It's rivalry week but few of these games promise excitement. In fact, the ending of Lincoln is probably more exciting and unpredictable.
My picks record this year is 90-12.
Florida (10-1) @ Florida State (10-1)
Florida is excited to have QB Jeff Driscoll back after sitting out a game and half with an ankle injury. The Gators will surely need him against Florida State. The match-up to watch is the Gators offensive line against the Seminoles defensive front. Florida State is probably the only team with the luxury of not having to load the box against the run with the way they play, but no doubt they will get a heavy dose from Florida’s power run set. There’s one other reason I like the Seminoles and it’s their quarterback E.J. Manuel. He’s not flashy but he’s played in a lot of games and knows how to win games without forcing plays or making debilitating mistakes. This is the game for you if you like defense and smash mouth football.
Florida State 23, Florida 20
Mississippi State (8-3) @ Ole Miss (5-6)
For the first time in a long time, the annual Egg Bowl is a compelling game worth watching. Generally, the Mississippi schools of the SEC have little more than pride to play for by the time they get to each other but new coaches have changed the attitudes and directions of each program.
The key difference in the two teams right now is Mississippi State’s experience and defense. The Bulldogs aren’t elite by any means but they can get stops and are good at capitalizing on mistakes. Mississippi is light years ahead of where they were last year but this group of players still makes crucial errors at key times and that’s why Mississippi State gets the slightest of edges.
Mississippi State 28, Ole Miss 26
South Carolina (9-2) @ Clemson (10-1)
While both teams are out of the race for their conference championships, they both have the ranking and the clout to make a BCS at large birth if things break the right way, and a win this weekend is paramount in that equation. I’ve picked Clemson to beat South Carolina several times and been bitten by that each time. However, this year I am more confident in the Tigers than previously.
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