Cram Session - Week 14

Thursday, November 29

New Orleans (5-6) at Atlanta (10-1), Atlanta favored by 3 1/2

Every game is a must win for the Saints if they want to try to complete their recovery from an 0-4 start. They have a tall task ahead of them tonight as they try to win in the Georgia Dome, where the Falcons rarely lose. The Saints handed the Falcons their only loss of the season in New Orleans a few weeks ago. The trash talk has been pretty intense and this is starting to become a legitimate rivalry. The Falcons defense is decent to mediocre, while the Saints is bad, so expect plenty of offensive fireworks in this game. The difference in the last game was the Saints ability to run the ball versus the Falcons inability to run it against the porous Saints defense. I think we will see a reversal of that in this game, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Drew Brees throw a pick or two. I believe the Falcons will win this game, then see Tampa lose to Denver on Sunday and clinch the NFC South.

Prediction: Atlanta 34, New Orleans 27



Top 10 - Friday, November 30

Pac-12 Championship: #16 UCLA (9-3, 6-3) at #8 Stanford (10-2, 8-1)

These teams meet for the right to play in the Rose Bowl in Palo Alto. They just played last Saturday at the Rose Bowl and Stanford clobbered UCLA. There isn't much reason to think that UCLA can now go on the road and defeat Stanford. The Cardinal defense is firing on all cylinders right now and has made high-powered offenses like the Bruins and Oregon's look meek. For UCLA to have a shot they will have to figure out how to slow down Cardinal RB Stepfan Taylor, who rushed for 142 yards and 2 TDs in the victory last week. UCLA's offensive weapons of QB Brett Hundley and RB Johnathan Franklin never got on track last week. They might play better in this game, but if the Bruins win this game it will be because their defense has an otherworldly performance. I just don't see that happening.

Prediction: Stanford 28, UCLA 17


Saturday, December 1

Games That Matter To Me

Big Ten Championship: #12 Nebraska (10-2, 7-1) vs. Wisconsin (7-5, 4-4) in Indianapolis, Indiana

The Huskers are looking to return to a BCS bowl game for the first time since an embarrassing defeat to Miami at the Rose Bowl national championship game in 2001. If they defeat Wisconsin for the Big Ten Championship they will be back in the Rose Bowl. This game will be a rematch from their September 29th meeting in Lincoln, when the Huskers overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat Wisconsin 30-27. The Badgers are only in this game because both Ohio State and Penn State were ineligible to play in it. Despite that fact people seem to think that the Badgers and not the Huskers are the favorites in this game. QB Taylor Martinez has quietly had a very strong season. His completion percentage is over 60% for the first time in his career, and he kept his interception level the same, while improving his touchdown passes by 8. The Huskers will also have RB Rex Burkhead back for this game. Burkhead proved to a major spark plug in the Huskers latest come from behind win at Iowa last week. Even the defense, which was maligned much of the season, has been playing much better as of late. The Huskers seem to be playing their best football at the right time.

Starting at quarterback in this game for Wisconsin will be Curt Phillips, the third quarterback that has started a game for Wisconsin this season. The Badgers finally feel like they have found the answer at that position. Make no mistake about it though, if they are to win this game it will be on the back of RB Montee Ball. In the game in September Ball was kept under 4 yards per carry but still scored 3 TDs. The Badgers defense is quite stout, so the Huskers will have their work cut out for them.

I think the recent surge that Nebraska has seen on defense will be the difference in this game, and give the Huskers their first conference championship since 1999.

Prediction: Nebraska 29, Wisconsin 23

Top 10 - Saturday, December 1

SEC Championship: #2 Alabama (11-1, 7-1) vs. #3 Georgia (11-1, 7-1) in Atlanta, Georgia

The other conference championship games have meaning to those teams playing in them, but the SEC Championship game in Atlanta will be the only with any national significance. That is because it is essentially a semi-final, with the winner moving on to play Notre Dame for the BCS Championship on January 7th. I will be serving as a best man at a wedding during this game, so I won't be able to properly scout Notre Dame's upcoming opponent. However, doesn't really matter to me, I am confident that with one of the best defenses in the country, Notre Dame can beat either of these teams. Both mostly feasted on cupcakes this season, with Alabama only having two wins against ranked teams, and Georgia just one. The Tide are the heavy favorites, mostly on reputation and I guess based on their defense. Their defense is still very good but not nearly as dominant as it was last year. Georgia has a pretty prolific offense led by QB Aaron Murray and freshman RBs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall. Murray hasn't always played well against tough defenses though, so his effect will likely be minimized. It will have to be UGA's ground attack that does most of the offensive work.

The Crimson Tide offense doesn't get talked about too much but QB AJ McCarron was outstanding this year, throwing 25 TDs and just 2 INTs, with both of those picks coming against Texas A&M. Like Georgia, the Tide also have a two headed running back system powered by Eddie Lacy and and T.J. Yeldon.

This will play out like most battles between SEC heavyweights, entertaining at times but mostly ugly and boring. It will get interesting at the end with the game tight, but I give Alabama the slight edge, as they will win and set themselves up for a chance to defend their national championship.

Prediction: Alabama 24, Georgia 20

#18 Texas (8-3, 5-3) at #6 Kansas State (10-1, 7-1)

With a win Kansas State will clinch the Big 12 championship and head to the Fiesta Bowl. If they lose and Oklahoma wins their game at TCU, then the Sooners will win the Big 12. Standing in the Wildcats way is the Longhorns, who are licking their wounds from a poor performance in a loss at home to TCU on Thanksgiving. The Wildcats have had two weeks to stew over seeing their undefeated season and national title hopes go up in smoke, and will have a crowd and team that will be looking for blood. The Longhorns can't seem to settle on a quarterback on offense and defensively have not been nearly as good as advertised. I don't expect them to be able to put up much resistance Saturday night.

Prediction: Kansas State 42, Texas 24

Last Week: 6-3
Overall: 99-23