FLYING HIGH IN WEEK TWELVE

Awesome numbers

We had another Saturday with great results, posting a fabulous 6-2.

We hit on Auburn's big win over Georgia and Alabama failing to cover the spread in their game with Mississippi State.

So, after eleven weeks of great college football we're sitting at 63-25...an incredible 72% hit rate...and still hungry for more.

This weekend presents somewhat of a challenge in selecting strong games for our Great Eight™. It's really slim pickings as most teams are playing cup cakes or low level conference games. Examples: Alabama vs Mercer. Really? Clemson vs Citadel. Auburn vs Louisiana-Monroe.

Nevertheless we've come up with a slate of decent games; each offering you the opportunity to win mo' money, one of which is the Men of Troy versus the Buins.

Our West Coast scribe, Lair of the Bear, has stopped by to provide his ideas on Saturday's big throw down between the Southern Cal Trojans and the Bruins of UCLA.

AND NOW A WORD FROM LAIR OF THE BEAR

Last word from Lair of the Bear

The 87th renewal of the Los Angeles City Championship takes place in the vaunted Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum this Saturday!  This game is most often a battle of college football behemoths having produced eight Heisman Trophy Winners (OK… seven were wearing Cardinal & Gold, if you include Reggie Bush’s and OJ’s) and twelve National Championships. (OK… UCLA shared it’s only National Championship with Ohio State in 1954).

Yes…  this year’s game is no different as it will showcase the two leading Heisman Trophy candidates (OK…. pre-season picks) in UCLA’s Josh “The Chosen” Rosen and USC’s Sam Darnold.  Both teams can throw the ball well, as UCLA is #7 in the nation in passing yards and USC is #8.

However, when USC has the ball, all the pressure won’t be on Darnold’s arm.  UCLA’s run defense is ranked #129 in the nation (Only San Jose State is worse.), and USC’s running game is strong.  Last week, running back Ronald Jones rushed for 142 yards and moved into sixth overall on USC’s all-time rushing list. He passed LenDale White, Reggie Bush and Mike Garrett and has 3,292 yards during his career.

When UCLA has the ball, it will be up to Rosen to make things happen.  He has proved he can make things happen, and he’s not afraid to squeeeeze the ball into coverage. And, UCLA’s offense got a boost last week when hot-headed Receiver Jordan Lasley came back from a three-game suspension in a big way with seven catches, a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown against Arizona State.

It should be a fun one to watch on the gridiron in the coliseum if UCLA can keep it close.  (And in the past, there has been a lot of TV time dedicated to the USC and UCLA cheerleaders/song girls!)  However, most expect a few streaks to continue when it is all said and done - UCLA is 0-5 on the road this season and USC is riding a 15 game win streak at the Coliseum.  But…. It is a rivalry game, and anything can, and often does happen.  GO GUTTY LITTLE BRUINS!

THE GREAT EIGHT™ for WEEK TWELVE

UCLA @ SOUTHERN CAL...this heated rivalry dominates year-round conversation in the So-Cal area, and this game goes a long way to claiming bragging rights with several storylines. Both qbs are from local LA-area high schools, and both will certainly be high draft candidates next spring. UCLA is limping along with a coach (Jim Mora) heading to the hot seat. Bruin qb Josh Rosen is quite capable of putting up strong numbers as he averages over 330 passing yards per game. He'll give the Trojan secondary fits. But the Men of Troy will answer with Sam Darnold under center, backed by rb Ronald Jones II who will tear up a suspect UCLA run defense (they allow over 300 yards rushing per game). Got to go with the Trojans in this one.

#21 LSU @ TENNESSEE...before the start of the season this game was marked as a big game with potential bowl game ramifications. While LSU has resurged, Tennessee has become a train wreck in the midst of firing Botch Jones and remaining winless in the SEC. Embarrassing. Nothing new will happen here. The Vols will struggle on offense with a sputtering run game, and their depleted defense will have a long afternoon stopping the Bengal Tigers. LSU wins big in Knoxville.

NAVY @ #9 NOTRE DAME...the Irish were embarrassed last Saturday by Miami (41-8) which effectively removes them from the CFP discussion. So the Golden Domers will be extra juiced up as the Middies invade South Bend for the 91st meeting in what is the longest continuous intersectional rivalry in college football. The key to this game is Notre Dame's ability to stop Navy's ground game which piled up 559 yards last week against SMU. But in the end, we think the Irish, led by the solid qb play of Brandon Wimbush, have too many offensive weapons for Navy to handle. Irish sinks Navy.

#19 MICHIGAN @ #5 WISCONSIN...the Badgers have the chance to make a major statement to the CFP committee. Having jumped from #8 to #5 in the CPF poll, Wisconsin will rely on a stingy defense and an offense powered by Jonathan Taylor, 4th in rushing with an average of 152 yards per game. Michigan's front seven will be tested early and often. Bet on the Badgers to win.

GEORGIA TECH @ DUKE...if the Jackets could ever learn to close out games they would be a ranked team. We're convinced they love living dangerously (see the Va Tech game). Now they have the chance to finish strong by taking care of Duke (1-5 in the ACC) and then pulling a miracle win over highly ranked, bitter foe Georgia. A tall order for sure. But for now they need to focus on the Blue Devils and running a mistake-free triple option. The Bees will definitely ring up the yardage but the key will be ball protection. And a win on Saturday clinches a bowl trip, the Jackets 20th bowl appearance in 21 seasons. That will happen. Bet on the Bees over Duke.

MINNESOTA @ NORTHWESTERN...the Wildcats are riding a 5 game win streak including 3 overtime wins which speaks to Northwestern's resiliency. Meanwhile the Golden Gophers are coming off their best performance of the season with a big 54-21 win over Nebraska, the most points scored this season by Minnesota. The key to the game: quarterback play of Wildcat Clayton Thornson who ranks #2 in Big Ten passing yardage. In a cold one on the Lake, Wildcats heat things up with a big win.

KENTUCKY @ #7 GEORGIA...the pups are still licking their wounds inflicted by another feline, the Auburn Tigers, in Saturday's embarrassing 40-17 dismantling. So the Dawgs will be extra hungry when a scrappy Kentucky team rolls into Athens. This game will feature three of the best running backs in the SEC: Chubbs and Michel of UGA, and Kentucky's Benny Snell. The key: Georgia's Jake Fromm who should be able to handle tamer pass pressure from the Wildcats. Go with the Dawgs over the Kitty Kats.

UTAH @ #16 WASHINGTON...the Utes are 1-9 versus the Huskies who are coming off a bitter loss to Stanford. And Washington is still in the hunt for the Pac-12 North title so expect to see the Huskies dish out some misery on the Utes. Watch for Washington's Dante Pettis. He leads the country in punt returns and has taken four to the house. He's also the leading receiver for the Huskies. Put your money on the Huskies.

MAKE MO' MONEY with MARK™