Week 13 Predictions, Nov. 24

Southern California (-3) @ Arizona State
The Trojans are back in the Rose Bowl hunt - all they need are two wins and an Oregon loss, while the Sun Devils are looking for their first trip to Pasasdena in over ten years. If they can balance some solid passing with a running attack that the USC should stifle pretty well, they might have a good chance.

USC by 10

Mississippi (+7) @ Mississippi State
The Bulldogs have had a successful season under Croom, knocking off Auburn & Alabama this year, and they're likely going to a decent bowl. The Rebels are down again, having only beaten Memphis, Louisiana Tech, and Northwestern State. Yikes. The Bulldogs should cruise at home.

Mississippi State by 14

Arkansas (+13.5) @ LSU
I think the Razorbacks have a decent shot in this one. The Tiger's vaunted defense is giving up points and yards at an alarming rate (for the #1 team in the land, that is), and McFadden and Jones can flat out run the ball, as we all know. LSU can score too though, so this one should be a shootout.

LSU wins, but Arkansas covers the spread

Texas (-6) @ Texas A&M
A loss by Oklahoma and a win for the Longhorns put Texas in the Big 12 Championship, and that's gotta be a motivating factor for Mack Brown's boys. The Aggies just haven't played up to their potential this year, and this will most likely be the last home game for Coach Fran.

Texas by 10

Boise State (+3) @ Hawaii
The Warriors rely on home-field advantage more than any team in the country, and they're gonna need it this week against the Broncos. This is a great non-BCS matchup and should be a really entertaining game.

Hawaii by 7

Missouri (+1.5) @ Kansas
Flat. Out. Brawl. Neither of these teams have been anywhere close to the Big 12 Championship game ever, and they're both foaming at the mouth wanting to get there next week. Throw in the fact that they're both still eligible for the National Championship game? Dont' be surprised if this one spills over into Nebraska & Iowa.

Kansas by 7

Clemson (-3) @ South Carolina
Two teams that had high hopes for this season but have faltered down the stretch. Spurrier will be back next year - will Bowden? This game might go a long way in deciding that.

South Carolina by 7

Virginia Tech (-3.5) @ Virginia
This one is for the right to play in the ACC Championship game next week, and both teams are feel-good stories this year. You can't not pull for the Hokies, and the Cavs are enjoying one of their best seasons ever. I like the Cavaliers in this one, at home, good in close games.

Cavaliers by 6

Alabama (+6) @ Auburn
Will Saban lose 4 in a row? That would be a catastrophic event on the scale of... well, he already went the 9/11 & Pearl Harbor route... maybe the extinction of the dinosaurs? It doesn't matter - the savior is going to look awfully bad in Tuscaloosa if the Tide don't win, especially since they probably won't go bowling.

Auburn by 10

Florida State (+14) @ Florida
So the Seminoles are going to "plant" Tebow, huh? Two things - one, Tebow hasn't been planted by anyone this year (the Dawgs came the closest, and he still scored 3 TD's against them), and two, the Seminoles haven't planted anyone themselves (Boston College, you say? Ryan still passed for over 400 yards against them.)

Florida by 17

Oklahoma State (+13) @ Oklahoma
Stoops must be seething that they blew their National Championship game hopes last week. Now the Sooners get to play spoiler, and you can bet they're going to try to use this game as a tune-up for the Big 12 Championship next week. That's if Bradford can play. If he can't, you can bet the Cowboys are going to be smelling blood. (Saturday AM Update: looks like Bradford is cleared to play.)

Oklahoma by 17

Oregon (-1.5) @ UCLA
The Ducks just aren't the same team without Dixon, and the Bruins are still needing at least one more win to become bowl-eligible.

UCLA by 7

More picks? Okay, why not. There's lots to choose from during the real rivalry week I suppose.

Washington State (+6) @ Washington
This one's for pride, since both the Huskies and the Cougars are 4-7. Who can end their Pac10 season (Washington is still @ Hawaii next week) on a high note? Tricky call, but the Huskies are coming off a solid win against Cal, while the Cougars lost bad to Oregon State.

Washington by 7

Georgia (-4) @ Georgia Tech
The Dawgs are playing as good as anyone in the country right now, while the Yellow Jackets have a couple wins against North Carolina & Duke in the last two weeks and haven't really beaten anybody all season. And Tech is only a 4 point underdog? Seriously? I just don't get it.

Georgia by 17

UConn (+17.5) @ West Virginia
The Mountaineer's National Championship hopes are still alive, but just barely. They really need some chips to fall their way in other places, but the only thing they can control is themselves. If they can hang onto the ball, they should be able to put on a show, though the Huskies are one of the major surprises this year at 9-2. 18 is a lot to make up against a 9-2 team, but the Mountaineers have both the offense and defense to do it.

West Virginia by 20

Tennessee (+3) @ Kentucky
If the Vols win they play LSU next week, if not the Dawgs do. But the Wildcats are looking to make a statement - they haven't beaten the Vols since 1984, and if there was a season they have a good shot, it's this one.

Tennessee by 6

Notre Dame (+3.5) @ Stanford
I'm more curious to see if the Stanford band is allowed anywhere near the stadium.

Notre Dame by 7