Up and down!

Coach Talk:  Week #11

by Coach  Jon Cacchione

After 10 weeks, let us take a look at some of my predicted conference and divisional champs, and whether or not they have lived up to my expectations.

I predicted in the ACC that the Coastal Division would be won by Virginia Tech and the Atlantic Division would be won by Florida St.  I predicted that FSU would win the ACC championship game.  Well, that won’t happen.  FSU is out of the ACC Atlantic discussion.  Clemson has virtually locked up the Atlantic.  In the Coastal, Virginia Tech can pretty much secure the Coastal with a win tonight against Georgia Tech.  If GT wins, they lock up the Coastal, and we would then have a rematch of Clemson vs. Georgia Tech in the ACC title game.  GT is Clemson’s only loss this year, so far.  ACC prediction:  Not very good

In the Big East, I predicted that USF would win their first title.  Not going to happen.  In fact, USF is dead last in the conference at 0-4.  Cincinnati on the other hand, has a two game lead on the field.  They’re a game up on Louisville, but they have already beaten the Cardinals, giving them a two game lead.  Looks like the Bearcats are heading back to the BCS after a one year absence.  Big East prediction:  Poor

In the Big 10, I predicted that Nebraska would win the Legends Division, and that Wisconsin would win the Leaders Division.  Nebraska was my predicted conference champion.  Right now, Michigan St. is leading the Legends by one game over Nebraska and Iowa, and two games over Michigan.  The  Spartans still must play Iowa.  They control their own destiny.  I think MSU will win the division.  In the Leaders division, Penn St. is ahead by at least two games over everyone.  I predicted Wisconsin would win this division.  Believe it or not, I don’t believe PSU wins the Leaders division.  Yes, even with a two game lead, with three games to play.  Look for the winner to be Ohio St., if they win out, which is very possible, or if not, it will indeed be the Badgers.  Big 10 Prediction: We’ll see

My pick to win the SEC was Alabama.  I predicted that the Tide would win the West division, and that South Carolina would win the East.  Wrong.  LSU will most definitely win the West after last week’s epic victory over ‘Bama, and it appears the East will come down to Carolina or Georgia.  The Bulldogs have a one game lead, but Carolina beat them, head-to-head.  Regardless of who wins the East, the SEC champ will undoubtedly be LSU.  SEC prediction:  Not very good

My Big 12 predicted winner was Oklahoma.  The conference champ will be the winner of the Sooners’ game vs. Oklahoma St. in a couple of weeks.  I still believe it will be the Sooners.  Big 12 prediction:  We’ll see.

My selected divisional champs of the PAC 12 were Oregon in the North and Arizona St. in the South.  Both of these teams still have good shots at getting to the first ever PAC 12 Championship game.  The winner of Oregon and Stanford this week will win the North, and ASU needs to win out to secure the South.  I think that will happen.  I predicted that Oregon would win the conference championship.  Be sure, the winner of the Stanford vs. Oregon showdown this Saturday night will win the PAC 12.  PAC 12 prediction:  We’ll see.

Top 15:  Week #11

1)  LSU (9-0) Beat #5 Alabama (8-1) 9-6 in overtime.  Play Western Kentucky (5-4) at home this week, a 10-9 winner over Florida International last week.
2)  Stanford (9-0) Beat Oregon St. (2-7) last week 38-13.  This week, home vs. #6 Oregon (8-1), a 34-17 winner over Washington last week.  
3)  Boise St. (8-0) Beat UNLV (2-7) last week 48-21.  Home this week vs. TCU (7-2), a 31-20 winner over Wyoming last week.
4)  Oklahoma St. (9-0) Beat Kansas St. (7-2) last week 52-45.  Play at Texas Tech (5-4) this week, a 52-20 loser to Texas last week.
5)  Alabama (8-1)  Lost to #1 LSU (9-0) last week 9-6 in overtime.  At Mississippi St. (5-4) this week, a 55-17 winner over FCS Tennessee-Martin last week.
6)  Oregon (8-1) Beat Washinton (7-2) last week 34-17.  This week play at #2 Stanford (9-0), a 38-13 winner over Oregon St. last week.
7)  Oklahoma (8-1) Beat Texas A&M last week 41-25.  Off this week, next against Baylor.
8)  Clemson (8-1) Off last week.  This week vs. Wake Forest (5-4), a 24-17 loser to Notre Dame last week.
9)  Arkansas (8-1) Beat South Carolina (7-2) 44-28.  Home this week vs. Tennessee (4-5), a 24-0 winner over Middle Tennessee last week.
10)  Virginia Tech (8-1) Off last week.  Play Thursday night at #13 Georgia Tech (7-2), also off last week.
11)  Penn St. (8-1)  Off last week.  Home this week vs. Nebraska (7-2), a 28-25 loser to Northwestern last week.
12)  Houston (9-0) Beat UAB (1-8) last week 56-13.  At Tulane (2-8) this week, a 45-24 loser to SMU last week.
13) Georgia Tech (7-2) Off last week.  This week vs. #10 Virginia Tech (8-1), also off last week.
14) Cincinnati (7-1) Beat Pitt (4-5) last week 26-23.  Home this week vs. West Virginia (6-3), a 38-35 loser to Louisville last week.
15) Wisconsin (7-2) Beat Purdue (4-5) last week 62-17.  At Minnesota (2-7) this week, a 31-24 loser to Michigan St. last week.

Dropped out of Top 15:  Nebraska (7-2): lost to Northwestern 28-25;  South Carolina (7-2): lost to Arkansas 44-28; Kansas St. (7-2): lost to Oklahoma St. 52-45;  Michigan (7-2):  lost to Iowa 24-16.  

Nearing Top 15:  South Carolina (7-2);  Kansas St. (7-2);  Georgia (7-2);  Michigan St. (7-2);  Nebraska (7-2);  USC (7-2)

Interesting Games This Week: (Last week’s record against the spread: 10-5)  Against the spread this year:  74-76.

Thu.
Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech +1  (Going with home team on Thursday night)
Fri.
South Florida –3 1/2 @ Syracuse  (The Bulls have to come out of their funk this week)
Sat.
Pittsburgh @ Louisville –3 (I love the Cardinals this week at home.
Ohio St. -7 1/2 @ Purdue  (Going with the Bucks this week on the road.)
Michigan @ Illinois +1  (Could the week off help the Illini get on track?)
West Virginia +3 1/2 @ Cincinnati  (Mountaineers bounce back this week)
Texas –1 @ Missouri (Going with the Longhorns on the road)
Nebraska –3 1/2 @ Penn St. (I like the Huskers to cover the spread)
Oklahoma St. -17 1/2 @ Texas Tech  (Going Cowboys, Raiders looked bad last week.)
Michigan St. -2 1/2 @ Iowa  (Spartans win Legends division by winning out)
Washington +12 @ USC  (Too many points)
Auburn +13 @ Georgia  (Too many here, too.)
Oregon +3 1/2 @ Stanford (Stanford is banged up)
Alabama –17 @ Mississippi St. (Tide is angry)
Notre Dame @ Maryland +20 (Irish win by that many on the road, no way)