LIBERTY REPORT: Week 13 picks

Picks come a little late this week ... that Tuesday jaunt to Ashevegas is still kicking my butt.

Last week's record: 16-7
Season record: 203-61 (.769)

BIG SOUTH

Today's games

No. 11 Elon at No. 20 Liberty: Difficult game to pick, as both have a ton on the line. Home-field advantage didn't play out as a significant edge for Liberty earlier this season against Lafayette, and I expect the joint to be half empty today since most of Liberty's students skipped town to get a jump on Thanksgiving break. Gut feeling time, though. Liberty applies lessons learned from the Lafayette and Presbyterian games. Unlike in the Lafayette game, the Flames get off to a good start. Unlike the Presbyterian game, the Flames finish strong. And the committee will have a decision to make tomorrow. Liberty 28, Elon 24

Presbyterian at VMI: VMI is a team with a lot of pride, and the Keydets remember PC players posing in front of the scoreboard in Lexington last year after the Blue Hose beat VMI. VMI 38, Presbyterian 34

Charleston Southern at Coastal Carolina: Both teams are gunning for a winning season tonight in Conway, and this rivalry has all the requisite message board banter going. Another gut feeling: Coastal's defense fails again. Chuck South 41, Coastal Carolina 27

FCS TOP 25

Saturday's games

No. 1 James Madison at Towson: I kind of question JMU's motivation for this game, though I suppose a loss could drop the Dukes down a few seed lines come tomorrow. Towson's seniors will fight in this one, but the Tigers just don't have the firepower to win, regardless of how well JMU plays. JMU 30, Towson 17

Western Carolina at No. 2 Appalachian State: Prediction: App State will not score 79 points on Western this year. App State 78, Western Carolina 30

Eastern Washington at No. 3 Weber State: Eastern has the talent to make the Wildcats sweat, but Weber is playing for a seed, so I don't expect a letdown. Weber State 38, Eastern Washington 28

Montana State at No. 4 Montana: Montana is also playing for a seed, but some awful weird things have happened in this series over the years. Montana State comes in hot and makes the Griz work for a win. Montana 34, Montana State 31

No. 5 Villanova at Delaware: First in line for a seed if one of the top 4 stumbles. Villanova 24, Delaware 16

No. 6 Cal Poly at Wisconsin: Most FCS over FBS upsets happen when the FCS team sneaks up on the larger subdivision team. Cal Poly doesn't have that luxury. Wisconsin 38, Cal Poly 22

No. 7 Northern Iowa at Southern Utah: Southern Utah has beaten one FCS playoff contender (Texas State) and has been a tough out at home. Northern Iowa 27, Southern Utah 24

No. 8 Richmond at No. 16 William & Mary: A play-in game for the playoffs. Richmond has played well on the road, beating Elon and UMass away from UR. Make it three solid road wins. Richmond 34, William & Mary 28

No. 21 Furman at No. 9 Wofford: Win at Samford got Terriers back on track. Wofford 40, Furman 14

No. 10 Southern Illinois at Illinois State: ISU seems to always be a sticky opponent for SIU, but the Salukis simply have too much to play for here. Southern Illinois 31, Illinois State 13

No. 12 New Hampshire at No. 14 Maine: Another playoff play-in. Only New Hampshire can survive a loss, but a defeat puts the Wildcats firmly on the bubble. Maine 28, New Hampshire 24

No. 22 McNeese State at No. 13 Central Arkansas: UCA will still get rings for winning the Southland title, even if the league won't recognize them as champs. McNeese needs a win and a Texas State loss to make the playoff field. UCA 38, McNeese State 34

No. 15 South Carolina State at North Carolina A&T: A&T gave up long ago. S.C. State 30, N.C. A&T 0

Yale at No. 17 Harvard: One of the oldest rivalries in all of college football, this matchup pits the league's preseason favorites. Only Harvard can still win a share of the conference title. Harvard 26, Yale 24

No. 25 Eastern Kentucky at No. 19 Tenn.-Martin: Winner plays next week; loser's season is done. UTM gets the nod at home. UTM 28, EKU 27

No. 23 Holy Cross at No. 19 Colgate: More gut feelings ... It's Holy Cross' year. Holy Cross 34, Colgate 17