Championship Week Predictions

I hope everyone had a happy & pie filled thanksgiving. 

My pie to person ratio was around 8:4, but we also had some cannolis, ice cream and smidgens.  What's a smidgen?  Only the most delicious combination of peanut butter and chocolate ever. 

The final week before the bowl games is upon us.  Why the hell does football season always have to go bye so fast?  Let's take a look at the blur that was the regular season...

Ranked to Spanked -A few teams fit into this category of teams ranked in the top 25 to start the season that are nowhere near that as we enter December. 

OSU - 6-6 Ohio State got kicked while they were down by losing to Michigan for the first time in 7 years and ended their season on a 3 game losing streak.  Life after Tressell has not been kind in Columbus, however, they have immediate help on the way.  More on that next week. 

Miss St - The Mississippi State Bulldogs also finished 6-6 after starting the season ranked.  To be fair, MSU plays in the SEC West, and apparently Starkville is not exactly the most popular destination in the SEC from what I've heard. Will Dan Mullen even be there next year?  More on that next week. 

Florida Gators - The Gators were looking to bounce back to being national title contenders under new HC Will Muschamp, and got off to a hot start at 4-0, then lost their next 4, all to ranked teams.  Florida's offense almost makes Penn State's offense look good.  The Gators only won two games after their hot start, and should have lost to Vandy and were losing big to Furman before pouring it on.  Charlie Weiss's schematic offensive advantage was squandered by his gigantic weight disadvantage. If they ever do a celebrity Biggest Loser, Fatty Weiss, Mark Mangino, Rex Ryan and Andy Reid will all be in contention, but clearly the scale would tip towards Charlie. 

Texas A&M - So A&M is so angry that the LHN will give Texas more money the rest of the Big XII they took their pigskin and went to the SEC.... and then went 6-6 and fired their HC?  So now not only are they joining the SEC, but also searching for a new HC and basically a new identity since they completely shit the bed this year, including losing to their bitter rival Texas in what could be their last game for a long time. 

FSU - The Seminoles were the hottest "it" team in the nation during September.  Talk of a return to the glory days under Bowden were running rampant throughout Tallahassee.  Then the 'Noles went on a 3 game losing streak and finished 8-4.  Not exactly a return to glory for Jimbo Fisher, but not that bad either. The 'Noles do have what will most likely be the #1 recruiting class in the nation coming in next year.

Mizzou - the Tigers played tough all season, but couldn't quite put it all together until a 3 game winning streak to close the season.  Like A&M, they are SEC bound next year.  Unlike A&M, they beat the Longhorns in their final meeting before leaving the Big XII.  Will anyone outside of Lawrence or Colombia miss the Border War rivalry?  Was anyone aware of it before?

Who? to WOO HOO! - teams that started the year outside the top 25 and ended surprising everyone...

Houston - 6 year veteran Case Keenum is in his final year of his contract with the Houston Cougars and will be entering free agency next year.  Case has the worst agent ever, b/c he's spent those 6 years with the Houston Cougars of Confrence USA and not the Houston Texans. He also now owns just about every relevant NCAA passing record.  Although with Shaub & Leinart's injuries, Case is far and away the best QB in Houston right now.  Actually that would be true even if Leinart was not injured.  If Houston can close out Southern Miss in the Conference USA championship game and finish 13-0, the Cougars will be BCS bound.  Could they be the next Boise State?  More like is that their coach Kevin Sumlin will bolt for one of the numerous BCS conference positions currently open. 

Baylor - this team may not even be above .500 if not for RGIII.  The kid is just that damn good.  If the Bears even had a semblance of a decent defense, they may be a top 5 team. 

Southern Miss - Brett Favre U will play their first ranked team this weekend when they take on Houston.  Despite a cupcake schedule, the Golden Eagles still managed to lose to Marshall and UAB.  Larry Fedora's name has been tossed around as a possible candidate for a BCS program.  If he can take down Case & the Cougars, he might get his shot. 

Michigan - Did ANYONE expect Hoke to go 10-2 in his first season?  What he's done for Michigan's D with essentially the same players Rich Rod had is nothing short of a miracle.  D-Rob is hands down one of the most exciting players in college football.  If he ever figures out how to become a consistent passing threat, I'm not sure there is a defense that can stop him.

Clemson - The Tigers started 8-0 before dropping 3 of their last 4.  Normally Clemson would have dropped a game early on, so it's impressive they lasted 2 months without blowing it.  The find themselves in the ACC championship against Va Tech with a chance to make it to a BCS bowl that nobody will watch b/c the ACC always plays a Non-auto qualifier or a Big East team.  

Kansas State - The Wildcat started ugly with a 10-7 win over FCS opponent Eastern Kentucky, a team comprised mostly of cousins and only 5 players with all their teeth. And if not for having to play teams from Oklahoma, they Wildcats would be undefeated this year.  It's amazing that this team is anywhere near the top 25, and yet somehow is on the doorstep of finishing in the top 10 if they can beat the Iowa State Cyclones and win their bowl game.

Penn State - Back in August I said I expected this team to go 8-4, but wouldn't have been surprised by 7-5.  Well, I'm ecstatic with 9-3!  This offense has been anemic at best all year.  I'm not sure Matt McGloin would start for any other team in the top 25.  And despite what may be the biggest scandal in college football history, this team remained focused and played tough.  Even after getting blown out at Wisconsin, this team still over achieved this year.  It's sad that for some reason everyone wants to blame the current players for the scandal when they had absolutely nothing to do with any of it, because this team has a ton of heart and has carried themselves with tremendous character in the face of all the venom the media has spewed at them.  This is not the most talented PSU team ever, but I am most definitely proud of this team this year. 

Conference Championship Predictions:

UCLA @ #9 Oregon - UCLA gets to play another day due to USC being banned from post season play by the NCAA for cheating.  And as a reward for making it to the Pac 12 Championship game, UCLA fired their coach.  UCLA has also crossed Chris Petersen off their HC search list.  AKA, Chris Petersen said "No thanks, I'd rather stay in Boise, Idaho than coach in Westwood, CA."  Ouch.  That would be like a player asking to stay with the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Yankees instead of getting called up to the Bronx.  This game is happening right now and Oregon is rolling.  The Ducks will probably end up putting up 60+ points, but the Bruins are playing tough, there's just way too much talent in Eugene for the Bruins to handle. 

#24 Southern Miss @ #6 Cougars - As stated above, Southern Miss has not beat a ranked team all year and lost to two pretty bad teams.  The Cougars have their all world QB dropping bombs all over the field in his assault on the NCAA record books.  This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, but I have a feeling Southern Miss wins this one.  45-42 Golden Eagles.

#14 Georgia v. #1 LSU - LSU has taken on and beaten all comers this year.  Their schedule has been as hard as any contenders as I can remember.  Georgia has bounced back nicely after a bad start.  Can the Bulldogs pull off a miracle?  Doubtful.  27-10 LSU.

#10 Sooners @ #3 Cowboys - Bedlam is the de-facto Big XII championship game is being held in Stillwater this year.  The Cowboys can get over the BCS hump and possibly get into the BCS championship game if they win and get help from the Bulldogs.  Even if the Bulldogs do win, the media & computers seem to want an LSU v. 'Bama rematch.  Frankly, I hate rematches.  'Bama had their shot and couldn't win at home.  They deserve a BCS game, but didn't even win their division or their conference.  Someone else should get their shot, and LSU shouldn't have to beat someone they already beat again.  I'd love to see the Cowboys high flying offense against LSU's shut down D.  All of this is pure conjecture b/c the Sooners are no pushovers.  They still want to get to the BCS and have a great shot at doing so.  They lost their starting RB and one of the best WR's in college football to injury, but they still have Landry Jones at QB, which gives them a shot.  This one will be a shootout.  35-31 Cowboys.

#15 Badgers v. #13 Spartans - Sparty seems to think the Big Ten wants the Badgers to head to their second straight Rose Bowl.  If last week's game against PSU is any indication, the Badgers are allowed to hold without getting penalized.  PSU would not have won regardless, but the Badgers holding was egregious.  If they are allowed to hold like that again, or if Kirk Cousins throws the ball into the dirt after a false start and gets a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct like McGloin got last week, then the Spartans have no shot.  Cousins is also WAY better than McGloin and should be able to move the ball against the Badgers secondary.  Russell Wilson is smart, athletic, and accurate with the ball.  He knows where he's going to throw and can do so with pinpoint accuracy.  And as PSU learned last week, he's tough to bring down.  Combine him with Ball's downhill running style and the Badgers are tough to stop, but away from Camp Randall, they seem to not be as tough.  31-28 Badgers.

#5 Va Tech v. #20 Clemson - Frank Beamer is now the longest tenured active coach in FBS.  He still has zero national championships.  Clemson is back to being Clemson after starting 8-0.  If this were the ACC basketball championship game I'd be interested in watching.  36-31 Hokies.

UConn @ Cincy - Cincy can claim a share of the Big East championship with a win.  Who gets the BCS automatic bid?  Who cares.  It's the Big East and no one watches whatever BCS game they are in any way.  Cincy 47-17. 

Upset of the week:

#22 Texas @ #17 Baylor - even though Texas is ranked lower, it would still feel like an upset if Baylor won.  43-24 Bears.