2011 College Football- Week 11 Picks

This past week, the whole college football nation grativated towards State College, PA and the firing of legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno. In Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions are adjusting to life without their leader for the first time in decades.

UPSET PICK OF THE WEEK:
# 19 Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-2, 3-2) at # 12 Penn State Nittany Lions [8-1, 5-0)
The last time that Joseph Vincent Paterno was not on the sidelines of Beaver Stadium was 1949. Harry S. Truman was President, there were 48 U.S. States, and All the Kings Men was the Best Picture of the year...oh yeah, television was in its infancy. But, tomorrow, the Tom Bradley era begins in what was once Happy Valley, but only a university campus rocked by a sexual abuse scandal. The last time that there was a home game at Beaver Stadium without Paterno as coach was December 1965. The long-time defensive coordinator for Penn State begins his run as the interim head coach as the Nittany Lions, fresh off a bye last week (when the scandal escalated), host the Cornhuskers. The Nittany Lions are very distracted by the events of the past week, and Nebraska, after getting upset by Northwestern, can take their frustration out on a very distracted Penn State team.
Pick: Nebraska 35, Penn State 0

BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
# 7 Oregon Ducks at # 4 Stanford Cardinal (9-0, 6-0)
This will be the Pac-12 game of the year, and the winner will more than likely win the Pac-12 North Division and play in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
Pick: Stanford 47, Oregon 34

OTHER BIG GAMES THIS WEEK:
# 24 Michigan Wolverines (7-2, 3-2) at Illinois Fighting Illini (6-3, 2-3)
"That's basketball."- Michigan Head Football Coach Brady Hoke about last year's 67-65 triple overtime win over Illinois last year
Last year, the Wolverines won a wild one in triple overtime over Illinois, in what seemed like a basketball score. This year, both schools and their respective quarterbacks- Denard Robinson (Michigan) and Nathan Scheelhaase (Illinois) need to have big games to help their teams stay afloat in their respective divisions.
The Wolverines need a win to stay afloat the Big Ten Legends Division, while the host Illini need a win to snap their three-game slide after their first 6-0 start in 60 years. Michigan needs to step off offensively against this Illinois team, a complete 180 from their loss last week at Iowa.
Pick: Michigan 27, Illinois 24

Ohio State Buckeyes (6-3, 3-2) at Purdue Boilermakers (4-5, 2-3)
The last time the Bucks were in West Lafayette, Purdue upset the Bucks 26-18, so the Buckeyes are preparing not to be upset by the Boilermakers this go around, in what is a crucial game for OSU.
Pick: Ohio State 38, Purdue 17

Maryland Terrapins (2-7) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-3)- at FedEx Field
Pick: Notre Dame 31, Maryland 13

West Virginia Mountaineers (6-3, 2-2) at Cincinnati Bearcats (7-1, 3-0)- at Paul Brown Stadium
Pick: Cincinnati 31, West Virginia 27

# 18 Wisconsin Badgers [8-2, 3-2) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-7)
The Gophers upset Iowa two weeks ago, and almost upset Michigan State last week. Tomorrow, Wisconsin will show them who's the cream of the Big Ten crop.
Pick: Wisconsin 48, Minnesota 10

# 20 Auburn Tigers at # 15 Georgia Bulldogs
Pick: Georgia 27, Auburn 16

Miami Hurricanes at Florida State Seminoles
Pick: Florida State 34, Miami 7

Texas A&M Aggies at # 14 Kansas State Wildcats
Pick: Kansas State 26, Texas A&M 10

TCU Horned Frogs at # 5 Boise State Broncos
Pick: Boise State 42, TCU 9

# 25 Baylor Bears at Kansas Jayhawks
Pick: Baylor 31, Kansas 0

# 17 Michigan State Spartans (7-2, 4-1) at Iowa Hawkeyes (6-3, 3-2)
Pick: Michigan State 30, Iowa 27 (OT)

# 16 Texas Longhorns at Missouri Tigers
Pick: Texas 51, Missouri 6

Wake Forest Demon Deacons at # 9 Clemson Tigers [8-1, 5-1)
Pick: Clemson 42, Wake 17

Florida Gators (5-4, 3-4) at # 13 South Carolina Gamecocks
Pick: South Carolina 27, Florida 10

# 2 Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-0, 6-0) at Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-4, 2-4)
For the first time ever, OSU has a big bullseye on their back, watch out, here come the Cowboys.
Pick: OSU 41, Texas Tech 20