WE REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER: PERFECT PICKS!

Totally awesome. Jealous?

Just what the doctor ordered:  a perfect 8 for 8 last Saturday including our UPSET SPECIAL of Oklahoma State over Texas Tech. That puts us at 76% for the season which is outstanding any way you wish to cut the deck. 

So, time to show me some love. Or at least buy me a big boy country breakfast complete with grits, ham, some bacon, eggs over medium, and cathead-size biscuits just like momma use to make. And don't forget the coffee...bold and strong, just like our picks.

Anyway, we have another great lineup of games and plenty of opportunities to Make Mo Money with Mark. So, let's get to it.

Here's Your Weekend Winners...

Stroke candidate?

#9 Auburn @ Tennessee...if you're a Tennessee fan then no one can blame you for being just a bit envious of what's happening with Auburn. In just his first year, head coach Gus Malzahn has returned the Tigers/Plainsmen/War Eagles/Dying Oaks to prominence in the SEC with an 8-1 (4-1) record. And he's done that without buying any players; at least we think so. Malzahn brings the #1 rushing attack in the SEC (#6 in the country) to Neyland Stadium where the Vols have only lost once this season (an overtime gig to Georgia that's still too painful to think about). In addition to tailback Tre Mason, Auburn has the dual threat QB Nick Marshall and that doesn't bode well for the Volunteers who can't stop a running QB to save their Rocky Top lives. The only hope for bUTch Jones and his gang of hillbillies is if the 100,000+ orange necks show up early and drunk and raise almighty hell much like they did when UT played Georgia a few weeks back. I know, I was there. And yes, I was loud and probably had consumed a couple of libations to grease the skids. Who would blame me. But Tennessee is going to need a lot more than crowd noise. They're going to need speedy linebackers and defensive backs that know how to stop the run. Unfortunately, those guys won't be on campus until next summer. So...take Auburn in another SEC butt kicking of the not so big Orange.


#10 LSU @ #1 Alabama...Saban and company know that in order to make it to the national championship game they must be perfect in November and that starts this Saturday when they host LSU. Having lost two games by 3 points each (Georgia and Ole Miss), LSU has recovered and will be ready to give the Tide all they want. If you look at total offensive yards, rushing yards, and passing yards, these teams are pretty evenly matched. The difference may well be the leadership of Bama QB AJ McCarron (the guy with the hot girlfriend according to Brent Musberger). But something tells me that Les Miles is due for a headline win this season and he'll dial it up another notch. That's why we're taking the Bengal Tigers and the points (12) in an UPSET SPECIAL.

Virginia Tech @ #11 Miami...Beamer's Hokies bring one of the least productive offenses to Coral Gables on Saturday when they take on the 7-1 Miami Hurricanes that are still reeling from last week's 41-14 beat down in Tallahassee. Va Tech's offense is ranked 103 with 348 yards per game and their rushing game averages only 117 yds per game (#109 in the country). Despite losing Duke Johnson to a season-ending ankle injury, the Canes still have plenty of offensive weapons that average 36+ points a game. If Miami can survive, they pretty much nail down the ACC Coastal Division. And we think they will.  Hurricanes storm the Gobblers.

The sultan of rushing

Nebraska @ Michigan...if you Cornhusker fans left the game early last week, then you missed one helluva ending with Northwestern. QB Ron Kellogg III threw a "Hail Mary"pass into the endzone that was batted around and finally gathered up by Jordan Westerkamp for a 27-24 Husker win. A real kick in the Wildcat nutsack but just might have given Bo Pellini a stay of execution. This week, though, is another story as the Huskers travel to the Big House to take on the Maize and Blue in Ann Arbor. Key stat: the Wolverines are 19-0 at home under Brady Hoke while the Corn Boys are 7-8 away from home over the last 3 years. The loser of this game is out of the Legends division race. But while conventional wisdom might suggest going with Michigan, not so fast. Nebraska is led by Ameer Abdullah, the #1 running back in the Big Ten, and #5 in the country with over 1100 rushing yards. And he's why we like the Huskers in another UPSET SPECIAL in Ann Arbor. Take Nebraska and the 7 points. You'll thank me later. No, you really will.


BYU @ #21 Wisconsin...this game may very well get lost in the shuffle, which would be a real shame. Why, you ask? These are the only two FBS teams to feature a pair of players averaging 100 yards rushing: Melvin Gordon and James White for the Badgers, and running back Jamaal Williams and QB Taysom Hill for BYU. Couple that with two of the country's top linebackers - BYU's Kyle Van Noy and Wisconsin's Chris Borland - and you have the perfect recipe for a great game. Key stat to consider: the Badgers have 28 straight home wins over a non-conference foe, the second longest streak of FBS teams. Make that 29 tomorrow for the Badgers. Wisconsin over the Cougars.

Texas @ West Virginia...this game could be a trap game for the Longhorns if they fail to focus. The Mountaineers are an improving team having knocked off TCU last week. And Texas hasn't exactly been playing lights out on the road this season having lost to BYU 40-21 and barely avoiding a loss in Ames, beating Iowa State 31-30. But Mack Brown needs this win to stay on his road to redemption. It'll be a nippy night in Morgantown but we think the Longhorns will heat things up. Take Texas in a stampede as they Horns stay perfect in the Big 12.

Lizards lacking this season

Vanderbilt @ Florida...this is a pair of 4-4 teams. My how the mighty lizards have fallen! But this is a must win for Muschamp's crew since they travel to Columbia next Saturday to face the Gamecocks. With a pretty stout defense - only giving up 17 points a game - the Gators should take care of business tomorrow against the Commode-Doors (see what I did there?). The Vandy Dandys are not what they were a year ago when James Franklin had the Dores grooving. But the universe has returned to norm and Vanderbilt once again is looking up from the SEC cellar at 1-4 in the conference. Make that 1-5 on Saturday. Lizards lick the Commodores in the Swamp.

Richmond @ Stony Brook...with this matchup we're departing from big boy football to focus on a couple of smaller programs that no one really cares about unless, of course, you have a kid on the team, or maybe in the band. Both teams are sitting at the bottom of the CAA. What the hell is the CAA? Thanks for asking. It's the Colonial Athletic Association. See what you learn here?  Here's another little nugget. Richmond's Brandon Jordi earned CAA honors last week after hitting 4 of 5 field goals to lead his Spiders to victory over Albany. And he could be the difference tomorrow. That's why we're going with the Spiders over the Sea Wolves.

There you have it. More valuable insight that can make you some real cash. Let's check back on Sunday to see how we did. Until then...

MAKE MO MONEY WITH MARK®