Friday 5 Selections (13-12)

 VT (+6) at North Carolina

 USA Today called Virginia Tech the team with the most to prove this weekend and they may be dead on.

Here it is? Can  they turn it around? Can the secondary put it together against Bryn Renner when they couldn’t against Muchie Lugaux? Can the offense pick up where they left off?

 Will the offense be simplified to be more effective? Can Logan Thomas start off hot from the get go? Did Michael Holmes emerge as the primary back?

 North Carolina is the #16 ranked defense in the country and their offense has put up some points in wins over teams like Idaho,Elon and East Carolina and 27,34 in losses to Wake and Louisville.

 I think Bud Foster’s defense answers the bell and comes together but the VT offense you have to show me.

Hokies are 15-1 in October and November the past two years and 13-0 in North Carolina.   Good enough for me-I’ll take VT with the points but I am saying North Carolina 24-20.

 UVA (+1.5) at Duke

 I have to be a glutton for punishment but I like UVA.   Not just for the reason Philip Sims comes in because this team can clean up the penalities and the turnovers they can win this game just as they could have won against Louisana Tech.

Duke is really beat up right now, especially in the secondary, and if Darius Jennings and Dominique Terrell can hold on to balls, they could have a big day as well as the tight ends.  The air attack could open things up even more for Perry Jones and Kevin Parks who makes his North Carolina return.

 Duke is playing good ball right now and  I think they can be effective whether its Sean Renfree or Anthony Boone but if UVA can clean it up and be more responsible with the ball and their emotions—I am taking UVA and the points and the win.

UVA 31-30

 Miami at Notre Dame in Chicago

 Not exactly the Catholics vs Convicts matchup I remember as a kid but it is nice to see the two getting the Primetime spotlight.

I believe it was Miami head coach Al Golden who said something has to give in this matchup between Notre Dame’s D and Miami’s high scoring Offense balanced out with Notre Dame’s offense and Miami’s struggling defense.  I will take Notre Dame for the win. Unsure about the Fighting Irish covering 14, but I will take the under of 53.

 NFL PICKS

I am going with gut and going with recommendations for my NFL picks.

Washington (+3.0) at home vs Atlanta  (posted total 50.5)

 History of this season says every game has been close with Washington  but now they get the high flying offense of Atlanta. 

I don’t want to out think the room here-the Skins secondary has struggled with big plays against good WR like AJ Green and Vincent Jackson and now they get White and Jones.  Also the linebackers including London Fletcher have struggled to keep up with good tight ends and Atlanta has Tony Gonzalez.

 I will take my buddy John Kincade’s recommendation that Robert Griffin III can have success against the Falcons defense so give me the Falcons to cover 3 and I will take the over of 50.5

 Atlanta 31 Redskins 24.

 Finally,

This is all gut.  I had the gut feeling this week and then yesterday in our Car Pool Clean Sweep everybody picked them as well…………..I will play the law of averages. Saints don’t go 0-5 and beat the Chargers 31-24 and cover the 3.

BONUS PICK---

WORLD SERIES PICK- IN APRIL-TIGERS OVER GIANTS.

WORLD SERIES PICK--TIGERS.