Championship Weekend & Top 10 Games

Championship weekend kicks off tonight when the inaugural Pac-12 Championship takes place in Eugene, Oregon. Four other BCS Conference championships will be decided and the Big 12’s de facto champion will be determined by the winner of the Oklahoma/Oklahoma State contest. So take a break from Christmas decorating or shopping and enjoy the last weekend of college football. Here are my picks for the top 10 games of Week 14.

#14 Georgia vs. #1 LSU: The SEC Championship is the biggest game besides the NFL’s Super Bowl. Both of these teams feature Top Five Total defenses (UGA – 5th, LSU – 2nd) and big strong defensive and offensive lines. The Bulldogs are riding a 10-game winning streak since losing its first two games (Boise State & USC) of the season. LSU has won 13 games in a row dating back to last year’s loss at Arkansas. This is the third SEC Championship game pairing these two universities. LSU won in 2003 and Georgia won in 2005. The winner of this game will have an advantage in the running game by game’s end.
Prediction: LSU has faced a much tougher gauntlet of games than UGA, Bayou Bengals win 41-20.

#10 Oklahoma @ #3 Oklahoma State: The “Bedlam Series” takes center stage in the Big 12 since the conference could not maintain its championship game with all the comings & goings. Oklahoma has owned the “Sooner” state showdown winning eight in a row in the series. There is a slight, slight chance if OSU wins this game and LSU somehow gets blown out by Georgia in the SEC Championship, that the writers and computers might vote OSU into the BCS Championship game to play Alabama.
Prediction: Defense is optional in this game, Oklahoma in a squeaker 50-48.

#15 Wisconsin vs. #13 Michigan: The inaugural Big 10 Championship game is a rematch from a game Michigan State won on a last-second Hail Mary pass at home. With a win, Wisconsin will trek to Pasadena for the second year in a row and play in the Rose Bowl. Both teams are riding four-game win streaks. Wisconsin brings a high-octane offense, while Michigan State counters with a strong defense.
Prediction: I doubt the two teams can replicate the drama from the first game, Wisconsin wins 42-31.

#22 Texas @ #17 Baylor: If Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, RG3, puts up big numbers against a good Texas defense then the Bears’ junior QB will thrust himself into the Heisman spotlight. Griffin has thrown 34 touchdowns and averages more than 330 passing yards/game. Baylor beat Texas in Austin last year snapping a 12-game losing streak to the Longhorns. Baylor is undefeated at home (7-0).
Prediction: Texas’ defense is decent (Big 12 standards), Baylor’s offense is exceptional, Baylor wins 48-34.

#5 Virginia Tech vs. #20 Clemson: The A-She-She Championship is another rematch from an early October game where Clemson manhandled the Hokies in Blacksburg, VA. Virginia Tech has not lost a game since the setback to Clemson eight weeks ago. Clemson has limped down the stretch losing three of four games by an average of almost three touchdowns. The Hokies are in familiar territory in the A-She-She Conference Championship playing in their fourth title game in five years. Last year, Virginia tech beat FSU.
Prediction: Like the “turkey leftovers,” the Clemson mojo is gone, gobble, gobble, Hokies win 42-21.

#24 Southern Miss @ #6 Houston: This is the biggest game for the Houston Cougars football program since the late 80s when Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware was slinging balls all over the field in the Run-n-Shoot. A win guarantees Houston a spot in a BCS game (Sugar Bowl) and more than likely gives current Cougars Coach, Kevin Sumlin, a leg up on Southern Miss Head Coach Larry Fedora for the Texas A&M gig. Both men, Sumlin & Fedora, have ties to the state of Texas and A&M in particular.
Prediction: Another game where defense is optional, Houston prevails 49-38.

Ohio U vs. Northern Illinois: The Mac Championship is being played in Detroit. Both of these teams are riding win streaks. Ohio U has won five in a row, while NIU has won seven in a row. NIU’s offense has scored at least 40 points in nine games this season.
Prediction: Northern Illinois in a wild shootout wins 45-38.

UCLA @ #9 Oregon: The fightin’ Rick Neuheisels (fired on Tuesday) get the Pac-12 berth in this championship game, because Southern Cal is serving an NCAA sanction from the Reggie Bush saga. UCLA is 6-6 coming off a 50-0 debacle versus cross-town rival Southern Cal, and the Bruins had to petition the NCAA for an exemption to be able to play in a bowl game if they have a losing record post-Pac-12 Championship game.
Prediction: Hide the women and children, because this game will get ugly, quack, quack, Ducks roll 63-0.

Iowa State @ #11 Kansas State: K-State can achieve 10 wins by defeating Iowa State. The Wildcats are positioning themselves for a hopeful invite to the Cotton Bowl. Iowa State is bowl-eligible and Head Coach Paul Rhodes has done a masterful job in Ames, Iowa with not much to sell. The Wildcats are a big methodical running football team, while the Cyclones are a scrappy, over-achieving squad.
Prediction: Kansas State has been the most surprising team in the Big 12, no surprises in Manhattan, KS on Saturday, KSU rolls 44-24.

Connecticut @ Cincinnati: Cincinnati lost a lot of wind out of its sails last night when West Virginia beat USF. UC needs to win to at least claim a share to a Big East Title. UConn won last year’s meeting. Cincinnati’s Head Coach Butch Jones is being mentioned as a possible candidate at several higher BCS schools. A Big East title (even co-title) would look good on Jones’ resume if he indeed pursues another career opportunity.
Prediction: Bearcats claws the Huskies, Cincinnati squeaks by 27-20.

My next blog will be Monday when I breakdown USC’s bowl game destination and opponent.

Go Gamecocks!