College Football Predictions for Championship Week

Championship Week is upon us, and regardless of all the controversy, it is still a weekend to celebrate the games actually being played, and not the ones that could, or should be. 

Ball State should take care of Buffalo in the MAC Championship game, although the job Turner Gill has done at Buffalo is just as impressive than Brady Hoke's at BSU, if not more so. Ball State rolls on and gets a chance to go to 14-0. Cardinals 44, Bison 20.

USC will walk, make that, run over UCLA in what amounts to a practice for USC's Rose Bowl game against Penn State. Pete Carroll has demanded that the Trojans wear red jerseys for the game. My guess is because he doesn't want fans to be revolted by all the blood beaten out of the Bruins on the field Saturday. Trojans 51, Bruins 10.

Cincinnati will prove they are one of the best teams no one talks about when they travel to Hawaii to kick the Warriors' butts. Brian Kelly has been a revelation at Cincy, and I sincerely hope he stays there to build on the foundation he has started. Cincy 34, Hawaii 13.

The ACC Championship game has the feeling of a 7-6 kind of game. Boston College and Virginia Tech? Really? That's the best you've got? Nothing against either of them, but they are the two LEAST sexy teams from the league. Give me a FSU, or a Maryland, maybe even a Miami or UNC. At least if they make it to the BCS, they would not lay a stinker. That said, I like BC and Jeff Jagodzinski to roll over the Hokies. Golden Eagles 32, Hokies 20.

The Big 12 Championship game should be a real barn-burner. The two teams didn't play this year, so it's only fitting that they meet in the big game. I don't see any way that Mizzou can keep up with Sam Bradford and this Oklahoma offense. OU could have the worst defense in the world and it still wouldn't matter.

The Sooners could give up 35 points in the first half and still have the lead. My head is spinning with visions of Texas' romp over Colorado in the championship game a few years back. This one could get ugly.

Missouri will make a game of it, though, and Chase Daniel will do his best to leave Missouri as a winner. However, the Sooners have too much and steamroll the Tigers on their way to the BCS title game. Sooners 57, Tigers 35.

The SEC Championship game should be the toast of the weekend, the main course, the best dish. Florida has the most explosive offense east of Oklahoma, and who knows if anyone can stop them. This weekend will test that.

Alabama's defense is scary good, not USC scary, but good nonetheless. If anyone can stop the Gators and Tebow and Co., it should be 'Bama. But if they can't...well, then nothing stands between UF and its second title in three years.

I think 'Bama will keep it close, but the Tide won't have enough to sustain any sort of game-winning drive. Sorry, John Parker. Gators win and head to meet Oklahoma. Gators 27, Alabama 23.