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Thursday November 15, 2001
Connor Doyle
Sports Editor
Washington State at Washington
This should be the best Pac-10 game of the year. For so many years, this game was a one-sided affair (usually in UW's favor), but this will now be the moment of truth for Mike Price's Cougars. Do they have what it takes to knock off the Huskies? The answer lies in how well the WSU defense can contain the clock-eating UW offense. This should be fun.
WSU 24, UW 21
UCLA at USC
Wow. I don't know which team I hate more. Well, it doesn't matter, because the Bruins are reeling after three straight losses, and they still don't have DeShaun Foster or a real quarterback. USC's secondary tore apart Arizona earlier this season, and Cory Paus is 10 times worse than any Wildcat quarterback. Or any Rutgers quarterback, for that matter.
USC 31, UCLA 7
Alabama at Auburn
SHEEEOOTTE! Grab your rifles and your corn squeezins, this one should be a classic. In the annual "Whose family tree has the least branches?" battle, no one really wins. Do the people in Alabama even realize this is a football game, or do they just think it's an excuse to drink, fight and later impregnate their cousins? Let the inbreeding begin!
Auburn 28, Alabama 17
Florida St. at Florida
Thank god, the Seminoles finally suck. However, this means the Gators - equally detestable, in my book - should have their way with FSU. I can already see how this one's going to pan out· Grossman passes for 700 yards, Spurrier runs up the score by about 50 and Bowden quits to go be one of his son's assistants.
Florida 70, FSU 14
Syracuse at Miami
Here's my upset of the century. The Orangemen are downright nasty on defense and will put tons of pressure on Ken Dorsey, who proved last week that he's not as steady at the helm as previously thought. Syracuse defensive end and sack machine Dwight Freeney can't be stopped, and Miami's going to find themselves S.O.L. in the BCS.
Syracuse 17, Miami 14
Brandon Johnson
Washington St. at Washington
If Washington brings the same team it brought to play Oregon State last week, Husky fans are in for a long afternoon. Wazzu was the preseason doormat pick by the Pac-10 media. Saturday, the Cougars get to prove everybody wrong and pick up at least a share of the conference title. Look for Jason Gesser to exploit the Washington secondary.
WSU 35, UW 21
UCLA at USC
UCLA's loss to Oregon last week makes this game even less interesting than it already was. The Trojans have home-field advantage, but don't be surprised if you see more Bruin blue in the crowd at the Coliseum. Bob Toledo needs this win to avoid the season being dubbed as another failure. He should get it without any trouble.
UCLA 38, USC 17
Alabama at Auburn
Auburn must be careful not to look ahead to the SEC Championship Game in two weeks or it'll get rolled by the Tide. The Tigers are coming off a huge win at Georgia and looking for yet another victory in the Iron Bowl. If you've never watched one of these games, you should - they're classics.
Auburn 20, Alabama 19
Florida St. at Florida
Just when FSU fans thought it couldn't get any worse, it did. Last week's embarrassing loss at home to NC State means the 'Noles will likely not find themselves in a BCS bowl. Of course, this Saturday's loss at Florida won't help that cause too much either. Florida still holds slim chances of a national title, so expect them to be pumped for this one.
Florida 49, FSU 24
Syracuse at Miami
I've said all year that Miami is overrated, and Saturday should prove my point. I thought I'd caught a break last week against B.C. but hey, you can't win them all. Syracuse has won eight in a row - wait, nine in a row after Saturday's game. Tune in and watch the 'Cuse end Miami's fantasies of a national title.
Syracuse 28, Miami 24
Justin St.Germain
Washington State at Washington
Call up Granny Smith and tell her to turn on her TV - this year's Apple Cup will be a game anybody can enjoy. Wazzu has gone from cellar-dwellers to contenders for the Pac-10 title, and UW's stock has plunged. WSU QB Jason Gesser might be suffering from the lingering effects of a concussion, but a Pac-10 passing title and a share of the conference title should ease the pain.
WSU 38, UW 28
UCLA at USC
UCLA may have the three worst quarterbacks in the entire Pac-10, and they're all on one team. They do have the best running back in college football, but unfortunately for them, he has a penchant for SUV's and handicapped parking spots. Turnovers abound and the Bruins win the "We're still better than Arizona" bowl.
UCLA 24, USC 17
Alabama at Auburn
Ahhh, the Iron Bowl. Expect lots of mullets, trucks with gun racks and faded "Punt, 'Bama, Punt" bumper stickers, and hard-nosed football. Superfrosh and reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Week Carnell Williams will make like Bo Jackson, and in a little dŽjˆ vu for the Tide, the Tiger defense will block two punts late in the game to seal the win.
Auburn 27, Alabama 24
Florida St. at Florida
Last week's loss to an underrated NC State team has Seminole detractors foretelling the dynasty's downfall. The sky isn't falling, though, and FSU will give Florida all it can handle. Grossman will struggle early against an always-talented FSU secondary, but he'll pull it out in the end.
Florida 45, FSU 42
Syracuse at Miami
Miami might be overrated, but Syracuse isn't the team that's going to prove it. Eight-game winning streaks don't mean much when they include only two quality wins, and Miami's no Rutgers or Temple. Ken Dorsey will silence the upstart Orangemen on his way to the Heisman. I love to hate the Canes as much as the next guy, but they're winning the national title.
Miami 49, Syracuse 34
Dan Komyati
Washington St. at Washington
Who thought it would be the Cougars - not the Huskies - fighting for the Pac-10 title during this year's Apple Cup? If you think Jason Gesser does not remember sitting on the sidelines last year and watching his boys get trampled 51-3, you're crazier than Zab Judah. Payback's a bitch, especially when it comes in your own backyard.
WSU 34, UW 28
UCLA at USC
Man, was that really me three weeks ago telling everyone who was willing to listen that UCLA would be battling Miami in the Rose Bowl this season? Too bad the Bruins defense returned to its old form, and DeShaun Foster forgot to return his Escalade. Cory Paus told him to quit throwin' bows so he could throw him the damn ball. Foster - Australian for "Rollin' on Dubs."
UCLA 31, USC 21
Alabama at Auburn
Auburn has to win this game to hold up its end of the bargain and make sure Florida can embarrass the Tigers during their rematch in the SEC Championship game. Alabama has lost a bunch of close games this season, so why expect things to change on the road this weekend? Dennis Franchione will be searching his sidelines for LaDanian Tomlinson as his offense sputters for the second year in a row against Auburn.
Auburn 24, Alabama 14
Florida St. at Florida
Why do these two teams always seem to meet each other in the regular season when one is having a down year? Florida hasn't beat up on FSU since they had Hilliard, Anthony and Green. Believe it or not, Gaffney, Caldwell and Jacobs might be an even more impressive trio. Either way, Florida wins big. It has not been the greatest college football season for the Bowden family, unless you count Terry's "brilliance" from Times Square Stadium.
Florida 42, FSU 24
Syracuse at Miami
All the morons in the media are starting to doubt Miami's legitimacy after winning a tough road game against a team with six wins. Are you kidding me? Anyone who saw Ed Reed and his thug teammates getting krunked on ESPN's "The Season" knows this team is tougher than trying to get into Britney Spears' pants. Sorry 'Cuse, that cute little winning streak comes to an end.
Miami 41, Syracuse 21
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