Games To Watch: Week No. 11

Illinois versus #1 Ohio State
Saturday @ 3:30 on ABC
It wasn’t long ago that the Illini were making some noise in the Big Ten. That noise has since been hushed, and all the attention from that conference goes to the No. 1 ranked Buckeyes. Ohio State beat Illinois by only a touchdown last year. Last year, Illinois finished 2-10. At 7-3, something says that this year’s contest will be just as close—maybe even closer. Behind Rashard Mendenhall, the Illini are 6th in the nation when it comes to the ground game. Mendenhall, however, is only one of the playmakers on Zook’s offense, and if the Juice gets loose, the Buckeyes may be in trouble.
Picks—Randall: Illinois Erick: Ohio State Chris: Ohio State

#18 Auburn versus #10 Georgia
Saturday @ 3:30 on CBS
Auburn held stud Darren McFadden to 43 yards, so it’s easy to see that the Tigers’ defense won’t make it easy for Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno who became only the second freshman to rush for 1,000 yards. Behind Moreno, Georgia is rolling, probably still high from the win over Florida a couple of weeks ago. Auburn also beat Florida and scared the bejesus out of LSU, but if Moreno’s feet get to churning, it’s hard to see the Tigers stopping the Dawgs.
Picks—Randall: Georgia Erick: Auburn Chris: Georgia

Florida State versus #11 Virginia Tech
Saturday @ 3:30 on ABC
These two haven’t met since 2005’s ACC Title Match, and coming off of last week’s win over No. 2 Boston College where they did what the Hokies couldn’t do, the Seminoles look to build from that momentum. But to stop Sean Glennon, the Seminoles’ defense will need to play as well as they did against Boston College. The Noles may have beaten the Hokies each of the last twelve meetings, but this one is hardly a freebie. With wins over Alabama and Boston College, though, it’s clear that Bowden’s squad is capable of whooping VT. But their inconsistency each week makes you wonder if they will.
Picks—Randall: Florida State Erick: Virginia Tech Chris: Virginia Tech

#15 Florida versus South Carolina
With Florida’s young and suspect defense, Spurrier may get to do the two things he likes most: pass the ball and run up the score. But if Tebow is healthy, the Gamecocks will need to rely on that struggling defense to keep up with the Gators who average about fourteen more points per game than South Carolina. The Gamecocks’ defense started out on fire this season, but have been disappointing as of late. A loss knocks the Gators out of contention for the SEC East.
Picks—Randall: Florida Erick: Florida Chris: Florida

#4 Kansas versus Oklahoma State
Saturday @ 8:00 on ABC
They may need to change, or even add, some light bulbs to the scoreboard for this one. With Kansas averaging 46 points per game and Oklahoma State racking up 35, both of these squads sit amongst the top ten in the nation in that category. It’ll almost certainly be a shootout. And in these types of matchups the game usually comes down to which team can get that one good defensive stand, but because Kansas, in a winning effort, gave up 484 yards to Nebraska last week while Oklahoma State, in a losing effort, gave up 584 to the Longhorns, the winner of this one will be the last to score.
Picks—Randall: Oklahoma State Erick: Oklahoma State Chris: Oklahoma State

#17 Southern California versus Cal
It was once thought that this game would have national title implications. Not anymore. As far as averages go, it’s a pretty close match-up and will be close throughout. You wonder, though, just how Cal will manage to mess this one up. And with the Trojans being 21-0 in November under Pete Carroll, the Bears don’t have any room to mess up.
Picks—Randall: USC Erick: USC Chris: Cal