College Football Week 14: Preview of the Week's Most Important Games
We have made it through 13 weeks of college football games without something truly crazy happening quite yet, but we have still endured yet another turbulent season of football.
This week has games coming up that could change the BCS Bowl possibilities, create confusion after championship games and create absolute BCS chaos.
With few games going on this weekend, it gives us a chance to check out some of the best teams in the country competing in championship games and take a gander down toward some of the Division I-AA games.
This is the last full week of games before bowl games start up and there is still a lot on the line going into this final week of the regular season of football.
So let's take a look at the most important games on tap for this weekend, and what will come of the various scenarios that would arise from them.
Each game I look at will have a short preview of the game, a rundown of what's at stake and my "expert" prediction.
FCS Playoffs: 2nd Round
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If you have ESPN3 capabilities or ESPN Gameplan, there are definitely a few games to check that will determining a champion down in the FCS.
Of note, Montana State plays North Dakota State. Montana State beat rivals Montana in the 110th Brawl of the Wild for the first time since 2005 and halted their big brother's 12-year Big Sky championship streak, and are looking for their first national title since 1984, while ND State is looking for their first since 1990.
Appalachian State faces Western Illinois as the Mountaineers look to regain their national glory, trying for their first title since their three-peat from 2005-2007, and the Leathernecks are looking for their first ever championship.
Six other FCS games are on tap for Saturday, and it is always a good venture out of the norm to check out some lesser known players and teams.
MAC Championship: No. 25 N Illinois vs. Miami (OH)
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Northern Illinois hasn't won a MAC Championship in 27 seasons, and Miami hasn't won the game since 2003.
Miami has had an amazing turnaround from a season ago, in which they went 1-11, and were given their ticket to the title game when Ohio lost to Akron last Saturday in Athens (don't even get me started).
Northern Illinois is the clear favorite, as they haven't lost a conference game this season, and have the seventh highest scoring offense in the NCAA at 39.3 points per game.
The Huskies also boast a prolific defense that is giving up a measly 18.5 points per game, and are going to look to build on their nine-game win streak.
Miami will have to have everything go right for them in order to upset the Huskies, who are 18-point favorites over the Redhawks.
What's on the Line?
I'd be lying if I were to say that winning the MAC is meaningful to anybody outside of a conference school, but it is definitely meaningful to the students, fans and alumni of the schools.
There will be very little national spotlight given to the winner, but there are plenty of bragging rights to be had for the winner of the game.
There is also a post-New Year's Day bowl game on the line, as the winner will go on to represent the MAC in the Godaddy.com Bowl (formerly the GMAC Bowl).
"Expert" Prediction
Northern Illinois ends Miami's miracle turnaround in a blowout.
Big East: Connecticut vs. South Florida
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Connecticut travels to Tampa to play South Florida with the most horrifying result of this weekend on the line: a BCS bowl game ticket for 7-4 UConn.
UConn has one of the best rushing attacks in the country over the past four games, with junior running back Jordan Todman averaging 160 yards over the past four games.
If South Florida can stop that running attack then they have a chance to win the game, something that is definitely possible, as they have given up only 19.5 points per game this season.
The Bulls have shown that they can beat decent teams this season, displayed last week when they took down Miami in overtime 23-20.
The Huskies will most likely take down the Bulls to earn a trip to the Fiesta Bowl, their first trip to a BCS bowl game.
What's on the Line?
If UConn wins, they are on their way to the Fiesta Bowl, at which point the 13th sign of the apocalypse is fulfilled and the world will come to an end.
I don't want to completely put down the Huskies, but they will stand no chance against whomever they play.
If they lose they will be on their way to the Champs Sports Bowl in all likelihood.
For South Florida, a win would mean a trip to one of the top-tier Big East Bowls, most likely the Meineke Car Care or New Era Pinstripe Bowl. With a loss they most likely go to the BBVA Compass or Beef O'Brady Bowl.
"Expert" Prediction
It seems like this'll be a close one, but UConn grinds this one out with the hopes of a BCS bowl on the line. Game-winning drive by UConn seals the game for the Huskies and hell freezes over.
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ACC Championship Game: No. 21 Florida State vs. No. 15 Virginia Tech
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The ACC Championship game is a matchup of two high-scoring offenses and sturdy, non-bending defenses.
Florida State is scoring in bunches, averaging just over 31 a game, while Virginia Tech is faring just as well at 34 a game. Both teams are allowing just over 17 points per game defensively.
This is probably one of the most closely matched games of the weekend, as the difference in total yards between the two teams is just 10 yards, and they both score at will and play hard-nosed, lock-'em down, drag-'em-out defense.
VT is favored by a mere four points and the odds that the game lives up to its billing seem very high, due to the evenly matched nature of the teams.
The Hokies have rebounded from opening week losses to Boise State and James Madison to win 10 straight and give them a chance at the ACC Championship.
The Seminoles started out strong, but lost early to Oklahoma and late to NC State and North Carolina in successive weeks, but have won three straight since.
What's on the Line?
To the winner goes a trip to the Discover Orange Bowl; the loser will most likely get a bid to the Chick-Fil-A Bowl or Champs Sports Bowl.
"Expert" Prediction
Florida State takes down the streaking Hokies with a game-winning field goal in a barn-burner. Keep an eye on this one if the Big 12 game gets dull.
Big 12 Championship Game: No. 13 Nebraska vs. No. 9 Oklahoma
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This is Nebraska's last hurrah in the Big 12 as they move to the Big Ten at the beginning of the next college football season.
Oklahoma will try to make sure that it's not a happy goodbye for the Cornhuskers as Landry Jones tries to derail Nebraska's final season.
Both teams are 10-2 overall and 6-2 in the Big 12 and are looking to go to 11-2 to win the Big 12 Championship.
Oklahoma has the third-best passing attack in the nation, gaining 350 yards in the air per game this season, as Nebraska holds the eighth-best rushing attack in the nation, gaining nearly 300 yards on the ground per game this season.
Nebraska has the edge on defense this season, giving up a minuscule 16 points a game, while Oklahoma gives up 22 per game.
Both teams share a common loss in Texas A&M. Nebraska lost a defensive-grinding game two weeks ago 9-6 and Oklahoma lost to them 33-19 at the beginning of November.
What's on the Line?
The winner will get a trip to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl to play against the Big East Champions.
The loser will end up with a trip to the AT&T Cotton Bowl to play against an SEC team.
"Expert" Prediction
Oklahoma has given up 150 rushing yards per game—something that plays right into Nebraska's strengths and Nebraska has given up the second-fewest passing yards this season, having the tools to shut down Landry Jones and the passing attack.
Nebraska wins by a touchdown, staving off an Oklahoma comeback late in the game.
Pac-10: No. 2 Oregon vs. Oregon State
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The Civil War is one of the top five rivalry games every year, with Oregon spoiling the Beavers' Rose Bowl hopes in 2008, now the Beavers have the chance to return the favor, as a win puts the Ducks in the National Championship.
Oregon State has had a down year this season in comparison to the previous two seasons, as they are 4-4 in the Pac-10 and 5-6 overall.
The Beavers have, however, shown the ability to beat good teams this season, as they beat USC two weeks ago sending them out of the Top 25 and No. 23 Arizona early on in the season. Still, they have lost to TCU, Boise State and Stanford this season, making Oregon the sixth ranked team they have faced this season.
Oregon State must have everything go right for them in order to win over their in-state rivals, and the Ducks would have to play their worst game of the season.
The Beavers are going up against the highest scoring offense in the nation, and with their defense being average at best, it is going to be tough for them to take down the Ducks.
What's on the Line?
For Oregon, everything is on the line, as a loss would put them at 11-1, making their case to stay in the National Championship Game glum. It would be difficult for people to accept Oregon in the game over TCU if Oregon has one loss to Oregon State, while TCU is undefeated, and beat Oregon State earlier this season.
For Oregon State, there is the possibility of making it into a bowl game, as they would become bowl eligible with a win, plus they would have the glory of ending their rivals' bid for their first title in school history.
"Expert" Prediction
As much as I want to see the Beavers build a dam in front of the Ducks season, it doesn't seem likely. Too much offense for Oregon State to deal with, and the Ducks win in a blowout.
SEC Championship Game: No. 19 South Carolina vs. No. 1 Auburn
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This is the coup de grâce of the championship games on Saturday, with South Carolina itching for revenge against Auburn, who beat them in the fourth game of the season.
South Carolina felt first-hand how hard it is to keep Cam Newton and the Tigers down as they held a 13-point lead over Auburn late in the second quarter.
After trading touchdowns in the third, Auburn pulled away like a freight train, winning 35-27 to jump-start their bid for a shot at the national title.
In their first meeting, Stephen Garcia carved up Auburn's secondary, passing for over 250 yards and three touchdowns, but since the Tigers have seemed to shore up any defensive problems that they had.
Last week, after going down early to Alabama, Auburn's defense went into absolute lockdown mode, and allowed only a field goal in the second half.
Auburn's sixth-ranked run game will meet the fifth-best run defense in the league. Something has to give.
This is going to be a very hotly contested game, and South Carolina will not lay down in the face of the Heisman hopeful.
What's on the Line?
For Auburn, a loss could keep them out of the National Championship Game, but it isn't certain. Voters may be leery of putting a team in the game that hasn't won their division, but computers are much less biased.
For the Gamecocks, a win means a trip to the Sugar Bowl without a doubt, while a loss leaves it in question. They would also have a bucket-load of pride and bragging rights for ending the Tigers' perfect season.
"Expert" Prediction
Call me crazy, call me stupid, call me a hater, call me whatever you want but I've got a bigger hunch than Quasimodo here. The Old Ball Coach's boys take down Goliath and South Carolina wins in an upset.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
