What's Good! Purely Pigskin. Thanksgiving Weekend

What's up, sports fans? Happy Thanksgiving! This year, my inner sports fan is thankful for five straight days of football. Not all games are noteworthy, but I'll probably still watch. Turkey is good! Mashed potatoes are good! Pie is good! Football is good!

NFL Week 12

New Orleans (7-3) @ Dallas (3-7) Thanksgiving Day

Dallas has won two straight for the first time this season and looks to mess up the Saints NFC South championship hopes with a 3 game winning streak. The Saints are having another good year, though, and Reggie Bush will likely be back on the field. My Pick: New Orleans

Green Bay (7-3) @ Atlanta (8-2)

This is my game of the week. Both teams come in riding 4 game winning streaks and sitting atop their respective divisions. Green Bay's lack of a running game and Atlanta's improved secondary will likely be big factors in this one. My pick: Atlanta

Jacksonville (6-4) @ New York Giants (6-4)

The Jags have been hot lately and the Giants have not. Brandon Jacobs will start at running back for the G-Men because Ahmad Bradshaw is having trouble holding on to the ball. My pick: Jacksonville

Minnesota (3-7) @ Washington (5-5)
The Vikings lost to Green Bay last week and fired Brad Childress. That's a good start to getting this team back on track. Don't expect much improvement though, until interim head coach Leslie Frazier says "Brett, I am your Fah-vra! Now put your lightsabre away and grab that clipboard from Javaris!" My pick: Washington

Kansas City (6-4) @ Seattle (5-5)
Don't let the mediocre records fool you, Kansas City and Seattle are in first place in their divisions. Okay, the records pretty accurately describe these teams. Not exactly a barn burner but it's a battle of 1st place teams! My pick: Kansas City

Philadelphia (7-3) @ Chicago (7-3)
Yet another battle between division leaders. Chicago has quietly won 3 straight games. So has Philly, although they made much more noise doing it. Mike Vick is the x-factor. I don't think Chicago can stop his athleticism. My pick: Philadelphia

Tampa Bay (7-3) @ Baltimore (7-3)
The Bucs are trying to snap Baltimore's 7 game home winning streak. Baltimore will need Ray Rice to step up if they are going to get that streak to 8. I think he can, I think he can. My pick: Baltimore

College Football Week 13

Friday

#2 Auburn (11-0) @ #11 Alabama (9-2)

The 75th Iron Bowl should be an awesome game! Alabama has a chance to crush Auburn's National Title game opportunity. Can Cam Newton keep the Tigers in the hunt? My pick: Alabama

#21 Arizona (7-3) @ #1 Oregon (10-0)

Arizona has a weak run defense, which could be disastrous for them. I just hope they don't take a play from Cal's playbook and fake injuries (allegedly) to slow down the Ducks. My pick: Oregon

#4 Boise State (10-0) @ #19 Nevada (10-1)

I think Boise State is finally going to get a close game. If they win it could help their BCS standings. Will it help enough? My pick: Boise State

Saturday

#5 LSU (10-1) @ #12 Arkansas (9-2)

LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson will be the key to this game. If he can perform like he did last week against Mississippi, the Tigers have a good shot at winning. My pick: LSU

BYU (6-5) @ #20 Utah (9-2)

BYU's run game vs. Utah's 10th ranked run defense. Defense wins games! My pick: Utah

Florida (7-4) @ #22 Florida State (8-3)

3 of Florida's 4 losses have come to Alabama, LSU and South Carolina. I'm not sure Florida State will finish in the Top 25. My pick: Florida

#13 Oklahoma (9-2) @ #9 Oklahoma State (10-1)

It will be Bedlam as these teams battle for the chance to go to the Big 12 Championship game. Oklahoma has won the last 7 meetings with the Cowboys. Boomer Sooner!!! My pick: Oklahoma