so powerful that head coach Mark Richt really shouldn't bother with the artificial emotion-producer of breaking out the black jerseys.
Still, historical trends mean something.
Prediction: Auburn 20, Georgia 16

No. 21 Alabama (6-3) at Mississippi State (5-4)
Mississippi State ranks second in the league in red zone offensive touchdowns and red zone defense. Don't be surprised if the Bulldogs make it interesting.
Prediction: Alabama 17, Mississippi State 13

No. 17 Florida (6-3) at South Carolina (6-4)
Tim Tebow gets all the love, but Florida wide receiver/tailback Percy Harvin has two straight 100-yard rushing performances to his credit. After watching what Darren McFadden and Felix Jones did to South Carolina last week, Florida coach Urban Meyer should let him have as many carries as he needs to get a third.
Prediction: Florida 28, South Carolina 20

Arkansas (6-3) at No. 22 Tennessee (6-3)
McFadden resurrected his Heisman Trophy hopes with an SEC record 321 yards against South Carolina last week. Felix Jones (114.3 yards per game) also has the potential to devastate a Tennessee defense that allows 412 total yards per game.
Prediction: Arkansas 35, Tennessee 24

Louisiana Tech (4-5) at No. 2 LSU (8-1)
LSU coach Les Miles can put away his horseshoe. The Tigers won’t need fourth quarter good fortune this week.
Prediction: LSU 42, Louisiana Tech 13

No. 25 Kentucky (6-3) at Vanderbilt (5-4)
The Vanderbilt Bowl Watch continues. The Commodores need just one more win to become eligible for postseason play for the first time in a quarter century.
Prediction: Kentucky 31, Vanderbilt 21

ACC

Georgia Tech (5-4) at Duke (1-8)
If Georgia Tech plays the way it did in last Thursday’s home loss to Virginia Tech, this won’t be a gimme.
Prediction: Georgia Tech 17, Duke 6

Florida State (6-3) at No. 11 Virginia Tech (7-2)
Virginia Tech quarterback Sean Glennon has been solid of late, while Florida State QB Drew Weatherford and the Seminoles’ offense are starting to look alive.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 24, Florida State 21

No. 23 Virginia (8-2) at Miami (5-4)
Virginia might be the least impressive of the two-loss teams, but the Cavaliers find a way to get it done.
Prediction: Virginia 20, Miami 17

No. 8 Boston College (8-1) at Maryland (4-5)
Boston College QB Matt Ryan threw for 415 yards against Florida State, but Matty Ice’s teammates melted under pressure. The Eagles shouldn't have any trouble getting back on track this week.
Prediction: B.C. 31, Maryland 13

North Carolina (3-6) at N.C. State (4-5)
It doesn’t seem right, but UNC coach Butch Davis’ name is coming up as a candidate for various Big 12 job searches.
Prediction: UNC 20, N.C. State 13

Wake Forest (6-3) at No. 20 Clemson (7-2)
Clemson’s tailback tandem of James Davis and C.J. Spiller should provide the edge in a tough matchup.
Prediction: Clemson 27, Wake Forest 17

National games of interest

Texas A&M (6-4) at No. 7 Missouri (8-1)
Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne said recently that he would wait until the end of the season to decide the future of head coach Dennis Franchione. What's left to decide? The Aggies are a combined 2-12 against Big 12 rivals Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma under Fran’s watch. Consider this the continuation of his farewell tour.
Prediction: Missouri 41, Texas A&M 21

Texas Tech (7-3) at No. 15 Texas (8-2)
Texas running back Jamaal Charles has turned in monster performances the last two weeks. Texas Tech leads the nation in passing offense (482.1 yards per game), but the Red Raiders’ defense had better gang tackle Charles.
Prediction: Texas 34, Texas Tech 30

No. 5 Kansas (9-0) at Oklahoma State (5-4)
Best ESPN College GameDay sign seen so far this season: ‘‘Our coach can eat your coach,’’ which featured a mug shot of hefty Kansas coach Mark Mangino. He could singlehandedly star in the hit comedy ‘‘Two and a Half Men’’ by himself. The Jayhawks appear to have a similarly prodigous appetite for destruction as evidenced by their 76-39 rout of Nebraska last week.
Prediction: Kansas 49, Oklahoma State 28

No. 13 Michigan (8-2) at Wisconsin (7-3)
Wisconsin scared Ohio State for a little while last weekend. The Badgers have won 13 straight at home, but Michigan has been on a roll since opening losses to Appalachian State and Oregon. Michigan receiver Mario Manningham (59 catches, 949 yards, nine TDs) has been clutch of late.
Prediction: Michigan 21, Wisconsin 17

Illinois (7-3) at No. 1 Ohio State (10-0)
Ohio State’s defense has allowed just seven touchdowns this season. They’ll get tested by Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall (1,314 yards). The Illini’s defense, which has registered 34 sacks, could be a surprise. Got a hunch something crazy could happen.
Prediction: Illinois 21, Ohio State 20

No. 12 Southern Cal (7-2) at No. 24 Cal (6-3)
As good as this game could be, a better confrontation will occur outside the stadium. Cal officials will battle activists perched in a grove of trees slated for destruction.
Prediction: USC 27, Cal 20