Conference Championships
With Bowl season just around the corner, it's conference championship week for some conferences. At this point I want to check and see how my preseason picks compare to the teams actually playing for their conference championship.
Preseason SEC picks: Georgia vs LSU.
Actual Matchup: Georgia vs Bama
Actual Matchup: Georgia vs Bama
Preseason ACC picks: Florida State vs Virginia Tech
Actual Matchup: Florida State vs Georgia Tech
Actual Matchup: Florida State vs Georgia Tech
Preseason Big 12 pick: Oklahoma
Actual Team (as there is no Big 12 Championship Game) Kansas State.
Actual Team (as there is no Big 12 Championship Game) Kansas State.
Preseason PAC 12 picks: Oregon vs USC
Actual Matchup: Stanford vs UCLA
Actual Matchup: Stanford vs UCLA
Preseason B1G Ten picks: Nebraska vs Wisconsin
Actual Matchup: Nebraska vs Wisconsin
I was pretty close with most of the matchups, except the PAC-12. They proved to be a deeper conference than I anticipated this season.
Let the predictions begin.
I will start with the B1G Ten, Nebraska vs Wisconsin. This game isn't getting much attention, but it could go down as a classic. I think the color red will dominate the stadium, unless these two teams to decide to wear their terrible alternate uniforms that they introduced earlier this season. Nebraska is favored by three points. They have the team to get this done, but it's all about execution. That is where they have struggled this season. The Cornhuskers have the turnover bug as well. Whether it's interceptions or fumbles, this team struggles with holding onto the ball. They have had some bright moments and then there have been some really dark moments.
Wisconsin may not have the record to show it, but they have come a long ways since their terrible start to the season. The Badgers will give the Huskers all they can handle. In this case, I don't think the point spread is as far off as it has been before. As long as the Cornhuskers can hold on to the football they should pull through. Nebraska wins, 24-20.
Let me get the Big 12 out of the way. There isn't a championship game, but I did have a pick for the conference. I really thought Bob Stoops would pull his team to another Big 12 Title, but as he has done before, he found a way for his team to lose a couple games they shouldn't have. Oklahoma was my favorite. West Virginia was my close second. Neither one of those teams were any match for the real champion of the Big 12. Kansas State took care of business this season (except when it came to Baylor). Kansas State has to play Texas, and while a conference championship isn't on the line for the Longhorns, Mac Brown knows his team still has something to prove this season.
For Kansas State, this is a chance for Collin Klein to get back in the hunt for the Heisman. If he has a big game against Texas and they win, then Klein will have put himself in good position to win the Heisman Trophy. Kansas State is favored by 10.5 points. I say Kansas State wins 35-17. Klein will put on a good show.
PAC-12 Championship, Stanford vs UCLA. I couldn't have been more wrong on my preseason picks for this conference. Oregon blew it. The Ducks had the inside track to the BCS Title game and that may have been the distraction that derailed their season.
USC on the otherhand, flushed their shot down the drain, along with their season. The Trojans just don't have the depth to compete with the big teams right now. They had the playmakers, but the depth at offensive line and defensive line proved to be their biggest flaws. It cost them in a big way.
Stanford against UCLA. Who saw that coming? If somebody told you that Oregon wouldn't be in the PAC-12 Championship, would you really have bought that? These two teams met last week and Stanford made a pretty loud statement in that game...... 35-17 in favor of the Cardinal. I'm not sure that the Bruins can make up the difference and win this game. They may play better and keep the score closer, but it won't be enought to win this game. Stanford wins, 28-20.
ACC Championship, Florida State vs Georgia Tech. Yes, Georgia Tech made it. With North Carolina and Miami under a post season ban, that left Georgia Tech as the next team to be able to play. They Yellow Jackets are 6-6 on the season and that could be why tickets are selling for a little over $4 this week. Yep, $4. The sad part is that I think Georgia Tech has a real shot in this game. FSU may be the big favorite, but the Noles have been struggling for over a month now. Both of these teams are coming off losses to their in-state rivals. Georgia Tech had little hope against the Georgia Bull Dogs. Florida State had plenty of talent to hang with the Gators, but in the end there were some flaws that have been there all season......and they were highlighted in this one game.
FSU is favored by 14. I am not buying that at all. This game will either be a blowout in favor of FSU, or it will be a tight game with the Yellow Jackets coming up with the upset. Florida State has several issues they have been and will be dealing with. Mark Stoops is headed to Kentucky. 'Tank' Carridine (the Noles leading tackler) is out with a torn ACL. Not to add to that...... Jimbo Fisher's name is being tossed around at a couple of other schools for their next head coach. Many would ask why he would even think about leaving. Well, if he loses this game, he better be packing his bags. The fan base is starting to get tired of the frustrating losses in which FSU has been heavily favored in 90% of their losses over the last three seasons.
On paper, FSU should blow Georgia Tech out. I just can't see that actually happening with the way FSU has been playing for awhile now. FSU wins, but it may not be pretty. 31-21.
Now for the game that decides who plays Notre Dame in the BCS Title Game. SEC Championship, Alabama vs Georgia. Mark Richt has a chance to get his team to the National Championship. This is as close as they have ever been. The question could be whether it's a distraction or not. Richt was on the hot seat just under two seasons ago, but look at him now. Their only loss came in a very ugly showing against South Carolina (at the time, South Carolina had been playing lights out). Georgia certainly has their work cut out for them in this one.
Alabama is coming off a huge win over a terrible Auburn team. Their focus will be key in this game. Nick Saban takes great pride in getting his team focused, and he is very good at it. Their loss to Texas A&M wasn't a fluke. This Crimson Tide team hasn't been tested enough this season. And when they have been, we see games like the LSU game, or the A&M game. In reality, Bama was outplayed in the LSU game. Sure, they got the win, but it was not in the fashion you would expect from a juggernaut (which Alabama has been made out to be on several occasions).
My guess is that Alabama just isn't as good as they were in 2009 or 2011, and the East division might be a little higher than the previous two seasons. This will be a great matchup. Georgia has a great passing attack. Their defense has been getting better every week. They have some momentum coming into the game. As for Alabama, a chance for a repeat will be what motivates them. Bama is favored by 7.5 points. I want to pick Georiga, so bad. But I know Nick Saban will have his guys more than ready. Tough pick in this one, especially with so much on the line. Ahhhh whatever, I am picking the Bull Dogs. Georgia wins, 27-21.
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Actual Matchup: Nebraska vs Wisconsin
I was pretty close with most of the matchups, except the PAC-12. They proved to be a deeper conference than I anticipated this season.
Let the predictions begin.
Wisconsin may not have the record to show it, but they have come a long ways since their terrible start to the season. The Badgers will give the Huskers all they can handle. In this case, I don't think the point spread is as far off as it has been before. As long as the Cornhuskers can hold on to the football they should pull through. Nebraska wins, 24-20.
Let me get the Big 12 out of the way. There isn't a championship game, but I did have a pick for the conference. I really thought Bob Stoops would pull his team to another Big 12 Title, but as he has done before, he found a way for his team to lose a couple games they shouldn't have. Oklahoma was my favorite. West Virginia was my close second. Neither one of those teams were any match for the real champion of the Big 12. Kansas State took care of business this season (except when it came to Baylor). Kansas State has to play Texas, and while a conference championship isn't on the line for the Longhorns, Mac Brown knows his team still has something to prove this season.
For Kansas State, this is a chance for Collin Klein to get back in the hunt for the Heisman. If he has a big game against Texas and they win, then Klein will have put himself in good position to win the Heisman Trophy. Kansas State is favored by 10.5 points. I say Kansas State wins 35-17. Klein will put on a good show.
PAC-12 Championship, Stanford vs UCLA. I couldn't have been more wrong on my preseason picks for this conference. Oregon blew it. The Ducks had the inside track to the BCS Title game and that may have been the distraction that derailed their season.
USC on the otherhand, flushed their shot down the drain, along with their season. The Trojans just don't have the depth to compete with the big teams right now. They had the playmakers, but the depth at offensive line and defensive line proved to be their biggest flaws. It cost them in a big way.
Stanford against UCLA. Who saw that coming? If somebody told you that Oregon wouldn't be in the PAC-12 Championship, would you really have bought that? These two teams met last week and Stanford made a pretty loud statement in that game...... 35-17 in favor of the Cardinal. I'm not sure that the Bruins can make up the difference and win this game. They may play better and keep the score closer, but it won't be enought to win this game. Stanford wins, 28-20.
ACC Championship, Florida State vs Georgia Tech. Yes, Georgia Tech made it. With North Carolina and Miami under a post season ban, that left Georgia Tech as the next team to be able to play. They Yellow Jackets are 6-6 on the season and that could be why tickets are selling for a little over $4 this week. Yep, $4. The sad part is that I think Georgia Tech has a real shot in this game. FSU may be the big favorite, but the Noles have been struggling for over a month now. Both of these teams are coming off losses to their in-state rivals. Georgia Tech had little hope against the Georgia Bull Dogs. Florida State had plenty of talent to hang with the Gators, but in the end there were some flaws that have been there all season......and they were highlighted in this one game.
FSU is favored by 14. I am not buying that at all. This game will either be a blowout in favor of FSU, or it will be a tight game with the Yellow Jackets coming up with the upset. Florida State has several issues they have been and will be dealing with. Mark Stoops is headed to Kentucky. 'Tank' Carridine (the Noles leading tackler) is out with a torn ACL. Not to add to that...... Jimbo Fisher's name is being tossed around at a couple of other schools for their next head coach. Many would ask why he would even think about leaving. Well, if he loses this game, he better be packing his bags. The fan base is starting to get tired of the frustrating losses in which FSU has been heavily favored in 90% of their losses over the last three seasons. On paper, FSU should blow Georgia Tech out. I just can't see that actually happening with the way FSU has been playing for awhile now. FSU wins, but it may not be pretty. 31-21.
Now for the game that decides who plays Notre Dame in the BCS Title Game. SEC Championship, Alabama vs Georgia. Mark Richt has a chance to get his team to the National Championship. This is as close as they have ever been. The question could be whether it's a distraction or not. Richt was on the hot seat just under two seasons ago, but look at him now. Their only loss came in a very ugly showing against South Carolina (at the time, South Carolina had been playing lights out). Georgia certainly has their work cut out for them in this one.
Alabama is coming off a huge win over a terrible Auburn team. Their focus will be key in this game. Nick Saban takes great pride in getting his team focused, and he is very good at it. Their loss to Texas A&M wasn't a fluke. This Crimson Tide team hasn't been tested enough this season. And when they have been, we see games like the LSU game, or the A&M game. In reality, Bama was outplayed in the LSU game. Sure, they got the win, but it was not in the fashion you would expect from a juggernaut (which Alabama has been made out to be on several occasions). My guess is that Alabama just isn't as good as they were in 2009 or 2011, and the East division might be a little higher than the previous two seasons. This will be a great matchup. Georgia has a great passing attack. Their defense has been getting better every week. They have some momentum coming into the game. As for Alabama, a chance for a repeat will be what motivates them. Bama is favored by 7.5 points. I want to pick Georiga, so bad. But I know Nick Saban will have his guys more than ready. Tough pick in this one, especially with so much on the line. Ahhhh whatever, I am picking the Bull Dogs. Georgia wins, 27-21.
Check us out on Facebook and give us a 'LIKE'. Don't forget to send in your Heisman predictions. You can send in your questions/comments to jeremy.cf2@yahoo.com. Enjoy the games this weekend, there should be some good ones.
Roll Tide! :o)
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