Football Future-see 2012: Championship Week

Record

Week 1…..8-1
Week 2…..5-0
Week 3…..2-3
Week 4…..5-0
Week 5…..4-1
Week 6…..2-3
Week 7…..5-1
Week 8…..4-1
Week 9…..2-3
Week 10...4-1
Week 11...4-1
Week 12…4-1
Week 13…4-1
Week 14…2-3
Overall..…55-20

Review/Preview:
It’s championship week here at the Right Wing. The major conferences play their championship games this weekend. Some teams (Notre Dame) won’t play again until January. Some teams have major tests to determine postseason fates (the SEC Championship Game). Seriously, Notre Dame will have nearly 45 days between its last game and the National Championship Game. So here’s the slate for this week…

The Games:

PAC-12 Championship Game .....CORRECT
16 UCLA at 8 Stanford

Stanford just hung a 35-17 beating on UCLA in the Bruins’ home stadium. Now, six days later, they meet again, this time in Stanford’s home stadium. Such are the PAC-12 rules (the championship game is played in the home stadium of the team with the highest BCS ranking.) Neither team has aspirations higher than the Rose Bowl. Both teams know that Oregon is getting an at-large BCS bid. So they know, it’s win or go to a much, much lower bowl. I really can’t see Stanford losing this one at home.
FINAL SCORE: Stanford 26, UCLA 20

ACC Championship Game .....CORRECT
Georgia Tech vs 13 Florida State

I suppose this game has to be played, but c’mon, man…Who here really thinks that Georgia Tech is going to topple Florida State? An angry Florida State, I might add, coming off a disappointing loss to in-state rival Florida. Georgia Tech, likewise, was humiliated by an in-state rival. The Yellow Jackets fired the defensive coordinator earlier this year, and then the school’s athletic director walked away to take the job at conference rival Clemson. The rumor mill is buzzing that Paul Johnson may be the next to go, but Tech wrapped up a good bit of money in him. Still, what you are paying the coach does not put points on the board. Florida State rolls.
FINAL SCORE: Florida State 34, Georgia Tech 18

SEC Championship Game .....INCORRECT
2 Alabama vs 3 Georgia 

So this is the game everyone is waiting for…well, I say everyone…I doubt the PAC-12 is holding their breath on this one. Same goes for the Big Ten, ACC, Big East…Okay, we get it, you’re sick of the SEC. Well, to quote Ric Flair, if you want to be the man, you gotta beat the man, and for the last six years, the SEC has been “the man.” Now, Georgia and Alabama face off for the right to play Notre Dame and bring yet another crystal football to the SEC’s collective trophy case. Most prognosticators are simply placing Alabama in the BCS Title Game, but don’t count out Georgia. The Dawgs are playing their best football at the right time, and the defense can stop anybody. Win or lose, for either side, this is going to be one heck of a game. But you know where this is going…and I don’t think it’s too far out on a limb to make this pick…
FINAL SCORE: Georgia 24, Alabama 20

Big Ten Championship Game .....INCORRECT
12 Nebraska vs Wisconsin

The winner of this game is guaranteed a Rose Bowl slot. Nebraska is certainly playing the better football of these two, and a September victory over the Badgers showed Nebraska how to beat Wisconsin. Both teams have been hit with injury, and both teams have had their share of hard times (Nebraska losing 63-38 to Ohio State, Wisconsin losing to Oregon State, Nebraska, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Penn State). Look for Nebraska to win pretty handily in this one.
FINAL SCORE: Nebraska 35, Wisconsin 20

MAC Championship Game.....INCORRECT
21 Northern Illinois vs 17 Kent State

Kent State stands the better chance of these two teams of actually crashing the BCS party. If the Golden Flashes can reach the Top 16 in the BCS and be ranked ahead of the champion of an automatic qualifier conference, then they would be in. As it stands, no Big East team is even ranked, so that part of the equation holds. Now Kent State just needs some others to fall and the path to a BCS game, most likely the Orange Bowl, but possibly the Sugar (unlikely) opens up. For that reason alone, I’m taking Kent State to upset the apple cart and crash the party.
FINAL SCORE: Kent State 28, Northern Illinois 21

___The Right Wing Top Ten___

Massive changes in the Top Ten.

10. South Carolina Gamecocks
Giving us a total of six SEC teams in the top ten, the Gamecocks move back up by virtue of knocking off Clemson, leaving the ACC winless in their three biggest rivalry games with the SEC.

9. Stanford Cardinal
Stanford is one win away from playing the Big Ten champion in the Rose Bowl.

8. Texas A&M Aggies
Once again, Johnny “Football” Manziel is only a freshman.

7. Florida Gators
So Florida struggles against lower opponents and then takes over the fourth quarter and dominates Florida State…

6. Kansas State Wildcats
K-State did not play, so it’s hard to bump them down. A big time test waits this week in the form of Texas.

5. Louisiana State Tigers 
The Sugar Bowl will have a tough time choosing local LSU or suddenly-much-prettier Florida.

4. Oregon Ducks
Oregon trounced Oregon State, but it’s not enough to get the Ducks back in the national title hunt.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama would love to prove that they are once again the best team in the nation.

2. Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia has a true fighting chance at playing for the national championship.

1. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The only unbeaten team eligible for the Title…sorry Ohio State.

___Bowl Projections___

BCS National Championship Game: Notre Dame vs Georgia

I'm picking Georgia to beat Alabama, so that means a Dawgs vs Irish national title game.

Rose Bowl: Nebraska vs. Stanford

Nebraska should beat Wisconsin and Stanford should be able to handle UCLA at home, granting them both passage to the Rose Bowl.

Sugar Bowl: Rutgers vs Florida

Florida is locked into a BCS game, and the Sugar Bowl would love to have them. With our projection of Kent State making a BCS game, it pushes the Big East champion to the Sugar Bowl.

Orange Bowl: Florida State vs Kent State

Florida State should walk over Georgia Tech. But it looks like Kent State could bust the BCS by reaching the top 16 ahead of the Big East champion. I'm sure the Orange Bowl loves this idea.

Fiesta Bowl: Kansas State vs Oregon

The national championship game that could've been. Oregon and K-State is a dream match for the Fiesta.

Capital One Bowl: South Carolina vs Michigan

Gator Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Wisconsin

Outback Bowl: Alabama vs. Northwestern

Cotton Bowl: Texas vs Texas A&M

Chick-fil-A Bowl: LSU vs Clemson

Football Future-see 2012: Week Thirteen

Record

Week 1…..8-1
Week 2…..5-0
Week 3…..2-3
Week 4…..5-0
Week 5…..4-1
Week 6…..2-3
Week 7…..5-1
Week 8…..4-1
Week 9…..2-3
Week 10...4-1
Week 11...4-1
Week 12…4-1

Week 13...4-1
Overall..…53-17

Review/Preview:
Well...chaos has ensued. Oregon was toppled by Stanford just minutes after Baylor laid a 52-24 beating on Kansas State. We knew that two of the top three would have to lose for the SEC to get back into the national championship picture, and for the first time since 2007, the top two teams lost on the same day. So what's on our slate this week...

The Games:

5 Oregon at 15 Oregon State ....CORRECT

Oregon may have seen its chances at a national title completely destroyed by an overtime loss to Stanford. Remember, in the BCS era, it is better to lose early than to lose late. Just ask Georgia. Oregon now must try to reclaim some lost ground. They still have an outside shot at the PAC-12 title and a potential Rose Bowl berth. Oregon State keeps it close in the first half, but Oregon wins.
FINAL SCORE: Oregon 31, Oregon State 21

12 South Carolina at 11 Clemson ....CORRECT

South Carolina is depleted by injury, having lost star running back Marcus Lattimore to one of the more gruesome leg injuries you'll ever see. For that reason alone, I'm picking South Carolina to knock off Clemson this week. Clemson is a good team, but a solid defense can take them off their game, and South Carolina is a solid defense.
FINAL SCORE: South Carolina 27, Clemson 24

Georgia Tech at 3 Georgia ....CORRECT

Georgia tuned up for Tech's triple option by playing Georgia Southern last week. Tech is a faster team than Southern, but Georgia's defense is playing stellar football at the moment. The Dawgs beat Southern 45-14. Expect a similar outcome but a closer score as Georgia rolls into the SEC Championship Game with loads of momentum and a revealed-to-be-mortal Alabama as an opponent.
FINAL SCORE: Georgia 35, Georgia Tech 17

4 Florida at 10 Florida State....INCORRECT

Believe it or not, Florida can sneak into the national championship game is Notre Dame loses. Florida must also beat Florida State, which will be a tall order, as the Gators' offense is not exactly awe-inspiring. Florida State should have enough firepower to take out Florida and carry momentum into the ACC Championship Game.
FINAL SCORE: Florida State 31, Florida 18

1 Notre Dame at USC ....CORRECT

Notre Dame's task is simple: win and you're in. The task became a touch easier after USC QB Matt Barkley was ruled out due to injury. That said, the Irish are better than USC and the ND Defense should carry the day.
FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 26, USC 17

The Right Wing Top Ten

Some changes in the Top Ten. Clemson drops out, simply because Stanford is playing great ball right now.  Just the Top Ten this week.

10. Stanford Cardinal
Stanford took down Oregon. That's enough to get into the top ten.

9. Texas A&M Aggies

The Aggies are one of the hottest teams in the SEC and their Heisman candidate QB is just a freshman.

8. Florida Gators
There is no reason why Florida should’ve struggled the way they did against Jacksonville State. Gators hold at 8.

7. Florida State Seminoles
The ‘Noles are playing some pretty good football, but an end-of-year test against Florida remains.

6. Kansas State Wildcats
You don't lose that badly to Baylor and stay in the top five.

5. Louisiana State Tigers

LSU is going for style points and an at large BCS berth.

4. Oregon Ducks
Oregon lost in overtime to Stanford. Now Oregon may not play for the PAC-12 title, much less the national title.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide
All Alabama has to do is win their next two games and they will play for the national championship. They've not been this close to the title since last season.

2. Georgia Bulldogs
All Georgia has to do is win their next two games and they will play for the national championship. They've not been this close to the title in my lifetime.

1. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame is the only undefeated team with postseason eligibility, so they assume the top spot on the rankings.

Football Future-see 2012: Week Twelve

Record

Week 1…..8-1
Week 2…..5-0
Week 3…..2-3
Week 4…..5-0
Week 5…..4-1
Week 6…..2-3
Week 7…..5-1
Week 8…..4-1
Week 9…..2-3
Week 10...4-1
Week 11...4-1
Week 12…4-1
Overall..…49-16

Review/Preview:
Through eleven weeks I have a .750 winning percentage. Not too shabby. The perfect week has eluded me since Week 4, but that’s okay. Georgia has clinched a spot in Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game. Their likely opponent is Alabama, who Texas A&M just rendered mortal. The Dawgs know how to beat ‘Bama now, and some talking heads are already projecting Georgia to win the SEC. Of course, this comes with a price. If Kansas State, Oregon, and Notre Dame win out, then the SEC’s run of consecutive national champions is over. Of course, we still have two or three weeks left, so chaos can still ensue.

The Games:

13 Stanford at 2 Oregon ....INCORRECT

Oregon faces possibly their toughest test of the season in visiting Stanford. The Cardinal have taken down USC and Oregon State this season, but Oregon is a different beast altogether. Oregon has an offense second to none among major-conference schools. If Stanford is to have any chance in this game, they have to stop the Oregon run and the Cardinal offense has to jump out to an early lead. I don’t see that happening.
FINAL SCORE: Oregon 40, Stanford 20

12 Oklahoma at West Virginia ....CORRECT

The first of two Big XII games on our slate this week pits Oklahoma against West Virginia. The Mountaineers season started in very promising fashion, but they’ve since faltered. QB Geno Smith was the Heisman front-runner at one time, but his production vanished and now West Virginia, once a top ten team, is unranked. Oklahoma, meanwhile, is trying to make a BCS case. Sooners QB Landry Jones has been on-and-off leading this team, but against West Virginia, I think you can count on an Oklahoma victory.
FINAL SCORE: Oklahoma 30, West Virginia 21

Georgia Southern at 5 Georgia ....CORRECT

Georgia Southern always plays Georgia decently well. The last time these teams met, Georgia was #1 in the country. Georgia went up 38-0 or so, and by then Coach Richt had put in the third string defense. Three garbage time TDs later, Georgia won 45-21, but it was enough for the voters to demote the Dawgs to #2. This year should be different. Georgia is playing for style points; trying to make a case for the BCS should the SEC Title Game not go their way. Big wins over Georgia Southern and Georgia Tech could go a long way toward making that case.
FINAL SCORE: Georgia 48, Georgia Southern 10

23 Texas Tech at 24 Oklahoma State ....CORRECT

Big XII game number two is a match-up of ranked foes. Oklahoma State has danced on the periphery of the top 25 all season while Texas Tech has overachieved in the conference. The only known quantity in this game is that the loser will be unranked come next Sunday.
FINAL SCORE: Oklahoma State 31, Texas Tech 24

18 USC at 17 UCLA ....CORRECT

The Battle of Southern California comes Saturday. USC is just looking for a respectable season at this point, and UCLA might be overachieving. Lane Kiffin’s Trojans were recently caught deflating footballs…seriously. Perhaps USC’s season really is over (though some people are holding out hope for USC’s game with Notre Dame).
FINAL SCORE: UCLA 31, USC 28

The Right Wing Top Ten

Some changes in the Top Ten. Louisville is out, Texas A&M is in.  Just the Top Ten this week.

10. Texas A&M Aggies
The Aggies became the first team to figure out Alabama. The scary thing for the SEC…Johnny Football is just a freshman.

9. Clemson Tigers
Clemson needs to keep up their pace if they hope for an at-large bid to the BCS.

8. Florida Gators
There is no reason why Florida should’ve struggled the way they did against Louisiana-Lafayette. Gators drop a spot.

7. Florida State Seminoles
The ‘Noles are playing some pretty good football, but an end-of-year test against Florida remains.

6. Louisiana State Tigers
LSU took Alabama to the brink, and then laid a 37-17 beating on Mississippi State.

5. Alabama Crimson Tide 
Alabama is no longer the best team in the nation.

4. Georgia Bulldogs
The Dawgs looked every bit a Top 5 team in dismantling Auburn 38-0. Now Georgia has game tape on how to beat Alabama, so the SEC Championship Game just got a bit more interesting.

3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Fighting Irish sit at #3, but they’ve not exactly been impressive the last two weeks. They’ll really have to blow some socks off, and hope for Oregon or K-State to fall, if they want to play for the crystal football.

2. Oregon Ducks
Oregon still gives up too much on defense. The Ducks count on the fastest offense in football to keep them ahead. It’s worked so far, but once they play a hardened defense you’ll see just how good Oregon actually is.

1. Kansas State Wildcats
I’ve said from the start that Kansas State had a tougher road than Oregon, simply because I value the Big XII higher than the PAC-12. But if they both win out, we’ll see who is better.

Football Future-see 2012: Week Eleven

Record

Week 1…..8-1
Week 2…..5-0
Week 3…..2-3
Week 4…..5-0
Week 5…..4-1
Week 6…..2-3
Week 7…..5-1
Week 8…..4-1
Week 9…..2-3
Week 10...4-1
Week 11...4-1
Overall..…45-15

Review/Preview:
Week Ten saw me go 4-1, pushing my overall record to 41-14. The SEC race is winding down, as Georgia needs only win at Auburn (not exactly difficult) to take the East, and Alabama needs only win against either Texas A&M or Auburn to clinch the West. The other national conferences…well… The ACC has only 3 bowl eligible teams (including Duke). Kansas State looks like a lock in the Big XII. Louisville is wrapping up the Big East. Nebraska and Michigan are fighting for the right to play Wisconsin for the Big Ten title. Out west, it looks like Oregon will meet either USC or UCLA for the PAC-12 title.

Oregon put up 62 points on USC, but only won the game by 11. Alabama required a final-drive TD to beat LSU 21-17. The key difference between these two games is coaching mentality. In the SEC, coaches take the best athletes and turn them into superstar defensive players. In the PAC-12, and other conferences, coaches turn their best athletes into offensive-minded players. It may sound like a good idea, because you have to score points to win games…but six crystal footballs currently residing in the southeast beg to differ.

The Games:

11 Oregon State at 14 Stanford .....CORRECT

I’ll admit to my East Coast bias and own up to the fact that I know very little about these two Top 15 teams from the PAC-12. Oregon State was on a run earlier this year, but a loss to Washington slowed their roll. Stanford is in a somewhat similar situation. I’m honestly surprised that Stanford is playing as well as they are, given that Andrew Luck and Jim Harbaugh are both gone to the NFL.
FINAL SCORE: Stanford 27, Oregon State 24

15 Texas A&M at 1 Alabama .....INCORRECT

So long as Alabama keeps winning, there is no reason for them to not be #1. The Aggies have a high-octane offense, though. QB Johnny Manziel is playing good football and leading a squad that has recently dismantled Auburn and Mississippi State. Alabama is coming off a narrow win over rival LSU. ‘Bama QB A.J. McCarron needs to get his squad out to a fast start against the Aggies, or it could be a long, back-and-forth struggle in Tuscaloosa. But look for a Crimson Tide victory and an SEC Championship Game berth.
FINAL SCORE: Alabama 26, Texas A&M 17

5 Georgia at Auburn .....CORRECT

For Georgia, the task at hand is simple: beat Auburn and punch your ticket to the SEC Championship Game. Don’t worry about anything else. Auburn, on the other hand, would just like a win, but I think even remotely staying in the game against the Dawgs will have to be looked at as a moral victory. Auburn is flat terrible this year, having only 2 wins (Louisiana-Monroe and New Mexico State), and losing 7 games by an average score of 30-14 (in contrast, Georgia is 8-1 on the year, winning by an average score of 37-21). Georgia lost WR Marlon Brown for the year, but they still have enough weapons, and a terrific freshman tandem at running back, to make any defense think twice.
FINAL SCORE: Georgia 40, Auburn 7

21 Mississippi State at 7 LSU .....CORRECT

Who is Mississippi State? Are they the team who started 7-0 or are they the team who lost back to back games to Alabama and Texas A&M? The Bulldogs of Mississippi State are bowl eligible, but are looking for more. More wins means the possibility of greater exposure. And when you live in the shadow of Alabama and LSU, exposure is a good thing. But they have to go to Death Valley to play LSU. The Tigers just took Alabama to the wire before dropping the game in spectacular fashion. Look for an angry LSU team to take out some frustration on a suddenly foundering Mississippi State squad.
FINAL SCORE: LSU 30, Mississippi State 17

10 Florida State at Virginia Tech .....CORRECT

For the first time in a long time, I actually have an ACC match-up on the slate. Florida State is trying to regain some lost glory in a bid for at least an at-large BCS berth. The Seminoles travel to Blacksburg, which is no easy place to win. Then again, Virginia Tech is nowhere near the team we thought they’d be in the preseason. Look for Florida State to let Virginia Tech hang around in the first half, and then shut the door in the second half.
FINAL SCORE: Florida State 28, Virginia Tech 14

The Right Wing Top Ten

Some changes in the Top Ten. South Carolina is out, Louisville is in.  Just the Top Ten this week.

10. Louisville Cardinals
Louisville is 9-0 and leading the Big East. However, their biggest win of the season was an overtime victory over Cincinnati.

9. Clemson Tigers
Clemson needs to keep up their pace if they hope for an at-large bid to the BCS.

8. Florida State
The Seminoles stay put at #8 on our list. They have a big conference road game this week.

7. Louisiana State Tigers
LSU played one of the best games all season against Alabama…and still lost. The 7-2 Tigers still have 3 conference games left, but they are out of the SEC West race.

6. Florida Gators
The Gators will be pulling for Auburn like crazy. If Auburn can somehow upset Georgia, then Florida walks into the SEC Championship Game.

5. Georgia Bulldogs
A slow start turned into a dominating performance against Ole Miss. Georgia needs to win this Saturday at Auburn to lock in a spot in the SEC Championship Game.

4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame at 4 and Oregon at 3 could work in the opposite order. Neither team really impressed me. Notre Dame went to triple overtime against Pitt. That’s right. Pitt.

3. Oregon Ducks
Oregon at 3 and Notre Dame at 4 could work in the opposite order. Neither team really impressed me. Oregon gave up 51 points and still won. That might work in the PAC-12, but come National Championship time, you’re likely to play an SEC team. You better have a defense then, because that’s what the SEC does best.

2. Kansas State Wildcats
K-State might be in a bad place. Collin Klein is hurt. How long he is out (assuming he even misses a game) could have huge ramifications on the National Title hunt and the Big XII race.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide 
One of these weeks I’ll get to type something other than Alabama is simply the best team in the nation.