Pick/ Counter Pick: Week 11 (the rest)

Well, you can say that the week started out bad for both of us with the 45-14 shellacking that Testicular Tech hung on the Huskies, but there is Hope for the future. Yes we can! (avoid going 5-8).


7:30 PM ET 11/6 ESPN #23 Maryland (6-2, 3-1) @Virginia Tech (5-3, 2-2) -3.5.

Hemlock Philosopher: Mmm, is that the smell of Blacksburg on a Thursday night or is it just roasting chicken coated with herbs de Provance? The Hokies have a tradition of shellacking upstart programs on Thursday nights on ESPN in Blacksburg. Maryland is an upstart (after losing to currently 2-6 Sun Belt conference MTSU) they beat Cal and are 3-1 in the ACC. Both teams are dealing with injuries to key players (MD RB Da'Rel Scott and VT QBs Taylor and Glennon). I look for VT to control the ball and the game. VT 23-17. Confidence 4.

MGoBastard: HP, since when does the acrid aroma of burning furniture remind you of chicken with herbs d'provance? I digress, yet, I'm going with you on the pick. The question is will VT be able to outscore their Fraternities in burnt coaches? VT ugly 16 - 10. Confidence 3.

8:00 PM ET 11/6 CSTV #12 TCU (9-1, 6-0) -2.5 @#8 Utah (9-0, 5-0).

Hemlock Philosopher: Talk about streaks - Thursday night home dogs are 6-0 ATS in W13 games. Last week I messed with the streak and got beat. This week I will go against my instinct and stay with the streak. I think TCU is on a war path since being thrown to the lions at Oklahoma. Utah 22-21. Confidence 13.

MGoBastard: Utah should lose by 2 TDs or more. Yet, its Thursday night and they're at home and that has been the only thing that has mattered. I'm riding this horse until it dies. Utah 17-16. Confidence 12.

12:00 PM ET 11/7 GP Louisville (5-2, 1-2) @Pittsburgh (6-2, 2-1) -6.5

Hemlock Philosopher: Pitt is playing the MD 20/20 role in the Big East. At times they look great - beating ND in triple OT - and at times they look awful - giving up 54 to Rutgers at home. Louisville just lost to !!!Syracuse!!! for the second time in a row. They got gashed by a no-name RB. McCoy and Stephens-Howling are both well known and could explode against a team known for weak run D. Pitt, big, 35-21. Confidence 3.

MGoBastard: okay, its a bit late on Friday, but a night of drinking Victory and watching Rocky week on AMC has me in a winning mood.

Since I can't match my futility for the year, what the hell? Let's pick while I'm drunk, its a tough week and coin flips are great.

Pitt/Lousville. Pitt brings in the mojo after beating ND in 4 OT's. Many called it a "thriller", I call it the most boring 4 overtime game ever witnessed. I was waiting for some one to fail and just hoping ND kept it under 6. Louisville has a flaccid run D, but brings a decent passing offense. Pitt's crew runs wild, but so does UL in the passing game - remember pitt gave up 54 to rutgers! Pitt wins, but doesn't cover Pitt 43-42.

12:00 PM ET 11/7 GP #20 Georgia Tech (7-2, 4-2) @#19 North Carolina (6-2, 2-2) -4.5

Hemlock Philosopher: UNC is mystifying. One week they'll jack up Rutgers or beat Miami at home and another they'll lose to a team from Virginia. Rain is in the forecast, which could muddle a lot of things on offense. GT for the cover, UNC for the win. UNC 24-21. Confidence 5.

MGoBastard: I thought that FSU would pull it off against GT and they almost came back. A late fumble stymied that. UNC is bringing the experience of a great coach and solid team. I don't think that they can solve the triple option as Paul Johnson continues to wake what is a true sleeping Giant. GT 34-27.

12:00 PM ET 11/7 ESPN2 #11 Ohio State (7-2, 4-1) -11 @#24 Northwestern (7-2, 3-2)

Hemlock Philosopher: Ohio State is going to skullfuck NW. Kafka will metamorphose into a roach and get squashed by the Little Animal. OSU 35-3. Lock.

MGoBastard: On paper this is a woodshedding. Many in the W13 are locking tOSU. I hate those fuckers. They'll win, but cover? Yeah, they do that too. tOSU 38-10.

12:00 PM ET 11/7 ESPN Michigan (2-7, 1-4) @Minnesota (7-2, 3-2) -8.

Hemlock Philosopher: I went against the streak last week and picked Michigan to cover the -1.5 @Purdump. We scored 42... But we gave up 48. Threet is likely out. Defense sucks. Loss. Big. Minnesota 42-21. Confidence 2.

MGoBastard: Damn. We're 8 pt dogs to Minny? This is the game that either we pull it together or the wheels fall off the cart en route to 2-10. I have to have hope. The Offense (injured) has shown a little spark but the D is not that bad They have to win something for us, right? Feagin starts and runs wild! Michigan 27-24. PS we've never lost in the metrodump!!! ever! please keep something alive for us RR!

3:30 PM ET 11/7 CBS #1 Alabama (9-0, 5-0) -3.5 @#16 LSU (6-2, 3-2).

Hemlock Philosopher: For some reason I think LSU is going to give Bama fits. Yes they got destroyed by GA and UF, but those were slashing speed teams that got the corner versus LSU's power defense. Alabama is a smash mouth team that will play to LSU's strengths. This is a trenches type game and LSU will look for vengeance against it's former coach. Bama wins, but close. Bama 21-20. Confidence 10.

MGoBastard: LSU's Mojo is pretty much gone. kcUF and UGA proved that they have no D. Roll Tide, Roll. Bama 45-28. I would lock it but...

3:30 PM ET 11/7 ABC-R #3 Penn State (9-0, 5-0) -7.5 @Iowa (5-4, 2-3).

Hemlock Philosopher: Penn State is being overlooked for the MNC game and they are not happy about it. They best way to not get overlooked: Blow the doors off your opponent. Iowa missed lots of opportunities to score in a narrow loss to the Illini last week, so they may not be as bad as the 5-4 record suggests. PSU has the impetus to hang half a hundo on Iowa and I think they will try. PSU 38-24. Confidence 8.

MGoBastard: Iowa is having a "green out" for Shawn Green. Its supposed to snow. Sounds like a white out to me. WIth two weeks rest and the NC game in sight, PSU rolls. PSU 44-6. Lock.

7:00 PM ET 11/7 ESPN-U Cincinnati (6-2, 2-1) @ #25 West Virginia (6-2, 3-0) -8.

Hemlock Philosopher: Cinci is turning into my UConn. I think they caught a disease in Hartford when they lost 40-16. WVa is streaking now and the smell of burning couches is in the air. WVa is looking for an inside track on the Big Easy championship and an exciting match-up with the bouk ACC champion. WVa big: 38-20. Confidence 6.

MGoBastard: Cincy is a tough team with an up and down type year. WVU has been up lately. The late night in morgantown has me thinking that the whiskey will will the home team to victory. WVU 31-20.


8:00 PM ET 11/7 ABC-R #21 California (6-2, 4-1) @#7 USC (7-1, 5-1) -18.5.

Hemlock Philosopher: USC. Boot. Neck. Carroll is another coach unhappy with his teams' position in the BCS. The Trojan D has been crushing with authority. This will not stop. USC 45-7. Confidence 7.

MGoBastard: That line is huge. Cal is decent. They lose, but they're going to cover. USC 35-26.

8:00 PM ET 11/7 ESPN Notre Dame (5-3) @Boston College (5-3, 2-3) -3.5.

Hemlock Philosopher: Outside of Seattle, where victories for visitors are handed out like Halloween candy, ND has played poorly on the road. This is a night game against many of ND Students' "back-up college". Little Irish Brother, if you will. Redheaded step child? Perhaps. I look for ND to go to the air and beat BC close. ND 28-27. Confidence 12.

MGoBastard: I hate religious schools. They both suck - its at Boston at night. BC wins 666-to-pentagram. (that's a cover)

8:00 PM ET 11/7 ABC-R #9 Oklahoma State (8-1, 4-1) @#2 Texas Tech (9-0, 5-0) -3.

Hemlock Philosopher: Another "Game of the Week" in Lubbock. This time people expect the Red Raiders to win. I don't. OSU controls the ball well and narrowly got beat by Texas in Austin. They have proven their meddle. I look for a similar score to the Texas game, but with the visitor on top. Okie State 36-33. Confidence 11.

MGoBastard: The only game we should watch this weak. Great game. Is it a let down game? TT picks up where their vanquished foes left off - the gauntlet of hell. TT Wins this one. Poor OSU, sandwich team. TT will lose next weak to OU. TT 56, OSU 46.