It has come down to this. What a wild season we’ve had in college football, and you have to admit that it has been exciting. From one week to the next, you don’t know what to expect, unless you expect upsets. Because this year it hasn’t been about whether upsets will occur but when they will happen. And now, if both teams can make it through this final weekend, we should be in for an improbable BCS Championship game between Missouri and West Virginia. While fans of traditional powers will whine about how weak their schedules were and how _____ team deserves a shot, if you’ve seen these two teams play, you know we’ll be in for an exciting game between two very good teams.
But first, they have to make it through this weekend. Can Missouri beat Oklahoma the second time around? Can West Virginia avoid this year’s curse of the #2 team by beating their most hated rival? It’s coming down to the wire, and all I know for sure is that we’re in for an exciting finish.
Now for the predictions.
I didn’t do as well last week as I have previously, going 11-7, including going 0-3 in Friday’s games, which brings my record for the year to 73-27. This week, I’m calling all the conference championship games along with The Cross Poll Top 30 games and the classic Army/Navy game.
Thursday Throwdown: Rutgers at Louisville, Thu., 11/29, 7:30 pm, ESPN … Everyone (or at least the 150 people in the world who have the NFL Network) will be watching tonight’s Dallas/Green Bay slugfest. But for college football aficionados, there’s this game between disappointing Big East teams. Normally, Louisville is tough to beat at home. But normally Louisville isn’t as bad as they are this year. … Rutgers 31, Louisville 24
MAC Championship: Miami (OH) vs. Central Michigan, Sat., 12/1, 11:00 am, ESPN2 ... The first of the conference championship games gets started in the AM. I don’t have a lot on this one; the last time I watched Miami play, their quarterback was named Ben. … Miami 31, CMU 32
Navy vs. Army, Sat., 12/1, 12:00 pm, CBS … For those of you who feel nostalgic, or just like a passionate rivalry game with very little national implication, you can’t get much better than Army/Navy. Except maybe Harvard/Yale. … Navy 39, Army 33
C-USA Championship: Tulsa at Central Florida, Sat., 12/1, 12:00 pm, ESPN ... The last time these teams met earlier this season, UCF won 44-23. I see little reason to expect a different outcome here. … Tulsa 29, UCF 41
ACC Championship: #8 Virginia Tech vs. #11 Boston College, Sat., 12/1, 1:00 pm, ABC ... When these two teams met in the regular season, Virginia Tech dominated Boston College for 55 minutes before losing on a last-second Matt Ryan touchdown toss. The Hokies will be looking for revenge, and I think they’ll get it. But then again, I picked them last time too. … Virginia Tech 20, Boston College 17
SEC Championship: #15 Tennessee vs. #5 LSU, Sat., 12/1, 4:00 pm, CBS … Wow. A conference championship that isn’t a repeat. What a novelty. LSU has tended to lose close games to worse teams this year, so Tennessee has a chance to make a BCS game if they can keep it close. But I don’t think they can. … Tennessee 21, LSU 34
UCLA at #10 USC, Sat., 12/1, 4:30 pm, ABC … UCLA hung 16 on Oregon last week, and I think they’ll do the same against USC. The only difference is I expect USC to do some scoring too. … UCLA 16, USC 33
#30 Oregon State at #22 Oregon, Sat., 12/1, 4:30 pm, ESPN2 … Remember when Oregon was the best team in the nation? It looks like they lost the best player in the nation, because they’ve been unable to do anything since Dennis Dixon went down. They’re at home here, but I think the Beavers will be able to handle the Ducks’ fourth-string quarterback, whatever his name is. … Oregon State 25, Oregon 21
#16 Brigham Young at San Diego State, Sat., 12/1, 6:30 pm, The MTN … This game was supposed to happen earlier in the year but got pushed back due to the San Diego wildfires. BYU should have a pretty easy time here. … BYU 33, SDSU 20
Pittsburgh at #2 West Virginia, Sat., 12/1, 7:45 pm, ESPN … The 100th installment of the Backyard Brawl. The line on this one is West Virginia by 28.5. If you want a safe bet, I would take Pitt here. Not that I don’t think West Virginia will win this one, because I believe they will, but I think Pitt will be fired up. And while they’ll lose big, they won’t lose that big. For West Virginia, it’s win and they’re in the national championship. Remember though that this is a nasty rivalry and it’s by no means a sure thing. … Pitt 18, West Virginia 38
Arizona at #13 Arizona State, Sat., 12/1, 8:00 pm, ESPN 2 … Apparently, the state of Arizona got the memo about in-state rivalry games a week late. Come on guys, get it together. … Arizona 27, Arizona State 30
Big 12 Championship: #9 Oklahoma vs. #1 Missouri, Sat., 12/1, 8:00 pm, ABC … Like West Virginia, for Missouri, it’s simple: win and they’re in. That’s easier said than done, however, because this is a strong Oklahoma team. And remember that earlier this year Oklahoma beat Missouri 41-31. Missouri has a lot riding on this game, and they come in with momentum. I just can’t believe it’s going to turn out any different than it did the first time. … Oklahoma 38, Missouri 32
Washington at #6 Hawaii, Sat., 12/1, 11:30 pm, ESPN2 … If I were the coach of a team not likely to make a bowl game, I would schedule a game at Hawaii in December too. Have a nice vacation, Huskies, but try to remember you’re playing a football game too. … Washington 25, Hawaii 42
I think L'Ville gets by Rutgers to gain bowl eligibility & I wouldn't want them in a bowl if I was a sucky team.
I'm not sure why everyone is so hot for Virginia Tech. Matt Ryan has been known to step up and I think he realizes how important this game is to his draft status in a QB loaded year.
Ohhhhh, Tennessee? I'd love to see it simply because Cal punked them, but LSU is always best after being sent to the mat. I think their defense plays proud in this one.
USC's defense won't give up 16. They will swarm UCLA.
Glad to see someone pick Oregon State. I don't even think it's that close.
I think UW will play a little keepaway and that game ends a little closer to 50 total points.
Norcalfella,
Thanks for the insight, as always. And looks like you were right about Louisville.
I could see Boston College winning this one just as easily as I could see them losing. It could go either way. The Eagles came very close to losing the first time around -- in fact, it couldn't get much closer to a loss without being a loss -- and it's difficult to beat a good team twice. I think it'll be a close, hard-fought game either way, and I put a lot of stock in Matt Ryan.
I won't be surprised if USC shuts UCLA out. Or if LSU dismantles Tennessee and it's over by halftime.
I don't see how anyone who watched Oregon's last two performances can pick them this week. They look lost out there. It's a big rivalry, so they'll be fired up. But it probably won't matter.
bosox61,
Thanks for your feedback, even if you don't agree with me on all the games. That's what predictions are for, right? That's why we talk about games before the games are played. Feel free to let me know your picks too.
Hey, you're so wrong about Mizzou. Enjoyed the post anyway, though.
Also - Mizzou's tickets were sold out in a matter of an couple of hours, yet OU still has 5,000 available. Hmmmmmmmm... guess those Sooner fans know what is coming.
halloween returns to autzen stadium saturday as oregon state unloads on the ducks see it didnt work trying to #### offa duck fan im being realistic knuckelhead!!!
bianblack,
We'll see if I'm wrong about Mizzou on Saturday. They do have a lot of emotion coming into this one, so they may pull it out. And good fact about the tickets. I didn't know that.
I saw the UL win over Rutgers coming, but wanted to make sure I was right before bragging about it. Otherwise I like the picks. I know it sounds crazy, but I have a weird feeling Tennessee might pull off the upset. LSU has to still be disappointed of having their title hopes ruined, and now they're playing for a guy that everyone thinks is leaving for Michigan after this year. Tennessee wants it more, but do they have the athletes to match up to arguably the most talented team in the country (even though they are ####ed up)?
Una mas - traditionally, when conference title games involve a rematch, the team that won the first meeting wins the title game. I saw the statistic yesterday but can't remember exactly what the record is. Go EERS!!
ramblineer,
That's a really interesting statistic. And it makes perfect sense, especially in something like the C-USA title game, when UCF beat Tulsa decisively the first time around.
That's all we need -- Tennessee in a BCS game. I won't be surprised at all, and it will sure shake things up.
They bleep everything around here. Like the South Carolina Gamecocks. #### Vitale. I'm surprised they don't bleep Houston Nutt.
