Football Future-see 2015: Week Twelve

Get ready for a load of Big XII games over the coming weeks. That conference will make a massive impact on the playoff race. Consider that, barring a miracle, only the PAC-12 has completely dismissed itself from the playoff discussion. So long as Clemson keeps winning then they get in. The winner of Alabama and Florida, should they only have one loss, will get in. Ohio State, should they keep winning, will get in. That’s three of the four spots sewn up. Now it appears the Big XII wants in, seeing as they were shut out last year. The American Athletic Conference, now Houston’s for the taking, likely won’t get in, but you never know with the committee.

This week we have the obligatory Georgia pick, plus two Big XII games, an ACC tilt, and an SEC West match-up.

RECORD

Week One	9-1
Week Two	4-1
Week Three	3-2
Week Four	2-3
Week Five	2-3
Week Six	3-2
Week Seven	5-0
Week Eight	3-2
Week Nine	4-1
Week Ten	4-1
Week Eleven	3-2
Week Twelve	5-0
Week Thirteen	0-0
Championships	0-0
Bowls	0-0
OVERALL	47-18	.723

The Games:

17 North Carolina at Virginia Tech (Saturday, Noon, ESPN)

Somewhere along the line, the Tar Heels discovered how to play offense at a very high level. After scoring 26 points in back-to-back games, the Heels have since scored 66 and 59, against a rising Duke and a struggling Miami, respectively. The question now is, can the Tar Heels keep up such a pace? They have to travel to Blacksburg to face a Hokie squad intent on sending their head coach out a winner in conference play. As Frank Beamer departs the college football scene, he would love nothing more than to slow the high powered UNC team down. I just don’t think he can do it. Tar Heels win.

Final Score: North Carolina 31, Virginia Tech 17
CORRECT: North Carolina won 30-27 in OT

15 LSU at 22 Ole Miss (Saturday, 3:30pm, CBS)

LSU has tumbled since their loss to Alabama. A subsequent loss to Arkansas brought the Tigers down yet another notch. Ole Miss, similarly, took a tumble, but they managed to beat Alabama. The Rebels, though, lost to Memphis, which is a definite blemish. This will still be a good game, though. I’m looking for LSU to rebound, and for RB Leonard Fournette to re-establish his presence. But I don’t think it will be enough. Ole Miss can score on pretty much anyone. This might not be the shootout that Ole Miss vs Arkansas was, but it’ll be fun to watch, and it’ll be close. Ole Miss wins, but not by much.

Final Score: Ole Miss 28, LSU 24
CORRECT: Ole Miss won 38-17

Georgia Southern at Georgia (Saturday, 7:00pm, ESPNU)

Is the ship righting at Georgia? Or is this just a calm before a final storm? Mark Richt has faced an increasingly warming seat in Athens ever since the team lost 3 out of 4 in October. Since then, the Dawgs have taken down Kentucky and Auburn. Defeating the Tigers is always a soothing balm to an anxious fan base, but the Dawgs still have in-state foe Georgia Tech, and a loss there will re-ignite the fire under Richt’s chair. The Dawgs usually schedule a team like Georgia Southern, who runs the option offense, before playing Tech every year, as a means of tuning up the defense. I like Georgia to win here, but they better keep winning, or the pitchforks will come out in Athens. Dawgs win.

Final Score: Georgia 31, Georgia Southern 14
CORRECT: Georgia won 23-17 in OT

10 Baylor at 6 Oklahoma State (Saturday, 7:30pm, Fox)

Oklahoma State needs only to win out to win the Big XII and likely claim a spot in the playoff. Baylor’s chances took a massive hit last week in a ten point loss to Oklahoma. The Cowboys are poised to take the Big XII to a place it’s never been before, seeing as the “Co-Champions” fiasco last year didn’t play out for them. That’s a lot of pressure on relatively young athletes. And for that reason, I’m taking Baylor here. The Bears have nothing left to lose. They can actually still reach the playoffs, if things break right for them. Oklahoma State has to win out. I don’t think they will. Baylor wins.

Final Score: Baylor 35, Oklahoma State 28
CORRECT: Baylor won 45-35

18 TCU at 7 Oklahoma (Saturday, 8:00pm, ABC)

Oklahoma stomped down Baylor last week, opening the door for them to take the Big XII. TCU suffered their lone loss two weeks ago, but what they lost last week may be more important. QB Trevone Boykin suffered an ankle injury against Kansas, and that might keep him on the sideline for this game. The Horned Frogs are still a stout offense, and they’ll put up points, but it won’t be enough. Oklahoma is on the roll, and their QB, Baker Mayfield, is making a strong Heisman case. The Sooners took down Baylor last week. This week I think they’ll take down TCU. Boomer Sooner.

Final Score: Oklahoma 38, TCU 28
CORRECT: Oklahoma won 30-29

Right Wing Top Ten

Week Six of the poll features all sorts of changes.

NR = Not Ranked the previous Week

NC = No Change from previous week

+ = Moved Up

-  = Moved Down

Dropped Out: LSU Tigers

15. Stanford Cardinal (-11)

14. Michigan State Spartans (NC)

13. Michigan Wolverines (+2)

12. Houston Cougars (NR)

11. North Carolina Tar Heels (NR)

10. TCU Horned Frogs (+3)- TCU may be with their QB, which hurts their chances in the conference.

9. Florida Gators (+3)- Florida has climbed the rankings to that spot where it’s difficult to move higher without other teams faltering.

8. Baylor Bears (-5)- The Bears face Okie State in a huge Big XII game this week.

7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+3)- The only blemish on the Irish’s record is a 2-point loss at #1 Clemson. That likely bodes well for them in the playoff discussion.

6. Iowa Hawkeyes (+1)- Iowa is still undefeated…just sayin’...

5. Oklahoma Sooners (+3)- Oklahoma is primed to make a run at the playoffs.

4. Oklahoma State Cowboys (+2)- The Cowboys face Baylor in a huge Big XII game this week.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (+2)- Alright, Ohio State, I’ve finally put you in the top three…prove me right.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (NC)- Alabama would probably be favored over anyone in the country.

1. Clemson Tigers (NC)- Clemson just needs to keep winning, and an ACC Title game with North Carolina could be there only trap.

Right Wing Bowl Predictions

Playoffs

Cotton Bowl: Clemson vs Oklahoma

Orange Bowl: Alabama vs Ohio State

Top Tier Bowls

Peach Bowl: LSU vs Notre Dame

Sugar Bowl: Florida vs Oklahoma State

Rose Bowl: Iowa vs Stanford

Fiesta Bowl: Houston vs Utah

Second Tier Bowls

Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs Georgia

TaxSlayer (Gator) Bowl: Mississippi State vs Penn State

Outback Bowl: Michigan State vs Ole Miss