The Diner Football Picks, Week 10

What?

You thought that just because The Diner is open sporadically in November that the football picks might not be on the agenda? Listen, if you go to Pete's Famous Hot Dogs you can get the cheese/beef all the way and a Grapico when their doors are open. If you go to Dreamland, you can get the Bar-B-Q ribs when their doors are open. When you go to Krispy Kreme, you can get the dozen glazed donuts HOT if the light is on when their doors are open. So, when The Diner doors are open, you can get the Friday Football picks even if they have to occur before the games on Saturday.

(side note: I'm kinda glad that the football doors didn't open until this morning, because I wouldn't have picked Marcus or Flower Mound to win their games this week--and now both will make the playoffs--and I can keep my sterling 13-2 record intact.)

So...with my record at 30-41-1 after 9 weeks (I'm not proud of that), here are this week's games:

Arizona State (+7) at Oregon: Remember last week when I said that Arizona State would win that game but would find a couple of games to lose this season? This is one of those weeks. The Ducks have momentum now, they're playing at home in their horribly ugly uniforms and their flourescent yellow goal posts...and they'll win and cover. Another unbeaten falls from the top-10 in the Pacific Northwest. Diner Prediction: Oregon 38, Arizona State 21.

L.S.U. at Alabama (+7): I'm also glad that I waited until today to pick this game. Yesterday I was leaning heavily towards L.S.U., maybe even to rout the Tide. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized a few things: L.S.U. is not playing their best football as of late, and Bama certainly is. Strange things have been happening in the daylight hours at Bryant-Denny to good football teams and something tells me Saban has been wanting to win this game more than he's been letting on in the press. The head says L.S.U. is more talented than Bama and should win by 10, but my gut it telling me something else. Bama, in an upset. Diner Prediction: Alabama 21, L.S.U. 17.

Texas at Oklahoma State (+3): The Cowboys score in bunches. They don't play good defense. The Longhorns can't seem to find an identity and needed a massive 4th quarter from Charles last week to bail them out of losing to the worst Nebraska team in 50 years...at home. Texas is better than O-State on paper and have won 9 in a row agains the Cowboys...despite being behind by large margins only to come back and win. I think Texas shows up today, and Charles does well against an average defense. Diner Prediction: Texas 27, Oklahoma State 21.

Wisconsin (+15.5) at Ohio State: Wisconsin's ranked and getting no respect. Ohio State is top-ranked and getting way too much respect. It's an awful Big Ten this year and very difficult to read either one. For some reason, I think Ohio State will perform very well today and show everybody that they're the class of a bad conference, but more than two touchdowns in points is tough to pass up. Diner Prediction: Ohio State 31, Wisconsin 17.

Florida State (+6.5) at Boston College: I realize it's sexy to pick F.S.U. to win this game what with B.C. having to come back against VaTech in the rain and it being a "trap" game for the Golden Eagles. And, you know what, where there's smoke, there's fire. Boston College hasn't seen the defensive team speed that the 'Noles bring and they've shut down some pretty good teams. Where F.S.U. struggles in on the offensive side of the ball...but I think they'll have enough not only to cover, but to win the game outright...and another #2 team bites the dust. Diner Prediction: F.S.U. 23, Boston College 21.

Texas A&M (+21) at Oklahoma: The only reason this is of interest is because of the coaching instability of Dennis Francione. Even Aggie fans know that if OU wins, then their coach is out for sure and they're going to be able to back up a truck full of money to Auburn's Tommy Tuberville...who will, in turn, be able to get another half-million from AU because of the Aggie faithful. I tell you all that to say that OU smells blood and Stoops usually puts the foot on the throat against Big 12 competition when he has the chance. Diner Prediction: Oklahoma 42, Texas A&M 17.

Missouri at Colorado (+3.5): We've all seen what the resurgent Buffs can do at home against good offensive football teams. Missouri has been a pleasant surprise in the football world this fall and they're on roll that can take them to the Big 12 North title. Colorado is more scrappy than consistent and they'll give Missouri all they want today, but I think Mizzou pulls away late. Diner Prediction: Missouri 28, Colorado 17.

Rutgers (+2) at Connecticut: Really? This is a game of national importance? Believe it. I'm having trouble getting used to the idea that Connecticut is in line to get a B.C.S. bowl bid. They've both beaten South Florida, who I think is actually more talented than each, but UConn did it at home in the rain. It's a night game. In the rain. At Uconn. Diner Prediction: Connecticut 20, Rutgers 16.

Well, there they are, folks...have at it!