Pick Six: Week 10

 
Photo credit: AP

It's Revenge Week on the Pick Six, the toughest Pick Six contest in the country. (OK, so maybe it's the only one.)

It's impossible to figure out the ACC. The slaves to punishment that we are, the show must go on. Tudor (4-2) and I (3-3) both beat Eric Koch (2-4), a transplanted Hokies fan in New Jersey, in Week 9.

Zack Mansfield, a transplanted UNC fan in New York City, gets the honors for Week 10. Check out Zack's rock star blog.

(Note: Zack's not really a rock star but anytime you can secure an eponymous URL, it's impressive).

If you'd like to be the guest picker, send me an e-mail and state your case.

On with the games:

Duke @ Wake Forest

When: Saturday, 3:30
TV: none
Line: Wake by 7.5

Wake beat Duke 41-36 in 2007, 14-13 in 2006 and 24-22 in 2004. The point? This is usually a close game (pay no attention to the 44-6 final in 2005).

This one shouldn't be different, especially with Wake's problems on offense and in the kicking game. Didn't think I would ever write those words pertaining to a Jim Grobe team, but that's where Wake is with a beat-up offensive line and an injured Sam Swank.

While too much is made of revenge and making up for last year's game (more on this topic in the Florida-Georga game), Duke's players should be confident that they can beat the Deacs.

Not confident enough for any of us to pick the Devils, however.

Picks: Tudor (Wake), Giglio (Wake), Mansfield (Wake)

Florida State @ Georgia Tech

When: Saturday, 3:30
TV: ABC
Line: GT by 2.5

Power vs. Power here with Georgia Tech's running game facing Florida State's defense.

Neither unit is as good as its statistics because they each have  two wins over Division I-AA teams but this still qualifies as a power struggle in the ACC.

Vegas is begging you to take the Noles with that line. That should give you pause but sometimes the casino-builders are wrong. Sometimes.

Picks: Tudor (FSU), Giglio (FSU), Mansfield (FSU) 

Miami @ Virginia

When: Saturday, noon
TV: Raycom
Line: UVa by 2.5

Speaking of revenge, do you think Miami is interested in paying back that 48-0 beatdown Virginia closed the Orange Bowl with?

The Hoos are 4-1 at home, with the loss coming in August to a top 10 team.

The Canes are 2-1 on the road with wins over Texas A&M and Duke, and a loss to a top 10 team.

Picks: Tudor (UVa), Giglio (Miami), Mansfield (Miami)

Clemson @ Boston College

When: Saturday, 3:30
TV: ESPNU
Line: BC by 4

BC's 3-0 vs. Clemson since joining the ACC, by a combined total of seven points. Two of the games were decided in overtime.

Another close one but Steve Logan discovers the running game in this one.

Picks: Tudor (BC), Giglio (BC), Mansfield (Clemson)

Florida vs. Georgia

When: Saturday, 3:30
TV: CBS
Line: Florida by 5.5

Here's the problem with revenge as motivation: Georgia was good enough to beat Florida 42-30 last season and the same principle players return on both sides (as opposed to the Virginia-Miami game which Virginia is missing the bulk of the roster that made 48-0 possible).

Just because you're really, really mad Georgia poured off the sidelines and celebrated in the end zone, that's not going to suddenly make you a better tackler or a better runner or a better play-caller. It will make for a belligerent parking lot, though.

In this case, revenge is overrated. Of course, Florida could just be a better team a year later. That's a reason to take the Gators, not "They danced in our faces, wahh!"

Picks: Tudor (Florida), Giglio (UGa), Mansfield (Florida)

Texas @ Texas Tech

When: Saturday, 8
TV: ABC
Line: Texas by 

If, and that's a big IF, Texas is going to stumble, this is the week. It's a lot to ask an NFL team, let alone a college team, to bring the hot sauce for four weeks in a row.

That being said, Texas Tech simply does not play defense. Colt McCoy, by his standards, had an off week against Oklahoma State. It's likely Texas' offense will play better this week.

That's not good news for the Red Raiders, who did beat UT in Lubbock in 2006.

Picks: Tudor (Texas), Giglio (Texas Tech), Mansfield (Texas)