The Crystal Ball (Director's Cut)...

It's the last weekend in October, a time when the weather starts to get cold and the games start to get serious. Before we start, a few words about last week.

Some real good foretellings: TCU over Brigham Young (an upset foreseen by both Ian and myself); Virginia over North Carolina; Georgia Tech over Clemson; Georgia over Vanderbilt (with Bulldog RB Knowshon Moreno running wild.)

Now for the tough ones: As you may recall, I picked Michigan State over Ohio State and Ole Miss over Alabama. The Ole Miss pick was almost correct. They had a good chance of springing the upset if not for several costly turnovers (They lost 24-20).

The game between the Buckeyes and Spartans was a different story. Ohio State romped 45-7. But hear me out: I'm convinced this game would have been much closer if not for a key turnover early on. With the Bucks up 7-0, the Spartans were cutting through the OSU defense like butter when, lo! Buckeye fumble recovery. Ohio State quickly scores and Michigan State finds itself down and dispirited. The Spartans would eventually commit four more turnovers. In the end, sports is all about momentum. Ohio State captured and held it on Saturday.

Anyway, past is prologue. Time to summon the Crystal Ball...

Thursday quick hit:

Auburn at West Virginia. The Tigers are in disarray, having lost three of their last four. Though the Mountaineers also have struggled at times this season, their spread option offense seems to give speedy, overpursuing defenses fits (read: Georgia, Oklahoma, Auburn). Plus, the Mountaineers have had this nationally-televised game circled for some time and will be on a mission to prove that their struggles are but temporary. West Virginia wins.

Saturday foretellings:

Boston College at North Carolina. Here's a key ACC matchup that no television market will care to watch except for viewers in Boston and Raleigh-Durham and, ahem, at least one blogger in Dallas. North Carolina will attempt to run the ball, but they'll have a hard time doing so against B.C.'s stout front seven. If B.C. can avoid turnovers and blocked kicks (not a given), the Eagles will win. If not, it's the Tar Heels. No pick.

Illinois at Wisconsin. Boy, did this game look good on paper about two months and six losses ago... I foresee a big game for the Illini and QB Juice Williams that will push embattled Badgers coach Bret Bielema further onto the hot seat.

Baylor at Nebraska. I mention this game because, while I believe Nebraska will win, I think Baylor will keep it close into the second half. The Huskers have had problems containing running quarterbacks and the Bears just happen to have a good one in QB Robert Griffin.

BLOWOUT ALERT: Oklahoma at Kansas State. The real question here is not who will win but, rather, how big of a Sooners blowout will this be? Answer: Huge. When comparing teams, I often look at the resume of each. Oklahoma's worst game: a tough, 10-point loss to No. 1 Texas. K-State's worst game: a 30-point drubbing at home to Texas Tech. Or maybe it was the 11-point loss at Louisville. Or the 8-point scrap-and-claw victory against lowly Louisiana-Lafayette... You get the picture. Sooners win big.

Virginia at Georgia Tech. An interesting game for ACC aficionados. Both of these teams are on mini winning streaks. The thing to note here is that the Cavaliers are a vastly different team on the road (read: They stink). This game is in Atlanta. You do the math. Yellow Jackets win.

Big games:

Virginia Tech at Florida State. This is a matchup of the ACC's past (Florida State) and its present (Virginia Tech). The Seminoles are starting to put things together, while Tech's offense has struggled as of late. The X-factor, as is often the case in games against the Hokies, is turnovers and special teams play. Florida State's offense is talented, but also young and turnover-prone. I think Virginia Tech will make some plays on defense and maybe block a kick. Tech QB Tyrod Taylor, meanwhile, will do just enough to win. The Hokies win a tight one.

UPSET ALERT: USC at Arizona. There's no middle ground with this game. Either it's a Trojan blowout or Arizona springs the upset. I pick a Wildcats upset. Why? All the ingredients are there: Late night Fox Sports game. Rowdy U of A crowd. Electric desert atmosphere. And the Trojans are probably patting themselves on the back following their 69-0 pasting of Washington State. Moreover, I think Arizona Coach Mike Stoops will cook up some goodies in his game plan (perhaps some 'wham' blocks by the receivers ala Oregon State). In fact, if you look closely, the Wildcats have a cast of characters similar to Oregon State's: Small quick scat back (Nick Grigsby), mobile quarterback (Willie Tuitama) and a clutch senior wide receiver (Mike Thomas). USC might as well be an NFL team, we all know that. But Oregon State's win earlier this season showed that the Trojans are vulnerable. I think USC will show its soft underbelly again on Saturday.

UPSET ALERT: Texas Tech at Kansas. I am a believer in what Tech Coach Mike Leach has put together in Lubbock. But this season's magic carpet ride will end in Lawrence, where Kansas QB Todd Reesing and a hostile crowd awaits. This game will come down to Tech's inability to contain the big play and stop Kansas on third down. Despite Tech's best efforts, Kansas will pull the upset.

Georgia at LSU. Just as I liked how Georgia matched up with Vanderbilt last week, I like how LSU matches up with Georgia this week. I foresee LSU shutting down Bulldog RB Knowshon Moreno and blitzing QB Matthew Stafford to kingdom come. I also think that Georgia's defense, as fast as it is, has a tendency to overpursue and is vulnerable to gadget plays. It just so happens that gadget plays are Tigers Coach Les Miles's specialty. LSU wins a close one at home.

Biggest games:

Oklahoma State at Texas. Doesn't it seem like Texas plays a big game every week? Saturday is no different: Oklahoma State is the real deal. Most analysts are predicting a comfortable Texas win, but I don't buy it. After beating No. 1 Oklahoma and crushing an elite Missouri team, Texas is vulnerable to an emotional letdown. I think Oklahoma State will play Texas closer than anyone has so far. Still, that doesn't mean the Cowboys will win. Texas and QB Colt McCoy are just too good for that to happen. The Longhorns take a tough-fought one.

Penn State at Ohio State. At last, we get to the weekend's centerpiece. This is one of those classic "trench" games. Who will win the trench battle? Both defenses are stout, so it's a tough call.

I am a believer in Ohio State's defense. I'm especially a believer in the Bucks D when it is playing at home under the lights with the whole nation watching. Penn State's got a pretty darned good offense with QB Daryll Clark manning the controls. But remember: He's still young. And Ohio State's strength? Forcing turnovers.

I like Penn State's defense, too. But the Nittany Lions have yet to face a rushing attack quite as dynamic as Ohio State's. I'm pretty sure the Buckeyes will look to unleash RB Beanie Wells and wunderkind QB Terrelle Pryor on the ground. Penn State struggled at times to contain the option running of Illinois earlier this season. And that was at home. It'll be close, but I think Ohio State has the horses to pull off the upset and (ugh) jump back into the national title chase. Buckeyes win.