Conference Champions
ACC (Atlantic, Coastal, Champ)
Draper: A: FSU, C: GT, Champ: FSU
Hoying: A: Clemson, C: Pitt, Champ: Clemson
Schweinfurth: A: Clemson, C: GT , Champ: Clemson
Seeberg: A: Clemson , C: GT , Champ: GT
B1G (East, West, Champ)
Draper: E: Ohio St., W: Wisc, Champ: Ohio St.
Hoying: E: Ohio St., W: Wisconsin, Champ: Ohio St.
Schweinfurth: E: Ohio St, W: Nebraska, Champ: Ohio St.
Seeberg: E: Ohio St. , W: Wisconsin , Champ: Ohio St.
Big 12
Draper: TCU
Hoying: TCU
Schweinfurth: TCU
Seeberg: TCU
Pac 12 (North, South, Champ)
Draper: N: Oregon, S: USC, Champ: USC
Hoying: N: Oregon, S: Arizona, Champ: Arizona
Schweinfurth: N: Oregon, S: USC , Champ: USC
Seeberg: N: Oregon S: USC , Champ: USC
SEC (East, West, Champ)
Draper: E: Georgia, W: Alabama, Champ: Alabama
Hoying: E: Missouri, W: Alabama, Champ: Alabama
Schweinfurth: E: Georgia, W: Alabama , Champ: Alabama
Seeberg: E: Georgia , W: Auburn , Champ: Auburn
Playoffs (champ in bold)
Draper: Ohio St., Alabama, TCU, USC
Hoying: Ohio St., Alabama, TCU, Arizona
Schweinfurth: Ohio St., Alabama, USC, TCU
Seeberg: TCU, Ohio St., Auburn, USC
Heisman Ballot
Draper
1) Ezekiel Elliott
2) Trevone Boykin
3) Nick Chubb
Dark Horse: Everett Golson
Hoying
1) Trevone Boykin
2) JT Barrett
3) Ezekiel Elliott
Dark Horse: Connor Cook
Schweinfurth
1) Ezekiel Elliot
2) Nick Chubb
3) Trevone Boykin
Dark Horse: Cody Kessler
Seeberg
1) Ezekiel Elliott
2) Cody Kessler
3) Trevone Boykin
Dark Horse: Samaje Perine
Showing posts with label Conference champions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Conference champions. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 02, 2015
Thursday, December 04, 2014
Week 15 - Championship Week, Or, Play-off Play-ins
Standings
1) Hoying 44-21 (4-10 upset)
2) Draper 43-22 (6-8 upset)
3) Schweinfurth 41-24 (6-8 upset)
3) Seeberg 41-24 (2-13 upset)
1) Hoying 44-21 (4-10 upset)
2) Draper 43-22 (6-8 upset)
3) Schweinfurth 41-24 (6-8 upset)
3) Seeberg 41-24 (2-13 upset)
Pac-12: Arizona Wildcats vs. Oregon Ducks
Draper: In a game that almost no one is picking lightning to strike twice, I'm very intrigued. The Wildcats enter Autzen with the most important thing...belief. They've already conquered the Ducks once, why not again? Anu Solomon is a fantastic quarterback, but still young. I don't think he'll show any ill effects, but with that said, his counterpart has playoffs and the Heisman in mind. Let's be clear, if Oregon wins and Mariota doesn't crap the bed, the Heisman is decided. The Ducks were granted a reprieve with all the losses (and the committee's ignoring of said losses) and have their eyes on the prize. RichRod makes it interesting, but the Ducks are on to the playoff. Zona: 34--OU: 41
Hoying: The Ducks don't lose very often, but when they do, they prefer Arizona (stay thirsty). The Wildcats are trying to become the first team to win 3 in a row over the Ducks since Cal(!) did it from 2006-08. It won't be easy. Oregon hasn't been seriously threatened since Utah's Kaelin Clay dropped the ball celebrating a touchdown at the 1-yard line, and they've shown up impressively in two marquee matchups against Michigan State and UCLA. Arizona's QB Anu Solomon (who is not hurt, silly me) has been a fantastic success story for RichRod, but Oregon has the lock-it-up Heisman winner slinging the football for their Buckeye-esque offense. Whatever went wrong in their first game against the 'Cats, the Ducks will have the kinks worked out for this one. Zona: 20--Oregon: 28
Schweinfurth: Arizona has beaten the Ducks the last two times these teams have played. Let that marinate a minute. I really don't see the Ducks losing 3 straight to Arizona. Ducks get their revenge and Mariota gets his bronze statue. Zona: 24--Oregon: 35
Seeberg: Keeping this one short and sweet. 1.) I have NO idea how Arizona beat Oregon- I presume Oregon saw Arizona on their schedule in football and not basketball and had a ho-hum week of preparation that bit them in the rear. 2.) There is NO way that happens again, particularly with Mariota leading the Heisman ballotting. Ducks fly into the playoffs. Zona: 24--Oregon: 44
SEC: Missouri Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
Draper: Congrats Mizzou! You won the worst division in college football....here's the winner of the best division. Uh oh. The talking heads are trying to make this one interesting, but I don't see it. Can Mizzousi win? Sure...but I wouldn't hold my breath. Bama showed they can win with defense or offense given the opponent. If you want to beat them, you need to excel at both. The Tiger defense is pretty good...but the offense won't be able to rack up enough points to matter. Tide Rolls into the playoffs. Mizzou: 10--Bama: 27
Hoying: Two words: mis match. Missouri doesn't have a win over a single opponent with more than 8 wins, or an SEC opponent with more than 7. And they've been skating by, using a decent defense to cover for an offense that can't move the ball. Against Florida, the Tigers racked up all of 119 yards on the way to a 42-13 win. They won't be getting 6 turnovers against Blake Sims and the Tide, no matter what happened in the first half of the Auburn game. Run T.J. Yeldon, throw to Amari Cooper, steamroll the Tigers, secure (an undeserved) #1 seed in the playoff. Although it would be hilarious to see Missouri win and the SEC get left out of the inaugural playoff... Mizzou: 17--Bama: 31
Schweinfurth: Mizzou lost to Indiana. While I believe that Alabama is overrated, there is no way they lose to this Tiger team. Please remember that Mizzou was a middle of the road Big 12 team and has now made 2 straight SEC title game appearances. This is close just because that's how Bama rolls this year. Mizzou: 24--Bama: 28
Seeberg: Keeping this one brief as well. 1.) I have NO idea how Missouri made it back into the SEC title game. Remember- they lost to nearly-winless-in-the-B1G Indiana. I presume Gary Pinkel has made a deal with the devil. 2.) It will take the devil reincarnate in Tiger pads to give them any shot of winning this game. Mizzou: 13--Bama: 31
ACC: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Florida State Seminoles
Draper: I don't think the committee has realized this, but the Noles still haven't lost. Yeah, they haven't looked great, but they find a way. Maybe it's Jameis, maybe it's the defense, maybe it's Aguayo, but they find a way. Tech comes into the ACC Championship at just the right time: Chop block-o'clock. This is a horrendous matchup for any team but GT still doesn't have the horses on defense to run with the Noles for a full 60 minutes. Jameis played his worst game ever vs. a good Gator defense...and won. He's not going to be that bad here. Georgia Tech will have some success against the injury riddled D-line of the Noles, but the magic continues for the Seminoles. On to the playoffs (until they get jumped inexplicably by another team with a worse resume...TCU?!? Their best win is KSU followed by who? Minn? Ask Louisville, Clemson, a healthy ND, UF, etc. how good the Noles are). GT: 17--FSU: 28 Thank you Mr. Hoying for not giving us the touch of death.
Hoying: It seems like every week, I pick against the Noles, and every week, they play like garbage and win. That streak is coming to an end, not because I'm picking the Noles to win, but because you can't play like crap and beat Georgia Tech. The Jackets are riding high after two consecutive wins over ranked teams, shredding opposing defenses with their ridiculous triple option. Remember what a so-so Boston College team did to Florida State a couple weeks ago? Imagine that, more competently executed, putting together long drives that keep Jameis Winston and the erratic Florida State offense off the field. Not that the picture's any rosier when the Tech defense takes their turn. GT returned two interceptions for touchdowns against Clemson, and nobody's serving up quacking ducks like ol' Crab Legs these days. After so many ugly victories, a loss cruelly ends the Noles' chase for a second consecutive national title. GT: 31--FSU: 24
Schweinfurth: What has been with the defending champs this year? It almost seems like they are bored right now. With that said, a slow start and falling behind in this one could be the kiss of death to the Noles. Georgia Tech has a very good defense and an offense that will just grind you into oblivion. However, I expect Jameis to get the Noles up for this one (easier to do when a trophy is on the line) and pull off yet another nail biter. GT: 14--FSU: 17
Seeberg: I wasn't all too convinced of the Yellow Jackets' abilities until last week. Granted, they needed a 53-yard FG just to get to overtime, but the triple option rolled over a Bulldog D that had shut down an Auburn rushing offense that is every bit as potent. The Seminoles, meanwhile, have gone all '02 Buckeyes on everybody, winning by the skin of their teeth against highly inferior opponents. The difference between the '02 Bucks and the '14 Noles, however, is that FSU's mistakes are keeping opponents in it where as the Buckeyes were just being throttled by the ultra-conservative sweater vest. FSU's penchant for miscues finally catches up to them. GT: 28--FSU: 20
Kansas State Wildcats @ Baylor Bears
Draper: Another very intriguing matchup. Baylor is puffing their chest out playing Rodney Dangerfield (No Respect). Well, you want respect? Take care of business here. If Baylor wins this one, there's no reason to keep them behind TCU. Resumes are comparable at that point so head-to-head matters....but they need this win. Bill Snyder may be Emperor Palpatine or Yoda but he always finds a way to win 9-10 games a year. The health of Bryce Petty is key here. The Bears struggled last week, but they were looking ahead (and that whole concussion thing). Jake Waters will score, but Baylor is tough to beat at home. You need to put on an offensive show to compete and I don't think KSU quite has the horses. They'll slow the game down to a crawl, but Baylor is too explosive. KSU: 20--Bay: 28
Hoying: There's no longer a de jure Big 12 Championship Game since Nebraska isn't around to lose them anymore, but this game provides a very large piece of the puzzle. A Baylor win gives them no worse than a tie with TCU (and the head-to-head tiebreaker), while a Kansas State win provides a tie with TCU (and a head-to-head loss) unless Iowa State pulls the unthinkable in Fort Worth. Since the Big 12 is very unlikely to get 2 teams into the playoff (no matter what cowardly B12 Commissioner Dan Bowlsby tries to pull), who will be the "One True Champion"? I made the mistake last week of counting out a star quarterback with a potential injury, and I'm not about to count out Baylor QB Bryce Petty for this one after a possible mild concussion. KSU QB Jake Waters is nearly as good, but Petty isn't alone in the backfield. Yes, Virginia, Baylor does have a running game, and Shock Linwood is one of the best in the Big 12. The Wildcats couldn't handle TCU's balanced attack, and while Baylor couldn't either, at least the Bears had the horses to keep up. Kansas State, on the other hand, is going to get trampled. KSU: 31--Bay: 38
Schweinfurth: This game hinges on Bryce Petty's health. If he is healthy, the Bears should win this game. That offense just has too many weapons and can score too quickly for KSU to match. Regardless of Petty's health, this game should be close. Baylor can win the Big 12 with a win and jump into a playoff spot. I think that is motivation enough. KSU: 35--Bay: 42
Seeberg: Baylor's offense is, surprisingly, very 2-dimensional this year, perhaps costing Bryce Petty a serious shot at the Heisman. If it ain't broke, however, it ain't gonna get fixed. The Wildcats have played well all year and have only given up 30 points twice, to Oklahoma (in a 31-30 win) and TCU (41-20 loss). Both of those offenses are balanced and capable of the big play on any down, much like the Bears' O. Baylor scores enough to keep their playoff hopes alive. KSU: 28--Bay: 38
B1G: Wisconsin Badgers vs. THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: I believe a win here may propel the Bucks into the playoffs (over TCU). No way they pass FSU if they win (just a reality). Now to the game: Run, run, run, run, hello boys, I've missed you. This game will be about the Buckeyes slowing down Gordon and can Cardale make it happen. I know Cardale ain't come to play school, so hopefully he came to play football. I haven't seen anything out of him that wows me other than his clotheslining ability. For the Bucks to win, he needs to be competent and the defense needs to rise up. It's incredibly important for the skill players to step up (Zeke, Thomas, Marshall, etc.). Here's a little hint about how to stop Wisconsin: stop (or slow down) the running game. If they beat us through the air, so be it. Curtis Grant, I'm looking at you. This defense has actually been pretty strong vs. the pass (sans Michigan) but very suspect versus the run. If ever there was a week to completely sell out for the run, this is it. Sure tackling would do well to show up. I think we can score, but no JT is a major issue. It's on Cardale to manage, Zeke to control the ball, and the defense to get the Badgers off the field. You know where I'm going...GO BUCKS!Wisc: 20--Bucks: 24
Hoying: After Ohio State lost their second Heisman-caliber quarterback to a season-ending injury, a stupid question has been popping up all over the place: how will Barrett's injury affect the playoff committee's view of the Buckeyes? The correct answer is: NOT AT ALL. These babbling fools haven't noticed that the Buckeyes face a very stiff test this weekend in the Wisconsin Badgers. Sure, their quarterbacks think that a "forward pass" means pinching a farmgirl's rear, but they feature the B1G's best running game AND best defense (sorry, Sparty). If the Silver Bullets can navigate this minefield, there'll be no question as to Ohio State's playoff viability, no matter who's taking the snaps. Can they do it? One need only consider the Badgers' last game, against Minnesota. With a tremendous home-field advantage, Wisconsin needed every trick in the bag to pull out a win against a team that 1) doesn't like to throw; 2) runs pretty well; and 3) has a decent defense. Even if Cardale Jones in fact did come to play school and not football, you might recognize that Ohio State is basically a better version of Minnesota, and they'll be playing the Badgers on a neutral field in front of a (likely) friendly crowd. Don't start having flashbacks to Virginia Tech, Buckeye Nation. This secondary and offensive line are nothing like what we saw on that fateful September night. As for the nation's top RB, Melvin Gordon, the front seven have had all year to face elite backs and learn how to bring them down. Granted, they've opted not to do so as of yet, but I think they have one solid game left in them. Regardless of what happens in this game and beyond, this season has been a tremendous success, but I'm craving even more gravy after Thanksgiving weekend. Go out and win one for Braxton, JT, and Kosta. Wis: 27--OSU: 28
Schweinfurth: I can't remember an Ohio State team that has had to endure so much in a season. Replace almost the entire offense, lose a Heisman QB, lose another Heisman QB, and then have the death of Kosta Karageorge. This just does not set up well in my mind for an OSU win...but then again, it can be a rallying cry. I have faith in Eli Apple to lock down a wide receiver and I have faith that Ash and Fickell will put together a solid gameplan to stop, or at least slow down, Melvin Gordon. Cardale Jones should be a capable QB in this offense and he is a tank. Expect the offense to look less like Ohio State's offense and more like the Tebow Florida offenses. No matter what happens, this will be an entertaining, and long (thanks FOX) game. Wis: 17--OSU:24
Seeberg: Given the extent to which I follow and scrutinize B1G football, I could write about this game for days, but I won't. For me, it comes down to two things: Who runs the ball better and my own ridiculous superstitious ways. Thing #1: Wisconsin can almost throw the ball now that Stave is back as the starting QB- it's at least enough of a threat to keep our D honest against Melvin Gordon, who we all know can run it and run it well. Our passing offense? TBD. I'm PRAYING for lots of 3-step drops, play action, slants and quick ins (and find Heuerman and Vannett please!!), but lord knows what we will actually call. In any event, we'll need a very potent rushing attack to offset the fact that we're on our 3rd-string QB. Thing #2: My ridicuous superstition. Last year I was leaning ever so slightly towards Michigan State in this game, but picked OSU because, well duh, we want our Buckeyes to win. This year I'm leaning ever so slightly towards OSU because Wisconsin's D is not as tough and I believe the Bucks will put some points on the board. Since that's the case, I'm taking the Badgers in a tight game in hopes of spurring a Buckeye victory. Wis: 31--OSU: 28
Upset Special
Draper: Oklahoma State over Oklahoma (The only game left)
Hoying: Iowa State over TCU (do you believe in miracles?)
Schweinfurth: Fresno St. over Boise St.
Seeberg: Louisiana Tech over Marshall
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Updated Conference Champion and Playoff Predictions - After Week 8
Conference Champions
ACC (Atlantic, Coastal, Champ)
Draper: A: FSU C: Duke Champ: FSU
Hoying: A: FSU C: Duke Champ: FSU
Schweinfurth: A: FSU C: Duke Champ: FSU
Seeberg: A: FSU C: Duke Champ: FSU
B1G (East, West, Champ)
Draper: E: OSU W: Nebraska Champ: OSU
Hoying: E: OSU W: Nebraska Champ: OSU
Schweinfurth: E: OSU W: Nebraska Champ: OSU
Seeberg: E: MSU W: Nebraska Champ: MSU
Big 12
Draper: TCU
Hoying: TCU
Schweinfurth: TCU
Seeberg: Kansas State
Pac 12 (North, South, Champ)
Draper: N: Oregon S: USC Champ: Oregon
Hoying: N: Oregon S: USC Champ: USC
Schweinfurth: N: Oregon S: USC Champ: Oregon
Seeberg: N: Oregon S: USC Champ: Oregon
SEC (East, West, Champ)
Draper: E: UGA W: Alabama Champ: Alabama
Hoying: E: UGA W: Ole Miss Champ: Ole Miss
Schweinfurth: E: UGA W: Miss St Champ: Miss St
Seeberg: E: UGA W: Miss St Champ: Miss St
Playoffs (champ in bold)
Draper: FSU, OSU, Bama, Oregon
Hoying: Ole Miss, FSU, OSU, TCU
Schweinfurth: FSU, Notre Dame, Oregon, Miss St
Seeberg: FSU, Miss St, MSU, Oregon
ACC (Atlantic, Coastal, Champ)
Draper: A: FSU C: Duke Champ: FSU
Hoying: A: FSU C: Duke Champ: FSU
Schweinfurth: A: FSU C: Duke Champ: FSU
Seeberg: A: FSU C: Duke Champ: FSU
B1G (East, West, Champ)
Draper: E: OSU W: Nebraska Champ: OSU
Hoying: E: OSU W: Nebraska Champ: OSU
Schweinfurth: E: OSU W: Nebraska Champ: OSU
Seeberg: E: MSU W: Nebraska Champ: MSU
Big 12
Draper: TCU
Hoying: TCU
Schweinfurth: TCU
Seeberg: Kansas State
Pac 12 (North, South, Champ)
Draper: N: Oregon S: USC Champ: Oregon
Hoying: N: Oregon S: USC Champ: USC
Schweinfurth: N: Oregon S: USC Champ: Oregon
Seeberg: N: Oregon S: USC Champ: Oregon
SEC (East, West, Champ)
Draper: E: UGA W: Alabama Champ: Alabama
Hoying: E: UGA W: Ole Miss Champ: Ole Miss
Schweinfurth: E: UGA W: Miss St Champ: Miss St
Seeberg: E: UGA W: Miss St Champ: Miss St
Playoffs (champ in bold)
Draper: FSU, OSU, Bama, Oregon
Hoying: Ole Miss, FSU, OSU, TCU
Schweinfurth: FSU, Notre Dame, Oregon, Miss St
Seeberg: FSU, Miss St, MSU, Oregon
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Preseason Predictions
Conference Champions
ACC (Atlantic, Coastal, Champ)
Draper: A: FSU, C: VaTech, Champ: FSU
Hoying: A: FSU, C: VaTech, Champ: FSU
Schweinfurth: A: FSU, C: VaTech, Champ: FSU
Seeberg: A: FSU, C: Miami, Champ: FSU
B1G (East, West, Champ)
Draper: E: OSU, W: Nebraska, Champ: OSU (Homer pick but I'm going for gel before East Lansing)
Hoying: E: MSU, W: Iowa, Champ: MSU
Schweinfurth: E: OSU, W: Nebraska, Champ: OSU (Same as Draper, but you can't overlook the Spartans losses on D)
Seeberg: E: MSU, W: Wisconsin, Champ: MSU
Big 12
Draper: Oklahoma
Hoying: Baylor
Schweinfurth: Oklahoma
Seeberg: Oklahoma (for lack of a better option)
Pac 12 (North, South, Champ)
Draper: N: Oregon, S: UCLA, Champ: UCLA
Hoying: N: Oregon, S: UCLA, Champ: UCLA
Schweinfurth: N: Oregon, S: UCLA, Champ: Oregon
Seeberg: N: Stanford (hopeful- I hate Oregon) S: UCLA, Champ: UCLA
SEC (East, West, Champ)
Draper: E: UGA, W: Bama, Champ: Bama
Hoying: E: UGA, W: LSU, Champ: UGA
Schweinfurth: E: UGA, W: Bama, Champ: UGA
Seeberg: E: UGA, W: Bama, Champ: Bama
Playoffs (champ in bold)
Draper: FSU, Bama, OSU, UCLA
Hoying: FSU, UGA, MSU, Baylor
Schweinfurth: FSU, UGA, OSU, Oregon
Seeberg: UCLA, FSU, MSU, Bama
Heisman Ballot
Draper
1) Jameis Winston
2) Brett Hundley
3) Todd Gurley
Dark Horse: JT Barrett (redshirt freshman #3?)
Hoying
1) Jameis Winston
2) Bryce Petty
3) Marcus Mariota
Dark Horse: Devin Gardner
Schweinfurth
1) Todd Durley
2) Jameis Winston
3) Trevor Knight
Dark Horse: Keenan Williams
Seeberg
1) Todd Gurley
2) Brett Hundley
3) Jameis Winston
Dark Horse: Nick Marshall
ACC (Atlantic, Coastal, Champ)
Draper: A: FSU, C: VaTech, Champ: FSU
Hoying: A: FSU, C: VaTech, Champ: FSU
Schweinfurth: A: FSU, C: VaTech, Champ: FSU
Seeberg: A: FSU, C: Miami, Champ: FSU
B1G (East, West, Champ)
Draper: E: OSU, W: Nebraska, Champ: OSU (Homer pick but I'm going for gel before East Lansing)
Hoying: E: MSU, W: Iowa, Champ: MSU
Schweinfurth: E: OSU, W: Nebraska, Champ: OSU (Same as Draper, but you can't overlook the Spartans losses on D)
Seeberg: E: MSU, W: Wisconsin, Champ: MSU
Big 12
Draper: Oklahoma
Hoying: Baylor
Schweinfurth: Oklahoma
Seeberg: Oklahoma (for lack of a better option)
Pac 12 (North, South, Champ)
Draper: N: Oregon, S: UCLA, Champ: UCLA
Hoying: N: Oregon, S: UCLA, Champ: UCLA
Schweinfurth: N: Oregon, S: UCLA, Champ: Oregon
Seeberg: N: Stanford (hopeful- I hate Oregon) S: UCLA, Champ: UCLA
SEC (East, West, Champ)
Draper: E: UGA, W: Bama, Champ: Bama
Hoying: E: UGA, W: LSU, Champ: UGA
Schweinfurth: E: UGA, W: Bama, Champ: UGA
Seeberg: E: UGA, W: Bama, Champ: Bama
Playoffs (champ in bold)
Draper: FSU, Bama, OSU, UCLA
Hoying: FSU, UGA, MSU, Baylor
Schweinfurth: FSU, UGA, OSU, Oregon
Seeberg: UCLA, FSU, MSU, Bama
Heisman Ballot
Draper
1) Jameis Winston
2) Brett Hundley
3) Todd Gurley
Dark Horse: JT Barrett (redshirt freshman #3?)
Hoying
1) Jameis Winston
2) Bryce Petty
3) Marcus Mariota
Dark Horse: Devin Gardner
Schweinfurth
1) Todd Durley
2) Jameis Winston
3) Trevor Knight
Dark Horse: Keenan Williams
Seeberg
1) Todd Gurley
2) Brett Hundley
3) Jameis Winston
Dark Horse: Nick Marshall
Thursday, December 05, 2013
Week 15: Conference Championships
Standings
1) Hoying 44-20 (1-13 upset)
2) Schweinfurth 43-21 (4-10 upset)
3) Draper 41-23 (3-11 upset)
4) Seeberg 3-3 (0-1 upset)
SEC: Missouri Tigers vs. Auburn Tigers
Draper: I remember 2006 when a team defeated their rival (as a top 5 matchup) and believed the season was over. They had reached the pinnacle, and the championship was a formality. After the game, I believe I watched one of the biggest flops in history as the Gators stomped the Buckeyes and stole the Title. The Bucks were slow, lazy, and unprepared. Seems like we are seeing a repeat here with Auburn. Missouri is one of those teams a coach has to hate planning for: they are good at everything, with no one thing to focus on. Auburn has been great (and lucky), but they've laid it all on the table while Mizzou is quietly waiting for their chance. While Auburn argues against OSU, the Tigers (Missouri brand) are prepping to slow down the Auburn rushing attack. James Franklin and crew steal the 'assumed' SEC championship and send Auburn from arguing about the title game to the Cotton Bowl. Mizzou: 31--Aub: 28
Hoying: On October 30, in our first BCS projections of the season, I predicted that Auburn would land in the Sugar Bowl, not as a replacement for Alabama in the Championship Game, but as the SEC champion. Two miracles against Georgia and Alabama later (propelling me to the top of the picks standings), I...am abandoning my projection. Why? I thought (correctly) that Nick Marshall's dual-threat capability would keep Auburn in the game against Bama long enough for a little rivalry magic to strike. However, across the SEC, Missouri's defense was busy throttling everyone's favorite waning Heisman contender, Johnny Football. Am I implying that Missouri has a better defense than Alabama? Maybe, but what I'm really saying is that I don't expect lightning to strike 3 times. Missouri has been solid in every phase of the game, from James Franklin's excellent quarterback play, to possibly the best stable of receivers in the game, to a fantastic rushing attack behind the one-two punch of Josey and Hansbrough, to the terrific defense led by the SEC's leading sack and TFL leader Michael Sam. Tigers win, jump up to #3 in the BCS (spoilers on two picks below), and bring their magical 2nd SEC season into the Sugar Bowl. Mizzou: 27--Aub: 20
Schweinfurth: Auburn should have "Livin' On A Prayer" as their fight song this year. Seriously? A miracle Hail Mary to end the Georgia game and then that finish last week. One would think that Gus Malzahn's magic has to run out at some point. I believe that will be this week. James Franklin and the Mizzou Tigers are flat rolling right now. I do believe the Missouri defense will give up some points (a good pass rush can be hurt by the misdirection offense). This will not be the SEC Championship games of old. Mizzou: 38--Aub: 35
Seeberg: At this time last week, I would have picked Missouri in this matchup without too much hesitation. James Franklin had returned and I figured they would blow TAMU out pretty handily. Not only was the game close, however, but Mizzou only mustered 28 points against a pretty lousy defense. That said, holding Johnny Sign-a-Football to just 21 points has been no small feat the last two seasons. Despite their offensive struggles, Franklin now has a week of gameplay under his belt since returning from injury and I still believe that the Tigers (Missouri Tigers, that is) have the more multi-dimensional offense which will, in the end, prove the difference. Mizzou: 31--Aub: 21
ACC: Duke Blue Devils vs. Florida State Seminoles
Draper: Duke is playing one of their best season's in history and no one is giving them a prayer...and they're right. The Noles have been nearly flawless this season stepping on the throat early and not letting up. The trio of receivers and stellar backfield are not even talked about with Famous Jameis leading the way. Oh yeah, the defense is pretty darn good too. This will be a traditional FSU game of 2013 with a 30+ point halftime lead and a cruise to Pasadena. FSU: 55--Duke: 13
Hoying: Florida State has been the most dominant team in college football this year. The Noles lead in scoring defense and sit second behind Baylor in scoring. Sure, FSU has had its share of cupcakes on the schedule, much like our beloved Buckeyes, but it's not like Duke went 10-2 against any tougher of a schedule. The Blue Devils are a nice story, but they've been squeaking through to the finish. Duke also got to duke it out against a Miami without Duke Johnson, while the Noles licked the Canes even with their best player intact. There's no reason this should be close. Unless...no, there's no reason. FSU: 45--Duke: 13
Schweinfurth: Duke has had a season to be remembered. The Blue Devils have risen from the ashes to become relevant in the ACC for the first time in, oh, forever. David Cutclife and the rest of the Dukies should be truly proud of this magical season. Unfortunately it is all about to come crashing down. Florida State, with or without Jamies Winston, is an absolute force on offense. If Clemson couldn't keep up with the 'Noles, Duke definitely cannot. Expect the Blue Devils to play with some emotion and hang on for part of the first quarter, but then it's all FSU, all night long. FSU: 52--Duke: 20
Seeberg: A recent statement from the Florida State Attorney's office stated that there may be a decision on the impending Jameis Winston issue before the weekend. In other words, the Florida State Attorney's office has a significantly better chance of thwarting FSU's season than the Duke defense does. Fourth-quarter comeback wins against the likes of Wake Forest (whose stadium, it bears mentioning, is roughly 25 miles from my apartment and is barely half-full for most games) make for a good story, but the Seminoles will write the last chapter much to the Blue Devils' dismay. FSU: 52--Duke: 17
Pac-12: Stanford Cardinal @ Arizona State Sun Devils
Draper: Rematch! But in a new place... How good is Stanford? They have good wins, but 2 losses (one good one bad). How good is ASU? Good wins and...2 losses (one good--Stanford, and one eh..). I could see this one going either way, but I'm going with the home team. Todd Graham has his team churning along without the hype of Stanford. Stanford assumes the title after beating Oregon, but Oregon showed their true nature over the last few weeks. Go Sparky! Stan: 20--ASU: 24
Hoying: Aaaagh, this is the worst kind of conference championship game. It's like a reboot of last year's Stanford-UCLA rematch, only with a twist: the team that won the head-to-head this time is less deserving of the title. True, Stanford already beat Arizona State earlier in the season, but the Cardinal has collected two Pac-12 losses since then against teams that ASU beat (Utah and USC). That being said, I don't see any reason why this game shouldn't play out much the same as the first matchup, a convincing Cardinal victory. Home field might make some difference, but not enough to keep Stanford from its first back-to-back Rose Bowls since 1971-72. Stan: 35--ASU: 27
Schweinfurth: I have to be honest when I say that I really have not watched much Pac-12 football this year. Arizona State has played well but has a loss to Stanford already this season. I don't see ASU not turning the ball over a couple times here (you can't put the ball up 50+ times a game and not have a pick or two). This game will be closer than the matchup early in the season but Stanford turns that turnover into points. Stan: 31--ASU: 24
Seeberg: Stanford has been very up and down the last month: dominating Oregon, then losing to USC. Annihilating Cal in a rivalry game, then struggling to put away Notre Dame. ASU has not lost since early October, but a couple of weeks before that they were handled pretty easily by- you guessed it- Stanford. The Sun Devils get this title game at home and are coming off a whipping of their in-state rivals who had just whipped Oregon (at least De'Anthony Thomas doesn't have to go to the Rose Bowl now, you know, since he wasn't that interested in going anyway). Arizona State only scores 28 again, but it's enough, unlike last time. Stan: 21--ASU: 28
Oklahoma Sooners @ Oklahoma State Cowboys
Draper: Bedlam is always a good time. OU has sputtered this whole year with all kinds of problems--especially questionable QB play. OSU stomped Baylor in their first 'Game of the Century (of the Year)' but it all is for naught without a big win at home in Bedlam. I love the Poke home field advantage and their poise in the last big game (Baylor) and I don't see a difference here. Rivalries make for interesting things, but the Pokes behind Clint Chelf look ready to go. The loss to WVU just doesn't make sense. The rebound continues on the way to the Fiesta. OU: 27--OSU: 38
Hoying: Shuffle, shuffle, do the quarterback shuffle. Both teams enter Bedlam with season-long quarterback issues. The Cowboys seem to have settled on senior slinger Clint Chelf, especially after a fantastic performance against Baylor, while the Sooners have rediscovered their love for freshman phenom Trevor Knight after Blake Bell bit badly getting beat by the Baylor Bears. This one looks like an easy pick for the Cowboys, but I'm not so sure. The Cowboys historically underperform against the Sooners, and I just have a feeling that with a 2nd Big 12 title in 3 years in their grasp, OSU will let the moment slip away. Big Game Bob comes through and the Bedlam series becomes even more lopsided. OU: 31--OSU: 28
Schweinfurth: If last week's rivalry games told us anything, it's that these games are flat unpredictable. Ultimately, the Cowboys have looked very good against some very good offenses this year, see Baylor. OSU likes to jam the receivers at the line and this throws the timing of these offenses way off. The Cowboy offense is very efficient and has played well all year. Oklahoma is good enough to keep it close but OSU is the better team. OU: 28--OSU: 38
Seeberg: After crushing Baylor on a national stage, OSU #2 (remember, they got crushed 33-7 by THE OSU in the Alamo Bowl several years ago) has faded back into relative obscurity, no doubt angrily. For those who may not recall, Oklahoma State missed out on a chance to play LSU for the national title a couple years back by mere thousandths of a point in the BCS. I don't think anyone argued that 'Bama was better, but they didn't even win their conference, and the Cowboys are feeling slighted yet again. Both teams have two weeks to prep, but the Oklahoma St. offense is the best of the four units that will be on the field: advantage- OSU #2. OSU: 38--OU: 24
Texas Longhorns @ Baylor Bears
Draper: Texas showed life in the midseason after blowing out OU, but then crashed back down to earth. Baylor was rocking and rolling until OSU and faceplanted. Last week showed a hangover as they struggled with TCU as well. What about this week? Both teams have something to play for as a loss for the Cowboys catapults the winner into the Fiesta Bowl. Baylor has had struggles of late, but they were on the road. The home stadium in Waco may not be unstoppable, but they feed off the energy. I like Baylor to return home and beat the Horns to wrap up no worse than second. Stir the rumor mill for Mack Brown. UT: 30--Baylor: 45
Hoying: I thought Texas had turned it around. I thought Mack Brown had righted the ship. Then Oklahoma State happened. We should've seen it coming after terrible terrible West Virginia took the Horns to 3OT. Yeah, yeah, you blew out a Texas Tech team that hasn't beaten a good team all year. Meanwhile, Baylor almost let the Cowboys beat them 2 weeks in a row, needing an INT on an ill-advised pass to hold off a bad TCU team. But now the Bears are back in their den. And they're ready to unleash the nation's top offense against a Texas defense that can't stop it. This one is going to be ugly. UT: 24--Baylor: 52
Schweinfurth: Texas has made a decent comeback on the Mack Brown redemption tour this year. Then the ship started to take on water yet again. The Longhorn's are getting Baylor at a very bad time. Baylor can seal a BCS berth with a win hear and continue the upswing they have been on. Unless Texas can shut down that Bear rushing attack, it's gonna be a long day...and it will be a loooong day. Baylor wins big. UT: 28--Baylor: 55
Seeberg: Similar to the SEC title game, this game felt like a no-brainer, this time for the Baylor Bears, until their near-debacle last week, giving up 38 points to a TCU squad that might be Gary Patterson's worst since he took over the program 13 seasons ago. Baylor should win, and should win easily, but Texas's D has largely played well the second half of the season. Texas hangs in for Mack Brown, but Bryce Petty makes enough plays to pull away late. UT: 21--Baylor: 37
B1G: Michigan State Spartans vs. THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: Sparty defense vs. Buckeye offense...man, I wish I had some Buckeye offense to plow my sidewalk. In the new look NFL/NCAA, defense may win championships, but a great defense cannot stop a great offense. Look at the TAMU/Bama game. Bama won in a shootout...because A&M defense sucked and the stout Tide D couldn't stop Johnny Football. Sparty will slow the Buckeyes somewhat, but you can't stop being bludgeoned repeated by Hyde and Miller. The rushing attack of the Buckeyes and the O-line will wear down the Spartans. On the other side of the ball, the Buckeye D was awful last week...but let's not forget about the walrus himself calling plays in East Lansing--Vrabs is coming for you Bollman! I think the Buckeye defense will be able to stop 'Dave' enough times to earn a hard fought win and a trip to Pasadena for the title. MSU: 20--OSU: 35
Hoying: After the Buckeyes watched Auburn's insane kick-six to topple Alabama, the team went wild for a few minutes. They knew their last uncontrollable obstacle to a national title been removed. Then Philly Brown stood up and reminded the men of the scarlet and gray that for that new #2 ranking to mean anything, it had to be cemented with one more victory. Can the Bucks take down a Sparty squad that appears to be headed to the Rose Bowl regardless of the game's outcome? Much is being made of Ohio State's meltdown on defense against the Wolverines. However, Michigan was playing out of its mind, showing glimpses of the powerful attack that steamrolled Notre Dame before tripping over its own shoelaces during the past month. The run D wasn't terrible; it was Gardner gashing us through the air that almost derailed the championship train. MSU's Connor Cook has been improving, but this is the guy who led the Spartan offense to 14 points against Purdue. Purdue. Roby, Barnett, Grant, and Brown should have little to fear this Saturday. On the other side of the ball, Carlos Hyde is still unstoppable, running for 226 yards against a pretty good Michigan run D. I don't think the Spartans are capable of shutting down both Hyde and Miller, and they might not get to either. I boldly predicted last year that as long as Braxton was on the field for the Buckeyes, they wouldn't lose another game. It's served me well so far. Buckeyes win the final Legends-Leaders battle and thus definitely secure a spot in the BCS National Championship. MSU: 16--OSU: 28
Schweinfurth: Michigan State has a defense, oh yes, Sparty has a defense. They are not the #1 rated defense in the nation for nothing. However, the Spartans have faced some spread offense this year and they have given up some points, see 28 points to both Nebraska and Indiana. Ohio State's offense is much, much, much better that those two teams. Who do you try and stop? Keep Miller from running the ball? He'll throw some quick screens or give to Hyde? Stop Hyde? Now you have Miller running wild and throwing. The Spartans want to talk "no fly zone" but they will be stressed vertically and horizontally by the physical Ohio State receivers. Michigan State's offense matches up well with the Silver Bullets. Yes, OSU gives up passing yards but they are very good against conventional power run teams (just look at the Wisconsin game). That Spartan defense will be enough to keep Michigan State in the game (and maybe even a fake kick or two) but there is a Walrus calling the plays on offense. That bucket of fish will run out quickly and Miller earns himself a trip to New York and the Bucks a trip to the second game in Pasadena. OSU: 34--MSU: 19
Seeberg: Last week, I had OSU winning by "only" three touchdowns and quite frankly, that high margin of victory made me a bit nervous. However, nobody (except the hilariously partial Desmond Howard) had TTUN with 2.5 yards separating them from a win with less than a minute to go. Devin Gardner looked like a flat-out stud, primarily because, for reasons unbeknownst to this fan sitting in the 58th row, he was put under minimal duress, even after hurting his leg in the 3rd quarter. Our D consistently rushed four and dropped seven, and was consistently picked apart as a result. The only conceivable reason for this decision is that TTUN's O-line has struggled mightily in recent weeks and Fickell, Vrabel & Co. must have believed they could get consistent pressure with just four rushers. They were wrong, and if our defense sits back like that again, it may give MSU enough of an opening to spring the upset. Gratefully, however, Connor Cook does not have the skill set of Devin Gardner, even when Gardner is limping around the pocket. MSU's D against OSU's O is perhaps the most intriguing matchup anywhere in college football all year. Braxton has not thrown the ball well in recent weeks, but I believe the offense will come out throwing short-to-intermediate passes to get Braxton in a rhythm and loosen up the D for Hyde to get rolling. The D attacks, the O largely maintains its form against a tough MSU D, and OSU is 25-0 under Urban. MSU: 17--OSU: 34
Upset Special
Draper: Cincinnati over Louisville
Hoying: Utah State over Fresno State
Schweinfurth: SMU over UCF
Seeberg: Army over Navy
1) Hoying 44-20 (1-13 upset)
2) Schweinfurth 43-21 (4-10 upset)
3) Draper 41-23 (3-11 upset)
4) Seeberg 3-3 (0-1 upset)
SEC: Missouri Tigers vs. Auburn Tigers
Draper: I remember 2006 when a team defeated their rival (as a top 5 matchup) and believed the season was over. They had reached the pinnacle, and the championship was a formality. After the game, I believe I watched one of the biggest flops in history as the Gators stomped the Buckeyes and stole the Title. The Bucks were slow, lazy, and unprepared. Seems like we are seeing a repeat here with Auburn. Missouri is one of those teams a coach has to hate planning for: they are good at everything, with no one thing to focus on. Auburn has been great (and lucky), but they've laid it all on the table while Mizzou is quietly waiting for their chance. While Auburn argues against OSU, the Tigers (Missouri brand) are prepping to slow down the Auburn rushing attack. James Franklin and crew steal the 'assumed' SEC championship and send Auburn from arguing about the title game to the Cotton Bowl. Mizzou: 31--Aub: 28
Hoying: On October 30, in our first BCS projections of the season, I predicted that Auburn would land in the Sugar Bowl, not as a replacement for Alabama in the Championship Game, but as the SEC champion. Two miracles against Georgia and Alabama later (propelling me to the top of the picks standings), I...am abandoning my projection. Why? I thought (correctly) that Nick Marshall's dual-threat capability would keep Auburn in the game against Bama long enough for a little rivalry magic to strike. However, across the SEC, Missouri's defense was busy throttling everyone's favorite waning Heisman contender, Johnny Football. Am I implying that Missouri has a better defense than Alabama? Maybe, but what I'm really saying is that I don't expect lightning to strike 3 times. Missouri has been solid in every phase of the game, from James Franklin's excellent quarterback play, to possibly the best stable of receivers in the game, to a fantastic rushing attack behind the one-two punch of Josey and Hansbrough, to the terrific defense led by the SEC's leading sack and TFL leader Michael Sam. Tigers win, jump up to #3 in the BCS (spoilers on two picks below), and bring their magical 2nd SEC season into the Sugar Bowl. Mizzou: 27--Aub: 20
Schweinfurth: Auburn should have "Livin' On A Prayer" as their fight song this year. Seriously? A miracle Hail Mary to end the Georgia game and then that finish last week. One would think that Gus Malzahn's magic has to run out at some point. I believe that will be this week. James Franklin and the Mizzou Tigers are flat rolling right now. I do believe the Missouri defense will give up some points (a good pass rush can be hurt by the misdirection offense). This will not be the SEC Championship games of old. Mizzou: 38--Aub: 35
Seeberg: At this time last week, I would have picked Missouri in this matchup without too much hesitation. James Franklin had returned and I figured they would blow TAMU out pretty handily. Not only was the game close, however, but Mizzou only mustered 28 points against a pretty lousy defense. That said, holding Johnny Sign-a-Football to just 21 points has been no small feat the last two seasons. Despite their offensive struggles, Franklin now has a week of gameplay under his belt since returning from injury and I still believe that the Tigers (Missouri Tigers, that is) have the more multi-dimensional offense which will, in the end, prove the difference. Mizzou: 31--Aub: 21
ACC: Duke Blue Devils vs. Florida State Seminoles
Draper: Duke is playing one of their best season's in history and no one is giving them a prayer...and they're right. The Noles have been nearly flawless this season stepping on the throat early and not letting up. The trio of receivers and stellar backfield are not even talked about with Famous Jameis leading the way. Oh yeah, the defense is pretty darn good too. This will be a traditional FSU game of 2013 with a 30+ point halftime lead and a cruise to Pasadena. FSU: 55--Duke: 13
Hoying: Florida State has been the most dominant team in college football this year. The Noles lead in scoring defense and sit second behind Baylor in scoring. Sure, FSU has had its share of cupcakes on the schedule, much like our beloved Buckeyes, but it's not like Duke went 10-2 against any tougher of a schedule. The Blue Devils are a nice story, but they've been squeaking through to the finish. Duke also got to duke it out against a Miami without Duke Johnson, while the Noles licked the Canes even with their best player intact. There's no reason this should be close. Unless...no, there's no reason. FSU: 45--Duke: 13
Schweinfurth: Duke has had a season to be remembered. The Blue Devils have risen from the ashes to become relevant in the ACC for the first time in, oh, forever. David Cutclife and the rest of the Dukies should be truly proud of this magical season. Unfortunately it is all about to come crashing down. Florida State, with or without Jamies Winston, is an absolute force on offense. If Clemson couldn't keep up with the 'Noles, Duke definitely cannot. Expect the Blue Devils to play with some emotion and hang on for part of the first quarter, but then it's all FSU, all night long. FSU: 52--Duke: 20
Seeberg: A recent statement from the Florida State Attorney's office stated that there may be a decision on the impending Jameis Winston issue before the weekend. In other words, the Florida State Attorney's office has a significantly better chance of thwarting FSU's season than the Duke defense does. Fourth-quarter comeback wins against the likes of Wake Forest (whose stadium, it bears mentioning, is roughly 25 miles from my apartment and is barely half-full for most games) make for a good story, but the Seminoles will write the last chapter much to the Blue Devils' dismay. FSU: 52--Duke: 17
Pac-12: Stanford Cardinal @ Arizona State Sun Devils
Draper: Rematch! But in a new place... How good is Stanford? They have good wins, but 2 losses (one good one bad). How good is ASU? Good wins and...2 losses (one good--Stanford, and one eh..). I could see this one going either way, but I'm going with the home team. Todd Graham has his team churning along without the hype of Stanford. Stanford assumes the title after beating Oregon, but Oregon showed their true nature over the last few weeks. Go Sparky! Stan: 20--ASU: 24
Hoying: Aaaagh, this is the worst kind of conference championship game. It's like a reboot of last year's Stanford-UCLA rematch, only with a twist: the team that won the head-to-head this time is less deserving of the title. True, Stanford already beat Arizona State earlier in the season, but the Cardinal has collected two Pac-12 losses since then against teams that ASU beat (Utah and USC). That being said, I don't see any reason why this game shouldn't play out much the same as the first matchup, a convincing Cardinal victory. Home field might make some difference, but not enough to keep Stanford from its first back-to-back Rose Bowls since 1971-72. Stan: 35--ASU: 27
Schweinfurth: I have to be honest when I say that I really have not watched much Pac-12 football this year. Arizona State has played well but has a loss to Stanford already this season. I don't see ASU not turning the ball over a couple times here (you can't put the ball up 50+ times a game and not have a pick or two). This game will be closer than the matchup early in the season but Stanford turns that turnover into points. Stan: 31--ASU: 24
Seeberg: Stanford has been very up and down the last month: dominating Oregon, then losing to USC. Annihilating Cal in a rivalry game, then struggling to put away Notre Dame. ASU has not lost since early October, but a couple of weeks before that they were handled pretty easily by- you guessed it- Stanford. The Sun Devils get this title game at home and are coming off a whipping of their in-state rivals who had just whipped Oregon (at least De'Anthony Thomas doesn't have to go to the Rose Bowl now, you know, since he wasn't that interested in going anyway). Arizona State only scores 28 again, but it's enough, unlike last time. Stan: 21--ASU: 28
Oklahoma Sooners @ Oklahoma State Cowboys
Draper: Bedlam is always a good time. OU has sputtered this whole year with all kinds of problems--especially questionable QB play. OSU stomped Baylor in their first 'Game of the Century (of the Year)' but it all is for naught without a big win at home in Bedlam. I love the Poke home field advantage and their poise in the last big game (Baylor) and I don't see a difference here. Rivalries make for interesting things, but the Pokes behind Clint Chelf look ready to go. The loss to WVU just doesn't make sense. The rebound continues on the way to the Fiesta. OU: 27--OSU: 38
Hoying: Shuffle, shuffle, do the quarterback shuffle. Both teams enter Bedlam with season-long quarterback issues. The Cowboys seem to have settled on senior slinger Clint Chelf, especially after a fantastic performance against Baylor, while the Sooners have rediscovered their love for freshman phenom Trevor Knight after Blake Bell bit badly getting beat by the Baylor Bears. This one looks like an easy pick for the Cowboys, but I'm not so sure. The Cowboys historically underperform against the Sooners, and I just have a feeling that with a 2nd Big 12 title in 3 years in their grasp, OSU will let the moment slip away. Big Game Bob comes through and the Bedlam series becomes even more lopsided. OU: 31--OSU: 28
Schweinfurth: If last week's rivalry games told us anything, it's that these games are flat unpredictable. Ultimately, the Cowboys have looked very good against some very good offenses this year, see Baylor. OSU likes to jam the receivers at the line and this throws the timing of these offenses way off. The Cowboy offense is very efficient and has played well all year. Oklahoma is good enough to keep it close but OSU is the better team. OU: 28--OSU: 38
Seeberg: After crushing Baylor on a national stage, OSU #2 (remember, they got crushed 33-7 by THE OSU in the Alamo Bowl several years ago) has faded back into relative obscurity, no doubt angrily. For those who may not recall, Oklahoma State missed out on a chance to play LSU for the national title a couple years back by mere thousandths of a point in the BCS. I don't think anyone argued that 'Bama was better, but they didn't even win their conference, and the Cowboys are feeling slighted yet again. Both teams have two weeks to prep, but the Oklahoma St. offense is the best of the four units that will be on the field: advantage- OSU #2. OSU: 38--OU: 24
Texas Longhorns @ Baylor Bears
Draper: Texas showed life in the midseason after blowing out OU, but then crashed back down to earth. Baylor was rocking and rolling until OSU and faceplanted. Last week showed a hangover as they struggled with TCU as well. What about this week? Both teams have something to play for as a loss for the Cowboys catapults the winner into the Fiesta Bowl. Baylor has had struggles of late, but they were on the road. The home stadium in Waco may not be unstoppable, but they feed off the energy. I like Baylor to return home and beat the Horns to wrap up no worse than second. Stir the rumor mill for Mack Brown. UT: 30--Baylor: 45
Hoying: I thought Texas had turned it around. I thought Mack Brown had righted the ship. Then Oklahoma State happened. We should've seen it coming after terrible terrible West Virginia took the Horns to 3OT. Yeah, yeah, you blew out a Texas Tech team that hasn't beaten a good team all year. Meanwhile, Baylor almost let the Cowboys beat them 2 weeks in a row, needing an INT on an ill-advised pass to hold off a bad TCU team. But now the Bears are back in their den. And they're ready to unleash the nation's top offense against a Texas defense that can't stop it. This one is going to be ugly. UT: 24--Baylor: 52
Schweinfurth: Texas has made a decent comeback on the Mack Brown redemption tour this year. Then the ship started to take on water yet again. The Longhorn's are getting Baylor at a very bad time. Baylor can seal a BCS berth with a win hear and continue the upswing they have been on. Unless Texas can shut down that Bear rushing attack, it's gonna be a long day...and it will be a loooong day. Baylor wins big. UT: 28--Baylor: 55
Seeberg: Similar to the SEC title game, this game felt like a no-brainer, this time for the Baylor Bears, until their near-debacle last week, giving up 38 points to a TCU squad that might be Gary Patterson's worst since he took over the program 13 seasons ago. Baylor should win, and should win easily, but Texas's D has largely played well the second half of the season. Texas hangs in for Mack Brown, but Bryce Petty makes enough plays to pull away late. UT: 21--Baylor: 37
B1G: Michigan State Spartans vs. THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: Sparty defense vs. Buckeye offense...man, I wish I had some Buckeye offense to plow my sidewalk. In the new look NFL/NCAA, defense may win championships, but a great defense cannot stop a great offense. Look at the TAMU/Bama game. Bama won in a shootout...because A&M defense sucked and the stout Tide D couldn't stop Johnny Football. Sparty will slow the Buckeyes somewhat, but you can't stop being bludgeoned repeated by Hyde and Miller. The rushing attack of the Buckeyes and the O-line will wear down the Spartans. On the other side of the ball, the Buckeye D was awful last week...but let's not forget about the walrus himself calling plays in East Lansing--Vrabs is coming for you Bollman! I think the Buckeye defense will be able to stop 'Dave' enough times to earn a hard fought win and a trip to Pasadena for the title. MSU: 20--OSU: 35
Hoying: After the Buckeyes watched Auburn's insane kick-six to topple Alabama, the team went wild for a few minutes. They knew their last uncontrollable obstacle to a national title been removed. Then Philly Brown stood up and reminded the men of the scarlet and gray that for that new #2 ranking to mean anything, it had to be cemented with one more victory. Can the Bucks take down a Sparty squad that appears to be headed to the Rose Bowl regardless of the game's outcome? Much is being made of Ohio State's meltdown on defense against the Wolverines. However, Michigan was playing out of its mind, showing glimpses of the powerful attack that steamrolled Notre Dame before tripping over its own shoelaces during the past month. The run D wasn't terrible; it was Gardner gashing us through the air that almost derailed the championship train. MSU's Connor Cook has been improving, but this is the guy who led the Spartan offense to 14 points against Purdue. Purdue. Roby, Barnett, Grant, and Brown should have little to fear this Saturday. On the other side of the ball, Carlos Hyde is still unstoppable, running for 226 yards against a pretty good Michigan run D. I don't think the Spartans are capable of shutting down both Hyde and Miller, and they might not get to either. I boldly predicted last year that as long as Braxton was on the field for the Buckeyes, they wouldn't lose another game. It's served me well so far. Buckeyes win the final Legends-Leaders battle and thus definitely secure a spot in the BCS National Championship. MSU: 16--OSU: 28
Schweinfurth: Michigan State has a defense, oh yes, Sparty has a defense. They are not the #1 rated defense in the nation for nothing. However, the Spartans have faced some spread offense this year and they have given up some points, see 28 points to both Nebraska and Indiana. Ohio State's offense is much, much, much better that those two teams. Who do you try and stop? Keep Miller from running the ball? He'll throw some quick screens or give to Hyde? Stop Hyde? Now you have Miller running wild and throwing. The Spartans want to talk "no fly zone" but they will be stressed vertically and horizontally by the physical Ohio State receivers. Michigan State's offense matches up well with the Silver Bullets. Yes, OSU gives up passing yards but they are very good against conventional power run teams (just look at the Wisconsin game). That Spartan defense will be enough to keep Michigan State in the game (and maybe even a fake kick or two) but there is a Walrus calling the plays on offense. That bucket of fish will run out quickly and Miller earns himself a trip to New York and the Bucks a trip to the second game in Pasadena. OSU: 34--MSU: 19
Seeberg: Last week, I had OSU winning by "only" three touchdowns and quite frankly, that high margin of victory made me a bit nervous. However, nobody (except the hilariously partial Desmond Howard) had TTUN with 2.5 yards separating them from a win with less than a minute to go. Devin Gardner looked like a flat-out stud, primarily because, for reasons unbeknownst to this fan sitting in the 58th row, he was put under minimal duress, even after hurting his leg in the 3rd quarter. Our D consistently rushed four and dropped seven, and was consistently picked apart as a result. The only conceivable reason for this decision is that TTUN's O-line has struggled mightily in recent weeks and Fickell, Vrabel & Co. must have believed they could get consistent pressure with just four rushers. They were wrong, and if our defense sits back like that again, it may give MSU enough of an opening to spring the upset. Gratefully, however, Connor Cook does not have the skill set of Devin Gardner, even when Gardner is limping around the pocket. MSU's D against OSU's O is perhaps the most intriguing matchup anywhere in college football all year. Braxton has not thrown the ball well in recent weeks, but I believe the offense will come out throwing short-to-intermediate passes to get Braxton in a rhythm and loosen up the D for Hyde to get rolling. The D attacks, the O largely maintains its form against a tough MSU D, and OSU is 25-0 under Urban. MSU: 17--OSU: 34
Upset Special
Draper: Cincinnati over Louisville
Hoying: Utah State over Fresno State
Schweinfurth: SMU over UCF
Seeberg: Army over Navy
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Week 14 Picks: Lots of NOT undefeated teams playing...
Standings
1) Schweinfurth 45-11 (6-7 upset)
2) Hoying 40-16 (3-10 upset)
3) Draper 33-23 (4-9 upset)
4) Auer 31-22 (2-10 upset)
Louisville Cardinal @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Big East--defacto)
Draper: Big East de-facto championship...woo. Preseason, I had these teams pillow-fighting it out (no, really I did) for the Orange Bowl (or maybe even the Sugar if the Flashes shock the world). These teams are supremely mediocre, but I like Teddy Bridgewater (which is why I picked Louisville preseason). Bridgewater is banged up, but I'm riding the preseason pick...also, I couldn't be as bad this week as I was last week, right?...RIGHT? LVille: 27--Rutgers: 24
Auer: Both teams coming in 9-2, both coming off of a puzzling loss. Rutgers couldn't get things going against lowly Pitt and Louisville just barely fell to UConn in triple overtime. Louisville however is coming off of two straight losses, the previous to an even-worse-than-Pitt, Syracuse. I'll stick with the future Big Ten conference member here. LVille: 20--Rutgers 31
Hoying: A few weeks ago, this looked like a possible match-up of middleweight undefeateds, but some losses to crappy teams have dulled this a bit. The good news is the league championship for the conference that no one wants to be in is still up for grabs. I picked Rutgers preseason as the Big East champ and their terrific defense will prove to be too much for Bridgewater and company. Sorry, Charlie Strong, maybe you'll get hired away when you can finish a season. LVille: 17--Rutgers: 20
Schweinfurth: We get this game in the spirit of the B1G/ACC Challenge. Kinda. Both teams are floundering down the stretch after starting off very well. This one seems to come down to Teddy Bridgewater. If he plays, the Cardinals win. If not, I'll take the Knights. L'Ville: 35--Rutgers 24
Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Kent State Golden Flashes (MAC)
Draper: This is just here because I find it amusing that the MAC champion has a very real chance of making a BCS bowl (even after almost returning an interception for a safety...). Darrell Hazell has worked wonders in Kent and will be off to greener pastures VERY soon. I'm not surprised after he taught us WR technique at OSU. Need proof, look what happened to OSU WRs when he left. Go Coach Hazell! NIU: 31--KSU: 34
Auer: KSU has been a stunner all season after they shocked the college football world during opening weekend. The shock to the world you ask? The player who returned a punt the wrong way was indeed a pride of KSU Golden Flash. Haven't watched anything else of either team honestly. This could go either way, but I'll go with the hot hand. NIU: 35--KSU: 31
Hoying: Imagine if Northern Illinois could have held on against Iowa, or if Kent State would've actually showed up against Kentucky (Kentucky? Really?), the winner of this game could be undefeated and headed to a BCS bowl. Wait, a one-loss MAC champ might go to the BCS anyway? Yeesh. Both teams have been playing good football against bad teams, but only Kent State has a quality win, beating Rutgers in Piscataway. I expect that experience to serve them well here, as the Golden Flashes win their first MAC championship game. NIU: 30--KSU: 34
Schweinfurth: I really haven't watch much MACtion this year, so I can't give much insight. I'll Hazel and the Flashes. NIU: 31--KSU: 38
UCLA Bruins @ Stanford Cardinal (Pac 12)
Draper: An epic battle between preseason juggernauts Oregon and USC should be really really excit....wait, WHAT? Stanford and who???? Oh boy, these games just get better and better. Actually, this isn't a bad game because the D of Stanford has been very good and UCLA can score. Unstoppable force vs. immoveable object? Go with the immoveable object. Stanford chokes Hundley and Franklin into submission preventing another UCLA home date in Pasadena. UCLA: 20--Stan: 31
Auer: This one wasn't close last week and it won't be again. UCLA was in a very peculiar situation last week as a win would have sent the Bruins to Oregon this week, but instead a loss set the match-up with Stanford. Kind of a "pick your poison" situation it seems. UCLA looked lethargic last week, and more than likely won't see much success this week. The positive? The winner only has to play the Big Ten Champion. UCLA: 17--Stan: 42
Hoying: Didn't we just see this game? Despite the perverse incentive setup of last week's game, I didn't get the feeling that UCLA wasn't trying against Stanford. They just weren't as good. Now the game gets a reboot with the Cardinal as the home team. I expect more of the same. UCLA: 17--Stan: 35 (Same score)
Schweinfurth: Well, this one's interesting. It seems we get a rematch from last week this week. Stanford proved against Oregon that they have one of the best defenses in the nation. Defense wins championships. I'll take Stanford this time. UCLA: 13--Stan: 24
Florida State Seminoles vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (ACC)
Draper: Another season with high expectations ends in bitter disappointment for the Noles (fool me once...). EJ Manuel has been a yo-yo all year and the defense actually got pounded last week. The loss of Tank Carradine sucks but FSU is still far more talented than 6-6 GTech. The option attack of the Ramblin Wreck is no fun to prepare for (thanks for the magnanimous bowl ban Canes...) but the speed on the Nole defense should be enough to contain it. FSU has trounced most inferior opponents so I think they'll do the same here en route to Miami...for the wrong game. The loss of Coach Mark Stoops to Kentucky has the makings of a possible upset (FSU lost Mark Richt to UGA and laid a monster egg in the NC vs. OU), but I thing the Noles roll to the Orange Bowl. FSU: 38--GT: 13
Auer: Jesus, Georgia Tech's division must be awful if they are playing for the ACC Title... or maybe just everyone in their division is facing a postseason bowl ban... too soon? FSU: 52--GT: 21
Hoying: Coming into this game, Florida State has one quality win, and it's not a great one. No matter the result in the ACC Championship Game, Florida State will still have one quality win. The conference title is the Noles' for the taking, if they're properly motivated to take it. FSU played a better opponent last week and actually put up a fight, while the Tech rambled and wrecked all over the field, much like the rest of the Coastal division. This shouldn't be close. FSU: 45--GT: 10
Schweinfurth: The Yellow Jackets should thank Miami for taking another postseason ban. With that said, Florida State is the much better team and that defense is tough to run against. I expect the 'Noles to bounce back and shut down the triple option. FSU: 45--GT: 10
Texas Longhorns @ Kansas State Wildcats
Draper: KSU is out of the ultimate prize thanks to a clunker vs. Baylor, but they can still capture a nice consolation prize in the Fiesta Bowl and a Big 12 Championship by beating the Longhorns. Texas is another team that has disappointed this year with their talent, but a win here would be great for momentum. This game is all about Collin Klein. He can return to frontrunner Heisman status, but he has to have a spectacular game. I think Bill Snyder has enough respect for his players that, given the chance, he will do everything possible to accentuate the positives of Optimus Klein. KState clamps down at home and takes home the Big 12 title in a bittersweet fashion...if only....UT: 20--KSU: 31
Auer: The Longhorns seem to be a shell of their former team and will more than likely continue to implode... or will they? KSU is playing for next to nothing and will still be playing on New Year's day or in the BCS even with a loss. UT is coming together at the right time and could make this one interesting. UT: 24--KSU: 20
Hoying: Fun fact: Kansas State hasn't lost to Texas since their last Big 12 title, when Ell Roberson led the Wildcats against Ohio State in 2003. This game will be very telling for the future of Kansas State. The big prize is out of the picture, but a Fiesta Bowl bid would be an amazing accomplishment for a team that looked so helpless without Methuselah at the reins. Make no mistake, K-State is the much better team here, especially since the Horns haven't solved their QB controversy, even after 11 games. Home team, better team, and yes, better coach give 'Cats the victory and Big 12 title. UT: 16--KSU: 31
Schweinfurth: So it sounds like we get Case McCoy this week. Between he and Ash, I think McCoy is the better QB. K-State is tough at home. I'm looking for another Big 12 shootout. UT: 35--KSU: 42
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Wisconsin Badgers* (B1G)
Draper: The Buckeyes roll in on a monster high as they prepare for the last big hurdle before the Irish....wait, what? Postseason bans are stupid (I've always said this--not just because my team has one). The 3rd place in the Leaders Badgers* take on the Legends champ Nebraska for the right to go to Pasadena. The Huskers have the better team (by far in my opinion), but the Badgers* will try to (somewhat) defend their preseason favorite status. Martinez will play well, as will Montee Ball, but the diversified Husker attack will outplay the more traditional Badger* ground and pound. Nebraska win the B1G in their second season, but no one will care since the 'banned' Buckeyes trounced them earlier. Everyone knows the real B1G title is in Cbus. Neb: 38--UW: 24
Auer: Nebraska is BY FAR the better team here but will they show it? UW does have MontAE Ball.... maybe he'll change the pronunciation of his name again? Taylor Martinez could give an early launch to a 2013 Heisman Campaign... and probably will go off against the Badgers. Neb: 48--UW: 35
Hoying: If you've watched Nebraska carefully since they've joined the B1G, you've noticed they have terrific mojo in Lincoln but usually look completely lost on the road. While this isn't a true road game, it's much closer to Wisconsin, and the Badgers will be out for blood after losing so many close games, including the heartbreaker in Lincoln early this season. If this one goes to overtime, it's a sure Badger loss, but perhaps the big doofus will go for 2 late and pull out the victory. No Ryan Shazier to provide late game heroics here. Neb: 24--UW: 25
Schweinfurth: Another rematch game. Nebraska dominated the first match up despite all the turnovers in the first half. Wisconsin can run it with Montee (call me Montay) Ball but is otherwise one dimensional. I'll take the Huskers for their first B1G Championship. Neb: 52--UW: 35
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Draper: The SEC championship has a very sexy matchup of preseason favorites. The winner is certain to face off with the Irish in Miami for the crystal ball. The resumes of these teams are severely lacking (Bama beat LSU, lost to TAMU and UGA beating UF and losing to SoCar in games vs. top 15 opponents). The schedules were extremely favorable in SEC play for these teams which is a big reason why they're here. Florida, LSU, SoCar, and TAMU are arguably as good as these teams, but the tougher schedule in which they played each other, knocked them out. That being said, this is Saban's chance to return to the spotlight. UGA is generally flaky on the big stage. The defensive talent in this game is spectacular, but while I think UGA may have better players, Bama has the better team. Tide roll to another title shot in a slugfest. Bama: 23--UGA: 17
Auer: (Write up coming later) Bama: 28--UGA: 13
Hoying: Who wants to go to Miami and get thumped by the Irish? (wait...) Nick Saban's technique of killing 10 kittens for each mistake his team makes (I'm assuming) seems to have motivated his team back to the world-beater status they held before the LSU game, while Georgia is on a tear of their own over their last 5 games. Aaron Murray and "Gur-shall" are good enough to make the Tide pay, but Alabama seems to be playing sounder football, and Saban shines in games like these. Bama: 20--UGA: 13
Schweinfurth: I haven't watched much of the Bulldogs this year. However, I know 'Bama can run the ball and Lacy is a battering ram. The Tide defense learned from the A&M game. Look for Bama to go for 2 in a row in January. Bama: 28--UGA: 13
Upset Special
Draper: Nevada over Boise State
Auer: Uconn over Cincy
Hoying: Wisconsin over Nebraska (there aren't a lot of games not picked above)
Schweinfurth: TCU over Oklahoma
1) Schweinfurth 45-11 (6-7 upset)
2) Hoying 40-16 (3-10 upset)
3) Draper 33-23 (4-9 upset)
4) Auer 31-22 (2-10 upset)
Louisville Cardinal @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Big East--defacto)
Draper: Big East de-facto championship...woo. Preseason, I had these teams pillow-fighting it out (no, really I did) for the Orange Bowl (or maybe even the Sugar if the Flashes shock the world). These teams are supremely mediocre, but I like Teddy Bridgewater (which is why I picked Louisville preseason). Bridgewater is banged up, but I'm riding the preseason pick...also, I couldn't be as bad this week as I was last week, right?...RIGHT? LVille: 27--Rutgers: 24
Auer: Both teams coming in 9-2, both coming off of a puzzling loss. Rutgers couldn't get things going against lowly Pitt and Louisville just barely fell to UConn in triple overtime. Louisville however is coming off of two straight losses, the previous to an even-worse-than-Pitt, Syracuse. I'll stick with the future Big Ten conference member here. LVille: 20--Rutgers 31
Hoying: A few weeks ago, this looked like a possible match-up of middleweight undefeateds, but some losses to crappy teams have dulled this a bit. The good news is the league championship for the conference that no one wants to be in is still up for grabs. I picked Rutgers preseason as the Big East champ and their terrific defense will prove to be too much for Bridgewater and company. Sorry, Charlie Strong, maybe you'll get hired away when you can finish a season. LVille: 17--Rutgers: 20
Schweinfurth: We get this game in the spirit of the B1G/ACC Challenge. Kinda. Both teams are floundering down the stretch after starting off very well. This one seems to come down to Teddy Bridgewater. If he plays, the Cardinals win. If not, I'll take the Knights. L'Ville: 35--Rutgers 24
Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Kent State Golden Flashes (MAC)
Draper: This is just here because I find it amusing that the MAC champion has a very real chance of making a BCS bowl (even after almost returning an interception for a safety...). Darrell Hazell has worked wonders in Kent and will be off to greener pastures VERY soon. I'm not surprised after he taught us WR technique at OSU. Need proof, look what happened to OSU WRs when he left. Go Coach Hazell! NIU: 31--KSU: 34
Auer: KSU has been a stunner all season after they shocked the college football world during opening weekend. The shock to the world you ask? The player who returned a punt the wrong way was indeed a pride of KSU Golden Flash. Haven't watched anything else of either team honestly. This could go either way, but I'll go with the hot hand. NIU: 35--KSU: 31
Hoying: Imagine if Northern Illinois could have held on against Iowa, or if Kent State would've actually showed up against Kentucky (Kentucky? Really?), the winner of this game could be undefeated and headed to a BCS bowl. Wait, a one-loss MAC champ might go to the BCS anyway? Yeesh. Both teams have been playing good football against bad teams, but only Kent State has a quality win, beating Rutgers in Piscataway. I expect that experience to serve them well here, as the Golden Flashes win their first MAC championship game. NIU: 30--KSU: 34
Schweinfurth: I really haven't watch much MACtion this year, so I can't give much insight. I'll Hazel and the Flashes. NIU: 31--KSU: 38
UCLA Bruins @ Stanford Cardinal (Pac 12)
Draper: An epic battle between preseason juggernauts Oregon and USC should be really really excit....wait, WHAT? Stanford and who???? Oh boy, these games just get better and better. Actually, this isn't a bad game because the D of Stanford has been very good and UCLA can score. Unstoppable force vs. immoveable object? Go with the immoveable object. Stanford chokes Hundley and Franklin into submission preventing another UCLA home date in Pasadena. UCLA: 20--Stan: 31
Auer: This one wasn't close last week and it won't be again. UCLA was in a very peculiar situation last week as a win would have sent the Bruins to Oregon this week, but instead a loss set the match-up with Stanford. Kind of a "pick your poison" situation it seems. UCLA looked lethargic last week, and more than likely won't see much success this week. The positive? The winner only has to play the Big Ten Champion. UCLA: 17--Stan: 42
Hoying: Didn't we just see this game? Despite the perverse incentive setup of last week's game, I didn't get the feeling that UCLA wasn't trying against Stanford. They just weren't as good. Now the game gets a reboot with the Cardinal as the home team. I expect more of the same. UCLA: 17--Stan: 35 (Same score)
Schweinfurth: Well, this one's interesting. It seems we get a rematch from last week this week. Stanford proved against Oregon that they have one of the best defenses in the nation. Defense wins championships. I'll take Stanford this time. UCLA: 13--Stan: 24
Florida State Seminoles vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (ACC)
Draper: Another season with high expectations ends in bitter disappointment for the Noles (fool me once...). EJ Manuel has been a yo-yo all year and the defense actually got pounded last week. The loss of Tank Carradine sucks but FSU is still far more talented than 6-6 GTech. The option attack of the Ramblin Wreck is no fun to prepare for (thanks for the magnanimous bowl ban Canes...) but the speed on the Nole defense should be enough to contain it. FSU has trounced most inferior opponents so I think they'll do the same here en route to Miami...for the wrong game. The loss of Coach Mark Stoops to Kentucky has the makings of a possible upset (FSU lost Mark Richt to UGA and laid a monster egg in the NC vs. OU), but I thing the Noles roll to the Orange Bowl. FSU: 38--GT: 13
Auer: Jesus, Georgia Tech's division must be awful if they are playing for the ACC Title... or maybe just everyone in their division is facing a postseason bowl ban... too soon? FSU: 52--GT: 21
Hoying: Coming into this game, Florida State has one quality win, and it's not a great one. No matter the result in the ACC Championship Game, Florida State will still have one quality win. The conference title is the Noles' for the taking, if they're properly motivated to take it. FSU played a better opponent last week and actually put up a fight, while the Tech rambled and wrecked all over the field, much like the rest of the Coastal division. This shouldn't be close. FSU: 45--GT: 10
Schweinfurth: The Yellow Jackets should thank Miami for taking another postseason ban. With that said, Florida State is the much better team and that defense is tough to run against. I expect the 'Noles to bounce back and shut down the triple option. FSU: 45--GT: 10
Texas Longhorns @ Kansas State Wildcats
Draper: KSU is out of the ultimate prize thanks to a clunker vs. Baylor, but they can still capture a nice consolation prize in the Fiesta Bowl and a Big 12 Championship by beating the Longhorns. Texas is another team that has disappointed this year with their talent, but a win here would be great for momentum. This game is all about Collin Klein. He can return to frontrunner Heisman status, but he has to have a spectacular game. I think Bill Snyder has enough respect for his players that, given the chance, he will do everything possible to accentuate the positives of Optimus Klein. KState clamps down at home and takes home the Big 12 title in a bittersweet fashion...if only....UT: 20--KSU: 31
Auer: The Longhorns seem to be a shell of their former team and will more than likely continue to implode... or will they? KSU is playing for next to nothing and will still be playing on New Year's day or in the BCS even with a loss. UT is coming together at the right time and could make this one interesting. UT: 24--KSU: 20
Hoying: Fun fact: Kansas State hasn't lost to Texas since their last Big 12 title, when Ell Roberson led the Wildcats against Ohio State in 2003. This game will be very telling for the future of Kansas State. The big prize is out of the picture, but a Fiesta Bowl bid would be an amazing accomplishment for a team that looked so helpless without Methuselah at the reins. Make no mistake, K-State is the much better team here, especially since the Horns haven't solved their QB controversy, even after 11 games. Home team, better team, and yes, better coach give 'Cats the victory and Big 12 title. UT: 16--KSU: 31
Schweinfurth: So it sounds like we get Case McCoy this week. Between he and Ash, I think McCoy is the better QB. K-State is tough at home. I'm looking for another Big 12 shootout. UT: 35--KSU: 42
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Wisconsin Badgers* (B1G)
Draper: The Buckeyes roll in on a monster high as they prepare for the last big hurdle before the Irish....wait, what? Postseason bans are stupid (I've always said this--not just because my team has one). The 3rd place in the Leaders Badgers* take on the Legends champ Nebraska for the right to go to Pasadena. The Huskers have the better team (by far in my opinion), but the Badgers* will try to (somewhat) defend their preseason favorite status. Martinez will play well, as will Montee Ball, but the diversified Husker attack will outplay the more traditional Badger* ground and pound. Nebraska win the B1G in their second season, but no one will care since the 'banned' Buckeyes trounced them earlier. Everyone knows the real B1G title is in Cbus. Neb: 38--UW: 24
Auer: Nebraska is BY FAR the better team here but will they show it? UW does have MontAE Ball.... maybe he'll change the pronunciation of his name again? Taylor Martinez could give an early launch to a 2013 Heisman Campaign... and probably will go off against the Badgers. Neb: 48--UW: 35
Hoying: If you've watched Nebraska carefully since they've joined the B1G, you've noticed they have terrific mojo in Lincoln but usually look completely lost on the road. While this isn't a true road game, it's much closer to Wisconsin, and the Badgers will be out for blood after losing so many close games, including the heartbreaker in Lincoln early this season. If this one goes to overtime, it's a sure Badger loss, but perhaps the big doofus will go for 2 late and pull out the victory. No Ryan Shazier to provide late game heroics here. Neb: 24--UW: 25
Schweinfurth: Another rematch game. Nebraska dominated the first match up despite all the turnovers in the first half. Wisconsin can run it with Montee (call me Montay) Ball but is otherwise one dimensional. I'll take the Huskers for their first B1G Championship. Neb: 52--UW: 35
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Draper: The SEC championship has a very sexy matchup of preseason favorites. The winner is certain to face off with the Irish in Miami for the crystal ball. The resumes of these teams are severely lacking (Bama beat LSU, lost to TAMU and UGA beating UF and losing to SoCar in games vs. top 15 opponents). The schedules were extremely favorable in SEC play for these teams which is a big reason why they're here. Florida, LSU, SoCar, and TAMU are arguably as good as these teams, but the tougher schedule in which they played each other, knocked them out. That being said, this is Saban's chance to return to the spotlight. UGA is generally flaky on the big stage. The defensive talent in this game is spectacular, but while I think UGA may have better players, Bama has the better team. Tide roll to another title shot in a slugfest. Bama: 23--UGA: 17
Auer: (Write up coming later) Bama: 28--UGA: 13
Hoying: Who wants to go to Miami and get thumped by the Irish? (wait...) Nick Saban's technique of killing 10 kittens for each mistake his team makes (I'm assuming) seems to have motivated his team back to the world-beater status they held before the LSU game, while Georgia is on a tear of their own over their last 5 games. Aaron Murray and "Gur-shall" are good enough to make the Tide pay, but Alabama seems to be playing sounder football, and Saban shines in games like these. Bama: 20--UGA: 13
Schweinfurth: I haven't watched much of the Bulldogs this year. However, I know 'Bama can run the ball and Lacy is a battering ram. The Tide defense learned from the A&M game. Look for Bama to go for 2 in a row in January. Bama: 28--UGA: 13
Upset Special
Draper: Nevada over Boise State
Auer: Uconn over Cincy
Hoying: Wisconsin over Nebraska (there aren't a lot of games not picked above)
Schweinfurth: TCU over Oklahoma
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