Paul's Picks Week 14

Welcome Back!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Last week was somewhat better than recent weeks, as I was 48-17, a winning percentage of 73.8%. There are 67 games this week, two more than last week. Games are much harder to predict now that we have moved into conference play, where there are all these rivalries.

Overall, I am 587-209, a percentage of 73.7%, no change from last week. I'm now below 75% overall, which means I will probably finish there unless I have a really good final week!

So far, I am 1-1 after the early games, thanks to MACtion.

So... on with the picks!

Thursday, November 28

Memphis @ Tulane- The Tigers lead the series 24-15-1, but the Green Wave have won the last 2, and 4 of the last 6, including the last 3 played in New Orleans. Both teams are 9-2, but Memphis is only 5-2 in the AAC while Tulane is looking to finish the season undefeated in conference play. Both of the losses for the Tigers were on the road, and that continues. The Green Wave wash over the Tigers.

Friday, November 29

Oregon State @ Boise State- The Beavers lead the series 6-4, including a win in the 2013 Hawaii Bowl, but the Broncos have won 3 of the last 5, and have won the last 3 (and are 3-1) on the blue turf in Boise. OSU is only 5-6, so they need this win to achieve their 4th bowl in a row, something they have done only once previously, from 2006-2009 under HC Mike Riley. BSU is 10-1, and a win here would put them 1 step closer to reaching the CFP for the 1st time ever. Broncos win.

Oklahoma State @ Colorado- The Buffalos lead this series 26-20-1, but the Cowboys have won the last 3, including their most recent contest in the 2016 Alamo Bowl. OSU will be looking to end their 8-game losing streak, and to avoid going winless in the Big XII for the 1st time since 1994. The Buffs are 8-3/6-2, and though they are coming off a loss to Kansas, they still harbor (very) slim hopes of making the CG and the CFP slot that could come with winning in Arlington. CU wins, but don't be surprised if it's very close, or even if the Cowboys pull off the upset.

Minnesota @ Wisconsin- These teams 1st played in 1890, and this will be their 134th meeting, making this the most played CFB rivalry in Division I. This is also the most played continuous rivalry, being played every year since 1907. The Battle for Paul Bunyon's Axe is as close as it can be: the Badgers lead 63-62-8, winning 28-14 last year in Minneapolis, but the Golden Gophers have won 2 of the last 3, and 2 of the last 3 played in Madison. The Gophers are 6-5/4-4 and coming off a disappointing loss to Penn State, their 2nd straight defeat. The Badgers are 5-6/3-5, losers of 5 in a row, and looking to extend a bowl streak that began in 2002 (22 consecutive years), spanning 5 coaches. Minnesota wins.

Miami, Oh @ Bowling Green- The Redhawks lead the series 47-25-5, winning 4 of the last 5, including 27-0 last year, but the Falcons won the last time they played in Bowling Green. Miami also owns a win in the 2003 MAC CG. The winner of this game will be in the MAC CG again, but the loser is not necessarily eliminated. Both teams are 7-4/6-1, with the Redhawks losing to Cincinnati at home, and to Northwestern, Notre Dame, and Toledo on the road, with only the ND loss by more than 11 points. The Falcons have losses to ODU (by 3) and NIU at home, and at Penn State and Texas A&M, with the latter 2 both within 7 points or less. This should be very close, but I see BGSU coming out on top.

Ball State @ Ohio- The Cardinals lead the series 15-12, but the Bobcats have won the last 4, and 7 of the last 9. This is the other game that will help determine the participants in the MAC CG. If Ohio wins, they are in. If they lose, it would go to a tiebreaker with the loser of the Miami-BGSU game, and perhaps Buffalo (if they win Tuesday against Kent St). That won't happen as the Bobcats will win to make things nice and clean.

Navy @ East Carolina- The Midshipmen lead the series 9-2, with the Pirates winning in 2011 and 2021 (series began in 2006), both in Annapolis. It appears that ECU only wins this game in years ending in 1, but they are 4-0 since interim HC Blake Harrell took over following a loss at Army, while Navy has lost 3 of their last 4 after a 6-0 start. Pirates hijack Navy!

Mississippi State @ Ole Miss- The Egg Bowl, played since 1901, has been mostly dominated by the Rebels, wh lead 65-47-6, winning 3 of the last 4, but the Bulldogs have actually won 10 of the last 19, and 3 of the last 4 played in Oxford. While I have no doubt the Ole Miss players will get up for this game, I have to wonder if their hearts will be in it with the feeling that they were just all but eliminated from the CFP, and their ordinary disdain for the Bulldogs from Starkville may be exacerbated by MSU's poor 2-9/0-7 record, perhaps leading to not taking them seriously. You also have to wonder if some of the Rebels will be eying the transfer portal as they get ready for this game. I stll think the Rebels win, but I wouldn't be surprised if MSU keeps it close, or even pulls off the upset.

Liberty @ Sam Houston- The Flames won last year, 21-16, in their only previous meeting. Both teams are 5-2 in CUSA, but both have a chance to make the CG game with a win. However, the Bearkats also need help elsewhere: a JSU win over WKU. Both teams have 8 wins, with SHS losing 3- at UCF, to WKU, and at JSU, all by double digits- an LU losing only 2- at Kennesaw St and to JSU- because their game with App State was canceled. The Flames are 3-1 on the road; the Bearkats are 3-1 at home. Results against common opponents are very comparable. I'll go with the home team. SHS wins a close one.

Utah State @ Colorado State- The Rams lead this series 39-38-2, but the Aggies have won the last 5 meetings, and 3 of the last 5 played in Fort Collins. CSU is 7-4/5-1, with hopes of a MWC CG appearance, which would be their 1st ever appearance, but they need to win this and hope UNLV loses to Nevada. USU is only 4-7/3-3, but have won their last 2, and 3 of their last 4. These teams have few common opponents to compare. CSU wins at home.

Texas State @ South Alabama- The Bobcats lead 5-4, with each team undefeated at home. That means the Jaguars are due to win this year, if the pattern holds. Both teams are 6-5, but TSU is 4-3 in the Sun Belt while USA is 5-2. The Jaguars can still make their 1st ever SBC CG if they win and Louisiana loses on Saturday. South Alabama wins a close one.

Stanford @ San Jose State- This series has been dominated by the Cardinal, with Stanford leading 52-14-1, winning the last 6 (since 2007) and 10 of the last 11 (since 2001). Even though the Spartans are 6-5, I see no reason that dominance won't continue. Stanford wins despite coming in at 3-8.

Georgia Tech @ Georgia- The Bulldogs lead this series, dubbed Clean Old-Fashioned Hate, by a score of 71-41-5, and have dominated the Yellow Jackets 19-3 since 2001, but all 3 of Tech's wins- in 2008, 2014, and 2016- have come in Athens. In fact, 5 of the Jackets' last 6 wins (and 10 of their last 13 wins) have been in Athens. The series started in 1893 with a 28-6 GT win, and has been played every year since 1925. The Dawgs are 9-2 and locked into the SEC CG next week to take on the winner of the Texas-Texas A&M game, but they will not overlook this battle for the Governor's Cup. For the Yellow Jackets, this is their biggest game of the year, and they would like nothing more than to mess up UGA's season, but even a loss wouldn't knock the Dawgs out of the CFP (they would need to win the SEC CG). In addition, while UGA is playing on a short week, GT has had an extra day to prepare, as their last game was on a Thursday night. I have a bad feeling about this one, as the Jackets have a good rushing attack, and that has been UGA's weakness. GT pulls the upset!

Nebraska @ Iowa- The Cornhuskers lead 30-21-3, winning the last time this was played in Iowa City, but the Hawkeyes have won 8 of the last 9. The Huskers broke a 4-game skid last week, and are 1-3 on the road. Iowa has won 3 of their last 4, and are 5-1 at home. Hawkeyes win.

Utah @ UCF- This will be a 1st ever matchup between the Utes and the Knights. Both teams are 4-7 overall, with Utah 1-7 in the Big XII and UCF 2-6. Neither team has played well of late, with the Utes nursing a 7-game losing streak and the Knights losing 7 of 8. Utah is 2-3 on the road; UCF is 3-3 at home. Flip a coin. Knights win at home.

Saturday, November 30

Michigan @ Ohio State- The Wolverines lead the series 61-51-6, winning the last 3, but the Buckeyes have won 17 of the last 22 (since 2001). UM had a strong 4-1 start to the season, but are only 2-4 since. OSU has been strong all season, with only a 1-point loss to Oregon marring an otherwise perfect season. A win here at home gets the Bucks a rematch with the Ducks in Indianapolis. A loss allows either Penn State or Indiana to sneak in the back door. OSU wins The Game, and don't be surprised if it's a rout.

Tennessee @ Vanderbilt- The Volunteers lead this series 80-33-5, winning the last 5, but since 2012, they've only won 7 of 12. The Commodores dominated this series early, winning 11 of the 1st 12 (the other was a 0-0 tie in 1900) from 1892-1913, and after the Vols won 2 of 3 from 1914-16, Vandy won 6 of the next 8 (2 ties) from 1919-27. At that point, the Dores had a 18-2-3 lead, but they've won only 15 times since 1926, and never twice in a row, until they won 5 of 7 from 2012-18. UT, at 9-2/5-2, is almost guaranteed a spot in the CFP if they win this game, but Vandy, 6-5/3-4, would like nothing better than to spoil that. The Commodores are looking for their 1st winning season since 2013, the 2nd of two 9-4 seasons, and their 1st season with 4 SEC wins since that same year (4-4 in 2013, 5-3 in 2012). Vandy is 4-2 at home, and have lost their last 2 overall and 3 of their last 4. The Vols are only 1-2 on the road, plus a win at a neutral site. This will be close, but UT wins.

South Carolina @ Clemson- The Tigers lead the series 73-43-4, winning 8 of the last 9, including 16-7 last year, but the Gamecocks won the last time this was played in Clemson. SC is one of the hottest teams in the nation, winning their last 5, and they are looking for their 1st 9-win season since they were 9-4 under Will Muschamp in 2017, and a win could also vault them into CFP conversation. Clemson already has 9 wins for a 14th consecutive season, and will be trying to stay in the CFP crosshairs as well. Games like this (and all the other rivalry games) is why this is the best weekend of the year for CFB fans! SC wins in a mild upset.

UTSA @ Army- The Black Knights lead the series 3-1, but the Roadrunners are 1-0 in West Point, winning 41-38 in 2022. Army is 9-1/7-0, suffering their 1st defeat last weekend at the hands of Notre Dame, and I have to wonder if they'll have as hard of a time recovering as Navy did after their loss to the Irish- the Midshipmen are 1-3 since. UTSA is only 6-5/4-3, but they are on a 3 game winning streak, and have won 4 of their last 5 after a 2-4 start. Army has already clinched a spot in the AAC CG, but I think the Roadrunners are on a roll. Meep! Meep! UTSA wins.

Illinois @ Northwestern- The Fighting Illini lead the series 57-55-5, winning 2 of the last 3 (by 33+ points each), but the Wildcats won 45-43 last year, and have won 7 of the last 9, and 15 of the last 21. The series began in 1892, and 3 of their 1st 6 contests ended in ties, and after playing 20 times through 1923, these teams have played every year since 1927.  A win would give the Illini their 1st 9-win season since they were 9-4 in 2007 under HC Ron Zook (also the last time they had 6 Big Ten wins), and a chance at their 1st 10-win season since 2001, when they were 10-2 under Ron Turner. Northwestern is only 4-7/2-6, losing their last 2 and 4 of their last 5. Illinois wins.

Louisville @ Kentucky- The Wildcats have won the Governor's cup 20 out of 35 times, including the last 5 in a row, but they are only 4-7 this year, with 5 consecutive FBS losses, their most losses since they were 5-7 in 2015, and their fewest wins since they were 2-10 in HC Mark Stoops' 1st year. The Cardinals are 7-4, winning 3 of 4, but I have a feeling this will be yet another UK win. Cats win again.

UConn @ UMass- The Minutemen lead the series 38-37-2, but the Huskies have won the last 2, and 7 of the last 10. UConn already has their most wins since they were 8-5 in 2010. UMass hasn't won more than 4 games since they joined the FBS in 2012. Huskies win.

Duke @ Wake Forest- The Blue Devils lead the series 60-41-2, winning the last 2, but the Demon Deacons have won 3 of the last 5, including the last 2 played in Winston-Salem. Duke is 8-3/4-3, and a win would give them 26 wins over the last 3 seasons, the most since they won 27 from 2013-15. WF is 4-7/2-5, and have lost 3 in a row. Duke wins.

Kansas @ Baylor- The Bears have dominated the Jayhawks in this series, leading 18-4 and winning the last 13. Baylor is 7-4/5-3, winning their last 5, but KU has already ended winning streaks of 9 games and 4 games the last 2 weeks. Kansas is only 5-6/4-4, but they've won 3 in a row and 4 of 5. What a fascinating matchup. I'm going with the Jayhawks to get to bowl eligibility.

West Virginia @ Texas Tech- The Mountaineers lead the series 7-6, winning 20-13 last year, but the Red Raiders have won 4 of the last 5. Before WVU joined the Big XII in 2012, they met one other time, in the 1938 Sun Bowl, with WVU winning 7-6. Both teams are 5-3 in the conference, and both are technically still alive for a CG berth, but the odds are long. TTU is 7-4 overall, winning 2 of their last 3, and they are 4-2 at home. WVU is 6-5, winning 3 of their last 4, and they are 3-1 on the road. Mountaineers win.

Louisiana @ ULM- The Ragin' Cajuns lead the series 32-26, winning 13 of the last 16, including 52-21 last year, but the Warhawks won the last time they played in Monroe. UL is 9-2/6-1, on the verge of playing in the SBC CG, and a win will clinch that. ULM got to 5-1 and seemed a lock to get to only their 2nd bowl game, but they have lost 5 in a row since their idle week. Cajuns win, but it'll be close.

North Texas @ Temple- The Mean Green defeated the Owls 45-14 last year, and I expect a similar result as UNT becomes bowl eligible for the 4th year in a row, breaking a 5-game losing streak. Mean Green win.

Eastern Michigan @ Western Michigan- The Broncos lead the series 35-22-2, winning 45-21 last year, but the Eagles have won 4 of the last 5. Both teams are 5-6 and looking to get to a bowl. EMU is 2-5 in the MAC, and losers of 4 straight after starting the season 5-2. WMU is 4-3 in the MAC, but they're also on a losing streak- 3 games. The Eagles have never been to a bowl for 4 seasons in a row, and it looks like they'll miss that opportunity. Broncos win.

Middle Tennessee @ FIU- The Blue Raiders lead the series 14-5, winning the last 5, and 8 of the last 9, but 4 of FIU's 5 wins in the series have come in Miami. Both teams are 3-8/2-5, with the Panthers losing their last 2 and having some success at home at 3-2. MTSU has also lost 2 straight, and they are 1-4 on the road. FIU wins.

Coastal Carolina @ Georgia State- The Panthers lead this really odd series 4-3, and I say this because the road team has won every contest. The Chanticleers are 5-6/2-5, needing a win to get to their 5th consecutive bowl. GSU is a miserable 3-8/1-6, getting their 1st SBC win last week, but they do own a 4-point victory over Vandy from Week 3. Chants win.

Southern Miss @ Troy- The Golden Eagles lead the series 8-5, which includes a win in the 2008 New Orleans Bowl, but the Trojans have won the last 3, and 4 of the last 5 (since 2016). Troy's other win came in the 1st meeting, in 1935, as these teams played every year through 1940, then again in 1977 before that meeting in the bowl game, all won by USM. The Eagles haven't won an FBS game this year, and are on a current 12-game FBS losing streak. The Trojans have won 2 of their last 3. Troy wins.

USF @ Rice- The Bulls defeated the Owls 42-29 last year in their only prior meeting. USF is 6-5/4-3, on a 2 game winning steak, have on 4 of their last 5, and are 3-2 on the road. Rice is 3-8/2-5, losers of 2 in a row and 4 of 5, and are 3-2 at home (but on a 2-game home winning streak), Bulls trample the Owls.

Pittsburgh @ Boston College- The Panthers lead the series 18-15, winning 5 of the last 7 (since 2002), including 24-16 last year, but the Eagles have won 2 of the last 3. Pitt has collapsed to 4 straight losses after starting the season 7-0, with 2 of those by 23+ points. BC started 4-1, weathered a 3-game skid in midseason, then has won 2 of their last 3, and are 5-1 at home. Both teams are 3-4 in the ACC. Eagles win.

ODU @ Arkansas State- The Monarchs defeated the Red Wolves in the only previous contest, 29-26 in 2022 in Norfolk. This year, ODU is 4-7/3-4, losing 3 in a row after a midseason surge against a very tough schedule. ASU is 7-4/5-2, and they've won 4 of their last 5, and are 5-0 at home. Red Wolves maul the Monarchs to get to 8 wins for the 1st time since 2019.

Maryland @ Penn State- This is one of the most lopsided series in all of CFB, with the Nittany Lions leading 43-3-1 (.926 win %), winning the last 3, but the Terrapins have won twice in the last 10 meetings (since 2014), with their other win coming in 1961 (they 1st played in 1917), and the tie in 1989. PSU can still make the Big Ten CG if they win and OSU loses to Michigan, as they are 10-1/7-1, and have won every home game to teams not named Ohio State or Michigan since losing to Illinois in Happy Valley in 9 OT in October 2021. The Terps have fallen far below expectations at 4-7/1-7, with 6 of their 7 losses by 14+ points. This is not a good team. Nittany Lions win big.

Notre Dame @ USC- The Fighting Irish lead the series 49-37-5, winning 5 of the last 6, including 48-20 last year, but the Trojans won 38-27 the last time they played each other in LA, in 2022. The teams have played every year since their 1st meeting in 1926, except for the WWII years of 1943-45 (I assume because travel was restricted, as both fielded teams during those years) and the pandemic year of 2020. USC is a disappointing 6-5, but have won 2 in a row, and 3 of 4 to become bowl eligible, and all 5 of their losses were by 7 points or less. The Irish are 10-1, and guaranteed a spot in the CFP with a win, and 9 of their 10 wins were by 10+ points, with 7 by 3 TDs plus. I can see a world where the Trojans keep it close, but I can't see them winning. ND wins.

Auburn @ Alabama- The Crimson Tide leads this series 50-37-1, winning the last 4, and they haven't lost to the Tigers in Tuscaloosa since 2010. The teams played 12 times between 1893 and 1907 (their lone tie by a score of 6-6), but not again until 1948 in Birmingham, and the game stayed there as a "neutral" site game until they played in Auburn in 1989, followed by 3 more in Birmingham before finally going true home-and-home in 1999 (in case you don't remember, the Tide used to play big home games in Birmingham, because it had a bigger stadium, and so the home-and-home that started in 1993 was between Auburn and Birmingham). Bama is 8-3/4-3, and coming off a loss to Oklahoma, but they are 6-0 at home, and have won 11 straight in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The War Eagles are 5-6/2-5, needing this win to get to a bowl, but are only 1-2 on the road (losses at Georgia and Mizzou). The Plainsmen are in danger of missing a bowl for the 2nd time in the last 3 seasons, but they are taking on a Tide team with its most losses in a season since 2010, which was the last time the Tigers won in Tuscaloosa, and Bama hasn't lost more than 3 games since they were 7-6 in Nick Saban's 1st year. I'm tempted to pick Auburn, but I don't think they can win a 3rd game in a row, at least not this year. Tide rolls.

Miami, Fl @ Syracuse- The Hurricanes lead the series 16-7, winning the last 6 (since 1999). The Orange are having a good season at 8-3/4-3, and they've won 2 in a row, and 3 of their last 4, but the Canes are 1 win from their 2nd ever ACC CG appearance (1st one came in 2017). Miami wins.

California @ SMU- These teams have actually played once before, an SMU 13-6 victory in 1957 in Berkeley. The Mustangs are 10-1/7-0 and locked into the ACC CG, but a loss here could knock them out of any chance for an at-large slot in the CFP if they lose next week. The Golden Bears are 6-5/2-5, but they have won 3 of their last 4, are 2-2 on the road, and all 5 of their losses have been by 8 points or less. SMU wins, but Cal hangs around until the end.

Arizona State @ Arizona- The Wildcats lead the series 51-45-1, winning the last 2, but the Sun Devils have won 8 of the last 12. ASU is 9-2/6-2, winners of their last 4, and a win in the Territorial Cup gets them into the Big XII CG its 1st year in the conference. The Cats are just playing for pride, as they come into this game at 4-7/2-6, and losers of 6 of their last 7. Before the season, Arizona was expected to be challenging for a conference title, and ASU was expected to be at or near the bottom. Sun Devils win, but in a rivalry game like this one, anything can happen.

Arkansas @ Missouri- The Tigers lead the series 11-4, and are 8-2 since joining the SEC, and are 6-0 in CoMo. The Razorbacks have wins in 1944 in St. Louis, and in the 2003 Independence Bowl, with their other 2 wins in Fayetteville in 2015 and 2021. Mizzou also has wins in 1906 in Columbia, 1963 in Little Rock, and in the 2008 Cotton Bowl. The Tigers are 8-3/4-3, and 6-0 at home, but have lost 2 of their last 4. The Hogs are 6-5/3-4, losers of 2 of their last 3, and 2-1 on the road (plus a loss to Texas A&M in Arlington). Mizzou wins.

Rutgers @ Michigan State- The Spartans lead the series 10-5, winning 2 of the last 3, and 8 of the last 10, but the Scarlet Knights won 27-24 last year and are 3-5 in East Lansing. Rutgers is 6-5/3-5, winning 2 of their last 3, and are 2-2 on the road. MSU is 5-6/3-5 and needs this win to qualify for a bowl, but they've lost 3 of their last 4, and are 4-2 at home. Rutgers wins.

Fresno State @ UCLA- The Bruins lead the series 6-4, but the Bulldogs have won the last 4 (since 2003). UCLA's wins came between 1927 and 2000, with 2 of the wins in the 1920s. This game has never been played in Fresno, as it's been played in LA twice, in Pasadena 7 times, and in San Jose once, where FSU won in the 2003 Silicon Valley Football Classic (it was a bowl game). The Bruins are having a rough transition year into the Big Ten at 4-7, and they've lost their last 2 games, but they are a dismal 1-4 at home. The Bulldogs are 6-5, losers of 2 of their last 3, and 2-3 on the road. FS wins.

NC State @ North Carolina- The Tar Heels lead the series 68-39-6, but the Wolfpack have won the last 3, and 6 of the last 8, including 3 of the last 4 in Chapel Hill. UNC is 6-5/3-4, and will be playing its last game under long time HC Mack Brown, who was fired earlier this week after a loss to Boston College. The Heels have won 3 of their last 4 after a 4-game midseason slide, but are only 3-3 at home in Kenan Memorial Stadium. NCSU is 5-6/2-5, losing their last 2, and just 1-2 on the road, plus a loss to Tennessee in Charlotte. This could/should be close, but UNC wins in farewell to Coach Brown, the winningest coach in North Carolina history.

Central Michigan @ Northern Illinois- The Chippewas lead this series 33-25-1, winning the last 2, and 8 of the last 10. The Chips, 4-7/2-5, will be saying farewell to HC Jim McElwain, who is retiring at the end of this season. CMU got a win last time out to break a 5-game losing streak, but they are 0-5 on the road this year, and have lost 9 away games in a row (and 12 of their last 13) dating back to last year. The Huskies are 6-5/3-4, winners of 2 of their last 3, but just 3-2 at home. NIU wins.

UAB @ Charlotte- The Blazers lead the series 2-1, but the 49ers are 1-0 in Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte. UAB is 3-8/2-5, winning 2 of their last 4, but they are 0-5 on the road this year and 0-11 the last 2 seasons. Charlotte is 4-7/3-4, with a win last week at FAU stopping a 4-game losing streak, and they are just 2-3 at home. 49ers win.

FAU @ Tulsa- The Owls lead the series 2-1, but like Charlotte, Tulsa is 1-0 at home. The Golden Hurricane are 3-8/1-6, losers of 3 in a row, and are 2-3 at home this season, and have fired HC Kevin Wilson. FAU is 2-9/0-7, have fired HC Tom Herman, lost their last 6, and are 0-5 on the road with 7 straight losses away from home. Tulsa wins.

Jacksonville State @ WKU- The Hilltoppers lead this series 4-2, and are 3-0 at home, but the Gamecocks have won 2 of the last 3 (since 1996), including 20-17 last year. JSU is 8-3/7-0, on an 8-game winning streak, and have already clinched a spot in the CUSA CG. If WKU wins, they will have an immediate rematch next week at Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium. The Toppers are 7-4/5-2, losing their last 2, and are 4-1 at home. Should be a great game! JSU wins.

Kennesaw State @ La Tech- This will be a 1st time meeting, which isn't surprising considering KSU hasn't had a football team for very long. The Bulldogs are 4-7/3-4, but 1-1 in their last 2 games, and 3-2 at home. The Owls are 2-9/2-5 in their 1st season at the FBS level and in CUSA, but though they are coming off a win over FIU, they are 0-5 away from the friendly confines of Fifth Third Bank Stadium, and have lost 10 straight away games dating back to the 2022 season. LT wins.

UTEP @ New Mexico State- The Miners lead the series 59-39-2, winning 2 of the last 3, but the Aggies have won 4 f the last 6, including 28-7 last year. These teams 1st played from 1914-16, then every year since 1920 except for 1934, 1943-45 (WWII), 2001, and in 2020. UTEP is 2-9/2-5, with wins over FIU and KSU, but they are 0-6 on the road, and have lost 13 of their last 15 away from home. NMSU is 3-8/2-5, with wins over MTSU and LT, but just 2-3 at home (after going 5-1 at home last year). What a crummy game. Aggies win.

TCU @ Cincinnati- The Bearcats lead this long and storied rivalry 2-1, with each team undefeated at home and all games played between 2002-04. The Horned Frogs are 7-4/5-3, winning their last 2 and 4 of their last 5, and they are 3-2 on the road. UC is 5-6/3-5, needs this win to become bowl eligible, but have lost 4 in a row and are 3-2 at home. TCU wins.

Appalachian State @ Georgia Southern- The Mountaineers lead the series 21-16-1, winning 3 of the last 4, but the Eagles have won 4 of the last 6 played in Paulson Stadium in Statesboro. GS is 7-4/5-2, winning 2 of their last 3, and need a win to have any chance of making the SBC CG. They're also 3-2 at home. ASU, 5-5/3-4, has surged of late, winning 3 of their last 4, but they are only 1-4 on the road. They need 1 more win to become bowl eligible. Eagles win.

Wyoming @ Washington State- The Cougars lead the series 5-2, winning the last 2, the only 2 played this millennium. The other 5 games were played between 1962 and 1990. WSU is 8-3, losing their last 2, but they're 5-0 on the Palouse. The Cowboys are 2-9, also losing their last 2, and they are 1-4 on the road. Wazzu wins.

Purdue @ Indiana- This series began in 1891, and has been played continuously since 1920 (except for 2020). They played 22 times from 1891-1917 that included an 11-11 tie in 1905. The Boilermakers lead the series 77-42-6, winning the last 3, and 5 of the last 6, but the series is tied at 5-5 over the last 10 meetings. The Hoosiers are 10-1/7-1 after suffering their 1st loss of the season at the hands of the OSU Buckeyes, but they still have an outside chance at making the Big Ten CG, if both OSU and Penn State lose (both games should be finished before this one is over). Unless they lose this game, they should be a lock for the CFP. PU is 1-10/0-8, one of 4 teams without an FBS win (and the only P5 team in that boat), and are looking to avoid their 1st winless Big Ten record since 2013, when they were 0-8 (and 1-11 overall). Indiana wins.

Florida @ FSU- The Gators lead this series 37-28-2, winning 3 of the last 5, but the Seminoles have won the last 2, and 9 of the last 13. This year, the Gators are 6-5, winning their last 2, but are only 1-3 away from The Swamp (1-2 in true road games). FSU is 2-9, losers of 6 FBS games in a row, and only 2-4 at home. UF wins big.

Oklahoma @ LSU- The Tigers lead the series 2-1, losing in the 1950 Sugar Bowl (35-0), but winning in the 2004 Sugar Bowl (21-14) and in the 2019 Peach Bowl (63-28). The Sooners are 6-5/2-5, winning 2 of their last 3, but are 1-3 in games not played in Norman. The Bayou Bengals are 7-4/4-3, losing 3 of their last 4, but they are 4-1 in Death Valley. LSU wins.

Washington @ Oregon- The Huskies lead the series 63-48-5, winning the last 3 (2 were last year, including in the Pac 12 CG), and 5 of the last 8, but the Ducks have won 15 of the last 20. The teams 1st played in 1900, and have played almost continuously since 1903, only missing out in 1910, 1915, 1917 (WWI?) 1921, 1943-44 (WWII), 2001, and 2020. UW is 6-5/4-4, winning 2 of their last 3, but they are 0-4 on the road, with each of those in the Midwest or East. They would like nothing better than to ruin OU's perfect season, which would give them a winning conference record in their 1st year in the Big Ten, and their 3rd victory in Eugene in their last 4 tries. The Ducks are the only undefeated team in the nation at 11-0/8-0, and their current 12-game winning streak is the nation's longest. The Quack Attack prevails, but I expect it to be close.

Texas @ Texas A&M- This series has been mostly Longhorns, as they lead 76-37-5, winning 2 of the last 3, including 27-25 in their last meeting in 2011. However, the Aggies are even at 3-3 over the last 6 contests, and 8 of their last 15 wins in the series have come in College Station. UT is 10-1/6-1, winning their last 4, and they have won their last 10 true road games, dating back to 2022. TAMU is 8-3/5-2, losing 2 of their last 3, but are 5-1 at home, with their only loss to ND in the season opener. I sense another upset. Aggies win to force their way into the SEC CG.

Kansas State @ Iowa State- Farmageddon has been played 107 times, with the Cyclones winning 53 times, the Wildcats 50, and with 4 ties. ISU has won 4 of the last 6, including 42-35 last year, but KSU won the last time this was played in Ames. This game has been played continuously since their 1st meeting in 1917, a 10-7 Iowa State win in Ames. The Cyclones are 9-2/6-2, needing only a win to get into the Big XII CG, and they are 5-1 at home. The Wildcats are 8-3/5-3, need lots of help to get into the CG, have lost 2 of their last 3, and are 3-2 on the road. This is one of many rivalry games that could go either way, but ISU wins at home.

Nevada @ UNLV- The Wolf Pack lead the series 28-21, but the Rebels have won the last 2, and 4 of the last 6, and are 6-5 over the last 11 contests. NU is 3-9/0-6, are on the verge of their 2nd winless MWC record in 3 years, have lost 4 in a row, and are 1-4 on the road. UNLV is 9-2/5-1, needing this win to make the MWC CG and a rematch with Boise State with a chance to make it into the CFP, have won 3 straight, and are 3-2 at home. Rebels win.

Virginia @ Virginia Tech- The Hokies are 61-38-5 in this series, winning the last 3, and 18 of the last 19 (and 22 of the last 24). Both teams are 5-6/3-4, and a win means bowl eligibility. Surprisingly, these teams have only 1 common opponent, Clemson, and each lost by double digits. VT has lost their last 3 games and are 3-2 at home. UVA has lost their last 2 games, and 5 of their last 6, and are 3-2 on the road. Call it a hunch, but I like the Wahoos in this one.

Marshall @ James Madison- The Thundering Herd lead the series 3-1, but the Dukes won 20-9 last year in Huntington. Marshall is 8-3/6-1, on a 5-game winning streak, 2-3 on the road, and a win away from playing in the SBC CG. JMU is 8-3/4-3, winning 3 of their last 4, and are 5-0 at home. The upset potential is there, but the Herd will trample the Dukes. Marshall wins.

Houston @ BYU- The Cougars lead this series 3-0. That's the BYU Cougars, to be exact. UH is 4-7/3-5, losing their last 2, and 1-4 on the road. BYU is 9-2/6-2, losers of 2 in a row, 4-1 at home, and needing help to make the Big XII CG. Cougars win. Again, that's the BYU Cougars.

Air Force @ San Diego State- The Falcons lead the series 21-18, winning the last 2, but the Aztecs have won 9 of the last 11 (since 2010), including in the 2015 MWC CG. However, the AFA owns a win in the 1981 Mirage Bowl played in Tokyo. The Falcons had a rough beginning to the season, starting 1-7, but they've won their last 3, though they are 1-4 on the road. SDSU is 3-8/2-4, losing their last 5, and are just 2-3 at home. Falcons win.

New Mexico @ Hawaii- The Rainbow Warriors lead the series 16-11, winning 2 of the last 3, but the Lobos have won 8 of the last 10 (since 1993), including 42-21 last year. UNM is 5-6/3-3, needing 1 more win to reach bowl eligibility and (possibly) their 1st bowl since 2016 (there may be more bowl eligible teams than slots this year), as they have won their last 2 games and are 3-3 on the road. UH is 4-7/2-4, losing their last 2, and are 3-3 at home, with their home losses to UCLA (by 3), Boise State, and UNLV (by 2). This will be a close game, but the Lobos will get to 6-6 in year 1 under new HC Bronco Mendenhall.

That's it for this week! Feel free to leave a comment. Come back Monday for my Conference Call. 

Until next time, may you and your loved ones be blessed!