THE WORLD OF BAX: PREVIEWING THE WEEKEND, FRIDAY STYLE

Welcome to the laid-back edition of the World of Bax. Since this week’s biggest weeknight game is going to take place on Friday night instead of its usual Thursday venue, I figured we’d take a page out of my Southern California readers’ books and take our time, sit back and watch the world go by with a drink in our hands while enjoying some sunshine. Wherever you are, enjoy life, man.

Or I was just lazy and waited the extra day figuring that most people aren’t too concerned about the outcome of Thursday night’s Rutgers-South Florida showdown. If you ever meet me, you’ll realize that is (by far) the most likely scenario. But seriously, how many weeks have had their highlight weeknight game on a Friday?

Remember when there was a very clear order about weekend football viewing? Friday nights were for high school football, Saturdays were for college football and Sunday was for pro football. Eventually, Thursday night games were introduced with massive success. Now, ESPN is trying to get a game on every single night of the week (and succeeding!) and it makes me a little bit nostalgic for a simpler football-viewing time. A time, I might add, that I’m barely old enough to remember……

On second thought, what am I complaining about? I get to watch football (even if it is of the MAC and Sun Belt variety) every night of the week! That’s awesome! While I have many complaints about ESPN’s commentary about college football and their propagation of the polarizing conference strength debates, I have to give them some credit for beaming football (glorious football!) into my television every night of the week.

Of course, my wife would like to gouge her eyes out at the prospect of watching football every night, so it is probably good for my marriage and her eyesight that we only have a month left in the regular season. Shivers………I hope this is the slowest four weeks of my life! What’s that, honey? Yes, dear, I’ll go do the dishes before the game comes on…………….

THIS WEEK’S PICKS

I’m sitting static again! Last week was the 2 nd consecutive week with a 5-5 record! Yech, I have to do better. Thus, my season record is now 63-41 overall. The goal now is to get back on the roll which propelled me to a personal-best October pick ‘em.

West Virginia at #4 Cincinnati

Friday, 8:00 PM EST

I really, really, really want to pick West Virginia, but I’m not sure whether that’s my football knowledge leading me in that direction or my desire to be correct and say that the Bearcats will lose a game this year. I’m going to play this one safe as I expect Zach Collaros and company to put together enough offense against a somewhat sputtering Mountaineer squad to get the win on home turf.

Cincinnati 31, West Virginia 24

Michigan at #15 Wisconsin

Saturday, Noon EST

This is Michigan’s best hope to qualify for a bowl game with mighty Ohio State on the near horizon and they decide to bench Tate Forcier? Believe it or not, that’s the decision that Rich Rodriguez has reportedly made. So, let me get this straight: Michigan is going to play a quarterback who can’t pass the football to save his life and make themselves one dimensional against Wisconsin’s solid front seven? Combine that with Michigan’s chronic inability to play defense and you have the makings of an easy Badger victory.

Wisconsin 34, Michigan 20

Michigan State at Purdue

Saturday, Noon EST

This is essentially an elimination game in the chase for a bowl berth. Purdue has to win their final two games while Michigan State needs one victory but finishes the season against Penn State, whom they’re unlikely to challenge. Therefore, this game is virtually the season for both teams. While Purdue has home field advantage and has impressed of late, I’m going with the Spartans, who are stronger across the board, to get their 6 th win and earn bowl eligibility. I just can’t imagine a team with this much talent failing to win six games, but then again I said the same thing about Illinois in the preseason……..

Michigan State 27, Purdue 21

Tennessee at Ole Miss

Saturday, Noon EST

This has to be a fascinating game for Ed Orgeron. The Tennessee recruiting coordinator was the head coach at Ole Miss when the large majority of their current team was recruited to Oxford, so you know he’ll want his former kids to do well. However, Tennessee is his team now and they’ve been on fire of late. I think Coach O’s new team has been the most improved team in the SEC thus far and I think that they’ll hunker down in the face of the dramatic news that three of their freshmen teammates were arrested Thursday morning for purportedly attempting to rob some students outside of a convenience store with an air pistol. While those three should clearly be former members of the team, I think that the remaining Vols will hunker down and earn another big win.

Tennessee 20, Ole Miss 17

#2 Florida at South Carolina

Saturday, 3:30 PM EST

People have been pointing at this game as the last game that Florida has a realistic chance to lose. While the Gator offense is far from impressive, the Gamecocks aren’t the team to topple the defending champions, even with their stout defense. I just can’t see a Stephen Garcia-led offense beating the Gators and their awesome defense, even with home field advantage. I expect a low scoring game instead of the 56-6 beatdown that we saw last year, but Florida will win this game.

Florida 24, South Carolina 10

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#6 Iowa at #12 Ohio State

Saturday, 3:30 PM EST

This would have been such a great game were it not for Ricky Stanzi’s ankle injury. Iowa would likely have entered the game undefeated and this would have been a clash of the conference’s best teams. Even without Stanzi, Iowa is extremely talented, especially on defense, and will play with a ton of heart as a Rose Bowl berth is on the line. However, barring a ton of Buckeye turnovers, I don’t see how Iowa is going to score points and I expect the Buckeyes to grind out a Rose Bowl-clinching victory in Columbus over the wounded Hawkeyes.

Ohio State 23, Iowa 6

#9 Miami at North Carolina

Saturday, 3:30 PM EST

The Hurricanes still have an outside shot at the ACC Coastal crown but they’re going to need help. However, Miami’s focus shouldn’t be a question after shellacking Virginia last week. The big question this week will be whether Miami’s talented offense can overwhelm former Cane Coach Butch Davis’ stout defense. I think that Miami’s losing streak ends this weekend against Davis in Chapel Hill this weekend as I expect the Hurricanes to pull away late in a tight matchup.

Miami 28, North Carolina 17

#20 Stanford at #9 Southern California

Saturday, 3:30 PM EST

These two teams are heading in different directions. USC is suffering through a wave of injuries and Matt Barkley is hitting the proverbial freshman wall. The Trojans barely edged Arizona State last weekend and were beat up two weeks ago by Oregon! Meanwhile, the Cardinal beat that same Oregon team in impressive fashion last weekend and their offense is clicking on all cylinders. Remember when Stanford ended USC’s long home winning streak two years ago in one of the biggest upsets in college football history? When they beat the Trojans this time around, Stanford’s upset against USC will be more notable for ending Pete Carroll’s November unbeaten run than it will be for shock at the final score. Stanford will move to 6-2 in Pac Ten play and keep their Rose Bowl hopes intact in the Coliseum this weekend.

UPSET ALERT: Stanford 34, Southern California 24

#14 Arizona at California

Saturday, 7:00 PM EST

Speaking of the Rose Bowl, this game will also have a major impact on the Pac Ten championship chase. Arizona controls their destiny and their offense is dangerous with sophomore Nick Foles at the controls. Without Jahvid Best, Cal is going to struggle to consistently move the football and I think that Arizona won’t be denied in their bid to move to 5-1 in conference play.

Arizona 30, California 16

Notre Dame at #8 Pittsburgh

Saturday, 8:00 PM EST

When these two teams met on opening day in 2005, it was the debut of both Charlie Weis and Dave Wannstedt at their alma maters. In that game, which I attended, Notre Dame dominated the Panthers and won by twenty points. They were clearly the superior team athletically. At the time, Weis was hailed as a genius and Wannstedt’s ability to coach was severely questioned. Five years later, the tables have turned. Weis hasn’t managed to recapture any of the success of his first two seasons since (gasp!) Tyrone Willingham’s recruits departed while Wannstedt’s relentless recruiting has propelled the Panthers to great results in the past two years.

In a way, it is poetic that these two teams meet up with Weis’ job on the line as the progression of these programs have been polar opposites: Weis’ first two seasons were extremely successful before their next three have been disappointments while Wannstedt’s first three seasons were awful before their breakout last season. Why has Wannstedt been more successful? He’s recruited well on BOTH sides of the ball and he’s developed his players significantly better. Weis’ inability in both of those areas will cost the Irish in primetime on Saturday and it will cost their portly head boss at the end of the season when he is fired as the head football coach at Notre Dame.

Pittsburgh 38, Notre Dame 27

By: Matt Baxendell
Matt Baxendell is collegesports-fans.com’s football writer. Keep an eye out all fall for his multiple weekly articles discussing everything college football. If you want to get in touch with him, email him at Matt.Baxendell@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @MattBaxendell