Picks of the Week: No. 14

I got a little redemption last week by ending my 12-week losing skid in picking upsets, but still only managed a 3-2 outcome. At one game over .500 I'm putting my winning season on the line in the final week.

USC (-7.0) over Arizona
It appears the winner of this game gets a Holiday Bowl invitation. Nice for ’Zona, not so much for the Trojans. The Wildcats would be a serious contender for an upset here if not for the fact no one in the Pac-10 plays well on the road and QB Nick Foles is injured. Looks like USC will get to 9-3 with a chance to add a 10th victory in the Holiday Bowl.
Pick: USC 27, Arizona 14

Wisconsin (-12.0) over Hawaii
Maybe when this game was scheduled Badgers coach Bert Bielema was looking for a warm location to coach his last game at UW. Then he did a remarkable job this year and Wisconsin is 8-3. The Badgers should just pound the ball on the ground with RB John Clay, who will more than likely have a career day against a Hawaii defense that allows 193 yards per game.
Pick: Wisconsin 38, Hawaii 12

Alabama (-5.5) over Florida
Look, the SEC officials will not let Tim Tebow lose this game. The Gators will get every call Saturday. But they’ll keep it close and the Tide will be in this game because of Nick Saban and the best defense in the nation. Mark Ingram’s injury hurts Alabama’s offense. Sorry Bama fans, Florida wins for a second year in a row.
Pick: Florida 24, Alabama 21

Central Michigan (-13.0) over Ohio
One week after picking the Bobcats to pull the upset of Temple (finally an upset pick in 2009), I’m going against Frank Solich’s team. Ohio QB Theo Scott is beat up and the Chippewas are clearly the class of the Mid-American Conference. CMU’s Dan LeFevour will officially become the greatest QB in conference history (statistically speaking) after this championship game in Detroit Friday night.
Pick: Central Michigan 34, Ohio 15

Upset of the Week
Florida Atlantic (+1.5) over Florida International
This is the eighth annual Shula Bowl and the Owls hold a 6-1 advantage over the Golden Panthers. This is a nice South Florida rivalry that includes a wild 57-50 overtime victory by FAU last year. Owls QB Jeff Van Camp should be the difference in this game. He threw for three TDs and ran for another in last week’s 29-23 win over Western Kentucky.
Pick: FAU 39, FIU 38

Last Week: 3-2
Season Record: 33-32