Clement's Football Predictions

Whew, we stink. No, seriously. A 3-4 week (that Ohio State game played like I thought it would without that late TD from the Wolverines) notches us to double digit wins (11), but unfortunately far too many losses (24). Put 'em together and you have a downright putrid 11-24 mark. So here's the attempt we're gonna make. 25 wins before 35 losses. What does that mean? 24-11! Fun, right?

Moving along, we have a decent selection of four NFL-tilts and three-primetime college football matchups. Let's dive in head-first and have a solid weekend.

Jacksonville @ Miami (-1)
Don't look now, but Nick Saban has yet again rallied his young team around a QB we didn't expect (sub Frerotte for Joey Harrington this year). Meanwhile, the Jags look amazing some weeks (dismantling the G-Men at home) and downright sorry in others (swept by the Texans and last week @ Buffalo). Traveling into the AFC East isn't easy. I don't like the Jags away from home, so look for the Fins to win and cover.

Dallas (-3.5) @ NY Giants
With all of the positive hype for one side (Dallas) and negative for another (New York), it seems slim pickins. Yet the 3.5 boost for Dallas might've been more if the Giants weren't a much better home team than they are on the road. Question is: will fans be booing after an opening 3-and-out drive or perhaps cheering when Jacobs marches one in? I'm assuming the former as Romo is living off of the glory of the sub-for-Bledsoe love as the Cowboys win by a touchdown and take firm grasp of the once clouded NFC East.

Kansas City (-5.5) @ Cleveland
Just when you thought you might trust the Browns to keep it close more often than not, they lay perhaps the egg of the year against the Chiefs. Anyone can get shut out and embarrassed early on in the season, but to do it this late is just embarrassing. Trent needs to air it out here or there if this team has any shot of contending deeper into the season. Yet, I'll give the Chiefs the benefit of the doubt as I foresee two things: LJ going nucking futs and a meltdown brewing in Cleveland.

Minnesota @ Chicago (-9.5)
This looks like a shaky matchup for Bears fans, right? Nope. You need to test out Grossman and this is the chance to let him have a field day. Now I know he barely pulled it out in the Metrodome, but he'll be more comfortable at home - especially with the emergence of Mark Bradley. While they need to add a few routes, I see no reason why Da Bears can't pummel the Vikes and clinch the NFC North once and for all.

Wow, four covers (even one at nearly 10 points!). What has become of me? I suppose it's better than taking all road-warriors as I have before.

While I might've been 1-2 two weeks ago...I'll still enjoy the quick hits-style for my NCAA picks. I'd like to mention of last week's major matchups, it might've been the typical so-so stuff. I would've had LSU losing but covering, USC covering easily, while Florida incorrectly covering over the Noles twice over and West Virginia dismantling South Florida.

Army v. Navy [-20]
Once a fierce rivalry, it still has the pageantry because of who is involved. While Navy is a force, in a rivalry you never like to see a blowout. Nevertheless, Navy has its motors revved up and will carry a monster spread with a three-to-four touchdown victory.

Rutgers v. West Virginia (-10)
Surprised, right? Rutgers, who did lose to Cincy, still has a shot at the BCS while the Mountaineers really shot themselves in the foot last weekend versus South Florida. While I love the crew from Jersey, Slanton wants to remind people why he might be the Heisman front-runner next season alongside fellow sophomore Pat White. Mountaineers cover, even if it means it's at 10 and it's a split.

ACC Championship: Georgia Tech (-2) v. Wake Forest
My ACC-football knowledge can't be this bad, can it? Wake Forest and Georgia Tech? Sounds more like a matchup involving names like Randolph Childress, Tim Duncan, Stephon Marbury, and Dennis Scott. Right? While the Rambling Wreck might draw more in a BCS (shudder) game in the Orange Bowl. I love the upstart Demon Deacs of Mistake Forest. Whoops, I mean Wake. Wake Forest wins and covers their first ACC title.

Big XII Championship: Oklahoma (-4) v. Nebraska
Screw it, I kinda want Nebraska to win. So I say they do. Or lost by 3 or less. Either way, I win!

SEC Championship: Florida (-3) v. Arkansas
Florida always seems to escape, don't they? Not this time. Arkansas behind McFadden will put up enough points to make Meyer take Tebow out completely and therefore lose the game. Arkansas is Sugar Bowl-bound.

USC (-14) @ UCLA
Michigan will be praying that either UCLA wins outright or somehow is either cheated out of the game or it comes down to some fluke scenario in which voters penalize USC. Uhh...not gonna happen. No way, no how. Mark it down. USC big to advance to the new BCS title game versus the Buckeyes.