Week 14 Picks--Championship Week

B1G--Michigan State Spartans vs. Wisconsin Badgers

Draper: The first of many rematches....why championship games suck. I expect something very different as the Spartans are totally different when not at home. Wisconsin is the better team and that will be shown here. Bielema will try to feed Ball the ball to get some more Heisman love, but the Spartans will slow him down. Then comes Russell Wilson who will be the difference. Kirk Cousins won't be able to hang around. MSU: 13--UW: 27

Auer: The Spartans found a way to capitalize on the Badgers mistakes, as well as took some serious risks in their surprising win over Wisconsin. Face it, MSU was lucky to win the initial game, and Wiscy has had quite the run of bad luck for being such a talented team. The Badgers win the the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game in style. MSU: 24--UW: 38

Hoying:Let's see, Michigan State has the best conference record in the B1G and a head-to-head win over Wisconsin...the most sensible course of action would be to make them play again! I foresee another classic in this matchup. In such a close contest, the edge goes to the biggest playmaker, which, in this case, is Wisconsin RB Montee Ball, possibly the most outstanding player in college football this season. The Spartan defensive front is talented, but Rex Burkhead was able to have success and the Wisconsin running game is clicking too well. Please let me be wrong. MSU: 27--UW:34

Schweinfurth: Well, it looks like we got the rematch some of the talking heads wanted. The last time these two squared off, it was an epic battle that came down to one of the most exciting finishes in recent memory. This one will not be as close but will have the same result. Last time these two played, Spartan defensive end William Gohlston was suspended. This time he is ready to knock some heads. It will be a tough go for Montee Ball and the Badger offense. MSU: 24 -- UW: 10

Pac 12--UCLA Bruins vs. Oregon Ducks

Draper: 31.5 point favorites are the Ducks...in the championship game...and smart money is probably on them. UCLA is only in this game because USC is ineligible. The Trojans are the only viable candidate in the South. The Bruins will play hard for their recently fired coach, but it won't be enough to overcome the talent of the Ducks. Ducks roll to the Rose Bowl. UCLA: 13--UO: 41

Auer: Why does this game matter? Oh wait, it doesn't. UCLA: 6--UO: 75

Hoying: Win one for Neuheisel, right? Right? Right? Anyone...? Maybe if UCLA brings their A-game and Oregon is caught sleeping...it won't be over by the end of the 1st quarter. UCLA: 6--UO: 63

Schweinfurth: This game will be an absolute slaughter. TheMichael has a big day and jumps back into the Heisman talk. UCLA: 14 -- UO: 52

SEC--LSU Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs

Draper: Can it happen? Can we get some more stupid craziness with a Bulldog win that most likely lets 3 SEC teams into the BCS (barf)? No. It can't. It would be funny, but the only reason Georgia is here over South Carolina is that they haven't faced any of the top 3 teams in the SEC West (LSU, Bama, Arkansas). This will be a rude awakening for the Dawgs who have been feeding off the dregs of the SEC. LSU: 41--UGA: 10

Auer: A meaningless game in the grand scheme of things. Some will use its outcome to praise the BCS, others to justify the importance of switching to a playoff system. Me on the other hand, this game will prove why going back to the old bowl system and ties would make more sense. LSU is better than anyone they've played so far this year, and most people think they deserve a spot in the BCS Championship regardless of outcome. It won't matter because they'll win easily. LSU: 35--UGA: 17

Hoying: There hasn't been a game this unimportant for the BCS's top team since Oklahoma - Kansas State in 2003. This would be a perfect trap game for the Tigeouxrs if the SEC East had a single viable candidate. Georgia has put together a nice 10-game win streak, but the best team they faced was Auburn? Georgia Tech? This one's not as cut and dry as the Pac-12 embarrassment, but Georgia doesn't have the tenacity or the defensive fortitude to pull this one out. LSU: 40 -- UGA: 20

Schweinfurth: All LSU has to do in this game is show up and they will play for the National Title. Marc Richt will have the 'Dogs ready to go. If Georgia can limit the big plays and turnovers, this game will be close. Unfortunately for Georgia, that LSU defense is just too good. LSU: 17 -- UGA: 3

ACC--Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Clemson Tigers

Draper: Rematch of another matchup. The Tigers beat the Hokies in Lane Stadium, but now they need to do it AGAIN at a neutral site. Unfortunately for them, Clemson has reemerged as Clemson. Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins are supremely talented, but also supremely inconsistent. The Hokies have beaten NO ONE, but they'll tag Clemson this time to go slaughter the Big East champion. VT: 24--Clem: 17

Auer: VT is the better coached team and it's not even close. I firmly believe the early season loss of the Hokies to the Tigers was a bit of a fluke, but then again, both these teams are a bit flaky. VT wins this one going away. VT: 41--Clem: 20

Hoying: Thanks to Florida State crapping the bed, the Clemson Tigers have been able to skate backwards on their faces into the ACC Championship in a "prove-it" game against their most valiant vanquished opponent. VT, meanwhile, has ridden the cupcake train on the way to crushing the laughable ACC Coastal division. Who wins the rematch? It all depends on whether Clemson decides to be Clemson. They did everything they could in November to escape the Atlantic crown, but fate pushed them to this point. This must be the Tigers' year. VT: 17--Clem: 20

Schweinfurth: Virginia Tech can cap off a very good, albiet quiet, season with yet another ACC Championship. Taj Boyd and Clemson have been a let down (typical for them, I know). I have faith that this is Clemson's year. The Tigers' D is bad, but the offense is explosive. Dabo will get to spout off again. VT: 35 -- Clem: 38

Big 12 (Defacto)--Oklahoma Sooners @ Oklahoma State Cowboys

Draper: Biggest game of the weekend that still means something. If OSU can beat the Sooners soundly, they will (and should) get back in the title talk. I think they can do it. Weeden and Blackmon laid an egg in Ames, but this game surpasses the rest. The Pokes know how to rile the Sooners. This will be hard hitting and really high scoring. Neither defense is worth much, but the Orange Nation in Stillwater tip the offensive scales. A late key turnover sends the Cowboys to the Fiesta at worst and maybe, dare we dream, New Orleans? OU: 45--OSU: 51

Auer: Time for Mike Gundy's team to get off the schnide against OU and beat up on the depleted sooners. This game will come down to turnovers, and OSU's offense will capitalize as they lead the nation in forced turnovers. OU: 28--OSU: 45

Hoying: Who can handle the pressure? Oklahoma State rides in on an 8-game losing streak in the series, but this matchup is potentially the biggest in the history of Cowboy football. Meanwhile, Oklahoma still has a chance to grab their 5th conference title in the last 6 years? Sadly, experience often wins out in such a situation. Big Game Bob and the Sooners are used to these types of clashes, while Okie State's nerves will cause some critical mistakes to doom their title chances and set up the worst. BCS. title. ever. OU: 42--OSU: 38

Schweinfurth: Ahh Bedlam. This game was setting up to be an epic battle of two undefeated only a few weeks ago. Losses to Texas Tech and Baylor have derailed the Sooner Schooner. A loss to Iowa State also knocked the Cowboys out of the national title picture. A win here for OSU would be big and could put them back into the national title game. In true Big 12 fashion, this will be a shootout in Stillwater. OU: 42 -- OSU: 49

CUSA--Southern Miss Golden Eagles @ Houston Cougars

Draper: This was circled as the one game the Cougs could lose, but Southern Miss has recently been exposed as crap after losing to UAB (shocker). Case Keenum will not disappoint and Kevin Sumlin will continue to pad the resume with a BCS game appearance. Let's go 7 TD passes for Keenum just to pad those stats and book a flight to New York....to lose the Heisman to ESPN; I mean Luck. USM: 20--UH:52

Auer: Don't care, not one iota. Houston wins easily in another stat-padding rout. USM:28--UH: 57

Hoying: Hey! Houston is still undefeated! Whoopee! And how about that great Southern Miss win over...SMU...why is this game necessary? USM: 10--UH: 49

Schweinfurth: The Golden Eagles will be the biggest test for the Cougars all year. I expect Case Keenum to continue his tear and score big.

Upset Special:
Draper: Iowa State over Kansas State (not copying Tyler...I swear)
Auer: Texas over Baylor
Hoying: Connecticut over Cincinnati
Schweinfurth: Iowa State over Kansas State

Draper Index--Week 13

Draper Index--Top 25
1) LSU
2) Alabama
3) Oklahoma
4) Oklahoma State
5) Oregon
6) Stanford
7) Boise State
8) Virginia Tech
9) Arkansas
10) USC
11) South Carolina
12) Wisconsin
13) Michigan State
14) TCU
15) Nebraska
16) Georgia
17) Michigan
18) Houston
19) Kansas State
20) Clemson
21) Penn State
22) Auburn
23) Baylor
24) Notre Dame
25) West Virginia

My Ballot
1) LSU
2) Bama
3) Oklahoma State (will move to 2 with win over OU)
4) Stanford
5) Virginia Tech
6) Oregon
7) Oklahoma
8) Boise State
9) Houston
10) Wisconsin
11) Arkansas
12) USC
13) Michigan State
14) South Carolina
15) Kansas State
16) Michigan
17) Georgia
18) Baylor
19) Nebraska
20) TCU
21) Florida State
22) Clemson
23) West Virginia
24) Texas
25) Penn State

BCS Bowl Predictions
BCS National Championship: LSU vs. Bama
Rose: Oregon vs. Wisconsin
Fiesta: Oklahoma State vs. Stanford
Sugar: Michigan* vs. Houston
Orange: Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia
* If UM ends outside the top 14 (real possibility), replace them with Oklahoma

Gator: OSU vs. Florida

Grading the Buckeyes--Week 13 Michigan

Offense: B
Overall, the offense....did their job. Crazy, but true. It appeared Bollman had already headed out the door with some diversified playcalling. The running game wasn't too hot from the RBs but Boom got his and Miller was electric running. If Miller could throw a deep ball, we may be undefeated with the WRs streaking open deep on every play. A real QB coach will do wonders for that. The O-Line was degenerated, but they had a decent performance. This is the first loss that lays nearly no blame on the offense. The 2-minute drill was disgusting, but that was the only real issue. No turnovers is another plus.

Defense: D
You knew it...I knew it...Everyone in the world knew it. Denard can win the game unless you take him out of his zone. Our defense seemed to help him turn in the performance of his career. The correct defensive playcall is to assign a linebacker or defensive lineman whose one job is to knock Denard down on EVERY PLAY!! He runs the QB belly read perfectly so the only solution is to make the RB beat you and knock him flat. We didn't. Missed tackles, blown coverages, unacceptable at OSU. The Bullets made Denard look like a competent pocket passer....that's on us.

Special Teams: B
Punting fine, kicks fine, coverage fine, returns ok. No complaints, no accolades. Buchanan had ups and downs but nothing that changed the game. Also, can't give credit to OSU for the UM punter's failure.

Coaching: B-
Offensively, up to the last drive, the offensive coaching was just fine. Calling the first slant of the year on 2nd down in a 2 minute drill, and then spiking the ball on 3rd!!!, is simply ridiculous. After 3 quarters of innovation with the offense, we regressed horribly in the final drive. Also, the defensive gameplan of tiptoeing around Denard was completely asinine. To beat him, you must physically beat him down. Force the handoff by selling out on hitting Denard. If the back beats you, tip your cap. The only mistake we could have make was letting Denard beat us running. OSU let him do that, and it was over. The best offensive performance of the year was overshadowed by the worst defensive performance. The team had talent, but it was never utilized...and that's why we now have Meyer. The expectations being laid at his feet are completely crazy, but I'm certainly excited for what he can do with this team. I see great things in the future! GO BUCKS! And Michigan still sucks!