football-picks – Pigskin Prognostications by the Piedmont Padre and Zimmern's Twin

Week 8 was great…if you like parity! #1 in FBS, FCS and Division II were all knocked off their respective perches. Then on Wednesday night, THE Kennesaw State Owls got their 1st FBS victory over Liberty, who was on a 17-game regular season win streak! Best part? Owls crowd rushed the field twice as they went out with 1 second left and had to do it again. Ok, they were early but COME ON, MAN! It was their 1st time!!! One more reason we love CFB!!

Ok, it wasn’t pretty and didn’t have enough people to tear down the goal posts but WHO CARES!!! Go OWLS!!

Last comment on the “new world order” of College Football before Prognostications. The 2 members of the Pac-2, Oregon State and Washington State have agreed to play twice in 2025. A home & home deal in November. Rumor has it this came about after both cancelled. Kennesaw State this morning. Again, just a rumor.

Prognostication Accountability Update: Padre 42-25 A Surging ZT 38-24

Padre demanded the lead this week as 2 weeks of ZT being first closed the gap a bit. He is ready to dominate ZT like Vandy did Bama….

Nebraska vs. Ohio State: Nebraska was riding high until they met new powerhouse Indiana. The media hasn’t paid this much attention to Indiana since Bobby Knight gently grabbed a student’s neck to lovingly discipline him – assault. Now Indiana is assaulting teams on the scoreboard…in football! But back to this game. I still believe in what Nebraska is building, but I believe Ohio State’s mega million-dollar roster is too much for Cornhuskers. Ohio State wins big. Buckeyes by a score of 44-16.

Notre Dame vs. Navy: Not a funny post, but all around the college football world, players are getting paid. They are getting cars. They are getting commercials. They are getting clothes. They are getting rich! And they are transferring left and right when they don’t get their way. Meanwhile, the men of the United States Navy and the men of the United States Army are both undefeated – because they play for something greater than self. I know that is not funny, but it is cool to watch. What a story it would be if Navy or Army made the CFP. Notre Dame has more talent. That’s not questionable. But Navy has ‘MERICA!!! Logic says I should pick Notre Dame, but in this particular case, I am going with our service men at home. Navy pulls off the upset (and remains undefeated) by a score of 26-24.

Illinois vs. Oregon: Bret Beliema keeps on winning. To borrow from SNL character Chico Escula (and later used by Sammy Sosa), “The Big Ten has been berry berry good to Bret.” I believe Illinois will put up a fight, but their hopes will begin to fade in the late third to early fourth. Animal House University — sponsored by Nike— has too much fire power. Oregon wins 34-17.

Mizzou vs. Bama: Oh, Kalen. The SEC is not for the faint of heart. As Beno Cook said, “The SEC is a jungle. It’s like trying to survive Dunkirk.” Every coach wants to experience some of the passion and money of the SEC – and both are amazing! – but then they find out you can go from “the next big thing” to “the next Ron Zook” in not two years but two weeks! I have said it for years, but I honestly think we SEC folk hate losing more than we love winning. Does it make sense? No. But who asked you? Mind your own business! 😊 Anyway, Bama has to get back on track. If they win out, they will still make the CFP as an at-large. I think they do just that this week and beat Mizzou at home by a score of 37-16.

Texas vs. Vandy: I hate Georgia. The only team I hate as much or more than Georgia? – FSU. To me, one is Satan and the other is Satan’s chief demon. So, watching Georgia whip up on Texas last week was not something that brought me much joy. BUT…it did have a silver lining – WELCOME TO THE GRIND OF THE SEC, TEXAS! You don’t get to run from Oklahoma to Baylor or Houston or Rice (old SWC days!) or whoever. We only have one of those names in our league and it is Vanderbi……….wait. Vanderbilt is ranked?! As if 2024 could not be any weirder, our version of Rice is now winning football games. While that is a great story, Texas is desperate. Vandy will give their all, but the Horns are too much. Texas wins in Nashville by a score of 37-17.

No longer crying like after Georgia game…

Penn St vs. Wisconsin: Question #1 — Is Penn State playing Ohio State? Answer — Nope…..Question #2 — Is Penn St playing Michigan? Answer — Nope…..Penn St wins 27-20.

LSU vs. A&M: It’s the game the SEC tried to make a new rivalry. Texas is now in SEC, so thankfully this “made in a lab” rivalry is no longer a thing. However, this is still a big game! Believe it or not, these are the only two teams in the SEC who are still undefeated in conference play. First place goes to the Bayou Bengals. LSU wins a thriller 26-24.

SMU vs. Duke: Is it politically incorrect to call this “The Nerd Bowl”? I can’t really talk, as I went to Emory. At least we are still undefeated in football at Emory! Or maybe we can call it “The Super Rich Bowl”? Both schools are Methodist, so maybe “The John Wesley Classic”. Either way, the fact that I am even picking this game is a sign of the end-times. One school was built off oil and the other was built off tobacco. One powers things like cars and the other powers PGA golfers when the cameras are not looking. I am taking the boys from Dallas over the boys from Durham. This game belongs to the team with the same logo as an American muscle car made for men having mid-life crisis. In front of a raucous crowd of like 12,000 people, SMU wins 31-20.

FSU vs. Miami: I kind of feel sorry for FSU….wait….no…..that’s not sadness…it’s something else….oh…..DEEP DOWN IN THE SOUL HATRED LAUGHTER!!!!!!!!!!! 🤣. Miami rolls. Canes 44-13. It’s miserable in Gator Nation, but misery loves company! As long as that Nole company stays 200 feet away at all times. We can just wave to each other in that misery. Oh wait, we are just telling each other who is #1. 😉

Florida vs. Bye: Billy is 14-17 overall. 1-7 vs Rivals. But we beat Kentucky at home, so the headlines are, “Did Billy save his job?”. That is now the standard? Byes after a win seem to magically make poop smell like Febreeze. The Georgia game is just around the corner. I hope I am wrong (as I hate Georgia and genuinely want to win with a guy like Napier), but I fully expect Florida fans to wake up in 8 days and realize that’s not a chocolate brownie we stepped in.

Till next week — Go Gators. Beat the Bye.

ZT is in the house!! Was in Wilmington NC for business and besides the awesome weather, it is a cool place to visit. Will note ate lunch at a place called Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn…. Had the Flaming Amy Burrito ( of course ) with Jerk Chicken at the owners recommendation. Note this thing weighed the same as a baby seal but was awesome. ZT expects some airport “meditation time” on the return home. If in Wilmington, Just Do It! ( part of ZT’s effort to get a Nike NIL deal as well….)

#32 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs #3 THE Ohio State Buckeyes 11am

So…word has it Nebraska sent the Fraternity Intramural Flag Football team to play Indiana last week as they were looking ahead to this game vs. Ohio State. At least that is what a post from “Does Mike Rozier still have a year left?” Twitter account noted. ZT hopes so as they were beaten worse than a rented mule with a signed damage waiver by Indiana ( 5 TOs and allowed 495 yds by Hoosier offense ). Ok, it was played in Bloomington….( ZT, it holds 52k and they serve soft ice cream!! ). This week? How about the Buckeyes in Columbus AFTER a week off!!!! May want to try to replay Indiana ( maybe not since the #2 QB came in and led the Hoosiers to 28 unanswered 2nd half points ). One concern, OSU has Penn State next week…hmmm…. Buckeyes. 35 Corn Nuggets. 13

#12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. #24 Navy Midshipmen 11am

ZT is fired up for this one…..(what does that have to do with anything ZT as you get fired up over blueberry waffles at a Hampton Inn breakfast buffet ). Sure this will be the best team Navy has played but this is the year the Midshipman can win! Wish it was in MD vs. East Rutherford but ZT didn’t set the schedule. Navy QB Blake “and Shake” Horvath is a balanced guy who throws when he needs to ( 10 TDs – 1 INT & 10 Run TDs ) and is the leading rusher. Irish continue to count on Riley “Leonard, Leonard” Leonard ( ZT, you pick like those guys on the Big Bang Theory most weeks so this reference is not a shocker…) to just manage the game. Side note, the best team ND has to play the rest of the season appears to be ARMY. Love the Service Academies playing great ball. ND just a little to0 much in NJ for the Navy. Irish 31 Camo Dinghies 24

#20 Illinois Illini vs #1 Oregon Ducks 230pm

Look at the Midwest Native Americans rising up like some their great alumni including Dick Butkus, Red Grange, Ray Nitschke, and George Halas ( yes, you get it…been awhile ). Nice W at home last week vs. a mediocre Michigan squad but still a big mental victory. The reward? A trip to Eugene. Good news is HC Lanning will have to find a new way to “cheat” since they closed the “12th-man special” used vs. OSU. Like all Illinois is doing but just don’t see it on the road even with their 4 YPC rushing attack and QB Luke Altmyers 15 TD – 1 INT ratio. Closer than Vegas thinks…. Ducks 34 No Duck for Illini Thanksgiving 17

#21 Missouri Tigers vs #15 Bama. 230pm

Mizzou QB Brady Cook may be the toughest QB in the country. Dude goes to the hospital ( odd ankle injury ) and returns to the game to lead the Tigers to a W over Auburn. One issue, he is doubtful for the Bama game along with RB Nate” the troll” Noel. QB Drew “I’m tired of riding the” Pyne ( ND-AZst-Mizzou journeyman ) will lead the charge. Tide fans are all over the page blaming everyone from Joe Biden to Mike Price ( who never coached a game ) with the other half noting how many players drafted/transferred from last year and DeBoer is only 7 games in with a solid W over Georgia ( likely finishes better than Saban’s 1st year ). Look for Bama to rebound on Homecoming weekend and be a bit more disciplined and actually tackle somebody. Bama 34. Show Me 21

#5 Texas Longhorns vs #25 Vanderbilt Commodores. 315pm

How does a Longhorn shake off a big Dawg bite? Travel to Nashville to play Vandy, who can no longer “sneak up” on anyone. Love watching Vandy QB Diego Pavia with his Taco Bell NIL as they attempt to revive their 1988 Running for the Border ad campaign. Problem this week is Texans know how to handle the border. Texas QB Ewers was pulled but reinserted vs Georgia last week. That won’t happen again unless injured. Texas Defense is fast and good. They have the athletes to keep Pavia in check…He will make plays, just not enough for a Commodore W. Longhorns 38 Really Smart Chalupas 17

#3 Penn State Nittany Lions vs #34 Wisconsin Badgers 630pm

Nittany Lions vs Badgers…… Rolling Rock Beers vs Cheese …….#3 vs #34….Harris vs Trump…. PSU had a week off and moved up to # 3 while Wisconsin has been on a roll since losses to Bama and USC beating their last 3 opponents by a combined 117 – 16 and actually RUNNING THE BALL!! PSU earned some respect by taking out USC on the road in OT and a nice W over Illinois in week 5. As noted earlier, PSU has a date with THE Ohio State next week…..Badgers not the team to overlook as this is a classic trap game and 2024 has been full of traps. Badgers easier to catch than Lions. Nittany Lions 27 Cheese (not Honey) Badgers 21

#8 LSU Tigahs vs #14 Texas A & M Aggies. 630pm

This one is critical for a spot in the SEC championship as winner will be in 1st place in the SEC. Remember both these teams lost their opening Non-Conference games. ( LSU to USC and A & M to ND ). The REAL 12th man will be wide open at College Station but nothing a group of rowdy Cajuns haven’t dealt with before. Tigahs QB Nussmeier will be the best passer the Aggies have faced ( 2,222 yds 18 TDs – 6 INTs ). That said, Aggie QB Conner Weigman is more of a game manager and will count on the run game to keep all in check. Tigahs appear to be a little stronger in the trenches…. LIGHT Upset Special. Tigahs 28 More Agony 27

#22 SMU Mustangs vs #29 Duke Blue Devils 700pm

Look at the Ponies in at #22. No history lesson on this one as the last time they met was 1956 ( when ZT’s dad was playing for Ears Whitworth at Alabama…yes, he would always say “ya’ll should thank us for being so bad or Coach Bear Bryant would not have come to Bama! “….OK ZT, that was kind of a history lesson…). SMU HC Rhett “Butler” Lashlee only has 1 loss and that is to a surging group of Mormons at BYU back in early September. Just like Bachman Turner Overdrive, “Taking Care of Business”. ( really ZT? Bay City Rollers music reference next? ). Dukie HC Manny Diaz has them playing better defense, yes defense ( allowing 17+ PPG and has not given up more than 21 points, period ). That’s good as the Ponies have averaged 45.5 PPG in their last 4 games. So, what gives? It does appear the Duke weakness is against the run and SMU can run noted by their 39+ rushing attempts per game. Remember this, all 6-1 teams are not alike…. Mustangs 31 Devils in Blue Dresses 21

#129 Florida State Seminoles vs. #6 Miami Hurricanes 6pm

This one was added at the request of The Padre ( shocker, right? ). This is a rivalry game and that means you can throw all the stats, etc. out of the window because anything can happen. Of course you can also throw $100 bills out of the window of a speeding car on I-10 but that makes as much sense as believing the Seminoles have a chance in this game. ESPN gives them an 8.6% chance of winning but in small print it notes that is before pregame warm ups as it drops when they run on the field. ZT gives FSU and Mike Norvell permission to look ahead to UNC next week in Tallahassee with the key message of the pre game speech being “ Don’t anyone get hurt this week, ok?” Hurricanes 41 OSHA compliant Indians 17