I went 17-6 last week, putting me at 221-68 for the season. Let’s wrap this regular season up right.
#1 Auburn @ #19 South Carolina (SEC Championship Game) *Game of the Week*
This game should be close. While it’s kind of obvious who should win based on when these teams played each other earlier in the year (Auburn winning by 8 points), that was several months ago and things could have changed between now and then. However, I don’t think things have changed enough to pick South Carolina over Auburn while Cam Newton is still being allowed to play (Seriously, all of these accusations and NONE of them are enough to rule him ineligible? That’s bull.). Auburn wins.
#2 Oregon @Oregon State
Oregon State has been a huge disappointment this year and isn’t likely to be able to compete with the dominant running game of the Ducks. Oregon wins and the BCS machine is satisfied again.
#3 TCU: Season Over
#4 Stanford: Season Over
#5 Wisconsin: Season Over
#6 Ohio State: Season Over
#7 Arkansas: Season Over
#8 Michigan State: Season Over
#9 Oklahoma @ #13 Nebraska (Big 12 Championship Game)
For me this game boils down to one simple fact: that Taylor Martinez is hurt. Not just hurt, but suffering from a Turf Toe injury, one of the most lingering and annoying injuries a football player can suffer. Even if he does play, I expect his mobility to be greatly limited, which will lead to Nebraska’s downfall. Oklahoma wins.
#10 LSU: Season Over
Utah State @ #11 Boise State
As bad as the loss to Nevada is going to sting Boise State, it won’t be enough for them to lose to Utah State. For the record, I’m still of the opinion that Boise is still the best team in the country. They shouldn’t get a chance for a national title above TCU, Auburn or Oregon because they did lose, however that doesn’t change how good they are.
#12 Missouri: Season Over
#14 Oklahoma State: Season Over
#21 Florida State @ #15 Virginia Tech (ACC Championship Game)
It really shouldn’t be surprising that these are the two teams fighting for the ACC title. Both feature a strong running game and an even stronger defense. To me though, this game comes down to the experience of Frank Beamer facing the less experienced Jimbo Fisher. Beamer has seen it all and should be able to dominate the less experienced Fisher. What a turnaround huh? From losing to James Madison to winning the ACC title and going undefeated in conference play.
#16 Alabama: Season Over
#17 Nevada @ Louisiana Tech
Coming off of a major victory against Boise State, Nevada could be ripe for an upset. It’s just the kind of attention that a team that hasn’t had a win of this magnitude before, could be distracted by. That being said, I’m not of the opinion that Louisiana Tech will be able to pull of that upset. Nevada should win.
#18 Texas A&M: Season Over
#20 Utah: Season Over
#22 Mississippi State: Season Over
Arizona State @ #23 Arizona
While Arizona could be suffering a bit of a hangover following their loss to Oregon, I doubt that’ll be enough to keep Nick Foles from throwing all over the Arizona State secondary. Enjoy the Niuck Foles to Justin Criner show.
Rutgers @ #24 West Virginia
Rutgers has been a vast disappointment this season. The change at quarterback and loses on both the offensive line and defense has left them little more than a mediocre team that is hoping for a bounce-back year next year. West Virginia should dominate them.
#25 Northern Illinois @ Miami (Ohio) (MAC Championship Game)
Miami (Ohio) is one of the best turn around stories in football this year. They won a single game last season and now they are fighting conference power Northern Illinois for the MAC title. What a turnaround huh? While I do remember how well they played against Florida at the beginning of the year, Northern Illinois has been more consistent and knows how to win. I expect them to win this game.
Other Games of Note
SMU @ UCF (Conference USA Championship Game)
Somehow didn’t everyone know this was how Conference USA play was going to end? A team that features a high flying spread offense against the ground pound style of UCF. Problem is that UCF has seen high-flying offense before and knows how to defend against them. That’s why they’re going to take this game.
Connecticut @ South Florida
This game will more or less decide who wins the Big East. UConn control their own fate, only needing to pull off a win to secure a share of the Big East title and the BCS berth that comes with it. While South Florida isn’t really playing for anything tangible, momentum going into their bowl game would be nice. Ultimately, I give this to UConn, because they have more on the line and will be hungrier to get it. Runningback Jordan Todman having such a good year also helps their cause.
Navy @ Army (Next Saturday)
Given that this is only college game being play next week, I thought it appropriate to include it in this week’s preview. Navy may have been disappointed this season, but they are still better than Army and should win as they have for the past few years.
Again nobody is added or dropped from this list. The loss to Nevada hurts Kellen Moore’s case, enough that even in my eyes he drops down to number three. So why is Justin Blackmon higher than either Cam Newton or LaMichael James? Well, Newton shouldn’t even be playing and James is performing well in a system that has seen other rushers perform just as well. Blackmon is a singularly explosive player. Completely dominant at what he does. As for the jumps for both Bobby Rainey and Lance Dunbar, it’s pretty simple. They are first and third (respectively) in the nations in rushing. Not that impressive you say? Well consider this; they reached those marks on teams that combined for 5 wins. They are dominating in spite of the players around them and not because of them. If anything that has to be thought of as outstanding.
1. Justin Blackmon
2. LaMichael James
3. Kellen Moore
4. Cameron Newton
5. Andrew Luck
6. Bobby Rainey
7. Lance Dunbar
8. Colin Kaepernick
9. Andy Dalton
10. Vai Taua
Special NFL game Preview.
HOU vs. PHI
Without Asante Samuel, I think an edge goes to Houston’s offense with the dynamic Andre Johnson. However, that doesn’t help the Houston defense in facing the Philadelphia offense. That defense has been the Achilles’ heel of the Texans team, especially since Demeco Ryans went down. I gotta give this to the Eagles.
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