Pick 'Em Corner - The Professor's Week 11 Smart Money Picks

Leading Pick ‘Em Corner for the vast majority of the 2012 season, The Professor has continued to hold his title as the premier college football prognosticator in the nation. But let’s put into context just how impressive The Professor’s performance has been this year.

Name me another member of Pick ‘Em Corner who is beholden to always picking a certain way, week in and week out. You can’t. Every week, The Professor picks against hateful institutions Wisconsin, Iowa and Notre Dame, all in the interest of Schadenfreude.

Likewise, The Professor is under contract to always select Army, Navy or Air Force in The Professor's Service Academy Game of the Week (SAGoW), brought to you by Armed Forces Network.

Likewise, The Professor always employs the Tim Brewster Theorem in games involving TREMENDOUS Mississippi State assistant coach Tim Brewster should be picked in favor of BULLDOG NATION’s opponent when the spread seems reasonable if it involved any other coach.

No other Pick ‘Em Corner panelist is beholden to such contracts and theorems, and yet has been as overwhelmingly successful as The Professor, proving once and again that The Professor is the prognosticator to trust.

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.

Wisconsin -7 INDIANA

This is the ultimate Schadenfreude game what with the wacky situation in the Leaders Division this season. If the Hoosiers win, they will be tied for the division lead among eligible teams and they will hold the tiebreaker over the Badgers by virtue of the win. Both teams would be 3-3, while Indiana would be 5-5 overall. If both teams then lost their final two Big Ten games, Indiana would go to the conference title game despite having a 3-5 record in the conference and a 5-7 record overall -- one win shy of bowl eligibility. There is absolutely no reason to cheer for Wisconsin in this game if you truly enjoy unintentional comedy.

MICHIGAN -11.5 Northwestern

The bye week for Northwestern will help keep this one close.

IOWA -5 Purdue

My selection here is a reminder of the contracts I’ve signed. Despite my head telling me Iowa will roll in this game, my contract with Gasthof zur Gemutlichkeit requires me to select the Boilermakers in the interest of Schadenfreude.

NEBRASKA -7.5 Penn State

Vegas is giving far too many points for a darn good Penn State team. The oddsmakers apparently still think this is the same Nittany Lion team that opened with losses to Ohio and Virginia, not the team that is 4-1 in the Big Ten.

Minnesota -3.5 ILLINOIS

This game will define Minnesota’s season. Win and the Gophers are bowl eligible and able to say the program is going in the right direction. Lose and pray for a miracle in Lincoln or an unlikely win at home against Michigan State. That sense of urgency will push Minnesota to the win here and the Meineke Car Care Bowl. 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!

TROY –pick em- Navy

The Professor is 3-8 in Service Academy Games … and still leading Pick ‘Em Corner. Enough said.

Louisville -3 SYRACUSE

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! [No analysis provided]

TEXAS -10.5 Iowa State

Texas seems to be turning the corner, while the Cyclones are 1-3 in the last four weeks. Once again, however, The Professor’s allegiances win out.

VIRGINIA -1 Miami

I don’t trust either of these teams, so I’m just picking the home squad and hoping I’m right.

SOUTH CAROLINA -14 Arkansas

Seems like too many points for a Hogs team that always plays Cocky close. Plus, John L. Smith.

STANFORD -4 Oregon State

Oregon State got back on track against a tough Arizona State team last week and will move to 4-1 on the road in the Pac 12 this season.

USC -9 Arizona State

The fully inflated footballs will keep the Sun Devils in this game until the fourth quarter when Lane Kiffin finds yet another way to cheat and cover.

OKLAHOMA STATE -7.5 West Virginia

West Virginia is reeling after three straight losses, so desperation dictates that they keep this one close in Stillwater.

OKLAHOMA -21.5 Baylor

That’s just too many points to give a team with the top-ranked passing offense in the nation.

ALABAMA -14 Texas A&M

The Host couldn’t be more wrong with his locking in of the Aggies in this one. Every national championship contender has to sweat out at least one close game to make it to the promised land. That game was last week for Alabama. After seeing their title hopes almost slip away, the Tide come into this game refocused and ready to give the Aggies a taste of what the top of the SEC is like. Plus, The Host is a full 12 points behind The Professor. Why trust him?

Kansas State -7.5 TCU

The Collin Klein Heisman Campaign notches another big win and Kansas State keeps its undefeated season going in a raucous atmosphere at night in Fort Worth.

Georgia -16 AUBURN

The Professor is having SEC/Big 12 fatigue. Go Dogs, I guess.

LSU -14.5 Mississippi State

Helloooooo, Tim Brewster Theorem.

NOTRE DAME -18.5 Boston College

Boston College brings their hard hat lunch pail to the field and makes it a long day for the Irish. Also, Schadenfreude.

OREGON -28 CAL

The Quack Attack keeps it rolling on their quest to get embarrassed by Alabama in the National Championship Game. Yes, I’m recycling bits from past weeks. Also, Jeff Tedford sucks.

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 – 116-85 (6-4) – 128 pts

1. The Cornerman – 112-89 (8-2) – 128 pts

3. Lockrem’s Locks – 113-87 (7-3) - 127 pts

4. KCKCKCK – 108-93 (6-4) – 120 pts

5. The Host – 108-93 (4-6) – 116 pts

6. Jeff Leach – 105-94 (3-5) – 111 pts

6. Steve Stellar – 99-102 (6-4) – 111 pts

8. C-Noth – 97-104 (6-4) – 109 pts

9. Wick to Click – 94-107 (6-3) – 106 pts

10. The Veteran – 82-78 (1-7) – 84 pts

11. Mrs. Money –85-97 (3-5) – 91 pts

12. Special G – 86-95 (2-7) – 90 pts

13. Strickly Cash – 81-100 (1-8) – 83 pts

14. Money Traen – 75-85 (3-5) – 81 pts

15. LFK – 6-12 (no lock ) 6 pts

16. auto-MATT-ic – 0.0

2012 Pick ‘Em Corner Points Per Week

1. The Professor – 12.8

1. The Cornerman – 12.8

3. Lockrem’s Locks – 12.7

4. KCKCK – 12.0

5. The Host – 11.6

6. Jeff Leach – 11.1

6. Steve Stellar – 11.1

8. C-Noth – 10.9

9. Wick to Click – 10.6

10. The Veteran – 10.5

11. Money Traen – 10.13

12. Mrs. Money –10.11

13. Special G – 10.0

14. Strickly Cash – 9.22

15. LFK – 6.0

16. auto-MATT-ic – 0.0

The Professor in 2012 Pick 'Em Corner

Overall record: 116-85 (.577)

Statistically-Proven Locks: 6-4 (.600)

Games involving Big Ten teams: 40-29 (.580)

Games not involving Big Ten teams: 76-56 (.576)

Minnesota games: 3-6 (.333)

Schadenfreude Games (Wisconsin, Iowa, Notre Dame): 15-12 (.556)

Service Academy Games: 4-8 (.333)

Does Anybody Outside the Locales of the Two Teams Involved Actually Care About This Game? Games: 5-5 (.500)

Roll Tide Turkey Games: 5-3 (.625)

Tim Brewster Theorem Games: 1-2 (.333)