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.