The Friday Tailgate

Play Tusk! Picks Against the Spread
Record: 17-15 (4-6)

Game 1: LSU -4.5 @ Tennessee
Winner: Tennessee

Game 2: UCLA +17 @ California
Winner: California

Game 3: Boston College -4 @ Wake Forest
Winner: Boston College

Game 4: Oklahoma -3 @ Texas A&M
Winner: Oklahoma

Game 5: Penn St. +7 @ Wisconsin
Winner: Wisconsin

Hometown Teams

Go U Northwestern! Northwestern +19.5 @ Iowa
Winner: Nortwestern

Shoulder to Shoulder! Kansas St. +3.5 @ Colorado
Winner: Colorado

Fight on! USC -28 @ Stanford
Winner: USC

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Game of the Week: West Virginia @ Louisville
I know, I know. This game has already been played (I predicted a 38-21 Louisville win, for the record), but it is still the most important game of the week(end). Louisville put themselves in the driver's seat in the Big East, and gave themselves a shot at a national title appearance. Steve Slaton and Pat White did not put forth a championship effort, and that is what is expected from the "greatest" running attack since, well, last season. The Mountaineers proved to the nation that they were undefeated because of their schedule - not because they were the 3rd best team in the nation. Louisville should now be 3rd in the polls - but will need to win out convincingly in order to hold that spot. A one-loss SEC, Pac 10 or even Big 10 team will have a legitimate argument to play in the title game if Louisville finishes the season in unspectacular season.

Upset Watch: Ohio State @ Illinois
If Ohio State is going to lose before The Game, it will be this weekend. A very young and talented Illinois team has been getting better and better as the season continues, and this is their National Championship game. If the Illini can limit turnovers (to zero), and can hang around through the first three quarters, we could see a fourth quarter that gives Juice and the orange and blue a chance to pull off an upset for the ages.

Heisman Watch: UCLA @ California
At this point, Troy Smith has all but won the Heisman. The only way that Troy will not be on stage in New York in a month is if somebody steals it from him. Only two players - Marshawn Lynch and Brady Quinn - even have a shot at doing that, after Steve Slaton/Pat White watched their chances fade to black in Louisville on yesterday. Brady Quinn has the USC game to try to win the Heisman. Marshawn Lynch has Saturday night's rivalry game with UCLA, and his matchup with USC to make a run. That being said, it will take a superhuman November from either to pull off this Heisman Heist.