10 Best Football Games Week 9!

It's November, which means that the NFL has reached its halfway point and we are finding out who is playoff material and which teams are not. While college football now only has five undefeated teams, and at least one more will fall Saturday in the marquee game of the weekend, college or pro.  Without further ado, here are the 10 best games of the weekend.

College

No.  3 Texas Christian at No. 5 Utah

As noted in the prologue, this is the biggest game of the weekend, as both teams are undefeated, and the winner still has a shot at the national title game. The loser can kiss the following goodbye: the Mountain West championship, the shot for a national title, and a BCS bowl appearance.  So, essentially, this has an all or nothing vibe going for it.  TCU has been crushing it's opponents by over 30 points a game, and Utah has been blowing teams out as well, being third in points per game.  So, I'm expecting a very tight contest, with TCU pulling it out and strengthening itself and positioning itself for a possible berth in the title game.

Pick: TCU 31, Utah 23

No. 6 Alabama at No. 10 LSU

Nick Saban comes back to LSU, the place he abandoned to leave for the "greener pastures" of the NFL.  Well, Saban didn't do so well there, so he went back to the college ranks and to one of LSU's biggest rivals and led them to a national title.  The winner of this game has represented the SEC West in the conference title game each of the past five seasons and it's looking it could unfold that way again here.  This is going to be a great game, and I'm expecting the mad hatter, Les Miles to get a little help from his friend down in hades to win this game.  (See Pat Forde's Forde yard dash on espn.com for the reference.)

Pick: LSU 23, Alabama 21


No 15 Arizona at No. 13 Stanford

Stanford only has one loss on the season, and it came to the number one team in the nation right now, the Oregon Ducks. Stanford hung in there for three quarters too, before Oregon pulled away at the last second.  I'm thinking that despite what the rankings may say, Stanford is the second best team in an awfully strong Pac-10 by a mile, and Andrew Luck should still be considered for the Heisman.

Pick: Stanford 47, Arizona 24

No. 21 Baylor at No 17 Oklahoma State

Please comment on this post if anyone had Baylor in the mix for the Big 12 South title the first Saturday in November.  I'm willing to bet nobody did, and that this game is controlling their destiny for the chance to meet Nebraska in the Big 12 title game.  Oklahoma State and their offense blows away Baylor led by Kendall Hunter.

Pick: Oklahoma State 45, Baylor 40

No. 18 Arkansas at No. 19 South Carolina

This would be an enticing matchup for the SEC title game, but Arkansas is way too far out of it in the SEC West for this game to matter as far as a preview of the SEC title game.  But, South Carolina is controlling it's own destiny in the SEC East and could very easily be there.  Go with Stephen Garcia and the Gamecocks.


Pick: South Carolina 26, Arkansas 20

NFL

Indianapolis at Philadelphia

Philadelphia is undefeated under Andy Reid following a bye week plus Michael Vick is coming back after a few weeks off due to broken rib cartilage.  Indy has not been the same team as it has been in years past.  I'll be a homer and the rational thinking tells me to go with the Eagles.

Pick:  Philadelphia 27, Indianapolis 17


Tampa Bay at Atlanta

This is a game for the NFC South lead believe it or not.  Atlanta is also coming off of a bye, and they are at home, which is a recipe for success.  Plus, Tampa is coming off a very hard fought game against Arizona where they lost a big lead then came back to win in the fourth quarter, so while their stats may not say much, they are still a very good team and can be a threat down the stretch.

Pick: Atlanta 31, Tampa Bay 21


Miami at Baltimore

Miami is a weird team, as they have narrowly won all four of their games on the road, but none of their games at home thus far.  I do not expect that trend to continue this week, as Baltimore is in the same position as the previous two games this week.  Baltimore is home and coming off of a bye, that should equal another win.


Pick: Baltimore 30, Miami 20

New York Giants at Seattle

This is a game between division leaders believe it or not.  But, the only reason for that is because the NFC West is that bad of a division.  Seattle just got shellacked by the improving Raiders, but it's still the Oakland Raiders, who have completely stunk over the past seven seasons.  New York is coming in with a great defense and have quite possibly saved Tom Coughlin's job to this point.  I'm expecting more of the same since Matt Hasselbeck, the Seattle quarterback is out with a concussion.  Plus, Charlie Whitehurst is making his first ever NFL start.  Welcome to the NFL kid.

Pick: New York Giants 38, Seattle 10

Kansas City at Oakland

Now, please comment if you had the Oakland Raiders fighting for the playoffs come the first Sunday in November, because I'm guessing nobody had that either, instead of the Raiders thinking who they should pick with another top 10 pick in the draft.  Tom Cable and Todd Haley are leading candidates for coach of the year thus far, and rightfully so.  Haley brought in Thomas Jones who was let go by the Jets and has been very successful in a platoon with Jamaal Charles.  Then Cable has been doing a terrific job with the Raiders, as they have been picking up steam the past few weeks, completely destroying a division rival in Denver and then beating down a good Seattle team.  I'm expecting a slugfest and a hard fought running first game with these two teams. 


Pick: Kansas City 28, Oakland 24

Have a good weekend watching football and be sure to check out my October game of the month as well!