College Football Saturday

As promised, here is our college football preview a day early (due to tonight's game between Louisville and Rutgers). Enjoy!

College Football Picks

Greg:               36 – 22

Andrew:          35 – 23

Last weekend, Notre Dame clinched their spot in the BCS National Championship game by finishing unbeaten in the regular season (Ohio State did too but they are banned from postseason play). That means that the SEC Championship Game, between #2 Alabama and #3 Georgia, will act as a semifinal to the championship. Many of the other teams that will make up the BCS Bowl Games have yet to be determined however. This week the Conference Championship Games will loom large; plus, there are some big games that may determine some of the at large spots. Here is our take on some of the biggest games this weekend:

Louisville at Rutgers

This is a game that has a lot riding on it. The BCS will unfortunately invite one team from the Big East to one of their bowl games. It could end up being the winner of this game. Both have had their highs and lows this year, and I have no clue how these teams will handle this immense pressure. I like Louisville more in the passing game, but Rutgers can really run the ball. The defenses are pretty equal too. So I’ll take a flyer and go with Rutgers. I think the home crowd will better allow them to overcome nerves. – Andrew

Louisville has had a few really bad losses over the last three weeks, and Rutgers' defense has been solid all year.  The Scarlet Knights are also playing at home, and will play as a future member of the Big Ten.  I’ll take them in a pretty competitive game. – Greg

Andrew:          Rutgers 24, Louisville 21

Greg:               Rutgers 20, Louisville 17

MAC Championship: 21 N. Illinois vs. 17 Kent State

This is a legit football game. Both teams are solid and are equally capable of winning this game. There is also an outside chance that one could garner an at large bid to a BCS bowl game. The most likely candidate is Kent State because they are higher in the standings currently. So I’ll pick them by a touchdown. – Andrew

Both teams are having great seasons, especially Kent State who is coming in ranked 17th in the country. However, the Huskies have Jordan Lynch, who is an all-purpose yards machine (averaging about 350/game), and their offense is running on all cylinders right now. I like them in a high scoring, and highly entertaining game. – Greg

Andrew:          Kent State 41, N. Illinois 34

Greg:               N. Illinois 45, Kent State 38

Pac-12 Championship: 16 UCLA vs. 8 Stanford

This game sounds familiar doesn’t it? A week ago Stanford showed UCLA what big boy football was, and that was at their place. This one has more at stake though as it’s for the Rose Bowl. I know it’s hard to beat a team twice in a row, but I think Stanford does it. For the record, I’m so angry Oregon isn’t in this game cause I think they are better than both of these teams… – Andrew

Though I was wrong to pick against UCLA when they played USC, I will not be wrong as the Cardinal will lay it on the Bruins for the second straight week. It is usually hard to beat a team in consecutive weeks, but Stanford is just physically stronger and tougher than UCLA at this point. Stanford wins. – Greg

Andrew:          Stanford 27, UCLA 17

Greg:               Stanford 38, UCLA 24

C-USA Championship: UCF vs. Tulsa

These two teams have identical 9-3 records overall and are both 7-1 in the conference. They have played once this season already with Tulsa pulling out a two-point win at home. Unlike the Pac-12 game, I think the result is reversed this time. UCF will make a few more plays in the second half and win in a tight contest. – Andrew

Tulsa has a great offense, and UCF is average at both offense and defense.... I'm going with the great offense in a shootout. – Greg

Andrew:          UCF 38, Tulsa 35

Greg:               Tulsa 55, UCF 43

11 Oklahoma at TCU

TCU will try to make a statement in this game to show they belong in a big boy conference. Oklahoma is trying to keep a hold on their potential at large birth into a BCS bowl game. I have seemingly picked Oklahoma in nearly every big game on this blog. They have let me down before but they came through a week ago. So I’ll roll with them again. – Andrew

The Sooners pulled out a miraculous win against their in-state rivals last week, and they have another tough test this week on the road. The Horned Frogs (weirdest mascot in all of sports) will have their hands full, but Gary Patterson's defenses are usually tough.  I still think Oklahoma pulls it out, but they will trail in the 4th quarter. – Greg

Andrew:          Oklahoma 38, TCU 24

Greg:               Oklahoma 30, TCU 27

SEC Championship: 2 Alabama vs. 3 Georgia

We all know this is the focus of everyone’s attention this week. Not only will the winner be the SEC Champion, but they will also move on to play Notre Dame in the National Championship game. I think Alabama is a better team and I trust them and their coach a bit more. But I’m going with Georgia. I love their defense, I love how they have been playing, and I love that they will come into this game with nothing to lose. They will play more freely than Alabama. – Andrew

Georgia had better hope that having this game in Atlanta helps them, because it could get as ugly as their game against South Carolina did this year.  Georgia's defense is playing great, but they are a 'light' defense. What I mean by that is they are full of fast skill-position defensive players, and I think they will get out-matched by Alabama's great offensive line and backs. – Greg

Andrew:          Georgia 21, Alabama 17

Greg:               Alabama 24, Georgia 17

ACC Championship: 13 Florida St. vs. Georgia Tech

For the legitimacy of the BCS, let’s hope Florida State wins this game. Nobody wants to see Georgia Tech in one of those games. The good news is that I think Florida State wins this game easy. Despite losing a heartbreaker last week, I say they bounce back in a big way and earn their way into the BCS bowls. Defense is too good and they won’t allow the team to lose. – Andrew

In one of what should be the most non-competitive games of the week, Mark Stoops' announcement that he has taken the Kentucky head-coaching job will throw a wrench into this game. I can't decide whether or not it will motivate FSU's defense or demoralize them. I think for this game I'm going to go with motivate, and they crush the Yellow Jackets. – Greg

Andrew:          Florida State 38, Georgia Tech 14

Greg:               Florida State 38, Georgia Tech 17

18 Texas at 6 Kansas State

Klein and company has a lot to prove now. A lot hangs in the balance including a possible Heisman trophy and a nice spot in a big time bowl game. Texas can present some problems for the Wildcats, but I think K-State will have the answers and playing at home will also help. I am an optimist so I think Klein will make a statement here and they win fairly easily. – Andrew

Some people still think Colin Klein is a Heisman candidate. I am not one of them. Even if he has a great game this week against Texas like I expect him to, he cannot erase the memory of the beat down at Baylor earlier this season. Texas is an overrated team, and Case McCoy is starting at QB… he's not the real McCoy. – Greg

Andrew:          Kansas State 31, Texas 20

Greg:               Kansas State 30, Texas 14

Big Ten Championship: 12 Nebraska vs. Wisconsin

With a Rose Bowl bid on the line, this will be an intense matchup. I think both teams are similar. Montee Ball will be the best player on the field, but I think Nebraska will be the better team. I say it comes down to a late field goal and the newly added Cornhuskers will represent the Big Ten in the battle for the roses. – Andrew

The de facto Big Ten Championship Game was played last week between Michigan and Ohio State. Both teams are better than those playing in this game. Wisconsin won a squeaker a few weeks ago, but I think Nebraska pulls this one out and 'represents' the Big Ten poorly in the Rose Bowl against Stanford. – Greg

Andrew:          Nebraska 24, Wisconsin 21

Greg:               Nebraska 31, Wisconsin 20

Enjoy your weekend!

By: The Sports Guys