No Longer Playing Like Freshmen

OHIO STATE -9.5 @ Illinois

Terrelle Pryor broke out in a big way last week.

The Buckeyes have had a nice D, run game and special teams all year but finally put up some offense last week against a pretty good Northwestern D, scoring 45 points.

With Pryor shrugging off defenders and heaving touchdowns the Buckeyes once again look like the class of the Big 10 (though likely too late to win the conference).

Ohio State still has a BCS bid to play for and also is motivated to beat Illinois as bad as possible after the Zookers gave them their only regular season loss last year.

5-5 Illinois has been a major disappointment this year including a 6-point loss last week to Western Michigan.

Zook seems to have lost some control over the team and QB Juice Williams has been a turnover machine without Mendenhall to keep defenses honest.

OREGON STATE -3 v. California

The Beavers are undefeated at home including their big win over USC and have won 4 straight overall.

Three reasons Oregon State covers:

• Freshman RB Jacquizz Rodgers is a dynamo that will not be stopped by Cal.


• The Beavers are playing for a Rose Bowl bid and will not lose at home.


• Cal has not fared well on the road, going 1-3 with losses by an average of 12 points and their only win coming over hapless Washington State in Pullman.

SOUTH CAROLINA +23 @ Florida

This is just too many points to pass up.

The last time the Cocks came to the Swamp was Florida’s national championship season in '06 and the Gators needed some generous calls and 2 blocked field goals to pull out a win.

South Carolina has played great D all year and the offense has improved with time, scoring 27 and 34 points in their last two conference games.

The Cocks have lost 3 times this year, but none by more than 7 points.

Look for Spurrier to keep his team in the game right to the end by force of sheer will if necessary – a single digit margin is more likely than a Gators cover.

Click here for prior week's picks.