Dylan McKinley
managing editor
Arizona @ Arizona State
I love Arizona football, but beauty (Sedona and my girlfriend) and Thanksgiving take precedence. It's a shame I'll miss this one, because both squads can score and score often. ASU QB Jeff Krohn has 19 touchdown passes, and senor RB Delvon Flowers is a stud. But UA RB Clarence Farmer, a legit NFL prospect, will have a huge game. UA gets the nod in a barn-burner.
UA 49, ASU 45
Washington @ Miami
The Hurricanes, despite No. 1 rankings in both polls, have not gotten the credit they deserve. I'll say it here: This team will go undefeated and beat Nebraska handily in the BCS Championship game. QB Ken Dorsey, RB Clinton Portis and the best O-line in the game are unstoppable. The Huskies are gonna get waxed in all facets of the game.
Miami 49, Washington 14
Nebraska @ Colorado
This is an awesome rivalry. Despite 500 miles of road between them, they hate each other like cross-town high school rivals. When teams play with that kind of emotion, records, stats and previous games mean nothing. It's what makes college football awesome - despite losing QB Craig Ochs to injury, the Buffaloes will get revenge for last year's come-from-behind Nebraska victory.
Colorado 21, Nebraska 20
Ohio State @ Michigan
A once-proud rivalry dips to its lowest low Saturday in Ann Arbor. Michigan QB John Navarre will hook up with future pro WR Marquise Walker all day, while Buckeye QB Steve Bellissari begins the game on the bench after drinking and driving. He wasn't very good to begin with, and stupidity off the field never helps those short on skill.
Michigan 38, Ohio State 14
California @ Rutgers
The Bears must be wetting-themselves-ready for this game after stumbling through a winless Pac-10 season. The team isn't very good, but the Pac-10 is - from top to bottom, it's the best conference in college football. Here is Cal's opportunity. Rutgers can't run, throw or defend. When a team can't succeed in those categories, it loses big.
California 42, Rutgers 3
Maxx Wolfson
assistant sports editor
Arizona @ Arizona State
I love closed practices. Every year the UA coaches close the gate and don't let the media into practice because they are scared that some spy will come down from ASU. Oh well, works for me. Now I know what the Wildcat basketball reporter must feel like. Nothing gets me more excited than a game between two Pac-10 teams with a combined two wins.
Arizona 35 ASU 35 (yes, it's a tie)
Nebraska @ Colorado
Now this is a rivalry. My roommate, who was born in Nebraska, raised in Nebraska and went to school in Nebraska, is actually rooting for Colorado. Am I the only one who thinks that's weird? Oh well, he will be a happy man because the Buffs are going to upset the Huskers. CU students will have plenty of Thanksgiving leftovers to get rid of the munchies.
Colorado 24 Nebraska 21
Washington @ Miami
In 1998, my beloved UCLA Bruins were cruising toward a National Championship until a Hurricane postponed their preseason game against Miami. In the make-up game, Miami, with the legs of Edgerrin James, beat the Boys from Westwood to crush all hopes of a title. Sept. 11 caused this weekend's game to be rescheduled. Freaky·
Washington 38 Miami 27
Ohio State @ Michigan
Is John Cooper really going to San Diego State? Either way, this game isn't the same without him. It was always so much fun to see him lose to Michigan every year. Luckily, QB Steve Bellisari will have two days to recover from drinking after Thanksgiving dinner to be ready for this game. The lefty will make everyone forget his "drinking problem" with a victory over rival UM.
Ohio State 35 Michigan 24
California @ Rutgers
I decided that with all the great games this week around the nation, why not put the two worst teams in the country in staff picks? This could be Tom Holmoe's last chance to win a game before he resigns after the season. All I want for Thanksgiving is for Dick Tomey to be hired as the next head coach at Cal. I miss ya DT.
California 18 Rutgers 0
Jeff Lund
Staff Writer
Arizona @ Arizona State
As long as I go here, I will never pick Arizona State to win anything, because the only time the Sun Devils beat the Wildcats, it seems to be on the football field. Things have to change sometime though right? Please!?! You can bet the Wildcats are tired of losing, and this rivalry will be just the motivation they need to wait until they reach the end zone to let go of the ball.
Arizona 35 Arizona State 13
Nebraska @ Colorado
If this were a battle of mascots, my Buffaloes would beat the hell out of whatever a cornhusker is, which - so I don't offend anyone - seems like a very noble profession. So I give the nod to my Buffs, and for my buddies at school in Boulder, I hope they write me and tell me how it feels to beat a ranked football team.
Colorado 35 Nebraska 32
Washington @ Miami
Miami 59 Syracuse 0. Who did I pick? Syracuse. Washington is coming off a huge win against rival Washington State. That momentum will carry over, and again Miami will not be in the national championship game after the loss to the Huskies. Even though I believe the Huskies will win, I will give the Hurricanes the higher score, so no matter what I can say, "I told you so."
Miami 41 Washington 35
Ohio State @ Michigan
Ohio State played exceptionally well without its starting quarterback Steve Bellisari last week against Illinois. This week, the Buckeyes head to Ann Arbor, and the story will be a bit different. Bellisari is back, but as a fourth stringer. He better hope the Gatorade bucket is filled with jungle juice, because it will be a long afternoon for the Buckeyes.
Michigan 51 Ohio State 21
California @ Rutgers
Following up rivalry week with Cal and Rutgers. It is games like this that make me ecstatic I get to do staff picks, but I would rather watch University of Alaska Anchorage match up with the University of Alaska Fairbanks in a 50-mile dog sled race. I am not going to bother to do any research and just say that Cal will go winless this season.
Rutgers 3 California 0
Connor Doyle
Sports Editor
Arizona @ Arizona State
Errr·there's nothing worse than meaningless rivalries. Look, I know this is what the Wildcats and the Sun Devils look forward to every season, but this series could use a serious shot of MEANING. Next season, when UA is marching its way toward Pasadena and ASU has the opportunity to play spoiler, maybe then I can get into it. That being said, 'Zona rolls Tempe Normal.
UA 41, ASU 14
Nebraska @ Colorado
Anyone who thinks the Buffs stand a chance in this game is an idiot. Yeah, I said "idiot." There's only one team in the country that can play with the Huskers, and it's playing Oklahoma State this weekend. So stop with the upset talk, 'cause this one's going to be ridiculous. And for those of you in Alabama, everything I said last week about your state now applies to Nebraska, so stop sending me e-mails.
Nebraska 57, Colorado 10
Washington @ Miami
Okay, so I picked Syracuse to win last week. It doesn't matter, because the Huskies don't lose to the Hurricanes. Let's make it three in a row for the boys from Lake Washington, and someone tell all those bandwagon Hurricane fans to shut it. Even Luther Campbell can't save you now.
Washington 24, Miami 21
Ohio State @ Michigan
What's the deal with the Big 10? These games are way too hard to predict, so I'll simply take this time to talk about Steve Bellasari. You know, the guy who got busted for his second DUI a couple of weeks ago? I just want to say to Steve that I understand. If I threw a ball as badly as you did, I'd be hammered all the time too. Ringing John Cooper - it wasn't your fault, buddy.
Michigan 14, OSU 3
California @ Rutgers
Let's take an opportunity to say goodbye to soon-to-be ex-Cal head coach Tom Holmoe, who proved to everyone he was a big redass when he smacked on John Mackovic for not sitting on the ball earlier this season. Apparently, Tom didn't understand that his team wasn't supposed to sit on the ball for the entire season. Peace, and enjoy football purgatory. Your team sucks.
Rutgers 54, Cal 0
