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Not the best week for Insights last week. Went 6-4 and missed on the Notre Dame-Navy game.
ND-Syracuse isn't on the confidence ledger this week (if it were, it'd be our highest selection), but entering the final week, Insights has moved into the Top 10 and would like to stay there.
On to the picks, ND-SU first and then the pool:
Notre Dame-Syracuse: This should be the easiest game on the schedule for Notre Dame. The Orange have shown they can't beat a team with any substance. Plus, it's Senior Day. Expect a 100-plus yard day from James Aldridge, a touchdown catch from Robby Parris, a defensive touchdown and a late TD pass from Evan Sharpley to Joseph Fauria. Our pick: Notre Dame 42, Syracuse 14.
On to the confidence pool:
Confidence Level 10: Penn State over Michigan State. Why: The Nittany Lions need this to win the Big Ten. They'll get it and head to the Rose Bowl.
Confidence Level 9: West Virginia over Louisville. Why: The Mountaineers are still in the Big East title race. Louisville lost to Syracuse.
Confidence Level 8: Tennessee over Vanderbilt. Why: The 'Dores may be bowl eligible, but the Vols will win one more game for their departing coach, Phil Fulmer.
Confidence Level 7: Boston College over Wake Forest. Why: Every time I pick against the Eagles, they end up hurting me. Not this week.
Confidence Level 6: Cal over Stanford. Why: Stanford needs to win to become bowl eligible. It won't happen here.
Confidence Level 5: Florida State over Maryland. Why: If FSU was ranked, I'd take the Terps, but Maryland -- the most confusing team in college football this year -- doesn't play as well when teams are unranked. The 'Noles aren't ranked.
Confidence Level 4: Utah over BYU. Why: A win and the Utes are likely heading to the BCS. BYU will pose a tough game, but not enough to beat Utah.
Confidence Level 3: Arizona over Oregon State. Why: The Beavers are good, but Insights said earlier they weren't going to run the table to get to the Rose Bowl. This is where they stumble, allowing USC to win the Pac 10 if it beats UCLA.
Confidence Level 2: Pittsburgh over Cincinnati. Why: A Pittsburgh win will make next week's Backyard Brawl -- where West Virginia's national title hopes were dashed -- a defacto Big East title game. Brian Kelly has done a great job in Cincinnati, but the quarterback issues catch up to the Bearcats here.
Confidence Level 1: Texas Tech over Oklahoma. Why: Guns Up seems to be on a path this year. This will be their toughest game until the national title game. And it's in Norman, where Oklahoma has scored under 40 points just once. This game will end up being 55-52, Texas Tech.
