B. Jones, Senior Great Wahl College Football Writer

[You can read the previous wonderful contributions of BJones here and (the web traffic record-breaking piece) here].

Last week: 4-3 straight, 5-1-1 vs. spread
Total: 9-5 straight, 10-3-1 vs. spread

Last week my strength lay in picking vs. the spread rather than outright—a strength of little meaning anywhere but Vegas. But then again, picking and ranting about football games is of little meaning in most places too—except of course for thegreatwahl.com, where eager football fans (or perhaps bored, yet loyal friends) broke a blog hit record last week. For that I am grateful and will try to improve my picks, lest this Chubby character with his Huskers knowledge whisk away my job and the tremendous salary it brings.

I’ll be moving away from the one game per conference mode this week because of a very special game, Boston College @ Notre Dame. There are a number of themes to bounce off of this game: private school battles, more specifically Catholic school battles, more specifically Jesuit school battles, for example. However, I am going to leave that to the general media and focus on perhaps a less recognized theme. The Irish and the Eagles will bring decent football teams—I would say teams mulling between #20-30 status—onto the field. But what is special about a 20ish ranked team matchup is that these teams’ News and World Report ranking, with respect to academics, is equally as strong. So this week’s theme will be teams with reputable enough academics that their combined News and World Report (NWR) ranking totals 125 or lower.

(5-2) Boston College [NWR #34] @ (4-2) Notre Dame [NWR #20]

It’s been quite a while since the Irish have defeated Boston College, whether they were supposed to or not. I like to think that things won’t change. However, I must admit that Notre Dame appears to be the better team this year. Other factors include Boston College’s miserable road record and my personal record vs. Tony this year (0-1, thanks to UW’s stellar x and goal to go performance). In fact, teams for which I cheer have yet to win a game on the road. Many people would take these factors as indications of an imminent Irish victory. However, if I don’t believe the Eagles can make it happen, how could it possibly happen? So I am picking BC to win and thus take the +8.5 points too. I, however, haven’t the slightest clue how it will happen, but Boston College will take their first ever lead in the Holy War, (which, by the way, has its very own Wikipedia entry).

(2-5) Maryland [NWR#53] @ (3-3) Duke [NWR #10]

Maryland has somehow beaten CJ Spiller and the Clemson Tigers, but lost to Middle Tennessee. Duke has very believably lost to Richmond, and perhaps less believably played VA Tech close, won on the road at NC State and compiled a .500 record. What is more, the Blue Devils are a 6 point favorite and seem to have some momentum. This is a football prognosticator’s nightmare. But, as long as there are no Mook’s on the field punting the ball 60 yds, I have to stick with tradition and expect the Blue Devils to lose, and thereby fail to cover the 6 point spread. I won’t stop there either, Paul Lavoie. Coach K, Wojo, Steve Spurrier 25 years ago, et al. prepare for a curb stomping if for any other reason, we’d hate to see Duke cross the .500 mark.

(4-2) Arizona State [NWR #121] @ (4-3) Stanford [NWR #4]

ASU can thank the Cardinal’s near peerless academic record for its spot on this list. In fact, ASU isn’t even the best in its dusty state, and it would only have to crack 100 to be so. While the Sun Devils made fools of Coach Sarkisian and co. last week, exposing terrible clock management and defensive unawareness for a last second 50-yd, game-winning TD, Coach Harbaugh and Stanford are no strangers to embarrassing UDub either. But in this battle, Stanford becomes the first team of the week to win in News and World Report Ranking and in my football estimation. I’m sure the dean will find a spot for this achievement in the school’s guide to prospective students. While Stanford has cooled off of late, their lack of success has come on the road, so they will come home for a win, relying on devastating special teams. I can’t go so far as to say the Cardinal will cover a 7 point spread though.

(4-3) Indiana [NWR #71] @ (4-3) Northwestern [NWR #12]

Admittedly, I know very little about these teams. They both seem to have lost to any decent team they’ve played. I do recall being impressed by Coach Pat Fitzgerald’s recent past success with a team that has more Academic All Americans than NFL candidates. In a week themed for academics, how could I pass over 7 Academic All Americans, even if they have little football talent. Northwestern wins, but doesn’t cover the 5.5 point spread.

(6-1) Georgia Tech [NWR #35], AP #11 @ (3-3) Virginia [NWR #59]

Yes, we finally have our first team that is actually ranked for football prowess. The Yellow Jackets come off a huge win against VA Tech and having already beaten some decent teams, seem to be rolling from here. I like to think they’ll have a let down this week at Virginia, but since I’ve already picked BC for my unlikely winner spot, I’m going to stick with GA Tech, 5.5 point favorites on the road. UVA has been good lately, but let’s not forget it was only a few weeks ago that Groh was on the hot seat for losses to William and Mary and SMU.

(6-1) Penn State [NWR #74], AP #13 @ (5-2) Michigan [NWR #27]

The Wolverines come off a huge win against rivals Delaware St. and will beat the Nittany Lions, four-point favorites on the road. If Ohio St. can pull off another loss, Penn St. has a chance of going the whole season without playing a team that was ranked during the week of their game. Michigan hasn’t done much, but both losses have been on the road and with JLRoth cheering his heart out for his beloved Wolverines in the big house, how could they lose?

(4-3) Wake Forest [NWR #28] @ (5-2) Navy [NWR #19]

The #19 ranking actually belongs to Emory for national universities, but Navy pulls a #19 in the College department. In spite of defrauding the undefeated Emory Eagles, Navy still wins at home and covers (-2).