I made some bold predictions, made some arrogant comments, overestimated Tennessee, Florida, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, and slightly underestimated Auburn, Michigan State, Ohio State, and USC. So far I’ve called the conference races with the exception of the Big 10, and with a few weeks left of college football, I’ll re-visit my early predictions.
I said LSU would beat Bama in Tuscaloosa and Bama would handle Arkansas, I got those, I also said Florida would beat Bama….OOPS.
I said, Wisconsin would beat Nebraska, got another one, I also said Wisconsin would go into the Big 10 Championship undefeated…OOPS.
I said Oklahoma would go undefeated into Bedlam, said A&M would have a special season but still have losses at OU and against Arkansas (I didn’t expect the rest of the Big XII to beat up on them too). I paid no attention to Oklahoma State, except picking them to beat OU in the Bedlam game, which is still one that will be determined later.
I didn’t think USC had a chance to beat Stanford, but they took them to OT, it’ll be interesting to see what Stanford does this week against a speedy Oregon team that just got L. James back.
I said South Carolina would win their division with two losses, Arkansas, got that one, but I thought Florida would be their other. Florida could still get it done this week, but the Gators look lost and frustrated right now, not a team that’s going to beat the ‘Cocks.
I never thought Auburn would be having this type of season, I thought Miss State would be that 4th team in the West after LSU, Bama, and Arkansas, but they look the Miss State of old, just pathetic…..OOPS.
I thought the offenses in the SEC East would be much better this year, with Tyler Bray, Aaron Murray, John Brantley, and Stephen Garcia it was a solid collection of quarterbacks with a lot of speed all over the field….OOPS.
We’ve got roughly 4 weeks of football left counting Conference Championship games, the games I consider can’t miss are:
#1. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State:
This game probably has the biggest Nat Champ implications. We know if Okie St wins out they’re in, we’ve also had to accept the computers rank the Big XII the toughest conference, so if OU wins out, they’ve got as good a shot as any to represent the Big XII in the Nat Champ.
#2. Oregon at Stanford
Last year Stanford just couldn’t match the speed of Oregon, I feel as though this year will be very similar. If Stanford wins, they need LSU or Okie St to lose to make it to NOLA, so this game is behind Bedlam for that reason.
#3. Arkansas at LSU
No game has given us the fireworks that this one has over the past decade. Overtimes, last second field goals, and BCS implications seem to follow this game around like a little puppy. Until last year, the game had been decided by 5 pts or less the last 5 years. It seems as though the underdog has a decisive advantage in this game every year. Arkansas has only gone into Baton Rouge once and gotten a victory in the last 13 seasons, however, that one time was when LSU was ranked #1 and a National Championship birth was all but decided. LSU still won the National Championship in 2007, they just did it with one L on the resume. That scenario could play out again this year the day after Thanksgiving.
#4. Pac-12 Championship Game
It looks as though the winner of the Oregon v Stanford game will get Arizona State in the Championship. This could be really good matchup for Arizona State who throws the ball well and can score in bunches. They lack a little on defense, but they do have some playmakers. This will be a great test for the eventual Pac-10 representative. What would be intriguing to know is if Oregon beats Stanford, and goes to the Pac-12 Championship and loses to Arizona State. Where is Stanford ranked among teams with 1-loss.
#5. Alabama at Auburn
One might think this game has 0 bearing on the eventual National Champion, and maybe it doesn’t. What will be interesting is if Auburn wins here, LSU loses to Arkansas, and Arkansas goes to the SEC Championship and beats Georgia or South Carolina. Will LSU still be ranked ahead of the Hogs in the BCS poll and get the nod to play for the National Title? If Alabama wins here, and Arkansas beats LSU, the tie breaker scenario in the SEC is “ALL JACKED UP,” and Bama gets to play in the SEC Championship game. If LSU, and Stanford or Okie St stay unblemished this game has very little meaning, but what are the chances of that happening?
#6. Penn State vs The rest of their schedule
Penn St has had the luxury of a manageable schedule since their loss to Bama. What happens if the Nittany Lions turn it on and finish the season with only 1 loss. They finish with Nebraska at home, then at Ohio St and at Wisconsin, then probably Michigan State in the Big 10 Championship. That’s a SOLID resume going into what could possibly be a really messed up BCS rankings th 5th Sunday from today.
#7. Notre Dame at Stanford
Who would have thought so many important games would be played on the Farm this year? If Stanford beats Oregon, this will be another tough test for the Cardinal before they get the National Championship nod.
#8. The SEC Championship game
Why is this game so low??? Mainly because regardless of who it is LSU, Bama, or even Arkansas the East doesn’t seem to be matching up very well with the West this year. Georgia is pretty good, they were so young to start the year and Richt has them playing at a fairly high level compared to how they started, they could cause some problems, but we haven’t seen them against an LSU, Bama, or even an Arkansas. If Arkansas somehow beats LSU and causes chaos, then somehow wins the SEC West tiebreaker, I doubt they’ll be in line for the National Championship even if they win in Atlanta. So I see this game having very little influence on who plays for and wins the National Championship. If it’s LSU in this game, it’s just another test for LSU and I’m confident the Tigers will be able to get up for it. Even with a loss, is LSU’s resume’ greater than any other 1-loss team…..YES!!!
#9. Oklahoma State at Texas Tech
If you’re looking for a bad matchup for that Cowboys that happened to be a very pitiful team, look no further than Lubbock, TX. The way Tech can score should keep them in the game and then it’s just a matter of who can get a stop or a turnover in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter. Kansas State had no business being in that game with the way Okie St was scoring, that’s not K-States game, but that is Tech’s game, so it might get interesting in Lubbock.
#10. TCU at Boise State
Maybe Boise’s best chance to get upset, but it’s a slight chance. I don’t think it matters either way and I believe it shouldn’t. Until Boise steps up to the plate and schedules more than one average team from a BCS conference I can’t say they deserve to even make a BCS bowl. That’s one spot they’re taking away from a team that actually went out and handled some adversity. Bottom Line: if Boise loses that gives Houston a solid chance at a BCS bowl, so it doesn’t matter either way.
Here we go….prediction time.
#1. I’m changing my mind, I’ve got Oklahoma beating Okie St 52-38
#2. Oregon is again too fast for Stanford. Ducks win 48-41
#3. I said Ark early, I’ll stick with it, Hogs in 3OT 42-38
#4. We’ve seen ASU v Oregon, I’ll take the Ducks 35-21
#5. It would be great story, but Bama is too much. Tide Rolls 42-10
#6. Penn St drops three in a row right here, 0-3, no Big 10 Championship game.
#7. Notre Dame can’t score with Luck, Cardinal win 28-17
#8. Who’s going to be there??? Whoever it is....West wins 38-20
#9. Whew….another close one for the Cowpokes, OSU wins 55-52
#10. Who cares, but I’ll take Boise 38-28
THE HEISMAN
I made the bold prediction the Heisman trophy would go to Russell Wilson. Great player on a good team, but not good enough to get to New York. I said the finalists would be: Russell Wilson, Landry Jones, Andrew Luck, Marcus Lattimore, and LaMichael James…….WHEW!!! OOPS!!! Luck will probably be the only one of my picks in New York. Lattimore went down with injury, but Richardson has a firm grip on the best RB in college football. Landry Jones still has a chance to get to New York, but with Broyles down we’ll find out a lot about the Sooners offense in the next few games. James is back and that’s bad news for Stanford, but a long shot to make it to New York.
