Cram Session - Week 14

The mystery of the BCS Championship will finally be solved after this weekend. #1 Florida meets #2 Alabama in the SEC Championship in a case of deja vu from last season. The winner of that game will go to the National Championship and meet #3 Texas if they can defeat Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship. #4 TCU will rest and hope that Texas loses, while #5 Cincinnati will need a Texas loss and a win at Pittsburgh to have a chance. Should be an exciting weekend.

Top 25

SEC Championship: #1 Florida (12-0, 8-0) vs. #2 Alabama (12-0, 8-0)

This is the game everyone has been waiting for. Sometimes in sports there are games fans want to see and seem too good to be true to happen. Almost every NBA fan wanted to see Kobe and LeBron go head to head in the NBA Finals, but it wasn't meant to be. However, for the second straight year college football fans have been fortunate enough to have number 1 meet number 2 in a virtual semi-final. Florida is already facing adversity with the DUI and subsequent suspension of Carlos Dunlap. He will be a big loss on the defensive side of the ball for the Gators, and is something the Crimson Tide will try to exploit behind star RB Mark Ingram. The Gators have the definite edge at QB with Tim Tebow so for the Tide to have a chance they will have to force turnovers, and the rushing game will have to get going. That also means they will have to find creative ways to get WR Julio Jones the ball, maybe on some reverses. The Gators haven't been the overwhelming dominant team that people expected heading into the preseason. It seems like the Tide would be ripe for an upset. But as much slobbing as Tebow gets, he seems to always carry the Gators to wins in big games. I know all my readers just barfed but its the truth. He will find a way to win this game for Florida.

Prediction: Florida 28, Alabama 24

Big 12 Championship: #3 Texas (12-0, 8-0) vs. #22 Nebraska (9-3, 6-2)

I have a funny feeling about this game. Everyone seems so sure that Texas is going to blow the doors off the Huskers, but to steal a Lee Corso line, not so fast my friend. The Huskers have a top 10 defense led by the beast Ndamukong Suh. Defense wins games and I think the Huskers have a good enough defense to keep this one close. The absolute key to the game will be the play of RB Roy Helu. The Huskers have shown that if they can get the running game going, and get some drives going, they are a tough team to beat. QB Zac Lee has to be a game manager, and not make costly turnovers. The Huskers margin for error is very slim in this game. It is too slim for them to win but they will put up a hell of a fight.

Prediction: Texas 24, Nebraska 17

#5 Cincinnati (11-0, 6-0) at #15 Pittsburgh (9-2, 5-1)

This game doesn't have a name brand sponsoring it but it is the Big East championship game. The winner of this game will earn the Big East's automatic BCS bid and the Bearcats may reach loftier status. Cincinnati has an outside chance of playing for the national title if they win and Texas loses to Nebraska. However, I think by time Texas plays the Bearcats will have settled for much less. Pittsburgh played sloppily at West Virginia but I think at home, with this much at stake they will play a tremendous game. RB Dion Lewis is going to step up in a big way and be the difference in the game. The Bearcats are better than people have given them credit for, but they don't have the defense of a team that can finish a season unbeaten. That will be their undoing.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 35, Cincinnati 28

New Mexico State (3-9, 1-6) at #6 Boise State (12-0, 7-0)

Boise State is just playing out the string, as they have done all they can do to try to earn a BCS berth. Really amazing what coach Chris Petersen has done in Boise.

Prediction: Boise State 50, New Mexico State 20

#16 Oregon State (8-3, 6-2) at #7 Oregon (9-2, 7-1)

The Civil War takes on national meaning this year as the winner will win the Pac-10 and its automatic Rose Bowl berth. Oregon has been dominant most of the season, while the Beavers have really come on strong, winning four in a row. The Beavers will be looking for revenge for last season when the Ducks crushed their Rose Bowl dreams. The atmosphere will be electric in Autzen and the difference in the game. QB Jeremiah Masoli is an amazing player to watch. He is a dual threat passing, 14 TDs against 4 INTs this year, as he is running, as evidenced by his 12 rushing touchdowns. He will be the best player on the field. Yes, better than Beavers RB Jacquizz Rodgers, and the Ducks will be back in Pasadena for the first time in 15 years.

Prediction: Oregon 38, Oregon State 24

ACC Championship: #10 Georgia Tech (10-2, 7-1) vs. Clemson (8-4, 6-2)

For all intents and purposes the expansion of the ACC has been a dud for the conference in football. I think in the short history of their championship game they have produced only one compelling matchup, Virginia Tech versus Florida State in 2005. This game had potential but then Clemson proved fraudalicious by getting routed by South Carolina. Seeing RB C.J. Spiller in person this year definitely allows me to implore you to watch him play at least once. This guy is going to be an NFL star and makes big plays every game. Tech suffered a hiccup against Georgia but rivalry games are always tough. I think the Yellow Jackets bounce back and head to the Orange Bowl.

Prediction: Georgia Tech 30, Clemson 24

Arizona (7-4, 5-3) at #18 USC (8-3, 5-3)

Kind of strange to see USC playing a virtually meaningless game at this point of the season. The Wildcats are not a good road team and that will come through in this game.

Prediction: USC 30, Arizona 17

#19 California (8-3, 5-3) at Washington (4-7, 3-5)

The Golden Bears have been a strange team all season. Some weeks they look great, but others they look awful. After all the excitement they generated to start the season the Huskies fell fast, losing four of their last five. This one will be close but I think Cal barely pulls it out.

Prediction: California 35, Washington 24

Conference USA Championship: #21 Houston (10-2, 6-2) vs. East Carolina (8-4, 7-1)

Houston and QB Case Keenum continue to amass points at an amazing rate each week. Keenum's 38 touchdowns and 6 interceptions are definitely Heisman worthy. The Pirates have been quiet for most of the year but steamrolled through Conference USA. As good as the Cougars offense has been, they have lost a couple of games due to their suspect defense. I think the Pirates defense will keep the Cougars offense relatively in check and pull off the upset.

Prediction: East Carolina 35, Houston 32

#23 West Virginia (8-3, 4-2) at Rutgers (8-3, 3-3)

Rutgers blowout loss at Syracuse still astounds me. RB Noel Devine and the Mountaineers for the win.

Prediction: West Virginia 31, Rutgers 20

Last Week: 15-6
Overall: 216-59