The Mock Delivers When We Least Expect...Again

Hello Friends.

A quick look at various Levels of Tardiness: TV repairman waiting purgatory; 2 week overdue library books; one aunt's Christmas present that dependably arrives in March.  Then there's We Is ND's acknowledgement of the fishes and loaves season unfolding before our disbelieving eyes.

Mea culpa on joining the praise party late.  Plenty of thoughts to unload on the eve of ND's first postseason game.  Apologies if I veer off topic in a few spots.

Preseason expectations were so below sea level that rallying to produce our annual roundtable preview in November seemed futile.  Abro's season ending injury after Game 6 (his 2nd game in uniform, thanks to a No Clue About Anything imposed suspension) all but anchored this 2011-2012 campaign to a dismal fate at the bottom of the BEast.

A small, yet vocal, part of me envisioned the bottom falling out and The Mock not surviving the fallout from a 13-19 train wreck of a season.  It wouldn't have been the first time Brey's tenure was called into question on these pages: Exhibit A & Exhibit B.  Maybe he'd lose control of the locker room amidst the noxious stench of losses piling up like soiled boxers in the corner of the Joyce Center.  Maybe he'd respectfully step aside and let someone else (Martin Ingelsby?) perform program triage.  Suffice it to say, my misplaced rumblings to oust The Mock blew up in my face.

Alright, where's Doug's petition to name the court after Michael Montgomery Brey?  I'm finally ready to sign.  (Sadly, the petition page and all of its signatories have been sucked into a cyberworld vortex of no return.  If the petition resurrects itself this Lenten season, I'll gladly throw my support behind it, even if Muffett McGraw has a few lengths lead on earning said naming rights). 

As the team prepares to tip off in MSG versus fellow surprise Big East story, South Florida, it's worth taking a closer look at how the Irish got here.  To say crashing the Big Dance this year was a long shot is an insult to the term understatement.  The improbable odds of Notre Dame finishing 3rd in the toughest conference in America and already stamping their ticket on Selection Sunday are mind-blowing.  About the same odds of this shot finding nylon.  Or this shot - I can't decide.    

Let's wrap our head around this season timeline:

4-0 vs. the Brey Non-Conference Pu-Pu Platter (198 avg. RPI): Very little litmus test of any sort, though Detroit ended up winning the Horizon League tournament bid.  Otherwise, an accumulation of wins with little merit playing with the team's best shooter in street clothes.

0-2 vs. Thanksgiving Tournament opponents: Missouri makes a big statement that they've backed up since; The best win for a mediocre Georgia; Abro tears his ACL in practice after these games and is reduced to street clothes on the bench for the rest of the season.

4-3 vs. the Abro Aftermath Adjustment stretch of games where the team learns new roles and Brey juggles lineups with the desperation of a street performer looking for his next meal. 4 wins vs. 297 avg. RPI (mind you, there are only 344 teams...this is the dregs of Division I); 3 losses vs. name brand teams with a 48 avg. RPI.  Overwhelmed by Gonzaga in Spokane; a tantalizing winnable game only to go sour against a rebuilding Maryland; and a worse than the score indicated in-state clash with a let-down-waiting-to-happen Hoosiers fresh off their win heard round the world vs. Kentucky...the letdown didn't happen.

Christmas brought an 8-5 team about to enter a brutal opening conference salvo with 4 ranked teams looming (Pitt, Louisville, UConn & Cuse) in the first 7 contests.  Thus far, not a single win to hang their hat on as a building block for success.  Squeaking by Detroit at home was the best RPI win at 135, while breaking the century mark in the last game before the holiday break was a welcome sight.  The Burn Offense looking spontaneously combustible.

If the Irish emerged as a .500 team after the Syracuse game, most fans probably would've taken it.  With a backloaded conference slate of weak teams, the NIT looked like an optimistic landing spot.  The opportunity to play another home game or two and give this young team a few extra games of postseason experience sounded reasonable.

3-3 Pre-Syracuse game, first 1/3 of conference schedule.  The Irish welcomed a reeling Pitt team who had just lost on their home court to Wagner.  Little did anyone know at the time that Jamie Dixon's squad were impostors this season.  But knocking off the Panthers was a refreshing jolt nonetheless.  Back to reality with a spanking on the road at Cincy, followed by the first shock of the season, a double OT nail biter in Freedom Hall.  The Irish dictated the flow with the Burn and, for the first time, gave fans a wild thought that Brey found a magic lamp on one of his Middle East desert trips and was using all three wishes this season.  Beating South Florida at home didn't seem like a good win at the time.  That was one of the few W's confidently circled on the schedule to start.  Following it up with a stinker vs. Connecticut and an even worse loss on the road to Rutgers had everyone reaching for the panic button again.  And then #1 visited South Bend...

9-0 Post court rushing mayhem and subsequent record-tying conference win streak.  It's still weird to look at Syracuse sitting at #2 in the polls with one tally in the loss column.  How in the name of Todd Palmer did that happen?  Shooting the lights out with your opponent's best defender out of the lineup makes for a memorable "were you there when" story.  Team confidence soared and the wins avalanched in every shape and size, as if Dr. Seuss were writing the year-in-review.  Road wins, home wins.  Crazy come from behind wins (Nova), equally crazy grab an early lead and never look back wins (Marq).  Freshman making a name for themselves wins (Naughty Time!) and previously unheralded players stepping into the spotlight and relishing the moment wins (Jerian Grant & Jack Cooley). By the end of the streak, Notre Dame was ranked and slotted comfortably in any bracket magic 8-ball exercise.  A glorious run that saw The Mock go multiple personality on us as he introduced (and continued for good luck) The Don, as well as the streak-busting The Bow.

1-2 All good things come to an end ending.  For whatever quixotic reason, Madison Square Garden has plagued Irish shooters for years on end, and a putrid day behind the arc halted the winning streak before it reached double figures.  As bad as they played vs. St. John's, the Irish still had a shot at the buzzer to tie.  Things were not as hopeful on their Hoya visit and the better team triumphed.  Thankfully, the boys saved one last shooting display to beat Providence and secure a double bye in the BET (and inadvertently score the easiest possible quarterfinal matchup vs. #6 seed South Florida).

Add it all up and The Mock delivered a 21-10 campaign with 6 wins over top 50 RPI teams and a couple signature victories to tell the grandchildren, doing so with the team's returning leading scorer and best shooter playing in 2 games.  This year more than any, Mike Brey soared past everyone's expectations, figuring out a rotation with 3 new chief contributors (Grant, Connaughton and Dragicevich) and changing the team's offensive mindset on the fly with an emphasis on post production from the criminally underrated Jack Cooley.  For all his flaws (which I'll delve into in a follow-up post), it's hard to argue with the results of the self-described "loosest coach in America."

Come Thursday night, we'll see if the team can conquer their fear of MSG's rims, as well as what fashion choice Brey opts for to extend this unlikeliest of feel-good seasons.

Weis Roundtable Week 14 Picks: BCS Last Call Edition

Clemson (+7.5) vs. Virginia Tech 

Dan: Clemson (+7.5)

This game feels like a game between two teams headed in opposite directions at first blush. VA tech has won 7 straight, Clemson dropped 3 of the last 4 badly. However, Va Tech has been miserable against the spread all year, even in that 7 game win stretch. I think Sammy Watkins gets back up to game speed this week and Clemson at least keeps it close.

VT 24 Clemson 20

Jeremy: Virginia Tech (-7.5)

The Fighting Beamers just keep chugging along, getting stronger by the week, while Clemson is limping into the ACC title game, licking their wounds off a thumping at the hands of the Gamecocks.  The Hokies roll on and Clemson makes their reservations for Orlando, and a date with the Irish in the Champs Sports Bowl.

Virginia Tech 31  Clemson 21

Jimmy: Virginia Tech (-7.5)

Lots of factors pointing VT’s way in the ACC (Anti-Climactic Championship) title game.  Back when Clemson surprised everyone by reeling off 3 straight over quality competition (upon further review, said “quality competition” of Auburn and Florida State lost 9 games between them), the Dabonites stymied and embarrassed Beamer Ball on his own turf, 23-3.  Since then, Clemson reverted back to their lovable losing-when-least-expect-except-you-kind-of-do-expect ways that we’ve grown accustomed to.  A snowball of reverse momentum picked up steam with 3 blowout losses in their last four games.  Clemson’s ass backwards collapse into near BCS bliss is more a product of underwhelming seasons by FSU and Wake Forest.  And yes, those are the only other teams in the Atlantic Division with winning records.  Blech.

Meanwhile, Va. Tech has won impressively and won ugly finishing on a 7 win streak.  Operative word being WIN.  They’re familiar with and will embrace the big stage in Charlotte.  Plus, the Hokies have the biggest motivating factor behind them, revenge.

Virginia Tech 33  Clemson 13

Mike: Virginia Tech (-7.5)

These are two teams that are moving in completely opposite directions.  Clemson defeated Virginia Tech 23-3 in Blacksburg earlier this year, but the wheels are coming off the Tiger bandwagon and the Hokies are rounding into championship form.  This has all the makings of another ACC Championship snoozefest in Charlotte.

Virginia Tech 44 Clemson 14

Phil: Virginia Tech (-7.5)

Clemson was trucking on all cylinders but has seemed to fall apart. Watkins and Boyd are beat up and they aren't sneaking up on anyone anymore. OC Chad Morris wants the season to hurry up and end before his stock plummets a la Malzahn. Va Tech again has amazingly shaken off a slow start to quietly be a BCS team and a surprising "only 1 loss team!" 

Va Tech 30 Clemson 14

Michigan State (+10) vs. Wisconsin

Dan: Michigan State (+10)

Rumors are flying that the Big 10 is paying people to attend this game. Shows them right. These artificial conference championship games are starting to really grate on my nerves. If Georgia beats LSU – it belongs in a BCS game? What about UCLA? And the Big East? Well, that’s a lose-lose I guess. Give me a break. Rant over – I don’t get this spread. Wisconsin has struggle against teams that have the ability to line up and go head to head in the trenches with them. And while granted, it was on a last minute Hail Mary, let’s not forget MSU won the first time around. I’ll take the points.

Wisconsin 31 MSU 24

Jeremy: Wisconsin (-10)

MSU is a pretty different team away from Spartan Stadium, though from the sounds of it, this certainly won't be a "home" game for either team given the immense number of tickets available.  Sparty hangs tough for 3 quarters, but a late Cousins INT kills their momentum and the Badgers get the cover and book their tickets for Pasadena.

Wisconsin 34  MSU 21

Jimmy: Michigan State (+10)

Last time they played on the same field, an instant classic resulted.  People, Vegas specifically, have little faith that a repeat will occur this go round.  My question – why not?  Pat Narduzzi (I dare someone to offer a better coordinator name) will have his defense dialed up to slow Montee Ball’s ascent into Barry Sanders territory.  

TANGENT ALERT: I remember catching some of Barry’s few televised games in 1988 as an adolescent / aspiring blogger and assuming that’s what good RBs do.  How naïve.  That’s what the best ever do.  Wish I had been a little older to better appreciate the splendor of that season.  

The media desperately needs to slow their roll in comparisons to legendary #21.  Let’s be honest, Montee Ball doesn’t belong in the same sentence as that illustrious Cowboy.  All veiled comparisons should require their own statements, like: Montee Ball has enjoyed an incredible season, benefiting from a high-scoring, efficient offense to score 34 TDs through 12 games.  Barry Sanders holds the single season record with 39 TDs in 11 regular season games.  Bump the total to 44 if you count bowl games.  Just because the NCAA added games to the schedule and now counts 2 postseason games towards the final record book ledger doesn’t mean that someone’s season merits comparable status.  Apples and pork chops.  There’s a whiff of Babe Ruth/Roger Maris asterisked record book association, but this is a far more egregious rule change favoring the present.  

If you want to take it a step further (you’re probably shaking your head no, but I’m on a role, so it’s time to go solo), the man, the myth, the video-version-didn’t-even-do-him-justice Barry Sanders averaged a gaudy 7.6 yards per carry.  That’s one full yard more than Montee’s 6.5 ypc.  Kinda like how the difference between 3.5 ypc is above average and 4.5 is pretty damn good, except with bigger numbers.  Barry broke the 300+ yard mark four times, and topped 200+ three other times.  Montee snuck by the 200+ mark twice.  Barry’s worst yardage game of the season was a 154 yard effort vs. Missouri.  Such a pedestrian day would have ranked as Montee’s 5th highest total this year, a mere dozen yards behind Ball’s 3rd best Saturday output.  

Want some more wind blown out of the sails of the Montee Ball hype machine?  Of his 34 touchdowns, 24 have been within 10 yards or less.  In fact, 22 TDs have been within 5 yards of paydirt.  In the ultimate padding for padding sake, Montee has 12 TDs strolling in from the 1 or 2 yard line.  Grandmothers could follow Wisconsin’s big uglies in from that proximity.  Since the Internet didn’t keep a record of his every play from scrimmage, I cobbled together rough estimates that no fewer than 7 of Barry’s 39 TDs traveled between 45 and 100 yards of the field, the epitome of gamebreaker.  Here’s guessing Barry didn’t have double digit strolls from the one foot line because Barry wouldn’t have been tackled so close without scoring in the first place.  

Not taking away from Ball’s remarkable achievements this season at all.  But he doesn’t meet either of two requirements for transcendent players.  The Berlin Doctrine (by which a player possesses the ability to take your breath away every time he touches the ball); and The Houdini Theory (by which a player regularly makes viewers, announcers, opposing teams, and even teammates wonder how they did something).  If Barry had played a 12th game and included bowl stats in his season total, the record would be in the neighborhood of 50 and this discussion would be moot.  Barry Sanders was God's gift to football.  

Back to the inaugural Big 10 Championship game, held at the venerable college football bastion, Lucas Oil Field.  My gut says 10 is too many points.  Would it surprise me if the Badgers drummed Sparty to a pulp?  Not at all.  But playing a hunch...and trying to claw back ahead of Jeremy and Dan in the pick standings and assuming they’ll ride Wisky here.  This looks like the safest play for the underdogs.  

Wisconsin 32  Michigan State 27

Mike: Michigan State (+10)

Michigan State beat Wisconsin already this year, but the game was in East Lansing and the Spartans required a Hail Mary to stave off a Badger comeback.  Given the change in venue and its slight talent edge, Wisconsin should be able to win this game and secure a place in the Rose Bowl.  Having said that, Michigan State is equipped to slow Wisconsin’s running game to a degree and to run the ball effectively against the Badger defense, thereby keeping this game close.  Russell Wilson will be the difference, however, in an entertaining inaugural Big Ten Championship.

Wisconsin 30 Michigan State 23

Phil: Wisconsin (-10)

A rematch of the heartbreak finish that essentially made whisky lose 2 games. Don't think they will allow MSU to be that close this time. War Damn Russell Wilson and Montee Ball.

Wisconsin 34 MSU 21

Georgia (+12.5) vs. LSU

Dan: LSU (-12.5)

LSU has been getting it done all year. They are 9-3 against the spread (and the three “losses” are close against big spreads) and have been a dominant force. Georgia is just ecstatic to be back in the SEC title game with by winning the mediocre East division. LSU doesn’t even want a chance that a loss might put them in a position to miss out on the Alabama rematch. LSU rolls.

LSU 31 UGA 10

Jeremy: LSU (-12.5)

Another week, another chance for the Bayou Bengals to make a dominating statement.  Anyone want to bet against them doing it?  Not this guy.

LSU 27  Georgia 10

Jimmy: LSU (-12.5)

Good for Georgia to reel off 10 wins against teams they should have beat, duck the 3 best teams in their own conference and make it to this stage.  Now feel the wrath of Les Miles’ wrecking crew.  Come the 3rd quarter, Aaron Murray will be hiding under a bench in the fetal position hoping Mark Richt puts someone else in.

LSU 26  Georgia 7

Mike: LSU (-12.5)

Georgia deserves some credit for a nice season and Mark Richt’s job is clearly secure for at least another year, but the Bulldogs have been the beneficiary of the weakest schedule (by opponent winning percentage) of any SEC division winner since the league was separated into divisions.  Moreover, while LSU might not need to win this game to secure a spot in the BCS title game, the Tigers will not be inclined to leave anything to chance this week in Atlanta.   Look for UGA to keep this game close for a while before LSU pulls away in the fourth quarter to punch its ticket to New Orleans.

LSU 31 Georgia 14

Phil: LSU (-12.5)

Anticlimactic SEC title game, as this is a 1 vs 4 matchup in the SEC and has little bearing on the BCS NC game. UGA has been playing well of late, but has had some players injured and Erin Murray's struggles with a physical DL are well documented. Just glancing at this line makes me think that the game will be closer, but Les Miles has a way of getting his players ready and LSU has been dominant this year. Bring on bama.

LSU 37 UGA 21

Oklahoma (+3.5) @ Oklahoma State

Dan: Oklahoma State (-3.5)

Bedlam! Of course, this is the game of national picture irrelevance. I don’t think OU has it this year. I guess they may have more to play for – revenge for OSU ruining OU’s season in the past, but I don’t see it. OSU, that Friday night debacle aside, have been dominant. Maybe they come out flat, but I trust Gundy to get them fired up.

OSU 41 OU 34

Jeremy: Oklahoma (+3.5)

The Sooners are a little beat up, but they'd love nothing better than a chance to ruin the Pokes chances to play in the title game.  Boomer Sooner pulls away late.

Oklahoma 41  Oklahoma St. 34

Jimmy: Oklahoma State (-3.5)

Bedlam is just fun to say, especially really loud.  Freaks people out on elevators.  I've read the stories about Okie State always coming up short (and Iowa State was certainly this year's annual contribution).  But there's some voodoo black magic keeping this intense rivalry so one-sides in the Sooners' favor.  While 1 game doesn't exactly tip the see-saw back in the Cowboys' direction, it certainly offers hope for years to come.  I believe in Mike Gundy and his ability to harness the scary potential of his offense.  This is as good a year as any for Oklahoma State to puff their chest proudly and feel like they have the upper hand, at least for a year.

Oklahoma State 48  Oklahoma 42

Mike: Oklahoma (+3.5)

I obviously understand why Oklahoma State is favored in this game, but the superior talent still resides on the Sooner sideline.  Although the Pokes have played the spoiler role quite well in the Bedlam series, they have not been able to rise to the occasion when both teams have been highly ranked.  Until proven otherwise, Oklahoma, injuries and all, is still the better program and they will prove their superiority this weekend in Stillwater.

Oklahoma 42 Oklahoma State 38

Phil: Oklahoma (+3.5)

After carrying me all season, Weeden gave me the ultimate "eff u" by losing to Iowa St and allowing bama to play for the title. What a jerk. I hope OU waxes his ass this game.

OU 40 OSU 21

Bonus Picks

Dan: New Mexico @ Boise State -48.5

Hell, one last time, for old time’s sake. It’s just not going to be the same with Davie there. Besides, their old coach is gone and their new coach is too busy doing multiple Thanksgiving weekend games.

Boise 69 New Mexico 10

Jeremy: 

Jimmy: Southern Miss vs. Houston (-14)

Case Keenum goes out in style with a final feel-good big win over mid-major competition.  Soak it up Case.  The fairy tale ends with whoever you’re matched up with in the BCS (unless that happens to be the Big East “Champ”).

Houston 59  Southern Miss 40

Mike: Oregon (-30) vs. UCLA

Do you think Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott is pleased with the matchup in the first ever Pac-12 matchup?  Me either.  Oregon will drub UCLA in Rick Neuheisel’s final game before joining his conference counterparts, Mike Stoops, Dennis Erickson and Paul Wulff, in the unemployment line.

Oregon 62 UCLA 10

Phil: Texas @ Baylor (-2.5)

Seriously?!? This is almost too easy. RG3 and co should mollywhop the hornless horns. I am not fooled by Texas surprising the underachieving Aggies over Thanksgiving. This is about too much Ganaway, RG3 (who is apparently fine) and Wright.

Baylor 34 Texas 20

Last Week

Dan: 5-1 (+ Lock of the Week)

Jeremy: 5-1 (+)

Jimmy: 4-2 (+)

Mike: 2-4 (+) –6-6 in his Bonus Bonanza picks, which I mercilessly equated to an L

Phil: 2-3 (+)

Season to Date

Dan: 47-28 (9-4)  .627 pct.

Jeremy: 48-27-1 (8-5)  .632 pct.

Jimmy: 44-29-3 (10-3)  .618 pct.

Mike: 35-40-1 (8-4-1)  .474 pct.

Phil: 42-31-1 (9-3-1)  .581 pct.

Notre Dame vs. Stanford - Saving the Best for Last

Dan: Stanford

Stanford 31 Notre Dame 20

Jeremy: Stanford

First time I'm picking against the Irish this year.  Must mean they're going to find a way to get the W, right?  Stanford was very successful in dropping the 8 or 9 guys into coverage last year, and that same strategy has proved effective this year in games against Pitt, Wake and last week against the Eagles.  Could be another long day of checkdowns and throw-aways.  

For the Irish to stay around in this game, they're going to need a monstrous effort from Cierre Wood and the offensive line.  Stanford hasn't faced too many great running teams this year, particularly early on, and ND should be able to find some holes on the ground.  Both Michael Floyd and Tyler Eifert should attract plenty of attention and will force guys like TJ Jones and Robby Toma to find holes in the zone.  

Andrew Luck doesn't need much discussion, and if he's watched any tape at all on the ND team, he knows that the middle of the field will be wide open for him, particularly if he can get his TEs matched up against any one of Te'o, Fox or Calabrese.  Those drags and crossing routes are going to absolutely murder the Irish defense.  

I expect the play of the ND offensive and defensive lines to keep the Irish in the game, though the likely loss of Stephon Tuitt for another week is going to make it tough to keep the Cardinal running game in check.  Luck makes enough plays in the 4th quarter, and the Irish lose another chance for a marquee win.

Stanford 27 ND 20

Jimmy: Stanford

While Stanford is a very good team, ND probably matches up better with the Cardinal better than any other Top 10 team.  Prior to the BC game, I was sold the Irish would be clicking on all cylinders and ready to blow it up in Palo Alto. After yet another shaky effort from Tommy Rees, compounded by Jonas Gray's injury and Steph Tuitt's lingering health problems, my confidence in a victory is wavering.  The 1-2 combo in the backfield has been a delight.  If Theo "Yo-Yo" Riddick returns to the RB position, that would get a valuable playmaker more touches, but he's certainly not the same bulldozer, between the tackles weapon as Gray.  I'm loving the new found revelation that is Robby Toma in the slot.  Robby's size, speed, and glue hands are ideal to thrive in that position. 

ND has a proud history of producing Heisman Trophy winners within the program, and a not-so-proud history of allowing signature moments for other program's eventual Heisman awards (see Desmond Howard, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush).  Now Andrew Luck gets one final turn to impress the voters.  A big performance on the national spotlight might be all that's left to stamp his ticket to NCAA immortality.  The Irish secondary may be all to obliging. 

I hope a different scenario plays out and Brian Kelly earns his first true signature win.

Stanford 30  ND 23

Mike: Stanford

 As seen over the past two weeks, Stanford is quite vulnerable.  The Cardinal were pasted at home by Oregon and they struggled to beat Cal in Palo Alto.  Injuries have taken their toll for Stanford as well, so this week is a golden opportunity for Notre Dame to notch its first legitimate “signature” win under Brian Kelly.

Unfortunately for the Irish, Stanford has Andrew Luck at starting quarterback and Notre Dame has Tommy Rees, which is the football equivalent of bringing a butter knife to a missile fight.  Stanford will likely borrow from the blueprint on slowing the Irish offense that was authored by Boston College last week.  In other words, the Cardinal will drop plenty of men into coverage and dare the statuesque Rees to run or force the ball into tight windows with his weak arm.  For whatever reason, Brian Kelly has refused to play dual threat QB Andrew Hendrix, who performed quite well in limited action earlier this season, despite Rees’s obvious limitations.  This stubbornness will again hurt the Irish, as Rees will continue his penchant for turnovers, thereby undermining any chance at a Notre Dame offense.  On defense, Notre Dame will slow down Luck to a degree, but the senior signal caller is too good to be denied all evening.  Another opportunity lost for the Irish, who will close the regular season at a disappointing 8-4.

Stanford 34 Notre Dame 20 

Phil: Notre Dame

Notre Dame @ Stanford

Great debate between James and Mazza on if a W is a W in the college game. Lots of levels of discussion here. My 2 cents:

In this BCS world, it is obviously paramount to win every week (unless the media slobs your knob like bama) and to have a perfect season, you need to win the 1-2 games each year where the ball is not bouncing your way. You need to "win ugly." In that case, a W is a W.

Where I agree with James, is that this Irish team has already laid 3 eggs this year. We have come out flat, turned the ball over and been flat beaten.  For us, at this stage in the game, we need to show signs of improvement, signs that we are headed in the direction of being a championship caliber team. To watch the uninspired, pathetic showing against BC on senior day was awful.  It is a reminder that we are NOT elite yet, and may still have a ways to go...

Stanford is a good team, but they do not superior athleticism. Nor do they have Harbaugh this year, who can somehow motivate his players to just pummel the life out of their opponent. I am scared to think what someone like Luck can do to our secondary after watching Denard light us up, but my love for the Irish leads me to beleive we can win this game on the road, springboarding our campaign for BCS champs 2012!

Notre Dame 31 Stanford 30

Mike's 2nd Helping Picks, Rivalry Edition

My love for rivalries has been well documented on this blog, so it should be rather obvious that this is my favorite weekend of college football.  On top of the rivalry angle, the pieces to the BCS puzzle will be taking shape this weekend, which just adds another layer of entertainment to an already riveting menu of games.  Toss in copious amounts of food, beer and wine and you’ve got the recipe for an incredible stretch of days.  In honor of rivalries, I will wax prognostic about a bunch of games this week (HOME team in caps).

Lone Star Showdown:  TEXAS A&M (-8.5) over Texas

Emotions will be sky high in College Station this week.  Texas A&M is licking its chops at the opportunity to claim victory against an undermanned Texas team in the final, and perhaps the most vitriolic, edition of the Lone Star Showdown.

Texas A&M 34 Texas 14

Backyard Brawl:  WEST VIRGINIA (-7.5) over Pittsburgh

Another fine rivalry that might be ending.  Ain’t conference realignment grand?

West Virginia 30 Pittsburgh 20

Clean, Old Fashioned Hate:  GEORGIA TECH (+5.5) over Georgia

Georgia has taken care of business against an incredibly weak slate of opponents, but they will be facing a sharp step up in class this week.  With the SEC Championship on the horizon and the difficulties in preparing for Georgia Tech’s offense, this is a bad matchup for the Dawgs.

Georgia Tech 35 Georgia 28

The “Can’t They Both Lose?™” Bowl Ohio State (+7.5) over MICHIGAN

Can Michigan finally beat Ohio State after 7 straight losses?  Until I see it, I refuse to believe it.

Ohio State 24 Michigan 21

Old Oaken Bucket:  Purdue (-7.5) over INDIANA

Anyone viewing this game will likely need a replica version of the Old Oaken Bucket as a vomit receptacle.

Purdue 28 Indiana 14

Border War:  KANSAS (+24) over Missouri

Too many points for this rivalry (all time series record:  55-55-9, which is awesome), even though Kansas is beyond putrid.  Will this be Turner Gill’s final game?  Will Gary Pinkel be able to circumvent his ignition interlock after the post game party?  Questions abound on the Plains.

Missouri 42 Kansas 20

Civil War:  Oregon State (+28) over OREGON

This is Oregon State’s Super Bowl, while Oregon is still smarting from last week’s blown opportunity against USC.  That, folks, is a recipe for an underdog play.

Oregon 38 Oregon State 21

Apple Cup:  Washington State (+6.5) over WASHINGTON

Will an upset save Paul Wulff’s job?  Stay tuned, as Wazzu will reclaim the Apple Cup at the venerable CenturyLink Field in Seattle.

Washington State 35 Washington 34

Egg Bowl:  MISSISSIPPI STATE (-18) over Mississippi

The Rebels have mailed it in since Houston Nutt’s firing, but will a trip to their Magnolia State rivals serve as inspiration?  I’m guessing that it won’t.

Mississippi State 36 Mississippi 14

Sunshine Showdown:  Florida State (-2.5) over FLORIDA

Forget about the Noles’ loss last week against Virginia.  Florida State’s defense will overwhelm Florida’s offense at the Swamp.

Florida State 20 Florida 10

Crosstown Showdown:  UCLA (+14.5) over USC

In a testament to how awful the Pac-12 South has been, UCLA leads the division and can secure a berth in the conference title game with a win against the Trojans.  USC, of course, would be the division winner if not for its probation and they should be able to handle their rivals at home this week.  The edge in motivation should reside with the Bruins, however, which will be enough for the cover.

USC 35 UCLA 24

Victory Bell:  Duke (+13.5) over NORTH CAROLINA

Surprisingly, a recent study in the Wall Street Journal revealed that this game is actually the second most heated rivalry in college football in terms of total average penalties per game (behind Auburn-Georgia; http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204479504576639093283303646.html).  Apparently, the mutual disdain is not only reserved for the hardwood.

North Carolina 28 Duke 21