Pick 'Em Corner - The Professor's Bowl Season Smart Money Picks

 You’re looking LIVE at the 2012 Pick ‘Em Corner Regular Season Co-Champion (with the Cornerman)! Once again, The Professor has proven that transparency and accountability will pay dividends in the college football prognostication business. Let this be a lesson to those of my fellow panelists who make their picks in relative anonymity.

Well, Professor’s Pupils, it alllllllll comes down to this – The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (TMWTOTY). The time when wholly mediocre 6-6 teams can call their season a success because they got a handful of extra practices, followed by a meaningless game in an exotic location like Detroit, Albuquerque or El Paso.

Adding to the intrigue of TMWTOTY are the tight standings of Pick ‘Em Corner. The Professor is back atop the standings, thanks to a plucky effort from his beloved Army squad (and perhaps a favorable spread by Steve Stellar, aka The New Host). It will certainly be an entertaining bowl season as The Professor fights off ne’er-do-wells Cornerman, Lockrem’s Locks and KCKCKCK.

Without further ado, sit up straight, sharpen your pencils and enjoy the lecture, for these are The Professor's Smart Money Picks, brought to you by The City of Chanhassen.

New Mexico Bowl  (Albuquerque, N.M.)

Arizona -10 Nevada

KA’DEEM! I know it sounds like an exclamation you might hear on the old Batman series, but it’s actually the name of the nation’s second-ranked rusher – Ka’Deem Carey. Expect KA’DEEM! to run roughshod over the No. 111 rushing defense. Also, Pac-12 > whatever conference Nevada is in. KA’DEEM!

Idaho Potato Bowl  (Boise, Idaho)

Utah State -10 Toledo

When you have a chance to take a ranked team playing a MAC team that’s last win over a team with a winning record came on Oct. 20, you take ‘em. Translation: Pick Utah State.

Poinsetta Bowl (San Diego, Calif.)

BYU -2.5 San Diego State

Beware the poinsettia! It’s poisonous to dogs! Also, beware the Aztecs who are riding a seven-game winning streak and playing in their hometown.

Beef O’Bradys Bowl (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

Central Florida -7 Ball State

The Andy Seeley Factor trumps The Veteran’s “Always Take the Florida Team When You Don’t Have Any Other Idea Who To Pick” Theory.

New Orleans Bowl (New Orleans, La.)

Louisiana Lafayette -6 East Carolina

The Professor’s research has uncovered that each team here has faced a top 10 team during  the season. ECU got blown out 48-10 to South Carolina, while ULL lost 27-20 to Florida on a last-second blocked punt. Also, playing in Louisiana has to count for something, I guess.

Las Vegas Bowl (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Boise State -5 Washington

Boise State may very well win this game, but it won’t be because of an offense we’ve come to expect from the Smurf Turfers. Expect a close one here with Boise State’s defense keeping it close against a Husky team that plays its best against ranked foes.

Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu, Hawai’i)

Fresno State -12 SMU

June Jones flat-out knows how to win in Hawai’i.

Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (Detroit, Mich.)

Western Kentucky -5 Central Michigan

Expect a packed Ford Field full of Chippewa fans. OK, maybe not. But playing in their home state has to count for something. Plus, when you’re sent to freaking Detroit for a bowl game, your motivation to just mail it in so you can get back home must be high.

Military Bowl (Washington, D.C.)

San Jose State -7 Bowling Green

The Professor is disappointed the Military Bowl does not include a military academy. As for this match-up, I’ll take MACtion for $500, Alex.

Belk Bowl (Charlotte, N.C.)

Cincinnati -7 Duke

Duke in a bowl game is like Alabama-Huntsville in the NCAA hockey tournament. It may happen, but it just feels wrong. Thus, my pick.

Holiday Bowl (San Diego, Calif.)

Baylor -Pick Em- UCLA

I’m just picking the team I’d rather see win here and I’m still upset with Baylor for playing a part in giving us Alabama-Notre Dame in the BCS title game. Go Bruins!

Independence Bowl (Shreveport, La.)

Louisiana Monroe -7 Ohio

This is ULM’s first bowl game. So they have that going for them … which is nice. Also, as mentioned above, playing in Louisiana has to count for something, I guess.

Russell Athletic Bowl (Orlando, Fla.)

Virginia Tech -2.5 Rutgers

[Pick made out of disgust for Jim Delany adding East Coast Bias stalwart State University of New Jersey to the Midwest-centric Big Ten]

Meineke Car Care Bowl (Houston, Texas)

Texas Tech -13 Minnesota

The Professor is 4-8 in Gopher games this season, so beware this pick. That being said, the majority of the time, I picked my alma mater out of sheer hope and the desire to cheer for both a Minnesota win and cover. But I’m tied with the Cornerman, so heart goes out the window. This is a terrible match-up for the Maroon and Gold, even with Tommy Tuberville abandoning his squad in one of the scummiest moves by a departing coach in recent memory (he left a recruit mid-dinner to accept the Cincy job and never came back). With both teams owning mediocre defenses, this game will come down to who has the more efficient offense. And there’s the rub: The Gophers can’t score, while the Red Raiders can. I almost locked this in, but that’s just too much to bear for this Goldy fan.

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, Texas)

Air Force -1 Rice

My fellow panelists will just pick Rice in the futile effort to make up points on The Professor. And for the umpteenth time this season, it won’t work.

New Era Pinstripe Bowl (Bronx, N.Y.)

West Virginia -4 Syracuse

This game will not be kind to the hearts of degenerate gamblers. Points aplenty. Absent defenses. The pick comes down to one simple thing. Minnesota beat Syracuse.

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (San Francisco, Calif.)

Arizona State -14.5 Navy

Remember what I said about my fellow panelists making up points in these service academy games? Yeah, it might hold true here. Still, go Navy.

Alamo Bowl (San Antonio, Texas)

Oregon State -2 Texas

The Professor is suffering from a severe case of Beaver Fever. In unrelated news, I like Oregon State in this game.

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl (Phoenix, Ariz.)

TCU -2.5 Michigan State

I really want to pick Sparty in this one, thinking Michigan State will finally play up to their potential, but I did that far too many times and got burned this year. That, and I’ll always hold a special place in my heart for TCU, thanks to them beating Bucky in the Rose Bowl last year.

Music City Bowl (Nashville, Tenn.)

Vanderbilt -6.5 NC State

LP Field will be rocking for the hometown Commodores. Also, allow The Professor to wholeheartedly recommend the beautiful Gaylord Opryland Hotel.

Sun Bowl (El Paso, Texas)

USC -10 Georgia Tech

Hoo boy, do I want to take the Ramblin’ Wreck here, but I just can’t. Monte Kiffin will have the USC defense fully prepared for Tech’s option offense, so that pretty much eliminates the ‘Jackets only trump card. Plus, this game is like a mini audition for the NFL Draft for USC QB Matt Barkley. Expect him to torch the bad Tech passing D in part to impress the scouts and improve his draft position. In fact, DO YOU HEAR THAT SOUND? EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! It's The Professor's Statistically-Proven Lock of the Week (part I), brought to you by National American University!

Liberty Bowl (Memphis. Tenn.)

Tulsa –Pick Em- Iowa State

In a battle of weather phenomena, I’ll take the Cyclones over the Golden Hurricane. Said Cyclones won an earlier-season match-up with Tulsa, so why pick against them here? One reason: Cyclones are unpredictable. Still, gotta go with The Professor’s Papa’s alma mater.

Chick-Fil-A (Atlanta, Ga.)

LSU -3.5 Clemson

Disclaimer: I stole this factoid from SI.com’s Stewart Mandel - Les Miles is 5-2 in bowls at LSU, with an average margin of victory of 26 points. Thanks, Stew.

Heart of Dallas Bowl (Dallas, Texas)

Oklahoma State -16.5 Purdue

Helllllooooo mismatch. DO YOU HEAR THAT SOUND? EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! It's The Professor's Statistically-Proven Lock of the Week (part II), brought to you by National American University!

Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Mississippi State -2.5 Northwestern

It’s a sad state of affairs when Northwestern may be the lone team in the conference to actually win a bowl game this season. Also, don’t forget the Tim Brewster Theorem.

Outback Bowl (Tampa Bay, Fla.)

South Carolina -5 Michigan

I want to Michigan here, I really do. But a 10-2 SEC team is certainly more than five points better than an 8-4 B1G team.

Capital One Bowl (Orlando, Fla.)

Georgia -10 Nebraska

I’m pretty sure Nebraska forgot how to play football in the B1G title game last month, so Georgia is smelling blood in the water after their near-miss in the national semifinal vs. Bama. Expect the Dogs to take out their frustration on the Huskers.

Rose Bowl  (Pasadena, Calif.)

Stanford -6.5 Wisconsin

No, Bucky isn’t an iota more likable after saying sayonara to Bert Bielema. Not a bit. Especially not when egomaniac Barry Alvarez is still around, inserting himself onto the sidelines and into the conversation as a replacement for the new Badger head coach. If the Big Ten is winless come New Year’s Day – and let’s face it, it’s entirely realistic to believe it will be – do not count The Professor as hoping the B1G can save face in the Granddaddy of Them All. Go Cardinal! Die in a fire, Bucky!

Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, Fla.)

Florida State -12.5 Northern Illinois

Really want to make the “HUSKY WOMEN” chant here, but I just can’t. Instead, it’s “Ohhhhhhh, oh, oh-oh-oh! Ohhhhhhh, oh, oh-oh-oh!”

Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, La.)

Florida -13 Louisville

Holy mismatch, Batman! Helllllooooo mismatch. DO YOU HEAR THAT SOUND? EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! It's The Professor's Statistically-Proven Lock of the Week (part III), brought to you by National American University!

Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Ariz.)

Oregon -9.5 Kansas State

In the spirit of the Mighty Ducks movies, of which the esteemed publication Let's Play Hockey was a part: Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack!

Cotton Bowl (Arlington, Texas)

Texas A&M -4.5 Oklahoma

Why are two Big 12 teams playing in the same bowl? Oh. Wait. Never mind.

BBVA Compass Bowl (Birmingham, Ala.)

Ole Miss -3.5 Pitt

I’m still upset with Pitt for blowing their chance for a win in South Bend, thereby playing a part in giving us Alabama-Notre Dame in the BCS title game. Go Rebels!

GoDaddy.com Bowl (Mobile, Ala.)

Arkansas State -3.5 Kent State

It’s The Does Anybody Outside the Locales of the Two Teams Involved Actually Care About This Game? Game, brought to you by RO*TEL! It’s such a joke that this godawful game is being played on Jan. 6, one day before the BCS title game.

BCS National Championship (Miami Gardens, Fla.)

Alabama -10 Notre Dame

The luck of the Irish finally runs out. ESS! EEE! SEE!

Thus concludes The Professor's Smart Money Picks, brought to you by The City of Chanhassen.

2012 Pick ‘Em Corner Standings (locks in parentheses)

1. The Professor – 153-123-2 (10-4) – 173 pts

1. The Cornerman – 151-125-2 (11-3) – 173 pts

3. Lockrem’s Locks – 149-125-2 (8-5-1) - 165 pts

4. KCKCKCK – 148-128-2 (8-6) – 164 pts

5. Steve Stellar – 144-132-2 (7-7) – 158 pts

6. The Host – 141-135-2 (6-8) – 153 pts

7. Jeff Leach – 142-132-2 (4-6) – 150 pts

8. C-Noth – 136-140-2 (6-7) – 148 pts

9. Wick to Click – 126-150-2 (7-6) – 140 pts

10. Special G – 131-125-2 (4-9) – 139 pts

11. Mrs. Money –122-132-2 (6-6) – 134 pts

12. Strickly Cash – 110-128 (4-8) – 118 pts

13. The Veteran – 111-123-2 (3-9) – 117 pts

14. Money Traen – 95-103-2 (4-6) – 103 pts

15. LFK – 6-12 (no lock ) - 6 pts

16. autoMATTic – 0-0 (0-0) - 0 pts

The Professor in 2012 Pick 'Em Corner

Overall record: 153-123-2 (.554)

Statistically-Proven Locks: 10-4 (.714)

Games involving Big Ten teams: 49-38 (.563)

Games not involving Big Ten teams: 103-85-2 (.547)

Minnesota games: 4-8 (.333)

Schadenfreude Games (Wisconsin, Iowa, Notre Dame): 20-17 (.541)

Service Academy Games: 5-11 (.313)

Does Anybody Outside the Locales of the Two Teams Involved Actually Care About This Game? Games: 6-8 (.429)

Roll Tide Turkey Games: 6-5 (.545)

Tim Brewster Theorem Games: 3-3 (.500)

Pick 'Em Corner - The Professor's Week 14 Smart Money Picks

 It all comes down to this. The Professor is engaged in a tight battle with The Cornerman for the 2012 Pick ‘Em Corner Regular Season Championship. Both panelists own identical 144-116-2 records, with The Cornerman holding a narrow two-point lead due to his one-game lead in locks.

The Professor, along with The Cornerman, The Former Host, Steve Stellar (aka The New Host), The Veteran and C-Noth, announced their picks to the live studio audience at The East Shop Kitchen & Bar last night in beautiful downtown Plymouth (wait, is there a downtown Plymouth?). If you weren't in attendance last night, shame on you.

As we close the regular season, The Professor would like to thank his sponsors for all of their support. In no particular order, a hearty thank you to Gasthof zur Gemutlichkeit, RO*TEL, National American University, Armed Forces Network and Mr. Heavyfoot.

Without further ado, sit up straight, sharpen your pencils and enjoy the lecture, for these are The Professor's Smart Money Picks, brought to you by The City of Chanhassen Hopkins Plymouth.

Northern Illinois -6.5 Kent State (MAC Champ - Detroit, Mich)

Husky women! [clap, clap, clap-clap-clap] Husky women! [clap, clap, clap-clap-clap] That is all.

STANFORD -8 UCLA (Pac-12 Champ - Stanford, Calif.)

Something smells fishy here. Last week, Stanford overwhelmed UCLA 35-17 in the inaccurately-named City of Angels. Now, this week, the Cardinal is favored by only eight … at home … in a game to determine the Pac-12’s Rose Bowl participant. Both teams have gotten better as the season has progressed, but it’s Stanford that has the more impressive ledger with wins over four then-top 10 teams. Yes, I know, one of those teams was USC. Moving on.

Oklahoma State -4 BAYLOR

Take the over.

Oklahoma -6.5 TCU

TCU may not win this game, but the Horned Frogs will keep it close, especially against a Sooner defense that has allowed an average 48.5 points in the last two weeks.

TULSA -2 UCF (Conf. USA Champ - Tulsa, Okla.)

The Fighting Seeleys put up a good fight, but the Golden Hurricane break a tie with a FG as time expires to win and cover. I guess.

WEST VIRGINIA -20 Kansas

West Virginia averages 40.0 points per game. Kansas averages 19.0 points per game. What’s 40 minus 19? That’s right. A Mountaineer cover.

ARKANSAS STATE -9.5 Middle Tennessee

Far too many points to give this MTSU team … I think.

Boise State -10 Nevada

The Wolf Pack is limping into this game with losses in three of its last four. And that’s my analysis.

Cincinnati -4.5 UCONN

UConn lost to Western Michigan and Syracuse, two of Minnesota’s six wins, by a combined score of 74-34. Need I say more?

Alabama -7 Georgia (SEC Championship – Atlanta, Ga.)

Chalk this one up to the “been here before” factor. There’s no doubt that Georgia has the talent to give Alabama a run for its money here, but beware the bright lights of the SEC Championship Game, a de facto national championship semifinal contest once again this season. Alabama will use that experience to jump out to a lead that it never relinquishes. As much as I’d like to see someone other than the Tide in the BCS title game, this isn’t the year.

Pittsburgh -6.5 SOUTH FLORIDA

The Professor is doing something in this game he’s never done before and probably will never do again: locking in a game he (nor the vast majority of the country) has absolutely no interest in. DO YOU HEAR THAT SOUND? EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! It's The Professor's Statistically-Proven Lock of the Week, brought to you by National American University! It’s also The Does Anybody Outside the Locales of the Two Teams Involved Actually Care About This Game? Game, brought to you by RO*TEL! Take this for what it’s worth: The Professor is 9-4 in locks and 6-7 in RO*TEL games.

KANSAS STATE -11.5 Texas

I’m taking Kansas State here solely for the reason that Wildcat QB Collin Klein says things like “Gosh,” “Golly,” “Jeepers,” “Oh, heck,” and ”Don't get bees in your bonnet.” From someone like The Professor who enjoys saying “Shoot” or “Son of a biscuit,” Klein is worth rooting for.

Florida State -14 Georgia Tech (ACC Champ - Charlotte, N.C.)

The Seminoles didn’t have the luxury of a game last week against a triple-option offense like Georgia did two weeks ago to prepare for the Ramblin’ Wreck. Florida’s ho-hum offense torched the Noles for 244 rushing yards, so why do we think they’ll do better against the nation’s third-ranked rushing offense. We don’t.

Nebraska -3 Wisconsin (Big Ten Champ - Indianapolis, Ind.)

Last week’s stinker of a win at Iowa notwithstanding, Nebraska has been pretty darn impressive the latter half of the season. They’ve learned what happens when they sleepwalk through the first half and they’ve learned what happen when they don’t take care of the ball. Wisconsin, meanwhile, is limping in>o the B1G title game losers of three of its last four. Sure, they were all in overtime, but they’re still losses. This game will come down to Nebraska’s excellent pass defense shutting down pedestrian Badger QB Curt Phillips and pulling away in the fourth quarter. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the schadenfreude angle, so here goes: DIE IN A FIRE, BUCKY!

HAWAI’I -6 South Alabama

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day
That's the island greeting that we send to you from the land where palm trees sway
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way to say Merry Christmas to you

Navy -10.5 Army

Not an Onion story: Bill the Goat, the Naval Academy Mascot, was stolen over the weekend and attached to a median near the Pentagon. He was recovered Saturday morning in good condition. The goatnapping was confirmed Thursday by John Jordan, manager of Maryland Sunrise Farm, the home of Bill XXXIII and Bill XXXIV. Jordan did not know which of the academy’s two mascots was stolen. Jordan suspects soldiers were behind it, but he had no knowledge of it. - http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/11/navy-bill-goat-stolen-mascot-naval-academy-112912w/

Thus concludes The Professor's Smart Money Picks, brought to you by The City of Chanhassen.

2012 Pick ‘Em Corner Standings (locks in parentheses)

1. The Cornerman – 144-116-2 (10-3) – 164 pts

2. The Professor – 144-116-2 (9-4) – 162 pts

3. KCKCKCK – 142-118-2 (8-5) – 158 pts

4. Lockrem’s Locks – 141-118-2 (8-4-1) - 157 pts

5. Steve Stellar – 135-125-2 (7-6) – 149 pts

6. The Host – 133-127-2 (5-8) – 143 pts

7. Jeff Leach – 134-124-2 (4-6) – 142 pts

7. C-Noth – 130-130-2 (6-7) – 142 pts

9. Wick to Click – 119-141-2 (7-5) – 133 pts

10. Special G – 118-122-2 (3-9) – 124 pts

10. Mrs. Money –114-124-2 (5-6) – 124 pts

12. Strickly Cash – 104-118 (3-8) – 110 pts

13. The Veteran – 105-113-2 (2-9) – 109 pts

14. Money Traen – 95-103-2 (4-6) – 103 pts

15. LFK – 6-12 (no lock ) 6 pts

16. autoMATTic – 0-0 (0-0) 0 pts

The Professor in 2012 Pick 'Em Corner

Overall record: 144-116-2 (.553)

Statistically-Proven Locks: 9-4 (.692)

Games involving Big Ten teams: 49-37 (.570)

Games not involving Big Ten teams: 95-79-2 (.545)

Minnesota games: 4-8 (.333)

Schadenfreude Games (Wisconsin, Iowa, Notre Dame): 20-16 (.556)

Service Academy Games: 4-11 (.267)

Does Anybody Outside the Locales of the Two Teams Involved Actually Care About This Game? Games: 6-7 (.462)

Roll Tide Turkey Games: 6-4 (.600)

Tim Brewster Theorem Games: 3-3 (.500)

Pick 'Em Corner - The Professor's Week 13 Smart Money Picks

The Professor would like to wish the entire Pick 'Em Corner panel and all of The Professor's Pupils a very Happy Thanksgiving. The Professor has plenty to be happy about, most notably a healthy bankroll after 12 weeks of superlative college football handicapping.

Kudos go to The Cornerman for finally overtaking me in the standings. It took long enough. Sure would be nice to see a little transparency with your picks, however.

The Professor would like to thank all you degenerate gamblers out there for your support throughout the season. Enjoy your turkey and pumpkin pie, sit back and relax, and enjoy the lecture, for these are The Professor's Smart Money Picks, brought to you by The City of Chanhassen.

Nebraska -15 IOWA

The Professor will be having his Thanksgiving meal at the new home of Mrs. Money in Canada. Ok, it's just Brooklyn Park, but the drive there feels like we should have to pass through customs. It will undoubtedly be a time to harass her hubby (Mr. Money?) on the tire fire that is Iowa football. FACT: Hawkeye coach Kirk Ferentz ranks No. 6 in the nation for salary among college football coaches with a ridiculous $3.835 million per year. FACT: This season, that equates to $958,750 per win (Minnesota’s Jerry Kill is a bargain at $1.2 million per year and $200,000 per win this season). FACT: Nebraska will make Iowa fans even more uncomfortable about having Ferentz as their coach for the foreseeable future (due to a Pam Borton-like contract) when the Huskers cruise to a 38-10 win. Real tempted to lock this one in, but I’ll just stick with schadenfreude.

NORTHWESTERN -19 Illinois

Illinois is bad. Gopher football circa 2007 bad. But I have a sinking suspicion that Tim Brewster Beckman gets his troops fired up for this one. The Illini still lose, but they keep it within two TDs.

OHIO STATE -3.5 Michigan

This is the BCS Championship Game or Rose Bowl for Ohio State this season. With nothing else to play for, Urban Meyer turns the Buckeye offense loose and OSU rolls into the offseason after a resounding win in The Game.

Pittsburgh -2 RUTGERS

[Analysis redacted in protest for adding freakin’ Rutgers to the Big Ten.]

PURDUE -5.5 Indiana

It’s a rivalry game, so 5.5 seems like too many points to me. Purdue will win and stamp their ticket to the Heart of Texas Bowl, but the Hoosiers will fight to the end in a vain effort to make something of yet another lost season.

PENN STATE -2.5 Wisconsin

What, exactly, does Wisconsin have to play for here? That’s right, nothing. They’re already locked into the B1G Championship Game, so why risk injury when they’ll be playing Nebraska for the chance to go back to Pasadena to get absolutely humbled by Oregon. Meanwhile, like Ohio State, this is Penn State’s bowl game. Look for the Fighting Keisers to play with passion, while Bucky goes through the motions. Also, schadenfreude.

Michigan State -8 MINNESOTA

I’ve never bought into the “distractions” angle when it comes to analyzing a certain team’s prospects. Sure, the cancerous A.J. Barker provided ridiculous fodder for media moguls like Doogie and Phil Mackey, but what does that have to do with this week’s game? Nothing. I’ll bet you didn’t know, that since Glen Mason’s first season at Minnesota (1997), the Gophers are 4-1 at home vs. Michigan State. That, my friends, is a trend. Go Gophers!

LSU -12.5 ARKANSAS

I love me some John L. Smith, but LSU will send out the hilarious coach with a shellacking in Fayetteville.

Washington -14 WASHINGTON STATE

I hear Pullman is beautiful this time of year.

ARIZONA -3 Arizona State

The home team has lost the past three Territorial Cups. Plus, I prefer the Sun Devils’ color scheme.

GEORGIA -13 Georgia Tech

DO YOU HEAR THAT SOUND? EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR-PLUNK! It's The Professor's Statistically-Proven Lock of the Week, brought to you by National American University! I love Georgia Tech’s triple option attack and the fits that it gives defenses unaccustomed to such offenses, but Georgia got a practice game last week against triple-optioner Georgia Southern. That spells bad things for future Big Ten member Georgia Tech. Ok, that was far too many “Georgias” in one paragraph.

VIRGINIA TECH -10 Virginia

I hear Charlottesville is beautiful this time of year.

Miami -6.5 DUKE

It’s The Does Anybody Outside the Locales of the Two Teams Involved Actually Care About This Game? Game, brought to you by RO*TEL! A meaningless season for Miami gets even worse with an outright loss to a basketball school.

Oregon -9.5 OREGON STATE

The Beavers will get caught looking ahead to next week’s match-up with Nicholls State.

OKLAHOMA -7 Oklahoma State

This one’s for you, Teeks. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-klahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plains!

FLORIDA STATE -6 Florida

Whatever the under is in this one, take it. Bad Florida offense + top-ranked Florida State defense = Seminoles cover. As an aside, the fact that a team with an abysmal offense like the Gators’ can be in the national championship picture with a win here and a Notre Dame loss to USC is laughable. The playoff system can’t come soon enough.

ALABAMA -31 Auburn

Sure was nice of the schedule planners to plan a bye week for Alabama before heading into The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

Stanford -1.5 UCLA

Consider this pick one out of spite. Damn you, Stanford for ensuring we have yet another BCS title game with an SEC squad … not to mention loathsome Notre Dame. Go Bruins.

OLE MISS -1 Mississippi State

The Tim Brewster Theorem gets one more regular season chance to move back to .500. Go Rebels.

Notre Dame -6.5 USC

This is a pick built purely of hope. Will USC win? Nope. Will USC cover? Nope. Not when you’re coached by Ball Deflatin’ Lane Kiffin, your stud QB is out and your backup QB guarantees a win. Ugh.

CLEMSON -4 South Carolina

Taking a page out of Steve Stellar’s playbook, when you have a chance to take a good SEC team over any ACC team, you do it. Thanks, Stellar!

And now, because the communist, America-hating Steve Stellar messed up and didn’t provide a Service Academy Game of the Week, The Professor will give you his pick involving an institution with men and women who have devoted a good chunk of their 20s to service of their country. Shame on you, Stellar, shame.

FRESNO STATE -16 Air Force

I like Air Force.

KCKCK – 134-105-2 (8-4) – 150 pts

LFK – 6-12 (no lock ) 6 pts

2012 Pick ‘Em Corner Standings (locks in parentheses)

1. The Cornerman – 136-103-2 (10-2) – 156 pts

2. The Professor – 135-104-2 (8-4) – 151 pts

3. KCKCKCK – 134-105-2 (8-4) – 150 pts

4. Lockrem’s Locks – 131-107-2 (7-4-1) - 145 pts

5. Steve Stellar – 124-115-2 (7-5) – 138 pts

6. The Host – 125-114-2 (5-7) – 135 pts

7. C-Noth – 120-119-2 (6-6) – 132 pts

8. Jeff Leach – 122-115-2 (4-5) – 130 pts

9. Wick to Click – 110-129-2 (6-5) – 122 pts

10. Special G – 109-110-2 (3-8) – 115 pts

10. Mrs. Money –107-110-2 (4-6) – 115 pts

12. Money Traen – 95-103-2 (4-6) – 103 pts

13. The Veteran – 97-100-2 (2-8) – 101 pts

14. Strickly Cash – 93-108 (2-8) – 97 pts

15. Foreman’s Forecast – 6-12 (no lock ) 6 pts

16. autoMATTic –  0-0 (0-0) 0 pts

2012 Pick ‘Em Corner Points Per Week

1. The Cornerman – 13.0

2. The Professor – 12.6

3. KCKCKCK – 12.5

4. Lockrem’s Locks – 12.1

5. Steve Stellar – 11.5

6. The Host – 11.3

7. C-Noth – 11.0

8. Jeff Leach – 10.8

9. Special G – 10.5

10. Money Traen – 10.3

11. Wick to Click – 10.2

12. The Veteran – 10.1

14. Strickly Cash – 9.7

13. Mrs. Money – 9.6

15. LFK – 6.0

16. autoMATTic – 0.0

The Professor in 2012 Pick 'Em Corner

Overall record: 135-104-2 (.564)

Statistically-Proven Locks: 8-4 (.667)

Games involving Big Ten teams: 47-33 (.588)

Games not involving Big Ten teams: 88-71-2 (.553)

Minnesota games: 4-7 (.364)

Schadenfreude Games (Wisconsin, Iowa, Notre Dame): 19-14 (.577)

Service Academy Games: 4-10 (.286)

Does Anybody Outside the Locales of the Two Teams Involved Actually Care About This Game? Games: 6-6 (.500)

Roll Tide Turkey Games: 5-4 (.556)

Tim Brewster Theorem Games: 2-3 (.400)