Football Future-see 2013: Week 15: Championship Week

RECORD

Week 1	8-2
Week 2	4-1
Week 3	4-1
Week 4	5-0
Week 5	5-0
Week 6	3-2
Week 7	2-3
Week 8	1-4
Week 9	4-1
Week 10	4-1
Week 11	4-1
Week 12	3-2
Week 13	4-1
Week 14	7-3
Champ Week
Bowl Week
Total	58-22	.725

I suppose I shouldn’t feel bad about being 58-22, but that three week run in the middle of the season really did me in. But, for most teams, the regular season is now over. Georgia won’t play again until bowl season, which is probably a good thing. I’m relieved that the season is over for the Dawgs, as I don’t think I could’ve handled another injury. Georgia wrapped up the year with a double-OT win over Georgia Tech, which is impressive, considering Tech was up 20-0 midway through the second quarter. In other games, Auburn stunned Alabama after the Tide attempted a 56-yard field goal with one-second left. The kick was short, an Auburn player caught the ball nine-yards deep in the end zone and took it to the house. Auburn now meets Missouri for the SEC championship, after Mizzou knocked off The Flying Johnny Footballs. So it’s championship week. We’ve got each major conference championship (the AAC and the Big XII don’t have title games), including some non-conference-championship match-ups.

There are 35 bowl games this year, meaning 70 teams will reach a bowl of some kind. Currently, 77 teams are bowl eligible, so someone is getting left out.

On to the picks… (All games on Saturday unless otherwise noted. All times Eastern Standard.)

19 Louisville at Cincinnati (Thursday 7:30pm, ESPN)

Several weeks ago I lined up this game as a definite pick for the final week of the season, as I thought Louisville would have a good bit riding on this game. Louisville, though, stumbled midseason against Central Florida. The Cardinals are still relatively highly-ranked and could make some noise come bowl season. But this game definitely does not have the shine and luster it had a couple of months ago. This may be used a stepping stone for Teddy Bridgewater and his campaign entering the NFL Draft, where he’s likely to be a top five pick. Louisville wins.

Final Score: Louisville 37, Cincinnati 17

MAC Championship Game
Bowling Green vs 14 Northern Illinois (Friday 8:00pm, ESPN2)

So it looks like Northern Illinois is going to a BCS game again. Look, I’ve got nothing against the Huskies, they play good football and their offense is impressive. QB Jordan Lynch will probably be a high draft pick. But it’s not like Northern Illinois is pulling down the 4-star and 5-star recruits that FSU, Ohio State, or even Oklahoma State are getting. The talent gap is large, and it is exposed against major conference teams. FSU rolled over Northern Illinois last year. Jordan Lynch will have yet another big game in the MAC Title Game, and the Huskies will once again go BCS-bowling. I just hope the BCS provides a good match-up for them.

Final Score: Northern Illinois 34, Bowling Green 17

17 Oklahoma at 6 Oklahoma State (12:00pm, ABC)

This game, and the one following it, will sort out the Big XII. All Oklahoma State has to do is win and they punch a ticket to the Fiesta Bowl. Should Oklahoma State lose to the Sooners, then the winner of Baylor-Texas will take the Big XII crown. The Cowboys are coming off a big win over Baylor in the last few weeks, and are rolling toward the conference title, just as many people predicted earlier this year. Oklahoma could make enough plays to win this one, but I just don’t see it. Oklahoma State is going to the Fiesta Bowl.

Final Score: Oklahoma State 35, Oklahoma 27

25 Texas at 9 Baylor (3:30pm, FOX)

Should Oklahoma State lose, this game takes on great importance. Basically, the winner of this game becomes the Big XII champion if the Cowboys lose in Bedlam. Baylor has been a bit of a surprise all year, with an offense that has been nigh-unstoppable but with a defense that is at times suspect. Texas, on the other hand, faced the possibility of firing Mack Brown midseason. But the Longhorns fortunes turned around and they now face the possibility of going to the Fiesta Bowl to represent the Big XII. While neither team controls their own destiny (oh, how I hate that phrase) both can make statements to other bowl games about how they should be included in discussions. I think Baylor makes the most of that opportunity, winning this game by pulling away in the second half.

Final Score: Baylor 38, Texas 20

SEC Championship Game
3 Auburn vs 5 Missouri (4:00pm, CBS)

The SEC Championship Game is usually required viewing for me on Championship Saturday. Last season’s SEC Championship was one for the ages and may have been one of the top five college football games I’ve ever watched. I still contend that Georgia-Alabama last season was the true National Championship Game, and Alabama’s meeting with Notre Dame was just an exhibition game. This year, we get Auburn and their miracle run representing the West. I mean that, too. Auburn has required “miracle” plays to knock off Georgia and Alabama. Can that magic continue? For the SEC East, we have a first time representative in Missouri, in just their second season in the SEC. Both teams enter with one loss. This game will be the sixth time this season, for both teams, that they’ve played a ranked opponent. (For perspective, Auburn and Missouri both will have played as many ranked teams in the last three weeks of the season as Ohio State has played all year.) If Missouri can find a way to slow Auburn’s run game, it might be a long day for War Eagle. But ‘Bama couldn’t so that, so why would Mizzou? I think Auburn keeps Missouri in check and makes enough defensive plays to win this game. And yes, I think this will be a great game. War Eagle wins.

Final Score: Auburn 31, Missouri 24

PAC-12 Championship Game
7 Stanford at 11 Arizona State (7:45pm, ESPN)

Earlier this year Stanford rolled over Arizona State. Since that time, Stanford has lost two games and Arizona State has caught fire. The Sun Devils would love a trip to the Rose Bowl, a place they’ve not been since 1997. Stanford’s front seven still ranks very high, but they’ve been in a bit of a lull lately, and you can bet Arizona State will look to exploit that apathy. This will probably be a close game…definitely much closer than their first meeting. Stanford has to step up to win this one, but having to do so at Arizona State will be difficult. I don’t know if Vegas will count this as an upset, but I’m going with Arizona State in a close-close-close game.

Final Score: Arizona State 28, Stanford 27

ACC Championship Game
1 Florida State vs 20 Duke (8:00pm, ABC)

Show of hands, who here thinks Duke can beat Florida State? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? No…didn’t think so. Duke is a feel good story, no doubt. Under Coach Cutcliffe, they’ve had without a doubt the most success the program has seen in decades. But it won’t be enough. Florida State can feel it. They can sense a trip to Pasadena in their future. Nothing Duke can do will stop them. The bigger question likely on FSU’s collective mind is this: what happens to Jameis Winston? The attorneys in Florida have said that any rulings of any kind won’t come for at least another week, most likely. What if FSU wins and locks in a berth for the final BCS National Championship, only for the state to charge Winston with a crime (a felony, in this case)? I know the legal matters take precedent over football, but this is a football blog post, not a legal discussion blog post.

Final Score: Florida State 38, Duke 14

Big Ten Championship Game
2 Ohio State vs 10 Michigan State (8:17pm, FOX)

Ohio State is #2 in the BCS, but their grasp on that spot is tenuous. A mere .027 points separate the Buckeyes from third-place Auburn. If Ohio State desires a national championship game berth, they need to win against Michigan State, and they need to do so convincingly. Letting Sparty hang around the way Michigan did will do the Buckeyes no favors. Newsflash: Michigan State is better than Michigan. Sparty plays a brand of defense typically reserved for teams in the southeast. To overcome that, Ohio State will have to play an almost flawless game. I don’t think they can. I’m taking Michigan State to upset the Buckeyes’ apple cart and really throw the whole BCS mess into utter chaos. Sparty by three.

Final Score: Michigan State 24, Ohio State 21

The Right Wing Top Ten (RWT10)

Week Eight of the Right Wing Top Ten…now with more changes.

In this week: Baylor, Stanford

Out this week: Wisconsin, Clemson

10. Baylor Bears

The Bears return to the Top Ten after a brief absence.

9. Stanford Cardinal

Stanford now plays at Arizona State with the PAC-12 Title on the line.

8. South Carolina Gamecocks

I love it when I correctly pick an upset.

7. Michigan State Spartans

Sparty claimed a berth in the Big Ten Championship, and now can look forward to meeting Ohio State for the conference title.

6. Oklahoma State Cowboys

The math is simple for the Cowboys…beat Oklahoma and lock in a trip to the Fiesta Bowl.

5. Alabama Crimson Tide

Basically, all that stood between Alabama and a BCS National Championship Game berth was Auburn.

4. Missouri Tigers

Missouri has reached the SEC Championship Game in just its second year in the conference. Well done.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

I’m sorry, but I’m just not a believer in Ohio State as one of the two best teams in the country. On a neutral field, I think Alabama would beat them eight out of ten or better.

2. Auburn Tigers

It’s been said that, “to be the man, you gotta beat the man,” and Auburn just beat “the man (Alabama).”

1. Florida State Seminoles

The Seminoles now get powerhouse Duke in the ACC Championship Game…that’s sure to generate a ton of interest.

If the Playoff began today…

This is how I see the playoff shaping up, if it were to start today. Please note this does not necessarily reflect the RWT10 or the BCS Standings. This is how I think the committee would select. I think the committee would probably still put Alabama in the playoff.

#1	Florida State	vs	#4	Alabama
#2	Ohio State	vs	#3	Auburn

Bowl Projections

Here’s how I envision the bowl picture shaking out. Huge changes, as one domino falling has created a massive ripple effect…

Chick-fil-A Bowl: Texas A&M vs Miami

Who wouldn’t want to see that match-up?

Capital One Bowl: South Carolina vs Wisconsin

The Gamecocks just missed the SEC Championship. For their troubles, they get to go to the Capital One Bowl, probably against Wisconsin.

Gator Bowl: Michigan vs Georgia

Georgia just lost star QB Aaron Murray to a torn ACL (who hasn’t torn their ACL for the Dawgs this year?), but I think they still end up in the Gator. Georgia and Michigan haven’t played since 1965…sounds like a good time to meet again.

Outback Bowl: Missouri vs Minnesota

Minnesota is heading for a January 1 bowl game. Missouri, predicted to be coming off an SEC Title Game loss, looks like a good fit for this game.

Cotton Bowl: Texas vs LSU

Texas would bring the fans to the Cotton Bowl. LSU is also a good fit for this game.

Orange Bowl: Clemson (BCS at-large) vs Ohio State (BCS at-large)

Clemson now slots into the Orange Bowl with FSU gone to the Title Game. The Orange Bowl has first crack at the at-large teams this year, and will likely lock down Ohio State, even though BCS bowls aren’t keen on teams coming off conference title game losses.

Rose Bowl: Michigan State (Big Ten Champ) vs Stanford (PAC-12 Champ)

Yes, I’m taking Michigan State over Ohio State, get over it. If this match-up occurs, it could be a defensive struggle for the ages.

Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State (Big XII Champ) vs Northern Illinois (BCS at-large)

Okie State, should they knock off Oklahoma, will win the Big XII (if not, then the winner of Baylor-Texas slots in here). Northern Illinois will be the highest ranked non-AQ team, and will be well ahead of AAC champ Central Florida.

Sugar Bowl: Alabama (BCS at-large) vs UCF (AAC Champ)

The Flying Johnny Footballs lost BCS-eligibility, so now I can’t see the Sugar hesitating to grab Alabama. The Crimson Tide will earn the honor of matching up against AAC Champion Central Florida. That could get ugly.

BCS National Championship Game: Florida State (BCS #1 / ACC Champ) vs Auburn (BCS #2 / SEC Champ)

Florida State should dispatch Duke with ease. I also see Auburn winning the SEC. So the only thing left is Ohio State losing to Sparty. Go back and look at the game picks...