A lot of conference championship games this weekend in College Football. At the outset of every season the objective is to come out with a winning record and make it to a BCS championship game. I have the chance to finish with a winning record for the year. That's a lot of pressure for a rookie prognosticator. Nonetheless, If you like college football you should watch these games and keep my picks in mind. Or don't, either way its cool...
Texas vs. No. 19 Baylor (-3), 3:30 ET - ABC
This isn't one of the conference championship games but it's a game that looks interesting to me. It's also on national television so if I'm not doing anything else I might actually watch a couple of snaps from this game. Really the only reason to watch this game is to see if Baylor QB Robert Griffin III can keep up his Heisman candidacy. He's got 41 total touchdowns on the year and my guess is he'll score at least one more today. It's that kind of analysis that keeps the fans coming back. I'll take the Bears from Baylor to win this in-state rivalry.
No. 12 Georgia vs. No. 1 LSU (-13.5), 4 ET - CBS
In the SEC Championship game, undefeated LSU plays a solid Georgia team that has bounced back from two early season losses to Boise State and South Carolina at the beginning of the season. Since then they've reeled off 10 straight wins over a combination of lower tiered SEC schools and d2 programs. Nothing to get too excited about. Meanwhile, LSU has trounced every team in its way with the exception of Alabama. All signs point towards taking LSU to roll in this SEC game but truth be told I think Georgia ends up keeping this close. I look for Georgia to take care of the football on offense and stick around for the entirety of this game. Something Arkansas failed to do last weekend. I'll roll with the Bulldogs plus the points here.
No. 13 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Oklahoma State (-3.5), 8 ET - ABC
This game could have had serious BCS implications had Oklahoma not messed around against Texas Tech and Baylor. As it stands this winner of the "Bedlam" game will grab the Big 12 BCS spot and a chance to play for the Big 12 Championship game. No big deal. Oklahoma State comes in as the BCS No. 3 team but will unlikely improve on that ranking no matter the outcome of this game or any other game this weekend. The Cowboys also haven't won a game in this rivalry since 2002. Reminds me of my dominance over Sunny in tennis. When it comes down to it, I like the Sooners to overcome their injuries (Ryan Broyles and Dominique Whaley) to continue their winning ways against the Cowboys. Take the Sooners plus the points.
No. 5 Virginia Tech (-7) vs. No. 21 Clemson, 8 ET - ESPN
These two teams faced earlier in the season in a game in Blacksburg, VA that Clemson won easily. That's been the only game all year that Va. Tech has lost and now they get a chance to exact some revenge in the ACC Championship game. Clemson started off the season 8-0 behind the exceptional play of QB Tajh Boyd. Since then, the team has dropped 3 of 4 and Boyd has lost his 'mojo'. In the Tigers loss to the Gamecocks last week, he completed 11 passes on 30 attempts for a whopping 83 yards. Not gonna get the job done. The Hokies meanwhile have had nothing but success since their loss to the Tigers and are getting strong play from their young QB Logan Thomas. I look for the Hokies to stay hot and win this one by more than the TD spread.
No. 11 Michigan St. vs. No. 15 Wisconsin (-9.5), 8 ET - FOX
Wisconsin has been one of my favorite teams to watch all year - and by watch I mean bet on. They have two legit Heisman candidates in Russell Wilson and Montee Ball and an offensive line stocked with athletic 6'5" 320 lb monsters. Ball has secretly amassed 34 total touchdowns and has become my friend Preet Braich's favorite player. This is a rematch of one of the most memorable games of the season in which Michigan State won on an improbable Hail Mary as time expired. I don't expect this game to come down to a Hail Mary as Wisconsin's fourth ranked offense will handle the Spartans in regulation. Take the Badgers to win the inaugural Big 10 championship game and lay the points in this one.
Last Week: 3-2
Season Record: 31-27-2
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