Body Shots: 'Trick or Treat' time in college football

Believe it or not, there are actually games to be played before college football Armageddon arrives Nov. 5.

Sure, next weekend's matchup between Alabama and LSU may be on the forefront of everyone's minds, but the teams without bye weeks better not be caught looking ahead on this Halloween weekend.

If they do, they may end up getting tricked, much like Wisconsin did last weekend against Michigan State.

The Badgers thought they would play for the win by calling a defensive timeout on the game's final drive. But, as the clock expired, the bony hand of the Grim Reaper reached out and snatched away Wisconsin's national title hopes with a Spartan Hail Mary touchdown.

Colorado continued its inaugural run through the Pacific-12 last weekend like the Headless Horseman, continually getting its head knocked off during a 45-2 thrashing at the hands of Oregon.

Now, with this weekend falling just before Halloween, I found it fitting to spice up my picks with a scary movie theme.

Texas A&M -11 over Missouri

("Night of the Living Dead")

Texas A&M has already made its exit from the Big 12 conference official, and Missouri's formal announcement is a formality at this point.

The two playing a Big 12 game now is irony at its finest.

Oklahoma -13.5 over Kansas State

("The Nightmare Before Christmas")

Undefeated Kansas State was ready to test its resurgence against Oklahoma.

The Wildcats, though undermanned, hoped to catch the Sooners napping.

Then Oklahoma came apart at the seams in its 41-38 loss to Texas Tech. Expect the Sooners to rebound, making Kansas State's shining moment a living nightmare.

Stanford -7.5 over USC

("Edward Scissorhands")

Stanford senior quarterback Andrew Luck has butchered opposing defenses worse than Scissorhands this season, tallying 1,888 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and only three picks.

Expect him to have his tools sharpened this weekend when he faces off against USC.

Clemson -4 over Georgia Tech

("Saw")

Clemson has given clues on how it can be defeated all season. But there has been a catch to every clue it's given.

When teams have shut down Clemson sophomore quarterback Tahj Boyd, he's given the ball to junior running back Andre Ellington. And when Ellington has been ineffective, it usually means freshman wide receiver Sammy Watkins is open.

Every time a team thinks it has found all the clues, Clemson ends its opposition's existence.

Expect another unsolvable mind-bender from Clemson coach Dabo Swinney.

Michigan State +4 over Nebraska

("I Know What You Did Last Summer")

Last season, Nebraska left the Big 12, leaving the conference with fewer than 12 members and killing its ability to host a conference championship game.

The Cornhuskers dumped the corpses of the remaining Big 12 teams in the ocean and headed for the Big 10.

Michigan State is fresh off its monumental win against Wisconsin and looking to make the Cornhuskers pay for their past transgressions.

Mississippi State -10 over Kentucky

("Barney's Halloween Party")

This pillow fight of a game will be a complete snoozer.

But someone has to win. The odds of it being Kentucky are smaller than the odds on anyone over age 7 enjoying "Barney's Halloween Party."

Tennessee +4 over South Carolina

("Dawn of the Dead")

Both teams are zombie squads compared to their opening day rosters. A litany of injuries has plagued both teams.

But South Carolina star sophomore running back Marcus Lattimore's knee injury is the most demoralizing ailment at this point, enough so for the Volunteers to pull out a win.

Auburn -12 over Ole Miss

("A Nightmare on Elm Street")

Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt is as good as fired. He's merely waiting for Freddy Krueger to put him out of his misery for good.

Arkansas -10 over Vanderbilt

("The Silence of the Lambs")

Arkansas' offense devours defenses like Hannibal Lecter munched on humans.

The less talented and less experienced Vanderbilt defense is just the kind of fresh meat the Razorbacks like.

Georgia -3 over Florida

("The Blair Witch Project")

There will be no real organized plot to this game and some things you see will probably make you nauseous.

But, in the end, you'll be glad you watched it because it might determine the SEC East Champion.

Last week: 5-5

Overall record: 45-34-1

Now before you all go out and enjoy your Halloween weekend festivities, there's one final bit of wisdom I'd like to pass on: "Remember, remember the fifth of November."

Rob Landry is a 23-year old mass communication senior from Mandeville. Follow him on Twitter @RobLandry85.

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Contact Rob Landry at rlandry@lsureveille.com