If my calculations are correct, I’m now at 68-30 or 69% for the year. I think I’m still a game or two ahead of Nate, but I’d have to double check that. It would be nice to finish north of 70%, but I’m not sure what about number like that is so compelling. I’m not crazy confident in picking this week, because I think that there could be some chaos with all of the holiday hullabaloo. Also, two of the games are on Friday, which gives those teams short turnarounds.
I thought that I had made my picks already, but then realized that they were still on a sheet of notebook paper in my office at work. The opportunity for a mulligan is intriguing, but upon further reflection, I think I’m keeping what I have/had.
We have decided that the remainder of the contest consists of picking this week’s games and the championship game, and that, if there is a tie, rather than attempt some sort of arcane tiebreaker, we simply both buy each other bottles of whiskey. What’s not to love?
Now for the final full slate of picks:
TCU at OU
As much as I would love to see an OU loss here, (and it’s definitely possible) I think that the goon squad prevails.
OU 35-24
Tech at Texas
First off, I can’t believe I’m rooting for Texas, but if they win out and we do too , that’s OSU’s clearest path to Jerry World. I just think Tech is pretty beat down at this point, plus, Texas thinks they’re potentially headed for the playoff (and if they win out and win in Dallas, they have a damned good case for it.) Probably closer than it should be, I’ll say:
Texas 31-27
Houston at UCF
A bit of a tricky one. Both of these teams have been hard to gauge in their first season (at least in a while in Houston’s case) in the big leagues. When in doubt, go home:
UCF 48-35
BYU at OSU
Here’s hoping Ollie and Co. take care of business in what could be a cold, wet, or snowy one in Stillwater. (I’ve never trusted the National Weather Service. Nothing good ever comes from Norman.) I’ve got tickets to this one; here’s hoping it doesn’t turn out like last year’s inclement weather regular season finale (I was at that one too. No I really don’t want to talk about it.)
OSU 42-32
West Virginia at Baylor
Baylor has been hapless; WVU is a solid football team.
West by God Virginia 32-13
Kansas at Cincinnati
Much the same story; KU has turned from the laughingstock of the conference to a damned good football team.
Kansas Toucan Sams 32-21
Iowa St. at K-State
I struggle with this one. I somehow have a feeling about Iowa State here, (they certainly have a good defense) but the safe pick is to rely on the good folks at Bill Snyder Family Stadium to send the tornadobirds packing. I hope that they do.
KSU 28-13