Next week I'll post my record so far, though I still believe I'm ahead of the blindfolded, dart-throwing monkey. Probably not by a whole lot, but I'm over 50 percent. Given the fact that sports are inherently random, as long as I do better than being completely random, I'll take it.
On to the picks. As always, the rankings used are from the BlogPoll.
No. 2 Kansas vs. No. 4 Missouri
Several weeks ago, the BlogPoll roundtable asked if there would be another Ohio State-Michigan GAME OF THE CENTURY that would shape the national title race. Most of us said no, figuring that many games would prove important. To an extent, we were right; this game will not provide a ticket to New Orleans, since the victor still has to face Oklahoma or Texas in the Big XII championship game. But it's certainly going to be a huge game. With any luck, I'll get to see the last half, but there's a much more important effort at Tiger-skinning that I must attend. Kansas 41, Missouri 38
No. 4 West Virginia vs. No. 20 Connecticut
If I were the Mountaineers, this would be a scary game for me. Connecticut isn't supposed to win most of the games it does, and it really shouldn't win most of the games it does if you look at the stats. But the Huskies do it somehow. So West Virginia needs to be aware of the possible upset, but look for the 'Eers to claim its second Big East title in three years with the win. West Virginia 40, Connecticut 16
No. 7 Georgia at Georgia Tech
It's time for the Third Annual Chan Gailey Swan Song. Actually, though, this might be the year that Gailey is shown the door. In any case, a loss here will unfortunately not affect Georgia's SEC East title hopes. Doesn't matter; they'll win. Georgia 28, Georgia Tech 14
No. 8 Virginia Tech at No. 16 Virginia
Another Tech-vs.-flagship battle, but this one is meaningful. The winner heads to Jacksonville to take on Boston College; the loser gets an average bowl berth as a consolation prize. Don't worry, Virginia students -- there are some nice mid-tier bowls out there. Virginia Tech 38, Virginia 14
No. 9 Oregon at UCLA
The loss by Arizona State on Thursday puts the Ducks back in the driver's seat for the Pac-10. Whether they can maneuver into the Rose Bowl without Dennis Dixon remains to be seen, but a win in Westwood should be manageable. Oregon 34, UCLA 13
No. 10 Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
Never put this game down as a sure Oklahoma win; Oklahoma State has come close to a shocker more than once. The Sooners, though, are angry about seeing their NC hopes slip away against Texas Tech, and Sam Bradford should be back. Oklahoma 56, Oklahoma State 20
No. 13 Florida vs. Florida State
Tim Tebow is a machine, and I'm not sure that anyone on the FSU sideline has an idea of how to stop him. That doesn't matter anyway, since no one on the FSU offense knows how to execute. Florida 35, Florida State 10
No. 14 Boston College vs. Miami
A few years ago, when both of these teams were in the Big East, this would have been a no-brainer. A much-touted Miami team would have waltzed into College Park and blown out the Eagles. But BC is the ranked team this year, Miami is struggling, and the Eagles are headed for Jacksonville. BC 37, Miami 3
No. 17 Tennessee at Kentucky
I hope Tennessee wins this one. The Volunteer fans would be much easier to tolerate during the offseason than the faithful for the spelling-challenged Dawgs should they win the SEC title. Alas, the self-proclaimed Dawgosphere is not representative in my experience of the Georgia fan base as a whole. The Vols should win this game, but they're a different team on the road. So who knows? Tennessee 20, Kentucky 17
No. 23 Cincinnati at Syracuse
The up-and-down Bearcats get the Orange in what should be a laugher. Cincinnati 38, Syracuse 7
No. 24 South Florida at Pittsburgh
See previous pick. Substitute "Bulls" for "Bearcats" and "Panthers" for "Orange." South Florida 48, Pittsburgh 14
No. 25 Auburn vs. Alabama
Yes, you do throw out the records in this one. The Tigers and the Crimson Tide always have a competitive game. And Nick Saban has obviously had two weeks to prepare for this one. Alabama 24, Auburn 21