Week 9 Predictions

Last week's record: 6-4
2010 Record: 54-26 (67.5%)

Thursday, October 28
#17 Florida State 30 @ #30 North Carolina State 24. The Wolfpack will hang around, but Florida State simply has more talent.

Saturday, October 30
#13 Oklahoma State 45 @ #27 Kansas State 28. Kansas State gave up almost 600 yards to Nebraska and almost 700 to Baylor. What will the cowboys put up?

#3 Michigan State 17 @ #26 Iowa 21. If Michigan State is going to lose, chances are it will be in this game. The Hawkeyes are desperately clinging to Big Ten title hopes. Lose this game and lose the title.

#43 Florida 17 vs. #59 Georgia 31. Georgia's shaken off a terrible start to win their last two games. Florida has lost three straight. Will it be four?

#21 Baylor 27 @ #46 Texas 28. I'll believe Baylor beating Texas when I see it.

#6 Oregon 56 @ #29 Southern Cal 45. This game will be fun, no doubt. The scoreboards might be malfunctioning by the start of the 4th quarter.

#33 Michigan 29 @ #60 Penn State 13. Michigan has a chance for a much-needed Big Ten win, coming off the bye. They should get it against hapless Penn State.

#2 Auburn 34 @ #78 Mississippi 21. The streak of BCS/AP #1 upsets ends at 3. Auburn rolls. War Eagle!

#25 East Carolina 35 @ #35 UCF 28. The biggest C-USA game this season, the result could go a long way to determining the East division representative, and gives the winner a great shot at a 10-2 regular season.

Game of the Week. #1 Missouri @ #11 Nebraska
GOTW Record: 6-2

•  Nebraska Offense vs. Missouri Defense. Nebraska's run game ranks among the top 10 in the nation, and features 3 of the Big 12's top 10 rushers. It could be argued that the best rushing team Missouri has faced this year was San Diego State, which also came within a busted coverage and uncalled block-in-the-back from defeating the Tigers in Columbia in Week 3. Nebraska +3
• Missouri Offense vs Nebraska Defense. One of the Big 12's leading passers takes a crack at the nation's number 1 pass defense. Oklahoma State's quarterback threw for over 250 on the Huskers last week, but barely crept above 50% while also throwing an interception. However, the Nebraska D has been vulnerable to the inside run, which Mizzou executed to perfection last week against the Sooners. Missouri -2
• Home-Crowd.... Advantage? The Huskers have been brilliant on the road, averaging 51 ppg (tops in the nation... by far). However, at home, they have been beatable, averaging just 26 ppg (almost half of the road average). Whatever the reason, this could be the first ever home-field disadvantage. Missouri -1

The Verdict: +/-0

The Prediction. Another high-scoring game for the Cornhuskers, similar to last week's outing in Stillwater (in which the Huskers prevailed, 51-41). The Tigers D, however, is much closer to Texas' (a Nebraska loss, 13-20) than the Cowboys. A Missouri win would give the Tigers a very good shot to finish 12-0, and likewise a Nebraska victory means the Huskers likely end up 11-1. The stakes could not be higher. I'll go with the gut, and with the experienced QB. Missouri 38, Nebraska 34.