NCAA College Football 2008 Week 13 Picks late games

NCAA College Football 2008 Week 13 Picks - late games

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Fearless Rick's College Football Week 13 Picks - Late Games

Rick Gagliano | November 22, 2008

All times Eastern - Click here for early games.

4:00 pm Boise State (-6. 62) at Nevada - The Broncos are back looking for another BCS invitation as they head towards another undefeated season. The Vegas line seems to believe that the Wolf Pack is going to give Boise a run for their money, but, as they are so often, they're just taking in sucker money. Nevada has four losses, two of which were to Texas Tech and Missouri and were not close. The other two, to New Mexico St. and Hawaii, are not even in the same universe. Boise beat both of those teams - Hawaii, 27-7, and New Mexico State, 49-0. Boise is not about to let another perfect season slip away here and should win by double digits. They have Fresno State next week and must avoid looking ahead in order to get the job done here.

Prediction: Broncos 37 Wolf Pack 21

6:00 pm BYU at Utah (-6 1/2, 54) - This is the season finale for these two and the winner takes home the Mountain West title. The Utes can finish 12-0 with a win, though the Cougars have only one blemish on their 10-1 record, a 32-7 beating delivered by another conference opponent, TCU. Fans are calling this all-Utah battle the "Holy War" even though there will be nothing sacred about what occurs this Saturday night.

Both teams sport destructive defense and effective offense, and nothing will be left on the field. The obvious advantage is the home turf, which, in this case belongs to the Utes, though the line has been set to an unacceptably high level. Utah will likely win this one, but not in any grand fashion. This looks like a "last man standing" condition, and the Utah faithful better hope that the ball is not in the hands of the enemy as the 4th quarter grinds down.

Prediction: Utes 30 Cougars 28

7:00 pm Oregon State at Arizona (-3, 57) - The Beavers can take another step towards the PAC-10 title with a win here, though life is not going to be easy against Arizona, a unit putting up 39.7 points per outing. Oregon State will have to put up points in a hurry and maybe get a few breaks in the kicking game in order to win here, but with so much riding on the outcomes of this game and next (vs. Oregon St.), the pressure may be too much to endure.

The Wildcats are sure to put up points, but the question is which defense will show up. Both teams have had their lapses and collapses trying to prevent opponents from scoring, but the Beavers seem to have the kind of run-stuffing and just enough outside speed to keep this one in the park. A close call, but the Beavers chew through.

Prediction: Beavers 37 Wildcats 31

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7:00 pm Pittsburgh at Cincinnati (-5, 49) - It's finally come down to the two best teams the Big East has to offer, and for the Bearcats, they get the home field draw and a chance to make amends for last season's 24-17 losing effort at Pittsburgh. Cincy's done almost everything right, except for their two lopsided losses, both on the road, at Oklahoma and at UConn, in hurricane-force winds which destroyed their potent passing game.

The Panthers have finally come to the head of the class as well in 2008, and they are a perfect 4-0 away from home this season, so, obviously, something's got to give, and all indications are that it will be Pitt's secondary, which was demolished in a 54-34 loss to Rutgers just a week before having to go to overtime against Notre Dame, before the Irish imploded and handed the win to the Panthers. Pitt's 41-7 win over Louisville has silenced the critics a bit, but the Big East championship is going a little to the West this season.

Prediction: Bearcats 33 Panthers 24

7:45 pm Florida State at Maryland (-1, 46 1/2) - Both teams are 7-3 overall, but Maryland hold many tiebreaking cards in the ACC Atlantic division in addition to a full game edge on the Seminoles. The Terrapins were left for dead after their 31-0 loss at Virginia in early October, but rebounded to win four of their last five and can virtually capture the division with a nifty home win here. Depending on the outcome of the BC-Wake Forest game earlier, this could become somewhat of a coronation, even though Maryland closes out the season at Boston College next week.

With Florida State at 4-3 and Maryland at 4-2 going in, the mathematical possibilities are nearly enough to invoke the Einstein rule: In case of ties, order more chalk. Seriously, though, the Terrapins should come away with a couple of turnovers and a win.

Prediction: Terrapins 17 Seminoles 14

8:00 Texas Tech at Oklahoma (-7, 77) - It is only fitting that an exceptional day of college football end with an encounter as compelling as this Big 12 extravaganza. Unfortunately, some Okie fans have been suckered into believing that the Sooners can qualify for the national championship with a win over the Red Raiders. There are a number of problems with this thesis. First, while it is true that the Sooners could qualify for the Big 12 championship if they end up tied with Texas Tech and Texas, they would have to be ranked higher than both of them to do so, and since Texas already beat Oklahoma on a neutral site, that won't happen. Second, Graham Harrell is the best quarterback in the nation. Third, Oklahoma is going to lose. The oddsmakers and the BCS both have this figured out.

Prediction: Red Raiders 48 Sooners 40

All times Eastern - Click here for early games

Copyright 2008, 2009, Rick Gagliano, Downtown Magazine. All rights reserved. Downtown Magazine is located in the Uinted States of America and is not affiliated with the National Football League or the NCAA. For more information, contact us here. Use of this site is for entertainment purposes only.

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