NCAA 2010 Week 11 Free Football Picks REVIEW

7-6 for Week 11 – and I’ll take it. You can’t go 13-4 every week, and when you hit some tough ice, it’s nice to just slip from side to side instead of right on your face. I always say, if I can win the tough weeks, the season’s going to go just fine! Here’s the review.

Miami Ohio Redhawks (-2.5) @ Bowling Green Falcons (WIN)
Miami pulls off a road win by just 3 points – in other words, just by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin. After going into the 4th with a 21-7 lead, the Redhawks watched their lead dissolve and it was tied late. A field goal as time expired gave them the win, and me the cover. Whew.

Pittsburgh Panthers (-5) @ Connecticut Huskies (Loss)
UConn won outright, out-rushing the running Panthers as Jordan Todman rushed 37 times for 222 yards for the Huskies. While he didn’t score, it was his hard-nosed running that beat up the Panthers defense and got UConn the 2 point home win.

East Carolina Pirates @ UAB Blazers (-1.5) (Loss)
Through 3 quarters, I felt pretty good about this. UAB was up 8 going into the 4th – then they went and got trounced 27-7 in that quarter. That’s not how you win a game – which is probably why they are 3-7.

Ball State Cardinals (+3) @ Buffalo Bulls (WIN)
Ball State trounced Buffalo because they are the better team. Buffalo knows how to beat themselves, which doesn’t help their cause – but Ball State beat ‘em up.

#4 Boise State Broncos (-34.5) @ Idaho Vandals (WIN)
Boise held back the Dogs in the 2nd half, scoring 14 points then slowing down and putting up a 0 in the 4th quarter. It was 38-0 going into half, and I thought it was a sure thing. They ended up barely covering, winning by that first half deficit and making me sweat it out.

#24 Kansas State Wildcats @ #17 Missouri Tigers (-12.5) (Loss)
The Wildcats scored 14 points in the 4th quarter to make it close, but Missouri was the better team throughout, leading 31-14 going into the 4th quarter. A 26 yard touchdown pass with 1:11 left in the 4th brought the Wildcats within 10. Meaningless…. Unless you’re a betting man! Blast!

#14 Utah Utes (-5.5) @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Loss)
I know the Irish aren’t that good. I know the Utes aren’t that bad. So, I’m just going to write that 28-3 beating Notre Dame handed Utah right off. Crap happens in sports, this was a poo-poo-platter special.

Georgia Bulldogs @ #2 Auburn Tigers (-8.5) (WIN)
Newton scored early, running 31 yards for a touchdown – seemingly saying, “See, I’m fine, we’re going to dominate.” But it wasn’t that easy. The Bulldogs put up 21 points in the first quarter building a 21-7 lead. It wouldn’t last. By halftime it was tied. And by the end of the game, the Tigers put up 49 points, behind Newton’s ultra-efficient day, through the air (12 for 15 for 148 and 2 scores) and on the ground (30 carries for 151 yards and 2 scores) and Auburn covered easily, winning by 18.

Penn State Nittany Lions @ #8 Ohio State Buckeyes (-18) (WIN)
The Nittany Lions were trying to pull a stunner, but Ohio State wouldn’t have any of it, despite starting the 2nd half down 14-3. The Buckeyes turned it around quick, scoring 35 points in the 2nd half while shutting out the Nittany Lions. They won by 24.

Washington State Cougars (+24) @ Oregon State Beavers (WIN)
The Cougars won. Yes, I’m not kidding, the Cougars won. I knew they were a tough match-up for the Beavers, but I sure didn’t expect them to go into OSU and lay a W on them. But they sure did. They continued to tackle well, never giving up the big play – and they ran the ball lots of times for solid clips of yardage until they stunned the Beavers. Good show.

#19 Miss. State Bulldogs (+13.5) @ #12 Alabama Crimson Tide (Loss)
The Bulldogs held Mark Ingram pretty much in check on the ground, allowing just 53 yards on 18 carries (2.9 per tote), but Ingram did plenty with a 78 yard touchdown catch, and Alabama built a 30-3 lead before winning 30-10, and covering by a touchdown.

#23 South Carolina Gamecocks (+6.5) @ #22 Florida Gators (WIN)
South Carolina dominated this game, because they are better than Florida. Spurrier gets his redemption win over his former squad, and that has to feel good for the Ol’ Ball Coach.

#1 Oregon Ducks (-19.5) @ California Golden Bears (Loss)
In one of the ugliest offensive performances in a long time (well for the Ducks, anyway, the Bears do this every other week) Oregon just didn’t have it. But they won anyway – not for me of course, they didn’t even get close to covering that 19.5 point spread – shoot, they only scored 15. No cover here, but still up on the week, just barely, but a win’s a win! Just like the Ducks!