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After a tough go around in Week 13, I'm looking for
a perfect final week of the College Football pre-bowl
season. Enjoy the picks, and make that money! Some conference
championships, and the chance to play for all the marbles.
Huevos grande!
LUCKY
LESTER'S Free NCAA Football Picks
Free
Picks: Week 14
Virginia
Tech Hokies (-4.5) @ Boston College Eagles:
(Line: Thursday, 3:00pm EST: Belmont)
Last
time around, the Eagles escaped Virginia Tech by the
hair on Matt Ryan's chinny chin, chin. This time, they
won't be so lucky. The Hokies have to be irked that
they somehow crumbled in the final few minutes to lose
a game on a deep Matt Ryan touchdown pass to his running
back across his body on the opposite side of the field.
Virginia Tech dominated that game, and they weren't
even playing as well as they are now. Sean Glennon has
been playing inspired football, and the Tech defense
is right on cue. Amazingly, these two ACC teams are
almost identical. Both are 10-2 SU, 6-5 ATS. 6-1 at
home, 4-1 on the road, each team scores 29 a game, and
both are 6-5 O/U on the season. Virginia Tech allows
less points per game defensively, and that should give
them the nod in this game.
Tulsa
Golden Hurricane @ Central Florida Knights (-7.5):
(Line: Thursday, 3:00pm EST: Belmont)
This
Conference USA Championship shouldn't have much impact
on any big Bowl games, but the Central Florida Knights
and Tulsa Golden Hurricane are two teams that have put
together an impressive conference run and second half
of the season. One thing that is difficult about this
game; it's always hard to beat a good team twice in
a season. But I think Central will walk away with this
win. Both teams have 5 game winning streaks (CF is on
a 6 game streak) and both have put up big points along
the way. The difference is, Central Florida is winning
big and Tulsa has been eeking out close games. Last
time these two teams played, Central dominated the game
by smashing a rushing attack right down the throats
of Tulsa's defense. The Knights rushed for 170 more
yards than the Hurricane. I like that trend to continue
in the C-USA finale.
Army
Black Knights @ Navy Midshipmen (-14):
(Line: Thursday, 3:00pm EST: Belmont)
Two
touchdowns is a lot in a rivalry game, but historically,
the Midshipmen are used to embarrassing Army's Black
Knights. Last year, the final score was just 26-14,
as Army covered the 19 point spread in a Navy win. But
in the few years prior to that, this game has been a
joke. Navy outscored Army by at least 19 points in every
single game from 2002 - 2005. And most of them haven't
been that close. This season, Army couldn't stop the
run if their lives depended on it, as they've been outrushed
by 100+ yards in 6 of the last 10 games, and they've
been outrushed by nearly 1,200 yards over the last 6
games. On the other hand, the Midshipmen have been a
rushing dynamo, outrushing every team they've gone up
against in the last 10 contests. They've had 195 more
rushing yards than their opponents in 5 games this season.
They may not pass much, but against Army, they won't
have to. Easy game to call.
Louisiana
Tech Bulldogs (+7.5) @ Nevada Wolfpack:
(Line: Thursday, 3:00pm EST: Belmont)
The
Wolfpack have made a living out of losing close games
this season. They lost to San Jose State 24-27 last
week. A week before that it was 26-28 against undefeated
Hawaii. Earlier in the year it was a 67-69 overtime
loss to a very good Boise State team. Fresno State beat
them 41-49. And they lost ot Northwestern 31-36. Their
only bad loss came to Nebraska, and that was before
the Cornhuskers started to suck. Louisiana Tech has
had a tough loss or two as well, including a one point
overtime loss to Hawaii earlier in the season. But lately,
they've been piling up wins (3 of their last 4) and
they have a chance to get Bowl eligible against Nevada.
If anything, that will keep this game close, and taking
a fairly equal dog with just over a touchdown, I like
my chances.
Oregon
State Beavers (pk) @ Oregon Ducks:
(Line: Thursday, 3:00pm EST: Belmont)
The Ducks were Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart. Now
they are trying to rely squarely on Stewarts shoulders
with Dixon and Dixon's backup out for this rivalry game
against the Beavers. Honestly, the Ducks defense is
bad, and offensively they don't have the confidence
at quarterback nor the speed and athleticism to keep
defenses honest. The Beavers have won 4 of their last
5 after starting the season slowly. They were expected
to compete at the top of the Pac 10 this season before
too many road bumps early in the year. I really like
their stud running back, Yevenson Bernard. That guy
is a beast that keeps on rolling along, and I think
he'll have a huge game against a defense that really
doesn't tackle all that well. Oregon's on the line,
and the Beavers should come out on top on the road.
However, something to be aware of, the home team has
won each of the last 10 meetings between these programs.
But that's history, and the streak has to end some time.
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