1. UGA +15.5 v. FLA (JAX) The Cocktail Party is always one of the highlights of the year in CFB. I am sticking with the SEC Bye Week Theory on this one as it has hit over 70% of the time over the past 3 years (4-2 ATS this year and 2-0 last week). The Dawgs come into this game having an extra week to get ready and re-tool some issues on the defense. The Gates come into this game having struggled against Arky and State (Herban wants to thank Commissioner Slive), but still have the #8 total D and #2 scoring D in the nation. They also get some of their defensive studs back in LB B. Spikes and DL L. Marsh and J. Howard. However, the O is not clicking at all and QB. T. Teabag looks human throwing 2 pick 6s last week in Starkvegas. The Gates have no power runner other than Teabag who is averaging about 25 carries a game. Florida is also missing the explosive WR and is having difficulty stretching the field. The Dawgs went into the bye week on a good note winning easily at Vandy and have just enough offense to keep this one close. Look for the re-emergence of the Dawg running game from RB W. Ealy and C. King to keep the chains moving and also play action passes to the best WR in the nation AJ Green. UGA also has a very good TE in O. Charles and other athletes at the skill positions (WR T. King, M. Moore and B. Boykin). Another thing to look for is the TO battle as the Gates have been careless with the ball and UGA does not turn it over much. Also STs favor the Dawgs as UGA has the nation’s #1 punter and Fla. has been anemic in punt return so far this year. I am not convinced UGA can pull the upset, but I think they can keep this one relatively close and getting more than 2 TDs coming off a bye week is too good to turn down. FLA 28 UGA 20

2. GT -11.5 @ VANDY Laying double digits on the road is not something I really like to do, but when you look at this match-up you get comfortable in a hurry. GT comes into this game on a roll and has all but locked up the ACC Coastal Division. While this is a sandwich game for GT playing out of conference, HC P. Johnson is too good to allow the Jackets to look ahead. Vandy, on the other hand, is reeling and only has 2 wins this year (Rice and W. Carolina) and may have had their last stand last week in a close loss to So. Car. Vandy’s O is pathetic ranking #98 in total O and #110 in scoring O. The Jackets bring in a salty D led by DE D. Morgan and DB M. Burnett and I just do not see how Vandy is going to generate any points in this one. The Jacket triple option O is not easy to stop as GT ranks #2 in the nation in rushing O and #20 in scoring O led by QB J. Nesbitt and RBs J. Dwyer and A. Allen. Give Vandy credit for having a nice D (#23 scoring D) led by LB C. Marve and CB M. Lewis, but the Commodores have been battered and bruised all year suffering significant injuries all year that a team so thin has difficulty over coming. If GT can get out to an early lead, then this one has blow out written all over it. The only worry is whether GT will be interested and whether we can avoid the back door cover. I just do not think Vandy has enough offense to make that an issue. GT knows it has a chance to be in a BCS game, and it will not let that opportunity slip away. GT 31 VANDY 10

3. CINCY -15 @ SYR Here we are again walking the tight rope of the double digit road favorite, but Cincy has huge BCS aspirations, and I expect full focus from this team led by one of the best HCs in the business B. Kelly. It appears that QB T. Pike is doubtful for the game, but the Bearcats have not missed a beat with back-up QB Z. Collaros at the helm as they are averaging 40 points while he has been under center. The Bearcats have a very balanced O with RB I. Pead and WRs A. Binns and M. Gilyard, but I expect Cincy to air it out as this is where a big mismatch looms. Cincy is ranked the #10 pass O in the nation and ‘Cuse ranks #115 on pass D. New HC D. Marrone has improved the Orangemen, but they will have their hands full trying to slow down the Cincy attack. Another problem for Syracuse is that Cincy has quietly shown they have a very good D. In fact 1st year DC B. Diaco will be in the running for top assistant coach this year. The Bearcat D ranks #32 in total D while the ‘Cuse ranks a paltry #102 in total O. Poor QB Paulus will be wishing he was still running the point for Coach K as he will be running for his life from Cincy DT D. Wolfe and DEs A. Daniels and R. Matthews. Cincy leads the nation in sacks, so I expect Paulus will see plenty of the Carrier Dome’s roof. Cincy know what they have to do to get the attention of the voters, and it will be easy. CINCY 41 SYR 14

OBSCURE GAME DEGENERATE SPECIAL (IDA -3 v. La. Tech) This week we get back on an old reliable horse named the Idaho Vandals. The Vandals come off their first ATS loss last week getting thumped by Nevada. Expect a bounce back at home from the O as Idaho is led by QB N. Enderle and RBs D. Jackson and D. Woolridge and averages 430yds/31 points per game. Idaho is undefeated at home and La Tech has not won on the road. Easy enough for me, lay the FG. IDAHO 30 LT 21

GOOD LUCK