Football Future-see 2014: Bowl Season

Record
Week 1	8-2
Week 2	5-0
Week 3	2-3
Week 4	4-1
Week 5	2-3
Week 6	2-8
Week 7	4-1
Week 8	3-2
Week 9	2-3
Week 10	2-3
Week 11	4-6
Week 12	3-2
Week 13	3-2
Week 14	5-5
Week 15	2-3
Bowls	21-17
Total	72-61	0.541

It is bowl season in college football. This year we have a total of 39 bowl games. The number has increased over the last few years, and I almost think that we’ll eventually reach a point where every team goes to a bowl. Because in America, everyone is a winner. We’ll also start handing out participation trophies… Anyway, here are the bowl games, in order of how they’re played. The Playoff Games are listed last. Most of the pre-December 29 bowls won’t get a lot of detail. Sorry, but that’s just the nature of the business.

**UPDATE - December 22: Through six games...well, it's not going well. Not at all. I'm 1-5 so far. Yeesh, this has been a bad year for the picks.**

**UPDATE - December 28: Through eighteen games...well, it's still not going well. I'm 6-12 so far. I wish I knew what happened to me this year. I'm currently 57-56 on the season, which is the closest I've ever been to falling under .500 this late in the year.**

**UPDATE - December 29: Through 21 games, my record stands at 9-12, and 60-56 on the year. Today has been good for me, with all three games coming out correct.**

**UPDATE - December 30: Through 24 games my record is 11-13 (62-57 on the year. Notre Dame nailed a last second field goal to seal a comeback win over LSU. Georgia trounced Louisville, running crazy on the #3 run defense in the country.**

**UPDATE - December 31: Through 27 games, my record stands at 12-15 (63-59 on the season), with TCU absolutely smashing Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl, Boise State surprising many in the Fiesta Bowl, and Georgia Tech's gimmicky-to-no-end offense overcoming Mississippi State.**

**UPDATE - January 1: Through 32 games my record is 15-17 (66-61 on the year.) A couple upsets both helped and hurt me.**

**UPDATE - January 3: Through 37 games my record is 19-18 (70-62 on the year.) The once-mighty SEC West finished 2-5 in their bowl games. The much-maligned SEC East went 5-0.**

**UPDATE - January 7: Through all bowl games (except the Championship Game) my record is 21-17 (72-61 on the year). **

The Games:

New Orleans Bowl (December 20, 11:00am, ESPN)

Nevada vs Louisiana-Lafayette

The Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette do battle with Nevada. While Louisiana-Lafayette has the better (or is that scarier?) mascot, Nevada will win this game.

Final Score: Nevada 28, Louisiana-Lafayette 17
INCORRECT: Louisiana-Lafayette won 16-3

New Mexico Bowl (December 20, 2:20pm, ESPN)

Utah State vs UTEP

Utah State is a team that can put a scare in you on any given game day. I look for them to take down UTEP early, with UTEP scoring a garbage time TD to make it respectable.

Final Score: Utah State 34, UTEP 21
CORRECT: Utah State won 21-6

Las Vegas Bowl (December 20, 3:30pm, ABC)

22 Utah vs Colorado State

I’m sticking with Colorado State, even though I picked them to win before their head coach jumped ship for Florida. Utah is a good team, but something about this game just screams “upset” to me.

Final Score: Colorado State 31, Utah 27
INCORRECT: Utah won 45-10

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (December 20, 5:45pm, ESPN)

Western Michigan vs Air Force

Air Force usually has a good offense, but their defense is typically suspect. I haven’t actually heard much out of the Academy this year, which leads me to picking Directional Michigan West to win this match-up.

Final Score: Western Michigan 27, Air Force 21
INCORRECT: Air Force won 38-24

Camellia Bowl (December 20, 9:15pm, ESPN)

South Alabama vs Bowling Green

I was pretty high on South Alabama early in the season and it didn’t exactly pay off. That said, I’m going to ride the Jaguars to the end of the season. Jags over Bowling Green.

Final Score: South Alabama 23, Bowling Green 17
INCORRECT: Bowling Green won 33-28

Miami Beach Bowl (December 22, 2:00pm, ESPN)

BYU vs Memphis

BYU is a college football independent, but I don’t know how much longer that will last. I can see the Cougars joining the Big XII, should an invite come their way. The fact that I’ve talked about their conference alignment more than their bowl game should tell you something about their bowl game. Cougars win.

Final Score: BYU 34, Memphis 17
INCORRECT: Memphis won 55-48 in 2OT...and the two teams fought brutally after the game

Boca Raton Bowl (December 23, 6:00pm, ESPN)

Marshall vs Northern Illinois

Once-mighty Marshall dropped all the way to the Boca Raton Bowl thanks to a single loss late in the season. Granted, in that loss they gave up 67 points to Western Kentucky, and yet still only lost by one point. Northern Illinois used to be the darling on the non-Power-Fives, but no more. Marshall wins.

Final Score: Marshall 35, Northern Illinois 28
CORRECT: Marshall won 52-38

Poinsettia Bowl (December 23, 9:30pm, ESPN)

Navy vs San Diego State

Navy typically has a very strong running game. San Diego State has been a bit of an enigma this season. The Aztecs are 1-4 against teams that reached bowl games, with their only win coming against Air Force (30-14). Navy beat Air Force 30-21. Seeing as San Diego State had an easier go against the cadets than the midshipmen did, I’m picking the Aztecs in a close game.

Final Score: San Diego State 24, Navy 21

INCORRECT: Navy won 17-16

Bahamas Bowl (December 24, Noon, ESPN)

Central Michigan vs Western Kentucky

Directional Michigan Central…wait, since when is Central a direction?...takes on Directional Kentucky West in the Bahamas. That’s a pretty nice way to spend the holidays. I think this game is a coin flip, personally. WKU handed Marshall their only loss, but also lost to the only “directional” school they played – and yeah, I’m using “directional” loosely at this point. CMU, on the other hand, is 2-1 versus “directional” opponents. Chippewas for the win!

Final Score: Central Michigan 38, Western Kentucky 35
INCORRECT: Western Kentucky won 49-48

Hawai’i Bowl (December 24, 8:00pm, ESPN)

Fresno State vs Rice

Fresno State is 6-7 on the year while Rice is 7-5. Fresno, though, is far more battle-tested than the Owls. Rice might put up a fight, but I think the Bulldogs of Fresno State walk away with the win.

Final Score: Fresno State 26, Rice 21
INCORRECT: Rice won 30-6

Heart of Dallas Bowl (December 26, 1:00pm, ESPN)

Illinois vs Louisiana Tech

Just two years ago, Louisiana Tech sported an offense that averaged nearly 52 points per game. This year they’ve averaged a paltry 37.5 points per game in comparison. Illinois slogged through the somewhat down Big Ten on their way to a 6-6 record. That said, I like the Big Ten over Conference USA. Fighting Illini win.

Final Score: Illinois 23, Louisiana Tech 17
INCORRECT: Louisiana Tech won 35-18

Quick Lane Bowl (December 26, 4:30pm, ESPN)

Rutgers vs North Carolina

Which North Carolina shows up for this game? Is it the UNC that lost 35-7 to in-state rival NC State…or is it the UNC that defeated Georgia Tech and Duke? I’m hedging my bets that it is the latter. Tar Heels win.

Final Score: North Carolina 38, Rutgers 14
INCORRECT: Rutgers won 40-21

St. Petersburg Bowl (December 26, 8:00pm, ESPN)

NC State vs Central Florida

NC State struggled to put away Georgia Southern in week one, and a month later put a scare into Florida State that forced the Seminoles into comeback mode. UCF is riding a four game winning streak including road wins over South Florida and East Carolina. Take Central Florida to win.

Final Score: UCF 30, NC State 20
INCORRECT: NC State won 34-27

Military Bowl (December 27, 1:00pm, ESPN)

Cincinnati vs Virginia Tech

The Bearcats are, in my opinion, by far the better team in this game. That means nothing, though. Ohio State was the better team than Virginia Tech…didn’t stop the Hokies from steamrolling the Buckeyes in Columbus. Cincinnati lost 50-28 to Ohio State. VT beat Ohio State 35-21. Again, that means nothing. Bearcats win going away.

Final Score: Cincinnati 33, Virginia Tech 17
INCORRECT: Virginia Tech won 33-17 (at least I had the score right)

Sun Bowl (December 27, 2:00pm, CBS)

15 Arizona State vs Duke

This match-up might have fundamentalist Christians in an uproar (and yes, I say that jokingly). The Sun Bowl features the Sun Devils vs the Blue Devils. The Sun Devils of Arizona State dropped three games this year: a blowout loss to UCLA, then close road losses to Oregon State and Arizona. ASU averages 37 points per game. Duke also lost three games, but their losses are worse than ASU’s. The Blue Devils average 32 points per game. I like ASU to pull away later in this game.

Final Score: Arizona State 32, Duke 20
CORRECT: Arizona State won 36-31

Independence Bowl (December 27, 3:30pm, ABC)

Miami vs South Carolina

South Carolina suffered through a lost season, but now faces Miami and a chance to regain some SEC pride over the upstart ACC. Miami is coming off a disappointing 12-point loss to lowly Pitt. I like South Carolina to rebound and win one for the Head Ball Coach.

Final Score: South Carolina 27, Miami 23
CORRECT: South Carolina won 24-21

Pinstripe Bowl (December 27, 4:30pm, ESPN)

Boston College vs Penn State

This game is still playing off the allure of being in Yankee Stadium. The match-up is solid and even, but I think Penn State finds enough James Franklin leadership to leave New York with a “W.”

Final Score: Penn State 17, Boston College 14
CORRECT: Penn State won 31-30

Holiday Bowl (December 27, 8:00pm, ESPN)

Nebraska vs 24 USC

Two of the most storied programs in college football meet for only the fourth time, but for the first time ever in a bowl game. Nebraska looked like a team with a lot of promise in the early going, but a later-season route by Wisconsin revealed the Huskers as more pretender than contender. USC, on the other hand, was up and down all season, finally settling in the Top 25. Nebraska has a good running game, if it can get established. But I think USC simply has more firepower than Nebraska. Trojans win.

Final Score: USC 38, Nebraska 27
CORRECT: USC won 45-42

Liberty Bowl (December 29, 2:00pm, ESPN)

TAMU vs West Virginia

West Virginia took on the role of giant-killer in the Big XII this year, especially whenever a Big XII power came to Morgantown. This game isn’t in Morgantown, though, and the Aggies of TAMU (I’m not using the ampersand any longer, because blogger dislikes it so much that it screws up editing) will bring their A-game in an attempt to salvage a bit of a lost season. The Mountaineers are a dangerous team, but I like the Aggies a little better in this game.

Final Score: TAMU 24, West Virginia 23
CORRECT: TAMU won 45-37

Russell Athletic Bowl (December 29, 5:30pm, ESPN)

Oklahoma vs 17 Clemson

One thing the college football playoff has done is provide bowl match-ups we haven’t seen in a long time, and that goes for the lower-tier bowls too. When is the last time Clemson played Oklahoma? Try the 1988 Citrus Bowl, which Clemson won 13-6. Most of the players on each team weren’t even born yet. Oklahoma expected big things at the start of the season. So did Clemson. The Tigers held course, though they tripped up against teams like Georgia and Florida State. I just like Clemson in this game. Don’t know why… Tigers win.

Final Score: Clemson 28, Oklahoma 26

CORRECT: Clemson won 40-6

Texas Bowl (December 29, 9:00pm, ESPN)

Arkansas vs Texas

Texas has been, without a doubt, the most disappoint major university team for a while now. The once powerhouse Longhorns have been largely irrelevant on the national stage for years. Arkansas, meanwhile, is a team ascending in the SEC. Having gone 17 straight conference games without a win, the Razorbacks went 2-1 against Mississippi State, LSU, and Ole Miss, allowing a combined 17 points, all of which was scored by Mississippi State. They shut out LSU (17-0) and Ole Miss (30-0). For that reason alone, I like Arkansas to roll the Longhorns in this game. Hogs win.

Final Score: Arkansas 38, Texas 17

CORRECT: Arkansas won 31-7

Music City Bowl (December 30, 3:00pm, ESPN)

Notre Dame vs 23 LSU

Boy, did Notre Dame ever fall from grace…the Irish lost five of their last six, including being blown out on the road by Arizona State and a shocking overtime home loss to Northwestern. LSU, meanwhile lost two of its last three, including a shutout loss to Arkansas, but the Tigers took Alabama to overtime before losing. In other words, this is a match-up of underachievers, though I don’t expect this game to disappoint. I’m looking for LSU to come out of the gate strong and hand another SEC beating to Notre Dame. Why? Why not? Tigers win.

Final Score: LSU 31, Notre Dame 17

INCORRECT: Notre Dame won 31-28

Belk Bowl (December 30, 6:30pm, ESPN)

13 Georgia vs 21 Louisville

You might as well call this the Todd Grantham Bowl. Games like this are proof the bowls are selected based on more than record and conference standing. Thirteen other FBS schools went 9-3 this year, but only Louisville was chosen to face Georgia. Why? Louisville’s Defensive Coordinator is Todd Grantham, who last year left the University of Georgia under rather acrimonious conditions, and took with him two big-name players who were kicked off the Dawgs for breaking team rules. Georgia’s offense is much better than Louisville’s, even with Todd Gurley hurt. The Cardinals’ defense should be stout, but Georgia should wear them down, especially in the second half, to reach ten wins. Dawgs win.

Final Score: Georgia 37, Louisville 28

CORRECT: Georgia won 37-14 (Hutson Mason broke Mike Bobo's team record for completion percentage, Nick Chubb set a school record for yards per carry (over 7 yards per carry) and passed Garrison Hearst for the fourth highest single season rushing total. Only Herschel Walker has rushed for more yards in a single season than Nick Chubb.) I like getting a team's score correct.

Foster Farms (San Francisco) Bowl (December 30, 10:00pm, ESPN)

Maryland vs Stanford

Stanford had one of the worst seasons in recent Cardinal history. That said, Stanford is still a dangerous team on any given Saturday, or in this case, a Tuesday. Add to that the fact this is basically a home game for Stanford, and you have the recipe for a blowout. Maryland’s best chance of winning this game is bringing out some kind of hideous uniform combination that dumbfounds the entire Stanford team. Otherwise, Stanford rolls, big.

Final Score: Stanford 42, Maryland 14
CORRECT: Stanford won 45-21

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (December 31, 12:30pm, ESPN)

9 Ole Miss vs 6 TCU

The outcome of this game hinges on two things:1) which Ole Miss defense shows up in Atlanta, and 2) which Bo Wallace shows up. If the defense that beat Alabama shows up, the Rebels have a chance. If the defense that lost 30-0 to Arkansas shows up, then Ole Miss will lose big. If Good Bo shows up the Rebels can hang with almost anyone. Bad Bo showing up, though, will spell disaster. Given the long toll of an SEC schedule, I’m more willing to think that the latter occurs in both cases. I hate to pick against the SEC, but unless Ole Miss can solidify their defense TCU is going to roll.

Final Score: TCU 34, Ole Miss 17
CORRECT: TCU won 42-3

Fiesta Bowl (December 31, 4:00pm, ESPN)

20 Boise State vs 10 Arizona

Boise State claimed the crown of non-Power-Five representative in the New Year’s Six Bowl…and something about a partridge in a pear tree…too many numbers. Arizona had a great season, though that tough loss to Oregon in the PAC-12 title game hurts, they can still hang their hats on the fact that they went into Eugene and beat the Ducks at home earlier in the season. Arizona will ride that confidence to a win over the upstart Broncos.

Final Score: Arizona 35, Boise State 24
INCORRECT: Boise State won 38-30

Capital One Orange Bowl (December 31, 8:00pm, ESPN)

7 Mississippi State vs 12 Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech took down Georgia to close the regular season and narrowly lost to Florida State in the ACC Championship Game. Mississippi State, though, is playing angry and they have a much better QB than Tech. In fact, Tech’s entire offense is gimmicky to no end. It works in college, but not in the NFL. I think Mississippi State comes out mad, and knocks Tech in the face from the first snap. One of the SEC’s Bulldog teams has to beat Georgia Tech, right?

Final Score: Mississippi State 35, Georgia Tech 21
INCORRECT: Georgia Tech won 49-34

Outback Bowl (January 1, Noon, ABC)

19 Auburn vs 18 Wisconsin

When I think of the bowl games I’d most like to watch, this one is very high on that list. Two evenly matched teams that suffered in the latter parts of the season. Wisconsin lost to Ohio State in the Big Ten title game. Auburn didn’t reach the SEC conference championship, but lost their last two conference games to Georgia and Alabama. Wisconsin’s loss may linger for them, which should allow Auburn to take advantage. Tigers win a close, hard-fought game.

Final Score: Auburn 33, Wisconsin 28
INCORRECT: Wisconsin won 34-31 in OT

Cotton Bowl (January 1, 12:30pm, ABC)

8 Michigan State vs 5 Baylor

Of the top tier bowls, while I’m excited about the playoffs, this is one of those games I’m really looking forward to. Baylor’s offense, at times, looked unstoppable. They hung 61 points on TCU. Granted, they gave up 58 to TCU. Michigan State, though, may be the best defense Baylor has seen all year. Sparty plays with a defensive ferocity few match. If Baylor can get their offense rolling early, then they stand a chance. If not, and I don’t think they do, Michigan State wins a close, hard-fought, true 4-quarter game.

Final Score: Michigan State 26, Baylor 24
CORRECT: Michigan State won 42-41

Citrus Bowl (January 1, 1:00pm, ESPN2)

16 Missouri vs 25 Minnesota

Minnesota sank their Gopher claws into the 25th spot in the polls and refused to let go. Missouri, meanwhile, has been all over the place. The Tigers lost at home to Indiana and were then blown out 34-0 by visiting Georgia. Minnesota almost beat Ohio State. Missouri grew battle-tested over the last month of the season, beating the Aggies, a resurgent Tennessee and Arkansas, and squaring off with Alabama for the SEC crown. If Missouri’s QB, Maty Mauk, can play like he did against the Aggies, then Missouri wins. I think he does. Tigers over Gophers.

Final Score: Missouri 30, Minnesota 26
CORRECT: Missouri won 33-17

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (January 2, Noon, ESPN)

Houston vs Pittsburgh

Pitt is a team I can’t figure out. They stunk up the house against Georgia Tech, losing five fumbles in the first quarter, but then beat Miami, in Miami, by two touchdowns. Houston has a better record, but lsot by three touchdowns to UT San Antonio. I’ll go with Houston, based off record, but if vs-Miami Pitt shows up instead of vs-Georgia Tech Pitt, we might have a game.

Final Score: Houston 28, Pitt 20
CORRECT: Houston won 35-34

TaxSlayer(Gator) Bowl (January 2, 3:20pm, ESPN)

Iowa vs Tennessee

Tennessee is a team on the rise. They very well could be contenders in the SEC East next year, though I personally think 2016 may be a bit more realistic for the Vols. The Iowa Hawkeyes stumbled again in the Big Ten this year. They’ll try their best, but I think Tennessee claims their first bowl victory under Butch Jones. Vols win.

Final Score: Tennessee 32, Iowa 20
CORRECT: Tennessee won 45-28

Valero Alamo Bowl (January 2, 6:45pm, ESPN)

11 Kansas State vs 14 UCLA

Who is UCLA? Honestly, that team has been on a greater roller-coaster ride than almost any other team this season. QB Brett Hundley was supposed to be a Heisman candidate. We saw how that worked out. Kansas State, meanwhile, has quietly put together a fairly good season and stands on the edge of the Top Ten. When the dust clears over the Alamo Bowl, I think K-State stands tall with a big win.

Final Score: Kansas State 35, UCLA 21
INCORRECT: UCLA won 40-35

Cactus Bowl (January 2, 10:15pm, ESPN)

Washington vs Oklahoma State

There are several bowl games with the potential to steal the show this season, and this might be one of them. Yes, both teams had slightly disappointing seasons, but both are good teams that can step up to surprise you on any given game day. Washington will be looking to represent the PAC-12 in its effort to claim the top spot among the conference. Defeating Oklahoma State would go a long way toward doing that. But Oklahoma State will not go quietly. In fact, I like the Cowboys to win this game off a late TD.

Final Score: Oklahoma State 27, Washington 24
CORRECT: Oklahoma State won 30-22

Birmingham Bowl (January 3, 1:00pm, ESPN)

East Carolina vs Florida

Florida made a bowl game, even if their head coach didn’t. Will Muschamp has fled Gainesville for the comfier confines of Auburn. The Gators have to keep going, though. They’ll face an East Carolina team that was, at one time, the top non-Power-5 team in the land. The Pirates will be looking for a huge win over an SEC opponent. The Gators are playing for pride. I don’t like picking against the SEC…so I won’t. Gators win.

Final Score: Florida 24, East Carolina 21
CORRECT: Florida won 28-20

GoDaddy Bowl (January 4, 9:00pm, ESPN)

Toledo vs Arkansas State

I wish I could tell you more about these two, but I can’t. Arkansas State is making their fourth consecutive trip to this bowl. Toledo feels like the safer bet here, though. Can’t explain why…

Final Score: Toledo 42, Arkansas State 30

CORRECT: Toledo won 63-44

College Football Playoff Semifinals

Rose Bowl (January 1, 5:00pm, ESPN)

3 Florida State vs 2 Oregon

Oregon is closer to a national championship than at any time since they faltered against Auburn a few years back. Heisman winning QB Marcus Mariota has the Ducks primed to play a stalwart Florida State team that just refuses to lose. The Seminoles, as I noted in their preview against Georgia Tech, have danced the ragged edge of disaster so often this season that it’s a wonder the Noles aren’t 7-6 instead of 13-0. Oregon, meanwhile, has left little in doubt outside of an early season home loss to Arizona, which they later avenged in the PAC-12 Championship Game. FSU will look for Jameis Winston to once again lead them through a tough scrap, but Oregon is unlike any team Florida State has played. Oregon will win, but the loss of their star cornerback to a knee injury in practice will allow FSU to turn this one into a shootout. Ducks win.

Final Score: Oregon 42, Florida State 38
CORRECT: Oregon won 59-20

Sugar Bowl (January 1, 8:30pm, ESPN)

4 Ohio State vs 1 Alabama

The second semifinal game on New Year’s Day pits Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes against Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide of Alabama. Ohio State is coming off an absolute dismantling of Wisconsin. While one game doesn’t necessarily prove a team belongs in the playoffs, that one game spoke volumes about who Ohio State is. Alabama, on the other hand, is climbing out of a season-long battle in the SEC West. After taking down Missouri in the SEC Championship Game, the Tide punched their ticket to the inaugural playoff. Ohio State is on their third quarterback of the year, which will probably come back to haunt them against a defense like Alabama. The Tide, meanwhile, have solidified behind Blake Sims as their QB. I think this game is interesting for the first half, but the Tide defense will overwhelm Ohio State’s offense. Alabama pulls away in the second half for a strong win.

Final Score: Alabama 35, Ohio State 17
INCORRECT: Ohio State won 42-35

The Woes of the Big XII

In 2010, a wave of college football upheaval swept the land. The PAC-10 became the PAC-12, adding Utah and Colorado. The Big Ten added three new schools (Nebraska, Maryland, and Rutgers). The SEC added two new members (Missouri and Texas A&M). The ACC added Pitt, Louisville, and Syracuse, as well as securing a non-football-membership deal with Notre Dame.

Then there's the Big XII. One of the proudest conferences watched as Colorado departed for the PAC-12. Nebraska then cut ties to join the Big Ten. Things seemed to calm down for the Big XII, but the advent of the Longhorn Network angered the Aggies at College Station so much that they left to join the SEC, taking the Missouri Tigers with them. The college football nation held their collective breath as it looked like the Big XII was on the verge of collapse.

Rumors began to swirl that Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and potentially Texas Tech were looking at joining the PAC-10. Having only eight teams would be a definite detriment to the conference. Moving quickly, the conference invited West Virginia and TCU to join. Both colleges accepted the invite and the Big XII found themselves at ten teams.

And so the 2014 season rolled around, and the Big XII touted themselves as the only conference that crowned "One True Champion." The ten teams in the league play nine conference games, meaning everyone plays everyone. No other Power Five conference does that. It would be obvious to anyone that, if two teams ended up with identical records at the end of the season, seeing as they played each other, then the head-to-head outcome would determine the champion.

But not for Big XII commissioner Bob Bowlsby. Baylor defeated TCU 61-58 during the season, and both finished 12-1. Instead of touting Baylor as their champion, the Big XII announced that they had co-champions. It was a political gamble, and boy did it backfire.

The College Football Playoff Selection Committee had ranked TCU 3rd overall just one week before the conference championship games. Once the games were over, TCU, which had defeated Iowa State 55-3, dropped from 3rd to 6th. Ohio State moved up to 4th, claiming the last playoff spot. Baylor jumped TCU by defeating Kansas State.

The conspiracy theorist in me is shouting that the committee rather conveniently snubbed only one conference instead of two, and also rather conveniently snubbed the only conference without a conference championship game. Of course, they also jumped Ohio State into the playoff and let's face it, Ohio State will make the playoff a lot more money than Baylor or TCU would. It makes me wonder how different the outcome would've been if, instead of TCU and Baylor, the Big XII representatives were Oklahoma and Texas.

But here's the point I'm driving toward...I think this is the committee's way of telling the Big XII that they need a title game. And for that, the Big XII has to expand, as NCAA bylaws prevent a conference from staging a championship game unless they have twelve teams. So what does the Big XII do?

Well, they can hold course, which is boring. For the purpose of this exercise, I pushed the big red button on the center of my desk and exercised the nuclear option of conference realignment, pushing the Big XII all the way to 14 member institutions. Hey, if the Big Ten can have 14 members, so can the Big XII.

Here's the current conference alignment:
Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Christian, Texas Tech, West Virginia

To get the Big XII up to 14 member institutions, we need to find four schools looking for potentially better situations than they currently have. Of the four I chose, three make fairly good sense. One is a bit of a stretch, but it makes geographical sense. We'll start on the east side of the Mississippi River, where West Virginia is the only Big XII school. They need a partner over here; a bridge to the rest of the conference. The bridge is found in the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Cincinnati is currently one of the top members of the American Athletic Conference, the smoking ruin of the Big East. I can't imagine the Bearcats would turn down a chance to play in the Big XII.

The other three schools are farther west than any current Big XII school, but they fit the mold. First up is BYU. The Cougars of Brigham Young recently went independent, and I think they'll grow to regret that choice. Joining the Big XII would be a move in the right direction. Think being an independent is a good idea in college football? I would bet even Notre Dame, the stalwart independent, will be a full-fledged member of the ACC within five years.

Second on our list is Colorado State. The Rams had a great season, flirting with the Top 25, which in this new era of college football playoffs is rarefied air for a mid-major. Cast your lot with the Big XII, though, and see your fortunes rise.

The last addition is the most tenuous: Boise State. The Broncos have had great success in the WAC and Mountain West, but they'll never sniff a national championship unless the get into a Power Five conference. Welcome to the new era of college football.

Now that the Big XII is up to 14 teams, we need to split into divisions. The SEC has the East and West, as does the Big Ten. The PAC-12 has a North and South. The ACC has an Atlantic and Coastal. Go ahead, tell me which division Florida State is in, without looking it up. Unless you're an ACC fan, you probably can't. I love college football and I can't. Geography is the best definition of division. The Big Ten proved how disastrous a non-geographical alignment can be with the asinine Leaders and Legends Divisions a couple years back.

For the Big XII, under this new membership list, I think an East and West division will do nicely.

The Big XII East would be made up of Baylor, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa State, Cincinnati, and West Virginia.

The Big XII West would be made up of TCU, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Colorado State, BYU, and Boise State.

Each team would play the other six teams in their division, plus a yearly permanent cross-division rival and two floating games against the other division. The permanent cross-divisional rivals in this scenario would be:
Texas - Texas Tech
Oklahoma - Oklahoma State
Kansas - Kansas State
Baylor - TCU
Iowa State - Colorado State
Cincinnati - Boise State
West Virginia - BYU

Yes, some of these match-ups are stretches, but it maintains the tradition of Bedlam, the Kansas rivalry, and just plain awesomeness that is TCU vs Baylor. And it would allow the Big XII to stage a conference championship game, likely in Jerry's World in Dallas, though a couple other options do exist, like Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. And it would increase the Big XII's chances of landing a team in the College Football Playoff.

Football Future-see 2014: Week 15: Championship Week

Record
Week 1	8-2
Week 2	5-0
Week 3	2-3
Week 4	4-1
Week 5	2-3
Week 6	2-8
Week 7	4-1
Week 8	3-2
Week 9	2-3
Week 10	2-3
Week 11	4-6
Week 12	3-2
Week 13	3-2
Week 14	5-5
Week 15	0-0
Total	49-41	0.544

It’s championship week. The last fourteen weeks have pointed to this end date, where the Big XII will play their final conference games and the other Power 5 conferences will hold their Championship Games to determine overall conference champions. This is the week that finally irons out the College Football Playoff picture. Right now, if the season ended today, Alabama would play TCU in one semifinal, while Florida State played Oregon in the other. But there is still a lot of football to be played. In fact, given that no truly dominant team has stepped forward this season, with only one week of play left, there is still a chance for Alabama-Oregon-FSU-TCU to become Baylor-Arizona-Georgia Tech-Ohio State. That’s how crazy things could get.

The Games:

PAC-12 Championship Game (Friday, 9:00pm, Fox)

7 Arizona vs 2 Oregon

By the time the first game kicks off on Saturday, it’s likely we’ll know one of the playoff teams. Oregon, with a win, would be a lock for the inaugural College Football Playoff. Should Arizona win, then the committee will have to come up with a very good reason as to why a team that defeated Oregon, twice, on the road, does not deserve a Playoff spot. I think the PAC-12 champion, regardless of who, gets in. And here’s the deal: I think Arizona can win again. They have Oregon’s number, for some reason. They’ve figured out what Oregon does and they’ve found ways to stop it. Oregon, meanwhile, seemingly cannot solve the riddle of the Wildcats. Marcus Mariota will have himself a day for Oregon, but in the end I like Arizona in a close, close game. Arizona wins the PAC-12.

Final Score: Arizona 35, Oregon 34

SEC Championship Game (Saturday, 4:00pm, CBS)

1 Alabama vs 16 Missouri

It’s amazing what a win by one team, 600 miles away, can do to deflate your last home game, but Georgia felt that deflation after the Tigers knocked off Arkansas to claim the SEC East crown. This is the same Missouri team that lost at home to Indiana and who lost at home to Georgia 34-0. But they will play Alabama for the SEC Championship. Honestly, I don’t expect this one to be all that close. Yes, Missouri has the two best defensive ends in the conference, but Alabama’s offense can hit you from any angle. Alabama has probably the best overall player in the country in WR Amari Cooper. I expect this game to be close for the first half, but Bama’s depth will overcome Mizzou in the second and the Tide will roll away. Alabama wins the SEC.

Final Score: Alabama 42, Missouri 24

9 Kansas State at 6 Baylor (Saturday, 7:45pm, ESPN)

This game will determine the Big XII Championship, most likely. Although right now the Committee seems to think TCU's strength of schedule is more impressive than Baylor's potential Big XII title and head-to-head win over TCU. A Baylor victory over the Wildcats of Kansas State will give the Big XII crown to the Bears, regardless what TCU does against Iowa State. Baylor has been fairly consistent, though their schedule is not as strong as TCU’s, which is why TCU has remained ahead of the Bears in the playoff ranking, even though Baylor won head-to-head. Kansas State will probably throw all they have at the Bears on Saturday, as they are now simply trying to claim a top-tier bowl berth. Baylor needs to be prepared defensively, as Kansas State can play a mean offensive game when they want to. But in the end I think Baylor locks this one up in the third quarter, with K-State maybe scoring a late TD to make it seem closer than it actually was. Bears win the Big XII.

Final Score: Baylor 42, Kansas State 34

ACC Championship Game (Saturday, 8:00pm, ABC)

4 Florida State vs 11 Georgia Tech

Florida State is beatable. Several teams have proven that without actually sealing the deal. The Selection Committee thinks so, as Alabama, Oregon, and TCU have all jumped the Noles. The Seminoles have danced the ragged edge of disaster too many times this season. They are going to give in at some point. I think it will be against a strong, ball-controlling Georgia Tech offense. As a Georgia fan, I don’t usually respect Tech, but Paul Johnson has recruited some absolute beasts on his roster. If Florida State fails to account for every single player on the field at any given time, Tech will make them pay. Given the Yellow Jackets’ tendency to control the ball for long periods of time (averaging 34 minutes of possession per game), if FSU falls behind, they may not have enough time to catch up. And that’s exactly what I think will happen. Tech jumps out big and FSU storms back, but a long controlled drive in the fourth quarter seals the upset. Yellow Jackets win the ACC.

Final Score: Georgia Tech 28, Florida State 21

Big Ten Championship Game (Saturday, 8:17pm, Fox)

13 Wisconsin vs 5 Ohio State

Let me start this preview by saying my thoughts and prayers are with the Ohio State Buckeyes family. The tragic apparent-suicide of lineman Kosta Karageorge is unsettling and saddening. Couple that tragedy with the team watching their quarterback as he was carted off the field with a season-ending broken ankle and you’ll find a team that is likely distressed. They’ve fought hard to reach the Big Ten Championship Game, especially after an early-season deflating loss at home to Virginia Tech. Wisconsin, on the other hand, has been on a steady rise the last few weeks, including an absolute beatdown of Nebraska in which RB Melvin Gordon set a (short-lived) NCAA record for rushing yards in a game. Expect more of the same from the Badgers, and sadly, expect the events of the last week to simply be too much for the young men of Ohio State to be able to handle all at once. Badgers win by a touchdown to claim the Big Ten.

Final Score: Wisconsin 31, Ohio State 24

The Right Wing Top Ten

The Associated Press Poll and the Amway Coaches Poll both feature a Preseason version. I even posted a “Preseason Top Ten,” or something to that effect, a while back. I never intended to use that poll as a basis for the Right Wing Top Ten, though.

15. Ole Miss Rebels (last week: NR)

14. Missouri Tigers (last week: NR)

13. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (last week: NR)

12. Michigan State Spartans (last week: NR)

11. Oklahoma Sooners (last week: 15)

10. Marshall Thundering Herd (last week: 10)

Why: This is probably all the love Marshall is going to get. Their schedule simply is too weak.

9. Kansas State Wildcats (last week: 11)

Why: Kansas State has a chance to throw a wrench in the playoff picture when they face Baylor this weekend.

8. Wisconsin Badgers (last week: 12)

Why: Wisconsin’s running game is staggeringly good. A face-off with the Buckeyes in Indianapolis could potentially determine a playoff spot.

7. Arizona Wildcats (last week: 13)

Why: Arizona defeated Arizona State to set up a rematch with Oregon. The Wildacts have beaten the Ducks in Eugene and in Tucson...all that’s left for the trifecta is to beat the Ducks at a neutral site.

6. Ohio State Buckeyes (last week: 7)

Why: Ohio State has faced a horrible week. Their QB was carted off the field with a season-ending ankle injury, but worse was to come, when lineman Kosta Karageorge was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

5. TCU Horned Frogs (last week: 5)

Why: TCU remains on the outside looking in of my top four...

4. Baylor Bears (last week: 4)

Why: If Baylor beats K-State they claim the Big XII title.

3. Oregon Ducks (last week: 3)

Why: Oregon is a playoff-bound team, assuming they survive a rematch with Arizona in the PAC-12 title game.

2. Florida State Seminoles (last week: 2)

Why: Florida State is, possibly, the weakest #2-ranked team I’ve ever seen. Don’t be surprised if they trip up against Georgia Tech.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide (last week: 1)

Why: Alabama made it to Atlanta and now they need only dispose of Mizzou to reach the playoff.