College Game Day – Three Picks Week Eight

College Game Day picks on BiglakeSports.   This is the final week of the regular season so this will be the last week for these picks.  This looks to be a really exciting weekend of college football.  It already started with a few games on Thanksgiving.  There are games all day on Friday and on Saturday.  You will be able to immerse yourself in football in between the Turkey coma and any shopping either in person or on line that you plan on doing.  Last week I went 1 – 2 in my picks.  The picks for the impact game and the upset game let me down.  Texas and Oregon could not pull out the wins.  The Texas one does not surprise me the Oregon loss was very confusing.   Oregon looked like they were sleeping in the first three quarters and then when they woke up in the fourth quarter it was too late.  Arizona State is a decent team and if you don’t take them seriously they will get you.  Herm Edwards has laid the ground work for a team that will be able to compete in the PAC 12 for the next few years.

After the 2 – 1 week that brings our season total for the College Game Day picks to 15 – 9.  Not too bad.

 

Impact Game

Oklahoma at Oklahoma State

Bedlam is always one of the great games of the year.   Even though Oklahoma leads the series 88–18–7.  There is still a lot of impact to this game.  In the past ten years Oklahoma State has won twice and five of the other games were one score games.  This game is going to have a lot of impact on what the Big 12 chances are for the college football playoff.  If Oklahoma wins it will set up a rematch with Baylor that matters for both teams.  If Oklahoma loses then it will set up a Big 12 championship game that only matters if Baylor wins.

Even though defense seems to be optional in the Big 12.  This game is going to come down to a few key defensive plays.  Oklahoma is going to have to find a way to stop Chuba Hubbard.  Hubbard has 1,832 yards rushing and has scored 20 touchdowns.  I am not sure that Oklahoma can stop him but they may just need to slow him down.  Oklahoma State is going to have to contain Jalen Hurts.  Hurts is having a Heisman type season after transferring from Alabama to Oklahoma.  With the performance of the Oklahoma quarterbacks over the last few years it makes you wonder if it more the system that Lincoln Riley has implemented.  As far as college games go it really does not matter.  As long as the person running it can execute then it will work.

Both teams have a lot to gain from winning this game.  Of course there is the state bragging rights for winning Bedlam.  For Oklahoma it will give them at least a shot at getting into the playoff.  For Oklahoma State it will set them up for a better bowl game and giving them the satisfaction of knocking Oklahoma out of the playoff.

Oklahoma 36 Oklahoma State 35

Interesting Game

Cincinnati at Memphis

This game has a lot of implications for the teams and for the American Athletic Conference.  If Memphis wins then it will set up a rematch the following week in the American Conference championship game.   If Memphis loses then they will need Houston to beat Navy to get into the championship game.  The winner of this game could be set up to play in the Cotton Bowl as the best team in the group of five.  Memphis and Cincinnati are both having very successful seasons this year.  Cincinnati has not lost since getting destroyed by Ohio State 42 – 0 week two of the season.  The only loss for Memphis came in week 6 to Temple.  A two point loss that Memphis could have won.  That game all came down to the 4 turnovers that Memphis coughed up to Temple.

The line on this game is making Memphis a 13.5 point favorite.  Not sure how that line got established.  I think that these teams are much closer than that.  Mike Norvell has built a team in Memphis that can compete with almost anyone.  The same can be said of Luke Fickell in Cincinnati.  Cincinnati seems that have a gift for giving coaches a stepping stop to a power five job.  I don’t see Fickell being their for much longer.  This may be his last chance for the American title.  It might also be his last chance, or second to last chance, to get back at Memphis for beating Cincinnati three straight times.

Cincinnati 30 Memphis 28

 

Upset Game

Iowa State at Kansas State

Not sure how much of an upset this really is going to be.  Both teams have a 7 – 4 record over all.  Iowa State is ranked 23 Kansas State is not ranked. Last year Iowa State won this game after having a rough stretch against Kansas State.  For the first time in a long time both of these teams come into this game bowl eligible.  That is a lot of good for the middle of the Big 12.  Kansas State has a big feather in its cap for being the only team to beat Oklahoma so far this season.  Iowa States biggest win was against a then ranked Texas team.   Not really the same impact as beating a top five ranked Oklahoma.  This will be a prove it game for Kansas State.

Kansas State 27 Iowa State 24